I Am Grateful that Brian and the Paper Gave Me a Wake Up Call

By Mike Vorhees

I have known Brian Davis since 2000 and Brian tries to help everyone.  He is a very compassionate and caring person.  He is a truthful person and he will tell you how it is if you are messing up. 

I remember Brian when he was a bartender at BW3.  Some of the guys I knew who were homeless were selling the Homeless Grapevine newspaper and they told me to go to NEOCH to sign up for selling the paper.  Brian Davis signed me up to be a vendor for the paper in the early 2000s.  Brian and I had a good relationship.  I remember one time Brian gave me 10 papers when I had no money and I had to pay him back.  He was caring and understanding to the fact that I needed to make some money.  He assigned me to be the Homeless Grapevine representative for the paper.  I helped the vendors if they had a problem with scheduling and shifts. 

One day I was drunk behind the market and the vendors from the market called Brian and told on me.  I came in and Brian told me that I could not sell the paper until I was sober for 6 months.  I was mad and I tried to get sober but I did not stay sober.  I stopped selling the paper when I was drinking.    I am very happy that Brian banned me from selling the paper when I was drunk behind the market.  Brian’s banning me made me realize I wasn’t right and that I shouldn’t be behind the market or anywhere else selling the paper drunk.  I started realizing I had made a big mistake and that I was breaking the rules and jeopardizing my ability to make an income.  Brian gave me a good wake-up call and plenty of chances. Today I am completely sober.   I am very appreciative of Brian Davis.

I was very sad to hear that Brian was leaving his position at NEOCH.  He did a great job of being the Executive Director at NEOCH.  He did a lot for homeless individuals in the City of Cleveland.  He tried to be there for them when people would bother them.  He stood up for their rights.  He will be missed a lot.