First Name: Rd
City: Los Angeles, CA
Twitter: @LostAwareness

My story is simple.

• I left a decent paying job to save my health.
• Became indigent during a year’s search for other work.
• Became disabled 370 days after I left my job.
• Wound up on the streets.
• Fortunately, I am now housed due to actions taken by individuals, not homeless service providers.

Yes, there’s more. Yes, I go into it in detail — through vlogging, blogging, Twitter, Facebook and by acting as an advocate.

There’s so much more detail that one post has not enough space to cover it.

The important thing I want you to know?

Discrimination is rampant. I experienced it as a moderately educated, non-addicted, no mental component, white, over 55 year alive, woman seeking help, advice, and shelter.

My friends on the streets from the ages of birth to 87 are still experiencing discrimination. And our numbers are growing daily. Two of those I know still on the streets have died within the last month.

Homelessness is a growing epidemic.

Personally, I’ve experienced discrimination from agencies, organizations and corporations that tout being helpful; and from individuals. From volunteers to business owners. And from those who I shared the streets with.

Eliminating discrimination is a matter of education, of bringing about awareness (self- and other-).

As each one of us shares our stories, we break the “stereotype” and “limited perception” of who and what homeless are.

As each one of us shares our stories, we facilitate ending the discrimination.

We give each other community as we share our stories, and this is key to perhaps my most important thought to share with you:

Homeless is a solvable epidemic — community, expression, collaboration, and communication are tools that work.

Help transform the current economic worldview paradigm that fosters and teaches discrimination.

We can help each other.