Help us bring Trevor home

My name is Abbey, and I am writing on behalf of my 31-year-old brother Trevor who has Autism. For the past five years, Trevor has been living 161 miles away from our family at a group home on the east side of the state because, unfortunately, at this point - there are no opportunities and group homes available to him in West Michigan.

Neglect is the word that comes to mind when thinking about Trevor’s current living situation. He lacks proper help with his health and hygiene, and it has become so bad that he was hospitalized for cellulitis in 2022, suffered from a black eye, and it’s not uncommon to find mysterious cuts, scrapes and bruises on his body. He spends most of his time alone in his room, sitting in his chair or lying in bed, and his health has deteriorated substantially. The happy moments you have seen in the video are not the norm. They are only made possible on days that we have gone to visit him.

My parents each drive six hours every week to fill the gaps in Trevor’s care. They shop for his food, prepare his meals, wash and deliver his laundry, shower him, shave his face, cut his toenails, and clean his room. By the time they finish all these tasks, it only leaves about an hour or so for quality time to hang out, watch movies, and talk. Trevor lives in his bedroom, which is just a tiny part of the facility that houses 12 additional residents. The group home never has consistent staff - their turnover rate is exceptionally high, and the environment he lives in is extremely loud and chaotic. There have been caregivers who Trevor has loved and received excellent care from, but unfortunately, they have not all stayed.

The county that we live in, Ottawa County, has told us that the only way Trevor can move closer to us is if we purchase a house. If we can find and buy a house for Trevor, the county will place another resident receiving similar services with Trevor as a roommate and provide 24/7 staffing. The purchase of this home would be a life-changing move for my brother. Instead of being one of 12 residents cared for by two to three staff members, he would receive the one-on-one care he so desperately deserves.

Looking to the future has always been very scary for me. As my parents get older, their ability to fill these gaps for my brother has become much more difficult. Just this year, my Mom had an emergency double bypass surgery, and my Dad had spine surgery. If these two things had happened simultaneously, Trevor’s care would have fallen solely on my shoulders.

If Trevor were close to home - my parents’ visits would be much more manageable. Instead of spending 12+ hours driving and visiting and filling in the gaps where the group home has failed him, - we could all enjoy frequent, shorter visits. Trevor has an important community of people here in Grand Haven, consisting of old care givers, teachers and friends. If he was closer, these people could be a part of his life again. His circle of relationships could grow exponentially. He could get out into the community, visit familiar locations and have the social interactions he lacks in his current situation.

The money we raise will go directly into purchasing a home for Trevor to live in. It will go towards making the house accessible, Trevor-friendly, and well maintained. This would be Trevor’s forever home. Not a place that we are trying to fit Trevor into - but rather a place that is made, designed and maintained specifically for him. It is a home where friends could visit, holidays could be celebrated, and stability could finally be achieved.

This truly is an emergency. It’s so much easier when someone asks about Trevor to say, “he’s fine, all’s well,” but he’s not, and it isn’t. He is being neglected and forgotten. We cannot wait any longer to make this happen. His health and well-being depend on this change. We have had all the meetings and done all the research - and this is our only chance to give Trevor the life he deserves. We are so grateful to everyone who has taken the time to read our story - and we hope you can be a part of bringing Trevor back home.

IMPORTANT

If you feel uncomfortable using the Go Fund Me platform to donate, please contact us by clicking the contact organizer button at the bottom. We would be happy to discuss other payment options. Please direct all questions here as well.

Sincerely, Abbey (and Laura, Tom, Jake and Trevor)