Mrs. Illinois Raquel LaCour who is preparing to compete in Mrs. America, volunteers with The Bedrock Movement in various tent sites not only leading womens domestic violence Groups, but she provides bus/train passes for the homeless ladies to escape their abuser and get to a hospital and safe shelters, and she brings her homemade chili, pasta or soup to each Group session.
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch passed the Homeless Bill 5508 as part of an Omnibus Bill, May of 2021. Homeless Bill 5508, was submitted by Illinois State LaShawn Ford in 2017, Homeless Bill 5508 came about in 2017, when Social Worker, John Netherly, learned of the death of this homeless lady pictured, whom The Bedrock Movement have done individual group sessions with, but she refused drug, mental health, medical, and shelter services. She was found dead on a Chicago southside street frozen solid and overdosed on drugs.
Brian is a street homeless veteran who lives in Chicago and suffers from mental illness and alcohol- drug issues. Being a veteran means that there are many services available for housing, medical, drug abuse and mental illness. Brian admits he has to want to get healthy and be willing to go through the process for recovery for a productive quality of life. But for now, he admits he is not ready. BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
Gloria at 61 is street homeless and has chosen to live on the street. She sleeps in a tent across the street from Hope Park in Chicago and directly across the street from Francesan Shelter. "I choose to live in my tent until my probation is over. She does utilizlize a Link Card, SSI check and Section 8 in which she plans to work part time. Gloria credits her work ethic since 15, being in military, the love of her family and even people she met in jail, court judges and in street who raised her to stop physically fighting people and not doing illegal drugs. Being falsely accused of a murder set her back, but charges were dimissed, and now she is building friendships, connections and goals. It's a slow process, but patience, talking to people, not using drugs and having goals has helped her to focus and aim towards getting off the street in her own apartment.
He was born near Thailand. He became homeless while living in Chicago. He hates shelters and prefers to stay outdoors on lakefront during summer, fall and spring. He simply states, "Keep pushing and never give up".
During his time homeless Steven loved to make people laugh and happy being a clown. He said he will always make homeless people laugh. Even now living in his own apartment, he visits the homeless because in hard times its important to laugh. Read more of his journey....keep scrolling down to catch his story.
Not giving her real name but we will call her A. A will proudly tell you has lived in Chicago's Francesan Shelter for over 10 years. She feels street homeless women must sleep in safe shelters not the street to avoid being sexually and physically abused. A is from South America, and has hope she will reunite with her children now grown who were taken away from her. Andrea works at a hospital and shares her skill of knitting with the patients.
Fernando a kind gentleman suffering from mental illness and drug abuse, a proud man from Putero Rico who lost his identification and passport during a visit to Chicago years back. He has been street homeless in Humboldt Park living under 606 Bloomington aka old railroad tracks. The last time I seen or heard from Fernando was 2019. The police removed his stuff and him for reports of indecent behavior near a school.
"My name is LaTisha,
Special thank you to my childhood buddy John Netherly, for being my inspiration, and Sharon Matthews, for helping me to deliver these care packages to the street homeless."
Wanda L. Tolbert is a published author of these 2 books, and a retired postal worker. She donates the proceeds of her books to distributing items to the Chicago street homeless which includes backpacks filled with clothing, hand sanitizer, plastic gloves, masks and disinfectant wipes.
