AMERICA | A 33-year-old devoted father of two, Lavelle Schaffer, has overcome homelessness and financial struggles to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a Chicago police officer.
Lavelle Schaffer’s story is one of grit, redemption, and purpose
Lavelle’s Story and How She Did It
Ten years ago, Lavelle left his family’s home in North Lawndale to support his then-girlfriend, who was expecting their first child.
But with limited means and no safety net, the young couple soon found themselves sleeping on trains and park benches, navigating each day in what Schaffer described as “survival mode.”
“Every day was like survival mode. Where am I sleeping? Who’s going to stay up? That takes a toll on you,” he recalled in an interview. For more than a year, that was his reality, until a chance encounter changed everything.
One evening, Lavelle met a representative from Metropolitan Family Services at a shelter. The representative handed him a business card, a simple act that would become the lifeline he desperately needed.
Determined to turn things around, Lavelle reached out to the organization, and that decision became the turning point of his life.
Through their support, he received essential aid, transit vouchers, therapy sessions, and training in parenting and financial management. Slowly, the pieces of his life began to fit together again.
Those resources helped him rebuild not just his confidence, but his sense of purpose. With renewed hope, Schaffer reignited his childhood dream of becoming a police officer. “Ever since then, here I am. It’s 2024, and that one card kind of changed my whole life,” he said.
Today, Lavelle proudly serves in the Chicago Police Department, using his past experiences to connect with others facing homelessness and hardship. He often refers them to Metropolitan Family Services, the same organization that once helped him find his footing.
“He not only motivates and inspires the clients; he motivates and inspires us,” said Carrie Pullie, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Calumet Center.
Recognizing his remarkable transformation and unwavering dedication to fatherhood, the organization honored him as “Father of the Year”.
Lavelle now serves on the organization’s board, offering guidance and hope to other fathers in difficult situations.
But perhaps the greatest reward of all is seeing his sons look up to him. “They’re looking up to me,” he shared proudly. “I read their paperwork at school — ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And they say, ‘I want to be a police officer like my dad.’”
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