11/12/2025
I wanted to share a story: the story of Luke.
Luke is a kind and gentle young man whom I've come to love like a son. He did everything right. He proudly served our country as a . He went to college ( ), where he played football. He was a scholar and an athlete. He went to church. He was an all-around American boy.
After college, he got a job in a restaurant which allowed him to get his own apartment, a car, and put money in the bank. Then, one day, Luke started hearing voices. At first, he tried to hide his condition, but it worsened. Eventually, his condition was so bad that Luke could no longer work. He was diagnosed with . He lost everything: his home, his car, and all of his worldly possessions. Eventually, Luke ended up homeless. A few years ago, my friend, Michael, who is, also, a , who served in the , found Luke wandering the streets of , on a freezing cold winter day, wearing nothing but plastic shoes. Michael took Luke in, and gave him a home, warm clothes, and the care that he needed and deserved. I bring this up, now, because, as so many are facing the prospect of losing their and so many Americans (over 40 million) are anxiously awaiting their benefits, so they can have food to eat, I still hear misinformed people talking about all of the "lazy" people who are scamming the system. Never mind the fact that most people on SNAP and who are not disabled, a senior, or a minor child, DO work (many Wal-mart employees receive SNAP benefits, while the heiress to the Walton fortune,
Alice Walton, lives in a $25 million duplex on Park Avenue, on the 30th and 31st floors of a posh luxury building), but many on public assistance are OR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF THE .
So, Michael took Luke in, and gave this kind homeless Veteran a proper home. Michael was renting a place in the St. George area of from landlords who own several properties in the area (3 of which have been shut down for city code violations). When the landlords learned about Luke, they began a campaign of non-stop abuse and harassment. Some of their other tenants claimed to be scared of Luke. I saw, first hand, the gross stereotyping of a person with mental illness due to a lack of information, understanding, and empathy, which resulted in the shameful bullying of a veteran with a disability. The landlords forbade Luke's friends from visiting him, they took away his couch and TV, and they began a campaign of intimidation to make Michael and Luke leave. Finally, Michael, who is, now, Luke's full-time caregiver, who takes Luke to his doctor appointments and ensures Luke takes his medication, has found a place for the two of them to live in peace, free from abuse, in Upstate New York. No one should be abused by a landlord, and no veteran who served his country should be homeless or mistreated. Although, Luke is, now, safe and secure in his new place, he and Michael lost quite a bit in their search for a safe haven and subsequent move. This is a Go Fund Me that was set up when they were looking for a new residence. Although they are settled into their new place, they could use a little help to offset their moving costs, and get a few things to turn their house into a home. If you can, donate to help a disabled veteran this holiday season, or forward this post to anyone who cares about our veterans.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-luke-secure-longterm-housing
https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-luke-secure-longterm-housing
Luke is an ex-Marine who served in the infantry. He played college football and… Michael Hall needs your support for Please Help Luke Secure Long-Term Housing
