Shelter gives home to less fortunate

He was once a husband and skilled laborman.

Now, Karl Addison, 46, is homeless and working to get his life back on track.

“I’m not the type of person who likes to sit idle,” he said while he twiddled his thumbs.

Addison has been staying at the Upper Room Men’s Shelter of Backstreet Missions, Inc, a local nonprofit and nondenominational mission, since Aug. 31.

Addison grew up in a small town in southern Illinois. His father was an alcoholic, and his mother quit drinking to support his family when he was young.

“I started drinking at a young age,” he said. “Then I got into marijuana, but I didn’t like it as much, the buzz you get off it.”

Addison’s life went haywire because of his continued drinking, and all three of his marriages were ruined by the addiction, he said.

“I blamed it on everyone else, saying ‘They did it, they did it,’” Addison said, laughing reluctantly. “I moved here because I didn’t have a job or a place to live.”

In 2008, Addison moved to Bloomington. He learned about Backstreet Missions from an ex-boss, and at first he was somewhat apprehensive, he said.

“I came in with just the clothes I had, no money in my pockets,” Addison said. “I did have reservations. I thought there was a different style of people that come in and out. I was actually judging people before I got to know them.”

Addison’s progress has been supplemented by the mission’s spiritual guidance more than anything, he said.

“Me and one of the chaplains prayed about it, and I just lost my craving for alcohol,”
Addison said.

Addison has three children and said he hopes he can one day regain contact with two of them who won’t speak to him because of his past drinking habits. Since he has been at the mission, he has remained sober.

“My daughter wants me to come back home,” he said. “But I want to make sure that this issue’s over. I don’t want my grandchildren growing up with a drunk grandfather.”

Backstreet Missions was founded by Linda Kelley and her late husband Gene in 1995. It began after Gene’s personal struggle with alcohol and drug addiction.

The passing of Gene’s grandfather and the loss of his father to cancer in 1972, along with the murder of his brother 18 months later, prompted Gene to turn to drugs and alcohol.

In 1979, Gene lost his job because of his addiction and began driving semi-trucks across the country to provide for his family. 

While in San Diego, Gene realized his calling in life was to help others who were less fortunate and without basic human needs.

Linda and Gene established their first shelter, Crites House, in Spencer, Ind. in 1995. The shelter was only able to house eight men at a time. But even with this small amount of space, the mission gave food, clothing and shelter to about 250 men from 1995 to 1998, Linda said.

After moving Crites House to a temporary location on North Smith Pike in Bloomington, the Upper Room Men’s Shelter was built.

The Men’s Shelter currently has 28 beds and is now located on Westplex Avenue. It is approved to house up to 50 men at one time.

“We have 20 men per night now,” Linda said. “They can stay seven consecutive days every 30 days, or they can go into a 90-day program that will help them find a job. We also have an extra 60-day program for them to be able to save money for a place to live on their own.”

The main goal of the mission is to make people feel like they are at home, where other people care about them, she said.

Linda listed drug and alcohol addiction, domestic abuse, job loss, medical issues and single-parent or single-person incomes as some of the many reasons for homelessness.

“I think Bloomington is ahead of other cities in terms of recognition of homelessness and poverty,” Linda said. “I think citizens really want to help people. They are compassionate and concerned.”

Despite his current conditions, Addison has a positive outlook.
“I see people come in and complain about having to stay here and all kinds of stuff,” he said. “But I look at them and say, ‘Hey, look at where you could be right now.’”