Phil’s whole life changed when his mom died suddenly. Uprooted from his home on Chicago’s Southwest Side and thrown into uncertainty, Phil spent years making what money he could and just getting by in motels and on friends’ couches. For many, an unexpected life event can jeopardize their access to resources and cause their security to come crashing down – and that’s exactly what happened to Phil in August of 2016.
Phil had been living at an SRO when a sudden illness caused him to be hospitalized, and left him unable to work or make rent. As a result, Phil spent the next three and a half years living in tent encampments across the North Side. He would find work where he could, and make ends meet any way possible. He kept his whole life in a shopping cart, moving from camp to camp, and always looking for new opportunities to get ahead.
Focused on rebuilding his life, Phil connected with various social service agencies that could help him find work – and hopefully, someday, find a home. That’s how he found Heartland Alliance Health and our senior outreach worker, Ryan Spangler.
“It’s been nothing short of an honor and an incredible pleasure working with Ryan. He was ready to go into battle with me,” Phil said. “I’ve been so blessed to have intelligent, caring, hardworking people in my life.”
Phil and Ryan were introduced through a common connection at Inspiration Corporation. Phil had already been homeless for over two years when his case manager recommended HAH’s homeless outreach program because of its reputation for connecting people to housing. HAH got Phil connected to the city’s Coordinated Entry System (CES), and Ryan helped him access gas cards and other resources to ensure he could make it through the day while he waiting for housing.
“Most importantly, Ryan was incredibly determined and focused to get me off the street. Whenever we met, that was number one on his priority list,” Phil said.
They would meet regularly to fill out forms, discuss specific housing programs, and determine what specific programs would be a fit for Phil. Ryan would come back every meeting with new paperwork and guidance.
Late last year, Phil got a call from CHA – he was granted a voucher to find permanent affordable housing. Ryan and Phil’s interactions shifted from case management meetings to apartment hunting adventures. Eventually, they landed a spacious one-bedroom in the South Shore neighborhood. It felt like home almost immediately.
“The weight that fell off my shoulders, it was incredible. I had been on housing lists for years, I had been out there for years. I would have to think about where I was staying, but now I had to literally think about how to live in my new home.”
On move-in day, Ryan picked Phil up and they went to a hardware store to get some spare keys and stopped at Target for supplies and cookware. About a month later, he and Ryan went to the furniture bank to get chairs and a couch. The two made the couch the centerpiece, and built the home from there with carpets, dressers, a bed – and it’s all Phil’s.
“This is my first place that is strictly my own. This is my furniture, my space. I’ve never had that before.”
“Ryan helped me with exactly that. He doesn’t talk at you, he talks to you. He helps you understand and believe in what’s possible. That’s so important to address not only issues like this, but tons of barriers for people who are homeless.”
