09/18/2025
So Jason is from the Chicago area.
I met him while I was at Wellstone last week for meds management. Now they are superbly managed and I couldn't be more content or happier about it.
He came in the day we had "movie night" with popcorn and Gatorade.
The movie was The Help. Everyone but him had seen it before.
When it was over, he said That was a really good movie. I even shed a few tears when the elderly Black lady maid passed. Or when we found out. Wow. Southerners just care so much and work their way through social problems. (No I didn't bring up any of Alabama's Stand in Schoolhouse Door hatefulness) I think he's probably old enough to have witnessed some of it.
He came to Wellstone after hip surgery and physical therapy inhouse. Has a bum arm. We had to help him open the doors and food containers. Because of the bum arm he uses a one hand walker. It looks like a step stool.
The cabin has its own address. He does draw a disability check. He had to buy his one handed walker himself because Medicaid wouldn't pay for it. When we talked about it he very seriously told us (there were two other ladies there for med management, we're having coffee at the end of the month) that he could indeed pay rent. He also said he didn't mind rustic. But we've got to get an outhouse built.
A group of volunteers will take him to shower and wash clothes regularly. It has a private driveway.
He's one of those hard knocks cases where life kicked him, disaster struck, a few missed paychecks and things went downhill fast.
He really doesn't care where in Alabama he can get a handicap apartment.
Wellstone and his social worker will help looking for apartment openings as well as him being on the HUD list here.
He has a cell phone. He came in for situational depression. Tent City just wasn't a good option. I have a FB friend who works at Wellstone. We met for the first time in person Thursday. She works on getting homeless people in group homes, facilities, apartments, what not. But due to situational logistic problems it's hard to find places for people to go. If they can't, Wellstone either has to take them to Tent City or a hospital where they could be kept til a nursing home bed comes open. Or discharged right back out on the streets.
When Jason got there, my friend and I talked about the tiny cabin. One less person on a list that has more people needing places to live than places to rent.
Jason doesn't need to be "managed" like Cary. He's not going to be wandering around untethered.
He's just gonna be a neighbor that we wave at, borrow a cup of sugar from occasionally, bring a plate home to him from church, and invite him to the cookouts.
All his belongings are in his backpack. He has identification. Enough to get him a state ID.
Yes, I will notify 4C Volunteer Fire Dept, the Sheriff's dept, and Gville PD.
They may have read it before I get around to calling them tomorrow!!!
