As we discuss our own personal situation, I want you to consider monies for Hurricane Katrina that have left the State of California and the many victims of wild fires and those who lost their homes as a result and yet are assisted by the State of California versus Skid Row, the lack of concern by our communities regarding mental health, and domestic terrorism, namely street gangs which should be dealt with no less than how we are going after terrorists abroad. I want you to consider how the recent laws of the State of California ironically seeking to further violate injured employees/workers, deprive and thus terrorize the homeless, mentally ill, and the poor, and work to serve the rich and people of special interests. Regardless of whom you are, in spite of your political, religious, sexual, or any other preference, in good conscience, and after truly investigating the actual facts behind this one paragraph alone, can you possibly feel good about yourself as a citizen of the United States of America without taking some sort of action on behalf of those who cannot afford justice and liberty?
Fortunately, after three months of living in a tent (April to July) and four months (July to November) of living in our car, we were brought to Tri-City Mental Health Center with the help of Pastor Michael Steele’s wife, Jen, of The Gathering Place in Pomona, that helped us rent a room at $425 per month per person, a total of $850 that we did not have, but payment was assisted by the Tri-City housing program until we obtained Section 8 Subsidy assistance. In this program, we paid 50% of our income, which is $187 per month. Through their Shelter Plus Program, we were also able to get Section 8 Subsidy assistance in less than three weeks after we did all the paperwork which reduced our rent to as low as $97 per month less utilities allowances which brings our monthly rent down to $36 for where we currently live. Imagine an economy that worked the same way throughout society except where the assistance is not just Housing’s Section 8 subsidy program but also includes grocery, utilities, transportation, employment, the purchase of hygienic products such as toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, and toilet paper so that people do not have to steal it from public restrooms, medical assistance , etc. This proposal implies that this can be a reality, and, in brief, I describe herein how I plan to make this so if I can get the support I need to make it manifest from all arenas of society ― political, social, religious/spiritual, and public/social service/charitable organizations.
Tri-City helped us get out of our car and into a fairly decent house, code violations and all and then into a nice big one bedroom apartment, BUT not just anyone qualifies for Tri-City’s help. I’ll discuss that later. Our goal, however, is to create this availability to all The Oppressed in a manner that pays for itself as outlined below and in a way that is not a strain on the government or any other agency although we shall seek these agencies for their assistance wherever necessary and however possible to keep them afloat. As a matter of fact, one of The Organization’s goals is to hinder the possibility of any of these agencies and centers from going bankrupt or closed down altogether which I understand has happened as the result of the outgoing funds not getting replenished and improper accounting and administrative procedures as well as poor audit trailing systems all of which I used to teach my clientele and their employees.