Homeless, hopeless, afraid - Bobbie Ruma seeks stability after losing home, hope

[Kadie]

Bobbie Ruma seeks stability after losing home, hope
Sam Whiting, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, November 25, 2010

Bobbie Ruma wouldn't have minded sleeping in her Saturn so much if she hadn't had to do it upright in the driver's seat, pressed all the way forward against the steering wheel. But the rest of the interior was stuffed with everything she owned, and she didn't have the energy to rearrange it before driving off to look for work each morning.

Ruma had lost her Sunnyvale apartment when her monthly Social Security check of $977 could no longer cover both her rent and her food. She got evicted, and for three nights she parked her car on El Camino Real in Sunnyvale, in front of the CVS pharmacy where the security lights were.

"They knew I was homeless because they let me use their phone, and they wouldn't charge me," says Ruma, appreciative of even the smallest kindness. "They were so good to me."

The first two mornings she woke up, started up her car and drove to McDonald's. She wasn't there to eat. She didn't have the money for that. She bought a small coffee and used the bathroom to make herself presentable enough to hire. By the third morning, she'd had enough. She woke up miserable and drove herself to Sunnyvale Community Services. She was worn out and hungry.

She was also 73 years old.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/24/MN8C1G7VPP.DTL#ixzz16JToAO00

[dkf]

1. People who are elderly and are renting are not in a good position.

We as a society need to provide very low cost housing for these folks.

Security for the elderly rests on a paid up residence upon retirement. Without this, and without government provided housing social security won't cut it.

[cutlassmama]

3. I agree with the housing part. I don't understand this woman though

there are food stamps and cheaper apartments. She shouldn't be homeless.

[shireen]

2. this breaks my heart

after a lifetime of contributing to society, to have to live this way is utterly tragic. I feel so sad for anyone who is homeless, but the children and elderly are particularly heart-breaking. If everyone at DU, who can afford it, could help in some way, be it volunteering time and/or money to local food banks and local organizations that help the homeless, it could make a difference. It would not solve the problem by any measure, but it would ease the pain for a few people.

[eridani]

4. Those shitstains on the Catfood Commission think she has too much money n/t

[Little Star]

5. Selfish old people....

They've got theirs. :sarcasm: