Project Home Celebrates Our Residents for National Recovery Month
September is National Recovery Month, and Project HOME is marking the occasion by celebrating the recovery journeys of our residents. Keep reading to learn about one resident who overcame addiction and mental health struggles, and discovered their true self in the process. And join us at our Christopher J. Seward Residence at noon on Friday, September 11, for the Speaker Jam, an inspirational afternoon of storytelling and community building. Hear inspirational first-hand stories of healing and recovery from current and former Project HOME residents and staff.
"Life’s just a journey and I’m enjoying it!” An interview with KayKay
KayKay, a resident of Inn of Amazing Mercy, has been on their own journey of balance and learning to be proud of who they truly are. When they got to Project HOME, KayKay said they were experiencing life in an unbalanced state. Between addiction and mental health struggles, they were long overdue for some rest and refuge.
First at Philly Homes at Girard, they started to experience restoration for the first time in a long time. After becoming more at ease and comfortable, they soon realized they were gender non-conforming. This realization and receiving the help they needed allowed them to fully embrace themselves and start enjoying life on a new level. Now at Inn of Amazing Mercy, KayKay is a very active member of the Project HOME community. They’re on both the Tenant Council and the Resident Advisory Board, and love advocating for the tenants, while also teaching people how to be independent. For themselves, it took a while to ask for help and to be comfortable receiving it. “You can’t give help until you get help.”
Now, they don’t mind asking for help, while also standing up for themselves in a respectful way. “I don’t take nothing personal; I just take another way to look at it.” Through filling their life with restorative activities, they feel like they finally have the chance to learn and embrace who they are. Long drives bring them the most peace, since they get to meditate and have some much-needed time away from the world. Between hanging out with their nieces and nephews and serving their community, KayKay has a very full life. They want people to know that they may come across a little shy until they get to know you, but we’re all works in progress, and we’re allowed to show up new every single day.
Project HOME National Recovery Month Speaker Jam
Friday, September 11
Noon to 3 p.m.
Christopher J. Seward Residence
1515 Fairmount Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130
