My name is Mitchell and I am a person of total hearing loss. Oftentimes understanding others and being understood is difficult and frustrating for me. I lived homeless for about four years due to my mental illness and alcoholism.

My parents divorced when I was three years old, and I was always angry about that. My mother moved me and my stepdad to St. Louis when I was ten. I lived there for 35 years and decided to move back to DC to be with my father.

However, after a few years I became disillusioned and angry so I left my father and family and became homeless for four years. I would sleep anywhere...in the woods near the river, on sidewalks, under bridges, and in old abandoned houses, trailers and at metro stations.

Finally, one day when I was staying in Rock Creek Park woods under a bridge, the outreach worker for CCHFP, Mandrake Sumners, left me his card on my chair. From that point on I have found support and guidance from the staff at CCHFP.

The staff helped me get Social Security benefits, food stamps, and Medicaid coverage and most importantly helped me find a home. On April 18, 2006...my own...Home Sweet Home. Now I am getting better sleep, I feel less worried, and in a lot of ways I’ve calmed down.

I thank all the staff at Friendship Place for helping me.