Veril

Fighting the Good Fight

Born and raised in Westwego, Veril is an incredibly brave man.  Despite tribulations and heartache, Veril has continued to fight the good fight. He has worked in many restaurants over the years, but his failing health has not allowed him to return to the workforce after becoming homeless several years ago. Struggling with lung disease, diabetes,and the other aches and pains that come from living a hard life on the streets, Veril is unsure if his body would be able to handle a job. Furthermore, his inability to read has made it very difficult for him to get a job that does not require physical power, though he would love to learn and pushes himself every day to try.

Despite these challenges, Veril has remained hopeful while working with one of the HTC’s Case Managers, Jessica Lovell, to find permanent housing. For Veril, Jessica is a blessing and a guardian angel, and he looks forward to seeing her every day.

“She really is trying to help me get off that ground… It’s real scary out there, you don’t know if you are going to make it through the night.”

Though Veril has troubles with his health, he still expresses his love of cooking. He proudly claims that as a native to the GNO, he can cook anything, especially Cajun meals, and his favorite thing to cook is pot roast. Veril is currently in a temporary shelter after recovering from a stroke, and hopefully will be housed soon.