My name is Joanne Stearns and my dog is Joey. We are located in San Francisco. During the pandemic, I went homeless. Prior, I was involved in an abusive relationship with someone using me. I was trauma-bonded, I mean the first relationship in 13.5 years, in hindsight I got set up. I could not leave the relationship. He died September 25, 2019, we were living on the street. I had a hysterectomy in December 2, 2019 and then the pandemic began March 15, 2020. I had no time to financially recover. I am a neuromuscular medical massage therapist by trade, have been massaging full time since January 2002. During shelter in place, I applied for a PPP loan through SBA initially approved but being in the abusive relationship, I fell late on my taxes no proof, no loan. I heard on NPR radio pandemic support was available for gig workers. I applied through EDD hoping to get support still living on the street, no documents, no access to public libraries, nothing, again no proof no help. I continued to support myself massaging a small handful of people to support myself and I still had EBT (food stamps) and MediCal (medical).

Housing and getting off the street is my primary concern now especially with cancer. I have been told to contact the HOTS Team in San Francisco its the Homeless Outreach Team which is like a joke for 20 months, no assistance can not ever get through, I mean it's near absolute impossible. So how does anyone get assistance? All the numbers I've called on the list of service providers are full or will not accept my registered service dog. He was my late partner’s dog. In mid October last year UCSF Medical diagnosed me with malignant breast cancer. I contacted the social worker and asked for their support, their response was absolutely appalling, inhumane and outrageous. I almost cancelled the surgery threatening to risk metastasis if they did not have somewhere safe for me to heal. Now, after a week placing me in a temporary hotel they are saying they could only provide a week and I'm out luck really and I need to keep trying the HOTS team. I mean I already told them I could not get through not once in 20 months, how do they think someone is suddenly going to answer? Where is the accountability San Francisco? So I'm left to fend for myself as I have done WITH a job but now with this surgery, I can not see how that is possible. I applied for CA disability in December 2021 nothing yet. I am trying to heal from this cancer 6-8 weeks and I have 6 weeks radiation to follow. I am sober, I vote, I do have a sound mind, I talk to a psychotherapist weekly for coping strategies related to this housing/healing stress. Until I met this abusive partner in 2013, there is no record of me ever using social services prior to 2014. There is no reason for this discrimination or horrible treatment towards someone like me yet we are invisible.

If you have a heart ❤️ and you can see me and my dog Joey please help if you can. I’m asking for this money for safe housing, rides to my doctors appointments, care for my dog while I go to my doctors visits to and from radiation its also for my bills and food. We thank you deeply!

God Bless!

Joanne Stearns, NMT