Meet Our Guests: Phil and Sincere
Phil showed up at the Bishop Dudley House in August, desperate for a new start. He recently ended a relationship and wanted to become self- sufficient. He wanted to change his routine of relying on family to support him and his children, and didn't want to return to the reservation. Little did he know at the time that his willingness to change and his perseverance to "keep pushing through" would give him a better result than he could have imagined.
He moved into a Bishop Dudley House family room with his middle child, Sincere, while his other two kids stayed with his mother in Wagner. Phil started working with our family coordinator, Ashley and partners at Minnehaha County to get him on a new path. The conversations with staff and other guests empowered him to really change things this time and build himself into a man who could stand on his own. By the end of September Phil had found a stable job and Sincere began daycare at the Boys and Girls Club. Bishop Dudley House provided him with the safety and security to start fresh. He knew he wanted to provide a real home for all 3 of his children. Phil connected with the Bright Futures program and a month later secured an apartment! He is proud of himself for accomplishing his goals in a short amount of time and grateful for getting to meet the next family who was moving into his room at BDHH. Phil offered words of encouragement to the family telling them that if they are helpful around the shelter, work on their goals and not give up, they too will be moving out soon.
Phil has so much gratitude toward BDHH because staying here finally broke the cycle of poverty he had been stuck in for years. "I'm 41 years old and just now living in my own home, I wouldn't be where I am if I wouldn't have come to BDHH, it changed my life." He now has two of his children living with him and the oldest child joining them after Thanksgiving. He is proud to be a father supporting his kids, providing them a safe home and is now saving for a car. BDHH provided the stepping stones that helped Phil believe in himself as a man and a father. We are so proud of the person he has become!