I was able to for my 41st birthday take my very first sailing lesson in San
my very first sailing lesson in San
my very first sailing lesson in San Francisco Bay on the way to the marina
Francisco Bay on the way to the marina
Francisco Bay on the way to the marina my captain said I have one rule everyone
my captain said I have one rule everyone
my captain said I have one rule everyone stays on the boat this seemed like a
stays on the boat this seemed like a
stays on the boat this seemed like a good rule and seemed like an easy rule
good rule and seemed like an easy rule
good rule and seemed like an easy rule until I actually got on the boat and
until I actually got on the boat and
until I actually got on the boat and then as the crew was furiously getting
then as the crew was furiously getting
then as the crew was furiously getting us under sail I was trying to adjust to
us under sail I was trying to adjust to
us under sail I was trying to adjust to the rocking and the tipping and the
the rocking and the tipping and the
the rocking and the tipping and the swaying and there is a giant sail coming
swaying and there is a giant sail coming
swaying and there is a giant sail coming at me I had to hold on with both hands
at me I had to hold on with both hands
at me I had to hold on with both hands to make sure that I adhered to the rule
to make sure that I adhered to the rule
to make sure that I adhered to the rule of staying on the boat I imagined what
of staying on the boat I imagined what
of staying on the boat I imagined what would happen if the boat hit me and I
would happen if the boat hit me and I
would happen if the boat hit me and I was knocked into the water and I
was knocked into the water and I
was knocked into the water and I realized that it was sort of like what
realized that it was sort of like what
realized that it was sort of like what it feels like to be homeless when I was
it feels like to be homeless when I was
it feels like to be homeless when I was 14 years old
14 years old
14 years old my family camped in our station wagon
my family camped in our station wagon
my family camped in our station wagon except when it rained and then we went
except when it rained and then we went
except when it rained and then we went to the local Salvation Army eventually
to the local Salvation Army eventually
to the local Salvation Army eventually after several weeks of camping we were
after several weeks of camping we were
after several weeks of camping we were able to get into a house but I went to
able to get into a house but I went to
able to get into a house but I went to school every day trying to hide the
school every day trying to hide the
school every day trying to hide the white-knuckle terror that someone would
white-knuckle terror that someone would
white-knuckle terror that someone would find out exactly how poor we were it was
find out exactly how poor we were it was
find out exactly how poor we were it was a struggle to keep the house and we were
a struggle to keep the house and we were
a struggle to keep the house and we were evicted from the first house and the day
evicted from the first house and the day
evicted from the first house and the day we were evicted from the second house
we were evicted from the second house
we were evicted from the second house our car was repossessed didn’t have a
our car was repossessed didn’t have a
our car was repossessed didn’t have a station wagon to camp in and we
station wagon to camp in and we
station wagon to camp in and we literally found herself on the side of
literally found herself on the side of
literally found herself on the side of the road in the water so to speak had no
the road in the water so to speak had no
the road in the water so to speak had no idea where we were going to sleep that
idea where we were going to sleep that
idea where we were going to sleep that night and luckily for me one of my
night and luckily for me one of my
night and luckily for me one of my fantastic teachers came by gave us a
fantastic teachers came by gave us a
fantastic teachers came by gave us a place to sleep and helped us get back to
place to sleep and helped us get back to
place to sleep and helped us get back to Central Arkansas where we had family I
Central Arkansas where we had family I
Central Arkansas where we had family I could provide a net for us to climb back
could provide a net for us to climb back
could provide a net for us to climb back on the boat
on the boat
on the boat I didn’t fall back into poverty like so
I didn’t fall back into poverty like so
I didn’t fall back into poverty like so many others I was able to get a full
many others I was able to get a full
many others I was able to get a full scholarship to the University I married
scholarship to the University I married
scholarship to the University I married a man who is committed to our family and
a man who is committed to our family and
a man who is committed to our family and I’ve owned my own business for most of
I’ve owned my own business for most of
I’ve owned my own business for most of my adult life but that’s not how it
my adult life but that’s not how it
my adult life but that’s not how it happens for everyone for some when
happens for everyone for some when
happens for everyone for some when they’re knocked in the water there is a
they’re knocked in the water there is a
they’re knocked in the water there is a single rope that is dangling that rope
single rope that is dangling that rope
single rope that is dangling that rope could be the one friend that you have
could be the one friend that you have
could be the one friend that you have not burned a bridge with it could be the
not burned a bridge with it could be the
not burned a bridge with it could be the one family member that will let you
one family member that will let you
one family member that will let you sleep on the couch it could be a bed in
sleep on the couch it could be a bed in
sleep on the couch it could be a bed in the shelter you might get lucky and
the shelter you might get lucky and
the shelter you might get lucky and there might be a rope ladder when you’re
there might be a rope ladder when you’re
there might be a rope ladder when you’re knocked in the water and that could be
knocked in the water and that could be
knocked in the water and that could be in the form of a program that you heard
in the form of a program that you heard
in the form of a program that you heard about that you think you qualify for if
about that you think you qualify for if
about that you think you qualify for if you can fill out the application show up
you can fill out the application show up
you can fill out the application show up to every appointment on time and do
to every appointment on time and do
to every appointment on time and do everything just right then you could
everything just right then you could
everything just right then you could have some help
have some help
have some help climbing out of the water with some
climbing out of the water with some
climbing out of the water with some housing assistance but what if what if
housing assistance but what if what if
housing assistance but what if what if there was a cargo net what if that cargo
there was a cargo net what if that cargo
there was a cargo net what if that cargo net was so comprehensive it could go
net was so comprehensive it could go
net was so comprehensive it could go down into the water and we could use our
down into the water and we could use our
down into the water and we could use our arms and our legs we would have lots of
arms and our legs we would have lots of
arms and our legs we would have lots of places to climb out of the water what if
places to climb out of the water what if
places to climb out of the water what if that cargo net looks like a community
that cargo net looks like a community
that cargo net looks like a community that collaborated well it looked like
that collaborated well it looked like
that collaborated well it looked like people that were an army of volunteers
people that were an army of volunteers
people that were an army of volunteers and mentors that once someone was
and mentors that once someone was
and mentors that once someone was identified as needing help and having
identified as needing help and having
identified as needing help and having barriers to maintaining housing
barriers to maintaining housing
barriers to maintaining housing themselves that they were helped through
themselves that they were helped through
themselves that they were helped through the system and not victimized by the
the system and not victimized by the
the system and not victimized by the very system designed to help them what
very system designed to help them what
very system designed to help them what if everyone worked together to help
if everyone worked together to help
if everyone worked together to help those in the water now some may say I
those in the water now some may say I
those in the water now some may say I don’t know if someone is homeless I
don’t know if someone is homeless I
don’t know if someone is homeless I think they should get a job keep a job
think they should get a job keep a job
think they should get a job keep a job out taking drugs take their medication
out taking drugs take their medication
out taking drugs take their medication what a great idea
what a great idea
what a great idea have you ever thought about what it
have you ever thought about what it
have you ever thought about what it would be like to camp wake up in the
would be like to camp wake up in the
would be like to camp wake up in the morning to try to get a shower except oh
morning to try to get a shower except oh
morning to try to get a shower except oh wait the day center where you take
wait the day center where you take
wait the day center where you take showers doesn’t open until 8:00
showers doesn’t open until 8:00
showers doesn’t open until 8:00 get dressed hoping that it didn’t rain
get dressed hoping that it didn’t rain
get dressed hoping that it didn’t rain and all your clothes aren’t wet get to
and all your clothes aren’t wet get to
and all your clothes aren’t wet get to the bus on time to get to work okay I
the bus on time to get to work okay I
the bus on time to get to work okay I don’t think breakfast was in that
don’t think breakfast was in that
don’t think breakfast was in that equation I’m gonna work really hard all
equation I’m gonna work really hard all
equation I’m gonna work really hard all day long to the very best of my ability
day long to the very best of my ability
day long to the very best of my ability delivering value to my employer the
delivering value to my employer the
delivering value to my employer the whole time wondering who’s gonna steal
whole time wondering who’s gonna steal
whole time wondering who’s gonna steal my stuff you know my stuff back at camp
my stuff you know my stuff back at camp
my stuff you know my stuff back at camp like my legal documents the last picture
like my legal documents the last picture
like my legal documents the last picture of my mom my extra pair of shoes and
of my mom my extra pair of shoes and
of my mom my extra pair of shoes and also wondering where am I going to get
also wondering where am I going to get
also wondering where am I going to get dinner tonight and how do I have the
dinner tonight and how do I have the
dinner tonight and how do I have the energy to start this all over again
energy to start this all over again
energy to start this all over again tomorrow instead your day probably looks
tomorrow instead your day probably looks
tomorrow instead your day probably looks a little more like this gather up your
a little more like this gather up your
a little more like this gather up your clothes to go to the day center to have
clothes to go to the day center to have
clothes to go to the day center to have breakfast
breakfast
breakfast probably sugary which isn’t helping the
probably sugary which isn’t helping the
probably sugary which isn’t helping the borderline diabetes that you’ve now
borderline diabetes that you’ve now
borderline diabetes that you’ve now developed wait your turn in line for the
developed wait your turn in line for the
developed wait your turn in line for the washing machine wait your turn in line
washing machine wait your turn in line
washing machine wait your turn in line for the shower hike a half mile up the
for the shower hike a half mile up the
for the shower hike a half mile up the road for lunch for the community meal
road for lunch for the community meal
road for lunch for the community meal hike a half mile back down to wait in
hike a half mile back down to wait in
hike a half mile back down to wait in line to see the social worker to think
line to see the social worker to think
line to see the social worker to think maybe just maybe I’ve moved up on the
maybe just maybe I’ve moved up on the
maybe just maybe I’ve moved up on the list for housing assistance think about
list for housing assistance think about
list for housing assistance think about your life right now how easy would it be
your life right now how easy would it be
your life right now how easy would it be to keep a job if you were camping in
to keep a job if you were camping in
to keep a job if you were camping in your car think about all the things you
your car think about all the things you
your car think about all the things you take for granted
have you ever wondered where you were
have you ever wondered where you were going to sleep at night wondered where
going to sleep at night wondered where
going to sleep at night wondered where your next meal was coming wondered if
your next meal was coming wondered if
your next meal was coming wondered if you did have a safe place to sleep if
you did have a safe place to sleep if
you did have a safe place to sleep if someone was going to crawl into bed with
someone was going to crawl into bed with
someone was going to crawl into bed with you do you think it’s possible that
you do you think it’s possible that
you do you think it’s possible that maybe just maybe if you’ve never
maybe just maybe if you’ve never
maybe just maybe if you’ve never experienced any of those traumas that
experienced any of those traumas that
experienced any of those traumas that your decision-making abilities might be
your decision-making abilities might be
your decision-making abilities might be a little bit different from those of us
a little bit different from those of us
a little bit different from those of us that have experienced those traumas that
that have experienced those traumas that
that have experienced those traumas that maybe not all decisions are rational so
maybe not all decisions are rational so
maybe not all decisions are rational so what is our community’s response to
what is our community’s response to
what is our community’s response to homelessness I believe that it has to be
homelessness I believe that it has to be
homelessness I believe that it has to be compassion and grace and empathy because
compassion and grace and empathy because
compassion and grace and empathy because they’re a person having an experience
they’re a person having an experience
they’re a person having an experience they’re not a homeless person no one
they’re not a homeless person no one
they’re not a homeless person no one calls you a house person a home person
calls you a house person a home person
calls you a house person a home person an employed person you’re a person we
an employed person you’re a person we
an employed person you’re a person we have value because we are humans so you
have value because we are humans so you
have value because we are humans so you might ask how do you build a cargo net
might ask how do you build a cargo net
might ask how do you build a cargo net Angela well the very first step is to
Angela well the very first step is to
Angela well the very first step is to simply pluck someone out of the water
simply pluck someone out of the water
simply pluck someone out of the water and put them into housing housing first
and put them into housing housing first
and put them into housing housing first the idea that I have to earn my right to
the idea that I have to earn my right to
the idea that I have to earn my right to housing the idea that I have to get my
housing the idea that I have to get my
housing the idea that I have to get my crap together before I can earn a house
crap together before I can earn a house
crap together before I can earn a house has to be eliminated from our community
has to be eliminated from our community
has to be eliminated from our community way of thinking there are barriers there
way of thinking there are barriers there
way of thinking there are barriers there are legitimate barriers that people have
are legitimate barriers that people have
are legitimate barriers that people have to housing
I know you all want to talk to me about
I know you all want to talk to me about them how about we start with mental
them how about we start with mental
them how about we start with mental health okay think about the last time
health okay think about the last time
health okay think about the last time you had to take medication what did the
you had to take medication what did the
you had to take medication what did the instructions say take with food and
instructions say take with food and
instructions say take with food and water how exactly am I supposed to do
water how exactly am I supposed to do
water how exactly am I supposed to do that when I have to hike to my camp and
that when I have to hike to my camp and
that when I have to hike to my camp and carry water and make sure there’s food
carry water and make sure there’s food
carry water and make sure there’s food there might it be a little bit easier to
there might it be a little bit easier to
there might it be a little bit easier to take my medication every day if I have a
take my medication every day if I have a
take my medication every day if I have a safe place to sleep
substance abuse ah my favorite this is
substance abuse ah my favorite this is what people tell me all the time oh well
what people tell me all the time oh well
what people tell me all the time oh well they’re all on drugs and alcohol why
they’re all on drugs and alcohol why
they’re all on drugs and alcohol why exactly do people abuse substances pain
exactly do people abuse substances pain
exactly do people abuse substances pain trauma what if we were to find the root
trauma what if we were to find the root
trauma what if we were to find the root of that pain and we were to inspire real
of that pain and we were to inspire real
of that pain and we were to inspire real healing if we accomplish real healing
healing if we accomplish real healing
healing if we accomplish real healing then you give someone a fighting chance
then you give someone a fighting chance
then you give someone a fighting chance at overcoming that barrier and then
at overcoming that barrier and then
at overcoming that barrier and then there’s physical disabilities many folks
there’s physical disabilities many folks
there’s physical disabilities many folks experiencing homelessness have some sort
experiencing homelessness have some sort
experiencing homelessness have some sort of physical disability and they may
of physical disability and they may
of physical disability and they may receive a disability check from the
receive a disability check from the
receive a disability check from the government and the government says to be
government and the government says to be
government and the government says to be housing stable you must spend no more
housing stable you must spend no more
housing stable you must spend no more than 30% of your monthly income on
than 30% of your monthly income on
than 30% of your monthly income on housing so let’s think about that if I
housing so let’s think about that if I
housing so let’s think about that if I receive a disability check for $800 a
receive a disability check for $800 a
receive a disability check for $800 a month 30% of that would be two hundred
month 30% of that would be two hundred
month 30% of that would be two hundred and forty dollars can you find housing
and forty dollars can you find housing
and forty dollars can you find housing in our community for two hundred and
in our community for two hundred and
in our community for two hundred and forty dollars if not then we as a
forty dollars if not then we as a
forty dollars if not then we as a community have to provide permanent
community have to provide permanent
community have to provide permanent supportive housing options for folks
supportive housing options for folks
supportive housing options for folks that are experiencing disabilities and
that are experiencing disabilities and
that are experiencing disabilities and last my final one I love this one
last my final one I love this one
last my final one I love this one employment issues just get a job there
employment issues just get a job there
employment issues just get a job there are lots of things that cause employment
are lots of things that cause employment
are lots of things that cause employment issues previous experience with the
issues previous experience with the
issues previous experience with the judicial system some of us make mistakes
judicial system some of us make mistakes
judicial system some of us make mistakes intermittent job history
PTSD I met a man who was experiencing
PTSD I met a man who was experiencing homelessness I asked him to tell me his
homelessness I asked him to tell me his
homelessness I asked him to tell me his story and he said I had a great job I
story and he said I had a great job I
story and he said I had a great job I was a truck driver I had a home I made
was a truck driver I had a home I made
was a truck driver I had a home I made good money but one time when I was out
good money but one time when I was out
good money but one time when I was out on the road my wife and my seven year
on the road my wife and my seven year
on the road my wife and my seven year old were killed in a car accident I
old were killed in a car accident I
old were killed in a car accident I didn’t want to live I tried to drink
didn’t want to live I tried to drink
didn’t want to live I tried to drink away the pain for two years I tried so
away the pain for two years I tried so
away the pain for two years I tried so hard to drink myself to death and
hard to drink myself to death and
hard to drink myself to death and eventually figured out that wasn’t
eventually figured out that wasn’t
eventually figured out that wasn’t working either and I was ready to
working either and I was ready to
working either and I was ready to reengage but once you fall off it’s
reengage but once you fall off it’s
reengage but once you fall off it’s really hard to re-engage in life some
really hard to re-engage in life some
really hard to re-engage in life some say when they are going down the streets
say when they are going down the streets
say when they are going down the streets there every fast-food restaurant is
there every fast-food restaurant is
there every fast-food restaurant is hiring if you’ve been a truck driver
hiring if you’ve been a truck driver
hiring if you’ve been a truck driver making good money and you apply in a
making good money and you apply in a
making good money and you apply in a fast-food restaurant do you think they
fast-food restaurant do you think they
fast-food restaurant do you think they might have some questions do you think
might have some questions do you think
might have some questions do you think that possibly the training that they are
that possibly the training that they are
that possibly the training that they are going to have to invest in you might not
going to have to invest in you might not
going to have to invest in you might not be worth their time because they know
be worth their time because they know
be worth their time because they know when you have an opportunity to get that
when you have an opportunity to get that
when you have an opportunity to get that good-paying job back you’re gonna jump
good-paying job back you’re gonna jump
good-paying job back you’re gonna jump and one more thing when you fill out a
and one more thing when you fill out a
and one more thing when you fill out a job application you put your name put
job application you put your name put
job application you put your name put your date that’s the next question that
your date that’s the next question that
your date that’s the next question that they ask your address what are you
they ask your address what are you
they ask your address what are you supposed to put do you put the address
supposed to put do you put the address
supposed to put do you put the address of the local homeless shelter and if
of the local homeless shelter and if
of the local homeless shelter and if they look that up on Google will you be
they look that up on Google will you be
they look that up on Google will you be thought of as less than well they think
thought of as less than well they think
thought of as less than well they think there’s something wrong with you that
there’s something wrong with you that
there’s something wrong with you that you can’t keep a house I don’t know if
you can’t keep a house I don’t know if
you can’t keep a house I don’t know if they’re willing to take the risk and is
they’re willing to take the risk and is
they’re willing to take the risk and is it really worth it the embarrassment
it really worth it the embarrassment
it really worth it the embarrassment that you might feel because already when
that you might feel because already when
that you might feel because already when you’re out in the community people
you’re out in the community people
you’re out in the community people ignore you and you feel invisible and
ignore you and you feel invisible and
ignore you and you feel invisible and ashamed
ashamed
ashamed it’s not worth the risk
sounds kind of hopeless right but I
sounds kind of hopeless right but I don’t think so
don’t think so
don’t think so because there are people that don’t have
because there are people that don’t have
because there are people that don’t have all of these barriers and for those
all of these barriers and for those
all of these barriers and for those people I say that we have to encourage
people I say that we have to encourage
people I say that we have to encourage them to continue after they become a
them to continue after they become a
them to continue after they become a tenant to continue on to become a
tenant to continue on to become a
tenant to continue on to become a homeowner because what we know is that
homeowner because what we know is that
homeowner because what we know is that the average homeowner has a net worth of
the average homeowner has a net worth of
the average homeowner has a net worth of a hundred and ninety five thousand
a hundred and ninety five thousand
a hundred and ninety five thousand dollars compared to a renter who has a
dollars compared to a renter who has a
dollars compared to a renter who has a net worth of fifty four hundred we have
net worth of fifty four hundred we have
net worth of fifty four hundred we have to teach more than survival strategies
to teach more than survival strategies
to teach more than survival strategies we have to teach wealth building
we have to teach wealth building
we have to teach wealth building strategies in our community budgeting
strategies in our community budgeting
strategies in our community budgeting how to make the most of every dollar
how to make the most of every dollar
how to make the most of every dollar that you have provide creative financing
that you have provide creative financing
that you have provide creative financing options for credit builder loans
options for credit builder loans
options for credit builder loans first-time homeowners and for programs
first-time homeowners and for programs
first-time homeowners and for programs like Habitat for Humanity but that’s not
like Habitat for Humanity but that’s not
like Habitat for Humanity but that’s not all
all
all for those folks that are experiencing
for those folks that are experiencing
for those folks that are experiencing homelessness I know that now you want to
homelessness I know that now you want to
homelessness I know that now you want to know how can you help what do I do you
know how can you help what do I do you
know how can you help what do I do you have some very important resources as a
have some very important resources as a
have some very important resources as a community investor community investors
community investor community investors
community investor community investors have three important resources that they
have three important resources that they
have three important resources that they can use to build the cargo net for our
can use to build the cargo net for our
can use to build the cargo net for our community first is your time how can you
community first is your time how can you
community first is your time how can you use your time to build the cargo net to
use your time to build the cargo net to
use your time to build the cargo net to unify our community start by going to
unify our community start by going to
unify our community start by going to one of those community meals and being a
one of those community meals and being a
one of those community meals and being a friend consider volunteering at an
friend consider volunteering at an
friend consider volunteering at an organization that believes in getting
organization that believes in getting
organization that believes in getting people out of the water perhaps you’d
people out of the water perhaps you’d
people out of the water perhaps you’d like to use your talent you know that
like to use your talent you know that
like to use your talent you know that you can serve on the board of these
you can serve on the board of these
you can serve on the board of these organ
organ
organ positions that provide support for folks
positions that provide support for folks
positions that provide support for folks experiencing homelessness and at risk of
experiencing homelessness and at risk of
experiencing homelessness and at risk of experiencing homelessness those boards
experiencing homelessness those boards
experiencing homelessness those boards need people with marketing accounting
need people with marketing accounting
need people with marketing accounting skills legal skills they need bag
skills legal skills they need bag
skills legal skills they need bag stuffers and event organizers as well no
stuffers and event organizers as well no
stuffers and event organizers as well no job is too small because it’s our
job is too small because it’s our
job is too small because it’s our community and while you’re serving on
community and while you’re serving on
community and while you’re serving on that board make sure that you talk to
that board make sure that you talk to
that board make sure that you talk to them about their collaboration strategy
them about their collaboration strategy
them about their collaboration strategy how are they working with organizations
how are they working with organizations
how are they working with organizations in the community how are they tearing
in the community how are they tearing
in the community how are they tearing down the silos to build the net for our
down the silos to build the net for our
down the silos to build the net for our community and you know a talk like this
community and you know a talk like this
community and you know a talk like this would not be complete without talking
would not be complete without talking
would not be complete without talking about money because those permanent
about money because those permanent
about money because those permanent supportive housing options they cost
supportive housing options they cost
supportive housing options they cost money and the people the trained
money and the people the trained
money and the people the trained professionals that know exactly what to
professionals that know exactly what to
professionals that know exactly what to do you may not feel qualified to know
do you may not feel qualified to know
do you may not feel qualified to know exactly what to do if someone’s
exactly what to do if someone’s
exactly what to do if someone’s experiencing homelessness but I promise
experiencing homelessness but I promise
experiencing homelessness but I promise you there are trained professionals in
you there are trained professionals in
you there are trained professionals in our community and they need to earn a
our community and they need to earn a
our community and they need to earn a living so when you want to give money
living so when you want to give money
living so when you want to give money everyone wants to be glamorous and give
everyone wants to be glamorous and give
everyone wants to be glamorous and give money to direct services and that’s
money to direct services and that’s
money to direct services and that’s fantastic but what about the
fantastic but what about the
fantastic but what about the administrative cost
administrative cost
administrative cost what about infrastructure case managers
don’t be afraid to support those
don’t be afraid to support those administrative costs our community is
administrative costs our community is
administrative costs our community is worth it do you know that you cannot
worth it do you know that you cannot
worth it do you know that you cannot spell the word community without unity
spell the word community without unity
spell the word community without unity and when we all come together to decide
and when we all come together to decide
and when we all come together to decide that homelessness is our problem that
that homelessness is our problem that
that homelessness is our problem that our community is only the best place to
our community is only the best place to
our community is only the best place to live it’s fits the best for every
live it’s fits the best for every
live it’s fits the best for every citizen when we unify and we come
citizen when we unify and we come
citizen when we unify and we come together we can create a cargo net for
together we can create a cargo net for
together we can create a cargo net for everyone so that if a strong wind comes
everyone so that if a strong wind comes
everyone so that if a strong wind comes like a heart attack a long term job loss
like a heart attack a long term job loss
like a heart attack a long term job loss a stroke you’ll know that the net
a stroke you’ll know that the net
a stroke you’ll know that the net is there for you as well thank you
is there for you as well thank you
is there for you as well thank you [Applause]
”
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