Krystal walks into the facility at a fast clip – slightly late for our meeting because she caught the bus after spending the night in her very own apartment. Her first night in her own space in more than five years. Even without furniture, slated to arrive in just a few days. She couldn’t resist the euphoric feeling of being in her very own apartment after years of fighting the elements, sweeps, crime and prejudice on the streets.
Krystal came to the Stockton Blvd Safe Stay in January – just two weeks after it first opened. With her, she brought her dog, a German Shepard/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix – complete with large, floppy ears and curious eyes. She remembers the day she got the chance to come to the shelter. After months of calling 2-1-1, going through and graduating various mental health programs and inpatient treatment, her name was finally called for a Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) bed at the Stockton facility. These beds are specifically earmarked for folks experiencing both homelessness and mental health challenges.
Read more at The Path to Her Very Own Apartment