Melissa Isbel

My mother and my father's parents lived in the old Laurel Homes back when they came to Ohio. They came from West Virginia and Indiana on my mom's side, and my dad's side was from Kentucky. They came here looking for jobs and for things they didn’t have in the country, on the farms and such.

This city used to be really vibrant. We still have a lot of culture and history here. I read somewhere that Music Hall was once considered the equivalent of Paris.

I ended up here because I was homeless. The building I live in now set the precedent for others — we now have two more buildings for people experiencing homelessness. So it means a lot to me.

I've never really been on my own or had my own apartment, and to be 53 and moving into your own place for the first time is a big deal. The photo is of me in my apartment. What I see is an elderly, disabled lady — which, I mean, I don't really look my age — but my body sure feels it. What I see is someone who is safe. She's blessed. She's in a safe place physically and mentally.

It took a lot of people, a lot of time, energy, and effort to make this happen for me and for the other residents of this building.