Bill

Bill, a 73-year old U.S. Navy Veteran who served during the Vietnam War, had settled into a comfortable life on a boat in Long Beach for the last 12 years but recently fell into homelessness when the cost of upkeep and escalating dock fees became unsustainable.

Instead of exhausting his savings, he decided to sell his boat and live in his vehicle.

Aiming to avoid unwanted attention, Bill frequently moved between different city areas during the night. When safety became too great of a concern, he sought resources and found Safe Parking LA.

Together with his case manager, Anna, Bill formulated a housing and service plan addressing his health, housing, and income concerns. He successfully received a housing voucher through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program and was able to move into his apartment in the new West Los Angeles VA campus units.

Bill holds a B.A. in Photography from Sonoma State University and previously worked for several newspapers as a photographer and darkroom technician. He looks forward to continuing his work in freelance photography.