By Molly Balison

Interfaith guests find a new sense of purpose and resilience when participating in programs such as Project Wellbeing, the mental health program. Guests such as Allen, who asked for his story to be shared in hopes to encourage others to keep moving forward no matter what hardships life throws. 

Allen was shaped by a volatile upbringing. Born in 1962 in Chicago, Illinois, he was one of thirteen children in his family — eight sisters and five brothers. They lived in poverty in California with an alcoholic father who sexually abused Allen for years. 

The young boy only knew hardships. Although his parent’s marriage ended, Allen valued his mother’s friendship — the greatest gift he said he’s ever received.

He was taken out of his home and raised by his uncle in his teen years and graduated high school despite tumultuous circumstances. 

He moved to Boise in 2006 and met his wife in 2007. They were married for 15 years and struggled in homelessness together. They hunkered down in parks doing anything they could to stay warm. They found Interfaith Sanctuary and hope was added to their lives.     

Allen still carries lingering bipolar, depression and anxiety, but Project Wellbeing continues to give him the tools to understand himself better and overcome his emotions — the greatest challenge he’s had to overcome. Through mediation and verbal processing as a group, Allen found a strength that propels him to keep moving through life, always seeking healing. 

“I’ve been through a lot…God helped me through my bad times and my good times,” he said. “And the program I’m in now, really changed my life. It made me stronger.”