Meet Robert

“The judge gave me a choice—9 years or enter a program.”

When Robert returned from the Vietnam War, he experienced a cycle of drug use and couch surfing before entering the prison system. During this period, he faced the physical exhaustion of being homeless, as well as feelings of losing his identity.

“I wasn’t myself… Your body gets tired, and at a certain point, you know you’re not you.”

Robert experienced homelessness for 12 years in total, but joining a program at Samaritan Village—an organization that helps with substance use, mental health treatment, and supportive housing—helped jumpstart his comeback. Robert was further propelled by Back on my Feet, a Bombas Giving Partner Organizations who uses running, fitness, and community to battle homelessness and build confidence in those they serve.

Currently, Robert has secure housing, five marathons under his belt, and still continues to run three times a week. When he’s not running, you can find Robert playing chess, slow dancing, and enjoying the company of his 14 grandkids.