A man who was living on the streets of downtown Jackson now has a roof over his head thanks to help from the community.
61-year-old James Riddle was sleeping in front of closed businesses and streets corners for months after losing his job in Albion two years ago.
On Tuesday, Riddle moved into the John George Home, where residents move in under their own volition. Carrie Good, administrator at the home, was surprised to see him show up after she told him about the elderly home six months ago. "It doesn’t happen too often,” she said. “The first thing he wanted was a shave. We got him a haircut and a shave, new clothes, and a bite to eat.”
Good says the community played a big role in finding Riddle his new home--- including John Willis, neighborhood outreach coordinator for the city of Jackson.
“From the downtown patrons who observed him every day, the Jackson Police Department, the city administrators and people like Ben Puhr from Jackson’s Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization and Carrie Good, we came together to reach out,” Willis said. “That’s one of the things that make Jackson special, people care and are willing to work together to make our city a better place for everyone.”
Riddle said he’s grateful and happy for his new apartment at the home. Good said after Riddle was shown his new living space on Tuesday, he looked at her and said “I’m going to be okay.”
