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At 18, I aged out of foster care and found myself without stable housing or a clear direction. Survival became my only focus. By 19, I found myself in County Jail, a place that reinforced the feeling that life was stacked against me. I didn’t yet understand how I had ended up there or how to break free from the cycle I was caught in.
At 20, I met someone, and for a while, I thought I had finally found what I had always longed for: stability, love, and a family. When that relationship ended, I was once again on the streets, trying to navigate uncertainty and hardship on my own.
Wanting change, I entered a program and spent four months working to rebuild. That’s when I was connected to Orangewood, and I made the call that shifted everything. I spoke with Eddie from the Orangewood Resource Center, who didn’t just see the challenges in front of me, he saw my potential. He met me exactly where I was, even coming to the hotel where I had been staying. From that moment, things began to move in a different direction.
“Orangewood met me where I was, offering guidance and support—but I was the one doing the work to build my life.”
Anthony, Orangewood Participant
Eddie helped me access stable housing, find a job, and navigate the complicated process of applying for permanent housing. He supported me with court dates and, most importantly, in my fight for custody of my child. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I had someone in my corner, someone who believed I was capable of change and growth.
With Eddie’s support, and my own determination, I started to see life in a new way. It was no longer just about survival, it became about purpose, growth, and being the father my child deserves. Today, I work every day not just to build a stronger future for myself, but to give them the future I never had.
I’ve also found ways to give back. I mentor some of the young men at the center, offering the kind of encouragement and guidance I once needed myself. And when the devastating Ethan fires broke out, I was able to step up and support the community through being on the frontlines, fighting the fires, a moment that reminded me of how far I’ve come.
Looking back, I am proud. Proud that I kept going, that I didn’t let my past define my future, and that I am building something better for my child and myself. My journey isn’t finished, but for the first time, I know I’m on the right path.
