The roots of Joseph’s Home were planted in 1851 when the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA) arrived in Cleveland from France to serve as the city’s first public health nurses. The first CSA sisters quickly went to work serving the health, human service and educational needs of Cleveland’s most impoverished and vulnerable residents, and have been doing so ever since.
“We can’t return to normal.” These words were spoken by my friend and colleague, Angela D’Orazio, of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland. This may sound strange in this time of deep longing for things to feel familiar, but what Angela said and what I believe is that “normal” for those experiencing homelessness is awful and unacceptable. The coronavirus pandemic has taught me that things cannot simply return to normal, or we have missed the chance of our lifetimes to make things better.
Medical stability is measured by improvements made when a resident is at Joseph’s Home. Some markers of stability are more easily identifiable than others, such as coming in with an open wound and having the wound heal, or coming in with cancer and leaving cancer free. Other markers are less obvious but can still be measured, like a reduction in outward symptoms.
When the coronavirus began its rapid spread about a year ago, public health agencies quickly recognized how dangerous it would be if the virus were to infect people in crowded encampments and homeless shelters, putting this highly vulnerable population — and the broader community — at great risk.
Save the Date! #WeGiveCatholic is December 1. Support Joseph’s Home during this one-day giving event that provides Catholic schools, parishes, Catholic Charities sites/programs, special ministries and nonprofits affiliated with the Diocese of Cleveland the opportunity to raise awareness and funds.
Although the summer weather is still very much here, the
summer has come to a close for our summer interns, Diamond
and Sarah. Throughout the summer, Diamond and Sarah have
been instrumental in building capacity for new programming,
strengthening existing efforts and providing friendly camaraderie
along the way.
Lisa Zimmerman recently joined the Joseph’s Home Board of Directors. She is the director of global business operations at Quadax, Inc., a health care revenue cycle management company.
Perseverance in Hope, the Joseph’s Home Benefit Luncheon, is an annual event that celebrates the remarkable healing and achievements of the medically fragile men experiencing homelessness who have stabilized their health and transformed their lives at Joseph’s Home. Due to concerns related to COVID-19, the event will be virtual this year. It will be broadcast live on October 28, 2020.
The coronavirus has exposed deep, persistent cracks in our society that were not as evident in the rush of our everyday lives just a few months ago. Or, perhaps, we used our busyness as an excuse to look past them or pretend they were not there.
To get housing, you need ID. To get an ID in Ohio, you need a proof of legal residence in the United States, proof of Ohio residency and proof of a social security number. Those are the minimum requirements. How do you provide any of these documents if you have been experiencing homelessness or living on the streets and in a shelter?
Joseph & Mary’s Home, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, provides a nurturing, caring environment for adults without resources who have acute medical needs, helping them heal and achieve independence.