Housing for Arthur. . .aka "Pinky"

Arthur is a homeless person who has been living on the streets of Gallup, NM for many years, he is often referred to by himself and others as "Pinky", as he seems to often wear pink attire. For years he has been using crutches to walk the streets and always lugs around a large pink backpack.

 

In recent years he has often been found slumped over on the east half wall near Sacred Heart Cathedral which is near where I live. By natural consequence, we began to have occasional conversations, and at times I have given him some money or bought him a cheap motel when intuition seemed to tell me so. This eventually led to him coming to my house and ringing my doorbell and me letting him stay in my garage during inclement weather or a particularly hard day he seemed to be having.

 

I have never had an interaction with him where he was drunk or high, and for the most part he has been respectful and gentle, although at times he can certainly get angry and cuss like a sailor.

 

His visits to my house and garage were perhaps only two or three times a month and he was always respectful of the space, and never demanding, albeit leaving a few displaced cigarette buds at times.

 

In my conversations with Pinky he claims to work security around town watching out for crime and keeping order around town, often showing me the dual bottles of mace he keeps on hand to keep said order. He says he has over 30 children through a variety of women and amazingly all his kids are girls saying, " I just can't make a boy." He says he is 81yrs old, but also says his birthday is Oct. 18, 1954. His daily routine seems to be going to the Allsups near 491 for coffee and often finding pro-bono food later in the day at Don Diegos, and then ending up in my neighborhood.

 

Eventually some friends were able to give him the opportunity to get into the Lexington Hotel and get a proper room and structured support. When I presented the idea to him, he was open to it, and a few days later I drove him over and he checked in.

 

I didn't see him for a couple of months, but then once again he was at my door. Apparently he couldn't follow the rules of the facility and stubbornly "checked himself out" and back on the streets.

 

This was disappointing.

 

Throughout this fall he would again show up on my doorstep and would stay in my garage. As the weather turned colder he has spent nearly every night since Thanksgiving in my garage with an electric blanket. This evening, Jan 1. 2022, he again showed up at my door and this time he looked near hypothermic death. We warmed him up in the house for a few hours and he kept saying "I don't know why God doesn't just take me. . .He doesn't take me."

 

My wife and I at this point realized that we are not equipped to shelter or care for Pinky on a daily basis. It is too much for us emotionally. In our conversations with Pinky, he says he refuses to go to NCI or St. Josephs for various reasonable and illogical reasons.

 

So I am now reaching out to the community to try and raise funds to pay for some sort of ongoing housing, whether that be a motel, a rental, or a tiny house etc. . . In the absence of funds perhaps the community could help house Pinky in their home, garage, or extra space you may have. Or if there is another structured opportunity to help him that I am unaware of that information would be helpful as well.

Thanks for your support.
GoFundMe has asked me to add the following information:

1.Who you are:   I am Chuck Van Drunen a 20+ year resident of Gallup, New Mexico.  I was the founder of The Gallup Journey Magazine and co-owner from 2004-2015. I am married to my wife Jenny who is a High School Math teacher and I have 2 teenage kids.

2.Where you're from: I am originally from Illinois, but have lived in Gallup, New Mexico since 1997.  I reside at 407 E. Hill Ave.

3. Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for:  I am an acquaintance/friend of Pinky.

4.How the funds will be used:  Because of this fundraiser, a donor has reached out to me and has a studio apartment in my neighborhood that Pinky can rent for $550 a month plus utilities.  I hope to meet with the donor tomorrow and pay the first months' rent and $250 deposit and then see what furnishings are needed.  I know that Pinky does get a SSI check and perhaps can help pay for some of this rent/utilities.  I intend to use the gofundme funds to sustain this housing plan for him as long as possible.

5.If you intend to withdraw the funds to your own bank account, how do you plan to send the funds to the parties you're raising funds for or use the funds on their behalf:   Pinky does not have an I.D. or a bank account, but does have a p.o. box and does know his SS#.  I plan to simply pay the rent to the landlord directly to sustain his housing.  If this housing plan does not work I will give money directly to Pinky or pay for hotel housing directly.