Renewal Story: Akere

Everyone who comes to Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County has their own unique story to tell. However, over the past couple of years, many of those stories shared a common thread: being unable to stay housed in a tough economy.

Akere had a steady job, but he just wasn’t making enough to get by. He cut out as many expenses as he could, including his phone and his car insurance. But he still couldn’t pay his rent. He stayed in hotels for as long as he could, but he was running out of money, fast. Eventually, Akere had two choices. He could sleep in his car or find a bed at UGM-TC.

Although he knew the Mission was his best option, Akere was depressed at having to stay in a homeless shelter. Then, he said, “A spark hit me. I found out UGM-TC was an opportunity for me to get a step ahead in life.”

Akere joined the program and became a resident at UGM-TC. “I saw what they had to offer, and I stuck with it,” he says. “It’s been a great experience.”

Classes like Accountability and Authentic Manhood gave Akere new insights into his life. And ALPHA set him in the right direction. “At first, I felt like God wasn’t here for me,” he admits. “But now I pray every day, three times a day, maybe more. I always put my best foot forward in His sight, stepping in His righteous path.”

For Akere, that means setting goals and working hard to achieve them. He enjoys his work as an apprentice electrician and plans to make a successful career out of it. And he is already trying to secure permanent housing. More than anything, however, his greatest goal is “to keep God first.”

Akere believes UGM-TC is the best place for anyone who needs to focus on their future. “At the end of the day, it’s about how you want to be better than before you came here. It’s a foundation for you to start fresh, brand new, and get where you need to go in life!”