Edwin Fisher

Edwin Fisher grew up in a close-knit supportive family. They took family trips, were active in their church. Edwin loved playing basketball; his Dad was even his coach. As he got older and changed schools, he started meeting new friends and was exposed to a different lifestyle. "I started hanging with people who experimented with drugs, and this was not their fault, but before I knew it, I got caught up in it," Edwin explained.

Edwin would go on to live with substance use issues, mental, and emotional disabilities. His experience would be exacerbated by post-traumatic stress related to witnessing his Dad's passing. He had trouble staying in school, would experience homelessness and the revolving door of the justice system. Five years ago, Edwin decided to get clean. With the support of his Mom, he had a place to stay and together they were connected with Independent Living Specialist, Dawn Padick at Atlantic CIL.

"Meeting Dawn was a blessing, '' Edwin explained. She would provide much needed peer support, keep him accountable for making it to therapy and other appointments. One of their biggest revelations was finding out that Edwin was supposed to have received social security benefits after his dad's passing. The work it took, not only to uncover this mistake, and then correct it, required consistent pressure, and follow up. Eventually, Edwin received 13 years back pay. This was huge for Edwin and his Mom because they were able to buy a house.

Today Edwin is thriving. He describes, "Everything has changed for the better, life is hard enough without drugs and the trouble that comes along with that. I am back in contact with family who disowned me, I have their support and that means so much to me."