Meet Julia and Mike - Neuro-Marketing for the Homeless , Advertising for Compassion

in #ophumanangels6 years ago (edited)

This is Julia and Mike. They live in a truck, with two of their (adult) disabled children. Yes, that's right, the four of them live in a pick-up truck with a camper shell.

juliamike_orig.jpg

Let that sink in.

Four people, one of whom is in a wheelchair, live in a truck. They have no other options. The puppy is a stray that adopted them. They couldn't leave it homeless, so they took it in. Ironic, isn't it?

They didn't always live in a truck, they once had a home.

Mike is a disabled veteran who served in the Army in Vietnam. Julia is a wife and a mom. They've been married over 20 years, and have four children altogether.

They've been through hell together. Together, they are still there.

They once owned a home, not too far from the corner where I found them. Due to Julia's progressive illness, (before being formally diagnosed) the cost of hospitalizations, doctor's visits and medicines tore through what little savings they had. Mike, a disabled veteran, had a bustling business as a handyman. For years, they were doing pretty well. They saved enough to purchase their home outright, and had a pretty decent life.

Until Huntington's Disease

He tells me that Julia has Huntington's disease, a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It thoroughly and pervasively deteriorates a person's entire being, until there is nothing left.

Julia is in the latter stages, and although she finds it difficult to speak, she says it all with her eyes. The light still shines brightly, and she has retained all of her dignity. She is beautiful, inside and out.

Julia's illness seemed to come out of nowhere. It's onset was as insidious as it was aggressive. Mike had to take time off from his business to tend to Julia and her appointments. She had lost the ability to walk. They got behind on their property taxes. Soon, the city stepped in and "repossessed" their home, a home they had OWNED for years. They, along with their two remaining "adult" children, were summarily evicted.

Shortly before the eviction, their two younger children were taken by "Child Protective Services."

He says the moment Julia was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, CPS showed up, told Julia she was "unable to care for her children," and that was that. They immediately removed the children from their home.

Julia and Mike have not seen their children since.

According to Mike, the children were well taken care of, well fed, and well provided for. Julia nods energetically in agreement with him. There was no abuse or neglect, CPS had taken the children because Julia could no longer walk. She had to use a wheelchair.

juliamike_orig02.jpg

Julia loves her sign. It says, "When did we stop caring about each other? Please help."

As he relates this, Julia begins to cry. It is impossible to hold back my own tears. I kneel and hold her hand as Mike tells me the rest of the story.

After the children were taken, but before the eviction, Julia spent what little energy she had left attempting to work with CPS to get her children back. The agency made the parents attend "parenting classes," and required Julia, a woman with a progressive, incurable disease, to attend physical therapy sessions.

Evidently, CPS had decided that "walking" was a key requirement of parenting.

Julia may not say much, but she has an eye-roll that can be heard loud and clear. I agree with her that CPS is ridiculous, and squeeze her hand.

Mike tells me they are locked in a continual battle with CPS to get their kids back. His fondest wish at the moment is to let Julia see her children before, "You know," as he nods her in her direction, but neither of them have any idea where the kids are, or what to do next.

They've exhausted every avenue. Now, they stand in the middle of the boulevard trying to earn enough for a room for the night.

Julia only receives Medicaid, and a small sum of $200 a month in disability benefits. The sum is much smaller than it should be, because Julia and Mike owned a home, and a truck. The home was taken by the state, but still counted as an asset for the couple. Mike, a disabled veteran gave up on collecting his disability benefits long ago. He jokes that his free crutch is the only benefit the VA ever gave him. He tells me he has tried many times to get the benefits due him, but it's one big bureaucratic mess. He says, "They just wear ya down, til ya give up." He's entitled to approximately $6,000 to $8,000 a month, as a veteran of the Vietnam War. Vets often give up on their benefits, due to the difficulty of getting them. It's not like he has the time, anyway.

juliamike_orig01.jpg

Being homeless is not a moral failing, not caring about it IS.

In between the homelessness, caring for his disabled wife and children, and hobbling around on a crutch himself, he is trying to slay the CPS dragon for his beloved Julia. It is a hard fought battle he is likely to lose. He is a Wounded Warrior, deserving of the highest honors, and the utmost respect, but instead, here he stands in the meridian, begging for spare change. The people passing by have no idea they have just overlooked a true American Hero.

As I left, I turned back and happened to catch this bittersweet moment. It is etched in my memory forever.

juliamike_orig03.jpg


I saw Mike some weeks later. He asked if I had any more signs. He said the signs worked really well. A kind soul with connections had stopped and helped Julia, while she was holding her "caring" sign. He told me the lady had gotten Julia into a hospice-type care facility. I didn't have the heart to ask about the children.


If you are like me, and have the heart to give, but not the resources, then this idea is for you. Maybe you could make a few signs. While you are passing them out, I guarantee you, you will make some new friends.

Can one sign make a difference?

Maybe.

Can many signs make a change?

We'll see.

Wise words from @arbitrarykitten :

"...most of the time if you see someone pan handling- it took an awful lot to get them to stoop that low. It is extremely degrading to stand on the street and beg, you really have to summon strength from I don't even know where. When you hear their story, remember there's so much more than there is time to tell, and you will never hear the worst parts."

I invite you to make a few signs.

If that's all you can do, you may change the world in ways you never thought possible!

The first post explaining "Better Signs," can be found here:

https://steemit.com/stewardsofgondor/@seaslim/neuro-marketing-for-the-homeless-advertising-for-compassion

(Original photos by me, such as they are)

Thanks so much to the #newbieresteemday initiative, to @davemccoy , @lynncoyle1 , and so many others who have helped me out, and helped support this idea. You are earth angels, posing as Steemians!

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

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wow you are one amazing person @seasllim! So many people assume and judge the homeless and it's not right. I've struggled through homelessness and I'll tell you I did not fully appreciate the plight of the homeless until it happened to me. I could never bring myself to make a sign - but that's only because we never got that desperate - thankfully we have a small support system.
But I will say it takes courage beyond belief to stand there in traffic with a sign, asking for help. I will give my last $1 to someone with a sign just because I know how much strength/balls it takes to stand up in front of those those judging faces and ask for change.

I love what you're doing and I'm so happy @davemccoy told me about your blog :) Keep Steemin !

Thank you for your words of kindness, @amarie. I'm glad you had a small support system, but as you know, many don't. You are so right, it takes so much courage to stand there with a sign, literally begging for mercy from a world gone seemingly cold. But ya know, as I've stood on those corners talking with the sign holders, I've watched so many people in their new cars, clearly well to-do, pass right by. It takes a special kind of "courage" to look another human being in the eye, and refuse them help, when they so clearly could spare a dollar or two. I have found that they people who could least afford to help, are the ones most likely to do so.

I'm so glad we connected. This is like being in heaven, surrounded by angels. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better!

yay! so happy we connectes too. There are so many wonderful people on here :)
You're so right there is a whole different kind of "courage" (though I think it may be ignorance mixed with cowardice) to pass right by these sign holders or people sleeping on the street and refuse to help.
My husband and I are always getting coffees or gloves & hats for our homeless friends in our town. We try to help at least one a day in some small way. We are super lucky to have had our van working all winter because here in Mass it gets very cold!
So blessed to have stumbled onto your blog. I think we may take part in your sign challenge! What a great idea. :)

Oh please do! Let us know what you come up with for sayings on the signs. And absolutely let us know of the results! I'm so excited that you are going to try it! :)

hey there! you have been featured in this week's #MinnowMondays post which highlights awesome newbies and their posts - brought to you by @newbieresteemday :)

Check it out here!!

Hey there! Please also contact
121 North Porter Avenue
Norman, OK 73071
http://www.progind.org
Email: [email protected]

Phone Numbers:
Local: (405) 321-3203
Fax: (405) 321-7601
Accessible: (405) 321-3203
Director:
Name: Jeff Hughes
They should direct you to the correct local ILC so that this family can get the advocacy it needs and deserves! They should be all over this. Gosh this makes me so mad!!

What a wonderful idea! And can i just say that i really admire you for taking the time to get to know this family and tell their story for them.
That takes real heart and courage.

I was literally growling at my screen as I read how Mike is a veteran that has given up on getting his benefits. I hate so much that the system is so screwed up that men and women who earned their benefits often don't get them because of bureaucratic red tape.
And don't even get me started on cps. 😐

good post again... very good @seaslim! ;)

Congratulations you have been upvoted and resteemed as part of #newbieresteemday's top 10 posts for the day! ...

We invite you to use our tag to connect with more of our members. To learn more: Come Join Us!!! (Newbie Resteem Initiative)

This is the best day ever! Okay, so maybe not ever but it is definitely top ten! Thank you so much!

God bless amen.
❤️

Thank you, God bless you, too! How did you make that beautiful little heart? <3

I would say iPhone emoji...but I had hep from a higher place power...no not power steem which I need. Lol thank you enjoy the day.

Thank you for creating more compassion and empathy in this world. The signs idea is a really good one. I've never heard of this before today!

I hope that is what I'm accomplishing. It's hard to measure. Do you have many homeless people in your area?

It is better if we could get government to help veterans more than they try to help illegal immigrants and other things. So, I like smaller government. I like helping people too. Interesting stories like this one can be heard all around.

Yes, Joey, it would be nice if we could help more people. We have many empty HUD homes in which veterans could live. If they could just get their benefits easily, it would solve a majority of the problems, and they wouldn't end up homeless. As I'm sure you've noticed, it costs money for most people to live - and buy oatmeal. :) Stay tuned, because today I will be writing about a veteran who is homeless. His name is Sarge, and he has quite an interesting story to tell. He chooses to be homeless, rather than take advantage of a certain "housing" program we have here in Oklahoma City. His story is very enlightening, I look forward to your thoughts.

Unelected agencies are terrifying to me. Last year I encountered information about the racket that is CPS. Made my hair stand on end.

I'm glad your sign drew in help for Julia!

At one point we lived in our minivan... Just the two of us. The part that gets old is constantly being in the public eye. I can't imagine 4 disabled adults managing their way through this routine.

I will admit, if we get a chance, we would probably be happy in a van. If we got to have lots of money this time. Money solves a lot of issues. Including down time away from the public.

I agree. I've run a missing children's site for a number of years, and I've heard all sorts of horror stories about CPS, but when Mike told me what had happened, I was shocked. That was a first, CPS taking away children because mom is now in a wheelchair. It is ridiculousness beyond comprehension. Have you seen the posts by @familyprotection ? I meant to tag them in this, they are an awesome group, doing what they can to help those in need of protection. I think together, we can turn this around.

Whether or not the sign made any difference, I don't know. I'd like to think that seeing a woman in a wheelchair begging for money in the middle of the street is enough to make anyone stop and help, with or without a sign. That doesn't seem to be the case here in OKC, as I see the same people in wheelchairs, over and over again. They are for real, too. I just hope i live to see the day when we all wake up and realize that we are all in this together. The day we all have that "Aha!" moment....that when one person does better, we all do better, by extension. That is one of the reasons I love Steemit. Our whole world should be a win/win.

You are right about money, too. It does solve a lot of problems. Or so I hear. LOL

Highly rEsteemed!

Have you seen @ackza's channel and the work he does with homeless in San Diego? He tries to get them onto SteemIt. Now I know that's not possible in all of these cases, but SteemIt is far more reliable than the VA or Government in general... m'just sayin.

Thanks for the recommendation, I will check it out! I've been trying to get another group of disenfranchised people I work with on Steemit, too. I sort of appointed myself as a "Steem Ambassador." What a great idea to get the homeless on Steemit. The local missions here kick them out of the mission from 8am to 5pm. They are supposed to be "looking for a job." Most of them go hang out at the library, where there are dozens of computers and free wifi. It's a perfect set-up! And you are right, Steemit IS more reliable than the VA or the Government. But when were either reliable? LOL

@familyprotection, I know I am a newbie here, I see this and I know there are many of your followers who are able to help here! We are all only one paycheck away from being like Julia and Mike! Compassion is the key to life! Love all as you would want to be loved. And If i am wrong for calling upon the help of others for this couple I apologize in advance, but this is exactly who familyprotection is here for I believe. My heart is full right now and I am sending you all my love and prayers for this family.

You are so kind. Unfortunately, it is probably too late for Mike and Julia. However, it is NOT too late for others in their same position. This type of thing has been going on for YEARS in the state of Oklahoma. It is a stain on our once great state. Things are so bad with Oklahoma, other states got together and SUED Oklahoma for their horrendous treatment of children in "the system." The suing states won, and something called the, "Pinnacle Plan," was implemented, in order to clean up the mess. To my knowledge, all they did was slap a new coat of paint on rotten wood. It's a shame, because we as a society are only as strong as our weakest members. We should all be in the business of lifting one another up, no matter our vocation, station, or location. When we strengthen ONE individual, collectively we all become stronger. Thank you for your love and prayers, I'm so thankful for hearts like yours.

I understand, but it is never too late for anyone, I get what you mean and I pray that not only OK but the rest of the world understand that we are here not for ourself but for our brothers and sisters. I am my brothers keeper!

Uughhhh. The way the town I'm in judge the homeless just burns me!! The way this couple has been treated burns me too!!! The fact he is a vet.... There's a real good vet benefits dude in Cortez Co who has been known to perform miracles when it comes to getting this stuff straightened out. If possible, please call Rick Torres, County Veteran Service Officer 107 North Chestnut, Suite #3 Cortez, CO 81321 (970) 564-2779 (Rick) (970) 565-7155 (Sarah) Fax: (970) 565-5434. I know it seems strange to call someone out of state, but I bet he can help. I get so frustrated, with the system, when I see good ppl falling through the cracks! There also should be an independent living agency that serves the area you're in. ILCs advocate for ppl who live with disabilities and this couple has had their rights so badly violated and been marginalized so terribly that the ILC AND legal advocates should be all over this!! Grrr...I wish I could do more! Let me see if I can figure out the ILC that serves your area!

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