Peter (left) finds connection and belonging with fellow card players Bill, Randy and James at Charles Village.
It took Peter 25 years to finish his studies at St. Jerome’s University.
His degree in philosophy was a hard-fought battle, one that makes Peter proud whenever he thinks of it.
That’s because the first time he attempted to finish his degree, he couldn’t. Struggling with the effects of bipolar disease, Peter found himself unable to function, with a crippling depression that made it impossible to work on his assignments.
Peter has found the stability and balance in his life that he needed to complete his studies, thanks to support he receives as part of Charles Village, one of House of Friendship’s Supportive Housing programs.
“I can’t tell you what a relief it was to finally get that degree,” said Peter. “A lot of things have been denied to me because of my mental health, and I wanted this very much.”
Peter came to House of Friendship after being hospitalized after the death of his father. His mother, who struggled with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, was unable to care for him, and Peter had few choices for housing.
“I didn’t want to live alone – that wasn’t an option for me.”
With support from staff, along with stable housing, Peter has been able to work with his psychiatrist to find the right balance in his life, including the right mix of medication that works for him, and building strong connections with others.
Peter regularly plays tennis, attends weekly card games with his friends, and serves as the afterhours contact at Charles Village, helping tenants navigate issues during the evening hours.
He credits the strong community in House of Friendship’s Supportive Housing program for helping him grow his social skills, developing valuable friendships that are now part of what keeps him healthy.
“That’s what House of Friendship is all about,” said Peter. “It really builds a strong community. And community is the one thing that has made the most difference for me, because that’s how you keep going.”
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