Everett has been struggling with substance use disorder, specifically with alcohol, for most of his life. When we met him 10 years ago, he was, “in the midst of losing everything” – specifically his job, his home, and his family. Over the past few years, Everett has bounced between the shelter, the hospital, and jail. He spent a good deal of time sleeping outside and, “drinking spirits with the spirits” in the graveyard, he says with a grin.
Due to his daily alcohol use, he was unable to physically move himself off the street, where he had been sitting for days. It was in that moment that Everett shares he had a serious conversation with himself and said, “enough.” He asked us to call an ambulance and they took him to the hospital.
His health had deteriorated significantly from the drinking, and there was a lot of recovering to do – both physically and mentally. Upon discharge from a short-term rehab facility where he worked on getting stronger, he stayed at our Emergency Shelter and began working with shelter case managers to find permanent housing and recovery support.
Everett is now in recovery and living in his own apartment with his cat, Kitty. His Housing First Case Manager Anthony meets with him weekly to check in. He often goes to the Cape Ann YMCA to swim, which he says helps him reduce his anxiety and find peace, and he wants to go back to school to finish his liberal arts degree. He has reconnected with family members – including his 18-year-old son. “That’s the biggest thing now – repairing.”
