Everyday women and men, good, honest and productive citizens like myself are forced to return to the shelter system and in some cases the streets where the stress and challenges are beyond what many of you are able to imagine.

My desire was to finally live in a clean, healthy, peaceful environment. You see many of us have not had that privilege in a long time. When the opportunity arrived, the agency assisting me find permanent housing doesn’t and did not allow me to look at the apartment until the day you move in and you must make your decision then.

Once I moved in, I became a victim of domestic violence, not by a man or someone that I would invite into my world. He was a stranger and had the apartment next door. He was an admitted alcoholic, he would pound on the walls daily and nightly. This constantly interrupted my sleep. He even threatened my life and threatened to kill me. I had rearranged my entire household and began to live like I had lived in a homeless shelter. I couldn’t hang my clothing, it had to be locked away because of the stench in the air because he didn’t take proper care of his dogs and I had a job to go to. I had to move my bed into the living room so I wouldn’t be awakened by the man next doors outbursts. I paid the price and continued to pay the price.

My choices are to move into a Domestic Violence shelter because of a stranger. These very people who were supposed to be concerned about my well-being allowed this situation, justified it and blamed me when it never should have been mine. I was made to feel like I did something wrong.

I am very tired and I lost everything I had worked very hard for. I was left to fail like I must find my own way. I am not able to trust or put faith in a system that fucked me. Please see me, hear me, fight for me.
He threatened my life and pushed me in the chest. The security guard heard me and came into the room and put his arm between us. When he was questioned by the property’s manager he never asked him about harassment. He was more concerned about whether or not the security guard put his hands on this man.