Help Paul get into housing!
Donation protected
Paul has been a part of the CEF community since 2013, shortly after he moved to North Carolina. Most advocates know him as the office movie buff, jokester, and Taylor Swift fan. Since we met him in December of 2013, he has experienced chronic homelessness in Chapel Hill, spending most nights sleeping outside for the entirety of those 7 years. Paul's story, like every person in the CEF family, is unique.
About 15 years ago, toward the end of his decades-long career as a high school teacher in New York, Paul suffered a life-threatening stroke. "I should've been dead after that," he always says of the stroke. Paul survived - but the brain injury resulting from the stroke has altered his life forever, causing him to become completely isolated from his family and any social supports he once had.
Paul has been working with CEF since 2013 to gain higher income and find housing that would accept him despite the extreme barriers he faces. Earlier this year, he accomplished the first goal - to increase his income and to be able to afford stable housing long-term. Along the way, he and his CEF advocate have submitted numerous applications for apartments, subsidized housing, public housing... any possible opportunity they could find. They were always rejected due to unreasonably high income requirements, negative remarks on his credit and other records (as a result of his disability), or sometimes because of blatant discrimination based on Paul's behavioral differences.
Finally, earlier this month, Paul's application to move in to his own apartment was accepted - pending one last major hurdle. Although his income is high enough to financially sustain the rent at his new apartment over the long-term, the up-front move-in costs are just too high for him to pay on his own. Between an extremely high security deposit, first month of rent, and utility deposits, he will owe $2,500 just to be able to move in.
These costs are the only thing standing between Paul and long-term, stable, affordable housing. Please help Paul with any amount you can. Together, we can help Paul overcome this last major challenge, ending his homelessness of 7 years.
About 15 years ago, toward the end of his decades-long career as a high school teacher in New York, Paul suffered a life-threatening stroke. "I should've been dead after that," he always says of the stroke. Paul survived - but the brain injury resulting from the stroke has altered his life forever, causing him to become completely isolated from his family and any social supports he once had.
Paul has been working with CEF since 2013 to gain higher income and find housing that would accept him despite the extreme barriers he faces. Earlier this year, he accomplished the first goal - to increase his income and to be able to afford stable housing long-term. Along the way, he and his CEF advocate have submitted numerous applications for apartments, subsidized housing, public housing... any possible opportunity they could find. They were always rejected due to unreasonably high income requirements, negative remarks on his credit and other records (as a result of his disability), or sometimes because of blatant discrimination based on Paul's behavioral differences.
Finally, earlier this month, Paul's application to move in to his own apartment was accepted - pending one last major hurdle. Although his income is high enough to financially sustain the rent at his new apartment over the long-term, the up-front move-in costs are just too high for him to pay on his own. Between an extremely high security deposit, first month of rent, and utility deposits, he will owe $2,500 just to be able to move in.
These costs are the only thing standing between Paul and long-term, stable, affordable housing. Please help Paul with any amount you can. Together, we can help Paul overcome this last major challenge, ending his homelessness of 7 years.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Cohn
Organizer
Chapel Hill, NC
Paul Nelson
Beneficiary
