Homeless For 45 Years, Steve Sacre Now Has A Home

Most Americans can't imagine being homeless for 45 hours, let alone 45 years. Steve Sacre, however, a Vietnam veteran and former drug addict, was just that. Last week, Sacre finally was able to rent an apartment of his own.

As the Democrat Herald reports, Sacre left home at age 17, and spent the majority of his time, when not in a prison cell, sleeping on couches, hiding out in bushes, and scraping for drugs. He spoke Wednesday in Albany at a Community Summit on Homelessness, and discussed his life on the streets and how he was finally able to find a place to call home.

He used to rob drug stores and was involved in a shootout with police in the 1970s that sent him to prison for 10 years. He credits members of the InReach Clinic and Senior Disabilities Services with helping him get on his feet.

"I don't know why they decided to help me," Sacre said, while sitting on a camp stool in his sparsely furnished apartment on Salem Avenue. The only other furnishings in the living room are a webbed lawn chair and an old analog television set...Sacre is so excited about his new home that "I do not want to blow my opportunity to continue to live here. This is my first real home.". He will cover his $142-a-month rent with his Social Security Insurance checks. Sacre receives no financial help from family members.

Sacre has been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and doctors aren't sure how much time he has left. Because of the help of others, though, Sacre now has a home, doesn't drink or do drugs, and can enjoy his remaining time surrounded by four walls and the comfort of friends.

Get HuffPost Impact On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[CostaMolta]

He'll need a used notebook computer now and, more all-American Christians, as steady neighbors

[Harey]

It is so shameful that our "wealthy" country allows anyone, no matter what their history is, to live on the street.

Thank you President Obama for making more funds available for homeless Vets.

Happy Veterans Day!!

[bryan-a]

You need to thank ME Harey - and anybody else here that pays taxes. The money comes from us all Borat Obama does is move it around to where he can get the most votes.

[bryan-a]

Maybe all you bleeding hearts missed the part when it said he was able to get a home AFTER he got clean.

So what? we're supposed to supply drunks and drug addicts and theives free homes AND social security AND free health insurance? etc etc. I'm happy for him that he was able to turn it around but it was HIS CHOICE.

[dadw5boys]

We helped many people get clean and reclaim thier lives.

Pot and Alochol were what they started their decent on.

For all those who defend pot as non addictive. Please explain why the lives of so many have been taken for a weed that is non addivctive. If it is so easy to stop that why would anyone risk their live, freedom and dignity to get hold of it ?

[Daadee]

Yeah, exactly. I don't hear this guy saying this is his opportunity to pay back society for the bad things he's done, just how he doesn't want to blow "his" opportunity to live better. Criminals always look at the world that way, poor me "I've" had a hard life, "I" have rights. How about the hard life or rights of the police officers or innocent bystanders and "their" children who would have been left motherless or fatherless by this guy in his shoot out.
I have plenty of sympathy for people who are down on their luck and there's plenty to wright about, I think this guy just ain't one of them.

[breakingpoint]

You'd think the US was a third world country - no one should be homeless, hungry, without health care, jobless or uneducated

[nexxtep54]

Thank Ayn Rand.

[whatintarhooties]

It is never too late to turn your life around...all of us live day by day, never knowing what tomorrow may bring. There are many Vietnam vets who, for several reasons most of us cannot fathom, are unable to escape or cope with what they endured while in service to our country. Many of them fall through the cracks of society and bear silent witness to our failure of society to give these men and women the level of health/mental care, etc services that they are entitled to. More often than not us human beings have the mentality regarding Mr. Sucre's situation and others similar is that things like that 'happen to other people' UNTIL we wake up one morning and find ourselves being 'other people'. I am glad that he was able to find the light at the end of the tunnel. As it is said in the Bible - 'he who is without sin cast the first stone'. I don't think those with the negative commentary should bend their backs forward to pick up a rock and throw it.

[RoadSkoller]

Has ACORN signed him up to vote?

[Daadee]

He wasn't homeless for 45 years, the NY Dept. of Corrections gave him a warm bed, a roof, clean clothes and three hot squares a day for a good deal of that time. He gets social security? Doesn't sound like he spent much time paying in to it. He victimized other people. Forgive me if my heart is not warmed by this story.

[NOLA59]

Would you call prison home?

[Daadee]

Prison in fact is home to people who cannot for one reason or another conduct themselves in society. While it is the worst neighborhood in america, prisoners are well cared for by global standards of living. He may not want to live there but I wouldn't want him living near me. So yes, I would call it a home, and a pretty good one for many of the people there.

[moongal6]

You are forgiven. Judge not, lest ye be judged.
You never know what's around the corner.

[Daadee]

Thanks for your forgiveness. Lot more than I can say for some people.
My point is there is no excuse for bad behavior and Steve Sacre's troubles are of his own making. There are thousands of vets from many wars who have seen the most horrible things as well as done them who come home and are the kindest most honorable people you would want to meet. Or if you like there is Eli Weisel who is such a fine person and Roman Polanski, maybe not such a good guy. Both Holocaust survivors.
An american prison while violent etc. is a pretty bad place. What would you have society do with such a person. It is a better life in some ways than what innocent children in slums in third world countries have, so yes a prison cell for horror shows like this guy is a "home".

[CharlesD]

Let's hope this is only one of millions of stories just like this or better!

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

$142-a-month for rent????

[PivotalForce]

government subsidized?

[ForObamaInDallas]

It's also most likely in a not so great neighborhood. I doubt he's in a Park Ave. apartment.

[truthartbeauty]

what kind of society tolerates so many living in total poverty while others live in grotesque levels of indulgence??? a christian one.

[battlinbob]

no.... an elitist one.... or muslim.....

[battlinbob]

no.... muslem

[C Pollard]

Total poverty? Wow, you have not concept of that do you?

[jules23]

You can argue with the semantics of "total poverty", but the OG has a point. The USA is supposed to be the wealthiest country in the world, yet its rates of poverty, homelessness, and life expectancy etc, are much lower than many other countries.

[maidenofdforest]

Good luck Mr. Sacre. You've overcome being homeless thru the goodness people around you and may you get better soon!

[earto44]

Another victory for war. See. No problem.

[Witchitalineman]

Good luck to him. It's never too late to get your life together.

[loyalreader]

So sorry about the liver problem,,,but I believe the liver can heal when abusing it stops.

[mrsblaylock]

I'm not sure. I think if it's not too advanced thats possible, however, you can get necrosis of the liver associated with cirrhosis. necrotic tissue doesnt heal...its dead. poor guy.

[MadHeart]

Congratulations, Steve, I'm hoping you will find some peace in your remaining days. You have already experienced some love--giving it back to others will ensure your peace, brother.

[GardenerNorCal]

I hope some charitable group or citizen takes him under their wing and helps him get a comfortable chair . This is going to be a whole new way of life for him. He's going to need some friends and neighbors to help him settle in. If I lived closer I have a recliner and some warm bedding I'd share with him. Bet he could use a coffee pot, some pots and pans, etc.. Hope the community gets behind him.

[Witchitalineman]

I do too.