During his stay, he heard about the Workforce Development program provided by Next Step of West Michigan, a division of MTM, and signed up. Isaiah said, “This gave me a reason and purpose every day to get back into the role of being responsible and productive.”

As a part of the training program, Isaiah received practical training in resume building and interviewing. Relationships with several employers in the community exist as part of the Workforce Development program, and Isaiah was immediately connected after his graduation. When Isaiah was offered a living-wage job at a local high-end furniture company, everyone celebrated with him!

After many years of hardship, Isaiah stepped into responsibility and consistent rhythms, and got his life back. “I recently moved out of Mel Trotter and into another program they provide and into transitional housing where I moved into a beautiful house that I share with others who also have jobs,” said Isaiah.
For the first time in his life, he has his own bedroom and is building relationships with his housemates by sharing responsibilities such as cooking, shopping, and other household chores.

Because of stable employment, Isaiah can now budget and start saving to purchase a reliable vehicle to get to and from work easier.

“In less than 3 ½ months, I went from being homeless to learning a skilled
trade in woodworking, to now living in a space I can proudly call home,” reflected Isaiah.