Hello my name is Matthew.

I am a homeless veteran who is struggling while trying to improve my current situation. A little to how i got here. I moved out to Arizona from Florida to go to school using my g.i.bill. If you dont know what that is, its a benefit that military people pay into in order to be able to go school. While in school i was receiving my housing allowance through the gibill working part time and in school full time. While I was in the VA (veterans affairs) did an audit on the school and during the audit the va discovered that the school had been documenting all the veterans hours incorrectly. Due to this mistake the va had stopped paying all veterans housing. In order to maintain the apt i was living in i had to pic up a second job while still attending my class doing 20 hours per week at school. The store i was working closed down and i couldnt be transferred because there was not enough opening at the other locations. I continued to work my second job and at this point i was struggling to make rent and pay my other bills generally not paying my metro pcs cell phone bill so that i could have food. When my lease was up i went to renew it and it was denied. After complaining about it I was told that i could sign a new lease if i agreed to pay the increase rent price. Unable to do this I began to look for rooms to rent or roommates to help spread the cost. I had no luck and because the only people who where interested where either flakes or they where only willing to stay on the lease for a few months. 

I started living out of my car with my two small dogs. I was able to rehouse my youngest dog. After about a month I was forced to resign from my second job because my body order was offensive. I would ask anyone and everyone if i could take a shower at their place and every time i was told no because it made them feel uncomfortable and the only location i could shower at was once a week at a shelter between the hours of 1pm to 3pm. Often times the line would be so long that while waiting to take a shower they would close it because it was 3pm. I started looking for new employment and would only use the money i had left to pay for a motel room so i could shower for interviews but that drained my saved up money fast. I was lucky enough to get into a seasonal part time job with Amazon. Every pay check after the first one had started to be garnished so i only had half of what i made because of this. Not long after i started working my only dog and friend died in my lap. Heartbroken, sad, depressed and frustrated with life i gave her remaining food to other homeless people who had dogs and i sat on a street corner crying. Another homeless vet walked up and started talking to me, after a while he told me that i should apply for some of my military benefits that are for those who are homeless. After going and spending a few weeks at the main office i started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was denied for veterans section 8, but i did qualify for emergency funds up to 3,000.

Unable to pay for rent i started to think what would be a good use for the money that is going to help me in the long run. You have to tell them how you want to spend it then they create a check to pay for whatever is needed as long as they approve it. After doing some research i discovered that if i had an RV i could pay for a lot space and hook it up there. That way i would have in short a home, a place to sleep, store and prepare food, shower and toilet. I started to send them links to RV's ive found on ebay, amazon and craigslist that was either below, at or a little above the 3k i qualified for. Each and every time it was denied. Frustrated i called the main office to find out why i kept getting denied and they said that they where unable to go through a third party. Quickly I asked why they didnt tell me this weeks ago shortly after i started sending them link and the lady said "Sir its our job to approve or deny, if you want to know why you have to call us." Once more frustrated but still in high spirits i started to search for private sellers. I would ask the sellers to write an email the head person with a quote of price, pics and full details about the operation of the RV because if everything didnt work it would be denied.

After three weeks of this each and everyone got denied. Once more i called and again asked why the rv's kept getting denied. The supervisor who is the one who gives the final yes or no told me that there was no guarantee that the people wouldnt just take the money and run. He then told me that if i where to go to a dealer ship then it would be approved. I informed him that at a dealer ship 3k would get me nothing and in order to go to a dealer ship i need at least over 10k. He said that was the only way. So i asked what could i use the 3k for after explaining that im living in my car at a wal-mart parking lot. He told me that they could us it to pay for my insurance on the car, pay my cell phone bill or that they could split the money between my insurance and cell phone bill. I hung up on him. 

People, i am balling my eyes out as i write this to you. I just want a home, shower, proper sleep, food and a place to finally relax after half a year of living in my car. I served my country from 2002-2006 and was a part of operation enduring freedom and the only thing i am asking for is freedom from this situation. Ive lost so much and gained a new level of humility, and now i am asking the people of my county for help. You do not know me, but i served to protect you and your family, and i thank you for any and all donations you give to me no matter how small or great.