WINTER 2019 | Volume 31, Number 1

Housed for Sixteen Years With a Little Help from the CommunitySixty three year old worked to climb out of homelessness (and continues to work hard!)

It is our mission to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give people the chance to hope again.

Sammy estimates that he first became homeless decades ago after living with his mom and three sisters. That all changed after his mother died and he was inspired on a new path. With his own perseverance and assistance from Hesed House and our community, Sammy’s hard work has taken him from years on the streets to 16 years in his own apartment!

Sammy first stayed in Hesed House’s “tent city” in the early nineties. After the death of his beloved mother, Rose, Sammy said he felt her spirit inspire him on a new path. Thanks to you, Hesed House was here to help him when he was ready to help himself.

Sammy’s new path began in our transitional housing program. He took some adult education classes at Waubonsee Community College and rode the train to a night shift job at Meijer. He soon found housing, but a serious medical issue caused him to return to Hesed House.

Sammy never gave up and neither did the Hesed community.

Sammy never gave up and neither did the Hesed community. He continued to work hard and has been living in the same apartment for over 16 years now! The day he moved out he remembers being “happy as heck and it was great because I did something for myself!” His volunteer “case manager” Rama has been with him every step of the way. Rama adds, “Sammy is so determined.”

Thanks to Rama and our community, Sammy got a total knee replacement and physical therapy from a local doctor and hospital who both graciously donated their services. He now has insurance that allows him to get the healthcare he deserves. Some of Rama’s friends from St. Peter Catholic Church provided transportation so he could get to

work when there was no bus service. Recently, the NIU Health Advocacy Clinic even helped obtain disability benefits.

Sammy is doing great and has reconnected with his sisters. He has worked part-time for three years at a local grocery store where he has never missed a day or ever been late.

Sammy wants you to know that he thinks Hesed House is “a good place and they do help a lot of people.”

Always smiling Sammy is happy to be in his own home!

Sammy and volunteer Rama on their way to a doctor’s appointment recently.

WINTER 2019 |

Counting Miracles: Successes from January 2018 – December 2018

TOTAL OF ALL 47

OUTCOMES

1878

2

www.hesedhouse.org Ending Homelessness – one person, one family at a time.

Obtained Identification

302Obtained Veteran’s or Other Benefits

165

Resolved Legal

Issue(s)

24

Learned Cooking,

Cleaning, or Parenting

Skills

200

Successfully Addressed

Mental Health Issues

28

Successfully Addressed Substance

Abuse Issues

87

Successfully Addressed

Medical Issues

100

Obtained Employment

or Job Training

158

Improved Credit Score, Paid Down

Debt or Learned

Budgeting

43

Obtained Housing

343

Dear People of Hesed,I will never forget the moment when I realized that we could end homelessness. It was December 8, 2008. An unusually warm winter sun had just burned off the previous night’s frost. I was helping an older gentleman move out of Hesed House into his new apartment. He and I were carrying an overstuffed brown couch up a narrow stairway. The couch got stuck in the doorway at the top of the stairs, and we both just stood there cursing and sweating.“We can end homelessness.”

It was a whisper from a part of my soul that had never spoken before. It wasn’t a shout filled with hollow bravado and naive optimism. It was a simple realization, born of experience—and a lot of moments spent cursing and sweating. If I may be honest with you, it was terrifying. When you realize that you CAN end homelessness, you MUST do so. Every day since, I have looked at Hesed House differently. Our goal—our only goal—is to end homelessness and shut Hesed House down. Anything else is unethical.Consider this:

Homelessness did not exist when I was born. The modern phenomenon of homelessness began in 1980. That means that only 16% of our country’s history has included homelessness.

Sixteen people become homeless and arrive at Hesed House each week. Fortunately, each week we are also able to get sixteen people out of homelessness. If we could get twenty-one people out each week, though, Hesed House will be empty before this time next year.

Truthfully, I doubt that we will be able end homelessness in 2019. I do know this though: homelessness can be ended in our country and—with your help—Hesed House will not give up until the last person is housed and we can shut the doors forever.Whenever that is, we’ll send you an invitation, because we’re going to throw one heck of a party to thank you!Peace,

Ryan J. Dowd, Atty., MPA Volunteer, Donor & Executive Director

“We can end homelessness.”

3 | WINTER 2019

www.hesedhouse.orgEnding Homelessness – one person, one family at a time.

Grandmother Starts A New Chapter of Her Life Helping Others Retired business professional utilizes her background to serve those in need.

After a successful 30-year career as a business professional, Rama Canney, a single mother of two sons and grandmother to three relocated back in the area. It was then that she began a new chapter of her life helping others at Hesed House as the founder of the first volunteer led job training program, “Working for Success” as well as becoming our first “volunteer” case manager. Rama has and continues to have an immensely positive impact on the guests, other volunteers and the staff at Hesed House.

During her first few months of helping in the Overnight Emergency Shelter, she surveyed the guests to see what they wanted to do while the volunteers were here. Much to

her surprise, everyone checked the “other” box and asked for things like being reconnected with a family member, help finding a job, etc. Rama describes that night as the moment she “fell in love with the people.”

“ Hesed House is like a beautiful garden, where there is something for everyone to do.”

Rama’s heart was stirred to do more, which led to the first volunteer job training program called “Working for Success” that she still leads today. She was also the first “volunteer” case manager, before Hesed had case management services. Former Hesed guest Sammy who she has helped keep housed for 16 years shared, “Rama cares about everybody… you can always count on her… she is just a really good person.”

Rama believes her past prepared her for this beautiful chapter of her life – her struggles, her training during her career, being a mom/grandmother, her faith and church life – all of that brought her to this place where she is able to be a helper and see God in

the people she works with at Hesed House.

Rama is not one to accept praise for the incredible impact she has made as she humbly describes her role as “an accidental gardener.” She believes that Hesed House is like a beautiful garden, where there is something for everyone to do. If you would like to learn more about Working for Success or general volunteer opportunities, please email volunteer@hesedhouse.org.

Rama prepping a guest for his job interview.

Today’s Working for Success Team: Rama, Mary, David and David.

A Simple Act of Kindness Goes a Long Way!Thanks to your support this holiday season, a current Hesed House Family Shelter teen was able to assemble a very special gift basket. After discovering that the taxi driver who takes her back to Hesed House after her high school basketball practice every day is also homeless, this caring teenager took it upon herself to put together some basic essentials to give him. It melts our heart to witness this young lady’s giving spirit as she was able to spread a little kindness to others in need.

2019 Strategic Plan

Step 1: End homelessness.

Step 2: Shut Hesed House down.

4 WINTER 2019 |

A Special Hesed Moment in The Harbor

Upcoming Special Events

We are thankful to witness Hesed moments like this one. After Harbor staff spilled her coffee, newly housed resident Charles “Kief” quickly grabbed a mop. She told him should would take care of it and he responded, “Please let me do this for you. You have cleaned up after us for years, this is the least I can do for you.” Thank you “Kief” for your Hesed heart!

(The Harbor provides studio apartments and supportive services to individuals who have been chronically homeless).

11th Annual Champions of Hope Breakfast Wednesday, February 27, 2019 Pipers Banquets – Aurora 7 - 8:30 am

Reservations required. Please visit: hesedhope.givesmart.com

Join us for breakfast, networking, live entertainment, and raffle prizes!

8th Annual Derby Party Saturday, May 4, 2019 Naper Settlement – Naperville 3 pm

Reservations required. Please visit: derby19.givesmart.com

Join us for an afternoon of southern hospitality and Derby excitement!

For more information, please visit www.hesedhouse.org or contact Development at 630-914-6428 or donate@hesedhouse.org.

Hesed House Board of Trustees

THANK YOU! We are so thankful for the love and generosity of our donors, staff and volunteers. If you would like to learn more about how you can get involved, please contact Director of Development Michelle Kallevik, CFRE at 630-914-6428 or donate@hesedhouse.org.

Michael Schroeck Chair IBM

James Dolinar 1st Vice-Chair Crowe Horwath LLP

John Ball 2nd Vice-Chair HBIS Engineering, Inc.

John Zediker Secretary Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates, Inc.

Sean Sebold, CFA Treasurer Sebold Capital Wealth Management

Shawn Collins The Collins Law Firm

John Cross Walstra & Associates

Mark Hanson, ChFC® Hanson Financial Services, LLC

Larry Hjorth Portillo’s Restaurants

Tom Lysaught QBE North America

Rachel Ossyra Fox Valley Park Foundation

Deacon Phil Rehmer Our Lady of Mercy, Aurora

Jim Sappington McDonald’s Corporation

Tim Skelly Skelly Law Offices

Public Action to Deliver Shelter, Inc., dba Hesed House is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our EIN# is 36-3285644.

659 South River Street Aurora, IL 60506-5551

www.hesedhouse.org