Larry was a proud man, a representation of the working middle-class citizens. For 20 years, he shared his life with his wife and daughter, building a life that people would consider the “white picket fence” standard. He had served his country in the U.S. military, returning to create a construction business. They lived in a house, sold to Larry by his best friend, and to Larry, it represented everything he had worked for.
Despite his accomplishments, Larry never imagined that he would need to access the resources provided by the Veterans Affairs (VA). He held the belief that there were others more deserving of help than he was. He had always worked hard, starting at the age of nine, pushing a broom to earn a few dollars – he was not one to shy away from hard work and hustling to realize his dreams.
But Larry’s life took a tragic turn when a cloud of misfortune loomed over him. On the same day that his wife filed for divorce, he stumbled into a hole and sustained an injury that would leave him in physical pain for a year. As a part of the divorce settlement, he was forced to sell a portion of his business, which took a toll on his already fragile situation.
Then, on July 15, 2022, disaster struck again. Awakened abruptly by his girlfriend, Larry found his house engulfed in flames. The heat was overwhelming, and he was faced with a harrowing decision – he had to throw his girlfriend out of a window to save her life. Tragically, Larry’s dog, Mojo, perished in the fire. In just seconds, Larry lost his home of 29 years, along with $25,000 worth of tools integral to his construction business.
With his workspace destroyed and the fire claiming his truck, Larry was now not only homeless but out of work.
“Learning how to be homeless is something that I would not want anyone to learn how to do, but it’s something that I had to do,” Larry reflected.
The financial repercussions were devastating because he was transitioning between mortgage insurances, and he received no help from insurance for the loss of his home. The only compensation for his truck came in the form of a meager $6,000 from his car insurance.
The aftermath of the fire sent Larry spiraling into a dark place. Burdened with the weight of loss, PTSD from his military service began to surface more prominently. The anger of losing everything, compounded with mental health struggles, left him wrestling with thoughts of despair. “At times, I questioned whether this world would be better off without me,” he admitted.
Despite these challenges, Larry managed to salvage an old RV to serve as temporary lodging on the remains of his property. However, even this small refuge was marred by individuals seeking to take advantage of his misfortune and trying to steal from what little he had left.
Determined not to let despair take hold, Larry reached out for help, beginning with The Charlie Center at the Mosaic Church, where he found access to food assistance. It was there he met a compassionate employee who helped him secure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), providing food benefits to low-income families, and the Medical Access Program (MAP) for uninsured low-income residents to see local doctors, specialists, and pharmacies.
His turning point came when he was contacted by a case manager from Caritas of Austin. “Dan was my very first navigator,” Larry said, his voice filled with gratitude. “He was fantastic. If Dan didn’t find me, who knows where I would be?”
With Dan’s support, Larry was able to secure stable housing and begin rebuilding his life. He learned the importance of reaching out and utilizing the community resources available to him. There are places to go to drink water, get food, and a place to sleep; you have to look for them,” he advised others who might be experiencing homelessness. “You just have to take that helping hand. There is a pathway off the street – find that pathway.”
Today, Larry is focused on regaining control of his life. He is working on his mental health and rebuilding his credit score, hopeful for a brighter future. He dreams of one day owning a new RV, eager to explore the world and experience all that life has to offer once again. Through his journey, Larry has emerged not only as a survivor but as an inspiration for others walking a similar path.
