SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Transitioning out of homelessness is a course of that may take years.
Anthony Gissendanner, a person engaged on discovering a everlasting home, mentioned he has confronted many challenges together with the recent disappearance of his emotional assist canine.
“He’s been emotional support because being out here…is hard,” mentioned Gissendanner.
For the previous two months, Gissendanner has been looking for Cyrus, his American Staffordshire Terrier Mix. He mentioned Cyrus has helped him navigate the difficulties of homelessness since February 2019.
“I had lost my job…I was taking too much time off from work because my mom was dying. After that…I didn’t know what I was going to do,” he mentioned.
Gissendanner mentioned he discovered hope and assist in one of many San Diego’s safe sleeping sites.
“We try to give them the services necessary so they can better themselves and get back into the real world,” mentioned Christopher Allen, who’s the case supervisor of Dreams for Change, an area nonprofit serving to individuals in want.
Allen mentioned they’ve seen a rise in individuals in search of providers. The metropolis of San Diego additionally confirmed a continued surge in numbers for the reason that opening of the O Lot in October.
Allen works intently with on-site residents to create a plan working in direction of everlasting housing.
“I see them wake up with different energy every morning. Whenever I do my walk through I say how are you doing? What do you have going on today?” he said.
Gissendanner said the most beneficial part of the city’s safe sleeping site program is knowing that he has a home base to return to.
“To know that when I come back…if I go pass out flyers or anything…that my stuff and my place is going to be there,” he said. “A lot of times when you’re homeless you come back and everything is gone.”
Gissendanner also said he is on track to be housed, hopefully, by early next year. He even had a job interview lined up but said losing his dog has set him back temporarily.
“When I lost him…I basically shut down. Just to know that he’s wandering out there,” he mentioned.
Gissendanner has been passing out flyers round city, hoping Cyrus finds his method again.
“He’s my buddy, I’m going to do something I can for him,” he mentioned.
