Liz Hirsch, the woman I recently met who spent several nights last week at the San Diego Rescue Mission shelter, wrote another note yesterday morning with some thoughts:
She also said she’s going through an application to try to get Social Security benefits. I asked if she was feeling better. She responded:
I am feeling ok. I think it’s a cold. I am at Lestat’s but I can’t fall asleep or they’ll ask me to leave. But if there was a place to sleep during the day, it would be FULL of “sick” homeless. I can go to Rachael’s House and sit on some very comfortable couches and rest, but not sleep. …
I forgot to add in my last email that [Wednesday] night they had to turn away several women. These women were new, [their] first night, but there was no room. One lady had to leave because she never wants to do chores and you have to be willing to do something, even just wipe off tables.
I’ve received lots of emails and phone calls offering help and ideas — for Hirsch and others. Some people have sent me their email addresses or suggestions and asked me to pass along to Hirsch directly. One downtown worker offered to meet up to share some Starbucks gift cards she had. Hirsch said she planned to share with friends she’s made in the Rescue Mission.
Others have written to say they’re planning to make donations to the organizations Hirsch mentioned where she — and others — have found some support, such as the Rescue Mission and Rachel’s Women’s Center.
“This is really a nice feeling,” Hirsch wrote me Thursday in response to one of the emails I shared. “Many good people in the world.”
I’m Kelly Bennett, reporter for Voice of San Diego. You can reach me directly at kelly.bennett@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.325.0531.
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