Homeless vet who rode wheelchair on 405 needs help

Hi. We are a group of friends trying to raise money for our friend and brother in Christ, Adam Blevins.

Some of you may have seen a news report of Adam, who in desperation, rode his wheelchair on the 405. They just reported him briefly without word on WHY he was pushed to that point. (Here is a link to it here... https://youtu.be/o-OX6LoLKes)

From the outside, without knowing Adam, it might be quick to question his state of mind to do something like that. Hopefully this post will give understanding to what pushes an 11 year veteran of the United States Navy to that point.

Adam served in the United States Navy from 2004 to 2015, and was attached to the first calvary of the Army in Iraq for one year in 2010. He was deployed several times, with his most recent to Iraq in 2010 finding him constantly under attack from incoming fire, rockets, and mortars. He was in the blast zone several times. Many scars, external and internal have made his life difficult since being honorably discharged. His VA benefits are minimal and he has been rendered homeless. After an accident at work accentuated former injuries, he has been bound to a wheelchair, making it impossible for him to support himself.

Despite ALL of this going on, prior to his last accident at a pest control job which put him in a wheelchair, Adam was still showing up to church every week AND volunteering. I worked with him on the video team and he was one of our best cameramen. He was always early, accountable, humble, and kind.

Due to his injuries, doctor visits are frequent, and the only housing options the VA were offering him were either too far, or in extremely dangerous neighborhoods (one place he stayed at had a dead body outside when he returned one night). Adam has a son he hasn't been able to see for 3 years, so safety and being close to his doctors have been necessities. Every time he pled his case to someone at the VA, he'd get the runaround and sent to someone else, only to have to plead his case all over again.

The night of the 405 incident, this cycle happened too many times, and Adam just had had enough. Debilitating injuries and feeling like noone was hearing him had him at a breaking point. He was taking the quickest route in desperation to a friend's car he had been sleeping in for the better part of the past 3 years.

The inability to work, along with the loss of his use of legs, have left him battling depression along with his PTSD. Currently, the VA wants to move him back to a Psych ward where he will he unable to have visitors or his phone. He doesn't want to get moved there, but his only option is there or back on the street (sleeping in a car). In his current condition, neither option is good, or fair for that matter. Not after what his service and suffering for this country. He wants to be able to serve and fellowship. Locked in what feels like a cell is NOT a good solution for his condition, but the ultimatum he has is, it's that or back to the streets.

We are just hoping to raise enough money for him to have more options and start him off at an affordable apartment near church, with whatever in home care he needs for as long as needed.

The following is a letter Adam wrote to the VA, hoping for more help. He also asked for a patient advocate. Soon after, they came telling him they'd be moving him to psych ward where his phone would be taken and no more visitors.

Please, if God has put you in a position to give, please consider donating. Every $5 counts.

God bless you for reading this.

His letter below...

Dear Sirs,

My name is Adam Daniels Blevins, i am 37 years old, my last 4 digits of social security is XXXX. I am a Veteran with 11 years of military service in the United States Navy. I am currently admitted here at West Los Angeles VA medical center since February 19, 2023. I am homeless, disabled and in financial hardship. More than a year ago, I've been injured and disabled due to an accident that happened at my previous job in the field as a pest control technician. Prior to that job, I had been dealing with previous health issues regarding my nerve system at my lower extremities even at my time of deployment before. I had been using the cane after I got injured during deployment. The company I worked for did not compensate me enough to survive for more than 6-months. I've been homeless for quite a while now. I met this 80-year old man who is also homeless and a Veteran like me who is living in his car who had welcomed me into sharing his vehicle for shelter. I felt compassion from this 80-year old man who helped me with my mobility and getting meals for me. He drove me to the E.R. when I had trouble breathing. I was in ICU for a few days and now being transferred to a room shared with other patients. My fear right now is I have nowhere to go once discharged from the hospital again because I am in and out of the VA hospital due to my health issues/ailments. Although my friend was willing to share his car for shelter, sleeping in the front seat of his car isn't comfortable with my present condition. I am now wheelchair bound and desperately asking for emergency help for a safe place to stay after hospitalization. I am also in need of financial support and assistance from supportive services for my daily living requirements, transferring in and out of my wheelchair, transportation and potentially household tasks such as shopping, cooking and cleaning for I am wheelchair bound. I know I can count on VA to make things possible for me as I served my country for more than a decade with pride and dignity. Thank you for stepping up to care for Veterans and providing relief for those who are suffering. I hope for your kind consideration to help me EXPEDITE my case for I have already hit rock bottom. I appreciate all your kindness and consideration. I hope to hear from you very soon! Thank you very much! God bless you all!

Sincerely,

Adam Daniels Blevins

Adam was forced to ride his wheelchair on 405 fwy