Dear Friends,
Since December 2016 until quite recently, my husband, Mark, and I have
been sheltering and assisting a homeless man under the auspices of the
Earth-centered religious group I (nominally) lead. I say "nominally"
because the "group" is far more virtual than gathered, but we are a
qualified 501(c)(3) religious organization within a much larger
structure that supports Earth-centered worship groups primarily on
military installations.
In any case, I was led and continue to be led to provide spiritual and
sometimes material support in this manner to individuals who have fallen
through the many cracks and who have the internal wherewithal to take
control of their own destinies once past the obstacles that currently
hamper them. In Joshua's case, we have helped him make major progress
in that regard, and he has helped us significantly during the three
years we have lived together.
Earlier this winter, though, he realized, correctly, that we had made as
much progress in all areas as was possible in our current
circumstances. We helped him into the care of the St.Vincent de Paul
Society in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, based on his memories and observations
of the men's shelter and rehabilitation facilities they offered, where
he resides today.
Things have changed since his previous experiences in Idaho. Yes, they
still remembered him and he gained immediate entrance into a house with
12 other homeless men. He was able, through Medicaid, to have one of
his terribly deformed feet corrected of its severe bunion, and he is
healing. But the shelter has changed in recent years, and not for the
better. Whether it is the changes in drug culture or political issues
in general or the covid-19 pandemic affecting shelter population and
shelter staffing, the men's shelter is deteriorating rapidly, failing to
screen incoming men for serious drug problems and violence issues, and
failing to maintain physical health and safety.
Joshua has a well-honed situational awareness and experience in living
in men's shelters and in freeform communities in the wild. He is well
aware that it is up to him to take care of himself, as he has his entire
adult life, and find his way to safety. Out of all the reasons that led
me to offer him shelter in the first place, I feel called to do what I
can to help him find the best way forward. And I have used up all my ideas.
Joshua was born in 1973 and raised in a horribly abusive family
situation. At 15, he left on foot and 1) completed his GED; 2)
completed a 2-year program and certificate in Building Construction and
Maintenance in the Job Corps; and 3) enlisted in the US Navy. The Navy
deployed him on a missle cruiser to the Gulf War, and, at sea, he was
subjected to hazing, discrimination, and major failures of leadership
and command that resulted in awakening the complex PTSD arising from the
violence of his childhood, which the Navy then used to discharge him
under other than honorable conditions, with no access to the VA or other
benefits. In March of 1995, at 22, he was again homeless and broke,
with many obstacles between himself and sustainable employment.
Joshua has many good skills, but the PTSD has hampered him every step of
the way. At this time, however, we have completed and submitted all the
appropriate paperwork the the Board for Correction of Naval Records to
justify an upgrade of his discharge. Much has changed in the military
since 1995, when railroading soldiers and sailors into accepting
situations like Joshua was in finally came to the notice of Congress and
the Secretary of Defense required the old cases be reviewed in a
generosity of spirit.
I am confident that we made a solid case, but the wheels grind slowly.
If and when the upgrade comes through, there should be compensation for
his service-connected disability, as well as care made available.
At the same time, we have made a strong case to the Social Security
Administration that he is, indeed, disabled. Again, the wheels grind
slowly, but the process toward disability assistance is moving forward.
Thanks to Virginia extending Medicaid, Joshua now has medical and
behavioral health care available to him, and one of his feet is healing
from surgery.
Best part is, Joshua has a much better understanding of his past, its
affect on him and on his understanding of the world, and the obstacles
yet to be overcome. He does not have: family that cares; assets other
than the pack on his back; transportation or the ability to drive a car;
income other than what we can provide through the church.
I am pleased with the progress made over the three years. But I have
reached the limits of what I or we can do, other than care, research,
and try to help him find a way forward. I have committed to the rest of
my family that I will not lend out my sewing room to any other
non-family lodgers pending strenuous negotiations. But I will do my
best to help him discern a reasonable way forward.
I come to Friends for advice, for ideas, for suggestions of resources
that might be available. I know Joshua does not want to go further west
or to go into the South. He is obviously a tall, tattooed man with a
Tennessee accent and somewhat rough-edged manners. He adapted to
suburban living in NoVa, but it was touch and go. I retain custody of
all of his paperwork, and his mail comes here (I forward what needs to
be to the shelter). He has been OK in the Catholic shelter; he avoids
Mission-type facilities preaching the sin and hellfire of his
upbringing. His God is his own.
And I see him doing his best to walk in the Light.
Please call me at home or email me if you can shed some more light.
703-876-0537. And do, please, hold us both in the Light.
Sandy Harris
