Tommy’s Story

Today, Tommy is living in an apartment that he loves provided by the Oklahoma Housing Authority. He’s making friends, and he finally feels safe.

Last year, he was nearing the end of his rope. He felt hopeless, and he was frightened that if he didn’t get off the street, something very bad was going to happen to him. At 64, he had been trapped in homelessness for two long years. His truck was stolen. His backpacks kept being taken, and even his glasses were stolen from him. He had been beaten up twice.

“All I wanted was a roof over my head,” he said.

Tommy had never been one to ask for help. He had always taken care of himself, but he was a long way from where he had started, and his health had declined. It was time to swallow his pride and ask for assistance.

A specialty welder by trade, he built airplanes at Wiley Post, and he worked for development companies all around Central Oklahoma restoring buildings in historic areas. He had to semi-retire when he started having trouble with his joints and losing his hearing.

He was working on his metal weld art and living in the home he owned on his family’s property when the death of a family member and an unresolved estate threw his life into turmoil. He was suddenly evicted from the 40 acres of land he had thought he owned for 10 years and given 15 minutes to pack and leave his home and his shop.

Tommy had nowhere to go and no one he felt he could turn to. He was no longer able to work, and he couldn’t take his welding equipment with him. All he had was his truck and the few things he was able to pack up and fit into it.

Avoiding encampments and groups of other people, he only went to shelters during the harshest days of winter. Ashamed of his circumstances, he wouldn’t reach out to friends for help. Instead, he kept trying to get by. After his truck was stolen, he moved from hiding place to hiding place on his own for the 24 months he lived outside.

Then on one afternoon in the Fall, he came upon a free food truck party given by Upward Transitions for United Way’s Day of Caring.

“Homeless people are treated terrible by a lot of people,” said Tommy, “but I got nothing but respect here.”

As soon as he was connected with an Upward Transitions case manager, Tommy said he knew things were going to be different. “You guys did your job. You have done so much more than you had to in helping me.”

Upward Transitions assisted Tommy in getting his birth certificate, his ID, and his social security card, all of which were stolen from him. He was then able to be approved for an Oklahoma Housing Authority apartment.

“Debbie, my case manager, was looking, and I was looking,” Tommy stated, “and we finally found the safe place that I’m living now. It’s just right.”

He is under the care of a good doctor, and he has plans to purchase a used welder and get a spot in a shop to start creating his art again someday.

“I had almost given up,” said Tommy, “but now it all looks different. Now, I have hope.”