Permanent supportive housing plays a critical role in recovery and stability, as reflected in this journey toward long-term housing and support.
When Harold describes his journey, he speaks in the language of transformation. “It’s like being a caterpillar, shedding your skin until you reach your butterfly stage,” he says. For Harold, that butterfly stage came later in life, proof that it’s never too late to seek help and rediscover yourself.
Harold’s turning point came after a devastating loss. When his wife passed away from ALS, Harold could no longer afford rent in South Lake Tahoe. He moved in with his daughter in Seaside, but the living conditions quickly became unbearable. Soon he was homeless, sleeping in abandoned cars and at constant risk of violence. “When you’re homeless, you really don’t have anything… it makes you want to just not exist,” he recalls.
Finding His Forever Place
A call to the Salvation Army in Sand City for something as simple as a shower set off a chain of events that led Harold to Interim. Eventually, he moved into Sandy Shores, one of Interim’s permanent supportive housing communities. “This is my forever place. This is what I would probably have been wanting,” he says.
Stable housing gave Harold the foundation to focus on healing. He received mental health support that helped him process grief and begin “coming out of his shell” after years of isolation. Outings with fellow residents, from walks in the redwoods to simply sharing stories, have helped him reconnect with community. Today, Harold is pursuing his GED alongside his daughter—a milestone he once thought impossible.
Harold’s story is not unique. Monterey County’s high cost of living and shortage of affordable housing leave people with serious mental illness especially vulnerable to homelessness. Without stable housing, health deteriorates, safety is compromised, and recovery feels out of reach. But with housing plus wraparound support, transformation is possible.
As Harold puts it: “Be patient—nothing happens overnight. There’s hope out there, and it’s worth holding onto.”