Hearth Home, National Coalition for the Homeless, and the Hand of Who?

https://www.bebee.com/producer/@joyce-bowen/hearth-home-part-1

https://www.bebee.com/producer/@joyce-bowen/homelessness-and-me

I am in negotiations still with Hearth Home over getting stories. People don’t easily trust journalistic intentions. We are not like therapists who are sworn to secrecy. But I hope to engender enough trust for people to be able to tell me their stories. I am a consummate interviewer.

I have opened up communications with The National Coalition for the Homeless. I’m sure they have some stories to tell. We are supposed to be one of the best nations in the world, but when it comes to homelessness, we get an F. People are starving and dying from the elements. I know I fear the cold as I face the probability of my own homelessness.

The following is an email communication I am having with these organizations:

     Sitting down with someone who essentially has journalistic intent can be intimidating, I know.  I have striven to be trustworthy in the past and will continue to do so.  On the blog site, there is an interview with Mark Parisi (link referenced on Wikipedia) and an interview with Kate Campbell.  Mark told me a few things that I asked if I could use and he choked.  I did not use them.  Kate—well Kate.  I do go into some discussion in the comments section of those blog posts, but they were decades ago and hardly matter now.  I did NOT ever reveal Mark’s secrets.
     It is perfectly okay to want to be anonymous.  I can simply assign a name and say I am doing so.  I do hope to engender trust so I can get the personal side of the story.  I like to get to know the person so I can reflect that persona in my writing.  I want to do everything I can to “humanize” the story.  I want these stories to touch people in a way that could spur positive reaction.

     If you looked at my blog much, you probably saw I take on social issues much of the time.  I often tell stories that I relate to me in some way.  This is one.

     You can look over what I write.  In my blog, there is one called Dents.  In it, I discuss how I do not expect to shake the world, but I hope to make a Dent.  That’s my goal. 

     As far as becoming homeless?  I may have no choice.  But none of us truly have a choice when it comes to something like this.  We’ll see.  I’m fortunate I have some time to plan.  I have to feel fortunate that I can plan.  I know many don’t have that option.

     Give me a brave subject to work with who’s as pissed off as I am and you and they will love what I write.  Give me a chance to prove it, and I will not disappoint.  Give me someone who is more retiring, and I still think I can tell their story with heart.

Homelessness seems more certain for me because of a recent event. A tree from my property fell and impacted three other properties. It had four massive trunks; now it only has three. What a Mother’s Day gift. We had a Nor’easter. Thwap!

The Trunk

Yes—that’s my insurance adjuster dwarfed by branches. That’s a neighbor’s fence. It’s not covered. Damn—not by my insurance or theirs. Their policy does not include their fence.

As I nervously anticipate my insurance company’s decision, I know there will be Hell to pay for having a claim. I have owned my home for 31 years, and have never had a claim. That won’t matter in the scheme of things. I have one now.

I’ve been looking into the practices of insurance companies in Massachusetts, and they essentially run the show. Several months out of the year, I go hungry paying for required insurance. I’d cover only my mortgage, but I’m finding that is not allowed. I must carry what the insurance company tells me to cover. If I don’t, it will trigger an inspection, and they can tell you to fix the most ridiculous things. Been there. I had to fix three items once. Two were ridiculous. One was necessary, but I’m here all the time, so I missed it--like getting used to what you see.  If you have a mortgage, you are required to pay whatever the insurance company can glean from you.

I have no money to put out on these things they could burden me with. And in this case, they could require me to at least trim down the three remaining trunks. A 3-5 grand proposition to be sure. I complain about not being able to afford food and diapers. Perhaps I could mill the wood and encase myself or chew on the leaves…

Homeless looks more and more probable and an old friend who is a top real-estate agent comes on Saturday. I’ll find out how much I can get for—what to me is—my priceless home. I hope the prices will hold through the summer for I want to stay here that long. Vultures are already circling looking for bargains. I put too much of my life and money into this place to sell it cheaply. Remember https://www.bebee.com/producer/@joyce-bowen/a-woman-and-her-tools?

I should have enough to get a Winnebago. A bed and a toilet is more than many have. My son is teetering about coming with me. I may be alone on my journey.

But I’ll have you with me, so I won’t exactly be alone.

Copyright 2017 Joyce Bowen

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