Healthy Hearts, Homes, and Lives

February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular health and the importance of access to healthcare and stable living conditions. For our client Tyrone, heart health wasn’t just a topic of discussion—it was a reality he faced head-on.

Paul & Tyrone

After the loss of his mother, Tyrone’s living situation changed, and he became homeless. His grief consumed him, and he struggled to move forward. It wasn’t until he fell sick himself that he realized life was too short—he had to make a change. With renewed determination, he reunited with his younger sister, seeking support and connection. However, his challenges were not over. Tyrone was hospitalized with congestive heart failure, a condition that complicated his already difficult situation.

Following his hospital stay, he was referred to our Recuperative Care program, where he met our team that would help him get back on his feet. Paul, his Housing Navigator, and Angela, his Enhanced Care Manager, worked with Tyrone and provided him with support. At first, he was hesitant to accept housing navigation assistance, believing he could rely on friends and personal plans. However, his sister, who visited frequently, urged Paul to remain persistent and gently guide and assist Tyrone in finding stable housing.

Tyrone made progress, working diligently alongside the team. They secured a studio apartment, with move-in deposits covered through his health insurance. He was equipped with essential household items, including a couch, bed, refrigerator, dining table, recliner, blankets, and cookware—everything necessary to create a comfortable and welcoming home. Our team also coordinated the delivery of Mom’s Meals, which are medically tailored meals, another benefit provided by his health insurance. Over the next year, Tyrone will stay enrolled in Housing Tenancy & Sustaining services so we can continue supporting him as he adjusts to his new living situation.

Despite his initial reservations, Tyrone is now overjoyed and immensely grateful to Encompass Housing, who set him up for long-term success. It’s stories like his that remind us that addressing health first and then focusing on housing and long-term stability is a truly effective approach to ending homelessness.

Housing is crucial for everyone, but especially for those like Tyrone, whose medical conditions are worsened by life on the streets. During his time without housing and under our care, he experienced multiple hospital visits, highlighting the urgent need for integrated health and housing solutions.

As Tyrone’s housing navigator Paul puts it: “This type of work doesn’t always work out… we take our losses, but we love our wins!” Tyrone’s success story is one of those rewarding wins—a reminder of why we do this work and the life-changing impact it has on those we serve.