When Ricardo arrived at Sunflower Gardens, he wasn’t sure what to expect. “It’s the first time I’ve ever done something like this,” he said. “I was nervous. But now—I’m really happy here.”
For Ricardo, this moment is part of a bigger story—a story of recovery, resilience, and rediscovering what it means to feel safe and at home, especially in the context of seeking permanent housing solutions.
Just nine months ago, his life looked very different. “I was homeless, going back and forth from Salinas to Monterey, spending everything I had on drugs,” he shared. The turning point came when two strangers stopped him in Chinatown and offered a path forward. “They told me about Sun Street Centers. I didn’t think I could do it, but I tried. And I graduated.”
From there, Ricardo was referred to Interim’s Sunflower Gardens, a permanent supportive housing program for adults with mental illness. Here, he’s found lasting stability and the wraparound support he needed to grow and heal, experiencing the true meaning of permanent housing and the peace it brings to those in need.
His story reflects one of Interim’s core beliefs: recovery isn’t possible without a safe, stable place to call home. For nearly 50 years, Interim has worked to ensure individuals with serious mental illness in Monterey County don’t have to walk their recovery journey alone—or unhoused.
“I used to get angry a lot,” he admitted. “I didn’t know how to talk to people, how to calm down.” That changed through consistent counseling and life skills training. “Now, I can have a conversation. I know how to handle things better.”
Ricardo credits much of his progress to the team around him. “Victoria helps me stay on top of my medication. Sonja and Marisol—they always check on me. They really care.”
This kind of wraparound support—from medication help to emotional encouragement—is the heart of Interim’s model. Staff work alongside residents to build trust, teach skills, and support each step of recovery.
These days, Ricardo has a home, a team he trusts, and regular visits with his family. “Before this, I was getting in trouble. I didn’t have a plan. Now I’m sober, I have housing, I see my family. I’m not worried like I used to be.”
He’s also paying it forward. “When I see people I used to hang out with, I say, ‘You can get housing too. You can get help.’ I want people to know it’s possible.”
It’s a full-circle moment that speaks to the power of peer encouragement—another value deeply rooted in Interim’s holistic approach. Many clients become advocates and role models, showing what’s possible when support, compassion, and personal determination meet.
Ricardo’s story is one of thousands that make up Interim’s legacy. In 1975, Interim began with one house and a vision: to provide humane, community-based support for people living with mental illness. Today, we operate a network of housing and mental health programs across Monterey County—still grounded in that same transformative purpose.
As we mark this milestone, we honor the individuals—like Ricardo—whose courage continues to inspire and shape our work every day.