Help Provide Temporary Shelter for Josh Williams

Hello,

Today, I am reaching out to ask for your support and generosity for a family member who is struggling to maintain housing. My brother Josh is currently experiencing homelessness and needs help to find temporary shelter while he awaits placement in group housing or other services that will aid in his recovery and address his mental health issues. Josh has struggled with homelessness and alcoholism for well over a decade now. This has been difficult for Josh and our family. We have been concerned with his welfare and watched him struggle with the various mental health barriers and the legal systems in Kansas, as we have attempted to find him adequate treatment for his disabilities and addiction. We feel it is in his best interest to stay in a setting that is not a homeless shelter or near a liquor store so he might properly recover until we can find him a permanent placement.

Despite our families best efforts, finding a safe and stable place for Josh to stay has proven to be an ongoing struggle. This struggle has been amplified by Josh’s mental health challenges and makes finding permanent housing for him difficult. However, my mom, sister, and I are working with the Mental Health Association of Kansas to try and get him placed in a care facility where he can be treated for his traumatic brain injury sustained on 05/17/23 and be monitored by trained staff on a daily basis who are trained and equipped to handle the frequent changes to his emotional state that my family and I have been unable to maintain in a safe manner for Josh and us. While we are hopeful and grateful for this step forward with the Mental Health Association, Josh’s case worker has said this process can take up to four weeks.We are reaching out to you, our friends, family, and kind-hearted community members, to help us raise funds that will go directly towards securing temporary housing,for Josh during this transitional period.

Josh currently does not qualify for disability, you must be sober and be consistent with appointments, in order to qualify. Prior to his current hospitalization, Josh was homeless and sleeping by the dumpster outside Charlie's Liquor store for two months. Josh has also been deemed incompetent by a Neuropsychologist from KU Med and was currently diagnosed as being Autistic level 3 characterized by severe challenges in social communication as well as extremely inflexible behavior.

My mom has been paying for his stay up to this point. Josh does receive food stamps at $291 but this is the only monetary support he is currently receiving. Once he is placed in a care facility any governmental assistance will go directly to paying that facility. Your generosity will provide them with a sense of stability and hope during this transitional period.

Here's how your contributions can make a difference: Temporary Shelter: Your donations will help cover the costs of a safe and secure place for Josh to stay while awaiting placement in group housing or services. Support Services: We aim to connect Josh with the necessary support services to help them rebuild his life. This may include counseling, job placement assistance, and access to other resources that will contribute to his long-term well-being.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for considering a contribution to this important cause. Your support means the world to us, and together, we can make a positive difference in the life of Josh.

If you are unable to contribute financially, please consider sharing this fundraiser with your network or keeping our brother Josh and my family in your prayers.

With Heartfelt Gratitude,

Zachary A. Williams