Helping Homeless Elders
Clyde’s Experience with Homelessness
Clyde’s life is a testament to his perseverance and the power of community support. Clyde grew up in Gary, Indiana, as one of 12 children. His parents’ strength and guidance were something he appreciated. Reflecting on his journey, Clyde shared, “I hit three years clean last November 10th, and I know [my parents] would have been so happy that I changed my life around.”
But Clyde’s path to sobriety was far from easy. Growing up in Gary during a time of economic decline left a mark. “After U.S. Steel shut down, people had to find other ways to survive,” he said. For Clyde, the struggles of his environment led to years of battling addiction.
Addiction made it difficult for Clyde to maintain jobs and it held him back from the life he wanted. Clyde has experienced cycles of homelessness, estrangement from his loved ones, and legal troubles. “Everywhere I went, my addiction came with me,” he said.
Finding Help at Catholic Charities
Clyde lived in Minneapolis for years, working a steady job at the airport. When that fell through, he moved to Louisville, Kentucky. His battle with addiction continued there. He worked and lost multiple jobs in Louisville and eventually lost his housing too.
Clyde made the decision to return to Minnesota in 2021 with a renewed determination to get sober. He found Catholic Charities Dorothy Day Campus in St. Paul. “I told them I needed a place to stay,” Clyde shared. There, he was provided with shelter and connected to resources to address his addiction and rebuild his life. “They asked, ‘What are your plans?’ and I told them I wanted to get away from drugs and alcohol,” he recalled.
After staying in the overnight shelter at Dorothy Day Place, Clyde was connected to the Catholic Charities Homeless Elders program. The Homeless Elders program serves people over 60 years old and provides intensive case management and advocacy on their behalf. It goes beyond addressing immediate needs to empower individuals with long-term solutions. The Homeless Elders team referred Clyde to a sober living facility in St. Paul where he fully committed to recovery.
“Having my own place . . . it has helped me stay sober, stay clean, and stay focused on myself.”
Pursuing New Goals
He graduated from the program and, within a week, secured permanent housing through the Homeless Elders program. “They knew how serious I was — they put me where I’m at today,” Clyde said. Clyde moved into his own apartment in the West Side neighborhood of St. Paul in July of 2022 — something he describes as a huge milestone.
Today, Clyde’s life looks entirely different. He is sober, employed, and has a strong community around him. “Having my own place . . . it has helped me stay sober, stay clean, and stay focused on myself,” he said. The trust he has built with his neighbors and the responsibilities he has taken on, such as working security in his building, have given him a sense of belonging.
Clyde expressed his gratitude, saying, “Catholic Charities put me in a good place.” He views his case managers Melea and Melissa as friends and keep in touch with them regularly.
Now, Clyde is focused on rebuilding relationships with his family and gratitude for his new life. “I’m still finding out who I am, and I’m getting so many blessings,” he said.
