Fwd: An old friend at the end of his rope

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ron Ruggieri <radicalron72647@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2021 at 10:00
Subject: An old friend at the end of his rope
To: Letters <letters@latimes.com>

As a democratic socialist I have no problem welcoming " aliens " - legal or illegal -into my country , right here in Rhode Island . But why does the state have a problem finding housing even for the homeless elderly here ? I have a friend named David Nelson , age 73 , living on Social Security Disability with both Medicare and Medicaid . Why should this man be homeless for any length of time ? Presently he does not even have a car to live in. Born David Gold from a Jewish background, he has received some help from Jewish social service charities. He has been in communication with local rabbis, one living in the Brown University area ( Y Laufer, 362 Hope St. ) Ironically his Aunt Gracie Alpert left a legacy for brain research to the Brown Medical School ( named after the Alpert family ) . Dave has a half brother named Sam Gold , a Miami lawyer, who will be sending him some financial assistance by the end of this month. His son, Dean Gold , now living in Chicago , is upset that he just cannot prevent his father from being homeless in Rhode Island. CIRCUMSTANCES are more complex and convoluted today than most people -reading about the HOMELESS PROBLEM in the USA - realize .

Dave Nelson' s mental and physical condition at age 73 should qualify him at least for a minimal care nursing home- like Bannister House in South Providence.

Presently Dave has applied to Cranston Housing Authority. He dreads the recommended homeless shelters like Harrington Hall in Cranston and Crossroads in Providence . Yesterday I thought he was close to panic attack - mental breakdown . He said that a very attractive young woman with two beautiful kids paid for his meal at Panera Restaurant in the Providence Place Mall. " I must LOOK homeless ", David said to me.

How long can 73 year old David Nelson survive in the street ?

Dave shared a condominium in Cranston for five years with a guy named Scott Swift (Rosewood Condominiums

250 Mayfield Ave, Cranston, RI 02920 ) But Scott had to exit the place back in July. Turning 62 himself, Scott wanted to move on to Social Security bliss.

Way back in 2014 (? ) Providence Journal columnist Bob Kerr interviewed Dave at a Dunkin Donuts in Cranston . But Kerr , an excellent and sensitive columnist , thought that " Ragged Dave " just would not " resonate " with his readers.

Where is "Ragged Dave " now ? He is with me at Randal Manor , Cranston, Apt. B216 . I had permission to have a guest here for two weeks. After not " getting along " with his TRYING TO BE HELPFUL son, Dean Gold in Chicago , he returned to my place luggage and all last week . My old friend Dave Nelson IS on the brink of a personal meltdown. He had to cancel a visit to his primary care physician in Boston early this morning. He also spilled hair dye ( ? ) over his 15 bottles of prescription medicine kept in a now ragged black bag . Everywhere he went he took this " medicine bag " with him. So PRECIOUS was it ! What looked like " JUNKIE NEEDLES " he spilled all over my studio apartment floor. But in fact they were just special TOOTH PICKS in small plastic tubes. How many guys living on Social Security Disability insist on prescription toothpaste and strictly organic food from WHOLE FOODS ? How many guys drive a car while flossing their teeth ? How many guys drive a car with a SUSPENDED LICENSE while flossing their teeth ? How can guys wear dark sunglasses at twilight while driving a RENTED car with a SUSPENDED drivers license for fear of eye cancer and BLINDNESS ? How many guys spent their last 100,000 dollars on a lawyer after seriously injuring a person on a motorcycle while driving ( unintentionally ) on soporific prescription medicine ?

The Old Catholic in me says Dave is paying for the SINS of a lifetime . But he should not be HOMELESS now ! Even his two ex wives, three estranged sons, and a long time girl friend in Seattle , a public school teacher. Even long dead " Aunt Gracie " ( Alpert )- no friend of Dave or Dave's mother , Gracie's sister - would not want that .

Ron Ruggieri , 75 Mathewson St. , Cranston, Rhode Island ( 401-580-7432)