To Whom It May Concern,
The number of health issues and diagnosis dealt with on a daily basis, prohibits me from living the life acceptable to the average person. There is no middle ground to reach stability considering all of my characteristics, economic challenges, health challenges and society’s acceptable way of living. Definitely not by choice, but unexpectedly like a sudden crash; my entire life went upside down. The loss of meaningful relationships was only the least of the drastic challenges revealed to me in the new journey of life I was moving toward. Middle-income and twenty something changed to low-income, disabled thirty-year-old.
Over 100 medical appointments, tests, needle pokes, screenings, supplies and people touching me combined for the last 12 years. Several different doctors to verify, correctly diagnose or simply to show care and concern have been a definite challenge as well. Very few were skilled, knowledgeable enough to treat my specific condition or treating it at all. Unfortunately, most of the doctors I have now are out of the city of Detroit and require a car for transportation. A car requires registration and insurance in the state of Michigan. The distance from my home to the doctors, plus my health as a consideration, reliable transportation is a necessity. Therefore, a car note is included. Car note, gasoline for travel, car insurance, car registration, maintenance and co-pays for doctor visits at least three times a month, is costly. A single, disabled woman, living in the city of Detroit, with no children is impossible without struggle. Agencies are more likely to only help disabled people over 55 years in age, 65+ in age or anyone with children, regardless of their working ability. Prior to my becoming disabled, I loved my job as a Foster Care Case Specialist/Manager at a foster care agency in Wayne County. Then, six months of serious trouble walking, paraplegia, therapy and mental stress broke me. I lost everything. The support received from a significant other and a couple family members just was not enough. They were impacted a great deal by my situation, but they had to maintain their own lives as well.
The lifestyle of middle-income workers has some living paycheck to paycheck. Now, as a low-income person, paycheck to paycheck is not a comfortable option. Each month, some bills do not and cannot get paid. Some of these bills may be a necessity for living. More expenses, less support and lack of care (health) came as a result of my disability. Working a middle-class job provided me with more support then. The opportunities now are scarce for help, assistance or resources simply because the economy is changing. The middle-income is being pushed toward upper middle-income and low-income qualifications are increasing. There is a defined separation between people who are low-income versus not.
Places to live deemed for low-income people have extremely long waiting lists, applications and qualifications. This wait is for people with children, seniors and disabled over 55 years of age. In my case, the consideration for low-income housing happens after that of the individuals above. Once considered, the places to look at for options are in high crime-filled areas, drug-related activities or plainly unsafe for the disabled. These areas are also unsafe for the elderly and disabled using walkers, public transportation or mobile scooters to get to any store. Some stores are in close proximity to their homes, yet the prices are high for quality of food has been questioned and investigated in the past.
The Capuchin Soup Kitchen on Medbury in Detroit has been an exceptional help with food, clothes, books, health products and customer service. I qualify to go every three months, which helps a great deal. The state of Michigan’s food EBT program is part of what I receive each month. The cost of food and balancing what I eat with my health, causes me to spend more on food than allotted through the state. Although there has been an increase in food EBT since the beginning of Covid 19, I need to use cash to buy food. An additional concern, but also a tremendous help is where I currently live. My landlord has been amazing with understanding my financial status as well as my health.
The period during Covid 19, when people were being helped with at least three months of rent or their mortgage that was previously owed and three months paid in the future; I reached out to all qualifying agencies. I was two months behind and had reached my limit with borrowing from loan companies, family and friends. Each agencies wanted an eviction notice from a court. My landlord, having a full-time job working with juveniles in detention, considered my rental history, pay history, time off her job to file an eviction notice, the cost of filing the order and time before the case would be heard. I was able to set up payment arrangements that spread over four months. I am still in the rears with owing rent. The understanding of my landlord is exceptional. There is no other place in the city of Detroit nor any surrounding city that will have a one bedroom I can afford with a service dog in training. The struggle to maintain rent, lights, gas, telephone, medication refills and doctor visit co-pays costs only led me to loan companies. More debt to pay debt needed to survive.
There are things I could have and can do differently. There have been changes made toward financial stability and maintaining my health. The typical weekly outing, I do not participate in due to lack of money of a health-related concern. Most of my clothes have been given to me over the years or purchased during my previous years in a relationship. I have made attempts to find a paying job which understands my limits and can be accommodating. While being cautious of the fact that I could lose an income by re-entering the work force part-time. I have not stopped mentally hoping to do just that. Doctors don’t give me hope. The tools they do recommend, like physical therapy, I take full advantage of. There are other techniques and medications also used. I have followed all guides from doctors I have had and to whom most are highly accredited.
The hope of managing the operation of a youth activity center is still a dream. My education, life experiences, current documentation and drive will not let the hope of my dream for youth go away. I look at layouts, books, designs, articles, courses and so much more I have and wonder why can’t this happen? Politics plays a very significant roles in how it all works. The control of my income, where I can live, who I get medical care from, where I get medical care from, what I eat and where I travel. If there is little money left, it goes toward medication and healthcare. Am I supposed to stay in this box financially, emotionally and physically due to politics?
This letter is to represent all in my current situation: low-income, disabled, under 55 years old, barely living check to check and not receiving medication due to lack of funds. I was shunned, sent on a rollercoaster with doctors and acquaintances, denied help from professionals and several other traumatic experiences for over 10 years. A condition or conditions I had no control over getting, just like many other people in this world, have taken my life in the complete opposite direction I imagined. The city of Detroit has so many empty, dilapidated, abandoned homes, lots and buildings I ride pass often. They have been in the same condition for years. As a born and raised resident of Detroit, the change has been astonishing and discriminating all in the same breath. Areas of separation between low and upper income are blatantly obvious. The renovation of properties previously owned by black families are being foreclosed on and given to other races at a cheaper rate. Most of the black homeowners lived in the same residences, paying the same amount for years. Once inflation happened or a new company owner took over, black owners with pushed out of their homes and on the streets. The criteria for Housing and Urban Development- HUD and Section 8 in Michigan have several people on a waiting list that is many years long. If you can’t get on the waiting lists, people can become homeless. Where do they go? Shelters full, diseases ramped, no family, no $5,000 for a home, no $2000 down for apartment or rental home. If a person has been evicted or coming from a shelter, it’s even harder to get accepted anywhere, especially in Detroit.
In conclusion, the city of Detroit is my home, but I am being pushed out to an unknown destination, all due to my disability and politics. I want to help by using my skills as well as enough income to just live okay. As I said previously, I am not perfect and have made mistakes. Our youth need guidance. They are our future. I cannot change day to day governmental politics and rules, but I do follow them. Additionally, our elderly, disabled and low-income need help because they inspire our youth. Whether through consultation, management, idea presentations, survey statistics and other talents, I would like to assist somehow. The world is showing more mental health problems, especially with our youth. This is a topic near and dear to my heart. Being a 43-year-old disabled, paraplegia has taught me a great deal. Both led me to want to share my knowledge with as many people as possible, so they know: In spite of all that has happened, Don’ t Give Up!
Respectfully Yours,
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