Many people depend on their most recent paycheck or retirement check to pay their rent so they can avoid homelessness.

Franklin of Colorado Springs depends on his monthly retirement check from the Air Force to pay his rent, bills and other living costs. The 60-year-old veteran has been able to scrape by for years without a hitch.

But a few months ago, he ran into trouble.

Franklin, whose real name is not being used to protect his privacy, received a car ride from an acquaintance to a check-cashing store after Franklin received his monthly retirement check.

After cashing the check, Franklin got into the car.

But rather than take Franklin home, the driver made a detour to pick up someone Franklin didn’t know, Franklin said. The stranger sat in the car’s back seat behind Franklin, who was in the passenger’s seat.

Suddenly the two men assaulted Franklin and stole his wallet. “They took my retirement check that I rely on for everything for a whole month,” Franklin said.

Franklin stumbled out of the car with some minor injuries. He filed a police report against the men, who were later arrested by the Colorado Springs police.

Franklin next had to figure out how he was going to pay his rent. He hoped his landlord would understand, but rather than receive empathy, Franklin got an eviction notice.

That’s when he went to Ecumenical Social Ministries, which provides food, medicine, housing, job placement and educational programs for people in need. The Springs nonprofit is one of 15 area charities receiving grants from The Gazette-El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund.

ESM agreed to pay Franklin’s rent for the upcoming month and buy him a few weeks of groceries.

“I feel fantastic about how (ESM) helped me,” he said.

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