This past week I moved out of Mercury Courts Apartments where I have been housed for almost 19 years, to the MDHA property Centennial Towers off of West End avenue. Having been permanently housed for 19 years, it was time for me to reflect on my journey from chronic homelessness to permanent housing. After years of shelter living and cheap motels and transient housing, I finally arrived at the quite evident fact that my situation was not getting any better and my health was declining quickly. I began to investigate the housing options I had and stopped listening to the word on the street about the impossibility of getting housing in less than three months.
I applied to Urban Housing Solutions Mercury Court Apartments in February of 2007 and my wait time was only 47 days until I was gratefully housed in Apartment 114 at 411 Murfreesboro Pike. I moved to a larger non-SRO kitchen unit in 2016 and remained there until May 1, 2026.
My thoughts today are with those folks who through the mercy shown to me when I was experiencing homelessness guided me to my recognition of my own worthiness to be housed and my own self worth and the ability to make positive changes in my own life.
My dear friend Father Charles F. Strobel (1943-2023) repeatedly instilled in my brain, “Do you know how good you are!!” I was humbled by his mercy going back to 1991.
I was humbled by the tireless efforts of thousands of volunteers at the Rescue Mission, Room in the Inn and dozens of churches city-wide. I was humbled by the mercy of a MNPD officer who took me to Room in the Inn rather than jail. I was humbled by the mercy of the Criminal Court of Davidson County in allowing me to get my citizen rights restored, voting rights restored, and gun possession privileges restored (2025).
I was truly humbled by the generous outpouring of love and support of the thousands of my Contributor customers who have supported my efforts and bought papers from me since 2008.
I am truly humbled by mercy.