"Work Towards Something Positive"

This is Yul B's advice for anyone going through homelessness. He stands by it. it’s what made him who he is today.

Yul’s journey through homelessness began with an unfathomable tragedy- the death of his daughter. Living in Florida at the time, Yul became deeply depressed. He ended up getting addicted to drugs, and was convicted with a felony charge which made him lose his job, and soon after- his apartment.

While the weather was sunny in Florida, Yul’s situation was unbelievably dark. It was 2015.

One day, a flicker of hope sparked when he received a message from a family friend.

“Come to Illinois”.

A family friend of his in IL had promised him that if he moved, she could help him get a job. Yul needed the money. He figured that the risk was worth it for a stable income.

He packed his bags, and came to Chicago.

At first, things were going well. He had a stable job, and he a great relationship with his roomate. In fact, it was so good, that they decided to start dating. Things unfortunately did not work out.

Since they lived together, the breakup made their living situation an awkward one. Yul decided that he needed to leave, and be independent. The decision would mean losing his new job.

Yul went through with it anyway, and started sleeping on the streets.

It was unbelievably hard. There’s few things more nerve racking than not knowing where your next meal is coming from, or where you’re going to lay your head down that night.

Yul remembers constantly having his guard up- and feeling like there was simply no one he could trust.

Fortunately, there was a place he could trust, and that was PADS Lake County.

Yul came to know PADS through our shelter system, and would stay there a few nights out of the week during his period of homelessness. Yul’s confidence started to come back. He realized that he in fact could turn his situation around.

He started working a job again. He started working towards something positive.

And last July, something big happened. Yul was given access to permanent supportive housing through PADS.

Yul could not believe it. A stable place to call his own. A place where he could relax, recharge, and have friends over. Taken for granted by many, but a true blessing for Yul.

Today, Yul wants to pay it forward and help assist homeless people. He says he would love to work at a place like PADS.

When asked about what advice he would give for people who are currently homeless, Yul says to give PADS a chance.

“Reach out, stay hopeful, give people a chance to help you”.

It’s amazing what can happen when you do.