Help Homeless Veteran With Car & Wife’s Biopsy

My name is Jessica. I am trying to raise money to help my homeless stepdad and my mom.

This year has not been a great year for us.

In October, we found out my mom may have breast cancer. Her mammogram came back with an abnormal lump and a swollen lymph node. We have not been able to get a biopsy yet. The weekend before Christmas, she went into the hospital with chest pains. She now has three more lumps, the original lump is twice its size, and she now has a rash that has popped up on her breast. The doctors have said this is a cancer inflammatory rash that is associated with an aggressive form of breast cancer. We cannot get answers without the biopsy. We are actively working to get financial assistance. A caseworker has been assigned.

My stepdad was let go from his job at Walmart on September 6th due to missing five days in six months. He was only out due to his arthritis issues and was not given any other options prior to being let go (LOA, medical leave, etc.). He worked for them from 2016-2024. They were able to pay for their hotel through mid-November and then became homeless. They are now also behind on their car payments.

During this time, this is what we have done to try and fix their situation:

Applied for unemployment - he was denied, so we appealed - still no update, they say they’re behind due to COVID.

Reached out to the VA - he has been fighting for additional disability benefits for months due to his condition. Still no answer, and now his next appointment isn’t until March. They have told us there’s nothing they can do to help with the job and homelessness. He was in combat during Desert Storm. He did not retire due to a brain tumor that appeared on his spine, and he was medically discharged in 1995.

Applied for a plethora of jobs - both my mom and stepdad have applications in for so many jobs. Barely any phone calls, and my mom was denied after multiple interviews. We are also reaching out to the senator who assists with VA and asking for assistance speeding up the process.

She was offered a job at Winn-Dixie, but then it was rescinded due to someone else having applied and gotten fired with her social or name? I’m not sure how this is possible. They’re saying they are working on it, but my mom hasn’t had a job in 15 years, so there’s no way that could’ve been her.

We are working with homeless shelters, they’re on housing waiting lists, applied for food stamps and Medicaid, working with cancer centers, and are doing everything we can to get them back on their feet. It’s been a month and a half with no real answers or end to this, and my mom’s condition has worsened, and they are about to miss another car payment.

We are actively applying and working with every resource out there. I am living with three other roommates and don’t have much money to offer. I send it when I can. If you can help, even $5 will help them. At the very least, it will keep gas in their car until we can get a permanent solution.