Dean

After Dean settled in Rochester nearly 20 years ago, he worked hard to establish his own business. He enjoyed a comfortable suburban lifestyle with his wife and three daughters and was proud of how far he had come after growing up in a complicated home environment in South Africa with a father who worked tirelessly to make ends meet.

Dean thought that things were going well because, just as his father had worked hard to provide for him, he now was doing the same for his own family. But Dean took his comforts and life for granted; and over time, he lost everything.

What began as an occasional social drink slowly turned into a serious problem with alcohol. Dean’s drinking eventually led to divorce from his wife, estrangement from his family, and ultimately, homelessness.

Dean stayed at homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers throughout Rochester, including House of Mercy, The Open Door Mission, and Freedom House. As he worked on his rehabilitation, his struggle with mental health came to light. But it was difficult to get to work on fixing himself without a stable place to stay.

In March 2023, Dean was referred to Person Centered Housing Option’s housing program and soon after benefited from its partnership with Flower City Apartments, which provides free, temporary shelter to those in need. Dean moved into his own safe, clean, and quiet one-bedroom apartment. Additionally, Dean is closely connected with PCHO staff members who ensure that he has access to support services designed to help people like him achieve self-sufficiency.

Dean’s experience affirms that people cannot begin the process of working on “the most challenging parts” of their lives until they have a safe, secure environment in which to live. Being away from the sometimes-tumultuous communal environments at homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers has helped him better recognize his own needs. Not only is he able to focus on his mental health and sobriety, he is working toward a Commercial Driver’s License.