Charles

When Charles was referred to SVdP’s Case Management last fall, he was living in a park in the Greenwood neighborhood and struggling physically, mentally and emotionally. He had never been homeless and was unaware of where he could get help.

“St. Vincent de Paul was a cheerleader for me. My case manager helped me figure out what I needed to do and how to do it.”

Charles had recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, which made working extremely difficult for him. Before the onset of his illnesses, Charles had been living in an apartment and had been working at a steady job. After eight years at his job, Charles was let go due to missing too many days of work and inability to perform his duties. He lived off unemployment and then his savings until both ran out, which led him to losing his apartment and becoming homless.

Charles had requested social security before entering SVdP’s Case Management program and was hoping this would come through for him. He continued to do his best to find employment and despite his painful disability, he got a job as a seasonal greeter at a local retailer over the holidays. Unfortunately, Charles missed more days of work than he was able to attend due to his illnesses. Additionally, he was also denied social security disability benefits.

To give Charles the best chance at success, SVdP made a referral to a partner agency for transitional housing and a referral to a partner agency for legal representation in his social security appeal. He had his intake last week and is hopeful for the outcome of his appeal. Charles signed his lease for a new apartment last week.