Dear Community,
We reach out to you with a heavy heart and an urgent plea for assistance on behalf of our dear friend and neighbor, Jarrett. Many of you know Jarrett as a friendly, hardworking, and compassionate individual who has faced incredible challenges over the past few years. We share his story in the hope that together, as a community, we can provide the support he desperately needs.
In the spring of 2022, Jarrett confided in us about his silent struggle with suburban housing insecurity, a result of exorbitant medical bills and medication costs. Unbeknownst to many, including his customers, clients, and business friends, Jarrett had quietly sold his home and converted a Church Transit bus into a very impressive, RV-type “home”, and had been living in a kind stranger’s backyard so as to afford treatments for Stage IIIB cancer. With a beautifully faux tile shower, sleek & modern galley kitchen, “office” space, wood laminate flooring, and bedroom with skylights, it was nearly impossible to tell it wasn’t manufactured by Prevost or Thor Motor Coach! Despite facing terminal illness, Jarrett has shown he’s a creative & ingenious fighter while remaining resilient and determined to sustain himself & his little family, both financially and emotionally.
Jarrett is a person of multifaceted brilliance, seamlessly blending academia, artistry, and craftsmanship. His diverse skill set, specializing in antique and vintage restoration, has been his source of income and financial support. Unfortunately, the backyard bus conversion came to an end in August 2022 when the homeowner sold the property, leaving Jarrett with no place to call his own. He faced what is often referred to as “Invisible homelessness” – not fitting common stereotypes but in need of stable housing options.
Surprisingly, in September 2022, Jarrett secured a used 21-year-old 5th-wheel RV, parking it permanently at a Mobile Home trailer park. While this non-traditional housing option has its challenges, it provides a more affordable solution. Though his search included possibly renting an apartment or small house, housing costs have skyrocketed since the pandemic and even a one-bedroom apartment far exceeds affordability in his circumstances. However, Jarrett is on a 9 to 11-month waitlist for more permanent, subsidized housing options, making immediate support crucial to bridge the gap and stabilize his living situation. But he cannot live homeless while waiting nearly a year for a possible subsidized housing option to open up.
We, Jarrett’s friends and “Team”, believe in his worthiness of assistance. He is not only a hard worker but also a selfless individual who helps others, even in the face of his own adversities. Jarrett deserves safe housing, dignity, and the chance to live his remaining days with comfort.
If Jarrett’s challenges weren’t already more than most of us could manage on our own, seven and a half weeks ago, a tornado severely damaged Jarrett’s 5th Wheel RV, after having just been discharged from a week-long hospitalization for chemo-related pulmonary emboli. Due to the tornado’s magnitude (13 tornadoes were part of the line of storms that hit the state), the President issued a natural disaster declaration and FEMA responded, but Jarrett could not qualify for supportive assistance because his type of housing (RV) is excluded. Despite these setbacks, Jarrett has made a bit of progress in returning the RV to watertight after the tornado damage, with the help of a few neighbors and friends. However, his health has suffered, with multiple hospitalizations, disease progression, and financial struggles severely limiting his access to necessary medications and nutritional needs.
Unable to afford the expense of a vehicle, Jarrett’s ability to travel for basic necessities has been compromised, relying on others for occasional rides, or as he does most often, walking despite his fragile health. Facing an imminent eviction due to $2990 in lot rent arrears, he is on the brink of losing his home. Our goal is to not only STOP the eviction process but also secure funds for the upcoming months, providing a buffer until Jarrett can access disability benefits and other supportive resources. We are hoping to raise $5800, which will stop eviction actions, pay for a few months of Lot Rent, and cover some medications and food costs that exceed the limited patient assistance & SNAP benefits he receives.
As a masterful watercolorist and antiquities conservationist, Jarrett’s talents are undeniable. His work, a source of pride and identity, has allowed him to contribute to the world despite physical limitations. We call upon you to recognize the value of preserving his life, talents, and dignity.
Two weeks ago, while visiting Jarrett at his RV, we had the wonderful opportunity to observe a home visit with his Palliative Care nurses, who were accompanied by the clinical trial “Care Advocate”. We learned a lot more about his specific cancer challenges, recent disease progression, his severe malnutrition stemming from inadequate financial resources (he receives SNAP, a type of “food stamps” but the amount is a fraction of what is needed to nutritionally support him, or provide for the prescribed medical diet), and the alarming mental health decline since this summer. We shared this update with many of you individually, with his reluctant permission. As you likely already know, he’s a giver, which makes for a difficult transition when the tables are reversed and you’re the one needing the help and support you’ve selflessly given others for decades. We share the heartbreaking reality of Jarrett’s current state, not to embarrass him, but to share this man’s incredible and inspiring journey in the hopes of strengthening much-needed support for him.
It comes as no surprise, knowing Jarrett, that he’d prefer to continue accepting client projects in antique restoration or handyman-related tasks, along with the occasional watercolor commission. As if battling aggressive, metastatic GIST’s and advanced Crohn’s disease, multiple hospitalizations since the Fourth of July, coupled with the weight loss of 76 pounds, the severity of his condition wasn’t enough reason to accept the love and support of others during this part of his journey.
Facing imminent eviction for past due lot rent where his RV is parked, Jarrett grapples with the threat of losing not only his home but also the ability to relocate it. Despite his medical team’s insistence on bed rest and palliative care to address his deteriorating health, Jarrett has persisted in accepting physically demanding projects and walking the long distances for groceries, and refills of medications at the closest pharmacy and other necessary destinations, risking further harm to himself while jeopardizing his already precarious living situation.
If you do not personally know Jarrett, allow us to share this example of his heart, and beautiful spirit: Three years ago, in the face of unexpected challenges, this compassionate soul found himself embracing an extraordinary journey of love and resilience. While volunteering at a Rescue Organization, he was asked to foster Bella, a severely abused and neglected female Chihuahua-mixed dog. Without hesitation, he accepted Bella into his home and his heart. But little did he know, that her surprise pregnancy would lead him to a profound connection with two underdeveloped puppies, Precious and Brutus. Born with cricopharyngeal dysphagia, these fragile beings couldn’t latch onto their mother’s teats, setting the stage for a remarkable tale of devotion. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and a clinical trial for metastatic cancer, this selfless man dedicated three months of his life to hand-feeding these adorable, vulnerable pups every 4-6 hours. The bond forged during those early struggles became an unbreakable thread, weaving a tapestry of unconditional love and unwavering support between a man facing his own fragility and two “fur kids”.
As Bella and the three healthy siblings found new homes, Precious and Brutus stayed by his side, becoming not just pets but lifelines. Through financial hardships and the looming threat of homelessness, these two remarkable beings remain his reason to live, offering a purpose to his life that transcends the challenges of his terminal condition. Their bond, akin to a parent-child relationship, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of companionship. Now, in the face of eviction, we have the opportunity to extend a helping hand to this remarkable trio. Your support can not only secure a roof over their heads but also ensure that the love and warmth they’ve shared can continue to illuminate their lives, even in the darkest of times. Together, let’s create a beacon of hope for Precious, Brutus, and Jarrett, their devoted caregiver, turning the page to a chapter of stability and comfort in their extraordinary journey. It is blatantly obvious what will happen to Jarrett as a homeless person on the streets, and we can’t imagine anyone being okay with a person dying in such a dehumanizing manner.
Contributions to this fundraiser will address immediate financial concerns and provide Jarrett with time and resources to navigate the disability application appeal, subsidized housing waitlist, medical treatments, medication refills, and help with basic needs like food and coin laundry expenses. Your kindness can make a profound difference in Jarrett’s life!
Please consider donating, sharing this plea, hiring Jarrett for SMALL home projects, commissioning a watercolor painting, or having him restore a family antique. Together, we can rally around a beautiful soul & community member in need and demonstrate the power of compassion. Your generosity can be the beacon of hope guiding Jarrett through these dark times.
We thank you for taking the time to read Jarrett’s story and for considering how you can contribute to his well-being. Let’s unite as a community to make a difference in the life of someone who deserves a chance at dignity and peace.
With heartfelt gratitude & love,
Team Jarrett (David, Andrew, Mark, Kelli, and Summer)