Help My Dad Find a Safe Place to Call Home
My dad is 71 years old. Three years ago, he lost his wife of 40 years—the love of his life. Since then, life has been an uphill battle.
After losing her, he lost nearly everything. The only home he has left is a small truck camper that he travels in with his loyal little dog, his only constant companion.
For a while, he found peace out west. The cooler climate was easier on his health, and he found an affordable place where he could finally slow down and rest. But after suffering multiple heart attacks, he had to return to Ohio in hopes of receiving better medical care. Our family paid for the fuel to get him back, believing he would be able to find help once he arrived.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened.
Despite countless calls and visits to agencies, we’ve discovered that many assistance programs require a permanent address or have long waiting lists. It’s an impossible situation—you can’t have an address if you have nowhere to live.
Today, my dad survives on about $900 a month in Social Security. RV parks in Ohio typically cost far more than he can afford, often between $900 and $2,000 per month. As a result, he has no place to plug in his camper, no air conditioning during dangerous summer heat, and no stable place to stay. He moves from rest stop to rest stop, where he is only allowed to stay for 24 hours before having to leave.
No 71-year-old who has survived multiple heart attacks should have to live this way.
Our family has done everything we can. We’ve paid for gas, searched for affordable RV parks, contacted social services, accepted gas cards and occasional hotel vouchers, and exhausted every resource we know. But none of these are permanent solutions.
Our goal is to help my dad return to the western U.S., where he has access to affordable long-term RV spaces for under $500 per month and a cooler climate that’s much safer for his heart condition. The funds raised will help cover:
Fuel to safely travel back west.
The cost of securing a long-term RV space.
Paying several months—or ideally up to a year—in advance so he can finally have stability.
Basic necessities while he gets settled.
More than anything, we’re trying to give my dad something every person deserves: a safe place to sleep, electricity to keep himself cool, and the dignity of knowing where he’ll wake up tomorrow.
If you’re able to donate, no matter the amount, our family would be incredibly grateful. If you can’t give financially, simply sharing his story would mean the world to us.
Thank you for helping us give my dad hope and a chance to find peace again.
