Client Story: William

Meet William! William is this month's Client Feature at the Samaritan Center!

For William, the past four months have been a difficult chapter in his life, but today he is looking toward the future with renewed hope. Originally from Oakland and San Francisco, William moved to Simi Valley in 2017. After experiencing a major health setback that left him unable to work, he lost his apartment and eventually found himself living out of his vehicle. William has since made a full recovery and is now focused on rebuilding his life.

Throughout this difficult time, William’s service dog, Apollo, has remained by his side. William shared that he believes he would be dead if it were not for Apollo and credits his faithful companion with helping him through some of his darkest moments.

William had heard about the Samaritan Center many years ago through a mutual connection who knew our Executive Director, Annika Sumby. When he became homeless, he knew the Samaritan Center was a place where he could turn for support. He became a client in April 2026, and since then, he has worked closely with his caseworker, Miguel.

William says Miguel has been wonderful to both him and Apollo and that the support he has received has been incredible. Miguel helped William create a resume, and Miguel and Volunteer Coordinator Diane also connected him with a job fair in Simi Valley. William attended the job fair and received a job opportunity. He also used the resume Miguel helped him create to apply for another position and was offered that job as well. William has decided to accept both positions and is currently working through the process of accepting the offers.

The Samaritan Center has also helped William along the way with gas cards that allowed him to get to job interviews. During his time as a client, William also received food pantry supplies, along with food and other supplies for Apollo, helping support both William and his faithful companion along the way.

William is hopeful that his new employment will help him secure housing soon. He and Miguel are looking forward to their next case management appointment and discussing the next steps.

When asked about the Samaritan Center staff and volunteers, William said they are “the best,” describing them as caring, professional, friendly, and dedicated. He said the Samaritan Center “exceeded all expectations” and that they truly care.

William’s message to others facing difficult times is simple: “Don’t give up hope.” Today, with Apollo by his side and new opportunities ahead, William is excited for his next chapter and hopeful for what the future holds.

Thank you for sharing your story, William!