Monday, August 15, 2011

Onto the next episode

One thing I'm learning for sure is to not let the stress of the situation get the best of me. It seems every time I feel things are looking their most grim, something amazing happens and turns it all around.

My plan this morning was to come to the library and write complaining how I'm going to be out on the street ON 9/11. Along with feeling hopeless as I'm trying to get help for others, planning an event for next month, and preparing to start my first classes at Harvard Extension Program in Jan.... all with the black cloud over my head of having to worry about where I'll be in just over 3 weeks.
Well that black cloud is lifted, and the worry is gone!!
Over the last couple of months it's been a waiting game. There are two very small, exclusive, long term shelters in Boston, one by Harvard and one by Central Sq.
The one by Harvard I've been 3rd on the list for months, and there is just no turnaround right now.
The other shelter I had to call every morning, while having a referral -- someone in human services that works with me -- standing at my side.
People wait months just to get someone to stand with them for the call at the multi center, that calls at 10am, on the dot, every morning to check for bed availability.
So every morning, if I was in the city I went to Cambridge to meet my "guru" (psycho therapist / social worker) for him to call, or if town here by my shelter I'd go back to have the director or case worker there call with me. Doing this every morning, was exhausting and very difficult to coordinate. Howver I made this call every day, at... and this is imortant... 9:58am every day.
Too many people loose sight that there are thousands of people looking for same opportunities, so you need to be aggressive and assertive. As long as people lined up for the 10am call at the multi center, they would NEVER beet me to the bed, and this morning I proved that! ;)
I move into my new shelter tonight, which is a private house with around 12 people, where I will remain UNTIL HOUSED.

Honestly I'm too excited, and have too much to do today now, that I have to cut this short and put other topics on the back burner till later in the week, but I had to drop in and share!!
And now that I don't have to worry about where I'll live... this latest Homeless BBQ next month, WILL be bigger and better than ever!! So hit that donate button and help me get this going!!
I worked 4 hours the other day just to make $10, in order to give $7 of that to someone who needed it more than I did. So if I can... so can you! ;)

And to those who said they'd call regarding sponsorship.... my phones been on 24/7. Just Sayin' ;)

Moving on up,
Gary aka John Doe

5 comments:

  1. Like very much :) x

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is a very compelling story about persistence. Congratulations!!

    Quoting Winston Churchill: "Never, never, never give up. Never."

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love reading your blog. Congrats to you! I like good stories, you give me hope that my life will be better and that I too will be housed.
    "Streetworker213" P.J.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So happy for you and grateful to watch all of this goodness unfold.

    ReplyDelete