LaShawn: “Everybody Has a Gift to Give”

LaShawn likes to live his life fueled by a strong sense of empathy.

 “If I see someone hurting now, I’ll stop and try and help,” he said. “I shared the same experience, so I will help you because I know where you’re coming from I don’t want your suffering on my conscience.”

That giving spirit explains why LaShawn has joined Abode’s Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB), which we recently formed to hear feedback and perspectives from those who have experienced homelessness, in order to improve the quality of our work.

“Homelessness should never happen to anybody,” he said. “Homelessness is a failure – of society – not of the person. Nobody should be homeless.”  

LaShawn can speak with knowledge on this topic because there was a time when experienced homelessness. Ever since he experienced childhood trauma, LaShawn said, he has struggled with issues revolving around trusts and anger, which hampered his relationships as an adult.

The residue of childhood scars and trauma led him to make bad decisions later in life, fraying relationships and facing legal skirmishes that limited his job opportunities.

LaShawn always worked hard, sometimes holding two or three jobs at once. But the high cost of living in California sometimes prevented him from staying housed. Other times, he said, he couldn’t get out of his own way.

Until he decided to make important changes in his life. He decided that he wouldn’t let challenges and obstacles stop him from making good decisions that benefited him.

“My reality didn’t change until I changed my perceptions, so my journey has included a lot of learning and growth,” he said. “And I’ve been able to make changes.”

LaShawn got connected to Abode and now lives in one of our supportive housing sites in the East Bay. Having a roof over his head has helped LaShawn focus on keeping his housing, as well as planning his next career moves.

In the meantime, he’s been using life experience to contribute as a LEAB board member, saying that doing good deeds and helping people give him positive energy.

“Humanity is beautiful and everybody has a gift to give – I don’t care who you are,” LaShawn said. “What everyone needs is another chance, where you can forget your past and look forward.”