LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) – One Love, a well known Longview nonprofit that has been providing shelter to the East Texas homeless community is preparing to shut their doors this Friday after a continued struggle to keep the program running.
The executive director and founder of One Love, Amanda Veasy, expressed her sorrow about the nonprofit shutting their doors this weekend.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry,” Veasy said.” We’ve sometimes been keeping 40 to 50 people a day.”
Veasy opened One Love five years ago and since then she has had an impact on hundreds of lives, including Derick Turiello who got in trouble with the law shortly after moving to Longview a year and a half ago. After being arrested on a warrant, they put him in touch with the non-profit.
Turiello spoke about how One Love helped change his life for the better and expressed his gratitude for what the people of One Love have done for him.
“They help out a lot. I don’t even know how to show my appreciation to them. It’s amazing, it’s beautiful what they do,” Derick Turiello said.
Unfortunately, One Love is being forced to close due to continued lack of funding. Although they are shutting their doors, Veasy gave their reassurance that this is not goodbye.
“Not dissolving the nonprofit, we will still very much be here, we are just having to transition to the way that we are providing services right now,” Veasy said.
Veasy says there have been a lot of tears, and they are beyond sorry to all the men and women they help daily.
“What’s happening to them is devastating, and as hard as we fought and put them on the line, it hasn’t been enough, and it’s never enough, and it’s heartbreaking for us to walk away,” Veasy said.
The organization has been working tirelessly to get a safe place for everyone. Turiello is one of many who was affected by One Love and is still searching for a plan after the announcement of One Love’s closure.
“I really don’t have a set plan, but just be staying off the streets and staying out of trouble. I try to help out as much as I can, you know, give back,” Turiello said.
Turiello also acknowledged that he is sad to see One love Longview go, but he will never forget everything they have done for him.
“They’re very good people, I think they’re always. They always show me love, so I want to do the same in return, you know,” Turiello said.
One Love Longview will close their doors at one tomorrow afternoon but will continue helping their clients one-on-one until the end of the month.
