Online Archives

With one eye open, Stephen Elliott slept for months in the icy, cold streets of Baltimore.

As he huddled in corners around the city with the same dirty clothes and an empty stomach, he was afraid to sleep for the fear that someone would kill him. He spent many, sleepless nights in alleys and park benches.

Miles away, Deanne Callegary and her family slept in their warm beds never imagining that God's mission for them would be soon revealed.

Neither Elliott or Callegary realized that a divine encounter would soon take place.

The encounter took place when Callegary, a member of St. John's UMC in Baltimore, volunteered to work at the Hearts Place shelter in the church's basement and met Elliott, who was staying there.

While staying at the shelter, Elliott attended Sunday morning worship at St. John's. As he and Callegary sat together they prayed and sang hymns, hopeful for the future.

"At that time, Stephen was detoxing from Methadone," said Callegary. "And he was determined to go off of it."

Elliott, 47, struggled with drug addiction and depression for many years. He lost his job and home. His home became the streets of Baltimore.

"Many come to the shelter with a multitude of problems, like mental illness and addictions. Our guests call us the Hilton of shelters because we care," said Director Carol Berman who started the shelter with her late husband in 1988 with six cots and a crock pot. Now the shelter hosts up to 20 men and women.

"The problems began when I got divorced from my wife," said Elliott, who also admitted to being suicidal at one point. "I had depression and self-image problems, but I worked. I was a functioning addict."

The turning point in his life was when he tried to hang himself and the knot went loose. "When I told my dad about it, he said it was God's way of telling me that it's not my time to go," he said.

Elliott enrolled in a detox program and eventually became sober. "It was time for me to change," he said. "Deanne saved me with her pure heart."

Elliott, who was christened at St. John's during infancy, never fathomed that one day he would be a guest at the shelter and that church members would be praying for his recovery.

"When I was going through the worst part of my withdrawals, I felt their prayers," he said. "[St. John's pastor] Drew Phoenix had a profound impact in my life. He told me that I can't be my true self unless I come clean," he said.

Heart's Place, however, is only open from November through April, three days a week. For seven months, Elliott was faced with the prospects of being homeless again.

But Callegary and her husband invited Elliott to stay near their home. They built a small room on their property for Elliott to live in.

"Living on the street, you have nothing to do and all day to do it," he said.

Elliot keeps busy by helping the Callegary family with household duties, like milking and tending to their goats and doing yard work.

Elliott still gets chills thinking about his life on the street, when he sleeps soundly in his warm bed He is grateful for Berman, Callegary and volunteers at Heart's Place, where he found his saving grace.

He believes that God has plans for him. He has signed up to volunteer at the Healthcare for Homeless organization, goes for counseling and visits his daughter.

"The hard work has paid off. I am happy for the first time in decades," he said. "I am ready to meet someone special and even get married some day."

Heart's Place is known for its love and care. The guests at the shelter are provided three meals a day, shower facilities, clothing, and warm beds. The guests believe that it's the best shelter in Baltimore because everyone is treated with respect and kindness. For more information about the shelter or if you would like to make a financial contribution, send an e-mail to .