Reading this? It's about Homelessness

Homelessness.

What to do, what to know ...

It's not the first time for me.  I have hope it's the last time.  Over the course of the last 8 years (maybe more) I've been semi-homeless or actually homeless a number of times.

The only oddity most folks might find is that I have an A.A. degree; am well-read (or used to be); am Caucasian; am female; about to be 56; used to be able to work at well paying jobs; and can write - most times, eruditely.  Be advised, I'm not certain if this web-log entry will be eruditely or even provocatively written.  But read on!

To keep off the streets, I have house-sat; animal sat; and one time even managed to find work while living in space that didn't have toilet facilities, heating or cooling, with siphoned electricity -- though I paid rent for it and finally got thrown out of because the folks in the front house reported it to the authorities.  I've also worked and rented space from legitimate property owners twice in the last four years, the first time for 1 year, and the time now coming to an end for about 2 years.

Five to six years ago, I was in an emergency-shelter (not one of my pleasant experiences), for one-night, and wound up in an associate's living room from what I call sheer luck, until I was gifted with a long-term house-sitting situation.

So the fact that I've been dealing since January of this year (2010) with DPSS trying to find housing before I wind up on the streets on August 3 is not new -- except for the fact that I was asking for help from the DPSS.


Perhaps I should say, DPSS finds it an oddity apparently ... but then, there are a lot of folks that didn't use to be DPSS recipients prior to the economic downturn in early 2009.

So now you know a little bit about me.  Read on for the truly important information.

I've pulled together some links you may want to know about if Homelessness is close to you, or someone you know.  It's taken me some time to find them, and for that I feel chagrined, because my internet research skills are very good.  (There's no ego in my family, I have it all!  :)

I'm soon to lose my internet connection and land line (along with my room) so I want to get these online now, while I have the opportunity.

Make a difference.  Pass this information onto folks if you feel awareness of, or a connection with, the people who face the situation called Homelessness.

Invisible people (an interesting v-log to peruse through)
http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog
http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/about/
http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/invisible-people-homeless-road-trip/

End Homelessness
http://homelessness.change.org/

David Henderson's (a writer) thoughts on Homelessness  (I particularly like his story on "Social Networks Risk Client Privacy, Please Retweet")
http://homelessness.change.org/blog?author_id=460

Snapshot of Homelessness
http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/about_homelessness/snapshot_of_homelessness

The Wordsmith's Forge - Myths about Homelessness (a conversation amongst bloggers and writers espousing a number of views)
http://www.blogcatalog.com/search/frame?term=homelessness&id=67626ff40f045891eddea7929b438cef

The Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (apparent Legal definitions of Homelessness for Public Services agencies to use in defining their actions taken)
http://www.hudhre.info/documents/HomelessAssistanceActAmendedbyHEARTH.pdf

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  (I personally haven't found this to be to helpful -- it's part of what I call *The System* in other posts, but if it helps you or those you know ... Huzzah!)
http://www.hudhre.info/index.cfm?do=viewLookingAssistance


Image of question mark by Stefan Boudy, used with Creative Commons license of Attribution.

The Foods We Eat

In tandem with my earlier post, and as I go through the process of sorting the books I'm giving away, the ones listed in this post are close to my heart.

I recommend them to you, and you to them.

Know that I don't hold with everything every book says. However each of them has value. Check them out, see if any of them can assist you in making a difference in your life.

• ani's raw food kitchen, Easy, Delectable Living Foods Recipes
  by Ani Phyo, Executive Chef and Cofounder, SmartMonkey Foods

 

• Power Juices Super Drinks, Quick, Delicious Recipes to Prevent and Rverse Disease
  by Steve Meyerowitz

• Dining in the Raw, Groundbreaking Natural Cuisine That Combines the Techniques of Macrobiotic, Vegan, Allergy-Free, and Raw Food Disciplines
  by Rita Roman

• Digestive Wellness
  by Elizabeth Lipski, M.S., C.C.N.

• Foods That Heal, A guide to understanding and Using the Healing Powers of Natural Foods
  by Dr. Bernard Jensen

• The Findhorn Family Cookbook
  by Kay Lynne Sherman

• A Celebration of Wellness, An easy to use vegetarian cookbook
  by James Levin, M.D. and Natalie Cederquist

Food Sensitivities & Feeling Lost

Red Harvester Ant photo by jurvetson
used with Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

As an advocate of making a difference, I'm stymied. For myself.

What action can you take when you feel you can't make a difference?

Most folks place their utmost faith in the medical system (since I'm a westerner, know that my meaning is the United States medical system). A system I am at odds with.

Here's a flow of some of my supposedly way-out-there beliefs that most of my acquaintances don't understand: We are inextricably effected by what we ingest. The food we eat and the liquids we drink heavily effect what we feel; sense; and the health and balance of our bodily systems. What we eat and drink on a daily basis effects the clarity of our senses, the clarity of our mind and thoughts, and many of the symptoms we find in our bodies.

Let me state from the gitgo, that I also believe your body functions in the same way mine does, perhaps to a greater or lesser degree. We are inculcated to eat pre-packaged foods and to eat fast-foods partially because we've created so much going on in our lives we think we have no time to focus on our nourishment

For instance, for two weeks (until the 16th) I had been ingesting:

• fresh juices (juiced myself),
• fresh fruits -- food processed so I could ingest them (chewing for me has been a huge difficulty),
• raw flax meal (that I grind thanks to a handy-dandy little machine I picked up ages ago),
  
• cooked rice,
• cooked potatoes,
  
• soy protein,
  
• and other mildly steamed or baked vegetables.
  
• No packaged foods, no canned foods, no salt, no refined sugar, no gluten and no dairy.
  
• No meat, chicken, fish
• Increased use of olive oil and coconut oil

In that time I had:

• picked up nearly twice the physical energy I've had in many, many years,
• realized less congestion and physical symptoms of congestion in my ears, nose, lungs,
• lessened the crusting of material around my eyes,
  
• lessening of the nearly constant mild periorbital edema below my left eye (edema, dropsy, hydropsy), which has been so severe at points in my life that it spread to both eyes and for 7 years in a row required courses of prednisone
• lessening of tightness in my lungs and the ability to take deep breaths easily and with comfort,
  

Now 3 days later and having resorted to one fast food restaurant purchase (one day); 2 cans of cannellini beans (that had 7% salt listed in their portions) one day (a second day); and 2 frozen food items yesterday from Trader Joe's (each that had 10% salt listed -- along with other ingredients that I kept track of) --

• my periorbital edema has returned,
• my mental clarity had dimmed,
• waking up with morning headaches has returned,
• nasal catarrh has returned
• tight lungs and slightly more labored breathing has returned,
  
• the feeling of congestion in my ears and between them has returned,
• and a serious decrease of energy has returned.

That's a very slight usage of packaged and fast foods, yet it's a very significant increase of illness symptoms in my body. And it was unexpected, I thought I would have more time before the symptoms -- came back, so to speak.

I took in those foods, for psychological reasons. I needed some comfort foods, my stress levels are quite high and I truly didn't believe I would get these symptoms back so quickly.

The medical system of my society has, when I was young, used so much penicillin on me that now I react allergically to it (along with a host of other drugs whose names I cannot now remember).

I have been unable to convince normal medical practitioners the issues within my body -- and that's when I was working and had insurance to cover their fees.

I did have results with a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, and a physical therapist -- whose fees I was able to cover with my flexible spending plan (again when I was able to work).

And now, being on GR which leads to the heavy use of free clinics, it's nearly impossible to have a conversation with the medical personnel I do manage to see. Much less manage to get their attention to focus on something that doesn't fit within their paradigm.

Much less trying to convince GR and other agencies to assist me with some kind of housing rather than requiring I give up all my belongings other than what I can carry in a bag so I can begin using their emergency one-night shelters to get in a long line for transitional housing. (Try lugging a Champion Juicer all over creation with one good hand --  they're heavy buggers.  ::grin::)

I have what people call food sensitivities, not defined by our medical system as allergies. I don't fit the western medical paradigm. I apparently believe weird things.

And at the moment there seems to be nothing I can do to alter things.

So there you have it ... a description of a situation I face where I lapse into feelings of "I can't make a difference". For each of us the situation may vary. It could be the death of a love, a work situation, a health situation, a small situation, a large situation, a mental situation, an emotional situation, or a situation of spirit.

As an advocate of making a difference, I'm stymied. For myself. What action can I take when I feel I can't make a difference?

I still don't know in this particular situation.

One of the actions I'm taking is writing this. It's an action. It's something I've focused on.

An action I'm taking is to stop for a minute and deepen my breathing and ask myself the question "How can I use this to achieve my goals?"

Don't have the answer yet ... sometimes that happens.

Looking for something in which your actions make a difference?

There are tons of things in which you can make your voice heard.

It doesn't take much research on the internet to find so many organizations you become overloaded by the sheer need in the world.

No matter what condition you are in, your voice counts.

So .. just in case you're caught in that overwhelm and are seeking a fine organization to take action with, consider:

Voice for the Animals.

I've always belived fund raising to be awareness raising.  And I've done a lot of it (fundraising and awareness raising that is) -- my heart is mostly into ecological and animal causes.

Billy the Elephant is a good cause in my heart.  If you don't have money, but feel it's a good cause, volunteer your time. If you're one of the lucky ones who have a bit of coin, here's an event you might want to attend:

The point of this post?  No matter what condition you are in, your voice counts.  Your actions count.  Bring your focus to something.  Make a difference.

Homelessness -- what can you do?

I was taking a break from my current situation (giving up the last of all my belongings; meditating to stay sane in an insane world; and wondering if there's ever truly going to be a time when I will be and do the things I dream of) watching The Sacred Blacksmith, an anime series on hulu.

Yes -- those from any walk of life with whatever disaster they are facing need time away from it, time to simply chill. So if you are facing something that is grievous, remember to take that time for yourself.

Do not deny yourself that time.  (Now off my soapbox onto my reason for writing at this moment.)

If you visit hulu.com you know they run commercials (10 seconds to a bit longer) in their offerings.


Anyway, the commercial they ran was for this:

National Coalition for the Homeless

So ... if you are involved with homelessness -- from any aspect ... know of that possible resource.

Know also from my experience, I was aware that my homelessness was impending and have tried for months to find assistance.

The heinous-ness of the situation is: each agency I've approached has told me I cannot be helped unless I am already homeless, with no walls to protect me, no food to eat, and no where to go.

The hope that is expressed about prevention at this website is not something I can share with you.

But if the site gives something to try to you or a point to start some kind of action, whether you are the:

... one who is homeless
... the friend or acquaintance of someone who is homeless, and you  feel helpless and don't believe you can do anything to help
... person working in *the system* who feels overwhelmed and helpless

then use it.

Zen and Focus and the Homeless

All of the individual homeless stories and this is the one The Los Angeles Times puts its focus on?

Bamboo Charlie

Certainly it has its poignancy. And it looks to me like Charlie is a creative wandering spirit (that's a compliment) -- I most emphatically honor the growing of potatoes, strawberries, pumpkins, watermelons, peppers, okra and other fruits and vegetables; and his recycling.

But for journalism and reporting to try and romanticize homelessness? To put in media the tacit agreement of law enforcement who bring the gentleman Thanksgiving Turkeys; the land-owner who gives the gentleman the use of the land; and the Catholic church members who bring food once a week and allow their children to go on tour of the artistic area?

From my perspective, where I'm still scrabbling wildly to salvage some of the belongings that symbolize my life dreams in the next 15 days, it's neither a welcome path nor one that I physically can follow.

For instance where Bamboo Charlie proudly states

"I'm not going to ask another grown man for money. I never have, and I never will," he said, his face contorted in disgust. "People expect that from a homeless man."

I cannot state anything of the kind.

I've been on welfare for about a year now and while I don't beg from people on the street, I wouldn't be able to get the fruit I need to make the juice I ingest without the monthly food stamps.  Nor toilet paper, hair shampoo, laundry soap and other things that are essentials.

The process to qualify for SSI/Federal Disability is going to last well beyond the final days I have left in my room and may require a number of appeals just to prove that I'm disabled. I paraphrase from an associate who has some knowledge from being a worker within the system "it's a sad thing, but SSI considers that only those who have a true disability will go to the trouble and great lengths it takes to get qualified."

Am I jealous that Charlie has his situation in the news?

Pffft.

Well, now that I think of it ... yeah. He's 3 years older than I am, has tacit approval of his lifestyle from the authorities around him, and daily works on his dreams.

Me? I can't even get past 211. When you call an agency directly to ask for assistance because you are about to be homeless, the immediate and consistent referral is: 211. You call 211. They share with you that you must be on the streets to be helped by emergency shelter and that you cannot get into transitional shelter without being referred by emergency shelter.

Catch 22.

Perhaps, before I have to stop this blog due to the loss of my room, computer and other things to follow the path of having nothing on me because the only way I can get emergency shelter is to have proof from DPSS that I am totally homeless, I'll be able to blog an entry on the actual processes I've dealt with.

This is ... well, it's a different way of being introduced to the practice of zen.

DPSS, GR and *The System*

Here's an example of what happens in the Los Angeles, California, DPSS GR/Food Stamp System:

I return from an MRI appointment today -- it's taken 3 and 1/2 months to get that appointment.
Good.

There, in my mail slot, is a letter from the Department of Public Social Services.
Okay.

The form is telling me my General Relief will be discontinued effective 07/31/2010 because I did not correctly sign and/or date an annual agreement.

Nifty.

Place a call to the case worker, and with great luck manage to get through to her. Ask her why my GR is going to be cut off, when I met with her in early June to fill out the agreement (ABP 898-16). The meeting took nearly an hour and many pages were gone through.

Her response to me, "I haven't had time to file it."

My query, "We met, the paperwork is signed by me."

Her response, "Well, you've got to understand, I have lots of cases that got cut off earlier this month and I have to help them. Then I can come back to yours -- maybe by the end of the month."

She continued with "You can probably call me back on the 26th to see if it went through. You do understand that don't you? Others (her inference with tone and unstated - was that the others are, of course, more important than me) are ahead of you."

My statement to her, "No, I don't. And I'm scared. Who can I talk to?"

She continued, "You can talk to a supervisor, but they won't get the paper work done, that has to be done by me."

I said, "Do you understand how scary this is? I'm nearly homeless now -- August is the month I have to leave my room and face the streets, and you're telling me I cannot count on the $221 I get from GR on the 3rd because you don't have time to file my paperwork?"

She shared with me she could call me if she still has my phone number, which she then verified. I said, thank you and hung up.

What I do understand is that when I told her I was scared and wanted someone to talk to, her attitude shifted from a friendly voice to a defensive voice.

I can understand that, with her apparent overload of cases and a 2-hour time span during the day when people can actually reach her on the telephone she must run into many conversations that are unpleasant.

However, I cannot understand her asking me to face the uncertainty of not having any GR/Food Stamps on the 3rd of August, which is the only way I'll have any hope of having food and sustenance to see me through August.

So, I place a call to the free legal advice telephone number given at the bottom of the form -- fortunately, it's an 800#. It's 12:30pm, on Wednesday afternoon. The answering message indicates the office is open from 9-5 Monday-Friday and that if I want to speak with an operator I have to call back during office hours. Disbelieving what I'm hearing I call back again. Get the same message.

Call me freaky ... but, isn't 12:30 pm during the time of 9-5? So, maybe it's lunchtime? Who knows ... but it's certainly not on the Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County's message. So, I guess I'll try that 800# again later this afternoon.

Following my belief that there is always choice ... how can I choose to use this to reach my goals?

I've got to admit I'm a bit lost on that one, anger is the first thing that crops up; feeling like a victim is the second thing I am aware of.

It's gonna take me some moments to meditate on this one to see what I can do. In the meantime, I'm exercising my right hand and typing it out here in my blog so I can at least refer back to it without forgetting what happened.

Too cute! This must be passed on!

This is from a blog called Ramblings from a Blue Dot.

It's cute, I laugh and I want to share it with you. Go visit Ramblings from a Blue Dot it was posted on 2010/April 25 -- tell them you like if (if you do).