For this week’s The Other Side Story, we’d like to introduce you to Henry. Born and raised in Des Moines, Henry spent time in and out of prison for most of his life. He did not originally complete high school but did take the steps to earn his GED in 1990. When he was not serving time, Henry would stay with his mother or friends and take mechanical or maintenance jobs to earn an income.
In 2020, Henry was released from prison with an entirely new mindset. Instead of falling back into old patterns, he sought out assistance and planned to make changes in his life.
Unfortunately, a few months later, his mother passed away. Instead of letting this loss derail his progress, he came to CISS determined to stay on his new path. After being with us for three months, he transitioned into section 8 housing. Working towards his own apartment was an important shift in Henry’s journey towards self-sufficiency and a better quality of life. The next items on his to-do list are to get his driver’s license back, move into his own place, and spend more time riding motorcycles.
We’re proud to help those experiencing homelessness get back on the path to self-sufficiency. Henry’s headshot, and others we featured in this series, are courtesy of THINK PHOTO LAB. These are part of a project we like to call The Makeover Moment, allowing those in our emergency shelter to see themselves in a new light. #TheOtherSide
