For Juan Delgado, 43, homelessness was "almost an addiction." After three years on the streets — sleeping on bridges, in parks and in abandoned houses — and seven years of traveling from shelter to shelter, he finally found a cure.
Delgado came to Emmanuel House, a shelter located in South Providence that oversaw his transition to becoming "more empowered," he said. He has since returned to the shelter as a volunteer to help others "climb the same ladder" and escape homelessness.
Delgado's father's death and his struggle with bipolar disorder, depression and alcohol abuse were all factors that contributed to his homelessness, Delgado said. Thanks to a substance abuse program he found through Emmanuel House, Delgado has now been sober for 60 days and signed a lease March 2 to his new, privately subsidized apartment after a year-long process.
"My attitude changed — I wanted to learn more about homelessness and how to get out of homelessness," he said.
He said he has plans to "reeducate" himself in school, possibly studying social services to "give back to others."
Delgado's story is just one of many successful transitions out of homelessness through Emmanuel House. The shelter, operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, opened its doors as the largest day shelter in Rhode Island Jan. 27, fully staffed by individuals who once were homeless.
Fulfilling a need
Since opening as a day shelter, Emmanuel House has served about 40 guests daily from Rhode Island and beyond, said Dotty Perreault, site director. The shelter was formerly only open at night until Occupy Providence members negotiated with the city to open it during the day, too, in exchange for vacating Burnside Park.
"It was certainly something that was needed and a need that was recognized," said Jim Jahnz, director of Emmanuel House.
At least 4,410 individuals visited shelters in Rhode Island last year, according to Homeless Management Information System data. The 2010 Census Bureau's American Community Survey found that 14 percent of Rhode Islanders live below the federal poverty level and 61,000 Rhode Islanders have incomes below 50 percent of the federal poverty level — considered to be in deep poverty and at high risk of homelessness. This month, the Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission released details of an update to the state's 10-year plan, launched in 2006, to end homelessness by streamlining access to affordable housing.
There are many individuals in the homeless community "who are not able to express their needs," said Mary-Beth Blaetz, 47. Blaetz has been homeless since her husband died about three years ago.
Blaetz came to Emmanuel House in late February after learning about it through her church, she said. Emmanuel House offers much to be grateful for — "people like Dotty," a bed, a meal, shelter and access to opportunities, she said.
"It's a huge community of love," she added.
Emmanuel House works with agencies to provide services such as peer-to-peer counseling, housing referrals, medical and mental health assistance, substance abuse treatment and assistance in applying to jobs.
"Emmanuel House is certainly the best of all facilities combined" and "a beautiful place to be," said Blaetz, who has been to many shelters, including some out of state.
‘Life's a journey'
"It's nice, and it's quiet," said Robin Hansen, 54, looking up from her crossword puzzle. Hansen has been homeless for more than three years, though she recently came to Emmanuel House.
Though Hansen and her husband were both employed, after her husband's death she was fired from her job and lost her home. Hansen also has a neurological disorder and other medical issues that do not allow her to work on her feet for eight hours a day, she said.
"Life's a journey," Hansen said. She receives Social Security income and a widow's pension and has friends who help her with shelter and food, she said. Now, she is waiting to hear about her housing application, she said.
Homeless people may come "from a lot of walks of life," and some are only "a paycheck away from the street," Hansen said. People have many "prejudicial ideas" about individuals who are homeless — for example, that they are all alcoholics, she said.
Angel Carmona, 48, had a home for about 20 years, but his previous house was "a dumpster" that cost $300 monthly to rent — money that could have been spent on medication, he said.
"I'm dying," he said, referring to his AIDS. "I can't do nothing."
A long-term solution
Emmanuel House aids in eliminating long-term homelessness by urging people to leave the shelter for permanent housing, wrote Eric Hirsch, professor of sociology at Providence College and chair of the Homeless Management Information System committee, in an email to The Herald.
"A housing-first model and adequate affordable housing will lead to a long-term solution compared to congregate shelters — we don't want people to have to get used to living in congregate shelters," Hirsch wrote.
Homeless Management Information System has data indicating the number of families visiting shelters is decreasing because the length of stay is increasing — "the shelters are full thus limiting turnover," Hirsch wrote.
Emmanuel House is not licensed to prepare food on site but works with agencies like Providence Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army, which provide food to eat on a regular basis, Jahnz said.
The shelter "provides everything for everyone" — even those who are drunk — the people who "you need to help the most," Delgado said.
Unlike some other shelters, Emmanuel House searches and temporarily confiscates items from visitors that might harm others, such as drugs, alcohol and weapons, Delgado said. The shelter also takes medication for safekeeping. At other shelters, substances often end up in the wrong hands, he said.
Perreault said funding is a challenge. While Emmanuel House has funding through the end of April, Perreault expressed concern about how long the funding will last.
The shelter provides a strong community and is staffed with "a good group of people" who were once homeless, some of whom are
in recovery from substance abuse, Jahnz said. "It really allows for a good sense of understanding" between the staffers and guests.
Perreault, once homeless, said her job is rewarding when someone the shelter has assisted in recovering from an addiction returns to say, "You saved my life." But the shelter is "just a stepping stone" to helping abusers reintegrate into society, she said.
