[Music] unsheltered homeless an unforgettable
unsheltered homeless an unforgettable
unsheltered homeless an unforgettable experience
experience
experience have you experienced homelessness I have
have you experienced homelessness I have
have you experienced homelessness I have with shame fear despair helplessness
with shame fear despair helplessness
with shame fear despair helplessness hopelessness when I was 19 years old
hopelessness when I was 19 years old
hopelessness when I was 19 years old while caring for an elderly woman live
while caring for an elderly woman live
while caring for an elderly woman live she was bedridden I was comfortable
she was bedridden I was comfortable
she was bedridden I was comfortable until she died I didn’t plan for this
until she died I didn’t plan for this
until she died I didn’t plan for this day to happen when suddenly her family
day to happen when suddenly her family
day to happen when suddenly her family member who never visited nor did I know
member who never visited nor did I know
member who never visited nor did I know existed appear and took over putting me
existed appear and took over putting me
existed appear and took over putting me and my two-year-old daughter out on the
and my two-year-old daughter out on the
and my two-year-old daughter out on the street
street
street I felt misused shameful and afraid I
I felt misused shameful and afraid I
I felt misused shameful and afraid I abandoned my daughter to my mother
abandoned my daughter to my mother
abandoned my daughter to my mother I found myself drinking alcohol with me
I found myself drinking alcohol with me
I found myself drinking alcohol with me not to feel the feelings from the
not to feel the feelings from the
not to feel the feelings from the thoughts that were going on inside my
thoughts that were going on inside my
thoughts that were going on inside my head I would ride the bus all night long
head I would ride the bus all night long
head I would ride the bus all night long needing to feel safe I was introduced to
needing to feel safe I was introduced to
needing to feel safe I was introduced to other drills at the age of 23 I entered
other drills at the age of 23 I entered
other drills at the age of 23 I entered until my first of 12 recovery facilities
until my first of 12 recovery facilities
until my first of 12 recovery facilities in great denial I was tired of living on
in great denial I was tired of living on
in great denial I was tired of living on the street I was arrested many times for
the street I was arrested many times for
the street I was arrested many times for stealing are being homeless praying
stealing are being homeless praying
stealing are being homeless praying drear’s
drear’s
drear’s I really wanted to mean Lord if you get
I really wanted to mean Lord if you get
I really wanted to mean Lord if you get me out of this I will do better but each
me out of this I will do better but each
me out of this I will do better but each time that I was released from jail I
time that I was released from jail I
time that I was released from jail I have no home to return to so I would end
have no home to return to so I would end
have no home to return to so I would end up right back where I started
up right back where I started
up right back where I started only to experience the same
only to experience the same
only to experience the same incomprehensible demoralisation I became
incomprehensible demoralisation I became
incomprehensible demoralisation I became depressed
depressed
depressed and suicidal 21 years experience with
and suicidal 21 years experience with
and suicidal 21 years experience with homelessness I felt hopeless I didn’t
homelessness I felt hopeless I didn’t
homelessness I felt hopeless I didn’t want to feel I didn’t want to live
July 10th 1998 I was arrested for the
July 10th 1998 I was arrested for the last time and I have remained sober and
last time and I have remained sober and
last time and I have remained sober and houses
these experiences have motivated me to
these experiences have motivated me to be committed to eradicating homelessness
be committed to eradicating homelessness
be committed to eradicating homelessness it was the latter part of October 1999
it was the latter part of October 1999
it was the latter part of October 1999 while in my 12th program mandated by the
while in my 12th program mandated by the
while in my 12th program mandated by the courts facing four and a half years in
courts facing four and a half years in
courts facing four and a half years in prison the night before my medical
prison the night before my medical
prison the night before my medical doctor’s appointment
doctor’s appointment
doctor’s appointment I felt sad tired drained what seemed to
I felt sad tired drained what seemed to
I felt sad tired drained what seemed to be uncontrollable thoughts when the
be uncontrollable thoughts when the
be uncontrollable thoughts when the medical doctor walked in and said how
medical doctor walked in and said how
medical doctor walked in and said how you doing miss Stevens I broke down and
you doing miss Stevens I broke down and
you doing miss Stevens I broke down and I was clinically referred to Augustus
I was clinically referred to Augustus
I was clinically referred to Augustus Hawkins mental health center arriving
Hawkins mental health center arriving
Hawkins mental health center arriving back to the 12-step program I was asked
back to the 12-step program I was asked
back to the 12-step program I was asked to sign on the dotted line
to sign on the dotted line
to sign on the dotted line that I did not want mental health
that I did not want mental health
that I did not want mental health services I refused November the 2nd 1999
services I refused November the 2nd 1999
services I refused November the 2nd 1999 arriving to my first mental health
arriving to my first mental health
arriving to my first mental health appointment to be told that my
appointment to be told that my
appointment to be told that my appointment had been cancelled and
appointment had been cancelled and
appointment had been cancelled and rescheduled in 30 days I hit the counter
rescheduled in 30 days I hit the counter
rescheduled in 30 days I hit the counter demanded that somebody is going to see
demanded that somebody is going to see
demanded that somebody is going to see me today
me today
me today you see nobody really understood the
you see nobody really understood the
you see nobody really understood the courage it took just to walk through the
courage it took just to walk through the
courage it took just to walk through the doors of the Department of the world but
doors of the Department of the world but
doors of the Department of the world but jacket rather the receptionist she was
jacket rather the receptionist she was
jacket rather the receptionist she was nice she spoke softly she said have a
nice she spoke softly she said have a
nice she spoke softly she said have a seat miss Stevens I’ll find someone to
seat miss Stevens I’ll find someone to
seat miss Stevens I’ll find someone to see you two nice ladies came out several
see you two nice ladies came out several
see you two nice ladies came out several times approaching me gently and they
times approaching me gently and they
times approaching me gently and they would say don’t worry we’re gonna find
would say don’t worry we’re gonna find
would say don’t worry we’re gonna find someone to see you hours pass 2:30 p.m.
someone to see you hours pass 2:30 p.m.
someone to see you hours pass 2:30 p.m. an angel up here
an angel up here
an angel up here dr. Lorraine oven she set with me until
dr. Lorraine oven she set with me until
dr. Lorraine oven she set with me until after five o’clock to you and she asked
after five o’clock to you and she asked
after five o’clock to you and she asked questions like what brought you here
questions like what brought you here
questions like what brought you here what do you need
what do you need
what do you need what are your desires she exercised deep
what are your desires she exercised deep
what are your desires she exercised deep compassionate listening I have not felt
compassionate listening I have not felt
compassionate listening I have not felt cared for heard like this in a long time
she diagnosed me with major depression
she diagnosed me with major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and I
and post-traumatic stress disorder and I
and post-traumatic stress disorder and I left the feeling relieved arriving back
left the feeling relieved arriving back
left the feeling relieved arriving back to the program I was told to pack my
to the program I was told to pack my
to the program I was told to pack my bags because I had a returning than a
bags because I had a returning than a
bags because I had a returning than a health appointment I’m facing four and a
health appointment I’m facing four and a
health appointment I’m facing four and a half years in prison on a three-year
half years in prison on a three-year
half years in prison on a three-year joint suspension with an enhancement a
joint suspension with an enhancement a
joint suspension with an enhancement a probation officer from Hale and I’m
probation officer from Hale and I’m
probation officer from Hale and I’m mandated to be there the fire one day I
mandated to be there the fire one day I
mandated to be there the fire one day I called dr. almond and she’s scheduled to
called dr. almond and she’s scheduled to
called dr. almond and she’s scheduled to see me immediately and I remember
see me immediately and I remember
see me immediately and I remember arriving the court now facing a
arriving the court now facing a
arriving the court now facing a probation violation when the prosecutor
probation violation when the prosecutor
probation violation when the prosecutor came out and said very impressive report
came out and said very impressive report
came out and said very impressive report that was submitted to the court by dr.
that was submitted to the court by dr.
that was submitted to the court by dr. almond the courts later mandated need to
almond the courts later mandated need to
almond the courts later mandated need to continue to see dr. almond she and I
continue to see dr. almond she and I
continue to see dr. almond she and I together built a founded Foundation
together built a founded Foundation
together built a founded Foundation which I stand upon today she was my
which I stand upon today she was my
which I stand upon today she was my trellis may she rest in peace
today in the County of Los Angeles there
today in the County of Los Angeles there are over 47,000 homeless what a growing
are over 47,000 homeless what a growing
are over 47,000 homeless what a growing rate of individuals families youth small
rate of individuals families youth small
rate of individuals families youth small children under the age of six Los
children under the age of six Los
children under the age of six Los Angeles ranks in the top three of the
Angeles ranks in the top three of the
Angeles ranks in the top three of the world when it comes to homelessness
world when it comes to homelessness
world when it comes to homelessness homelessness is no longer concentrated
homelessness is no longer concentrated
homelessness is no longer concentrated in Skid Row it has grown and people
in Skid Row it has grown and people
in Skid Row it has grown and people continue to fall into homelessness every
continue to fall into homelessness every
continue to fall into homelessness every single day in Los Angeles County 33
single day in Los Angeles County 33
single day in Los Angeles County 33 percent of that 47,000 that’s over
percent of that 47,000 that’s over
percent of that 47,000 that’s over 15,000 right here in South Los Angeles
15,000 right here in South Los Angeles
15,000 right here in South Los Angeles my community our community 36% of our
my community our community 36% of our
my community our community 36% of our women 62 percent are african-american 25
women 62 percent are african-american 25
women 62 percent are african-american 25 percent of chronically homeless 24
percent of chronically homeless 24
percent of chronically homeless 24 percent suffer with a mental health
percent suffer with a mental health
percent suffer with a mental health challenge we talk in decades of neglect
challenge we talk in decades of neglect
challenge we talk in decades of neglect resulting in a housing crisis continue
resulting in a housing crisis continue
resulting in a housing crisis continue poverty a lack of Economic Opportunity
poverty a lack of Economic Opportunity
poverty a lack of Economic Opportunity homelessness is a serious problem in the
homelessness is a serious problem in the
homelessness is a serious problem in the County of Los Angeles but it is
County of Los Angeles but it is
County of Los Angeles but it is extremely grave in South Los Angeles and
extremely grave in South Los Angeles and
extremely grave in South Los Angeles and that’s dramatic it’s a crisis that we
that’s dramatic it’s a crisis that we
that’s dramatic it’s a crisis that we can no longer ignore when I think about
can no longer ignore when I think about
can no longer ignore when I think about solutions I am reminded of my own
solutions I am reminded of my own
solutions I am reminded of my own personal experience you know solutions
personal experience you know solutions
personal experience you know solutions such as the housing first model housing
such as the housing first model housing
such as the housing first model housing doesn’t stabilize someone right away we
doesn’t stabilize someone right away we
doesn’t stabilize someone right away we need support and our needs they’re all
need support and our needs they’re all
need support and our needs they’re all different
different
different you see we all came in on different
you see we all came in on different
you see we all came in on different boats but we ended up on the same sure
I remember when I required a section 8
I remember when I required a section 8 voucher I had 60 days to find a place to
voucher I had 60 days to find a place to
voucher I had 60 days to find a place to live 6 days with bad credit and eviction
live 6 days with bad credit and eviction
live 6 days with bad credit and eviction time is running out and one more time
time is running out and one more time
time is running out and one more time shame and fear has be paralyzed so I
shame and fear has be paralyzed so I
shame and fear has be paralyzed so I rented the unit that I had never seen
rented the unit that I had never seen
rented the unit that I had never seen the inside I gave that property
the inside I gave that property
the inside I gave that property management company $2,500 Oh for a place
management company $2,500 Oh for a place
management company $2,500 Oh for a place that I had never seen and I remember I
that I had never seen and I remember I
that I had never seen and I remember I have the keys ride to that apartment and
have the keys ride to that apartment and
have the keys ride to that apartment and walking up those stairs can’t han
walking up those stairs can’t han
walking up those stairs can’t han thinking how stupid I was for giving
thinking how stupid I was for giving
thinking how stupid I was for giving those people my money and praying lord
those people my money and praying lord
those people my money and praying lord please let this be a decent place for me
please let this be a decent place for me
please let this be a decent place for me to live when i unlock that apartment God
to live when i unlock that apartment God
to live when i unlock that apartment God had done for me what I could not do for
had done for me what I could not do for
had done for me what I could not do for myself it was a beautiful place but
myself it was a beautiful place but
myself it was a beautiful place but looking back if only the section-8
looking back if only the section-8
looking back if only the section-8 advisor had exercised compassionate
advisor had exercised compassionate
advisor had exercised compassionate listening but no each time but I would
listening but no each time but I would
listening but no each time but I would call her she would say you better hurry
call her she would say you better hurry
call her she would say you better hurry up and find a place are you gonna lose
up and find a place are you gonna lose
up and find a place are you gonna lose your voucher what ha and many others
your voucher what ha and many others
your voucher what ha and many others need our providers and agencies to
need our providers and agencies to
need our providers and agencies to exercise compassion to listen cultural
exercise compassion to listen cultural
exercise compassion to listen cultural understanding to be empathetic because
understanding to be empathetic because
understanding to be empathetic because just as I said we all come here on
just as I said we all come here on
just as I said we all come here on different boats we just all end up on
different boats we just all end up on
different boats we just all end up on the same shoe our needs truly are all
the same shoe our needs truly are all
the same shoe our needs truly are all different
different
different [Applause]
”
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