It’s lame but...

So I don’t know what’s holding up the funding for section 8 and all of that... it might be that I’ve gone too far down this road already.  So for all my people that have been held or are being held without bail... that is coercion. Which is against the law.  So if you live in a state that has limited or no bail bonds... or you’re not able to bail yourself out just like I wasn’t... it’s still coercion. Anyways, I was at the library and I felt the need to like tell these two ladies part of why I like the library so much .. (yes, haha we were at the library, haha). So here is what I’m going to write in the comment card or whatever- sadly my handwriting has gotten so bad, or at least it seems that way to others, and me sometimes...)... so it’s here- I’m going to print it out next time I go and give it to them... but that’s what in was working on Wednesday... I forgot to put it here... and so will I the other things I was working on and... something new... which is a little heavy... however... should you find yourself with a free moment on Labor Day which is meant for laborers to have a day off- sadly the world isn’t that kind, though a nice thought... (no idea why you can’t wear white after Labor Day....but) meaning, people still have to have their coffee, and by that I mean also they have to be taken care of while in the hospital, etc. 

For the Library...

I wanted to say thank you- I said it in person and someone handed me a comment card to do so more formally so here it goes... I am still over coming homelessness, or not having a home, after five years, with two of those being like hardcore sleeping on the sidewalks, not having a place to shower, sleeping in the parks, and depending on the library for a life line. (I lost my job and living pay check to pay check it was about two months before I was homeless...like all the way down to a credit score of four hundred thirty from a score of eight hundred). I can only speak for myself but the public library kept me alive.  It gave me a place of safety, where I could use the bathroom (you’d be surprised how hard it is to find public restrooms, after the library closes there really isn’t one anywhere that homeless people are able to use... the ones in the parks close and technically the parks close themselves with open and closed hours), hydrate, have a break from judgmental eyes (which gave me a bit of a mental break), charge my phone (free/Obama phones have terrible battery life... about two to four hours, maybe six if I didn’t use it), access to the internet to know what was going on in the world or even to watch clips from The View or news  episodes (they also have only a small about of data- making it so that by the middle of the month I was always out if not the first week of the month), access to send and receive emails, make appointments, work on documents (my resume, fill out applications for non-profits, housing, jobs), look into resources (housing, food, programs, legal, healthcare, financial, government benefits, etc), keep in contact with family back home, keep in contact/make sure friends were ok, and keep in contact with people at the various non-profits I was utilizing at the time (I still use the library for these things but now that I’m in temporary housing, waiting on permanent housing I am able to not have the library as my only resource).  I had my voicemail and all set up to go to my email as well as texts so I could somewhat keep in contact if my phone was dead or stolen (I probably went through twenty or thirty of those phones- either they would get stolen (not always by another homeless person either.... people can be really out of character or mean when it comes to the homeless, broken or lost).  I’m not sure if you know what those people are doing day after day so I thought I’d share my story. It took/takes a lot to get to the point I’m at (and I’m not even in permanent housing yet!)... some people never make it this far. Some people make it to this point faster because of their situation or going to jail/prison and then finding resources there... the availability of shelter beds and beds like the one I have are so very limited.  I’m from Alabama- and moved here to grow personally and ‘see the world’ in a way.  After a few bumps in the road I quickly found myself on the streets. I’m not putting myself in this statement- but in the last five years I’ve met nothing but people who are victims of trauma, circumstance, and once in a position to do so... want to help others.  I have a bachelors degree in nursing- I saved that for last as well (a lot of homeless have degrees or are even attending school or have jobs) as in the time I was hardcore on the streets (the last two years of the five- sleeping on sidewalks and in parks...not crashing with a friend, renting an Airbnb, sleeping in a car, or sharing a hotel room, etc) I was arrested so many times it was like it was a game of hide and seek. I didn’t have a record prior to this.  Literally, in two years- ten misdemeanors, three felonies, and a strike. I don’t want to make this about me so I’ll stop there, however, I do want to make this about the library, it’s staff, the services provided and it’s supporters (as well as critics) ... you all make a public library what it is... but also, to a certain population you are literally saving their lives- if you don’t think you’re making that big of a difference or impact I’m letting you know... that you do. You provide a priceless life line that for me- kept me alive and helped get me out of a situation that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.  It was like as soon as I walked through the doors a weight was lifted off my shoulders- and yes, sometimes I listened to music all day and read gossip online... but that day it was exactly what I needed and gave me the strength to come back the next day and look up where I could shower, work on getting everything needed document wise for housing or benefit appointments(it’s a lot!), make sure the people I love are ok through social media, etc... and at the very basic of needs.... I was able to brush my teeth, use the restroom, wash my face, and then try to find a bed somewhere or do the things described above... for some there is no other place (that’s safe or as safe as the library).  Thank you for the kindness you’ve shown me as well as others everyday.  I have such admiration for you all and every time I see a library or someone mentions the library I get a warm feeling and a smile on my face.  Thank you.  

Best,

Joshua Ray

3233096703

Jray3401@gmail.com