UPDATE ON NATALIE, THE WOMAN WHO WAS RIDING THE BUS ALL NIGHT TO SLEEP IN 2011

We posted on Natalie in 2011. We said :

"Natalie's ankles are swollen because she never really gets to lay down unless she goes to a shelter in another, safer county. She sleeps sitting up every night on a particular bus route. Now we think this is kind of cool. Because the bus driver, a woman, knows Natalie's situation, and she never gives her a problem."

UPDATE AUGUST 2012

We are happy to say that we ran into Natalie and she's looking beautiful. Natalie was wearing make-up, had her hair done - shiny and sleek, and was casually dressed in black pants and neat sweater as well as earrings and a necklace for her job. Natalie was given stability by a local shelter where she slept each night and was able to keep a small wardrobe, though she had to leave for the day. She is no longer carrying her possessions in gym bags wherever she goes. She managed to get a starter job working part time for a non-profit animal related charity where she is on commission. She is also dog and cat sitting in private homes. She no longer looks exhausted. Congratulations!

PALO VERDE PR STARING STEPHANIE KLASKY-GAMER CEO

NOTE: THE ORIGINAL VIDEO POSTED HERE WAS TAKEN DOWN OFF YOUTUBE.


SOUNDS GOOD... now are these apartments really the rent-paying resident's or is this another shelter where anyone can just knock on your door and walk right in? Do you have to come home every night? So you have to sign in or tell a case manager where you were or why you weren't home? What about the restrictions on visitors?

How do you explain the fact that some residents have been at the LAFH Valley shelter for 4, 5, 6, and 7 years? What percentage of people you intake end up in their own apartment in a year? At all?

THANKSGIVING - THE BIG HOMELESS HOLIDAY

OPINION BY DC.
Thanksgiving is the BIG HOMELESS HOLIDAY. This is the day that homeless charities focus on and it's maybe bigger than Christmas since Christmas is for Christians and Thanksgiving is for everyone. Pictures of Homeless People who Fit The Stereotype - usually bearded men from skid row who are on the pavement - are circulated and, though those people are part of our population, they are also the stereotype.

It's that stereotype that holds a lot of other homeless people down. As soon as people hear "homeless" they think you spent time on the street as a drug addict. So while the charities collect a lot of money based on that stereotype, many of us find THERE ARE NO SERVICES FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE NEVER ON THE STREET, NEVER ON DRUGS, WHO DO NOT HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS.

Finding a shelter that gives a shit about you is even more difficult if you are CHILDLESS and SINGLE! There is so much focus on familys, women with children, abused women.

So today I'm thankful that I'm not on the street. I'm also frustrated that there isn't much out there for homeless people like me.

FINCA - an IDEA FOR THE UNITED STATES

If You'll click on the title above you'll get to the site for FINCA "Small Loans Big Changes" a non profit that is truly inspirational.

NOW CAN SOME AMERICAN START A SMALL LOANS PROGRAM FOR THE HOMELESS and OTHERS IN POVERTY HERE IN THE USA! Because I was "out of business" over a $200 computer repair at one time!