HAPPY...REALLY HAPPY NEWS....

By Debbie Bulloch




Sometimes there is not much good news to report.

Today, however, is a different day. Bessie, the 97-year old homeless woman has found a home!!!

Hooray for Bessie...hooray for the good guys!

From today's edition of the Los Angeles Times:

A 97-year-old homeless woman who was living with her two sons in a battered 1973 Chevrolet Suburban in Venice has received a temporary home, compliments of a nonprofit Los Angeles housing group.

Bessie Mae Berger and sons Larry Wilkerson, 60, and Charlie Wilkerson, 62, had parked nightly on Venice Boulevard after losing their home in Palm Springs and failing to find a place to stay in Northern California.

But a Times story Friday that detailed her plight prompted authorities from the city, the county and the state to step up efforts to assist the trio and led the Integrated Recovery Network to offer them immediate shelter.

For the full story, click here: Ninety-seven Year Old Woman Gets Home



For Bessie...

NINETY-SEVEN YEAR OLD HOMELESS WOMAN

By Debbie Bulloch



Those of you who know me well, know that I am patriotic almost to the point (but not quite) of being jingoist. I consider myself one of this country’s biggest and most enthusiastic cheerleaders.

Occasionally, however, I come across a story that makes me wonder why, if the USA is such a great country, we are still faced by seemingly intractable problems such as homelessness. The story of Bessie Mae Berger, a 97-year-old homeless woman is one of those stories.

Bessie’s story appeared on today’s L.A. Times. As I read about the plight of this sweet 97-year-old woman, forced to live out of her vehicle, I became angrier and angrier. I became angry at the bureaucratic labyrinth that keeps this woman out on the streets. I became angry at a society that turns a cold shoulder to its most vulnerable citizens. Finally, I became angry with a government that spends billions of MINE and YOUR tax dollars to bail out banks and prop up useless ruthless dictators while Bessie and millions of people like her are forced to go hungry and sleep out on the streets.

That something like this happens everyday in Third World nations is unforgiveable – that it should also happen daily in the richest country in the world is downright criminal.

For a full account of Bessie’s story, please go to: Homeless in Los Angeles – Bessie Mae Berger’s Story

Click here for a photo (video and audio) essay about Bessie and her two sons. (WARNING: Some of the images will break your heart): Bessie’s Story – Photo Slide Show


For previous stories about the plight of the homeless, click on the links below:

Los Angeles – Meanest City to The Homeless

The Homeless and their Pets

The Homeless Among Us

Homeless in the News

I hope that you will become as angry as I became while reading about Bessie. More importantly, however, I hope that Bessie's story moves you to take action. I have previously described some of the things that even ordinary citizens like you and I can do to help the homeless. There is no excuse for sitting on our hands and doing nothing.

The time to take action is NOW.

Tomorrow may be too late for Bessie and for our homeless brothers and sisters.