Under One Roof. Asheville’s Unhoused / Christy
“Someone stone my EBT card and phone while I was sleeping. It’s scary. People taking your stuff while you’re sleeping. Another time, someone stole my medical records. I worked so hard to document my health issues, and they stole that.”
“I worked myself to death. I used to work in real estate. I would work so hard and get burned out. I was a good worker. I was a waitress too, you know, whatever I did…I worked hard, maybe it was too much.”
“I’m dealing with a thyroid condition and Fibromyalgia. It’s hard for me to stand for too long. So I sit here, under this awning and watch the public.”
“Those two grand babies keep me going. They are in California with my daughters”
After we chatted for a while, I asked Christy if she would take off her sunglasses so I could see her eyes. There was such kindness and warmth hiding behind those glasses.
Where were you from? Yancy County.
How did you end up in Asheville? I was taken by ambulance to Mission Hospital. They were trying to figure out what was going on with me. After a few days, I got discharged onto the street. That was it. Now I’m here.
Do you have any family looking out for you? I have two daughters in California. and two grand babies. Those two grand babies keep me going.
Are you in touch with your daughters, do they know where you are? Well, you know, my phone was stolen. I don’t know if they know here I am.
What do you hope for? Hope? A home. There’s no affordable housing.
Have you experienced kindness out here? Yeah, the guys across the park, they offer me coffee and biscuits. Rosetta’s offers free meals. I’m good with the public, so I talk to people.