Homelessness

I read a story today of the AP and it really touched my heart.  I then read the comments, and was confused as to mean-ness of some, and the total ignorance of others.  Let me tell you a bit about the article, and then I will mention where I stand on it.  I would welcome comments from any who read this.

There is a young woman, about 23 years of age, and she had her own apartment (including a big dog and a piano), she had a good job, and she was independent.  Then the economy crashed, and she got caught in the crossfire and crashed with it.  She lost her job, and held on as long as she could with part-time jobs, temp jobs, and unemployment.  Finally, all the money was gone, no more jobs were calling. 
She moved in with her parents for a short time, but realized soon thereafter she couldn't stay with them, for reasons of her own.  She then stayed in a small trailer which she inherited after the owner committed suicide.  She moved it to the only place she could afford, which was free at the time, a Wal-Mart parking lot.  There were lots of other homeless people living there in trailers, cars, and make-shift shelters.  As she stayed there, she met two doctors who had such bad experiences with the economy, they were left to live in a car.  She met others who had advanced degrees, who had been teachers, people from all walks of life, who had been hit by the horrible economy problems, and had lost everything but the clothes on their back.
As things worked out, her place was taken from her as a Wal-Mart executive who was visiting moved everyone out, but in two months time she was able to get her trailer back.  She had to have her dog boarded, but the people who are keeping him are people she found through Twitter, and have helped lots of people.  After her trailer was found inhabitable, she had to move to somewhere else, and the people who were boarding her dog offered her a place in one of their sheds.  She says there are others out there as well, and when any inspector comes by, they all have to leave, but most come back. 
During all this time, the one thing she despertly held onto was her laptop.  She needed to have a link to the world, and anyone who has gone without a computer in this day and age, knows how life is cut off from you if you cannot access a computer.  Sometimes an online application is all an employer will take, and other services from the State and County are often not available unless you have computer access.
Someone decided she should write of her experiences as they progressed, hopefully having a happy ending.  Well, she started writing a blog, using the WiFi access at a local Starbucks.  People started to follow her writings, and now she has published a book.  She states she was given an advance, not much, but she used almost all of it in repaying friends who had helped her.  So, she is still homeless, jobless, and is struggeling. 
There is a glich in the system because if you are single, have no children, and are not legally classified as disabled, you do not qualify for many of the programs in the state and county.  So, one cannot qualify for food stamps to eat, medical assistance, housing assistance, and many other programs. 

So, now for my story for all those who felt this girl should have lived with her parents; that she was lying; that she was lazy; or that she was just stupid.

I was working as a paralegal, had a Bachelor's degree, my own apartment, my own vehicle paid off, and maybe not a piano, but a horse which is just a valuable to me.  The economy went bust in Las Vegas, I lost my job.  I immediately looked for work again, and put out over 100 applications, which is highly unusual for me.  I am used to, and maybe a little spoiled, getting a call within my first few applications and then an interview, and hired shortly thereafter.  It just wasn't working this way, and I couldn't figure out why.  I worked at a friends office for a short time, but the economy hit him as well, and I couldn't stay there.  I used up all my unemployment benefits, and also tried to work with temp agencies, which were not hiring either.  I finally had to take a boarder to help pay the rent with my unemployment benefits, thinking positive, that I would have a job shortly.  The boarder had his hours cut as well and couldn't keep paying me, and my benefits were finally exhausted.  I had no where else to go but to my Mom's apartment, putting my whole life in storage, and getting rid of quite a few things which I valued.

I finally started my own online paralegal business, but then the attorneys were feeling the sqeeze so much, there were many who had to reduce their prices to be equal to mine.  I got two jobs during this time, but not from the website, which I paid handsomely for, but from a friend who referred me.  I then had to let the paralegal business go as I could not continue to pay the web hosting costs, the ad costs, and people were telling me an attorney told them they could do the same job as I could for the same amount of money. 
I started to get sicker, probably due to all the stress of money and moving in with someone else, as I was very used to and happy by myself.  My doctor diagnosed me with Lupus, and I started treatment for this.  Then, since I was unemployed, and now starting on my Master's degree since I had to do something with my life while not working, I decided to fullfil one of my desires and apply to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer.  I had the time, so I wanted to keep busy, and if I could help others, I wanted to do so.  I was accepted, after a lengthy criminal and background check (thus, I am not a bum, drug addict, or felon!), and then I had to go through 40 hours of training.  I completed all this and was given my first case in October 2009. 
I then went to the CASA State Conference in April of 2010, and after that, went on to Montana to see my knee doctor, as my knees and hips were hurting a lot more recently.  I had to do this trip on money used from my school loans, so I didn't just borrow money and blow it, every bit of money I ever received from my school loans, went to help on housing expenses, necessities I hadn't been able to buy, and costs associated with my schooling and CASA work, especially on gas since there were a lot of meetings in the beginning.  My knee doctor took x-rays and determined that my knees, both of them, needed to be replaced ASAP, my hips had huge spurs in the joints, which is why they hurt so bad, and my left leg had become quite a bit shorter due to a surgery on my knee in 1995, which was making my back hurt since I was compensating with my walking.  He suggested I apply for SS disability due to my conditions financially and the need for the surgery if I was to be able to work again.
I came back from this trip with another plan in mind, I always have back-up plans.  I was going to finish my Master's and also apply for disability just to get my surgery.  I didn't want to be on it for the rest of my life, I just wanted to get my surgery done so I could walk my dog, ride a horse, and simply not hurt anymore.  I then went to my rheumatologist as instructed to by my general doctor, and was then diagnosed with Fibromyalgia as well as the Lupus.
During all this time, I met someone online, and I thought there might be a better life for me if I lived with them.  So, he paid for me to move to Alaska to be with him.  He is not rich by any means of the word, but he worked as an artist, doing small pieces and selling them, and then sending me the money so I could move up there.  I did, took my little Bichon, and we lasted all of four months.  My health just got worse, and it was not working out the way we had both planned, we were not compatiable.  So, as he had promised, he paid for me to move back to Las Vegas. 
I finished my Master's degree in 2008.  Then after coming back to Las Vegas from Alaska, seeing the economy and my health had not changed for the better, decided to continue my education.  I am now working on my Ph.D. while waiting for my disability to go through, and the economy to pick-up again.
So, much like the young woman I introduced you to in the beginning, I have not sat still, nor have I become lazy.  I don't particullary like living with my Mother, especially at my age, but these are the times we live in.  In the times of the Great Depression, many people co-habitated together, and sometimes they were not even related. 
I was voted for the year 2010 Most Outstanding Newcomer for CASA in Nevada, so I must have done something right.  I continue to keep trying to move forward, despite my illnesses and continual pain.  If something were to happen to my Mom tomorrow, I would be homeless.  We are only living on her Social Security and what little money I get from loans that doesn't go to doctors and medicine.  So, this young woman's story is very real and very scary to me. 

If you are lucky enough to have a job right now, have an income of any sort, have a place of your own, have a vehicle of your own, thank whomever you call God, because there are many of us out here, who are good people, smart people, clean people, who do not have what you are blessed with.  I am not lazy, as can be attested to by any of my friends or associates I have worked with or work with now in CASA; I am not an addict to any substance; I am not mentally ill; yet, I am a step away from being homeless myself. 

How close are you?