Page 16 - San Diego Woman Military Coverage 2019
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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
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