For those experiencing homelessness, the emotional challenges can be as painful as the physical challenges of hunger and lack of shelter. Carmon, one of our guests in recovery, suffered from isolation and strained family relationships that led him into a spiral.
For 20 years, Carmon was a “functioning alcoholic”
“I always worked and was always able to pay the bills,” he said. “I never abused my wife or my children. But I was never there for them.”
Yet, Carmon’s drinking was slowly eroding everything around him—until eventually, his wife left and his three daughters stopped speaking to him.
“At that point, I fell into a dark tunnel,” said Carmon.
“Losing my family led me to drink more,” Carmon said. “Then I lost my job and became homeless. And for the next ten years, I drank every day.”
Life on the street was hard. “You just find a spot and make sure nobody steals everything you have,” he said. But he knew that was no way to live. “I knew I needed to restart my life,” Carmon said.
“And in March 2021, God led me to the Lighthouse Mission.”
“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. ‘For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world. ‘”
1 samuel 2:8
“I came into the recovery program looking for a fresh start.”
“God willing, I’ve got 20-plus years of my life left, and I want to enjoy it!”
At the Lighthouse Mission, Carmon starts each day the same. “Every morning, I make time to be with God,” he said. “Taking the time to be with Him allows me to feel consumed by His grace.”
A hope filled future for Carmon!
“Today, my goals are to pray, to surround myself with positive, like-minded people, and to continue creating positive memories with the years I have left,” he said.
“This Mission saves lives,” Carmon said. “If I were still on the streets, I would have died. I’m in a good place right now.”
As for Carmon’s future, he wants to invest in others who have gone through similar challenges. “I want to find somebody that’s like myself—just lost—and guide them,” Carmon said. “There’s nothing more rewarding than helping somebody.”
