Mike and Kelly Peasgood are supporting ShelterCare through the Adopt-a-Room program.
For Mike and Kelly Peasgood, homelessness and addiction aren’t abstract issues. They are realities.
Mike’s sister lost her husband to suicide, after a long struggle with alcohol use. It came as a shock to the rest of the family, since his struggles had always been hidden.
“I guess he was a closet alcoholic,” said Mike. “He always seemed so happy. We had no idea.”
That tragedy affected everyone – most of all, Mike’s nephew Jonathan.
“My nephew struggled with mental health, depression and anxiety. Eventually, Jonathan started using drugs,” said Mike. “It became his life.”
“In January 2023, he overdosed, and we lost him,” said Mike. “It all became very real for us in that moment.”
Mike and Kelly have focused their energy since then on trying to find more concrete ways to support those who are struggling with addiction and homelessness.
One of the ways they are doing that is through their support of ShelterCare, through House of Friendship’s Adopt-a-Room program.
As one of our early supporters of the program, Mike and Kelly are providing 365 days of rest for program participants. This includes 1,095 hot, nutritious meals, a real bed, with clean sheets and warm comforters, support to find housing, on-site access to medical supports like nurse practitioners and help to obtain personal identification documents to get steady work.
“I appreciate that there are people out there that can do the work I can’t,” said Mike. “I didn’t have the skills to help my nephew, Jonathan. We need to have somewhere for people like Jonathan, where they can get the help they need.”
“I think my hope behind supporting Adopt-a-Room is that it is about helping to build the kind of community we want to live in,” said Mike. “I want to live in a community where we care about each other, where we understand that people can end up homeless through no fault of their own. I don’t want to live in a community where we leave people out on the street.”
To learn more about supporting Adopt-a-Room as part of our ShelterCare program, contact Development Director Natalie Schill, at natalies@houseoffriendship.org, or 519-742-8327 x 122.
