Hearings & Trials

Today was a busy day for Red Rabbit Advocacy. We started our day with an appeal hearing with the First 5 of San Joaquin County’s HousingWORKS Mini-Grant. I was feeling confident about our arguments to secure funding for prevention of homelessness, having made connections with other existing organizations, etc., but unfortunately we had a loss, a vote of 4 “no” and 1 “yes”. While I understand there are certain words that funding agencies like used in proposals, it is frustrating that work ethic and demonstration of service and outcome cannot speak louder than experience in language use. I had in my mind about 10 families I could have immediately helped in preventing homelessness just this week. I will just keep trying and fighting for my clients and future clients.

Next up was the Court Trial for occupancy issues over the warehouse we have been using for the past year. Both sides presented our case, Plaintiff claiming I forcibly entered the building, me just trying to get proper notice and compensation given since I have been there for over a year and was given a key to the property initially.

After about an hour of argument over these issues, the judge took the matter under submission and will send out her decision to both parties….. stay tuned!!!! After court, I went over to the warehouse to meet with my donation coordinators to see what had been donated for our clients. Our young lady that just got into her apartment came by, picked out some furniture and decorations that we will deliver to her new place. Then it was off to meet another young mother to get her housing application for Section 8 completed for submission.

I then met with a man who is disabled and a father of a 12 year old daughter, living in a tent. We already signed him up for housing subsidy and picked up his Visionary Homebuilder’s Application. Another client was at the encampment, so we double checked her account for any updates, but nothing yet. Headed home and got a call from another new client, needed a ride across town, a father with a 5 year old boy who was denied any cash aid and is out of money for his hotel after tomorrow. He will be going down to try and get some aid and we already are looking for a restaurant job for him so he can get back on his feet. I had a nice long conversation about choices and motivation, about what I am willing to do and what he will need to do. Eye contact and sincerity can make a world of difference in an outcome of a conversation even between two strangers. In Jesus Name he will recover from this setback. He is a great dad and his little boy loves him.

This was a long day…. looking forward to a full one again tomorrow.

Be safe out there and remember to love each other. You never know someone else’s story…..