About 'parkland community college'|Community Development 101--Part Two
Tina had 13 years of sobriety before she relapsed in 2000. Since then she has had a hard time stringing together hardly any time in recovery. This last bout landed her in the YWCA downtown. Once a social worker, she now works at a retail store and has lost everything again - her car, material things, pets, money. "What really messes with my head is that all of this is self-inflicted," she confided. When Roger and Dave moved to Dallas, TX they thought it would be a haven. Instead, days before Christmas they were on a two-to-three-week waiting list to get into the Samaritan House, a residential facility for those who are HIV-positive or who have AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Luckily, at a Christmas party they met a pastor who paid for them to stay a week in a motel, a respite from being homeless and jobless. Their belongings were in storage, also a source of financial drain for them. (Source: Samaritan House). Roger, now 47, HIV positive since 1996 and homeless with his partner Dave since November 2003, lived in a mobile home in Azle with Dave and is collecting Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits. They sold their home in May 2003 when they moved to Dallas. "The bills just became overwhelming," said Roger. "By that time we had pawned most of our things. This past November rather than paying the rent I paid on our pawned items with interest. I thought AIDS Outreach Center (AOC) might be able to help but there's a long waiting list." The couple lived in their car for about a month, getting food from the nutrition center at AOC to make sandwiches in the car and collecting non-perishables. They also ate at a couple of restaurants without paying because they had no money and were hungry, having not much family support. Roger has two daughters; the youngest is also gay and struggling financially. His older daughter has a daughter of her own. The couple recently got robbed and Dave's wallet was stolen. Since his license was in his wallet he couldn't pay on an unpaid ticket or he would have been arrested for not having a license, said Roger. So Dave got a disabled person's bus pass and applied for a Social Security card. Dave, 36, has applied for work but is sick with Hepatitis C and was diagnosed HIV positive in 2003. He used to enjoy riding motorcycles and almost became a pilot at a young age because of his step dad's influence. "He (Dave) seemed to be sicker than me," said Roger. The couple had until Christmas Eve to stay in the motel the pastor paid for and from there they didn't know where they'd go. Dave's mother, who lives in Michigan, has been very helpful and she sends money at times but that isn't always available. Roger's mom has helped them square things away a little financially regarding bad checks. Dave, who used to be in the Marine Corps and is bilingual, said he he has all the capabilities of doing the things he wants professionally, that he just needs the opportunity. He wants to buy a house and earn some equity, a place where he and Roger's seven-year-old granddaughter can have her own room. "She (my granddaughter) misses us having our own place. She can never go anywhere with us. I'd like to do that for her. All I'm really looking to do is just get working. Most of our situation was caused by the move we made (to Dallas)," said Dave. "The lifestyle in Dallas really wasn't us. It wasn't what I imagined. There's certainly organizations that are designated specifically for gays. We couldn't stay at places with no identification. We'd have preferred to stay in our car compared to some other places." Dave, who aspires to go to school to be a teacher, said there is discrimination with regard to being gay and homeless and being a white man. "The discrimination doesn't ever change," he said. "We try to stick together as much as possible. They don't view us as a couple. Samaritan House has been very different in that way. They've been very understanding, willing to pretty much accept who you are. Churches simply don't want to acknowledge you as person, pretty much. Tolerance is always an issue. Compassion shouldn't ever be different for someone else. There always seems to be just a little bit more people can do. I'm actually given only a fair consideration and not equal. I don't have anything extra to carry me through such as ethnicity. I haven't asked for a whole lot. I know if I just had a decent position with insurance I would take off without hesitation. I've only had one or two good opportunities in my life. Once you fall down you're going to stay down without further assistance and you go further down." As of Dec. 21st, James, who got to stay with a friend for only a few days, couldn't get back in his apartment after leaving there with the clothes he had on his back when he ran from his boyfriend. James can't find his pilot boyfriend who did over $250 worth of damage to their apartment. Their landlord refuses to let James back in the apartment until he pays the money which James does not have. James' boss fired him from his catering job as a result of the most recent beating. (Source: AGAPE Metropolitan Community Church). "It would've been a lot worse (when my boyfriend got out of jail) for me if I had him arrested," said James. "They'd have let him go after six hours. When you're in that much fear for your life, you don't say yes (to the police). If I'd have been a woman they would have taken me right then. I was going to say yes to the cops when asked but my boyfriend gave me a look that meant I knew when he got out of jail he'd hurt me. The bruises on the outside have healed. The ones inside haven't." You can't go in there (to work) looking like that. I don't see any hope. I would rather be dead than go back (home). When something like this happens at first you think there's light at the end of the tunnel. Now I'm past that point. Now I think the light must be an oncoming train. Never did I think suddenly I'd be on the receiving end of his (my boyfriend's wrath). He was the type of person who, if anyone, said the 'F' word in front of me, he'd go off on them. I didn't think he'd ever lay a hand on me. We had the idyllic relationship." James, 52, suspects his boyfriend is doing drugs or met someone who is. His boyfriend, a 200-pound, six-foot man trained in full-body contact defense through the military, recently knocked a bedroom window out in a fit of rage. The lease is in James' name and James had endorsed his paychecks and deposited them into his boyfriend's bank account. James' boyfriend didn't pay money to pay bills a long time ago. James said his boyfriend's behavior changed in October, something he he had never seen before. "His behavior has changed so drastically that drugs are the only thing I can attribute it to," said James. "I don't know what happened; I can't tell you what snapped the twig in my companion. He went from being a very self-confident person to a person who had no control over his temper. Next day it was 'I'm sorry.' One week later it happened a second time. He said 'Please forgive me. It'll never happen again.' The day I walked in and saw what he did to my armoire, I thought that could've just as easily been me. As much love as I ever had for him, I have an equal amount of hatred. I never thought the day would come when it would come to that." James, who is well-educated, articulate, and speaks a second language, said before Thanksgiving another argument ensued. He wound up with a busted nose, ribs, and lip, bruised kidneys on the left side, several bruised ribs, and a cut on his cheek. "I didn't report it to the police because he (my boyfriend) is European. If I'd gone to the police it probably would've cost him his green card. I didn't see any point in ruining his career," said James. "To suddenly find myself in this situation...First this happens then I lose my job. I probably have lost $3,000 worth of income. I'm down to $6.00. There's not a remote possibility I'd go back. I've got furniture I could sell for the damages if I could get in the apartment." James has no family; his parents are deceased,and he is an only child. He has been to college and has had three careers. "I can't even get in (my apartment) to get more clothes. I've washed and worn the same set of clothes for nearly two weeks. My shirt has been washed so many times that what was once a green shirt is now a white one," he said. "I have a home full of furniture I cannot bear to lose. I'm an intelligent man. I'm not a bum. I gave this relationship every possible shot it could have. The hell of it is I'm not a woman, I'm not HIV positive, I don't have an alcohol or drug problem and I can't find a place to live. If I were a woman the city would open its arms to me." James' boyfriend beat him two other times and made him get rid of his three pets - two cats and a dog shortly after they started dating. James, who was in his relationship two and a half years, has tried staying at several shelters and talked to a couple of attorneys but to no avail. "You hear all about these charities who are supposed to help but when you tell them you're gay they don't want to help," he said. "When I tell them what I need they tell me what they can't provide. It's not just a gay abusive thing. There are lots of straight men that are being abused by their wives." James said he has learned a good many things out of his experience and that he will never have another relationship or share a bank account with anyone. "The first time anyone lays their hands on you, you leave. You don't buy into 'I'm sorry., it won't happen again.' The only thing that happens is it gets worse," he said. "Once he (my boyfriend) would get me on the ground I had no defense." James said while he was staying with his friend there was no chance of his boyfriend finding him because he didn't know where he was. "I think what he (my boyfriend) will probably do is take his passport and go back to Italy," he said. James had to leave his friend's house the Saturday before Christmas because his friend had holiday company and there was no room. After numerous phone calls to several people, trying to find a place to stay, James took a bus to the Union Gospel Mission where he hoped he could be safe for now. But he said there was no room there and he walked up and down Lancaster Avenue all night just to keep warm. His next move was to go to the Salvation Army to try to get a room there. He hasn't been heard from since before Christmas. Rev. Ken Ehrke of Agape MCC in Fort Worth said his church doesn't see many homeless people around since the location isn't near the bus line. "There are shelters for women (who are being abused) but not men," said Ehrke. The Salvation Army allows for a free three-night stay. (Source: Salvation Army). The Presbyterian Night Shelter (PNS) will allow people to stay free but requires them to leave during the day. (Source: Presbyterian Night Shelter). According to a 1999 article by Paul McDonald, chief executive officer of a youth substance abuse service, shifts involving larger amounts of drugs such as heroin making it into the market are of such significance that they challenge all aspects of the provision of homeless, correctional, health, and welfare services. He said homeless services will need to educate clients on harm reduction strategies such as overdose prevention, resuscitation, and injecting site techniques, as well as provide assistance with fundamental accommodations and welfare support issues. Rick, 43, who was diagnosed with AIDS in Oct. 1996, and now has his own apartment, was once homeless for six months. He used to own a house which he lost in 2000 along with his job before successfully kicking a cocaine addiction. He went through drug treatment three times and now spends time at the Samaritan House, having lived there for over a year. He enjoys movies, photography, music, and used to play the piano. (Source: Samaritan House). "My parents were supportive of me having AIDS but not the drug addiction so I ended up homeless on the streets. It (being homeless) was so beyond what I ever imagined I'd be at," he said. "It was frightening sometimes. There's so many things that could've hurt or killed me that didn't. I don't know if I can make sure I won't be homeless again because of my illness but I can always come back here (to the Samaritan House." Rick said he told staff at the drug treatment center that he was gay and it was a positive experience, resulting him becoming "the gay pet." He said being homeless gave him a lot more compassion for homeless people and that once he became homeless he didn't talk to this friends that much that he had before he lost his home. But he has made friends through his work with the Health Education Learning Project (HELP) and through the Samaritan House. He talks to his parents on weekends but they don't visit. "It makes me feel sad because I see people who are out there (on the street) who were out there when I was," said Rick. "I learned I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was. My strength is my Higher Power. I never had to access that strength until I was on the street. I couldn't find a way to pull myself out of being homeless. I understand why people stay on the streets for years and years because it's so hard to get out of it." Rick said a gay person can't be open about their sexuality while living on the street. "I sensed that I needed to keep that I was gay a secret. I pretty much had to keep to myself at all times. It's hard to go from being openly gay to hiding yourself," he said. "You have to block off who you are. Every once in awhile I'd hear (anti-gay) comments. I don't think it's very safe for a gay man to be on the streets." Rick suggested that those who want to help should help gay homeless people get in contact with agencies who can give them resources and offer rides to doctor appointments. "Try to be compassionate," he said. "It (being homeless) can happen to anyone. I never dreamed I'd be homeless in a million years. I just went through the motions to survive. I was lucky to always have a place to sleep and eat. You have to learn the ropes." Other homeless people taught him where to get food, he said. Others tried to get him to scheme by dealing in stolen checks and shoplifting but Rick said he didn't want to get in trouble. Once a guy who was trying to pressure him into returning stolen merchandise for cash got mad when Rick wouldn't do it and lost his temper while Rick waited inside a facility for him to leave. Rick plans to go to school to further his four-year college education and teach school. "I didn't want to come to Samaritan House for the longest time because I thought it was the end of the road," said Rick. Christy Lavine, who was homeless for five years with her girlfriend until June when they moved into the Butler Facility in Fort Worth downtown, said she has never had any money. Lavine and her girlfriend lived at PNS for almost a year, the Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army, Arlington Night Shelter, and on the streets. Lavine said living at the PNS was "bad" and that staff fed her and her girlfriend bologna three times per day, the restrooms were dirty, and Lavine was bit by a spider twice and almost died. While they lived on the street Lavine ate out of trashcans and bathed in the Trinity River. Lavine's girlfriend's family doesn't support the couple being together. (Source: Fort Worth Lambda Group). Lavine was married to a man for 15 years but dated women on the side, she said. She talks to her three brothers daily but her sister says Lavine "has the devil over her" because she's gay. Lavine said her dad doesn't care about her sexuality. "My family won't help me because I'm gay," said Lavine. "My girlfriend pays my rent because my mom found out I was still with her and she stopped helping me." While living in the shelters Lavine and her girlfirend, who have been dating 13 years, sometimes had to pretend they weren't a couple. They're also both former suicidal patients. When being admitted to hospitals they would have to pretend they didn't know each other although most of the places know they're a couple. One night director at a hospital asked them to sleep in separate rooms after finding out they were together. Lavine and her girlfirend, who has her own apartment, want to get married one day and maybe move to Dallas but neither of them have a car. Lavine lost her SSI (Social Security) benefits in 2001 when she was sent to the penitentiary. She has been denied benefits twice since then but applied for them again in 2003. "We just want to start fresh and live our life," said Lavine. "Hopefully I'll get my SSI again or my girlfriend will support me until then." Lavine said she likes living at Butler and that she and her girlfriend don't drink or do drugs. She enjoys dancing, fishing, reading her Bible sometimes, going to movies, going out to dinner once a month when she can afford it, and playing Bingo. Her girlfriend gives her money. McDonald said new collaborations may be needed in housing and support options between alcohol and drug services and homeless services. He added that meeting the challenge of providing emergency accommodations to an actively drug-using homeless population is an idea that has been placed in the "too hard basket" for too long. The development of a secure environment for rehabilitation is fundamental for those seeking a path out of drug use, said McDonald. Randy Kruse, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987, has Carcinoma (a form of cancer), and lives at the Samaritan House. He came close to being homeless once, he said. He moved to Dallas at 20 and lived there 20 years. He said he was an alcoholic and got involved with crack cocaine. He also has a gay brother in Dallas who lives with his partner who he met on Randy's birthday 19 years ago. (Source: Samaritan House). In 1995 Kruse went through chemotherapy for five months then local radiation. He had tumors all over his body injected through individualized lesion treatment for six months, each tumor being injected with chemotherapy. He then went through Interferon treatment when he had insurance then continued through Parkland Hospital in Dallas after losing his coverage. "People try to make you ashamed of who you are," he said. "I wasn't talking to my brother when I was diagnosed (with AIDS). My parents were the most educated about AIDS. My brother and his partner were so paranoid about it." Kruse ended up overdosing a lot on prescription drugs to get his boyfriend to come over. He had just moved into a new apartment he couldn't afford when his boyfriend got fed up with his behavior. Kruse had done crack that weekend and someone beat him up from head to toe. He also had scabs in the same areas from cancer. His mom told him he'd have to be put in a nursing home. "My only concern was my dog," said Kruse. "My mom said she'd take the dog." Kruse was in the hospital for two or three weeks then transferred to a psychiatric ward at Parkland. His apartment manager didn't want him to move back. "After I got involved with crack things just got so chaotic," Kruse said. "I was diagnosed as Bipolar. My brother refused to take me home. They didn't know what they were going to do with me. My whole fear for all my life was dying and becoming homeless." Kruse was then admitted to the Pride Institute, an Arlington treatment facility and mental institute for gays and lesbians for three weeks. "My main concern was finding a place to go. Two nursing home representatives said I could live there but I would only get $45 a month. That scared me to death," Kruse said. "You think of homophobia being in the shelters. You hear the name-calling all your life and then you're homeless and you have to hear it, too. For me the thought of being homeless made me think of killing myself." Kruse then got the telephone number for the Samaritan House and was interviewed by three staff members there. He relapsed on drugs one month after moving into the facility in August 2000 then went to drug and alcohol rehab treatment. His brother and his brother's partner refused to talk to him. He saw his mom only three times from 2001 to 2003 and his dog twice. "I have made the best friendships here (at my new home) I ever had," said Kruse. "I would tell the public not to be so judgmental and critical until you've been in that person's shoes. People look down on homeless people. People are so judgmental even with the education of AIDS. There are ignorant gay people about AIDS. It's not 'Philadelphia' (the movie) where you have insurance and you can afford lawyers. You have to go to John Peter Smith (JPS Hospital) where you have to wait six hours." By some estimates, gay youth represent at least 20 to 40 percent of homeless youth, which included 500,000 to one million young people who run away or are forced from their homes each year as of Dec. 2001. (Source: Homeless Coalition). One homeless man was told by one Fort Worth shelter that if personnel had known he was gay and HIV-positive, they wouldn't have allowed him to stay there. (Source: Southwest Group). Holidays are extra difficult for gay runaways. Homosexual kids flee to San Francisco then find the cold reality of homelessness and AIDS. This time of year the city's population of gay runaways tends to swell. No one is sure how many young gay people are living on the streets. (Source: The Advocate). In 2003, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force estimated 26 percent of gay youth were forced from their homes because of conflicts surrounding their sexual orientation. The Larkin Shelter in California serves about 3,000 gay youth per year. Gay males ages 13 to 24 made up 51 percent of the nation's AIDS cases reported in 1998, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While many believe San Francisco, CA is the best-equipped city to handle gay and homeless issues, the city struggles to deal with the onslaught. Once runaways arrive in that town, they're often surprised by the cold northern California temperatures and the astonomical cost of living. (Source: The Advocate). Homeless gay teens were the focus of an ABC "20/20" show in Sept. 1999 which noted that almost 63,000 gay teens are kicked out of their homes each year by their parents. The show also looked at how they survived on the streets. Homophobia is still prevalent, support services are almost non-existent: homelessness for gay people is traumatic at best and sometimes life-threatening. This group has been variously (but not very often) described as a subpopulation within a subpopulation; a "multiply-oppressed community" without a sense of community because people need to be closeted for survival on the streets. (Source: The Advocate). The problem is compounded by a serious lack of services for gay homeless people. But most people say that any institutional response other than the provision of support groups and safe spaces for gay homeless people would just create more of an "us and them" dynamic, would just deepen the divide between homeless gays and lesbians and others in the community. (Source: POZ Magazine). Project Recovery in Fort Worth is one treatment facility that allows those who are gay and homeless with substance abuse isses to get help. In certain support groups for alcoholism and drug addiction there is a subtle and, in some places, not so subtle homophobia and bigotry toward gay members trying to get sober or clean from drugs. As a result, many gay and lesbian alcoholics and drug addicts turn back to what they know best - drugs, alcohol, and sometimes, the streets. Or they move in with someone in the community who is also abusing alcohol or drugs. Often they live with their families until they are turned out on the street, only to pick up their drug of choice again. Some wind up in mental institutes temporarily until they can find a place to live. (Source: Fort Worth Lambda). Alcohol, drug use, mental illness, and domestic violence are said to be the many causes of homelessness, according to a University of Alabama study. Participants in the study were 141 homeless people with substance use and other non-psychotic mental disorders seeking drug treatment at a a metropolitan health care agency for homeless persons. They were 72.3 percent male, 27.7 percent female, 82.7 percent African-American, and 17.3 percent Caucasian, with an average age of 37 years, and had 13.1 average years of education. |
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