Page 12 - Expert Issue 2015 (2)

Tim: It wasn’t until Merle’s Place opened up; I was number one on the Eva: Now you’re a Chef with Interfaith and work for the recuperative care
waiting list. I waited for four-five months while they were still building it, just program, tell me about that.
trying to live day-by-day.
Tim: A transition program for Veterans male or female who are being re-
Eva: When did Merles Place open up? leased from the hospital but are not self-sufficient yet. They have a full nurs-
ing and psychiatric staff and are sent their daily meals, which are cooked
Tim: 2005, they had a big grand opening and the first day they were moving at Interfaith. We are hoping to expand that program with more beds and
people in and I went for breakfast, but I was sick. I was always sick from the hopefully a full kitchen someday.
diabetes.
Eva: I understand you had a chance to go back to Kansas this past June to
Eva: How long have you had diabetes? see your daughter and grandson.

Tim: Since 1988. I got sick and was told I couldn’t come in because I wasn’t Tim: Yes, I went there for my daughter Shelby’s wedding. I hadn’t seen her
a Veteran. I didn’t have my DD214 because I was living on the streets and in thirteen years and I had never met my grandson Wyatt, it was an amaz-
there was no address to send it to. I sat down on the curb and just gave ing experience. They came out in August and we had a chance to visit the
up, and the guy who was running ECSS (Escondido Community Sobering beach.
Services) came out and saw how sick I was and called an ambulance. They
told me at the hospital, another 24 hours and I would’ve been dead. The guy Eva: If you could tell the readers one thing about life on the streets what
who called the ambulance said I had a bed in the bunkhouse (ECSS) (when would it be?
I got out) and I spent a year and a half there.
Tim: We’re all human; we all have feelings, and the same desires you do.
Eva: What did you do there? Support your local non-profit.

Tim: Try to become human again, to get better. I would ask for overnights Eva: What is the biggest single thing you feel Interfaith has done for you?
so I could go out and sleep on the streets because I couldn’t get used to
sleeping inside. Tim: They gave me my life and my dignity back. They are willing to help you
if you are willing to help yourself.
Eva: Were you fed there or given any training?
For more information on how you can help a Veteran, the homeless, or any
Tim: Oh yea, three squares a day. They were hoping I wouldn’t die. I did a of Interfaith’s programs phone: (760) 489-6380 or go to
lot of volunteering in the kitchen. But my time was up and I was told I had to http://www.interfaithservices.org/
go, and then someone said, “Aren’t you a Vet?” I said, yes and they helped
me get my DD214 to prove I was a Veteran, and then I lived in Merle’s Place Eva Starr’s spiritual journey has taken her coast-to-coast digesting the
for two and a half years. I needed to get some kind of schooling so I went various schools of thought. Starr, a transplant from Cleveland, OH cur-
to phlebotomy school, but I couldn’t find a job doing that. However, I had an rently writes for The Journey Magazine. When she’s not writing you’ll
opportunity to move into a housing program (Fairweather Lodge) where I find her cooking for the homeless and the Veterans of North County.
worked for Clearly Clean For speaking engagements contact her at evastarr24@yahoo.com &
visit her new blog starronthefly.evastarr.com