Christmas Night at Logan

Spending Christmas night at Logan and I am not alone.
Seriously the system STINKS

Merry Christmas

I hope everybody reading this is having a nice holiday.

For me today the worst thing about today is that almost nothing is open. I am at a Starbucks in Cambridge just trying to forget what day it is.

Tomorrow I can at least try to re-apply for a 14 night bed in Cambridge...today I just have to wait until 9:30 PM to see if I can get a one night bed. Last night I spent at a hostel using $40 I really don't have but I just wanted to be somewhere for Christmas Eve.

The Globe today has this story that hits home..

Festivities, loneliness take hold in shelters

I don't think I have ever been more depressed than I am right now.

Please pray for me....

Boston CLAIMS homeless numbers are down in 2010

3 days before Christmas

I look at amazement at the Boston Metro today (December 22) with a front page story saying the number of homeless living on the streets is down.

What the census conducted on December 6th found was

» 2%: Decrease in the number of individuals using Boston emergency shelters over the past year.
» 725: Number of chronically homeless people in Boston in fiscal year 2010, down from 962 in fiscal year 2005.
» 2,747: The number of homeless individuals in Boston, down from 3,944 five years ago.
» 26%: Boston’s street count reportedly found its lowest number of homeless people in 13 years, with the amount of homeless people filling ER beds and hospital beds down by about 26 percent.

Could have fooled me. Every shelter in the city is full and workers have said to me they have never seen it so bad. More likely what has happened is more have gone to Cambridge or Logan at night.

Update on my situation - I spent Sunday night at Logan but was able to secure an emergency bed in Cambridge the last two nights. Still every night until at least Sunday when I can re-apply for a 14 night bed is filled with uncertainty. I am hoping I can put together $34.99 so I can spend at least Christmas Eve at a Boston hostel.

I would like to thank Rachel who kindly sent me $25 2 days ago as it helps more than you know.

If anyone else is so inclined they can do so at the link below.



Mentally I am better than I was over the weekend but still down.

2011 will be better - it just has to be.

Happy Holidays!!!!!

DECEMBER 20th - A little good news....but otherwise very dark

My blogging last week at least helped me obtain a new pair of eyeglasses.

LensCrafters at the CambridgeSide Galleria has a 'Gift of Sight' program and with a referral from the Harvard Sq Homeless Shelter I can now see again. I am very thankful.

However - Sunday morning was my last day for my 2-week bed in the shelter cycle which means I have to wait for one week (December 26th) to reapply for another 2 week bed. The idea of having nowhere to sleep on both Christmas Eve and Christmas itself is weighing on me.

The constant Christmas music is driving me nuts as all it does is remind me of happier times in my life that are now just a memory. I am doing EVERYTHING I can to avoid picking up a drink because one would lead to 10,000 I am afraid.

Alcohol does have the illusion of making a person forget and I wish there was a medical pill that could do the same thing.

Last week I wrote a blog piece -

Praying for a Christmas Miracle..

I still have enough for basic expenses to get me through the rest of the month ( I have about $130 ) but I am facing many nights of uncertainty on where I will sleep. I called all the long term shelters again today and there is nothing, I even tried the Salvation Army and they are full. I don't want to return to a Boston shelter as the last time all my clothes were stolen. So since I can not afford to spent $30-35 at the hostel in the Back Bay, I either get one of the emergency beds in Cambridge at 9:30, or sleep Logan Airport. ( which of course plays Christmas music all night long over the PA).

Hanging at Starbucks in the Garage at Harvard Sq until 9:30 PM is really hard, and in the Garage are the others trying to get a bed at the shelter. It is VERY DEPRESSING.

I also need somehow to get a Massachusetts ID which I blogged about last week...I can't get anywhere without one.

I am really afraid I might crack which is why I am writing this. If nothing else, please say a prayer for me. 

If anyone wishes to help me out during the Holidays - PayPal is tied into my Bank of America account.



I moved to Blogspot a month ago as I was told that perhaps having ads from Google and Amazon would help out a little - Amazon has generated a whopping total of SIX CENTS - and Google about $12 but they won't pay until they owe me $100


Anyhow, thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!!!!

2 stories that will make you smile

Here are a couple of nice stories for the Holiday Season.

In Boston, a homeless vet finds a wallet and even though he is broke himself turned the wallet into the Boston Police who found the owner.

Down in Tampa Bay, the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays goes the extra mile to help the homeless.

Happy Holidays

Praying for a Christmas Miracle..

                                                                Happy Holidays to all

It was back in August that I first started blogging....it has been good therapy for me.

Sadly very little has changed since my first post then..

My world has fallen apart.... I need help

I spend as much time as I can just going from social agency to agency trying to secure something as simple as a room. The stark reality is that agencies in Massachusetts are overwhelmed. However I still continue to fight.

Here are the issues I need help with right now....

EYEGLASSES - On Thanksgiving Morning I awoke at a shelter in Cambridge to find that someone had stolen my glasses. I had just gotten the glasses the day before from Somerville Hospital as my Massachusetts Medicaid allows one pair of glasses every 12 months. The shelter staff quickly figured out who had taken them as they saw him with them but when he was confronted he threw them to the floor and stepped on them. :( - He is now barred from the shelter and they have since heard he is back in a hospital for mental issues but that doesn't help me. I have the prescription but I simply don't have the money to get another pair. They are bifocals and it seems like most places want $100 which I just don't have. I have been told by social workers that some major chains have programs to help the needy but nobody seems to know who. It is just frustrating.

STATE ID -  This is driving me nuts. I currently have a valid out of state drivers license but for certain housing programs I need either a Massachusetts ID or license. However the registry will not convert my out of state license to a Massachusetts one because the City of Cambridge has me for unpaid parking tickets dating back 20 years from when I drove a cab. I explain in detail that situation in the link above. On top of that they will not issue me a state ID because of a mistake that was made several years ago with the Somerville Court computer system.Back in August of 2004 I paid a fine on a simple matter and somehow it was never credited to my docket number. 30 days later the court issued a warrant automatically. I was oblivious to this until March of 2008 when I returned to the court, the warrant was removed and fee was waived by the judge. However because the court had notified the Registry of Motor Vehicles of a warrant, the Registry wants $100 which again I don't have. The Registry people were actually very nice about it but they say there is nothing they can do unless the court WRITES a letter saying there was an error. Somerville Court says it is a Registry problem. Aye yi yi.

I can fully document all of this to anyone who wants to see my paperwork.

As far as what I owe the City of Cambridge - the bulk of it is now interest - I am willing to work as many hours of community service to pay my debt. I am not looking for a free ride.

Right now my income is $788 a month from Social Security (which also gives me full medical coverage)
Now I am sure you might say - well "suck it up" and pay the money to the court and buy eyeglasses. Fair enough question.

But this is the way my life is right now. I am in a shelter for 2 weeks at a time and then must wait a week for apply for another 14 days. You can try for a one night bed at 9:30 in the evening but there is no guarantee and the competition is huge for the available slots. There are simply not enough beds and the people living in the long term shelters are not moving because it is cold and nothing else is opening up.

On nights that I can not secure a bed I am either forced to sleep at Logan Airport (which has a growing homeless population overnight) or try to get a cheap room at a hostel. The hostel charges anywhere from $31-$41 a night and it adds up quickly. Then there are the small day to day expenses like T fare, a cup of coffee and what little I have erodes quickly. To compound things even further, I am buying clothing at Goodwill to replace belongings that were stolen from me when I stayed one night at Pine Street.

My budget is very, very tight. Right now on December 11th I have roughly $240 to last me until January 1st but I am facing the week out plus starting on December 18th.....

So that is where I am at.

I do thank you for reading, and for any prayers that you may send my way.

I have gotten a few dollars from some very nice people over the past few months via PayPal and it has helped. If you are so inclined I would be humbly grateful.



But as much as a few dollars would help, I just need help with the system. If you know anyway I can get eyeglasses please let me know and also for some legal guru to help me with this minor snafu between the Registry and the Somerville Court.

BTW Somerville Court is a ROYAL pain because of a rule they have at the courthouse dating back to 2000.
Cellphones are FORBIDDEN in the building. I am not taking about making sure your phone is turned off and not using it inside, you can not bring one in the building PERIOD. The court officers say "Just leave it in your car." but if you are traveling there by bus you are forced to hide the phone somewhere around the building.

Only in Massachusetts.

I wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season.

(BTW if you shop on Amazon.com...clicking on any of these links will allow you to browse their site and should you purchase anything I would get a small commision)

When it rains it pours......I need eyeglasses

I simply can not believe how bad my luck is right now....

Since November 15th (when it opened) I have been spending most evenings at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter which is totally run by Harvard students.

The shelter works this way as their website indicates

Two Week Beds: We are now lotterying all 14-night beds. Callers may call in between 7:30am and 8:00am to put their name in the lottery at which point the caller will receive a lottery number. The lottery will be run between 8:00am and 8:05am. People may call back between 8:05am and 8:30am as well as between 7pm and 9pm to find out if their lottery number was picked. Lottery numbers that have been selected (but not names) will also be posted on the shelter door during the day.

One Night Bed: When a guest with a reserved two week bed is not able to make it to the shelter that night, their bed is open for others to use as an emergency one night bed. Call in the evening at 9:30PM for a one-night bed.

So when the shelter opened I was able to get a bed for 8 days ( as when they open they do not give out all 14 night beds ) and then on several nights have been able to get a 'one night bed'.

If I don't get a one-night bed, it is off to the airport for a very uncomfortable sleep.

So that is good, but going to the shelter cost me dearly in another way.

Just 2 weeks ago I got a new set of bifocals as my old frame was broken. My insurance allows one set of eyeglasses a year. I put the eyeglasses inside my shoes when I went to sleep and someone stole them. Now on top of everything else I am can't see except to read.

If anyone has any suggestions on where I can go to get an inexpensive pair of glasses I would be very grateful.

Thanks

A sad story in Chicago

I can't really blame people for being leery of homeless people when I read a story like this..

Horrible

http://bit.ly/ebPQBC

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving

In the Boston area Tavern In The Square is serving free Thanksgiving Dinner starting at 11:30 AM to anyone at their locations in Central Sq Cambridge, Allston and Salem.

www.taverninthesquare.com

This has not been a good year for me but I do believe things will get better.

I guess I fit into this

Reading the print edition of Spare Change (a Boston street paper sold by vendors who are homeless) had an interesting article on how homeless people across the world have started to use social media to tell their stories.

Obviously I fit into this but it reaffirms that behind EVERY homeless person there is a story.

http://bit.ly/hJyfro

Years ago I used to date the manager of the long forgotten Mug & Muffin in Harvard Square.

It was around 1980 and she befriended a homeless man named Charlie. He was well known in Harvard Square as a hopeless but harmless drunk. Well in getting to know him she discovered that he worked for many years as a photographer around Lowell and he had served in Korea. He was candid and said he just gave up when his wife one day left for another man.

She helped him get in touch with the VA and it turned out he was eligible for benefits because of a wartime injury and he would get a retroactive check.

He promised he would sober up when he got the money but sadly he didn't make it.

The Red Line extension was being built and the old Out of Town News was actually placed on rollers so it could be moved when a new hole was dug. Charlie got confused one night and we think he was just using Out of Town as a landmark when he fell into a shaft and was killed.

But I never forgot that he did have a life before booze took control.

Please keep that in mind when you see a homeless person.

Thanks for reading....
Sent on from my BlackBerry® so typos are because of tiny keys

Coffee and Boredom

A Tuesday night in Cambridge nursing a coffee at the 1369...

Just a long day filling out more forms at Housing Authorities and other agencies.

What is getting scary is the system is at a logjam - people in transitional shelters are not leaving as nothing is opening up.

I actually had one place say it might be 5 year. FIVE YEARS??? I am 60 years old.....

All I want is a room so I can lie down, read, watch TV and just have some degree of having a normal life.

I can't give up but I am really tired...

Just want to thank 3 kind people

I want to thank Anne, Shauna and Stefan for their kind contribution...it allows me to get a room for a couple of nights at a Boston Hostel ( They charge $25 a night )

At least I will have clean clothes and be washed when I go to the Thanksgiving meal I mentioned last week.

Thank You again

Blog has new address

Hi all

It was suggested to me that I might be able to generate a little income if I moved the blog from Word Press to Blogger.

Word Press does not allow advertising but Blogger does.....

Any of you reading who use Amazon.com I would appreciate if you would go to their site via ads from my blog because then if you purchase anything, Amazon send me a small commission.

The Google ads I am sure everybody is familiar with.

I believe I was able to transfer the blog completely.

Thanks for reading.

Governor Patrick served me dinner today

The Boston Rescue Mission on Kingston St near Downtown Crossing served Thanksgiving Dinner this afternoon and it was amusing to see the Governor smiling before the TV cameras.

Governor helps feed homeless

As one worker said to me "Beacon Hill shows up for Thanksgiving and Christmas and then tries to starve these folks the other 363 days a year."

Is there any escape from this????

It sounds funny - but you wonder

OK on the surface I can see how somebody could laugh...

Homeless man wakes up in ATM on fire

But there is a possible dark side to this story given the time it happened - 2 AM

The bars are letting out and sadly some people think it is a hoot to spit, kick or just harass people who are sleeping at The Coop or other Square locations.

Sadly the possibility exists that this person was set on fire as a joke. Most likely the homeless man sat himself on fire but you just don't know anymore.

Thank You TAVERN IN THE SQUARE

I was just made aware by a 'tweet' that a Boston area chain will be serving a FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER for ANYONE who needs it at 3 locations.

TAVERN IN THE SQUARE will offer the dinners at their locations in Central Sq Cambridge, Salem and a new location in Allston (formerly The Kells)

THANKGIVING DINNER INFORMATION

While this has been a horrible year for me I will still count my blessings that I am alive and my health problems are improving.

Now if I could just find a secure place to sleep.....

Stuck in limbo

I haven't been able to blog the past few weeks as I lost my phone and only today got the insurance replacement in the mail.

I am frankly a mess.

I have not been able to find a secure place to live and have spent almost every night for the past month at Terminal E at Logan Airport. I am not alone.

I have somehow gotten used to sleeping upright and nobody bothers me and I feel safe. The State Police know we are there but as long as we behave and do not bother the passengers they let us be.

I spend my days looking and looking for something, anything. The Hostel in the Back Bay is almost always full and the Prescott Hotel in Everett just closed overnight which leaves even less options.

Frankly I am scared.

Logan Hotel

Too wet and cold Friday night so I am at the Hotel Logan   

What do you do when you meet a homeless person?

A friend send me an article that appeared in the freebie Chicago subway paper RED EYE on Tuesday. It asks the readers a simple question....

When faced with a homeless person, what do you do?

Boston is certainly no different....here the homeless seem to linger in Harvard Square, North Station, Park Street and Copley.

Certainly some homeless actually enjoy not having a care in the world and just hold out a cup so they can buy their next drink, but believe me they are in the minority. So many others (myself included) have seen their world erode to the point that we are living on the streets.

I hear some people snicker that the homeless are a bunch of lazy bums - well how about the ones that spend all day going through trash cans looking for cans and bottles (at 5 cents each) to get a little spending money - that isn't being lazy

I just ask that you look at every homeless person you encounter differently. No two stories are the same ( but some are similar ). Yes sometimes we don't smell very good but shower options are few and far between.

Thanks for reading

To contact me or to arrange a meeting

I would be willing to meet with anyone who wishes to meet with me and to see that what I have been saying is true - I certainly understand that people could think this was a scam. Believe me it is not.

Voicemail (857) 244-0950
E-Mail tryingtostaystrong@gmail.com

I am a private person by nature and the main reason I do not use my name on the blog is I don't want a google history coming back to haunt me later in life.

Thanks

Update: September 16th

Very little has changed with me....

Right now I spend one night in a hostel to get a good night sleep and then spend 2 nights outside. The hostel in Boston costs 35 a night and there is one in Everett that costs 25 but that one is only on a bus line.

I have housing applications in everywhere but it is going to take time.

The City of Cambridge wants close to $1400 for unpaid parking tickets going back to the 80's when I was a cab driver. Back then cabs were used to deliver packages and we were told that Yellow Cab would pay most of them but when Yellow was sold to Brattle Cab the new owner decided to stick it to the drivers. Only now has the Registry been notified. I will never be able to pay those off with my monthy disability check.

I am having trouble getting around because of my leg....I should be resting it but can not.

I can use prayers.

Also if anyone knows a good lawyer that can help me with my parking ticket problems PLEASE E-MAIL ME

Thanks

Out of hospital...again

Haven't been able to update as I was in MetroWest Hospital again for 10 days with another infection. Currently in shelter in Marlboro.

Much more tomorrow

The Harvard Coop Hotel

It is no fun sleeping in the entrance of the Harvard Coop overnight but it does offer some shelter and safety in numbers. I am told there was a woman who slept there for 20 years 365 nights but has vanished and people fear she has died.

Last night I was chatting with another resident of the Coop hotel who is a Harvard grad but lost her job 2 years ago and lost her condo 2 months ago. She says she just can't tell her parents she has 'failed'. She told me that women's shelter beds are VERY scarce and in Cambridge there is a daily lottery for a woman's shelter in Somerville. If she loses she stays at the Coop Hotel.

It is frightening to see how many people are living on the streets of Cambridge.

This is just a nightmare and whatt is frustrating is actually having been told more than once just get drunk and you can get a bed at 240 Albany St.

The nightmare continues....

Just waiting for Square to quiet down

Out of the hospital, feeling OK

Now it is myself and a few others just hanging at Dunkin Donuts waiting for Harvard Sq to quiet down and grab a few hours sleep.

None of us are drunk or on drugs - just having a very hard time.

Good News - Bad News

Good news is I am discharged from MetroWest sometime later today - Bad news is I am back on the streets :(

Right now I am hoping the hospital will spring for train fare back to Boston as I am dead broke - and will be until September 3rd. This is all because of the overdrafts in late July at Bank of America. Right now I have....

Account: PERSONAL CHECKING/SAVINGS ACCOUNT ending in XXXX
Date: 08/26/2010
Available balance: $3.04

This is your Available Balance after processing was completed
on 08/26/2010

I do not relish the idea of sleeping outside in Harvard Sq tonight but I have very little choice. I am still waiting on possible housing in Framingham.

The journey continues......


But at least the sun has appeared :)

Been a looooooooong week

Hi everyone

I haven't really had the chance to blog the past 10 days as I wound up being admitted as an inpatient at MetroWest Hospital in Natick. My left ankle became infected and I had to be put on IV for antibiotics. I was transferred from Mt Auburn in Cambridge to Natick because of bed availability and my phone and other personal property stayed in Cambridge until yesterday when they were shipped out by courier.

I will be discharged tomorrow and go right back to square one. I currently have less than ten dollars in my checking account and of course if I go below zero I will be hit by $35 overdraft fees again (which is how I got so fouled up in August).

I am quickly learning that being honest with the housing authorities is hurting me. I could have told Cambridge I was living at 240 Albany St which is the drunk shelter near MIT but since I am not a drunk I won't use that option. Instead I said my last address was in Brookline and so Cambridge does not consider me an emergency. Brookline has no quick options for suddenly homeless people.

I am also in need of legal advice to see what options I have with Cambridge concerning those unpaid parking tickets from 1989. I am just overwhelmed.

Thanks for reading

MetroWest Hospital Natick

Friday the 13th

I wanted to get so much done yesterday afternoon and wound up doing next to nothing.

Around 1 PM I suddenly became so tired I just had to sleep and it seems like these 2 or 3 hours of sleep days are catching up to me.

I am getting nowhere with Bank of America and I am really scared on how I will make it to September 3rd when my next check is direct deposited. I even offered a compromise that I would accept the fees but could they simply take $100 a month out of my account until it was paid. They said no.
Last night I watched the Red Sox blow a lead in Harvard Square where Cardulo's has a TV with sound in their front window and then went to my hideaway.

At 2 AM I was awoken by a young drunk woman in a blue mini-dress who was so excited to see a real homeless person. She gushed "We don't have any homeless in Dover." and then she gave me a dollar.

The journey continues.....

boredom on a Thursday night

Today was a 'nothing' day.

I was simply too exhausted to do anything. I was able to get to the meals for lunch and supper and just listened to the Red Sox game. UGH

Now I wait in Harvard Sq for my hideaway to been available which won't be until after Midnight.

But I am meeting others who are on the streets and learning how screwed up the system is.

The only place in Cambridge with beds open is CASPAR at 240 Albany Street but you have to be intoxicated to get in. I can't and won't do that.

CASPAR

The other Cambridge shelters are full and you have to call in the morning but they are overwhelmed. The harsh reality is many have seen unemployment run out.

I have been chatting with a woman who is near 50. She is currently sleeping at the front of the Harvard Coop. She is a lawyer and has found NOTHING in 2 years. She is over qualified and she said that since high school she had never gone more than seven days without a job.

The stereotype is homeless people are druggies, alcoholic or mentally ill. Well in Cambridge they can get beds. The people I am meeting are like me, no family to bail them out and just having a bad time. For some younger folk, being 'homeless' is a fun way to spend the summer and I have seen their campground near the Weeks Bridge.

Friday I will hit the deck at dawn. I know there is a way out.

I hope.

A long day dealing with everything

I am exhausted.

Started day with breakfast at the senior center in Central Square, Cambridge and then putting in applications for emergency/senior/disabled housing in Cambridge, Brookline and Newton. These agencies are simply overwhelmed and while Cambridge and Newton have some options they go to residents first while Brookline where my last residence was doesn't have much at all. The big headache is to get emergency housing in Cambridge or Newton I need an address in that city. Both cities offer rooms at the local YMCA which would be fine and affordable. Brookline just has nothing, not even a shelter.

Ummm IF I had an address I wouldn't be in this situation. Talk about a Catch-22.

I have been told to avoid Boston as I could wind up somewhere that isn't safe.

I was contacted by someone at Somerville Homeless and I will stop by tomorrow. I have precious little cash and I am trying to take full advantage of the Charlie Card transfer system.

Bank of America just won't budge so I made another stop in Newton at Barney Frank's office to show my bank statement that shows all the overdraft fees were caused by a deposit I made that bounced (see a previous post). Not having that $455 is crippling me right now. The person there was understanding and forward it to Washington and also told me that Barney wants this overdraft madness to stop. A court in California just yesterday slammed Wells Fargo.

Wells Fargo loses debit card case

Then I had to rush back to Cambridge for the senior meal at Cambridge Hospital. I am simply physically and mentally exhausted. I am only getting about 3 hours of sleep and my body is not happy. At least Sprint says I can pay on September 3rd when I get my next check but I have NO CLUE on how I can survive for 3 weeks with nothing.

One old homeless guy in Harvard Sq says I should go to the hospital and say I am going to kill myself and that would buy me a week or more. I just can't and won't play that game.


There is a dry shelter in MARLBORO but then I would be stranded out there. The MetroWest Transit System is barebones and getting to Boston is a 10 round trip by either bus or commuter rail. Other shelters in Waltham and Cambridge are full. Pine Street I am told has a daily lottery and if you don't get in there you are bused to a place on an island off Quincy.

I just want to sleep but my 'hiding place' in Harvard Sq is not an option until after 1 AM.

The nightmare continues

More 'good' news

On top of everything else according to the Boston Globe on Tuesday affordable apartments are becoming more and more scarce.

Rentals harder to find, afford

I am completely overwhelmed now and not alone.

Another day begins

6 AM in Harvard Sq

My body was more tired than I thought on Monday. To beat the heat I knew of a courtyard behind the old DR at 44 Brattle St which never gets hot and I wound up sleeping for 13 hours.

I have meetings at Cambridge Housing Today and Somerville Hospital. I am doing everything on foot as I can't afford T fare.

Glad to see the Red Sox won in NY, they are still alive and so am I.

At least I won't starve to death

Still getting nowhere with Bank of America. I have to be frank - that $455 is the reason I have no roof over my head right now. I slept outside in Harvard Sq last night and was far from alone.



Only one shelter in Cambridge had a bed Sunday night but you have to be DRUNK to get in. I am dead serious, CASPAR at 240 Albany St. That is just wrong on so many levels.


However I did find out that since I am now over 60 I qualify for senior meals which I can use my food stamp card to pay (I get a whopping $80 in stamps)

http://www.eldercare.org/Services/Nutrition_Community_Cafes.shtm

I want to thank the 2 persons who each sent me $5 via the PayPal link in my first posting. It is a huge help.


I am told all one has to do is go to PayPal.com and enter my email address.

tryingtostaystrong@gmail.com

Link to PayPal

Honestly I can't even do subway fare anymore.


If nothing else please say a prayer for me as I have to believe there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

Today my biggest concern is trying to find a place to shower.

Gee Thanks Bank Of America

Sunday morning and I am nursing a coffee at Starbucks and reading a Globe that somebody tossed.

I am down to less than 20 bucks for the month thanks to the insane overdraft fees that BoA hit me with.

So this morning they sent me this cheery email

You've already taken the first step to help stay in control of your money by linking your accounts with Overdraft Protection. But, starting on August 12, 2010, if you don't have enough money in your checking or Overdraft Protection account, your everyday debit card purchases or ATM transactions will be declined.

To help avoid being declined:

* Remember to keep a cushion in your linked account used for Overdraft Protection.

* Use balance management tools like Mobile Banking or Text Banking to check your available balance before you make a purchase. See all of the tools available to you and how they can help keep overdrafts under control.

Check with your wireless carrier as fees may apply. Mobile Banking available to Online Banking enrollees only. Must have Transfers and Bill Pay set up previously in Online Banking to use these functions in Mobile Banking.

This is a service email from Bank of America. Please note that you may receive service email in accordance with your Bank of America service agreements, whether or not you elect to receive promotional email.

As I said in my first blog posting, this bank nailed me for $455 in OD fees all because somebody bounced a check on me!!!!

They kept authorizing the card even though I had a negative balance and a 53 cent refill at Starbucks became $35.53. 12 of these charges plus another $35 for being overdrawn has wiped me out.

This Bank sends me emails when I get a direct deposit, my account goes under $100 but they couldn't tell me my deposit bounced????

I don't get another disability check until September 3rd???

You would think the bank could rebate some of the $455 given it was a third party deposit that caused this - but nooooooooo.

What else can happen????

Boredom

Just frustrated with Bank of America as while the branch manager was understanding the computer program they use is not. He was candid that the bank looks at overdraft charges as a major profit item. I plan to switch my direct deposit to TD Bank which offers free checking to seniors.

Only good news is Sprint will not shut off my phone as I have been a good customer.

Staying with a friend in Somerville tonight

Praying for a miracle

My world has fallen apart.... I need help

I am learning the hard way just how cruel life can become as one gets older.

I turned 60 earlier this year and honestly I can't believe I am now that old. The last 10 years have not been great to me as I have battled some health problems and now live on a small (around $800 a month) disability payment. 800 dollars doesn;t go very far in Boston but I was getting by but the last few weeks have been a nightmare.

I started having health problems around 8 years ago and was forced to go onto disability - NOT because I was looking at 'free' money - but because I needed the health insurance that came with it. I really had no choice but to go in that direction. I was lucky enough to find a small studio apartment in a private house and the landlord was taking only 30% of my check. I was able to get buy but I needed to be watchful of my spending as EVERY penny counted. Life wasn't great but I was surviving. Then everything fell apart in February of this year.

I need help....

I had been living in a nice home in Brookline. The owner was someone I had met at a local Starbucks and he had a small apartment on the second floor and he only was charging me 30% of my check. It was small but nice.

Suddenly he died of a heart attack on February 28th and his daughter decided she was going to sell the house and I had to vacate which finally happened on July 1st.

Since then I have been staying with a friend or for a few nights at a shelter in Jamiaca Plain at the Shattuck Hospital. That is not a nice place because of the drinkers and drug users. i will also admit I have slept outside a few nights. It isn't fun at my age. I have been searching and seaching for a place but there is little out there I can afford right now. I have my name on a zillion lists and I hope and pray. However a couple a weeks ago disaster happened.

I had done some work for someone I had met at a Starbucks and he paid me $150 by check.

 IT BOUNCED and the person seems to have left the area.

But because the check bounced I was suddenly overdrawn with Bank of America and simple purchases like a coffee were suddenly being hit with a $35 fee on each transaction. I was unaware of this as the card kept being approved until suddenly I was $667 overdrawn. Bank of America refused to rebate any of the fees and when my August check arrived on the 3rd of the month I was left with $118 to last the month. None of my friends can help as they are just getting by and I have no family.

Meanwhile I am searching for ANY kind of housing and my best option is perhaps a sober house in Framingham come September or October. I have to admit I am overwhelmed at this point.

I will be honest my life has been a struggle. 

I will be upfront - I suffer from depression and PTSD. The main source of my problems stems from being abused by a Catholic priest back in the mid 60's after the sudden death of my father. He took a special interest in me.

 It was something that I suppressed for decades and it was not until a decade ago I finally had to come to grips with it. I have yet to receive a settlement as this happened in the state of Rhode Island where I attended a Catholic prep school and honestly I doubt I will ever see much from the Diocese of Providence as unlike Boston to the north, there IS no money in Rhode Island. I would like them to say "we are sorry" but they seem incapable of doing that.

I became a loner in my 20's and while not as bad as Travis Bickle I did become a cab driver and drove for Boston Cab in the Fenway for many years. No regrets but I just finally burnt out from the job and when Boston Coach took away all the downtown work I moved on.

I have been sober now for over 9 years and i would NEVER want to go back there. We are taught in 12-Step that everything happens for a reason but I can't take anymore.

I am on a fixed income and it is only $800 a month. My taxi driving days came back to haunt me as I paid little in taxes and thus my government check is small.

A couple of years ago when i went to renew my drivers license I found out I owed the $1,440 in unpaid parking tickets dating back to 1988-9. These were all taxi related as I didn't own a car and I was told the cab owner had PAID them but he did not as I as the driver was responsible. I can not get my licencse back until they are paid, and there is simply no way I can do it. It is my own fault.

So..somebody suggested I just blog about it and ask for help. I have an old PayPal account that I used on Ebay and another friend suggested I put that PayPal link on the blog if somebody out there wanted to help me a little.



I know this is a 21st Century Way of panhandling which NEVER in a million years did I ever expect to do but I am at wits end. I would work if I could but who is going to hire a 60 year old with bad legs.

One last thing. An old friend from AA wants me to relocate to the south and live with her. She is just getting by as well but she moved back as she simply couldn't afford Boston anymore. leaving Boston is now my goal but somehow I have to survive August with no money.

I am embarrased to be doing this but I am at the end of my rope. I am not a thief though I can now understand why a man could be driven to that.

If anybody has doubts they can e-mail me and i would be happy to meet and show my bank statements. I just can't believe Bank of America could do that to me and then refuse to rebate any of the fees. I have been with them since it was BayBank. It is just very frustrating.

Thank You for reading.