HOUSTON – The Jacob’s Home for Men has had many uses since it was built back in the 70s, from apartments to a recording studio and now a boarding home.
The current owner says through it all, it’s helped serve the community.
Now in a crunch, he’s hoping the public can help repay the favor.
Anthony Frazier says his father, Navy Veteran, Jacob Frazier built the two-story brick home with his own two hands and minimal help. In addition to his dad being a handyman, he says both his parents always had giving hearts.
”My father my mother, especially my mom. When we were in elementary school, she would feed the kids in the neighborhood,” Frazier said.
It’s why he says he wanted to keep his parent’s legacy alive, and make them proud. Frazier turned the building into a boarding home back in 2009.
It houses men who need assisted living due to mental or physical ailments.
Frazier says that population often gets looked over.
”I saw a need in this community [and] there was only one boarding home at the time,” Frazier said.
As fulfilling as he says the mission is, he says the pandemic and inflation have also made it challenging.
”A loaf of bread went from 79 cents to $2.83,” Frazier added.
For his six residents and anyone else in the community who wants to drop by for a hot meal, he estimates he spends around $3,000 monthly on groceries, adding that because he charges his low-income tenants about half of what boarding homes usually cost, it hasn’t been easy to keep the property up and provide.
”We need a new mirror… toilet… I want the guys to be comfortable,” Frazier said.
Guys like Carlton Freeman.
”I had a stroke,” Freeman said. “It paralyzed me on my right side. So, after that, I really fell into depression.”
Freeman says he moved in back in 2011 which helped him build up his mobility and his faith, becoming an active church member.
”I’ve been a deacon for the past five years,” Freeman said.
Freeman credits the proud accomplishment to a strong support system.
”I look at you and I look at myself, that could be either one of us one day… Who’s going to have to in their hearts to take care of… men?” Frazier asked.
Frazier says the van he uses to take the guys for haircuts is also breaking down. He estimates between that and the house, repairs will run about $25,000
If you’d like to donate to the Jacob’s Home for Men, click here.