I Am and Was by David:

I am and was a person
Not a number in a book
Or a slash mark on a rules checklist
I play piano with heart feelings
I wear my soul long and inside…
I am unknown and unexpressed
I am dried fruit on the table in some old broken house
I have learned hate
I have the marks of the weak
Once I was young and bright with dreams which I knew someday would bloom
They are at rest now
They are closed like the faces of those that look at me
And yet here they keep saying "Today is a new day"
And tomorrow is a new day And dream roots are stirring in my heart
I am grateful for the opportunity to witness the possibility of such regeneration

Kathy's Story:

I never thought I'd end up homeless. Life just threw me a curve I didn't expect and I wasn't prepared for the total outcome. Who would have thought at 54 years old I'd end up spending the late summer and fall in a tent! No water, no toilet, no stove. But the worse was yet to come! I tried to prepare for the cold. Stayed in a camper; it had one propane stove with one burner. No matter how many layers of clothes I wore or covered up with at night, I was still freezing. By late November I knew I'd never last through the winter without help! I would freeze to death on a mountain if something didn't change.

Then I heard of SOS. Thank God for their help. If it wasn't for them, I hate to think where I'd be today. But because of them I live in a nice home with heat, water, stove and toilet. And boy, let's not forget that shower either. I won't ever take all this for granted. People never expect becoming homelessness to happen to them. But unexpected things do happen. It is possible, and it could end up being you!

Matthew's Story:

I came here in one of the worst conditions of my life. The second I stepped through the door the monitor I saw seemed to know the exact pain I was feeling. I almost felt instant relief. No one here was judgmental. I knew that I had a desire to be more than where I was. All the people here worked just as hard as I did to help me get back to where I once was. After a few days I felt a certain peace here. Not as much as a home, but as a community that's goal was to get me home.

Carl's Story:

Before I came to the Shelters of Saratoga, I was living on the streets and with friends and family. I was a ghetto individual. I was always in the wrong places at the wrong time. There were a lot of things that I have done wrong with my life. I was also hanging around the wrong people. I chose the wrong friends. I also had a thing with hanging around the wrong crowd. I was a follower instead of a leader. Now I am at a point in my life where I can actually say I am proud of myself and who I am today. I see myself as a leader. I can now represent myself as a person that everyone can be proud of. A lot of people in my life are very proud of me. I have a full-time job. I am also looking for another job. I am also looking for my own apartment. I hope I can get an apartment around the cities of Saratoga or Ballston Spa. I would just like to say thank you to every single person in the SOS program. I could not have done it without you. If it wasn't for you guys, I could still be on the streets somewhere, in prison, in the hospital, or even dead. I thank you because you allowed me to turn my life around.

Marilyn's Story:

I lived in my car for 3 to 4 months in the cold winter months. I survived it though. I really appreciate the Shelters of Saratoga help and support in finding an apartment. They are wonderful people who care about homeless people and their needs. I am hoping someday I can give back and help Shelters of Saratoga for all they've done for me.