My name is Jeffrey Jones, and my best friend Martin and I have been homeless for far too long. We’ve supported each other through everything — through sickness, homelessness, and life’s hardest moments. We never thought we’d end up like this, but life has a way of testing how strong your spirit really is, though it will have an impact in how good you look. 

For 14 years, I had a home on Xenia St in Saint Petersburg, Florida. When I lost that home, everything began to fall apart. Martin had moved in with me to help. It wasn't enough due to my own declining mental health and his own mental issues caused by the death of his mother when he was only 15 from the same cancer I would soon have which would have a deep impact on him, even more than it did on me going through it while homeless.

He was already on Disability and I would be soon but not soon enough.  Soon we were both out on the street trying to survive together. We camped by the railroad tracks, used free Wi-Fi to stay connected, and did our best to keep each other going when there wasn’t much hope left. Then I got that cancer.

Battling cancer while homeless was terrifying — chemo, radiation, hospital visits, and nowhere truly safe to rest. It was very hard for Martin to watch me go through the same cancer that killed his mother. At least I survived but it still bothers him to this day because his mothers death impacted him greatly. But I tell him I'm not afraid and I know it will return, my father had it three times before he died but not because of the cancer. And I know I will get through it especially since I've only had it once while my dad survived it three times. I'll be fine. 

Then even in the middle of all that, there was a silver lining. With help from cancer societies, we were able to stay in motels for a while and catch our breath. For a little while, it felt like maybe things could get better. Eventually, we managed to get on Section 8 housing and had a stable home again for a few good years. But when the property was sold, the new landlord refused to accept Section 8 and evicted us. Then for overly complicated reasons we both still don't understand they took away our section 8. Since then, we’ve been back out here doing our best to survive with what little we have.

Beyond financial struggle, both of us deal with serious mental–health challenges that make everything harder. Martin is on mental disability and lives with schizoaffective bipolar disorder and manic depression. I’m also on disability now, diagnosed with major depressive disorder and possibly developing schizophrenia along with PTSD. These conditions make it especially difficult to navigate systems, stay organized, and find landlords willing to give us a chance.

We both receive $994 each month from Social Security, but it’s not enough to rent a place or cover deposits and fees. Especially with the cost of rent so high in our area. We have been considering moving but of course that costs money. Every time we come close to stability, circumstances push us back down — and all we want is the chance to feel safe and settled again.

Your help could finally give us that chance. A small act of kindness can be what stands between another night on the street and a place we can finally call home.

Thank you so much for reading our story and for caring enough to help. Your compassion means more than you’ll ever know.