I hear a great deal on how you all intend to help the homeless. That's great! does that include those of us who have jobs and are homeless? You know, people like the adjunct university prof who lives in a shelter because he makes $5000/semester and has no prospect for tenure?
The good folks here at dkos know my situation, and they can only do so much - the fact that I am welcomed here commends them.
I have a really good job. One that allows me to act when an audition comes through, since it's really flexible - I can keep working and rehearse and perform. unfortunately, it doesn't pay enough for me to be able to even rent a room for $100/week, do laundry and pay for my transportation once taxes are taken out. I can't go to a shelter, since my job ends at 7:00pm, and when you are homeless, you're not considered grown up enough to out after dark. I own a laptop, which, along with a cellphone are my means two work. Going into a shelter I risk having them stolen. and, if I need to be out after6:00pm, I have to get a note from the director or my employer saying I need to be out until X o'clock. oh, yeah, that'll keep me employed...
In fact, Dear Presidential Hopefuls, I had two different "homeless advocacy groups" tell me to quit my job and then they would help me. They weren't interested in helping someone who worked and didn't have money for shelter. NO, Presidential Hopefuls, they wanted to add me to the "ever growing rolls of the homeless" since I am also disabled.
And, frankly, Dear Presidential Hopefuls, I am really pissed off that my taxes are paying for a junkies housing, while I can't even get medicaid. or a room. When do those of us who work and are homeless get help? When did we, the homeless working middle class, become undeserving chumps?
sincerely,
The Roaring Girl