Month: March 2020

I escaped from Bulgaria on Friday 13, 1985. The communists were chasing me. I am Macedonian. I was a member of O. M. O. Ilinden (Organization for a United Macedonia). I was a political refugee. I had a sponsor in Utah. When I escaped, the communists were still in power. You couldn’t say much about them. People disappeared. I was afraid I would disappear too, so I run.

I didn’t speak English. I got a job as a housekeeper at a Marriott in Salt Lake City. I became a set-up guy for events at a Hilton in Salt Lake City when my English was a little better. I became supervisor. A cousin of mine moved from Bulgaria to Chicago. They found me and I came to Chicago.

I got a job in construction. I had a problem with my lungs and started slowing down. I didn’t have the means to see a doctor. I didn’t have strength for construction any longer. I got temporary jobs—I couldn’t keep a full-time job. I was working at Blommer Chocolate but the cocoa powder made me sick. I got a job at Grant Achatz’ Next Restaurant.

I came home one day after work and found all my possessions in the alley—I had fallen behind on my rent. I became homeless. It was 2 years ago.

Somebody told me about a shelter at 10 S. Kedzie. I lived there for a month and then I heard about the Boulevard which provides shelter for people in medical recovery. I have COPD, arthritis and back pain.

We lived in Bethel Park, an upscale suburb of Pittsburgh. My brother is white—we were both adopted. A kid in school came up to us and called me a “nigger” and my brother “a nigger lover” This was the ‘90’s. Kids made me feel like because I’m black, I’m ugly. I suffer from depression and low self-esteem because of that. My dad had a paint set in the basement and I started to paint myself as white. My dad came down, saw my painting and just hugged me.

When my dad died, I married Greg, who I met in community college. We moved into Section 8 housing in Pittsburgh. Our neighbors were selling drugs. I reported them but instead of the housing authority kicking them out, they told the neighbors I reported them and I started getting death threats. I wasn’t safe; they attacked my husband, harassed our kids. We went to a shelter and decided to relocate to Chicago.

We stayed at a Salvation Army shelter. I met with Heartland Alliance and they helped with our needs. My husband has MS and started having seizures. We were in Logan Square but our landlord didn’t comply with city codes and we had to leave—we wound up homeless a second time. The New Hope Apartments through Catholic Charities paid our rent for 2 years. We moved here in Englewood 5 months ago.

We go to a bilingual Pentecostal church and I do outreach to Puerto Rican and Mexican communities. I’m just happy now. I’m working with Chicago Coalition for the Homeless helping homeless find resources.

I had a job soldering pinball machines. I was a vocalist in New York. I sang in church choir and passed my first audition. I didn’t study music; you don’t always have to. I liked school and books and studying. I miss the music and nightlife. I became homeless months ago. I live outside. It’s harsh but peaceful. Our current political climate makes homelessness harder and harder for people to understand and sympathize with. It’s easier to castigate and find disdain. Living outside in nature is harsh but nature’s forces will not judge you.

I first became homeless when my mother died; then my dog died. My stepdad is an alcoholic; he’s evil. I’m a Certified Nurse’s Assistant. I told him to bring my mom to the nursing home where I worked, but he wouldn’t. She had diabetes, always helped me with money. When she died I couldn’t go back to her house, which was my grandparent’s home. I left my boyfriend—he cheated on me. I got a new job as Certified Nurse’s Assistant at Harmony Healthcare at Pulaski and Foster. The residents are elderly.

I met my fiancé last January. He knew people here in the tent city. We got here in the spring. We were living in my truck near my job in Niles. During the polar vortex we had to run the engine to keep warm until it ran out of gas. We had a lot of blankets; had to cuddle up together. It was brutal. I’m not going to stay out here next winter. My plan is to rent an apartment and get out of tent city. I want to come home to a nice warm place.

I first became homeless in 1991, after my mother passed away. I slept in the park with my baby and didn’t have anywhere to go. We’ve been living doubled up now with different families until there’s no more room for us. Right today me and my daughter, Mariah, are homeless. My son is living with his uncle, Albert. My brother, George, was killed at work last summer. Please, can somebody help me find a home? I need a place to call my own. I stopped school at 10th grade. My kids have their high school diplomas. I recently started the G.E.D. program at Kennedy-King College. It’s free. I want to better my life and say I finished school.

I was a Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy. I was a 5th generation veteran. My great-great-grandfather served in “Big Red One” in WWI. He was from Belleport, ND, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribe. He wasn’t considered a citizen. Citizenship wasn’t granted to Native Americans until 1924. My great aunt was a WAC in WWII. My great uncle served in Vietnam. I served at the tail end of Desert Storm/Desert Shield. I served in a conflict zone in Haiti in 1998. I was sexually assaulted by another corpsman at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego after being roofied. I was taken back to my room. The rape kit is pretty invasive. Everyone on the base started pointing at me—“She’s a liar! She deserved it!” I convinced them to transfer me to another base. There was an altercation at a bar and I was wrongfully charged. I was convicted and received an “other than honorable” discharge. The Innocence Project intervened and I got out in 1½ years. I got pregnant with my first son right after I got home. I stayed in San Diego 6 years after that. My husband was an abusive drunk; tried to kill me. I moved back to Chicago in 2006. I got into another abusive relationship. Since 2008 we’ve had small bouts of homelessness. I wound up staying with my abusive boyfriend. When we were homeless we stayed doubled up with friends and family. When I couldn’t stay with friends I’d call my ex and ask for help with rent, food, rides. I know I shouldn’t have called him—he beat me, stalked me; tried to kill me. I had no choice. My kids have special needs and need therapy. I finally got into the VA system last year. We got a place through Volunteers of America. I go to job fairs looking for work in management. I ran a salon. I’m also a licensed phlebotomist. I do volunteer work at my kids’ schools. I volunteer for Homeless Veterans in America Foundation. I can work from home. I don’t need a dollar, I need a job.

I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1969. The Vietnam War was still going on. I did boot camp in San Diego. In December 1969 I was sent to Hue and did 2 tours. Our base was overrun twice. Second tour I got hit. They were firing harassment rounds. I ran towards a bunker when I got hit in both legs. They carried me out to the LZ and I was medevac-ed out by helicopter. I could see mortar rounds hitting and guys dying. I was sent to Balboa Medical Center in San Diego. I learned to walk again in 6 months. I got a hairline fracture in a truck accident and finished my tour of duty. My final assignment was Drill Sergeant. I left the Marine Corps in 1978 after 9 years. I was awarded 2 Purple Hearts. I started having PTSD.

I came back to Chicago to help my father who had injured himself. I got a job as a forklift operator. I left my girlfriend on bad terms and moved back to my old apartment. The company I worked for went bankrupt in 1993. I couldn’t pay the rent. I stayed with my father until I could get another job. My brother accused me of stealing his money; called the cops on me. They got a restraining order. I had to go to court for violating it. I found a shelter in Pilsen. Had a variety of jobs. I got a room at Lugo Hotel, an SRO in Pilsen for $42 a week. I stayed for 15 years.

One day I fell down in winter, hurt my back, went to the VA Hospital. They gave me a walker. I had a few fainting spells. I went to the Lorali Hotel another SRO, for a year. When it closed my case worker helped me find this place, the Leland Hotel. I have a fridge, air conditioning and a clean bathroom. Now I’m here and I’m gonna stay. It’s beautiful here. It’s clean; no bed bugs at all>