Less than 48 hours ago, a frantic call came in from a veteran who had fallen through the cracks. Discharged from the military on March 28, he didn't receive his pay, leaving him, his wife, and their service dog homeless, living in their car. Desperate for stability, they relied on a daily routine at the gym, where he showered and worked out while his wife and dog slept.
They survived by doing Instacart deliveries, but faced countless barriers from shelters and veteran organizations. One night, a flat tire threatened their sole income source. A kind stranger helped fix it, offering a glimmer of hope, only for another tire to blow out shortly after. Despite these setbacks, they managed to get back on the road.
Their situation worsened when police surrounded them one night at the gym. Misunderstanding led to the veteran being tased and their car impounded, with all their possessions, including essential documents, left inside. His wife found shelter at night while he stayed awake outside with their dog, maintaining fire watch due to laws against sleeping near shelters.
Exhausted and desperate, he contacted the Skoolie Foundation. Our volunteers provided immediate aid with food, water, and a sleeping bag. The next day, at a veterans resource event, the cycle of waiting for help continued until our board intervened, unanimously voting to provide this family with a hotel for the holiday weekend, ensuring they had a safe place to stay.
We're raising funds to get their car out of impound, secure first month’s rent, and pay for vehicle insurance, aiming to provide long-term stability. We believe we can solve homelessness together, one family at a time. Our goal is to build a Mobile Skoolie Shelter, offering 6 months of rent-free living for this family, giving them time to rebuild their lives.
This veteran's story reflects a broken system that leaves our soldiers struggling. From his roots in Colorado to professional snowboarding under Monster Energy, a ruptured spleen led him to the military. The military reimbursement policy is flawed, burdening soldiers with costs to live and move globally.
How You Can Help:
Donations will provide immediate and long-term resources for this veteran and others in similar situations. Together, we can make sure no veteran sleeps on the streets again. Your support can build a Skoolie mobile shelter, offering stability and hope.
Please consider donating to this fundraiser to help this veteran and his family, ensuring they never have to sleep on concrete again.
Donate to our veterans at :
pushpay.com/g/skooliefoundation
Learn more about what we do at:
skooliefoundation.com/introduction
Special thank you to
Emnul Productions for shooting our videos
www.emnulproductions.com
Skokie foundation website:
skooliefoundation.com
Donate at :
pushpay.com/g/skooliefoundation