Meet Our Resilient Neighbors

The following stories were originally published in the 2020 summer newsletter, highlighting the experiences of some of our unhoused neighbors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

GABRIEL

Gabriel worked in the film industry as a writer and reflects on his career with great fondness, sharing what it was like going to film school with the now famous movie director, Quentin Tarantino, and his work as a writer on the hit ‘90s show “Seinfield.” He was about to pursue law school while working when his mother became ill. As a result, he put his career on hold to take care of her. During this time, he became homeless and lived in his van. Nevertheless, he’s proud of the opportunity he had to take care of his mother, saying:

It feels good to return all the caretaker years that she gave me. I feel blessed. It was tough and difficult, but taking care of people is hard. So, I feel good that I was able to do for her what she did for me when I was growing up. No matter what happens, I can hold on to that time I had with her.

During Covid-19, Gabriel was able to get a motel room through KCB’s connection to Project Roomkey. He misses being able to exercise with his cart but is grateful to have a temporary safe place to stay. Gabriel describes himself as someone who has always been very hopeful and seeks to live a joyful life despite the hardship he endures. When it comes to dealing with the effects of the pandemic, he says, “You can never go back [to how life once was], you can only go forward.” He believes there is joy within every individual and encourages those struggling at this time to “find the joy within you.”

AKEIRA

Akeira is a hardworking and compassionate mother. She moved to California two years ago with her young daughter and eventually found work at LAX. Her world turned upside down when she was laid off due to Covid-19. As a result, she could no longer afford rent and became homeless with her daughter. Their only shelter was her car until they were connected to a motel room by the KCB outreach team via Project Roomkey.

Akeira voiced nothing but gratitude, saying:

I’m grateful for these programs, because without [them], I’d still be sleeping in my car. I’m not from California, and I don’t have family or friends to stay with here. So, I’m very grateful. I see people taking the time to help others and that means a lot to me. Here, they treat you like a person. A lady prayed with me yesterday when I was having a hard time and that meant a lot. I’m very appreciative of all the volunteers, the programs, and the chance to get off the streets.

She also shared how Project Roomkey has benefitted her daughter by allowing her to finish her schooling online for the year while living at the motel.

The message Akeira leaves for those in a similar position as hers is to “stay focused and keep your head up. There’s not much we can do. So, whatever you can do, try to execute.”

KARICHA & ROSAURA

Karicha (pictured left) and Rosaura (pictured right) are strong women with big hearts. Although they’re beautifully unique from one another, they share similar values, experiences, and both describe their stories as being full of love, pain, death, suffering, freedom, and forgiveness.

For the past three years, Karicha has been experiencing homelessness. She lost her housing when a family member she was living with decided to move to Arizona while she chose to stay in California so that she could remain close to her daughter. While homeless, Karicha has experienced the betrayal and loss of loved ones, making life on the streets even harder to endure. She shares:

I can’t do the streets anymore, but I can’t leave my daughter, so I’m trying to do what I need to do and that’s going to you [KCB]. I don’t know why God keeps me here besides the fact of my daughter. I’m trying to deal with being here and why I’m here, and that’s not an easy thing to do. It’s extremely difficult.

The memories she has of her parents and the moments she spends with her daughter encourage her to press on. She recommends for those struggling “to take one day at a time and keep moving forward.”

Like Karicha, Rosaura is a mother who deeply cares for her children and treasures the memories she has of her late father. It’s those relationships and memories that motivate her to work on herself and to try to get off the streets by seeking help. She describes why it’s important to seek help, explaining, “If you want to get better, you can get better. Try to do the best thing for you, and if you can’t do it [on your own], ask for help. If you don’t ask for help, you’re never going to get the help [you need].”

Regardless of the injustice and extreme challenges Rosaura has faced, she seeks to be joyful and make others happy, saying, “I love to laugh and make someone smile. If you can smile and laugh, you’ll be ok.” She believes that a smile and a simple acknowledgement can brighten anyone’s day, especially someone who is experiencing homelessness. She explains how the community can take care of the homeless, saying:

Ask us how we’re doing. You don’t have to give us nothing. We just want someone to ask us if we’re doing good. We just need to know we exist that’s why I smile at people. Smiling and being happy – that’s all anyone really needs. They need hope.

The message of encouragement she gives to all of us is to:

See the beauty that you have inside yourself that no one else sees. God made everyone different for a reason. Love yourself for who you are, and keep on pushing. If I can go through the pain I went through and overcome it, you can do it, too.

Published 8.11.20 - Link: https://www.kcbellflower.org/blog/resilient-neighbors