Help a Disabled Father Keep His Apartment.

Patrick Wilson is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

My name is Patrick, and I am fundraising as a last-ditch effort to save my recently disabled father Andrew from homelessness. I live in Vancouver, BC; and Andrew is currently living in Montreal, QC. Please take the time to read our story, and consider donating even a small amount. Every penny counts.

Background (how we got here):

In August of 2010, Andrew; father of 2 young sons, husband, and proud businessman had his first of what would be 3 strokes over 13 years. At the time it came as a shock, and though he was down for a while, he didn't stay there for long. The second stroke took a slightly bigger toll. In 2016, when this occurred Andrew had just been laid off from his job, and in the years that would follow he would remain unemployable due to damage inflicted on his brain. His savings slowly dwindled, and life became harder to manage.

Andrew (left), myself (center), and my brother Kyle (right). 2010

In July of 2023, the third stroke partially paralyzed Andrew and left him in the hospital for 2.5 months. No income, no family support, and no way to pay rent puts him in a financial situation he can no longer escape. He is now well beyond his ability to pay for his apartment on his own and as such he faces possible eviction every month. I started this gofundme as a worried and loving son, without any other options to keep him off the street this winter.

Andrew (left), myself (center), and my brother Kyle (right). 2022

About me:

I am Andrew's son. I am 22 years old and live in Vancouver, BC. I study Electrical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, and I pay for everything myself. Recently, the responsibility of my father's care has fallen to me. Andrew has no other existing support at this time. I am unable to gather the money required each month for my father to survive; I am already on student loans and I have depleted my savings to keep him housed until now. There are truly no other options for me, and every day I grapple with the reality that my dad might end up alone on the streets in the cold of winter.

Patrick on a hike. September 2022.

What we have tried so far:

My father has had three social workers since his stroke in July. Each of them has reached a dead end when asked about funding and resources. My dad is too young for many of the government-funded assistance programs, and social housing has a waitlist beyond the timeline of our needs. Welfare is barely enough for food, clothing, and phone bills; and long-term disability will only be marginally more than this. Andrew truly needs time. Time to breathe, time to save, time to figure out how to move forward with his new reality. I need stability for my father, finances to ensure his safety, and time to graduate. Once I am in the full-time workforce, I can better support my dad long-term.

Why $20,000:

Our goal captures the immediate needs of Andrew. $20k represents roughly $1600/month for one year. This would allow him to pay his $1033/month rent, pay $300 for groceries, $50 for his phone, and $100 for internet services. It also leaves him a little money for household items, clothing, and incidentals.

If you choose to donate, please know that you are helping someone who has truly fallen off his horse. Life has dealt Andrew a poor hand, and he just needs a little luck. For what it is worth, you are also helping his recovery, putting a smile on his face again, and easing the pain of his son who lives so far away.