Street Homeless Women

 Jodie Spartz: I conducted an interview with a street Homeless woman, I met her when I was homeless in a shelter in Los Angeles. She was actually my roommate. She had been from NYC to different parts of California and is now somewhere in the cold Midwest, all trying to survive and stay alive! 

We are going to start with Wednesday 11/5/25. She called and stated: I have just realized we can't talk very long cuz it kills the battery very quickly and I can't charge it anywhere until tomorrow. I have to get in this car and stay because the battery is unhooked and I don't have a key. That was pretty much the whole conversation that day. 

Jodie Spartz: I told her to do what she had to do and we would talk when she could.

Friday 11/7/24 she texts:  Any chance you could do a GoFundMe for me, your illusive friend so far away, who has this habit of (how did you put it? hurting myself to help someone), well let me tell you about Tracy who hasn't been seen for 2 weeks after a pissed business owner put all her stuff in dumpster. Everything else she owns is in my storage, which I am about to lose. I'm trying to find her and I think she's being held somewhere around here. There are so many predators. I almost got myself raped or shot in a tent with a some gang members a couple days after her disappearance and they were mocking me about her.

Jodie Spartz:  At this point I didn't know what to say so I told her I'm listening. 

She continued... I ran away late at night but it was windy and rainy and just above freezing and I actually almost froze. I hope she is still alive (Tracy). I gotta save her stuff. Plus I have a rather nice bike in there too. 

Jodie Spartz: I asked her if we get the GoFundMe set up where will the money go? 

She answered, It goes to you, my best friend and I will find someone I trust to receive it from you. She then goes right back to Tracy. Tracy's memory is toast and All she cares about is her stuff and it's a link to her healing and memory care. I'm not leaving her behind. I have been left behind so many times I can't be the one to do that. 

Jodie Spartz: We talked a little bit about what self preservation looks like for her. Then I had to let her go. 

The next day she called in to tell me... Okay found someone trustworthy with CashApp.
He rescued me at 6:30 am the night I almost froze. He let me get in his car, he sleeps in the men's shelter and now I sleep in his car in front of their shelter. It's the only way females can take showers. Showers and storage for street homeless women. 

Jodie Spartz: So they have storage for you guys? 

I asked. 

She answered: Yes they will only hold two bags for us but that's nothing compared to the things people end up homeless with. In reality it's just not enough! They give gas money for men stuck in front of the men's shelter who really want to leave the premises and go to work and who let women stay in their car without trafficking and exploiting. The guy that rescued me, his wife died a year and a half ago of cancer. We ended this conversation with more talk if the GoFundMe..

I didn't hear from her again until Tuesday 11/11/25 she called to tell me about something she had been thinking. I listened and thought it was a great idea! 

She said...I was thinking of us writing some story where we will get the reader very attached to the main character's very treasured things : pictures, writings, family heirlooms.. and make it feel like it's the only whole point of the story and as they are resonating with that we would make it sooo romanticized..and then bam! You have to go to a shelter. The end. There would be an Intentional shock and letdown, so people can understand that people are people with the same tendencies to want to have power -infused items and keep them. She also stated that she had been thinking about a for-profit, cause oriented company called Tracy's Things. It will be storage, showers, and charging stations for people becoming homeless or displaced. Cuz all my stuff got misplaced since I've been displaced. 

Jodie Spartz: I chimed in because I've had this happen to me time and time again during this homeless journey. So much so that I have become a minimalist. These days I don't even see the point in having anything that I'm not using.

On Thursday 11/13/25 we talked about her health while out there in those streets. She began the conversation with, gotta set an alarm to take lots of Advil and Tylenol every 3 hours. The men in the shelter been putting those in my hand because of my face being swelled up. I know that this thing can effect already fragile heart tissue, due to vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome (For more information) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17813-ehlers-danlos-syndrome and fragile brain tissues and I have already had 4 strokes. Adding no address, ID, or Medicaid makes it even harder on a no buses day because there isn't alway's transportation.

 She went on: This lady who I knew in the place Tracy got kicked out of has been in multiple shelters a bunch of times before being banned, she also got kicked out of the one I was in too. She's in another shelter a few blocks down and is searching for an extra power cord and if she finds it I'll walk down and get it. She is a former caseworker. 

Jodie Spartz: Wow I said that's a serious down fall. 

She continued, When the other place kicked her out she was going to the library in the day and sleeping in her electric wheelchair under a staircase at an inside entry apartment. The shelter she was at had her upstairs and their elevator broke and now it's been broken for weeks, a fire hazard. She missed her first day at new job cuz she was trapped upstairs. 

Jodie Spartz: If it's not one thing it's another I commented. 

She then said: They don't allow the residents to bring any food in and people are literally throwing up from their nasty ass food. Kids can't get seconds, I hear. Must be true, cuz moms are willing to come eat with children in this really rough men's shelter where the food is a bit better. That's where I eat, but it is a vulnerable mess. Jodie why don't people understand that We are people! And that the 90% percent is bigger. When we finally figure out how to come together, we will also be better. My phone is dying gotta find a place to charge talk to you later.

We spoke again Saturday 11/15/25 and she began the conversation telling me about yet another street homeless woman she came across. Who was kicked out of the same place that Tracy was kicked out of. She then went on to say,  I've left two shelters twice on my own free will cuz I knew Tracy was just bait out there alone. But now I think they have barred and banned me for doing that. Other shelters don't take you if you are banned elsewhere. Even the roughest wet shelters. The conversation then eased back into her health issues. 

She said: There has to be too much ibuprofen and Tylenol getting to my liver and getting my brain wonky and dazed. Getting to my liver. Makes me not think right. When I studied the lack of proprioception that Ehlers Danlos patients feel, I learned they have a sense of being outside their bodies. I'm thinking about that a lot right now. She then started taking about the reason her face was swollen last week and how it's doing now. She said, I been suffering from this toothache and it happened with the same tooth other side in 2019. I've been on the run from my Powerful and affiliated husband for 11 years and before I ran away he said some dumb shit that I don't even remember and then my daughter turned on me. And I guess my daughter didn't realize that's what was happening, cuz right after that..it was over. Also beware I might say some dumb shit, cuz my liver might be shutting down from an accidental Tylenol overdose. Hey I think that's enough for today Jodie gotta make sure my phone is charged for tomorrow. Talk to you soon!

The next text came Monday 11/17/25 Hello there! Lots of snow. Just wanted to update you that tomorrow there's a bus and I will go back to a hospital, a different one. Still can't open my mouth a whole inch and about to take the last antibiotic pill.  Pretty sure the nerve block made me worse. Iatrogenic illness (for more info)

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/iatrogenic-disease is a very real thing with vascular Ehlers Danlos. 

Jodie Spartz: As I texted with this woman, my Street Homeless friend I commented on this being a lot and noticing how despite that she has observed and broke down her situation ever so clearly. 

She responded: I know. Thank you for caring about me enough to make my voice matter! 

We talked a couple days later.. I started the conversation asking how her tooth was. 

She said: It's Improving still have the pain and swelling. Mouth moving a little more. 

Jodie Spartz: Are you going to go to the hospital? 

She said: If I can get through it without the extra abuse, for not having health insurance I will. And I think maybe I can. When you get deep into the medical journals where the multidisciplinary team of doctors are managing different comorbidities that arise for those with vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome, a wait and see approach is favored. I don't have that team, so I am trying to be one for myself. And you are the only one I can tell. I also have to figure out where to sleep tonight. They've let females be inside until 6 pm because of the cold, usually we can only come in to eat. To tell the truth tho the guy that lets me sleep in his car is a dumbass. He doesn't like it when I don't sit with him in his car all day and act as counselor/ caseworker. For free, well I guess in trade for a locked car and being alone from 6:30pm-8am. Cuz he goes inside at that time to lay down and he unhooks the battery and leaves no keys for me, so I'm trapped cuz I feel like I shouldn't leave his property unsupervised and unlocked. When I'm inside the shelter I make friends with others and he doesn't like it. So that's why he takes the keys back, and my things, backpacks and blankets, will be locked inside. Mostly I am just trying to figure out where to be. But probably there again or he will look bad idfk. I mean my things are locked in his vehicle right now, but whatever. I'm inside the men's shelter having meaningful conversations with other people. He hates it. But he doesn't even have a phone and does NOTHING to help himself so I stepped up. He's got no reason to punish me right now. I gotta go we'll talk soon.  

Jodie Spartz: I just sat in my room breathless, this could've easily been me if not for being able to use my name, have an ID, Birth certificate a S.S. card and an address to use. We ended the conversation speaking about how people sometimes only help people on their terms and bout the hardships of not having proper identification and about the lack of resources in the area that she's in.

Friday 11/21/25 this time she called to tell me: There was a volunteer that tried to help us. He had been on duty when some things happened. He tried to help us and wrote this letter to his church. They never answered back. I think he quit going. Here's a lil snippet of the letter:

There was a young lady that was accepted into a shelter (I can't release the name) but when she saw another young lady being kicked out she became worried about her safety. She then left to help the lady that was kicked out because she had some memory issues. I find it amazing that those without any material possessions find ways of loving their neighbors. I know they have Alzheimer units for the elderly, but what is available for young people with the same issues? I am worried that these two women are endanger from predators and from the coming winter weather. I have called all the homeless shelters and all the centers that have beds. They are all full and have a long waiting list. I have called Christian help centers but have not received a call back. I am terrified that these two young lives could be snuffed out in the near future and that gives me nightmares. I would appreciate any help or advice offered. We briefly talked about the fact that this person truly cares and how important it is to have advocacy and support. 

Sunday 11/22/25  She texted in: Hi, I'm in so deep, losing a possible friend and business associate over $156 for storage. And losing my nice bike and all Emily's things. I have 2 pennies to my name and I picked them up from the ground on different days. 

Jodie Spartz: Girl I am not laughing at you but I know the feeling of being that broke.

She continued: It's ok I kinda laughed too!  Once, just leaving Walmart after buying a phone card to maintain contact with you. I was 44 cents short to buy the phone card and the cashier took it out of her own purse! I am always surprised by the kindness of others these days. I thought I had something for storage, but since it's not actually in my name and it's in a different county, it fell through. Now the guy whose name it's in is really mad. Tracy needs the things in that storage to help trigger some of her memory. She feels some of them belonged to her mother. 

Jodie Spartz: So again if someone wanted to help you how would you receive the funds? 

She responded: I think I can find someone. I need to know if it would be cash-app or Zelle so I can find someone with the same. There is a  man who I am sitting across from who can receive funds via cash-app. We are in a men's shelter and they are keeping us from outside because of dangerous weather. So I'm getting to know people better.

When ended this interview here an I told her I would look into setting up a GoFundMe for her and the other street homeless women. I think when it comes to homelessness the problem is a big order to fill but if we come together and attempt to fix it in parts we can continue to move toward a better future for everyone. If this moved something in your spirit please donate to... https://gofund.me/ea03f746d

                       -Photo by, Jodie Spartz

There are 3 books that I have published and written check them out here: https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=Jodie+Spartz&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00