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Greg
When Greg arrived at CSA fresh from inpatient alcohol and drug treatment in May 2015, he recalls that he didn’t know whether he was coming or going. “I had no ambition, structure or routine. My attitude was immature and pessimistic, but I did know that I wanted to stay sober.” Greg had never seriously attempted recovery before. Despite getting clean in detox several times, he would go right back to the lifestyle he knew was killing him. When he arrived at Procop House with six months of sobriety under his belt, he found it to be quite different from what he was used to. It was quiet and clean, and he found James Johnson, CSA’s Program Manager, to be supportive and helpful. He had his own room with his own bed, something very new to him, and he had a window to look out from. Greg recalls that “it was all I needed at the time.”
He had been working for somebody he’d met in treatment, but his employer relapsed, leaving Greg scrambling for some kind of employment. He worked with the agency’s employment development coordinator, Tom Cullinan, who connected him with CSA’s work experience program. Greg soon started working regularly again. He could walk to his new job, put in a solid day’s work, earn a paycheck, and become a productive member of society again. “It showed me that I was capable of learning and excelling at something new, something I never did before.”
Greg stayed at Procop for two years, during which time he was also selected as the resident House Manager, assisting staff with the daily workings of the house. He says that the experience taught him patience, tolerance, the ability to work with a variety of personalities, and how to communicate effectively with those individuals. He learned how to budget money, so that now he’s able to pay for things that he could never afford before becoming sober. Most of all, he says that he learned to help people not like himself, “because I learned that we’re all from different walks of life and have different struggles. Some are not as blessed as I am.”
After leaving Procop House, Greg stayed at the same job for another year before moving on to new employment. He’s employed full-time, has his own place, and is planning to be married in June of this year, and enjoys a son and two step-children who he cares for deeply. He says that living at CSA “was a blessing that gave me the time to mature and become responsible. I wake up every day sober, with a beautiful fiancé and three children I can be a good example for.”
Louis
Louis came to Community Service Alliance’s Procop House in the fall of 2019 in early sobriety with very few resources except a job as a laborer with a siding company. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, Louis lost his job, but he maintained a positive attitude and worked with the CSA staff to get back to work as quickly as possible. A small job opportunity became available in late May painting steam pipes on a short-term basis with one of CSA’s employer partners, Werner G. Smith, a chemical company located in Cleveland’s Flats area. Louis jumped at the opportunity to do some work, and did a professional job on the pipes each time he was asked to work.
With his commitment and energy being proven each time, the company gave him more work. “The more I took on, the more they gave me, so I just kept showing up,” says Louis. Eventually, the employer recognized real potential in the young handyman. “We all figured out he was a smart guy,” says company President Bill Grulich, “and we agreed he should be given the chance to become a kettle operator.” They offered Louis the opportunity to take an aptitude test designed to measure understanding of Chemistry and mathematical ability, and he achieved a perfect score on the test, higher than anybody in the company’s 109 year history, even though Louis had no previous experience in the field! Louis was hired in at the beginning of July and began training under an older Kettle Operator who’d spent a career at Werner G. Smith. When that gentleman retired at the end of 2020, Louis took over for him on second shift, and he continues to work at the company full-time with full benefits. Louis has since moved on from CSA, has his own home and is engaged to be married. But he credits the support and assistance of Procop House and the CSA staff with leading him on the road to success.
Max
Max grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio suburb of Bainbridge. As a teenager, Max never had a career focus, other than to become the best criminal he could. Eventually, Max began using heroin and committing petty theft. After being in and out of county jail, Max was arrested in 2009 for aggravated robbery and sentenced to three years in prison. Max was released just before serving one year in prison and immediately got in touch with Community Service Alliance. Even through his setbacks, CSA was there to support Max through his journey to sobriety and kept encouraging him to come back. With help from the Keating Center and withe comradery from the men at CSA, Max achieved sobriety. Without CSA, Max says that he either wouldn’t be here or would be in a correctional facility. Now that Max has beaten addiction, he has an apprenticeship with an ironworker, bought a house in Brecksville, and has a six-year-old son. In the future, he is considering going to college to get a degree in construction management.
Robert
When Robert arrived at Community Service Alliance in April of 2019, he was terrified. It was his first attempt at recovery after an ongoing struggle with addiction and a 10-month stay at a local inpatient treatment center – longer than most average stays at such facilities. “I was afraid of relapsing because I’d never done this before,” he says.
Robert was admitted to Fulton House, and he recalls being very lonely at first because the house was very quiet and he didn’t know any of the other guys. The men at Fulton house were all going about their business, going to work in the mornings and to meetings at night, and Robert felt out of place. “Then I started talking to guys here, and I did what my sponsor suggested and go to meetings and just be helpful.” That simple change in mindset made all the difference. Robert settled in, working during the days at a job he’d been trained for by the Veterans Administration, going to meetings all over town in the evenings, and following the advice of his sponsor and CSA Program Manager, James Johnson. Soon he started noticing a change.
In a regular one-on-one session, James recommended that Robert start to save his money to pay down his debts and prepare for his eventual move from Fulton House into independent living. Prior to arriving at CSA, Robert had built up a considerable amount of debt, including back-debts owed to the gas and electric companies. Robert heeded the advice, and the affordable rent at Fulton House and the support of the staff allowed him to pay them off a little at a time. Now he’s debt free and “Ready for the real world!”
“This place saved my life,” Robert says, “and I’m thankful they’ve let me stay this long. They must have seen something in me.” And to the new guy just coming into one of the CSA houses, Robert says, “Do what you’re told. If you have issues, take them to Tim, James or Tom. Tell them about it and they’ll help you. Don’t be shy. Get to know the guys here, and make sure you make all your meetings!” It’s advice that Robert took to heart to help his own transformation.
Calvin
Calvin has been a resident with CSA since January 2017, living first at Procop House and then moving on to a longer-term transitional setting at Sandy’s House. Immediately upon his arrival at CSA, Calvin demonstrated a consistent willingness to put his life back together in every way. He jumped right in with Tom Cullinan, our employment development coordinator, to rebuild his resume, and by March of that year Calvin was employed in our Work Experience Program with one of our partners, Advanced Secondaries, retooling parts for the aerospace and automobile industries. He stayed there successfully for two years until April 2019 when he’d completed the program and was looking for new work.
At that time, the same homeless shelter he’d been a client of two years prior was developing a partnership with a local organization to provide ambassadors throughout Greater Cleveland to spend the summer planting and maintaining flower beds as part of an effort to keep the city looking beautiful. Calvin applied and was hired on with 11 other individuals, with the understanding that there might be a promise of ongoing employment for one or two hardworking candidates. What he didn’t realize was that he and his co-workers were being watched and evaluated all summer long. Sure enough, that fall Calvin’s work ethic paid off and he was chosen with one other team member to stay on and work a security position.
That’s where you’ll find him today – on third shift providing security for the homeless men and women who come to the shelter for a safe, and much-needed night’s rest. Calvin says, “I appreciate CSA and what they have done for me to the highest,” and counsels new residents that, “It’s a wise and good choice to come here. People will help you and are genuinely concerned. You just have to do what’s right.”
James
As a Cleveland native, James frequented Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians games growing up. No matter where life took him, James always found his way back to Cleveland. After meeting a couple of boys at the local YMCA, James started running the streets and became a father at a young age. James struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for the next 23 years until he attended his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and began his road to recovery. James has been sober for the past 37 years. Since then, every year has been the best year of James’ life.
After working with various outreach centers, James got involved with Community Service Alliance through a friend in 2005. According to James, the dedicated and caring staff at CSA sets them apart from other similar organizations.
Once you’re a part of CSA, you always have the support of the faculty and volunteers. James loves to see alumni of the program come back for additional assistance. Whether the men need a new dresser or a place to do their laundry, James is there to help them through it all. In James’ words, CSA takes men from the minor leagues and prepares them for the major leagues. CSA has serviced over 2,000 men since 2005.
Brazzie
After seeing the monstrosities of war first-hand, Vietnam War veteran, Brazzie began using when serving in Vietnam. When he returned home to the United States, his addiction snowballed and worsened when he lost both of his parents, as well as his sister, in the span of three years. Without any family to turn to at the age of 21, Brazzie ended up homeless and enrolled in Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV).
When at DCHV, he was connected with a representative from Community Service Alliance who got him moved into Procop House the same day. While living at Procop House, Brazzie got the support, resources, and stability he needed to create a new life and push forward.
Armed with confidence and new life skills like budgeting and cooking, Brazzie was able to move out of Procop House after 28 months. Since that time, he’s moved into his own place, gotten married, and made it his life’s mission to help others.
Robert
Robert arrived in Cleveland, Ohio 15 years ago with his wife and children to begin work as a messenger for a bank. What started as casual, social drinking slowly morphed into alcoholism when marital problems arose. As time went on, Robert’s addiction spiralled out of control until his cousin helped him check into Stella Maris Rehab Center.
During his time at Stella Maris, a representative from Community Service Alliance visited Robert, and the two determined that Robert would be a perfect fit for Procop House, a CSA transitional housing location.
Upon arrival, Robert was welcomed with open arms and supported by the staff at Community Service Alliance. Not only did he receive his own private room, but he also benefited from budgeting advice, regular meals from local churches, and a sense of community. With a support system behind him, Robert was finally inspired and confident to live a sober life outside of transitional housing.
Today, Robert is focused on moving forward and continuing to help others but doesn’t forget his family at CSA. Without his CSA support system, he wouldn’t have the foundation he needed to live a productive, sober life. He encourages others who are currently struggling with addiction not to give up. With the opportunities, resources, and support available at CSA Houses, they too can reclaim their life and independence.