A Home to Call His Own

Signing the lease on his first apartment, Yugene had mixed emotions.   

He was happy to be moving in and excited by the idea of having his own home, but there was anxiety as well. One of the closet doors hung from a single hinge, cabinets were damaged, and property management was slow to respond. He ended up doing most of the repairs himself. 

“I’ve really been on my own trying to figure this life stuff out. If I had family to help out, I believe I would’ve made more progress.” 

At Walmart, Yugene found a futon for his living room, but the space was still pretty bare. After a month in the apartment, his caseworker referred him Just in Time, where he quickly signed up for My First Home. 

“I have a 3-year-old daughter, so I wanted to make sure everything was safe. My second focus was the kitchen and living room, which I wanted to be a comfortable place where people could hang out and relax.” 

At the Just in Time monthly “Shopping Day,” Yugene was paired with a group of volunteers who were all committed to helping him realize his vision. Perusing the aisles, Yugene took turns testing different couches for comfort. He found a coffee table almost identical to one he’d been looking at on Craigslist. Kitchen utensils, cleaning supplies, and a bed were all strategically placed into the JIT moving truck and delivered to Yugene’s house.  

“I got everything I needed for my apartment, even stuff I didn’t think I needed, including a 75-inch TV!” 

Now, thanks to My First Home, Yugene has a safe and comfortable place to call his own!