My 30 something brother is homeless and is ruining everyone's lives

[Anonymous]

My brother lives in Arizona. I recently learned from my parents that he is homeless and living in his pickup truck. I just don't know what to do anymore -- PLEASE I need some outside advice.

Over his whole life my brother has been a liar, a thief, an addict. It started in college when he lied to my parents and said he was going to college -- he took the tuition money and used it on drugs. He has only a high school education.

He has gone from job to job, state to state over the course of over a decade. His credit is trashed and he owes at least $10,000 that has been sent to collections. He was a heroin addict for years, but says he is now clean. He refuses to go to AA, a psychologist, or get any treatment or help.

My brother's problems are one thing, but he has completely trashed my parents' lives (and soon mine). My father is a very loving, trusting person. He has been supporting my brother (and his drug habit) for YEARS. I learned last weekend that my father, who has been retired for a few years, has NOTHING left in his retirement account. It's gone. He told me he needs to go back to work now. My mom and dad currently live near me, and I pay their rent while they watch my toddlers during the day. They have nothing left for their old age. They are in their late 70s.

Now my brother says he wants to move out to the DC area to "be with family." He is a stain and I don't want him anywhere near my kids. My parents, of course, will just accept him into the apartment (that I pay for).

What should I do? I can't have my kids around my brother. I can't afford to hire a nanny and pay for my parents' place. But they have no more money. Why can't a 35-year-old man live without mom and dad's help?

I just don't know what to do anymore.

[Anonymous]

Everyone (except brother) needs to go to Al-anon together.

I'm sorry this is happening to your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother lives in Arizona. I recently learned from my parents that he is homeless and living in his pickup truck. I just don't know what to do anymore -- PLEASE I need some outside advice.

Over his whole life my brother has been a liar, a thief, an addict. It started in college when he lied to my parents and said he was going to college -- he took the tuition money and used it on drugs. He has only a high school education.

He has gone from job to job, state to state over the course of over a decade. His credit is trashed and he owes at least $10,000 that has been sent to collections. He was a heroin addict for years, but says he is now clean. He refuses to go to AA, a psychologist, or get any treatment or help.

My brother's problems are one thing, but he has completely trashed my parents' lives (and soon mine). My father is a very loving, trusting person. He has been supporting my brother (and his drug habit) for YEARS. I learned last weekend that my father, who has been retired for a few years, has NOTHING left in his retirement account. It's gone. He told me he needs to go back to work now. My mom and dad currently live near me, and I pay their rent while they watch my toddlers during the day. They have nothing left for their old age. They are in their late 70s.

Now my brother says he wants to move out to the DC area to "be with family." He is a stain and I don't want him anywhere near my kids. My parents, of course, will just accept him into the apartment (that I pay for).

What should I do? I can't have my kids around my brother. I can't afford to hire a nanny and pay for my parents' place. But they have no more money. Why can't a 35-year-old man live without mom and dad's help?

I just don't know what to do anymore.

Because he has a mental illness.

If it were my brother, I would help him because I wouldn't be able to deal with thinking of him homeless, and because I've lost other immediate family members. But I would tell him that help is contingent upon him remaining in treatment. I would not help him if he refused treatment/therapy.

But no one would blame you if you want nothing to do with him, either. Concern for your children is a valid one.

It's tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother lives in Arizona. I recently learned from my parents that he is homeless and living in his pickup truck. I just don't know what to do anymore -- PLEASE I need some outside advice.

Over his whole life my brother has been a liar, a thief, an addict. It started in college when he lied to my parents and said he was going to college -- he took the tuition money and used it on drugs. He has only a high school education.

He has gone from job to job, state to state over the course of over a decade. His credit is trashed and he owes at least $10,000 that has been sent to collections. He was a heroin addict for years, but says he is now clean. He refuses to go to AA, a psychologist, or get any treatment or help.

My brother's problems are one thing, but he has completely trashed my parents' lives (and soon mine). My father is a very loving, trusting person. He has been supporting my brother (and his drug habit) for YEARS. I learned last weekend that my father, who has been retired for a few years, has NOTHING left in his retirement account. It's gone. He told me he needs to go back to work now. My mom and dad currently live near me, and I pay their rent while they watch my toddlers during the day. They have nothing left for their old age. They are in their late 70s.

Now my brother says he wants to move out to the DC area to "be with family." He is a stain and I don't want him anywhere near my kids. My parents, of course, will just accept him into the apartment (that I pay for).

What should I do? I can't have my kids around my brother. I can't afford to hire a nanny and pay for my parents' place. But they have no more money. Why can't a 35-year-old man live without mom and dad's help?

I just don't know what to do anymore.

OP,

I could have written something very similar to this. My youngest brother is a liar, thief and compulsive gambler, etc. etc. He's also homeless. In our case, my parents spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on him that went to nothing. Finally, my dad kicked him to the curb. My mother is deceased, but he definitely hastened her death while she was ill with this constant shenanigans. If she were alive today, she would end up supporting him until she ran out of money.

I've had to disconnect from it b/c I don't trust him and he could do something dangerous around my young kids. It's like the trouble maker in the family is drowning and he won't be satisfied until he pulls us all down with him.

Sorry I don't have any solutions, just my commiseration and deepest sympathies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone (except brother) needs to go to Al-anon together.

I'm sorry this is happening to your family.

I've asked my parents to go, but they refuse. My sister has been to al-anon meetings, but I admittedly have not and will look up a family meeting nearby. My sister says she knows the only thing to do is to do nothing at this point, but even she is having a hard time. I mean...I can't let my PARENTS be homeless in their old age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My brother lives in Arizona. I recently learned from my parents that he is homeless and living in his pickup truck. I just don't know what to do anymore -- PLEASE I need some outside advice.

Over his whole life my brother has been a liar, a thief, an addict. It started in college when he lied to my parents and said he was going to college -- he took the tuition money and used it on drugs. He has only a high school education.

He has gone from job to job, state to state over the course of over a decade. His credit is trashed and he owes at least $10,000 that has been sent to collections. He was a heroin addict for years, but says he is now clean. He refuses to go to AA, a psychologist, or get any treatment or help.

My brother's problems are one thing, but he has completely trashed my parents' lives (and soon mine). My father is a very loving, trusting person. He has been supporting my brother (and his drug habit) for YEARS. I learned last weekend that my father, who has been retired for a few years, has NOTHING left in his retirement account. It's gone. He told me he needs to go back to work now. My mom and dad currently live near me, and I pay their rent while they watch my toddlers during the day. They have nothing left for their old age. They are in their late 70s.

Now my brother says he wants to move out to the DC area to "be with family." He is a stain and I don't want him anywhere near my kids. My parents, of course, will just accept him into the apartment (that I pay for).

What should I do? I can't have my kids around my brother. I can't afford to hire a nanny and pay for my parents' place. But they have no more money. Why can't a 35-year-old man live without mom and dad's help?

I just don't know what to do anymore.

Because he has a mental illness.

If it were my brother, I would help him because I wouldn't be able to deal with thinking of him homeless, and because I've lost other immediate family members. But I would tell him that help is contingent upon him remaining in treatment. I would not help him if he refused treatment/therapy.

But no one would blame you if you want nothing to do with him, either. Concern for your children is a valid one.

It's tough.

I should say that my sister told him that she would pay his debts and pay for his apartment for a year if he agreed to live in a sober living facility and go to AA. He refused. I've given him $$ in the past, but he's just a black hole. It's my parents I'm concerned about now.

[Anonymous]

You need to look into low income senior housing and assisted living situations where he cannot live there. Your parents need to apply for food stamps and medical (assuming they are getting social security). You need to tell them that you cannot afford child care and their housing and its one or the other but brother is not to be around your kids. In some areas here, like Montgomery County, there are free treatment programs. he needs to go to one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My brother lives in Arizona. I recently learned from my parents that he is homeless and living in his pickup truck. I just don't know what to do anymore -- PLEASE I need some outside advice.

Over his whole life my brother has been a liar, a thief, an addict. It started in college when he lied to my parents and said he was going to college -- he took the tuition money and used it on drugs. He has only a high school education.

He has gone from job to job, state to state over the course of over a decade. His credit is trashed and he owes at least $10,000 that has been sent to collections. He was a heroin addict for years, but says he is now clean. He refuses to go to AA, a psychologist, or get any treatment or help.

My brother's problems are one thing, but he has completely trashed my parents' lives (and soon mine). My father is a very loving, trusting person. He has been supporting my brother (and his drug habit) for YEARS. I learned last weekend that my father, who has been retired for a few years, has NOTHING left in his retirement account. It's gone. He told me he needs to go back to work now. My mom and dad currently live near me, and I pay their rent while they watch my toddlers during the day. They have nothing left for their old age. They are in their late 70s.

Now my brother says he wants to move out to the DC area to "be with family." He is a stain and I don't want him anywhere near my kids. My parents, of course, will just accept him into the apartment (that I pay for).

What should I do? I can't have my kids around my brother. I can't afford to hire a nanny and pay for my parents' place. But they have no more money. Why can't a 35-year-old man live without mom and dad's help?

I just don't know what to do anymore.

Because he has a mental illness.

If it were my brother, I would help him because I wouldn't be able to deal with thinking of him homeless, and because I've lost other immediate family members. But I would tell him that help is contingent upon him remaining in treatment. I would not help him if he refused treatment/therapy.

But no one would blame you if you want nothing to do with him, either. Concern for your children is a valid one.

It's tough.

I should say that my sister told him that she would pay his debts and pay for his apartment for a year if he agreed to live in a sober living facility and go to AA. He refused. I've given him $$ in the past, but he's just a black hole. It's my parents I'm concerned about now.

Of course he would refuse. What shouldn't he? He's got good thing going right - money from parents, not having to deal with real life issues, stay high...etc. Only thing you can do it figure out how to protect yourself. Everyone has done enough. People set their own destiny as he has.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- I'm just sitting here crying at my desk. My parents are in CC debt up to their eyeballs now and instead of enjoying the last years of their lives with their grandchildren, my dad will be applying for food stamps and part time work. I wish my brother was never born.

[Anonymous]

Your post reeks of ignorance about mental health issues and addiction. Addicts lie and steal. They are driven to it. They cannot help themselves. A lot end up dead.

These are FACTS. Don't judge him as you would judge a healthy person.

Now with these facts, your family should never have enabled him. It simply prolongs the pain. He should have been cut off a long time ago and directed to institutional help. Families cannot force addicted adults to seek help and treatment. They just need to let go, and it's incredibly painful, but your parents should have been educated and guided to do so.

You need to drag your parents to addict meetings and therapy so they can be persuaded to cut him off. You can also tell them that you will NOT support them if their money is going to your brother. You can do this by paying the rent directly to the landlord, and similar things. You must clearly explain to your brother that he is not welcome in your neighborhood and you do not want him around your family.

The end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Your post reeks of ignorance about mental health issues and addiction. Addicts lie and steal. They are driven to it. They cannot help themselves. A lot end up dead.

These are FACTS. Don't judge him as you would judge a healthy person.

Now with these facts, your family should never have enabled him. It simply prolongs the pain. He should have been cut off a long time ago and directed to institutional help. Families cannot force addicted adults to seek help and treatment. They just need to let go, and it's incredibly painful, but your parents should have been educated and guided to do so.

You need to drag your parents to addict meetings and therapy so they can be persuaded to cut him off. You can also tell them that you will NOT support them if their money is going to your brother. You can do this by paying the rent directly to the landlord, and similar things. You must clearly explain to your brother that he is not welcome in your neighborhood and you do not want him around your family.

The end.

How do I drag them to meetings? They are adults too. I've told them they are enabling him and that they are just prolonging his problems and keeping him from getting well. My dad says he will "support his kids until he is broke or dead."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- I'm just sitting here crying at my desk. My parents are in CC debt up to their eyeballs now and instead of enjoying the last years of their lives with their grandchildren, my dad will be applying for food stamps and part time work. I wish my brother was never born.

Sigh... I am sorry OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to look into low income senior housing and assisted living situations where he cannot live there. Your parents need to apply for food stamps and medical (assuming they are getting social security). You need to tell them that you cannot afford child care and their housing and its one or the other but brother is not to be around your kids. In some areas here, like Montgomery County, there are free treatment programs. he needs to go to one.

Except that's not true.

I think that you focus on taking care of your parents, who, while they might be enabling your brother, also understandably don't want to abandon their child. It's easy to say "cut him off," but when it's your child, it's very hard for some people to do (as it should be! We want our parents to love us unconditionally!) I agree--help them apply for any benefits they might qualify for, and give them assistance in non-cash forms so they can't give it to your brother (have groceries delivered, pay rent directly, etc.). And do make clear that your brother is not welcome in the apartment you pay for, and may not be around your kids ever, even if they are also there. Enforce that by calling the cops if needed.

Talk to your siblings about making a plan to help your parents as they age. If you are all on the same page about your brother, that will help enormously. Do look into options like assisted living and senior housing.

You are not going to be able to make your brother do anything he doesn't want to, and it sounds like he has a serious drug addiction and probably some other serious mental health issues.

[Anonymous]

I would probably tell my parents to choose between him or me. But I have not been in your situation. I have cut contact with toxic cousins in my family, but my siblings are all sane.
Maybe family therapy with your parents would help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would probably tell my parents to choose between him or me. But I have not been in your situation. I have cut contact with toxic cousins in my family, but my siblings are all sane.
Maybe family therapy with your parents would help.

OMG. No, don't do that.