Check back here for updates on the progression of how things are going for Ken’s struggle. **PLEASE NOTE, Ken will not give me an update if I censor any language, with that, it’s not too bad.
UPDATE AUGUST 23, 2024
So, the woman who made this site, Sarah, has passed away in May. She was 83. I didn’t know until the end of June when I went to check my po box, something I don’t do often enough, in July I received a letter showing me how to make updates (total pain in the ass but I learned it). So, updates will be up to me, and I will post updates. Some will be vulgar as I’m always pissed the fuck off and still homeless, still disabled (that don’t end until I die), and still trying to get subsidized housing that I can afford on my SSDI. I’m not in the facets program in Fairfax, I jumped through all of their hoops I could, but couldn’t drive around in circles anymore, it was literally destroying my 24 year old car. So, I’d like to say fuck you to a lot of thimgs right now. Fuck you god, fucking asshole, fuck you streetlight ministries, fuck you gabrielle and gary asshole tibbs, fuck you rose powers, fuck you roger asshole from streetlight, fuck you jenny tran from streetlight, fuck you facets in fairfax, fuck you michael dykes, fuck you makayla wise, fuck you ken christenson, you’re 3 fat fuck assholes, fuck you HUD, fuck you lynn fritz, fuck you serve in PWC, fuck you people inc., fuck you usda, fuck you briarwood apartments management. I am filled with nothing but rage and hate, anytime anyone aske me how I’m doing and I say “fine”, I’m lying, I’m never fucking fine, I’m an old, disabled man who is stuck living in a fucking car until I can no longer afford to fix it, after which I will just carry a tarp to sleep under and a backpack to put it in. I really fucking hate people telling me have a nice day, fuck you. Oh, just remembered a few fuck you’s, fuck you domini anderson you ignorant fucking cunt, and fuck you carl henson, your greedy piece of fucking shit you owe me money motherucker. So, until I have affordable housing this is how most fucking updates will go, and I don’t give a shit who likes it. I will be out panhandling soon, I have had so many issues with auto repairs that I have stuff sitting at the pawn shop and the only way I will be able to get it back is either with donations or literally not eat for a month, and the loan I got on the item at the pawn shop is no where close to the value of the item and I could not really afford to replace it any time soon, so I’ve made 2 payments on it, maybe a third in September, but I’d like to get it from pawn before another interest payment is due. So, that’s it for now, if you don’t like my attitude fuck you too. –Ken
UPDATE – MARCH 27, 2024
S.V.: “Any good news on housing yet? it’s been awhile since we last chatted.”
Ken: “Nope, no good news on housing, or anything else for that matter. I will most likely have to actually have to panhandle before March is over. There really is no way I can fish until I have a place to live, so the only thing left in my life that brings me joy is sidelined until I have housing. I got to start the year off with a combination of covid and the flu, absolutely kicked my ass for 3 weeks, then of course fighting with my health insurance again. This time on covering my prostate medicine, in 5 days without I could not pee too good, on two occasions pushed so hard to piss I shit my pants a bit. Yup, I don’t care what anyone has to say about that, kiss my ass if you don’t like what I just said. But, had to head to the gym to shower after those incidents. had some guy hand me a religious pamphlet in Sheetz yesterday, I wanted to tell him stick it up his ass, as it represented a ministry, and a ministry made me homeless, I hate anything ministry and I don’t care who has a problem with it. But instead, I gave him a flyer to come view this website and told him if he reads this website then I will read his pamphlet. If he doesn’t read the site I will take his pamphlet to the bathroom and wipe my ass with it, and I mean that in the literal sense. The pamphlet has his email, and phone number, I will find out if he read it, or if he is just another bullshitter interested in only what he has to say, as anyone with those pamphlets does. Were you able to make a page for the Christmas video I made?”
S.V.: “You sound angrier than usual. Don’t be mad at this but I am glad I don’t know what you are going through. I hope that gentleman visits the site, I’d hate to see you take his pamphlet to the bathroom, because I know you will do exactly that. I’m still working on the video, it’s a large file and can’t run on this site so I have to put it on another, but you have music in it that is claimed as copyrighted material, even though you are not using it for income purposes there are things that have to be done first. But I am working on it and trying to get it done in the next few days. I know you don’t read the website but I will let you know when I get it done.”
Ken: “OK, I never thought about the music I played on it, it’s no big deal.”
S.V.: “Oh, you didn’t watch it after you made it did you? it’s sideways through most of it.”
Ken: “Awesome, so I screwed that up too, figures, isn’t much I can’t make a mess out of, and all I have to do to accomplish that is just wake up each day, something I’m not much a fan of.”
S.V.: “The sideways part isn’t a big deal, it’s just where the music is, I’m still going to try and put it up, and see if I can fix the video at a later date so it’s not sideways.”
Ken: “It’s no big deal, you can scrap it, I’m use to things in my life being trashed.”
S.V.: “I know you are, that is why I’m going to get it posted regardless of part of it being sideways.”
Ken: “Anyway, I guess I don’t really have anything new to add, no idea when I will have housing, my health sucks, my car sucks, my life sucks, the whole world sucks. Bye until next time.”
S.V.: “Bye.”
UPDATE – DECEMBER 14, 2023
*NOTE: There hasn’t been an update in awhile as Ken is just always angry, and nothing has gotten better for him either.
S.V.: “Thanks for finally giving me an update, even though nothing has improved really.”
Ken: “No, nothing has improved, constantly repairing the piece of shit Jeep my friend sold me, still no place to live yet, and I’m older. Since I last gave you an update I made repairs to the Jeep. I replaced the head gasket, oil pump, rear brakes again after a wheel cylinder failed, headlights, finally replaced the broken tail lights I kept taping up, and a few other smaller items. I still really need to replace the upper and lower control arms in the from because the rubber bushings are starting to crack, which can lead to a catastrophic failure at higher speeds, and all of the rear suspension needs to be replaced, and the flexible rubber brake lines are showing signs of dry rot and will need replacing before too long.”
S.V.: “Sorry you are having so much trouble with your car, any word on when you will have subsidized housing you can afford on your SSDI?”
Ken: “No, just waiting to wait is about it, no idea at all of even when it will happen, they don’t do it on a first come first serve basis, they determine who needs it most and that’s who gets it, most of the people come from the Community Service Board, a state agency, and the seem to get preferential treatment, so it looks winter in a car again, I did buy a 3 foot by 6 foot by 5 inch cushion from Amazon I use as a bed now, it’s not too bad.”
S.V.: “And another birthday, any happy birthdays from anyone?”
Ken: “Yes, two, a text from someone I don’t even hang out with anymore, I told her I was homeless and after that never got a reply back, and got a phone call from a family member, bur not sure I even want to count that because I reminded the person the day before my birthday, because this person is always sending me invites to join things, like join their bank so they can get $75, or join Temu so they can get a prize, I’m not changing my bank or joining anything. But, I’m now 57, the same age my father was when he died, or rather was put to sleep. He was slowly dying from asbestos in his lungs and had been for 10 years at the point of his death, and had reached a point where his lung capacity was so small he could not even climb a flight of stairs and would most likely choke to death on his on mucous in his sleep at some point. He was in the hospital and my mom called and said he’s pretty bad and on a respirator, so I went up to see him, while in the room my mom had the morphine injector button in her hand, she pressed the button between 6 and 8 times, my mind stuffed that in a corner, she got up and said she was going out to get some air but most likely went somewhere to break down. Less than a minute after she left I watched my father take his last breath. I would have been OK had I known the plan, and would not have wanted to watch it, but could have said a better goodbye to my father. It didn’t really pop up endlessly in my mind until I closed in on my 57th birthday. I have at this point outlived my father by a day or two, he had 19 documented heart attacks before he died, I’ve had only one but take 5 medications for my heart and blood pressure. Everyday I live now I live another day longer than my dad did, bummer is everyday for too many years now it’s been far more misery than I can bear and it has started affecting me in a very negative way, I’m having a lot of trouble concentrating these days. But as far as an update that is about it, I’m still trying to work up the nerve to panhandle and may have to before this month is over because I know right now I won’t have enough money to finish out until my next Social Security payment and I will run out of food most likely, gas is first and food is second, I’ve been losing weight, didn’t really need to though. But all I can say is goodbye for now and if I have anything interesting to make an update with I’ll let you know but my life is just in some horrible holding pattern.”
S.V.: “Wow, sorry you had to see your father being put to sleep by your mother, I’m not sure how I would have handled such a thing, I’m not even sure I can imagine it. I imagine that’s not legal in Virginia where you live, but you’ve told some of the hard times your father went through with his health and I’m sure he was suffering very much, try not to dwell on it. I know that’s easier said than done, maybe even find someone to talk to about it.”
Ken: “I am talking to someone about it, to you and to whoever might read this. I know you mean a professional of some type, but I don’t think it will help, I’m having a lot trouble functioning with a brain injury and living the way I’m living is very difficult. But, I’m going to go, I want to try and watch Thursday Night Football.”
S.V.: “OK Ken, goodbye until next time.”
UPDATE – MARCH 5, 2023
S.V.: “So, your text said you had a small amount of positive news, I look forward to hearing it.”
Ken: “Well, I told you before that I had switched to a Medicare Advantage plan this year so I could have dental and vision insurance. The dentist I have, Dr. Kamali, is an awesome dentist and upstanding individual. He argued with my insurance company, Aetna, to get two root canals done, insurance never wants to pay for them. When I had United Healthcare like 4 years ago they wouldn’t pay for them and that’s why I lost my canine tooth. And, I am also getting a partial on the March 10 to fill in the gap left from the last tooth being pulled, Dr. Kamali probably had to argue his point with Aetna on that. But, after the 10th I will be able to smile without feeling self conscious about missing teeth, now I just need something real in my life to smile about.”
S.V.: “Well Ken, savor the little things sometimes, having the gaps filled so that you can smile should be reason enough to smile. Any word on housing?”
Ken: “I know having teeth to smile with again should be a good reason to smile, and you’re right, it is, I haven’t smiled in so long I might end up spraining my face though. As for housing I got a call yesterday from one of the manager people at the program. He told me when I entered the program as qualified after being homeless for 12 months straight I was at number 35 on the list. I guess they don’t tell you that right away because it’s kind of discouraging or disappointing. Then at the beginning of November or end of October, can’t remember which, they did a reevaluation and I moved a little higher on the list, and what he told me yesterday was that they just matched 18 people to housing and they are just working on the move in dates for them. I’m not exactly sure where that puts me on the list, I didn’t ask that because I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but I am definitely much higher up the list than I was. And there are people on that list that no doubt have been homeless longer, some may have worse health problems, most of them probably don’t even have a car, so I get it, but it’s sometimes hard to be patient when you feel cold all of the time. I’m dying to do some fishing too, last year I didn’t fish much at all, just to much between sleeping in your car and having all my stuff in the back, just leaves me a front seat to recline and sleep in and it is not comfortable at all, I didn’t go fishing for the first time last year until July, I missed all the spring fishing which is when it’s best, I just can’t have this year be the same, people are catching nice fish already I’ve found out.”
S.V.: “OK, now it sounds like you have another reason to smile once you get your partial, you have moved way up on the housing waiting list. I do really hope you go out fishing for spring, I really do know how much getting to fish really means to you, you’ve made it very clear to me more than once that fishing has been the only thing to bring you any joy in over 10 years. You still have those two friends that you can sleep at once in awhile right? Use those opportunities to go and fish somehow, you might not be able to fish everyday in the spring, but it would be better than missing what you call the best time of year to go fishing.”
Ken: “Actually, I’ve been thinking about different ways to be out there fishing as much as possible this spring, and the occasional floor or couch is an idea, also been thinking a tent maybe, a big maybe, as I’m not trying to invest money in being homeless especially since I’m so much closer to getting the assistance I need to get housing that I can afford on Social Security Disability. I’ve really let myself get in bad shape over the past year and a half too, I need to get motivated to exercise some, but depression makes me want to just lay down and close my eyes all the time, which I know is really bad for me, it’s just a daily struggle. But, that is all I have for an update this time.”
S.V.: “Ken, this has been the best update you have given me so far, and I hope, and I will even pray, that your next update will be even better. And if you do go fishing take some pictures to show me.”
Ken: “If I go fishing I will try to take some pictures of fish I catch, I actually don’t bother taking photos much but I need to start, but last year was bad, I think all of 2022 I might have caught 6 fish, 2022 was a horrible year for me in general and I’m content to leave that mess in the past. So, I’m gonna go now, I haven’t eaten since this morning and I’m pretty hungry.”
S.V.: “You haven’t eaten since the morning? Goodness, it’s after 4 p.m. here, so it’s after 7 there, yes, you need to work on taking just a bit better care of your health. Go eat, we will talk on your next update, bye.”
Ken: “OK, bye for now.”
UPDATE – FEBRUARY 10, 2023
S.V.: “Hi Ken, I can tell by your tone that nothing is going well, am I close?”
Ken: “You are right on the money, all still sucks, still haven’t gotten the surgery on my wrists and I am really pissed off about that. I got a new pair of glasses, this time I got progressive lenses instead of bifocals, they take some getting use to. I really want to be able to give you a positive update but the only thing positive in my life is that it positively sucks, I wish I could succeed on this on my own but it’s just not happening, I hate needing help with my life, I have like no self esteem anymore, shower only like once or twice a week at this point, of course I don’t do much sweating lately. My Eagles are in the Super Bowl this weekend, that is really the only thing I have to look forward to, but after the game is over the season is over too. I just want a place of my own to live that I can afford on social security disability, but apparently that’s to much to ask of my allegedly great country, I’m buried under the cracks in society and I really can’t take much more. It’s odd, but lately I feel like I’m in someone else’s body, if that makes sense, it doesn’t to me. I wish I could tell you more, but my life is very empty, and nothing can fix it except a residence of my own that I can afford.”
S.V.: “I’m honestly not sure what to tell you, I have nothing to offer to make your life better, I wish I did.”
Ken: “That’s ok, you see, one day I will die and this nightmare will be over with. I’m just so tired all of the time, I sleep at least 12 hours a day, which I know isn’t helping me any. I really should go out and try to panhandle, I have no self esteem or pride left anymore so I think I might be able to do that without feeling to bad about myself. I just don’t know anymore. I need to make some new friends, but that is very hard to do when you are homeless. Everything is hard to do when you are homeless. I was in a used book store last week because I was thinking reading something might help, I spent two hours and couldn’t really find anything I felt like reading, so I left empty handed. I walk around stores a lot, just looking at stuff, it almost makes me feel like a normal person sometimes.”
S.V.: “Ken, you are a normal person, you are just disabled, and down on your luck and homeless. When did you talk to someone from the housing organization you’re working with?”
Ken: “I talk to them several times a month actually, my health insurance mail goes there because they won’t send it to a PO Box. And so far it’s the same old thing, no match to housing yet, whatever the hell that is suppose to mean, if it has doors and windows and water and electric and heat then for me it’s a match.”
S.V.: “I’m not sure what to tell you other than do your best to hang in there, and try to have hope no matter how hopeless it seems.”
Ken: “Funny, everyone who actually lives indoors tells me pretty much the same thing, other homeless people never say that to me. I’m gonna hang up now, I have nothing more to say, bye.”
S.V.: “OK Ken, goodbye, I hope your team wins.”
(With that the call was over, did you ever feel like no matter what you say you just don’t say the right thing, that’s how I feel now, if anyone out there knows how to really help Ken please contact me at postmaster@thestreetlight.me and I will pass it on to him, thanks.)
UPDATE – JANUARY 19, 2023
S.V.: “I was hoping to hear from you sooner, how is the new year treating you?”
Ken: “The new year is treating me like every other day, like total shit. Still no housing, signed up for a Medicare advantage plan which so far has been an HMO nightmare. No one wants to do surgery on my wrists until I have a stable living situation, they are in constant pain, and without surgery there will be no fishing, which sucks because it’s the only thing I actually have in my life that make me happy. I literally have no good news and I really have almost nothing to talk about because my life is just nothing, I have trouble just thinking straight half the time, I just want to sleep and not wake up until help comes because I can’t figure out which direction to go anymore or even what to do, just a total blank.”
S.V.: “I’m so sorry that you are having to endure all of this, have the housing people told you anything yet on a subsidy?”
Ken: “Yes, they haven’t matched me to housing yet, whatever the hell that means, almost sounds discriminatory to me. PO box I use is getting another price hike, last year went up nine dollars, this year looks like only it’s only going up four dollars. I’m just so tired all the time, so depressed, I just want to just close my eyes and sleep all the time, I never felt this unproductive or this unmotivated before. Everything miserable in my life just needs to end somehow. And I just don’t feel like talking because I really have nothing to talk about, sorry, but I’m gonna hang up now, I just don’t feel like talking to anyone, good night.”
S.V.: “Good night to you too Ken.” (If you ever talked to someone on the phone and felt like you will never hear from them again then you know how I’m feeling, Ken’s personality is so much different from the person I once knew.)
UPDATE – DECEMBER 27, 2022
S.V.: “Hi ken, how was your Christmas? Any news on the housing subsidy?”
Ken: “Well, my Christmas was basically just a plain old Sunday, but I did find out Streetlight moved someplace else, to a church called Cokesbury United Methodist Church, I did stand out there with my protest sign on Christmas, the photo I sent you is me standing on the public sidewalk exercising my First Amendment rights. Only about a dozen cars showed up for the Christmas Sunday service, either they have weak congregation or a boring pastor who isn’t inspirational, or both, still nothing on housing, and I still hate every second of my life anymore, I’ve never been this unhappy and depressed in my entire life, and my wrists and hands hurt so much from the carpal tunnel I can barely stand it. Also, yesterday I realized that I signed up for a medicare advantage plan and still have to get surgery for the carpal tunnel and need to find out if I will be able to to the same orthopedic surgeon because I signed for an HMO, same with the appointment I need to make with a urologist after I finish the antibiotics for the prostate infection and I don’t know if I’m going to need a referral from my primary doctor, and in the new year I will need to find one because my current doctor don’t take the insurance plan I have, I’m so tired of this fucking shit.”
S.V.: “I’m sorry to hear Christmas was just nothing but another day for you. Looks like it was a cold day. Why do you suppose Streetlight changed locations?”
Ken: “I’m not sure why they moved, I did hear that Vineyard church is being sold as well as the school next to it and the trailer park behind Vineyard, but I don’t know if that’s true or not, maybe they got a better deal on rent or maybe rent free. I did send you a photo of my awesome slop in a box Christmas dinner, it wasn’t bad and definitely beat last years 7-11 burrito Christmas dinner, some lady named Minerva comes one of the commuter parking lots every Sunday with food for homeless folks, very nice person, not like the phonies at Streetlight who make a serious profit on what they do.”
S.V.: “Any plans for New Years?”
Ken: “I guess trying not to die is about the only plans I really have at all at the moment, I’m just in so much pain all the time, I think I’m having some kind of nerve problem, I keep getting pain in various areas of my body that feel like someone is putting a cigarette out on me, I’ll wait until my insurance changes to have that figured out, most days though I just want to go to sleep and never wake up, that’s what Streetlight did to my spirit. Probably going to need a new phone soon to, mine is just screwing up all the time, sometimes when someone calls my phone won’t ring at all, but if the caller leaves a message I get that, if they don’t leave a message I never know they called, it’s been a real problem, having issues sending texts also, but receive them just fine. I don’t want to have to buy a new phone, money talks but mine only ever says goodbye. Other than that there is really nothing else at all going on.”
S.V.: “I know it’s something you don’t like hearing but you got to hang in there, I really feel the housing subsidy will come through for you next month, you really deserve some kind of good thing to happen for you, everyone does.”
Ken: “I have a doctor note for a companion pet, when I get a place to live I want to get a puppy, I think that would really cheer me up.”
S.V.: “Oh, that’s great, see, something more to look forward to. Do you know what kind of dog you want?”
Ken: “If I can manage to find one at a reasonable price I’d like to have a Havanese, it’s a small breed, tried to buy one several years back but scammed out of $600, that really sucked.”
S.V.: “Oh my sorry to hear your money got stolen, that’s a large amount for anybody to lose, especially someone on fixed income.”
Ken: “I know, it was depressing loss all the way around. I’m gonna hop off the phone, I’m developing one of my migraines and should take my medicine before it gets to severe, I’ll call you next week sometime, good night.”
S.V.: “Good night Ken.”
UPDATE – DECEMBER 19, 2022
S.V.: “Hi again Ken, has something good at all happened yet?”
Ken: “Not really, still waiting on housing, finished all my vehicle repairs this month, cost me most all of my money but passed inspection and emissions last Thursday and made an appointment for DMV on the 21st to renew my registration, I ended up having to pay for a one month extension because of parts not being shipped on time. My carpal tunnel is so bad now my thumbs are messing up, it gets pretty painful sometimes, it was so hard doing work on my car the way my hands are. Also, went to the ER last night, I though I had a kidney infection but it was a prostate infection, I had been in pain for several days, and it just kept getting worse, so I finally went to the ER and they found what it was, they gave me an antibiotic infusion and prescription for two weeks of Cipro and sent me on my way, I’ve been lazy about showering and changing clothes lately, and use public restrooms, I’m gonna have to get on top of that issue, and at the very least if I don’t shower every day then at least just change undergarments everyday, it shouldn’t make that much more laundry to do. I was hoping not to be homeless by Christmas, doesn’t look like that’s going to happen, other than that I’m not up for talking about this struggle right now, I am so far beyond depressed, I honestly feel like I’m going to die a homeless person, I hate that feeling, and I hate the feeling of no matter what I try on my own or how hard I try I never come up successful.”
S.V.: “Ken, I’m not going to tell you I understand your struggle, I’ve never been in it, but I’m sure the housing will come, even you told me there’s a waiting list, I will pray for you even though I know you wouldn’t do that for yourself, but anytime you do feel like talking you can always call me without it being an update, which you already know.”
Ken: “Yes, I know, I just haven’t really felt like talking to anyone at all for a while now, I’m gonna go, talk to you later.”
S.V.: “Have a good afternoon ken, bye”
UPDATE – NOVEMBER 21, 2022
S.V.: “Hi Ken, please tell me you have some kind of good news?”
Ken: “I actually still have no good news, this all just sucks ass so much. Still homeless, I could have drove to NJ to have Thanksgiving dinner with some family, but because of repairs, very needed repairs to my car I no longer have the money to make such a drive, I also still don’t have all the parts I need due to some shipping error, sucks not having your own address, and the part is a catalytic converter, I need that to pass emissions, without passing emissions I can’t renew my registration, I can apply for a one month extension on my registration if the part don’t get delivered in time, but a one month extension isn’t free, but I have no choice but to keep my car on the road 100% of the time, and my heater core is leaking so bad I have no choice but to replace that, so, no good news whatsoever, Thanksgiving dinner this year will most likely be 7-11 food again. So, yeah, things just completely suck, and I’m super depressed, the only shining light in my world is that my football team, the Eagles, are number one in the league, which is pretty great, other than that everything pretty much blows, what sucks most right now is I literally have nothing really going on to have much of a conversation about, just the same crap for over a year straight now.”
S.V.: “I’m so sorry to hear you won’t be able to make Thanksgiving dinner with your family, but I understand how important it is to keep your vehicle running, it is your primary residence after all, and I’m glad to hear your football team is winning. Isn’t there any Chinese restaurants open in your area on Thanksgiving, it would be better than 7-11.”
Ken: “There might be some open, I just can’t spare the money at all, have to use my EBT card for my Thanksgiving dinner, it’s OK, there’s always next year, usually.”
S.V.: “Well, your voice sounds a lot like it’s not OK, I’m sorry you’re going through this for the second time in a row.”
Ken: “Thanks, I’m gonna hang up now, not much in a chatty mood these days, so much on my mind it’s hard to think, bye for now.”
S.V. “OK Ken, I’ll talk to you later, goodnight”
UPDATE – OCTOBER 25, 2022
S.V.: “How have you been doing Ken?”
Ken: “Well, still homeless, and I will definitely wait until I have housing to get surgery on my wrists, I have emissions and inspection next month, and registration, and still have some stuff to fix on my car, I think I should be able to get it done before November is over. Other than that my life, or more like existence, you have to be living a life to call it a life, I’m stuck in some kind of holding pattern of pain and disappointment, it’s a total bummer, I’m just stuck in the traffic of society right now and just can’t find the right exit lane I guess is a way to look at it.”
S.V.: “That’s an interesting way of describing things, how has the weather been?”
Ken: “It’s been getting colder at night and I expect it to just keep getting colder, it is that time of year, and that part is really stressing me out, but I’ll survive it again, just tired of everything, I really don’t feel like talking, depression is hard some days, this one of those days, we’ll talk again soon, bye.”
S.V.: “OK, goodbye Ken.”
UPDATE – OCTOBER 4, 2022
S.V.: “I think this is the soonest I’ve heard from you, any good news? How was your birthday?”
Ken: “I have news, not really bad, just plain news. I met again with the housing person on September 20 and finished filling the rest of the papers, then she called me September 28 with a few more questions as she was working on my case at that moment. On the meeting on the 20th she told me housing won’t happen overnight and may take a month, possibly a bit longer, but I have met all the requirements and they are working on it, so I’m still homeless, getting cold nights now too. My birthday was a zero, drove a friend to doctor appointments and didn’t even get gas money, I did get one text from someone wishing happy birthday, but that’s it.”
S.V.: “I’m sorry to hear no one remembered your birthday, and I remember you telling me you even gently reminded a some people. But, it’s good to hear they are actively working on finding you housing you can afford on your Social Security Disability, some areas affordable housing is almost impossible to find and it can take years sometimes. Been doing any more fishing? And I remember you’re a football fan, how’s your team doing?”
Ken: “Not doing any fishing right now, I meet with an orthopedic surgeon on the 11th to schedule surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s now so bad in my right wrist that within minutes of holding things a certain way I become numb from my fingertips to my shoulder, it’s been pretty bad, I bought one of those wrist braces for sleeping in and wear it more often, I don’t know how long I’m gonna have to wait to get the surgery, or if I will be able to drive afterward, I may have to wait until I have housing to have the surgery. It really sucks bad. But my football team, the Eagles, are actually number one in the league and are currently undefeated at 4 wins and no losses, I’m really happy about that.”
S.V.: “Ken, I’m sorry to hear about your wrists, I had a friend who had carpal tunnel surgery and wasn’t suppose to drive for two weeks, that was over 25 years ago and maybe the surgery has changed and now you can drive, but I understand how not being able to drive what is your actual primary residence could be a real problem.”
Ken: “I will find out when I talk to the surgeon how long I won’t be able to drive, and I guess schedule it when I have a place to live if I can’t drive, or if they can do one wrist then the other after the first heals. But I’m gonna sign off for now, got some things I want to do, bye.”
S.V.: “Good night Ken, oh and I hope your team keeps winning.”
UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
Due to circumstances in my own life I was late posting Ken’s last update.
S.V.: “Well Ken, it’s been awhile since your last update for the site, I hope you’ve been having some kind of fun that it took you so much time to get back to me.”
Ken: “No, not having much fun, I didn’t even go fishing until the end of June because all my stuff takes up the back of my Jeep leaving the front seat to sleep in. Also, the times that I have gotten out to fish have been pretty bad, biggest catfish I caught this year was maybe 6 or 7 pounds, biggest bass I caught was maybe 2 pounds, a lot of days I didn’t catch anything. Life is weird, sometimes I feel like I don’t exist but am just the figment of someone else’s imagination.”
S.V.: “Wow, sorry to hear about the bad luck fishing, I know it’s one of your favorite hobbies, also, I happen to believe you exist. But, how about the housing situation, any word on that?”
Ken: “Actually yes, I met with a housing person on August 25, signed some papers, and I’ll be meeting with them again towards the end of September and I’ll learn more then, I was wanting to be living indoors by my birthday, but I don’t think that is going to happen. And I’ve recently realized that surviving this winter I ended up spending my savings, and after meeting with the housing people I realized that I have very little furniture, no living room furniture, no dining room furniture, I do have a bed but no other bedroom furniture, and I’m struggling financially, also, no dishes or silverware, there’s a lot I don’t have.”
S.V.: “When is your birthday?”
Ken: “September 29”
S.V.: “And you have to wait until October I remember you telling me, maybe you will get a nice birthday present from someone, and there are places that donate furniture that you can look for.”
Ken: “Yes, October 7 will be the full 12 months I have to wait, and I’m not counting on anything for my birthday, it’s been over a decade since anyone has so much as wished me a happy birthday, let alone got me a card or gift, I’m not really holding out hope on that, but looking for furniture donation is something I hadn’t though of but will definitely look into that.”
S.V.: “The beginning of October isn’t that far past your birthday, at least you will be indoors come winter time, I remember how hard last winter actually was on you.”
Ken: “Yes, I can’t do another winter homeless. Life just feel so surreal right now. Anyway, I’m not much in a talking mood these days, I promise I won’t wait so long to give you an update, I am just really struggling with depression over the situation my life is in. I will talk to you by the end of September, I’m going to hop off the phone, have a good afternoon.”
S.V.: “O.k. Ken, I’m going to use one of your lines, have an interesting day, bye for now.”
UPDATE – MAY 25, 2022
S.V.: “So, you are finally going to let me post an update, we’ve talked a few times but you never had much to say, is it really that bad?”
Ken: “Yes, everything sucks, I’ve mostly been hibernating as much as possible and hiding from a world I feel I don’t even exist in, and it’s not like a single person really knows that I’m not anywhere around. I haven’t really been productive, and it’s getting very hard to even care about anything, but I am going to try and fish this Memorial Day weekend, someone I know let me pile my fishing stuff up in his garage. And looking over my Jeep I may be able to sleep in the front passenger seat and pile my fishing stuff in the back and sleep in the front passenger seat, it leans back pretty far. And looking things over I could maybe build two long boxes out of plywood and put them on my roof racks, one for my fishing rods and the other for most of my tackle and other gear, and that should leave me enough space to sleep in the back. But gas prices are killing me, I currently have $1.46 until my next Social Security payment. Also, I don’t need to keep warm now, cause it is getting hot, I’ve woken up a few times soaked in sweat, and I’m not gonna run my engine to run the air just sitting there, so just sleeping all day is not something I can do anymore, or should do anymore. I’m just finding it harder and harder to care about anything, you know I get more calls from scams than everyone I know combined. I’m even thinking of just quitting all 4 of my blood pressure medicines and letting nature decide if I live or not.”
S.V.: “Oh no, just wait a minute, you can’t just up and quit taking that medication, I think that’s a really bad idea, we’ve talked about how bad you’re suffering from depression, real depression, and I think you should find someone to talk about that with also, you told me you won’t take medicine for depression, but maybe talking to a professional might be good for you.”
Ken: “I am going to talk to someone, this weekend I’m going to take my kayak out, which I’ve been dying to do since April, and I will talk to the water, and any fish I catch. The only time I’ve felt real joy in many years is when I’m on the water, and when I’m on the water fishing my joy doubles, and when I’m on the water fishing and catching fish my joy quadruples, so that has to count for something, right.”
S.V.: “Well, you better catch some fish then, you could use 4 times the joy. I hope you can build those boxes because I can’t imagine sleeping in your front seat will be good for the arthritis in your back, you hurt now from sleeping in the back, a week of sleeping in the front seat and you will be probably be in a lot of pain, enough that walking will be tough on you.”
Ken: “Sleeping in the front seat isn’t ideal, I’m sure it will really suck, but I have to do what I have to do. I really need to make some extra money somehow, oddly enough that when you’re disabled people want to pay you less too. And I want to make enough to buy some advertising from Val-Pak coupons. I spoke to them about putting an ad in their envelope sending people to the site you made here, they said they will do it for me at cost, which is $195 per 10,000 households, that should get people seeing what Streetlight does to people, I’m not the only person they stomped on, just the only one with a real intention of not letting them get away with it. I really despise bully’s and that’s what these people really are. They seem to think Streetlight Ministries is all about them and not the people in their programs that they treat like pets, but if it wasn’t for the people in their program they would have to go out and get a real job.”
S.V.: “I always open the Val-Pak, I’ve even used a few of those coupons over the years, that’s a really good idea, and the fact they would do it at cost is very kind of them, when you do it send me a photo of the flyer you have them put in it so I can post it here also.”
Ken: “I will be sure to send you a photo of the flyer. Anyway, I’m getting tired, I’m not a phone person, not long phone calls anyway, I get distracted after awhile, joys of a brain injury I guess. I will talk to you when I have something you can update, I know this wasn’t much of an update.”
S.V.: “OK, at least let me know next week if you got your kayak out on water and went fishing.”
Ken: “I will let you know, good night.”
S.V. “Good night to you too.”
UPDATE – JANUARY 17, 2022
S.V.: “Well, it’s about time you called me back, but I figured from your five word one sentence text replies to my phone calls things aren’t going well for you yet.”
Ken: “You guessed right, things have been very hard lately. I am in a housing program, but for this one I have to be homeless for 12 months straight, the gentleman I met with is going to try and find a way to make it shorter but I shouldn’t get my hopes up on that. But I will get my own apartment at the end of that, I just have to survive it, which has been very rough so far. I’m always cold, even when I’m indoors.”
S.V.: “So at this point you’re three months into that wait with about only two more cold weather months left about?”
Ken: “Yes, about two more months of cold, but the summers here can sometimes be pretty hot, but that will be better than freezing. But I’m having other problems too. I’ve lost another tooth, my left upper canine, already lost the tooth behind that, so I have a big hole in my smile that has me really self conscious, so I actually try not to smile. I feel like I smell all the time, even after a shower and clean clothes. It’s really strange. I don’t have conversations with strangers anymore either, I’ve just been withdrawing from everyone and everything. I had no choice but to overdraft my bank account to keep my jeep running, but I definitely need all new exhaust, I can smell it inside when I run the engine a while to keep warm, I can smell antifreeze also, so the heater core must be leaking because that’s the only part of the system I haven’t had to replace yet. I’ve been having some serious issues with my blood pressure. I went to the ER Christmas Eve with my BP 216/104, and apparently something called left ventricular hypertrophy so I guess a visit to a heart doctor is in my future. I take two blood pressure medications now, I take 40mg of Lisinopril in the morning and 5mg of another called Amlodipine at night, and now my BP is lower, but still high, the top number is almost never lower than 150 and hits up to 180, and the bottom number is almost never lower than 90, it was up at 111 for one reading today, my pulse is generally between 85 and as high as 115 sometimes. I have some kind of hypertension. I have more lab work to get done and a neurology appointment on January 19, which I swear I won’t miss this one, the migraine that started December 13 has only been gone two days, so far.”
S.V.: “My goodness, you really need to get your blood pressure under control, there is a long list of things that can go bad with blood pressure problems, stroke, aneurysms, heart attacks, I know the stress of all of this must be demanding. I’m sad that you don’t talk to people anymore, that was something I found so special about you, the way you could just talk with anyone like you’ve known them for years. And I bet you don’t smell, your whole life was turned upside down and I can imagine it’s a lot to deal with. I remember you told me you have Medicare, no dental to get a partial to fix the missing teeth? And do what you can about the exhaust on your car, that of course is very dangerous by itself.”
Ken: “No, no dental, I went to the county health department to get the last two teeth pulled out, I have a follow up on January 24, there is still some stitches in my gums, one came out yesterday, I’m guessing they are the kind that dissolve but I might have broken the one that came out, but there wasn’t any bleeding so I guess it’s OK. I also gave up on the advertising song parody writing, that just came about this weekend. The CEO of The Martin Agency, someone named Kristen Cavallo, handed me the line “we’re not allowed to look” to me. Sounds like a bullshit line, she’s the CEO, she’s in charge, if the person in charge isn’t allowed to look who makes the decisions there? Someone I know asked me if I have an agent, which might be something to look into later, but for now I’m giving up on it, I need to reduce my stress as much as I can.”
S.V.: “I’m sorry to hear about the advertising agency, but maybe an agent is a good idea, but right now I have to agree reducing your stress as a priority, even with the medicine you’re taking your blood pressure is to high, and stop missing doctor appointments. Have you had any luck filing complaints against Streetlight?”
Ken: “At first I complained to HUD at the local level which was a complete waste of time and energy, then I made complaints at the federal level. Which at first was a waste of time, but I left out that I’m a disabled person, I hate thinking of myself that way, but after I did point that out to whomever I was interacting with they took my complaint seriously, and even said I’m part of a protected group, so I guess at some point things will get going with that. But even then I’m not really sure what will come of it, in the end I’ll probably still be living in a truck, losing teeth, breathing poison, on the edge of a stroke, with my only hope being when I go to sleep to not wake up.”
S.V.: “I would rather you not hope at all as opposed to that one hope, it’s not a thing to hope for. I can’t begin to imagine what you’re having to endure and I won’t pretend to, but, maybe just for now, try not to think of hope in that way. I think you may have a favorable resolution with HUD taking things seriously, because they are serious, and what was done to you was wrong, and to get any housing you have to be homeless for a whole year, maybe something will come sooner, you are a legitimate disabled person living in a car in the winter, and from the weather I look at for your area a pretty cold winter.”
Ken: “Yeah, I am actually trying not to hope at all, that is probably the best thing for now, but finding things to distract me are getting hard.A few times I walked into the grocery store and found an aisle with no one it, and stood in the middle just staring at whatever was on the shelf, making sure there was enough room in front of and behind me for a person with a cart to get by, just to see if anyone really noticed me, or asked me to move over a bit. No one did, people went by me like I was a just a post holding the ceiling up, it was kind of strange, like I didn’t exist as a person.”
S.V.: “Oh, please don’t do that yourself, you are a person, an actual person, going through a really difficult time, mostly alone. You once use to just talk to random people in a store like that, just for the fun of it, I’m sure you don’t smell, and I can say I do understand not wanting to smile because you lost some of the teeth you need to smile, I have false teeth so I get that one, but you can probably hold a simple conversation without smiling too much.”
Ken: “Sadly right now I can’t promise much of anything, and I am taking the blood pressure issues seriously, I feel pretty lousy most of the time since whatever it is started and I really need to concentrate on that, and I am, I sometimes take my blood pressure 10 times a day, even got my little blood pressure machine. I also started contacting some of the donors for Streetlight to try and get help with the overdraft. And I made a picket sign, I sent you a photo of it, as soon as I know my heart is good enough to stand out in the cold I’m going to be using that sign to exercise my first amendment rights on sidewalks in front of the church where Streetlight has their office, and in front of the churches and businesses that donate to Streetlight. Which brings me to a question, are you able to do a live feed to this website somehow?”
S.V.: “First, I’m glad you are taking your blood pressure problems seriously, because from what you told me there has to be some kind of problem not found yet. Second, what do you mean by a live feed to the website, like a webcam?”
Ken: “Well, I have a GoPro 7, and older model I bought for when I go fishing, when I bought it said it can be used for a live feed from on location, like wherever I happen to be, I want to send a live feed to the website when I’m exercising my first amendment rights on a public sidewalk in front of these donors places as well as where Streetlight has their office. Because I have no doubt at some point I will be harassed and challenged by someone trying to infringe on my constitutional right to protest, and I’d like video protection and proof for my personal protection.”
S.V.: “Oh, I really like that idea. I have to talk to the web hosting service I use and see if that is supported, I just use basic stuff, I really just write blogs. But I’m sure there has to be a way to do it, and if there is I will figure it out for you and I’ll make another page for just the live feed days. It will take some time to figure out how that works to send a live feed to the page from wherever you are located on a specific day. But I would certainly like to watch it and see if anyone wants to try and deny you your rights somehow. And I like that sign, I like how you added QR codes to it also, nice touch.”
Ken: “Thanks, I made a bunch of QR codes to just put all around with the flyers I made, this way people don’t have to even type the site, just scan and come here. I was also thinking about trying panhandling with that sign, I need to scrape up some money fast, to pay the overdraft and to get exhaust, a heater core before it leaks all over, and my power steering pump is making some weird noise, so that needs to be replaced. But, talking on the phone this long makes me tired, and I took a melatonin to help me sleep, so I am going to get to sleep.”
S.V.: “You sound tired, so have a good sleep, and wake up tomorrow because if you don’t how am I going to set up a live feed for your camera? Good night Ken.”
UPDATE – DECEMBER 19, 2021
S.V.: “I’m glad you called, I was getting worried about you.”
Ken: “Well, you must be the only person worried about me, so far haven’t come across anyone around here who sincerely cares about my situation. I want to keep this short, I’ve had a migraine since the morning of December 13, I ran out of migraine medicine today, so I need to call my doctor Monday to get it refilled.”
S.V.: “You’ve had a migraine that long?”
Ken: “I’ve had them longer than that, the joys of a brain injury. I might go the hospital at some point for it, this one seems to be different in some way. I’ve been homeless since the first week of October and about a third of those days have been migraine days, it’s been pretty bad, not sure why I’m getting so many that close together, but the intensity of them is worse than ever.”
S.V.: “Did you go to your neurology appointment you told me you had?”
Ken: “Nope, I blew off the appointment, had vehicle problems, and inspection due, which I failed and ended up over drafting my bank account without realizing it leaving me not just broke, but now in debt, but my vehicle has passed inspection, a month late though. It’s hard to keep up with stuff being alone in the world and living in a car.”
S.V.: “Is anything working out? Legal action against Streetlight, the housing program you told me about, or just anything good at all? What about Thanksgiving, how was that?”
Ken: “No, nothing is working out, not yet. Thanksgiving was stupid, I went to 7-11, I had a chimichanga, a Nestle Quik chocolate milk, and these things called dilly bites, just pickle slices. I ate in my car of course, it was kind of cold that day. But before I ate I looked at, and only one thought came to me, as I looked at that food I knew in an instant that around this entire planet there were human children of all types who would not even get a third of the nutrition this trash meal would give me and I decided to be thankful for nothing because of that, if I could have handed all of that food to just one of those children then I might have be thankful. I expect Christmas to be the same, or worse.”
S.V.: “I wish I could do more to help you. I’m not even sure how to respond to what you said.”
Ken: “You don’t need to have an answer for everything I say, it’s not what we are doing here anyway I don’t think. But, as far as legal action goes I need to look for a lawyer in a different county, I realized the ones here seem reluctant to sue a ministry, so I will probably wait until after the holidays because no one is even in offices much these days. as far as housing goes, well, the person I was talking to for a program in Fairfax county must have been confused and that process is way behind now, I’m really pissed off about that.”
S.V: “Honestly, not one good thing has happened yet?”
Ken: “I haven’t died yet, that’s it, take it or leave it. Of course I filed a few things with the IRS way back but they may take a year to get around to those crooks at Streetlight”
S.V.: “I’ll take it because that actually is a good thing, although I know you don’t feel that way.”
Ken: “I’m going to go ahead and cut this short, I’m in a lot of pain and just want to sit in silence. I really don’t even sleep at night anymore, I stay up and sleep in the day, it seems to work out better for me, it’s complicated in so many ways. So, bye for now, maybe I will call you a few days Christmas.”
S.V.: “OK Ken, bye for now, please take care of yourself, I believe it will get better for you even though you do not.”
Our conversation ended on that, I’m seriously worried about this man, we talked at length, not all of it is here. These Streetlight people are bad people, looks like they only care about the money and the power to control a persons life, they need to be held accountable for what they do to people.
UPDATE – NOVEMBER 14, 2021
S.V.: “I’ve been concerned you haven’t wanted to talk.”
Ken: “Don’t expect this to be a very long conversation, I really have no good news of any kind, not even anything to look forward to, except freezing my ass off.”
S.V.: “So it has been over a month since you’ve given me any kind of update, how are things in general going for you?”
Ken: “Things in general are mostly complete shit! I hurt in every way a person can hurt, the pain never ends. I use a ton of gas, October I spent almost $390 on gas, but I did a lot of running around. We’ve had nights down to 28 degrees. Most everything I eat is cold, hot food is more expensive, plus you can get very little hot food with an EBT card, just a few select items at various convenience stores, having to go find bathrooms is a pain. I’m working on obtaining a lawyer to sure those dirt bags at Streetlight, I let them know just how much I hate them. I have a few photos for you to add here, my “bed” as it were, if you look at the ceiling cloth it’s held up with tacks, kind of looks like tufted coffin lid from the inside, that’s what I see every morning. I sit and stare out of my window at a world I don’t seem to be a part of. I joined Planet Fitness to shower, only $10 a month, but more driving, always driving. Had a spring break in my right back brake that left my “house” stranded for a little while, but I managed to fix it, could have been worse. I feel so much like nothing, useless, just thrown away. Some days I have slept as much as 20 hours, mostly out of boredom. Not seeing football, tried going to Buffalo Wild Wings for a Thursday night game, after the first quarter I was overwhelmed with anxiety, looking at everyone having fun, laughing, I looked around to see if I was the only person sitting by myself, I was, I left, half having a panic attack. Everything sucks, I go to sleep hoping I never wake up, I wake up disappointed that I did wake up. It doesn’t matter where I park, it’s not where I belong, right now I have no place to belong, just lost no matter where I am. I’m also working getting HUD involved against Streetlight, another process burning me out. There is no fun to be had. Fishing was ruined after becoming homeless, since I sleep in the back of my Jeep I have to take everything out, put a tarp down, and put all my fishing stuff in, it’s just to much to do, then get back from fishing and do the reverse, I did it twice, my storage is open 6am to 9pm, I should have gotten one with 24 hour access. And the process of getting a place of my own with that other organization could take months. I will most likely be sleeping in my Jeep every night all winter. I only have a few photos for you to add, at first I hadn’t joined the gym and took ten water bottles into a porta toilet and dumped them on me, it was rough. But other than constant misery, not being able to shower, not being able to afford to buy a cup of coffee everyday, that can be $60 or more a month, always being in pain, being lonely, cramped, there isn’t much to tell.”
S.V.: “I seen the photos you sent, are those the only blankets you are using? In 28 degree nights? I’m sorry about you missing fishing and football. I see you got your property into storage also.”
Ken: “Yes, those are the only blankets I’m using, speaking of which laundry is another huge pain, I sleep with clothes on, very uncomfortable. And I got most of my property into storage, I did lose a few things I wanted to keep, my bed was one of the most important, it’s brand new.”
S.V.: “I’m sorry to hear that you lost anything, you got a real bad deal all the way around.”
Ken; “I got totally screwed all the way around. Streetlight made an agreement with me and broke that agreement from day one, they scum and need to answer for what they’ve done, and one day they will. They made a contractual promise and they lied, and need to be made to answer for that. But, that is really all I have to say, I really want to be able to give you a positive update, I just can’t at this time. But, I will try and make the next one sooner, even if it’s not positive.”
S.V.: “OK, I hope sincerely hope something good comes your way soon.”
UPDATE – OCTOBER 4, 2021 – THE EVICTION IS IN
S.V.: “You weren’t returning my calls, I was beginning to get concerned, but I see how distracted you are and the hard choices that you now face. I can’t imagine how stressful this must be.”
Ken: “I haven’t been in touch for the time being because I hadn’t been able to do anything on my own to resolve this in a court room, I don’t have enough money for justice. The eviction notice was posted on my door Friday October 1, I was out fishing on my kayak, I think I should get to do the only thing left that brings me something equal to peace in my life. The reason I didn’t contact you Friday is if you look at the top right corner of the eviction notice you’ll see the date scribbled over, I wanted to get in touch with the deputy who left a card to be certain that they did that. I get a little suspicious of legal documents with dates scribbled over on them. The deputy said that they did it but forgot to initial next to it. I was in touch with that deputy by email but they did not respond until today, Monday, so I had to wait. You can post the documents.”
S.V.: “You don’t have long, do you have any kind of plan? What are you going to do? I’m going to say it but after three and half years of harassment, unhealthy living conditions, and what is abuse by even the smallest definition you are now being made homeless by these people. There is something really wrong with what they are doing to your life, it’s heading into winter soon where you live, I read the site they have, this is hypocritical to everything they claim they are.”
Ken: “I’m still doing all I can, I’ve contacted the Eviction Hotline today, spoke to a person, later in the afternoon received an email from them for a request for information which I quickly sent them, I should hear back from them Tuesday, not much time left. But it doesn’t matter, it won’t accomplish anything but waste time I need to prepare for being forced into homelessness by Streetlight Ministries, after being made sick for over 3 years. I have a simple plan. Tuesday I will rent a storage locker, it’s the cheapest, it’s 5 feet by 5 feet by 4 feet tall. I will be losing all of my big stuff, my new bed included. anything I leave behind will be rendered inert or unusable and just need to be carried to the trash. I’m one man with arthritis in everything I need to stand up. I also don’t even want to hear one word, from anyone, about me giving any of my stuff to someone needy, I’m being made homeless by an abusive, controlling homeless “prevention” group. I’m more needy than someone who lives indoors so no one gets to have any of my stuff, and I have to be selfish now because it’s only me to do for me. I shouldn’t even have to be deciding these things, Streetlight Ministries should have kept their word that I would have a healthy, clean, safe place to live, they never delivered. Once my the things I feel I need to keep are stored and after I spend my last night here I will be sleeping in my jeep, everyday until I have a place of my own that I can afford. I will never again rent a room, every experience has only gotten worse where renting a room is concerned. And I will never again reside in a tent, I don’t even like camping in a tent. If all I ever have is my jeep until I die than that is all I have. I will never spend even a night under someone else’s roof, if it’s 10 below out and someone comes up my jeep and offers me a hotel room I will say “no”, but I will take a gift card to eat someplace nice. From my jeep I will only go to where I will live, in my own place, or, one day, maybe very, very far from today, to my grave. And what’s really important to get figured out quick is where to park my jeep at night to sleep, where I won’t have someone knocking on my window telling me I can’t sleep there, or worse yet get arrested for trespassing, and someplace where I won’t get robbed or killed would be a huge plus. I’ve started passing out flyers, and once I’m homeless and sleeping in my jeep I will be standing around with a billboard sending people here, and I will make two matching billboards to out in the back side windows of my jeep, so people who want to know why I’m homeless can see why, I will even be down the street from the next Streetlight Ministries fundraiser with that sign. I absolutely will not worry about living indoors, my only goal will be to let the world know what these people are like. They really screwed my life up here, anyone with a half a brain could see that. I will still try to figure out how to have a place of my own I can afford, I haven’t managed to do that on my own yet. I have some health issues I need to keep up with so living in the middle of nowhere where I would have to drive long distances to see specialists won’t work either, so living in my truck is my only option, not one I look forward to during any season. A motor vehicle is full of vapors from a variety of automotive chemicals, gas, oil, brake fluid, antifreeze, steering fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil, potential refrigerant leaks, windshield washer fluid, dried carbon from the exhaust. It won’t be comfortable either, but I will survive, and I will make sure everyone knows what Streetlight Ministries did to me. I will also join a gym to take care of my hygiene on a daily basis, however, eating properly is going to be a challenge, even more than living in a place with a fecal speckled kitchen. That’s my plan, I’m not an experienced street person or habitual homeless person and have no desire to be one or be thought of as one. I am bitter and angry about how I’ve been treated all along and at the completely unjust outcome.”
S.V.: “Again, you have me at a loss for words, but, I know you love fishing, are you still going to at least do the one thing you said brings you some peace before it gets too cold there? I know there is nothing I can say that will make you feel better about anything that’s being done to you, but I can say make sure you go out and enjoy your fishing before it’s to cold. Oh, and can you share photos of the bed you make in your jeep like you did with your car?”
Ken: “Oh, yes, I plan on fishing as much as I can, which reminds me of another problem, I need to be able to charge my trolling battery each night, I haven’t solved that issue yet either. Paddling far has been a problem because of a bizarre gland problem that can zap my energy out of nowhere, but can still paddle a little ways, maybe 3 miles throughout the day, I’ll get on the water though. And I will send you some photos of my jeep bed, maybe Friday, I have a lot to do, and unless something changes where I won’t be homeless Thursday morning it will probably be the weekend before I get back in touch, having to decide what to abandon, along with knowing what I have no choice but to abandon, is really wearing me out.”
S.V.: “I’m so sorry that you have to lose anything, I remember you told me you just bought that bed from QVC at Christmas, you shouldn’t have to lose anything. I know you’re not a fan of anyone praying for you, but I’m going to anyway.”
Ken: “Well, suit yourself, I never fault a person for doing something that doesn’t cause harm to another person, you know my take on all of that because of my experiences, but I’m going to start working on the billboards, I have one foam board, I will get two more for my jeep windows. I will call you on the weekend. Bye”
S.V.: “Bye”
(He hung up quickly, he’s really being made homeless, a 55 year old disabled man, pushed into the street, how can people do this to other people? What is wrong with not only this country, but this world?)
UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
S.V.: “How have things gone for you Ken?”
Ken: “Not so great, I wasn’t anywhere close to successful on the appeal process, I did get hit hard with a 3 day migraine from Thursday September 16 to the 18th, it really threw me off of my game. But they have filed the writ on Thursday September 23. 2021, I sent you the email from their lawyer about that so add that here I guess. It was short and to the point, my next birthday is September 29. His email says it will take up to two weeks, I have a feeling that because Gabrielle’s Tibbs desire to control everyone that it will be expedited and I will be homeless and sleeping in my jeep by my birthday. As dark as this sounds I would be perfectly fine dying in my sleep of exposure the first night, I’m just tired of trying alone and just getting beat down.”
S.V.: “Well, I wouldn’t be fine with you dying your first night being homeless again. Here is the email that Ken received on the September 23.
Email from the lawyer for Streetlight: “
The writ of eviction was filed with the clerk today. It will probably get to the Sheriff by Monday. I do not know how quickly the Sheriff will serve the writ but it usually takes 1-2 weeks. The deputy has to give you at least three days notice before the actual eviction date.
Andrew Lawrence
Ken: “I feel this going to happen faster than Weasel Weaselton, attorney at law, claims it will happen. I’m going to be contacting the press, and putting flyers everywhere there is a bulletin board. I won’t ever be OK with what’s being done to me as long as I live and I WILL NEVER QUIT GOING AFTER JUSTICE WHERE THIS CONCERNED, I will just not stop, ever. I’ve also started contacting donors, but that process seems to be hindered in some way, but I’m going to continue to contact donors to their program.
S.V.: “What passes for justice in this country is sometimes sickening to me, don’t stop contacting their donors, I feel you will find one interested in the truth, maybe some will hide their head in the sand, but I think there has to be at least one donor willing to really listen to what you’ve been forced to endure, and you were forced to endure this treatment, because the only option was to make yourself homeless, which isn’t a real option. From the sound of things these people don’t sound competent enough to be looking after human life. Ken, I want you to also go ahead and contact social services, they have abuse investigators.”
Ken: “I have contacted my social worker, I get a whopping $16 a month in food stamps, yay America, she’s out of the office until the 29th, but, it seems they literally change my social worker every 8 months or so, so I have a number of email addresses to send a message to, even though they are my former case workers they still work at social services and might listen, but I hold zero hope for that.”
S.V.: “You should still send messages to the ones you can, I’ve never been homeless or forced into the situation you are in so I’m not going to pretend to have any idea what you are feeling and what you are going through. It pains me to see this happening to anyone, you have been harassed back into homelessness by the same people who installed you in their program and it seems they don’t want people who think for themselves. I want things to work out for you Ken, but don’t send yourself into a nervous breakdown trying. The fight seems fixed in your opponents favor. Try the best to take care of yourself and keep me posted and I will put it here.”
Ken: ” No promises, no guarantees, on how my life goes day by day, I just can’t give my word on something I can’t predict.”
S.V.: “OK Ken, you know I won’t make you promise me anything, but please try your best, hope might not be in your nature, or even your belief, but I hold on to hope, and I’ll hold some for you.”
This is where Ken simply said “goodbye”, and ended the call. Hopefully there will be a positive update soon.