The Next Right Thing
A newspaper clipping of Richard during his Army service.
After serving in combat during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Richard L. finished his Army service commitment and tried to resume a normal life. He was working and supporting his family, and it was going okay at first, but then it all changed.
“Strange things just started happening. I was having ups and downs, ups and downs. I would try something and it would start off well, and then I’d end up not completing it. I had stumbling blocks—roadblocks—and I couldn’t figure it out.”
Richard’s life spiraled; he became deeply depressed and he ended up homeless. He experienced homelessness for about two years before he finally got answers to understand why his life took such a difficult turn.
“It wasn’t until I became homeless that I sought help and was officially diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”
Instead of being upset by the diagnosis, Richard says he was relieved.
“That diagnosis was a great help to me. It gave me an explanation for the ups and downs.”
The diagnosis also led Richard to a short-term housing program for Veterans experiencing homelessness, and then he was referred to a permanent supportive housing program that CaringWorks would eventually manage. He says that having a place of his own was the catalyst he needed to change his life.
“Without a roof over my head I couldn’t treat or manage my PTSD,” he said. “With a roof over your head, you have hope. It gives you the strength to move on and to move forward.”
To help him move forward, Richard credits a simple motto he embraced early on during his recovery.
“My program director would say, ‘Trust the process. It’ll work. Just keep doing the next right thing.’ That became my motto: Do the next right thing and something good will come out of it.”
And many good things have come to Richard during his recovery, including a successful career. While getting therapy for PTSD, Richard’s therapist encouraged him to explore becoming a Certified Peer Specialist, which is someone who uses their own experiences to provide support to others who are receiving mental health and/or substance use services. Then he ran into a friend who worked at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center who also encouraged him to become a CPS. Richard decided to go for it and after he got certified, the same friend referred him for an open CPS position at the Atlanta VA. He got the job and since 2016 he’s been helping other Veterans who have fallen on hard times.
“As a peer I can use my story for motivation; let them see there is somebody making it after homelessness. I want to be the example for all the other Veterans.”
From getting a job, purchasing a car and more, Richard says the team at CaringWorks has encouraged him and equipped him for success each step of the way toward his goals. His next major goal is to purchase a home.
“I want to own my own home. I have three kids—twin boys who are grown and a 16-year-old daughter. I want to have a home where they can come and stay if they need to.”
Richard says he also wants to get his own home so that someone else who needs CaringWorks can have that opportunity.
“I want to leave the door open for someone else to come in and enjoy this process because it’s amazing. This place has been a blessing to me. To be honest, this program saved my life.”
Richard with his children.
Help more people break the cycle of homelessness.
About CaringWorks:
Built on the single idea that all people—no matter their social or economic standing—should have a chance to improve their quality of life, CaringWorks has served thousands of clients since our inception in 2002. Since then we have grown exponentially to become one of Georgia’s leaders in providing permanent supportive housing. We serve hundreds of individuals each year through unique programs and services that are specifically tailored to the needs of those facing chronic homelessness.
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July 2024