Herb

Herb is one of Flower City Apartment’s liveliest residents, always ready to engage with others and is an easy conversationalist. Like many of his neighbors, Herb’s past is colorful, tragic, and ultimately, inspirational. It includes youthful adventures that led him to jobs in Cleveland, Syracuse, and North Carolina. It includes the ups and downs of marriage, professional success, active addiction, job loss, divorce, homelessness, spiritual redemption, housing stability, and a second chance.

Herb has seen a lot over the years and eagerly shares his story with others.

After growing up in Rochester, Herb bounced around the East Coast. Eventually, he landed in North Carolina, where he met and married his (now ex-) wife. Addiction was Herb’s downfall, and he fell hard. He lost his job, his marriage disintegrated, and eventually he returned to Rochester. He became homeless and struggled to meet eligibility guidelines for public assistance.

For almost two years, Herb drifted in and out of the social services system and in and out of homeless shelters. He frequently stayed at shelters that provided him with a place to sleep and the resources he needed to combat his unhealthy drug use. Along the way, he rediscovered his faith.

PCHO placed Herb in an apartment when he wasn’t able to get one for himself. He is grateful to everyone at Flower City who welcomed him and helped him obtain a level of stability that he hadn’t had for many years. But he says his first and most important step toward recovery was recognizing, improving, and embracing who he is. In his words,

“You have to be comfortable with yourself in order to do better for yourself.”

At his age, when many of his peers are transitioning to retirement, Herb is not looking for steady employment. Instead, his needs are simpler: Continued help in maintaining his sobriety; a sense of community and support; and information and education about age-appropriate resources available to him.