I’m starting this GoFundMe for my father, who is a disabled veteran and has recently had his entire life turned upside down.

My dad was forced to leave the apartment he was living in at Lucas and Hunt Apartments after the ceiling caved in, the heat stopped working, and there was no hot water. With nowhere safe to stay, he reached out to the Veterans Association, who temporarily placed him at the St. Patrick Center while he tried to save money and get back on his feet.

While staying there, something terrifying happened. My father had an altercation with another man who later slipped something into his soda. My dad passed out for nearly four hours. When he woke up, his wallet was gone with $800 in cash, his insurance cards, disability card, phone, and even the dentures he had just recently gotten.

When my father realized what happened and confronted the man, the situation became violent. The man pulled a gun on him. My dad tried to push the gun away, and it went off, shooting the tip of my father’s finger off. Thankfully, the attacker was arrested and is now in jail, but the damage to my father’s life has already been done.

Now my dad is starting over from square one. He has no phone, no ID, no money, no dentures, medical bills, and no stable place to live. On top of that, he is healing from a gunshot wound and the trauma of nearly losing his life.

We’re raising money to help him replace what was stolen, cover medical and dental costs, secure housing, and get basic necessities so he can rebuild with some dignity and safety.

Anything helps. Even sharing this means the world to us. My dad served his country, and right now he just needs a little help from his community to stand back up.

Thank you for taking the time to read his story and support him in any way you can.