Jay

Jays story might sound familiar to you. His unfortunate situation is not uncommon these days. He lost his job, then his home to foreclosure, and ended up homeless on the streets of Cleveland, Ohio.

Jay talks about his frustration trying to get help from homeless service providers. Since services have become specialized, he must travel to multiple agencies to get all of the help he needs. But without reliable transportation, he has trouble getting around. Although there are many good things to be said about the Continuum of Care model, it is not perfect. It does not, for example, fill in all of the communication gaps or take into consideration the lack of access to reliable and easily accessible transportation.

Imagine for a moment that you are homeless without income. You panhandle for bus fare, then travel to the agency you believe is most likely to help. You fill out the paperwork and sit in the lobby all day. After hours of waiting you are told you dont qualify, or the program is full and your name will go on a waiting list. If you're lucky, you'll get a bus pass to get home. Either way, at the end of the day, youre still homeless without housing or food. And you have to repeat this process - over and over - until you find the help you need.

Of course, this is a worse case scenario. It's important to remember the many instances when the safety net works, when it saves people from the streets.

Still, in some cases - like Jay's - people just give up. Perhaps his story will help you understand why.

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• mark
• horvath
• homeless
• ohio
• cleveland
• invisiblepeople
• tv
• invisible
• people

[CanterburyCat]

Jay, you are really a wise person on this earth. Your wish is very profound. I would like to put this video on the front page of the New York Times. Good luck. You understand what America was supposed to be about. I hope you see this comment some day.

[jiggaluv123]

i feel bad for this guy, he doesn't deserve this...

[scraps270]

a gentle soul in a ruthless world the human race is in real trouble this man probably never hurt anyone or anything if karma is true i hope he gets what he deserves before hes lost for good.

[patsaxon]

I wished I was able to assist these people? I am also unemployed as it is most difficult. If I were granted to be able to assist those in need, I would.

[patsaxon]

I wished that I could help these people, but I am also unemployed too. If I am granted enough to help those in need, I will!

[youdevil6]

@DeutscheGesinnung We are all one. There is only 1 race and thats the human race. Stop being a selfsish bastard and help others.

[AdventEdge]

@DeutscheGesinnung

what part of losing his job do you not get here?

[aznbspikey]

@ririmja LOL ! I'm brainwashed ? Ha .. Someone needs to calm down about trying to act cool and tough online . "Hey I'm ririmja and I try to fight online !" LOL ! Calm down kid .

[ririmja]

@aznbspikey Fuck your father in heaven and fuck you you brainwashed sick whore.

[semiLivedj]

no one deserves this,and when this happens to enough people"millions" and it will! then maybe we as the people will hold the people accountable that is doing it! I say send in the marines to all the bankers that are counterfieting money! or what they call fractional lending! Its illegal and no one gives a fuck! Not even our own govt.! Oh wait,thats because they do what their told! WAKE UP PEOPLE!

[DeutscheGesinnung]

I know how to help myself, why can't these idiots do the same. And this guy says we are all equal? I think I just proved otherwise. I can do it, but you cannot? That's not what I call equal, pal.

[youlosez]

my concerns/problems with my life are nothing compared to his. Thank for your single wish. it's a lesson I'll begin to follow.