Urgent: Help Rhyan Avoid Homelessness

KEEP RYHAN FROM BEING HOMELESS!

I am writing this post to let you know about a special GoFundMe page James and I are setting up for a friend of ours that will be homeless on Tuesday, February 18th in NYC.

I met Rhyan 10 years ago while volunteering at Saint Paul's House. On top of being very special, intelligent, and kind person, he has never drank or smoked and doesn't have mental illness issues. We took him into our apartment thaiit cold winter, helped him get a job at the bakery, and get settled into an apartment that he's been in since.

Unfortunately, he is now getting evicted so the landlord's family can move in. On top of this, he recently has had heart issues and related surgeries, has trouble getting around, and has not been able to work. We are not sure if he will survive once back out on the streets. We have called many places and cannot find him the services needed in time.

If you are able to, please help by providing a donation to get Rhyan temporary housing long enough to find available services or a permanent room. If you know anyone with a spare bedroom in NYC willing to rent to Rhyan please let us know.

RHYAN'S FULL STORY

It was 10 years ago when I met Rhyan while volunteering at a place called Saint Paul’s House, on 51stStreet in NYC. Saint Paul’s House is an outreach program to the homeless serving a hot breakfast and a gospel message each morning to the men and women living on the streets of NYC. I got to know Rhyan while volunteering several mornings each week at St. Pauls. Rhyan was special. Although he was homeless, he was always clean and neatly dressed. He had no mental illness, or addiction problems which unfortunately plague so many of the homeless population. Rhyan is articulate, humble, kind, and intelligent. Rhyan (without being asked) always stayed after the meal and the message, and pitched in to help take down tables, put away trays, and do the necessary clean up etc.

I spoke to James about Ryhan’s situation and he asked me if I thought Rhyan would want a job working at the bakery. To my surprise, he said yes. Rhyan never drank, smoke , or used drugs. He was articulate, intelligent, motivated and physically able to work. His homelessness was his only barrier. I gave Ryan James‘s business card and honestly, I really didn’t think he was going to call, but the next day he called and set up an interview!

It was in the middle of a very cold January in New York City. At the time, Ryhan had been sleeping on the E train which had pretty much been his home for the previous 2 years. He found the E train significantly safer then any of the NYC shelters. I remember saying to James, “how in the world can a person start a new job wandering the cold streets day and night and be ready to learn all the things they need to when starting a job.” After some thought and some prayer we felt peace about letting this man come and stay in our apartment for a few nights while he started his new job at the bakery.

During that time together we were able to get to know Rhyan and help him get set up a with place to live, renting a room in a house in Queens. It was the bare basics with a shared bathroom on the 2nd floor, but it was much appreciated by Rhyan. He spent 9 years living in that room. Never late with each months rent, never any issues with other household members. The ideal tenant.

Rhyan continued to work at the bakery for over 4 years. Recently, Rhyan has had some serious heart problems and a few surgeries. He spent some time in the hospital getting some arterial stents, and currently he is unable to do any physical work. He does not qualify for any subsistence from from the city other than food stamps and medical care. His landlord is bringing his own family to live with him next week, and as a result Rhyan is being evicted. Rhyan has no family, and no place to live.

Rhyan was abandoned by the foster care system at 4 years old. Prior to the 9 years living in the rented room in Queens, he has spent his nights on the E train and his days inside the NYC public library. In Rhyan’s current physical condition, and being 10 years older, he will likely not be able to endure the streets as he was able to 10 years ago. We have contacted all the various agencies in NYC (Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Dept of Social Services, Temporary Assistance , HRA, Homelessness Prevention, Catholic Charities, 311, Salvation Army, HUD etc etc). The responses were “That program was discontinued, “ we are not taking any new applications”, We do not provide housing “ , “best to go to a shelter”. We could not find even one resource that had any hope for housing for a person threatened with homelessness.

We decided to set up a GoFundMe page for Rhyan. Although, he has never asked us for anything we think he deserves some help as he is unable to get it from anywhere else. All he wants is a safe room, with a bed, and access to a bathroom. We know that raising some money won’t totally address the whole problem, but for now at least Rhyan would not be on the street at 62 years of age, in very poor health, and in the freezing cold.

He has to leave his apartment on Tuesday, February 18.

If you feel so led to give to our friends homeless situation, we would so much appreciate it. Any amount is not too small. Also, if you know anyone interested in renting a room that would be great. Thank you so much and if you have any questions, please contact me through a personal message on Facebook or contact James.

God bless you and we send our love to all of you! ❣️❣️