Chad laughs and says he thinks he’s 30, but his body is 47. He is animated, funny, and proud to be a redneck. He has a friendly and well-trained dog named Elijah. Chad’s trailer — which has no water, power, or insulation — is nestled in his father’s field in Mapleton.

Twenty years of heavy labor, operating machinery, fabrication and welding have left him with a list of ailments longer than his beard. Chad’s chronic pain, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and diabetes compelled him to quit his job and file for disability.

After Chad’s wife died, he lived with his mom in Nevada until she passed away and Chad was homeless, in poor health, and unable to support himself. He decided to come back to Utah to be closer to his family but needed help getting into a stable situation. He came to Community Action Services and Food Bank and worked with a case manager who helped him establish connections with a network of support, including Wasatch Mental Health, Mountainlands Community Health Center, the Housing Authority, and the Food and Care Coalition. With these resources, he was able to get the psychiatric care he needed, in addition to a grant to help him move out of his trailer and into an apartment.

Things are far from perfect for Chad — his income is not enough to pay for food, his prescriptions, and other basic needs, and it’s hard for him to do all of the things he used to — but he is thrilled with the help he received and the progress it helped him achieve.

Due to his disabilities, Chad will likely need some assistance for the rest of his life, but because of generous donors and our network of community partners, Chad will always have a place to go.