#GivingTuesday: A Home for One of Our Own
Last week, our month-long #SupportAHomeNotAHouse Giving Tuesday campaign focused on a group of long-time Triangle residents moving together to a new home as they grew older. This week, we will be looking at one of the newest residents at our home in Danvers, Bedzer.
While Bedzer is one of our newest residents, he has been a member of the Triangle community since 2016. He has attended our Malden Day Program and has flourished as he worked with a team of dedicated Triangle staff members. His friendly and outgoing nature endears Bedzer to all who meet him. Every Triangle staff member working in our administrative departments also gets to know Bedzer, as he frequently makes the rounds to say hi to every team member. He has an exceptional memory for dates and birthdays, making him Triangle’s de-facto Secretary of Birthdays, remembering not only staff and fellow participants’ birthdays, but that of spouses, sisters, brothers, parents, and children.
With the support of his staff members, Bedzer learned how to harness his energy into successful group employment participation, helping him earn his first paycheck as part of a cleaning crew that attended to common areas and laundry facilities at Malden Housing Authority properties around the city. That success did not come easy for Bedzer. He developed coping skills and learned more about the differences between friendly and professional communication (some people do not enjoy having their age calculated and announced on the spot!).
Then came COVID. Bedzer, due to life circumstances at home and his need for in-person services, was disconnected from his Triangle team for over two years. When he did return to our programs, many of the skills he had developed with Triangle staff over his four years in the program had vanished. As he entered back into his Day Program at Malden, he was quickly reacquainted with many of the people who had been his support network, while also meeting new fellow participants and staff members. However, his transition back into our program came at a time when his home situation was changing for the worse.
In short, Bedzer was no longer going to have a home to live in due to changing circumstances in his family. One day, Bedzer arrived at Triangle with his belongings and a family without the resources to provide him with a new home. Staff members at Triangle sprang into action to ensure that Bedzer had a home.
Chief Program Officer Drew Warren, Director of Day Services and Community Partnerships Brittany Mendez, and Director of Residential Services Julia Multhoni rang the alarm with our funding partners at the state to address this housing emergency for a beloved member of the Triangle community. Timing was perfect, as Triangle had a recent vacancy in one of our residential homes that would be a perfect fit for Bedzer. Although the transition was harrowing and abrupt – filled with uncertainty at times – Triangle was able to take Bedzer into our Residential Program with the blessing of his family and the Department of Developmental Services.
Today, Bedzer is in a good place since moving in over the summer. The support and care he receives during his time at our Malden Day Program is closely coordinated with our residential team, meaning Bedzer’s personal and professional development are being nurtured 24/7. His house manager, James, has been a crucial part of this success by showing patience, sensitivity, and empathy for Bedzer at a time when he needed it most. James and the rest of his house staff get Bedzer out into the community frequently. He joined the Bashers Special Olympics softball team and attended Piers Park Sailing outings with his housemates.
When asked about what he likes about his home, Bedzer was quick to bring up the holiday music they’ve been enjoying – Jingle Bell Rock and Santa Claus is Coming to Town being two of his favorites. He’s looking forward to Thanksgiving this year – he loves cranberry sauce, turkey, and apple crisp, which he’ll get to eat at a new table this year. Bedzer visits his family regularly now and enjoys living with his housemates Colin, Eric, and Paul. In the short time that he’s lived with his new crew and started receiving support from his residential staff, Bedzer has made huge gains in recovering some of the skills that fell away during the pandemic and has become adept at spelling out words that are difficult to say aloud.
At a time when we were needed, Triangle stepped in to make sure that one of our own would not be left without a place to call home. Bedzer is now in a place that is stable and is ready to continue to grow on a path of his choosing. As we approach Giving Tuesday on 12/03, we hope that you will support our residential services work through our #SupportAHomeNotAHouse campaign. Your support will help Bedzer and the other 44 residents we currently serve have all the opportunities they need to lead rich and fulfilling lives in their communities. Please click here to make your donation today!