Carlos is a Paterson native who learned responsibility, alertness, and above all, positivity during his stay at the Eva’s Village men’s shelter.
He was homeless for two years after losing his job and becoming permanently disabled in a car accident.
“I was just trying to survive,” he said.
Carlos worked for fifteen years in the laboratory for a company that makes vitamins, moving the materials around the lab and operating the machines. The job was physically demanding but well-paying. After the company moved, Carlos was laid off, began to struggle with mental health issues, and eventually went bankrupt.
But everything changed for him when he found out about Eva’s Village – a CFBNJ community partner that has shelters, a soup kitchen, a halfway house, and more.
“There’s no place like here – like Eva’s,” he told us. “They’ve taught me a lot.”
The staff at the shelter helped him get clothing, insurance, and SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). They also helped him find a psychiatrist and permanent housing.
“My new apartment is beautiful,” Carlos said, beaming. “It’s a first-floor unit, and they even gave me a voucher for furniture, so it’s fully furnished.”
Now, he continues to visit the Eva’s Village soup kitchen occasionally to get hot meals when he needs them.
“The food’s very good. The meals are very good,” he told us. “You just have to have a positive mind. I’m thankful that I have food today and my stomach is full. I’m thankful that I’m alive, that I have a roof over my head, and that I’m healthy.”