Long story short: He's been living in a car with a buddy for about 6 months. His buddy owns the car, and has landed a job in NorCal. He's given Janitor John about a week's notice that, on/around the 7th, home sweet home is leaving without him. Dude will have no place to sleep, no place to keep the few little things he still owns, and no way to get to work.

I've started a GoFundMe campaign to...im a halfway decent beater - to live in.

In less than 24 hours, we're already more than 25% to our goal. If you could share this around or chip in a few bucks, it'd would make a difference.

Thanks.

Brian, You've done a great job getting this organized, and I hope life gets better for John this year. Thanks! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, Monte!

Funny thing is, if there was time, someone has a Sport with a slipping slushbox for $1000 right now on local CL. It would be wild to get him into a Montero, ya know?

Fingers crossed we can pull this off in time.

Here's a good choice:
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/4808064360.html

Looks good, though it's about $450 more than we'll have to spend. Trying to keep this to $1000 or less.

I know that's going to mean a rougher machine, but he's also got an offer from one of the security guards here to buy a decent Bonneville for $100 in March. I'm hoping we can get him in something that lasts at least that long, ideally longer. Would be nice to see him still be able to buy the Bonnie for $100, then flip it and make a few more!

Thanks for looking.

Brian, I'd approach any seller with the situation; then who knows, they may be willing to come down on their $ to do their part. If I see any other vehicle candidates, I'll PM them to you.

Good point! Definitely keep that in mind.

Appreciate the leads, too, brother. Much obliged!

There are shelters for transitory housing that will help him get stable.

Lots of assistance available. He can call 211 and get help.

The only reason to be homeless in this country is by apathy. If he is pro-active about his life, there are social services in place through the VA and the state of Arizona.

Start here: http://www.cir.org

Can he afford plates and insurance? If not, giving him a car is not a sustainable way of helping. Finding a shelter and learning a bus schedule is.

As a social worker, I firmly believe that with effort, EVERY human has a chance in this country. As a veteran he has extra resources. The best way to help someone is to show them how to help themselves.

Ric3box, couldn't agree more! Resources are available. Physically making those appointments or taking him to the shelfer and connecting him to services will be the most helpful.

LPC in Texas

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Not gonna mince words, here. When you throw 20 ideas at a guy and he immediately has a reason why none of them work, it's definitely a little sketch. At the same time, what are the chances 2 sketchy, washed up vets have hatched an elaborate plan to scam strangers out of a $1300 used van? I mean, really. I'm going to sleep in a car with another dude, take a [censored], janitor job, and be good cop to the other guy's bad cop so I can get a free ride? Nah. I gotta err on the side of faith in humanity.

If the US Government invested one-tenth as much into returning troops as they do the corporate contractors lining politicians pockets in the wholesale export of democracy these past 10+ years, we wouldn't be in this situation so much. We can forcibly take down North Korea's entire internet overnight on unsubstantiated claims they hacked a US corporation (despite the fact they completely lack the ability to do such a thing, as repeatedly stated by industry experts), but we can't get veterans basic doctor appointments in less than 3 months back home?

I hear you both. Absolutely. But sweeping generalities - true as they might be, the only thing keeping any of us from doing anything we want right now is our own vanity, fear, and apathy - and the moral high ground don't carry much weight when a guy is a step away from losing everything.

Talk is cheap. Supply. Demand.

We put our money where our mouths are and raised $1900 (net, after fees) for John in less than 24 hours. This weekend, once I'm over this damned flu bug, I'm going van hunting for John. He's getting it smogged and tagged. Insurance is on him. It's a no-strings-attached gift coming with a matter-of-fact reminder lightning seldom strikes twice, so use this opportunity to step up and out, so he can pay it forward some day.

Thanks again for the support.