Jerry Jones

Having a home gives me space where I can rest and think and not be worried about my instrument. Have a place to bathe, have shelter – everything.

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Jerry Jones

Having a home gives me space where I can rest and think and not be worried about my instrument. Have a place to bathe, have shelter – everything.

jerry’S STORY

Ariel Bowser may be young, but she has the poise and wisdom of someone who has seen many more years. Her positive attitude belies the challenges she has faced since birth when she became a foster child while still a baby. Although her Grandmother later brought her in and then Aunt to be raised, she was ultimately forced to leave this unhealthy living situation while still young and found herself without a place to live.

FINDING A HOME

With the help of others, including her C.A.S.A. “Mom”, Ariel found a home at HomeRise in 2014, and today lives at the Fifth Street Apartments. It was a difficult transition at first, but she says it’s become a blessing and a stabilizing force for her, providing peace of mind and the support she needs to invest in her future.

A Big turn

Life took a big turn in the right direction when Jerry finally found supportive housing through HomeRise. In 2015 Jerry was placed in the Rachel Townsend Apartments (RTA) and relief washed over him as he settled into a stable home. “I felt relief, happy, everything all in one; I was just a ball of joy. It was a great moment to know you had a roof over your head.” And Jerry is still thinking of others. He helped restore an old piano at RTA and wants to offer concerts to his fellow residents, and he continues to look out and offer help to his homeless neighbors.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

Thanks to HomeRise, Jerry’s future looks bright. His dream is to return to his family home in New Orleans with a long-term goal to open a storefront that offers healthy eating options, especially since obesity is a big problem in NOLA.

Before the pandemic, he filled his days with music, playing at several venues around town in several bands playing jazz, blues and reggae. And Jerry isn’t just a musical artist, he is also a prolific visual artist working in mixed media to create haunting abstract works. He would love to someday show these works in a gallery setting.