A few days ago, I found out that all of my belongings had been were placed into garbage bags, and thrown into the very same flooded garage outside the house I had rented from a CMHA (Community Mental Health Agency) that was funded, in part by SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) HUD (Housing and Urban Development) and special funds under the Recovery Act of 2009. I used to work as for SAMSHA, and I know enough about the law to realize that the lack of supervision and intervention at the house I rented is not only against the rules, but should be considered a crime against humanity.

The “landlord” did nothing to prevent or intervene and actually encouraged such behavior as he knew it would force me out of the house that was clearly a threat to my safety and well being. The three women who should be jailed for the countless times they complicated the situation by locking me out, unplugging my phone, disconnecting my computer cables, and destroying my property “just for fun.”
What he did take issue with was the very fact that I was writing about my circumstances, especially the more disturbing times when I was when I watched the other residents become violent, and dangerous towards each other, and in time towards me. One nearly assaulted with me with waffle iron; One locked during a tornado warning, and one was simply too intoxicated to make a telephone call when five shots were fired down the street. To prevent from calling mobile crisis to intervene, me personal telephone was disconnected, the electric cables and power cords were unplugged and ultimately broken, and when I needed to call 911 even the house phone had disconnected by the woman who claims ownership by proxy of the entire household. Yeah, I’m the problem.

To add insult to injury, the day after my belongings were moved into the flooded garage, I learned that the agency received a grant to help transition the homeless.
http://article.wn.com/view/2009/09/10/Centerstone_receives_grant_from_city_to_assist_homeless

Perhaps they should probably know exactly how the the house is “helping” the homelesss. Anyone interested, feel free to link my blog to see exactly how that grant money is being spent. I’d like see the step up to help me move, and “transition from homeless.” http://thepowersthatbeat.blogspot.com

Yes, exactly, so I’m not sure which part you’re unclear on. The towing notice was posted in mid-March (right after I first became homeless), and I was told in person to disregard it by Walmart management. I fail to understand how, exactly, that is advance notice that they were going to tow me 5 months later (before which, I might add, no notice was posted – I checked).

I’m not quite sure why you’re here in any event, either than to pick a fight (perhaps you work for Walmart or their corporate office?) but you won’t find one here. Walmart store management gave me permission, twice, to stay before towing me without notification or provocation. Brea PD backed me against Walmart corporate’s assertion that they were just following city ordinance (there is no such ordinance); they realized their error and returned my items to me. That’s the end of it. I don’t have any further beef with them, or with you.

A good day to you, sir or madam.
~Bri

So, when our very own Street Voices contributor, Brianna, who also blogs at Girls Guide To Homelessness first became homeless herself and in possession of the trailer she had recently inherited when her biological father had committed suicide, she decided to make use of this Walmart policy for herself. However, she also went one step further. Having confirmed with the local PD that there was no prohibitive ordinance in place in her area, she took the additional step of contacting store management via the telephone to confirm that they had no objection to her use of their facilities.

She found she was not alone. It was immediately apparent that there were quite a number of other homeless individuals who were also sleeping in their cars, RVs and trailers in the same parking lot. She had been staying there for just a few weeks, however, when she returned one day to find a notice requesting her to move had been attached to her vehicle. A number of the other residents received the same notice. This came as a surprise of course as she had gone to the trouble of obtaining permission directly. The following day, Brianna and another homeless individual sought a personal meeting with store management.

The outcome of this meeting was that they were told they should not worry. They were told by the store management that every now and then corporate would come by and ask them to issue these notices to discourage long-term stays. They were told that they never had any issues with the homeless people who stayed there since they all seemed to keep to themselves, bothered no one and spent money in the store. In short, they were told it was ok for them to stay and that no one was going to be towed or any other action taken against them.

On 13th August, they towed and impounded Brianna’s truck and trailer anyway.

If you read my previous posts, you will see that:

a) Yes, I had made it clear that I would be staying for months. The manager I spoke to was kind and sympathetic to my plight. She also acknowledged that there were several other long-term homeless residents and they had not had problems with any of us as we tended to keep to ourselves and remain unobtrusive.

b) No, I was not given several days’ advance warning, or any at all.

Please take the time to learn all of the facts before you rush to conclusions.

Best Regards,
~Bri

I also have to wonder why you choose to blame walmart for the towing. They gave you several days of advance warning did they not? The blame rests with you.

First off, let me just say that we have much in common. I am 24 years old. I work 2 crap jobs making crappy money 65 hours a week just to get by (in addition, I got hired by these jobs in this recession) Also, I have 2 dogs I have adopted. My mother committed suicide and I don’t know who my dad is. I too have an English born boyfriend who lives in Scotland. He is currently out here on the Visa Waiver program for 2 1/2 months. Good luck trying to get him over here in the US to stay with you. Your biggest problem will be showing financial stability. As you have to show your past 3 years of tax returns. I make 24K/ yr and I can’t sponsor my boyfriend. And due to your family problems I am assuming you will not have a co-sponsor. My boyfriend doesn’t have a job and hasn’t had one for two years. But he ISN’T homeless in the UK due to the benefits they get there. It is nearly impossible to be homeless in the UK. Even though I have had to couch surf and move across the country a couple times to escape an abusive boyfriend I have never been homeless. You had unemployment, you have a job now (from what I gather from your blog, but I could have been reading it wrong) yet you choose to live in trailer and motels instead of renting a room from a house. Why? I know there are rooms to rent in CA for less than $400 a month.

Also, I am at a loss for why you choose to stay in the parking lot of a walmart and why you are surprised that they towed you? I mean Walmart was born on the idea of screwing over America! They go into small towns and run out small businesses for goodness sake! The whole trailer idea was so that families could stay the night in the parking lot during road trips. Not so homeless people could live there while they save money for a mortgage.

What I also don’t understand is why you are saving up for a mortgage in the first place? I would NEVER dream of saving for a mortgage and trying to buy a home at this point in life. It’s about being stable now and working towards the future.

Thanks for reading my rant. It’s just that when I look at your situation I see many similarities to my life (even down to the red hair). I just read your blog and I don’t understand some of your choices.

~Lee

Thank you for your comment on my blog.

The federal definition of homelessness does indeed cover those living out of trailers and other habitats unsuitable for long-term living. You can read more about the federal definition of homelessness here. http://www.hud.gov/homeless/definition.cfm.

Clearly, living out of a trailer with no utilities, facilities, or stability is not suitable as a permanent and sustainable lifestyle. You might ask if the thousands of individuals staying in homeless shelters are truly homeless – after all, they too have a roof over their head and a basic form of shelter, do they not? Also, as has been pointed out, for 6 months I have not (and still am not) staying in a legal, up-to-code domicile. This means that my situation is tenuous and precarious at best.

I am only one aspect of homelessness. Clearly, as I have always maintained, there are those who are in more dire circumstances than me and are in need of proper assistance and treatment. I share my experiences with homelessness to help bring awareness to ALL homeless individuals of various backgrounds, and that includes those struggling with drug abuse and mental illness, as well as those living in shelters and rough sleeping. ALL homeless individuals should have access to the help that they need, and should be regarded as people, rather than as “bums”. The fact that there are varying degrees of struggles and resources that different individuals have access to, however, does not make any one more or less homeless than the other.

And no, I was not offered the option of parking at my friend’s home when this all began. In fact, at that time I did not even know the woman. Pride may be among my weaknesses, but it would seem that it is to the benefit of the many homeless individuals in more dire straits than I, as it also kept me from taking up a spot in the already overflowing homeless shelters that may have gone to someone who needed it far more. It would seem that I am in an unfortunate bind. If I accept donations (after much pressing, I might add), I am a lazy, mooching e-panhandler. If I do not, I am too proud and not allowing others to help me. Oh well, there will always be naysayers.

I’m afraid I don’t particularly feel the need to defend myself on the use of the finger to belittle my mother. What can I say? The woman beat the crap out of me for 18 years, turned a blind eye to my sexual abuse, and is a diagnosed bipolar who won’t take meds, broke umbrellas and cutting boards over my head, and who harped on me for finally getting the therapy I so desperately required. Much as I love her, I’m afraid I occasionally feel the need to flip her off. My apologies if that offends you.

Best Regards,
~Bri