Thread by @MtnShepherdess

@NAMIAdvocacy @vivek_murthy Thank you. I was a Silicon Vly, CA, paralegal, priced out by rents 4 yrs ago. Moved to Fresno, CA for a Social Work degree @fresnostate . Cheaper rent. - Michaela /1 cc: @POTUS @AlexPadilla4CA @SoniaMDLR @JerryDyerFresno

@NAMIAdvocacy @vivek_murthy @FresnoState @POTUS @AlexPadilla4CA @SoniaMDLR @JerryDyerFresno 2/ My educational plans were derailed by sick, hospital, wait-listed for gov apt, benefits. I spent thru savings, became homeless. Used shelters. Dangerous, abusive, untrained, traumatic. Not helpful to those with health probs. -Michaela

@NAMIAdvocacy @vivek_murthy @FresnoState @POTUS @AlexPadilla4CA @SoniaMDLR @JerryDyerFresno 3/ I am not a substance user, do not use alcohol, and I don't have a criminal history. I'm too young for 62 yr old apts (I turn 59 on 3/8) and too healthy (no substance abuse) for transitional housing. I've slept in my car for 2+ yrs. -Michaela

@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 5/ The application for Social Security disability is quite long and hard, even for people with working brains. Add cognitive problems/mental illness and you have a recipe for failure. -Michaela

@NAMIAdvocacy @vivek_murthy @FresnoState @POTUS @AlexPadilla4CA @SoniaMDLR @JerryDyerFresno 6/ It takes years, in most cases, for people with mental illness who have an advocate to help them thru Social Security disability. They're usually rejected upon the first application for benefits, a few are approved. -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 8/ The majority of Fresno, CA's mentally ill people are bright, kind, and talented people, felled by malfunctioning brains. Most do not receive disability, on sts, introduced to meth. Then two brain problems. -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 Typo: are

@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 11/ By not spending money to stabilize people, we spend it on hospitalizations, police, courts, and jails. Well that gets expensive, very fast! -Michaela

@NAMIAdvocacy @vivek_murthy @FresnoState @POTUS @AlexPadilla4CA @SoniaMDLR @JerryDyerFresno 12/ By the grace of God, I met a homeless schizophrenic veteran in north Fresno, CA, on my weird trajectory of being unhoused & in my car. We met @McDonalds . I realized that he was a sweetie. I used my paralegal/conservatorship skills. Got him off sts into VA -Fresno.-Michaela

@NAMIAdvocacy @vivek_murthy @FresnoState @POTUS @AlexPadilla4CA @SoniaMDLR @JerryDyerFresno 13/ He is now stable for mental illness, other health problems, housed. He is also getting his disability income! On sts 4 yrs, broken brain, no advocate. -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

@NAMIAdvocacy @vivek_murthy @FresnoState @POTUS @AlexPadilla4CA @SoniaMDLR @JerryDyerFresno @threadreaderapp unroll , please