In 2006, my five-year-old son Kristopher and I were suddenly homeless and separated. I was terrified I would lose “My Little Man”.
I was staying at The Rescue Mission for Men and Kris was staying at Casa Pacifica, a shelter for children. Even though blessed with a job, I was unable to secure housing and Kristopher was being interviewed by foster families. I had never felt so completely defeated and frightened in my entire life. My only hope was my newfound faith and my discovery of RAIN Transitional Living Center. A case worker from Ventura County’s Homeless Services Agency helped set the wheels in motion that would change my and Kris’s life forever. Kris and I were joyfully reunified and began our new life at RAIN for several months. I will never forget the first time I walked into our very own room and saw a brand new toy firetruck and cute little teddy bear sitting on a what was to be Kristopher’s new bed. I sat at the end of that bed and wept… not cried… but actually, joyfully wept. I finally felt safe and knew everything was going to be ok. That was a pivotal moment of my life.
From that day on, RAIN provided me and Kris with healthy meals and safe transportation to work and school enabling me to save money so that I could eventually secure my own housing and automobile. While Kris played with his newfound RAIN family of brothers and sisters out in the amazing backyard with a donated jungle gym, bicycles, and sports court, the other RAIN parents and I attended training in effective parenting, employment assistance, money management, and healthy lifestyle choices. Regular family counseling helped both me and Kris overcome the traumas we had been through resulting from homelessness, and our separation.
Sometimes RAIN would take us “Beyond The Backyard” to different venues like so many families often experience. Kris was able to go to school on Monday morning with stories about the County Fair, a fishing trip, a Dodger game, an amusement park, a local museum, or pumpkin patch, just like the other kids in his class. Those field trips gave Kris and I a sense of normalcy and graciously provided me a sense of dignity that was so valuable to me during my life’s reconstruction and recovery from homelessness . I am so grateful for those extra special experiences during our stay at RAIN. And don’t get me started about the holidays… wowzers… the unforgettable experience of having been “adopted” by total strangers and having our Christmas provided so that I was able to keep saving money to rebuild our lives still brings me joy! I remember watching Kris open all of those presents. I felt so loved and cared for.
Today Kris is a successful college student with endless possibilities for his future and I am enjoying the blessings of a lucrative career with a local legacy company House Sanitary Supply. Kris and I are long time members of Crossroads Church in Camarillo where I currently serve on the leadership team. Life has come full circle and I’ve even recently purchased my first home! And, here’s the fun part; after several years of speaking publicly on RAIN’s behalf, I joined the Board of Directors of RAIN Communities, Inc. and currently hold the gavel as President and Chairman of the Board!
Our story is just one of the hundreds of successful lives saved and transformed by RAIN.
On behalf of all of the RAIN residents, past and present, Kris and I wish to express our most sincere gratitude to YOU for your financial support and in-kind donations. As for me and my “not so little anymore” Kristopher, thanks to generous people like you, we will continue “paying it forward” so that when a homeless parent has almost lost all hope, RAIN is there with that second chance for a fresh start.
Thank you for supporting this amazing program!
Dave Kohlmeier
RAIN Communities, President