Nelson was three when his Dad left the family. That was the last time he saw him. His Mom struggled to raise Nelson and his brother on her own, and when Nelson was a teenager, she turned him over to foster care.

In and out of group homes, while trying to find his way as a teenager, life was rough. Nelson lived in numerous foster homes and group homes. Acting out and getting into trouble was a constant in his life. He was sent to live in a group home in Los Angeles, far from everyone and everything he knew.

So, at 15, he and Eli, another boy from the Los Angeles group home, ran away. It took them five days of hitchhiking to get back to the Bay Area. When they arrived, Eli excitedly invited him to meet his Mom.

Eli’s mom lived in a tent in a San Francisco encampment. Nelson spent three nights there, curled up in their small tent. On the third night, he realized he wanted something better for himself.

With a new mindset, he began looking for work and found housing through the county. Little by little, he began setting goals for himself.

He worked with a Unity Care Housing Specialist, who helped him find an apartment that accepted housing vouchers, allowing him to secure free housing while he worked two jobs and saved for a used car. And, Unity Care also helped him set personal and professional goals that felt challenging yet meaningful.

Today, Nelson has come farther than he ever dreamed. He is a welding student and a new father. In 18 months, he’ll be a certified welder. The career offers him strong work opportunities and a chance to support his young family. And, he plans to be a better Dad than the one he never had.