For Paul, love is at the heart of his care philosophy. A full-time companion to participants in the North District, he celebrated 20 years with Hope Services this fall. Though he has been encouraged to step into a supervisor role, Paul has chosen to remain in direct care, because providing hands-on support is where he knows he makes the greatest impact.

Supportive Living is not for the faint of heart, as Paul describes. It requires patience, strength, and deep compassion. A typical day for Paul might include assisting someone in a wheelchair, helping them get cleaned up, and completing additional household tasks to ensure their comfort. He plans his participants’ days with extensive detail—down to the bus schedules—to make daily life smoother and more manageable.

Paul goes the extra mile every single time.

With Daryl, Paul spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s together until another staff member became available. He sacrificed his own holiday time because, as he says, “giving clients love is a big and important task.”

He supports Robert, who uses a wheelchair and is actively involved in church and community clubs. Paul carefully coordinates Robert’s schedule so he never misses a commitment. At this year’s In Concert With Hope, Paul even drove Robert to The Mountain Winery when he didn’t have a ride and stayed until the end of the event to bring him home safely.

He also spent 20 years as Cheryl’s roommate, caring for her like family. When she needed her original documents to apply for Social Security but didn’t have them, Paul contacted the County of Los Angeles and located her birth certificate. He then brought her to the Social Security office, ensuring she received her benefits.

Across two decades and many clients with different personalities and needs, Paul’s actions have spoken louder than words. Being honored at the Years of Service Awards meant a great deal to him. “I am thankful this company exists because people need help. It’s rewarding. I’m blessed to work with people who are understanding,” he shared.

When asked what advice he would give to other staff, Paul said:

“You are working with humanity—people. You must understand their personality as a person with IDD. When an issue arises, don’t fight back. Give space, wait for calm, and be a leader, show them how to respond. Love people, care for people. Before I leave a client, I make sure everything is in order.”

Originally from the Philippines, Paul visits home every year. Because he takes his clients’ routines so seriously, he works closely with his manager to plan ahead and even trains the staff member who fills in while he’s away. He’s always thinking about his clients, even as he looks forward to seeing the blue waters back home.

We can all be inspired by Paul’s heart.

He shares the role of community support in making this work possible.

“We cannot run without funding. I encourage people to donate to Hope because there are many who need help. Donations directly support people with disabilities—helping them find jobs and receive essential care. We cannot rely solely on government; we must come together as a community.”

Help us sustain care for our participants. Click here to join the Season of Hope!