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November 25th, 2006 - Cleveland Plain Dealer - Barb Galbincea, Reporter

Holiday Spirit:
Care Alliance helps homeless man find place to stay at Whitman House, get medical treatment

Name: Patrick McCafferty

Situation: With numerous medical problems, the 43-year-old had trouble keeping a job and wound up homeless, living in a tent near Lincoln Park, even when the temperature got as low as 8 below. He survived by layering coats and piling on blankets.

How Care Alliance helped: An outreach worker from the Care Alliance Health Center regularly visited the encampment where McCafferty lived and helped him get needed medical treatment. The group provides health care for the homeless and others without resources. "They treat you like a real patient, not like a nonpaying customer," McCafferty said. "They take the time to really hear you. The world would be a better place if everyone helped out like that."

Today: His health has improved, and the day after Christmas he moved into Whitman House, part of the Catholic Worker movement. He especially likes the Catholic Worker philosophy of service to the community and volunteers himself at the Storefront, where homeless people can get a respite from the street, take showers and clean their clothes.