One of the best ways to learn about Cabrini Partnership is to read the stories of our residents
The people at Cabrini Partnership are mothers, uncles, sisters, fathers, grandparents, aunts and sons. They could be your co-worker, your neighbor or a member of your faith organization. They are actively engaged in rebuilding their lives.
Aaron’s Story
Aaron had never volunteered before. When his case manager urged him to do so as one way to begin reconnecting with the community, he was a bit reluctant. Now he’s a frequent volunteer for Open Arms. He appreciates the satisfaction from giving back. It’s just one of the discoveries he has made while living in the Cabrini Partnership transitional housing facility.
“I felt welcomed the moment I stepped through Cabrini Partnership’s door. A ‘buddy’ helped me learn the routines of household jobs I’m expected to do as part of this community. My case manager listened carefully to my hopes and concerns. Cabrini Partnership’s reputation for its nurturing environment has been evident every step of the way for me.”
It hasn’t been an easy path. Aaron just completed six months of chemotherapy. “I couldn’t have done it on my own.”
Now, Aaron is excited about his future. “There’s no limit to what I can do. I’ve been given the time I need to grow at my own pace. I can find the right balance—rest, good nutrition, exercise, prayer, meditation—to regain my health.”
“In the short term, I have a part-time job to ease back into the work world. I want to become responsible for myself again. My dream has always been to attend law school. And who knows after that?”
“If I had to sum it up, the first words that come to mind are dignity and respect – that’s the difference Cabrini has made for me. And I’m grateful.”
Doug's Story
Doug's New Digs:
Just a few years ago, Doug was a homeless junkie who used “anything I could put in a needle.” Today he is a college graduate working on a teaching certificate while volunteering at a Twin Cities charter school for kids with behavioral problems. He also is the proud recipient of a professionally decorated one-bedroom apartment courtesy of Cabrini Partnership and six incredible designing women from Dakota Technical College. If you’ve ever wondered if it’s worth turning one life around, his story says it all.
Doug moved to permanent supportive housing last fall after spending 21 months in the transitional community at Cabrini Partnership. Until the Dakota interior design students arrived last month, he had been making do with a few pieces of furniture. “It was well worth the wait,” he said, surveying the just-completed makeover on a recent Saturday. “It’s amazing.”
His is the sixth unit the Dakota students have furnished and decorated. Working with a $1,400 budget, they measured the space, consulted with Doug and purchased new and gently used furnishings. This time the shopping list included a bed and bedding, a couch, a comfortable chair, a high top kitchen set, book shelves, lamps, an area rug, kitchen supplies and artwork.
“Before this I had one chair. It’s like I was forcing myself to isolate.
Now I can have people over,” he said. That’s important because “being part of something” at the transitional house was central to his recovery. “Everyone else was getting up and going to work—the nuts and bolts of life. When that happened to me, it was like ‘wow.’”
Doug pondered why Cabrini Partnership and his apartment have helped him stay clean after a series of other programs failed. “I now have something in my life that I’m not willing to give up. People really give a damn. Some days I do it for me. Other days I do it for all the people who have helped me or for the students,” he explained.
Doug imagined life in his newly furnished home. “I’m going to do a
lot of reading right here,” he said, motioning to the couch. “I’m going to get a lot of work done at the desk, and I’m going to sleep great in the new bed,” he said. He also said he looked forward to returning home. “Coming home to this after a long day at school will give me something to look forward to. No matter how hard my day is going, I know it is going to end better coming home to this apartment.”
And his favorite piece? “This,” he said, spinning a small world globe bookend atop the shelves. “I love the little accents the designers have going. I wouldn’t have thought of it, but the little things make all the difference.”
Indeed.
Elizabeth and Leroy’s Story
The enthusiasm is clear as Leroy and Elizabeth talk about their plans to go back to school in January.
Leroy will be attending the machinist program at Minneapolis Community & Technical College. Its 99 percent placement rate attracted him, along with the fact he has prior experience working as a welder.
Before she lost her job more than a decade ago, Elizabeth loved her work as an archivist in a library and would like to get the education she needs to pursue a career. Her first step will be attending the University of Minnesota to complete her degree.
Elizabeth and Leroy have been together for ten years, enduring some very rough times. Both struggle with significant mental health issues and chemical addictions. They also have chronic health problems. This summer they moved in one of the new apartments in Van Cleve Development. “It’s great to have a nice, clean house—one that I can proudly show my mom,” Elizabeth said.
Living in Van Cleve has helped them both feel centered and focused. With their case managers having offices in the building where they live, “We know the support is close. It lets us feel really connected.”
Yet in the same breath as they talk about their plans, they express their real fears about the loss of General Assistance Medical Care. Funds for this program, which provide medical care for single adults who are homeless and extremely poor, have been unalloted effective in March. For Leroy, the loss of medical care is life-threatening since he relies on medications for his poor heart and managing his chemical health. Elizabeth knows that without treatment, her anxiety and hypertension will be uncontrolled. They can’t imagine trying to study for their classes and manage daily challenges without the help of their medications. They don’t want their fear about this to become paralyzing, but it is a huge cloud hanging over their efforts to maintain their mental and chemical health and gain stability.
Cabrini Partnership has been a blessing for them. They dream of completing their education, getting jobs, reconnecting with their families and regaining a degree of self-reliance. And they dream about their future together. Elizabeth concludes, “Leroy likes to cook. I want to start building some traditions, like having Thanksgiving dinner for our friends and family.” With a safe, comfortable apartment and the support services Cabrini Partnership provides, that dream can come true for them.
Gemini’s Story
A Look at Life, by Gemini
Someone asked me, “How did we become homeless?” Well, this is our story.
My husband and I have five children, 12 grandchildren and an addiction. We moved here in 2003 with the plan to get away from drugs. But the problem is that drugs are everywhere. So in 2004 we both went into treatment.
But the best thing that could ever have happened was when our family refused us a place to stay. We ended up in different shelters. This made us take a hard, long look at our lives.
Being in the shelter made us determined to get back together and get our lives together.
The shelter housing director gave me the number for Cabrini Partnership. I never thought they would find us a place so fast, but in about four weeks they had found us a bottom floor apartment. I have a back problem so the fewer stairs to climb, the better it would be on me.
As I think about our life and the help that Cabrini Partnership has given my family I realize that not only have they given us a home, helped us furnish it, but they have really given us our lives back.
Thank you Cabrini Partnership for putting my family back together. We love you.
K's Story
K:
I am now a resident of Cabrini Partnership’s permanent supportive housing program. Thanks to Cabrini Partnership…I have an epilogue to my crazy life story of being raised by a loving family, going to a university in Minnesota, my drinking and drug use all the way to living on the streets of Los Angeles. Which is nothing to brag about but is a lot to be grateful about that I made it back to Minnesota alive.
When I arrived at Cabrini Partnership, I had to learn how to live while recovering from the trauma that years of crisis, chaos and homelessness on the streets brought. Cabrini Partnership gave me a cushion of stability and security so that I could forge forward on my healing journey.
I am now celebrating my sixth year of sobriety. I feel closer to being a real member of a community and more confident in my ability to cope with life sober. These last few years, as I have been laid off and with a special needs son, Cabrini Partnership has given me judgment-free support while treating me with dignity and respect.
K’s Mother:
Our lives were that of a typical young couple. But we went from a wonderful life with three healthy kids, working and soccer games to lives filled with terror. Somewhere in our daughter’s life the “white powder” arrived. We endured months of not knowing where she was or if she was alive.
After many years of struggling, K finally entered a 12-step treatment program, then transferred to a halfway house and then a transitional housing program called Cabrini Partnership. I remember visiting and thinking that she just might make it this time. Cabrini Partnership offered a constant safe environment and staff that helped her with obstacle after obstacle. Cabrini Partnership’s greatest value is the ongoing support, encouragement and counseling that is needed.
It’s a few years later, and our daughter did make it. We have
enjoyed having our daughter safe, responsible and loving. We thank Cabrini Partnership for that.
Cabrini Partnership
919 12th Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55414-2497
Tel: (612) 331-7390 Email Us
