Nick: Chance to Start Over

Nick was homeless for years in the South Bay, in part because of a chronic bout with alcoholism. But after being referred to Abode and the Project Welcome Home program, he has gained housing, sobriety, steady full-time employment, and an opportunity to turn around his life. 

“It’s been a life-changer,” Nick said. “My sobriety is due to the fact that Abode housed me and gave me the chance to start my life over.”

His troubles began when he was 12 years old, when his childhood grew tumultuous following his parents’ divorce. He fell in with a bad crowd and began a lifelong substance addiction. Serious and repeated brushes with the law followed. 

“It all spiraled downward from there,” he said. 

Nick and his longtime girlfriend Vicky shared addiction issues for years and were jobless, leaving them chronically homeless. They spent most nights in their car. 

That all changed in 2015, when Vicky was hospitalized with an alcohol-related illness and slipped into a coma. Fortunately, she recovered. And soon after leaving the hospital, the couple decided they’d had enough. They began attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and soon were connected to Abode and Project Welcome Home, a Santa Clara County program that partners with Abode to rehouse chronically homeless people. 

Abode helped Nick and Vicky find housing and employment in November 2015. 

Nick credits Abode employees for helping Vicky gain access to a service dog, improving her health and resilience. She obtained her driver’s license and got a full-time job as a lead administrative employee.  

“That changed everything for her,” Nick said. “She’s doing really wonderful now.”

Nick said Abode also helped him furnish his new apartment and connected him to services that improved his health care and personal finances. 

Nick now works as a full-time logistics coordinator at a South Bay recycling center. He has begun speaking at public events, sharing his story to help others struggling as he once did. 

Nick and Vicki plan on getting married soon. Their goals include continuing to work full-time, embrace sobriety, and improve their lives.  

“The stability of having a roof over our head saved our lives,” he said. “It allowed us to do all the things we needed to, without having to worry. It’s been great.”