HHSI gave Davenport man a home and a purpose
By Barb Arland-Fye
The Catholic Messenger | March 16th 2023
“I’m lucky to have made it this long. The average homeless male lives to 50.” His estimate is close. The National Institutes for Health estimates the average age at death of a homeless male is 56.27 years and 52 years for a homeless female. Nearly 50% of those deaths are attributable to smoking. Peed readily acknowledges his addiction, stepping outside for a smoke on the cold March afternoon of an interview with The Catholic Messenger.
However, what nearly ended his life is his addiction to alcohol. He previously worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) among other careers until alcoholism consumed his life. He received treatment, went through the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and was sober for nearly 25 years, he said.
Peed was living and working in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but “I was in a relationship that went into the wrong direction.” He moved back to Davenport and ended up on the streets after running out of money. “I had to learn where the meal sites were, where I needed to get clothing, where I could shower and where I could sleep.” McAnthony Window at St. Anthony Parish in Davenport was among the meal sites Peed frequented and where he met John Cooper, the parish’s pastoral associate and business manager.
“I was giving a retreat for homeless persons in 2018 when a participant (Ricky) impatiently asked, ‘What do you know about homelessness?’ He was right, I don’t have firsthand experience,” Cooper recalled. “Ricky has lots of it. He can be the wounded healer for people facing chronic homelessness. Add to that, he’s super smart, full of wisdom and is very empathetic. His faith gives him the conviction to know that the right to shelter is a God-given right.”