In the 1980s, Theodore Oliver Sr. served time for possession of drugs, assault with a deadly weapon and grand theft. He was shot six times. In the 1990s, he was convicted of domestic violence.
He had trouble holding jobs. Homeless for most of the past 15 years, Oliver said his “aggressive body language” and his drinking “didn’t help.”
Today, Oliver, now 53, has his own place, a rental room in Richmond. He holds two jobs, as a maintenance assistant for a Richmond nonprofit and as an ambassador for Safety1st, an Oakland nonprofit organization.
In between, Oliver found his way to the Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland; went to Homeless Court in Oakland to clear his background; and most recently, in January, enrolled with Rubicon Programs.