Formerly Homeless Man Credits 55-And-Over Facility For Helping Him Find His Way

A resident said he could not have made his way without the stability and help he found at the Hotel St. Clair.

Larry Jacobs said he is proud of how far he has come. A few years ago, the veteran was homeless.

But thanks to Hotel St. Clair, a 55-and-over facility, he is working toward independence.

“I was just staying over (at) different friends’ houses, like on a couch,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs is not alone in his situation. The Community Shelter Board said they serve more than 6,000 single adults who are experiencing homelessness every year.

“I think it is almost impossible to plan beyond a day when you’re going from location to location and you don’t have basic things we take for granted,” said Anthony Penn, the chief operating office of the Community Housing Network.

Jacobs said that while searching for things food and shelter, it is easy to lose who you are.

“The further you’re away from you, the harder the options are to bring you back to yourself,” Jacobs said.

He said that he was fortunate that someone helped him find the Hotel St. Clair which is run by the Community Housing Network.

Every unit there is an affordable place for formerly homeless people who are in substance abuse recovery.

“Every day, we’re creating miracles,” Penn said.

Penn said the miracles do not come without the community’s help through donations.

“The last thing we want to do is see those dollars dry up and housing not to be there, it puts people back in the cycle of homelessness,” Penn said.

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