Temporary shelter for homeless veteran Kevin and Kodiak

Hi everyone. Though we've donated via GoFundMe, I've never created one but think that this is perhaps the best way to help a friend, a disabled homeless veteran. Kevin John Elliott and his service dog Kodiak, who served with him in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, have been homeless since September 2024. Kevin and Kodi have been able to get sporadic temporary housing while waiting for his VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher) to be approved, but it has not been constant. The Natick Affordable Housing Trust was generous in providing a hotel voucher for 3 days during the height of the polar vortex, and my family and I have been working with the town's Veteran's Service Officer to get them under a roof regularly until either transitional housing opens in Dorchester or his VASH is approved. Either is likely to take between 3-4 weeks. Vouchers for Section 8 housing in Natick have a 9-year wait. Natick's Veterans Service Officer has been working hard with the Boston VSO and Kevin's VA case worker, but the wheels of government move slowly, even for a homeless vet.

I am hoping to raise enough to keep them at a local hotel where he has a microwave and a mini-fridge at their discounted rate of $80/night, though we have also been looking for a hotel/motel/room to rent closer to the VA Hospital in Jamaica Plain. Any amount would be helpful; he does have EBT for food, but still has expenses like dog food, flea and tick treatments, personal hygiene products, and gas.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you can help Kevin and Kodi.