Victor’s Story
Stock photo: Picture of senior man standing at home.
Life’s journey takes many twists and turns. Victor* is a Pisgah Legal client who has certainly experienced dramatic ups and downs.
Once, he had his own successful business until it went under during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with it his home and all his savings. Victor started over by working at a local hotel handling luggage for tourists. Not the easiest job in your later years, but he was getting by. Then, Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina.
“In 30 minutes, everything in the house I was renting was gone,” says Victor. “I lost everything, even my job at the hotel. I became homeless and had to live in a shelter.”
Victor fought despair and began what he calls “the grueling climb back up.” The Salvation Army helped him secure Section 8 housing and leave the shelter. Then the hotel reopened. But with reduced tourism, his work hours and income were limited. He fell behind on his rent.
Victor was on the verge of being evicted when he contacted Pisgah Legal Services for help. When attorney Casey Steen discovered that Victor had been displaced by Helene, he advocated on his behalf to delay the eviction. Casey worked quickly to secure emergency funds from the Red Cross so that Victor could catch up on his back rent.
Victor was afraid to get his hopes up at first. “I was worried about where I was going to sleep at night. I thought, ‘I’m not going to tell anyone at work because I didn’t want to lose my job.’ I kept it quiet and acted normal.” Casey persisted until Victor reached stability.
“Casey stayed by my side like a brother,” says Victor. “He helped me, he encouraged me, and he never once let me down. I will never forget what he and Pisgah Legal Services did for me.”
Now, with tourism returning to normal, Victor has found a better job with more hours, and he’s hopeful about the future.
*Client’s identity protected