Need advice: I saw an acquaintance yesterday who is now homeless.

[1monster]

She worked for years for Walmart and they let her go for whatever reason. She had a really rough few months before getting what was a dream job for her.

Not quite a happily ever after, though.

She was diagnosed with cancer, lost her job and her home. She recently got out of the hospital where she was in for cancer surgery and treatment (paid for by Medicaid, fortunately). However she has no home. She is getting food stamps from the Florida Department of Children and Families, but no aid in getting a roof over her head. She is unable to stay at the local inadequate homeless shelter because she owes them money for the time she stayed there prior to her surgery... Apparently it costs $5.00 a day to stay there and she couldn't pay.

In more normal times, I would have helped her pay for a place to stay until she got a job again, but I am broke and about to be out of work for ten weeks.

She has applied for disability, but has been turned down in the initial application and in the appeal. She is now to have a hearing (soon, I hope) and is represented by a pro bono lawyer, but SSI benefits are never guaranteed despite the disability.

Does anyone know of any group/organization/government agency that might help her in Northeast Florida (St. Johns County, if possible)? I estimate that she is somewhere between fifty-five and sixty-two (given that one can officially retire and get social security at age 62.

This woman is new to the streets. I have offered her a tent and other amenities if she can find a place to pitch it. I've suggested that she approach other homeless women--there are far too many of them--to ask them about homeless communities in the area and to show her the ropes while I try to find some more solid types of help.

I am stymied and don't know where to start.

Despite the numerous "homeless" who stand out on the same street corners day after day after day with their cardboard signs which and gather quite a large amount of money from tourists and people like me, I am aware that there is a huge population of homeless here and am aware that "There but for the grace of God, Fate, or Karma, go I."

[struggle4progress]

1. .

http://www.fchonline.org/coalitions.asp

[1monster]

2. Thank you. I'm checking this out right now.

[1monster]

6. I just printed out a list from a link on this page which will help her most.

Thank you.

[Cleita]

3. What a disgrace this country is who let's hard working Americans

become indigent because they can't work anymore no matter what the reason whether because of health, lack of work or because they went to war and came back damaged human beings. I wish I had some advice other than to tell you badger your elected officials from local to federal to get to work to do something about this situation although I wonder how much they care.

[leftstreet]

5. I agree, but I'd remove the 'hard working' meme

No citizen should be homeless

No citizen should lack healthcare

When we add Horatio Algeresque qualifiers we play into the hands of the Ownership Class. "You didn't work hard enough" is propaganda, and especially dangerous as we lose thousands and thousands of jobs daily.

[obxhead]

9. +1

[Kievan Rus]

13. The "Horatio Alger myth" is poisonous -- +1000

[Cleita]

18. Yes, you are right but all those people whether formerly hard working

or who would have liked to have worked, but couldn't aren't excluded. I was a bartender and so I was familiar with alcoholics and drug abusers, who were my clientele, but they were able to work at day jobs and did so they could afford marginal housing. After Reagan came into office, every single one of them were forced through the cracks because our economic landscape was changing so rapidly and they became homeless. I heard that some died in the streets because they no longer had any recourse. Also the handicapped both mentally and physically were cared for in institutions. That came to an end with Reaganomics and they were thrown into the streets. The restaurant I worked at was near the VA and they had an old soldier's home for vets who couldn't cope anymore. They used to let them out in the town in the afternoon so some found their way into my place of work. After Reagan, the budget cuts came and the old guys were turned out. This men who served their country had been hard working and brave. Some went to nursing homes but many ended up in the streets. There went a few more of my customers. Also, a lot of women, who fall on hard times, have raised families and have worked very hard without pay or recognition. I'm sorry that you saw a narrower definition there. Those who don't work hard don't need money because they have other resources so they wouldn't be homeless.

[bobbolink]

28. "Those who don't work hard don't need money because they have other resources so they wouldn't be

homeless."

HUH?

[Cleita]

34. Ever heard of trust fund heirs and people who sit around the pool

waiting for their dividend check to come it? Those people? They don't work, if they don't want to, because they have other resources. They wouldn't be homeless now, would they?

[bobbolink]

37. So, it is only the idle rich and the working poor? Nobody else?

[bobbolink]

27. Those of us too old, too sick or too injured to work........

Even "progressives" can't seem to embrace us, too.

The meme of "the working poor" has overtaken brains.

[Cleita]

35. I'm too old to work but I do because I have a big credit card bill to pay off.

It's very hard but I have to do it.

[bobbolink]

36. That wasn't the question.

[Cleita]

38. Give it a rest. You won't get a rise out of me. n/t

[bobbolink]

39. .

:hi:

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. Try the local

Catholic Community Services/Charities office or any of the faith based places. They may be able to offer some kind of assistance.......

[1monster]

7. Catholic Charities is on the List. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Akoto]

8. She needs to keep fighting for the SSI.

Their hope is that, after being rejected time and again, you will give up. It's the people who stay the course with legit cases that eventually get it.

I'm actually coming up on getting a date for my hearing, myself. I've been rejected initially and on appeal, even though my doctors have all concurred that I am disabled. When you get to look an actual human in the eye, rather than being brushed off by some paper pusher, your odds are improved.

[1monster]

16. I've been through the processs three times with a step child and they refused him

apparently on the basis that we were taking care of him and that he can work. Never mind that he will NEVER be able to live independently, not even with some assistance.

Might try again in a year as his prospects have changed, and not for the better, in the last six months.

[xxqqqzme]

20. Yes, keep at it!

It took me five years to get SS Disability, even w/ left side paralysis. I finally got an attorney who had worked in the appeal process. She knew the drill. You do not pay attorney's fees. They are paid a percentage based on some SocSec formula.

[Walk away]

10. This is going to sound facetious but when I was facing the same situation...

last year (I literally pulled out of my plunge within days of losing everything) I researched Federal crimes that I could commit that would have little or no impact on individuals but earn me prison time.

I would never recommend that anyone do anything illegal but a minimum security Federal prison is pretty cushy compared to most shelters. If you are sick they will send you to one with a hospital. I know it sounds horrible but here in the U.S. we take better care of our prisoners (on the Federal level) then we do our poor.

[bobbolink]

29. Many people have done just that.

Because, you may notice, that all "progressives" are able to talk about is charity, NOT HOUSING, which is the only thing that will solve the crisis.

:cry:

[howaboutme]

11. America is the greatest country on Earth.....

How many times have you heard the elitists on CNBC or CNN or talk radio say that? They don't care what the USA has become, and many have no idea what it is to actually work for a living.

In actuality if you are younger than 55 you probably have no concept of what the USA has become except for what you've been told. In the 1950s and 60s and even into the early 70s every town and small city had factories that made things that Americans actually used. They provided jobs that paid relatively well and enough for so that one spouse could support a family. Today we have a Wal-Mart.

We graduated from a self sufficient to a service and financialist nation where the manufacturing jobs went to China and the money went to the financiers, CEOs, sports, and Hollywood.

You need to stop and figure out how that happened and who it was that gained and it is an eye opener, and it was by plan not accident.

I hope your friend is able to turn things around. We've become a pathetic nation where so few have so much while so many have so little.

[1monster]

17. I'm fifty-four. I remember. I remember when this was a great county.

What the idiots governing our country to hell is that a country is only as good as the least of it's citizens. And citizen, as much as an army, runs on its stomach. No food in the belly, not good for the citizens, not good for the country.

[Bitwit1234]

12. My Uncle applied for disability when he had cancer AND

it took about three to four months but he finally got it. Tell her to try to hang in there.

[Lorien]

14. No one she knows has so much as an extra room or sofa that she could stay on?

If anyone I knew personally were homeless I'd offer up my tiny home to them. None of us can't count on State or local agencies for anything any more.

[1monster]

19. She is an acquaintance, and not someone I know. She had to tell me

her name yesterday, because, though we've talked at various times before, we never exchanged names.

And no, I don't have much room. She'd have to share with eight cats and a dog...

I am doing what I can to help her. I gave her money I had with me yesterday, and when I make contact with her again, I will give her enough to clear up her debt with the homeless shelter and enough to stay while she looks for aid for a permanent home. I've also offered a tent if she can't stay at the homeless shelter and other things she will need for living in a tent. The place in my home (a converted garage) that I used to offer out to people who needed shelter is no longer livable due to a very serious roof problem. I finally got the roof fixed, but the carpet is ruined and moldy, the ceiling tiles are falling in. I don't even let my cats or dog in there. It will take me time to fix it up again enough to be livable.

Sorry, I can't live up to your standards, but my financial health isn't very healthy right now either.

[Dappleganger]

47. Everyone is doing what we can.

You have done a LOT already...if you'd not posted this I would have never known there was a specific need.

She has a sofa to sleep on for a few nights with another friend. She said it's safe (she just needs to get the bus schedule timing down). My daughter and I are meeting up with her tomorrow morning and I'll report back later.

If every one could just help do something small, it really does add up over time.

[volvoblue]

15. SS denies the first time generally

there are lawyers who specialize in SS benefits and understand that payment will not be until they win SS and get the back pay.
I would also check with local shelters and agencies.
I use to work for HUD years ago.

[HillGal]

22. It actually depends on the illness, there are some illnesses that aren't turned down the first time

requested, and in case it might help someone reading this, mental illnesses usually aren't turned down.

[HillGal]

21. Does she have any family she can stay with at all? it's not easy but we took a couple

of relatives in a few years ago because of lack of finances on their part and 1 having an illness. It's sad that it's not like the old days where families took care of each other when it's needed. :(

[Dappleganger]

23. I live in NW St. Johns county

Send me a PM and maybe we can find someone to help. If you have a list of very specific needs please include those.

[Dappleganger]

24. Bump again.

Seriously, contact me as I can help. I'm but 20 minutes from there.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

40. try sending a personal message...

[renate]

41. you are a lovely person

:hug:

[Dappleganger]

42. No...

just have a lot of friends in low places. ;)

Seriously, this situation has reminded me to get the list of resources I used the last time updated from a year ago. So many of the places we used to steer people to before have folded because of lack of donations.

The OP and I have made a connection. :)

[nichomachus]

25. Call Bill and Hillary -- they're ones who sabotaged the welfare system

To serve their corporate handlers

[bobbolink]

30. YESSSS!!!

:yourock:

[Shadow Creature]

26. does...

does she have family and friends who could pool resources together to give her a stepping stone?

[bobbolink]

31. Why does everyone ask that same question?

Do you seriously think that she has forgotten if she has family?

Could all of you PLEASE take this as a nudge to work for low-income housing, instead of making this her personal and private problem?

[Shadow Creature]

32. I think

I think it is because that is the first line of defense for everyone. It's the first thought most of us would have.

Plus, having us push for low-income housing doesn't help that particular person on this particular day. Those who know her and care about her CAN help her on this particular day.

That is why everyone asks that same question.

THEN they'll think about the next line of defense.

[bobbolink]

33. Think about it for one minute. You are homeless. You have nowhere to go.

Then 537 people ask you, "Don't you have family or friends to go to?"

NOTHING is going to move DUers to push for low-income housing.

It just doesn't matter.

Everyone is like the RW.. they think that "charity" solves it all.

[Walk away]

43. In Ireland they build houses for the homeless and give them to them.

I think Americans can't deal with giving the gift of dignity with no strings. They want folks in need to continuously feel obligated and subjugated as punishment for being poor.

[bobbolink]

45. I'm bookmarking your response, because you have pinpointed the US attitude exactly.

"I think Americans can't deal with giving the gift of dignity with no strings. "

We are a damned Calvinist nation, including those who keep saying that they don't like religion. Whether they realize it or not, they have (mostly) bought into it.

Great contribution--thanks!! :yourock:

[Admiral Loinpresser]

44. I agree that charity is not the systemic answer.

But because we have a federal government which serves the ruling class, we have to do whatever we can to help each other.

I believe the only real solution to poverty, homelessness, etc., is to hold rat turds like Obama and the rest of that Rahm Emanuel crowd accountable for their war on the non-rich. Until we have a real Democrat in the White House, someone who will require the rich to pay their fair share, America will continue its decline and the people will suffer ever more.

When the rich pay their fair share and we quit the vast corporate welfare, i.e. when we have a leader who will counter the Reagan revolution, we can take care of people the way European countries do. American leadership is a disgusting tragedy and this woman, like so many others, is paying for it with misery.

[bobbolink]

46. Of course we must all do what we can to help each other.... across the boards.

But, I will remind you again, when it comes to homelessness, that is all we have been doing for the last 30 years.

How well is that working out? Homelessness has been wiped out by our helping each other?

[Admiral Loinpresser]

48. You are right as rain. n/t

n/t

[mikita]

49. I'm sure you were irritated as you wrote this,

but I just laughed inadvertently at your first sentence:

"Do you seriously think that she has forgotten if she has family?"


It was a priceless line of logic, and so to the point.

Back to the seriousness of it all, thanks for your posts.

[bobbolink]

51. Thank you, mikita, it comes from direct experience, and I have actually said that to people.

We homeless people aren't dumb.... just homeless, but that fact seems lost on those who would try to "straighten us out".

I will never forget the time I was talking with a self-described socialist here... one who prides herself on understanding the deeper issues. I had just come back from a visit to my hometown (no family there! hehehhe), and it was really good for me, but of course, there is noway to be there.

Well, this "socialist" says, "Have you ever considered moving there?" geeeeez.... she knows the score, but just has to ask.

I said this, accompanied with my frustration, to another homeless woman here, and she rolled her eyes and said, "No, my homeless brain is so addled from all the drugs I take that I have lost ability to think." We both had a good laugh about it, but it is VERY frustrating.

Thanks for understanding. It is much appreciated. :hi:

[tammywammy]

50. My mom told me today that she's getting a roommate

She just found out a friend is near homeless, living in a travel trailer that leaks when it rains and with no AC. She had lived with a boyfriend for many years and they apparently broke up. She hasn't worked for years, so getting a job is impossible (plus, though I've only met this friend once, I believe she's near my mom's age - 60). The woman's son is unemployed right now and barely making ends meet with his own wife and children. So, mom's getting a roommate.