Jason Large

My homelessness was a direct result of wanting more out of my life.  You see, I chose to be homeless.  I knew that there was more to me and that my life was worth more than the toxic relationship with the mother of my son and the years of drug abuse and bad choices I had allowed it to become.  So I left to the streets to figure it out.  I left everything I knew with nothing but the clothes and bag I carried on my back.  I had no ID, social security card, no money, no transportation, not even my birth certificate.  And worst of all, no destination or knowledge of where I was going to lay my head at night.  As I walked, I came across a small blue sign, barely seen from the dark road, which said "Hope House Homeless Shelter".  Little did I know that first night was when my real journey started.  My journey back to Jason. 

 

It was 4 days before Christmas and I was defeated.  I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere and was questioning my decision to leave my home.  I was contemplating going back, but made myself sit still.  And then Christmas came and we all received Christmas presents.  It was the first gift I had received from someone in 10 years.  I cried, because in that moment, I truly felt like a person who mattered for the first time in I don't know how long.  Then we received folders with all the resource information one would need to receive guidance and help to getting one's life back together.  I was introduced to a local church, whose Outreach director helped me get a phone, social security card, birth certificate, ID, and most importantly, introduced me to a new group of people at this church who I can now truly call my friends. 

 

There's not enough I can do to truly show how grateful I am for the love and support I've received from every individual who's had a hand in my journey.  From the the people at Integrated Services and Pickaway County Community Action, the staff and resources at Job and Family Services, and the wonderful ladies at the Pickaway County Public Library, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has seen and believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. 

 

If you had asked me a year ago where I thought I'd be in a year, my answer would've most likely been "I don't care, hopefully not here."  Today, I'm happy to say there's nowhere else I'd rather be than right here, right now with my new family and friends and my restored relationship with God, living and getting to experience life as my father wanted me to all along. 

 

I thank God every day for leading me toward the door of Hope House that night.  A huge blessing hidden in a dark parking lot, which saved my life.  If there's any advice I could give to any of the gentlemen staying at Hope House now, it would be "Don't give up, there are people who genuinely care, and there is hope.  You are worth it."