Dear Mr. President,
After a five-year journey of being chronically homeless, I have been through social services and justice departments and received aid and assistance from nonprofits while being between unemployed and unemployable. I never felt politics or government played a role in my condition. However, after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and through the help of DC Medicaid and DC Alliance, I now receive proper treatment and prescribed medications. My life is slowly progressing to where I can be a taxpayer and help others who are experiencing mental illnesses.
Although I am grateful for the services provided for me, I have mixed feelings when I am around homeless people, especially during the holidays, because I know how bad it can be.
At one time, I had nothing but contempt for the homeless; I thought many were sorry excuses of life. Because many of the homeless were black men, my anger really seethed. I believed those who helped were bleeding hearts that enabled the homeless by providing food and blankets.
But these views were foolish. As I started to understand my illness, I became curious about why a country as rich as ours has people on one side of the spectrum living in $5,000-a-month suites, while those who are sick and cannot take care of themselves literally die on the streets right in front of your doorstep.
One day in October, I walked through Franklin Park and spotted an attractive homeless woman. I began to have a conversation with her, but she was incoherent. I asked her if she did any drugs or alcohol; she said no. I asked, “Do you have somewhere to go?” She replied, “No, I don’t.” It was a warm day, but the temperature was going to drop that night. I felt so sad for her. She had no blankets or coat, nor did she want to eat anything. She was drinking two two-liter bottles of soda.
I bought her some Chinese food. Nevertheless, she seemed blank and oblivious. She was shaking and trembling as if she had some nervous condition. I suggested she call an emergency service that might take her to a shelter. She said she sleeps at a church.
I decided to go home and get her a pamphlet that provides service information. When I came back, I had seen her with another woman who was homeless. This made me think that at least she would be safe with another woman there to watch her.
From experience, I could do nothing else. Even though I thought it was a life-threatening situation for her, the police and hospitals could not do anything without her consent. It is not uncommon for many who are severely mentally ill. I have seen many in some of the severest weather refuse assistance.
The first woman told me that she would go to a shelter to stay, and I went home. A couple of days later, I checked on her. It was much colder that day, and she was still wearing the same thin clothes. She said she did not go to the shelter, and she was in worse condition when I met her. She was shivering and did not eat.
I went home that night wondering how and why this happens in America. This woman obviously could not take care of herself. There is a high possibility she might die if not helped before winter.
This encounter truly moved me to wonder why, in a democratic society, we put more worth in money than in life. To me, I feel it is murder by the dollar. I have not seen the woman recently, but I pray for her.
Mr. President, please do not compromise on health care or anything else that will help the people, not just the wealthy and self-seeking.
