Fessenden House

Stories From Our Residents*

Stefan’s Story:

Stefan is an African-American man who came to us from St. Christopher’s Inn/Graymoor (an inpatient facility in Garrison, NY) when he was 45 years old. He was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. For over a decade, he used alcohol and drugs to help himself deal with his mental illness. “At first it helped me feel better, but over time it only made me feel more out of control,” he says. He often ended up living on the street. He tried to commit suicide several times, especially after he was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. When he arrived at Fessenden House, we helped him obtain Social Security benefits and public assistance. While living Fessenden House he attended therapy sessions, built relationships with a stable set of doctors, and stuck to his medication regimen. He also attended 12-step meetings. After one year, Stefan was well enough to look for a part-time job. He works as a hot dog vendor in downtown Yonkers, serving the lunchtime crowd. “This is the first real home I’ve ever known,” Stefan says. “People accept me. They deal with who I am.” Eighteen months after he first arrived, we are helping Stefan plan to move in to his own apartment in a building that provides a more casual level of social service support. We look forward to having him remain a part of our extended community.

Adolfo’s Story:

Adolfo moved into Fessenden House in 1998 and lived here for three years. Adolfo had served time in prison for drug-related offenses and violent crimes and, as he himself puts it, “was a real criminal” before coming to us. Shortly after arriving, Adolfo had a relapse with drugs and alcohol but was honest and forthright with us about what happened, and we helped him get the treatment he needed. We also helped Adolfo look for a job while he was at Fessenden House, and he was hired as a maintenance person at a large private school nearby. This was the first legitimate job he ever held, and he did so well at it that a year later he was promoted to Director of Maintenance, where he now supervises a staff of four people. Adolfo recently remarried his wife, who had divorced him 30 years ago because of his drug use. He still visits Fessenden House several evenings a week to spend time with the residents and staff.


*Please note that these are composite stories and the names are fictitious in order to preserve the confidentiality of the men involved.