Mission Statement:
-To increase the accuracy of the public’s perception of
homelessness
Contributors are designated by number only for the day on
which what we have to say is published; the numbers aren’t permanent
identifiers.
Homeless shelters aren’t named, also to protect the
identities of contributors, who have every reason to fear retaliation from the
shelters which are supposed to help us.
March 23, 2019
Homeless Human 1:
We
should be able to have the same beds from Friday night to Monday morning. Then the shelter wouldn’t have to worry about
washing the sheets for the weekend unless they were extremely dirty, we could
use the lockers upstairs and get a break from carrying our things around all
day, and we could also get a break from having to be at the shelter for hours
in the afternoon for the bed distribution.
_____________
Homeless Human 2:
Hi. I am a homeless woman, living
in a shelter in Boston. I have been ill
twice with pneumonia during my time at the shelter, and I have also developed
acute pancreatitis. I have been unable,
due to my illness, to take care of the issues related to my car, which
are: renewing the registration and
getting an inspection sticker.
When I got out of the hospital, I went to the registry and
was informed that I owe $2,000 in parking tickets, which I couldn't afford to
pay outright in order to register my car.
I haven’t driven my car since it’s been unregistered. However, it’s insured. I asked to make payment arrangements with the
parking office, but they wouldn’t allow me to do that. I asked to meet with someone at the parking
office to file an appeal, but I was denied.
They told me that if I had a handicapped placard I could have the
hearing that day; however, I don’t have one.
I also have a history of breast cancer, cardiac arrest after the surgery
for breast cancer, two myocardial infections, septic shock, and a stroke.
I struggle to be well on a day-to-day basis. The parking ticket situation is a stressor
that has affected me very negatively, in terms of my health. I was given very little help by the two
parking clerks that I spoke with at the parking office at City Hall.
That evening, I began looking on Craigslist for a rental
space for my car, to get it off the street.
The costs for rental spaces were things like $125/month, $300/month,
$400/month. I was lucky to find one for
$80/month. However, I was too tired to
do it that night, as it was quite late.
The next morning, I found a green Notice To Owner sticker on
my car, which says:
“This motor vehicle has been declared abandoned under MGL
Chapter 90. Sec. 22B and Chapter (illegible) of 1988. Unless this vehicle is removed and disposed
(of according) to law by the owner, the City will do so and charge the owner
under Chapter 212 of the Acts of 1988.
Such charge will mean that the owner will be fined $250 (plus costs for
removal and disposal) for the first offense and $500 (plus costs) for each
offense thereafter. Failure to pay fines
and fees under this section will lead to registration and license
non-renewal. Conviction of multiple
offenses may lead to license suspension.
This is the only notice you will receive prior to any such action.”
Being a homeless person in Boston is a totally demoralizing
experience in so many ways. You find
market-rate rents are unaffordable. It’s
next to impossible to afford to keep a car in Boston as well as find affordable
housing.
I feel that the cities and towns are callous and cold and
make a huge amount of money off citizens through tickets and the refusal to
compromise, despite extenuating circumstances and a medical history that many
people would not have even survived.
My car is beginning to cost me what I paid for it. I have a spotless driving record. Now I can’t use my car to work.
Copyright Homeless Humans, March 25, 2019
Copyright Homeless Humans, March 25, 2019
