An Update and Unsung Heros

A Beacon of Hope shines from the Cecil

One of the most rewarding things about my work at the Hotel Cecil is being witness to the progress of the residents, being part of transformational moments. This week, there was a moment so powerful, so intense, that I felt tears of joy welling up.

A common part of my interaction with our residents is to offer a word of prayer. Sometimes I spontaneously offer it. Sometime its requested. I always ask if there is anything specific that needs prayer.

My friend Rose sat down at my table and we chatted. She shared with me her new struggles and we worked through some of them, talked them out so that Rose could create an action plan to resolve the issues, something we have done dozens of times in the last year.

At the end of our conversation, Rose asked if I would pray. Of course, I said yes. We grasped hands, as has become our custom and I began to pray. As I got to the end of the prayer, I concluded the prayer and started to release hands, Rose grabbed my hand tighter and said “No, we’re not done.” She then proceeded to pray for me.

Rose has a deep-rooted faith. She speaks of God, bettering herself, having faith that she will persevere. She has previously never sought to offer or lead prayers. One time, she served as my Eucharistic Minister. Our conversations have always centered around Rose. She hasn’t ever spontaneously asked anything about me. What she knows, I have offered.

For Rose to reach outside herself, to pray for another person, publicly and voluntarily, was one of the most vocation-affirming thing I have ever experienced.

Unsung Heros of the Hotel Cecil

Being an onsite property manager at the Hotel Cecil is no ordinary job. Aside from the ordinary maintenance requests, leasing and making sure the property is as safe as it can be, the three-person management team goes far beyond what is ordinary.

The residents at the Cecil range wide across the spectrum: from “normies” who have fallen on hard times, to those dealing with often unmitigated mental health and addiction issues. Leslie, Paula and Daniel are on the front lines of this range — but they handle it with firm kindness with an eye toward ensuring these residents, even during the middle of a mental health crisis or episode, retain their dignity.

One example that stands out happened recently. There is a regular complainer who comes into the office and makes threats of legal action (none yet realized) about the smallest of things. He calls Leslie “Mrs. Trump.” Recently, he came in, yelling before he even entered the office. Leslie, who was the target of this rage, calmly, with the peace of Job, replied that she would look into what he was complaining about. He said “I’ll wait here until you do.” So Leslie made some calls, found the issue and resolved it — all while being screamed at by the resident. The resident stormed out without even a “thank you.” Leslie remained calm.

So many times, during critical events, mental health episodes or drug-fueled psychotic breaks, the management team will step in to support and de-escalate a situation, before security or LAPD is called. It is far, far more than what a property manager is called upon to do, but this is the Hotel Cecil. Everything here is different. Everyone understands, outwardly or viscerally, that the Hotel Cecil has a different set of demands. The folks who run the office are specially suited for the work and are prepared to meet the unique demands that the Cecil puts on everyone.

In the year that I’ve been at the Cecil, it has become my practice to spend the first 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes of time there each week to visit with staff. These managers are not just caretakers of a building but are also pivotal in the lives of the residents, often standing in for social workers, counselors, and advocates. They are the heroes.