My name is Jeffrey S. Richard, and I have resided on the Central Coast for more than 15 years. I am homeless living in a tent.
Recently I was given a notice from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office CAT team to move everything I own by June 20, 2021. The notice was posted above my campsite on June 16, 2021, at 2:10 p.m.
Does the Sheriff’s Office really expect me to have everything I own moved out in three days or I’m subject to arrest for trespassing? So, who really cares then? Give me a break! Or more time!
Be reasonable. I’m just a 63-year-old man moving all my shit in three days or I’m subject to arrest. What are the resources for a single older white male on limited income, $344 a month and food stamps. Where the fuck am I suppose to go?
Can’t you just ignore me and leave me alone? You’ve done it for more than seven years. Why now? And in the hottest time of the year, but who really cares? I am only one person among literally hundreds. But I will speak up, and I will be heard. It’s just not fair, but what can I do? I’m just one little voice.
Jeffrey S. Richard
SLO County
This article appears in Winning Images 2021.
You make an interesting argument. You apparently are not responsible for yourself and live on public support. Why shouldn’t everyone live on public support? Why should the vast majority of folks take responsibility for their housing, food, children, etc., and not be supported by the work of others? I don’t ask this out of insensitivity or intended insult, but is it sensible for the society to cease the concept of individual responsibility which drives the rest of us to get jobs, save our money and avoid the further expansion of government to provide for those who do not?
Dear Clovis dad, you seem to disregard the fact that many people are homeless due to physical or mental disabilities and unforeseen catastrophic financial catastrophes, often associated with ridiculously inflated cost of healthcare and transportation hurdles to get to that care. Whether the predicaments and suffering of the homeless are judged to be self-inflicted or not, does not negate The idea, Reiterated profoundly by Jesus Christ, Buddha, Krishna and other spiritual leaders, that the well-being of the world is dependent on preserving the well-being of all. Ultimately, we are taught time and again that we help ourselves by helping others. Love all, serve all. The more people who follow that advice, the Healthier our world will become. It’s a formula for success that in all honesty and common sense cannot be denied.
Rightword seems to forget that the great majority of the homeless have substance abuse problems, and at some point in their lives chose to prioritize getting high over everything else, like a job, family or home. Addiction is not something that you just “catch” like the flu, but involves choices. Freedom allows you to control your own life, but doesn’t prevent you from destroying it.
Some social problems are more complicated, perplexing and challenging than others, however, when Jesus and other spiritual leaders taught us to love thy neighbor they did not make a distinction between those who have substance abuse problems and those who do not.
Rightword is correct on the most basic human compassionate socialistic level which has proven to be fairly successful in many societies over the last 200 years including our own. Clovis & Satchmo are correct on a purely pragmatic capitalistic philosophy which has proven to be extremely successful for the “haves” and marginally unsuccessful for the “have-nots”. What’s happened in the last 25 years is an unprecedented shortage of low-income Government-subsidized affordable housing particularly in desirable areas like SLO County. We’ve created an environment in SLO County that shouts out “stay away unless you’ve got serious money at your disposal”. This is and has been going on in SF, Marin, Contra Costa and many other counties for decades, and there is no real solution. Builders are not interested in cutting half their profits to build $300/sq. ft. homes even when SLO County is prepared to provide some additional funding, and SLO County (up to this point) has not fully stepped up to provide the much-needed housing, although that’s slowly changing. If Mr. Richard can hang in there for another year or so the County may have a room for him in a publically-funded reconverted Motel 6. Problem is Mr. Richard will still need to scramble from place to place between now and then.
You could film an episode of the walking dead in SLO.,..watch them walk into the bushes at nite…then stumble out in the morning!
Hey Keith, other than trying to stigmatize and publicly humiliate those less fortunate than yourself, what is your point?