Help this amazing man Norris and his dog Nadia stay safe!

Meet Norris & Nadia

Norris is now 72 years old. After 12 long years of homelessness, he has finally been living in a small apartment for the past 15 months with his beloved German Shepherd, Nadia, thanks entirely to the generosity of donors.

For the first time in over a decade, Norris has had stability: His cellulitis is healing because he’s finally able to rest in a bed and elevate his legs.

He’s receiving Meals on Wheels and proper healthcare through Kaiser.

He and Nadia are safe, healthy, and thriving together.

The Section 8 Problem

Despite being a half-blind senior citizen, Norris has been waiting nearly 13 years; not for an apartment, but just for a Section 8 voucher. Only once approved could he even begin waiting for available housing.

Today, Norris is still not approved, and based on what we’ve been told by housing authorities, it could take another 3–5 years. Until then, his only real housing security comes from this GoFundMe, which has kept him (and his dog Nadia) sheltered for the past 15 months.

At $1,510 per month, that means donors have already covered more than $22,500 in rent. Without continued help, Norris risks losing the stability he has fought so hard to rebuild.

Building Back a Life

Even with limited resources, Norris is working hard to stand on his own two feet:

Why We Still Need Your Help

Our number one goal is simple: keep Norris and Nadia sheltered as long as possible.

The truth is, we don’t know how long it will take for Norris’s Section 8 voucher to be approved. but we do know that he cannot go back to living on trains and buses. He also is a contributing member of society, he's already trained a rescue pittie named Lola and helped place her in a home in Dana Point (Lola is featured on his tiktok @norrislovesnadia).

The Bigger Picture

Norris has proven himself to be a survivor, a dog whisperer, and a kind soul who has never turned to drugs or alcohol despite the harsh realities of homelessness.

At 72, he deserves the chance to live out his life safely and with dignity.

Every donation helps keep his life stable and his mission alive. Even $1 makes a difference.

Thank you for continuing to support Norris and Nadia.

ORIGINAL GOFUNDME STORY:

Meet 71 year-old senior citizen Norris and his loyal 9 month-old companion, Nadia.

Battling health issues and partial blindness while confronting the harsh realities of street life, he has been trying to get Section8 housing in Los Angeles since 2017.

Norris has no criminal record, stays FAR away from drugs and alcohol, and is a responsible upstanding citizen.

Unfortunately, the city's housing challenges have made this process slow and difficult.

After checking his documents, it was discovered that his housing application with the state of California was inactive for years.

All the paperwork he carried around every day wasn’t even valid and it was his WHOLE LIFE. No one from the government or any organization has ever helped check the status of his application. All these years of waiting for nothing!

Leaving behind an abusive household in Texas at just 16, Norris had no choice but to seek a better life. Now, having spent over 50 years in California, he has built a career in the past as a professional German Shepherd trainer, alongside various retail jobs, until hard times struck 10 years ago. At 71, he is tirelessly working to piece his life back together, demonstrating resilience and determination despite the challenges he faces.

He has trained his 9-month-old German Shepherd, Nadia, to be his reliable companion.

Constantly riding trains and buses, they face daily challenges to avoid violent attacks.

He has Cellulitis from not being able to lay down to sleep with his legs, which are very swollen, making it difficult for him to walk.

Norris and Nadia have attempted to find refuge in shelters numerous times, but the prevalent violence and drug use within these spaces make them unsuitable and unsafe for a senior citizen.

Consequently, for his own safety, he finds himself with no choice but to stay on buses and trains, moving constantly.

Norris is a genuinely kind soul who truly DESERVES the opportunity for a safer, more stable life.

FROM NIMA (I made the gofundme)

Our Story:

I am simply a concerned friend.

I encountered Norris and Nadia by chance outside a JustFoodForDogs store in November.

Since then, I've been able to gather support from friends, raising enough funds to offer them temporary hotel stays over the past three months.

This effort has been aimed at giving Norris a chance to rest and rejuvenate, providing some relief from the hardships they face daily.

Ive witnessed his cellulitis recede, his weight go down, his overall happiness increase, and his passion for life to return.

I’ve also been able to witness how PURE and GOOD of a human Norris is.

Arriving in LA at 17, all alone and without any family support, he has navigated life's challenges with resilience, maintaining a clean record with no involvement in drugs or alcohol. Now at 71, partially blind, he has shown remarkable strength and integrity. He truly DESERVES the opportunity to have a peaceful night's sleep in a bed, alongside his loyal companion, Nadia.

I’ve arranged hotel stays for Norris and Nadia, however, this was only a temporary solution.

The funds collected through this GoFundMe campaign are earmarked for securing a stable apartment for Norris and Nadia for an entire year or until we can resolve his Section 8 situation. I am actively engaged in this process, seeking assistance from housing attorneys and collaborating with a new housing agency, HOPE in BURBANK, to navigate and expedite the resolution of his housing assistance.

*Note:

Any additional funds will be HELD for Norris to help him SURVIVE until we resolve his Section8 Housing issue (we need a voucher from the City of Los Angeles!)

We also want to get Norris healthy so we can launch his dog training business as well as cover any additional housing or medical needs.

Securing a one-year lease would provide the much-needed stability and time to address Norris's public housing assistance issues. Additionally, it would afford him the opportunity to focus on developing his dog training business, enabling both survival and the potential for a thriving future.

Take note: Norris's sole source of income is $840 per month from Social Security, which he must stretch to cover all his expenses, including food for himself and Nadia, medical supplies and bills, plus a small storage space for his belongings in LA.

Your support can make a significant impact on providing them with a safe home and giving Norris a chance at having a life.

Thank you for finding it in your heart to help even $1 can make the biggest difference for somebody who has nothing. We will provide monthly updates on this GoFundMe page because honestly we have no where else to go!

Thank you.