• The Drive to Survive

    Each morning, Daniel Pollard woke up at 4:30 a.m. in his car, which was broken down in a parking lot on SE 14th Street. He walked seven miles in the wind, rain and cold to be at work by 7 a.m. After a 12-hour shift, he walked the seven miles back to his car, where he tried to get comfortable enough to sleep before starting over the next day.

    “I’m just happy to have a job,” Daniel said. “I have a son who depends on me. Even though I’m homeless, I have to take care of him.”

    A little over a year ago, Daniel was working as a quality analyst at Wells Fargo and living happily with his girlfriend and their 13-year-old son, Daniel Jr. Then in March 2020, Daniel’s position was eliminated. The loss of his job—coupled with the PTSD he suffers as a Purple Heart veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm—sent him into a deep depression. His personal relationships declined, and he found himself alone and homeless.

    “There’s a stigma attached to people who are homeless, but it can happen to anyone,” Daniel explained. “I served in the military; I went to college. I did everything right. But here I am.”

    Daniel parked his car in a lot across from his son’s house so he could stay close and watch over him. When the car eventually broke down, he didn’t have the money to fix it. His feet swelled from living in such a confined space, and he slept poorly from being constantly on edge.

    Then one day, Daniel was referred to Joppa. He met with staff and explained where he was living in his car. Outreach teams began visiting weekly with supplies and food, and one volunteer helped Daniel get his new job.

    But just when he was starting to get ahead, Daniel’s car was towed. He tried to survive outside to stay near his son, but finally went to a shelter to escape the winter weather. From there, Daniel took public transportation to work, although he still had to walk one mile to the bus stop— and two miles on the weekends.

    Despite the many setbacks, Daniel is determined to do what’s necessary to rebuild his life. While he sees his son as much as possible, he is looking forward to the day when he can afford his own place and Daniel Jr. can live with him part-time.

    “The only thing that keeps me going is my son,” Daniel explained. “He sees me working hard and pressing on, so I can’t give up. I want my son to be proud of me.”

    In February, Daniel’s positive outlook paid off. Joppa surprised him with the keys to a 2013 Chevy Malibu, which was donated by generous supporters. With tears in his eyes, Daniel slowly opened the door and got behind the wheel. “This pushes me forward,” he said. “It’s incredible. I feel so blessed.”

    As he drove away from Joppa, Daniel said with a smile, “I’m going to pick up my son, and we’re going to go for a drive.”

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