Keep Leaf Safe and Housed in His Community

If you live in Berkeley, chances are you’ve seen Leaf scootering around town, playing chess, or engaging in lively conversation with a friendly stranger. Leaf has become a close friend of the Bartavelle staff and community. If you’ve been lucky enough to talk with him at the café, you know he’s kind, thoughtful, resourceful, humorous, and wildly intelligent. Leaf has lived in Berkeley his whole life, almost sixty years.

Last month, Leaf was evicted from his home of seven years. He lives with schizophrenia, which crucially hampers his ability to make a living and advocate for himself through the maze of underfunded public services. The Bay Area housing crisis exacerbates these challenges and people like Leaf often fall through the cracks.

Friends and family are tirelessly searching for affordable housing for Leaf, but options are limited. It's critical for him to remain close to his community, where he can be supported while maintaining his independence. We are raising funds to help secure a new place to live, cover moving expenses, and meet any immediate needs during this transition. Let's work together to keep Leaf housed, safe, and close by. We love him.