Case Management

At 57, George Hatcher has spent close to 90 percent of his adult life – 40 years off and on – behind bars. When he walked out of prison on April 5, 2011, he had a clean slate – no parole, no probation, no community service, no fines – and no clear idea of how to live life straight. "I know how to live on the wrong side of the law, but . . . I made a decision that I wasn't going back for anything." Still, the hurdles for George were nearly insurmountable – a repeated felon with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, a bad conduct discharge from the military, no driver's license, a poor work history, no money and no support system.
George's resolve to overcome all these obstacles led him to the Union Gospel Mission. "For once in my life, I decided I'm gonna ask for help." Resources are available for men like George, but it was difficult to find and access them on his own. George needed an advocate, and that is exactly what he found in UGM Social Services Manager Dean Whisler and others at the Mission. "Everybody cares here. They've all bent over backwards to try to help," George said.

While at the Mission, George has lost weight, gotten both his diabetes and high blood pressure under control, had his eyes checked and received new glasses. He has regained his driver's license, completed a work evaluation through Goodwill Industries, been accepted by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and established a bank account.

George admits, "It's been hard, and it's frustrating sometimes, but guys like Dean have gone out of their way to say, 'Well, just keep going. You're getting there. Look at what you've done so far.'"

"This is pretty much my family at this point."