Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Homeless not Hopeless: Michael's Story

They didn’t have much—just three suitcases, three backpacks and three hearts looking for a fresh start. On July 18, 2009, Michael, his pregnant fiancĂ©e Dominique, and her four-year-old daughter Star got on a plane to Billings, Montana with a total of $81 in their pockets. Although Mike was born and raised in Arizona, he and his family were seeking a second chance in Billings.

The oldest of four children, Mike has seen his share of hard times. His father left when Mike was just eight years old and he admits that he was a wild, rebellious teen who acted out of hurt and anger. Although he worked steadily as a young man, Mike had trouble finding work after serving time in jail for aggravated assault in Phoenix. After completing his sentence, he had a new determination to do better for himself and his family. He got a new job and was optimistic about his future, but as his hours dwindled, he soon found himself unemployed. For the next two months, Mike submitted applications—over 200 of them. “Before, I didn’t have a problem getting a job,” he said. But company after company made it clear that they would not hire him because of his background. Finally, out of desperation, Mike and Dominique decided to sell everything they owned and move to Billings.

Once in Billings, they arranged to stay with Dominique’s uncle until they could find jobs and a place to live. While Dominique and Star visited family in Great Falls for a few weeks, Mike set out to search for a job —on foot and with no place to truly call home—canvassing street after street, submitting application after application. Then Mike came across MasterLube, a company that specializes in oil changes, car washes and glass repairs. After sharing his story and explaining his desire for a fresh start, Mike was told that his application would be hand-delivered to the manager of GlassDoctor, the glass repair branch of MasterLube. He was interviewed two days later and despite his far from typical history, was asked to start the next day. It began looking like he was finally going to get his chance for a new life.

After two weeks on the job, Mike ran into a bit of trouble and ended up in jail. Four days later, MasterLube’s management bailed him out and he was back at work by noon. But Mike’s problems didn’t end there—because of the situation that landed him in jail, Mike was unable to return to his fiancĂ©’s uncle’s home. Fear filled his heart as he thought of breaking the news of moving back to Phoenix to Dominique and Star when they returned from Great Falls. But much to his surprise, a co-worker he barely knew offered him a place to stay for the night.

The next day, MasterLube’s vice president, aware of Mike’s housing situation, began making phone calls on his behalf; they had him an apartment by that Friday. Since the family was unable to afford the initial costs of the apartment, MasterLube paid the application fee, the security deposit and the first month’s rent. In return, a small sum is deducted from Mike’s bi-weekly paycheck and will be until the company is fully reimbursed. While money is still tight, as the couple is working to pay off past bills, Mike is clear about one thing: “MasterLube has given me a living wage and a whole lot more….They do so much for their employees it’s unbelievable.”

MasterLube has proven to be a great aid in the couple’s ability to get on their feet in a new city, and have the dream of a new life come true. “They just put their neck out there and just did it,” Mike says of the company. The company’s generosity has given Mike something essential: hope for the future. “I’m really excited about the opportunities they are going to give me—I can go somewhere and be something….If you don’t like where you are in your life, and you have a goal set…they’re going to help you achieve that goal while you work for them.” Mike also has the support of his family in Arizona. They think his progress is “wonderful.” In fact, his mother, who saw him struggle for years, has a new view of her son: “She’s actually proud of me,” he says.

Mike knows that his new found success would not have been possible without the MasterLube team and the faith they placed in him. After all, he came to them with nothing but the desire to start a new life for his family. In the process, he found that his Billings “family” grew exponentially, as he is quick to point out, “My family out here is Dominique, Star and MasterLube.”