Community Partners of South Florida Was an Ingredient of This Budding Chef’s Success

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, things were looking up for Tyler Cain.

He had a steady job and an apartment of his own at the age of 25.

Then the pandemic took it all away.

It started with a furlough from his job. With no income to pay his rent, he was evicted. His brother took him in, but his housing didn’t allow for a roommate and Tyler soon had to leave.

The instability of having no home and no place to go, caused Tyler to lose his job—permanently. Stress from his situation ignited his anxiety and depression, which he had managed since being diagnosed with major depressive disorder as a child.

It was Tyler’s sister who recommended Community Partners of South Florida. He couldn’t believe he could find help for everything he was facing all in one place.

The Village, a temporary supportive housing residence, became his new home with onsite staff to provide the assistance and resources he needed to get back on his feet. “CPSFL has so many support systems,” said Tyler. “If you are struggling with anything at all, they have someone to help you with work, transportation, food, mental health, and housing.”

Tyler is resilient. He entered the foster care system at 15 after his mother passed away from lung cancer. Living in group homes with his younger brother and seeing his siblings on weekends as he grew up, he always kept his family ties strong. But his mental health decline during the pandemic caused him to isolate. He needed someone to reach out to him and help him manage his anxiety.

His CPSFL therapist, Kari, was that someone.

“I was shut in my room at The Village, I didn’t go out at all,” he said. “Kari came to me. She helped me find the motivation to get out of my room and get back into society so I could get a job in the culinary arts, my passion. None of it would have been possible without Kari’s help.”

Tyler is quick to recognize three other CPSFL employees, Latrice, Tracy, and LaKee, who were there for him with food, clothes and shoes for a job interview, and encouragement.

Today Tyler is a culinary assistant at Sur La Table in West Palm Beach, prepping and assisting with cooking classes, and on the trajectory to becoming a culinary instructor.

“I’ve always been a home cook, and I watch a lot of YouTube cooking shows so that when I got into an actual kitchen, I was able to thrive.”

Tyler is thriving in more places than the kitchen thanks to the wraparound services he found at CPSFL.

He has moved on to independent living in one of CPSFL’s supportive housing units with Tracy’s guidance, is putting money into savings, and plans to buy a car and eventually move into his own apartment.

“I’m in a much better place now,” says Tyler. “I am grateful to the fantastic people at CPSFL for helping me get my life back. They are kindhearted individuals looking to help people out.”

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