Homeless Mom: “We’re Not Losers!”

Here’s a heart-wrenching response sent to this blog yesterday:
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Hello,

It is wonderful work that you do - and us homeless thank you. I have been in the Santa Clarita area for over a year and I am still homeless with my 2 children. I am not alone. There are 3 other Mothers with me that are also homeless with children. We have been lucky enough to have rooms at a roadside motel.

I just want to say that we are not prostitutes, drug users, or losers. We are woman that have been abused or had hard times that landed us in this situation. If this city would open it's eyes you would see all of the Hotels / Motels in this area are packed with families that have fallen on hard times. When the four of us woman discussed the Santa Clarita Homeless Shelter, we came to the conclusion that we didn't want to go there for fear of being embarrassed or singled out.

So every month we struggle for our last week of rent - selling our clothes, collecting cans, etc.

I would like to know why the laws are so stringent on renting mobile homes? Or what about trailer parks? They have all but been eliminated from this area. I understand that nobody wants "trailer trash" in their backyard, but I don't see that this area offers ANY affordable housing.

The only apartment building in Acton, has two convicted sex offenders living at it so it counts as a multiple offender location. Please tell me where I can go with my 2 daughters to live on an income of $720.00 a month? Oh yeah, according to Public Social Services, I am only allowed to spend 85% of that $720.00 on rent!

THIS IS A TRAP THAT MANY PARENTS HAVE FALLEN INTO! Thank the Lord that the owner of this Motel has kept it affordable. He should be given the credit and funding from the city for keeping so many of us off the street.

This area has done a great job making us all feel uncomfortable. One quick note: The Homeless Survey that was taken last year - well none of us were included in it. I don't think the people doing the count even stopped in Santa Clarita!

Thank you,
Respectfully,
Michelle