Shattering Stereotypes - Alan's Story

My name is Alan Banks, and I am in the Neighbors First program.

The first three months I was homeless, it was very hard for me. I wasn’t able to shower the whole time. I cared that I wasn’t clean, but I didn’t know where to go. Now, me and the shower, we’re best friends.

The first three months I was homeless, I didn’t eat very well. I would take what I could find in the trash, and I lost a lot of weight.

The first three months I was homeless, I didn’t speak a word. I had no friends, no one to talk to. One time, when I read something funny in the newspaper and laughed out loud, I looked around to see who was laughing, because I had forgotten the sound of my own voice.

To understand why I became homeless, you have to understand the depression I have been carrying with me my entire life. I was born in Washington, DC and joined the Air Force when I was eighteen. I served in North Dakota and then came back to DC to continue my career in security and law enforcement. My depression was always there, but it got much worse in 1996, when my father died. The floor fell out beneath me. I lost my job, my marriage, and finally, my home.

I spent the next six years sleeping in shelters and on the streets. Now some of the stereotypes about homeless people are that they drink and do drugs, they steal, they are lazy. And I said in the beginning my goal is to shatter them. I don’t drink – I lost my favorite uncle to alcoholism, so I stay away from it. I don’t do drugs. The one time I stole something, I stole mothball flakes.

You’re probably laughing, wondering why someone would steal mothball flakes. Well, I had a sandwich, and then lay down on the ground to sleep. And when I woke up, there was a rat sitting right on my chest. I guess he could smell the sandwich. So I took the mothballs to keep the rats away.

I worked hard to get out of homelessness. I got a job, and started saving money. I saved six months of rent, that way I would never be homeless again. But then I was robbed and shot. It took me 18 months to rehabilitate, and I ran through all my savings. I couldn’t believe it when I had to go back to the shelter. I was suicidal.

I had a great case manager who made a personal commitment to help get me out of the shelter. I was in touch with the VA Hospital, and knew I was eligible for supportive housing for vets. I had been on that list for over a year. Then I met Geoff Millard, Director of the Homeless Veterans Initiative at Friendship Place, and he just cuts through red tape. He said he would help me, and in one week, one week, I had an apartment!

Now, I work with my Neighbors First case manager, Guidy. Everyone there is very helpful and honest. They did what they said they would do, they got me into housing. I’ve been through this process for years and didn’t expect them to work as fast as they did – it kind of shocked me.

I’ve reunited with my son and daughter – I didn’t talk to them much when I was on the streets. They just said, “We’re glad you’re alive.” And last year, I was able to go to Florida and see my brother for the first time in twelve years. Being back in touch with my family means a lot to me.

I’m an introvert, and depressed, which made being on the streets so hard for me. There was no one to tell me how to do it. But now, I am a speaker and share my story with others. I am in therapy and on medication for depression, and taking care of my mental health is my top priority.

I am speaking today in hopes of inspiring you to support Friendship Place, and donate generously. That way they can help more people like me.

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