In the fall of 2018, Troy Werkheiser made a decision to turn his life around. He applied to the Men’s Shelter at American Rescue Workers.
He found a sense of purpose for the first time in his life, began to rebuild a relationship with his family and was given the first job he would actually enjoy.
In March, he told his story to On the PULSE and in April he was arrested for dealing drugs. He also stabbed a fellow member of the shelter, according to ARW.
About 1% of homeless people struggle to change their lives, said Cleveland Way, director of the shelter.
With a criminal history that stretched into his teen years, Werkheiser was in and out of foster care his entire life, suffered the loss of his brother at a young age and began multiple stints in state prison at age 17.
“Cleveland and everybody else really gave me the opportunity to see if I could do it or not,” Werkheiser said before his arrest. “I can’t just let them down, I’d be letting my whole family down.”
Werkheiser’s incarceration is a frustrating development in Werkheiser’s story, especially for people like Way who tried to help him turn his life around.
Werkheiser’s struggles began as a kid and shaped his character and beliefs as an adult, Way said.
“He’s bringing that again into adulthood,” Way said. “Once he got angry he reverted back to what he knew and that was violence.
Werkheiser was scheduled to plead guilty in Lycoming County Court on August 6.
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