Homeless in Hurricane Irene

Yesterday was a special day! See, I’ve been kind of stalking this homeless shelter. I have been practically beating down the door saying “Let me In”.

A few mornings ago, I was asleep in a Giant Food parking lot (I didn’t mean to fall asleep there but I was too exhausted to move). My phone went dead and at 8am in the morning which is exactly when I woke up, I couldn’t call the shelter to see if a bed was available.

It was! But, they gave it to someone else. I started participating in the lunch and dinner they serve as they allow drop-ins for meals everyday, and drop-ins for showers Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

So, when I came in all the staff were perplexed at how the bed was given to anyone else because I had been there, even sleeping outside of the shelter in hopes of getting a space.

Yesterday, I went and spent time with my mom. We were in the Hurricane grocery store lines. I was reluctant to come back to the shelter so early even though I didn’t have anywhere to go. I’m trying to “stalk” them on the low. I don’t want them to figure it out.

For all of you wondering what I mean by stalk, it is just an expression that my daughter and I use jokingly when we see that someone has their eyes on us a little too much, or when we are after something. We of course are not real stalkers and neither are the men who eyeball us, I don’t think.

When I came back to the homeless shelter and was in the middle of eating, the nice guy who works there said that they had a bed for me. The lady that works there kind of perked up. She said, “I think we have a bed for you. Stay right there.” As the food was being transported from the fork to my mouth.

Then, the whole in my soul began to close just a little. I’m frustrated, and I do feel like no one understands me or cares. I have about six people who have stuck by me as of recent, and three who have been around from the beginning of my tragedy.

Shelter

I got the bed that was given away. You know why? I told the guy that she walked out because it was my bed. Never mind that I’m on the top bunk and my out of shape, short breath having big behind, has to get up there on the bed rails and a short painters ladder. It is a bed, and it slept well last night.

My feet had been swollen for so long, and this problem did not start until I was sleeping in the car!

The women have already tried to pick fights with me and put me in the middle of foolishness but I’m not concerned about that, I can handle my own. My goal is simple: Employment and Housing!

Ending my Homelessness

It is real simple. Your support would be amazing. In the business world, using the word “need” is a No-No! But as a homeless person, I think it should be permissible. Quite simply I’m looking for PAID Speaking Engagements, A salaried position in Marketing Communications, Publicity (Television/Radio Interviews), Blog Distribution (Find a few blogs you like on www.ressurrection.wordpress.com and share them with the whole world), and BOOK SALES! I have about 600 books that I need to send out to you, your friends and family! You can order one directly from me at the below address or, go to: www.identitycrisisbook.com

It does me no good for people to know I’m homeless and not help me. It also makes no sense. I have never been that insensitive so I’m not sure why I’m reaping it. I wrote a blog recently about why people can become homeless. It is a good read. Maybe that can help your understanding.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Please with all due respect, stop standing there reading this and by all means support my daughter and I so that we don’t have to be separated.

I am giving up. This is not a figment of my imagination. I’ve been holding on for a long time, and Life is a choice. I am literally not choosing it anymore. I’m on auto pilot and this is not a good space. It is not temporal and neither has been my homelessness. I need a complete change.

Raising $15,000 will enable me to go and get an apartment for me and my daughter and pay for it for one year. I can then be stable enough to engage in both business and employment related activities that help me get a good job. Additionally, social services has money that can send me back to school which make me even more competitive.

If you go to: www.ressurrection.wordpress.com I have spent a lot of time and energy in writing almost 200 blogs! The last few months, I’ve touched on my current projects, missions, and homelessness.

Contact Information:

Ressurrection Graves
P.O. Box 7594
Arlington, Virginia 22207

202.717.7377 (RESS)

I have been homeless 2.5 years and I can not take it anymore. I have applied to at least one thousand jobs. I have changed my resume fifteen different ways from content, contact information and templates.

Your financial support is crucial to aide in establishing housing stability. Additionally, I am asking anyone who reads previous blogs, and like my work, to buy a book, call your contacts, assist me with getting adequate employment. 85% of people who gain employment know someone who helped them get the job. It will not help me to get a job and still be underemployed.

Everyone says I’m Tyler Perry, and Oprah. I don’t know how I get the privilege of being called both but I think it would be awesome if you would call them, (seriously if you know them.) Send them a copy of my book, and print out your favorite blog to go with it.

NOTE: I am out of the Hurricane praise God, however there are many who are not. If you see a homeless person, please help them to get to the nearest homeless shelter. Emergency Shelters allow Homeless people to come in out of extreme weather conditions like well, Hurricane Irene. They also serve meals, and have washer/dryer for their clothes.

Please act now and donate! You are your brothers keeper! Adam was told that he was not made to be alone. We all are in relationship with each other, believe it or not. When I fail, so does everyone around me aware of it. Think about it. When you win, everyone around you does too!

Thank you for your donation of any amount. Last Thing: If you are compelled to help but you feel that you don’t know me well enough to send the money directly to me over the internet, per this blog, I just spent my first night in a thirty day shelter.
If you would like to send money to me, not to an address but to the physical shelter, I will provide you with the information on a case by case basis, providing that I feel safe first.

Thank you.

Ressurrection

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