Life has always been challenging for Christopher Stockton.
Born into a home where substance abuse and financial hardships were constant struggles, his early years were marred by instability. While living in Phoenix, Arizona, his family constantly moved and relied on churches and food banks for meals, but the nomadic lifestyle made it difficult for Stockton to find stability, friends, or even a consistent school routine.
Stockton was 11 when his father, who struggled with substance abuse and wanted to get out of a life of crime, decided to change his ways and moved the family to Lakehead in Shasta County. His parents, both recovering from their addiction, worked hard to turn things around, making a promise to Stockton and his younger sister to give them better opportunities.
“It was different for me, as was the scenery and the people’s attitude. It was the first leap into me changing my attitude and perception,” said the 29-year-old Stockton, who currently works at the St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) thrift store at Gladstone Drive in Pittsburg.
The nonprofit Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP) nonprofit organization has helped the underserved community within the county for over 60 years by providing food, shelter, rental and utility assistance, medical and dental care for the uninsured, and transitional employment. SVdP also provides mentoring via home visits and workforce development programs, providing training to individuals returning to society from incarceration, drug rehabilitation, or homelessness.
To help fulfill these needs, the organization is seeking $15,000 through the East Bay Times’ Share the Spirit campaign, which provides relief, hope, and opportunities for vulnerable residents. The money will be used to provide 200 low-income families with food gift cards during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Living in areas surrounded by nature changed Stockton. Along with the help of a school counselor, he stopped being the “class clown” and wasn’t disruptive.
But things took a turn and his family had to move to Siskiyou County while he was in sixth grade. By then, Stockton already was experimenting with drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. Between the sixth and eighth grades, he was suspended, kicked out of after-school programs, and entered juvenile hall after he was arrested for three different felonies.
High school was a turning point for Stockton.
He was forced to do community service and work with his dad’s landscaping business, where he channeled his energy and developed a strong work ethic and sense of purpose. But that didn’t last long as his parents got divorced, and his mother went to jail, causing Stockton, his father, and his sister to move out. At 21, he was an alcoholic but held multiple jobs and even worked as a cook in a café and had his own apartment.
Around 2019, he started experimenting with harder drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. As an adult, Stockton experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Three devastating wildfires in Siskiyou County fueled his anxiety and deepened his addiction, eventually leaving him homeless.
“I was so stressed out. I was afraid people were going to lose their homes, so I ended up using it (drugs) to stay up because we had to evacuate, and I didn’t have any vehicles at the time,” said Stockton. “I mean, excuses, excuses, excuses … but that was my excuse at the time. After that, I ended up leaving, trying to start my life again. I got a couple different jobs, but still had the addictions.”
At his lowest point, Stockton walked the streets barefoot, almost succumbing to frostbite.
“Homeless and without a care in the world … almost losing my sanity,” he said.
That was when Stockton made the life-changing decision to enter a rehabilitation center and spent 90 days at Diablo Valley Ranch.
Now, it’s been more than 10 months of sobriety, and Stockton is determined to live a meaningful life by giving back to others walking the path he once did. Apart from working at the thrift store, Stockton enrolled in the SVdP Workforce Development program, a 24-week transitional employment training effort that provides help for job searches, financial literacy, life skills, and mentoring.
SVdP Development Director Barbara Hunt said 185 individuals have been hired into the program since 2012.
“Some graduate early into jobs, others complete the full program and then find employment,” Hunt said. “(About) 60% to 70% of participants secure employment upon exit or graduation from the program. 100% of participants gain important skills that they can use for a lifetime, including resume writing, intensive interview prep, learning how to conduct online job search, and more.”
Like Stockton, Michelle Crossley also found her way from the streets to stability with the help of SVdP. Crossley was homeless for many years on the streets of Rodeo and witnessed violence and loss during that time. She recalls the deaths of several friends, including her former boyfriend Solomon Lee, who was brutally murdered near the train tracks in 2017.
“They never found the person who did it,” Crossley said, reflecting on how little attention is given to violent crimes involving the homeless. “I felt lucky to get out because that could have easily happened to me.”
But her battle with addiction made it difficult for her to leave the streets until she met her fiancé Michael Hyche, who stood by her constantly.
The day Crossley discovered she was pregnant with her daughter Imani, who is now 3 years old, her life took a turn, even though Crossley continued to struggle with addiction until she was seven months pregnant.
“I had a very unclear mindset .. .and then I just got tired one day. I thought about committing suicide that day,” Crossley said. “I felt like everybody who wanted to help me wanted something from me … it was something evil.”
Crossley, however, called an ambulance and admitted herself into a medical detox program. Thanks to the support of compassionate doctors at a local county hospital, Crossley began her journey toward sobriety.
A few months after Imani was born, Crossley continued her recovery with the help of Ujima Family Services and SVdP. She enrolled in daily outpatient recovery programs and Narcotics Anonymous. Still, postpartum depression set in, leading to a brief separation from her daughter when Imani was temporarily placed in foster care.
Crossley connected with Cindi Collins Erickson and Hunt from SVdP, who provided essential support such as diapers and baby supplies.
Determined to keep her daughter, Crossley went above and beyond, enrolling in extra parenting classes and therapy sessions.
“I didn’t want to lose Imani,” said Crossley.
Her hard work paid off when a judge granted reunification services.
Crossley also faced a utility shutoff because of a lack of funds, but SVdP is able to provide assistance to a family to pay past-due bills, said Hunt.
Despite suffering from multiple sclerosis, Crossley is a proud mother and is determined to give back to the very community that helped her.
If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.
