YONKERS, New York (WABC) — A man in Yonkers who experienced homelessness for years is finally moving into his own apartment thanks to the incredible work of some local officers.<\/p>\n
Alfred Dixon has never had any guests, so it was fitting that his first were the two Yonkers police officers who helped him get his first home.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been in the streets for a long time, and you know, I’m glad I got off the streets because it’s getting cold outside,” Dixon said.<\/p>\n
On a night like Tuesday, Dixon would be roaming Yonkers in the cold, soaking rain looking for shelter as plenty of people did nothing but look at him.<\/p>\n
“That’s what they do. That’s what they do,” Dixon said. “They come by, they look at you, and they keep on going.”<\/p>\n
Two people who did not keep on going, were officers Alyssa Petrucelli and Lauren Soto, part of the departments homeless outreach unit, who stopped to help.<\/p>\n
“You know, do you need gloves, do you need a hat? Do you need a blanket for tonight?” Soto said.<\/p>\n
“Initially, he was resistant to help, and then gradually – time after time of visiting him – he opened up,” Petrucelli said.<\/p>\n
The two officers checked in on Dixon every single day. Some days were better than others, and then there was one day, after decades of living out on the streets in all kinds of weather, Dixon was ready to receive the help he needed.<\/p>\n
“It takes obviously the willingness initially and then there’s many steps – this is not an overnight process,” xx said.<\/p>\n
The process to obtain permanent housing through Westhab, required the officers to be with Dixon every step of the way, from the tedious application process, to taking him to the shelter to shower before his interview, to going mattress shopping together.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been lucky not to be homeless myself – but there have been moments that you know; you’re wondering how you’re going to pay for your next rent payment or the next meal,” xx said. “So, I understand this isn’t always a life choice for them.”<\/p>\n
Unlike the shelter, Dixon was allowed to bring all his belongings to his new apartment, but it was already furnished thanks to a number of donations from community partners, including his first Thanksgiving meal in his new place.<\/p>\n
No one’s happier to see this than Deputy Chief of Patrol Richard Alaimo, who first met Dixon some 30 years ago when he was living under a staircase.<\/p>\n
“It’s come full circle for me to sit there and say, ‘hey we helped somebody, we chipped away for so many years and finally we get a win,'” Alaimo said.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t know people really care about me like that. So I thank God for that,” Dixon said.<\/p>\n
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