When Juan Rivera slept on the streets, his backpack was his pillow. It was the best way to safeguard his vital documents, the proof of who he was. Now that he has a permanent apartment, he keeps it close as a reminder of how far he’s come.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Juan watched his father work exceptionally hard for the family across a lifetime in short-haul trucking. He parallelled his father’s career as a mechanic, fixing transmissions, motors, and engines for over 30 years. But when his father became ill and passed away, Juan turned to alcohol to cope. He eventually lost everything he’d built over those three decades of work, including his home. Juan first turned to shelters and drop-in centers just to survive but ultimately decided it was better to simply bed down on City streets and in transit hubs.
At a church he went for respite from the elements, an outreach worker got him connected to a Breaking Ground safe haven - The Continental in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. From there, his fortunes changed, and within a year he found a permanent apartment at Breaking Ground’s brand new Sutphin Senior Housing in Queens. Today, he is not only stable, he’s taking steps to return to work at the age of 60. And he no longer has to use his backpack as a pillow.
When you give to Breaking Ground, you create housing and vital services that help people overcome and avoid homelessness. There is a direct connection between housing and health. And having a safe, stable home can make all the difference. Every day, we are working toward a future where everyone has a place to call home and a community of support. Thanks to you, we are building and restoring lives across New York City.