Meet Christopher

After moving to Pensacola late last year, Christopher struggled to find stable employment during the holiday season. When his living situation fell apart, he found himself homeless and couch surfing. Then everything changed in an instant.

A motorcycle accident left him with a serious leg injury requiring multiple surgeries. Doctors told him he wouldn’t be able to walk for two months. With no home and nowhere to recover, Christopher was discharged to Waterfront’s Arukah Respite Center. Through Arukah, Christopher found more than a place to rest. He found the support he needed to heal.

Day by day, he worked to regain his strength, learning to walk again, while searching for employment. He even attended a job interview using a walker, unsure whether anyone would hire him. However, because the onboarding process took about a month, Christopher had just enough time to regain his strength before his first day of work.

Today, Christopher is fully recovered and, after transitioning to our Work Training Program, he is working a new job he loves as a security guard at HCA West Florida Hospital. He’s now working toward moving out and into a place of his own.

“I never thought I would be here, but the motorcycle accident ended up being a blessing in disguise that put me on the path I needed to change.”

Sometimes the first step toward a new beginning is simply having a safe place to heal.