For Hunter Roff, a ninth grader at North Royalton High School, helping those in need is a family affair. Along with his father Dean, Hunter has been instrumental in the growth of Homeless Hookup, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential supplies and services to homeless individuals in the Cleveland area.
What started as a small grassroots effort by Dean Roff in 2014 has blossomed into a 501c3 agency that employs several people and reaches over 5,000 individuals every year. Hunter has been by his father's side since the beginning, witnessing firsthand the impact of their work.
"My dad is one of my biggest heroes," said Hunter. "He's helped more people than I can count, and he's also made me realize that if I see someone struggling, I don't just wish that person the best, I do my best to help that person."
Dean Roff's own experience with homelessness and alcoholism fueled his desire to break the cycle and provide a better life for his son. After getting sober in 2008, Roff was devastated to learn that his father had passed away homeless and struggling with alcoholism himself. This revelation motivated him to create a positive legacy for Hunter.
Hunter shared what he has seen on the streets of Cleveland while helping the homeless. “My dad told me most people don't see another person laying in the sidewalk, they just see another part of the sidewalk. However, they are still people and they want to give back regardless of not having much to give. I was once given a ring and my dad was given two bibles.”
From those humble beginnings, Homeless Hookup was born. The organization started by collecting donations of clothes, hygiene supplies, and other essentials, which Roff and Hunter would distribute to homeless individuals around Cleveland. As the initiative grew, it caught the attention of community partners like the Lakewood Fire Department, who donated an RV to serve as a mobile hygiene unit.
Today, Homeless Hookup operates a monthly mobile hygiene bus that provides haircuts, hot showers, food, and clean clothes to those in need. The organization also has a distribution vehicle that delivers care packages and supplies throughout the city. Hunter, now 15, continues to be involved, embodying the empathy and compassion his father instilled in him.
In one instance, Hunter noticed a classmate with holes in his shoes and offered to switch footwear until he could get the student a new pair. Dean immediately stepped in to provide multiple pairs of shoes for the classmate. “I’m fortunate enough to have never been in that situation, thanks to my hardworking mother and father,” said Hunter. “Even so, I understand how much this may affect someone's mental and physical health.”
Hunter said, “If you are experiencing a financial situation and it's affecting your mental and physical well being and need help, don't be embarrassed or afraid to ask. I was afraid to ask for help and ended up in MetroHealth Hospital for suicidal ideations. Ask for help, regardless of whether it is embarrassing or scary. It’s only natural to need some guidance and support in life.”
As Homeless Hookup continues to expand its reach, Dean Roff remains committed to teaching the next generation the importance of empathy and service. "Empathy can be taught, and it has to be," he says. "We're in a very what's-in-it-for-me society, and it's up to us to foster empathy in the next generation because I think we're losing it."
As the homeless population grows the amount of people willing to take initiative should grow along with it.
With Hunter as a shining example, Homeless Hookup's legacy of compassion and generosity is sure to endure, breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness, one act of kindness at a time.
