Dennis Finds Motivation, Safety at Las Dahlias

Dennis and his family packed up their lives in Los Angeles and made the trek down to Atlanta, Georgia in search of greater opportunities. For five years, they owned and managed a successful seafood restaurant.

“My family and I, we had a lot – cars and beautiful homes,” said Dennis, then 60. “I thought I was on top of the world.”

Then, in 2020, Dennis’ mother lost her battle against lung cancer and his sister, founder of the family business, died from COVID-19.

“After that, everything started going on a downward spiral – I gave up,” Dennis said. “I could barely take care of myself.”

Crushed by debilitating grief, he hid inside his home for weeks on end. He stopped bathing, and doubled his weight eventually reaching over 400 pounds, crippling his health to the point he could barely walk. Within a year, the business failed.

“We lost everything,” he said. “I never thought I would be in this situation.”

In search of a fresh start, Dennis traveled back to Los Angeles. Although he had no plan, he hoped to find housing soon. But with no family support on the West Coast, Dennis bounced between staying in shelters and sleeping on the street for two years.

“The streets will tear you down and wear you out,” he said. “It makes you feel worthless.”

He stayed at a crowded shelter in Pomona for 6 months where his personal space was consistently invaded, and he was constantly exposed to drugs. He awaited news about housing assistance only to learn after months that his paperwork was never filed.

Frustrated and with nowhere to go, Dennis took to the dangerous streets of the city looking for a safe place to rest. When he finally found a spot underneath a bridge, he awoke to a man gripping a brick over his head – he narrowly escaped the assault and with little strength he sought refuge at a nearby convenience store.

“There were so many times that I just wanted to give up,” Dennis said.

Worsening medical conditions and limited access to healthcare combined with the fear of being attacked took a nearly deadly toll. In 2023 while on the streets of Pomona, he suffered a heart attack and landed at the Keck Hospital of USC.

After his treatment, the hospital referred him to a halfway house through the Illumination Foundation, a nonprofit that combats homelessness. There, Dennis got the help he needed – help that led him to Las Dahlias, National CORE’s new affordable housing community in East Los Angeles.

Dennis received the keys to his fully furnished one-bedroom apartment in July.

“There is nothing like having a home so when I got those keys, it felt like a thousand bricks were lifted off of my chest and I could finally breathe,” he said.

He said the support system that he cultivated at Las Dahlias is motivating him to keep going. Between property management and the onsite case managers, he said he feels cared for at the community.

Dennis is working to get his mental and physical health back on track. Already down 150 pounds, he strives to lose more weight to improve his mobility. Although he still struggles with walking, he no longer uses a walker or wheelchair.

Dennis is focused on turning his apartment into a home and finding a caregiver that will assist him with everyday tasks that are still difficult.

“I caught a good blessing, and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.