Dual Perspectives: Michael –SafeLot Host and Guest
Michael - photo by Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Michael, married 36 years and father of three, has always been the type of person who will do whatever it takes to keep working. As manager at a door manufacturing business, he was determined to keep working through the pandemic despite the health risk. Aside from being a hard worker at heart, he needed to keep working in order to provide for his family, especially his wife who is on disability and suffers from Crohn’s disease, IBS and migraines. However, even following his employer’s COVID-19 protocols such as vaccines mandates and mask use, he contracted the virus and was hospitalized for 10 days.
After returning to work, he passed out on the job and it was determined that he had COPD, a lung disease that can require the use of oxygen tanks to support breathing, and eventually a diagnosis of long COVID. The doctor limited his working to less than 18 hours per week because of his breathing. Mounting medical bills, treatments and medicines for he and his wife were more than their bank account could handle, and they were not able to pay the rent on their townhouse. Once he lost his home, he had nowhere for his oxygen to be delivered. Their children helped as much as possible, but also had limited resources and so Michael decided he would live in his car. Despite urging his wife to consider staying with their daughter so she could be more comfortable given her physical limitations, she wanted to stay by Michal’s side: “in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer” as the saying goes.
While trying to find work and places to stay with their vehicle, they spent time in various encampments which proved to be challenging, as these makeshift communities had certain unwritten rules and requirements that made it untenable for the couple to stay. Finding a quiet street to sleep where neighbors were understanding about their situation lasted just a short while, as other PSVs would follow causing concern amongst housed residents when too many vehicles showed up each evening.
As Michael researched options for work and accommodation, he encountered Ash and Haley who work as homeless navigators with the Westminster Department of Parks, Recreation and Libraries, which connects unhoused people to relevant resources. This was where he found out about CSPI and SafeLot parking for people sheltering in vehicles. However, the referral was not for a parking spot, rather for a job opening, managing the SafeLot parking lot in the area, breaking down and tidying up the lot after people leave in the morning. Luckily, the SafeLot served both purposes. Aside from lot maintenance, Michael sees himself as a mentor for the younger guests who, while they have managed to stay employed, are bitter about their situations. He tries to be encouraging to them and takes pride in providing a safe haven for them to return to after work.
Although it has been a year without a proper place to call home, Michael is earning an income running the SafeLot and appreciating the stability he and his wife have, knowing where they will sleep undisturbed each night. In the meantime, Michael is waiting to qualify for disability, and hoping for another chance at a section 8 lottery. Michael feels strongly that more work is needed to not only support the unhoused to get back on track, but to raise awareness and understanding of the people who find themselves homeless and the circumstances that got them to this point. He feels this would help replace some of the suspicion and fear with compassion and empathy, which would benefit the discussion of how to best address the situation.
