“This wasn’t supposed to happen to me!” said Jerry Bauer.  Raised in a military household, he understood hard work and rules. He attended college in Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree.  For 28 years, Jerry ran a lucrative auto detailing company in Miami, Florida. He was successful and had the financial means to run with the “fast” crowd, which led to a life of addiction. After Hurricane Andrew hit Florida, Jerry moved to Texas to be closer to family and started over.

He was evicted from his apartment in San Antonio due to drug possession. Jerry was one of the first clients to enter Haven for Hope and was given a bed in the men’s dormitory. He worked with a case manager and was back on his own in a short time. However, Jerry did not fully appreciate his addiction and found himself evicted from another apartment,  and back at Haven for Hope for the second time.

This time at Haven for Hope, a 12-step program helped him address his addiction.  Jerry worked hard to save money and vowed that he would not return to Haven for Hope as a client ever again. Today, Jerry works as a security supervisor at the San Antonio Library.  Since the library closed, due to the COVID-19 crisis, he needed to find a temporary job.  He is now working security at the hotel secured to house some 300 Haven for Hope clients.  Jerry readily shares his story and lessons learned with clients at the hotel, along with words of encouragement.