Ruben Gonzalez lived unsheltered before arriving at Heartwood Apartments, part of the Project Homekey initiative in Mountain View, California. Heartwood, which opened in October 2024, provides permanent housing for individuals experiencing homelessness, including transitional-age youth. The development features various apartment types, supporting residents in addressing health issues and gaining stability. Gonzalez has found housing vital for his recovery from substance abuse and personal growth. Many residents report transformative changes in their lives due to stable living conditions and supportive services available at Heartwood.
You can be homeless, but you don't have to be hopeless. Heartwood Apartments, which opened in October 2024, is part of Project Homekey - a state initiative that provides funds to organizations or entities that allow them to purchase and transform properties into permanent or temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness.
It's been life-changing for a lot of the residents. Some previously homeless residents have severe health issues, and so having somewhere stable to live has given them an opportunity to take care of those health issues.
For Gonzalez, access to housing has been a turning point. He said he was proud his father was able to visit his new apartment last October before passing away two months later.
Sleeping outside, not being able to shower, having no steady schedule to eat - it was pretty hard. There was a point where I thought I was going to give up.
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