Like many members of this city’s homeless community, Abias Crosby came to Seattle via the armed services. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Crosby was stationed in Seattle with the United States Marine Corps.
His service ran almost two decades, and saw Crosby rise from the rank of Lance Corporal to Gunnery Sergeant. In those 17 years, Crosby saw action in both Vietnam and the First Gulf War.
His career in the Marine Corps ended only eight years ago—but a lot can happen in eight years. The pension Crosby receives from the Marine Corps didn’t come close to paying the bills, and Crosby became homeless. That, in spite of the fact that he’d given the country 17 years of his life, two tours of duty, and a son (also a marine, who just returned from his third tour of duty in Iraq).
A vendor, Van Crowder, introduced Crosby to Real Change, though, which supplemented his income. He now sells Real Change at 15th Ave. and Market St. NW.
Crosby is working to become a paralegal. In addition to an internship, Crosby is only about a year away from an associate’s degree which will allow him to pursue paralegal work professionally.
To his many customers, Crosby says of Real Change, “It helps. It spreads some pretty good information, too.”
I guess you could do worse.