Help get Kristie from homeless to HOPE!!

Hello everyone, helping people is something I admired no matter who they are or what’s their condition because many of us have conditions (from Alcoholism, illegal drug or prescription use and etc…) many people handle their addition better than most.  After leaving from studying for a law exam about 6 months ago that was schedule for the next morning. I ran into a homeless lady (Kristie) at a gas station in super-hot weather (This was during the summer time). The gas station is near my college so this lady is someone I see often. If you know about Michigan, it’s a state that has extreme cold weather in the winter, the home of the auto industry and many homeless people.

Every time I interact with Kristie at the gas station I will give her college hoodies and sweat pants to stay warm for the upcoming winter weather (which is now here ) as well purchase her food from the gas station and tea without her asking. She never came off to me as what many view homeless people as addicts or they were not human -- they were thugs and murderers and a burden to society. In fact every time I offer her money she wouldn’t accept, she stated she doesn’t need money if she didn’t work for it. To add more to the observation she had great teeth, great vocabulary her cloths wasn’t of quality but she look neat.

She had been on my mind for a while since I have not seen her in about 3 weeks. I was hoping to see her at the gas station or walking down the street the clerk will say I just miss her every day I walk in. Six days ago (1/8/2013) I seen her at the gas station at night I ask her, if I could ask her a personal question and she said yes and said a little humor joke like “It’s going to cost you” then I ask why are you homeless? She stated her family was never created, due to her husband dying from cancer and a miscarriage occurring during his battle with cancer which would have been her first child. Then she went on to say that she lost focus when husband died and when her unborn child was never born, then she pulled this picture of her and decease husband from out her shirt. She utter that she lost her house job as a manager, then her home. Most of her stuff was stolen when sheriff kick her out home do to foreclosure, the rest of her items she lost when her car was repossess early last year.

She is the only child and have no family, her husband was the only person she had and it has been 2.5 years since she been off her feet. What really caught my attention when  ask her where she be going with papers in her hand she stated looking for a job but no one would give her a chance again (A lot of that probably to do with the improper presentation when applying or at interviews.) After the conversation I had given $33 to Kristie which was all the cash out my pocket. Then I ask her where do she stay and she stated in abandoned garage sometimes ruin buildings about a few blocks from the garage. I gave her a hug before leaving the gas station customer looks at me like I was weird or trying to proposition her in some type of way which offended me. Because it’s crazy how people think, and don’t really want to help people. My favorite line I say to myself when I help homeless people that ask for something “I have the resources to get back what I just given out obvious that person don’t” the resource could be a savings account, family, a job and etc…

As I left her last week I wanted to help but I know it will be too expensive for me to help someone to get on their feet. I google programs but I feel these programs really not that effective or overly crowed with people that just don’t want to get it right. I ask a few of my friends and family would they let me borrow the funds to help her, they told me no if she wasn’t homeless they would help (some reason people do not like helping homeless people.)

I went home and did some math and research on an individual budget. I look for low income apartment in that area or near-by, I currently work for a staffing company maybe I can help her find employment less than a few weeks. I also I can help her get some type of Government aid to help with living expense.

I spoke with some apartment agency and the avg low income homes were in a descent area.

The rent would be: $399 a month with $200 security deposit for a 1 bed room (540 sq ft) with stove and refrigerator. We can purchase a blow up bed; I have an extra television that I can give. She have bus transportation directly in front of the apartment Most of the jobs that we help people find at my staffing company are around min wage to $10.50 an hour. I will try to get her job around $9.25 an hour but it may take me a couple weeks or so.

With her help and whatever you can donate will be helpful in getting her life back started for her, I think this process will take about a month or less to get her back to hope once again.

I will keep many updated on this story as we advanced.

Thanks a lot