Leon Rosen’s last week as a resident at Paige Hall was busy. While preparing for a cross-country move, Rosen was wrapping up his life here in Minneapolis by giving away all of his furniture and most of his household items to residents in need at Paige Hall. On March 31, Rosen began a new job as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in Daytona Beach, FL at the Center for the Visually Impaired.

Despite the many tasks he needed to complete before his move, he took the time to call  Aeon, to make sure that the staff and supporters knew how thankful he was for the opportunities living at Paige Hall had provided. Rosen said emphatically, “I am very glad I stumbled upon Paige Hall. Being able to live here has allowed me to get my finances in order and is a huge benefit for someone like me who has limited income, but doesn’t qualify for food stamps

Paige Hall

and other government programs.”

The path to get there has had its up and downs, yet he found Paige Hall to be a place of security to help him reach this goal. Rosen moved into Paige Hall in 2006 after completing schooling for a Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. Legally blind, Rosen himself had benefited from similar programs at Vision Loss Resources after moving to the Twin Cities from Wisconsin.

While job searching, Rosen was quick to volunteer his services to Aeon. With the help of assistive technology, Rosen helped to make dozens of thank you calls to donors after last year’s Beyond Bricks & Mortar fundraising event. 

In his new position, Rosen will be giving back to others experiencing vision loss, just as he did 30 years ago. He will be working with elderly adults who are losing their eyesight giving them training with adaptive technologies and independent living skills.