The Road Home - Tim’s Story

When Kimberly Moore first started working with Tim, he was in crisis.

A resident at LA Family Housing’s (LAFH) My Angel permanent supportive housing (PSH) site in Van Nuys, Tim was going to the hospital two or three times a week. He knew he needed help and would call the paramedics himself. When he was not in the hospital, Tim frequently caused disturbances at My Angel, and the property manager was putting pressure on site staff to address the situation. To make matters even more difficult, the LAFH staff member Tim had built a connection with and trust in, was moving on to another job. 

Enter Kimberly, a warm and funny person who is impossible not to like within minutes of meeting her. She splits her time between two LAFH PSH sites—My Angel and Klump Apartments—where she plays a critical role as a Housing Stabilizer, ensuring participants have the support they need to remain stable and housed. 

“I take care of my clients here and make sure that they are healthy, living properly, and not harming themselves or others. I’m the mother of about 20 kids. That’s how I look at it,” she says. 

Two weeks into her role at LAFH, she was assigned to Tim. At first, working with him had its ups and downs. He was resistant to accepting outside help and taking his medication. But Kimberly was determined to help him succeed, consistently showing up for him, regardless of what had happened, without judgment.  

“When I met him, he was in pretty rough shape. But with a little tender love and care and taking it day by day, it just started changing,” she says. 

She convinced Tim to work with In-Home Services, which helps people who need assistance with daily activities such as cleaning, grocery shopping, and running errands. A caregiver began visiting Tim for a couple of hours each day. Together, they cleaned and organized his apartment, which is now spotless, orderly, and in passing condition. 

Kimberly also worked with Tim on his mental health. She shares that one thing that often prevents clients from seeking mental health support is the fear that it will require them to relive their trauma over and over again. She tries to dispel that misconception, telling them: “It's like, no, it's okay to sit in groups and with neighbors in a community room, with activities that can be fun. It won't be all about just talking about the sad times.” 

Tim is now consistent with his medication and is often one step ahead of Kimberly. One day, she rushed back from Klump Apartments to My Angel because his medication was being delivered, and she worried he might forget. When she arrived, Tim was already there waiting. 

“Of course, I’m here,” he told her. 

In fact, Tim has not been to the hospital in three months. 

In addition to the support Tim is now receiving, Kimberly has helped him reconnect with his family, who pick him up on weekends so they can spend time together. In his spare time, he works on music with his brother. While his brother is pursuing gospel music, Tim is focused on rap, drawing inspiration from the late rapper Tupac Shakur. 

When asked about his goals for the future, Tim shares that he wants to build a personal recording studio and release an album. “And not be too loud,” he adds with a grin. 

Reflecting on her work, Kimberly shares, “You can't, you know, half-step it. You’ve got to go 100%. And in this line of work, some days are easy and others you have your challenges, and you stay calm and just say, hey, I'm in it for the long haul with them.”