William

Wandering no more

William is one of thousands who has served in the U.S. military but is  currently homeless.

“United States Armed forces, 8th Calvary, Support and Transport; you need it there, I’ll get it there,” William recited with such confidence that you can almost see him wearing Army green. Despite his service, he received a less-than-honorable discharge from the military for getting caught smoking a marijuana cigarette. He served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan where he was injured in  a bomb explosion and lost much of his vision. Despite this devastating injury during his time of service, William is not recognized as a veteran eligible of housing assistance by the United States Government because of one mistake.

Now, William is struggling to get the status of his discharge changed so that he may be eligible for V.A.  housing and other assistance programs. In the meantime, he is the newest resident of the Tiny House located at the Rebuild Center. He loves the security offered by the Tiny House. “It’s better than sleeping on the streets… You get all kinds of people who want to steal your stuff [out there]…”

William, a self-proclaimed Navy brat, grew up on Military bases in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and elsewhere. He continued that transient nature into adulthood and has a love for travelling. He has had many occupations over the years, and even has degrees in landscaping and biochemistry, but his wanderlust has kept him on the move for decades. He decided to come to New Orleans because he wanted to experience the Crescent City and life by the  swamps. It is his goal to one day catch a gator, just to say he did.

“New Orleans is my home now. I don’t ever want to leave here.”  Please pray for William as he is about to undergo eye surgery to recover sight in his injured eye.

Not all who wander are lost, and it looks as though this wanderer has found his place, and hopefully soon a real home in the Crescent City.