KAYSVILLE—Andrew needed a fresh start. The Kaysville man is going through a divorce and has had no stable place to stay. He’s been living out of his car, in hotels or depending on family and friends. In spite of these obstacles, Andrew found a two-bedroom apartment but it is completely unfurnished. He needed help to create a home where he and his three children, a 17-year-old daughter, 12-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter could spend time together.

The apartment lease won’t allow used bedding because of the possibility of bed bugs. Although he is on workman’s compensation it doesn’t provide the additional income he needs to furnish the apartment. 

However, through the help of organizations such as Northstar Hope Foundation, Other Side Academy and Habitat for Humanity, Andrew now has a furnished apartment. Volunteers from the organizations delivered furniture, a washer and dryer and other household items to Andrew’s apartment last week.  

“We let everyone at those organizations know that we were having a furniture drive,” said Jay Tobey, Founder & CEO North Star Recovery & Wellness. “We had public nominations and picked those who could use it. Out of 40 we picked five.”

Andrew was going through his own struggles, said Tobey. “He had no table in the kitchen. If home is not an inviting place it reminds people ‘I’m back to square one.’”

North Star is dedicated to helping those with mental health and substance abuse issues, he said. “This is a huge sector. One in six people suffer from mental health or substance abuse and only 13% get help. We’re trying to find out where the gap is.”

Tobey said each quarter they have an initiative to shine a light on the ongoing struggles. “A lot of people in this industry are basically homeless but trying to better themselves. Your atmosphere is important.”

“I’d been living on the streets for five years,” said Stephanie from Salt Lake, who received furniture too. “When I went into treatment I only had the clothes on my back. The first place I got was public housing. I only had the clothing and bedding they gave me when I left treatment.”

Stephanie’s roommate in treatment was her roommate in the apartment. “Her daughter bought us two blow up mattresses,” she said. “We slept on those for six months. We got a TV but it broke. Little by little we got a few things but this was huge. To come to a home gave me the hope to move onto the next step.”

Stephanie said she was given a bed, dresser, nightstand, end tables, a seven piece bed set for the bed and a nice rug for the front room. “This means the world to me – more than you can imagine. My son nominated me. It’s been a long road for me. I’ve been a disappointment to my family. My son suffers from addiction too. He’s been proud of me that I’ve turned my life around.”

The Other Side Academy has a thrift shop and donut shop, she said. “The people who go through the program work in those entities. We need a helping hand to get back into work.”

North Star’s charity work and the Other Side Academy change lives, said Stephanie. “After living on the street and you have nothing and anything you do get –  gets stolen – something to call your own is a new beginning for people.”