I had nightmares for years. My mom held a shotgun to my dad’s head and told him if he said another word, she’d blow his head off.” That was forty years ago, Red says, remembering he was five years old when he witnessed that exchange between his parents.

Like so many individuals who find themselves experiencing homelessness for the first time as an adult, Red had no idea when he was a young boy that his family’s dysfunction would seep its way into his own life choices.

“I went on drinking benders to avoid dealing with all the pain,” Red said. “What’s weird is that for so many years, I didn’t even know where the pain was coming from. I was just trying to live life.”

Things eventually came crashing down on Red in much the same way it had for his parents.

Download a copy of our recent MTM Newsletter to read about how Red continues to pursue God’s path for his life.