Help For Disabled Elderly Property Owner
(Memphis) It took neighbors’ complaints to get the plight of Willie Springfield noticed.
They say for years, his home on Grand Opera Cove continued to decline, with high weeds, rats and snakes, and no electricity or running water.
All while the double amputee was inside confined to a wheelchair.
Since our story last week, the city is determining if the house is a safe place to live.
Someone has also cut half of the yard.
We even tracked down Willie Springfield’s ex-wife Corrine Springfield, ”I am not going back over there. I just couldn’t take it.”
She says she tried to help her ex-husband but things got too bad, “He was on drugs. That was all he would do was spend up his money on them drugs.”
Springfield says Willie’s Social Security check ends up in the hands of drug dealers.
Neighbors say people show up around the time his check arrives.
He even told us he gave someone money to get his utilities turned on, “Paid a gal to get them turned on. But she didn’t get them turned on, so that is that. It’s hard to get help.”
So who can help?
If the city declares the home unsafe, the county says resources from the Aging Commission can be used to find Willie Springfield a new place.
There are also funds for in-home assistance.
Viewers have contacted us offering to cut grass on the property and get local churches involved.
“That’s my neighbor. I just want to get some help for him. Anybody that can get over here today and possibly help him because I don’t know what else to do,” says neighbor Tony Gill.
News Channel 3 will continue to follow this case.
There are many more people like Willie Springfield, who could easily fall through the cracks unless someone takes notice and tries to make a change.
If you want to help, email april.thompson@wreg.com
