Support Joe Furr: A Veteran's Shelter Dream

Hi there, I'm Adrienne Eichner. I will be managing the funds (until funding is enough to afford an accountant) for Joseph (Joe) Furr, Army war vet, local linguist, worked at Belk in their China and Men's Wares for over a decade. He fell and hurt his back, and that's why he's not working at Belk anymore. He loved serving the community at Belk, and unfortunately Belk didn't pay him enough to survive in his retirement years. No retirement, no investments, and no savings.

He's 82 years old and has dementia. His family is unable to help him, and aren't very close to him as far as relationships according to friends of Joe. He was living with his brother for a week or two, but the brother said he had to go because of room in the small house.

Joe and I have been friends for 23+ years. While my photo studio was in The Shops at Stonefield for many years, Joe would walk in and say, "I don't want to kill myself, can I sit and stay a while?" Joe says, "You know you saved my life many times over the years." I said to Joe, "You can come and go as often as you please." Joe has PTSD from serving in the Army and his mother abused him as a child. Joe is a wonderful person and I love him. He's like an uncle to me.

Joe lost his shelter when Attain (apartments) changed their lease to month-to-month. Then, they got approved by the county to renovate. So, they sent Joe a letter stating he had 30 days to get out. There are very few affordable rentals available in a 30-day notice! So, Joe went homeless and stayed with his brother for a week or two until he was kicked out for the lack of room in the small home. His brother is hosting several family members of his own. Albemarle County Social Services has an Emergency Fund for situations just like this but they denied to help him and continue to deny him services or care. They won't even help him get Medicaid so he can move into assisted living (which he doesn't want to do but it looks like his only current option if the county helps him). The VA has been hosting Joe in a hotel for 60 days and now is stating they are not going to renew his stay any longer! Every week they tell him if he gets renewed to stay or not. Joe has been under so much stress the past 60 days. I don't like seeing my friend treated this way and in June, Joe was planning to live in his car. I told him that was not going to happen. We have avoided it so far, but he's now facing a huge issue as the VA is looking like they're going to stop his hotel stay without much warning. They know Joe has no savings. They are very aware of his situation and that he needs help. He doesn't want to go into assisted living because he loves his independence. That's why I'm mentioning the shelter project he and I have been working on. He wants to build a shelter and he could live there with helping others. This would give him purpose in life and make his life worth living.

Joe and I want to build a shelter that allows residents to keep their dogs (hopefully cats and other pets too). All the local shelters refuse animals, and the trauma of losing your shelter and your pet is an awful combo that we want to remedy. Joe is missing his cat!

Joe cannot manage his funds due to he doesn't remember what happens to his money. If there's enough funds, the account will be managed by an accountant.

1. Plan to post every single receipt

2. Plan to buy him: clothing, shoes, food, shelter, a working automatic car, and more.

3. We are putting together a fundraiser with t-shirts for sale with his beautiful abstract artworks. We need shirts, items to print on, and supplies to be able to sell items for Joe.

4. Depending on the amount of donations, we would like to shelter Joe's friend, another Army vet who is also homeless and living in his car for four+ years, R.A.E.

5. If there are funds, we would like to continue a shelter project called The Pepper Center. It's a non-profit (non-stock corporation with The Virginia State Corporation Commission) to allow men and women to keep their dogs with them when they need sheltering. Joe and Adrienne want people to keep their pets even through hard times. This shelter project would give Joe meaning and a job to do. Give Joe purpose and joy to help others and be around all the pets too.