Homeless Elder Woman in Crisis
Donation protected
Everyone, we’re living in a time of great uncertainty. And I realize that, at times, it’s easy to find ourselves feeling a little bit helpless and unsure. But what continues to give me hope are the incredible acts of selflessness and kindness that our community continues to perform for one another. These acts of humanity we see around us – everyday - are the positive we need in the world right now. It’s in that vein of kindness and selflessness that I ask for your help…actually, I’m pleading for it.
There’s a woman I’d like you to “meet” - her name is Joette. (Previously referred to as Cathy for online safety.) She’s 73 years old and she’s homeless. We need to fix that. Right now. Joette found herself homeless when her apartment complex, where she’d lived with her best friend, her Yorkie, Boogie, had a change in management causing her to eventually be out of a place to live. Joette, who has worked for the Iredell Arts Council for years and almost a decade for different healthcare providers, was already finding herself struggling to make ends meet on her incredibly low, fixed income and a higher rent was an impossible for her budget. No longer at the only home she’d known for almost a decade, and with nowhere else to go, Joette and her little Boogie checked into a hotel, in the hope that she’d find them a new home quickly. She was unable to find in a reasonable price range and a long-term stay at a hotel could never fit into her already stretched thin budget. She was quickly burning through the tiny savings she had. Overwhelmed by the idea of depleting all of her funds, Joette made the agonizing decision to leave the hotel and take up residence in her car. Her car. This lovely, bright, wonderful 73-year old woman went to live in her car, with just a few possessions and her best friend, Boogie. Living out of a car was Joette's and Boogie’s life for 1 ½ years. Together, they spent at least one Christmas in her car. They celebrated her birthday in her car. Through the heat of the North Carolina summer, Joette lived in that car. When the winter’s frost coated Joette's car, she and Boogie slept inside it. One day, as her car sat in the parking lot they’d called home for the past 18 months, it was demolished by a hit and run driver. Their absolute last place of refuge taken, Joette and Boogie had no option but to live on the streets of South Charlotte. The two of them slept, quite literally, on the ground, beneath the stars. Throughout it all, Joette loved and protected her Boogie, and Boogie loved and protected her Joette. They are an inseparable team. They are each other’s family. Joette was offered a spot at a local shelter but refused it over the prospect of having to leave Boogie behind. She feared losing the last thing she had in this world and repeatedly resisted the help – such is the unbreakable bond of Joette and her Boogie. Miraculously, a family stepped up and offered to foster Boogie until Joette could find a stable home for them both. Joette made the agonizing choice to send Boogie to the foster family and moved into the shelter. However, when COVID-19 arrived in our area, Joette's shelter was forced to close. A few residents were offered resources, such as temporary hotel stays, but 73-year old Joette was not one of the lucky few. So where does that put Joette? Back, sleeping on the streets. Boogie has been returned to her, so that they can comfort provide each other with at least some comfort and familiarity. Joette is a senior citizen – a productive, contributing member of our society and she deserves better than to live on the streets because her monthly retirement check can’t cover the rent. And sadly, Boogie, Joette's most loyal and loving companion, was diagnosed with a severe heart condition that will most likely end his life at any time…and Joette will be left totally alone. In talking with Joette, she mentioned that the two of them sleep better outside of shopping centers because they’re well-lit and provide them with a small sense of security. Can you even imagine having to make these kinds of decisions just to survive? This woman is someone’s grandmother. Someone’s mother. Joette has lost her home, her stability. She’s suffered a stroke through all of this and she’s in danger of losing her only remaining family member – her precious Boogie. She talks about how she would like to rejoin the workforce in limited capacity as she suffered a back injury and has some restrictions. But she would like to continue to care for her community and earn additional money so she can have a place to live with her Boogie. At this stage in her life, she deserves more than this. She deserves to have a warm bed for Boogie and her to cuddle in. She deserves to have food in a refrigerator. She deserves air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. What she calls life right now is unacceptable to me…and I hope it is to you, too. I’m pleading – who can help us secure safe, long-term housing for Joette and her Boogie? Any resources, contacts, leads would be most appreciated. If you are unable to help financially, please at least share this. Maybe Joette’ and Boogie’s angel will find them through your post.
We have been working tirelessly to find at least a short-term solution for Joette and Boogie. As we all sleep in our beds, Joette and Boggie were sleeping on the CEMENT.
Thanks to friend Kitty, we have secured a short term apartment sublease for Joette to sleep starting April 20th for the next few weeks. For $725 she will have a SAFE place to stay with ALL MEALS and UTILITIES INCLUDED!!! The apartment lease will be paid directly to cover the next several (3) weeks and possibly four weeks (depending on when the original tenant will need the sublease to end.) This subleased apartment is part of an independent living home. Due to the generosity of Kitty and her mother, Joette will have a safe place to rest her head for the next month.
We now need (1) money to cover the $725, (2) A LONG TERM PLAN. PLEASE HELP US, TO HELP JOETTE.
A longer term solution is in works. She applied for hud housing at the end of March, and I’ve been helping her with the necessary paperwork. However, the wait list is unpredictable. Needless to say, she will need a bridge between the short term plan and the long term plan. After we get her settled into her short term arrangement, I’ll pivot and start making connections for the interim plan. I don't yet know what that interim plan will look like, however, I'd like to prepare now by requesting estimated costs. Due to Covid19, I predict shelters will not be in a position to take new/returning tenants for quite some time.
Thank you Jennifer Wski who took the time to write this snapshot of Joette's hardship, Kitty Szpyrka for sending her so much food over the last few days as well as also finding a way to help with the place to stay for the next month, and Roberta Sá Griner for taking the time to meet and take photos of Joette as well as helping me make connections in our community to connect us all in this collective effort to help Joette and Boogie! I will continue to advocate for Joette until she has a proper permanent living arrangement.
If you are able and willing to help financially, every dollar will make an meaningful and significant impact
PS1: SOCIAL DISTANCING WAS FOLLOWED WHEN THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN.
PS2: Information on this post came from Marceil, Joette's advocate.
PS3: Joette is aware these pictures were taken for the purpose of Roberta Sá Griner's FB post as well as for this GoFundMe post. She read the draft of this post for approval.
PS4: Many people have inquired about donating directly to avoid the 2.9% GoFundMe fees. I too, was apprehensive to set up a GoFundMe because of the fees. After giving it more thought, I like the transparency that it provides as well as it will help me keep a crisp accounting of deposits.
There’s a woman I’d like you to “meet” - her name is Joette. (Previously referred to as Cathy for online safety.) She’s 73 years old and she’s homeless. We need to fix that. Right now. Joette found herself homeless when her apartment complex, where she’d lived with her best friend, her Yorkie, Boogie, had a change in management causing her to eventually be out of a place to live. Joette, who has worked for the Iredell Arts Council for years and almost a decade for different healthcare providers, was already finding herself struggling to make ends meet on her incredibly low, fixed income and a higher rent was an impossible for her budget. No longer at the only home she’d known for almost a decade, and with nowhere else to go, Joette and her little Boogie checked into a hotel, in the hope that she’d find them a new home quickly. She was unable to find in a reasonable price range and a long-term stay at a hotel could never fit into her already stretched thin budget. She was quickly burning through the tiny savings she had. Overwhelmed by the idea of depleting all of her funds, Joette made the agonizing decision to leave the hotel and take up residence in her car. Her car. This lovely, bright, wonderful 73-year old woman went to live in her car, with just a few possessions and her best friend, Boogie. Living out of a car was Joette's and Boogie’s life for 1 ½ years. Together, they spent at least one Christmas in her car. They celebrated her birthday in her car. Through the heat of the North Carolina summer, Joette lived in that car. When the winter’s frost coated Joette's car, she and Boogie slept inside it. One day, as her car sat in the parking lot they’d called home for the past 18 months, it was demolished by a hit and run driver. Their absolute last place of refuge taken, Joette and Boogie had no option but to live on the streets of South Charlotte. The two of them slept, quite literally, on the ground, beneath the stars. Throughout it all, Joette loved and protected her Boogie, and Boogie loved and protected her Joette. They are an inseparable team. They are each other’s family. Joette was offered a spot at a local shelter but refused it over the prospect of having to leave Boogie behind. She feared losing the last thing she had in this world and repeatedly resisted the help – such is the unbreakable bond of Joette and her Boogie. Miraculously, a family stepped up and offered to foster Boogie until Joette could find a stable home for them both. Joette made the agonizing choice to send Boogie to the foster family and moved into the shelter. However, when COVID-19 arrived in our area, Joette's shelter was forced to close. A few residents were offered resources, such as temporary hotel stays, but 73-year old Joette was not one of the lucky few. So where does that put Joette? Back, sleeping on the streets. Boogie has been returned to her, so that they can comfort provide each other with at least some comfort and familiarity. Joette is a senior citizen – a productive, contributing member of our society and she deserves better than to live on the streets because her monthly retirement check can’t cover the rent. And sadly, Boogie, Joette's most loyal and loving companion, was diagnosed with a severe heart condition that will most likely end his life at any time…and Joette will be left totally alone. In talking with Joette, she mentioned that the two of them sleep better outside of shopping centers because they’re well-lit and provide them with a small sense of security. Can you even imagine having to make these kinds of decisions just to survive? This woman is someone’s grandmother. Someone’s mother. Joette has lost her home, her stability. She’s suffered a stroke through all of this and she’s in danger of losing her only remaining family member – her precious Boogie. She talks about how she would like to rejoin the workforce in limited capacity as she suffered a back injury and has some restrictions. But she would like to continue to care for her community and earn additional money so she can have a place to live with her Boogie. At this stage in her life, she deserves more than this. She deserves to have a warm bed for Boogie and her to cuddle in. She deserves to have food in a refrigerator. She deserves air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. What she calls life right now is unacceptable to me…and I hope it is to you, too. I’m pleading – who can help us secure safe, long-term housing for Joette and her Boogie? Any resources, contacts, leads would be most appreciated. If you are unable to help financially, please at least share this. Maybe Joette’ and Boogie’s angel will find them through your post.
We have been working tirelessly to find at least a short-term solution for Joette and Boogie. As we all sleep in our beds, Joette and Boggie were sleeping on the CEMENT.
Thanks to friend Kitty, we have secured a short term apartment sublease for Joette to sleep starting April 20th for the next few weeks. For $725 she will have a SAFE place to stay with ALL MEALS and UTILITIES INCLUDED!!! The apartment lease will be paid directly to cover the next several (3) weeks and possibly four weeks (depending on when the original tenant will need the sublease to end.) This subleased apartment is part of an independent living home. Due to the generosity of Kitty and her mother, Joette will have a safe place to rest her head for the next month.
We now need (1) money to cover the $725, (2) A LONG TERM PLAN. PLEASE HELP US, TO HELP JOETTE.
A longer term solution is in works. She applied for hud housing at the end of March, and I’ve been helping her with the necessary paperwork. However, the wait list is unpredictable. Needless to say, she will need a bridge between the short term plan and the long term plan. After we get her settled into her short term arrangement, I’ll pivot and start making connections for the interim plan. I don't yet know what that interim plan will look like, however, I'd like to prepare now by requesting estimated costs. Due to Covid19, I predict shelters will not be in a position to take new/returning tenants for quite some time.
Thank you Jennifer Wski who took the time to write this snapshot of Joette's hardship, Kitty Szpyrka for sending her so much food over the last few days as well as also finding a way to help with the place to stay for the next month, and Roberta Sá Griner for taking the time to meet and take photos of Joette as well as helping me make connections in our community to connect us all in this collective effort to help Joette and Boogie! I will continue to advocate for Joette until she has a proper permanent living arrangement.
If you are able and willing to help financially, every dollar will make an meaningful and significant impact
PS1: SOCIAL DISTANCING WAS FOLLOWED WHEN THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN.
PS2: Information on this post came from Marceil, Joette's advocate.
PS3: Joette is aware these pictures were taken for the purpose of Roberta Sá Griner's FB post as well as for this GoFundMe post. She read the draft of this post for approval.
PS4: Many people have inquired about donating directly to avoid the 2.9% GoFundMe fees. I too, was apprehensive to set up a GoFundMe because of the fees. After giving it more thought, I like the transparency that it provides as well as it will help me keep a crisp accounting of deposits.
Organizer
Marceil Jensen Handkammer
Organizer
Charlotte, NC