Living in a Tent at 74, Man Finds Place to Call Home 

To say Richard was excited during a recent visit to the Millvale office would be an understatement. He had been unhoused and living in a tent, and he was meeting with an NHCO service coordinator ahead of moving into his very first home. 

"You get ate up by mosquitoes and stuff like that. I'm tired of being homeless, that's all," he said in a gravelly yet jovial voice.

Richard was living in Georgia, but wanted to move to Pittsburgh to be close to his nine year-old goddaughter and an ailing friend. For a few years, he traveled between the two states living in a tent, and hoping to find a permanent home in the Pittsburgh area. Without luck, he sought housing assistance through the county several times. His persistence paid off when he found a low-income apartment complex where the rent is within his tight budget of less than $700 per month from Social Security.

However, he needed a security deposit before he could move. He sold all of his belongings, but still came up short. A local church referred him to NHCO where he met Annelise O'Neill, Millvale Service Coordinator. She helped secure the deposit through NHCO’s Food and Emergency Assistance Program. In addition, she gave Richard a cart full of housewarming gifts that included a coffee maker, blankets, food and gift cards to local thrift shops.

“Richard's story is a true testament of NHCO's mission of People Helping People,” Annelise said. “For the first time in his life, Richard has a safe place to call his own. It's exciting when the stars align and you get to witness a client's success story in action.”

"I love her [Annelise] to death. If it wasn't for her I don't know where I'd be," Richard bellowed with a genuine and heartwarming grin.

He visits NHCO’s food pantry, and has plans to use benefits from the Transportation Assistance Program. He’s also meeting with a partner organization for help in securing a job.

But most importantly, Richard is out of his tent and living close to his goddaughter.