Help for David and Lucky (part 1)
David and Lucky have a new GoFundMe fundraiser page that replaces this one.
Please follow their story to make a life-changing difference for a disabled man and his beloved cat so they never have to suffer on the street again.
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David is a kind man with cerebral palsy who lives on the streets of New York City with his cat Lucky. I first met him over the summer and was immediately struck by how well he cared for his cat when it was clear he had difficulty providing for himself. I have since had many conversations with David and learned about his life, his past, and his goals for his future. He is trying his best to survive and regain normalcy in his life for himself, and for his beloved cat. However, it isn’t easy. For a variety of reasons, David is ineligible to receive services. His cerebral palsy has affected his hands and he is unable to open them easily to reach and handle objects. This has made it difficult for him to find steady work. Shelters will also not take him in unless he gives up his cat, and this is not an option for him. Lucky is his companion. In David’s own words “he is all I have. He is my reason for living”.
HIS STORY:
He worked in construction for many years but when his hands started becoming weaker and his fine motor skills started declining, he had to switch careers. He became a live-in caretaker for an elderly man for a few years. He found joy working in his new job, however when his employer suddenly passed away David found himself without work and housing. Given his limitations, David has had great difficulty recovering from this event. He ended up being homeless about a year and a half ago, struggling to survive harsh weather conditions. With the added vulnerability of his disability, he has also been a target for violence and robbery unfortunately (I witnessed seeing him with a black eye a day after he was attacked by a group of young men for no reason except to bully someone weaker).
He found Lucky as a kitten trapped in a basement one day. Despite his lack of resources, David kept him warm and fed, and nursed him to health. He intended on finding the kitten a home at first, but then they became bonded as a pair. They have since become inseparable, and you can see the mutual love and trust they have together. In a way, they saved each other and are comrades against the cruel elements of the world.
David is eager to find work and would like to return to a productive life. He has been trying to find a job in this past year, but his disability makes job offers few and far between. Despite this, David has not given up hope and continues to try and find work in between living on the streets. He has had a couple of odd jobs here and there, but nothing long enough to sustain himself or pay for housing.
In my visits to David, I have met a couple other people who care about David and want to help. We have formed a team to try and help find resources for him, but there are obstacles everywhere. Right now housing is the main priority to provide shelter during the winter while David continues to look for work. We have thoroughly researched shelter opportunities for him, and so far only one will accept him with Lucky called Breaking Grounds. However, he is put on a waiting list and it can take months for a room to be available. The problem is, the winter weather is rapidly approaching. We are worried about him and Lucky spending cold winter months outside. Living on the street has taken a heavy toll on David’s health and is not ideal for Lucky to thrive either. Lucky is kept on a leash for safety, but this doesn’t allow him to run freely as any cat needs to do.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- If you are able to make a donation of any size, this will help us secure renting a room through the winter requiring first and last month’s rent plus deposit, food and supplies.
- If you are aware of any cash-paying work in the NY Metro area that doesn’t require fine motor tasks (janitor, live-in caretaker, food delivery service are a few ideas) please send a private message.
- Offers of affordable housing in the NY area are welcomed greatly as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read David and Lucky’s story. Any and all assistance is greatly needed, and immensely appreciated. Hopefully we can all do our part to end stigmas and help each other out when (and how) we can.
*Cerebral Palsy is a congenital condition that can cause progressive disability throughout a person’s life to varying degrees. While David’s case is not severe, unfortunately it greatly impacts the use of his hands and will likely worsen as he ages.
~ Sira M.
