Goldie Tells His Story

He is now a blogger

Goldie has gotten the techno bug.
It never fails; every night when I am on the computer he sits waiting for me to get up out of the chair so he can have his time.

He's pretty smart; observant and I am not surprised that he can use the keyboard although his reach on it is rather limited; he is proficient with the mouse. I handle the photography for him.

Anyway, Goldie was once homeless to and has his own story to tell.

Goldie's blog is entitled "Paws For A Moment" and you can read his story by clicking on the link in the column to the right or log on at http://goldiepants.blogspot.com.

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.

Happenings on the home front

I definitely have something to say about...

Why did Nationwide quit being on my side? - In the final planning stages of buying my home, I had to arrange for homeowner’s insurance. I chose to go with Nationwide Insurance and catching up with my former agent (Dick).

WELLLLLLLLLLL, my homeowner’s payment is finally due (after one year of home ownership - yea!) so I called Dick’s office and asked when am I getting my bill? Seems like my policy was going to expire at midnight March 19 (last night) with denial of renewal BECAUUUUUUUUSE of repairs not being done (as requested by Nationwide) on my house and patio. Nationwide was dropping me!

Well, it’s a good thing I called because I DIDN’T GET THE MEMO ON THIS!!!!!

My agent is a cool dude; it’s not his fault. He just writes policies and it is not his job to police unless one of his clients calls with a complaint.

Twice last year I got notices in the mail from Nationwide that a company inspector was snooping around on my property (without me being aware of it) and wrote up items that were considered hazards. The letter stated that the repairs were to be made by a certain date or risk cancellation of my policy.

I have absolutely no idea how this woman managed to come onto my property without being noticed. There was quite a bit of activity and plenty of people on the premises; all who never saw her.

Gary and I knew what needed done to the house and we made up a ‘to do’ list. Interior was on the higher priority with exterior on the lower priority list.

On the lower priority list: the outside staircase leading to the upstairs apartment had a loose handrail; rusted - simple fix requiring a bracket. We had it fixed; the agent came out and took a picture and e-mailed it to Nationwide.

That isn’t what the inspector wanted fixed; it was another railing - a cosmetic repair was what she was concerned about so we fixed that.

Then she slithered onto the property again; when? - we don’t know because, once again, no one saw her. “The structural integrity is compromised” on where the patio roof is attached to the garage so either replace or repair before March 2009 or risk cancellation of the homeowner’s policy. It was chipped paint from small leaks in the roof.

Dick happened to stop by to take a picture of the final repair to the staircase and I showed him the letter about the patio - the letter came in the mail that day but we had already repaired the roof. Dick inspected what this woman claimed was wrong and he saw nothing structurally threatening.

I’ve never had problems with them in the past but I definitely have problems with someone trespassing on my property. Maybe I didn’t get the letter prior to these inspections but, what excuse does this inspector have for not knocking on our door and announcing her presence?

I have been reinstated but I am considering dropping Nationwide like a bomb on a Nevada atomic test site.

The calls to 1-900-HOT BABE - My house has an apartment upstairs that I rent out to construction workers that come into the area to work at the First Energy power plant 3 miles north of us. It helps pay the bills for all the work that the house needs plus the mortgage.

That's the good thing.

The apartment is completely furnished with utilities included plus a washer/dryer combo. bed linen, dishes, cookware, basic cable, 19" color TV with VCR/DVD combo - all the comforts of home. It's sweet! Most of the guys who have been tenants have been very respectful of my property.

Since Gary was once a "road warrior" in his days as a union carpenter, he had the 'brilliant' idea to provide unlimited local and long distance service for upstairs. We have a package deal of two lines plus high speed DSL at a sweet price.

Well, we got a phone bill after one of the tenants left for $679.00 for a total of 9 phone calls (all the same night) to two different 'date' lines. We now have a block on the upstairs phone - live and learn. We thought that charges to 900 numbers would require a major credit card. Apparently not.

I was able to track down the former tenant and he has paid $500.00 so far towards the phone bill.

If this would have happened 35 years ago, I could have given him directions to the Modern Spa in Steubenville where he could have 'bundled' the hand-jive with add-ons for about $150.00. Inflated times we are living in now!!!!

'Ole Bessie' will be running soon! - That truck Gary found for us in East Cleveland for $500.00 has been sitting on the pad since a few days before Christmas. The transmission - dead; and I was 10 miles from home when it happened. Had to get the truck towed.

The nice Steubenville cop who made the call for me is the son of one of my high school teachers. He was just just a little boy when his dad was vice-principal and my sociology teacher.

The cop went to college at the University of Akron where he majored in business. He did the corporate thing and said being a cop was less stressful.

Anyway, we got another tenant upstairs (after nearly a two month vacancy) so the trany has been pulled and another one will be installed next week.

You need to get out more often! - When I graduated from art school, I had to leave the area to get a job in commercial art - the jobs weren't here. Going to school in Pittsburgh exposed me to a variety of cultures -nationalities, races, religions - that weren't prevalent here.

Now remember this as you read on - Pittsburgh is only 40 miles away but like it might as well be another planet.

My friend Joanna and I were discussing this in the grocery store one day (I was ranting about the inavailablity of some of my favorite pantry staples) plus, since we both had been away for thirty or more years, we know what the 'real world' out there is like.

Joanna and I are alike - both rebels - and we like progress and we just feel that too many people 'here' are just too set in their ways. Joanna (a former member of the MET Opera chorus) feels that everyone, upon graduation from high school should be required to leave town - or the valley - for 5 or so years to experience life in the real world. I agree.

Anyway, I have a new tenant who works for the county and yesterday we were having conversation and I said that one thing I miss is the cultural diversity that living in a metropolitan area offers. He asked what I meant so I told him about the people I met and the friends that I made.

"Are your Muslim friends radical?" he asked.

My one friend Kemal is a Cleveland RTA bus driver, born in the Bronx and is a Yankees fan. Whenever he spotted me walking, he used to slow down, open the door and yell, "The Tribe Sucks!" I dunno - is that radical? Nope, just a New Yorker.

Jack Scalia said to me, "The Tribe Sucks!" but I guess that's okay - he's Sicilian; from Brooklyn - and a Yankees fan. He just doesn't drive for RTA.

When my tenant started to talk about my friends' religion, I was so very tempted to suggest the book that my friend Sam recommends - "Islam for Dummies" but I have the feeling this guy would have thought this would have been my attempt of insulting him. I doubt he knows about the " for Dummies" series of books.

Ok, maybe I am being snarky.

Then my tenant asked, "You're not a LIBERAL, are you?"

Let's see - I'm a registered Democrat but don't necessarily vote a straight ticket; it all depends on the issue at hand and......

Maybe I'm confused but would like to think that - with my forever shorting out frontal lobe - I don't have a small mind, a liberal mind or a conservative mind; I just know it's one that doesn't always work well.

Just pay your rent on time, Pal. That's all I'm concerned about.

And yes, I am being snarky.

My little Guardian Angel - All Goldie really has to worry about is Mommy - is Mommy going to get me some tuna? Is Mommy going to fill my dry food bowl (it's Fiestaware and he deserves the finest oven safe stoneware).

My best boy walked me to and from the store the other night. He waited for me outside.

He's taking his nap now - I just took this picture of him.

Lucky little guy.

While kids say the darnest things what the adults say is (definitely) dumb (er) (est)

Here are a few things that have been said to me regarding homelessness:

The misconception - the visual didn't fit the stereotypical:

While I was homeless, I was standing outside of Jacobs Field when some nice gentleman offered me an extra ticket to that night's game for free. At the time there was a ban on bringing umbrellas into the ballpark and the possibility for rain was eminent. When entering the gate, anyone entering the ballpark with an umbrella had to take the umbrella and put it in a barrel where it could be retrieved upon leaving.

When I entered the ballpark, I was shown where to leave my umbrella. Because there was no tagging system set up, I expressed my concern about getting my umbrella back after the game.
I told the attendant that I was homeless and I could not afford another umbrella.

"You don't look homeless," he said.

Why? Because I was wearing a nice sweater, new jeans, Reeboks and makeup. Oh, yes! I had a purse that contained a wallet, hairbrush and lipstick.

"Get off your lazy a** and get a job!"
Gary and I were both homeless when we met.

I became homeless due to disability. Gary was an unemployed union carpenter who had his livelihood taken away when his van containing his tools was stolen. He cut back from comprehensive to liability coverage. Homelessness soon followed.

So Gary worked selling hot dogs on Public Square and later accepting assignments through a temp agency.

When Katrina hit Florida, Gary and I saw an opportunity to leave Cleveland and to head south. There were carpentry jobs in Florida. Homes needed repairs, restored and rebuilt. Maybe, once we got down there, maybe someone (like an employer) could deduct the cost of tools out of Gary's paycheck.

Catholic Charities was willing to help us with bus fare to Florida so I called my cousin in Ft. Lauderdale to ask him if he could put us up for two weeks; even if it was in his garage.

Then I told him that we were homeless. And his reply was...

You've lost your right to choose...
That's exactly what happens when you become homeless.

Remember your last move? You checked out the neighborhood; the schools, travel time to and from work, where to shop. Oh, must find out what the neighbors are because that (you think) will affect your property and resale values of your home.

Well folks, homeless shelters aren't located in nice suburban neighborhoods. The person in the next bunk might just be a convicted sex offender just released from prison or a schizophrenic who lacks their medication.

So, when I told a cousin that I planned on going to the homeless shelters in Steubenville to research homelessness for a story that I was going to write on homeless in small towns and rural areas she said, "You shouldn't do that, they (shelters) are in bad neighborhoods".

WELL, DUH -like I didn't know!

Once homeless in East Cleveland, Goldie now enjoys the good life here in Toronto

Goldie in from the cold and enjoying a peaceful nap on the
couch this afternoon.

Relaxing at the computer, enjoying an original composition Cat Day by his new buddy CheapRobot.



Goldie last summer standing beside the chalk art he inspired by next door neighbor Meghan.

When he was homeless and without a name living outside of Terrace Tower in East Cleveland, Ohio. Gary took this picture of him from our 12th floor apartment.

It was 2007 when he showed up outside the main entrance of Terrace Tower in East Cleveland. I think it was Spring. Some residents petted him, some fed him, others kicked him. He looked like he was between one and two years old, very healthy and smart. We think someone dropped him off; abandoned him.

At night, he slept outside the door. If it was chilly during the day he liked to sun himself on top of the transformer beside the building.

He was a friendly little guy too; still is once he knows you and feels safe being near you.

Soon, a very young little female cat joined him. Called "Princess" by her owner, she had to be put outside because the owner didn't have the money for a pet deposit. It was obvious that someone abused her. She didn't like men and to be touched; she would scratch and bite anyone who tried. Her so-called responsible owner put a carrier outside for her; some filthy junk that looked like it was dug up out of a dirt pile. Several days later, it was thrown in the dumpster.

Because these two were together, Gary decided to name them. The male cat finally got a name - "Goldie" and Gary started calling her "Hawn". How clever!

Some of the residents fed them but didn't clean up the empty cans or whatever packaging the food was in. Some days no one fed them and on the brutally cold days and nights, often what was left out for them was frozen. I made sure they were fed several times daily, more often in the winter.

When the elevators didn't work, I wrapped their food in foil packets and we dropped their meals to them. The impact of hitting the pavement would loosen the packets so the cats could open them and eat. They got used to the air drops so all I had to do was call them and they would be under the window looking up; waiting for their meals.

During the summer of 2007, Gary managed to find us a truck for $500.00. Every day I went out Goldie would walk me from the door to the truck and, when I returned, he would come out of nowhere and escort me back to the building. I called him my Guardian Angel.

Months later, after she was put outside, Hawn would sometimes join him. If I had purchased cat food, I could feed them near the truck.

Management didn't want the cats around the building due to all the litter left behind from the residents who fed them. Attempts were made to discourage feeding them.

Once I got my Social Security disability approved and started the negotiations to get our house, Gary and I wanted to bring them with us. We made sure they were fed; we wanted to make sure they would still be around when we were ready to leave.

I made my offer for the house in October 2007. Due to numerous complications, the deal wasn't finalized until March of 2008.

Finally, we could give Goldie and Hawn a real home.

It was April when we got the Penske truck and were ready to roll. Goldie was going to ride with Gary and his friend Alan in our truck. He willingly came to Gary. Hawn scratched the hell out of me and everyone who tried to touch her. We tried to bring her several times; even when we returned to East Cleveland for doctor appointments. She cut us both up.

Our truck broke a wheel axle and couldn't make the trip. My friend Dee and I proceeded southeast to Toronto where we unloaded the truck with the help of Gary's two sons Bo and Keith and one of Bo's friends.

I returned to East Cleveland to find Gary and Goldie laying in bed. Goldie lived with us in the small efficiency apartment until we made our final move once our truck was fixed.

A week later, we made the final move and Goldie walked into the house and made himself comfortable immediately.

He no longer has to endure the brutal lake effect snow storms coming off of Lake Erie. He often doesn't want to go out in the rain and snow. He is quick to come inside when the weather is bad. He has many comfortable and safe places to sleep, good healthy food to eat, clean water to drink, grooming and health care.

Goldie reigns supreme here; HE TOTALLY RULES and we are so glad he chose us to be his mommy and daddy.

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.