Imagine losing your toes to frostbite while living on the streets, only to face the terrifying prospect of recovering without a safe place to heal. This is the harsh reality for many homeless individuals, but one Cleveland organization is changing that narrative. Meet Mary and Joseph’s Home, Cleveland’s only medical respite facility dedicated to homeless adults, where healing and hope go hand in hand.
Earlier this year, 57-year-old Kenneth Jarrett faced this grim scenario after undergoing amputation surgery. But instead of returning to the streets, he found refuge at Mary and Joseph’s Home (https://jmhome.org/). Here, a dedicated team of medical caregivers and social workers not only helped him heal but also secured him an apartment and covered his rent for a year. ‘They made my life stable so I can move on,’ Jarrett shared, highlighting the transformative impact of this lifeline.
But here’s where it gets controversial: While programs like this offer a compassionate solution, they also challenge the status quo of how we address homelessness and healthcare. Public health experts argue that without proper recuperation spaces, individuals like Jarrett are more likely to be readmitted to hospitals, costing an average of $3,200 per day. Mary and Joseph’s Home, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, provides a cost-effective alternative—but is society doing enough to support such initiatives?
This year, the Sisters of Charity Health System took a bold step by renovating a former dialysis center into the new location for Joseph’s Home, the 11-bed men’s respite care facility. The move from a two-story to a one-story building wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about accessibility. ‘It’s more accessible for men with mobility issues,’ explained Kate McCall, director of annual giving and communications. Mary’s Home, the 10-bed women’s facility, already occupies half of the same building, creating a unified space for healing.
The $2.4 million renovation, completed this summer, was funded through a capital campaign that raised $3 million, with contributions from the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. The space was gutted and transformed with individual rooms, new flooring, ADA-accessible bathrooms, and large windows—a far cry from the streets. Male residents temporarily moved to Mary’s Home during construction, ensuring uninterrupted care.
And this is the part most people miss: Mary and Joseph’s Home isn’t just about physical healing. It’s about preparing residents for a healthy life off the streets. During an average 80-day stay, residents receive transportation to medical appointments, behavioral health referrals, substance use disorder support, and affordable housing assistance. They even learn essential life skills, from managing finances to cooking nutritious meals.
But challenges remain. Many landlords hesitate to rent to formerly incarcerated individuals, a barrier the home’s Journey Home Fund helps overcome by covering security deposits. Even after residents leave, an alumni program provides ongoing support, ensuring they don’t slip back into crisis.
Here’s a thought-provoking question: If programs like Mary and Joseph’s Home prove both compassionate and cost-effective, why aren’t more cities investing in similar models? With an annual budget of $1.44 million, the facility serves 120 adults yearly, achieving a 70% medical stability rate and 90% stable housing rate upon discharge. These numbers speak volumes—but they also raise questions about scalability and societal commitment.
Take, for instance, the story of a man battling diabetes and alcohol use disorder. At Mary and Joseph’s Home, he found sobriety for the first time since his teenage years. Or the widow who, after losing her home and several toes to frostbite, is now healing and preparing to move into subsidized housing. These aren’t just success stories—they’re testaments to the power of second chances.
Mary’s Home joined Joseph’s in 2022, thanks to a $1.5 million capital campaign. The decision to house both facilities in the same building wasn’t just practical—it was symbolic, reflecting the organization’s commitment to serving all in need. As McCall aptly puts it, ‘Joseph and Mary’s Home is a beacon of hope. There’s a lot of hardship, but there is goodness in this community.’
So, what do you think? Is society doing enough to address homelessness and healthcare? Should more cities adopt models like Mary and Joseph’s Home? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep this conversation going.
