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Showing posts from July, 2011

Homelessness Part 7

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Well I got a bicycle. Unfortunately the company I was hoping to work for is too slow. My old boss was very nice and semi-remembered me (Think Mr. Burns and Homer Simpson) Since the Triage Low Demand Shelter is only a 30 day program and I have not gotten a job, I have to leave soon and my choices are the Ft. Myers Rescue mission or St. Matthew's House in Naples Florida. I have chosen St. Matthew's House . I am currently no. 26 on their waiting list.  There are simply no resources for the poor and homeless. We are unseen and out of sight, out of mind. Invisible . Just something to think about as the unemployment rate continues to rise above 10% in Florida and the republicans won't budge on raising taxes. We spend and spend on 2 wars no one will talk about, while killing NASA by ending the Space shuttle program with no new mission other than deep space on the books. We spend more on the troops Air conditioning than the entire NASA budget . Our  priorities suck.

Homelessness Part 6

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At this point in my attempt to climb out the hole that is homelessness, I have given up any attempt to follow my career path of Technical Support or Customer Service.   The tenet of real estate holds true: Location, location, location.   I must have a job within the range of   foot or bicycle travel. A dear friend has acquired a used mountain bike for me. I have contacted an old boss of mine and coerced him into re-hiring me on a trial basis. I am going back into the cabinetry business simply because it is within range of the homeless shelter and downtown Fort Myers. It will be good to work with tangible things like wood (melamine particle board actually) instead of abstracts like call volume and call times. Although virtually all of the cabinet shops I had worked for in the past have gone the way of the dodo, due to the housing crash, this one shop has weathered   the economic ups and downs of the last 10 years.   I am 50 years old and out of shape, doing physical labor all day will

Homelessness Part 5

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I am once again at the Triage Low Demand Shelter. The struggle to overcome such adversity is overwhelming. I am having health problems but cannot get medical attention. I cannot get Medicaid unless I am disabled. I seem to have a nerve disorder that causes me to shake and not always have control of my arms. I have had a few job offers but the issue is there is no way to get to their location by bus. I no longer have a bicycle. I am penniless. I have 21 days to figure something out or I will be at the Fort Myers Rescue Mission. This situation sucks, but I am very grateful to the Salvation Army for providing me food and shelter albeit temporarily.   I may qualify for another program but it is again only a 30 day program. This would be so much easier if only I was an addict or an alcoholic.... Then I could get into a halfway house and get back on my feet.   Posting will be rare as I only have public access to PC’s and must spend most of time applying for jobs I have no way to get to...