Emmanuel and Greg understand more than most how life’s storms can blow you off course.
In just one year, Emmanuel had to say goodbye to his father who was living with him at the time of his death, his nephew who Emmanuel had been raising, and his mom who suffered from health issues. Struggling to manage his grief, he lost his job and shortly after was given an eviction notice. It was too much for him to handle alone.
“With all those heartbreaks in such a short time, I just kind of lost it,” Emmanuel said. “I didn’t know where I was going to go, where I would sleep, where my stuff would go. Even if I figured out all of that, I was still hungry.”
Emmanuel’s former partner, Greg, offered up his couch for Emmanuel while his friend of nearly three decades got back on his feet, but could only do so much. After Greg’s housecleaning company was forced to close, he began working at Target, but his paychecks couldn’t cover his own skyrocketing rent in Seattle and he, too, soon faced eviction if the two couldn’t find help.
“I never thought I’d be in the position to lose my apartment,” said Greg. “I was working since I was 13, but something really can happen to anyone at any time to screw up your plans.”
Hungry and on the brink of homelessness, they connected with Lifelong’s food and nutrition program, Chicken Soup Brigade and were quickly paired with a case manager to discuss options available to them through Lifelong’s programs. While there are traditionally very few housing support services for two men living together, both knew neither could take housing if it meant the other was left on the street.
Their case manager was able to navigate their unique situation and get them on Lifelong’s housing program wait list, as well as provide them with vouchers for work appropriate clothing from the thrift store, groceries so they were fed, and address dental care for Greg so he could find another job.
Fast forward four years and countless hours of hard work, and Greg and Emmanuel are living in a home they can call their own. Emmanuel is celebrating three years as a delivery driver with Safeway this month and Greg is on track to have his dental work complete this year so he can begin looking for work.
Greg says staying together was life or death at the time.
“Emmanuel was in such a fragile state when we approached Lifelong. If we hadn’t been able to stay together, I’m not sure he would’ve made it.” Greg said.
“To have Greg’s help, to have him with me, means the world to me and I’m so grateful Lifelong was able to make that happen,” said Emmanuel. “These programs work. They lifted us up out of this misery and worry and shame – they changed my life.”