TAMPA, Fla. — When I walk into Tampa Hope, a shelter run by Catholic Charities, I see an elderly man quietly sitting in a chair. I have a feeling he’s waiting for me.

 “You don’t happen to be waiting for anyone are you,” I ask.

 “Yes,” he says quietly. “I’m supposed to be speaking to a reporter.”

 “That would be me,” I respond. “Are you Ray?” 

 “Yes, I am,” he says.

After a little small talk, Ray invites me to see his bungalow. It’s one of 25 on the property.

“This is it right here,” he says, pointing to a small white box shaped structure. It reminds me of a small garden shed with windows.

When Tampa Hope opened in 2021, residents were housed in tents. But Florida summers can be tough to endure, even with fans. The decision to add bungalows was made a few years later. The goal now to add a hundred more by the end of the year.

 Ray says he was lucky. He moved from a tent and into a bungalow soon after arriving.

The bungalows are arranged in rows of ten. I’m surprised at how many are decorated.

As Ray searches for his keys, something pink catches my eye. It’s a heart-shaped wreath hung on the door of the bungalow across from his. Potted plants line the outside of the bungalow next door. Others have plastic flowers that spin when the wind blows. It feels like a neighborhood.

Ray unlocks the door, and I follow him inside.

“It’s so cozy!” I tell him.

“Really? Everyone says it’s too plain, and white…and orderly,” he said.

He’s right. It is orderly. His perfectly made bed is on the left against the wall. On the shelf that runs along the back wall, papers are neatly stacked in a pile next to the books that he has arranged from tallest to shortest. Everything has its place.

“Unfortunately, there’s only so much you can have in here, but eventually I’m going to get a small desk and chair and put it there,” he says, pointing to the far wall.

I can’t help but notice the pride in his movements as he gives me a tour.

“This is where I keep my spices and coffee,” he says, pointing to a little corner on the shelf.

He’s right. Most everything is white. The only pop of color comes from the mauve-colored curtains that shade him from the Florida sun and a red and gold crucifix that hangs on the wall.

“Everyone said I needed to get curtains, so I did,” Ray said.

It’s not his forever home, but until his housing comes through, it’s his for now.

At 78, Ray is one of the many seniors that has passed through Tampa Hope.

According to Program Director Eric Marrero, there have been hundreds. The reality, he says, and what many people don’t know, is many seniors are just a step away from homelessness.

“What we have seen here those who have been on fixed incomes for so many years and the rents have been raised and the landlords are kind of like, ‘Someone else will pay,’” he says.

And unfortunately, that’s what happened to Ray. After graduating from the University of South Florida as a double major, he went on to earn a master’s in humanities and a doctorate in pastoral community counseling from Argosy University.

“My goal was to be a professor and teach Theology,” Ray said.

Unfortunately, that goal was never met. After a short career in ministry and work as a substitute teacher, he worked odd jobs.

“I think that’s one of the mistakes I made,” he said. “I always used to go for minimum wage jobs, and I never had the motivation or fear of leaping to getting a higher paying job.”

Eventually at 62, Ray retired and began drawing social security. Because he didn’t earn much during his working years, he gets a little under a thousand dollars.

“Not being able to defend themselves if somebody younger, stronger, bigger, can intimidate them in the sense of taking their belongings — maybe financially,” he says.

Thankfully, Ray hasn’t had to face that. He can only imagine how hard it would be, especially for him.

“The only one I’m taking now is the low dose chemotherapy pills that goes with the radiation,” he says, picking up a bottle of pills.

A month. It isn’t much, but at least he had his apartment. That was until two years ago: the rent was raised, and he was out.

“With the prices of rent and how it just increased over the last year so quickly, it’s like they can’t catch up,” Marrero explains.

 And without family and savings, some seniors quickly find themselves in Ray’s position. 

Marrero also points out that homeless seniors are faced with a set of unique challenges.

“A lot of the health-related issues. Diabetes, heart issues, also mental health, and depression,” he said.

Combined, he says, with fear, the physical stress from walking long distances, inadequate nutrition. Then, there are the dangers that come with living on the streets.

 Five years ago, Ray was diagnosed with colon cancer. It went into remission, but it’s come back.

“It’s tough, he says.” If you’re sick and you’re out on the streets, God help you if you survive.”

Ray does have a car, but with a car payment and auto insurance, in addition to his cell phone and health insurance, he says he’s left with very little at the end of the month. So, when he feels up to it, he does door dash deliveries to bring in a little extra money.

“They give me special permission to do it,” he says.

Ray is currently on a waiting list to get housing, but until that day comes, he can only imagine it in his mind.

“Either a white sofa or a black sofa. Modern furniture. Nothing antique. It has to be ultra, ultra-modern like Star Trek. Ultra Modern!” he says with a big smile on his face and hope in his eyes.