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)
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