Photos by OK Connett 2010 - 
The STRUGGLE of everyday people, who have lost what we take for granted, EVERYDAY!
In the end...
Its out of the weather...
But a garage...
Is a long way to fall...
Without a Parachute
What do you take for granted everyday?
Usually the simplest things are missed the most.
- Bath or shower
- Laundry facilities
- My refrigerator
- A comfortable chair or couch
- Warmth in winter
- Cool in summer
- Security & Safety
BEFORE.......
Average successful family man, great job, comfort, recreation vehicles.
AFTER....
N O T H I N G... NOT EVEN EACH OTHER !
Not so different, as many americans are a paycheck or two away from homelessness
(USA Today - Money; Homelessness grows as more live check-to-check)
Mr. and Mrs. Jay, a married couple of 23 years in their 40’s were willing to share enough facts to illuminate their plight.
Mr. Jay was successful in “Big boy Toys” for over 20 years, averaged $60K/yr and had what most of us have; a home, family, toys and hobbies. He particularly enjoyed playing golf or racing. Mrs. Jay was a typical homemaker with Mary Kay and Avon skills.
Can you control when you get sick?
The "Cost" can be HIGH, Very High !
In 2002 the major health issues of Mrs. Jay, strained their finances. Like domino's one by one the threads began to unravel their lives.
Has the economy touched your life? It touched the Jays.
- The economy dipped
- They made a mistake or two
- The layoff
- A solid company goes under unexpectedly
- The loss of their home
- The tumbling becomes an avalanche.
You may think... Not me, I have family?
Wouldn't most families help? Maybe your family is struggling too?
In-laws let them move in temporarily, but when work doesn’t come, people find “not everyone can't live together as adults”.
Parents clash with adult children due to their lifestyles being thrust together. The parents to accuse and judge, not understanding their adult children's ways of doing things.
While the adult son-in-law struggles with emotions, inflamed by rejection in the job market. These frustrations slowly culminate in self doubt and defeat. In crisis the family can fall apart, fight and be fragmented.
As Mrs. Jay's health worsenes, the in-laws want to take control of her medication. This creates new power struggles between a married couple not used to having others involved in their routine.
Stress... failure... !
Escape is desirable !
Alcohol is frequently that escape!
Depression, a DUI, and the car is gone, impounded. Plink goes a domino
Now the courts place additional obstacles including financial obligations when there isn’t enough money for everyday expenses. Plink goes another domino
HOMELESSNESS ARRIVES QUICKLY AND WITHOUT WARNING !
Mrs. Jay's health suffers more set-backs due to stress and the aged mother becomes domineering, creating animosity within the immediately family. The stresses are affecting all the dynamics and things are getting tense.
The in-laws throw him out!
Mr. Jay, now homeless, spends his first night curled up in a ball on the porch of a hair salon in a fitful sleep.
Sadly a casual friend, out of work for over a year himself tries to help.
- Offered a sleeping bag
- Offers a car that doesn’t run to sleep in
- Loans a bicycle for transportation
- Lets him use his facilities and laundry
- When it got cold upgrading him to a corner of his garage
Homelessness makes it twice as hard to find a job, be presentable for interviews and not give up.
Mr. Jay looks for work, finds a small job (now and then) but usually just enough to cover the tools he has pawned or the few things he has in a small storage unit. He goes to court soon for the DUI, but has been going to AA and saving to pay the $100 required assessment for the courts.
Mr. Jay reflects on getting interviews, feeling hope and then rejection.
In the End...
Mr. Jay says;
“Its like a roller coaster from hell where everything may work out just around the next violent turn or the tracks could be tore out and I plunges to my death”!
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