Resident Stories

Harold

Earlier in his life, Harold had a good job, a wife, and four children. As a result of illness, he was forced to leave his job, and subsequently, lost his house through bankruptcy. He was separated from his wife and children. Having no where to go, he lived on the streets, on the river banks, under bridges, and in alley ways for five years, slipping in and out of psychiatric hospitals. At the age of 42, Harold came to Tender Mercies from a shelter for homeless men. In light of his many years of employment, Harold was entitled to Social Security Disability benefits, which Tender Mercies helped him to secure. Harold believes that, "More than anything else, Tender Mercies has given me back my dignity and self-respect," which were both lost to him while living in the streets suffering from illness and feelings of humiliation, guilt, and worthlessness. Harold is grateful to Tender Mercies for a second chance at life. After eight years at Tender Mercies, Harold was able to find a job and is still employed at Crayons to Computers. He currently resides in his own apartment in Westwood and has recently purchased his own truck. You might still see him on the streets - playing Santa to underprivileged children in downtown Cincinnati every year.

Barbara

 Barbara describes her home at Tender Mercies as "the most wonderful place in the world." She feels safe, she says, and does not have to worry about anyone breaking in. Barbara came to Tender Mercies in 1987 after having spent two years in a state psychiatric hospital. Barbara once had a good life. As an adopted child, she had kind and loving parents, a good home, and a happy childhood. In early adulthood, Barbara was self-sufficient and had responsible jobs working as a secretary for several firms. Then her life fell apart. She began hearing voices and acting in a bizarre manner. She said she knew her behavior was abnormal but could do nothing to control it. No longer able to work, Barbara wound up at the Drop Inn Center. Looking back on her years in Cincinnati's streets, Barbara said homelessness can change a person's value system. She twice went to jail for running up bills in restaurants and not having the money to pay for her meal. "You can't feel guilty for that" she says. "You think, the most they can do is arrest me, then I'll have a nice warm jail to stay in." Barbara's last 14 years at Tender Mercies have been happy ones. She has the fellowship of friends, her schizophrenia is under control with medication, and her nutritional problems have been helped with the meals provided. Because of a severe problem of being underweight, Barbara was instructed by her doctor to take a liquid food supplement along with her meals. Because the supplement is expensive and Barbara's income is limited, Tender Mercies was able to get the supplement donated in adequate quantities so that Barbara's weight has greatly improved. Barbara says that she now feels good about herself. "I'm at peace. I'm happy for the first time in a long time." Barbara says that she loves living at Tender Mercies. "It's not confining like a mental institution, yet it's safe. I have my own room and a bed - a nice warm place in the winter, and a cool place in the summ

Georgia

Georgia  lived at Tender Mercies for almost eighteen years until she died and had the distinction of being one of our first residents. Shortly after the agency formed in 1985, Fr. Chris Hall, founder of Tender Mercies, accepted Georgia as a resident after her release from a psychiatric hospital. Georgia was 41 years old at the time and unable to live in a family setting with relatives and unable to manage on her own. She had a long history of disturbed and violent behavior, had been hospitalized nine or ten times, had been probated by the courts, had poor compliance with outpatient treatment, and had been evicted numerous times from apartments where she had lived. Georgia had improved considerable during her stay at Tender Mercies. She was compliant with her medicine, and kept appointments regularly with her community case manager and psychiatrist, and was happy and content with her life. Georgia always said she never wanted to leave Tender Mercies. She liked the help and support given to her by the staff. She valued the friendship and companionship of the other residents. Most of all,  Georgia said "I like the privacy of having my own room and bath. I like the convenience of doing my laundry in the same building where I live". Georgia also valued the freedom to come and go as she pleased, and the knowledge that she could always get help from the staff when she needed it. When asked what she thought would have happened to her if she had not come to Tender Mercies, Georgia replied, "I would be in some state hospital or institution for the rest of my life". She proudly boasted that she had not seen the inside of a psychiatric hospital for over 16 years.