I AM Julie A. Cipolla. And, I've been Homeless for some time now, virtually since I left Brooklyn, December 10th of last year (2022). because I can't afford the "Market rents." No one can, who is of average income.
I lost my apartment of FORTY (40) YEARS, because I was systematically Terrorized for almost 4 YEARS, out of my 1-room apartment by someone the Landlord likely hired and installed to terrify me out of it, so they could get more rent or sell my apartment (which btw) is being "warehoused", neither sold nor rented.
This was done simply because I was paying a lower rent than the Landlord liked. And, apparently, Brooklyn isn't the only place that Landlords are doing this - "installing" criminal types to live next door to their victims in order to scare them to move. I've seen it Iowa where I also lived in 3 different cities! ALL, so the Landlords can increase the rents. It's happening all around the country.
I am, in fact, the 5th of my circle of friends around Park Slope, Brooklyn alone, to have this happen to us. My friends and I, who've been chased out of our apartments, after paying rent dutifully for decades, all "older" people, had hoped (not unreasonably) that we could hold onto the control we'd ALWAYS had over our own lives, like any normal person.
I'm currently living on Social Security, in an Emergency Shelter in Albany, NY., (which, by the way,) they want to take 90% of my income to pay for the priviledge, starting in February. I'm not asking for $ for a place to stay, because I may shortly be moving into the "YWCA" in Troy, New York. Nor am I asking for $ for food or clothing.
But, you ALL know me as a Writer, (at least my friends do). Check out my 1st Book: "Today I See the Sunrise: Daily Meditations for Survivors of Torture and Abuse." (Balboa Press 2016). You can also find it on Amazon.com.
MY need, NOW (Desperately!) is for a GOOD NEW Laptop of my own choosing, that will allow me to dictate into it accurately at any time of day or night, the thoughts about the experiences I am having right now. Plus the insurance to cover its possible theft or damage. (I've had TWO laptops stolen in the last year!
Writing or typing by hand, simply is too slow, and with dictating, I can write about 8 thousand words in about an hour!
I've begun writing a series of articles to be published soon, which hopefully will culminate in a Book. This Book will combine an "Instructional Manual" for how to survive Homelessness for the individual (i.e., all the "dirty little secrets" that came as a VERY UNwelcome wake-up call to me as a Neophyte!) As well as how one can even thrive under such conditions! Plus, the Book will hopefully educate the rest of us in perhaps how to prevent becoming homeless ourselves.
AND, even more importantly, it will address how we can work effectively together to change conditions in America and around the World, so Homelessness CAN'T happen to anyone ever Again!
11 Million Homeless in America, and 100 Million persons Homeless around the World, can't ALL be "crackpots", criminals and addicts? Thete's something wrong with the System. Join me to help FIX it!
Won't you help me complete this very important project by contributing to my Laptop fund?
THANK YOU AND BLESS YOU ALL MY FRIENDS, AND ALL the new friends I haven't even met yet! Bless You!
