February 11, 2002
(614) 221-9195
If you need help finding your way through new territory, you might select a guide who has been there before. For west-side Columbus residents seeking a new start after being jobless or homeless, John Bolden knows the path that leads to success. John is the Coordinator of the new Volunteers of America Resource Center on the west side of Columbus, which helps people find and maintain employment. At one time, though, John was homeless, living in a shelter, and addicted to drugs and alcohol.
“I had it all, and I threw it all away,” John said of his former life from his office at the Resource Center, located at 1187½ West Broad Street. He had a good education, and was a popular teacher and assistant football coach in a suburban school district. He had a loving wife, two beautiful daughters, and a nice house with a white picket fence. John’s future seemed bright.
That was before his use of drugs and alcohol started taking over. At first, John thought he could control it. Over time, though, he began spending more money on drugs, and less time with his family. Every promise he made to quit was broken. Eventually, John was arrested on drug-related charges. He lost his job. His wife and daughters left. The house with the white picket fence was gone. His parents died. John was left alone, with only his addiction to fall back on. Unable to quit, he ended up in prison, with plenty of time to reflect on his life and his problem.
Clean and sober for more than a year, John is working hard to stay on the right path, and help others find employment and a new start. “I am thankful for the people at Volunteers of America,” John said. “They’ve given me an opportunity to help other folks get their lives back on track, the same way people helped me when I needed it.”
The new Resource Center has job lists and access to computers, but offers a lot more. Their goal is to form long-term relationships with people to help build a career. The reward for people who are willing to work toward that goal is much more than an entry-level job.
“People get a stable life back,” John explained. “They don’t always have to look over their shoulder to see if trouble is coming. They get their family relationships back. They learn some skills, and people notice they care about their job. They may start out at $7 an hour, but they will move up from there.”
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The Resource Center also offers job readiness classes to help people develop good attendance and a positive outlook toward work, and teaches them how to use computers and the internet to help with a job search.
People learn interviewing skills, and how to maintain a job over time. The Resource Center works with people after they find employment to help them advance in their career path.
Part of the funding for the Resource Center comes from the “Rebuilding Lives” plan to provide permanent, affordable housing and support services for long-term homeless men in Columbus and Franklin County. The “Rebuilding Lives” plan is coordinated by the Community Shelter Board (CSB).
“Having a stable job can mean the difference between security and homelessness for low-income families and individuals,” explains Barbara Poppe, Executive Director of CSB. “We believe the Volunteers of America Resource Center is an asset to the entire west-side community. The Center is willing to help anyone seeking a job or looking to enhance their career.”
John Bolden knows the Resource Center can make a difference for people who take advantage of their services.
“People might be discouraged because they haven’t had much success,” John explained, “and the system doesn’t always help much if you’ve made a few mistakes. But just one small seed of motivation can turn the whole thing around for someone. I’ve been jobless and homeless in the past, and I hope my experience makes people think, ‘hey, if this guy can do it, then I can do it, too!’”
For more information on the Volunteers of America Resource Center, contact John Bolden at 614-351-1690, or stop by the Resource Center at 1187 ½ W. Broad Street. Business hours are Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Community Shelter Board (CSB) was created in 1986 to respond to the growing problem of homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County. Since that time, CSB has allocated over $47 million to programs that provide services to families and individuals experiencing a housing crisis in our community. Last year, these programs served more than 11,000 individuals. The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way
of Central Ohio, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public and private donors.
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