Meet our Participants

“The CORNER project played a big influence in my life, it gave me a sense of direction. Many days I woke up with the “f-it” attitude and I’d stop by the project. I was able to speak with the staff and get things off my chest. I was able to find work from the job board posted in the front and am still working. It’s more than a program, it’s a family. People are concerned about your well being, they speak to you out of concern. It’s not just a job for them. For those that don’t know about the program they should come check it out. It gives us hope.
To me the program is also a place where we get together as a community and make choices about what we think can help us better ourselves and the program. This is a place where our opinion means something. Outside of here our opinions didn’t matter, but inside the program our word was worth something. We’re reminded that we are human and our words count. For those that are serious about getting help this is the right place to start that road. The program offers counseling, referrals to inpatient and outpatient programs, help with getting benefits, and most importantly AIDS and Hepatitis C education and groups. And for what it’s worth I personally thank all the staff involved in the CORNER Project. Throughout the years I have learned that not only are they there to guide us to a better path but they are also there offering friendship as well, for those like me who don’t have family, offering me a new family.”
Jose G

“I found out about the CORNER Project from a couple participants who told me about the Participant Advisory Board and the program. They invited me to come to a meeting and at first I wasn’t going to come but then something told me to go so I went and did an intake. After the intake I started come in on the regular. I use the phone and get access to services like detox. I have the time to give back so I started to volunteer at the CORNER Project.
This place helps me in a lot of different ways, if I come here it keeps my mind off doing drugs. If I wasn’t coming here I’d be running the street. I try to respect the space and what’s being done here. I enjoy coming to the CORNER Project and as things improve in my life I hope to volunteer here more. Coming here benefits me, staff try to understand everyone’s situation no matter where they are at.”
James

“It’s a safe place that helps you be safer.”
“You’re helped where you want to be helped, at the point where you want, weather it’s safer supplies, getting treatment or medical care they meet you at the point where you want.”

“Places like this are few and far between and it’s important that the places that are around stay that that way.”
David

“When I started coming here I was still using, then I began to read the literature in the front and talk with the staff and participants and was able to stop using.  I continue to come here, it’s like my second home, I volunteer to make kits and keep busy.  If I didn’t come here I would probably be using.  I may use again but I know I have this place to come to”
“We all need this program, they show us how to do things.”
“They never say no here.  Whoever wants to change can change, you have the opportunity to do that here.”
Julio

“It is great to have a place that I can come in and get out of the rain and use the bathroom.  The people here work with you automatically, no questions asked.”
Laura

“I found out about the CORNER Project through another participant.  At the time I wasn’t interested in going to something in my neighborhood.  I came through the doors as my drug use progressed, the CORNER Project gave me a place to sit down and come down so when I went back to my family I was more put together.  I was amazed at what I saw when I came through the doors, I saw people I knew from the street hanging out drinking coffee.  I didn’t know it was a harm reduction program and it was hard for me to wrap my head around a program that offers safe utensils to users, but it was a stroke of genius.  Before this place there was no place up here, everyone was sharing everything.  This place helped me get clean, I had lost my home and came to the program and thought this isn’t working for me.  I started to volunteer, making kits every morning.  I came every day and it gave me something to do.  It kept me off the streets and I focused on being in here and not in the streets.  They referred me to detox and eventually a crisis center and right now I’m staying there and 3 weeks clean.  The CORNER Project gave me a safe place to come and get straight.”
Robert

“I was outside for 15 years, any organizations that were around, just talked, they didn’t really help.  I started coming to WHCP and kept coming.  I found out I had HIV and they helped me get in touch with my family.  They are my family.  They do it from the heart, not for the money.  If it wasn’t for WHCP I probably would still be out on the street.”
Corey

“I was homeless since the late 1980’s and using drugs.  I came to CORNER Project and they helped me get into detoxes and rehabs.  They listened to me when I talked and gave good, positive information.  The people at CORNER Project are friendly and they pour their heart out for all clients.  If you haven’t eaten they’ll feed you.  They have doctors and psychologists that can see you.  They provide HIV testing.  They provide clothing for those who don’t have any.  The services are great.”
Rob