Whatever It Takes: Giving Wings to Change

When I think about the work we do at firsthand, one phrase guides everything I do: whatever it takes. It is a commitment to stay, to adapt, and to trust that sustained effort creates lasting change for the people we serve and for those of us doing the work.

I have been with firsthand since August of 2024. I am in recovery, and before coming to firsthand I worked as a massage therapist for seventeen years and later did outreach work with another organization. I was introduced to firsthand through that outreach, and this role has allowed me to grow in ways I did not expect. firsthand has given me wings.

One of the first individuals I worked with came from my initial batch of cases last November. I will call him Marcus.

When I first met Marcus, he was unhoused and living in a makeshift tent in his father’s front yard. He was living withuntreated schizophrenia and significant health concerns that were affecting every aspect of his life. His father was overwhelmed, trying to support Marcus while also caring for a wife who was seriously ill and later passed away. Marcus did not believe he had a mental health condition, and trust was difficult at first.

We met Marcus where he was and stayed with him.

There were times when Marcus would disappear and I would not know where he was. On those days, I did not stop looking. I went back again and again, checking the places he might be, returning the next day if I came up empty. I did not assume he was disengaged or that the work was over. Never giving up meant continuing to show up, even when it was hard and even when there were no immediate answers. Through my own recovery, I understand how easy it is to fall out of reach and how powerful it is when someone keeps coming back. So I did. Every time.

In the beginning, progress also depended on showing up in very practical ways. Marcus’s concerns about scabies were a major barrier in the outside healthcare system. Even when tests showed otherwise, we continued to listen and validate his experience. Feeling dismissed had kept him stuck for a long time. Feeling heard helped him move forward.

We worked hard to give Marcus the opportunity to live a productive and increasingly independent life. We supported the basics that make stability possible: safer shelter, access to showers through a gym membership, and daily routines that supported both physical and mental health. Over time, these changes improved Marcus’s confidence, dignity, and overall well-being, laying the groundwork for long-term progress.

As Marcus became more stable, we focused on systemic support. I coordinated appointments, served as his primary point of contact, and advocated for him during assessments. When it came time for housing, I applied for home health services and worked closely with an adult family home owner who was willing to wait months for Marcus until everything was in place.

Today, Marcus is housed, financially stable, and planning to return to school to become a peer counselor. One of the most difficult moments we shared was when Marcus’s father asked me to be the one to tell him that his mother had passed away. Supporting Marcus through that loss was part of the trust we had built and a reminder that this work is as much about human connection as it is about systems and services.

In recovery, we receive things that change our lives: health, peace of mind, resiliency, and hope. I believe deeply that once we receive those things, we are meant to give them away. At firsthand, I have found a way to do exactly that. By giving health, hope, and guidance to Marcus, I have seen the impact ripple outward—to families, communities, and even back to me.

Becoming a Senior Peer was a goal I set for myself, and I was recently promoted into that role. That promotion was not just recognition; it reflected the principle that giving away what we receive brings growth and reward in return. The wings firsthand gave me have allowed me to thrive, to lead with compassion, and to continue being rewarded for helping others thrive.

When we commit to whatever it takes, the impact does not stop with one person. It strengthens families, builds stability, and creates opportunities that ripple outward. The work pays off for the individual, for the guide, and for everyone connected to their journey. That impact is boundless, and it is what keeps me showing up every day.