"My name is Bessie, I am 94 years old and still homeless"

[Sapphire Blue]

"My name is Bessie, I am 94 years old and still homeless"
by Mesha Monge-lrizarry, Idriss Stelley Foundation

A group of San Francisco community activists met at the New Progressive Center in the Excelsior District in mid-October, preparing for the 11th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and Criminalization of a Generation. Two scruffy, boisterous, weathered white men walked in, pushing an elderly woman in a wheelchair: their mom, Bessie Berger, 94, deaf, her legs painfully, horribly swollen with severe cellulitis.

They introduced themselves: "I'm Larry Wilkerson, Bessie's son."

"And I am Charlie, her older son, we take care of her."

"I'm Bessie. I'm 94 years old, and still homeless. The police has been harassing me, please help us!" As everyone gasped, Bessie, obviously well cared for and neatly dressed, flashed a bright smile, a twinkle in her luminous blue eyes: "We are not going to give up!"

Larry, 57, Charlie, 59, and Mama Bessie drove to San Francisco four months ago, after being evicted from their Palm Spring apartment (an unscrupulous building attendant pocketed their move-in fee and rent money, and never turned it in to the building management).

(snip)

Charlie said, "We just want to be treated like decent human beings and not common trash! We need a decent home so that we can properly attend on Mom, and she can be cleaned, fed and loved as she deserves! Poor people have been giving her five, ten dollars at a time, while rich folks look down on her because she is homeless. She needs real medical care, a good, caring doctor and all her meds!"

Please Get Involved: http://www.thestreetspirit.org/Dec2006/elderly.htm

Will you stand up for Human Rights for the Homeless & send this report to your Senators & Rep?: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x150969

[GrumpyGreg]

1. Glad they aren't my sons!!!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

4. If I were Bessie, I would be grateful that they were my sons!

[Control-Z]

9. Did I miss something?

They appear to be wonderful sons.

[Sapphire Blue]

10. I don't think that you're the one missing something.

The poster to whom you replied surely is missing something, though... perhaps reading comprehension... or perhaps a heart.

Larry & Charlie do, indeed, appear to be wonderful & loving sons.

[Guaranteed]

28. Yeah, looks like they're homeless, too.

:shrug:

[LostinVA]

62. What??? These are great guys

[flamingyouth]

2. K&R

And argh - my blood pressure! :cry: :banghead:

[Sapphire Blue]

5. Thanks, flamingyouth!

:hug: Did you read the other thread? (Will you stand up for Human Rights for the Homeless & send this report to your Senators & Rep?: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x150969

Perhaps taking action will help your blood pressure? ;)

[flamingyouth]

8. I think my eyes glazed over and I missed the link at the end!

But I just headed over there now and will do - kicked and recommended that one as well, and will take action, as this is a cause near and dear to me! :hug:

[porphyrian]

3. I'll kick that one, too. - n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

6. And thank you, once again, porphyrian!

:hug:

[porphyrian]

7. And you're welcome again.

;)

[Kurovski]

11. K&R.(nt)

[Sapphire Blue]

12. Thank you, Kurovski!

:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

13. ..

:kick:

[pecwae]

14. K&R for Bessie, Larry & Charlie.

I am doing nursing home rounds this weekend as a volunteer for a special Valentines Day event and every lady I see will remind me of Bessie now.

[Sapphire Blue]

15. Thank you, pecwae!

:hug:

[nam78_two]

16. K&R

Thats so sad :(.....Thanks for posting SB!

[Sapphire Blue]

17. Thanks, nam78_two!

:hug: There's info on how to help them @ the link in the OP, if you can, and would like to.

(Edited to add the link here: Please Get Involved: http://www.thestreetspirit.org/Dec2006/elderly.htm - at the bottom of the article)

[nam78_two]

26. I will...

Thanks...:kick:

[Cobalt Violet]

18. That's just so sad.

Why is it criminal to be old or disabled while poor in the USA. What a shame.

[Sapphire Blue]

19. It is criminal to slash Federal Housing programs' funding!

I hope you will take the action posted in the other thread posted in the OP...

Will you stand up for Human Rights for the Homeless & send this report to your Senators & Rep?: : http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x150969

[Cobalt Violet]

20. Yes I will take the action.

This is getting out of hand is so unnecessary in a X trillion dollar economy. It says a lot about the USA.

[Sapphire Blue]

21. Thank you, Cobalt Violet!

:hug:

[bobbolink]

22. Absolutely! EVERY DEM needs to take this action!

Unfortunately, only the ones with heart will do so. :(

Thanks so much for posting this!

:loveya: :hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

29. We need to do whatever we can to encourage every Dem to do it!

It's nearing Valentine's Day... perhaps some people will rediscover their hearts :) .

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[bobbolink]

30. I'm in a quandry. I have taken some real hits here, trying to get some

DUers to see that this is a topic there is very little priority for, but rather than hearing my pain, and deciding they can make enough of a little change to do some calls and some talking about these things, they put me down, criticize and mock me.

I've about come to the point of giving up on "liberals". :cry:

REally, it's beyond comprehension.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

Again, I appreciate so much your continued faithfulness on this!!

:pals: :applause: :loveya: :pals: :applause: :loveya:

[Sapphire Blue]

39. What does it take? Fanatic begging, SCREAMING, whispering, pleading, talking, praying, crying,

... fuming, encouraging, educating, needling, shoving, dragging, calling, writing, emailing, ad infinitum. People can be reached... as long as we don't stop trying.

I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...

[bobbolink]

71. I so admire you for your stick-to-it-iveness!!

You keep pushing this rock up this mountain, over and over.

You are one incredible person!

:loveya: :hug: :pals: :hug: :loveya:

[Bjorn Against]

40. I am with you on this Bobbolink...

I certainly feel like I should do more to help people in poverty, because it truly is an issue that is close to my heart. I have never lived in poverty, but I have certainly seen very real poverty up close and personally. The kind of poverty that is hidden from most American eyes, both outside the US and hidden within the homeless shelters of our cities. The devastation of poverty is enormous, yet the poor are mocked and ridiculed. I wish every American was forced to stare real poverty right in the face, because our politicians and the media have done such a great job hiding the issue that most people never have to witness it even though it is a severe problem in this country.

Keep fighting Bobbolink your voice is always very needed. I may not necessarily agree with every word you have said in the past, but your perspective is always needed because you have lived through poverty and you can always remind us of the seriousness of this issue.

[bobbolink]

70. "The devastation of poverty is enormous, yet the poor are mocked and ridiculed."

You are sooooo very right about that!

I see my new neighbors, who are stuck in a building with no other options, the manager is very cranky and nothing they can do about that. They start feeling hopeless, then depressed. Then, of course, either blamed for being down (snap out of it!) or told to take pills.

:mad:

What we all need is some justice!!

JUSTICE NOT PILLS!

Wadda concept!

Thank you for having heart for us, even though you haven't walked in our shoes! :pals: If all citizens could be behind us in that way, it would make a HUGE difference to us!!

If you make these calls, and do the writing, and urge all you know to do the same, you will be doing a tremendous amount, and we will be very appreciative!

And, if you can spare a few understanding words from time to time, it really does help to ease the load.

Thanks for your caring!!

[bobbolink]

23. Does it get much more heartbreaking than this????

I appreciate you posting this, but I can hardly stand to read it.

WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH US?!!

What is soooo disgusting is that there is NOWHERE to go for redress of these wrongs, and for support in dealing with them!!

That's what happened in the last building I was in.. they could get away with all kinds of abuse, and there was nothing any of us could do. Either we put up with it (and watched our health go down the toilet) or we left, with nowhere to go.

Now, unsurprisingly, I'm seeing some of the same stuff in the building I just moved into. People are having all kinds of problems, and there is verbal abuse from the manager. NO WHERE TO TAKE ANY OF THIS!!

When will all the DEMS start taking this seriously??? What has to happen to get them to move off the dime?! :mad:

Thanks for reminding us! :pals: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

31. There IS a place to take it... the Senate & the House. They slashed Federal Housing funding...

... and now they better damn well fully restore it!

[bobbolink]

34. Yes, that is true--we need to get it restored.

And you can be sure that I will rub some folks' noses in this! :)

However, what I'm saying is that there is NO TENANTS' RIGHTS in Section 8 housing! When one is abused in Section 8, there is NO redress! That, itself, needs badly to be corrected.

People feel abused, then hopeless and helpless when they find that nothing can be done, then depressed.

A pill for this "depression" certainly isn't the required treatment! JUSTICE is!

:hug: :loveya:

[salin]

24. This is who *we* are

we turn an uncomfortable blind eye - but this speaks volumes aobut who *we* as a society are. :cry:

[Sapphire Blue]

32. So do what *society* won't do... SPEAK UP; write to your Senators & Rep!

Send them the report. Insist that Federal Housing programs be fully funded.

[salin]

36. absolutely - and please

keep us informed when different votes area coming up - so those of us that care, but may have many other things on the plate, know to act and know when to act. Thank you for your work on this Sapphire Blue, and for not giving up on those of us who care - but whose focus is often so mulit-furcated that we might miss when to act without your 'siren' posts.

:loveya: and thanks!

[Breeze54]

25. I'll forward the info.

Been there, done that too. I hope the sons go to a senior citizen center

and tell their story.

This is like 1980 all over again.... Reagan and the rise of the selfish,

self-centered, self-righteous neo-cons!

[bobbolink]

27. THAT's the problem--there is NO place to go to "tell the story"

Senior Centers, while someone may listen (and many will NOT!), have absolutely NO jurisdiction to do anything at all.

There is NO justice for those who have been treated badly in Section 8 housing! I'm even beginning to doubt, from what I've seen, that physical abuse would be protected.

You either put up with it, or leave.

And if the landlord decides to screw you over... whaddya gonna do?

I'm so very tired of not being able to get people to take this issue seriously! And, no, it isn't just the "neocons"!

[Breeze54]

37. I'm talking about

getting resources and information at the senior citizen center, for starters.
They have legal recourse to take that landlord to court! They can file a complaint,
about that landlord, with the Housing office that handled their Section 8 Certificate!
They can also file a complaint at Legal Aid!
They should still qualify for the certificate, despite having been evicted!
It can be re-issued but if they wait to long (90 days) they'll lose it.
They need to get a renewal application and find a new place to live with the certificate.
The certificates can be re-issued and used anywhere! Especially for the elderly!
But they have to act on it ASAP! (As Soon As Possible)
Mind you, I didn't see how long they've been out on the street.
Hopefully it hasn't been that long....

She's disabled and that would put her at the top of the list for assistance.
Maybe they should see if they can go back to the town they left?

Just some idea's....

[bobbolink]

72. It varies by location.

If you are sure of what you've written, because you've seen it in action, then you are fortunate to live in an area where there *are* those resources.

Don't assume it exists everywhere. As I said in another post, I couldn't even find supportive resources for physical abuse of elderly people! That oughtta frighten everyone!

[theboss]

75. San Francisco lacks these types of resources?

How is that possible?

That was my original question in a post below. Has anyone from this organization, like, tried to help the family do the Medi-Cal paperwork? Has anyone found them a pro bono attorney? Or did they just immediately take to the streets?

[Sapphire Blue]

79. Perhaps you could address your questions to:

STREET SPIRIT
1515 Webster St,#303
Oakland, CA 94612Phone: [phone], ext. 303
E-mail: [e-mail]

You could also offer your most invaluable assistance in alleviating homelessness in SF. When you've done that, I'm quite sure that Bessie, Larry, and Charlie, and every other homeless person in SF will have housing.

[theboss]

82. I'm sorry...I didn't realize that practical solutions had no merit

It's much better to kick an internet thread and demand some pipe dream like a constitutional guarantee to housing.

God forbid somebody ask questions that actually help people in the hear and now.

You know...instead of helping people obtain disability insurance, I should simply tell them to put on a sandwich board and stand in front of the capitol building, take a picture of it, and post it on the Internet.

I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm asking the practical questions that anyone who has ever navigated the minefield of state and federal assistance would ask. Apparently, my asking these questions is an insult to you in some way.

I apologize for not being an idealist.

[Sapphire Blue]

83. You weren't offering solutions, practical or otherwise; you were asking questions;

... questions that Street Spirit might be better able to answer, rather than the poster you were questioning.

theboss (1000+ posts) Thu Feb-08-07 06:01 PM
Response to Reply #72
75. San Francisco lacks these types of resources?
How is that possible?

That was my original question in a post below. Has anyone from this organization, like, tried to help the family do the Medi-Cal paperwork? Has anyone found them a pro bono attorney? Or did they just immediately take to the streets?

Again, to help these particular people in the 'here & now', you can read the full OP article @ the link.

[Dinger]

33. A Loving K & R From Dinger : )

:kick: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

35. A loving 'Thank You' from SB!

:hug:

[midnight]

38. Take the money being allocated for war and earmark it for

creating jobs for americans taking care of the needy.

[Straight Shooter]

41. Once again, DU's angel gently shifts our focus to what matters most.

Bless you, Sapphire Blue. O8)

[Sapphire Blue]

44. ...

:hug:

[Cleita]

42. So many stories coming out of California of the homeless

being mistreated, dying in fields of cancer, freezing to death in the unusually cold weather we have been having. All I can say is that we have to bombard Sacramento and any other government offices with letters and telephone calls. Letters need to be sent to Palm Springs district attorney to investigate the money stolen from these unfortunate people.

And most of all we need to bombard the Govenator with these stories relentlessly. It's his duty to look into these matters and do something about it. He may have thought being governor was all about photo opportunities, but it's really about looking after the people of the state. If Grey Davis had still been governor he would have looked into these matters when brought to his attention and done something about them. I know because he personally did such a thing for my husband and me.

[Sapphire Blue]

45. Please also take action here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x150969

and also read the end of the OP article if you can & would like to help Bessie & her sons.

[Cleita]

46. Unfortunately, the only way I can help these poor people is

to make as loud a noise as I can with our elected officials and to support them in other ways. I'm a widow myself on a fixed income and there isn't any extra, but there are people out there that can contribute, the ultra rich. Arnold has to understand that he is going to have to let the legislature pass laws that address these social problems and he is going to have to let them tax his rich friends and supporters to pay for them. We might make a decent human being out of him yet.

[Sapphire Blue]

47. Your making as loud a noise as you can is as important, if not more so, as monetary contributions!

:hug: I appreciate you, Cleita!

[EFerrari]

43. The Street Spirit are my peeps. Please help us make it happen.

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

48. ..

:kick: for Street Spirit!

[EFerrari]

49. I love these people. They are my people.

Just like you are, Sapphire Blue. :hug: :toast:

Let's make it happen! We can. I know we can. :party:

[Sapphire Blue]

50. Oh yes we can, I know we can can, Yes we can can...

Yes We Can Can, the Pointer Sisters with Gaylord Birch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-ULwExPXvg

Yes We Can Can

Now's the time for all good men
To get together with one another
We got to iron out our problems
And iron out our quarrels
And try to live as brothers
And try to find a piece of land
Without stepping on one another
And do respect the women of the world
Remember you all have mothers
We got to make this land a better land
Than the world in which we live
And we got to help each man be a better man
With the kindness that we give
I know we can make it
I know darn well we can work it out
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
Yes we can can, why can't we
If we wanna get together we can work it out

And we gotta take care of all the children
The little children of the world
'Cause they're our strongest hope for the future
The little bitty boys and girls

We got to make this land a better land
Than the world in which we live
And we got to help each man be a better man
With the kindness that we give
I know we can make it
I know darn well we can work it out
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
Yes we can can, why can't we
If we wanna, yes we can can

http://www.lyricsondemand.com/p/pointersisterslyrics/yeswecancanlyrics.html

[Cobalt Violet]

51. Kick.

[Sapphire Blue]

52. Another 'Good Morning' to you, Cobalt Violet!

:hi: :hug: Thanks for kicking this one, too!

[Cobalt Violet]

54. I was brewing a bit about this this morning.

I thought the M$M was going to mend it's ways and start covering poverty issues in this country after Katrina pointed out to them that poor people exist in large numbers in the USA. Other than your post I haven't seen anything on this. Now it's true that I don't have cable but I haven't seen anything on regular TV either.

So much for the M$M guilt about not covering the plight of the poor in this country. Nothing has changed.

[Sapphire Blue]

56. Perhaps we should send copies of the 'Without Housing' report to media outlets?

Perhaps LTTEs all over the country, too?

[Sapphire Blue]

53. ...

:kick:

[Irishonly]

55. I've written

We shouldn't have stories like this in our country. No one should ever have to bring to our attention the treatment of homeless and the downtrodden. It's a black eye that keeps festering. Our country is better than this. Bessie should have received some assistance a long time ago. The couple in San Francisco should not be terrified about where their next meal is coming from and about cancer treatment. Say what you want about people getting themselves into situations but alcoholism is a disease that can be treated and being poor is not criminal. People should not have to pay the rest of their lives for making a poor choice. Yes, there are people that choose to be homeless. A man I have known for years refuses to take schizophrenic medication and runs away when his parents try to bring him home or get him into a shelter but this is the exception rather than the rule. Now if the Shrub gets his way social programs will be gutted so this may be just the tip of the iceberg that we will be seeing.

[Sapphire Blue]

58. Thank you for writing, Irishonly!

:hug: No, we shouldn't have stories like this in our country. It's time, way past time, to do something about it. We've been on a downhill slide since Raygun; we've got to end this cruelty; we've got to demand justice; we've got to stand up for Human Rights for every person in this country.

[demrabble]

57. Thanks for the GOOD People

There are so many good people in San Francisco.

But like any place else, there are some rotten people -- like all those rich people who look down on Bessie because she is homeless.

I'm glad that there are some decent folks in San Francisco who appear to be helping Bessie.

But I'm amazed that the government of San Francisco seems so callous.

[theboss]

59. A lot in this story troubles me....

Before someone accuses me of being heartless, hear me out. I always find stories like this troubling, because I think I know the system and I never understand how people get caught up in these types of situations.

Here are my questions:
1. What is the source of their $1600 per month? Are the sons on disability? Is the mother on SSI? Do they work? That is about $550 each per month.

2. Why are the sons not on Medicaid? Have they applied? Been rejected? Surely, they cannot be above the income limit? My experience is that Medi-Cal is actually a fairly well-run Medicaid program. (I have experience in hospital reimbursement).

3. Why is the mother not on Medicare?

4. Where the sons on unemployment? Are they no longer? The one was working and was apparently injured? Did he get a workers' compensation claim? What happened there?

5. Has anyone contacted Legal Services to get them through the morass of regulations they are facing?

6. Has anyone contacted a County Indigent Care Program?

7. How about this program?
http://ehealth.chcf.org/documents/policy/CountyPrgrmsMedicallyIndigentFactSheet.pdf

8. About food stamps...this is a new one. Can you use a PO Box as an address?

9. Can they at least find care for the mother during the day so the sons can either get a break or get a job? I swear by Catholic Charities. Here is something worth exploring in San Fran:

San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties
Information & Referral Specialist
180 Howard Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94105-1696
415.972.1306

10. Finally, why in God's name are they trying to find housing in San Francisco? Isn't that the most difficult housing market in the country? I need a little searching and if they moved to a more rural part of CA, they could probably find a two-bedroom apt in the $700 range. Granted, that's still awfully tight, but I think it could be done.

Maybe I'm crazy. But I look at problems and try to find solutions. I've had some experience with desperate people who think there is no solution. I've generally found that there is a solution if you know where to look.

Example: Before I met girlfriend, I did the online dating thing. I met a very nice girl with a young son. We weren't going to be a couple, mainly for the son reason...and the still not yet an ex-husband reason. Anyway, the ex had money and she didn't. The ex had a lawyer and she didn't. And the ex was scaring the heck out of her because he had a lawyer. In her world, this meant no alimony and probably no custody...which the husband didn't even want, but he just knew that it would scare her.

In about half an hour, I was able to find a pro bono attorney for her and within a year, she had a divorce, a fair settlement, and custody.

It drives me mad that there are people out there who aren't getting the help that is available. So, instead of lamenting these people, I would prefer to find them help.

[truedelphi]

61. If the sons both desire working someday,

Moving to the rural area might not be a great idea. Unemployment can be extremely high - plus if they do not have a decent car, they will be hitching long distances to work (assuming they find work)

People like yourself who know the system see it as relatively easy.

But let's face it - most working class Americans don't know the system. And the fact that a short while ago, these three individuals admit to having enough cash to get themselves an apartment, means that they are probably going to be disqualified for help in terms of General Assistance and food stamps. (You have to be almost penniless for over six months to qualify - or at least that is what a lot of California social workers will tell you.)

Welfare programs don't care if the money you had was stolen or lost or whatever -if you had a sum of money and now it's gone - it is seen as income that may well disqualify you from help for a while (and although sixty days might not seem like a lot to many people - if you are poor and waiting for that first bit of help, it is a lifetime)

You have educated yourself to how the system works - people new to it will have the benefits of their self education on down the line. By then it may well be too late.

[theboss]

63. All good points

I don't like in CA so I don't know that system well.

What troubles me about stories like this is I want to know if anyone at the organization publicizing their plight has asked the questions I have. I always get a little concerned when people become a "cause" because at those point, those who have made them the cause have conflicted interests.

[truedelphi]

64. I too dislike it when a person becomes a "cause"

At that point, often the "cause" benefits but the people may not.

And I am impressed with your willingness to understand the system and help others - that is invaluable to those who get connected to you.

I think where I am coming from is that there are people (I am one of them) whom bureaucrats just seem to totally dislike. I mean, I have friends handle minor Dept of Motor Vehicle problems for me -as I will always get the bad apple who will not help. My friend Suzie will always get the angel who is even willing to break major protocols - if it is for a sensible reason.

I have had the exact opposite experiences with job interviews. Could probably go into Stanford Hospital tomorrow and mention that I had a biology class thirty years ago, and be in the running for the top brain surgeon's job.

Dunno about all this. Maybe it's because bureaucracy terrifies me but job interviews don't?

[Sapphire Blue]

65. Bessie, Larry, and Charlie are NOT a "cause". They are PEOPLE; people deserving of the Human Right..

... to housing.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 25:

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

The "cause" is Justice... Justice for all.

[theboss]

67. The Cause is getting them a roof, a floor, a bed, and some medicine

I mean, honestly, the woman is 94. Are you going to tell her that she will have her pills as soon as Congress passes the freaking Universal Declaration of Human Rights into law?

Or is an advocate going to call Medi-Cal and figure why she is not eligible for assistance?

Seriously, fly me to San Franciso, give me $1000, a government directory, a list of Catholic Churches, and a Medicaid application. I bet I can make some tremendous project before, say, February 22nd. I simply cannot believe it is this difficult to get them some assistance.

Maybe I am being naive. But, I don't see what appealing to the UN is going to do to get her some Prozac.

[Sapphire Blue]

68. Fully funding Federal Housing programs will provide "a roof, a floor, a bed"...

... for every person who needs one and has the human right to housing.

The 'Without Housing' report clearly documents the correlation between funding cuts to Federal Housing programs & the massive increase in homelessness.

If you would like to specifically help the family in the OP article, please click on the link in the OP; there are opportunities to help. Perhaps you can also educate the homeless advocates in SF w/your abounding knowledge.

btw, I'm sure there is absolutely no homelessness in your state... there couldn't possibly be... not w/you there.

[theboss]

69. No need to be a smart ass about it....

The "human right" to housing is a big picture issue. When there are three people at stake, I tend to look at the small picture.

I decided a very long time ago that I neither have the time nor the ability to change the world. I do have the time and ability to help individuals.

[theboss]

66. Well...I do have a law degree...

And I do have a tendency to casually drop that in conversations with bureaucrats. I don't practice, but they don't know that, do they?

Three things.

1. I actually do like helping others, but only in practical ways. (I probably pissed some folks of during the whole Andy Stephonson thing, because I worked in hospital reimbursement then and not one thing anyone said during that whole time made any sense to me. I still don't fully understand what happened then). I generally don't participate in things like "Jane Doe has $250,000 in medical bills. Please buy $5 in raffle tickets." I always think those types of things make individuals feel good (I'm being charitable!) without actually helping anyone, because there ain't no way they are selling 500,000 tickets. I have called the organizers and offered to call the provider's billing office though, because I know how to get the bill reduced. It's amazing how many times that kind of offer is turned down. Again, I think it has something to do with losing the "cause" as opposed to fixing the problem. Getting such a bill reduced to $76,000.00 would actually make some sort of payment plan practical. But, people would lose part of the "our health system is broken" mantra. (I disagree. I think the fact that I've actually negotiated $250,000 medical bills down to $76,000 is proof that the system is broken beyond repair. You can't do something like that in a housing market. No sane market works that way).

2. I like being confrontational. And it is utterly amazing how much progress you can make with bureaucrats simply by being annoying. The threat, "I'm going to call you every until my pot hole is fixed" actually works. But you have to call every day for, like, a week.

3. I have a few connections. And if they don't help, I make them up. I learned this from my dad. I will never forget the room upgrade he finangled from the good people at Marriott simply by claiming to be Sam Huff's cousin. (We're from West Virginia; West Virginia legend Sam Huff was on their board of directors. It apparently seemed like a plausible argument).

[truedelphi]

60. I help local disabled with their checking accounts and

Organizing their daily activities

SO much of a poor person's income now goes to the ubiquitous bank fees.

Imagine living on $ 500 a month - and then having a bank charge $ 173 because of a series of overdrafts each one of which is at least $ 23 or so.

IT COSTS BANKS ABOUT $ 1.40 to handle an overdraft.(!!!)
Twelve years ago Oregon banks charged $ 3 per item - why are California Banks allowed to charge
$ 23 to $ 35 a pop? Are California banks in the 21st Century less efficient than their oregon counterparts twelve years back?

[faithnotgreed]

73. i kept waiting to post until this had fallen off the front page

so that i could kick it up
i expected that to happen by now but im so happy to see it hasnt

thank you duers and as always thank you sapphire blue

[bobbolink]

74. And, thanks to your watchful eyes!

You don't know how much that means to me, and those of us who have waited for our issue to become "important" again!

:pals:

[faithnotgreed]

78. i cannot imagine bobbo - again im so glad you have a place now

and am so glad you are here with us
we have to keep plugging along and believe me poverty is always always important (but i know what you are saying is sadly true)

[bobbolink]

84. Thanks for the kind words!!

:pals:

I'm in the midst of lots of disappointment and discouragement right now, so your words help a lot! :hug:

It's such a huge uphill battle! And very lonely....

I thank you so much for your faithfulness on the issue of poverty!

[Sapphire Blue]

77. And thank YOU, faithnotgreed!

:hug:

[theboss]

76. Is there not one licensed CA attorney on this site?

I would think just getting her legal representation would solve 85 percent of these problems.

[Cleita]

81. There were some at one time, liberal ones, but I don't know

where they are these days.

:-(

[Cleita]

80. Kick

:kick:

[bobbolink]

85. How 'bout remembering Bessie again?

:hug:

[calimary]

86. Kicked!

Man, this is SO sad!!!

There's the matter of simple human dignity that's been SO egregiously overlooked, ignored, and neglected. But we gotta keep fueling that damned war, don't we? :grr: