“St. Patrick Center saw my potential and supported me… this place really cares.”

Jacques used to live the “easy life.” He lived with his girlfriend, didn’t work and got comfortable not working… then he found drugs and alcohol. “Everything was so easy,” says Jacques. “I didn’t have to pay rent and I was with someone who was tolerant of it.” But one day, he woke up and realized that he needed to change. “I grew up in a Christian home and my mother taught me better values than that… it was an epiphany.” So, without anywhere else to go, he packed his bags and walked downtown to a homeless shelter.

In the shelter, Jacques heard about St. Patrick Center. As a military veteran with nearly 20 years experience in the food industry, he knew he was employable, but needed help with the next steps. When he arrived at St. Patrick Center, he enrolled in HVRP which provides assistance to homeless veterans. In addition, he learned about McMurphy’s Grill, the agency’s full-service restaurant and employment program. While working at McMurphy’s, Jacques re-gained the confidence in his skills as a chef. He was also able to utilize St. Patrick Center’s job search resources to find permanent employment and eventually was hired to manage the café located inside a downtown St. Louis business.

Jacques now has his own place and a job that he loves, but still finds himself telling others about St. Patrick Center. “It has been a blessing in my life and I tell people looking for help to check it out… they can do things for you and with you that you may never expect.”