St. John Center for Homeless - Louisville, KY - June, 2007 - New apartment brightens outlook of chronically homeless man

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June, 2007 - New apartment brightens outlook of chronically homeless man

For the first time since November 2002 Russell Roberts has a place to call home. He has been surviving on the streets and in area overnight shelters since 1988.

Russell, now 49, credits St. John Center and social service coordinator Heidi Solarz-Kutz, manager of the Housing Case Management program, for making his dream of having his own apartment a reality. “I wouldn’t have this place if it wasn’t for the help I got from Heidi and St. John Center. “I needed help and they came to me and offered it. It’s really nice to have my own place. I would recommend St. John Center to anyone who’s in a bad way.”

When asked, Russell is quick to divulge that the primary reason for his long battle with homelessness is a mental disability. “I used to drink, but not anymore, and marijuana is the strongest drug I’ve ever used,” he explained.

According to Russell, he is a “legend” at St. John Center. He points to a large mural by local artist Mary Cobb that hangs above the sign-in desk and insists that he is the bearded man in the center of the five by 12-foot canvas. There is a resemblance. Russell first visited the Center on August 30, 1988, just a couple of years after its opening in 1986. Records indicate Russell visited SJC 555 times between May 2001 and March 2007.

St. John Center’s Housing Case Management program is assisting more and more people like Russell with finding safe, decent, affordable housing. “I don’t like living on the streets,” said Russell. “There are too many people out there who will rob you and hit you. I feel a lot safer now that I have my own apartment. I have a bed to sleep in, a TV, a telephone, and a bathroom so I can take a shower anytime I want without having to wait for my turn.”

Success like Russell is having leads to the intangible “hope.” For the first time in years, Russell is thinking about the future in a positive way. “Eventually I would like to have a house in the country with a lake where I could go fishing,” he revealed.

Russell may or may not reach that lofty goal, but even thinking about it reflects a positive change in his attitude. And a positive attitude can be the catalyst for a better life.