The guardian angel
The center has unquestionably been the launch pad for more than a few success stories among homeless families. In Taylor’s office, she and Chase discussed some of their alumni. “One guy was living out in his truck and out in the park for a while with his kids,” said Taylor. “Now that same dad is a real leader in our community working on drug and alcohol issues and housing issues.
“Another lady was with us for 12 or 13 months, a relatively long time. She was really scared [at the beginning] and she blossomed as a mom, as a woman, as a contributor to society.”
“I think of her,” said Chase. “What a change. Do you remember what she was like when she came here? A scrawny, drug-addicted woman. To see her now, so regal and centered. It was the MAC that made the difference.”
One family with three children in the Homeless Education Program recently moved into their own apartment after four months at the MAC. Two years ago, Walt*, his wife, and three children were knocked out of their apartment in Riverside by a one-two punch: His disability benefits were cut in half and she became so depressed over her father’s death that she lost her job as a custodian.
Expecting a disability settlement, they convinced their landlord to float them for a couple months. But then the landlord’s patience ran out. “We were doing everything we could think of. We’d go to church, the whole bit,” said Walt. “We were really trying.
“We lived in our Ford Explorer, five people and two dogs. We were also in and out of shelters.” Because of family friction, doubling up with his wife’s relatives wasn’t an option. “My parents lived in a little fifth-wheel, so they couldn’t have us all over.”
Burned out and depressed, the family decided to look for another community to live in. They traded Walt’s Ford for a Nissan Maxima and some cash, then drove north, ending up in Humboldt County.
“We stayed at campgrounds from Garberville to McKinleyville,” said Walt. A winter shelter voucher allowed them to stay at Serenity Inn for over a month, but when that ran out “we had to move out and move into the tents.”
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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