77 Year Old Sleeping at O'Hare

*edit- if you would like to meet me I eat lunch at Holy Trinity on Leavitt every Saturday from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. *

I am a 77-year-old Polish American man who is looking for some kind donors to help me pay for a small one-room or studio apartment. For the last 6 months, I have been sleeping on a friend's sofa. He recently was admitted to the VA hospital and I can't get into his apartment anymore.

For the past two weeks, I have been sleeping at O'Hare airport because the shelters are full.

I eat my meals at St. Stanislaus Kostka soup kitchen Monday through Thursday. On Saturdays, I eat at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral. In the afternoons I use my senior citizen CTA pass to ride to O'Hare and enter the airport. I sleep on benches there and no one bothers me.

I grew up in Chicago and worked as a baker and a security guard. I am on the waiting list for senior CHA housing and subsidized Catholic Charities senior apartments. Every week I submit more applications but so far I have had no luck finding a spot anywhere.

I have a budget of $400 from my monthly social security check to pay for an apartment. If this "go fund me" is successful I would have a bigger budget and it would be easier to find an apartment that is safe and in good shape. I want to be in Wicker Park, Logan Square, Avondale or Garfield Park since I eat at soup kitchens in those areas and want to see my friends. If there is any extra money I can use it to stay at a budget hotel until I can move into my apartment.

During the year that you would be helping fund my apartment, I will continue to apply for subsidized senior housing around the city. Hopefully, I will get lucky and find a spot.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my predicament.

Your friend, Norbert