Alvin was never afraid of hard work. After growing up in Douglassville, Alvin began his career at Gudebrod in Pottstown. When the plant closed, he began working at Stanley Flagg. Eventually, he got a job loading trucks at Boscov’s Department Store.
Alvin always lived in the home grew up in. When his mother died in 2008, his siblings decided to sell his life-long home. Alvin had no place to go. He began living in his car. He was homeless.
The Harsh Reality of Being Homeless
Alvin relaxing at home
While working at Boscov’s his coworkers noticed he was living in his car. Later, his car became undriveable and he was living in a parking lot near his workplace. The owners of the business knew he was homeless and living in his car and did not force him to leave. He appreciated even the smallest act of kindness during this time. Every day he would walk from his car to his job at Boscov’s. Alvin described the experience of living in his car as terrifying. “It’s dark, the weather is unpredictable, and you don’t feel safe,” he noted. He did not have access to showers and knew his hygiene was lacking. “I knew I stank and I knew it bothered my coworkers but I didn’t have any options. There was no place for me to shower,” he added. Thanks to his coworkers sharing his plight, they were able to get him the help he needed. In 2011, Al Boscov, CEO of Boscov’s referred Alvin to Opportunity House. He agreed to come to Opportunity House because it offered him a safer and more stable alternative to living in his car or being street homeless.
When he arrived at Opportunity House, he was scared and didn’t trust anyone. Every morning, he went to work at Boscov’s and then returned to Opportunity House. He was thankful to have meals, access to showers and laundry, and a bed in the men’s dorm.
Later that year, clients found him lying on the ground in the parking lot. He was transported to the hospital and later diagnosed with diabetes. Opportunity House helped Alvin get access to the healthcare he needed. Dr. Michael Baxter and his team provided medication and the education Alvin needed to manage his diabetes.
While he was at Opportunity House, Alvin was grateful to the staff who helped show him how to save money and manage his money. Alvin also shared that he actively participated in shelter life by washing pots and pans after meals and other doing other chores. Later he worked in The Second Street Learning Center through the Foster Grandparent Program. “The children are loving and caring. I enjoyed playing games with them and seeing them smile,” he added.
From Homeless to Hopeful
In 2015, his case manager helped him find an apartment in Reading and he lives there today. But his story doesn’t end there.
From homeless to helping others who are experiencing homelessness through his monthly giving.
Today, Alvin is a monthly donor to Opportunity House. In August, he sent a letter expressing his gratitude for his case manager, Orlando, and the help he received at Opportunity House. He said, “I thought I’d give a little back for what they did for me.”
With your ongoing support of Opportunity House, we can continue to be there for others, as we were for you.