Alan used to work on an oil rig before Hurricane Katrina hit. It was dangerous work, but he earned enough to always keep a roof over his head. Then the storm came through and washed his life away. After volunteering to help clean up the aftermath, there was nothing left to do but leave.

“It was terrible,” he remembers. “I evacuated to Houston . . . a lot of people died, including some of my friends.”

No Work to Be Found                                                                                      

Alan tried to find work in Houston, but wasn’t able to get back on his feet. He had friends here in Oakland, so he came out here hoping to put his life back together. He found work as a landscaper and shared an apartment with a friend, but soon, all that was washed away, too.

“I lost my job,” Alan says. “My roommate wasn’t working full-time, so we couldn’t pay the bills.”

Alan has been homeless for a year now. He’s had a string of odd jobs, but hasn’t been able to find anything permanent. He started working on his G.E.D. and hopes that will open up some more doors for him.

“Cityteam offers me a place to rest after looking for work during the day. Three meals every day. I feel safe here.”