Hi there everyone. Hope all is well with you this year so far. I have an interesting story to tell you all today.
Usually I'm on here advocating for someone or telling you about my garden and showing off pictures.
I have recently found myself homeless and living in my car. Not that it runs very well, and after almost a year at an apartment complex here in Connell, WA, the poor thing has been hit and battered up pretty good. My Lincoln Mark 8 is a trooper though, it still runs, however it only goes about 25 to 30 MPH now. (lol) But she's still kicking and that's what matters.
I ran out of gas the other day right near a gas station. You would not believe how many people no longer carry gas cans with them, myself included.(hee hee hee) So I called the local police station and figured, "What the heck, they might have one I could use." Yes, the police did have a gas can and brought it to me so I could put my last $3.65 in the tank. I was quite grateful for the help, I was tired of sitting by the station soaking up the fumes. I was telling the police man how some people were misunderstanding me and trying to give me money, but I said, "I just need a gas can, lol!" Then those people got all sad because they didn't have one. It was a little funny.
The officer asked me what I was doing that day and I replied, " Going to check the mail and visit my friend Bobbie." I didn't think anything of the officer's next comment until later on. He said to me, " Oh, if you were going far we probably could have helped you out, but since your not, we can't."
Hmmm, ok. I never asked for money nor did I imply it. I brushed it off thinking the officer was making small talk or something.
I visited my friend when she got home and took a much needed, hot shower. I count myself lucky that I can shower at least and have someone to hang out with some days. A lot of people that find themselves on the street don't have that luxury. So, I found a spot to park for the night, wrapped myself up in a couple of blankets and settled into my bucket seat. The couple nights before were'nt too bad with the coldness, but that night was very windy and cold. The windshield was getting iced over so I tried to start the car to turn on the heater for a few minutes. However, my car was starting, I think it was too cold for it because the next day, when it warmed up some, the car started up. Some cars are so temperamental I think.
So I visited my friend again and went with her to the grocery store in Othello and drove her to the doctor's office in her truck. (It has an awesome heater by the way.) I was told to call one last church for help, maybe they could get me a room for the night, it was starting to snow. So I did and told them what had happened and asked for help. The woman took my number and said she would call me back and see what she could do. I was started to think things were looking up a little, I just don't think my body could have dealt with a snowy cold night. I started having heart problems, don't know what the actual cause is yet, but I didn't want to push the envelope. So, she called me back and was quite sharp in tone. She told me that she had called the police station to check out my name, which I don't blame her. Just in case I was wanted or something I think. So, she finds out I haven't done anything wrong but proceeds to tell me that the police told her that they helped me with gas and that I live at these apartments.
So she borderline accuses me of lying to her and that I need to prove I'm homeless. I don't know why the authorities would tell this church woman these things. The officer's earlier comment started to make a little more sense to me. So, I told her that was fine, I did have the paperwork and that I'm not lying to her. Now I can't get anyone to answer the phone, (LOL). How funny is that! I don't really understand what's going on here, but I'm pretty sure I don't deserve to be treated like I'm the worst living being in the world because of my situation.
I'm definitely not in the habit of asking for help, especially for not having a place to live. I always have a place to live, except recently when medical problems have been wreaking havock on my finances for the past 3 years. I know it wasn't a given to ask for help, nobody owes me anything. However, I do expect to treated like a person! Like I still have a brain and feelings! So I want to know why would these people, pillars of a community, behave this way? I don't understand it at all.
I'll get back on my feet as soon as I can but in the meantime I really do expect everyone I talk to, pass on the street or see in the store to treat me like I'm a living, breathing person! Am I wrong for this? Please, someone explain it to me.
So, I've been living in my car since the 9th of this month and have been being directed to call different churches here in town, for whatever help is available to someone in my situation. So far there isn't any funding for a temporary room out of the cold. So I'm thinking, "o.k., I asked, no harm in that right?" Oh how wrong I was in thinking that.
I think we all should keep bringing this type of attitude and treatment of homeless people on the media front. I see videos sometimes of homeless people being treated far worse, but I think we can help stop it. It takes individual mind sets of to see that some circumstances can't be helped and that everyone is still human.
Usually I'm on here advocating for someone or telling you about my garden and showing off pictures.
I have recently found myself homeless and living in my car. Not that it runs very well, and after almost a year at an apartment complex here in Connell, WA, the poor thing has been hit and battered up pretty good. My Lincoln Mark 8 is a trooper though, it still runs, however it only goes about 25 to 30 MPH now. (lol) But she's still kicking and that's what matters.
I ran out of gas the other day right near a gas station. You would not believe how many people no longer carry gas cans with them, myself included.(hee hee hee) So I called the local police station and figured, "What the heck, they might have one I could use." Yes, the police did have a gas can and brought it to me so I could put my last $3.65 in the tank. I was quite grateful for the help, I was tired of sitting by the station soaking up the fumes. I was telling the police man how some people were misunderstanding me and trying to give me money, but I said, "I just need a gas can, lol!" Then those people got all sad because they didn't have one. It was a little funny.
The officer asked me what I was doing that day and I replied, " Going to check the mail and visit my friend Bobbie." I didn't think anything of the officer's next comment until later on. He said to me, " Oh, if you were going far we probably could have helped you out, but since your not, we can't."
Hmmm, ok. I never asked for money nor did I imply it. I brushed it off thinking the officer was making small talk or something.
I visited my friend when she got home and took a much needed, hot shower. I count myself lucky that I can shower at least and have someone to hang out with some days. A lot of people that find themselves on the street don't have that luxury. So, I found a spot to park for the night, wrapped myself up in a couple of blankets and settled into my bucket seat. The couple nights before were'nt too bad with the coldness, but that night was very windy and cold. The windshield was getting iced over so I tried to start the car to turn on the heater for a few minutes. However, my car was starting, I think it was too cold for it because the next day, when it warmed up some, the car started up. Some cars are so temperamental I think.
So I visited my friend again and went with her to the grocery store in Othello and drove her to the doctor's office in her truck. (It has an awesome heater by the way.) I was told to call one last church for help, maybe they could get me a room for the night, it was starting to snow. So I did and told them what had happened and asked for help. The woman took my number and said she would call me back and see what she could do. I was started to think things were looking up a little, I just don't think my body could have dealt with a snowy cold night. I started having heart problems, don't know what the actual cause is yet, but I didn't want to push the envelope. So, she called me back and was quite sharp in tone. She told me that she had called the police station to check out my name, which I don't blame her. Just in case I was wanted or something I think. So, she finds out I haven't done anything wrong but proceeds to tell me that the police told her that they helped me with gas and that I live at these apartments.
So she borderline accuses me of lying to her and that I need to prove I'm homeless. I don't know why the authorities would tell this church woman these things. The officer's earlier comment started to make a little more sense to me. So, I told her that was fine, I did have the paperwork and that I'm not lying to her. Now I can't get anyone to answer the phone, (LOL). How funny is that! I don't really understand what's going on here, but I'm pretty sure I don't deserve to be treated like I'm the worst living being in the world because of my situation.
I'm definitely not in the habit of asking for help, especially for not having a place to live. I always have a place to live, except recently when medical problems have been wreaking havock on my finances for the past 3 years. I know it wasn't a given to ask for help, nobody owes me anything. However, I do expect to treated like a person! Like I still have a brain and feelings! So I want to know why would these people, pillars of a community, behave this way? I don't understand it at all.
I'll get back on my feet as soon as I can but in the meantime I really do expect everyone I talk to, pass on the street or see in the store to treat me like I'm a living, breathing person! Am I wrong for this? Please, someone explain it to me.
So, I've been living in my car since the 9th of this month and have been being directed to call different churches here in town, for whatever help is available to someone in my situation. So far there isn't any funding for a temporary room out of the cold. So I'm thinking, "o.k., I asked, no harm in that right?" Oh how wrong I was in thinking that.
I think we all should keep bringing this type of attitude and treatment of homeless people on the media front. I see videos sometimes of homeless people being treated far worse, but I think we can help stop it. It takes individual mind sets of to see that some circumstances can't be helped and that everyone is still human.
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