Sharing thoughts: Residents and Nancy Gardner (former Board member)
A few years ago, United Ministries rebranded as Cornerstone Community Housing, with the tag line hope/ help/ home. As a former Board member who tries to stay in touch with what’s happening, I was curious about the intersection of the tag line and residents’ current experiences. Just before Easter, Michael, Tom and Kai welcomed me into the common area at Earl’s Place for a most uplifting and positive conversation.
Each resident was full of anecdotes and personal insights. The first thing they told me was the word on the street is that Earl’s Place is absolutely the place. I asked what that meant and learned about a surprising level of respect for expectations around sobriety, personal responsibility, and agreements that go with sharing space. Add some privacy and safety and living behind the red door is almost Heaven. And there is a long waiting list.
We dug deeper. This group understands the overlap among basic needs, physical needs and mental health needs; employment, and social support. Each man shared at least one story about how he came face to face with something that he needed to do, how he pivoted beyond procrastination and finally found a new sense of identity and confidence. There is enormous gratitude for the individualized support the men receive from Jim, the case manager. Each man is quite clear that success would not be possible without Jim’s support, and they appreciate how Jim helps them take ownership for the outcome. They know from experience that the holistic model for housing at Earl’s Place is exceptional and believe that the structure of the model is why it has such a high reputation. Success feels really good.
One man brought up the kindness of strangers and compared a handout to a hand-up. Something as simple as making eye contact, saying hello, or asking permission to assist someone getting onto the bus makes such a positive difference in one’s day. They truly appreciate the hand-up. Each man, in his own way, said how it personally
and viscerally includes him in a greater cycle of both giving and receiving. Each man looks forward to opportunities to contribute more. They identified meaningful work, acts of kindness, and ways they can offer a hand-up as their brothers’ keeper.
In this season of new life and reawakening, it was refreshing to hear how about forward vision thinking in becomes one’s practice. With support, there is an abundance of new learning about how to filter alternatives when life presents a bump or detour. With support, new perspectives lead to confidence and success that will go out into the world with clear intentions for creating more of the same. It takes a comprehensive model and a clear vision of possibility to create hope, help and a place called home. Michael, Tom and Kai said as much.