Matthew Piccolo, Survival and Housing Funds

Hi, my name is Donald Bell. Matthew is a 29 year old young man disabled since birth with spina bifida and autism. He is in a wheelchair. Three weeks ago, while living in Grand Coulee, Washington, his 80 year old father and caregiver tragically passed away. Matt and his father lived in a remote area and with no social services available so his siblings moved him to a hotel in Spokane. He has no local relatives but the thought was that Spokane was a hub for the type of social services he needs. However the demand for those services far outstrips what is immediately available. His most desperate need is housing, but we have found that available income based housing has waiting lists of at least 12 months. Before any of his other needs can be met, he needs to secure housing. He is on Social Security disability but payments were suspended when his father passed away. His father was his representative payee. I am working to get those payments restored but the amount is minimal. He has no funds and no income at the moment and has been living in a hotel on Division paid for with a previous gofundme and the pockets of generous individuals. Matt is smart. He is capable of employment but has never held a job. But first things first. He will not do well in a homeless shelter. We hope to secure funds to pay rent in his own place while we work to get his SSI restored and get on the path to employment. I am the father of a friend of Matt's for over ten plus years. I have stepped in to keep him from the streets. Your generosity is appreciated.