Paying it Forward: Tyrone Finger’s Story of Renewal at Saint John’s Hospice

Long before Tyrone Finger ended up as a resident at Saint John’s Hospice (SJH), he grew up in a bustling home filled with warmth and energy. With ten children in the house, Finger being the youngest, his mom ran a tight ship and did her best to keep her kids out of harm’s way.

At eighteen, Finger was enrolled as a student at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (CUP). During this time, he fell in with the wrong crowd. It led to dropping out of CUP and years of struggling with addiction. That journey would span two decades, leading him through a maze of hardships.

Despite having a loving and supportive family, Finger felt trapped and ashamed of his addiction that he could not bring himself to tell them.

“My family never understood my struggles because I was the only one out of ten children that came up with an addiction,” said Finger. “Addiction usually separates people from their family because, like me, you are embarrassed, and you don’t want anyone to see you.”

In his lowest moment he dropped out of school, had no job, and felt helpless. It was then Finger realized he needed to make a change.

“There is a popular saying in recovery, ‘You get sick and tired of being sick and tired.’ “I was fed up with where I was going. I wanted to live somewhere that was conducive to myself getting and staying clean.”

Reclaiming his Life

During this pivotal time, in 2014, Finger decided to kick his habit. He heard about SJH from friends who had similar struggles and went there to find support. SJH, a ministry of the Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was founded in 1963 as an outreach ministry to serve and assist men experiencing homelessness and poverty in the community. Today, Saint John’s continues to provide those life-sustaining services as well as a residence for over 150 men.

Tyrone learned about SJH’s Good Shepherd Program (GSP), a drug and alcohol-free, 12-bed residence for men experiencing homelessness who are medically fragile. He applied and was accepted. Soon, he connected with Barry Martin, SJH’s Program Director, who helped Finger start traveling a path toward recovery.

Once at SJH, Finger was immediately struck by the care and structure of GSP. He found much more than a shelter. He encountered an environment filled with the compassion of Christ and grounded in an unwavering faith that fosters recovery, support, and community. With the help of dedicated staff like Martin and resident aid Cece Robinson, also known as “Mom,” Finger began to take back control and rebuild his life. He enrolled in an outpatient program and started seeing a therapist weekly. He also worked as a housekeeper at SJH to earn a living while in recovery.

“It was a wonderful experience because I had my own room with a bed,” Finger said. “I could go to work and come home each day, not worrying about the unknown. I was able to have a decent meal each night. It took that load off of me worrying and helped regain my focus.”

Full Circle

After spending five months at GSP, Finger graduated and secured an apartment in the city. He continued attending therapy and surrounded himself with a supportive network of friends in recovery. He started working at the Bethesda Project in Philadelphia, another nonprofit shelter, while periodically visiting SJH to see old friends and staff members.

During a visit in 2021, Martin and the staff asked Finger if he wanted to work at SJH as a resident aid on the weekends. He gladly embraced the new role. Then, a full-time housekeeping position opened up. Finger has served in that role ever since.

Barry Martin has seen Finger’s growth from the beginning. “He’s had a very special way of being able to communicate with residents that are in recovery,” Martin said. “Recovery is central to his life and it’s really what’s made him into the great person he is today. He has a way of taking a moment here and there to share his experience with residents, and it’s proving to be very helpful to their transition from homelessness to independent housing.”

Returning to SJH as an employee has allowed Finger to give back to the organization that once saved him. Having seen both sides of life, he can connect and empathize with current residents more than others.

“When guys come in here, they are angry at the world,” Finger said. “I understand that because I had those same emotions when I was a resident. But I realized I wasn’t so much angry with the world as I was at myself for letting it get to this stage. So, I can relate to the guys and talk to them because they know I was just like them at one point.”

More than Just a Roof

For Finger, SJH is more than just a workplace. He urges people to support SJH so that they can continue to impact the lives of men like himself on a profound level.

“It’s the best place for anyone who wants to change their life,” he said. “It takes a lot for a man to accept where he is and come here seeking help and redemption. It also takes a special person to work in a place like this. We become family to people who don’t have family. It’s a partnership that keeps everyone here accountable.”

Your gift, big or small, could help those experiencing homelessness back on their feet just like Tyrone. Give today at www.saintjohnshospice.org/donate.

Saint John’s Hospice is a nationally recognized leader in providing essential residential and day services, acting as a beacon of hope for those experiencing homelessness. For more information about volunteering or to make a donation to Saint John’s Hospice, visit www.saintjohnshospice.org.