Jerome’s Story
“I vividly remember the day I met Jerome,” Hailey recalled.
As the Triage Coordinator, Hailey’s responsibilities include connecting and developing relationships with guests by getting them plugged in to daily life at the Mission. At the same time, she assists them with accessing resources like housing referrals, food stamps, and disability support.
It was a typical day at the entrance to Mel Trotter Ministries (MTM) when the staff informed Hailey that a guest had arrived named Jerome. A familiar face from the past, Jerome shared with her that he had stayed at MTM “back in the day” but had since been living in a tent in the woods, receiving support from the Outreach Team.
Hailey welcomed Jerome and helped him settle into the place where he would stay while getting back on his feet. That personal engagement sparked a new connection. Jerome immediately felt comfortable and would approach Hailey almost daily, excited to share stories about his previous day, providing little updates on his life. When passing through the Day Center each morning, Hailey would ask how he was doing. Jerome’s responses were always filled with optimism. He’d say, “I woke up today, so it’s going to be a good day,” or “The Lord woke me up, so He must have a plan for me today.” This regular interaction continued during his stay, and though Jerome occasionally left the shelter to stay with family, he always returned.
At the beginning of March, Hailey received an email about a housing referral for Jerome. Excited and hopeful, she headed to the Day Center to find him. This housing referral came as a result of the work by MTM’s Outreach Team, Pine Rest Street Reach, the city’s Homeless Outreach Team, and by Hailey coordinating appointments and logistics to make it happen. “When I say it took a village to get Jerome into housing, I mean it,” Hailey reflected.
When the day arrived for Jerome to receive his keys, Hailey received a call saying someone needed to speak with her. It was Jerome, standing there with a big smile on his face, excited to move into his new apartment.
Jerome wanted to share the great news and express his gratitude, saying, “Initially I was so scared to come back to the Mission, but the staff made it so much easier. Thank you for your patience with me…Today I woke up and knew the Lord’s got a plan. Lord willing, tomorrow, I get to wake up in my own home.”
At 73 years old, Jerome couldn’t contain his excitement about moving into his new place which brings a fresh start and a new chapter to his life. At MTM, transformation doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens through connections. From our Outreach Team to community partners, and from the frontline staff like Hailey to donors like you, every connection played a role in reshaping Jerome’s life and helping him move into a home of his own.
