Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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My wife and I are trying to help a blind homeless person in manhattan, and we need help (self.Blind)
submitted by nypr13
Long story short: my wife met an elderly homeless man in a Manhattan subway around 5 years ago. He is probably in his late 60s or early 70s. We have tried to place him with homeless organizations or blind organizations, and have been turned away by nearly every one of them. Paperwork, mostly, which we are entirely not expertsat in this area.
We no longer live in Manhattan but my wife visits him once every 10 days or so to buy him food and try to find him housing. We have been totally unsuccessful in getting any help from the large organizations.
Can anyone point us in the right direction, please? She thinks it is not right to have a blind, elderly man living in the subways, and I agree. Is there a better forum to reach out to?
We no longer live in Manhattan but my wife visits him once every 10 days or so to buy him food and try to find him housing. We have been totally unsuccessful in getting any help from the large organizations.
Can anyone point us in the right direction, please? She thinks it is not right to have a blind, elderly man living in the subways, and I agree. Is there a better forum to reach out to?
BARDLover 1 points 7y ago
To me, it sounds like you've tried quite a bit.
May I ask, why is he being turned away?
May I ask, why is he being turned away?
nypr13 [OP] 1 points 7y ago
So this is the tough part, and we have road blocks in a few areas. He trusts my wife but is very scared of just about everyone else. I think he could have some mental stuff, but I can't be for certain. He is just very untrusting and we have known him for 6 out of 70 years of his life, so I can't enlighten as to why he is like this. So we proposed getting him his Social Security card and trying to get him on the grid, and he got a bit spooked.
Without that, though, an organization was willing to help, and we thought we were close, and my wife just asked if she could see the place, just so she could tell the guy she approved. They never responded and went silent after that, and we tried to follow up, and nothing. So not sure what happend, but my wife is overly polite.
The other place for the blind does not do homeless things--it was one of the places the other commenter pointed me. They help once the person is settled, to get around the basic challenges of life. My wife is going to try to go to the housing office tomorrow -- we are visiting NYC tonight to see him. Other places we looked at were for women only, and he absolutely will NOT go to a shelter. Says he gets robbed and beat up sometimes there
So it is a touchy issue, because we don't know why he is so untrusting and reluctant to get on the grid, or if that is a psychological out ome of fending for himself on the streets so long.
Just a random question I have always wondered: how can he tell the difference between a $1,$5, $10 etc bill?
Without that, though, an organization was willing to help, and we thought we were close, and my wife just asked if she could see the place, just so she could tell the guy she approved. They never responded and went silent after that, and we tried to follow up, and nothing. So not sure what happend, but my wife is overly polite.
The other place for the blind does not do homeless things--it was one of the places the other commenter pointed me. They help once the person is settled, to get around the basic challenges of life. My wife is going to try to go to the housing office tomorrow -- we are visiting NYC tonight to see him. Other places we looked at were for women only, and he absolutely will NOT go to a shelter. Says he gets robbed and beat up sometimes there
So it is a touchy issue, because we don't know why he is so untrusting and reluctant to get on the grid, or if that is a psychological out ome of fending for himself on the streets so long.
Just a random question I have always wondered: how can he tell the difference between a $1,$5, $10 etc bill?
BARDLover 1 points 7y ago
Does he actually want to get help? Some people just like the homeless life style. I'm not saying he does, but maybe it's what he's best suited for.
Also, if he has mental needs as well, they trump his blindness needs. I've been through a few blindness related programs in my life, and not one of them would even consider you if you have mental issues that have not, or are not being, attended to.
Regarding money, I'm not sure how he does it. When I get cash back or change from a store, I'll ask the clerk how they broke it down, and stack it up with $1's on top, then $2's, $5's, $10's, $20's, $50's, $100's, and when I'm able to, I'll go back and fold them a certain way depending on which bill it is. I also have different pockets in my wallet for different bills. One pocket for $1's and $2's, one for $5's, $10's and $20's, then $50's and $100's.
Also, if he has mental needs as well, they trump his blindness needs. I've been through a few blindness related programs in my life, and not one of them would even consider you if you have mental issues that have not, or are not being, attended to.
Regarding money, I'm not sure how he does it. When I get cash back or change from a store, I'll ask the clerk how they broke it down, and stack it up with $1's on top, then $2's, $5's, $10's, $20's, $50's, $100's, and when I'm able to, I'll go back and fold them a certain way depending on which bill it is. I also have different pockets in my wallet for different bills. One pocket for $1's and $2's, one for $5's, $10's and $20's, then $50's and $100's.
geoffisblind 1 points 7y ago
It sounds like you have tried everything I would have said... The blind and homeless organizations were the right place to start. Have you tried /r/nyc? Someone there may know a place that can take him. Other than that, my only other idea is to contact the Department of Social Services Rehab Services for the Blind. If you can get him set up with a caseworker there they may be able to get him housing assistance.
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