Homeless: When There’s Nowhere to Go

When he’s sitting on the sidewalk, which is whenever he’s not sleeping on the sidewalk, Jimmy Young’s flesh hangs on him like the collapsed folds of a hot air balloon. It’s said that at one time Jimmy was impressively large. Since then, he’s been caving into himself.

Jimmy eats whatever people bring him. If he’s lying down, he stuffs the food into his mouth until his cheeks bulge. Then he chews.

His wife checks on him periodically. She brings him food and clean clothes, and sometimes a little money. She says he really needs to go to the hospital. She says he’s got a bad heart and bad lungs. He’s got a bad cough that gets worse whenever he smokes.

If Jimmy hears the word “hospital,” he balls his hands into fists and pounds his thighs, yelling over and over, “I’m not going to the hospital; I’m not going to the hospital.”

Jimmy is developmentally disabled. He is too hard for his wife to care for, so he’s in the care of a local service provider — except his case manager says she can’t help him because he’s uncooperative. The law says homelessness isn’t a crime and Jimmy doesn’t want help.

Unless he’s just had a change of clothes, Jimmy spends most of the time in his own waste in full view of passersby on a public sidewalk in Modesto. Flies buzz around him constantly. They’re especially attracted to his eyes and tear ducts.

Sometimes Jimmy uses methamphetamine. It helps ease his hunger pangs.

Some say Jimmy should be at home with his family. But Jimmy’s difficult. His disabilities make it extra hard to handle him, especially when he has tantrums. Even in his diminished state, he’s large, unwieldy, and intractable.

Jimmy Young Modesto 2021 — Modesto, October, 2021

Sometimes people like Jimmy throw and break things. They can’t be left at home alone. Jimmy needs a caretaker, but people who are struggling to pay rent can’t afford caretakers.

In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Jimmy would have gone to the poorhouse or a work farm. Most closed after the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935. They were said to be cruel and inhumane. Many were replaced by mental institutions.

Most mental institutions shut down in the late 1980s, when modern drugs led experts to believe we no longer needed to house the mentally ill and disabled. It was said and people believed that families, churches and charities would do a better job of caring for the ill and disabled than professionals.

Today, instead of poorhouses, work farms or mental institutions, we have homeless shelters. Sometimes people like Jimmy can be persuaded to go to the shelters, especially if the weather is bad. But shelters have lots of rules and Jimmy is resistant to rules. He’s resistant to most everything except the food and clothing people bring him. And the meth and cigarettes.

Today, there’s really nowhere for Jimmy to go. Today, we kick people like Jimmy to the curb and onto the sidewalk.

Interesting queries, Bruce, I hope this is succinct

Unless somethings have changed, likely not, the following may be in Jimmy’s way.

Conservatorship is not all that we may think it is, or would want it to be. Conservators can be “selfish” to say the least. Of course not all conservators, but enough, especially when it is a business not a loved one.

For instance, Jimmy’s case manager, from the local agency (not named in Eric Caine’s post, for obvious reasons) is very likely the same agency that stated “We would fight tooth and nail to prevent a client of ours from being conserved.” So there it is…

When not conserved, a quasi-type of conservator-ship takes place, where a different local agency receives what money comes in to a client, such as Jimmy, and after all bills (rent utilities, etcetera) are paid, first, then, out of balance left, periodically, funds are doled out, in small amounts, to the client. Oftentimes what may be left is barely enough to cover weekly food expenses, especially the cost of fast or junk,, food rather than from scratch meals, due to having no refrigerator or stove on the streets; if the money received pays for the cost of cigarettes and/or meth, then less food, if any. I have personally witnessed these clients opt to spend the funds on cigarettes and drugs, and, at the most, a meager $10-$15 spent on junk food from the 99Cent store or Dollar Tree.

Add to that, in someone such as Jimmy’s case, a multiple jeopardy situation, may be as follows: Not having a rental, hence no need for utilities, common sense is that fewer funds are allotted from the county, state or federal government, therefore, the entitlement funds would be less. Hence, the weekly expense funds doled out may very well be less than a reasonable person could stretch.

I am sure someone from the social service community could update the public on how that “system” is supposed to function (when quality control is ideal) thus not working against the quasi-conserved. Transparency is not their strength and I am not speaking about HIPAA confidentiality. A friend of mine was hired on to Social Services and was told that she could be fired if she were to point out to a perspective client how a numerical error would work against the individual. She was told it was not her job to show potential clients how to collect welfare.

According to my organizational behavior assessment, public social service agencies can do a much more thorough job of controlling the money of people intellectually challenged, what ever the reason for the challenge. I do maintain that these same public agencies can implement and apply better care of people such as Jimmy. The policy exists, the regulations exist, there could be more conformity and accountability.

I am still bothered that when Adult Protective Services (APS) took a report that a client was refusing to spend her weekly allotment check on a sufficient amount of food, the response back was “The client is an adult and has the right to decide whether or not to purchase food.” In other words, mind your business. Thereafter, the particular SW that took the report, initiated trouble for the mandated reporter.

When a person, is intellectually challenged, someone, such as a wife, may live in an apartment and use utilities that someone’s, such as Jimmy’s, entitlement funding pays for, but, he may not enjoy the comfort of the living quarters, because the condition of a spouse, such as Jimmy, makes it difficult. Such as what happens during a legal separation, only someone such as Jimmy, more than likely lacks the ability to stop himself, even when not on meth. Mental challenge is just that. It used to be illegal to counsel a developmentally disabled couple not to marry or have children, it probably still is. For every action there can be an opposite reaction all possibly leading to crisis.

I use ‘wife’ because Eric Caine mentioned Jimmy has a ‘wife’ who checks on him out on the streets. A scenario could exist where a wife may legally receive the periodic dole and purchase food, intended for Jimmy, that Jimmy may never eat. It could be that a wife goes out to the streets but cannot find Jimmy or after months or years of doing so, the wife grows tired of searching, so, many days or weeks can elapse between contacts. I doubt Jimmy has no money, yet obviously he is wasting away from lack of food. He even self reports that he takes meth to help him with his appetite. Who has access to his share of any money?

This does not have to be a wife it could just as possibly be a relative or roommate, if someone such as Jimmy signed a durable power of attorney to handle his personal business, meaning check cashing ability and banking privileges. It does not even have to be a relative or roommate, it can be anyone that gained Jimmy’s confidence and convinced Jimmy to agree to their being his representative “payee” who, thereafter, receives the entitlement check, opens a bank account in someone such as Jimmy’s name, and is entrusted to handle the funds on behalf of someone such as Jimmy. Obviously, someone such as Jimmy, would not remain lucid enough, nor have the comprehension to know how exactly the funds are being used.

It could be quite tempting for a “payee” to bring someone such as Jimmy a few dollars, from time to time, enough to purchase meth (I understand it is not a high priced commodity) which would serve to keep someone such as Jimmy high enough to remain content, so as not to question much, why he is not receiving more of his entitlement funds. People who are intellectually challenged seldom know enough about how money works. They are in a condition, in a position, where they have little alternative but to trust, even strangers.

All of the agencies involved with Jimmy’s case would be networked with other agencies, such as the Stanislaus County Department of Social Services (DSS). I could list the many local, state and federal agencies who may contract with people such as Jimmy, yet, I cannot vouch that any of them function optimally. In my opinion, they have learned to circle their wagons and protect each others backs, if, and, when, someone such as Jimmy or an advocate begins and continues to ask questions. It isn’t all HIPAA.

There is a local legal agency that is suppose to specifically work on behalf of people such as Jimmy, but, even that agency networks too closely, in my assessment, with the other agencies, that they can fail someone such as Jimmy. First of all, Jimmy has to be able to articulate what his complaints are. The agency can chose to believe what the agencies say to protect their self-interests, even when someone like Jimmy and an advocate are able to prove why he complains or state why he wants something specific. I call it a discernment deficiency when they do not know who to believe. Someone such as Jimmy and a concerned advocate, with the slightest of ease on the part of any agency, can find themselves being treated as ‘lighting rods’ and ‘gaslighted’ to assure they are not to be believed and much much worse.

Fair warning, yet, do not take my word for it, concerned citizens could and should do some snooping around. Something is certainly not right in Jimmy’s case.

Perhaps down through history, agencies may have counted on no one looking too closely when things are not working. In this day and age, it is almost certain. Social Workers (SW) are inundated with high case loads, thus temptation can set in, to not look too closely themselves, when things are not running smoothly. Due to burnout and out of self-survival, they may tell themselves, that they are doing the best they can.

Unfortunately, more and more people would hardly blame them, even the clients make excuses for them, as if the client did not have rights or is willing to sacrifice those rights. Client’s all too often do not know any better. They do not grasp that they self harm themselves. It is not denial. It is a very real inability to know the difference, even when they do know enough to complain that they are not getting something they want. Needs not so much. Often do not know who to complain to, without an advocate’s help.

There is an agency that is very well aware of all that is wrong with these agencies, but the government ‘pulled their teeth’, all they can do now is listen and confirm.

Still, there can be no excuse, unless things are brought out into the light, nothing will change for the clients or the case workers or the advocates. If valley citizen’s fail Jimmy, more, we may very well be reading Jimmy’s obituary, sad to even think about that.

If it turns out that there is nothing that can be done for Jimmy, I mean absolutely nothing, then valley citizens will know why not, and armed with that knowledge, pressure can be brought to create change where needed. Any improvement starts somewhere. Keep in mind, that Jimmy is not the only houseless individual going through it, each has their own particular needs. One at a time or many at a time, we need to make the changes for them.

16 COMMENTS

Lou Valero October 6, 2021 At 6:00 pm

“….when modern drugs led experts to believe…” It does not take much to get experts to believe that they can wiggle our of their obligations and responsibilities, does it? If there is anything that is “cruel and inhumane” it is society, locally and around the world. Anything to make and save money for the greedy…

It does not help Jimmy that a caretaker who cared for him in his own home, could so easily find her or him self in deep water because their are so many legal regulations preventing a caretaker from doing what would absolutely be for Jimmy’s well-being. Obviously within reason…

I will not belabor the thoughts that come to mind and heart over what is preventing Jimmy from getting the care he needs. It is not enough or adequate to say, that there exists absolutely no excuses.
- AG.Eversole October 7, 2021 At 12:37 am
  
  No, this was the beginning of Reaganomics, Ronald Reagan did this.
  Before Ronald Reagan, California was the envy of the country, and the world. He closed down our mental health system, dismantaled unions, and enacted the Powell Doctrine. He and his admininistration in California,and the US. as President started the dismantling of all the
  Progress made for the middle class, in fact he started the dismantling
  Of the MiddleClass.
- THEROOTMATTERS October 8, 2021 At 6:04 pm
  
  Dear Houseless Citizens,
  
  Modesto Bee has raised my awareness about what they and many term ‘homelessness’.
  
  I want to apologize to each and every single individual that is caught up in the tallied nearly 3,000 count of homeless people scattered throughout Stanislaus County. Personally I have reason to think that there are many more than 2,927 individuals who are undoubtedly doing what they can to survive being without homes, including going without other necessities of life such as: clean running water, electricity and heat.
  
  Stanislaus County, AND, the Stanislaus Community System of Care seem to have failed to enumerate: mention, one by one, what options they have considered, thus far, and, where they are in the stream of things. Where do they make this available to the public.
  
  Even though some, more than others, want to reach out and remove obstacles in your way, in our effort to move others to join in outreach efforts, we discuss and highlight aspects of your plight as if you do not have feelings. What must you think of us?
  
  Have you been reduced to mere point-in-time counts: statistics that are shuffled about from one desktop or computer to another desktop or computer to be broken down even further into categories for executive summary reports. All this is eating up time you do not safely have. Not much good has truly been done to ease your pain.
  
  We ooh and aah that 54% of the people stranded out there on the streets and/or near or under bushes and trees are female. We NEED to let that sink in: the majority of you are FEMALE, including girls, and, 46% of you are males, also, comprised of boys. Two percent transgender or “nonconfirming”. Are you all supposed to feel relieved that the county has your number down? I know I feel absolutely zero relief. What is your confidence level that Stanislaus County has your back? Please, speak your mind.
  
  We hear of a grandmother out on the streets with a grandchild, yet, then what? Pray.
  
  We hear “Modesto. as the county seat and hub of homeless services, had the majority of you in previous counts.” Go figure? Tell you and I something we did not know.
  
  We hear these yearly tallies are important because “besides receiving funding based on these counts, the annual tallies help service providers learn more about you “homeless people” they help. How helped are you ‘homeless’ human beings feeling. I guess you are supposed to be content with all their good vibes generated amongst themselves. Is it the time of year when they pat themselves on the back or weep for you?
  
  Oh, your not feeling it, the good vibes and good will, I mean? Wonder why? Perhaps it is due to all the ‘service gaps’ they learn more about every 365 days or so. While on the subject of collecting data, Stanislaus County, according to Supervisor, Terry Withrow, opted out on tracking a vital statistic. His cavalier attitude revealed things most telling.
  
  “By assessing homeless mortality data, health departments and policy makers may also decide if they need to change approaches, said Sharon Rapport, director of California state policy for the Corporation for Supportive Housing. Officials may further identify geographic hot spots and devote more resources to specific communities, Rapport said. “Any data can and should be used to address homelessness,” Rapport said. “We know from lots of best practices across the country that data does inform good policy. So, to the extent that we’re missing data, that does stand in the way of driving the best policy we can reach to move the needle on homelessness.” Kristen Lam, Modesto Bee. 9.27.21
  
  Read more at: https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article254330188.html#storylink=cpy
  
  Have you people stranded out their without a safety hatch to escape through, ever asked these tally readers, “What have you learned about your ‘service gaps”, and “what, now”? Now that you and the tally broke records this year, it is dangerous not to ask.
  
  Did you know there could be a variety of reasons behind your increase? Behind your being identified? Systems of Care, Chairman, believes it could be a combination of factors. Oh, “NO” not a dreaded combination of factors. Does this mean more calculation of statistics? More desk top and computer figuring? All this business, depending on who is analyzing it locally, for you, can account for the years ticking by, and the unwise use of the funds these tallies bring to Stanislaus County, for you. Will the Modesto Bee get ongoing updates for all citizens to know what is on the “System of Care’s mind(s). We need to beware of groupthink.
  
  I do not want to discount Jason Conway, after all, he is one of those Gospel Mission AND System of Care professionals who can be counted on to give an answer when asked, even if the answer sounds uncertain.
  
  I have some familiarity with the Rescue Missions/Gospel Missions, I was recruited to operate a family services branch of a California Rescue Mission. Tommy and Letitia Miller, and, later Rabbi, Herb Opalek, CEOs of the Rescue Mission. I bowed out immediately after Tommy Miller bragged, “Hold on, I hand pick my board and they do everything I tell them to do or else”. I then bowed out immediately after Herb Opalek informed me that he was going to merge the Rescue Mission in with the local county. Rabbi Opalek was new to the county or he may have thought better of that decision. Opalek did not get an opportunity, to learn, one way or another, due to his sudden death.
  
  I truly respected Letitia Miller, the Rescue Mission was truly ‘her baby’ that she nurtured along with all of the men that found refuge around her care. I sincerely doubt that she knew how her husband, Tommy, ran his board. As for Rabbi Herb Opalek, he was another good force, one to be reckoned with, he wanted to do as much as he possibly could for the homeless, and did so, from coast to coast. He and Letitia Miller are missed.
  
  Why does any of this history matter to you, I hope it is to show that out of respect to all people who are houseless, missions need to be operated with the utmost consideration of you, the sole purpose of there existence, in the first place. In my opinion, either full consideration is given to you or it is not. No compromise need exist. In sincere hope for those who seek safe haven at the Modesto Gospel Mission, may you find what you NEED there. If not, let us know.
  
  Speaking of full consideration given to you, I know that much talk and a lot less action has left you ever more dependent and wondering how it is that “the System of Care made up of local governments, nonprofits, homeless advocates and service providers, including Modesto, Turlock, Riverbank, Stanislaus County, the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority, the Salvation Army and the Modesto Gospel Mission, the system of care who organizes the counts,” has not been able, yet, to relieve your misery. It cannot spend without end without stalling out. Politicians have made promises not yet kept.
  
  Perhaps too many “snapshots in time” and “range of factors” and “the level of organization” has more to do with the ‘gaps in services’ than it ought to. Do all these snippets of terminology tell you anything satisfying to your need? How many years have many of you been waiting for a hand up? How often does this “System of Care” meet, meaning how many hours are dedicated to volunteering? Even the most willing volunteers can only accomplish so much depending on hours applied to the solution.
  
  How many volunteers have come forward to brainstorm? Were they all welcome? Were any turned away? How many over time have bowed out of the ‘System of Care’? If any, have they explained why? Who is project manager of the “System of Care’? What are the steps taken within the project? Are there separate work groups working on specified objectives. I want to know do you?
  - Julie jensen November 15, 2021 At 8:56 am
    
    Ditto! Well said! Ive been trying for years to get answers to no avail.
- Lou Valero October 11, 2021 At 12:19 pm
  
  It is a hazy, chilly, wind blown, day. The wind is whipping around dirt, flying into eyes. Even my cats want in the house, waiting just outside the back door, generally, I have to go out and pick them up, against their will.
  
  Just last week, I had my air conditioner on, two days, for two hours, as there was no escaping the hot sun baking into the wall in the late afternoon. Then, no time, this week, for bodies to acclimate to the cooler temperatures, no matter how much of a relief from the desert-like heat. Burrrr!
  
  Where is Jimmy this blustery wind chilled day? How are the rest of those faring, who have no back door to enter into, with no one to go out and collect them up, for their own good? On days like today and here on out, most are hovering somewhere trying to warm their chilly bodies, wishing for Stanislaus County and it’s City Councils to, at least, come up with a solution to meet their most basic needs.
  
  How many years have gone by since the first committee was formed to address, at a minimum, the basic needs of the houseless? Is it too early in the season to exclaim a phrase that conveys, curmudgeonly, my displeasure? Bah Humbug, whether it is or not.
  
  It is only October 11, 2021, yet this autumn is unseasonably foreboding. I am already chilled, inside and out, in doors, where the insulation is poor, through no fault of my own. I wonder about the cost to heat this late fall and winter, due to inflation, even though I already live, as frugally as possible.
  
  I wonder even more how those houseless individuals survive the raw cold. A shelter here, and, a motel there, is hardly enough to gather up the people who cannot afford a home or the luxury of wondering about how they will keep the thermostats set in order to afford the utility bills.
  
  How many more of us are living on the edge, teetering, between being on the inside or the outside of four walls and a roof, however poorly insulated? I wonder…
  
  Our society, regardless of who is Governor or President, has chosen the ease of a surrendered compliance, over, autonomous sanity. Do we really have a rung left on the class ladder for very much longer, or, any more at all? Let’s stop kidding ourselves. We are in this together. along with the houseless citizens, or our numbers are ever weaker. We are being picked off, one by one, or multiples by multiples. We must stand up and demand being counted, on the side of the houseless, or, we or a loved one or neighbors, will one day possibly join the houseless because we failed to act.
  - Lori October 12, 2021 At 12:47 am
    
    Wow, that was written with such compassion and I appreciate you thinking about us when things are changing so rapidly, yes it is very cold, I’m one of the lucky ones living in a motor home! I used to worry more about being able to afford the space rent, now I worry more about the fact that it must have leaked before, but we are trusting people, they dmsaid it didn’t, so we just automatically believe them, that might be where we went wrong in life, but when it comes to planning for the future, we did just that! So, now I stare at the windshield alone, because it leaked before I guess they couldn’t put the windshield in right, non of this was mentioned and now the windshield is popping out! So, then what, what is going to happen to me? I am a caretaker for my husband with mental illness and what happens to him? Most importantly what happens to my 5 sweet crazy fur babies? They are all I have, we are all they have, we are a family! They were with us long before the eviction on March 4th, Howie is 14, Charli is 11, Baby Girl is 8, Lil Mann is going to be 2 on November 14, same as my birthday, another sad and lonely birthday coming up and going by! We didn’t buy expensive clothes or live beyond our means, we were victims of a corrupt city that thinks they can get away with anything, because they have, nothing ever happens to them!
    I started with 2 pair of shoes , I have 3, does anyone realize that being homeless puts a lot of were and tear on your shoe’s? Not to mention a lot of our clothes get ruined, do to the lack of everything!
    I think it’s time for these lawmakers to come and live 24 hours in our shoe’s let them experience what true trials are really about! Do you ever wonder why our appearance changes because we don’t take as good care for ourselves, because it is so much more work to do something as sime as laundry, dishes, take care of our pets, they bathing? Where? River? Now it’s freezing, so can we go to the houses of the lawmakers and bath? Can they supply warm running water, because we have to somehow heat our water! When I look to my future I cry, I don’t want to suffer anymore I can already see that we are headed in that direction quickly! I would rather not be, than be that girl who is so tired can’t take care of herself, I’m already avoiding talking to my parents because I’m ashamed of myself! They don’t knowvhow to deal with homeless people, I’m the only one I they know! It’s not about dealing with a homeless person, it’s about dealing with your daughter, so I can’t look them in the eye! So, I don’t call or video chat like I promised, so I suck as a daughter, my parents are 80 and 81! I hate regrets so I won’t be able to handle that
    Let me leave you with this thought,
    When you have your family gathered at your table for a family meal, we don’t have a table and we are basically Isolated from family! That’s the part that hurts the most, because it’s not like my family notices if we aren’t there anymore! They quit inviting us! I feel less than everyone else so I’m ashamed and don’t want to be seen anyways, holidays are for loneliness and tears! When I hear people say all the things they have to do and shopping is one of them, I think this is a crazy world when you have to have everything perfect getting everything just right, how would that person handle not having a home?
    Just remember I’m someone’s daughter, sister, aunt mother, grandmother, daughter in law, because of that I still believe I am somebody! I don’t feel like I’m somebody but I believe I am because I know they love me! I don’t think they think about me as often as I think of them, because I’m more alone , I crave my family 💔
    Another worry we went to our storage unit and some of our stuff had to be thrown away due to mice and mold, all my winter clothes, winter jacket the one my sisters bought me and the one my kids bought me, mildew so bad!
    I’m not sure if I’m ok or not! One minute I feel happy because I’m spending more time with my pet and it’s quality time! I try really hard to convince myself that my life is normal, sometimes I think I choose not to see it, because I couldn’t handle it if I did!
    I’m tired, cold, have anxiety, but I know that God loves me and that is so much more than I could ask for, he probably should have turned his back on me years ago but he didn’t, people ask how I can say that, they say I’m homeless how does that show that God lives me, I say I still find moments of true happiness and I don’t deserve it but he gives it to me anyway!
    You guys realize that there are animals and stuff out in the elements that I’m deathly afraid of?
    I want to sleep in my house, but I can’t, they took that from me, I want my dogs to have their. 25 acre yard, but they took that from them, I want to throw a load of clothes in my washer, in the kitchen, but I can’t they took that from me, I want to sit on my front porch and watch the parade go by, but I can’t, they took that from me! There are so many things that I want but they took everything from me ! They took everything, my pride, self worth, security, my belief that the justice system is just! Now, here I sit, feeling the wind blow through the gap in our windshield, the gap getting bigger everyday! Please, pray that these lawmakers will see things through our eyes and the world begins to be a better place! For me I just pray we make it another week! I feel like I’m being dragged down but I’m praying that God lifts me up!
    - THEROOTMATTERS October 12, 2021 At 10:09 am
      
      Lori, so very good to hear from you. Missed reading your salient thoughts. Keep talking to us. Don’t ever stop. We need your inputs.
      
      Any way you could create an email, specifically, for people who may want to reach out in some way to help. An email that can be given out here, that gives you the option to reply to or not. Not an email that you already use but one dedicated only for serious contacts. Think about.
      
      I want to encourage you, here and now, that you need not be ashamed. There are people who know what is happening to society, things you are swept up in, are not the fault of the masses, but the few. These are trying times. Please do not give up.
      
      Sincerely hoping to hear about you. We here in Stan Co are routing for you and your entire family. Keep your personalized comments flowing.
    - THEROOTMATTERS October 12, 2021 At 10:15 am
      
      Pardon my spelling: We are ROOTING for you, Lori and family.
    - Lou Valero October 12, 2021 At 8:53 pm
      
      Thank you, Lori. Hope your windshield is repaired soon.
      
      Did you read reply to your last comment on the Homeless: He’s Baaaack — Louis X Returns post.
      
      Curious if the comment answered some of your concern.
      
      Lawmakers need to see things through your eyes so the world improves
Bruce Frohman October 7, 2021 At 10:39 am

While Jimmy seems like a sympathetic figure, a number of questions need to be answered.
Who gives Jimmy Meth? Where does Jimmy get money for Meth?
Who brings Jimmy food? Would Jimmy’s behavior change if people stopped giving him food and required him to change is behavior in order to receive food?
Does Jimmy have a legal Conservator? Is he mentally incompetent? Why can’t a Conservator be appointed to direct his medical care?
How much of Jimmy’s lifestyle is enabled by others versus the necessity of circumstance?
Does Jimmy receive attention from the County Department of Social Services?
As I previously said, a one size fits all approach to homelessness does not work. Jimmy needs customized assistance. Public money is being spent, but maybe not in the best manner.
- THEROOTMATTERS October 7, 2021 At 4:26 pm
  
  Interesting queries, Bruce, I hope this is succinct
  
  Unless somethings have changed, likely not, the following may be in Jimmy’s way.
  
  Conservatorship is not all that we may think it is, or would want it to be. Conservators can be “selfish” to say the least. Of course not all conservators, but enough, especially when it is a business not a loved one.
  
  For instance, Jimmy’s case manager, from the local agency (not named in Eric Caine’s post, for obvious reasons) is very likely the same agency that stated “We would fight tooth and nail to prevent a client of ours from being conserved.” So there it is…
  
  When not conserved, a quasi-type of conservator-ship takes place, where a different local agency receives what money comes in to a client, such as Jimmy, and after all bills (rent utilities, etcetera) are paid, first, then, out of balance left, periodically, funds are doled out, in small amounts, to the client. Oftentimes what may be left is barely enough to cover weekly food expenses, especially the cost of fast or junk,, food rather than from scratch meals, due to having no refrigerator or stove on the streets; if the money received pays for the cost of cigarettes and/or meth, then less food, if any. I have personally witnessed these clients opt to spend the funds on cigarettes and drugs, and, at the most, a meager $10-$15 spent on junk food from the 99Cent store or Dollar Tree.
  
  Add to that, in someone such as Jimmy’s case, a multiple jeopardy situation, may be as follows: Not having a rental, hence no need for utilities, common sense is that fewer funds are allotted from the county, state or federal government, therefore, the entitlement funds would be less. Hence, the weekly expense funds doled out may very well be less than a reasonable person could stretch.
  
  I am sure someone from the social service community could update the public on how that “system” is supposed to function (when quality control is ideal) thus not working against the quasi-conserved. Transparency is not their strength and I am not speaking about HIPAA confidentiality. A friend of mine was hired on to Social Services and was told that she could be fired if she were to point out to a perspective client how a numerical error would work against the individual. She was told it was not her job to show potential clients how to collect welfare.
  
  According to my organizational behavior assessment, public social service agencies can do a much more thorough job of controlling the money of people intellectually challenged, what ever the reason for the challenge. I do maintain that these same public agencies can implement and apply better care of people such as Jimmy. The policy exists, the regulations exist, there could be more conformity and accountability.
  
  I am still bothered that when Adult Protective Services (APS) took a report that a client was refusing to spend her weekly allotment check on a sufficient amount of food, the response back was “The client is an adult and has the right to decide whether or not to purchase food.” In other words, mind your business. Thereafter, the particular SW that took the report, initiated trouble for the mandated reporter.
  
  When a person, is intellectually challenged, someone, such as a wife, may live in an apartment and use utilities that someone’s, such as Jimmy’s, entitlement funding pays for, but, he may not enjoy the comfort of the living quarters, because the condition of a spouse, such as Jimmy, makes it difficult. Such as what happens during a legal separation, only someone such as Jimmy, more than likely lacks the ability to stop himself, even when not on meth. Mental challenge is just that. It used to be illegal to counsel a developmentally disabled couple not to marry or have children, it probably still is. For every action there can be an opposite reaction all possibly leading to crisis.
  
  I use ‘wife’ because Eric Caine mentioned Jimmy has a ‘wife’ who checks on him out on the streets. A scenario could exist where a wife may legally receive the periodic dole and purchase food, intended for Jimmy, that Jimmy may never eat. It could be that a wife goes out to the streets but cannot find Jimmy or after months or years of doing so, the wife grows tired of searching, so, many days or weeks can elapse between contacts. I doubt Jimmy has no money, yet obviously he is wasting away from lack of food. He even self reports that he takes meth to help him with his appetite. Who has access to his share of any money?
  
  This does not have to be a wife it could just as possibly be a relative or roommate, if someone such as Jimmy signed a durable power of attorney to handle his personal business, meaning check cashing ability and banking privileges. It does not even have to be a relative or roommate, it can be anyone that gained Jimmy’s confidence and convinced Jimmy to agree to their being his representative “payee” who, thereafter, receives the entitlement check, opens a bank account in someone such as Jimmy’s name, and is entrusted to handle the funds on behalf of someone such as Jimmy. Obviously, someone such as Jimmy, would not remain lucid enough, nor have the comprehension to know how exactly the funds are being used.
  
  It could be quite tempting for a “payee” to bring someone such as Jimmy a few dollars, from time to time, enough to purchase meth (I understand it is not a high priced commodity) which would serve to keep someone such as Jimmy high enough to remain content, so as not to question much, why he is not receiving more of his entitlement funds. People who are intellectually challenged seldom know enough about how money works. They are in a condition, in a position, where they have little alternative but to trust, even strangers.
  
  All of the agencies involved with Jimmy’s case would be networked with other agencies, such as the Stanislaus County Department of Social Services (DSS). I could list the many local, state and federal agencies who may contract with people such as Jimmy, yet, I cannot vouch that any of them function optimally. In my opinion, they have learned to circle their wagons and protect each others backs, if, and, when, someone such as Jimmy or an advocate begins and continues to ask questions. It isn’t all HIPAA.
  
  There is a local legal agency that is suppose to specifically work on behalf of people such as Jimmy, but, even that agency networks too closely, in my assessment, with the other agencies, that they can fail someone such as Jimmy. First of all, Jimmy has to be able to articulate what his complaints are. The agency can chose to believe what the agencies say to protect their self-interests, even when someone like Jimmy and an advocate are able to prove why he complains or state why he wants something specific. I call it a discernment deficiency when they do not know who to believe. Someone such as Jimmy and a concerned advocate, with the slightest of ease on the part of any agency, can find themselves being treated as ‘lighting rods’ and ‘gaslighted’ to assure they are not to be believed and much much worse.
  
  Fair warning, yet, do not take my word for it, concerned citizens could and should do some snooping around. Something is certainly not right in Jimmy’s case.
  
  Perhaps down through history, agencies may have counted on no one looking too closely when things are not working. In this day and age, it is almost certain. Social Workers (SW) are inundated with high case loads, thus temptation can set in, to not look too closely themselves, when things are not running smoothly. Due to burnout and out of self-survival, they may tell themselves, that they are doing the best they can.
  
  Unfortunately, more and more people would hardly blame them, even the clients make excuses for them, as if the client did not have rights or is willing to sacrifice those rights. Client’s all too often do not know any better. They do not grasp that they self harm themselves. It is not denial. It is a very real inability to know the difference, even when they do know enough to complain that they are not getting something they want. Needs not so much. Often do not know who to complain to, without an advocate’s help.
  
  There is an agency that is very well aware of all that is wrong with these agencies, but the government ‘pulled their teeth’, all they can do now is listen and confirm.
  
  Still, there can be no excuse, unless things are brought out into the light, nothing will change for the clients or the case workers or the advocates. If valley citizen’s fail Jimmy, more, we may very well be reading Jimmy’s obituary, sad to even think about that.
  
  If it turns out that there is nothing that can be done for Jimmy, I mean absolutely nothing, then valley citizens will know why not, and armed with that knowledge, pressure can be brought to create change where needed. Any improvement starts somewhere. Keep in mind, that Jimmy is not the only houseless individual going through it, each has their own particular needs. One at a time or many at a time, we need to make the changes for them.
THEROOTMATTERS October 11, 2021 At 9:26 pm

We lost another friend last night. A 51 year old woman who could no longer wait for the System of Care to take action on her behalf.

Her death will more than likely not be tracked because she was recognized to be a local “transient”. Purchase the software, now!

Are you satisfied, Terry Withrow, because she may have been very very dissatisfied with Stanislaus County’s slow acting treatment of her. Was another preventable death the System of Care’s objective? Who can tell?

Atleast change the “Systems” name from “Care” to “System of Don’t Care Enough”. I am so disgusted I could spit. What could possibly have been any more important than to have saved her life before she could no longer hold on to be rescued? Absolutely without excuse, Withrow!

I am calling you out. Someone in your System knew her shattered status.

May she finally rest in the peace she could not find in Stanislaus County
- Lori October 21, 2021 At 6:29 pm
  
  I am sorry for your loss and for her family, who may not have known where she was! I’m sorry to the people that have been away from her, not knowing who she was inside or what caused her , her greatest pain! The truth is now that she is gone there is going to be so many regrets , but that won’t bring her back, we have to give ourselves to heal from that regret, so give back by speaking up about the community in which she died! Those of you remember her growing up as a child ,remember her hopes and dreams and when you thought her life was most normal to you, then let that speak to what she would want to see you doing! The people that created a system that totally failed her, make a change, now, before its too late for the rest of us! We are waiting on you, the ball is in your court!
Lori October 15, 2021 At 12:16 am

I’m sorry I just realized I didn’t give my email, it’s, [email protected]
Thank you for your time and letting me tell my story!
Lori October 16, 2021 At 2:31 pm

I’m not sure why many of my comments haven’t been posted, I wonder if it will end up, people losing interest or forgetting about us altogether!
So, if or when my comments are posted I just wanted you to know that Today is extremely hard, my dreams were so vivid I was playing with my grandkids in my home, we were all so happy 😊, but now we are an embarrassment to my daughter and her husband always wanted us away from her and the kids, we were very close, he didn’t like it now he calls us homeless scumbags, he says it in front of my grandkids, I don’t care what the world thinks, right now! It breaks my heart to think my grandchildren are hearing this 💔 about us! That is more hurt than I can handle 💔! I feel that I’m disappearing from the lives of everyone that I love and I’m dying inside! 💔 My heart has been broken more times than I can count and most of the heartbreaks have been recent 💔! This is just one heartbreak too many! They are changing the way my babies see us, that’s not fair, we’ve always showed them love unconditional ❤, but them not allowing us to be a part of their lives anymore they will forget the bond we shared, I see that disappearing and I have nothing else left! My eldest grandson is highly intelligent and funny, we always tell each other jokes as soon as we see each other, the last time I seen him this didn’t happen and my heart broke! Me and my second grandson have an understanding, he finds me annoying and doesn’t think I’m funny, since he was an infant he refused to look at me when he was 6 months old he finally did and it was a dirty look from then on, he is the most loving and compassionate little boy I have ever met, when we were without water for those 4 years he would gather bottles of water and want to bring them to us, his parents didn’t let him, finally my daughter let him! He was 3 at the time, he was asking me if I wanted to come take a shower or bath, but my relationship with my daughter wasn’t there, yet! I hurt my knee and couldn’t walk for a week, my daughter took them away again for 6 months, when he seen me he asked about my knee! That is pure love! Last time I seen him, he said I even miss you Grandma, that hurt my heart, he hugged me so tight! My little girl, we have just always been one, everyone says it looks like we melt into one when we see each other! The last time we seen them they were with there dad, he wasn’t going to let us see them, they were all trying to get to us so he unlocked the door, it was a total of 15 minutes, so I felt like I was letting them down! We have a new grandson his dad is the monster who my daughter married!
Today I feel less equipped to handle being here with all my worries and none of my loved ones! I think I’ll sleep all day ,but the dreams keep coming and so do the tears!
JIMMY YOUNG August 2, 2022 At 3:15 am

Hello everyone I dont know if anyone will see this considering how old this is. I just stumbled upon this on accident didnt even know it existed until now. The man in the above photos and mentioned in this article is actually my father. My name is Jimmy Young Jr. I just wanted to say thank you to the person who took the time of day and cared just enough to write this article about my father. I know it may have been just a random choice of someone sitting/sleeping on the sidewalk and it just so happen to be my father but again I just want to say thank you. It is very surreal to randomly come across this article especially with the recent passing of my father. He passed away June 4th 2022 in Willows Ca at a care facility. Even with the heartache of losing a loved one especially a parent I can say this about him I am very glad that when he did pass he was no longer laying and the side walk he was no longer covered in filth my one fear was my family finding him dead in a Bush or on the side of the road. I’m truly thankful that he was able to pass in peace with family around him.

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