St. Charles man and Beagle still waiting for day in court
The other day I saw Robert Phillips, who I wrote two columns about last year, and I wondered about his housing situation.
Phillips was the homeless man who was seriously injured last October when two other homeless people tried to steal his Beagle Freddy.
Thanks to the generosity of readers who sent in contibutions, Phillips and Freddy moved into a studio apartment in December. But that money was supposed to run out in April.
I called Denise Leibel, executive director of the Community Council of St. Charles County, who is helping Phillips. She said if Robert can pay half of the rent (he did last month with money he got panhandling), there is enough in a fund for him to stay in the apartment until the end of November. If he can’t pay half, he only has until July 31.
Phillips is a Vietnam veteran, and has applied for SSI, but Leibel told me she has asked Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond’s office to help expedite his application.
As for the criminal cases against the two people accused of assaulting Phillips, they have been bound over to a higher court, Circuit Court, and they are both scheduled to be arraigned next month. Phillips has said he is planning to stay in town so he can testify at the court proceedings.
Anyone wishing to contibute to Phillips may still do so at any of New Frontier Banks’ three locations in St. Charles County or they can send checks made out to Community Council of St. Charles County to: New Frontier Bank, 5000 Winghaven Boulevard, O’Fallon, Mo., 63366.
Here’s the video of Phillips and Freddy, shot last fall.
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Thank you so much for the update! I have been wondering how those two were doing ever since your last article. Keep up the good work and keep us posted about those two!
I ran into Mr. Phillips last week at Walmart on Veteran’s Memorial Pkwy. He was a super friendly guy. He was having trouble finding the spinnerbaits in the fishing tackle aisle. We talked about the pros and cons of using propane and white gas camp stoves.
Does he have a job now that he has an address? If not how about someone with a business looking to hire help the guy out or get him some leads on jobs. It does sound like a success story of getting someone off the streets though.
Robert’s success is yet to be determined. As a result of the assault in November of 2008 he lost the vision in one eye and has about 50% of the vision in the other eye. His social security disability has been denied. That decision is being appealed.
He reports that he is a Vietnam vet and was injured by a boot bomb. He has the wounds/scars to prove it but his service records are missing. I am told that this is not unusual…. Senator Kit Bond’s office is helping locate records. Until that happens, he is not eligbile for VA benefits either.
An additional issue is Robert’s literacy and other heath issues. He cannot read or write at a level that makes him employable. Due to old injuries, the recent loss of his sight, and years of exposure his abilities are very, very limited
Without public assistance Robert will be homeless again.
He is a bright, pleasant man but his stability is at risk.
Unfortunately, there are many more “Roberts” in our community.
How much is needed to be able to keep Mr. Phillips in his hotel until November?
Rent is $499 per month. There are funds available to keep him housed until July 31st.