A second chance can be the greatest kindness shared.

Recent Joseph & Mary’s Home Alumnus Frank is just one former resident who has turned over a new leaf thanks to the support he received.

Frank’s troubled journey started when he took his first sip of alcohol at the age of 8.

As an adult, he worked hard and eventually owned his own home improvement business. But he was drinking daily and couldn’t stop. His alcoholism led to the loss of his business, his health –and ultimately his home.

“I was in and out of places for the better part of 20 years. Sometimes I lived in tents, sometimes I slept on the ground in my sister’s backyard,” said Frank.

About two years ago, health problems, including diabetes, escalated because of his drinking. So he made a decision that saved his life: he entered rehab.

Previous attempts to get sober had failed. But this time he stuck with it. Unfortunately, after 10 months, his health problems made it impossible to continue in rehab.

He had no home, no income and no one who would take him in. The possibility of a return to the streets loomed over him like a dark cloud.  

Thankfully, Frank found himself referred to Joseph & Mary’s Home.

At Joseph & Mary’s Home, the nurse made sure he stayed on his diabetes medication regimen. Others helped him set up appointments and taught him how to make those calls himself.

“They were there for me all the way around,” said Frank. “They provided me with clothing and food. They made sure I had transportation to appointments, and helped me get my new glasses and cane.”

After three months, Frank was discharged to stable housing. Today, he lives in a permanent supportive housing facility where case workers check up on him regularly. He’s within walking distance of a store where he can buy groceries and a church where he attends weekly Mass.

Frank is proud to share that he has been going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at least twice a week and is nearing his two-year sobriety milestone. This is the longest he has gone without a drink since childhood. His success is more than just a point of personal pride. It’s the fulfillment of his father’s dying wish.

“My dad got sober in his 80s, the year before he passed. It [sobriety] was all he wanted for me as well. I’m glad I did,” he said.

Frank is still deciding what comes next. Although he dropped out of school at 14 to work as a welder, he earned his GED and has taken classes at Cleveland State in both business management and social work. “I like to help people,” he said.

Above all, Frank is committed to his sobriety journey and remaining in his new place. He feels empowered and ready to do this because of the people who guided him at Joseph & Mary’s Home.

Frank is one of the more than 100 men and women who were cared for at Joseph & Mary’s Home in the last year. Be the catalyst for another resident to move toward a brighter tomorrow. Please consider making a gift this spring that will be integral to Joseph & Mary’s Home’s future success.

In Frank’s words, “If it wasn’t for Joseph & Mary’s Home, I would still be stranded on the streets. I wouldn’t have put in the hard work. The people here taught me and gave me the tools I need. Keep supporting Joseph & Mary’s Home. I wouldn’t be where I am right now without it. They provide anything you need to get to the next level.”

Thanks to friends like you, residents like Frank not only have secure, private rooms, but also have access to proven resources, all of which help them rest, recover and be renewed.

Please consider donating to help us sustain our mission of returning residents to good health, and moving them forward to stable housing. You can give online at www.jmhome.org/donate/donate-today; mail in a check to 2412 Community College Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115; or explore tax-smart giving options at www.jmhome.org/donate.

Former resident Dawn likes to entertain. That’s one of the reasons she was excited to move into her own apartment after experiencing multiple health issues and homelessness. She was referred to Joseph & Mary’s Home by the Cleveland Sight Center to have a safe place to heal while also adapting to partial vision loss. Having stabilized her health and moved into her apartment, Dawn is taking computer classes through Cleveland Sight Center to get a part-time, home-based job in customer service.

Right now in your life, what are you grateful for?

I’m grateful for God and the skills that I’ve acquired and the different people who I have met in this journey of getting back on my feet.

What was going on in your life before you were referred to Joseph & Mary’s Home?

I had become homeless after not working for three years and I was having all kinds of medical issues: three compressed discs in my neck, lower back pain, arthritis spreading throughout my body, including pain in both hips and muscle loss. I was just starting to deal with losing most of my vision. I was at a shelter and it was not a safe environment. Not only was I dealing with these medical issues, I also had existing diabetes and high blood pressure.

After not working in three years, my savings was wiped out paying everyday bills. I could no longer afford the house that I was in. I had a large dog who was my emotional support animal and no one would take us both in. My cousin let me stay with her on a very temporary basis. It’s been a journey.

What services were most helpful at Joseph & Mary’s Home?

Mary’s Home is a very nice and safe environment to continue to heal from whatever you are going through. It’s a friendly, family-type atmosphere.

I am very grateful for the care that I received when I came down with COVID. I was quarantined to my room and staff made sure that I had everything I needed to feel better and get better. They made sure I had something to eat and drink, tissues, anything that I needed. The staff go above and beyond what they are called to do. Not just for me, they do this for everybody.

What other community programs have helped you get back on your feet?

I had a lot of support before I went to Mary’s Home. I already had a full team of care providers at Cleveland Clinic. The Cleveland Sight Center and Job and Family Services connected me to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.

I am now taking computer classes through Cleveland Sight Center so that I can get a part-time job in customer service where I can work from home.

Is there a particular memory from Joseph & Mary’s Home that stands out for you?

At Christmas time, I was able to pass out small token gifts — small shower gels and lotions sets, along with some fresh fruit — to the other Mary’s Home residents and a couple of staff members. I passed it out right before Christmas so that they would have a gift on the holiday.

In my family, if we couldn’t buy everyone a gift, we gave token gifts that were something that everyone could use and enjoy. My best friend helped me. We both had gift cards and I used my EBT card to buy fresh fruit.

What is a favorite activity/hobby that you love doing?

I like to entertain in small settings. I don’t need a lot of people around, especially since COVID. I love intimate parties with card games or board games where we have some good finger foods. The last function I went to, we played Connect Four and Bingo and Family Feud.