Sam’s life was shaped by hardship from a very young age. As a child, he lived in a cold, dilapidated shack with no heat and took on adult responsibilities after his mother died when he was seven. He cared for his siblings, endured abuse, and spent much of his adolescence moving from place to place.
By age 17, Sam was homeless. For nearly 45 years, he survived by sleeping on porches, in garages, and outdoors. One winter, he froze so severely that his heart stopped, and he had to be resuscitated multiple times.
“I died in that garage. My whole body was ice.”
Despite decades without stability, Sam worked whenever he could—restoring antiques, painting houses, and taking odd jobs. Art became a source of joy, inspired by drawing cartoons for his granddaughter. Severe frostbite later left him unable to draw, but today the walls of his Community Housing Network apartment are covered in artwork featuring cartoon characters that reflect his creativity and spirit.
“I never had a place for 45 years on the street,” Sam said. “All that’s gone. This is the greatest thing.”
After spending most of his life without a home, Sam has now lived in CHN housing for two years. He moved in with nothing. Now, he has a furnished apartment and a safe, stable place to call home.
