For some, the road of life is a smooth highway, without a rock or speed bump. Others are like Autumn West Shelter Manager William Gonzales, whose rocky path led him to a near death experience and a job at the Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Four years ago, William was living under the 16th Street viaduct in Milwaukee. His marriage had fallen apart, and William had turned to alcohol to cope with the pain. He spent his days drinking, eventually losing touch with family, including his two sons.

One fateful night, William was drinking and fell through a hole in the viaduct. His friends found him two stories below, unconscious and in a pool of blood, and called an ambulance. By chance he was taken to the hospital where his cousin worked. She called his sister who came to help and eventually let William stay with her.

Two months and a “long prayer to God” later, recovered physically but in need of emotional support and a fresh start, William left his sister’s house and went to the Guest House. He had nothing---not a place to call his own and barely any clothes---and he knew it was time to build a new life.

Guest House staff recognized William’s willingness to turn his life around and potential for helping others. They offered him a one-year job as a resident manager. Afterward, he worked hard at several shelters as manager, and eventually the Guest House director recommended him for the open Red Cross Shelter Manager position at Autumn West.

Today, William uses his success story to inspire Autumn West residents. “I meet the needs of the residents and make sure they are safe and well,” says William. “I’m known for going by the book, and I tell them ‘I don’t make the rules, I am here to enforce them.’”

“I like my job because it’s a learning experience,” William explains. “The residents listen to me. I always tell them my door is open 24 hours a day before and after they leave. I tell them ‘before you open a bottle or light a pipe, call or come and see me.’”

Those are words of experience, spoken from a dark time in his life four years ago. Today, William loves to cook and has his own place. He goes fishing with his boys, now grown, and enjoys taking care of them. His home and his boys are his refuge, and William is very grateful for the second chance he received.

“Everything is falling back into place,” he says. “I think I’ve changed for the better.”