Why Can't The Disabled Be Homeless?

Posted: 5/4/2008 at 07:15 PM

share this:

I LIKE IT

member(s) liked this post.

Email this to a Friend

Being that my sister asked me to find an alternate means of housing; I came to terms with the fact that I would have to go into a nursing home until I can get back up on my feet (no pun intended). At the same time, I believe that I am following in the steps of the Lord. Therefore, here is a simple summary of how I have tried to hold onto as much of my pride and dignity possible, while surrendering myself to the state of Virginia: Thursday, May 1, was my given date to evacuate the premises and so, this was my mission and focus. Throughout my disability, I have lived with the mind set of a survivalist and so I left here with no intentions whatsoever of returning. I asked for all of the critical medical supplies that I would need to start my new life wherever I ended up at the day's end. I went to Social Services and surrendered all of my freedoms. When I was at the help desk, I was firm and direct about the fact that I was now homeless. However, this left the help desk worker a little puzzled, but she directed me where to go and wait for my name to be called. The system is not setup and designed for homeless citizens with disabilities that require assistance. I started with one worker who specialized with the homeless and she offered to put me up in a hotel, until I reminded her of my personal needs that I require assistance with. Now realizing this, I was sent up stairs to Adult Protective Services. I was adamant with this worker as well that I was homeless. I honestly believe that I was the first quadriplegic ever to present this dilemma to these people. Behind the scenes, this seemed to be a group discussion on what to do with me. All that I am sure of is I was working the system for shelter and they were confused as to how I could be helped. If you do not know how to fight for your rights, dignity, livelihood, etc., than I doubt you understand why I crashed the doors and planned an unexpected assault on these social workers. If I had not gone to such extreme measures, I would only be placed on a long waiting list and every thing that I need help with would be drawn out over a very long, lengthy time. I am not stupid and this is not my first dance. I have played by the rules of the system and time after time my needs went unmet and I have fallen through the cracks only to be forgotten. When it comes to a nursing home, I am not doing this. I refuse to fall through the cracks and I also refuse to my forgotten. I do not want to become a distant memory, nor do I want to suffer the neglect and abuse in a nursing home that you hear about all the time on the news. Due to my extreme measures, the system was being worked and in things was in motion. My worker presented me with several options. She informed that a shelter was not an option for me, because they are not set up to assist people with personal needs. I informed her that this is a case of discriminating against the disabled by not having any accommodations to meet our personal needs. To which she replied, “Shelters are provided and run by private groups or organizations.” I could only respond by saying, “Touché,” because that was check mate! Non-profit groups or organizations are exempted from the A.D.A and Civil Rights laws. Although I was looking for better alternatives, I had already told them I would accept placement in a nursing home, because I knew all of my needs could be met in one of these institutions. The next problem that I was presented was in order to get Long-Term Care placement, I would have to go through a formal screening and see if my needs qualify me for placement in a nursing home. Can you see how this has come full circled? In order to get shelter I need to go into a nursing home, but in order to do so I need to prove this is what I physically need and so on. In order to be screened and receive shelter however, I would have to be placed on a waiting list and this was presently longer than a month. I remind you my situation is need of immediate actions just like everyone else that walks in from off the streets, but my circumstances do not allow me the same prompt and courteous results. However, the worker felt that she and her supervisor could get this screening process expedited and shortened to two weeks based on my situation. She then asked if there was any chance my family would take me back in on a short time bases. I might be down on my luck, but I refused to compromise my character. I was honest in my answer and informed her that my sister told me that if it came down to a shelter, for me to come back here. The worker asked me who should call and make these arrangements. I was not willing to surrender and given in on what I had started, so I refused to make this call. I was not willing to ask my sister for more time or shelter in a place where I already know that I am not wanted. I just knew that I would regret surrendering the information about what my sister said about shelters. However, it was now too late and the worker already knew she had the prerogative to make this call. In addition, I knew as well as this worker, if my sister agreed to my return that this would be letting the state off the hook. This would free them from being responsible for my well being and place it back on my family. At the same time, I had to go speak to a Medicaid worker about my existing medical bills and what would happen to them after my placement. Once I am placed in a home by law I must surrender all of my Social Security check to the state, minus forty dollars that is meant for my living expenses. Regardless of the fact that I have outstanding bills and will be forfeiting my check to the state, I learned that I will still be responsible for my debts and I cannot get any help from the state in paying them. This lead me to the where I am now at the point of laughing uncontrollably. Nothing that I have heard all day long has made a bit of sense and this pushed me over the edge. I told the Medicaid worker that I wished so badly to have a film crew documenting my day’s experiences. I reminded this lady, that Social Services already offered me money for a hotel, but I could not believe that they could not help me with my bills Despite every response or rebuttal I made to what I heard on this day, the workers could only say that they were sorry that I was sorry. They said that I was chosen to continue splitting hairs on every attempt that they were offering through helping me. I am sorry, but was I supposed to be happy knowing that none of my basic needs for shelter was receiving the same help afforded to everyone else. The only thing that separated me from every other homeless person is that I need assistance with my personal needs. Why are the disabled not allowed to be homeless? If only society, the taxpayers, were really aware of how their money is or is not being used. If only they were really aware which group of people or populations needs is being ignored? Time and time again in my twenty four years of being disabled, I have been told by taxpayers that they would rather see proof that their taxes were helping the disabled instead of those who make a living off of welfare. If you place your focus strictly on my attempt to receive shelter on this day, you will conclude that I lost my battle to receive the same benefits as the rest of society. However, I know that this is only because I have physical needs and not based on my efforts. The plain and simple fact is that system is not designed for the well being of the disabled who may become homeless. I believe that Americans are too proud of a people to believe that this is even a possibility in our country. However, this is real and instead of recognizing the fact that even the disabled can face hard times and find themselves homeless, the government would rather place us in institution instead of creating and establishing the means to see that even the disabled homeless can get all of their needs met. This was a very long and draining day for me. I was very unhappy and tired, so I accepted being placed in check mate, my defeat, and surrendered my king. I come from a proud people, yet I recognized that I was defeated. At each point along the way, I showed them my respect and looked the Social workers in the eye and thanked them for their help or lack of it. I then exited the building with my head held up and went outside to reflect on my day, my defeat. However, I returned to my sister’s house only to be verbally abused and insulted. I received even more validation that I am not wanted here and that I really screwed up by mentioning her last words to me after I had her pack my bags. I lost this opportunity to escape all the hatred that I left behind and failed to receive the much needed help that Social Services provides to able bodied people on a daily basis.

99 Views

share this:

Comments

Your comment may take up to 15 minutes to appear.

Name

Your e-mail

Body

Some HTML is allowed in the comments. See the list.

What is this code for?

Code

Submit Your Comment

bonniethesurvivor wrote on May 4, 2008 at 6:34 PM
- view profile
- send private message
This Kafka situation is not unusual, and is so totally ridiculous! I am sorry you experienced these humiliations, and that somehow things work out well for you in the future.

At one time, I had a ministry in Liberty City in Miami for disabled homeless individuals, funded by the Episcopal Diocese. We were able to help many people who were actually living out of doors because they refused to live in nursing homes. Unfortunately, a new Bishop was appointed, and he transferred funds to South America, defunding the ministries that were local, and particularly those for disability.

We had previously found low cost apartments and matched room mates, helped people find employment or work to make SS and SSI pay for their needs, and qualify if they were not receiving SS etc.

Unfortunately, due to the cultural issues of the city, this ministry was not deemed to be as important as helping those in Latin America. We had also worked with the local CILO, but the ministry no longer exists.

I wish more church based groups would see their outreach as something that could go beyond food kitchens one day a week, etc., and address fundamental life issues of some of the neediest people in our country.

- Username:
- Password:
- Remember Me
I forgot my password Sign in »

Why Can't The Disabled Be Homeless?

Comments

See what's hot in the Disaboom Community.