Rico
Rico was homeless, addicted to drugs and frequenting a Bronx drop-in center for meals. He was sick for two months before he went to the on-site medical clinic run by CFH and when he did, the diagnosis shocked him: He was HIV positive. “The doctor told me and I didn’t know what to do,” he said.

“Drugs caused me to be homeless,” he said. “I had two choices: drugs or my family. I chose drugs and I wound up getting thrown out.”

Hearing he was HIV positive changed his life. “When I got that message, that’s when I really decided to stop. It was either stop or keeping using drugs and kill myself.”
CFH was instrumental in helping Rico turn his life around by providing him access to Medicaid and medical attention. Drug free for other three years, he says he feels “normal and healthy. I’m taking medications to stay healthy and I feel good right now.”
CFH also helped Rico find an apartment with his social worker, enabling him to focus on other aspects of his life.

“I’ve been seeing my kids every now and then, now that they are older and know I’m not drugged or anything anymore,” he said. “I’m in a maintenance program for my drug problem and my kids know that I’m doing well.”

Almost four years after his diagnosis, Rico still sees a case manager at CFH twice a month. “They help me with everything from paperwork to finding me warm clothing for the winter, to helping me with my many appointments. They are really good to me. I like them a lot. They have really nice people working at Care for the Homeless.”

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