MAKING A VISION A REALITY — Susannah Jackson met with Sister Maria Rosa to discuss plans for beginning a new nonprofit in Steubenville called Homeward Bound. The organization, which started Jan. 1, strives to help homeless individuals find homes. Jackson would like to take abandoned and neglected properties and renovate them into livable accommodations for the poor who are unable to receive help from other agencies. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Susannah Jackson had a vision … a vision for helping the poor and homeless who are living on the streets of Steubenville.

As an internal medicine physician’s assistant at Trinity Medical Center West, Jackson has encountered numerous patients who are homeless — the ones who have fallen through the cracks in the system.

And there are many.

They are the ones who have nowhere to go, nowhere to turn, for they do not meet the necessary requirements that are asked by various agencies to receive assistance.

One patient in particular found her way into Jackson’s heart — a woman who was assaulted by her boyfriend and had nowhere she could go for help. Jackson stated she made attempts, but was unable to locate a place where this woman was able to stay.

It was then that Jackson decided it was her responsibility to try to do something about these types of situations. After all, it could actually become a matter of life and death one day.

But who could she ask? Where should she begin?

Shortly after her encounter with this woman, Jackson boarded a plane and traveled to Calcutta, India. It was a trip she had made arrangements to take long before that particular meeting ever happened.

Her reason for visiting India was to serve with the Missionaries of Charity.

While there, she became inspired by Mother Teresa, and upon her return to Steubenville, decided to start a nonprofit organization which she had been envisioning for quite some time.

At the start of the new year, on Jan. 1, came the start of Jackson’s vision, Homeward Bound.

Her vision had somehow become a reality. But there is more to a nonprofit agency than just beginning one. Jackson’s mission, her goal, is to have numerous single-family houses available throughout Steubenville that will serve as transitional homes for the area’s poor and homeless.

Homeward Bound aims to purchase houses that have been abandoned or neglected and renovate them so they are able to provide transitional housing for adults, with preference given to local residents, she said.

Transitional housing is the step between emergency shelters and permanent, supportive housing, Jackson explained, noting this type of residency is currently nonexistent in Steubenville, based on her research.

“Our goal is to provide stable housing on a customized timeline to people who are homeless or currently in emergency housing,” she explained. “We’re going to take a unique approach by connecting our clients with a group of committed volunteers who will get to know the client and advocate for them. We envision the volunteers driving the client to primary care appointments, helping them write or improve their resumes, practice their interviewing skills, volunteering locally together, regularly sharing meals together and more.”

“We want to overwhelm our clients with local resources and people who genuinely care about their well-being, in the way that my family would help me if I were homeless,” Jackson added.

“Drug use is a huge cause of homelessness, and we want to remove as many triggers and stressors that drive drug use as possible, including loneliness, housing instability, food insecurity, lack of community and connection, untreated medical and mental conditions and more. We will team up with social workers to develop a customized plan for each client based on their unique set of challenges.”

Homeward Bound is in the process of fundraising to purchase its first house in either downtown Steubenville or in a nearby neighborhood, according to Jackson.

“We plan to have enough housing to allow certain homes to flex into permanent, supportive housing, if people feel like they are home and want to stay there,” Jackson commented. “Our vision for Steubenville, in terms of homeless outreach, is a town with many compassionate residents who regularly volunteer with people who are experiencing homelessness and the lowest percentage of homeless persons in the country. We believe that people’s lives are better when they serve their community and give back, and we hope to inspire our neighbors to join us in this worthy cause.”

She said robust care for the poor leads to a safer, more beautiful town with increased housing values and more successful local businesses.

“So, in a way, our vision for the future of the nonprofit includes an exciting vision of the future of Steubenville,” she concluded.

Jackson serves as president and founder of Homeward Bound. Taylor Caputo, a project manager at Franciscan University of Steubenville, serves as vice president. Will Bednarz, a finance and strategy associate at the college of St. Joseph the Worker serves as treasurer. Nicole Wizorek, an advancement specialist at the Apostolate for Family Consecration, is secretary.

The agency is seeking donors and volunteers. Anyone interested in becoming involved with the agency is asked to contact Jackson by e-mail at contact@hbsteubenville.org or through mail to: P.O. Box 151, Steubenville, OH 43952.

For information, call (740) 232-9758 or visit the website hbsteubenville.org.