60th Anniversary Spotlight: Transforming Lives (Ricky)

Celebrating The People We Serve

As we celebrate Telecare’s 60th year, we want to spotlight some of the things that make Telecare special. The most important people at Telecare are those we serve, who are our reason for existence. From them, we learn about resilience, recovery, hope, joy, and the power within us all to follow our dreams and create the lives we want to live.

Today’s Spotlight: Ricky

“It's like I'm finally stepping into my authentic self. Being myself feels so refreshing—and so different. I never would have expected to feel this comfortable in my own skin, especially after struggling for so long with anxiety and feeling so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even leave the house." -Ricky

Today, we want to highlight Ricky's partnership with Tesoro ACT.

Ricky was in a dark and uncertain place when he first connected with Telecare. He was facing homelessness, struggling with identity, and feeling like there was no way out. After a mental health crisis landed him in the hospital, he was introduced to Telecare staff who offered him more than just a place to stay.

They encouraged and helped him take small steps toward stability day after day. Thanks to a combination of counseling, medication support, and the safety of a roof over his head, Ricky started to believe in himself again.

Telecare’s local housing manager developed private-market landlords willing to take tenant-based vouchers in their apartment units. This allows Ricky to have a place of his own. He is studying to become a certified nursing assistant and surrounds himself with books, music, and faith. His life looks completely different from just a couple of years ago. He credits Telecare for finding him at just the right time.

Programs like Project Homekey, No Place Like Home, and the Mental Health Services Act aren’t just about housing. They are about second chances and creating space for people like Ricky to heal, grow, and rediscover who they’re meant to be.