Help Lee Roy Keep Moving Forward
Donation protected
Friends and family, I am reaching out to you all to help me help a friend in need. Many of you know of my friend Lee Roy. For those of you who don't, I met him through a volunteer organization which helps people experiencing homelessness get out of the shelters and back into society. For the last 2 years he has done just that and has been self-sufficient working in carpentry, custom furniture design and home remodeling and living in his own apartment.
When I met him he was not the healthiest 56-year old (now 58) but he started running for fitness and even began training for a half-marathon. He showed up every day to our volunteer events, punctual if not early. He was the most dedicated person I know and he remained as such as an employee.
He experienced a huge setback: he was injured on the job when a scaffolding ladder fell on him, shattering his foot and ankle which never healed properly and he never ran again. Didn't matter. He carried on and continued to work albeit in pain.
Fast-forward to now: He recently sought the care of VA doctors for several medical issues. The medications made him sick, even after the doctors tried modifying the doses so he stopped taking them. And it seems he's developed a new condition of vertigo-like symptoms and he simply cannot stand for longer than a few minutes without falling over from dizziness. He has piercing headaches, he is very weak and his limbs hurt. Because of this he has not worked in almost a month and before this he was living paycheck-to-paycheck. He is a proud man so I wouldn't even have found out about his dire situation if I hadn't called him last Sunday. He has zero dollars, he doesn't receive disability, doesn't qualify for VA financial benefits (only healthcare) and no family that provides support.
I am raising funds for him to prevent him from losing his apartment and returning to a shelter. The city of Dallas is experiencing an affordable housing crisis so it's critical that he keep this apartment! He also needs time to manage his physical and mental health and eventually get back to work.
The amount I've requested includes the following:
Rent-$834 for 3 months
Car insurance-$275 for 6 months (Already late as it was due on 7/24/16)
Electric bill~$408 for 3 months
I have provided some financial assistance and bought groceries for him but I cannot afford to do it on my own. Some of my friends have offered to bring food as well, so THANK YOU!
We are working on a long-term solution. I have put him in touch with a VA housing coordinator for an appointment tomorrow (Wed) who might be able to prevent eviction and provide the help of a social worker for long-term management. We hope to get him on some type of disability since he cannot currently work because of his health. He has an appointment at the VA in mid August for an MRI of his brain but since he made that appointment his condition has worsened. I am currently trying to help him reschedule his doctor visit to an earlier date. All of these things take time hence the donation request.
Why did he become homeless in the first place? He is not or was never an alcoholic or drug addict. He is a vet and a dedicated father to one teenage boy but unfortunately due to an acrimonious relationship with his ex-wife, he rarely to never gets to see him. He became homeless after repeatedly leaving good jobs to be close to his son while his ex-wife moved him from city to city. He simply couldn't find a job once he moved to Dallas and then his ex-wife moved again-this time to San Antonio.
Getting to know Lee Roy:
-he's a former Marine
-he's a country boy and uses terms such as "reckon" and "meander" often
-he loves country western novels and movies
-he loves to fish
-he would love to ride horses again and perhaps work in a stable caring for horses
-he loves BBQ and 100% real milk!
-he is always punctual to any event
-he is a true gentleman
Thank you for considering! Sometimes the only thing separating homeless people and ourselves is whether someone was there to help them in their time of need. Any amount of support will help him and I will get it to him immediately!
When I met him he was not the healthiest 56-year old (now 58) but he started running for fitness and even began training for a half-marathon. He showed up every day to our volunteer events, punctual if not early. He was the most dedicated person I know and he remained as such as an employee.
He experienced a huge setback: he was injured on the job when a scaffolding ladder fell on him, shattering his foot and ankle which never healed properly and he never ran again. Didn't matter. He carried on and continued to work albeit in pain.
Fast-forward to now: He recently sought the care of VA doctors for several medical issues. The medications made him sick, even after the doctors tried modifying the doses so he stopped taking them. And it seems he's developed a new condition of vertigo-like symptoms and he simply cannot stand for longer than a few minutes without falling over from dizziness. He has piercing headaches, he is very weak and his limbs hurt. Because of this he has not worked in almost a month and before this he was living paycheck-to-paycheck. He is a proud man so I wouldn't even have found out about his dire situation if I hadn't called him last Sunday. He has zero dollars, he doesn't receive disability, doesn't qualify for VA financial benefits (only healthcare) and no family that provides support.
I am raising funds for him to prevent him from losing his apartment and returning to a shelter. The city of Dallas is experiencing an affordable housing crisis so it's critical that he keep this apartment! He also needs time to manage his physical and mental health and eventually get back to work.
The amount I've requested includes the following:
Rent-$834 for 3 months
Car insurance-$275 for 6 months (Already late as it was due on 7/24/16)
Electric bill~$408 for 3 months
I have provided some financial assistance and bought groceries for him but I cannot afford to do it on my own. Some of my friends have offered to bring food as well, so THANK YOU!
We are working on a long-term solution. I have put him in touch with a VA housing coordinator for an appointment tomorrow (Wed) who might be able to prevent eviction and provide the help of a social worker for long-term management. We hope to get him on some type of disability since he cannot currently work because of his health. He has an appointment at the VA in mid August for an MRI of his brain but since he made that appointment his condition has worsened. I am currently trying to help him reschedule his doctor visit to an earlier date. All of these things take time hence the donation request.
Why did he become homeless in the first place? He is not or was never an alcoholic or drug addict. He is a vet and a dedicated father to one teenage boy but unfortunately due to an acrimonious relationship with his ex-wife, he rarely to never gets to see him. He became homeless after repeatedly leaving good jobs to be close to his son while his ex-wife moved him from city to city. He simply couldn't find a job once he moved to Dallas and then his ex-wife moved again-this time to San Antonio.
Getting to know Lee Roy:
-he's a former Marine
-he's a country boy and uses terms such as "reckon" and "meander" often
-he loves country western novels and movies
-he loves to fish
-he would love to ride horses again and perhaps work in a stable caring for horses
-he loves BBQ and 100% real milk!
-he is always punctual to any event
-he is a true gentleman
Thank you for considering! Sometimes the only thing separating homeless people and ourselves is whether someone was there to help them in their time of need. Any amount of support will help him and I will get it to him immediately!
Organizer
Ginger Becker
Organizer
Dallas, TX
