News From The Homefront

I received two parking violations...taped to the driver's side window of my truck; found them posted today - in the rain.

Toronto Police might as well have TP'd my vehicle because the papers - with the bright neon orange label that screams to all passers by that I have been a naughty girl - were so saturated from the rain that they couldn't be peeled from the glass without falling apart (see picture).

The truck needs a transmission. That has been purchased from a salvage yard but I am short $150 to install it plus, because along with that I couldn't afford the registration renewal in January. I didn't think this would be a problem since the truck is parked on my property; not on the street.

Unfortunately, the guys who removed the old trany left the truck jacked up on ramps. Hell, I might as well post a sign beside it that says " A Redneck Lives Here!" And while I'm at it, I'm trying to get my gardening done so if anyone has any spare tires they want to get rid of, I could paint them white and plant geraniums in them. If they are tractor tires, that's even better. I like that scalloped look.

So why isn't this a problem?
This building on the corner behind my house has an exterior wall that is buckling away from the upstairs window frames.

When I was a kid, it had a small market run by the family that lived here. It was a nice building with two spacious apartments that each had two bedrooms and the property was beautifully maintained.

The last owner of it died and rumor has it that he owed back taxes of the five-figure variety, yet he was still charging rent.

I reported the condition of this building to the city months ago. Orange cones were set up along the parameters to no avail.

The residents of the upstairs apartments vacated the building but there are still occupants downstairs who are still paying rent and don't seem concerned that they may be ordered to move.

Several weeks ago I told one of the residents about Ohio House Bill 9, introduced by my friend Mike Foley of Cleveland's 14th District. This bill offers protection for renters living in buildings that are subject to foreclosure.

Well, ignorance certainly must be bliss because this tenant was not at all concerned or worried about losing her home. She even said that her landlord was very good to her (imagine that!).

She and her husband have made absolutely no attempt to apply for other housing and the property has been turned over t0 the heirs of the deceased owner.

It's going to be grab and go! I am keeping my battery charged and my memory card open on my camera so that when I hear the creaking sound of the wall starting to collapse I will be ready to run out in time to video the roof coming down. Keep checking in to my YouTube Channel - thiznat. You can link to it on the right side of this page.

I'll get to it soon...
That's all I can tell my friend Sarah who posted on Facebook, "I'm impatiently waiting for your blog post on life at CWS. Were you there when it was called "Guantanamo Cleveland"? "

Yes, I was and when telling my story of being a resident at Cleveland's most notorious women's shelter, I promise I will open up more than I did when I wrote about what I witnessed while there. I now have no fear of retaliation from the staff as I did when I wrote my A Fly on the Wall series for "The Homeless Grapevine" newspaper.

Sarah blogged about her return to the shelter. We have plenty of notes to compare. Mine from the stand point of being a homeless shelter resident and hers as an activist; trying to help empower the residents.

Status on Jet and Bandit
Both of the girls are doing great although they are not growing as well as their brother Topper and sisters Tipper and Miss 'V'. Our wonderful neighbor Kristy bought two large baby medicine droppers which has been easier to use when feeding the kittens.

Jet and Bandit have had problems eating; neither one knows to suck on a bottle or tip of a syringe but they are finally coming around.

Jet was very near death and Bandit began to have problems with lethargy possibly due to malnourishment. You can read more about what happened at "Paws for a Moment" by clicking here.

Video From The National Coalition for the Homeless

They are wisely utilizing YouTube

I must applaud the National Coalition for the Homeless on posting the following video on YouTube. No explanation is necessary; just watch the video and learn from it.

I would like to know what you learned from this video. Comments are greatly appreciated.

More information about The National Coalition for the Homeless can be found in the HELP LINKS section on the right.

Homelessness: Clip from Obama news conference

Glad it was brought up...

I was listening from another room when I heard a reporter ask President Obama about addressing homelessness. I grabbed my camera, focused it on the TV screen and this is what I got on video.

The president talked about programs for the unemployed; to get people back to work. He mentions the homeless veterans too.

From my own personal experience, I met more disabled homeless than unemployed homeless people in Cleveland and until the Social Security Administration starts paying attention, carefully reading the medical files of those who apply, there will still be people losing their homes waiting for 2 years before an administrative law judge hears their cases.

The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless offers a take on distribution of funding for the homeless.

President Obama is taking a stand; we must too by writing letters to our representatives and pressing them on the issues of Social Security denials for disability.

Clinical trials: all in the name of science pays BIG BUCKS!

Seeking evidence of disability

I had some other topics I was planning to write about today but I caught something on the news tonight regarding another drug receiving FDA approval for the treatment of fibromyalgia so I thought I would concentrate on a timely subject by writing about my participation in two clinical trials.

Participating in clinical trials for new or existing drugs vying for FDA approval as a claimed treatment for a medical condition is most definitely a unique experience - but not necessarily easy to qualify for.

During the pre-qualification telephone interview, some participating clinics will reject you on the simple fact (and don't tell them) that you have filed for Social Security Disability for the illness that the trial is doing testing to treat. Their logic is, what if you get the active drug in the double-blind placebo study and you, not only show miraculous improvement (which might destroy your disability case), but leave knowing how to play the violin as well? Okay, that may be a stretch.

Besides what business is it of theirs anyway? When I heard on the TV or the radio that a clinical research study was taking place to test a new drug for the treatment of fibromyalgia, the first thought in my mind was that hopefully it would work and maybe I could fully function again. There was also no guarantee that I would be getting the actual drug - I might get the placebo.

I have participated in two clinical trials for drugs seeking FDA approval for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Both drugs were already on the market as treatment for other medical conditions but were not "officially" FDA approved as a proven fibro-treatment drug. The doctors may have known it helped their patients and may have prescribed it for pain but they could not say it was a treatment for fibromyalgia . They could say they had fibro patients who were taking it for other conditions and reported it helped with their pain.

It's like this - take Avon's Skin-So-Soft bath oil for instance. Everyone has known (since what seems like Biblical times) that Skin-So-Soft repelled mosquitoes but, without spending millions of dollars in some government approved scientific lab for years of testing thus jacking up the price, Avon legally could not make the claim. Now they can.

Anyway, back to the subject of my clinical trial participation...

My first clinical trial was for FDA approval of Xyrem as a medication for the sleep disorder associated with fibromyalgia. The study period was 16 weeks and included four medical exams (of the tender points) by a rheumatologist and four overnight sleep studies.

I had to sign for the "drug" because Xyrem was considered a controlled substance. I also had to assure the clinician (in writing) that I would keep it secured to prevent theft in case my apartment was broken into. So now it was more than a medical problem I was trying to get help for - I could be faced with charges by the DEA for misuse, loss, etc. Clinical trials for drugs are always a federal matter.

As I said, there was no guarantee that I would be receiving the actual drug or placebo. This was a double-blind placebo vs actual drug trial. In a double-blind study, neither the clinician or patient know whether or not the "drug" is the placebo or the actual drug.

Also, there are two parts in the drug testing in the trial.

On your initial visit to the clinic - if you are accepted into the clinical trial you - are given a Palm Pilot. The Palm Pilot beeps indiscriminately signally you that it is time to answer the questionnaires. It can beep once a day or several times a day and you have to take it with you everywhere you go. In the evening you have to send the transmission of the questionnaires to the pharmaceutical company or clinic via the fax modem included with the Palm Pilot.

The "drug" comes sealed in a box with instructions but on plain unlabeled bottles. Each box and bottle have a serial number on them which the clinician records beside your name on your chart. Then you have to sign for the "drug" proving that you have received it. Each time you return to the clinic you are required to bring the "drug" with you in the box and bag you received it plus the Palm Pilot. The clinician checks the bottle to be sure you have followed all instructions and taken the required dosages. If it is the end of the first phase of the trial, you turn in the first package with "drug" and, after close inspection by the clinician, you are given another box with another bottle of the "drug". Still neither you or the clinician knows if it contains the placebo or actual drug. Each visit to the clinic includes a medical exam including blood tests, more questionnaires to fill out or interview with questions. Each visit to the clinic can last between one to two hours.

The four sleep studies included in the Xyrem clinical trial was the main reason I wanted to participate. It is a known fact that there is a sleep disorder associated with fibromyalgia, but due to the cost, most doctors feel that a sleep study is an unnecessary expense that undoubtedly can offer proof of disability. This was documentation I needed for my Social Security Disability claim.

Anyway, at the end of the clinical trial it was discovered that (both times) I was given the placebo. Of the participants who were given the placebo, I was the only one who showed no improvement in sleep. as documented in all four sleep studies. There is no way anyone can bluff their way during sleep monitoring.

The other participants who received the placebo showed improvement giving validation of the placebo effect claim of mind over matter.

I knew I had the placebo both times. Xyrem was used as one of the "date rape" drugs. It did not make me drowsy or disoriented. Many times, in the middle of the night, an hour after taking it, I would walk to CVS and shop. I'm sensitive to meds and haven't been able to drink alcohol in years.

And the results of the sleep study the night of May 18, 2004: Delta stage 3 sleep was 3.8% and stage 4 was 0.8%. Normal for each stage is 10% . I had 2 REM episodes for 18.5 minutes which was 20%, normal is 25%.

I had three other abnormal but worse sleep studies in this trial, all of which I submitted to Social Security in my initial filing for disability in August of 2004. Despite FOUR abnormal sleep studies, I received two denials by the Social Security Administration resulting in homelessness in 2005.

By the way, I was paid a total of $3500.00 for participation.

In 2006, I also had THREE abnormal sleep studies from Metro Hospital in Cleveland and a CPAP was ordered.

Also, in 2006, I participated in another double-blind placebo clinical trial for FDA approval of the drug Milnacipran. I had to leave this trial due to dizziness so severe that I ended up in the emergency room then the Cardiac Ward for three days. It is not known whether or not I had a reaction from the "drug" but I wasn't going to take any more chances. It was discovered by the facility where I was participating in the trial that I was receiving the actual drug. Milnacipran was approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain in 2009. Despite the scary side effect, it did relieve my pain. No sleep study was involved by the physical exam, monitoring of the drug and usage of the Palm Pilot to monitor my progress was part of the study. Payment for participation wasn't very lucrative. I received $150.00 for the time I was in the 12 week program.

I was awarded SSDI in August 2007 by an administrative law judge for the myriad of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia - sleep disorder, pain, anxiety, depression; chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), degenerative discs in my spine, osteoarthritis, etc.

Today on the news there was a segment of another drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain symptoms. I used my "cool camera" to video the segment. I apologize for the sound quality midway and to the end. I must have had my thumb over the mic.

Madoff trades his $7 million penthouse for a tiny jail cell

This woman traded in her home for a couch at someone else's house rather than go to a shelter because she owns a dog.

Another casualty of denial for disability benefits by the Social Security Administration, she is diabetic, has osteoarthritis -both conditions affect her ability to walk. Her wheel chair is broken.

She was dropped off on Public Square by the person who lets her sleep on his couch. He told her to panhandle to earn some money for the $120.00 per week he is charging her for rent.

Unlike this woman, Bernie Madoff gets three hots and a cot, recreation, clean clothes, etc. The figures aren't in on how many people will be homeless from his Ponzy Scheme.

Beginning with the Reagan Administration, over $900 billion has been borrowed from the Social Security Administration to fund other projects. This money is yet to be paid back.

Americans paid into Social Security only to have their applications for disability benefits denied. Americans paid Madoff to manage their investments only to find that he squandered away their money.

Only Madoff is being held accountable.

The isolation of leaving behind homelessness...

...and why some return to the streets.

When you become homeless you exchange one community for another.

The community you leave is your neighborhood - once stable housing; the people next door, the people across the street. You might wave to them everyday; they might wave back.

Life in the neighborhood isn't like it was years ago. Back then you knew your neighbors quite well. Neighbors were your extended family. When I was a kid, you hoped that your neighbor didn't see you doing something your parents told you not to do. Believe me, they knew what you were allowed and not allowed to do and they had your parents' blessing to reprimand you for it. If that wasn't enough, you knew you were going to "get it" from Mom or Dad too!

Neighbors were there to help. Neighbors watched out for one another.

Nowadays everyone is too busy to socialize. Mostly, you don't even know your neighbor's name.

The homeless have a community too; much like how life was in the neighborhood back before everyone was too busy to know one another. In the homeless community you make new friends, you see each other on the street, enjoy great conversation, you know each other's names and you help one another too. Want to find a meal site? Where to get free stuff? Ask a homeless person.

Things soon change once you get placed into housing. Sure you now have a place to call your own - if vouchers are available you get furniture, perhaps a TV, cookware - all the necessities.

Most likely, your rent payments are subsidized; based on income and your utilities are included. But with this good thing that you have received; that you have waited for to better your life. Getting into housing may mean, for some, isolation from the community that you've become accustomed to.

I faced this isolation like so many others leaving homelessness for that subsidized apartment.

What many don't know is that the disabled can get into housing quickly - for me it was 6 or 7 months.

The problems that the disabled face when getting into housing:

• The housing may not be near stores, especially the supermarkets. You have food stamps but any financial assistance such as state disability ($115 mo. in Ohio) or SSI/SSDI may not have come through for you yet. No money means no way to get to the stores. Now you are house bound; isolated. What makes matters worse is that you don't have a phone either.
  
• Once you are placed into housing you are off your caseworker's books. There is no follow up; no additional help - they have washed their hands of you. If they are a good caseworker, they have hooked you up with services but more than likely they haven't.
• You might not have been placed into a good, safe building - just a building that will accept you and doesn't care about your credit rating. Having people knocking on your doors 24/7 wanting something is not fun (they aren't the disabled formerly homeless - they are crackheads!). Walking down 12 flights of stairs because the elevators haven't run for a week isn't fun either! And it's not a good idea to leave your apartment after 9 p.m.; you might be stabbed, robbed or raped in a stairwell or elevator. Zip code 44114 is much safer; despite the 130 plus sex offenders in that neighborhood.

What all this boils down to is why the formerly homeless return to the streets.

The Homeless Guy: Mile Stone
The above link is to Kevin Barbieux, The Homeless Guy who offers more insight about getting an apartment and his struggles with living there. I suggest his blog - bookmark it. It's a good read.

FYI - Stimulus $ For Homeless

Homeless woman sleeping on RTA Rapid

Photo by Cindy Miller for the Homeless Photography Project 2007

If the impoverished and homeless had flown to Washington in private jets, they also would have been chastised. But would they have gotten their money anyway or just not as much?

A must read below by Brian Davis, Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH)

Click On The Link: http://clevelandhomeless.blogspot.com/2009/02/economic-stimulus-and-homelessness.html#links

There's No Better Time & Place To Invest For Your Future Than Now & At Home!

It was October 2008 when Steubenville Herald Star writer Janice Kiaski made a plea to readers asking them to submit their personal stories as to what made them thankful in 2008 during the Thanksgiving season.

In 2008, I had a lot to be thankful for so I responded to her plea by e-mailing her the following:

Hi Janice!
I read in the Herald Star that you wanted to hear from readers about what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Here's my story briefly.

In 2005 I became homeless. I had been getting sick for many years, had difficulty working due to my disability and eventually lost my last job in 2003 because my symptoms interfered with my ability to function.

I struggled for over a year trying to fill out forms to apply for Social Security disability. I finally finished the forms in 2004.

After two denials from Social Security, I was evicted from my apartment of ten years. I was homeless for five months staying at a women's shelter in Cleveland, Ohio. Because of my disability, I was able to get assistance for a HUD funded apartment. On November 23, 2005 I received the key to my apartment. I will have to look at an old calendar but it was a day or two before Thanksgiving.

Because it was a holiday, the shelter permitted residents to sign out for the long holiday weekend without risk of losing our beds. Although I had no furniture, much less a bed to sleep on at the apartment, I decided to spend the long weekend there rather than at the shelter.

Thanksgiving Day I decided to take advantage of the free meal at The Hard Rock Cafe and stop back at the shelter to pick up some of my clothes. The weather was brutal and my legs cramped as if they were being crushed. I thought I was going to die waiting on a bus.

After the long weekend staying at my apartment sleeping on the floor, I went back to the shelter for a few nights until I got some furniture.

I was in HUD housing until I received my first lump check from Social Security in 2007.

I paid off 90% of my debt owed to creditors (the ones I could find), was approved for a mortgage and bought my first home. I moved back to Toronto in April 2008.

While in Cleveland I served on the Board of Trustees at The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (www.neoch.org) where I also volunteered and was a contributing writer and photographer for the street newspaper "The Homeless Grapevine". I also served on the Advisory Board for Care Alliance; a health clinic that serves the homeless and poor of Greater Cleveland.

I have spoken about my experience with homelessness before The Truth Commission, at Case Western Reserve University and with various members of Cleveland City Council as a guest of Brian Davis, Executive Director of NEOCH.

I have been very busy remodeling, repairing and redecorating my home since moving in. I hope to get involved in the community next year regarding homeless causes. I have a wealth of information to share due to my association with the homeless coalition.

The title of my book (when I find the time to write it) will be "From Homeless to Homeowner". Michael Heaton of "The Plain Dealer" suggested "Homeless in 25 Minutes".

I have included some links:
http://homelessgrapevine.blogspot.com/ - see one of my many photos published in "The Homeless Grapevine" that was used on the masthead. Scroll down to stories about the photography program I participated in: Plain Dealer Features Grapevine Photography Program & Grapevine Photography Program Celebrates Successful First Year

Stories I wrote:
http://www.neoch.org/grapevinearticles/72/fly_on_the_wall.htm
This was the first part of a series I wrote about conditions at Community Women's Shelter. I used the name Diana Dennis to mask my identity.

http://www.neoch.org/grapevinearticles/77/truth_commission_puts_poverty.htm
About the Truth Commission and my testimony in Cleveland.

If you are interested in my story, feel free to call me. I have also included some of the photos I took with the camera I received through the Homeless Photography program.

Several days later, Janice called me and interviewed me over the phone. Three personal stories were published in the Thanksgiving edition of The Herald Star with other personal stories appearing in the following Sunday edition.

Thankful for memories, miracles, having a home was also published in the Toronto Scene.

My intent of participating was to increase awareness about homelessness and from the positive feedback and acknowledgment I have received from friends, acquaintances and people who recognized me on the street, I accomplished my mission and made them aware that they too could become homeless at any time for any reason.

Due to the economic climate, not only worldwide but especially in their own hometown, the people here are fearful of loss of job, loss of family, loss of health with the additional financial burden of the associated medical expenses and potential loss of home. All three stories in Janice Kiaski's story bring those fears to light; that there are people in this community that they might know who experienced some sort of loss but have come through it with the help of friends, family or a non-profit social agency.

The population in the Ohio Valley has declined dramatically due to job loss in the steel industry. Other manufacturing facilities closed their doors for good in the late 1970s and my hometown with its much smaller population of close to 5200 has 158 families receiving groceries from the food bank in town.

But one thing this community does understand is volunteering and donating to the local charities that serve the people here. The residents here understand the possibility that they too may need help.

United Way surpassed their annual goal as well did the Toronto chapter of The Salvation Army. The people here come to the aid of anyone who needs help. They, as Congressman Charlie Wilson has said on numerous occasions "Get It!"

People often ask me about being homeless and how can they help others. My response as always is "support your community; the local small business owner and the charities that help your community". Friends want to help me put together personal care packets.

And, although she didn't publish everything that I sent in the e-mail sent her, Janice Kiaski told me I made her more aware too.

Longer Press Runs, Looking For Busy Work Means Unemployment

DOWNSIZING: Definition from http://whatis.techtarget.com

In a business enterprise, downsizing is reducing the number of employees on the operating payroll. Some users distinguish downsizing from a layoff , with downsizing intended to be a permanent downscaling and a layoff intended to be a temporary downscaling in which employees may later be rehired. Businesses use several techniques in downsizing, including providing incentives to take early retirement and transfer to subsidiary companies, but the most common technique is to simply terminate the employment of a certain number of people.

Rightsizing is downsizing in the belief that an enterprise really should operate with fewer people.

Dumbsizing is downsizing that, in retrospect, failed to achieve the desired effect.

In today's economic climate downsizing, layoffs, terminations, shutdowns, bankruptcy, liquidations, et al are a fact of life early in the 21st Century. Just mention recession (or the possibility of) and belts tighten, spending slows. Reduction in spending means lost jobs. Lost jobs means unemployment; loss of home; homelessness.

Alan Greenspan said the word 'recession' and the belts tightened a notch. Dubya said it too. 'Mistakenly' slip in the word 'depression' and that belt swiftly slipped up around our necks while the trap door opened below our feet. The sheep were rounded up and one by one led to slaughter.

I've been laid off before but never due to economic hardship. I've been homeless three times - twice due to my own economic hardship but not the hardship of corporate.

It was during great economic times, a very profitable time for the company I was working for in Niles, Michigan that was the start of what would lead to my second experience with homelessness in less than four years.

Business was booming; presses were booked solid and customers were ordering more versions due to more stores opening. Larger orders meant longer press runs some of which could be running for weeks at a time until the next version change for another region of the country. More drugstores were being built; more big box stores were opening; more superstores were being built meaning more Grand Openings. Press run quantities grew from 350,000 per version to press runs of 1 million, 2 million, 3 million per version until a plate change or two or all were changed to start up a new version.

With press runs that large meant no work for pre-press. My work of stripping, proofing, plating all versions was down. No work would be coming into my department for weeks until press scheduling was close to opening up. Until that happened, I was there for probable problems. Cracked, scratched or worn plates that needed remade, answering phones, fielding questions, helping with QC in the pressroom.

It was also a great opportunity to pull needed maintainance on the processors, do inventory, box and send film back to the customer and, of course, make lunch runs for the guys in the pressroom.

My job was fast paced. The film would be delivered before my shift or mid-shift and I had to have the job completely stripped, proofed and one or two versions plated and ready for the pressroom before I left in the morning. Sometimes I had to go to the airport and pick up the film. Grab and go. Always a lightning speed turn-around. Easy to do on a 12-hour shift. Tough and more pressure on an 8-hour shift.

After the first year, I worked alone. There were two night shifts (B & D) and two day shifts (A & C). Ed on D-shift quit and moved back to California so that left me, Karen and Tom. The twelve hour shifts were eliminated leaving me still on night shift for 8 hours, 5 days a week and on call on the weekends. Tom and Karen shared day shift.

In the meantime, the company purchased a third C-700 heat-set press. These monster presses hold register at 65 mph with a 66-inch web. At 65 mph one roll of paper lasts 15 to 20 minutes before the second roll of paper is spliced in. Each press costs $8 million and this press was the third to be put on line in four years.

Presses are custom built but we needed another one fast. We couldn't wait a year. We needed it now! Fortunately, another company canceled its order so we bought the one custom built for them but it would be several months before it would be up.

The Niles plant was the satelite division of the corporate office located in Greenville, Michigan near Grand Rapids. We had all the new toys; the big toys, the high speed-high production toys. All was money.

Production revenue was consistent with a 25% gain EVERY QUARTER and the employees shared in the gain. Quarterly, my check for the gain (gain sharing not profit sharing) averaged $350 after taxes. Only during one quarter did the employees not get a gain sharing check. We met the 25% gain (at the Niles division) but a costly production error at corporate lost it for all of us.

Solution suggested by the Niles employees was to have separate accounts for the gain. Niles versus Greenville. It worked. We got our checks consistently again. Corporate didn't.

It was during the peak time in the press room and the down time in pre-press while waiting on getting the new press delivered and online that I received a three-month notice that I was being laid off. I was the last hired in and other than Tom, had the most experience.

Four supervisors in the press room (the press room was still operating four 12-hour shifts) protested my lay-off to my department supervisor, the plant GM to the president of the company to no avail. My last day to work was to be December 31.

I got a sterling letter of recommendation from my department supervisor and, fortunately, plenty of time to financially prepare myself.

Michigan unemployment paid me $261.00 a week. Very good for 1993, but I was making $13.65 an hour plus overtime.

I went on interviews but web-offset printing companies were scarce in Western Michigan and Northern Indiana. I knew I would have to relocate to find work in my field. Printing and publishing was all I really knew. Being a journeyman didn't help much.

I have told people for years that people don't choose to be homeless. Maybe I did or maybe it would have been inevitable once the unemployment and any money I saved ran out. My lease on the house I was renting was ready to expire so I gave notice, put my stuff in storage and slept in the car, in my storage and occasionally at my mom's. She moved to Michigan two years prior but her lease stipulated that no one could stay with a tenant longer than two weeks.

Four months later, I moved back to Ohio where a job was waiting for me in Jackson Township (Canton).

And regarding that third press line..... it was up and running shortly before I left Michigan and someone had to be hired to fill the vacancy from my layoff.

Read the last two lines of the definition above regarding rightsizing and dumbsizing.

So You Think It Can't Happen To You. Well, Think Again!

Well, I thought so too but homelessness happens. Come to think of it, I've been homeless several times.

The first two times was in Niles, Michigan.

I had moved there in May of 1989 after taking a job offer from a commercial printing company there. I was offered a working interview upon the recommendation of two former associates who previously were employed by a web-offset commercial printing company in Medina, Ohio.

My job in Medina was secure. I was successful there. I received raises on a consistent, timely basis. My reviews were always good. I was trusted by management in my judgment and troubleshooting abilities. I worked overtime when asked, took on other responsibilities including supervising and quality control. I was the queen of multi-tasking; the model employee.

My resignation (in writing) shocked my co-workers, department manager and shift foreman. No one saw it coming. It even shocked me. I was leaving a job, friends and a three-bedroom condo in a town that I loved.

Depression can do that to a person. And I was very depressed. I didn't realize it at the time but I'll go into that at another time in another post.

Anyway, I started the new job in Michigan in April of 1989. It was a fantastic job at a progressive company. Twelve hour shifts; every two days off allowing me the ability to drive the 5 hours to Medina to pack, have a garage sale and make the full move to Michigan and into an apartment a month later.

Now, here's where the homeless part comes in - the first time.

There was a fire the evening of December 26, 1989. I felt it - I sensed it - I obsessed over it.

Mom came up to Michigan to visit and I scheduled a few days off to take her back to Ohio and have time to spend with friends and relatives. We were to leave for Ohio December 26, which we did do after several hours of leaving the house (duplex), returning to double check things such as plugs, making sure I had left nothing turned on and leaving the apartment key with Tricia who lived upstairs. The thermostat controlling the heat to both of our apartments was located in my downstairs apartment.

Two feet of snow had fallen overnight; mild by Western Michigan standards. Damn it was cold outside; below freezing with a wind chill of zero.

Finally I left Niles; got on the toll rode in South Bend and got as far as Elkhart, Indiana when the feeling of doom over took me. Back to Niles, Michigan to check again. Did I unplug my hot rollers?

Six hours later; it's 8 p.m. Mom and I had just ordered dinner at the Brown Derby on Cleveland-Massillon in Montrose, Ohio. The feeling of doom came over me again and I couldn't shake it. It was overwhelming and Mom noticed it too in how I was acting; fidgeting.

We ate dinner and left headed for Massillon. We drove two hours to my hometown of Toronto, Ohio the next morning to visit cousins and my aunts.

After a full day of driving, visiting and driving back to Massillon, the phone rang at my mom's. It was 10 p.m. My best friend Debby had called to tell me that there had been a fire; in Tricia's apartment at 8 p.m. (the same night and time I was at the Brown Derby fidgeting the night before).

I had tenant's insurance; Tricia didn't. I lost nothing. Tricia and her son Favian lost everything; Christmas presents, the cat died from the smoke. My apartment was sooty and smokey. Tricia's apartment was gutted. Both apartments were uninhabitable.

My insurance covered my motel stay, expenses to clean my clothes and furnishing, expenses to move. I received a check from the insurance adjuster for $1500.00. The Salvation Army took care of Tricia and Favian.

The fire department determined the cause of the fire to be an unattended candle burning in Tricia's living room while she, her son and company she had over for dinner were in the kitchen.
Tricia told me she heard a popping noise.

We found dangerous wiring outside my apartment the day I moved out. I purchased, from the landlord, the washer and dryer that was on the enclosed back porch. The dryer was connected to a stripped, exposed cable (a hot line) coming up from the basement.

Just makes one wonder!

So how did I become homeless the second time in less than 4 years? Read my next post: "Longer Press Runs, Looking For Busy Work Means Unemployment".

Let's Begin Shall We?

I began construction on this blog in 2007, less than a month after being approved by the administrative law judge for Social Security Disability. So much has happened and so much time has passed since starting to layout this blog.

Much time, energy, blood, sweat and tears have been spent to get to where I am today.

Contained on this blog will be the telling of my story of my life experience. The career I busted my ass for. The illness I fought to overcome. The discrimination I faced and tried to fight in the workplace to keep my job and prevent my health from deteriorating further. The job loss that a simple accommodation at work could have prevented. My eviction from my apartment of ten years. My time spent homeless in Cleveland, Ohio and the events leading to owning my first home.

So, let's begin, shall we?