A formerly homeless man has turned a new page in his life after finally securing a place to call home. On April 9, Stan Mowatt opened the door to his new apartment at Eskaton Lincoln Manor on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville. Friend and advocate Dr. Mitchell Goodis was there by his side, ready to help.
Dr. Goodis received the call from Lincoln Manor about the open apartment as Mowatt’s phone number had changed since he signed up on the waitlist many years ago. The unit’s previous tenant moved into an assisted living facility, and he and her family decided to leave all of the furnishings for Mowatt.
“It’s like manna from heaven,” said Goodis, adding he’s overjoyed that his friend and former employee finally has a fully furnished place to call home. Mowatt worked at Dr. Goodis’ practice as a dental lab technician making dentures for five years. His employment ended after he suffered a stroke, which affected his memory, balance and the use of his left hand.
At 67, unemployed and on Social Security, Mowatt’s income was not enough to qualify for most apartments, which often require income to be three times the rent. Eskaton Lincoln Manor takes part in HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program that provides a rent subsidy for low-income seniors. According to Zach Melchiori, Eskaton vice president of Sales, Marketing and Brand Management, to qualify for Eskaton Lincoln Manor the income limit for one person is $45,050 and the waitlist is approximately two-and-a-half years.
Mowatt lived in his Honda Pilot SUV for more than four years. At night, he slept in his SUV parked at Goodis’ dental practice after hours. During the day, Mowatt parked his vehicle across the street on property owned by Dr. Goodis on Koki Lane near Union Mine High School.
Mowatt said over the years several people called the sheriff’s department to complain about him. He said parents were worried about his presence. Mowatt said eventually law enforcement knew who he was and “left him alone.” Used to being independent, he said living in his vehicle wasn’t all that bad. “I had a 360-degree view and if I didn’t like the view, I just moved on.”