COMMUNITY members are fighting to find housing for a local veteran after he was evicted from his home and was left to live out of his car.

Fred Meisberger, 80, was kicked out of his Cincinnati, Ohio home after selling it in a leaseback deal.

Fred Meisberger, 80, was kicked out of his home of 27 years after entering a leaseback deal, leaving him and his family to live out of a carCredit: Local 12

Leaseback programs are typically sought out as a financial decision, allowing a homeowner to sell their house while remaining in it and paying rentCredit: Local 12

His daughter, step-son, and two dogs were forced to live out of a car he bought as hopefully temporary shelter for $2000 with the last of his savingsCredit: Local 12

Leaseback programs are typically sought out as a financial decision, allowing a homeowner to sell their house while remaining in it and paying rent.

Meisberger had lived in his home for 27 years before selling in a leaseback deal, understanding the transaction to mean that he and his family would remain living there.

Instead, they have all been kicked to the curb, and forced to live out of a vehicle.

The unnamed company bought the home for $147,500, despite it holding an estimated value of $212,000.

Meisberger paid 6 months of rent upfront, at a steady rate, but that all soon changed.

After those six months, he claims that the company began raising the rent cost steadily until it was unaffordable.

“It’s really hard,” Meisberger said.

“It breaks my heart to think that I got myself in this situation. I don’t know how I did it, but I did it.”

“They took almost everything I own,” Meisberger told NBC 24.

His daughter, step-son, and two dogs were forced to live out of a car he bought as hopefully temporary shelter for $2000 with the last of his savings.

“I just exhausted everything I had,” Meisberger said.

“Now I’m homeless. I just don’t have no place to go.”

The $2,000 was all that was left from the house sale after paying back taxes, building up bills, and attorney fees.

Although he and his family are now homeless, Meisberger now also worries about his previous tenants.

While he was the homeowner, Meisberger had an apartment on the property that he was renting out to a couple.

Then, a year ago, the couple could no longer pay for rent, but Meisberger refused to make them homeless and allowed them to stay.

With his own eviction, the couple Meisberger was leasing to has also been displaced and is now living on the streets.

A ROOF OVER HIS HEAD

It appears that Meisberg’s good karma as a landlord has come around in the form of community aid.

After seeing Meisberger’s situation, a fellow veteran was quick to open her doors.

Joyce Lewis was connected to Meisberg by News 12 after she reached out wanting to help the man.

Joyce Lewis opened her doors to the family, and both dogs, while Meisberg is getting back on his feetCredit: Local 12

Lewis said she had plenty of room and beds to help, so she didCredit: Local 12

“I just thought I could share my home,” explained Lewis.

“I’ve got three beds and they have three people. And I also felt sorry for the dogs, cause I know how tough it is to find a place to live, to find temporary housing when you have dogs. So, they deserve a second chance too.”

Meisberg said that it was not all to odd to take Lewis’ offer; he knew it was what he would do if the roles were reversed.

“It was nice,” he said.

“I didn’t know man, I just took a chance of coming in and introducing myself and meeting somebody who was just as caring as I would be.”

Lewis says that plenty of people have disapproved of her kindness, but she is unfazed.

“A lot of people are going to say, you’re crazy! You don’t know these people,” she recalled.

“I’ve been called worse. I figured they could help me out too, not financially, but just emotionally to have someone to live with.”

Meanwhile, Meisberg describes his and Lewis’ relationship as more than just a philanthropic landlord and a down-on-his-luck tenant.

“She’s looking out for me and I’m going to look out for her. I’ll make it,” said Meisberg.

The whole community has rallied for Meisberg, with News 12 receiving multiple emails from individuals and organizations offering to help pay his rent and set him up with aid.

One individual set up a GoFundMe page to help raise $25,000 for the man and his family to get back on their feet.

The fundraiser has raised nearly $9,000 of their goal, and calls on other community members to help a man who “served our country with honor.”

“Every donation, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference in the life of this deserving veteran,” reads the description.

“Let’s come together as a community to show Fred that his sacrifices have not been forgotten and that he is not alone in this fight for justice.”