Last spring, Kenneth and his girlfriend, Neva, celebrated their 15th anniversary. They were comfortable and looking forward to fresh adventures. Before summer arrived, Neva suffered cardiac arrest and died. Her family decided to sell the property where she and Kenneth had made their home, and in 45 days, he had no place to go and no personal network to provide support.
Kenneth’s home was gone.
He eventually found transitional housing, but the conditions were squalid, and he felt unsafe. As a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1976-79, he approached the Veterans Leadership Program for help. They referred him to St. Joseph House of Hospitality, and because of his service to our country, he was moved to the top of our waiting list.
In June 2022, we welcomed him to his new home with us.
Courteous and gentle, Kenneth did not request special accommodations despite having recently lost his leg because of complications from diabetes. Donor support enabled us to offer him a room with plenty of space for him and his wheelchair.
We also helped connect him to assistance with transportation, so he could keep key medical appointments and government evaluations necessary to social security disability claims.
Today, Kenneth has regained a sense of autonomy and feels strong enough to plan for his future. He understands that he has a home with us as long as he needs. Once he does decide he’s ready to move forward, he knows we remain his support and champion.