The comments on my diaries are like little priceless gifts I get to open one at a time and marvel over. Thank you to everyone who leaves a note, and thank you to those people who can't think of something to say, but who send good thoughts to me and to the homeless around me. Not literally, because I am back at Costaldo Park (Woodridge), surrounded by squirrels and sparrows and robins. And one nuthatch who is never around when my phone is turned on and set to camera.
I've gotten some nice comments or Kos mails with questions or suggestions that I thought I should address in a diary, so I'll try to remember most of those here.
First: thank you, but I would prefer to not relocate. Well, from DuPage to Will or Grundy county - maybe. But from Illinois to another state, not as much. My sister (who knows my situation) and her family (who don't know my situation - MY choice) - live here. I've always lived here. My dad and his wife visit here in their travel trailer over the summer. Plus, my part time boss has been SO wonderful, I'd like to keep working for her.
If the perfect job came up with an awesome situation in another state, it wouldn't be an automatic no... I'm just not looking or hoping for it.
Regarding housing: PADS does have some housing opportunities, and I do plan to attend a meeting to learn more about them. What I do know is from Rebecca, the coordinator at one of the interim housing sites who performed my "intake", and from my caseworker at the PADS center, Tim, plus chatter at sites. If there is more available to me which I'd not been told about officially, that would suck (that I hadn't been told) and be awesome, too.
Disability: no. I mean, I can't stand up for long periods, but I can sit and keyboard (or in ancient language, type), perform a huge number of tasks on computers, answer phones, file, etc. I can work. And yes, I have depression that comes and goes that has been amazingly (to me) in check since I became homeless. I don't see it as a disability. It helps me understand some of what others go through: a quality severely lacking in too many people, including some PADS employees.
Section 8: was not mentioned to me as a possibility by anyone at PADS - I guess I will learn more when they schedule the housing meeting(s).
(Someone.... Miss Blue? Just suggested I look into supervising at a senior housing location, which would include an apartment. THAT sounds awesome, and I am going to look into it. Because I don't qualify for senior housing myself.)
College: The same coordinator who mentioned the Housing meeting mentioned checking into Financial Aid at College of DuPage. I assume that would be for a few specific classes (computer coding and pre requisites) or get a certificate. I all ready have an Associate of Arts from COD, and don't think I am anywhere close to being eligible for a BA. Unfortunately, I have missed the start of the autumn semester, so it probably won't be possible until spring 2016.
Something I've noticed: a lot of the great ideas we get from coordinators and case workers are just a little late to put into effect.
Other PADS groups or meetings (besides housing) - it seems like a bunch of new groups or classes are starting soon at the PADS Center. Maybe that's because winter is approaching. A lot of PADS groups in other counties don't offer shelter from May through September (from what I've been told.) DuPage does, but with more site options and "extras" in the winter.
So, there are a bunch of colorful fliers on the table at the PADS center. They say the day of the week and time they will meet, but not when they start. Housing, improving communication - both a 4 week class and a support group and art. ART CLASS! But it is on Monday afternoons, when I am visiting Nietzsche before I teach. I have all ready asked that they consider offering that on another day of the week after the first session is done.
PayPal - I appreciate the kind offers for help, but I am ok right now. My hope is that I will find a decent (or fantastic) job locally, and can save the first checks, then get housing with the help of PADS. That's when I would ask for some help from you - whether it be to speed up the process or to buy a few pieces of furniture. (I really, really want a nice bed.)
If things keep on their slow pace, I might ask for help sooner, but I hope not to need to do that. I would be very disappointed in me if I had to do that.
To the person who suggested that you could mail the flashlight I've mentioned needing, etc from stuff you have on hand from combining households... let me check with the PADS center (where I get my mail) regarding how they deal with packages. Maybe they can handle one package at a time. :)
And a cool thing: Yesterday evening I got a free flu shot thanks to Walgreen and the Woodridge Public Library. It's a good thing I go there so often!
Those are most of the items I remember coming up a few times, or in the past couple of days... and that's the news from the homeless while I sit here in Costaldo Park (inside my van because I didn't pick up my chair and because it is raining.)
© 2015 sheddhead – not to be used without written consent of the author, unless quoting portions of this diary on DailyKos, with links back to the original quotation