Affordable Housing Communities Program

Ernestine: A Story of Hope…and Gratitude

October 31, 2018 by Justin Feltman

Ernestine received a commendation from the AARP Foundation Experience Corps for her volunteer work as a kindergarten tutor. She says “It’s really an honor to help those children. When they first come in, they don’t know how to read. But they’re willing to learn. And, at the end of the school year, they’re reading something to me. When I was a little girl, I used to say that when I grew up I’m going to be a teacher. I’m so grateful for this opportunity today, and I know God is working in my life.”

Ernestine wasn’t always grateful. She came from a large family (11 children!) with both parents in her life and employed. “I had a good childhood. We weren’t well off, but my parents were able to make ends meet.” Yet, she started hanging out with girls who felt they deserved more.

At 21, she started using drugs when she went out clubbing with friends. She got hooked on heroin. But she was able to get clean before.

Then, she had to have surgery for an ulcer on her leg. She was given pain meds and got addicted to them. Which lead right back to heroin. “It was terrible to actually want to stop, but can’t.”

Ernestine received chemical dependency services at another institution. She met Lynette Daniels, the Co-Director of Samaritan Inns’ Affordable Housing Communities program, who suggested she apply to Samaritan Inns for the long-term recovery program. She was supposed to vacate the program where she was staying, but they gave her a one-month extension. They said ‘If you’re going to Samaritan Inns, we know you’ll get help there.’ So they extended my stay until I can get in to Lazarus House (one of Samaritan Inns Affordable Housing Communities).”

She said Samaritan Inns forces her to have accountability through suite meetings, and keeping close contact with staff. The program provided her with structure. “I’m used to doing what I want to do, the way I want to do it. That doesn’t work here. Today, I’m in a safe place, doing things I need to do to make me better.”

SKM_C25818102916510 — *Ernestine with her fellow volunteer tutors*

Classes on budgeting and financial management is a key feature of the program. Ernestine is saving money through the Environmental Stability Program (ESP) of the DC Department of Behavioral Health. “I got one of those big Deer Park bottles, and all my change goes in there!” Of all the organizations participating in this program, Samaritan Inns has been awarded the highest allocation of funds, which helps residents with their rent as long as they save at least half of their income. This past year, the participants in the ESP program saved a record $190,000!

In addition to tutoring a new group of kindergartners, Ernestine is looking forward to her first plane ride in February: a trip to Los Angeles to attend the 55^th International Women’s Conference, for female members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I thank God for giving me this chance. God is good.”

Lee’s Story of Hope

April 19, 2018 by Justin Feltman

When Lee Pearson’s wife threw him out of their house, he only took one thing with him: His Certificate of Honorable Discharge from the US Army. “It’s because it’s the only thing I thought I did well,” he said.

After being discharged from military service, Lee worked for the National Archives as a security officer. But one of his co-workers introduced him to crack cocaine. “Once you go over, there’s no return. And I went over. I partied every night. Even though I had to go to work the next day, I still partied. And, it started to take me down. Late paying bills. Stealing. Whatever it took for me to get it, I was doing. It all goes with the territory.

“And my life started to completely deteriorate. Real fast. To the point where I lost everything: my family, our townhouse, my job with the government.” In the end, Lee lived in a school bus on 5th Street NW. “I was homeless for 4 years.”

One day, high and staying in a crack house, Lee heard that bill collectors were looking for him. And the only way out that he saw was through a window. “I jumped out the window, and broke my wrist. Then I ran. I ran to the White House. That night, I slept on a bench near the White House.” The next day, he was in so much pain. “I told myself, you know what? I’m tired of living like this. Something’s got to change.”

So he walked several miles to a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital. “I think it was God’s grace that I even thought about the VA,” he said.

Lee participated in a 90-day treatment program at the VA Hospital. His counselor told him that 90 days is not enough for a person to reestablish back into society. The counselor recommended Samaritan Inns because of the Treatment and Recovery Continuum of Care.

This is a key feature of Samaritan Inns. Each successive step helps to meet the individual’s needs, while fostering greater independence and responsibility. Lee stayed at the Mozart Inn.
After that, he was introduced to Jesse Washington, our Co-Director of Affordable Housing Communities/SRO, who told him, “Why don’t you go to the next step, and give our SRO a shot?”

The Single Room Occupancy program is the last phase in the Continuum.

So Lee moved to Tabitha House. Gradually, his recovery started to reap long-term benefits. He reestablished a relationship with his daughters and ex-wife. He found a job as a shipping supervisor for a government agency.

Upon reflecting on Lee’s time in the program, Jesse shared, “Samaritan Inns gave Lee the opportunity to clean up the wreckage of his past. In doing this, he was able to become a productive member of society again, and be there to see his daughters grow up.”

In addition to his government job, Lee works at Samaritan Inns as an evening property manager at Elisha House.

“I can’t say enough about how Samaritan Inns saved my life. I love working with the residents. I let them see that they, too, can do this.”

In addition to his Army service, Lee has discovered that this is something else he does well.

“I’m almost 60 years old now. But I still have plenty of years to go. I truly am grateful. God has blessed me. In turn, I try to bless somebody else. It’s that simple. You know, I can’t keep what I got, less I give it away. So I give it away every day. I come to work motivated to give back.”

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Perry’s Journey

July 26, 2017 by Justin Feltman

“My name is Perry. I’m from Washington, DC, born and raised …”

I used heroin for about 42 years. All I knew was using. I started using crack in conjunction with the heroin use, and that brought me all the way to my knees. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle heroin. I was glad when I got busted. I got [sentenced to] five years. I was like, “Thank you, God, now I can stop.” And since that time, I hadn’t had an interest in using.

Then I came home, went to a transition house, the Coalition for the Homeless. I stayed there 17 months. My counselor said it’s time to go a little further and put me with Thaddeus [a counselor at Samaritan Inns]–we grew up in the same neighborhood. We lived three blocks from each other! I interviewed with Thaddeus and I’ve been at Lazarus House coming up on six years.

Samaritan Inns is clean. Secure. A place that’s going to allow me to save some money. It’s a clean environment where everyone’s not using. I wouldn’t have excellent credit with money at my disposal, without Samaritan Inns. I would have had to leave that transition house and move into market rent.

And then last year I was set back with cancer. I knew that God always had something for us to go through…and it’s something that has brought me back to earth. Even though I’ve been diagnosed with it, it’s terminal, I’m alright with that too. Something’s going to happen to everybody and I’m not excluded.

I’m just satisfied with everything. For me to be alive still…I shouldn’t be. I’ve made a connection with God. I made a connection with my family. I’m happy with me. Totally happy with me. And I’m still here. Long as I don’t suffer, I’m ready.

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Deloitte makes an impact at the Tabitha House

June 13, 2017 by Cecilia Kramer

Deloitte has always been a good friend to Samaritan Inns, especially due to the work of Paul Gallagher III, who is not only a principal of Strategy and Operations at Deloitte Consulting but also a member of the Samaritan Inns Board of Directors. This Friday Deloitte brought out a great team for one of their Impact Days to help make the Tabitha House shine again!

The team arrived at the Tabitha House, one of the buildings in our Longer-Term Housing Program, and heard from our President, Larry Huff, about the Samaritan Inn mission, impact, and how much this day meant. Steve, one of our residents, also came down and gave a testimony to the group, making the vital role that the Tabitha House has in our residents’ lives very tangible. The Tabitha House is the rock our residents need to rebuild their lives, and they were here to keep that rock solid.

They then split up to tackle two projects, painting a stairwell from top to bottom and making the landscaping brand-new again. The painting crew first primed then painted the four-story stairwell, and the landscaping crew weeded and mulched the grounds along with planting several trees. Both groups did a wonderful job, working tirelessly and finishing ahead of schedule!

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LaJuana Clark’s Story: A Journey Home

August 2, 2016 by Justin Feltman

For LaJuana Clark, Samaritan Inns is a return home. Not just as a symbol of hope for continuing her sobriety, but as a return to the Columbia Heights neighborhood she called home since she was a child. “I learned how to roller skate. I learned how to play basketball on those courts on Fairmont,” she recalls.

Although the neighborhood faced serious drug and violence related issues, she felt protected, because everyone knew and respected her family. But, like the neighborhood, her family was dysfunctional. Her brothers used. Her parents fought. Everyone drank.

Despite this, her mother instilled in them a lot of good morals and values. “She said to us, when we went out, we would represent her, no matter what;” words that stuck with her throughout her life.

As LaJuana grew older, she, too, started to drink. “I remember drinking, so vividly. I can see it.” She shared her routine of going to a liquor store on Fairmont and drinking it all the way home and how she would drink Listerine. “Listerine’s got 26.9% alcohol in it,” she shared, “That was enough for people to know I was a drinker.”

At this point, most would view LaJuana as a “functioning alcoholic.” She had a good job and a nice place to stay. However, that came crashing down. While LaJuana was in-between jobs, her ex kicked her out. “She sent me an email telling me to get out,” LaJuana revealed.

She never experienced homelessness before and admitted that she believed many of the negative stereotypes that stigmatize homeless individuals. But now, it was real. LaJuana personally experienced the everyday struggles and challenges of homelessness.

After three days, she was able to get into a shelter. After about a month, she was admitted to N Street Village, where she found longer-term housing, a security job, and a path to sobriety.

Unfortunately, even as she got clean, this did not come without obstacles. Last year, shortly after securing an apartment, her job started garnishing her checks and cut her hours. Finances dried up quickly. She turned to several programs but they were unable to help. Her landlord evicted her, leaving her possessions on the street. Friends came and helped pick up her belongings and gave her a place to stay until she could find another home.

That’s when LaJuana moved to Samaritan Inns and found a secure and affordable environment for her that allows her to continue her sobriety and pursue her dreams. “I love staying here. I wouldn’t change nothing,” she remarked.

LaJuana is currently pursuing a degree in Network Systems Administration. She is an honor student but this does not come without its challenges, nor without her hard work and dedication. “I failed 2 classes 2 times. My graduation date changed. But it’s not stopping me.” After she graduates, she is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Cyber Security. “I’ve been doing security all my life, so now, I’ll go to the IT side,” she explained.

Since the first time she had to use a computer for work, LaJuana has been fascinated by them. LaJuana wondered, “How do you fix a problem? How do they get these words and characters on here? When I got my first smartphone, I just started pushing buttons. That’s what I did with the computer. I stopped being afraid of it. A lot of people have fear of technology and shouldn’t. It won’t break. And if it does, we can always fix it.”

This lack of fear enables LaJuana to chase all of her dreams. Not only is LaJuana excelling at school and work, she’s become a passionate advocate and performer, speaking out on behalf of the homeless on WPFW and MSNBC, for the Washington Interfaith Network, and on the Hill. LaJuana recently appeared in the documentary, “How I Got Over”, where she shares her story of recovery and triumph at The Kennedy Center.

Back in 2011, when she performed her first solo for church, she sang “Thank You” by Walter Hawkins. She was listening to the same song recently on the bus when, after 3 years at her current part-time security job, she received a call letting her know she was promoted to full-time with benefits. Although it is just one step on a long journey, LaJuana is relieved to know the worries of surviving on $800 a month are over. “I have to thank God for that!”

Now, as she walks through the neighborhood of her childhood, still seeing so many familiar faces, she walks with her head up. “They still call me by nickname ‘Pumpkin,’ and when they see me know they’re like, ‘Wow!’ They see the difference.”

Never satisfied, LaJuana continues to push the boundaries of what is possible for her life. “My dream is to go on The Voice or Sunday’s Best. I got bets on The Voice. I want Pharrell to help me out.” She shared how she wants to come back to Samaritan Inns and talk to people and share her story to help them find the strength to make it through as well.

All these dreams that are coming true are thanks to LaJuana’s hard work and dedication to staying clean and excelling at everything she puts her mind to. She shared, “The same way I chased that bottle is the same way I’m chasing my sobriety.”

In November of this year, LaJuana will celebrate 5 years of sobriety. “I look back and say, ‘We did this God.’” Samaritan Inns is proud to host the homecoming and continuing sobriety of LaJuana.

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