Lena Richardson, who is homeless said, "They say it's easy, but it's not easy for us to get because we have no finances out here. We're living in poverty ... literally ... look around. "
The only thing that stands in the way of Lena having a place to call home is $14.00 for a birth certificate. Another homeless man, Doug Jackson, had a home until last summer when he lost his job.
He said, "I have a disabled wife ... and my adult son and his wife also ... we're all out here together ... pulling together ... trying to make it."
Jackson and Richardson and several others at the encampment could start the New Year with a roof over their heads. Fresno Homeless Prevention and Policy Manager Greg Barfield is doing what he can before the January sixth deadline, but he said it takes cooperation.
Barfield said, "An individual has to step forward ... whether it's the county's process ... whether it's going over to E Street ... to apply for general relief or food stamps ... individuals have to do their part."
Fresno City and Fresno County have a total of $4.7-million dollars to spend on homeless housing. In addition, many local agencies like the Poverello House provide vouchers for transportation and discount coupons for drivers' licenses or California I.D. cards. At the end of Monday Lena Richardson had a birth certificate, Doug Jackson had filled out paperwork with the housing authority and so had Alan and Charlene Simon.
