Home for the Holidays

Jugal’s Story

By The Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing

It’s the holiday season and we want to shine a spotlight on a few of our clients who are home for the holidays. These are clients that have made their way through our Homelessness Response System, and have a place all their own this holidays season.

This week we start with Jugal. Jugal’s success in moving through the housing system can be summed up in two words: “community support.” Jugal’s struggle with homelessness was rooted in escaping. He struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues which drove his need to escape. Over time Jugal made his way into the shelter system but was still struggling to push forward. That’s when he was approached by a member of our team who told him about the nonprofit ‘Back On My Feet.’ The organization focuses on addressing homelessness by building community through fitness and offering services to its members. Jugal says, “It really planted a seed to show me there was a different, better way of living.”

After connecting with ‘Back On My Feet’, Jugal was able to connect with mentors and services that would allow him to forge his own path. This also pushed him to enter rehab and with that, gain another community through AA. Jugal’s new-found community also connected him with San Francisco’s homelessness response system and our housing programs. His transition didn’t come without struggle, though. Jugal entered our Rapid Rehousing program during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns, which was a tumultuous process, but having that secure housing gave him stability to grow and thrive.

Recently, Jugal received his degree in finance allowing him to pursue a career in tech. With this he was able to work for a crypto-wallet company and has now co-founded a tech startup focused on helping people manage their digital identity. This next step allowed Jugal to move forward without the assistance provided by the Rapid Rehousing program and he is now able to fully support himself.

Now, Jugal is home for the holidays, and it means the world to him. For years he dreaded the holidays when they came around, but now he has a community and support system that makes this season feel like home. #WeAreHomeSF