When Antonio first connected with Goodwill’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), he was living in a homeless shelter—unsure of what his next steps would be. From that starting point, Antonio began building a more stable future.
“I walked into Goodwill asking about job readiness,” he shared. “That’s when I met Dawn, who introduced me to the SCSEP program. We began the pre-enrollment process that same day.”
Through SCSEP, Antonio not only started earning wages again—he rediscovered a sense of structure, purpose, and growth. “The program brought back the structure of work ethics, like keeping a schedule, being reliable, and adapting to a new work environment,” he said. “There were bumps and bruises along the journey, but I learned to trust the process and to talk to my program manager when challenges came up.”
With support from Goodwill, Antonio moved out of the shelter into a rented sleep room—and now lives in a shared house, with the upstairs space to himself. More importantly, he gained unsubsidized employment in less than a year.
“My life is more comfortable now, and I’ve been able to start making plans for a better tomorrow.”
Antonio’s future goals include taking seminar classes and one day becoming a faith-based motivational speaker working with youth.
“The programs at Goodwill encourage you to do better and reflect on yourself. They help you discover your strengths and challenge your weaknesses,” Antonio said. “SCSEP was a stepping stone for greater achievements and for learning reliable skills in a diverse world.”
At Goodwill, we believe in second chances—and Antonio’s journey is a powerful reminder of how opportunity, guidance, and determination can change lives.
Good Happens Here.
