A man who once lived on the streets and was arrested multiple times is reunited with El Cajon police in his new home

EL CAJON, Calif. – An El Cajon man who has been living on the streets for the past two years now has a new home thanks to the help of some officers who arrested him.

Robert Santiaguin had been arrested and ticketed more than a dozen times and refused public relations help until one day when he agreed to get help.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Santiaguin wiped tears from his eyes and shared how he got to where he is today.

“I can actually go outside and feel ahhh,” Santiaguin said.

He can leave his own studio apartment, which is heated and air conditioned.

“I cried. I do it every day. I thank God for it every day and thank the police and Home Start. Without them I don’t know where I would be,” Santiaguin said.

Robert said he still lives in the 1000 block of Decker Street.

“Two years on the streets and it was hell,” Santiaguin said.

El Cajon police said they arrested Santiaguin at least 17 times in four years for illegal housing, drugs and municipal code violations.

“We asked him probably no less than a hundred times over the course of two years if he wanted to go to a shelter or a motel voucher,” said Officer Stephen Bellwood of the El Cajon Police Special Enforcement Unit.

But each time Robert insisted on living in a tent on the street.

“I kept refusing because I thought I didn’t need it,” he added.

But when officers Bellwood and Brandon Inis contacted Santiaguin in January, they asked him again if he wanted to move to transitional housing.

“Then one day he finally randomly said yes and I was shocked at first but very excited,” Inis said.

It took about four months, but with the help of Home Start, a nonprofit that helps families and individuals become self-sufficient, Robert was able to graduate from Second Chance, another workforce preparation group.

“He didn’t give up, even when there were problems, he was determined to keep going,” said Karina Hernandez, director of the Home Start Housing program.

Home Start helped furnish his home, and the officers who once arrested him also helped furnish the studio apartment.

“It’s just not the real life, you have to want to do it and I wanted to do it so I did it. You gave me that little push,” Santiaguin said.

Home Start and its officials don’t want to take sole credit for its success, but they are proud that their efforts are having an impact.

“I gave him instructions and he did the rest on his own. I can’t give him credit for the hard work he’s done,” Inis said.

These little nudges over time had a big impact and kept Robert from looking back and instead looking forward.

“I’m proud of myself and thank God every day,” Santiaguin said.

Home Start also helped furnish his apartment and provided rent subsidies and county benefits. He recycles to make ends meet.

“There are a lot of Roberts out there and they may not all be heard, but there are a lot of them out there and we are proud of you, Robert,” said Abdullah Alogaida, Home Start Homeless Outreach Coordinator.

Robert built a resume and sharpened his interview skills. He says he is good at construction, working on heavy equipment and landscaping. If you are interested in hiring Robert, call Home Start at 619-851-5101 or email Karina Hernandez here.

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