On the morning of July 5th, a white van left Fox Lake Correctional Institution. In the back, ____ ____, a Milwaukee man with a history of sex crimes. As a young man in the late ’80s, he had sex with two teenage girls; in the mid-’90s, forceful sexual assaults on adult women. After 22 years in prison, he’s getting out, his time served.
No one wants a sex offender like ____ ____ living next door to them, and it’s certainly understandable. Municipalities across the state have codified this with ordinances that restrict where offenders can live. But are those restrictions really keeping you safe? Full Article
I really feel for this guy–deja vu; As I was attempting to recover from my situation, I became homeless too. Skid row downtown LA became the only place I’d roam. Being a veteran didn’t get me the help I needed. Yes, I could have had a short road to recovery, staying on the grounds at the West LA VA, but the federal government is the worst offender at repressing registrants. There at the West LA VA had I not been a registrant there were many non profits there to help vets with jobs and a place to stay. The programs all assume you’re drug or alcohol addicted and must follow a strict regime of restrictions and bull crap even if you can get into one. For about a year I was able to get into Volunteers of America housing at the Ballington skid row. The lasted until it became clear I couldn’t find work. Then I ended up roaming from one mission to the next. Several wouldn’t accept registrants because they had women and children staying there. Damn you feel so low when you cant find a place to call home even in skid row. I’d begin my day being rousted from the LA Mission, typically, at about 5:30.I headed for the McDonald’s on 6th and Spring street. Using the pittance I received from GR I purchased a news paper every morning sat in McDonald’s long enough to drink a coffee. Then I’d catch the bus up Spring st. to Our Lady of Angel’s church, at either 1st or Temple I cant remember which. After a couple hours of prayer and meditation, I headed for the main library and spent my day, catching an hour or so of internet time on the computers. From there, I could maintain contact with a select few people I knew but didn’t wish to share my plight! It was everything one could do to find a place to quietly sit at the library and to stay awake, as to fall asleep they security would send you on your way. At 4:30 curfew set in had to be back at the mission to get in line for a bed. And there daily life repeated itself seven days a week! A double edge sword got me out of there: my health failed me and I was able to win on appeal Social Security Disability. The back payments were Hugh about $70,000. Allowed to to buy a mobile home in a nice mobile home park and to begin rebuilding my life again; however, it was by an act of God I believe that I got out of there–I think my daily prayers were answered. I have excellent education and work experience–none of that helped me. I so empathetic with this man, brought tears to my eyes!
wow you just described my situation to the tee almost..thank God for volunteers of America after the halfway houses for about three months and then a stay at a hotel room that parole actually paid for i was out on the street.one of the guys out there mentioned VOA after two nights in that nasty mission we have here in Sacramento, but I am thankful for that mission, and one night in a tent across from the VOA me and a couple of other guys in the same situation jump through all kinds of hoops at the welfare Department and we’re able to get into the VOA program for the homeless….spent over eight months there because the director, who was an ex corrections officer refused to kick us out despite the boards insistence that we go..thank God for NORMA she was a life saver because of her me and my freind I made when I was in the halfway house were both able to get a miniel job that actually helped us get out of our destitute situation..anyways what I am saying is it is possible although extreemly difficult people can overcome their crap it was hell because of the parole conditions and ankle monitoring and I wanted to give up countless times even considered suicide but thanks to the great people at the VOA I was able to pull myself from the brink and out of the destitution and homelessness that I was thrown into after a brief stay at a halfway house with 42 people crammed into a four bedroom house..I love to hear when someone makes it out of their cycle of violations and prison..
This story makes me sick to my stomach. These lawmakers need to be slapped. I mean they need to be slapped really hard. It’s all about getting re-elected. They need to get real jobs. I’m sorry but society needs to take a good look in the mirror and check their closets for skeletons, too!