Who is she?She has sat there most of yesterday,now today/?

@Hatley (163776)
Garden Grove, California
January 28, 2013 3:34pm CST
Yesterday here in Garden Grove it rained off and on in intervals. I glanced out my large window to see this small woman who was dressed in layers with a b right red cap and red sweater under a heavy coat and heavy looking slat couch the Vietnamese Grocery Store had p;t out in the alley. All day off and on she was sitting there. At first I thought maybe she was a resident here but nope she is a stranger. I have no idea who she is or why she lingers there but I have an awful feeling she is a newly homeless person.I am wondering if there was someone one could call to help her? I really do not know her story. But I am hardly able to do anything as I am down win a bad cold. Your take should not our country help the homeless those who are not drunks olr loonies or druggies?The US is not really broke and we pride ourselves on helping others yet we shove the homeless mess under thr rug and pretend it does not really exist. She is again just sitting there. Its cold outside but the sun is shining. I am so sorry for her as what will she do tonight? Its still cld here at night? will she sleep outside on that sofa?
9 people like this
21 responses
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jan 13
If you were well, I'd just say go on over and ask her if she needs any help. As it is, what can you do? Send somebody over? The police would probably just shoo her off...
4 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Jan 13
hi dawn Yes thats the thing thats been holding me up . I olnce reported a woman who was sleeping on the sidewalk behind our apt./building at t he time and they just gold her to moed oh.Thats so sad. darn.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
29 Jan 13
I think you probably should try to talk to her and see if she is only waiting for someone or rather if she needs any help at all. my take is that if you call the homeless organization, and then she is not really homeless... she might be offended that you called her in...?
3 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
hi chiyhosan you do have a point there. B ut just after I posted this I looked out and shes gone. I watched off and on all afternoon and did not see her again. I just hope perhaps if she is lost for some reason she remembered her way home.Her clothes were not shabby so if she w as homeless she is new at it. At least I have some idea of how to get help for her if sht appears again.
1 person likes this
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
29 Jan 13
I hope she finds her home or may be she is lost and might be able to find her house. I am sure next time most probably if you see her you will be talking to her.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
hi nope I a m in my room with one heck of a cold so am not g oing anywhere .She was back bu t before I could phone anyone she was gone again. I am wondering now if she is looking for someone who works ikn the grocery store.But I am leery of calling and making a fuss if she is going flit around like that. I mean I tell them thie odd woman wearing such and such clothes is in the alley then she is not they are golng to think I am a nut too.
@BarBaraPrz (47308)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
28 Jan 13
You could call the non-emergency number for your local police and let them know about it. They know what resources are available.
3 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Jan 13
hi BarBaraPtZ thats a great idea and I had not thought of that as surely;y there are places that could help her. I looked out now and again she is g o ne.But if its like itwas ealrier she will be back.
@BarBaraPrz (47308)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Jan 13
She may not be homeless, but an Alzheimer sufferer who can't remember how to get home. That could be why she goes away but comes back.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
oh my yes that couuld be true too. I have watched off and on for her but did not see her again.I do hope she is okay though. When I was still working in the library one of my co worker's husband came down with Alzheimer and came to the library one day in tears asking his wife where did he put the car? He just did not remember.So that is when she retired as she realized he really needed watching.
2 people like this
• United States
28 Jan 13
I would think that having someone there go check on here would be a good idea. Either that, or you could contact one of your local homeless advocacy groups, local clergy... someone who has experience with people in need and can lead her in the direction in which she needs to go. I would hesitate about contacting the police. In far too many areas around this country, homelessness is treated as a crime--as is helping the homeless.
3 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Jan 13
hi wilson yes the police vary as some will hel but most just chaew them off to some other place.Now she has gone again so I really do not know what to think. I mean at first I thought someone who is tired and is going to shop in the store. but she showed up yesterday a number of times and looked so helpless I just wondered what was her story.If she appears again I co ld c call whoever is up for helping the homeless.Its cold outside even with the sun shining brightly.I hope I am wrong and she had someplace to go.I feel for homeless as there are people out there middle class people lost from being evicted or forclosed and no familys to help them,. We were there and got ourselves out of it but it landed as I hav my son and best friend.
1 person likes this
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
29 Jan 13
That is sad... There are actually a lot of them here in our country as well. While the government says that they have somehow been able to solve some national issues, the homeless, I would say still remains homeless. I do think that even if they say that there are facilities to take care of them, there isn't enough for them. There still is a need for some private organizations to help the government take care of these homeless people.
3 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
hi jenny yes it was sad bu t just after I posted this I looked o ut and she was gone. I hope she is not homeles but ju st got lost somehow and found her way back.Of course someone from the store mahy have asked her to leave or more likely got help for her. She did not look really old so I have no idea really why she was there most of the time all weekend. She did not spend the night there so I just do not know what her story was.If she shows up again I will call the non emergencyh police and see if they can help her.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 13
Oh that poor woman. I wonder if all the local shelters are full. This is just beyond sad. I feel so bad because she has to be cold. Even with a coat on the cold will seep in and chill her to the bone. It's such a scary feeling to be homeless. I was homeless for a short time. I never want to experience that again.
3 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
hi Pointless questioins my son and i also sent through that and its horrid that feeling and we too never w ant to experience that again either. When we spent a week in Salvation Armys hospitality House we meant two business women who had lost heir home and a young wom an with a three month old baby so these were not the people that eeryone thinks of when anyone talks about the homeless. Like my son said we felt like we had been run over by a runaway train. PQ she left and never came back . I do hope she has some place to stay tonight as its cold at night even here.I could not tell for sure her age but she was very thin. Its been cold here most of the da y but i could do nothing as she left anfd di not return, I just hope se is not homeless.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
28 Jan 13
I know what we would do in our community, although the one person I know of who is homeless chooses to be that way, rather than be with her family, and she does not use emergency shelter. I suspect a church provides her with a place. I think the idea of calling the non emergency police line for help.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Jan 13
hi GardenGerty since I started this discussion she has left'si again I do not really know what her problem is.One person who was homeless was found byh the third owner here and he took her in But she had a roomie who did not want her sharing a room with her and oddly Celia , I do not know her last name just disappeared. the police came here and questioned her roomie and learned nothing. So I wonder did she just go back out on the street?They said she had been there for awhile. now today they have discovered human bones in a backyard in Santa Anns where she came from. Now my imagination is going hog wild as I am s ure it probably has nothing to do with whatever happened to ?Celia. I am wondering if someone who works in the store cam e out and saw her and told her to leave? With Celia I do blame some of the residents here for making fun of her. She was did look more male thann female but her looks were not her fault, damn she was a human being and why are people so cruel. She was soft spoken and did no harm to anyone. One time I had stupidly put my handbag on the floor beside my chair where we were having lunch..I got up and got to the door of the dining room and felt a gentle tug on my arm.I turned around and Celia handed me my handbag She said in that soft voice,"You forgot your purse.: I had over a hundred dollars in it and she never touched it . I was going to the bank that afternoon. She was really honest.
1 person likes this
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
29 Jan 13
I am sorry to see that she has no place or home. I hope she might found some shelter or home to stay. I think it is really bad to hear that lots of people are homeless. I hope some people do something especially rich people provide some apartment or homes build for homeless people.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
hi ajiothlal I just do not know quite what to do. Shje was out ther again bu t she saw m e and got up and walked off.She has a bag of food she was eating from. I want to help her but if I get some agency and shes not there then they will think I am nuts. I guess just wait and see. The way she is dressed I think she has a lolt f mental problems.
@silverfox09 (4708)
• United States
28 Jan 13
Its the sad reality , I wish you were feeling better and could could help her , I think police will only carry her and let her off in the town and that's it . I feel so sorry for some homeless people , they go through a lot .
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Jan 13
hi silverfox i also feel very sorryh but she has leftj but who would stikck around behind a grocery store for the weekend unless she had a real problem.However since she has left I am still puzzled. The police here just move them some place else. sad. I hate that. I have been there and done that and its one of the most horrible feelings anyone can have. We got help but so many do not.That's why I am here as we were made homeless. And my son knew It was not good for me in my eighties as a diabetic and with a bad leg to be shunted from one shelter to another for a week. I was in my ealy eighites at that tiem.Now my son just learned hw will be put on full time at his job. So I am so happy for him.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
29 Jan 13
I do not know yur system in the USA but surely there is someone who may checvk on her and see what her story is. She may be sick and wandered off from home- who knows? Surely there are shelters that would take her if she was homeless? I feel so bad for the homeless in out country as there are no shelters but at least it isn't cold. I would try and find someone or some agency to offer assistance. I do hope that you succeed.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
oh Cynthiann she left and has not returned so hope she has gone some place where she will be warm and safe. She seemed to be so vulnerable. I could not call anyone as she left and did n ot return. It maybe some one from the Vietnamese Grocery store told her tol leave, I just do not know. If I see her out there again I am going to call the non emergency police and ss if they can help her.At least now I have some ideas of ho w to help her should she return.
@shibham (16977)
• India
29 Jan 13
Hi hatley... As the first respondent has said, you should contact police so that she could get a right place to shelter. Otherwise you had to ask her about her problem and if possible then help her. She may be scared away out by her family or disoriented on your city. have a nice time.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
\hi shibham the lady was gone now shes back but she has a sac k of gorceriess so what is going on with her as she again is walking off. I think I will call the police non violent dept. and see if theyh c an help her. I am too ill with bron hitis to go dolwn there. She is wearing a really odd assortment of clothes . I am wondering if she had Alzheimer? I hope I can get her some help. It will have to wait until after lunch now however.
• China
29 Jan 13
Poor woman,It seems that she had to sleep rough for some time .what has happened to her ? She sat there all day long,how come so many people shut their eyes to her except you who is getting on for ninety ,under the weather then and could do nothing to help ?
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
oh chang I began to think people shut their e yes to sol much and cannot empathize with those in trouble at all. I wish she would stay put then I can call someone who might help her.She was there for maybe ten minutes then gone again.. I am really hard put to know what to do as I have too i bad a cold to run around fruitlessly if she is not really in trouble.
• China
30 Jan 13
That is,Nobody knew where she has gone.Wish there were more kind-hearted people like you in the world.
@deazil (4730)
• United States
29 Jan 13
Hi Hatley! That's very sad for that woman. Someone should help her but unless there's a homeless shelter nearby she won't get any help. Do you know there are tent cities all across America right now? Full of middle class Americans who lost their jobs then their homes. The city next to mine has homeless people sleeping outside. It's freezing here in the Northeast. Nobody cares. The government doesn't care. Look at these 2 videos and tell me that anybody cares about what's happening in America. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGxKdDinkKk and www.frugalcafe.com/public_html/frugal-blog/frugal-cafe-blogzone/2012/02/14/tent-cities-growing-like-weeds-during-obamas-era-of-hopenchange-thousands-more-poor-homeless-americans-are-living-in-tents-video/ You and others we know might care but we aren't in a position to do anything. We're not the ones with money. What do you think the rich are doing with their money? Spending it on themselves. Sorry for the rant. It's all very upsetting to me. A lot of the people living in tent cities are senior citizens, older than me.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
h i deazel and AkamaruKei what you both say is so tr ue, and i toodonotha ve any way to help her except to call some agency.But after I posted this she has disappeared so I would sound like an idiot telling someone about her as if she is gone how can we help her. If she shows up again I will call for help for her.I cannot go down there as I am too ill but I can phone.Here in the US I feel ashamed that our government does not help these people instead of just hassling them.deazil I feel the same way,it just really burns me up but theres not much I can do. its sad.[e
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
29 Jan 13
That so sad. Luckily most people here have their own house even their house look bad and poor but it still have some people dont have a house and sleep at street. I feel pity for them but cannot doing anything because i also dont have a money.
• United States
28 Jan 13
Maybe the police, but then again, they could cause more harm than good. I would say if you can't find a local homeless agency or something, maybe try contacting a church? People of a church like to help homeless people, I'm sure they would know exactly how to help her. At least, I would hope.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Jan 13
hi arielpaige Thanks for the great suggestions.the thing is she left again so am not sure what is going on.If she returns I willtry calling someone for help for her.While its sunny ou t its c hilly and windy here today .I hesitated to call the police as thyh might make things even worse for her. However since she has left I am still just puzzled as i can do nothing if she is not really in trouble.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
30 Jan 13
Yes, this is really one of my pet peeves as well. The US always has things on TV about help the other countries, and give money for the sick and hurting there, and the ones without medical, while they continue to not care about everyone here. It is only getting a lot worse instead of better as people continue to loose jobs, homes and cannot afford where there are at. Even when you have a job, or more than one job many times it is too hard to make ends meet, and forget about getting any help. A Sad state of affairs for sure, and I think we are only seeing the start of things yet to come in the next couple of yrs.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
31 Jan 13
hik tina oh I am so happy both becausei am feeling well again but also someone in a nice car came and picked up the homeless woman and I am hoping it was from Thomas House shelter. I contacted them last night via email and explained the whole situation and she slept two nights on that old worn out sofa, and it was so cold out there no blankets. S o am hoping she will be put into a shelter and helped also.I know we do not do enough for the homeless and so hope this time these people read my email and came to help her.
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
29 Jan 13
Maybe you could ask someone to go and ask her.. you really have a kind heart Ms. Hatley.. it is also a nice thought that somehow your country can finance and give for the homeless as it is a lot worse here for we know the country cannot support the homeless and those in need.
1 person likes this
@deazil (4730)
• United States
29 Jan 13
Hi jazel_juan, I'd like to correct you if I may. Our country does not do nearly enough to help the homeless. If you look at the short videos in the links I posted (above) you'll see that in one of the richest countries in the world people are living outside the cities in tents without running water or electricity. This is America, 2013. The mainstream media doesn't cover it because the government doesn't want the rest of the world to know how bad things are here. These people were middle class Americans who lost their jobs, then their homes. I barely have enough to live on myself. Two years ago I had a nice job, I bought clothes, I ate out. I was happy. Then my company closed. I was 64. No one wants to hire an old person, and there are hardly any jobs at all. The government lies about the percent of unemployed. They only count the people who are collecting unemployment. Those whose benefits have run out aren't counted and neither are those who aren't eligible for other reasons. The unemployment rate is almost (maybe more now) twice what they say it is. Our government is killing America. Soon there will be no middle class. Only the very rich and the very poor.
3 people like this
@Archie0 (5652)
29 Jan 13
Hi hatlet. I think probably in the day time when there is sun out you can go to her to talk. You can ask her if she is new here or staying somewhere. I am sure she must be sad and devastated, i feel very bad for such homeless people. Here in my country if we find such a person in pain or homeless we do walk up to them, ask them if they are having much troubles we also pay them little money, provide them with little food. That is our part that we can do. Or after you just enquire about her a bit you can call the old age home. OR home for homeless if you have such kind there. Talk to them about her, i think at least they will do something for her rather than just seeing her out in the cold at night. I think you should give her some help if you think she is in trouble. That will be better than feeling guilty. I just hope the lady is fine.
@Archie0 (5652)
29 Jan 13
Sorry for i said your name wrong Hatley.
@Kalyni2011 (3496)
• India
30 Jan 13
Mom Here in Hyderabad the weather was normal, but it rained suddenly in the evening, Kalyani, my son, his wife and my grandkids here all have sore throat, just now i was chatting with a friend in Philippines, she told me there too it rained suddenly.. I and hubby are not effected, we ate pure stuff it seems. Thanks for the story.
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@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
31 Jan 13
oh kalyni i feels sol much better today and also someone picked up that poor lady and I am hoping it w as someone from Thomas house as I contacted them via email and a car stopped and picked her up sol am hoping she will be put in a shelter for the homeless here and not have to sleep out in the cold and the rain. I am over my cold too and going shopping tonight too.
@JohnRok1 (2051)
31 Jan 13
My church is blessed. Around 1993 one of our couples saw some homeless people sitting on the steps and together with two other couples started a soup kitchen. It was not long before people from the other local churches got involved. A nice butcher gives us free quality meat. We can't house anyone, we can only feed them 5 evenings a week, but we have details of the various places they can go to get that kind of help. I hope we continue to be provided for.
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@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
2 Feb 13
hi John I am totally confused as wither she came back this morning orits a different wolman as the clothes are different and the woman now has an umbrella. I am afraid it cou ld be the sam woman but if so she went someplace yesterday and has r eturned dressed in new clean clothes and with an expensive looking black umbrella..So now what do I do as its either the same woman who went somewhere and got clean clothes or its yet a different woman.i never did get a rely from Thomas House. sol mayhbe I should do some more looking for other agencies.
@JohnRok1 (2051)
31 Jan 13
So if you can get details of just one place locally that helps, they will often be a key to the others.
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@JohnRok1 (2051)
1 Feb 13
It might have been alright to take her to sleep in your room, but equally it might not, and there are other people in the home to consider as well. I've known people who've taken these risks, but they generally had a network of people around them. Anyway, it sounds like someone from Thomas House shelter or a contact of theirs has taken her in hand, so as far as you've been able, mission accomplished. Of course, if you're still burdened to pray for her, fine, but if you're not, there's no need to feel guilty about it. If such burdens are of value, it's God that gives them, and if he doesn't, there's a reason.
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@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
28 Jan 13
what did you put in your tea? Just kidding.... How are you these days??
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Jan 13
hi maria I do not even drink tea. And no kidding I do think she is new and homeless and thats not reall y f unny as you know from help;ing a homeless family. I have a bad cld and am not at all well yet b ut hopefully soon.
• Mexico
28 Jan 13
try some tea, I hear it can help a cold. Here they drink lemon tea and honey. Try get.. get well soon.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jan 13
hi maria I did hav e several cups of hot greenteewa and it d i help a lot. My son got me some flu remedy day and night pills and I have started taking them. I do feel a lot better, Just mostly tired and still runny nose. the stuff does make me drowsy too.
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