Holise Cleveland III works on his laptop at the Honeymoon Bakery on Broad street. (Brittany Hannah / Rome News-Tribune)
He comforted her on his birthday in their New Orleans apartment while debris hammered the walls and roof on August 29, 2005.
More than six years after surviving the disaster in his hometown, Cleveland is now living homeless in Rome and striving to inspire others through local and online activism.
The devastating events of Katrina left him with complications from post-traumatic stress disorder but also with a strong will to start again.
Having hitchhiked out of New Orleans, Cleveland eventually found an affordable home in Rome at a mobile home park with his wife Jenni and eight-year-old daughter Kyra, who is autistic and home-schooled.
Despite the new home, economic circumstances began to cause friction. With he and his wife on disability, the family was barely getting by with expenses and rent.
Cleveland said the situation left him with a tough decision. He could stay at home, managing through decreased disability income as a married couple living together, or go elsewhere so Jenni could afford to support herself and Kyra.
“At the rate we were going, the whole family would have been homeless,” Cleveland said. “I wasn’t going to let it get worse.”
Jenni drove him to the local Salvation Army where he found shelter. He said if he hadn’t been able to find a bed at the time, he would have chosen to sleep in the woods. He now lives at the William S. Davies Homeless Shelter.
As he waits for his applications for temporary housing to be accepted, his passion for marine conservation drives him to connect with others around the world. Armed with a laptop and a background in web technology, Cleveland utilizes Twitter and his website CyberWhaleWarrior.com to blog about local and international conservation issues.
“To do something that is much bigger than yourself humbles you,” he said. “It gives you a light at the end of the tunnel.”
He said the activism of marine conservationists inspired him to spread the message of protecting those who can’t protect themselves, from dolphins to children. Whenever he has the opportunity, he shares conservation documentaries with others, including fellow homeless people in Rome.
As a result of his extensive online writing, friends and strangers from across the globe have reached out to give comfort, supplying him with gift cards to local businesses and pre-paid expense cards. He said he didn’t ask for the help, but appreciates it deeply and it further inspired him to help others when he can.
“Every time I get down, somebody picks me up and it’s usually people around the world,” he said.
Cleveland can often be found at the Honeymoon Bakery on Broad Street using a gift certificate which friends and supporters have donated. He said it came as a surprise when people started leaving him certificates.
Tonya Davis, a consultant for the bakery, says Cleveland’s presence is welcomed and that he has spread word of the business far and wide with his Internet postings.
Cleveland’s relationship with the bakery started when he came in one day for coffee and “checked in” his location via Facebook and other social network sites. Without being asked, friends and followers as far away as England, Canada and California started to call in gift certificates up to $120 for him at the business.
“We’re happy he’s here and we appreciate his support,” Davis said.
Using the donations, Cleveland has brought up to 10 other homeless men to have coffee in the morning when the business opens at 7 a.m. He says the business is very supportive and he spends most of the gift cards on others, especially when it’s cold and raining.
“Everyone needs a place to be,” said Davis. “The stigma of being homeless is just that — a stigma.”
Cleveland believes he can lift up those in need with expanding their focus to pressing conservation issues. As a result, he hopes to give them courage to tackle things larger than themselves and speak out about what they care about.
“I’ve got a whole new frontier with the homeless,” he said. “They’re the voiceless.”
For the future, Cleveland hopes to secure housing so that he can have peace and a space of his own as he looks for work.
Click here to read a story about a homeless Chicago woman who became a Twitter celebrity after sharing her story.
I would like to see Brittany Hannah or RTN do a follow up story to see where he is now and have him answer some of the questions people have concerning his past. Probable wont happen though cause its not news.
Since his true colors have been exposed i now wonder if his "disability" isnt just another ruse. I know more than one of person who is more than able to work (and in a lot of cases do so for cash money "under the table") who are receiving SSI checks for their so called "disability". Some of these have never worked a day in their lives so they arent receiving money that they paid into the system but are living off the money other hard working people have paid in.
I myself have had to have back surgery after working all my life, but i'm not on any form of disability. I continue to pay my own way and dont want others to take care of me.
Mr Cleveland since you care so much about saving the whales why dont u volunteer to go on one of these ships that attack the whaling ships. Oh wait, then he would have to actually do something besides sit in a warm bakery enjoying the coffee and baked goods others have bought for him.
Again i challenge Mr Cleveland to get a job and support his family the way most of us have to do.
Since his true colors have been exposed i now wonder if his "disability" isnt just another ruse. I know more than one of person who is more than able to work (and in a lot of cases do so for cash money "under the table") who are receiving SSI checks for their so called "disability". Some of these have never worked a day in their lives so they arent receiving money that they paid into the system but are living off the money other hard working people have paid in.
I myself have had to have back surgery after working all my life, but i'm not on any form of disability. I continue to pay my own way and dont want others to take care of me.
Mr Cleveland since you care so much about saving the whales why dont u volunteer to go on one of these ships that attack the whaling ships. Oh wait, then he would have to actually do something besides sit in a warm bakery enjoying the coffee and baked goods others have bought for him.
Again i challenge Mr Cleveland to get a job and support his family the way most of us have to do.
“An authentic attitude of compassion doesn’t change, even faced with another person’s negative behavior.” – Dalai Lama
∞ “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” ~ Helen Keller
∞ “He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr
∞ “To me, you’re either an activist or an inactivist.” ~ Louie Psihoyos | quote from The Cove
∞ “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” ~ Albert Einstein
∞ “If you make your best effort to be kinder, nurture compassion, make the world a better place, then you can say ‘At least I’ve done my best’.” ~ Dalai Lama
∞ “And those who dismiss love for our fellow creatures as mere sentimentality overlook a good and important part of our humanity. But it takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal. And it is actually within us to grant them a happy life and a long one.” – Joaquin Phoenix | EARTHLINGS
You quote lines and tell people to be kind and think of others but do you follow your own advice? As far as everyone can tell from your latest blog Trolls of Rome...it was you trying to save your own behind. Where did you help another that wasn't you and don't give us the crap about saving the whales.
You wanna save the whales so much do something besides write useless boring blogs all day and making people feel worthless until then remain silent because no one wants to here what comes out of your mouth.
BTW, AA does not require that you adhere to any particular religion, just to have a God of your understanding, so he can certainly be "Utopian" or whatever, and still be involved. If he doesn't attend AA, well that's a shame. They do have free coffee.
Apparently, you are quite familiar with him, from another homeless shelter in another state? Seems he causes trouble where ever he lands.
I’ll be more than happy to provide further insight, but I do charge for those, so your gift cards or prepaid Visa cards will be appreciated.
Lastly, a question for Mr. Holise himself. Why are you spending all of your disability payments on random homeless people instead of sharing it with your family?
Yeah I know that AA doesn't require you to do participate in religious matters unless you want to. In fact I told Holise that several times but he didn't want to be embarressed by rejecting them in such a way.
Oh trust me I know Holise very well and was stuck in his game for 5 1/2 years but now it's my turn and I am about to turn his world upside down and insie out. I bet you guess who I am now.
When I am done Holise you will wish you never met me....I do get tired of your games and if you think I wasn't going to discover what you did lately as another BIRTHDAY gift you are so wrong. How are your boys? Oh that's right they all basically hate you. Your mom and everyone else in your family will love the articles I send them not to mention all your probation info. Don't worry I will be sure to see your original probation officer in Bartow County soon as well. Did you really think I would let what you do go? On my BIRTHDAY no less. It's time people know who you really are.
Oh and it's called reverse physiocology people. Please give to this and that place before you give to me...Dugh! They are gonna feel bad because of the situation he is in especially because it's so sugar coated that they give to him like he wants. Sure he wants to get into housing but he complains and conspires to get in quicker. He's been looking for dirt on them and even considered checking himself into a hospital just to get out of the cold. Now I know he has "mental" issues...if you call always getting your ways issues but that's stupid.
Oh and he's gonna look for a job my behind...he refused to work for years having his wife support him because he didn't want to pay the child support that they now take from his social security. LOL!!! Anyone wonder why he doesn't drive? I guess that's what happens when you get too many DUI's. Only reason you aren't drinking right now is because you'll go to jail. No worries he'll be back to his nasty drunk self again in about 4 months. Can't wait for the people of Rome to see that. It's worse than you can imagine guys, especially if you think he's bad now.
is soy milk in your cup!
Jesus accepted & loved everyone. What is your problem with that? As far as whom I am whether I am new to comment here or not obviously you feel threatened by me being here. Why because someone defends Mr. Cleveland do they have to be immature? Maybe, I was someone checking into moving to Rome and just happened upon this article to get a feel for what the people in Rome are like. From what I can tell it is no place I myself would want to live. From what I can tell the majority lack southern hospitality and are rude and act more like yankees then southern gents & bells.
I'm not against helping others in society who appear to be helping themselves, but from everything i can determine about Mr Cleveland he wants to take everything he can from the "system" and if it isnt to his liking then he grips about it. (read his posts about the Salvation Army & Swan Lake Mobile Home Park in his blog).
Go out and find a "real job" Mr Cleveland, save your money and find a place for you & your family to live and support them and then i will be impressed. Until then.... you arent anything more than a freeloader living off the backs of the hard working people of Rome & Floyd County.
Are you people all nuts? I am actually beginning to wonder if one or all of you are Holise just egging me on with your ridiculous posts to get more publicity for his site.
Nice reference to the steps. Is AA working for you? I hope so. You really shouldn't record audio blogs while that inebriated. I found your "radio voice" to be quite slurred. I do think you have a mental issue, but it's more of a personality disorder than PTSD, and there's really nothing to help those.
It's unfortunate really, because had a business in Rome refused to serve you, I would have been your biggest advocate. Now, I would completely understand if HoneyMoon separated themselves from you, and I think they should.
Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist: While you were busy arguing about whether the glass of water was half full or empty, I drank it. Sincerely, the Opportunist. That would be you, Mr. Holise. Go away.
Sometimes when you were young in Germany the local guys would round up jews and gypsies and gays too and take them to the gas chamber. Maybe you should have stayed in Germany? You seem to like it much better there.
No I am not Holise. I have never even met or seen the man--I read the same article you read.
Moreover, I posted MANY times when Shorter adopted their abhorrent Statement of "Faith" as well as when one of you opposed the City enforcing building standards in the historic Between the Rivers district.
And you all of you know this, so stop the silly distractions and just admit that you are uncharitable, bitter, jaded, unhappy people. Admitting you have this problem is the first step in Recovery. I recommend the following additional steps: Step 2--watch less Fox News, Step 3--take down that poster of Nancy Grace from "Dancing with the Stars" that is hanging over your bed, Step 4-- re-read the articles about Rush Limbaugh being a drug addict, Step 5--remember that the candidate you likely support (Newt) seems like someone Honeymoon shouldn't serve based on your criteria (having an affair while his wife is dying probably puts him right up there with Holise--but applying standards fairly to rich white Republicans probably isn't something you support).
Some of these folks that are outright skeptical are yellow dog democrats that believe in some form of a social safety net. That said, they don't like it when it is openly abused. Many people have done a little digging on this guy and he is not exactly what he seems on the surface. I am all for assistance if he provides for his large family and is busy looking for a job. I am also a supporter of giving time to environmental causes, but first my house should be in order before I spend my precious job searching time doing it. Some folks don't like the welfare system period, and others don't like it when it is abused. He is abusing it.
Nice way of painting everyone you don't agree with with a broad stroke.
Signed,
Liberal, Gun Rights Democrat, Obama Supporter
And its not just him they have aimed their venom at. In their comments they have collectively criticized educators, government employees, women, overweight people, people with diabetes, local businesses, wealthy people, various charities . . . A non-discriminatory diatribe of hate.
In contrast, the man they are so keen on not getting served any coffee asked (via his blog) that those supporting him in these comments take the high road.
I feel sorry for people that have so much hate and negativity in their life--it must take a tremendous effort to turn deep rooted insecurity and fear into such an air of superiority.
I realize there is no use continuing posting as their hate only grows stronger. I do wish that someday they learn the joy that doing entirely selfless things for others can bring. Or at least gain the peace of mind (and other fulfilling things in their life that keep them busy) of not feeling compelled to express judgmental and hateful views.
Give it up WWrome, NettaMoBetta, RoseV or whoever you (all) are. What about you? You are (all) new to the comment section focusing on this article only, so maybe someone should look into your background(s). Many of the regular posters here are retired professionals (I believe some have legal backgrounds) and have been pretty open about their lives. Your reference to Jesus and Mary Magdalene coffee shows your immaturity. To get down to your level, it’s not about serving the man and his civil rights, the man is a dead-beat dad! What do you think Jesus would think about that?