Profile of a Recovery: Bob Ealey

In the Philadelphia neighborhood where Robert (Bob) Ealey grew up, the only men who had fine clothing and money to spend were drug dealers. This was magnetic to the young teenager. Bob dropped out of high school after 11^th grade and began substance abuse at age 18. Even though he was using, he was able to hold down a job at the Sanitation Department for 6 years, but eventually, his addiction cost him his job.

He was 24 and homeless. Theft was his main source of income. He was in and out of Holmesburg Prison until the authorities required that he complete his GED or be sent to the state prison. He completed his GED while in prison but, upon his release, he fell back into his old habits and served a seven-year stint in a state facility. Bob was eventually paroled, but under the condition that he live with his parents, who had relocated to South Carolina.

At first, his move to South Carolina was a stabilizing influence. He secured a position as a stock room manager, where he worked until the store's closure seven years later. He spent another eight years working for the Granite Mill Textile firm. In the meantime, Bob had married a woman from his hometown, and her homesickness prompted their move back to Philadelphia.

He quickly lost the progress he had earned down south, falling back in with old contacts and abusing drugs. Within six months he was arrested, and another year in prison soon followed. Eventually, his drug use and criminal activity nearly drove him to a violent end when he narrowly survived knife wound to the heart.  

While his brush with death did not immediately force him to return to the more stable lifestyle he had adopted in South Carolina, it did begin a process of introspection, however limited at first.

“I decided I was no good at theft so I started selling drugs to support my habit,” he said. Bob finally accepted that he needed to address his addiction when his marriage fell apart.

He sought help at Self Help Movement, a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Northeast Philadelphia, where he earned Safe Serve and OSHA-supported Work Place Safety Certificates. Now clean and sober and with employment prospects, Bob needed to secure housing. He learned about Project HOME and began living at St. Elizabeth’s Recovery Residence, where he became involved in advocacy and joined the Resident Advisory Board.

“I didn’t know how or what to do and didn’t want to learn. But I knew I needed to make a big change,” he said.

After attending a presentation on Employment Services Apprenticeships, staffers suggested he register. He was initially resistent, but today attributes his turnaround to the internship and the substantial support he received from Project HOME. He served his internship as a Janitor at James Widener Ray Homes and, upon graduation, was hired by Project HOME as part-time receptionist. While he received job offers from three outside companies, Bob decided to stay close to his support services to maintain his sobriety. His goal was to live on his own.

Employment Services helped him secure an additional part-time job as support staff at St. Elizabeth’s. He retains both jobs and is currently training in Addiction 101, Confidentiality and De-Escalation to enhance his support capability. 

This past holiday season, Bob was key to gathering a group of alumni to contribute time and effort toward collecting food and gifts for needy families at Christmas.  “My two part time jobs are enough to pay my bills and buy Christmas presents,” he said. 

Today, he is satisfied with his life, and we are grateful to have him and his story of courage and recovery as part of the Project HOME community.