Newsletter: August 2023
Dear Friends of Joseph House:
God has blessed the Joseph House in many ways, and one of the greatest is the commitment of all the people who hold it together. There are some people here who measure their service in decades, whether as sisters, volunteers or supporters. They’re in it for the long haul. They provide stability and a long and vital institutional memory, both of which are essential in a rapidly changing world.
Why do people stick around? The answers vary, but we hope each person finds something satisfying about the work. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness—are not hard to find at Joseph House. It’s holy ground, in a very down to earth way. We like to think it has the spirit of Nazareth, which is that of Mary and Joseph in the presence of Jesus, doing humble work with care and attention, loving God and neighbor with an undivided heart.
No matter how long you have been involved with the Joseph House, we are so grateful for you. You’re part of a community that makes a difference to people in need. Every donation, every prayer, every offer to help and word of encouragement . . . it all adds up. You allow the Joseph House to assist people who are struggling to obtain the basic necessities of life. What’s more, we can offer them what really instills hope: the knowledge that they are not alone.
Every week, the doors of the Joseph House Crisis Center open to lines of people, people like the following:
Kayla is only 38 but she feels like her body is falling apart. She works in the housekeeping department at a hotel, but the pain from an old neck injury limits her hours to part-time. Staying afloat was a real strain, but then she needed to have a knee replaced. The recovery period from the surgery meant no work and no income for several weeks. Kayla keeps her bills very low, and gets most of her food from food banks, but there is nothing she can do about the rent. Kayla is not by herself: she is taking care of her six-year-old godson because his mother is incarcerated. His welfare is more important than her own, and Kayla did not want him to become homeless.
Kayla is a hard worker, but as it is for many people with service jobs the work is taking a heavy toll on her health. It affects not only her but the life she can provide for her godson. Kayla came to the Crisis Center and we were able to help with a $250 payment toward her rent. We didn’t want this little family to lose their home.
Roy, 55, was seriously injured in a car accident 15 years ago. He has not been able to work ever since and receives a small monthly disability check. He was doing okay, largely because a few extended family members served as his support system. They looked after him and were able to help him out with his various needs. Unfortunately, they were getting up there in years and the last one died not that long ago.
Roy had trouble coping with being alone. He lost his rental and ended up in a homeless shelter. Determined to get back on his feet, Roy located a new place to live, an apartment in a subdivided mobile home. It is very modest, but he needed to pay a $400 deposit upfront in order to move in. Roy didn’t have all the money. The Joseph House added $250 so he could take the first step in starting a new life.
Deanna, 35, is the sole provider for her three children. She recently received some terrific news: she was approved for a housing voucher that will cap her rent payment at 30% of her income. These vouchers are a game-changer for low income families. They offer the possibility of living with some degree of stability instead of being on the verge of losing it all. But life has its ups and downs. Several days later, the power was turned off in Deanna’s home because she could not afford to pay the electric bill. To make matters worse, the absence of utilities in her home put her housing voucher in jeopardy. The Joseph House acted quickly and sent $200 to the power company.
A few years ago, Paul, 61, broke his back in an accident. Although he believes he can no longer work, his disability claim was denied. He now has a new doctor who has promised to help with his case. In the meantime, Paul’s only income is a VA pension of $328 monthly. He would be homeless were it not for his subsidized housing voucher. The water was shut off in his home after he fell behind in paying the bill. Our payment of $325 got it back on.
Cecelia, 66, lives with a younger friend who is disabled and has two children. A car drove into the house they were renting, which was soon after condemned. Cecelia and the others were suddenly homeless. The Red Cross paid for three days in a motel and then the Department of Social Services turned them away for lack of funds. Cecelia and her friend started paying for the motel out of pocket, but their scant resources were being rapidly depleted. A payment of $350 from the Joseph House allowed them to move into a new rental.
Workshop News
There are currently five men living at the Joseph House Workshop, our long-term residential program for homeless men that teaches life skills needed for employment. Residents are provided with a supportive place to live and opportunities to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually.
As part of our holistic approach, Sr. Virginia teaches art classes. The photo shows Lionel with some of his handiwork.
The classes provide several benefits. A man who came to the Workshop with severe anxiety problems started his first class with great trepidation: “I can’t do this, Sister, I don’t know how to do it!” Sister said, “Of course you can’t, you’ve never done it before! But you will be able to do it.” When he completed his project some weeks later, he turned to her and said, “Sister, I’m happy! I finished it! I’m happy! I’m happy!”
Golf Tournament News
As you, dear reader, are most probably aware, the Joseph House is totally dependent on the goodwill financial donations of its benefactors (of whom you are very probably one!) for its existence. Were it not for such generosity, those who come to us seeking help would be denied the services that, with the help of our small staff and wonderful volunteers, we are able to provide.
Aware of that, back in 2006 a little group of friends of the LSJM and of the Joseph House decided to organize a golf tournament, as a fund-raiser, at nearby Green Hill Country Club. The event was modestly successful, but sufficiently so to be repeated in 2007, and it has continued annually (with a 2-year Covid break) and become somewhat of an Eastern Shore tradition, the Joseph House Charity Golf Tournament.
The tradition continues! The 16th ANNUAL JOSEPH HOUSE CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT is now set for FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6th at, as usual, beautiful Green Hill. Invitations have been extended to past and potential new players, and our golfing committee is busy soliciting support from previous and prospective sponsors in its effort to again make the event an enjoyably successful endeavor, and a boost to our finances.
It is worth noting, and sharing, that in 2020 and 2021—the Covid hiatus—when we were unable to stage the tournament, many of those who annually supported it as golfers or as donors, donated anyway! Our appreciation of such generosity goes beyond words. Friends of The Joseph House, indeed!
For more information, see Events.
For information on registering, send an email to nazareth411[at]comcast[dot]net or call 410-543-8171.
-Golf Tournament Committee
Thank you for involving yourself in the lives of those who are less fortunate. Your support is needed and appreciated.
May these summer days be rich in blessings and a time of rest and renewal.
Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
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