Todd's new home and fresh start

Video by Bruce Cooper and Chris Peterson

Two years ago, Todd Martin left the hard winters of Maine behind for the sunshine, dry air, and a fresh start in Phoenix. Todd and a good friend embarked on the journey to Arizona, but soon upon arrival, drug use and mismanagement of his social security disability checks resulted in Todd losing everything, including his friend. 

Todd found himself broke, homeless, sleeping in parks, abandoned buildings and wherever he could find shelter from the brutal desert nights.

The Phoenix police directed him to an overflow shelter, which eventually found him refuge at St. Vincent de Paul's Washington Street Shelter. There, he had access to a devoted bed, three meals every day, hygiene facilities and resources, and a case manager to help guide him through the difficult process of getting back on his feet. 

Todd's transition there was anything but easy. He had anger management issues, and went through three case managers as a result before having a breakthrough with his final case manager, Andrea Ortiz. She worked on getting him connected with a psychiatrist, who was able to prescribe the proper medication to get Todd stable.  

"He was struggling with mental health," Ortiz said. "He went from being mentally unstable to being completely stable and able to navigate what he wanted to do." Oritz said. 

With his mental health in check and a new motivation propelling him forward, he was able to get in touch with social security and got his benefits back. Todd stayed at the WSS for a year, and continued to progress and before finally getting in a position to move out on his own. 

Now, he has a one-bedroom apartment in north Phoenix.

Todd had lost nearly everything but with the help of SVdP, as well as his own determination and a willingness to change, he found something even more valuable: A second chance. 

"So many staff at the Washington Street Shelter were really good to me," he said. "I can't thank them enough."