When life unraveled for Mr. Carney, the path forward felt impossible. Divorced and struggling with the effects of severe brain injury, he was facing suicidal thoughts and overwhelming instability.
After a suicide attempt and a stay in a care facility, Mr. Carney lost his job as a roofing contractor. His employer told him it was unsafe to return to the work site, and without income, he quickly fell behind on rent. “I was three weeks into having lost my job and not having any way of paying my rent,” he recalls. Despite working with VA housing and suicide counselors, his landlord refused to cooperate. Notices appeared on his door, and the risk of eviction became real.
Front Steps Steps In
It was through his counselor that Mr. Carney first heard about Front Steps. At that point, he had no clear path forward. His lease was expiring, he owed back rent, and the sheriff was taping eviction notices on his front door.
Front Steps provided urgent financial assistance: covering back rent, three months of rent during his transition, and then two months at his new apartment. That support stabilized his immediate housing crisis and gave him room to breathe.
Still, the process was stressful. Time was not in Mr. Carney’s favor, and he had to overstay his lease while he continued to wait for his new lease to begin. “It was costing me $150 a day to overstay my lease,” he says. “I was so stressed thinking they were going to take me out of here.” Looking back, he recognizes the delays were due to paperwork, but the uncertainty was crushing at the moment.
Through it all, Mr. Carney found strength in his counseling and the guidance of the Front Steps staff. He recalls Trina, who drove him to look at apartments, as “amazing and very helpful,” and credits Ana, the overall manager, with using her knowledge and contacts to help secure his home.
A New Beginning
At the very same time he moved into his apartment, Mr. Carney received life-changing news: his VA disability rating finally increased from 80% to 100%. That meant a stable monthly income, allowing him to stop working in jobs his health made impossible to sustain. “Because I have a severe brain injury, there are some days when I can’t even get out of bed.”
Today, Mr. Carney is consistently current on utilities and managing his finances responsibly. “And now I have a budget I can handle. You changed my life,” he says. “Look how nice my life is now!”
A new life: Painting, Beef Jerky, and TBI Awareness.
With stability came the freedom to invest his time in passions and service. Mr. Carney has given away more than 500 pounds of specially prepared beef jerky to people experiencing homelessness in Austin. Designed for those who struggle to chew due to dental issues, his jerky becomes edible when activated with a water pack. He hopes to continue growing this project as a nonprofit.
He also paints as therapy for migraines, producing pieces that now hang in places around the world. While he doesn’t sell his work, he donates pieces for causes he believes in.
And he has become a passionate advocate for veterans with traumatic brain injuries and CTE, calling for greater awareness of how repeated concussive impacts affect the brain and contribute to mental health struggles.
Gratitude and a Call to Action
Mr. Carney wants others who are struggling to know that “there is help if you can find it. There are many reasons to stay here on the planet instead of checking out.”
He also expresses gratitude to donors and volunteers: “Thank you. Your work helps. The help I received is the type of service that they should all be striving for.”
He encourages everyone to take action, even in small ways. “Anybody can go and volunteer for a day,” he says. Mental health is very important, and we need to encompass all of it.”
Be Part of the Change
Stories like Mr. Carney’s are possible because of people like you. We can continue providing hope, housing, and support for our unhoused neighbors.
Donate today to provide direct support for individuals and families in need.
Volunteer with us and see firsthand the impact you can make.
Contact us to explore how you or your organization can partner with Front Steps.
Every act of support creates another chance for someone like Mr. Carney to rebuild their life. Thank You, Neighbor.