1 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: If you're going to say, friends Fancisco, this sure to 2 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: well some clubs in your bad. If you go to 3 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: said Frian Francisco, You've got me some gentle people. I'm 4 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 1: just signed Frisco. This is the Henderson Pleadian House and 5 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: we are here in San Francisco to one of the 6 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,959 Speaker 1: earlier creators and one of the founders who have had 7 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: lived experience of being the house. And we have a 8 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: few people year that we're getting their insight and perspectives with. Uh. 9 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: I'm going to let the person cause I didn't my 10 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: name is Stel. I didn't introduce myself, so, uh, what's 11 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: your name and tell us a little bit Janet Janet's 12 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit about your story. Well, I 13 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: am at recovering addict. I've been through a lot. I'm 14 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: thirty eight and uh, you know, I've definitely seen a 15 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: lot of different things that's happening, you know, through addiction 16 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: without being addiction that I could say I've seen more 17 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: progress in the past with the environment versus now with 18 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: the COVID nineteen. I think that's what the you know, 19 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: it comes with the mayor, comes with the officers around here, 20 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: things of that nature. I've seen anthrax, I've seen towers 21 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 1: come down. I'm seeing a lot of different experiences, but 22 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: this is probably the worst. Our city is not as 23 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: effective at at as I would like it to be. 24 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: I am I've been cleaned from Cracockaine for six years 25 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: and but I see now is that the poverty is terrible. 26 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: I have my different opinions about London breath, which is 27 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: I've seen it get more worser now that she's in 28 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: office than than before. Just my opinion. So, but you 29 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: know it's too lenient the officers here, but the you 30 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: know what the thing's going on, all the shooting, all 31 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: the you know, drug infestation. You know, there's not enough 32 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: being done. You know, I'm on Citizens Act and somebody 33 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 1: got got massed over here right across street from the 34 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: police station. You know, that's how bad it is to 35 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: where you know who's you know, the jobs are not 36 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: getting done. You know, I I let me ask you 37 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: a question because I'm I'm hearing us are you talking 38 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: about when you're looking for them to crack down on 39 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: an unport everything from us one on mask. You know, 40 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: the city won't get better until they actually do their parts. 41 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: You know, as a you know as a job. Okay, 42 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: So all these people getting jobs here from the second 43 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: chance jobs, the porter parties a lot of people with 44 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: green food fumbles to make sure that the streets are 45 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: are nice and clear, you know, you know, and and 46 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,639 Speaker 1: keep you know, sideballs clean from walking downstreet. It's seen 47 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 1: all the poverty. Okay. So I'm I'm just clear because 48 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: I'm not the right topic, right because guess we can 49 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: of alright, little even us back up a little bit, 50 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: because one what we in house do and what we 51 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: stand for is we're trying to be able to create 52 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: a new situation then relying on police because they bring violence. 53 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: And for example, there has been some of my uh 54 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: guests here that have issues with substances and mental health 55 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: issues and some of them have met a violent end 56 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: for just existing. So we don't stand for them coming 57 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: in and cleaning up. We believe as if we are 58 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: community members, we believe in our creating new solutions. For example, 59 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: it shouldn't take like, for example, the mother who had 60 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: her son was beaten because he had a psychotic episode 61 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: killed to be when she's calling him to get him 62 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: some help, that's not that's not the solution. So what 63 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: we're trying to do and what this podcast does, it's like, say, 64 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: what can we creatively do, like Trauma Informed Care, what 65 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: can we do create situations and solutions to make sure 66 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: that it's not a crime to have a mental health issue. 67 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: It's not a crime to be have be addicted to 68 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 1: substances because most people have trauma and they utilize the 69 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: best things that they can to cope with that trauma. 70 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 1: So I so that's where I'm coming from and coming 71 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 1: from Walden Houses and you know, lead with war centers 72 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: and all this. You know, now the response Trauma Informed 73 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: with her factary sixty is that nature. I really feel like, 74 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: you know, it starts within the organizations not to make 75 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,039 Speaker 1: it because you know, I mean, I do have a 76 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: heart for people that does have mental you know, emotional 77 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: physical issues. You know, it's where they can't you know, 78 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: they can't constantly, they can't pick themselves back up on 79 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: their own. You know. But some of these programs and 80 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: stuff and now these days are too lenient to the 81 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: people because I have for example, I know someone that's 82 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: staying at two fourteen. He's been there two years now, 83 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: you know, and you know, you can use in the 84 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: house now you can do all these things, you know, 85 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: but it's harm reduction. Well, I was gonna say, because 86 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: people don't one of us just think this disinformation that's 87 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: out here is people think that people can magically come 88 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: off of it. This is a health issue, and what 89 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: we need is harm reduction sites because it takes time. 90 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: Because if you do for some people that have been 91 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: using into medication and from a psychological or a medical standpoint, 92 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 1: that body has replenished and utilized that drug as the 93 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: coping mechanism. And so if you tell them to just 94 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: drop off and take you know, do it cold turkey, 95 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: they will die. That mean literal literally, so somebody, some 96 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: people bodies are used to the damage control that has 97 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: been done, you know, and I understand that. You know, 98 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: I started using King when I was seventeen. What made 99 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 1: you get start to use it at seventeen? I p 100 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: TSD my mom. I've seen a lot of use in 101 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: my life. I think for me because I went to 102 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: Capic School for fourteen years and my and my family 103 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: tried so hard to get me not to see you know, 104 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: all the time in the world thinks that nature It 105 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: kind of deterred me. Like my backpack, like Dorty explor 106 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: I don't want to see what's going on out here, 107 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: cause I I've been so in in the shell for 108 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: so long. You know, all my friends probably got pregnant 109 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: already with smoking weed and all the stuff, and I 110 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: never really really had that experience. So I was like, 111 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: you know, I was I was trying to see what 112 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 1: the world had to you know, you know, what it 113 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: was about, you know, and I kind of went far 114 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: from one step to the next step, and finally, you know, 115 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: I you know it. But for me, I I I understand, 116 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: you know, as far as you know, giving people the 117 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 1: chance to you know, to to find themselves, you know, 118 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: to get the help that the that they need. For me, 119 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: it it it took me a lot of different situations 120 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: the programs to to say, hey, you know what, it's 121 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: not really up to these people that's constantly beat me 122 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: up with this information. You know. I I found my 123 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: way within the choices, you know what I'm saying. And 124 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: we all have choices too in life. You know, some 125 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: of the trauma that hasn't done certain people though they 126 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: can't even find find that choice, you know. And uh, 127 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: but uh, like I say, I I I I I 128 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: I kind of understand where you guys are going, you 129 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: know with it. And I thank God for the the 130 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: the where where he has brought me to to understand 131 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: because a lot of people can't understand the trauma has 132 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: been done from from years and years in the past, 133 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: you know, from growing up that they possibly will will 134 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: never find it, you know well and no one of 135 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,119 Speaker 1: the things. And the reason is that's it's so fresh 136 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: in my mind. Is I you and uh Carlos and 137 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: I was in Oakland, m And there was an elderly woman, 138 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: she had to be in her mid seventies MM. She 139 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: was brutally beaten and raped, uh a few weeks ago. 140 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: And she to cope with that, she's using and you know, 141 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: so you know, so it's like it's very difficult for 142 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: you know, someone that's outside not understanding. We don't know 143 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: everyone's story. We don't know on the trauma that they're 144 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: going through. And if we utilize the same destructive abusive 145 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: practices that we've had in so long, UH we've ingested 146 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: like police or criminalization, we're never gonna get you cannot 147 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: You're not gonna jail a person to sobriety. You're not 148 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: gonna jail someone to to mental you know, to mental saturity. 149 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: Oh you know, I'm i'm'na be honest about what I'm 150 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: going through right now. That's still I don't use co 151 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 1: cocaine anymore. And I'm so I'm a dB surviver. I 152 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: almost like my ex boyfriend two years ago in my 153 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: baptob from you know, getting chucked out, you know, saying. 154 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: And so although I'm gonna use cracking more my alcoholism, 155 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. So I understand trying to 156 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: cope and deal with certain issues without under you know 157 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. With with with with getting the help 158 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: or find yourself get help that you need people people's 159 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: stories like you know Coopers. You know what I'm saying. 160 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: You know my insight to try to you just pull 161 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: all these stories and all these you know things in 162 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: so I can know, Hey, just like everybody else, you know, 163 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: I fought for a different life. But it's one drug 164 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: for the other, you know at the day. So I 165 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 1: try to make sure that you know I'm no better 166 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 1: than anybody else. Keep the understanding of what of what 167 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: you know poverty is and what it could do, you know, 168 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: the pain, the suffering, Yes, and trauma because, like I said, 169 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: you know, it's very very traumatic to be out here 170 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: and particularly and what you Cooper you pointed out, it's 171 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: very and I'm interviewing it and I know it's it's 172 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: very dramatic for women and men too, but mostly for 173 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: women because they're very vulnerable. Here's a late set need. 174 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: You're a woman who has got really you know, there's 175 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: so she had to be moving to another community where 176 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 1: it's safe. But what imagine you've been displaced and no 177 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: one's uh or or uh really there for you, and 178 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: the only solution that they have is to find you, 179 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: to put you in jail or the criminalize. It's it's 180 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 1: just not you know, you're gonna find somewhere to cope 181 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: with that kind of darkness. So yeah, So, and I'm 182 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: definitely trying to see the light within, you know, you know, 183 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: just saying hey, Jenna, you can get about of this. Uh, 184 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,719 Speaker 1: I'm not in a relationship. I'm scared of dealing with, 185 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: you know, the male factor. You know, you know, it's 186 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: it's definitely so I understand poverty can go in in 187 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: different ways. Emotional stress, you know, a and you know, 188 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: and how we cope. I thank god that I chose 189 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 1: them to do it a different way, cause I don't 190 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: know what it would take me to if I was 191 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 1: to go what I'm used to, what I'm comfortable with, 192 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: you know. But yeah, I I I definitely just feel 193 00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 1: like the the environments, the you know count you know, 194 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: I'm the police, if they would be more in you know, 195 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: vulnerable two people like me from my past to now 196 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: Cooper's situation, I think, you know, we wouldn't have all this, 197 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: these killings and all these you know, misunderstandings of someone 198 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:17,719 Speaker 1: you know that got a cart and you know what 199 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: I'm saying, and he's just trying to survive versus you 200 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, versus judging that person. So there's 201 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: a lot of judgment with it, you know here, And 202 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 1: that's that's one thing that I'm definitely listative to, you know, 203 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: I definitely because I I've learned how to share my 204 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 1: story a little bit more day by day, you know, 205 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: so I can get you know, not to be judged, 206 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: not to be criminalized, not to be putting the institution 207 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: because I'm because I said one thing that triggered somebody, 208 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying, just understand and listen to 209 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: what I have to say, and then you might can 210 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:48,559 Speaker 1: get an understanding of what you know, what I'm saying. 211 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: You'll you know what I'm saying. It's a bigger picture, 212 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: you know, not in the moment, you know what I'm saying. 213 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: The insight of of of that struggles personal struggle. You know, 214 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: when I uh, when I become in the house, I 215 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: come from a different background myself, and I come from 216 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: a very well educated and I was a teacher, a 217 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: school teacher, and I got ill, and so I fell 218 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: into the idea of deserving and undeserving on house. And 219 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: of course then that so easily disabus when you out 220 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: that they don't care if you got a bachelor's a 221 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: master's degree. They don't really really care. You know, they're 222 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: gonna come to rest you, or they're gonna come tell 223 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: you to move. They're gonna you're gonna move. So that 224 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 1: opened my eyes a lot about house. But I also 225 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: think too doing this podcast, going different areas and listening 226 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:38,119 Speaker 1: to other people's stories, people that have substant usage challenges, 227 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: people have mental health challenges that are functioning and understanding 228 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: that there is no such thing as a deserving an 229 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: unser deserving unhoused person. We all need the humanity, we 230 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: all need care, and we all need kindness. My mother 231 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:51,719 Speaker 1: used to say this all the time. You used to 232 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: drive me crazy, but it don't cost you nothing to 233 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: be kind And that is what I want to want 234 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 1: to pass on because we don't know everybody's story and 235 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 1: not a time. Sometimes they're dealing with so many unsubmountable challenges. 236 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: That's just by the outside. We can make a snap judgment, 237 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: but we really don't know what they're battling from day 238 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: to day. So I want to ask this lady. I 239 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: didn't hello, I would you? I would like to introduce myself. 240 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: My name is Stele. I have a podcast called Media 241 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: and House. What's your name? Now? I feel i'm roadkill 242 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: road kill these unique names. A lot of people feel 243 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: uncomfortable with saying roadkill. So you can call me okay, 244 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 1: because I don't want to be disrespectful. Okay, So tell 245 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 1: us a little bit about your story. That is a 246 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: huge uh. I mean, it's like one of those things 247 00:13:52,840 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 1: like where you where do I start? I mean, okay, 248 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: so I guess to start? I mean, I mean, first off, 249 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: I mean, do you want to paraphrase anything? That you use. Well, 250 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: let's just let me make it easier for you. So 251 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: you're here in the Coalition of Runner Homeless. How long 252 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: have you been here? So I have been with the 253 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: coalition since twenty eighteen, and beforehand, I used to visit 254 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: the coalition in the mission when my mother used to 255 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: receive street sheets. Oh cool, So you got interested that way. 256 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: So what can you tell us about what's the first 257 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: impressions that you had when you heard about street sheets? 258 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: So I grew up a lot around my mom's community, 259 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: which were the homeless, like the homeless population. So I mean, 260 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: your mother was a homeless worker. My mom was a 261 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: homeless sex worker. Okay, been like that since I was 262 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: no old, since she was nine. So honestly, I find 263 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: that having the street sheet is like amazing, and you know, 264 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: we were one of the first, you know, cities in 265 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: America to actually do it. And I just wish that 266 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: people would take this program and make a pilot program 267 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: for themselves because I find that, like this supplemental income 268 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: is like really rewarding and it just provides dignity to 269 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: the people that we serve. So if you made me, uh, 270 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: stepping back a bit, your mother was a sex worker. 271 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: But wash were you raised in the streets or was 272 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: you your mother protected? Most parents tried to do the 273 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: best they can, so so just to give you a 274 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: little background story, cause I don't want to take too 275 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: much of uh, we have plenty of time. So well, 276 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: it is also my sublement to my mom's story, so 277 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to say so much of hers, but 278 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: I you know, she I was born in a hotel 279 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: in the mission says that on my birth certificate. You know, 280 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: it doesn't get any more San Francisco than that, you know, 281 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: so just being in the streets was kind of like 282 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: embedded into my blood before I was born. Okay, so 283 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: you know my mom kind of going back a little 284 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: bit with like what you were talking about. You know, 285 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: I do completely agree with you that trauma definitely is 286 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: one of the leading factors of why people used and 287 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: that was the case for my mother. Something really traumatic 288 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: had happened to her. She was nine years old and 289 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: she was sexually abused. So let's be clear, Yeah, something 290 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: like that, Yeah, exactly, she was sexually abused and the 291 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: only way she could cope with it was turning to 292 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: the community that was welcoming to her and you know, 293 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: she kind of ran with it from there. My mom, 294 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: she always felt like an outsider growing up, even when 295 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: she was in close proximity to family. And you know, 296 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: by the time I was two years old, I was 297 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: in full custody of my grandmother because my mom just 298 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: couldn't she couldn't settle down. You know's never been one 299 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: of those people that, you know, she can like root 300 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: herself in one place, like she always has to be ago. 301 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: And she gave a little bit of that to me too, 302 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,199 Speaker 1: about the same way, except in the nature where I 303 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,360 Speaker 1: have some responsibilities now that I have to take care 304 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: of that keeps me grounded. But my mom never could 305 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: find that for herself. And I remember the first time 306 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 1: I was ever introduce introduced to the homeless community, I 307 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: was younger than five, and I remember looking at them 308 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: and just seeing myself in their faces, you know, like 309 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,359 Speaker 1: it could be any one of us, you know. And 310 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: I remember at a young age, I looked at them 311 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: and I just remember being like, why isn't there any help? 312 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 1: You know, even then, there was enough help. You know, 313 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: I see a lot of people hurting, you know, them 314 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 1: using substances is honestly the only thing that makes them 315 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: feel like themselves, and it also kind of keeps them, 316 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: takes them away from the pain that could inflicted with 317 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: you know, even just for a moment. You know, like, yeah, 318 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: the high is like a five minute high, but that 319 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 1: was who knows how long for them in their mental stability. 320 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: And also, I guess first time I ever personally became homeless, 321 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 1: I was well, I guess I was on the borderline 322 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: of being I mean I was a child homeless with 323 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,959 Speaker 1: my mother, but I mean by myself. I was about 324 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: fifteen going on sixteen, you know what happened, So I 325 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,239 Speaker 1: was dealing with a lot of shit at home. I 326 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 1: remember becoming truant and that kind of escalated things in 327 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: my family life. And then I came out as being clear, 328 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,239 Speaker 1: and then that also did that did its job. I 329 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 1: had a lot of family turned them their backs against me. 330 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:58,120 Speaker 1: You know, I come from a very Catholic, conservative background. Mexican. Yeah, 331 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: they're very conservative. Yes, so you know, the thought of 332 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: somebody in their family being gay or what they like 333 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: to call it. They called me a hotel hobo. I 334 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:18,640 Speaker 1: mean that you hope Spanish gay Oh okay, okay, were 335 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: more discriminative. Oh, we're very it looks like an insult, 336 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: it sounds like okay okay, definitely used as a slur, 337 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: and I definitely did not feel welcome there. I was 338 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:32,399 Speaker 1: also combating being abused by my stepfathers. It's time to 339 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: get the hell out of here. And I continue to 340 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 1: go to school homeless until I got my g D. 341 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 1: And then after that I was like, you know what, 342 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna go and have a free for all 343 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: and do what I want to do. And I started 344 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: using myself the substances I used to like to do 345 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: well at first. At first it started out with prescription drugs. 346 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 1: I had been in an accident when I was younger, 347 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 1: and so I got addicted to that. And then when 348 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: I was on the street, I started doing a little 349 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: bit of everything. M you know, there wasn't anything I 350 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: wasn't doing except for hair on not saying anything to people. 351 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 1: Do that. Yes, I had a little bit of a 352 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: limit for myself. I also am like kind of terrified 353 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: the needles. Thanks mom, she's terrified the needles too. Yeah. Yeah, 354 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 1: So so you what you said to me is very 355 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 1: moving and powerful and and I when you were saying it, 356 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 1: I I I was feeling it. But also my mind 357 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 1: is like, of course because of it, the situation is 358 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: so new. What uh the elderly woman h explaining expressing 359 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,479 Speaker 1: it so I I I can truly connect and understand 360 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 1: what you mean. It's very very difficult out here, and 361 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: it's and generational trauma is very real too. It's like 362 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: and it's it's and you're explaining it to me very well, 363 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: because I I understand that broken glass cuts and unfortunately 364 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 1: it affects us. All you know is a child, you 365 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: ingest and you want the best for your mom. If 366 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: you see that she's not okay, then you're going to 367 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 1: it's gonna resonate. And I wanted to know. It's like, 368 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: what was your guiding force? Again? You said you was 369 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: a street sheet, But is there anything that you you 370 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: hear that you would like to influence or kind of 371 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: encourage some people that are going through s maybe similar situations? 372 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: Would you? I guess the only thing I have to 373 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: say is, you know, like, don't be afraid to use 374 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: your voice, cause I I was afraid to use it 375 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: for so long, you know, until I came to the coalition. 376 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 1: Why would you, uh, why were you afraid? I was 377 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: afraid to use my voice before because I was it 378 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 1: was like in fear of like retaliation or someone being 379 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: like shut up, like you don't know what you're talking about. 380 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: But people that just didn't have any personal experience to 381 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 1: being homeless, and you know, just see homelessness as like 382 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: this demon in the night, and it's really not, you know, 383 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 1: it's so multi layered. And that's one of the things 384 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: that I I I I advocate even among our in 385 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: our community. I tell uh people that maybe experience a 386 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: different brand of homelessness or being on house of this 387 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: place that you know, we don't corner the market on 388 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: who should get help or not. We have to we 389 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: have to understand there's so much that's going on, you know. 390 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: And one of the things one of the communities that 391 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: we I've been trying to work with is getting to 392 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: the sex workers. And there's so much shame and so 393 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 1: much branding against that from it. But the second beg 394 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: you and it's the oldest profess and it's been the 395 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: oldest profession. You could look at the Bible and you 396 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: could see it's the oldest profession of the world. What 397 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: it's like our pure tanical and our judgmental way of 398 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 1: want for it. There's a need for it, and it's 399 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: going to last me on this earth, you know, it 400 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 1: can continue for another thousands of years, yes long. And 401 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:50,239 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. Sex has always been a thing, 402 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: and I have I've never you know, when I was younger, 403 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,919 Speaker 1: I couldn't understand why my mom did it until I 404 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: had to basically sit in her shoes and be like, oh, 405 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: this is why, you know, again another form of supplemental income, 406 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:08,439 Speaker 1: you know. And also to some to some degree, it 407 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: does dignify a person, you know, because they're you know, 408 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 1: they call the hours, they call the shots. This is 409 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: like a self made hustle, you know exactly. And my mom, 410 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: you know, she definitely liked having the freedom of, you know, 411 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 1: choosing what she wanted to do with her body. And 412 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,199 Speaker 1: you know, I find that very liberated, you know, for 413 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: especially for just women in general. Like a lot of 414 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: the times throughout history we've been told like shut up off, 415 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 1: like you're a horror few piece of sh like all 416 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: these different things, and it's like why though, like why 417 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:47,879 Speaker 1: or utilized to make it dehumanize you by using your 418 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 1: own sexuality or your choices and your who you are. 419 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 1: That I see it inconsistently. Unfortunately, we live in a 420 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: mistig justistic world and a very masculine dominant world, and 421 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 1: the first thing we hear is that she wants to misogyny. Yeah, yeah, 422 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: definitely so use A lot of the times men don't 423 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: want and I don't want to genderize this, but I'm 424 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:09,479 Speaker 1: just saying a lot of the times when people are 425 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: very conservative about sex work, it's just because they don't 426 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: understand what it takes to like, you know, it's not 427 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: for the meek of heart. Definitely a strong person, a 428 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: strong individual to even put themselves out like that, you 429 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: know what I mean, and been a strong person, and 430 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: not only that resourceful because like that's a lot of 431 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 1: women that have been using it to feed their families, 432 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: which we've showed in other places, and things like that 433 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: are taken in and only for someone to try to 434 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: minimize or reduce them and their whole accent without understanding. 435 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: That's one of the things. Your cloth always made sure 436 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 1: we have food. You know. Sometimes people would come and go, 437 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 1: but she'd always make them leave, you know, she wouldn't 438 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 1: just let them stay. I mean, you know, she did 439 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: her thing that she had to do for us. Unfortunately, 440 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: I don't have the best relationship right now with my 441 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 1: Mom's well strained. And that's because over the last five 442 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: even six years, I've had to grow to a certain 443 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: point where I feel like I've had to leave her. 444 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: You know, I'm at this point in my life where 445 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: our ideals and our ideology of each other just does 446 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: not meet with one another. But I don't love her 447 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: any less because of what she does. I just always 448 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: constantly worry about her. You know, even when I was 449 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,120 Speaker 1: homeless and my mom was homeless and I didn't see her, 450 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: like I always looked up at the stars and hope 451 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 1: she was safe and hopeful. Yeah, honest, don't. And like 452 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 1: you know, families are complex and complicated, and like this 453 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: situation here is like a society has got to be 454 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 1: much more kinder and much more understanding. And one of 455 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 1: the things that I really thank you for sharing this, 456 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 1: and I hope like people that are listening to this 457 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 1: meet in a lot of understanding and also offers a 458 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: word of kindness and encouragement to one another in order 459 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: for us to get through this. I guess I got 460 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 1: to follow that because I remember one of the things 461 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:06,880 Speaker 1: you asked to another INTERVIEWE was you were like asking 462 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,439 Speaker 1: like what you would do differently, or like how you 463 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: would implement things better, you know, And I think it's 464 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: just it's one of those things where we kind of 465 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: have to get over the elephant in the room and 466 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 1: we kind of have to just chip away and you know, 467 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: have like the broader understanding that this person that's doing this, 468 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 1: like it it didn't just happen overnight. You know, eventually 469 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: they were led to this path because you know, a 470 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: lot of people they think that people don't have choices. 471 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: You know, people do have choices, but I will say 472 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 1: that what choice do you have if you grew up 473 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 1: in poverty? There's not many choices. Like I grew up 474 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: in poverty, and a lot of the times I had 475 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: to basically create options for myself because they don't exist 476 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 1: and they don't exist for other people. And so one 477 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: of the things I would like to do. And if 478 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 1: the city officials ever listened to this post, I hope 479 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,719 Speaker 1: they do. You know, I want them to understand that, like, 480 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: you know, stop pushing away people's like pain and stop 481 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 1: kind of like dismissing it all in one you know, 482 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: we are what we are, you know, I am my 483 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: identity is not my homelessness, but my homelessness is an experience, 484 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,120 Speaker 1: and I take that with me every day. I mean 485 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 1: I might have been I might have been housed now 486 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 1: the last two years. I was homeless for ten years, 487 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,240 Speaker 1: and before that I was introduced to homelessness and it 488 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 1: never sat right with me, you know, like, how are 489 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,679 Speaker 1: we one of the richest cities in the world and 490 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: there's so much poverty. It just doesn't make sense. I agree. 491 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Miss Roquil for your time. This 492 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: is Steo Henderson from Willian House and I thank you 493 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,199 Speaker 1: all for listening. Let us hope to again if we 494 00:27:46,240 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: meet in the light of understanding and kindness. Chriss Theo Henderson. 495 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: This is William Howes and this is unhouse news. Candice 496 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: Morgan's an in house woman was found brutally murdered and 497 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: dumped into a trash can. Kaitlyn Jenner house celebrity Nimby 498 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: running for governor. She stated in another house, Nimby was 499 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: packing up his hangar to avoid houselessness. If only houselessness 500 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,359 Speaker 1: was so easy to solve. She also states her wealthy 501 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,639 Speaker 1: friends are leaving in droves because they are tired of 502 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:32,200 Speaker 1: seeing unhoused people. Kevin de Leone is doing his sweep 503 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:34,880 Speaker 1: on May seventeenth in El Sereno and trying to put 504 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: a fence up. He is taking the cues from Mitchell o' 505 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: farah when they did the Echo Park Lake occupation on 506 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: March twenty four, twenty fifth, after multiple protests, they finally 507 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: relented and took their defence down and left the unhoused alone. 508 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: In other news, that house Washington man kills an unhoused 509 00:28:54,720 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: man for practice before killing his wife. Also and unhoused 510 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 1: man was attacked by the house archer to a houseman 511 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 1: are injured. House people are taking bottle rockets and throwing 512 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: them at house people's setting them on fire. And this 513 00:29:14,960 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 1: is unhusman. This is what happens. Phil right, hey, Bill, 514 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 1: this is still yes. And he has an interesting story 515 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: to tell about them moving them up the hill, moving 516 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: them down the hill. And how does a kid a 517 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 1: guy here? Would you and can you tell us a 518 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: little bit about it please? But when I first year, 519 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 1: i'd be come home with her. I was introduced to 520 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: a dentlemen that had a place here that that was 521 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 1: housing for people. And uh, I got cancer and I 522 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: got a medical problem and actually be in being in 523 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: a place, you know that has my own bathroom because 524 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 1: my blood disease and stuff like that. I haven't had 525 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: question because I have a disability as well. Is it 526 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:51,480 Speaker 1: difficult to try to have your deal with your cancer 527 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 1: out here on the street. I can't have my I 528 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 1: have skin cancer all over my arms, my neck, and 529 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 1: I've had five operations already. But I have and had 530 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 1: being able to go to the doctor's here because if 531 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 1: you're homeless here, they kick you out of the hospital 532 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:07,479 Speaker 1: more pretty much. Yeah, they tried to do that to 533 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:09,959 Speaker 1: me too, and I mean I sat homeless and they 534 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 1: totally turned their cheek on me and the people here 535 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 1: they don't have the resources for me, and they do, 536 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 1: but they I'm not good enough where you know, it's 537 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: it's a prejudice thing because the way I get looked, 538 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 1: I guess and my attitude. But I have a negative 539 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 1: attitude because of this, because they lied to me about 540 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 1: going up the hill. They gave us spots up there, 541 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 1: they kicked us out there. They threw all my belongings 542 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 1: away there, and they kicked it came down here and 543 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 1: then they kicked us out down here, and they it's 544 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 1: a clean up, but they threw all my personal belongings 545 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 1: the way, and I can't be out in the sun. 546 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 1: And I'm burning up right now, just sitting out here, 547 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 1: and they don't care being disabled and being yes, you're 548 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:53,280 Speaker 1: homeless here under you're a piece of crap. You're a 549 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 1: piece of crap. And that's just the way. It is 550 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 1: either easier to eradicate us than it is to deal 551 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,360 Speaker 1: with this. You know, we're just I sawr I guess. 552 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: One of the staff members said that they are working 553 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 1: on permanent housing and that's two years. Do you think 554 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 1: you can hold out with your cancer two years? No? No. 555 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: If I don't go to the doctor soon, it's gonna 556 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna end up. Bang. I'm feeling in my body. 557 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 1: I can feel it. It's eating me up right now. Dad, 558 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: They don't care. Is there any do you have to 559 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 1: go to chemo therapy or anything like that the offset 560 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 1: your skin cancer? I got sick with him from a pill. 561 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:31,040 Speaker 1: Oh okay, that pill calls antak. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's 562 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,480 Speaker 1: I have a long I took that pill fifteen years. 563 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 1: How long have you been out on house out here? 564 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: I've been here only two years. Uh, on the streets 565 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: and I did not even know this place is here. 566 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 1: But my friend died in cancer. I came from Florida 567 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 1: and she died of cancer, and I ended up being homeless, 568 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: saying I came here and tried to get help and 569 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: they had no resources at all. We've been here two 570 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:58,200 Speaker 1: years now, I'm going on two years and anything we've 571 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: got his bathrooms. You know the question that I always 572 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 1: hear Nimbi's that write all these conversations, This is the 573 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 1: first thing that they say. If they only get that 574 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: they would like to being out here, and if only 575 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 1: they get a job, But you have skin cancer, why 576 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 1: is it that you can't get a job? I've been 577 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: I've been disabled since nineteen ninety. I was forced to 578 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:20,680 Speaker 1: go back to work because of my disability, and child 579 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: support took over my life. My disability checks, I didn't 580 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 1: have no money to live, so I ended up going 581 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 1: back to work. But I going back to work to 582 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 1: cut me off the disability, and then I back to 583 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: nineteen I mean twenty two thousand and eight was the 584 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 1: last job that I had, and I kept getting hurt 585 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 1: getting hurt, and I didn't know why it was from, 586 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 1: and I had to trumet and go on my disability again. Well, 587 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:48,959 Speaker 1: it took from two thousand and eight to twenty sixteen 588 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 1: to get my disability to reinstated, and then I came here, 589 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 1: and then what if I I'm sorry Bill for this, 590 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 1: I wouldn't ask you. But there's a nun to nimbi 591 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: statement they always love to say and people always want 592 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 1: to focus on, is that they say that you don't 593 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:08,080 Speaker 1: want help, but you just stated that you wanted help 594 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 1: because you have skin cancer, you have light and they 595 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 1: told everybody that I didn't want help. They offered us 596 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:17,239 Speaker 1: a motel when the COVID came around, and the restrictions 597 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,759 Speaker 1: are that we wasn't allowed to have anybody over. Nobody 598 00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:24,320 Speaker 1: can stay every night, and I can't have no visitors. 599 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 1: And I have to self medicate because the all this time. 600 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:30,319 Speaker 1: I just found out a couple of months ago about 601 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: this antag rainy, and they won't even give me a 602 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:36,520 Speaker 1: painkiller because they don't want to get me addicted. So 603 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:38,600 Speaker 1: I have to self medicate, and I self medicated by 604 00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:42,480 Speaker 1: drinking and I smoked marijuana and that's too much for them. 605 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,239 Speaker 1: This is what angers me when I hear other advocates 606 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,480 Speaker 1: or people that say that we don't talk about the 607 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:49,880 Speaker 1: difficulties of project room cag or because we want to 608 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 1: people the balance. We want to always highlight these Pollyanna 609 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:55,840 Speaker 1: side of it. This is the people that are ignored 610 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:58,560 Speaker 1: and dismissed. And so the next time when people say that, 611 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:00,840 Speaker 1: we just only talk about the only balance on the 612 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,359 Speaker 1: great part. This is the other part. This gentleman has 613 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:05,799 Speaker 1: skin cancer and he doesn't want to be treated like 614 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:09,120 Speaker 1: I have medical problems, like you would not believe. I mean, 615 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:12,560 Speaker 1: I shouldn't be here out in the street, like yes, 616 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:17,520 Speaker 1: absolutely not. Nobody. When they do the cancer, they cut 617 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: it out of me. And I can't have open sores. 618 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:26,799 Speaker 1: And this is what happened last week. It's just now 619 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 1: healing up. That I hit my knee and I got 620 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:33,200 Speaker 1: staffed through my knee and that was from that was 621 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:35,200 Speaker 1: that's filling up, and that was from the last mood 622 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:38,160 Speaker 1: that they did. And I can't I can't get infected. 623 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:42,920 Speaker 1: I can't get sick because my immune system shot. They 624 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:46,959 Speaker 1: keep yes, because they keep bringing they keep bringing people 625 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,240 Speaker 1: around and all that, and I'm susceptible for getting getting 626 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 1: sick by by my immune system and they don't care. 627 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:57,480 Speaker 1: They don't care. They better have me die off. I've 628 00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 1: had like eight counselors from this place and these people 629 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: are this is thank you, Bill. I'm going to come 630 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: back and check on you because no, I've wanted to 631 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:10,000 Speaker 1: bring you up something too. It's like, uh, if you 632 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:12,000 Speaker 1: have time or anything, because I'm trying to do a 633 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 1: talent show. So the summer's the jun and July, and 634 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:16,480 Speaker 1: I would like to invite you, the guy, to have 635 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:18,879 Speaker 1: maybe the viewing party or something so you guys can't 636 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 1: get a respite of all this this misery. So I 637 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 1: will follow up with you. I can't go nowhere. The 638 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 1: violence here, even even for us. We have to protect ourselves, 639 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:32,160 Speaker 1: and the cops don't help us. And the women get raped, 640 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:35,640 Speaker 1: and I mean it's really bad, and the cops don't care. 641 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: They want us all kill each other off and die, 642 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 1: die off, and so we we won't be a pain 643 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 1: in their sight right there across the street. Gentlemen, they're 644 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 1: paid cops. Let them steal whatever they want to steal. 645 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 1: It's wrong. That's a memorial to all the people that's 646 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:58,080 Speaker 1: died here, and now that we've known there's like ten 647 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:00,759 Speaker 1: fifteen names over there, will take a look at the 648 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: memorial because we'll put it on our episode. We have 649 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:06,120 Speaker 1: a memorial section on our program about in house people 650 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:09,640 Speaker 1: when they kicked us off the hill. There's a girl 651 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 1: that we knew she had nowhere to go and she 652 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:14,919 Speaker 1: so people moved to de side of the freeway. Well 653 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: she got hurt by a motorcycle on there and killed her. 654 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,000 Speaker 1: And that was the last one that passed. What was 655 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:35,160 Speaker 1: her name? Her name is u k Jura, not Jura, Lindsay, Lindsay, 656 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:38,840 Speaker 1: okay with nice beautiful girl. I mean this, that's not 657 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 1: the only girl that's died. I mean it's it's so 658 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 1: bad out here for these women. And they took they 659 00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: take every all their belongings and women need the female 660 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 1: things and they throw them all away. And I'm so sorry, Bill. 661 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:58,040 Speaker 1: You know for us men that we can handle a lot, 662 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,279 Speaker 1: but to do it to these women, I mean, straight out. 663 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: These women are and they last time when they came, 664 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:11,279 Speaker 1: when they did this, they did this last time, not 665 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:14,359 Speaker 1: one agency came here and asked me for any help. 666 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:18,919 Speaker 1: After the guy that worked from Harbor Interfaith, he came, 667 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:22,200 Speaker 1: he took a jacket out of his car because they 668 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:24,239 Speaker 1: threw my clothes away and all my jackets and all 669 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:26,480 Speaker 1: my stuff. I was freezing my house off and this 670 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 1: guy gave me, gave me a jacket, you know, and 671 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:33,600 Speaker 1: you know they didn't care. You know, all my food, 672 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:36,920 Speaker 1: everything just got demolished while they that's why they arrested me. 673 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:39,080 Speaker 1: They get me away from here. So I wouldn't fight 674 00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:42,319 Speaker 1: with them, to Mark, but they're gonna be coming here soon. 675 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:44,480 Speaker 1: I ain't gonna fight with them because I'm They put 676 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:47,520 Speaker 1: me on probation and everything. Oh my god, I'm good 677 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:50,239 Speaker 1: cancer too. That's crazy. He put me on charges. That 678 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:53,239 Speaker 1: was both because I have my mouth, I speak my 679 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:55,759 Speaker 1: mind and they don't like it, and they come after 680 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,879 Speaker 1: me every time. Thank you very much, Bill. I'm going 681 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:03,319 Speaker 1: to interview my friend of here. Excuse me, Mark, You 682 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:05,719 Speaker 1: would mentioning a little bit, so I wanted to give 683 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:07,600 Speaker 1: your time as well. So how long have you been 684 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:10,279 Speaker 1: out here on the street? About five years since my wife? 685 00:39:11,040 --> 00:39:13,399 Speaker 1: Oh I'm sorry? Were you were you and your wife 686 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:17,520 Speaker 1: out here on the street or a house? So how 687 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: did you lose your house? My wife died and I 688 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:23,560 Speaker 1: couldn't pay the Okay, So you've been saying that they 689 00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:25,560 Speaker 1: it's tough to be on housed out here, but they 690 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:27,719 Speaker 1: keep harassing you. How often does it? You know, do 691 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:33,040 Speaker 1: you guys get any type of peace? No? You was 692 00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:34,839 Speaker 1: mentioning that a lot of on house people don't really 693 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:37,960 Speaker 1: come here at all, only when this happens, and they 694 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:41,360 Speaker 1: come in ten cop cars, the two trash trucks. Ridiculous. 695 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:44,520 Speaker 1: It's a waste of money, it's a waste of time. 696 00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:47,080 Speaker 1: And they don't care. They just want they just want 697 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:49,560 Speaker 1: this all gone and the trouble to go away. The 698 00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:52,520 Speaker 1: homeless isn't gonna go away. It's gonna get worse. So 699 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:54,879 Speaker 1: what in the hell are they doing. They're not helping us, 700 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:00,239 Speaker 1: trust that very much. So, yeah, very much so. But 701 00:40:00,239 --> 00:40:02,400 Speaker 1: they you know, they make over three billion dollars and 702 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:04,920 Speaker 1: then they keep saying they don't have enough money. I 703 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:08,359 Speaker 1: just like, I don't understand it. Not even drinking water. 704 00:40:09,719 --> 00:40:11,920 Speaker 1: We don't get showers. We don't get nothing here. The 705 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:14,799 Speaker 1: showers come out, when they come out, they're not for us, 706 00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:17,759 Speaker 1: for them to take showers, Oh my god. And they say, 707 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:20,480 Speaker 1: well we bring showers. It's not for us, you know. 708 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:22,960 Speaker 1: And they only come when they do this, so they're 709 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:25,839 Speaker 1: city workers. You know, it's a joke. If they say 710 00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:28,200 Speaker 1: they're bringing out showers to people. But if you take 711 00:40:28,239 --> 00:40:30,160 Speaker 1: the shower, then you come back, all your stuff is gone. 712 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:33,719 Speaker 1: What good is that? Because you're damned if you're doing 713 00:40:33,719 --> 00:40:37,360 Speaker 1: You're damned if you're doing here. Yeah, you know, I'm 714 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:40,719 Speaker 1: really sorry to hear that. But also this memorial, who 715 00:40:40,719 --> 00:40:43,080 Speaker 1: the idea you guys said, dont to not Howison and 716 00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:46,640 Speaker 1: at least during the COVID hotels blah blah blah blah. 717 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:50,200 Speaker 1: I'm almost sixty, I'm in the prime, Cassie of it all. 718 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:53,520 Speaker 1: I was never offered, not once by anybody. So that's 719 00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:56,160 Speaker 1: why I say, you know, everybody, and not only that too. 720 00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 1: There they're about to throw them back out of the 721 00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:00,480 Speaker 1: from the hotels because the city is though, so they're 722 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:04,200 Speaker 1: gonna be out here, dad, Yes, exactly, right back down here. Yeah. Yeah, 723 00:41:04,239 --> 00:41:08,399 Speaker 1: So that's not helping. They're no, they're wasting money while 724 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:12,359 Speaker 1: they're doing. I don't know that he has in state. 725 00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:15,880 Speaker 1: I have cold, I'm under quarantine. Take my stuff and 726 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:17,440 Speaker 1: see the hell out of them. I don't know why 727 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:21,239 Speaker 1: he does. Really, I can't lie. So well, he's got 728 00:41:21,239 --> 00:41:23,360 Speaker 1: cancer too, so you know they don't they're not They 729 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:25,840 Speaker 1: don't give me in the sun, but they take everything 730 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:28,600 Speaker 1: to keep inside. They're gonna take my honey in they 731 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:32,719 Speaker 1: had just classic. Yeah. But here's the thing too, they're 732 00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:35,239 Speaker 1: gonna take all of this so he has nothing. But 733 00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:38,440 Speaker 1: even though he's stuffed out, what about his help right there? 734 00:41:38,480 --> 00:41:40,479 Speaker 1: But see that's the issue too, what they're talking about 735 00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:42,400 Speaker 1: they having your tins down at a certain time because 736 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:46,440 Speaker 1: people don't understand that you're not the right there. When 737 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:48,440 Speaker 1: they gave me, oh, okay, I had two brand new 738 00:41:48,440 --> 00:41:50,760 Speaker 1: tints and blackout and they took them in the box, 739 00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:53,400 Speaker 1: took them and that's that. And they gave me that 740 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:56,480 Speaker 1: if you're six eight man kids in the package brand 741 00:41:56,560 --> 00:41:58,920 Speaker 1: new and they took those, threw them away and gave 742 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,840 Speaker 1: him that. That's what the game is. That's helping that 743 00:42:01,960 --> 00:42:04,279 Speaker 1: look like adult. We could do better than that for you. 744 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:09,799 Speaker 1: We can do better than that. Here, frustrat understand like 745 00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:15,560 Speaker 1: this for a reason because it's John Security at their 746 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:20,480 Speaker 1: trucks off the lowez. Yeah, yeah, he's the name wine. 747 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:22,160 Speaker 1: He's gonna come down here and talk to me wise. 748 00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:27,800 Speaker 1: Like twice, you have brand new trucks, brand new stuff, 749 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:31,320 Speaker 1: and you get paid top dollars for what you know, 750 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:36,080 Speaker 1: of course, for what can't it's their business. Yeah, that's 751 00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:38,719 Speaker 1: where all that funding of that money, it's it's it's 752 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:41,680 Speaker 1: it's called policing of America. And they have a good 753 00:42:41,719 --> 00:42:43,200 Speaker 1: one here in that way for this one and all 754 00:42:43,239 --> 00:42:47,640 Speaker 1: the trillions of dollars for this whoever, for the homeless. 755 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:51,200 Speaker 1: Where's all the money going not helping us? They're taking everything. 756 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 1: We understand the COVID. It brought up the taxes on 757 00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:59,160 Speaker 1: everything you buy here, and now our money has I 758 00:42:59,239 --> 00:43:01,879 Speaker 1: get disability, I get the stimulus tex but it's still 759 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:05,520 Speaker 1: a't it's not that, you know, I mean, I mean 760 00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:13,040 Speaker 1: it's so high for taxes. You don't have any every 761 00:43:13,080 --> 00:43:16,000 Speaker 1: time you go to a store, you can't get nothing. 762 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:18,359 Speaker 1: You have to have at least thirty dollars every time 763 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:21,600 Speaker 1: you go to the store. And if you have a habit, hell, 764 00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:27,920 Speaker 1: you're fucked. Yeah. I mean, these people don't have drug problems. 765 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:30,239 Speaker 1: They got mental problems for what they're being abused to, 766 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:33,000 Speaker 1: you know, even if it was our parents or whatever, 767 00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:37,200 Speaker 1: and mental health comes out here and says, hey, would 768 00:43:37,239 --> 00:43:41,160 Speaker 1: you like our help? A day later after they threw 769 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:43,920 Speaker 1: all your sway last time, they never even shut up 770 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:47,000 Speaker 1: Harbor Interfaith as it came by no agency has come 771 00:43:47,040 --> 00:43:49,239 Speaker 1: back here yet to talk to me yet. And they 772 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:51,239 Speaker 1: all know I have cancer. They all know I got 773 00:43:51,719 --> 00:43:54,600 Speaker 1: my medical stuff and they have access to everything. I 774 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:57,359 Speaker 1: give them permission for all my access. I can get 775 00:43:57,400 --> 00:43:59,920 Speaker 1: into a place so I get to stop me. Okay, 776 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:02,120 Speaker 1: they won't even do that. They won't even do that, 777 00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:05,720 Speaker 1: and they just lied to me a year. I signed 778 00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:10,200 Speaker 1: all those papers, sir, thirty secondatures on everything, say make sure, 779 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:12,000 Speaker 1: hurry up, hurry up, do this, do that, do that. 780 00:44:12,320 --> 00:44:15,080 Speaker 1: I did it all and then like six months later, 781 00:44:15,920 --> 00:44:18,799 Speaker 1: they said, oh you were We're so sorry. You were 782 00:44:18,840 --> 00:44:21,279 Speaker 1: the last one in line and you missed out. But 783 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:23,520 Speaker 1: when we get housing, we'll give you your first in 784 00:44:23,640 --> 00:44:26,040 Speaker 1: line and the new one. And that was over a 785 00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:29,560 Speaker 1: year and a half ago. There ain't no housing. There 786 00:44:29,560 --> 00:44:32,920 Speaker 1: ain't no housing for us. They want us to die, 787 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:34,879 Speaker 1: and that's what they're doing. They're putting me in the dirt, 788 00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:37,120 Speaker 1: and they keep grinding me into the dirt. I'm gonna 789 00:44:37,160 --> 00:44:40,200 Speaker 1: end up get here. Either I have to commit suicide 790 00:44:40,280 --> 00:44:41,960 Speaker 1: or they're gonna kill me. I don't want to die 791 00:44:42,080 --> 00:44:45,080 Speaker 1: like this. I understand. This is Steel Henderson from me, 792 00:44:45,200 --> 00:44:47,560 Speaker 1: and how thank you Bill for your time and again. 793 00:44:48,200 --> 00:44:50,160 Speaker 1: I hope we have met in the light of understanding 794 00:44:50,400 --> 00:45:19,439 Speaker 1: and hopefully we could do something about this and job everything. 795 00:45:19,520 --> 00:45:24,280 Speaker 1: It's on the Monday, good evening. This is THEO Henderson 796 00:45:24,360 --> 00:45:27,719 Speaker 1: from WIEDI and House Today. We're here at Wednesday at 797 00:45:27,760 --> 00:45:30,799 Speaker 1: another Black Lives Matter rally that has just ended successfully 798 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:34,400 Speaker 1: and we have a special treat for you. We have 799 00:45:34,760 --> 00:45:38,279 Speaker 1: a house mother with five children that is struggling to 800 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:40,640 Speaker 1: get into housing and we're going to get her story 801 00:45:40,960 --> 00:45:42,520 Speaker 1: and see what we can do to help her get 802 00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:45,080 Speaker 1: out of the situation. So let's get her an introducer 803 00:45:45,160 --> 00:45:49,120 Speaker 1: and introduce her lovely family. Hello. Hi, my name is Marissa. 804 00:45:49,960 --> 00:45:54,920 Speaker 1: This is an all Elijah, Erica and Angelica. How old 805 00:45:54,960 --> 00:45:59,400 Speaker 1: are you? Elijah? You're shy now? Huh oh do you 806 00:46:01,320 --> 00:46:04,719 Speaker 1: you don't know? You don't know. So here we have 807 00:46:04,960 --> 00:46:09,200 Speaker 1: is you can see the kids being kids. We're gonna 808 00:46:09,239 --> 00:46:11,200 Speaker 1: ask a little bit about your story. How long have 809 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:14,319 Speaker 1: you been on House Mercy. It's been like more than 810 00:46:14,360 --> 00:46:17,719 Speaker 1: a year and a half. Yes, what caused you to 811 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:19,400 Speaker 1: become on house? You were taking me telling me a 812 00:46:19,440 --> 00:46:22,360 Speaker 1: little bit about it safe to car accident. I was 813 00:46:22,440 --> 00:46:26,879 Speaker 1: in New Mexico and I got hit. I got hit 814 00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:31,200 Speaker 1: and I got dragged five miles and also to my 815 00:46:31,360 --> 00:46:33,880 Speaker 1: son was in the accident. I was two months pregnant, 816 00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:38,200 Speaker 1: so that caused me to lose where I was living. 817 00:46:38,800 --> 00:46:41,239 Speaker 1: And then after that I decided to try to come 818 00:46:41,320 --> 00:46:44,120 Speaker 1: back to where I was from, which was here, and 819 00:46:44,440 --> 00:46:47,239 Speaker 1: try to start all over again. You know, so you 820 00:46:47,320 --> 00:46:49,840 Speaker 1: were originally from Los Angeles, right, So what made you 821 00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:52,800 Speaker 1: leave Los Angeles to go to New Mexico. Well, because 822 00:46:52,840 --> 00:46:55,520 Speaker 1: I had met their father, So I went to Mexico. 823 00:46:55,760 --> 00:46:57,719 Speaker 1: So it was a whole big, old long story and 824 00:46:57,800 --> 00:47:00,600 Speaker 1: a trip and I ended up having my two girls 825 00:47:00,640 --> 00:47:03,480 Speaker 1: there and coming back here. And then I ended up 826 00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:05,560 Speaker 1: going to New Mexico because I have family in New 827 00:47:05,640 --> 00:47:09,000 Speaker 1: Mexico and so I just figured that I would you know, 828 00:47:09,200 --> 00:47:12,239 Speaker 1: be good with my family, you know, they would be 829 00:47:12,280 --> 00:47:15,320 Speaker 1: able to help me. And it was, you know, pretty 830 00:47:15,800 --> 00:47:18,200 Speaker 1: I can imagine to being drag five miles in the 831 00:47:18,320 --> 00:47:22,200 Speaker 1: car with also carrying a child. You were mentioning about 832 00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:24,520 Speaker 1: the Elijah's father, Can you tell us a little about 833 00:47:24,520 --> 00:47:28,120 Speaker 1: what happened? All of their from passed away? Yes, And 834 00:47:28,520 --> 00:47:32,160 Speaker 1: he was in Mexico and he got hit by a truck, 835 00:47:32,239 --> 00:47:34,920 Speaker 1: a drunk driver coming on the freeway and he was 836 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:39,160 Speaker 1: coming off from work. Yes, so, but this happened way 837 00:47:39,480 --> 00:47:42,440 Speaker 1: before anything had happened to me. This is what his 838 00:47:42,600 --> 00:47:46,040 Speaker 1: sister says. But you know, I didn't see nothing. I 839 00:47:46,200 --> 00:47:50,960 Speaker 1: just didn't hear from him. You know, I'm very started. Yeah, 840 00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:53,879 Speaker 1: so you were mentioning earlier as one of the things 841 00:47:53,920 --> 00:47:57,279 Speaker 1: that's being on housed. We are very conscious about, you know, 842 00:47:57,360 --> 00:47:59,560 Speaker 1: how we were presented because many of the Nimbi's, for 843 00:47:59,640 --> 00:48:02,560 Speaker 1: example and Echo Park have been vilifying on house people 844 00:48:03,040 --> 00:48:05,719 Speaker 1: just for surviving. And you were mentioning a very good point, 845 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:09,560 Speaker 1: like when another family that I interviewed, Because people make 846 00:48:10,080 --> 00:48:14,000 Speaker 1: horrible aspersions against unhoused families or parents, can you tell 847 00:48:14,080 --> 00:48:16,000 Speaker 1: us what are some of the struggles that you were mentioning, 848 00:48:16,080 --> 00:48:18,000 Speaker 1: because we were going to do the interview earlier, but 849 00:48:18,120 --> 00:48:20,640 Speaker 1: you had some concerns and let's talk about them because 850 00:48:20,719 --> 00:48:24,560 Speaker 1: the other mother mentioned it as well. Yeah, well it's 851 00:48:24,640 --> 00:48:29,320 Speaker 1: pretty much you know, the Internet for the children, you know, 852 00:48:29,680 --> 00:48:33,080 Speaker 1: the cooking, the food, you know, the clothing and how 853 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:37,800 Speaker 1: you wash your clothes. Like for me, that's pretty much it. 854 00:48:37,960 --> 00:48:40,560 Speaker 1: But I'm grateful for the people that I have in 855 00:48:40,680 --> 00:48:43,000 Speaker 1: my life and that I know, you know, because if 856 00:48:43,040 --> 00:48:46,399 Speaker 1: it wasn't for them, you know, the government. I asked 857 00:48:46,440 --> 00:48:50,439 Speaker 1: them to help me several times, and they you ain't 858 00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:54,440 Speaker 1: go and help me, you know, they said that I 859 00:48:54,600 --> 00:48:58,440 Speaker 1: wasn't qualified and whatnot, and so that set me back 860 00:48:58,480 --> 00:49:01,040 Speaker 1: a lot. And I keep on feeling out, you know, 861 00:49:01,239 --> 00:49:04,520 Speaker 1: and telling them that I'm homeless and that I have nothing, 862 00:49:04,880 --> 00:49:07,120 Speaker 1: you know, and I don't see how they don't get 863 00:49:07,160 --> 00:49:10,640 Speaker 1: it through their head that I have nothing. You know. 864 00:49:10,880 --> 00:49:14,400 Speaker 1: I haven't even got any money from my accident. And 865 00:49:14,520 --> 00:49:17,480 Speaker 1: then I had another accident where my sister lived over 866 00:49:17,520 --> 00:49:20,759 Speaker 1: there in Georgia. A man was coming and he was 867 00:49:20,840 --> 00:49:23,479 Speaker 1: a worker, and you know how they have those Pulley cards. 868 00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:27,120 Speaker 1: He had some AirPods and he couldn't hear me. He 869 00:49:27,320 --> 00:49:30,160 Speaker 1: hit the back of my legs, made me flip backwards, 870 00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:34,000 Speaker 1: and I just had been injured previous to that, you know. 871 00:49:34,520 --> 00:49:38,239 Speaker 1: So I have, you know, that lawsuit running against them, 872 00:49:38,520 --> 00:49:41,520 Speaker 1: and you know, I haven't seen nothing from either side, 873 00:49:41,600 --> 00:49:45,640 Speaker 1: and I don't feel that that's any fair because I'm struggling, 874 00:49:46,120 --> 00:49:49,120 Speaker 1: you know, and you know, like I said, the only 875 00:49:49,160 --> 00:49:52,319 Speaker 1: people that help me is my friends and whatnot. They 876 00:49:52,440 --> 00:49:56,680 Speaker 1: lift me up, you know, and that's pretty much it. 877 00:49:57,200 --> 00:49:59,960 Speaker 1: I understand that you have a limited time at the hotel. 878 00:50:00,239 --> 00:50:02,880 Speaker 1: People are really trying, I know they're feel really trying 879 00:50:03,200 --> 00:50:08,800 Speaker 1: hard for yes. So and before of course full disclosure 880 00:50:08,880 --> 00:50:10,680 Speaker 1: that I'm working to try to get her housing by 881 00:50:10,719 --> 00:50:14,759 Speaker 1: Friday hopefully. But what would what us your second if 882 00:50:14,800 --> 00:50:18,080 Speaker 1: you had a what was your plan after the five days? Well, 883 00:50:18,480 --> 00:50:22,439 Speaker 1: I was just hoping and praying, you know, to God, 884 00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:27,319 Speaker 1: did you know doors would open, you know, and then 885 00:50:27,480 --> 00:50:30,759 Speaker 1: somebody would come in and you know, say hey, we 886 00:50:30,920 --> 00:50:33,719 Speaker 1: know of a place that takes the Path program. You 887 00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:36,360 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, We'll open our doors to you, 888 00:50:36,840 --> 00:50:39,080 Speaker 1: you know, tell us a little bit about the Path program. 889 00:50:39,200 --> 00:50:41,160 Speaker 1: What was going on with that? Well, the Path program, 890 00:50:41,320 --> 00:50:43,439 Speaker 1: they say that they're supposed to be there to help 891 00:50:43,480 --> 00:50:47,200 Speaker 1: the families, but in actuality, when my daughter was born 892 00:50:47,280 --> 00:50:50,600 Speaker 1: and they knew I had nothing, they didn't come to 893 00:50:50,760 --> 00:50:54,960 Speaker 1: offer me a piece of clothes for her, food for her, nothing, 894 00:50:55,200 --> 00:50:57,600 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. And so then, you know, 895 00:50:57,960 --> 00:51:00,600 Speaker 1: for me, that was very hard because once again at 896 00:51:00,640 --> 00:51:03,880 Speaker 1: that point I didn't even know anybody, you know, and 897 00:51:04,040 --> 00:51:07,640 Speaker 1: the social workers at the hospital had to go and 898 00:51:07,800 --> 00:51:11,719 Speaker 1: give me everything, which was really hurting pain for me 899 00:51:12,160 --> 00:51:17,239 Speaker 1: because my worker was getting everybody else diapers and all that. 900 00:51:17,400 --> 00:51:20,400 Speaker 1: And I've seen this with my own eyes because I 901 00:51:20,560 --> 00:51:23,200 Speaker 1: knew that women, you know what I'm saying, And I 902 00:51:23,400 --> 00:51:25,879 Speaker 1: seen them bringing them things, and I was thinking, well, 903 00:51:26,120 --> 00:51:28,759 Speaker 1: they know that I'm about to have this baby any day. 904 00:51:29,120 --> 00:51:31,719 Speaker 1: Why are they not helping me. They were supposed to 905 00:51:31,760 --> 00:51:34,800 Speaker 1: be helping with so many things they promised me, and 906 00:51:34,880 --> 00:51:36,759 Speaker 1: they let me down in so many ways. And I 907 00:51:36,920 --> 00:51:41,120 Speaker 1: had four workers, you know, And I told my second 908 00:51:41,160 --> 00:51:43,560 Speaker 1: to last worker that I had. I told her exactly 909 00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:47,160 Speaker 1: how I felt about them, their program and how they 910 00:51:47,239 --> 00:51:50,279 Speaker 1: were running the place. It wasn't fair, you know what 911 00:51:50,320 --> 00:51:54,480 Speaker 1: I'm saying to people like us, they need their help 912 00:51:54,640 --> 00:52:00,880 Speaker 1: for reals, you know. So, but I'm so sorry that 913 00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:04,080 Speaker 1: you've gone through this I had. I don't have five children, 914 00:52:04,120 --> 00:52:06,399 Speaker 1: but I do when I was stabbed five years ago 915 00:52:06,840 --> 00:52:09,680 Speaker 1: and I had half severe surgery. I do know how 916 00:52:10,320 --> 00:52:13,200 Speaker 1: you know the lack of social services that is out there, 917 00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:17,440 Speaker 1: and it's very frustrating that people that make these horrible aspersions, 918 00:52:17,520 --> 00:52:20,080 Speaker 1: or they're so worried about the ducks at Echo Park 919 00:52:20,120 --> 00:52:23,400 Speaker 1: and all of this nonsensical, but doesn't give one damn 920 00:52:23,520 --> 00:52:25,719 Speaker 1: about people that are suffering and having these kind of 921 00:52:26,160 --> 00:52:30,440 Speaker 1: realistic issues. What other things, like before you had these accidents, 922 00:52:31,120 --> 00:52:33,239 Speaker 1: what were you before, because I know you just didn't 923 00:52:33,400 --> 00:52:35,560 Speaker 1: just become a house because obviously you had a life 924 00:52:35,800 --> 00:52:40,319 Speaker 1: way before this. Well, yeah, I've been a salesperson, I've 925 00:52:40,360 --> 00:52:45,000 Speaker 1: been security, I've been you know, a flower decorator. You know, 926 00:52:45,160 --> 00:52:47,799 Speaker 1: I've done everything that I could, you know what I'm 927 00:52:47,840 --> 00:52:50,480 Speaker 1: saying to support my family. And when I needed to 928 00:52:50,600 --> 00:52:54,200 Speaker 1: support from the government, they gave me nothing, you know 929 00:52:54,280 --> 00:52:58,080 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, And I really just you know, inside, 930 00:52:58,160 --> 00:53:02,239 Speaker 1: I really feel, you know, I'm sorry here you're going 931 00:53:02,320 --> 00:53:04,319 Speaker 1: through this, and I really hope it was my hope 932 00:53:04,640 --> 00:53:06,680 Speaker 1: to help as many as on the house people that 933 00:53:06,719 --> 00:53:09,200 Speaker 1: I can get with your story, and I'm trying to 934 00:53:09,600 --> 00:53:13,160 Speaker 1: reach out because we have, like Black Lives Matter has says, 935 00:53:13,200 --> 00:53:15,520 Speaker 1: its best, we teach each other safe and we have 936 00:53:15,640 --> 00:53:17,440 Speaker 1: to look out for each other. We have to cut 937 00:53:17,560 --> 00:53:21,640 Speaker 1: This is more than just about displacement here in California. 938 00:53:21,719 --> 00:53:24,439 Speaker 1: This is displacement even in Palestine. We have to give 939 00:53:24,800 --> 00:53:26,759 Speaker 1: a care. We have to understand that we're all a 940 00:53:26,840 --> 00:53:29,719 Speaker 1: part of mankind and nobody deserves to be displaced in 941 00:53:29,800 --> 00:53:32,480 Speaker 1: on house. I don't care what the challenges that they have. 942 00:53:32,680 --> 00:53:35,640 Speaker 1: They deserve a home and be safe and loved. Is 943 00:53:35,680 --> 00:53:37,680 Speaker 1: there anything else what you want to do? Anybody the 944 00:53:37,760 --> 00:53:40,960 Speaker 1: rest of the world don't Well, I just think, you know, 945 00:53:41,360 --> 00:53:44,400 Speaker 1: before anybody says anything or does anything, I thank him 946 00:53:44,480 --> 00:53:46,719 Speaker 1: for everything. You know what I'm saying. I thank you. 947 00:53:47,440 --> 00:53:50,279 Speaker 1: I thank everybody that's hearing that. You know what I'm saying, 948 00:53:50,400 --> 00:53:52,959 Speaker 1: that's helped me along the way. You know what I'm saying, 949 00:53:53,520 --> 00:53:56,239 Speaker 1: because I couldn't even walk, I couldn't even use it. 950 00:53:56,320 --> 00:53:58,880 Speaker 1: Both from myself, you know, and all the people that 951 00:53:59,080 --> 00:54:03,040 Speaker 1: help me. I'm really really grateful for them, and mainly 952 00:54:03,200 --> 00:54:06,040 Speaker 1: the Lord, you know, because if it wasn't prayer, why 953 00:54:06,040 --> 00:54:09,880 Speaker 1: wouldn't be here. I think you have a lot to willive, 954 00:54:09,960 --> 00:54:13,080 Speaker 1: Fork and your kids obviously very leaping love you as 955 00:54:13,160 --> 00:54:16,279 Speaker 1: well as you know. There's there's bright days ahead. Like 956 00:54:16,400 --> 00:54:19,320 Speaker 1: I say, you know, life is going to be a challenge, 957 00:54:19,360 --> 00:54:21,320 Speaker 1: but I have much confidence that we're going to do 958 00:54:21,400 --> 00:54:25,600 Speaker 1: our best to help you. Yes, thank you so much. 959 00:54:26,360 --> 00:54:28,879 Speaker 1: This is THEEO Henderson from Weedien Howse and I thank 960 00:54:28,960 --> 00:54:31,319 Speaker 1: you all for listening, and I hope we truly meet 961 00:54:31,360 --> 00:54:33,759 Speaker 1: in a lot of understanding and help make this world 962 00:54:33,840 --> 00:54:37,759 Speaker 1: a better place and reach our hand of compassion and 963 00:54:37,920 --> 00:55:19,440 Speaker 1: empathy for our fellow human beings. It's is THEO Henderson 964 00:55:19,480 --> 00:55:22,320 Speaker 1: from William House. I'm here in San Francisco at the 965 00:55:22,400 --> 00:55:26,440 Speaker 1: Hospitality and I'm introducing some of the members of the 966 00:55:26,960 --> 00:55:30,720 Speaker 1: San Francisco Coalition Homeless Coalition. So we're gonna go around 967 00:55:30,880 --> 00:55:34,480 Speaker 1: and introduce each other and then get some questions started. 968 00:55:35,120 --> 00:55:37,799 Speaker 1: Let me start with this. Look way a little far 969 00:55:38,480 --> 00:55:46,480 Speaker 1: so yeah, yeah, yeah, But my name is Tracy Nixon. 970 00:55:46,719 --> 00:55:49,799 Speaker 1: I am a pure organizer here at the Coalition on Homelessness. 971 00:55:50,680 --> 00:55:54,800 Speaker 1: All right, I am Cooper Rona. I'm a scrematic volunteer 972 00:55:54,880 --> 00:55:58,000 Speaker 1: at Collision. Yes, I just want you if you I understand, 973 00:55:58,280 --> 00:56:00,400 Speaker 1: we could social distance, but let's kind of speak a 974 00:56:00,400 --> 00:56:05,759 Speaker 1: little loud so we can hear. My name is. My 975 00:56:05,880 --> 00:56:12,040 Speaker 1: name is Emmitt House, vendor coordinator for street Sheet. And 976 00:56:12,360 --> 00:56:15,640 Speaker 1: what is street sheet? Street Sheet is a uh A 977 00:56:16,320 --> 00:56:21,719 Speaker 1: paper created by homeless, homeless and formerly homelessness uh individuals. 978 00:56:22,000 --> 00:56:25,080 Speaker 1: And Olivia I didn't need a lasting at least damn. 979 00:56:25,120 --> 00:56:27,720 Speaker 1: My name is Olivia Gloaki and I'm the development director 980 00:56:27,760 --> 00:56:30,960 Speaker 1: here at the Coalitions okay, So, uh, we'll start with 981 00:56:31,480 --> 00:56:34,560 Speaker 1: ID on my right. Uh, let's get a little bit 982 00:56:34,600 --> 00:56:36,759 Speaker 1: of a intake on how did you get started here 983 00:56:36,840 --> 00:56:40,960 Speaker 1: in Coalition for the Homeless once again, my name is Tracy, 984 00:56:41,120 --> 00:56:44,040 Speaker 1: And how I got started here was I came here 985 00:56:44,920 --> 00:56:47,560 Speaker 1: about six years ago through Arica Hometel. I was just 986 00:56:47,680 --> 00:56:51,359 Speaker 1: placed here and a few years later I ended up 987 00:56:51,400 --> 00:56:53,759 Speaker 1: working here. And during the time did I started working 988 00:56:53,800 --> 00:56:56,000 Speaker 1: here almost three years ago, I was homeless with my 989 00:56:56,120 --> 00:56:58,239 Speaker 1: daughter during that time, so it was like it gave 990 00:56:58,320 --> 00:57:02,920 Speaker 1: me a whole different insight to being homeless and how 991 00:57:03,000 --> 00:57:06,279 Speaker 1: homelessness sparks, especially working here. So this has been this 992 00:57:06,440 --> 00:57:10,600 Speaker 1: has been my education. It was so different because many 993 00:57:10,680 --> 00:57:13,279 Speaker 1: people didn't magically just sit down and says, hey, I'm 994 00:57:13,280 --> 00:57:16,640 Speaker 1: gonna be on house or homeless or this placed. There 995 00:57:16,680 --> 00:57:18,920 Speaker 1: have to be a lightning rod of event. So what 996 00:57:19,080 --> 00:57:21,080 Speaker 1: made you see that there was a difference when you 997 00:57:21,160 --> 00:57:24,640 Speaker 1: became a house. What happened for me how I became 998 00:57:24,760 --> 00:57:28,080 Speaker 1: a housed I tried. I lost my mother six years ago, 999 00:57:28,920 --> 00:57:30,960 Speaker 1: so I tried to keep it together for me and 1000 00:57:31,080 --> 00:57:33,720 Speaker 1: my daughter and try to keep our housing stable. But 1001 00:57:34,040 --> 00:57:38,280 Speaker 1: because of my trauma from losing my mother and trying 1002 00:57:38,320 --> 00:57:40,280 Speaker 1: to make sure my daughter was going to school and 1003 00:57:40,400 --> 00:57:44,200 Speaker 1: everything because she was getting ready to start kindergarten when 1004 00:57:44,400 --> 00:57:46,440 Speaker 1: all of this happened. So it was like, with all 1005 00:57:46,560 --> 00:57:49,120 Speaker 1: that trauma and everything, I tried very very hard, but 1006 00:57:50,720 --> 00:57:53,360 Speaker 1: I needed to see some other outlets. And then I 1007 00:57:53,560 --> 00:57:56,880 Speaker 1: ended up homeless and I had to crawl before I walked. 1008 00:57:56,920 --> 00:58:00,520 Speaker 1: But now I'm housed. But it was, like I said, 1009 00:58:00,560 --> 00:58:04,560 Speaker 1: I learned how to advocate for myself. I was That's 1010 00:58:04,600 --> 00:58:06,200 Speaker 1: one of the things I was gonna ask, like, what 1011 00:58:06,440 --> 00:58:09,000 Speaker 1: was the because I had too on house that I've 1012 00:58:09,080 --> 00:58:12,560 Speaker 1: been for seven years and I had medical issues. But 1013 00:58:12,720 --> 00:58:15,280 Speaker 1: the first thing that I remembered that out of everything 1014 00:58:15,320 --> 00:58:18,040 Speaker 1: of the times of being in house was the first night, 1015 00:58:18,360 --> 00:58:20,880 Speaker 1: my first night, I walked, my almost walked. My legs 1016 00:58:20,920 --> 00:58:25,640 Speaker 1: off came now, but I walked because I couldn't. I 1017 00:58:25,720 --> 00:58:28,439 Speaker 1: couldn't compute that here I am having a place, having 1018 00:58:28,480 --> 00:58:31,520 Speaker 1: a job, you know, trying to you know, get my 1019 00:58:32,080 --> 00:58:35,040 Speaker 1: swerve on with this young lady and trying to start 1020 00:58:35,080 --> 00:58:38,280 Speaker 1: a life, and here I am relegated walking down and 1021 00:58:38,360 --> 00:58:40,280 Speaker 1: trying to figure out where I'm gonna lay at, where 1022 00:58:40,280 --> 00:58:42,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get some food, and I didn't sleep obviously 1023 00:58:42,880 --> 00:58:45,560 Speaker 1: at night, so I I just wonder what was the 1024 00:58:45,600 --> 00:58:48,440 Speaker 1: first night, like, what would what was the traumata it 1025 00:58:48,560 --> 00:58:50,120 Speaker 1: was there? It was a traumatic for you, because I 1026 00:58:50,240 --> 00:58:53,320 Speaker 1: sure hell was from for me. But you know, my 1027 00:58:53,480 --> 00:58:55,720 Speaker 1: first night homeless, I'm just gonna pull this off, so 1028 00:58:55,840 --> 00:58:59,360 Speaker 1: y'all you hear my first night homeless, I was actually 1029 00:58:59,480 --> 00:59:02,320 Speaker 1: saying my daughter's father's house, and that was a drug house. 1030 00:59:02,520 --> 00:59:04,360 Speaker 1: I'm keep it one handed. That was a drug house 1031 00:59:04,400 --> 00:59:05,960 Speaker 1: and that was no place safe for me to be. 1032 00:59:06,080 --> 00:59:07,840 Speaker 1: So I wish i'd walk the streets from my dough 1033 00:59:07,920 --> 00:59:10,120 Speaker 1: all night like cause I I would have felt a 1034 00:59:10,200 --> 00:59:13,040 Speaker 1: whole lot safer. So that was my first night of homelessness. 1035 00:59:13,080 --> 00:59:15,040 Speaker 1: And I only stayed with him for two weeks until 1036 00:59:15,080 --> 00:59:16,880 Speaker 1: I said, you know, when I'm finna go to a shelter, 1037 00:59:16,880 --> 00:59:19,000 Speaker 1: I'd rather slept on the floor on a mat than 1038 00:59:19,080 --> 00:59:22,520 Speaker 1: having to keep being woke up all night long. Well, 1039 00:59:22,600 --> 00:59:25,120 Speaker 1: drug house is definitely like a seven eleven. It's always open, 1040 00:59:25,280 --> 00:59:30,120 Speaker 1: so that definitely you're not gonna give you to sleep up. 1041 00:59:30,200 --> 00:59:33,920 Speaker 1: That was not our movement, And like I said, I 1042 00:59:34,120 --> 00:59:37,000 Speaker 1: I ended up going to the Family Homeless shelter, which 1043 00:59:37,120 --> 00:59:41,200 Speaker 1: is totally not sleeping on the floor now, thank goodness, 1044 00:59:41,480 --> 00:59:43,640 Speaker 1: but it's like having to sleep on the floor and everything. 1045 00:59:43,640 --> 00:59:46,080 Speaker 1: And it was like with my health issues and everything 1046 00:59:46,120 --> 00:59:48,040 Speaker 1: that I have going on, it was like I ended 1047 00:59:48,120 --> 00:59:49,880 Speaker 1: up making sure that me and my daughters now have 1048 00:59:49,920 --> 00:59:52,840 Speaker 1: to say that that mom. And it took almost a year, 1049 00:59:53,880 --> 00:59:56,640 Speaker 1: but we're finally house. And now I've been housed almost 1050 00:59:56,640 --> 00:59:59,480 Speaker 1: suit you you s mentioned that you had it. I 1051 00:59:59,520 --> 01:00:01,240 Speaker 1: don't wanna kind of like Oprah referen youre talking about 1052 01:00:01,240 --> 01:00:04,840 Speaker 1: aha moment, but you decided you cause I'm not Oprah, 1053 01:00:04,960 --> 01:00:08,520 Speaker 1: but but I well, you did say that you started 1054 01:00:08,560 --> 01:00:10,720 Speaker 1: to come into your own and start speaking up for yourself. 1055 01:00:10,960 --> 01:00:13,280 Speaker 1: What was the catalyst for that? What made you say, Hell, 1056 01:00:13,280 --> 01:00:17,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna start speaking up for myself and l And 1057 01:00:18,120 --> 01:00:20,480 Speaker 1: this is how I learned how to speak for myself. 1058 01:00:20,600 --> 01:00:22,360 Speaker 1: I wouldn't know how. I don't know how to speak 1059 01:00:22,400 --> 01:00:24,800 Speaker 1: for myself, but how to speak for myself on this 1060 01:00:25,080 --> 01:00:27,960 Speaker 1: level in order to make sure that me and my 1061 01:00:28,120 --> 01:00:32,000 Speaker 1: daughter was house. Honestly, I learned the coalition. I wouldn't 1062 01:00:32,400 --> 01:00:34,960 Speaker 1: known how to do it in the correct way, and 1063 01:00:35,120 --> 01:00:38,200 Speaker 1: I learned how to maneuver everything. I learned how to maneuver, 1064 01:00:38,400 --> 01:00:40,320 Speaker 1: and that's why me and my daughter a house. But 1065 01:00:40,600 --> 01:00:43,640 Speaker 1: it shouldn't take Look, it shouldn't take me learn. Everybody 1066 01:00:43,720 --> 01:00:45,880 Speaker 1: needs to know how to advocate for themselves, and there's 1067 01:00:45,960 --> 01:00:49,360 Speaker 1: not enough teaching of people kN to how to advocate 1068 01:00:49,400 --> 01:00:54,560 Speaker 1: for themselves. I agree, So what would be you just 1069 01:00:54,680 --> 01:00:57,680 Speaker 1: basically said it? So what would be a idea for 1070 01:00:58,280 --> 01:01:01,160 Speaker 1: people that are looking to learn how to advocate? Where 1071 01:01:01,200 --> 01:01:04,280 Speaker 1: would they go besides here? If you knew any other locations? 1072 01:01:07,080 --> 01:01:10,360 Speaker 1: R I would have passed that home, right I I yet? 1073 01:01:10,440 --> 01:01:13,520 Speaker 1: But also I would say, for like, for adults of 1074 01:01:13,560 --> 01:01:16,560 Speaker 1: their homeless, cause I work with families, so I would 1075 01:01:16,560 --> 01:01:18,440 Speaker 1: say that for adults of their homeless, you can come 1076 01:01:18,480 --> 01:01:22,880 Speaker 1: to the coalition and talk to our human human rights members. 1077 01:01:23,680 --> 01:01:26,080 Speaker 1: Is it a difference between people that are f with 1078 01:01:26,200 --> 01:01:29,760 Speaker 1: families than just the average single people? Right by? Now? 1079 01:01:29,840 --> 01:01:31,880 Speaker 1: There is a whole complete difference, Cause I remember when 1080 01:01:31,960 --> 01:01:34,040 Speaker 1: all of my friends was having kids, all of them 1081 01:01:34,160 --> 01:01:36,400 Speaker 1: was able to get housed, and I was sent a 1082 01:01:36,560 --> 01:01:39,040 Speaker 1: single adult by myself, and I had to come out 1083 01:01:39,080 --> 01:01:41,200 Speaker 1: here in these streets and get my house and living 1084 01:01:41,240 --> 01:01:43,120 Speaker 1: in these s R roles before they got to go 1085 01:01:44,240 --> 01:01:48,520 Speaker 1: by the nonprofits. So I didn't been down this route. 1086 01:01:48,800 --> 01:01:51,880 Speaker 1: Then once I had a child, then I ended up homeless, 1087 01:01:51,960 --> 01:01:55,760 Speaker 1: and I ended up homeless, And it's sometimes a single 1088 01:01:55,800 --> 01:01:58,600 Speaker 1: adults got more action than I have as a parent 1089 01:01:59,560 --> 01:02:01,920 Speaker 1: might so yeah, uh huh, it's kind of like a lottery. 1090 01:02:01,960 --> 01:02:03,919 Speaker 1: It ain't changed. And yeah, I didn't look to change 1091 01:02:03,960 --> 01:02:06,960 Speaker 1: things changed in thirty years cause my guy son is 1092 01:02:07,000 --> 01:02:08,880 Speaker 1: thirty years old and I got a ten year old daughter. 1093 01:02:09,000 --> 01:02:11,480 Speaker 1: My guy son and my daughter twenty years apart. But 1094 01:02:11,560 --> 01:02:14,520 Speaker 1: I done looked at how things have changed. So it 1095 01:02:14,560 --> 01:02:18,400 Speaker 1: shouldn't be about letting all of us need to reach 1096 01:02:18,440 --> 01:02:20,640 Speaker 1: out to each other and find out how to do more. 1097 01:02:20,920 --> 01:02:23,760 Speaker 1: Cause it's not just about me as a me being 1098 01:02:23,840 --> 01:02:27,120 Speaker 1: a parent having a child. It's about people that don't 1099 01:02:27,200 --> 01:02:30,400 Speaker 1: have children, you feel what I'm saying, to be able 1100 01:02:30,560 --> 01:02:33,240 Speaker 1: to be housed, and it shouldn't be about luck I 1101 01:02:33,440 --> 01:02:37,680 Speaker 1: And it's crazy because COVID is ensuring more people to 1102 01:02:37,760 --> 01:02:39,600 Speaker 1: be in the house now and it shouldn't have took 1103 01:02:39,600 --> 01:02:43,120 Speaker 1: a pandemic t for that. I agree, I'm going to 1104 01:02:43,240 --> 01:02:47,040 Speaker 1: move on and thank you. So i'm'a I'm gonna dip 1105 01:02:47,080 --> 01:02:49,360 Speaker 1: that cause I yeah, that's why I was gonna let 1106 01:02:49,440 --> 01:02:52,280 Speaker 1: you go. Look alright, now we got the uh the 1107 01:02:52,400 --> 01:02:54,440 Speaker 1: first part of the interview out the way. Uh if 1108 01:02:54,480 --> 01:02:56,480 Speaker 1: it's okay, but I as uh asks you a question 1109 01:02:56,560 --> 01:02:59,560 Speaker 1: and I'll talk to you. Then you're the last. So uh, 1110 01:03:00,120 --> 01:03:02,560 Speaker 1: let's start with you. Let's introduce yourself and give us 1111 01:03:02,560 --> 01:03:05,080 Speaker 1: a little bit on your tech how you got involved here. 1112 01:03:06,240 --> 01:03:11,520 Speaker 1: My name is Emmitt House. I am Street Sheet Coordinator. 1113 01:03:12,000 --> 01:03:14,600 Speaker 1: What is street sheet? Can I keep hearing you say that? Uh? 1114 01:03:15,200 --> 01:03:22,600 Speaker 1: So street sheet? For example? Are these so sometime? So 1115 01:03:22,840 --> 01:03:26,680 Speaker 1: it's mostly street sheet is contr created is mostly created 1116 01:03:27,320 --> 01:03:33,600 Speaker 1: by homeless people, are formerlies, homeless people who just going through, 1117 01:03:34,480 --> 01:03:37,760 Speaker 1: you know, life issues and sometime I had one of 1118 01:03:37,800 --> 01:03:41,320 Speaker 1: these issues. We have poetry. They write poetry about what 1119 01:03:41,880 --> 01:03:45,480 Speaker 1: what it is or how they going through on the streets. 1120 01:03:46,120 --> 01:03:49,400 Speaker 1: It's about it. Okay, what was your inspiration for that? 1121 01:03:49,560 --> 01:03:52,040 Speaker 1: Because you know I for me, I've created this weedy 1122 01:03:52,120 --> 01:03:54,800 Speaker 1: in the house for advocate for people that are on 1123 01:03:54,840 --> 01:03:58,040 Speaker 1: the street in Los Angeles because we had agencies, but 1124 01:03:58,160 --> 01:04:01,320 Speaker 1: we didn't have enough of the uh, the positive kind 1125 01:04:01,360 --> 01:04:03,720 Speaker 1: of information. Because we had I don't know if anyone's 1126 01:04:03,760 --> 01:04:06,080 Speaker 1: heard about it in Los Angeles. We got this damn 1127 01:04:07,320 --> 01:04:11,000 Speaker 1: view uh view called streets of shame and this place 1128 01:04:11,120 --> 01:04:15,120 Speaker 1: this this reporter goes around into unhoused places and vilify 1129 01:04:15,160 --> 01:04:18,760 Speaker 1: I'm making them sound out they're crazy. Yes, I mean 1130 01:04:18,840 --> 01:04:21,560 Speaker 1: it's it's horrible. And the horrible thing about it, this 1131 01:04:21,640 --> 01:04:24,240 Speaker 1: dude got a pull of surprise for doing this kind 1132 01:04:24,280 --> 01:04:26,560 Speaker 1: of stuff. So it really would just blankle my blood 1133 01:04:26,560 --> 01:04:28,840 Speaker 1: that he would go and get the most vulnerable people 1134 01:04:28,960 --> 01:04:31,920 Speaker 1: and just insult them, talk over them. So I felt 1135 01:04:31,960 --> 01:04:34,440 Speaker 1: that says, you know, what is missing was a positive 1136 01:04:34,480 --> 01:04:38,480 Speaker 1: representation and a humane representation of unhoused people. Hence, this 1137 01:04:38,640 --> 01:04:40,280 Speaker 1: is how I got started with the weaving in house. 1138 01:04:40,760 --> 01:04:43,800 Speaker 1: So what what pro What was the your motivation to 1139 01:04:43,880 --> 01:04:45,960 Speaker 1: do this? So I'll go back to when I first 1140 01:04:46,040 --> 01:04:50,840 Speaker 1: started being a part of the correalition. I I was 1141 01:04:52,840 --> 01:04:55,880 Speaker 1: single parent, and I ran the streets out here in 1142 01:04:55,960 --> 01:05:03,640 Speaker 1: San Francisco. How long were you'all doing so all together? 1143 01:05:04,040 --> 01:05:07,640 Speaker 1: I've been homeless about we'll say about twenty years. Okay. 1144 01:05:09,760 --> 01:05:13,640 Speaker 1: So I how I ended up here at the Coalition 1145 01:05:14,040 --> 01:05:18,360 Speaker 1: was I was trying to find something different. I was 1146 01:05:18,440 --> 01:05:22,960 Speaker 1: trying to find a job. It wouldn't give me a 1147 01:05:23,120 --> 01:05:30,520 Speaker 1: job because of my arrest record. So I felt like 1148 01:05:31,840 --> 01:05:35,160 Speaker 1: you know, I heard of the Coalition. So when I 1149 01:05:35,240 --> 01:05:38,040 Speaker 1: first came to the Coalition, it wasn't here in this building, 1150 01:05:40,040 --> 01:05:45,640 Speaker 1: but it was a lot to take in. What was 1151 01:05:45,720 --> 01:05:49,240 Speaker 1: your memorable moment of being out on the street. I 1152 01:05:49,320 --> 01:05:52,160 Speaker 1: can tell you that I've never even though I've been homeless, 1153 01:05:53,240 --> 01:05:57,560 Speaker 1: I've been to shelters. I can never except on the street. Wow, 1154 01:05:59,120 --> 01:06:02,240 Speaker 1: I've been. I had to spend one night outside or something, 1155 01:06:02,640 --> 01:06:04,200 Speaker 1: and I was like you, I didn't want to go. 1156 01:06:05,360 --> 01:06:07,760 Speaker 1: I didn't know, I didn't know where, who, what, where 1157 01:06:07,840 --> 01:06:11,520 Speaker 1: and how. Yeah, I was like you, I wasn't here 1158 01:06:11,600 --> 01:06:17,400 Speaker 1: in sancraniscuper yet I didn't go to sleep, so I 1159 01:06:18,240 --> 01:06:20,720 Speaker 1: ended up here. I ended up at the Coalition. Like 1160 01:06:20,800 --> 01:06:23,680 Speaker 1: I said, it was a lot of stuff going on. 1161 01:06:23,880 --> 01:06:26,840 Speaker 1: It was a lot of take in. And then so 1162 01:06:27,120 --> 01:06:30,960 Speaker 1: I was battling within myself. Should I be out on 1163 01:06:31,080 --> 01:06:33,040 Speaker 1: the streets and doing what I do on the streets, 1164 01:06:33,120 --> 01:06:36,520 Speaker 1: or should I change my life and try to work. 1165 01:06:37,400 --> 01:06:41,120 Speaker 1: I'll beginning basically get ready to work for free? Was 1166 01:06:41,200 --> 01:06:46,440 Speaker 1: I ready for that? Basically? I told myself, yeah, you 1167 01:06:46,520 --> 01:06:47,880 Speaker 1: can do it. But then in the back of my 1168 01:06:47,960 --> 01:06:49,760 Speaker 1: head and said, no, you can't do it. You gonna 1169 01:06:49,800 --> 01:06:54,080 Speaker 1: single but you you're a single parent. So to make 1170 01:06:54,120 --> 01:06:56,840 Speaker 1: a long story short, I ended up staying at the collage, 1171 01:06:56,880 --> 01:06:59,840 Speaker 1: even though I was in and out the doors. I 1172 01:07:00,120 --> 01:07:04,040 Speaker 1: end up staying at the Coalition because the Coalition helped 1173 01:07:04,080 --> 01:07:06,320 Speaker 1: me out a lot, as far as I went to 1174 01:07:06,440 --> 01:07:14,080 Speaker 1: jail and they sent they send lawyers to keep you out, 1175 01:07:15,400 --> 01:07:17,880 Speaker 1: to get get you out, and I say, okay, good, 1176 01:07:18,200 --> 01:07:23,240 Speaker 1: that's a good thing. You. I feel like I old 1177 01:07:25,160 --> 01:07:28,360 Speaker 1: the coalition because they had no reasons. They had no 1178 01:07:28,640 --> 01:07:30,280 Speaker 1: they didn't have to step in any way. They did 1179 01:07:31,680 --> 01:07:43,200 Speaker 1: excuse me out. So I uh, I still wasn't ready 1180 01:07:43,280 --> 01:07:46,240 Speaker 1: for the Coalition. I went and worked other places. I 1181 01:07:46,880 --> 01:07:49,560 Speaker 1: ran a grocery store, I ran a closing store, I 1182 01:07:49,680 --> 01:07:53,480 Speaker 1: ran a desk kurt business. And still I ended up 1183 01:07:53,760 --> 01:07:56,760 Speaker 1: back here in the coalition. And how I ended up 1184 01:07:56,800 --> 01:08:01,000 Speaker 1: here aback the coalition because I'm disabled and I wanted 1185 01:08:01,040 --> 01:08:04,480 Speaker 1: to get back because I took a lot from from 1186 01:08:04,720 --> 01:08:11,400 Speaker 1: a lot of people. So one of the ways you're 1187 01:08:11,480 --> 01:08:13,640 Speaker 1: doing is this with street sheet? How long have you 1188 01:08:13,720 --> 01:08:17,320 Speaker 1: been street sheet have been out? Street Sheets been out 1189 01:08:17,439 --> 01:08:26,080 Speaker 1: about thirty five? Yeah? Where could it? Is it a 1190 01:08:26,160 --> 01:08:28,599 Speaker 1: way that we could be with Like I know, I'm 1191 01:08:28,600 --> 01:08:31,000 Speaker 1: from Los Angeles. Is a way we could get street 1192 01:08:31,000 --> 01:08:33,280 Speaker 1: sheet out in Los Angeles to have it spread or 1193 01:08:33,640 --> 01:08:36,400 Speaker 1: is there what can you do? So my set is 1194 01:08:37,040 --> 01:08:44,120 Speaker 1: my street sheets are my street sheets are all over cattle. 1195 01:08:44,880 --> 01:08:49,240 Speaker 1: Oh really okay, So what happens is, Yeah, sometimes I 1196 01:08:49,320 --> 01:08:52,960 Speaker 1: get people call me from other seats, other states that 1197 01:08:53,040 --> 01:08:58,439 Speaker 1: they want to want me, want us to send in papers. 1198 01:08:59,439 --> 01:09:02,880 Speaker 1: That part we can't do unless they want to pay 1199 01:09:02,960 --> 01:09:08,200 Speaker 1: for the ship. Kay okay. But most of the time 1200 01:09:08,520 --> 01:09:11,400 Speaker 1: people come here, they pick up any sheet that they 1201 01:09:11,520 --> 01:09:15,519 Speaker 1: want or however they want. Mainly the reason why these 1202 01:09:15,640 --> 01:09:19,360 Speaker 1: were started because if it was a it was a 1203 01:09:19,520 --> 01:09:28,000 Speaker 1: start of getting homeless people, homeless vendors away to get money. 1204 01:09:29,720 --> 01:09:33,920 Speaker 1: So the street sheet costs two dollars. So let me 1205 01:09:34,080 --> 01:09:36,560 Speaker 1: running back. Now we know you got the COVID, the 1206 01:09:36,680 --> 01:09:39,880 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen. So as if when it's this whole start, 1207 01:09:41,400 --> 01:09:45,479 Speaker 1: it put a damping on all my vendors. A lot 1208 01:09:45,520 --> 01:09:48,240 Speaker 1: of people didn't want to talk to the vendors. Everybody 1209 01:09:48,360 --> 01:09:51,040 Speaker 1: think everybody got coolies and this, this, that and the other. 1210 01:09:51,600 --> 01:09:56,559 Speaker 1: So it just took a lot of it. It stopped 1211 01:09:56,560 --> 01:10:03,000 Speaker 1: a lot of you know, so anything they make, I 1212 01:10:03,120 --> 01:10:07,000 Speaker 1: have cards, CDs, papers, anything they make, it stays in 1213 01:10:07,080 --> 01:10:08,960 Speaker 1: they pocket. I don't none of it. Come back to 1214 01:10:09,760 --> 01:10:12,639 Speaker 1: what a story I helped give back? Oh, I wasn't saying, 1215 01:10:12,720 --> 01:10:15,120 Speaker 1: you know, I would think, have you thought about doing 1216 01:10:15,160 --> 01:10:17,560 Speaker 1: it digital? But you've had a thing they have. You 1217 01:10:17,600 --> 01:10:19,280 Speaker 1: have a system. We have a sistant. We have it. 1218 01:10:19,360 --> 01:10:22,320 Speaker 1: Do we have it on digital? We have it almost everywhere. 1219 01:10:23,360 --> 01:10:28,200 Speaker 1: I am the the vendor coordinator and I have a editor. 1220 01:10:28,960 --> 01:10:33,559 Speaker 1: Her name is Quiver and she did the most part 1221 01:10:33,600 --> 01:10:37,040 Speaker 1: of that. That the most putting them together, putting the 1222 01:10:37,080 --> 01:10:42,560 Speaker 1: papers together. She does that and then I just strewt it. 1223 01:10:43,479 --> 01:10:46,479 Speaker 1: That sounds outstanding. Uh, thank you. I'm going to turn 1224 01:10:46,600 --> 01:10:50,080 Speaker 1: to you know, I introduce your s Cooper. I. Yeah, 1225 01:10:50,160 --> 01:10:54,080 Speaker 1: if you don't mind speaking up a little loud, because, yeah, 1226 01:10:55,479 --> 01:10:59,679 Speaker 1: my name's Cooper Arona. Yeah. So tell us a little 1227 01:10:59,680 --> 01:11:01,760 Speaker 1: bit about your story, because everyone's telling us a little 1228 01:11:01,760 --> 01:11:05,120 Speaker 1: about how did you get ensconced here? How did you 1229 01:11:05,200 --> 01:11:10,360 Speaker 1: get attached here? Well? I ended up divorce led me 1230 01:11:10,439 --> 01:11:13,639 Speaker 1: to the streets of San Francisco. I'm a disabled firefighter. 1231 01:11:13,840 --> 01:11:18,639 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, cool. And my wife and I after ten years, 1232 01:11:19,479 --> 01:11:26,040 Speaker 1: we yeah, we we separated. She's a civil litigation attorney. 1233 01:11:26,439 --> 01:11:30,760 Speaker 1: God didn't want to in the country and took every 1234 01:11:30,840 --> 01:11:34,320 Speaker 1: thing you got. Yeah, So I ended up on the 1235 01:11:34,360 --> 01:11:38,640 Speaker 1: streets to San Francisco and I ended up at the 1236 01:11:38,760 --> 01:11:41,280 Speaker 1: twenty four hour Dropping. They have a drop in here, 1237 01:11:41,520 --> 01:11:45,760 Speaker 1: one that you know, twenty four hours, you do laundry, shower. Well, 1238 01:11:46,200 --> 01:11:48,000 Speaker 1: I didn't know that I existed. I've been in San 1239 01:11:48,040 --> 01:11:49,960 Speaker 1: Francisco for a long time and I didn't know that 1240 01:11:50,080 --> 01:11:52,960 Speaker 1: this twenty four dropping even existed. Well someone had. I 1241 01:11:53,040 --> 01:11:55,200 Speaker 1: ran into a friend of mine just randomly, my first 1242 01:11:55,640 --> 01:11:59,240 Speaker 1: night being on the street, and she took me to 1243 01:11:59,479 --> 01:12:04,000 Speaker 1: the Women's a woman's place, and so you don't, you don't. 1244 01:12:05,040 --> 01:12:07,400 Speaker 1: It's not a shelter, it's it's a drop in. So 1245 01:12:07,479 --> 01:12:09,680 Speaker 1: you sit in a chair for twenty four hours. That's 1246 01:12:09,800 --> 01:12:14,760 Speaker 1: pretty much what you have, you Yeah, And ended up 1247 01:12:14,800 --> 01:12:19,479 Speaker 1: that I saw a lot of things that I was 1248 01:12:19,520 --> 01:12:21,479 Speaker 1: not okay with, and I saw a lot of things 1249 01:12:21,520 --> 01:12:26,439 Speaker 1: that made uncomfortable. And I became friends with the staff there, 1250 01:12:26,479 --> 01:12:31,080 Speaker 1: and I ended up volunteering there for the graveyard shifts, 1251 01:12:31,160 --> 01:12:34,320 Speaker 1: and I saw a lot of medical issues that were 1252 01:12:34,560 --> 01:12:38,200 Speaker 1: being untreated, and you know, just a lot of women suffering, 1253 01:12:38,280 --> 01:12:40,920 Speaker 1: you know, and these are a lot of trauma going on. Yeah, 1254 01:12:41,439 --> 01:12:43,640 Speaker 1: and these are women that normally would wouldn't make it 1255 01:12:43,720 --> 01:12:45,560 Speaker 1: in a tent around the street, These women that have 1256 01:12:45,600 --> 01:12:48,439 Speaker 1: a lot of you know, social anxieties and or you know, 1257 01:12:49,520 --> 01:12:51,960 Speaker 1: other issues and physical disabilities and stuff. But they were 1258 01:12:52,000 --> 01:12:53,880 Speaker 1: the ones that were looked over. No one the city 1259 01:12:53,920 --> 01:12:57,760 Speaker 1: didn't pay any attention to them. Right well, through me 1260 01:12:57,960 --> 01:13:01,200 Speaker 1: just raising my voice in being annoying, you know, uh, 1261 01:13:01,640 --> 01:13:03,360 Speaker 1: word of you know, word of mouth gets around, and 1262 01:13:03,479 --> 01:13:08,400 Speaker 1: I ended up meeting uh Kelly Cutler, who you know 1263 01:13:08,920 --> 01:13:12,200 Speaker 1: is here, and we ended up in a few spots 1264 01:13:12,240 --> 01:13:15,400 Speaker 1: of protest type things and on the news a few times, 1265 01:13:15,520 --> 01:13:17,200 Speaker 1: just her and I. You know, I rout up on 1266 01:13:17,240 --> 01:13:19,240 Speaker 1: my BMX bike and I'm like hey, you know, and 1267 01:13:19,360 --> 01:13:24,120 Speaker 1: just put my voice out there. And uh. Then I 1268 01:13:24,280 --> 01:13:27,000 Speaker 1: was part of a no on prop Q campaign ad 1269 01:13:27,240 --> 01:13:33,200 Speaker 1: that the coalition sponsored. With this the filmmaker Nicole Foley 1270 01:13:33,520 --> 01:13:36,120 Speaker 1: of the no on prop Q, the city was trying 1271 01:13:36,120 --> 01:13:38,360 Speaker 1: to ban tents and you know, one night in shelter bed, 1272 01:13:38,520 --> 01:13:40,280 Speaker 1: you know, or take it out of San Francisco. Well, 1273 01:13:40,360 --> 01:13:42,880 Speaker 1: that little piece right there, that little thing that I did, 1274 01:13:43,400 --> 01:13:46,879 Speaker 1: you know, that two minutes gave me so much information 1275 01:13:47,160 --> 01:13:50,840 Speaker 1: and uh, helped me find my voice what I truly 1276 01:13:51,000 --> 01:13:53,240 Speaker 1: needed to find, you know what I mean, and gave 1277 01:13:53,320 --> 01:13:56,800 Speaker 1: me this ability to just confidence. Yeah, well I had 1278 01:13:56,840 --> 01:13:58,719 Speaker 1: the confidence. I didn't know what I was talking about, 1279 01:13:59,040 --> 01:14:04,000 Speaker 1: you know, So that but a platform along. And you 1280 01:14:04,040 --> 01:14:05,600 Speaker 1: know what, one of the things that that that that 1281 01:14:05,880 --> 01:14:10,360 Speaker 1: that that ad did was the strength and ability that 1282 01:14:10,479 --> 01:14:12,920 Speaker 1: I had in me. I spread that to the folks, 1283 01:14:13,520 --> 01:14:15,640 Speaker 1: my other in house folks that I dealt with on 1284 01:14:15,720 --> 01:14:18,360 Speaker 1: the daily, if it was just friends or medical things 1285 01:14:18,400 --> 01:14:20,640 Speaker 1: that I helped people with. But the thing is is 1286 01:14:20,640 --> 01:14:23,680 Speaker 1: that I I was able to uh tell them what 1287 01:14:23,880 --> 01:14:25,560 Speaker 1: the laws are, what they can and can't what the 1288 01:14:25,600 --> 01:14:27,400 Speaker 1: cops can and can't do, and you know, and and 1289 01:14:27,520 --> 01:14:30,559 Speaker 1: and and slowly I became this advocate that I had 1290 01:14:30,600 --> 01:14:32,920 Speaker 1: no I never wanted to be a spokesperson. I ever 1291 01:14:33,000 --> 01:14:35,200 Speaker 1: wanted to be. I was an accidental spokesperson, I guess. 1292 01:14:35,320 --> 01:14:38,720 Speaker 1: And people came looking to me mill and nite, come 1293 01:14:38,800 --> 01:14:41,400 Speaker 1: find me, Cooper. They're they're sweeping my they're sweeping my 1294 01:14:41,560 --> 01:14:43,800 Speaker 1: you know what. The film myself away. So I'd ride 1295 01:14:43,840 --> 01:14:45,880 Speaker 1: over there and you know, talk to the cops like 1296 01:14:45,920 --> 01:14:47,559 Speaker 1: what's going on, you know, And they knew they're doing 1297 01:14:47,600 --> 01:14:49,720 Speaker 1: I legal activity. So they ended up leaving, you know 1298 01:14:49,760 --> 01:14:51,160 Speaker 1: me because they knew what they were doing was wrong. 1299 01:14:51,240 --> 01:14:53,600 Speaker 1: So other and how people saw that and like you 1300 01:14:53,600 --> 01:14:55,200 Speaker 1: guys don't have to move, you don't have to do 1301 01:14:55,400 --> 01:14:59,000 Speaker 1: you know. So that that knowledge that I got really 1302 01:14:59,520 --> 01:15:03,720 Speaker 1: came through and just gigantic waves of uh, not only 1303 01:15:03,840 --> 01:15:06,160 Speaker 1: like truth, but also it gave confidence. And the folks 1304 01:15:06,200 --> 01:15:08,400 Speaker 1: that that I dealt with and that were thought they 1305 01:15:08,439 --> 01:15:10,519 Speaker 1: had to leave every time the cops came, you know, 1306 01:15:10,600 --> 01:15:12,559 Speaker 1: gave them, you know, the same. And I was going 1307 01:15:12,640 --> 01:15:14,680 Speaker 1: to ask this question I hate to interject, is that 1308 01:15:14,720 --> 01:15:17,240 Speaker 1: because in Los Angeles we have that similar kind of thing, 1309 01:15:17,640 --> 01:15:20,519 Speaker 1: and we're trying to galvanize the in house community there. 1310 01:15:21,479 --> 01:15:24,240 Speaker 1: It swoops common here. It's the people were displacing on 1311 01:15:24,320 --> 01:15:27,599 Speaker 1: house people common here. Oh yeah, on the daily. I mean, 1312 01:15:27,680 --> 01:15:29,720 Speaker 1: and they're not even supposed to be doing even I mean, 1313 01:15:29,960 --> 01:15:33,360 Speaker 1: as you knows, the CDC is recommending not to move 1314 01:15:33,400 --> 01:15:36,479 Speaker 1: with me, you know, and Angeles even our own, our 1315 01:15:36,560 --> 01:15:39,160 Speaker 1: own you know, our you know, we're not supposed to 1316 01:15:39,200 --> 01:15:40,800 Speaker 1: be I don't know if I can curse or not 1317 01:15:41,640 --> 01:15:47,160 Speaker 1: believe it. I don't our city leaders are not really 1318 01:15:47,200 --> 01:15:48,840 Speaker 1: paying attention with the is going on, you know what 1319 01:15:48,880 --> 01:15:51,479 Speaker 1: I mean, they're really they're saying, oh, we don't do sweets, 1320 01:15:51,479 --> 01:15:54,519 Speaker 1: you know, they do every I mean, just dare for yesterday. 1321 01:15:55,439 --> 01:15:58,240 Speaker 1: I'm not only my home's advocate. I'm a street man. 1322 01:15:58,439 --> 01:16:00,760 Speaker 1: So I fixed all the wounds of out here. But 1323 01:16:01,720 --> 01:16:04,559 Speaker 1: I'm out there, I mean graveyard all. I mean, whatever 1324 01:16:04,640 --> 01:16:06,200 Speaker 1: they need me, I'm out there. And I'm usually riding 1325 01:16:06,240 --> 01:16:09,559 Speaker 1: around and and I see what's going on. The city 1326 01:16:09,600 --> 01:16:13,679 Speaker 1: workers are bullying, grabbing, you know, they're basically shopping around 1327 01:16:13,680 --> 01:16:14,920 Speaker 1: for what they want and they come back and they 1328 01:16:15,000 --> 01:16:16,840 Speaker 1: take it, you know, and and there's not just be 1329 01:16:17,040 --> 01:16:19,600 Speaker 1: done in these sweeps. And then they're displacing people that 1330 01:16:19,800 --> 01:16:22,519 Speaker 1: normally are in communities, you know those communities and and 1331 01:16:22,800 --> 01:16:25,439 Speaker 1: and house you know, in campus are. I mean, that's 1332 01:16:25,920 --> 01:16:29,160 Speaker 1: crucial for survival out here is to have a neighbor, 1333 01:16:29,280 --> 01:16:32,160 Speaker 1: to have people that that that know what's going on 1334 01:16:32,280 --> 01:16:34,439 Speaker 1: and know you. And when we do these sweeps, when 1335 01:16:34,520 --> 01:16:36,920 Speaker 1: whatnot we when the city does these sweeps, when London 1336 01:16:36,960 --> 01:16:40,120 Speaker 1: breed is allowing these sleeps to happen, that it's displacing 1337 01:16:40,160 --> 01:16:42,120 Speaker 1: and you got one guy here, you got five people, 1338 01:16:42,280 --> 01:16:46,080 Speaker 1: you know whatever. But and if something happens someone needs narcan, 1339 01:16:46,360 --> 01:16:49,559 Speaker 1: that's what that person is going to end up passing 1340 01:16:49,600 --> 01:16:54,320 Speaker 1: away because that neighborhood that you know, you're you're you're connections, 1341 01:16:54,320 --> 01:16:56,640 Speaker 1: you're a neighbor in the community and if you have 1342 01:16:56,760 --> 01:16:59,040 Speaker 1: an issue, that you have someone that they help you. Yeah, 1343 01:16:59,120 --> 01:17:02,880 Speaker 1: and that's what that's these encampments and that we're family, 1344 01:17:02,960 --> 01:17:04,840 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. And regardless of it doesn't 1345 01:17:04,840 --> 01:17:07,040 Speaker 1: matter where you come from where like if Swny's help, 1346 01:17:07,479 --> 01:17:09,960 Speaker 1: guess what you have someone to yep, someone say hey 1347 01:17:10,000 --> 01:17:11,600 Speaker 1: I need a narcan or hey, you know what I 1348 01:17:12,120 --> 01:17:15,160 Speaker 1: need someone call number one. When they displaced and they 1349 01:17:15,280 --> 01:17:20,000 Speaker 1: move people around so fully and without any heart behind it, 1350 01:17:20,560 --> 01:17:23,479 Speaker 1: that brings nothing but death and destruction in our cities. 1351 01:17:23,720 --> 01:17:26,320 Speaker 1: Destroying people from the inside out. Basically one of the 1352 01:17:26,439 --> 01:17:28,760 Speaker 1: things that you hit at the point that that happened 1353 01:17:28,800 --> 01:17:31,920 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles. There is a community in Koreatown and 1354 01:17:32,040 --> 01:17:34,759 Speaker 1: the gentleman's name was Joe, and he had heart medication 1355 01:17:34,960 --> 01:17:37,880 Speaker 1: and he had heart issues, and they swept him. It 1356 01:17:37,960 --> 01:17:40,040 Speaker 1: took all it through his all his heart medication and 1357 01:17:40,120 --> 01:17:43,000 Speaker 1: things away. Within the week he died because he couldn't 1358 01:17:43,040 --> 01:17:45,040 Speaker 1: be you know, because it's very difficult to get to 1359 01:17:45,120 --> 01:17:47,640 Speaker 1: the hospital. It's very difficult to get to medication. That 1360 01:17:47,680 --> 01:17:50,920 Speaker 1: you got to understand during COVID nineteen and pre COVID nineteen, 1361 01:17:51,400 --> 01:17:55,800 Speaker 1: that's almost some impossibility. So this is the the I 1362 01:17:55,880 --> 01:17:58,479 Speaker 1: guess you can said the collateral damage that London breed, 1363 01:17:59,040 --> 01:18:02,920 Speaker 1: Mary Guard said and any other city leaders that they 1364 01:18:03,720 --> 01:18:06,800 Speaker 1: refused to see the reality about you know what, And 1365 01:18:07,080 --> 01:18:09,599 Speaker 1: that's that's one of the things, is it that they 1366 01:18:10,240 --> 01:18:13,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm a very logical person. I have, you know, 1367 01:18:13,360 --> 01:18:16,120 Speaker 1: my wits about me. But what that you know, our 1368 01:18:16,160 --> 01:18:19,320 Speaker 1: city leaders and our mayors, what do don't you do 1369 01:18:19,360 --> 01:18:22,160 Speaker 1: you not see what happening in front of you? Does 1370 01:18:22,200 --> 01:18:24,400 Speaker 1: it matter who you are, where you've lived in the 1371 01:18:24,439 --> 01:18:27,200 Speaker 1: city limits. Guess what, we're all residents of that city. 1372 01:18:27,800 --> 01:18:29,640 Speaker 1: It may be, so you got to treat each every 1373 01:18:29,680 --> 01:18:32,320 Speaker 1: one of us like we we belong here. And that's 1374 01:18:32,320 --> 01:18:34,120 Speaker 1: because that's what we're here, you know what I mean? 1375 01:18:34,360 --> 01:18:36,719 Speaker 1: You know, I excuse you, I'm sorry, but they champion, 1376 01:18:36,840 --> 01:18:38,680 Speaker 1: But I was I'm not in the house and was 1377 01:18:38,880 --> 01:18:41,960 Speaker 1: in Chinatown. I lived there, I was evicted there. So 1378 01:18:42,320 --> 01:18:44,400 Speaker 1: it was not like I just magically just said, hey, 1379 01:18:44,880 --> 01:18:46,840 Speaker 1: you know what, you know I like paying rent, but 1380 01:18:46,960 --> 01:18:48,559 Speaker 1: you know what they looked like. I got a nice 1381 01:18:48,600 --> 01:18:51,200 Speaker 1: spot out in the park and the freezing because California 1382 01:18:51,280 --> 01:18:54,320 Speaker 1: get cold raining. You know, then you got to deal 1383 01:18:54,360 --> 01:18:57,800 Speaker 1: with the nimbies they running around throwing uh feces at 1384 01:18:57,840 --> 01:19:00,160 Speaker 1: you or setting you off. The capsult well you know 1385 01:19:00,320 --> 01:19:03,360 Speaker 1: like in Venice, they're setting those camps on fire. Why 1386 01:19:03,400 --> 01:19:05,560 Speaker 1: people are in it? And I said, yeah, they have 1387 01:19:05,680 --> 01:19:08,200 Speaker 1: to have the police in there, put them in protection program. 1388 01:19:08,640 --> 01:19:12,360 Speaker 1: So these are realities. That's why I do this podcast, 1389 01:19:12,560 --> 01:19:15,400 Speaker 1: is like, you know what is causing? Why does we 1390 01:19:15,520 --> 01:19:18,320 Speaker 1: have such a disdain for poorer people and vulnerable people? 1391 01:19:18,360 --> 01:19:20,479 Speaker 1: Why do we want to punch down so and it's 1392 01:19:20,560 --> 01:19:22,800 Speaker 1: and it seems like a universal place everywhere I go 1393 01:19:23,000 --> 01:19:27,680 Speaker 1: ocean side, you know, Oakland, it's just like a predilection. 1394 01:19:27,840 --> 01:19:31,320 Speaker 1: We just don't like poor people. You know. I think 1395 01:19:31,360 --> 01:19:35,479 Speaker 1: the thing is is it that a lot of houses 1396 01:19:35,520 --> 01:19:37,760 Speaker 1: as we call them, you know, they don't they don't 1397 01:19:37,840 --> 01:19:40,920 Speaker 1: they don't understanding, they've never been in that situation. One. 1398 01:19:40,960 --> 01:19:42,400 Speaker 1: I think it's a lot of fear that they don't. 1399 01:19:42,439 --> 01:19:44,679 Speaker 1: They don't know what's what, you know. They think everyone 1400 01:19:44,840 --> 01:19:47,280 Speaker 1: is a drug addict. Every one's an alcoholic. Everyone's at whatever, 1401 01:19:47,479 --> 01:19:49,680 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, we're not you know, and if 1402 01:19:49,720 --> 01:19:52,240 Speaker 1: you just sat and talked to your neighbor, you're on 1403 01:19:52,360 --> 01:19:54,840 Speaker 1: house quo, Hey, hey, what's your name? Or you know 1404 01:19:55,120 --> 01:19:59,439 Speaker 1: whatever guarantee you most most most you know us, you know, 1405 01:19:59,720 --> 01:20:01,720 Speaker 1: or going to be sweeping your street and making sure 1406 01:20:01,800 --> 01:20:03,160 Speaker 1: no one's breaking in your car, you know what I mean. 1407 01:20:03,360 --> 01:20:04,920 Speaker 1: So those are the things that they're not thinking about. 1408 01:20:04,920 --> 01:20:06,840 Speaker 1: And they think about that we're all human and we 1409 01:20:06,880 --> 01:20:09,280 Speaker 1: should be treated like that. And so you know, like, 1410 01:20:10,080 --> 01:20:13,439 Speaker 1: let's let our mayors spend one night. Come to spend 1411 01:20:13,640 --> 01:20:15,320 Speaker 1: twenty four hours with me out there. Let me show 1412 01:20:15,360 --> 01:20:17,040 Speaker 1: you what it's like. Come come do this with me, 1413 01:20:17,280 --> 01:20:19,479 Speaker 1: but learn twenty four hours with no cameras or nothing. Mean, 1414 01:20:19,640 --> 01:20:21,519 Speaker 1: let me show you what your officers selling like what 1415 01:20:21,640 --> 01:20:25,000 Speaker 1: they do. Let's let's walk the street, let me show 1416 01:20:25,040 --> 01:20:26,960 Speaker 1: you what's up. Because but they won't do that because 1417 01:20:27,080 --> 01:20:30,439 Speaker 1: that's reality, and that's that would fix you know, they 1418 01:20:30,439 --> 01:20:32,479 Speaker 1: would know what to do, because I think they like 1419 01:20:32,680 --> 01:20:35,120 Speaker 1: not knowing and they're putting that fear into into the 1420 01:20:35,200 --> 01:20:37,479 Speaker 1: rest of the public and saying like, hey, you know what, 1421 01:20:38,520 --> 01:20:41,439 Speaker 1: almless people, it's not something we're not something to be feared. 1422 01:20:41,680 --> 01:20:43,720 Speaker 1: You know, we're people, We're just like you. We're just 1423 01:20:44,120 --> 01:20:46,400 Speaker 1: maybe having all small hiccup in our life. It's just 1424 01:20:46,479 --> 01:20:49,320 Speaker 1: one little beat, you know that's happening. And we and 1425 01:20:49,920 --> 01:20:54,439 Speaker 1: and education and taking away that fear is what our 1426 01:20:54,520 --> 01:20:57,680 Speaker 1: cities need to do and show the humanness and that 1427 01:20:57,800 --> 01:21:00,680 Speaker 1: we are. We all have a heartbeat. I mean, it 1428 01:21:00,800 --> 01:21:03,400 Speaker 1: were no different than anyone else. I agree because one 1429 01:21:03,400 --> 01:21:05,760 Speaker 1: of the things that I see on PEPSI when they 1430 01:21:05,920 --> 01:21:09,639 Speaker 1: use these people in disguises in basketball or these race parts, 1431 01:21:09,640 --> 01:21:11,960 Speaker 1: why don't they use the marriage to put in disguise 1432 01:21:12,280 --> 01:21:14,200 Speaker 1: and let them live out in the street and see 1433 01:21:14,320 --> 01:21:16,680 Speaker 1: how the police treat them, not knowing that they're the 1434 01:21:17,000 --> 01:21:19,960 Speaker 1: city lib leaders. I guarantee you that there would be 1435 01:21:20,040 --> 01:21:23,639 Speaker 1: a different reality that they would not expect. Then when 1436 01:21:23,680 --> 01:21:26,080 Speaker 1: they send up, when they come back getting there full, 1437 01:21:26,439 --> 01:21:28,960 Speaker 1: you know, out of the costume, I guarantee you they 1438 01:21:29,040 --> 01:21:31,400 Speaker 1: have a different recent opinion. And you know what, and 1439 01:21:31,520 --> 01:21:35,160 Speaker 1: I have I have one good uh story on that 1440 01:21:35,439 --> 01:21:38,400 Speaker 1: one the part se years Jane Kim, she ran from 1441 01:21:38,439 --> 01:21:43,200 Speaker 1: Mary Or she's one of our district supervisors. She contacted 1442 01:21:43,240 --> 01:21:48,120 Speaker 1: the coalition and she with Kelly Tuler they they contacted 1443 01:21:48,160 --> 01:21:50,120 Speaker 1: me and we went on a little walk about. I 1444 01:21:50,240 --> 01:21:53,400 Speaker 1: took Jane Kim in the I took her in the 1445 01:21:53,600 --> 01:21:56,200 Speaker 1: in the mix, you know, in the mix like all 1446 01:21:57,080 --> 01:21:59,960 Speaker 1: to see the tempts to see how many females were 1447 01:22:00,080 --> 01:22:02,200 Speaker 1: out here and walk and you know what, I tell 1448 01:22:02,200 --> 01:22:06,160 Speaker 1: you what. She had changed her whole dynamics on things 1449 01:22:06,240 --> 01:22:10,040 Speaker 1: she did just that day. Like she was It was 1450 01:22:10,080 --> 01:22:12,080 Speaker 1: like aha moment. And it was the most amazing thing 1451 01:22:12,120 --> 01:22:14,320 Speaker 1: to see that transpire in front of it because I 1452 01:22:14,360 --> 01:22:15,760 Speaker 1: know what kind of I know what she was like. 1453 01:22:16,000 --> 01:22:18,679 Speaker 1: She was not not like that or anything, but she's wait, 1454 01:22:18,840 --> 01:22:22,560 Speaker 1: I mean she saw things differently, and you know, and 1455 01:22:23,400 --> 01:22:25,880 Speaker 1: like I I love her for that. She's an amazing, 1456 01:22:25,880 --> 01:22:28,000 Speaker 1: amazing person for he just she made so many different 1457 01:22:28,080 --> 01:22:31,400 Speaker 1: changes and and uh, I wish that I could get 1458 01:22:31,439 --> 01:22:33,400 Speaker 1: some more of the supervisors, you know, to do something 1459 01:22:33,400 --> 01:22:35,200 Speaker 1: like or even I put it out there for Lennon 1460 01:22:35,240 --> 01:22:37,360 Speaker 1: Breed come walk with Cooper. Let me let me show 1461 01:22:37,360 --> 01:22:39,680 Speaker 1: you what it's like me because I say, and I 1462 01:22:39,760 --> 01:22:41,080 Speaker 1: say this all the time, you got to touch and 1463 01:22:41,120 --> 01:22:43,080 Speaker 1: taste it to you touch to taste it, feel it 1464 01:22:43,439 --> 01:22:45,280 Speaker 1: to know what the f to do about it. I 1465 01:22:45,320 --> 01:22:48,800 Speaker 1: meant you gotta be you gotta the beat of the street. 1466 01:22:49,080 --> 01:22:50,600 Speaker 1: I mean, it's be of the street. You got to 1467 01:22:50,640 --> 01:22:53,600 Speaker 1: know it. And if you don't, then you don't know 1468 01:22:53,680 --> 01:22:55,439 Speaker 1: what to do about it, you know. And and if 1469 01:22:55,479 --> 01:22:57,360 Speaker 1: you want change stuff looking in the same place, because 1470 01:22:57,360 --> 01:22:58,920 Speaker 1: all they're doing is doing the same thing over overa 1471 01:22:59,160 --> 01:23:01,160 Speaker 1: is not helping anyone. People are suffering, you know what 1472 01:23:01,160 --> 01:23:03,080 Speaker 1: I mean. One of the things that one of the 1473 01:23:03,120 --> 01:23:05,960 Speaker 1: other projects I've dealt with that they're doing and have 1474 01:23:06,120 --> 01:23:10,200 Speaker 1: dealt with, uh, the city a lot is is it's 1475 01:23:11,479 --> 01:23:15,240 Speaker 1: the coalition and Stolen Belongings, uh, Stolen Belonging dot org. Right. 1476 01:23:15,439 --> 01:23:19,240 Speaker 1: We went around and we interviewed the stories of people 1477 01:23:19,479 --> 01:23:23,400 Speaker 1: that lost the things, the dBW, the sweeps, all that stuff, 1478 01:23:23,439 --> 01:23:26,920 Speaker 1: and and and it brings a human side, real stories, 1479 01:23:27,000 --> 01:23:30,080 Speaker 1: real people of what is happening, what are city is doing? 1480 01:23:30,640 --> 01:23:34,439 Speaker 1: And London breeds the nerve to still say my officers 1481 01:23:34,479 --> 01:23:38,400 Speaker 1: don't too sweet, like wait what I mean, We've done 1482 01:23:38,600 --> 01:23:40,439 Speaker 1: video of it, like your officers, you know what I mean. 1483 01:23:40,479 --> 01:23:42,439 Speaker 1: And the things that they're doing in the underhanded ways 1484 01:23:42,439 --> 01:23:46,720 Speaker 1: that they're doing things. We uh, we documented all that 1485 01:23:46,800 --> 01:23:48,920 Speaker 1: stuff and it's it's all right there you know, I mean, 1486 01:23:48,960 --> 01:23:53,120 Speaker 1: and and and it's just but it's it shows just 1487 01:23:53,680 --> 01:23:58,559 Speaker 1: that we're real people and and those stories are really amazing, 1488 01:23:58,640 --> 01:24:01,519 Speaker 1: but also sad. And also they shouldn't be happening, you know. 1489 01:24:01,720 --> 01:24:05,080 Speaker 1: They shouldn't be ripping people's things away from their fingertips 1490 01:24:05,160 --> 01:24:08,000 Speaker 1: and throwing it in the trash, you know, like word trash. 1491 01:24:08,040 --> 01:24:11,600 Speaker 1: We're not and our city leaders and folks need to 1492 01:24:11,800 --> 01:24:14,360 Speaker 1: and especially the people that don't know what it's like 1493 01:24:14,439 --> 01:24:17,479 Speaker 1: to be unhoused, stop for second, thirty seconds and take 1494 01:24:17,479 --> 01:24:19,760 Speaker 1: a look around you you know what I mean, and 1495 01:24:21,400 --> 01:24:25,200 Speaker 1: maybe talk to somebody, maybe come down to the coalition 1496 01:24:25,320 --> 01:24:27,360 Speaker 1: or even find me on the street, find Cooper. I 1497 01:24:27,400 --> 01:24:31,719 Speaker 1: will I'll have a problem walking anyone around showing and educating, 1498 01:24:32,120 --> 01:24:34,680 Speaker 1: you know, the public and being part Let them be 1499 01:24:34,720 --> 01:24:36,240 Speaker 1: a part of the community, because that's what we need. 1500 01:24:36,720 --> 01:24:39,400 Speaker 1: We need neighbors, we need community, and we need you know, 1501 01:24:40,000 --> 01:24:41,800 Speaker 1: each other, because that's how we're going to exist and 1502 01:24:41,840 --> 01:24:45,280 Speaker 1: make it through this stuff, you know, hole, and we 1503 01:24:45,400 --> 01:24:47,840 Speaker 1: need each other, and that's the most important thing I think, 1504 01:24:48,479 --> 01:25:27,880 Speaker 1: you know. This concludes the episode of William Howees, the 1505 01:25:28,000 --> 01:25:31,640 Speaker 1: episode that where we go into San Francisco. We investigated 1506 01:25:31,680 --> 01:25:34,320 Speaker 1: and we've learned a few things. I thank you all 1507 01:25:34,400 --> 01:25:38,040 Speaker 1: for listening and listening to these stories with compassion and understanding. 1508 01:25:38,840 --> 01:25:41,720 Speaker 1: And for those that are complaining about the length of 1509 01:25:42,000 --> 01:25:45,280 Speaker 1: this video, I suggest that Game of Thrones or any 1510 01:25:45,360 --> 01:25:47,880 Speaker 1: other video that you could take the time to look 1511 01:25:47,920 --> 01:25:52,640 Speaker 1: at without complaining and re examine. Maybe it's you, not 1512 01:25:52,800 --> 01:25:55,639 Speaker 1: the length of the video that needs to be a questioned. 1513 01:25:57,320 --> 01:26:00,439 Speaker 1: If you want Mary poppin journalism, you know there's other 1514 01:26:00,560 --> 01:26:03,360 Speaker 1: outlets to be looked at. But if you want to 1515 01:26:03,479 --> 01:26:07,360 Speaker 1: learn about people's experience of being on house, it doesn't 1516 01:26:07,400 --> 01:26:09,600 Speaker 1: take a five minute little SoundBite and then we go 1517 01:26:09,680 --> 01:26:13,240 Speaker 1: into a commercial break to make ones feel good. This 1518 01:26:13,439 --> 01:26:17,120 Speaker 1: is a serious issue and we need people to listen 1519 01:26:17,400 --> 01:26:22,960 Speaker 1: and not hear. I thank you all for listening, and 1520 01:26:23,040 --> 01:26:24,960 Speaker 1: maybe we again meet in the light of understanding.