Community Steps Up to Help WWII Vet Facing Eviction
As a 96-year-old World War II veteran living in a mobile home, Lucien E. Lebrun figured he had already paid his dues.
But apparently the owners of the Cypress Shores retirement community in Winter Haven, Florida, where he lives did not agree.
“Chet,” as he is known, uses a walker to get around. While he values his independence, he is unable to do much in the way of physical labor. And he is on a fixed income.
Recently, he was served an eviction notice. Why? For failing to fix damage to his home caused by Hurricane Irma.
Hurricane Irma’s Wrath Still Plagues Vet
The storm that tore through Florida in late summer last year wreaked havoc on many dwellings.
Chet’s mobile home was one of them. High winds lifted part of the aluminum from the side and roof of the structure. And water got inside the walls of his home.
Chet applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). But he did not receive funds to make repairs. He is appealing that decision, according to a friend who has power of attorney for him.
After receiving the eviction notice in February, Chet spoke to a local TV station. “When they sent me that notice, ‘You got seven days to fix it,’ imagine fixing all that, seven days. I can’t even stand up,” he said.
Chet Thought the Government Would Help Him
Chet’s friend, Karen Bingham, spoke to representatives of the community’s management company. They informed her that because Chet owns the mobile home, he is solely responsible for repairing it.
She told Fox News, “They never said, ‘Hey, what can we do to help. Maybe we can have someone on the maintenance crew help out.'”
Chet has lived in his mobile home with his cat for the past five years. He has resided in the community since the late 1970s. Well before that, he served in the U.S. Army for four years during World War II.
“He’s very upset that he’s being treated this way,” Bingham said. “He thought there was no way they would evict him because the government would step in.”
Friend Raising Money to Assist
Bingham, who said Chet “takes pride in his independence,” set up a GoFundMe account to help him pay for repairs. She said they had raised $14,000 as of recently.
In addition, two local businessmen heard about Chet’s plight. They’ve offered to buy him a new mobile home in a nearby retirement community.
She is also petitioning Senator Marco Rubio’s office to take a look at Chet’s FEMA application.
“I would just like to do this for him,” Bingham said. “Just have him happy and live in peace without being harassed.”
Appealing to FEMA
Retirement community officials did not respond to a call from Fox News about the situation, according to the media outlet.
A FEMA official did, however. He said the agency “takes all appeals for disaster assistance seriously.”
The official said the agency has provided about $1 billion in grants to Florida homeowners and renters. The money has gone for damage and serious losses not covered by insurance related to Irma recovery.
FEMA is not legally allowed to duplicate insurance payments or assistance provided by other agencies or programs.
Veterans Deserve Our Support
It’s very disturbing to see a 96-year-old World War II vet like Chet facing eviction.
But it’s wonderful to see how a friend, two businessmen and many GoFundMe contributors are doing what they can to help him.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to veterans such as Chet. Imagine how the world might be today had countless Americans not been willing to lay down their lives for the sake of freedom.
Here’s to hoping Chet and others like him are able to spend the remainder of their lives in peace and safety.
My 98 1/2 year WWII veteran old father is in a similar situation. We cannot find adequate nursing home care for him, where is respected with the dignity he deserves. We had to submit a grievance on a couple of aides for ill treatment, bordering on emotional abuse and neglect. We have him on a waiting list for The Long Island States Veteran’s Home at Stony Brook, NY, but because he is Medicaid Pending, we are getting a run around, and paying people on the list are accepted before him. The amount of pickiness with the documents going back 5 years for an elderly Veteran trying to live on small Social Security and tiny pensions and basically no savings is shameful. We don’t know what to do….
More than 50 counties in Texas and Louisiana have been impacted in some way by flooding, FEMA said.
Article should have included a link to Lucien Lebrun’s go-fund-me Page.
The government (FEMA) should have responded to his request for help.
We need to take care of our seniors. That’s what I appreciate about times past when family took care of family. This story makes my heart ache. He will definitely be in my prayers.
What happened to the United States of America? How is it that Refugees can come to America and instantly receive all matter of government aid and given drivers license and told to vote and told who to vote for? How is it that our Veterans have always been given second class Care and Support. This really gets under my skin and is a disgrace to our Military.
Amen Mr. Boyd. Our veterans are a sacred gift to this nation. I don’t know anyone that would willingly toss a sacred and valuable gift in the trash with no feelings of regret. Shame on that community manager and FEMA for being heartless. I come from a military family and can only be thankful for the freedom and blessings they have provided me and my family. I have one question…..Where are members of his family in his time of need?
U r dang right. It’s as if we are 2nd class citizens. Do we really need this Government? I wonder!!!!!bar
Let’s take Trump’s Billions of our tax dollars for his stupid parade and give it to Vets for what they need and want instead! This story is a crying shame on all of us!!
This is America and we should help where there is a need especially our veterans! Let’s stand up, America for this veteran! How would you like to be in his shoes and not be able to even repair his own home. I hope so much money will come in to him through GoFundMe that he can afford whatever repairs need to be done!!
People might think of helping eachother without expecting recognition. This is about focusing on other than yourself and just pitching in. Bravo
Socialist governments want the people to depend on them more and more for everything. When the general popluation agrees we get ourselves in trouble,just [email protected]
FEMA seems to give people that false hope.
Every day,phone calls,in the mail received at home, on TV Ads,on street corners, store entrances, radio Ads, every place you go you see or hear someone begging for money to support Veterans in dire need due to their service to defend all the people who reside in our country HOW TERRIBLE ARE WE? the US Gov’t and the horrible Veteran’s Admin. are not doing their responsibility to take care of all of these courageous citizens and their after war injuries. Why must they need to beg? Please contact your representatives in congress and DEMAND WHY? Even if they have to earmark special taxes just to take proper care of our injured veterans .Every one should and probably would pay add-on taxes if the money was used for support of our veterans and that reason only!
How Shameful of this Retirement Community! This WWII Vet more than deserves our able bodied help!! Thank you, Chet for your service and sacrifice you are a inspiration!!
Please take the businessmen up on their offer to buy Chet a mobile home in a nearby community. He will live there mortgage free. This place doesn’t want him there or they wouldn’t have evicted him. Thank you for serving and keeping us safe.🇺🇸
Am Vietnam veteran ! if they tried that with me world war three would start!spent 13 years in military !
Awesome in help to Chet…let me know if they need any help from a GC
Hi Chet, I just read about your problems after the hurricane and I first of all want to thank you for your service during WWII. You and others like you were willing to give everything so the generations coming could have the freedoms we have today. You are a hero!! I’m glad to hear that some of the locals where you are have stepped up to help you. God bless you!!
The government has lately shown itself as helping no one but the politicians getting paid . Thank God for private citizens helping. We must awaken to the fact that we can’t rely on the government to help anyone but the politicians on both sides of the aisle . . So let’s keep stepping up to the plate ourselves !
I am happy the citizens reached out to Chet. We must help each other. We cannot always depend on the government. This country was built on “people helping each other”.
What’s the name of the GoFundMe account? I’d like to post this on Facebook!
Thanks,
Kat Christian