Homeless is a series of diaries I have been writing since August 20, 2015, several weeks after I became homeless. PADS is the organization that is in charge of the homeless shelters where I stay nearly every night, and provides assistance signing up for available services, job searches, etc.
Homeless 50 is a compilation of information that might make understanding various acronyms and recognize some of the people a little better. You are welcome to start with Homeless Now and work through the other diaries, but starting with Homeless 50 may give you a jump start.
Friday was the last time that we saw Candy. Candy is my friend with the colorful (technicolor) health issues – the colonoscopies that didn’t fully heal, maybe – the UTI, blood sugar above 300, and the abscessed tooth. She attended the Housing meeting on Friday morning, and Cheryl and I each encouraged her to call the dentist (since that seemed to be the biggest issue at that time), and then left for the afternoon.
I have seen Cheryl each night since – the Wood Dale Community Church on Friday, Medinah Baptist Church on Saturday, Synagogue Etz Chaim in Lombard on Sunday, and St. Isidore’s in Bloomingdale last night. On Friday we wondered whether Candy had stayed in Downer’s Grove, but then she was gone the next night.
Candy’s caseworker confirmed yesterday that Candy was not at the sites over the weekend, but didn’t seem to know where else she might be. As days pass, Cheryl and I think more and more that Candy is probably in the hospital. If she had money to pay for a motel, she was keeping that secret close to her vest. (If you read previous diaries about her – Candy is NOT much of a secret-keeper.) I just asked her caseworker to let Candy know that people are concerned about her. She agreed to pass along that message when she sees Candy next. And here’s the thing: I don’t know her last name! So, even if I were to call Good Sam or Edwards or Central DuPage Hospitals, I could ask for Candy with the tooth infection – no last name!
This morning her caseworker asked if I’d seen Candy. No. I don’t want to be upsetting people unnecessarily, but I do think when someone goes missing for 4 days without warning, there should be some kind of questions asked.
Another woman has been missing for a couple of weeks – but it started when her father went into ICU. And a couple went to visit his family in western Illinois for several days, but we knew they were planning to head out.
I’m going to stop focusing on Candy now, because maybe – hopefully – she’s fine. Please send her good thoughts, though.
Grace, one of the knitting caseworkers just brought me a box with circular needles, practice yarn & 50 instructional cards. I think I’m going to try to work through those cards now.
That’s the news from the homeless at the PADS center in Wheaton, IL.
© 2015 sheddhead – not to be used without written consent of the author, unless quoting portions of this diary on DailyKos, with links back to the original quotation