There's no place like home
Donation protected
Feeling safe, secure, and stable are just a few of the many things you don't feel when you are homeless, especially during this pandemic. Lately, my life has been filled with so many ups, downs, way more downs, uncertainty, unstable and unhealthy situations that I tolerated to keep a roof over my head until it all fell to pieces.
August 2017 – My life changed dramatically and a trip to the hospital turned into a tricuspid valve replacement, in other words, open-heart surgery. After surgery, I spent 2 months in a hospital bed, two months in a nursing home, and then a medical respite which is a fancy term for shelter.
January 2019 – My life came to a screeching halt when I lost my best friend, my 3 A.M. text with a problem, call for advice, tell me everything is going to be okay, tell me I’m about to make a HUGE mistake and everything in between. My mom’s passing caused my brother, sister, and I to lose whatever we had called a “home” and they became homeless as well.
October 2019 – I wanted to escape an unhealthy relationship and the only place I could think of was the Navigation Center in San Francisco which is a coed shelter. You sleep in a big dorm area and at night the only thing separating your bed from the man next to you is an office partition. There is little to no privacy, your belongings are often stolen, the thief is never caught, and the twin-size bed hardly fit me let alone Dutchess too. I stayed for a little over 6 months until the pandemic started. I was surrounded by people who didn’t wash their hands or cover their mouths prior to the virus and even with the pandemic spreading like wildfire things didn’t change.
April 2020 – Even with the pandemic I still looked for work and landed a job through a temp agency working with clients that were previously on the streets or in shelters to homes of their own. In the beginning, a good friend opened his home to me and Dutchess so I didn’t have to leave her in a kennel all day long while I was at work. This only lasted a short time as his building didn’t allow dogs and neighbors quickly reported us to the landlord. I could tell he was stressed but didn’t have the heart to kick us out. I decided to leave there and enduring the shelter conditions was my only option. Upon arriving at the navigation center on April 17th, I was told I was exited from the program for being gone for more than 24 hours. The fact I was working full time and too exhausted to travel clear across the city one night to check in the day before didn't matter. Now I am really homeless with nowhere to go.
I was able to balance everything and keep my unstable home life under wraps for a few weeks but eventually began effecting my professional life too. I’ll admit I was late a few times dealing with the transit system being reduced dramatically and not having the funds to pay another night till my next paycheck. On two occasions I missed work entirely because I didn’t have anyone reliable or trustworthy to watch Dutchess, so I stayed with her. The second time I had to call in for missing work was sadly my last.
May 2020 –Since being exited from the shelter I am now completely homeless, living hotel to hotel, just lost a job I loved, struggling day to day just to survive and make ends meet. I’ve now completely drained the 1,500 I had in savings on hotel rooms, daily necessities, and the last chunk was spent on my dog’s vet bill last week $598.65 which leaves my account -16.34 right now.
May 29, 2020 – I get the best news I’ve heard in a long, long time. I was finally at the top of a very long housing list that I applied for years ago! All I had to do was find a landlord to accept the housing assistance, accept my dog and me. So far everything is falling into place and I’m supposed to sign my lease this Friday!
Along with the exciting new apartment comes a few very important things;
• Renters insurance prior to moving in 184.00
• Move-in deposit 2,621.00
• Pet deposit 70.00
• Groceries 100.00
• Air mattress (temporarily) 60.00
• Misc. essential items 100.00
• PG&E turned on 50.00
I’ve called many different rent assistance programs in SF and Bay area and there is an overwhelming amount of families seeking support due to COVID-19 that most agencies aren’t accepting anyone else in need at this time. I checked with a few different insurance companies and have chosen the cheapest, yet well-rated insurance company and they ask for a down payment along with either monthly payments or to pay it for the year which is cheaper and what I hope to do. Pet deposit is standard in any rental and is also why I need renter’s insurance.
As an adult, all I’ve wanted in life was a place that was my very own, a place that my brother and sister could come visit whenever they wanted, and I could be there for them in ways I never could. I want Dutchess to know where home is and have an actual address to put on her dog tag instead of my phone number by itself. Being able to come home from a long day of work and having the comfort or peace of mind knowing you have a big comfy bed to crawl into is a comfort most people take for granted every day.
Your help will give us something we’ve never had and not only are you helping the two of us but with my story, I can share with others and give people in the same situation a little bit of hope that it is possible to overcome homelessness. Being “Homeless” does not defy us and anyone who says otherwise is clearly defining themselves. We all deserve a place to call home just as much as the next person and I hope my story can make a difference in someone’s life just like you guys are helping make a difference in mine Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I promise to keep everyone updated along the way throughout the entire process! Lease signing, keys, moving in, etc.
If anyone has furniture to donate would also be very helpful.
Some of you may have been surprised while reading this as I have tried very hard to conceal the extent of my situation all these last few years but this is it, this is me, it might not be pretty but its the truth.
Thank you for reading.
My bed at Navigation Center and her taking up the whole bed!
The last morning I missed work with all of our belongings and Dutchess in the back of a taxi figuring out where to go next.
August 2017 – My life changed dramatically and a trip to the hospital turned into a tricuspid valve replacement, in other words, open-heart surgery. After surgery, I spent 2 months in a hospital bed, two months in a nursing home, and then a medical respite which is a fancy term for shelter.
January 2019 – My life came to a screeching halt when I lost my best friend, my 3 A.M. text with a problem, call for advice, tell me everything is going to be okay, tell me I’m about to make a HUGE mistake and everything in between. My mom’s passing caused my brother, sister, and I to lose whatever we had called a “home” and they became homeless as well.
October 2019 – I wanted to escape an unhealthy relationship and the only place I could think of was the Navigation Center in San Francisco which is a coed shelter. You sleep in a big dorm area and at night the only thing separating your bed from the man next to you is an office partition. There is little to no privacy, your belongings are often stolen, the thief is never caught, and the twin-size bed hardly fit me let alone Dutchess too. I stayed for a little over 6 months until the pandemic started. I was surrounded by people who didn’t wash their hands or cover their mouths prior to the virus and even with the pandemic spreading like wildfire things didn’t change.
April 2020 – Even with the pandemic I still looked for work and landed a job through a temp agency working with clients that were previously on the streets or in shelters to homes of their own. In the beginning, a good friend opened his home to me and Dutchess so I didn’t have to leave her in a kennel all day long while I was at work. This only lasted a short time as his building didn’t allow dogs and neighbors quickly reported us to the landlord. I could tell he was stressed but didn’t have the heart to kick us out. I decided to leave there and enduring the shelter conditions was my only option. Upon arriving at the navigation center on April 17th, I was told I was exited from the program for being gone for more than 24 hours. The fact I was working full time and too exhausted to travel clear across the city one night to check in the day before didn't matter. Now I am really homeless with nowhere to go.
I was able to balance everything and keep my unstable home life under wraps for a few weeks but eventually began effecting my professional life too. I’ll admit I was late a few times dealing with the transit system being reduced dramatically and not having the funds to pay another night till my next paycheck. On two occasions I missed work entirely because I didn’t have anyone reliable or trustworthy to watch Dutchess, so I stayed with her. The second time I had to call in for missing work was sadly my last.
May 2020 –Since being exited from the shelter I am now completely homeless, living hotel to hotel, just lost a job I loved, struggling day to day just to survive and make ends meet. I’ve now completely drained the 1,500 I had in savings on hotel rooms, daily necessities, and the last chunk was spent on my dog’s vet bill last week $598.65 which leaves my account -16.34 right now.
May 29, 2020 – I get the best news I’ve heard in a long, long time. I was finally at the top of a very long housing list that I applied for years ago! All I had to do was find a landlord to accept the housing assistance, accept my dog and me. So far everything is falling into place and I’m supposed to sign my lease this Friday!
Along with the exciting new apartment comes a few very important things;
• Renters insurance prior to moving in 184.00
• Move-in deposit 2,621.00
• Pet deposit 70.00
• Groceries 100.00
• Air mattress (temporarily) 60.00
• Misc. essential items 100.00
• PG&E turned on 50.00
I’ve called many different rent assistance programs in SF and Bay area and there is an overwhelming amount of families seeking support due to COVID-19 that most agencies aren’t accepting anyone else in need at this time. I checked with a few different insurance companies and have chosen the cheapest, yet well-rated insurance company and they ask for a down payment along with either monthly payments or to pay it for the year which is cheaper and what I hope to do. Pet deposit is standard in any rental and is also why I need renter’s insurance.
As an adult, all I’ve wanted in life was a place that was my very own, a place that my brother and sister could come visit whenever they wanted, and I could be there for them in ways I never could. I want Dutchess to know where home is and have an actual address to put on her dog tag instead of my phone number by itself. Being able to come home from a long day of work and having the comfort or peace of mind knowing you have a big comfy bed to crawl into is a comfort most people take for granted every day.
Your help will give us something we’ve never had and not only are you helping the two of us but with my story, I can share with others and give people in the same situation a little bit of hope that it is possible to overcome homelessness. Being “Homeless” does not defy us and anyone who says otherwise is clearly defining themselves. We all deserve a place to call home just as much as the next person and I hope my story can make a difference in someone’s life just like you guys are helping make a difference in mine Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I promise to keep everyone updated along the way throughout the entire process! Lease signing, keys, moving in, etc.
If anyone has furniture to donate would also be very helpful.
Some of you may have been surprised while reading this as I have tried very hard to conceal the extent of my situation all these last few years but this is it, this is me, it might not be pretty but its the truth.
Thank you for reading.
My bed at Navigation Center and her taking up the whole bed!
The last morning I missed work with all of our belongings and Dutchess in the back of a taxi figuring out where to go next.Organizer
Amber Richmond
Organizer
San Francisco, CA