Hope returns to his corner — Manny's story

“There was a time — and I still get embarrassed about this — I hadn’t eaten for two days. I was really hungry, and someone had left a pizza on the bus stop. It was still warm, so I had a slice or two.”

An unhappy upbringing

Manny grew up in an unhappy home, with a childhood marked by violence and abuse.

But when his mum passed away, things got a lot worse. Manny’s dad would get violent at the slightest provocation, and home stopped being a place of peace and love.

The situation escalated to the point where Manny had no choice but to escape. He left home with nothing but the clothes on his back, and no idea where he would go next.

Without a place he could call home, Manny turned to couchsurfing with friends — sleeping on floors or spare beds wherever he could. It was a short-term fix, not a real solution.

The situation worsens

As days turned to weeks, Manny’s situation worsened.

Not long after, couchsurfing became unsustainable, and he ended up squatting in a neglected property with people who were openly using drugs. It was unsafe — but as Manny puts it, at least he had a roof over his head.

Eventually, that too fell apart.

With no money and no support, Manny moved into a tent and tried to keep his dishwashing job. He struggled to keep showered and clean, stay fed, and protect himself from the dangers of life on the streets.

“I used to carry my belongings in a black rubbish bag. One day it ripped open in the middle of the street. People just walked past, stepped over my things. Some even stepped on them. I felt like I was garbage.”

Constantly living in fear and overlooked by so many, Manny’s mental health began to decline. He felt alone and hopeless, unsure if life would ever get better.

“I was moving all the time,” remembers Manny. “Sometimes I wouldn’t sleep, worried that someone was going to steal my belongings.”

Hope in time of great need

Then someone connected Manny with The Salvation Army. Suddenly, he felt hope — something he had missed for a long time.

Through Salvos transitional housing, Manny was immediately provided a safe place to stay — a warm and secure room where he could sleep, recharge, and begin to rebuild. For the first time in a long time, Manny had a space that was his.

“I was ecstatic… I was really, really happy I had a house. It was so nice to actually have a roof over my head.”

In addition to housing support, Manny was also connected with a Salvos case worker through the Salvos Doorways program, and received food hampers, clothes and furniture to help him settle in his new home and start his journey towards recovery and the next chapter of his life.

The support of the Salvos meant Manny finally had someone in his corner. Someone who believed in him and could help him navigate his way out of crisis.

Transition to a better future

With much needed support, safety, and stability, Manny slowly found his feet again.

He started studying while continuing to work, and eventually found secure housing. Most importantly, he began to believe in himself again.

Today, Manny is thriving. He has goals, a purpose, and most importantly — hope for the future.

Asked about the impact of supporters, Manny has nothing but gratitude.

“To everyone who donates to The Salvation Army, you’re making a difference. Whatever your gift, you’re impacting someone’s whole life.”

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of The Salvation Army supporters, Manny’s story is no longer one of survival — it’s one of transformation.

_{*Names and some details have been changed to protect privacy.}