RONNIE WHEELER, CLIENT

Ronnie Wheeler works at the Gateway Center as a Resident Assistant. He aids the staff in daily routines and helps new clients settle into the programs offered by the Gateway Center and its partners.

The transition to self-sufficiency from life on the streets is difficult. At the Gateway Center, residents must be enrolled in programs that address their individual needs and engage their caseworkers respectfully and honestly. They also must treat the staff, fellow residents and other guests respectfully.

"I tell them that when an individual accepts discipline, then they know they're on the way to recovery," Ronnie says. "Rules are here to help them grow."

Ronnie, 40, speaks not only with the authority of an employee but from personal experience. He lived in South Carolina for many years, working in a candy factory for about 10 of those years. A physical disability caused him to have seizures, and he reduced his work hours as a semi-retiree.

Ronnie's illness began to take a mental toll on him. He enrolled in a mental health treatment program and he became a peer group leader. His work boosted his self-confidence and brought him accolades in South Carolina. But his health continued to worsen, costing him his job once again. Ronnie moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, but when several job leads didn't materialize, he became homeless. He found his way to Atlanta, where he learned of the Gateway Center in October 2008.

"The people here were very compassionate," Ronnie says. "That was unusual to me. Usually the staff is confrontational at centers and shelters for the homeless."

Ronnie told the Gateway Center staff about his experience as a peer group leader, and they let him work as a resident assistant. Long term, Ronnie plans to find permanent employment that he hopes will allow him to continue coaching and mentoring others.

"I see myself springing back to life," Ronnie says. "These types of programs help build skills."