The San Diego Housing Commission

A few years ago I wrote about how the San Diego Housing Commission was basically pain in the butt. But this year I've needed their help once again and this time they got their act together. Maybe it's because I'm a veteran or maybe it's because I'm a single mother I'm not exactly sure. When I reached out to the San Diego Housing Commission it was through Vash. In a heartbeat I receive phone calls from the San Diego Housing Commission willing to work with me and help me find are you in it now I have been on the Section 8 waitlist since 2007 and originally was told it's a 10-year waiting list it's my turn. They've moved very swiftly and they're helping me and my daughter to avoid homelessness. Congratulations San Diego Housing Commission your process has improved greatly and I am very appreciative for the help I am receiving I'm hoping to be back on my feet in no time thanks again.

Number of homeless children (student) on the rise. How to get help .

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Homeless-Students-on-the-Rise-Report-277162671.html

Free and reduced lunch link

Did You know that if you make less than $2500 a month and support a family of four , or let say its just a single person no dependants . If you make less than $292 per week, and are a houshold of one you qualify for Free or reduced lunch for your child at school. http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/schools/sduhsd_2011131648587358/mealappfaq.pdf

San Diego housing commission fails!!!!

@hdpartners @sdhc. http://hdpartners.org/index.php/about-us. Really.??? 789units in 24 years is only 32 affordable units per year!!!! ??? I don't know folksy I'll take a look at how many sponsors are in this partnership here in San Diego I'm getting get into the financial records and find out what's going on your things look a little fishy y'all can give me a hand!

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Steals milk out of the mouth of babes.

I feel the Department of Human Services specifically the Cash Aid and call Fresh Program are faulty in the methods they utilize to calculate monthly income for the needy. The method does not adequately represent the need from the public's perspective. The Department of Child Support and the Department of Human services are supposed to work together to help provide support to minors when the custodial parent is unable to , do to whatever reasons apply. In this instance the two departments fail to cooperate with the custodial parent to resolve issues of destidudeness and they estimate overpayments to the custodial parent and then attach their wages and income, as they try to rebuild their life. To top it off Even after an appeal and ratification of the alleged over payments tot he custodial parent, they still refused to provide documentation and or ratification of the alleged over payments They failed to document the disbursement received from the Department of Child Support Services, and harassed individuals for repayment, to as much as attach the income tax to the new spouse of the custodial parent, even as the ex spouse pays no child support or visits. How are they able to get away with that?

San Diego Section 8 program

It just doesnt make sense why the San Diego Housing Coimmission would evict a person who is in the wait

San Diego Housing Commission from the perspective of a person needing thier help.

The San Diego Housing Comission Has a waiting list for anyone needing section 8 affordable housing, the wait time is over 8 years. I signed up for the section 8 wait list in 2007 , this is when I learned that I had Thyroid cancer. I had forseen a possible financial problem since I had no savings and my ex didn't pay support. As I suspected, a few years later I was in complete finacial ruin and my landlord had asked my daughters and I to leave. We went homeless and began to live from couch to couch so that the girls would not have to live in the car. The state didnt find us as homeless as we stayed on other peoples couches. I begged the department of human services for help as well as the Veterans Administration. Months and much aggrevaation later and with the help of an EDD employee, I got some work. Three part time jobs, and then was able to get Jewish family services and Saint Vincents De Pauls Veterans program sistered up and they helped me get into a San Diego housing commission appartment in my childrens neighborhood. Del Mar Unified School District. Here is what is odd, I had to qualify to show that I had substantial income to move in here, but there are many minorities who are living here at 400 dollars a month and I am asked to pay 1570 a month. I asked my landlord if I can get her to reduce my rent since my income has changed froom 3000 a month to 600. I need her help. she was so cold and calous that I cannot talk to her anymore. She has no intention of helping me find out what needs to be done to get my section 8 sooner. I am a veteran, I have worked my butt off for years, and because I am an upper white class looking woman I feel that I am not getting taken seriously within the system. My cries for help are left unheard because I dont need an interppreter. How dare the San Diego Housing commission not rent to the homeless when they have availlabe units as this unit was open for three months, it seems the qualifying standards are very narrow for these units. I had to meet low income requirements but I had to prove that I made three times the rents. I also had to pay a 25 dollar credit check even though I told them I was homeless and my credit was ruined. why keep taking money from a person who has nothing. I just want a fresh start and the system is making it completly impossible to meet all of the many program requirements to be elidgablle for help. I dont get it. Anybody out there have simular problems?

IRS and VA in Cahoots??? Shoot me Now!

A sad thing has happened to this dear ole veteran...In 2010, My kids and I spent 3 months homeless trying to utilize the VA programs prior to becoming homeless, and there again after. I was comfotered at the fact that I had medical care, since I entered thier system just 1 1/2 years after my cancer diagnosis. we had no real income all year 2011 , I couldn't possibly owe income tax. Apparently while I was being provided care from VA I was racking up a bill. They intercepted my income tax refund of 411 dollars of that I owed 333 Dollars to VA. IS this normal for all of us veterans. I was jobless, broke ill, homeless with two kids. I should have sued my former employer wen I had the "right to sue " letter in my hand, but noooo, I took the route with integrity and held my head high, and moved on..... ... I wonder whats to happen to our veterans? who advocates for us? When will the VA recognize females as homeless and provide services to us and our children , the sufferers of our demise. As per the National Coalition the Number of Homeless Veterans & Veteran-Specific Beds by Region in California has 739 transitional beds available and 12,771 homeless veterans. Anyone see a problem? Even worse this department isn;t recognizing female veterans and thier children. How many of these 12,771 are females? How many are dual vet families? I think we the people , should get some answers.!

Veteran and his spouse with cancer needs shelter and medical care!

I keep seeing this couple on the side of the road with a sign. asking for help, so I stopped. I am veteran who has had cancer and I was homeless just after while recovering , I have two children, but I survived. This couple, is a young veteran and his wife. They are homeless, she has Ovarian cancer which she claims , it has spread into her upper abdominal cavity. They are homeless and begg for change 1/2 a block from a VA Medical Facility. VA service are too slow, he is waiting for a disability approval and VASH, but resources are too slow. I do not have room here to help nor the resources but I thought If I could reach out , someone could help them. Can you help provide shelter and treatment to these people if I bring them to you? Call Precious Cargo- 619-674-0110 http://honestad-vise.blogspot.com/

New California Laws for 2012

Employment Credit Check Law-
Employers CANNOT require credit checks, except for Ca dept of justice or bankers. generally speaking , they can no longer check our credit as a basis for hire.

Its a personal disclouser thing,


Internet Sales Tax ( amazon .com ) Cal was losing tons of money in sales tax because people were going online to Amazon and saving the dollars not paying sales tax. California is attempting to capture the tXES ( INCOME GENERTATED.

HANDGUN LAW adjustment.
Currentlyly with the open carry law, you can no longer walk around with a hand gun because cops cant tell if it is loaded, By the way you can still walk around with an unloaded long gun like a rifle. But because handguns can be concealed and it is hard for the police to tell if it is loaded or unloaded so they will act as if it is loaded to errer on the safe side.


This is all information as reported on KUSI Friday 12/30/2011

How do you feel about these laws? do they make sence to you?

Living poor in San Diego: Veterans Homeless Prevention Demonstration Project-MisHAP

Living poor in San Diego: Veterans Homeless Prevention Demonstration Project-MisHAP

Veterans Homeless Prevention Demonstration Project-MisHAP

Veterans Homeless Prevention Demonstration Project-MisHAP


I went to VA and asked for help May 13, 2011 (Friday). I was referred after many attempts to "L" at the VA Homeless Prevention Program she is downtown at the homeless shelter off Imperial Ave, San Diego. She told me, after I provided her all of the paperwork, that she would submit my paperwork to the board and ask for the release of funds, after my landlord provided her his portion of the information. She said that I qualify under all of the standards to receive help with back rent, and rent for the next three months. On this day she told me to" go home and unpack , You wont be moving right away now." My landlord spoke to her that very same day and my landlord submitted his paperwork the same day. She assured my landlord that she would submit the paperwork to the board for approval.


I had a job interview earlier that week with "Big PCS Hardware Corporation" as an RF Engineer, and I was to find out the result of that this afternoon. It turned out I was not the candidate of the litter, AGAIN. I returned to L for our scheduled follow up appointment.

At this appointment I tell her, I was rejected from the "Big PCS Hardware Corporation" position. At this point in the day I already frustrated with programs, she then tells me that she feels that since I have been out of work for over 99 weeks that I may not be able to get work , so she is now refusing to submit the paperwork to the board under the premise that I have been out of work for so long. I remain calm and I let her know that I will be contacting every news authority that will listen. I am a veteran and I need help, What program is going t help and why is it so hard to get the help!??? I let her know that she has embarrassed me further , by going back on our deal, she shouldn't have spoke to my landlord .

A few days later she calls my land lord (Tuesday 24 May 2011 ) and lets him know she is not going to submit my request for services. My landlord is working on the Pipes in the dwelling i live at , so he then lets me now that me and my kids need to be out of our place by 31 May -8 days.

So here I am today, Monday memorial day, a veteran, female with children , and a heart condition , trying to move out of an apartment with not one dime to my name, two kids, two cats and dog. to where???? I have no income coming in at all!


I ask you , general public , have you ever went to social services and asked for help? When your social worker spoke to you was it in a tone that promotes no worries? Did you receive the service you were looking for?

Answer these questions , lets start a forum from the citizens of San Diego. These programs are not working equally and we as female veterans need to request services at least equal to the male homeless veteran. Single Vets vs. Vets with dependents. etc.....My family is experiencing the loophole that no female vet with dependents should find. Help me fix it !

Reply to my post , forward it and help me get help to all homeless female vets with children , - there are very very few facilities across the US to help them.


I also found this article,other women across the country in my exact similar situation! What is going on, we all seem to have the same diseases?

Homeless Women Veterans Need More Clinical Resources, Open Ears
Homeless VetsThe Huffington Post Jessica Prois First Posted: 04/12/11 10:51 AM ET Updated: 04/12/11 10:54 PM ET

To immediately help my family today call 619-674-0110 and ask for Pam

Del Mar Schools Education Foundation is looking for funds to fund PE, Science,technology Art and Music at $50,000 annual average salaries?

Really are you serious?  8 schools, 5 teachers each school = 2,000,000.00 with the average income of 50 thousand dollars per year?  They are only going to be at work for 9 months of the year. I mean really, 40,0000 average yes but 50? That is far to high. I feel like someone is mis managing money .

As a parent with children in the DMUSD I am confused as to why our curriculum doesn’t include science and technology in the first place! what year are we in?

Type: School / School District

Median Salary by Job

National Salary Data (?All compensation data shown are the gross, national median (50th percentile). Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.)

High School Teacher
$43,756

Elementary School Teacher
$40,702

Middle School Teacher
$42,482

Special Education Teacher, Preschool, Kindergarten, or Elementary School
$41,722

Special Education Teacher, Secondary School
$44,346

Secondary School Teacher
$42,574

Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
$49,383

Country: United States | Currency: USD | Updated: 28 Mar 2011 | Individuals Reporting: 53,813

 

It appears to me that the DMSEF is over paying teachers, they do not even work year round!  DMUSD also has more half days that the San Diego school District and they also have more days out of school. I just don’t get it. Someone please tell me why it takes two million dollars to fund 40 teachers /5 teacher over 8 schools.  I believe we could get the job done in half the amount with less teachers and still have the same effect, maybe because they get paid more that the average teacher across the country they will stay later at school and take more time to contact the parents. 

 

It’s just my opinion, whats yours.

 

pamela~

Employment Development Department (EDD) offers training to improve job skills to the underworked in San Diego.

Over the last three weeks I have toggled back and forth between VA EDD Representative  to New Horizons Admissions Counselor, I  am a veteran and I have tried repeatedly to utilize the resources that are supposed to be available. My first issue comes up when we discuss intelligent people. It is very frustrating to talk to someone behind a counter who does not appear to have your best interest heart, to make a matter worse is when the person does not know in detail how resources work or what resources work best for the individual in question.

 

After toggling between the VA counselor and the New Horizons rep (Education Counselor), I was just instructed to go back to the EDD located on University Ave and seek my “case worker” .  Honestly ? Case worker?  Was I issued one? I remember vaguely , ah yes, her…….

 

Over 8 months ago, I went to the One Stop Career Center located on University Ave in San Diego , California. As I entered the building and appropriate floor I was not greeted right away as the elderly lady was preoccupied with matters on her desk. After standing blankly at the counter for a few minutes, she acknowledged me with a glance up and a quick statement “Just sign your name there and we will call you” attitude.  I signed my name and sat, as she had instructed, after twenty minutes of waiting she called me to the counter and asked if I had been there before, she took my driver license  made a copy and issued me a yellow card and instructed me to wait further to talk to a guidance counselor.  I waited another 34 minutes and spoke to a woman,  who almost immediately referred me over to the VA representative. She began with saying she didn’t’ know why I was referred to her since I was a veteran.  She instructed me to go to the imperial ave One Stop Career Center on Imperial Ave. because they had many representatives there and because I could go any day of the week. She gave me a brief tour, told me that I could use the facilities anytime for computer work, faxing or classes on jobing.   Was she my case worker????  I will tell you this tomorrow when I go to see her, but for now  let me tell you that between New Horizons employees getting ill, and passing around the customer, or the case overloading whatever it is , let me make things easier for everyone.

EDD needs to update their page/website/program to include the following:

• Training request- online submission- I should not receive ten thousand calls from schools all over the country , I should receive a call from my case worker who should then contact the local training provider and provide my eligibility authorization, the local training provider then should call me the client and let me know when I should arrive for training orientation.This would improve the process
• Requirement Eligibility - online screening
• Career counselors at EDD initiate contacts at each eligible client (the unemployed worker) and the training provider listed on their site to locate appropriate training processor for their client .
• Create  online support for the education process.
• Make the center truly ONE STOP better yet make it LAST STOP! By increasing the incentive to employ through the center
• Creating a more supportive network that starts with treating the unemployed worker as the client.
• database houses client information and auto fills for applications qualified for.
• client is notified  which services will be automatically provided.
• daycare- does the state currently insist ALL daycares and after school providers receive deductible for accepting low income  or elderly, disabled students?
• transportation- low cost auto sale or leasing besides public transportation
• resume assistance/training
• food- Calwin link
• housing-HUD Affordable Housing  HPRP
• Living expenses - Charity links
• training-
• medical
• Career Counselor should be  the first line support while on EDD
• Remove all of the advertisement links- instead of all of these outside distractions, educational training offices calling like mad, and the credit card repair companies, just because I opened a link on EDD this is WRONG!

That’s about it for now as I have a family to mind.

Trying to track down my check, use the online tele cert, find a job using the One Stop Career Center or finding help at the depatment of human service is like having two full time jobs!

Crazy

How was your experience, I would love to hear what you feel could be done to make the Unemployment transition move smoother –.

~Pamela~

HOMELESS in San Diego ! My lovely experience in San Diego.

Back in August I was asked to leave my apartment in Carmel Valley, Ca. I had lost my job, been recovering from Cancer and well my landlord could not wait for my rent checks, she refused to reduce the rent and opted for us to move out so she could sell.
For three weeks I scampered all over town, looking for a rental. Each "affordable housing" opportunity turned into a rejection.

Regardless, this was the week that "Operation Stand Down" was taking place.

I went to he VA Social Services representative and explained my delima. I need a place to live for myself and my two preteen daughters.

Want an extra $1500 for bills by tomorrow? Apply now!

Victim of a Stolen Vehicle? It just doesn't make sense!

So , The other day my neighbors car was stolen. The vehicle made it on the 6 pm news, as it was involved in a high speed police chase that ended in nail strips puncturing the tires, and a full on arrest. The part to know, is that the police do NOT impound your vehicle as you might think, the allowed an outside towing company to tow the vehicle not to a police impound lot, not to some evidence lot, but to a private lot.


Seth gets to the lot that the police department told them about, and Seth discovers that because his car was behind on registration he cannot gain custody of his car, and each day it sits here it accrues more fees. They do NOT work with the victims.

Seth, just had his second child only 9 weeks ago, he lost his job 2 weeks ago. He has nothing and for him it is getting worse. His car was stolen and all he had was liability insurance. Now he cannot get it out of impound because the bill is more than the car is worth. Seths father passed away this week...The funeral expense comes before the vehicle. imagine that....


I wonder if the city is broke, wouldn't it be a good thing to impound stolen cars and have the victims recover their vehicles from the impound lot, not a private lot. The impound lot that seems ridiculous to me.. Can anyone tel me why a car would be placed in a private lot after a police chase? this doesn't seem like proper protocol. Want an extra $1500 for bills by tomorrow? Apply now!

Amen EBT! It Is About Time. I can feed them on the road now!

 

A slice of freedom, Thanks to people like Supervisor Pam Slater- Price who said to Fox 5 today “Many seniors and disabled people live in apartments without kitchens, making it difficult for them to prepare their own meals, I know a lot of seniors who live in single-room occupancy dwellings who don't have many of the amenities we assume people have in a normal apartment.” People in my shoes and the elderly can get help, delivered, or through a drive threw. 

I am glad to hear that even though some people are bless they still consider the difficulty and hassle it is to get through the system to become self sufficient. The team that got the approval for the EBT being used at some fast food places will be nice if used as proposed.   Click for more about government programs and services.

I am a single parent of two preteens. Recently we were displaced due to Cancer, a job loss and then the incumbent eviction, either way we ended up on food stamps. It took many long hours of paperwork, follow-up and waiting for my turn at the Department of Health and Human Services, at least 5 per trip and they do not serve cookies and milk while you wait.

My kitchen has been reduced to a refrigerator which has two shelves, half a counter ,  four cabinets,a sink and a old gas stove. It is approximately 8x10. The kitchen is inconvenient to cook in.

Both of my daughters have active afterschool activity agendas, sometimes we do not get home until 7 or 8 pm at night, we leave for school which is 20 miles north, in our home town of Carmel Valley.  It will be nice to stop for pancakes in the mornings since we now live in oak park where, the drunks fight nightly and then the bullets fly wildly… . I am please to hear that I can feed them quickly while on the road .  Honestly the less time any child lives in these conditions the better.  The best way to get them out of these conditions is to feed them well, so they can absorb at school and move out via education. 

Amen I say to the people in high places, you have just answered one of my prayers. You have allowed a single parent to provide for her children in todays demanding social environment,

PSorrentino

In response to Sexual Harassment Questions

asked by Meghan Casserly, FORBESWOMAN On Sexual Harassment: Hey Ladies, Man Up! Dec. 10 2010 - 3:38 pm

 

 

Do you think you’ve been primed to think you’re being sexually harassed by every man who treats you poorly?

Yes, pertaining to the workplace, I believe women are being primed from a very young age. A sample is we are told from that if a little boy pulls our hair, it’s because he likes us (interested in us). Later these beliefs stay within our “caution boundary”

Is it fair to say that women wanted to be treated equally?

Yes, when women’s liberation started out, it was the intention of women to be thought of as equal citizens, equally lawful and abiding with equal say our communities, we demanded respect and set out to prove capabilities to meet these demands.

If that means putting up with questionable or uncomfortable language, do you still want it?

Yes, to some degree we expect to put up with questionable or uncomfortable language, we have to know when to let it roll and when to keep our “class”. In general no, but in certain settings it’s expected. (Chosen occupations) We want men to meet us half way and put up with our questionable and uncomfortable behavior too.

As a prior Army Sergeant and I learned to balance “field talk” and corporate “talk”. In order to get to balance or equalization there needs to be a compromise.

In an Industrial setting, If I were a civilian and in the work place, let’s say construction, then yes as a women I should expect to hear foul language and sometimes in appropriate comments. After all, if a woman works in the industrial trades, she will constantly be making sexual innuendos because most tools and equipment are in some way shape or form a Freudian slip or can be perceived as an innuendo. A woman would have to clearly understand just how her co-workers will perceive the way she speaks, moves and her expressions will dictate how the listener will perceive. It is her job to ensure that her counterparts are clear on her position if an uninvited sexual advance should occur. Typically, a woman will need to work harder to keep up with her male counterparts only if she has a physical limitation. Comments about her physic from colleges can be misconstrued as sexual in nature, so it depends on the intent and perception, of the listener and receiver. Where the comments are taken place, what setting, what triggered it and so forth.

In a corporate setting …All employees should be treated equally based on performance of capacity in their current role, remembering that performance is relative. A man who does not have children will appear to work longer hours, and regularly, while a single mother in the same position may appear to work less hours or untraditional hours. The question is can they both turn in the same work? If not, Why? Did the manager offer training equally to both employees, did either employee refuse training, which employee is more determined to succeed, which employee has longevity? Men need to come half way and women need to come half way as far as behavioral expectations. In my opinion, in today’s day and age the man –vs- woman point is mute; it should be from a manager-employee perspective. Meaning that there are behaviors’ that are appropriate for a manager, as well as an employee. Any manager who hinders diversity and inclusion should be met with severe repercussions, which should be related to work place rules.

Or would you rather be treated like a lady? Yes, an intelligent lady. Why not? I am a lady or woman; it’s a sign of respect to mind manners.

And if so—what does that mean for women’s lib?

My belief is that Womans lib is a mute point. Employees and employers need to understand that broken homes are at the frontier of today’s family. If corporations want to continue to compete in the United State they need to be able to provide the services for the si9ngle parent family, whether that is a man or a woman. Both genders are experiencing the same difficulties in raising offspring as individuals, and let’s face it men! That’s the real problem women have in the workplace, its balancing family and work without guilt or failure in either direction and usually without the support of management or the corporation itself.

Womans lib has nothing to do with Manners. I believe it to be thought of as equal citizens, equally lawful and abiding with equal say our communities, we demanded respect and set out to prove capabilities to meet these demands.  People need to be aware they are sharing the workplace and considerations need to be made, this is why we are civilized people. Without order and rules equal for both, mayhem and abuse ensues.  

On the contrary , ironically, the uprising of women in the work place has inadvertently created a lot of lazy men.

My Trip to the Department of Human Services Ruffin Road, San Diego , Ca. 92124

So far, my most memorable trip was to the Department of Human Services off Ruffin Road San Diego.   As I walked into the very familiar setting of people sitting in all the “chair desks” strollers about and another long line.  It is 8:30 am and I was hoping to have beat the crowds to the lines, NOT, it’s abnormally crowded. 

One thing I am glad about , or should be nervous about is so far there are no long lines of families waiting for the H1N1 shots.  Other peoples germs sort of freak me out.

Anyway, as usual the place is crowded and I get in line and an old dirty guy falls in right behind me.  I’m not feeling patient today, I feel like this guy is hovering, only one person behind the counter seems to be moving in a semi coherent fashion. I am trying not to get annoyed by the smell wafting in my direction. Bad breath and sweat, yuk.

A lady emerges from the back, and boldly and loudly announces that their computer systems are slow today, they are short staffed, and they appreciate our cooperation during these tough economic times…

There was a hush across the room, and when she finished speaking, a loud chatter began.  One by one people began to approach a side area with issues. I was beginning to feel a panic attack coming on;my hands grew cold.  I could see the agitation in the room,I could feel it.  I assessed the situation and determined every families ethnic origin and every persons probable story during my 35 min wait . (only 8 people in front of me)  Just as I get to a window with an attendant , they open three more windows.

I told the lady that my landlord has thrown us out (recent lack of ability to pay rent) we are homeless, and temporarily displaced. I told her we needed food stamp, and whatever else they have to help us back up. I was asked to sit, wait for my name to be called and fill out the papers. not much else could be answered at this station.

She asked me to complete many forms on paper, The children's personal information, mine, Social numbers, bank accounts,  I sat and competed many  many forms. It took about 20 minutes. I heard my name called and met with a counselor , she spoke little English, well maybe she spoke English but it was not clear, I had a difficulty understanding her , but I did understand that she was going to expedite my request and get us immediate help.  The food stamp would be loaded and available because we were in immediate need, All I had to do was attend all of the orientations.  Each 15 min long , next showing 30 min’s. Corny  videos completed.

We are two hours into this process and I’m getting hungry , not a drop of food , hot tea, coffee, or something to sooth the tension in this room. It’s stuffy and as usual there is a baby and a little brother in the strollers making it harder on a mom to take care of her business. While I will admit some are very cute, in these situations it’s never fun to be with mom , the tension is thick.

My name was called for fingerprinting while I was in with the councilor so I had to wait again, in front of fingerprinting, but it was full. I went to ask a counter person for extra help and I was dismissed. Mind you I am wearing sweat pants and a Military PT sweatshirt with US ARMY written on the front a Patch  over my heart.  I am a veteran,  but I am dismissed? I walk back to the open floor, as I do an interpreter, with 7 Farsi speaking people, a family, asks for a line jump in fingerprinting because they need expedited service.   They went in front of me, I was not happy anymore , I was hungry and insulted. whether or not I had a right to determine that my need was greater than theirs didn’t matter. All that matter was all of the programing in my mind which shows where foreigners are getting better service than Vets, and citizens. That’s what rushed across my mind, and I was hungry.

Finally finger printed and after receiving my EBT card, I thought I was good to go. I walked outside and was greeted by the dirty old guy , he talk to me and as we talk we saw the Farsi people come out from the building , they get into a parked shinny black Mercedes ??? no kidding??  

I got home only to find out that I did not receive expedited services no food stamps , no cash aid. our electric was shut off, we sat in the dark for two weeks. 

I personally find their process unorganized, and not client friendly. Why cant we have computer stations where we could all go to online help desk, Skype services, and other newer age communication and database warehousing.

Completely unorganized and miserable experience.

In there defense , since my last visit, a new computer system has been implemented. It is designed to help you with the process to apply for food stamp (SNAP)  I have to say that they did get it together just few weeks ago and it is wonderful, HINT even if  their program on line says you would not qualify  please continue with the form, and submit it.  This is the only serve we as citizens should have to file. Once we have come to this location , our information should be distributed to out reach resources of our choice. I will explain this in my next blog about Inter faith Services , Catholic Charities, and Jewish Family Services.

Pamela Sorrentino

Hey San Diego ! Need help? Dial 211?

211

While dialing 211 is the new way to ask the city where to find help, actually receiving help is another issue.

One thing that really burns me up, and trips my trigger, is when a person walks into a place looking for help, like a social service or a hospital or food service, and being told that there is no service available. 

Another thing is the fact that all of these non profits can form to mostly offer referrals to places. 

Each place has their own specific intake, evaluations, councilors, and orientation.  As a person who needs help, just how much time do you think it takes to research each of the numbers provided from the 211 outreach? Well I will tell you, I have hit several of the services, domestic violence hotline, food services, and I will report on each experience over the next few weeks.

I will try my best not to be bias,and I will give each service a fair shot.

But still I wonder, when I head down to The San Diego Department of Human Services over there on Ruffin Road, San Diego, why isn't my information placed into a central database, where all of the places who can help can just adopt us?  Why must we search backwards, giving  our names and personal information, over and over and over again.  We wait for hours to be seen, sitting through orientation just to hear at the end that there are no funds? Even worse, there is rarely a snack offered while we wait in these offices. Has the city lost it’s minds?  Doesn’t anyone understand that when a person comes for help they are in a crisis?

So, stay tuned as I explore with San Diego, our human service organizations who are supposed to be here to help, but actually the majority of what they do is offer referrals.

Someone please help us lower class people understand why we need to use our last bus token to get to a place that knows they are out of money, I think its rude.

I would like to see our nation recognizing the last 6 years of a child's growth towards college is just as important as the, after all if we teach them well, the first five and then ignore them while we work like dowgs, when they are teens what difference would the first five make if we cant get them out the door later. This issue will be another blog later….

All- in-all, the San Diego 211 system is looking pretty darn good, their referrals are accurate and there representatives are very compassionate. Use the 211 service for all of your questions regarding where to find help.

mvm

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