Admin | Unitarian Universalist Ventura

Tony

by Admin | Oct 30, 2011 | Justice Actions

“I used to think that homeless people were a bunch of losers.”

Tony Fayed is a 55 year old of Egyptian descent. He was born in Washington, D.C., and has lived in Ventura since 1990. Tony is a certified electrician with skills in all the building trades. Until becoming homeless in 2008, Tony had never experienced challenges obtaining employment.

Tony found an unexploded shell at a Point Mugu air show and put it into his toolbox. When police found this unexploded shell in his toolbox during a traffic stop, Tony was incarcerated for ten months. By the time the legal charges were dropped and he was released, Tony had lost his home, his car, and the tools of his trade.

Tony says it is very difficult to get employment once you have lost everything. When one has no address, no phone, and no tools, employers are not interested, even though you are highly qualified and have a good work record. They judge you by your appearance and your current situation. “Any decent electrician will at least have his own tools. I used to think that homeless people were a bunch of losers. Since experiencing homelessness for most of the past year, I have much more compassion for other homeless people.”

Woman

by Admin | Oct 30, 2011 | Justice Actions

“I’m optimistic about the future when I see that there are people who truly desire to help.”

“Woman”, who doesn’t want her face depicted, is a woman in her mid-forties who is descended from the Sioux Indian Nation. She was adopted by a family from Inglewood, and then lived in Ventura County. Her mother died when she was 14.
When this photo was taken, “Woman” had been homeless for nine years. She began the homeless life after her roommate left and “Woman” didn’t have rent money. She spent a few years at River Haven which ‘provided a community life that was rewarding.’
“Woman” has worked with her dad in the past. She has also worked in the hospital insurance billing field. However, she says that because her job history is sketchy and prospective employers see large periods of time not working, it creates doubt about her stability.
“Woman” feels optimistic about the future when she sees that there are people who truly desire to help and do something positive to alleviate suffering.

Vicky and Greg

by Admin | Oct 30, 2011 | Justice Actions

A grocery cart for their belongings led to an “illegal storage of property” ticket. “It’s amazing how many tickets a homeless person must pay…”

Vicky felt secure growing up in a loving family. She finished high school and two years of college. She writes poetry. She lost all the members of her family in a tragic two-year span twelve years ago; the worst loss being the disappearance of her nineteen-year-old son. Police could find no clues. After those losses, Vicky developed serious physical problems and turned temporarily to drugs.

Greg is fifty-one. He makes some money displaying advertising signs at local shopping areas. For a while Greg was into drugs. Now he is drug free.

Greg met Vicky four years ago and has cared for her ever since. Originally they had only a grocery cart for their belongings, which led to a ticket for “illegal storage of property.” Greg finds it amazing how many tickets a homeless person must try to pay while needing money for necessities. Greg’s truck, fitted with a camper shell found by a friend, allowed them to cook and sleep inside with their cat, Gracie.

Greg awaits money owed him from a class action suit and while Vicky can no longer work, she collects useful items and makes them available to other homeless persons.