WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Three years ago, Tony Billero’s day to day life was simply surviving.
“I just went on, survived, did what I had to do to get cleaned up, you know whatever,” he said. ” I did what I had to do to keep myself above the water so I didn’t feel like I was really drowning.”
Today, his dream of being a homeowner is a reality, living in two bedroom home with a backyard and two car garage.
“The sensation of that has been great,” he said standing next to the truck that used to be his home, “because now I am in power, I am in power of my life.”
When the Wichita Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team first offered help three years ago, they made note of how hard he wanted to get on the right track.
“He wanted to change his life around and work hard, but there was a lot of anxiety,” said Officer Nate Schwiethale. “Then, I meet him today, he’s like a different person. He’s confident, he’s excited, he’s happy about life again…and I love seeing that transition and change.”
Today, Billero drives 10-11 hours a day with a local trucking company.
He travels around the country carrying cargo, but no matter where he goes, or how he gets there, the truck he lived in–which is still at his home and continues to work–will always carry a big part of his life.
“My truck represents hard work, it also represents a home.”