CHICAGO (WLS) – A man who was once homeless is now living his dream as a Chicago police officer and a doting father.
Lavelle Schaffer has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season.
“My life has come full circle,” Schaffer said. “It still feels like a movie almost.”
At 33 years old, Schaffer is living his dream of being a Chicago police officer and dotes on his two young sons.
“They’re looking up to me and I read their paperwork at school, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And they say, ‘I want to be a police officer like my dad,’” Schaffer said.
But things were vastly different 10 years ago when Schaffer says his girlfriend at the time was pregnant with their first child.
Schaffer left his family’s home in North Lawndale to support her, but they soon found themselves unhoused, often sleeping on the train.
“Every day was like survival mode. ‘Where am I sleeping? Who’s going to stay up?’ That takes a toll on you,” Schaffer remembered.
After more than a year, Schaffer says a chance encounter at a shelter with an employee of Metropolitan Family Services turned things around.
He was given a business card and called about their services.
Schaffer received mental health counseling, vouchers for transportation, and classes in parenting and managing finances.
That gave him the confidence to become a Chicago police officer.
“Ever since then, here I am,” Schaffer said. “It’s 2024 and that one card kind of changed my whole life.”
Schaffer says he’s gotten so much from Metropolitan Family Services, even being named their “Father of the Year.”
Schaffer now gives back by counseling other young fathers. He is also now on the board.
“He not only motivates and inspires the clients; he motivates and inspires us,” Metropolitan Calumet Center Executive Director Carrie Pullie said.
Copyright 2024 WLS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
