John Tumino

Its been a long Five-year journey getting to this point in Hiring our First Life House Care Manager. What is Life House you ask? Listen to Mary share a little of what’s going on this week.

Who is Life House for?

Life House provides a residential living to two women escaping from a life of prostitution. It is a home for women who wish to start a new life and are willing to do the hard work to make it happen.

What is Life House?

Life House is not a shelter or crisis center. It is a place of transformation spirit, soul, and body. The women who are invited to live here will be those who have made the first step in uprooting themselves from the toxic lifestyle they have been planted in. They will have the opportunity to re-plant in a loving, safe, and supportive environment.

What do we do?

Life House helps women transition to self-sufficiency incrementally, by providing a safe comfortable space conducive to building self-confidence. Each woman has her own story of trauma that has caused her much pain. Life House offers an “out of the box” approach to working with each woman and keeping her specific needs in mind.

How does it work?

Life House is a home where two women who have agreed to work through the Syracuse City Human Trafficking court program are referred to by the court. After an interview, if both parties agree it is a good fit, they are invited to live in Life House and participate in the program. While in the home, the women will rest in the knowledge that they are safe and loved without strings.

Each woman will work in tandem with the Court and Life House programs, receiving support and assistance from the Life House Director and Resident Advocate. Building confidence and placing value on who they are is at the forefront of empowering them to succeed.

Life House will assist each resident to create her own, “harvest plan” with short- and long-term goals. In addition, there will be a plan in place before she leaves to live independently. Personal safety and living plans, daily goals, and chores will be a part of living at Life House.

Where is Life House?

In an effort to protect our residents and staff the location will remain undisclosed.

LLeigh Ann is a guest speaking tonight at Zonta (Empowering Women through Service and Advocacy for over 100 Years) Club of Syracuse. She will be sharing about our New Program Life House. To learn more about Life House click on the services tab on the website

Hire Ground is a collaborative partnership with the County of Onondaga and is an IMFK outreach to the unemployed homeless and panhandlers in the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County.

The “Hire Ground” program gives panhandlers and the unemployed homeless in Syracuse and Onondaga County an opportunity for change in their lives by offering work experience through day labor and connections to needed support services.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the Hire Ground van picks up nine individuals at various locations throughout the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Once they complete the intake process the Hire Ground team transports our friends to job sites to work on beautification and other various projects. These projects include but are not limited to, picking up litter after a concert at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater, building picnic tables for the NY State Fair, and picking up trash from area parks and roadways.

In addition to working a five-hour shift and receiving a $50 stipend, Hire Ground feeds them breakfast, lunch, and snacks for the day and provides transportation back to the pickup locations. We have served over 450 panhandling individuals to receive A Hand Up, Not A Handout. Our Care Managers connect participants to service providers in the Housing Coalition of CNY, as well as the Department of Social Services. Without this collaborative effort, serving the needs of our participants would not be possible.

Lunches are a big part of what we do at IMFK. Lunch opens a door to conversations! The conversation leads to trust where change can occur. Check out the Story on Spectrum News 

We met Kevin back in June of 2013. Kevin was addicted and homeless living on the streets of Syracuse. We met Kevin with a lunch when he was panhandling on the offramp of 690 East at the Teall Ave exit (picture 1). As the weeks turned into months we quickly released that Kevin was a man with a huge soft heart. He shared with us that he had three daughters and a beautiful granddaughter. We find out the story behind the cardboard sign, the story of having a full-time job, living in his own place with his children and their mother. That all changed the day that he started to use crack cocaine. The addiction took over and Kevin started to slowly slide down the slippery sloop of addiction. This story is a story we hear over and over again from many of our friends living outdoors. Kevin didn’t wake up one morning and decide he was going to through his life away, it’s the little choices that are made with bad decisions that lead to a life of chaos. In late October of 2013 Kevin’s brother Mark who was homeless himself dies in an abandoned house due to a fire. That event was a major catalyst for Kevin for change in his life. The following March of 2014 Kevin admits himself into Salvation Army long-term rehab. John receives a call from Kevin on this decision and asks if  John would become his mentor while working the program. Upon graduating from the program IMFK was able to assist Kevin into his own apartment in October of 2014 and to acquire his first job. Kevin started volunteering with IMFK (picture 2) and became John’s, right-hand man. With assistance from a friend of Johns from church, Kevin was given his first vehicle to be able to get back and forth from work, what a blessing. After 5 years of sobriety and being reunited with his girls and granddaughter Kevin was offered a position as the Hire Ground Van Supervisor. Kevin accepted the position and has been a wonderful addition to our team. (picture 3) This passed St. Patricks Day John was honored as the Gael of the parade and Kevin was able to drive the Hire Ground Van in the Parade with his granddaughter. There was an event after the parade and we were able to get a great picture of Kevin and Jalah after lunch. Looking at their faces in this picture brings joy to our hearts. It all started with a lunch and unconditional love. Kevin did the footwork we provide Hope and support for him to take the steps into his bright future!  Love Never Fails and with your continued support Sous Chefs, we will continue to reach out to those who feel Invisible!