Samaritan Inns

Combating Homelessness & Addictions. Rebuilding Lives.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Anniversaries

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 imagedoes 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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Filed Under: Affordable Housing Communities Program, Alumni, Testimonies Tagged With: Affordable Housing Communities Program, Alumni, Anniversaries, Lazarus House

Lazarus House Turns 25

May 9, 2016 by Justin Feltman

Lazarus-House-Turns-30

Today marks 25 years since Lazarus House, our first Affordable Housing Communities Program building, opened its doors for the first time. 25 years later, it stands as a beacon of hope for all who are continuing to build on their long-term sobriety and growth. To commemorate this milestone, we wanted to share with you what Lazarus House has meant to our staff, alumni, and community members over the years.

 

SKMBT_C224e15121816301_0001“When I came to Samaritan Inns, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought it was a trick because this house was so clean and beautiful that I knew addicts didn’t live here. They did; and that’s when something come over me. It was a warm feeling and I started to cry. I knew I had finally come home.”

–Reginald High, Alumnus & Director of Properties

“I moved into Transitional Living in July of 1997 on Harvard Street and I moved to Tabitha’s House in January of 1998. I found my tracking sheet the other day. I was in SRO for less than a year. My addictions counselor was the best in the business, Beth Smith. She told me to have a plan and my plan was to be in SRO for one year and then to move on to my own place, which actually happened.
2010 September 667A lot has happened in the past 19 years. I’m in my 13th year as an addictions counselor here, but was a substitute innkeeper and a monitor before that. I’m not bragging when I say this, but I believe I am the only person that has been a director of all three phases of the program. That’s the grace of God.”

–Lynette Daniels, Director of Transitional Living Program and Affordable Housing Communities Program

“It helped me find myself all over again. And today, I love myself. I think highly of myself, and I’m just doing well. My kids, I’m a mother again, I’m the mother I know that I was supposed to have been. Even though me and my son talk, I first asked him for his forgiveness and my daughter thank God, she doesn’t remember. I’m involved in their schools, doing what I have to do, job doing ok. It’s who I am now, moving forward.”SKMBT_C224e15121816242_0001

–Reina, Samaritan Inns Alumni

“Lazarus House represents a longer term opportunity to solidify your recovery, to build on relationships that are healthy and good for you, relationships that you begin to establish in the time you’ve been in the Inns. It’s an opportunity to develop your work habits and to improve to be advanced in your employment so that you have the opportunity and possibility to afford alternative housing that can be permanent housing for you.”

–David Erickson, Co-Founder of Samaritan Inns

SKMBT_C224e15080312281_5“25 years ago today we celebrated the opening of Lazarus House. Wow!!! The time has gone by fast. Pope Francis talks about how the church, if it is true to its mission, will be lived out like field hospitals for those who are wounded and suffering.

Samaritan Inns has been a field hospital welcoming the wounded and suffering. Lazarus House, the next phase in the recovery continuum, has been the soil in which women and men planted themselves and then blossomed into their truest selves. Countless women and men over the past 25 years have returned to life and have become contributors to the larger DC community as parents, grandparents, employees, leaders and instruments of healing in the lives of those coming along behind them.

I celebrate all Lazarus House residents , staff, volunteers and donors who contributed over the past 25 years to creating and nurturing this nutritious soil in which so many have blossomed and fulfilled their God-given potential. What a privilege to have been a part of such a community.”

-Killian Noe, Co-Founder of Samaritan Inns

SKMBT_C224e15080312371_0001“Lazarus House experience exemplifies the great potential that exists within our community and, indeed, within our nation. It shows how we can achieve this magnificent structure. A structure that now means that, for some 80 families who would otherwise be homeless, they now have a home. We truly must build upon this experience because it is so urgently needed in our community.”

-Sharon Pratt Kelly, Former Mayor of The District of Columbia

“Everyone who visits Lazarus House comes away from this place with a renewed optimism that there are solutions to homelessness that work. Solutions that work for the community and the individual. Lazarus House stands as a challenge to us all. We can do this.”

-Barbara Bush, Former First Lady of The United States


“The real visionaries here are the people who invested in Lazarus House. The visionaries here are not the ones who look at this in terms of its
brick and mortar and the fact that it’ll add to the tax base of DC. The visionaries, today, are the ones that see the change in lives, the change in the community. I want to suggest, this is the beginning of a great building effort for our city, our country, and hopefully it’ll help inspire the whole world.”

-Jack Kemp, Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

“Lazarus was a landmark project in the evolution of an initiative to not only transform the lives of people, but transform this community. Thousands have come through the doors of Lazarus over its 25 year history. It was aptly named “Lazarus” as Lazarus was brought back from the dead by Jesus to have new life.”

-Larry Huff, Current CEO and President of Samaritan Inns

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Filed Under: Affordable Housing Communities Program, Featured, Programs Tagged With: Affordable Housing Communities Program, Alumni, Anniversaries, History, Lazarus House, Milestones, Staff

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2523 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009
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  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Mission & History
    • Parable of the Good Samaritan
    • Stories of Hope
    • Letter from the President
    • Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Board
    • Our Partners
    • Financial Reports
  • Our Programs
    • Adult Treatment Program
    • Transitional Treatment Programs
    • Long-Term Recovery Program
    • Women with Children Treatment Program
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Beautification Days
      • Dinner Fellowships
      • Your Talents
      • Worship Service
    • Tournament of Hope
    • Campaign for Hope
      • Campaign Goals
      • Initiatives
      • Leadership
    • Monthly Giving
    • Planned Giving
    • Wish List
    • Shopping with Us
    • Work with Us
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    • Blog
    • Video Library
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    • Newsletters & Press Releases
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