13/01/2026
🥰🥰🐝
Sunday Success Story – Meet Richard 🏡✨
At 79 years old, Richard has lived a full and vibrant life. In his younger years, he trained horses. Later, he built a successful career in real estate—buying, selling, and investing in properties. For decades, life was steady and fruitful.
But a series of difficult decisions, including selling the home he lived in, led to what Richard now calls the hardest year of his life. In a short span of time, he lost loved ones—and the stability he had known for most of his years. Everything changed quickly.
Soon, Richard found himself living out of his truck, parking wherever he felt safe enough to sleep.
When he learned about ECHO, he began coming for warm dinners, showers, laundry, and night-by-night shelter. Not long after, he entered our 90-Day Program—determined to do everything he could to get back into housing. Working closely with his case manager, Teresa, Richard stayed focused and hopeful.
After researching housing options, Richard shared his dream with Teresa: to one day receive a Section 8 voucher—knowing how life-changing that stability would be.
✨ And today, we are overjoyed to share that Richard is housed! 🎉🙌
He was matched with housing, which qualifies residents for a Section 8 voucher. With a smile, Richard shared, “I got what I dreamed and wished for.”
But this milestone means even more. Having a home has finally given Richard the space and peace to focus on his health—something that felt impossible without stability. After losing his partner to cancer, Richard is now facing his own cancer diagnosis. Through it all, he remains hopeful and grateful to be receiving specialized care at UCLA.
With housing secured, Richard is now preparing for the road ahead—planning to trade in his truck for a more reliable, fuel-efficient car to make the trips for treatment.
Today, we celebrate Richard—not only for securing a home, but for the strength, grace, and determination he continues to carry forward. Please join us in sending him well wishes as he begins this next chapter. 💙
✨ Richard’s Wishlist:
• Twin sheets
• Comforter
• Gas gift cards (to support travel to UCLA)
If you’d like to help Richard make his home feel more like home, please contact Teresa at (805) 792-2509.
