LuJuana's Story: As a result of her home catching fire, LaJuana lived in “some of the worst places in San Francisco”, until, after 3 and half years of being on wait list, a unit on Treasure Island opened up for her.
After struggling with addiction, homelessness and abuse, LaJuana is now living in stable supportive housing on Treasure Island with her family. With the encouragement of her case manager, LaJuana started using all the resources on the island to help her get her life back in order. One of the biggest challenges she had was addressing identity theft. She enrolled in One Treasure Island’s Economic Self Sufficiency Institute (ESSI) and was able to resolve the identity theft and protect herself from it happening again.
She also went from knowing very little about using a computer to learning MS Word, MS Excel, emailing and more. After graduating from the ESSI, LaJuana continues to thrive and to further her education. And she is going to be a key note speaker at our next ESSI orientation to inspire others with her achievements!
Paul’s Story: Paul is one of six One Treasure Island’s recent STP Commercial B License Training graduates. Paul, formally incarcerated, is ready to begin his new life out the system and ready to achieve his goals. An opportunity rose as he found the Commercial B License Training Program. This new direction has allowed him to focus on his goals and enact them. In his words, “I’m ready to learn, do new things, and reach my goals. I’ve learned to appreciate life, people and my freedom. [One Treasure Island] has made me aware of my finances, how to be financially stable and made me enthusiastic in managing my money. [One TI] staff taught us [STP] to persevere and cooperate in any situation, which I appreciate.” Paul is currently studying for his Class B License exam and ready to continue his journey in the workforce.
In His Own Words:  I am forever grateful for the patience, understanding, support and encouragement that has embraced me here on Treasure Island since I began this journey. I work extremely close with TIHDI and their staff to accomplish goals I had no idea were achievable. Some of those goals include getting my credit back up to par, addressing my child support arrears,  engaging more within the society;  which helped restore my hope and faith in life’s possibilities,  and just my whole outlook on life in general. I am a former US Marine Corp Service Member, who found himself homeless after a period of time home. Without much hope or contacts, I was introduced to Swords to Plowshares. The introduction could not have come at a more crucial time in my in life, having already been homeless for 5 years.  Through Swords, I was placed in veteran’s supportive housing on Treasure Island and I have been here for the past three years. Every community agency that has been introduced to me, I have benefited from.
In His Own Words: I was putting an effort into using drugs, today, I’m putting an effort into working a permanent job. TIHDI taught me how to save money, get a bank account, do interviews, how to dress for an interview…they taught me computer skills, now I can do almost anything on the computer…They have given me the strength to be a better parent. They have given me the tools to be a better parent.
In Her Own Words: One Treasure Island is about bringing the community in as one, as love and that’s just what I really love about Treasure Island…I think it’s the best place to raise a family, not just my family and more families need to come.