Support Can Change Everything
For Cleveland, navigating homelessness, health challenges, and a maze of services became a little easier when two community health workers refused to let him navigate it alone.
Cleveland’s face changed when he saw Marissa. His smile widened. His posture changed. He opened the door to his new apartment at St. Joseph’s, revealing a space that was sparsely furnished. A TV sat on the floor, mismatched end tables flanked a loveseat, and a camping chair stood in for an armchair.
Cleveland had only recently exited homelessness.
After a year on multiple waitlists—HANDS, Section 8, and Erie Housing Authority—he had finally secured stable housing at St. Joseph’s. It was a stark difference from where he’d been staying. At a local shelter, he described sleeping “with one eye open” most nights.
It was during this time living in the shelter that he ventured into the UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center on East Avenue one day in January. There, he met Chase Rowland and Marissa Dewey-Ramos, BUILD CDC community health workers. With their assistance, Cleveland acquired a new Social Security card, switched his health insurance to a Pennsylvania plan, applied for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, arranged doctor’s appointments at Wayne Primary Care, and got new prescription eyeglasses.
“Marissa had my back,” Cleveland said. “If you’re willing to help yourself, she’s there. Her and Chase.”
Cleveland explained how they would call to check in on him even on the weekends.
They’d ask how he was doing and if he’d made it to church that day. And they showed up for him—again and again—when they said they would.
