EL CAJON, Calif. — An El Cajon man who spent the past two years living on the street now has a new place to call home, thanks to the help of a few officers who arrested him.
Robert Santiaguin had been arrested and ticketed more than a dozen times and refused outreach resources until one day he agreed to get help.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Santiaguin wiped the tears from his eyes while sharing his story of how he got to where he is today.
“I can actually walk outside and feel ahhh,” said Santiaguin.
He can walk outside of his own studio apartment that is heated and has air conditioning.
“I cried. I do it every day. I thank God every day for it and thank the cops and Home Start. If it wasn’t for them I don’t know where I’d be,” said Santiaguin.
Robert says he’d still be living in the 1000 block of Decker Street.
“Two years on the street and it was hell,” said Santiaguin.
El Cajon Police said they arrested Santiaguin at least 17 times over four years for Illegal lodging, drugs and municipal code violations.
“We probably asked him no less than a hundred times through the course of two years if he wanted to go to emergency shelter or a motel voucher,” said Officer Stephen Bellwood, El Cajon Police Special Enforcement Unit.
But each time, Robert insisted on living in a tent on the streets.
“I kept refusing and kept refusing because I didn’t think I needed it,” he added.
But in January when officers Bellwood and Brandon Inis made contact with Santiaguin, they asked again if he wanted to move to temporary housing.
“Then finally one day he randomly said yes and I was shocked at first but was super excited,” said Inis.
It took about four months but with the help of Home Start, a non-profit that helps families and individuals be self-sufficient, Robert was able to graduate from Second Chance, another group that provided workforce readiness.
“He didn’t give up on himself even though there was hiccups he was determined to keep going,” said Karina Hernandez, Home Start Housing Program Manager.
Home Start helped furnish his home and the officers who once arrested him also helped decorate the studio apartment.
“It’s just not the life to live, you have to want to do it and I wanted to do it so I did it. You guys gave me the little shove,” said Santiaguin.
Home Start and the officers don’t want to take all the credit for his success but they are proud to see their efforts are making an impact.
“I gave him direction and he did the rest on his own. I can’t take credit for what he did he put in all the hard work,” said Inis.
Those little nudges over time made a big impact and has kept Robert from looking back but rather looking forward.
“I am proud of myself, and I thank God every day,” said Santiaguin.
Home Start also helped furnish his apartment and provides a rental subsidy along with county benefits and he recycles to make ends meet.
“There are a lot of Roberts out there and they may not all be heard but there are a lot of them out there and we are proud of you Robert,” said Abdullah Alogaida, Home Start, Homeless Outreach Coordinator.
Robert built a resume and sharpened his interview skills, he says he is good at construction, working on heavy equipment and landscaping, if you are interested in hiring Robert call Home Start at 619-851-5101 or email Karina Hernandez here.
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