As I listened to President Obama's town hall meeting in Fort Myers, Florida I wasn't prepared for the comments by a homeless woman named Henrietta Hughes.
"I have an urgent need, unemployment and homelessness, a very small vehicle for my family and I to live in," the woman told Obama during a question-and-answer session in Fort Myers, Fla.. "We need urgent (help)."
The woman said she was told by an area housing authority that there was a two-year waiting list.
"We need something more than the vehicle and the parks to go to," she said, tears streaming. "We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom. Please help."
I can't tell you how broken hearted I was after listening to Ms. Hughes. She looked so much like my cousin Cathy. She looked like so many of the women I saw at Barack Obama's inauguration. She looked like the many Black women who faithfully line up on Sunday mornings waiting to get into St. Marys Methodist Church on Jones Avenue in the town I grew up in.
What she didn't look like was a thug. She didn't look like a drug or alcohol abuser. She looked like a God fearing American who wouldn't harm a fly.
Like me, I knew that Barack Obama was touched by this woman's story. It was the only time he left the podium and went into the crowd. He held her, kissed her on the cheek and told her that his staff would talk to her about her situation after the town hall meeting ended.
I don't know how Ms. Hughes became homeless and I really don't care. What I do know is that the United States is the most generous nation on planet earth. We build bridges, schools and homes throughout the world for others. For once, just once, can we focus on taking care of our own?
We are the United States of America and we can and must do better. That is why I was so broken hearted after listening to Ms. Hughes. My heart was broken because of her dire situation and because of the situation that we as a country find ourselves in.
I truly hope that God blesses Ms. Hughes, bless America and bless and give strength to President Obama.
Feb. 10, 2009 at 3:05 PM
FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A homeless Florida woman living in a car asked U.S. President Barack Obama for help Tuesday during his town hall meeting on his economic stimulus plan.
"I have an urgent need, unemployment and homelessness, a very small vehicle for my family and I to live in," the woman told Obama during a question-and-answer session in Fort Myers, Fla.. "We need urgent (help)."
The woman said she was told by an area housing authority that there was a two-year waiting list.
"We need something more than the vehicle and the parks to go to," she said, tears streaming. "We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom. Please help."
Obama told her that his staff would talk to her about her situation after the town hall ended.
He said his administration would "do everything we can to help you but there are a lot of people like you. And we're going to do everything we can, all right?"
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
http://LloydsPeopleSearch.info
Updated Feb. 11, 2009 12:02 PM
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HENRIETTA HUGHES.
Henrietta Hughes said she is a former secretary, but on disability after surviving three bouts with cancer.
Their Lehigh Acres home soon went into foreclosure, and they have been forced to live in their silver pickup with two seats, parking it wherever they can. She said they sleep in the truck bed with its cover protecting them from the cold, wind and rain.
Corey Hughes, 37, said they spend days going to job centers, trying to find work. The pair had tried to apply for a state-subsidized apartment, but discovered there was a two-year waiting list.
His mother had been thinking about writing Obama a letter detailing their troubles, but when they heard he was coming to town, they decided to go, Corey Hughes said.
While on a walk around 9 p.m. Sunday, the two found a line of people waiting to get tickets and they jumped in. Twelve hours later, they had tickets to see the president.
Corey Hughes said he wasn’t surprised about his mother’s interaction with the president.
“She wanted to talk to him,” he said. Later, he noted, “If anybody could really help, I guess he could.”
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Comments: 31
I heard on CBS Evening News this woman had been a secretary but was laid off. Look at her- she's dressed for work. No one in that crowd could have pointed her out as a homeless person.
And it's sad that she had to take her situation right to the top to get any help. There are so many like her who don't get a chance to state their case to the man in charge.
I can tell you from personal experience, when you need help fulfilling your basic human needs in the US, you have to jump through some high hoops. Social workers are burned out before you get there. The only one I ever dealt with who offered REAL assistance was brand new- first week on the job.
What did you all get for the ADC and food stamps you invested in my family? Three people who were able to get a footing and get educations and jobs. My kids and I work. We pay taxes. We volunteer. We vote.
Investing in your fellow citizens is not a bad deal.
I know many people will say that it's probably her own fault that she's in this position, but I really don't care about why or how.
We are the United States of America and we can and must do better.
Hi Peter. These are difficult times we are facing. That's why it's so upsetting to see our politicians bickering and playing games so as partisan politics.
I just hope that all the "fat cats" in Washington was able to hear her plea.
Living in a car without a kitchen or bathroom shouldn't be an option.
EM Jay. I can't recall if I've ever seen a President acknowledge homelessness.
The fact that no on in that crowd could have pointed her show that our stereotypical view of the homeless is no longer the case.
Henrietta Hughes may now be the face of the "new" homeless.
There are just too many vacant homes across America for people to be living in vehicles without access to bathrooms or a place to cook a meal.
In the mean time, I hope we start lifting up all Americans. We're a stubborn, hard-working lot, and if we work together, it can happen.
I personally will never think of our country as the greatest country in the world until there are no more homeless children. It would be great if there were no homeless people at all, but it is the children I worry about the most.
Hi. E.M.
From what I've read, she lost her job and her house was foreclosed. I've also been reading many heartless comments at other sites on the internet. It's hard to believe that people actually feel that way.
Amen! Too bad the Republicans who are throwing up roadblocks don't see and hear people like this woman... *sigh* even if they did I doubt they would even care... more and more in my mind I am equating greedy and heartless with Republican they seem to be synonymous
I think that most people recognize why people fall into homelessness and I believe it's our responsibility to help them out.
I find it immoral to have so many vacant homes throughout the United States while turning a blind eye to an organization that moves homeless people into foreclosed homes.
Hi Julia. I agree with your comment. Hurricane Katrina really exposed people to those living in poverty here in the United States.
Everyone always viewed New Orleans as a party town, never taking the time to see what was going on in the background.
Hi Kathleen. This is what bothers me a lot about the Republicans. They want every conceived child bought into this world. But when it comes to helping care for them, they are so opposed to it.
Just look how hard they fought against providing health care for all children. And they went out of their way to make sure that no stimulus bill money would be used for school renovation or construction.;
They appear to be very hypocritical when it comes to what's best for the children that they demand be bought into this world.
Thank you for this post, Lloyd.
Henrietta Hughes said she is a former secretary, but on disability after surviving three bouts with cancer.
Their Lehigh Acres home soon went into foreclosure, and they have been forced to live in their silver pickup with two seats, parking it wherever they can. She said they sleep in the truck bed with its cover protecting them from the cold, wind and rain.
Corey Hughes, 37, said they spend days going to job centers, trying to find work. The pair had tried to apply for a state-subsidized apartment, but discovered there was a two-year waiting list.
His mother had been thinking about writing Obama a letter detailing their troubles, but when they heard he was coming to town, they decided to go, Corey Hughes said.
While on a walk around 9 p.m. Sunday, the two found a line of people waiting to get tickets and they jumped in. Twelve hours later, they had tickets to see the president.
Corey Hughes said he wasn’t surprised about his mother’s interaction with the president.
“She wanted to talk to him,” he said. Later, he noted, “If anybody could really help, I guess he could.”
Jon Stewert captured the well dressed lady standing next to Ms Hughes and featured her image with a heart shaped graphic last night as she clutched her heart and mouthed the words "I love you Barack"
The whole thing had me in tears again!
I agree, America needs to take care of it's own, but we need to educate and provide jobs, not just give more handouts. The more handouts there are, the lazier many will become. not all, but many. Soooo many people abuse the system.
God Bless her Love and Prayers to her and her family and friend and many many Blessings
Your friend.
Lloyd
One point not mentioned is the disconnection between her and her extended family. If there are strong ties with ones extended family, the individual can face almost any crisis and overcome it. I note however that families are being disconnected too readily and that leaves individual households much too exposed.
A lesson from history: Every great empire fell when family ties were no longer strong. So watch it United States of America, you're heading down that road!!!!
Fortunately we now have a President who has a degree of compassion. America is a great nation and can do better.
We now see the results of the breakup of our families and the devastating consequences of those actions.
I'm optimistic though and look forward to better days ahead.
PN