VXIII
June 22nd, 2011, 05:55 PM
http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g411/V_XIII/alan.jpg
Seven days ago, Alan was facing almost certain foreclosure on his North Seattle home where he lived without running water, heat or electricity.
Today, there is light and heat in the house, and, soon, he'll have running water, too.
Most amazing of all: Alan is no longer living in fear of foreclosure.
A stranger read about his plight in last Sunday's Seattle Times, and paid Alan's tax bill — all $26,000 of it. The only things known about the stranger: he's a man, and he wants to remain anonymous, even to Alan.
"I'm flabbergasted," Alan said Friday, when told that a man he didn't know had paid not only three years of back taxes for Alan but the current year. "I think it's just wonderful. Whoever it was, tell them I really, really, really appreciate it. It's a little overwhelming."
Mark Thompson, property-tax supervisor for King County Treasury, said such acts of kindness, have happened numerous times in the past. All it takes, he said, is for the information to get out to people who want to help.
"It comes down to the fact that a lot of people don't know how many people out there are hurting these days," Thompson said.
Alan, 59, whose hoarding instincts turned what was once a tidy two-bedroom home into a shambles with papers, books, clothes and clutter stashed or stacked everywhere. He hasn't had running water in three years. Electric service has been sporadically turned off — most recently last month. He owed more than $55,000 in taxes and utility bills and had reached the end of his financial rope.Alan was facing foreclosure for back taxes by month's end, a situation that put him in the sights of real-estate investors seeking to capitalize on his plight. His house is in an affluent neighborhood and assessed at $496,000. One Realtor said he offered Alan $300,000 for his home.
Another investor appeared close to buying Alan's house until a family lawyer, working pro bono, warned Alan to stay away from him. As strangers began circling the neighborhood, taking pictures of Alan's neglected home, neighbors became concerned that Alan's dire circumstances and his diminished mental health made him vulnerable to exploitation.
They have been trying to help him, and arranged for a mental-health evaluation last week. Adult Protective Services is involved, and a neighbor has been fielding calls from people who read about Alan and wanted to help.
Because of Alan's vulnerability, The Times is using only his middle name to identify him.
Dozens of readers called The Times to see what they could do for Alan. They offered anything from small donations of cash or cat food to pitching in to help clean out his cluttered house.
"I've been there before, and I wanted to help," said Brandon Fraser, 21, of Burien, who offered to help fix Alan's neglected cars.
Fraser said he lived in his truck for nearly seven months when he was 18, and is still alive because a former high-school teacher helped him. Explaining why he offered help to a stranger, Fraser said, "It makes me feel good. And it gives them what I wanted — knowing that somebody is out there, that somebody cares. They're not alone."
Alan's problems are far from over. He still feels overwhelmed, but he's taken the first symbolic steps toward coming out of the cave he's created: at his friend's insistence, he moved enough paper out to unearth a chair in his living room and put another one in the kitchen.
"I'm trying to do a little at a time," he said, still resistant to anyone helping him clean a mess that took him at least six years to create.
Alan seemed surprised that strangers would want to help him. He also was glad to reconnect with a friend he had lost touch with as his shame grew about his circumstances. The friend, who asked that his name not be used, said he went to Alan's house after reading the article, thinking it might be him.
Several years ago, the friend had sent his son to check on Alan, but no one answered the door.
"I figured something had happened to (him) because he disappeared from the scene," the friend said. "He's plenty intelligent, but he got off track. I'm trying to assist him in getting straightened out."
The friend paid Alan's electric bill, and is arranging for his water line to be repaired and service to be restored.
Alan said it's been an emotional week, and he's still trying to take it all in. "I'll tell you, this has given me a lot of empathy," he said. "If I ever get the chance to help someone, I will."
Janelle Leonard, who offered to help Alan get some of his belongings appraised and sold to raise funds, said that spirit of giving is what creates community.
"One of the things I love most about living in the Pacific Northwest is the power of our communities," she said in an email. "People coming together to lend a hand where it is needed, and hopefully, appreciated, in creativity and service to one another because we care."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014793854_vulnerable17m.html
Seven days ago, Alan was facing almost certain foreclosure on his North Seattle home where he lived without running water, heat or electricity.
Today, there is light and heat in the house, and, soon, he'll have running water, too.
Most amazing of all: Alan is no longer living in fear of foreclosure.
A stranger read about his plight in last Sunday's Seattle Times, and paid Alan's tax bill — all $26,000 of it. The only things known about the stranger: he's a man, and he wants to remain anonymous, even to Alan.
"I'm flabbergasted," Alan said Friday, when told that a man he didn't know had paid not only three years of back taxes for Alan but the current year. "I think it's just wonderful. Whoever it was, tell them I really, really, really appreciate it. It's a little overwhelming."
Mark Thompson, property-tax supervisor for King County Treasury, said such acts of kindness, have happened numerous times in the past. All it takes, he said, is for the information to get out to people who want to help.
"It comes down to the fact that a lot of people don't know how many people out there are hurting these days," Thompson said.
Alan, 59, whose hoarding instincts turned what was once a tidy two-bedroom home into a shambles with papers, books, clothes and clutter stashed or stacked everywhere. He hasn't had running water in three years. Electric service has been sporadically turned off — most recently last month. He owed more than $55,000 in taxes and utility bills and had reached the end of his financial rope.Alan was facing foreclosure for back taxes by month's end, a situation that put him in the sights of real-estate investors seeking to capitalize on his plight. His house is in an affluent neighborhood and assessed at $496,000. One Realtor said he offered Alan $300,000 for his home.
Another investor appeared close to buying Alan's house until a family lawyer, working pro bono, warned Alan to stay away from him. As strangers began circling the neighborhood, taking pictures of Alan's neglected home, neighbors became concerned that Alan's dire circumstances and his diminished mental health made him vulnerable to exploitation.
They have been trying to help him, and arranged for a mental-health evaluation last week. Adult Protective Services is involved, and a neighbor has been fielding calls from people who read about Alan and wanted to help.
Because of Alan's vulnerability, The Times is using only his middle name to identify him.
Dozens of readers called The Times to see what they could do for Alan. They offered anything from small donations of cash or cat food to pitching in to help clean out his cluttered house.
"I've been there before, and I wanted to help," said Brandon Fraser, 21, of Burien, who offered to help fix Alan's neglected cars.
Fraser said he lived in his truck for nearly seven months when he was 18, and is still alive because a former high-school teacher helped him. Explaining why he offered help to a stranger, Fraser said, "It makes me feel good. And it gives them what I wanted — knowing that somebody is out there, that somebody cares. They're not alone."
Alan's problems are far from over. He still feels overwhelmed, but he's taken the first symbolic steps toward coming out of the cave he's created: at his friend's insistence, he moved enough paper out to unearth a chair in his living room and put another one in the kitchen.
"I'm trying to do a little at a time," he said, still resistant to anyone helping him clean a mess that took him at least six years to create.
Alan seemed surprised that strangers would want to help him. He also was glad to reconnect with a friend he had lost touch with as his shame grew about his circumstances. The friend, who asked that his name not be used, said he went to Alan's house after reading the article, thinking it might be him.
Several years ago, the friend had sent his son to check on Alan, but no one answered the door.
"I figured something had happened to (him) because he disappeared from the scene," the friend said. "He's plenty intelligent, but he got off track. I'm trying to assist him in getting straightened out."
The friend paid Alan's electric bill, and is arranging for his water line to be repaired and service to be restored.
Alan said it's been an emotional week, and he's still trying to take it all in. "I'll tell you, this has given me a lot of empathy," he said. "If I ever get the chance to help someone, I will."
Janelle Leonard, who offered to help Alan get some of his belongings appraised and sold to raise funds, said that spirit of giving is what creates community.
"One of the things I love most about living in the Pacific Northwest is the power of our communities," she said in an email. "People coming together to lend a hand where it is needed, and hopefully, appreciated, in creativity and service to one another because we care."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014793854_vulnerable17m.html