After over two years of waiting, and some legal involvement (which I haven't been allowed to talk about until now), my service dog and I have finally been accepted into a local shelter here in Southern Maine.
In a slight departure from the norm, if anyone available to help me move things from the house to my storage unit this week (or maybe weekend?), I would be ridiculously grateful.This needs to happen ASAP, and I'm unable to do it on my own.
Shelter Life
I've lived in shelters before,including this one. The one I'm going to is extremely strict and controlling, but it gets me out of this situation and gets me much higher on the waiting lists. They also require more of you.
Unlike some shelters, the Shelter I'm entering requires that you pay them 30% of any income that you have,even SSI or SSDI. They also take your SNAP card, so you can't use it to buy snacks, drinks for long drives (my doctors are all far away,even from the Shelter), and they track your movements (and I do mean that literally). You sign out, tell them where you're going, how long, take a tracker; come back, return the tracker, sign back in,hope you're not late.
I won't be able to use my MMJ, either.They say it's addictive and they have recovering marijuana addicts,and even if I use it off-site, it's not allowed. They do random urine tests (although since I have an MMJ card they won't start testing for MJ for me until 30 days have passed). So I won't have any pain relief.
Meals are communal. I've sent the Director a simplified version of what's safe/unsafe for me, and they're going to try to accommodate me.
Sally and I are going to be service dog ambassadors. Since we will be in a dorm room, and always around other people, I will need to give regular presentations on what is and is not appropriate behavior around a service dog. The Director said it would not be the staff's responsibility to help protect Sally or monitor the other guests in that fashion—they have too much on their plate.
To Get Ready
When the lawyer sent a letter on Friday, I was expecting a longer turn-around time. A week, maybe, and then some back and forth. Instead, the Director called the lawyer as soon as she got the letter and held a bed for me. I thought I'd have more time to prepare, both physically and emotionally. This has been very difficult for me, and we weren't even sure that the letter would work, no matter how sharp the teeth were (the Shelter has been refusing to admit me for the past 2 years because of my service dog—for those asking why I didn't consult a lawyer, I was; I couldn't talk about it).
There are some logistical issues.Because I have a car they want to see it's registration, insurance,and my license. Neither are in my new name yet (due to paperwork and timing issues). The last time I saw my car registration my old case manager was making a copy of it (I think she got it mixed up with my old, non-handicap registration). I need to replace it with one with my new name, and I also need to get my license put into my new name.Replacing them isn't expensive ($10 total, including fuel?), but it is the end of the month. (They prefer you don't have a car. They have a bus they bring you places in on a schedule, and you can use the state ride service for doctor's appointments if you're on MaineCare).
I need to move all of my things into storage. Right now my mattress and most of my couch are there, but that leaves tables, chairs, dishes, crafting supplies, clothes...everything I need for an apartment. I'm hoping very hard to get an apartment soon! Of course, I can't leave my things behind. I'm not sure if moving my things is an allowable departure from the Shelter.They very much treat it as a drying out facility (they count your pills when you check in).
I also need to get Sally her rabies shot before the end of the month, because she's due for it (and
they quite reasonably require the documentation). This is the difficult one, since I need to make the appointment and somehow pay for it. It wouldn't be an issue if Spectrum hadn't charged me for an extra month of internet/phone service and then waited several weeks to refund me,then did the refund on a card you couldn't even use at an ATM (the bank had to do an ACH, which took a few days, and caused an overdraft, yay).
I also have to choose what's safe to bring with me. It won't be much. Theft is a regular thing in shelters, so you don't bring anything expensive or important. I didn't think I'd be put in a dorm, so I'm a bit worried about Sally.
The Unmitigated Good
Hey folks! The Shelter finally let me in! I'm going to shoot up on all the waiting lists. I'm going to be in an area that means that I'll be first on the list for a building(without an asterisk)! There are people trained specifically in getting people into housing (it's a Housing First facility)! They didn't make us go through a court case! I won't be out in a completely rural area, and it's a beautiful place to walk Sally. I'm probably on the BRAP list. My case manager has been working like mad to make this happen, and he's awesome.
In Closing
Shelters are difficult to live in. You get treated like worse than a child, often. You have a bedtime, awake-up, you can't choose what to eat. But in this type of shelter,they help get you into real housing. It's safe. You can stay during the day (many, many shelters do not allow you shelter during daylight hours, let alone food—although you're really providing the food, they take all your SNAP pro-rated for the time you're there, they cook it and there's a variety, and if you hate what they made you can have a sandwich). But it's a place to stay that moves you quickly into your OWN place. And that's worth a lot.
I'm pretty overwhelmed. I did a 2-hour intake with my neighbor acting as interpreter this afternoon, and I've been working on this for nearly as long. My neighbors are having me stay over tonight, since I'm a total wreck (in a good way, but still). I'm sorry if this wasn't very coherent, I've done my best.
I'm thrilled, in shock, happy, worried I won't get everything done, scared I won't be able to get everything done (I had to kludge my transmission after visiting the lawyer on Thursday), amazed that it's all happening so quickly,hopeful again, sad (I love so many of my neighbors), and aware that this is one of the better things that could have happened, and is certainly something I have been working towards.
I just need a little help to get there. :)
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2019 · 5:39:14 PM +00:00
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LoreleiHI
I’ve found out the accommodations that are going to be made for my dietary needs, and they’re more than adequate! I shouldn’t have to worry about getting sick from food. My own separate pan, and food bought only from a list I provide and kept separate. Yay!
I’m also going to be in a single room for the beginning of my stay. This makes me feel a lot safer about Sally and I. We’ll be able to get our bearings, and :knocks wood: maybe we’ll be out before that time period is past. It’s a long-shot, but there it is.
I also found out that I won’t be able to leave the shelter except for “treatment/medical/work related reasons” for the first 14 days of my stay, and of course I’ll have to wear a tracker so they’re sure I go where I’m supposed to. But that’s just part of poverty—you give up your autonomy to get shelter, food, some small bit of safety and hope for more. You allow yourself to be treated like a child, criminal, or addict to reach your goals, because that’s what it takes. After all, if you weren’t, you wouldn’t be in this position, right? :snerk:
Friday, Mar 29, 2019 · 6:44:49 PM +00:00
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LoreleiHI
Sally & I are in the Shelter, but we’ll have limited access to the internet while we’re here.
It’s been a very busy couple of days, and we got a lot done. I’m installed in my own tiny room, and hopefully it will lead to new housing quickly.
I give my first Service Dog Presentation at 6pm EST. Wish me luck!