Tim’s story begins with a wife, a successful career, and an unimaginable loss. As a senior director at a company that designs rockets, Tim was once honored with a Perseverance Award for his leadership and dedication. Little did he know that same perseverance would one day carry him through one of the darkest chapters of his life.

In 2020, Tim’s wife of nearly twenty years was diagnosed with cancer. Just four months later, she passed away. Overwhelmed by grief, Tim struggled to cope and turned to alcohol. “I was struggling with an illness…I was an alcoholic and [using] drugs,” he shared. One week turned into two weeks, two weeks turned into four weeks, and before he knew it, three years had passed.

“I was struggling with losing myself…” he said, looking back at the battle he was internally fighting through his years of grief and homelessness.

One day, Tim woke up after being attacked. “This was what I was in…” He spoke vulnerably, “…and I couldn’t get out of it.” His fear on the streets was unfortunately exacerbated by the other people going through the same thing he faced. “The homeless…we are the worst to each other.” That moment became his turning point—the moment he decided to reclaim his life.

“I was almost dead, I was empty. No one should feel that.”

After three years of being unhoused in downtown San Diego, Tim made his way to Carlsbad, where he learned about La Posada de Guadalupe and “…it all fell into place.” Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego’s shelter for men who are unhoused, La Posada, provides a safe place to sleep, daily meals, showers, case management, and the resources needed to rebuild one’s life.

Tim has been staying at La Posada for about three weeks. His smile radiated gratitude as he spoke about his experience. “The thing about La Posada—they have real people here. Genuine people,” he said. “We’re free here.”

He explained that the compassion and encouragement he found at La Posada were unlike anything on the streets. “Catholic Charities has given me hope. Now what is that word?” Tim paused, then smiled. “You can’t put a price on hope.”

As our conversation concluded, Tim looked ahead with optimism. “The next door is going to open… I’m going to get up tomorrow, work on my resume, [and] do as I do.”

With renewed stability and purpose, Tim is once again pursuing opportunity—this time with faith and resilience guiding his path.

Tim’s current tomorrow may not be filled with designing rockets or winning awards, for now tomorrow promises the simplistic acts of working to get back into a career path and chatting with the genuine people he found at La Posada.

The important thing is that he has tomorrow, and it’s filled with hope.

Tim couldn’t understand how he received his Perseverance Award back when he was working at his design job. But now, all these years later, as he works to push through unbelievable grief to find himself once again; It’s clear that the award went to exactly the right person.

To others struggling, to those navigating grief and substance abuse, to those fighting unimaginable circumstances; Tim’s guidance was found through the support of Catholic Charities and La Posada. While he waits to travel through the next open door and make his decision for how to lead this new, uncharted life, he knows that eventually “…the answer will come.”