Hope Center Annual Report 2013-2014
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HOpE CEnTeR ANnUAL RePorT 2013-2014 HOPE CENTER ANNUAL REPORt | 2013-2014 1 The Hope Center’s mission is to care for homeless and at-risk persons by providing life-sustaining and life-rebuilding services that are comprehensive and address underlying causes. 1 HOPE CENTER ANNUAL REPORt | 2013-2014 EACH PeRsOn WHo EnTeRs OUr DoORs IS UNIQUe. 3 Board of Directors 4 Letter from Executive Director 5 Client Stories 6 Emergency Shelter 7 Client Stories 8 Mental Health Program/ Since 1993, the Hope Center mission has stayed Jacobs Hope Cafeteria the same: to care for homeless and at risk persons by 9 Recovery Program for Men/ providing life-sustaining and life-rebuilding services Client Stories that are comprehensive and address underlying causes. 10 Recovery Program for Women/ Within the walls of every Hope Center facility, Client Stories people are choosing action over inaction, health over 11 Permanent Housing deterioration, recovery over addiction, and a hand 12 One Parent Scholar House up over a handout. They’re choosing hope, and life. 13 Client Stories The Hope Center is not just a homeless shelter, but a 14 Outreach Programs comprehensive group of programs designed to get the homeless off the streets and keep them off. The root 15 Donors causes of homelessness vary widely. That is why each of 21 Volunteer / Donor Stories our programs is so important. Each person who enters 22 Johnny Carino’s Hoops our doors is unique, and in need of a unique set of for Hope resources. Our goal is to provide each of them with the 23 Ball Homes Night of Hope tools they need to rebuild their lives. 24 Don & Mira Ball Education Builds Hope 25 Financials Our thanks to Shelly Petty and Rochambeau 26 What’s New? Photography for many of the beautiful pictures in this year’s Annual Report. HOPE CENTER ANNUAL REPORt | 2013-2014 2 2013-2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Don Ball, Chair Connie Joiner, Vice Chair IN MemOrIAM Bill Rouse, Treasurer, Rouse Companies Patrick Brewer, Secretary, Lexmark Gail Bennett, WUKY Bill Bridges, Quantrell Cadillac, Inc. Ron Brown, Keystone Financial Group Malcolm Ratchford, M.S., CCAP, Community Action Council Chauncey S.R. Curtz, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP Matthew R. Galbraith, PNC Bank Frank Hamilton, Nally & Gibson Georgetown Ellie Hawse Mark Henderson, Breeding Henderson & Hord Randy Breeding was a longtime Dr. Patricia Howard, UK College of Nursing supporter and board member of both the Louis Hillenmeyer, III Hope Center and One Parent Scholar Barry Holmes, Lexington Housing Authority House. He was unfailingly kind, generous, Cathy Jacobs and enthusiastic, and was an incredible George Kiefer, Bluegrass Comprehensive Care asset to us, and to Lexington. Steve Kelly, Central Bank Danesh Mazloomdoost, MD, Pain Management Medicine John McCarty, Lexington Capital Advisors Scott McKinney, Scientific Imaging Technology Timothy Melton, Kentucky Utilities Beth Mills, Commissioner of Social Services, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Terry Mobley Jim Murray, UPS George Privett, Jr., MD, Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI William James Sprow, III Richard Stephenson, Stoll Keenon Odgen PLLC Robert Straus, MD Solomon Van Meter, JD, MBA Jack Burch, former Executive Director of the Community Action Council BOARD OF SUSTAINERS and Hope Center Board member, was Rev. Bonnie Quantrell Jones widely known as a staunch advocate for Jean Cravens the poor and marginalized. The passion, Harry Cohen commitment, and insight Jack brought to R. Douglas Ezzell the Hope Center helped make it what it Mike Scanlon is today. Gordon Hyde, MD 3 HOPE CENTER ANNUAL REPORt | 2013-2014 LeTtEr FrOm EXeCUTIVe DIReCTor In the last year we have done a lot to refurbish and renew the Emergency Shelter. We redesigned and updated the health clinic. We repurposed the former cafeteria (replaced by the Jacobs Hope Cafeteria across the street). We added shower facilities and beds. We replaced the heating and cooling system. The Emergency Shelter opened in 1993. By my rough calculation, it has since then provided around 1.4 million nights of lodging to the homeless. That leaves no doubt that it needed the attention. Since the shelter opened, we have built six additional facilities to assist us as we pursue our mission. These have been enormously helpful and productive. The difficulties that challenge the homeless among us demand varied and creative responses. These buildings have made it possible for us to craft and deliver those responses. This process has been a cause for reflection. The buildings are important. We need them to do our work. They are visible landmarks, physical reminders of what we do. That last phrase, what we do, reminds me of what remains the critical component of everything about the Hope Center. We do what we do. Buildings can’t do. People have to. Our most valuable assets are the people who have worked here for over two decades. They are dedicated. They are committed. They give more than they receive. Many of our employees have professional degrees. Many are former clients. Some are both. Without them, these buildings would be monuments to futility. Because of them, these are places where damaged lives are restored. No doubt you have seen these three short sentences in one or more of our publications: We help. We heal. We give hope. Yes, we do. And all of this is thanks to you, the thousands of people who support our work. Cecil Dunn, Executive Director HOPE CENTER ANNUAL REPORt | 2013-2014 4 CLIeNt StOrIEs “IT tAUGHt Me To LoVE MYseLf “THe FUtURe IS WIDE OpeN. I LIVe So THAt I caN LoVE OtHeRs, To IN THe HEre AND nOW, BecauSe LIVe MY LIfE WITHoUt DRInKINg MIrACLeS HAPpEn HeRe AND Or DRUgS, OnE DAY AT A tIMe.” NoW. AND THeY HAPpEn HeRe RACHeL F. EVeRY DAY.” JOe W. When I was 22, a doctor I grew up a geeky, studious kid prescribed pain meds for from a good family in the Bronx. an injury. At first, they were I always excelled academically, just something I used for the but when my parents split when I pain, but later they became was thirteen, I began using drugs my “miracle pills” – if I didn’t and alcohol to cope. By the end feel like cleaning the house of high school, I stopped going to or taking care of my son, they class and started hanging out in would make it all easier. But pool halls and getting high. by 23, I needed them every day. They had me, and I knew it. From there, life took me many places. All the while, I floated in This lasted for 11 years. Being in active addiction is constant and out of sobriety and recovery programs, one of which sent me agony. I didn’t want to use, but I didn’t not want to either, to massage school, where I graduated top of my class. I moved and I was scared to see what happened without it. I had back to New York City, started a massage therapy practice, and two choices: keep using, or put myself out of my misery. earned the nickname “Hands from Heaven” from several of my When I realized I needed help was when death looked celebrity clients. After the economy started to decline and 9/11 like a blessing. I thought I had hit my bottom before, but happened, I lost roughly 95% of my income, and I thought, I’d that was just the beginning. When I ceased fighting for rather die high than live like this. I tried to commit suicide by anything and everything, that was my true bottom. I had to overdose, and I prayed before I shot up, “If you want me to live, chase recovery like I chased my drug. I wanted something give me a sign.” I woke up 36 hours later to a phone call from different so badly that I was willing to do whatever it took my dad asking me to help him with his business in California. to change. After several years between New York and California, my sister convinced me to come to Kentucky. I saved my money Being locked up in your own head is something you to get an apartment and restart my massage therapy practice, can’t get away from until you’re willing to do the work to and eventually did. But my addiction caused me to lose it all change. The Hope Center was my first experience with in six weeks. I got two DUIs in 31 days. I overdosed and the recovery, my first introduction to the twelve steps, and my paramedics brought me back to life. I blacked out for five days first relationship with God, which is something I’d always and went through horrific withdrawals and DTs. I finally realized wanted. It broke me down to build me up. It taught me to I needed help. The hospital social worker gave me a list of 35 love myself so that I can love others, to live my life without facilities, and in November 2012, I ended up here at the Hope drinking or drugs, one day at a time. You can be around a Center. ton of people and still feel alone, but with God, I’m never alone. I never thought I’d be in a position where I was I got my massage therapy license back this past May, and I’ve happy to share my story, because I was always so ashamed. been taking on new clients. Massage therapy is the gift God gave As a peer mentor, sharing my story helps me help others. I me. But being a peer mentor for the Recovery Program has been get to see that light come on and that peace come over other the most rewarding job I’ve had outside of massage therapy.