Giovanni Diaz’s Story

My name is Giovanni Diaz. I come from a troubled background full of depression and addiction. I was born into a family of drug addicts. I grew up in a dope house. Growing up, I had no choice but to live in the streets. It was the only way I would survive. I had to steal, scratch, and claw just to have something to eat. I had to break in abandoned houses just to have a place to sleep. I had to drop out of school at the age of 17 because I had children. I could never keep a job or take care of my family because I was ruled by drug addiction.

I have stolen from family and hurt a lot of good people who just wanted to help me. I let my kids and my family down. I lost it all. I never thought I would get another chance at really doing something with my life. I contemplated suicide a lot of times.

Coming to the Mission really saved and changed my life for the better. I’ve become a believer in Christ and just a believer in life overall. I have met a lot of very genuine, kind, and loving people. They are helping me get my GED, my license, and they have helped recover from addition. They have helped me become healthy and just be happy. They have helped me turn away from the life of addition. I’ so thankful they believed in me and gave me a chance and opportunity when no one else would.