Russell grew up in a loving family on Chicago’s West Side and fondly remembers his parents and four siblings. However, those happier times faded as he developed a substance use disorder. “My substance abuse problem was the root of all my issues. It was the reason I was homeless, jobless, and unable to access information or resources,” Russell shared.

For many years, he struggled with substance use and frequently found himself in and out of prison. The last time he entered prison, he felt exhausted but determined to change his life. “When I went to the penitentiary for the eighth time, I told myself, ‘I don’t want any more pain. I’m not coming out of here unchanged because I don’t want to be locked up,” Russell recalled.

Upon his release from prison, Russell spent four and a half months at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. However, he needed a permanent home to support his long-term recovery. Thankfully, he found Mercy Housing Lakefront and moved into the program-enriched Belray Apartments in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood in 2016.

Russell’s new home and community at Belray gave him hope that a better future was within reach.“Belray is a stepping stone. If you want more, you can achieve more. Everything is possible when you get to Belray,” Russell said.

During his eight years as a resident of Mercy Housing Lakefront, Russell fully utilized the onsite support services available at Belray, which helped him make significant progress toward his goals. His case manager, Milagros Rosario-Diaz, was instrumental in his success. “Ms. Millie helped me every step of the way. When I first started working on my resume, she guided me through the process.”

Russell has accomplished numerous things while living in Belray thanks to his supportive home and community. He secured a job as a peer support counselor, returned to school to earn his associate degree in social work and substance use counseling, became a certified alcohol and drug counselor, received a promotion, and purchased a home in 2024 through the Chicago Housing Authority’s Choose to Own program.

Today, Russell is thriving in his new home and is excited about his plans to marry his fiancée, Kim. He is also finishing his dual-degree program and launching a nonprofit organization to support people struggling with substance use.