A Beacon of Help & Hope
Meet Melvin Johnson
Bridge Housing Campus Graduate
For over 15 years, Melvin experienced homelessness — sleeping on benches, cycling through shelters, walking miles on a bad knee, and living with the uncertainty of what tomorrow might bring.
At 73, he often wondered if he’d survive much longer.
“I was struggling,” he shared. “I had pain. It was hard to get up and down the streets every day – and with no goals. I had no confidence in myself and was tired of the streets. I didn’t know how much time I had left.”
That all began to change when he came to PFC. At the Day Center, Melvin had access to showers, warm meals, medical clinics, and a safe place to rest his mind and body. Then, Melvin was offered to be part of the first group of residents to move into the Bridge Housing Campus, where he began to rebuild his life.
At the Bridge Housing Campus, Melvin found more than a soft bed. He received a cane to ease his walking, access to dental care, haircuts from our in-house barber, support with laundry and making meals, and a growing sense of possibility. He attended daily classes that were part of the BHC program and began mapping out goals for the future.
“Everything that I got right now is from here. I had nothing,” he said. “I’m 73. I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be here. I know it ain’t gonna be no long time. So I just want to get an apartment, transportation and a job. And to relax for these last few years.”
When reflecting on his experiences at PFC, what struck him the most was the support from our community. “The big surprise was the way they come in and ask you, ‘Do you need anything?’ They ask you that question quite often, all through the day.”
“They talk to you in a way that [tells you] when you complete this program, they’re still going to help you later, and that’s what I like about it. I encourage anybody to please get in this program because it’s here for you. They are wonderful, and I’m not just saying it. I’m saying it because I’m living it and they’re showing me every day.”
After six months of hard work, Melvin graduated from the Bridge Housing Campus in April 2025, alongside fellow residents Phillip and James. Today, they live as neighbors in the same apartment complex — continuing their journeys together and staying connected to the PFC community.
