NBT special report.

There is a young man that for the last year has called the old pier on Navarre beach home.

His name is Billy, age 29. He has a sister that lives in Pensacola and his father resides in Arkansas. Billy is known to local authorities and breaks no laws so they pretty much leave him alone.

Billy picks up part time work whenever he can. Surfers that come to the beach help him out by bringing food. Billy has a girlfriend and is proud about not wanting food stamps and such.

Billy is a whiskey drinker and had the shakes when he showed me his bottle. I also noticed that his hands are discolored usually a sign that Billy is an alcoholic. Sometimes for extra money he dives in the Gulf when ever a worker on the new pier drops something like a tool. I asked him what about hypothermia and his response was " the water is not that cold " as he lit up a smoke.

I liked Billy and if he could get some help I think that he could turn around his situation. I decided not to take his photo from the front, so as to respect his privacy but I did take a long shot of him on the beach and one of his home under the old pier.

Before I left I gave Billy a clean blanket and told him that I would look out for him from time to time.









All photos © 2009 Across America Today LLC.


Navarre Beach Today. com " Why wait for the news? "

That was sweet Randy.

There are so many people on the streets or in this case on the beach. I'm glad people are being good to him. I hope the weather warms up and stays that way. It has to be so cold sleeping under the pier.

Thank you, Randy, for helping Billy out. That was very good of you to give him a blanket. I've heard that some people chose that way of life and that's the way they want to live. It's unfortunate, but if someone is going to be homeless, he picked a beautiful place to stay. I'm afraid that sounds uncaring, but it just might be his decision to live that way.

Thanks for your imput and thoughts.

Wow.... you answered a question that has been on my mind. When we were there visiting, my husband and I had the opportunity to meet this young man. It was early morning, surfers coming in, everyone spoke to him, he was washing up in the restrooms. He spoke to us, we asked him a few questions about the waves and the surfers, how beautiful it all was and he really seemed to appreciate just" being".... What an incredible gift that would be, if not controlled by the alcohol. What a great story, most areas try to cover up anything that might be uncomfortable for their image, but that was written with respect and compassion. It shows what a great community it actually is!!! Thanks again, you answered my question!!!

Wondering what has happened to Billy since the old pier is being torn down. Did he find a new place to live? Randy, have you checked on him lately? Just curious.

I have not seen him around.

I saw him in town today by the park. I also think I know where he has moved his belongings.

Where?

I am not sure the walkway number. It is the walkway that runs between Caribbean Resort and SugarBeach. I have seen bags under the walkway for the past few weeks. I have not seen anyone with them though.

I see there hasn't been any more work done to tear down the old pier. Looks like it was just done to get Billy out of there. Apparently, some people didn't want him living under that old pier, and used their influence to get that part removed. He wasn't bothering any body, was he?

EBB that is not true in fact that part of the pier was to be removed last August. The company hired backed out and they had to find another company. The people building the pier have to tear down the old pier by the time the new pier is completed. They are already behind on doing that.
They even took his belongings that he had left behind and saved them for him. He never came back for them.

Well, I would be PO'd, too, if someone knocked my house down and tossed my belongings into a heap on the sand.

We saw Billy late this afternoon by McDonald's. It looked like he had a nice warm coat on. I hope someone makes sure that he gets to the warming shelter the next few nights.