@NAMIAdvocacy@vivek_murthy@FresnoState@POTUS@AlexPadilla4CA@SoniaMDLR@JerryDyerFresno 4/ As a former paralegal who worked on court-appointed conservatorships for Silicon Vly law offices, the majority of the homeless people here in Fresno, CA, are mentally ill, are legally entitled to Social Security disability benefits, but aren't receiving them. -Michaela
@NAMIAdvocacy@vivek_murthy@FresnoState@POTUS@AlexPadilla4CA@SoniaMDLR@JerryDyerFresno 7/ Mentally disabled people have to get an attorney who practices Social Security disability and appeal their case at the federal level. The entire process takes years. I liken it to climbing Mt. Everest with broken bones, then being thrown off the top! 🤨💔 -Michaela
@NAMIAdvocacy@vivek_murthy@FresnoState@POTUS@AlexPadilla4CA@SoniaMDLR@JerryDyerFresno 9/ I've got young homeless people on Blackstone Ave who'd like to go to college, use their gifts and talents, and a smart. Instead they are homeless, wasted lives and years. Wasted talents. For most, their first hospitalization for schizophrenia occurred as teens. -Michaela
@NAMIAdvocacy@vivek_murthy@FresnoState@POTUS@AlexPadilla4CA@SoniaMDLR@JerryDyerFresno 10/ We need to make serious changes in the system, both delivery of care, proactive helping teams in our communities like Austin, TX, disability income in a prompt, timely manner, and housing. We either fund the front end or the back end (the system). -Michaela
@NAMIAdvocacy@vivek_murthy@FresnoState@POTUS@AlexPadilla4CA@SoniaMDLR@JerryDyerFresno 14/ Mental illness can take down people from all walks of life. Because our society doesn't have a pro-active approach a man named Micah Collins raped a homeless mentally ill Black woman in education. I think I know her. He found her behind a bldg. -Michaela
@NAMIAdvocacy@vivek_murthy@FresnoState@POTUS@AlexPadilla4CA@SoniaMDLR@JerryDyerFresno 15/ Our city did not find the homeless veteran or educator. We've now paid in the Fresno, CA case of People of CA v Micah Collins, for the victim's hospitalization and extensive injuries, police investigation, criminal trial, and 36 yrs to life for convicted Collins.-Michaela
@NAMIAdvocacy@vivek_murthy@FresnoState@POTUS@AlexPadilla4CA@SoniaMDLR@JerryDyerFresno 16/ I am heartbroken that victim with a malfunctioning brain fell prey to Collins. He should have NEVER been able to get his hands on her. We should have helped her first! It ALL needs to change. Thank you for listening to me. Regards, Michaela in Fresno, Ca
@CarmenGeorge 4/ I've never been so sick, or had the system have to shell out so much money for my healthcare, as in the long wait list for gov studio apt. -Michaela
@CarmenGeorge 5/ I've been hospitalized 2x for food poisoning from transitional homeless shelters for women. The second case of toxins almost caused my liver to fail & I was in the hospital hooked up to IV's. Surgeon said my alarm at whites of my eyes turning yellow and getting care saved me.
@CarmenGeorge 6/ Transitional homeless shelter staff has ridiculed me for wanting to get medical care for yellow eyes. CRMC surgeon told me he was glad that I'd ignored them and yellow eyes were a sign of liver failing from toxins, not processing. Would have died later in week if no care!
@CassandraGari@fresnoland Hi Cassandra, You can follow me if you wish. I have been interviewed by several people on staff, most recently @DaniBergstrom . I'm an unemployed paralegal, 59 on 3/8, sleep in my car (2+ yrs) in Fresno in long wait for gov apt, benefits after sick, hospital. -Michaela /1
@CassandraGari@fresnoland@DaniBergstrom 2/ I am not a substance user (neither drugs or alcohol) and I do not have a criminal history. That said, I'd give the system that I've been through a grade of: F. Dangerous, unethical, no medical best practices used, no training of staff in issues like mental illness. -Michaela
@kevinmnye1 Spot on, Kevin. I'm an unemployed 58 yr old paralegal who has been homeless for 2.5 yrs in Fresno, CA after sick, hospital. The application for benefits is long (yrs), not enough affordable housing built, and I don't do drugs, alcohol, or have a criminal history. Bungled system.
@kevinmnye1 4/ I sleep in my car. Prior to homelessness, I'd NEVER been hospitalized. Now my health has plummeted. I've been hospitalized twice for food poisoning from the food at two different shelters. The second time the toxins almost caused liver failure according to surgeon. Days ivs.
@taniahlthplce@bmocfresno Great job on covering the importance of free bus fare in Fresno, CA. I'm a 58 yr old unemployed homeless paralegal in Fresno. Sleep in car in long wait for gov apt & benefits after sick, hospital 3 yrs ago. No substance use or crimes. -Michaela /1
@taniahlthplce@bmocfresno 2/ I've used my paralegal education & SF Bay Area law ofc experience in conservatorships to help get homeless off the sts of north Fresno. -Michaela
@taniahlthplce@bmocfresno 3/ The biggest obstacle that they and I have faced is there was NO one to cover bus passes/fare for them. They could not get to vital and essential services that they were entitled to. -Michaela