| Show B5 The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday November 26 1989 HOMELESS IN SALT LAKE CITY ' 4:1 ' ' i:5"a7 ::t:riz-t- :''' ' ' CL '''''II if Avt t ior zl 1 t ‘i 4:7 Iii cis'''4k: '''' 'ttr41 - :?y-z'- - '4'' 'a y ti14it441v7-s::W i A t ':' ii ':1 046(---4 it -- --3-0t ir - i : ti4- c ' t 1 0:' -1 4s341 N re "Vti4 f i It --t N- - ? ' t( ' 4 4 4 - I 44t -- L 011111111- — Tribune Staff Writer On a Tuesday morning with only 25 cents in her pocketbook Mary Ann Rusich steps inside the Salt Lake Plasma Center on State Street and takes a seat to wait her turn to earn enough money get her through the week Each time she donates plasma she only gets $8 but the money makes a big difference to Mary Ann 59 who has been living at Salt Lake City's homeless women's shelter since early September "It doesn't sound like much- - she says "but to those of us who are going through a bad time and have nothing it can really mean a lot Staying clean and neat is important to me so I use the money to buy things to keep up my appearance — things like shampoo hairpins and lo- Washington High where she had studied the violin and was concert mistress for the high school orchestra she married her high school sweetheart then spent the majority of her young life raising a family When the marriage ended in divorce Mary Ann decided to become a nursing assistant working in several different nursing homes in the Seattle area "Nursing runs in my family — my mother was a nurse and my oldest daughter is one" she says "I thought of going on to higher education but I really do enjoy being at the bedside I decided to make a career of it and stuck with it for 18 tion" years" Sitting in the middle of' a room full of more than 20 homeless men and only one other woman Mary Ann looks a little out of place as she removes her gray shawl and takes out her knitting With her neatly coiffed pale blonde hair a touch of creamy orange lipstick and a pair of reading glasses perched at the end of her nose she looks like somebody's grandmother and as it turns out she Last year feeling that she needed a change she decided to move to San Francisco where she was born and rent a small apartment It was here that something traumatic happened to her — something that she says she cannot and will not talk about "All of us staying here at the women's shelter have stories in our past — stories we are trying to forget" she says softly "It hurts to think about some things — I'd just as soon not talk about them" "In San Francisco the circumstances were such that I didn't have a job and I didn't have the money to pay the rent so I was evicted" she says "I lost all of my belongings and I had to go to a homeless shelter I stayed there for a while then remembered how I had had Mormon friends as a girl I thought 'Maybe things will be better for me if I go to Salt Lake And if they aren't then I'll go on to Washington" Using all of her remaining money for a one-wa- y bus ticket Mary Ann arrived in Salt Lake City on a mild September afternoon with nothing except the pantsuit she was wearing and an empty pocketbook After telephoning Traveler's Aid she received directions to the women's shelter west of town and walked is Mary Ann has 13 grandchildren and is the mother of seven children who live in other states They do not know that their mother is homeless in Salt Lake City and Mary Ann plans to keep it that way She turns silent and casts her eyes downward when asked about her children Clearly she misses her family but finds the subject too painful and personal to discuss "Let's just say that once I get settled into an apartment I'll get in touch with my family" she says "I do not want to live with my married children — they have their own lives now I don't want to put my burdens on them I just want to get my own little apartment I'm an independent person I want to do things on my own" Once a r full-tim- nurse in Seattle e ' :::' - : ' - - " t1-'4- 9''i - D i0?t ' : ' 'iti 0 4: - ::- ' ? : t!''f - :4k Ar 0 4-- : ': :11' :::: tA - : '' I ' :!:0 '' e'xi:'! J ' ':'::':": - ''!'::::':H::: ::::i':::::::':'1::':ll':':--: :::::::::::''1:::' ::::"':"' :'' :: ':'::': '::!':':-- ':' s:':::' :) i:'!!': '' (4 4''At-y- ':":: 100u ::::::::i: i: ?t- ' :yi:':ij:'ige-:0:::::i:4::-??-- ' b I''' At' :: ::::::::: a ::: ''' !': :446S 0- - X:::'::H ::::: :: ::: — g - ''''' ' ''''' ::' kod0104 : 4i' 4-- - - 1?kYr--"- 4g1'' Z : v1 t'46 0144Z1 ' 1:11( 4 :re 14) r '- : :' :: :'''' ) s'- : t:ftji 90 A ':5:: ''! !:'-'''- ' 15tr21 I 1:4: f :'iP' e-- :( :fs 's' re a' r :' ' 3 :'i:''!:'" ::' ''' ' '!i ' —mwoat 1'' '2'4i ''':"-' z 1k 1iij 1 It“'d2ZIP Not Mary Ann prepares a can of chili for dinner at the omen's shelter "I'm grateful for "44g A 4' 1 I i : t 2: g - 7 7 - -- ' friA:::terni ' ' ''' - " -- ? " i '5'''4''''5 r ' 4! '17 F SIafl "I also like to donate because it helps others" she says friend" She will spend Thanksgiving at the perhaps Christmas too "Sometimes its hard — I get a little homesick" says Mary Ann "And this time of year I remember my Thanksgivings of the past It's my favorite holiday There have been so many times that I've put that Thanksgiving turkey in the oven myself and had my whole family around " She pauses for a moment resting her forehead in her hands and fighting the emotion "Thanksgiving's just a pleasant time for a family to be together I guess being here you do feel a little depressed" Suddenly her eyes light up and she smiles "But really I'll be all right I've lived by myself for 18 years so I imagine I can get through this Like I told you before I'm pretty independent I want to do things on my own" !lielter why I m here" Mary Ann smiles sympathetically at the woman then returns to her chili "There are so many sad stories here" she says later "but most of the time we keep to ourselves I don't tend to get close to the other women because I know that perhaps they'll be leaving soon or I'll be leaving And it's sad to say goodbye to a v1 '4 3 'ii:"1 V' : r: 7 : :' ' :1t:' - '' I01 A'''?0c"' ''ItrA 4:- $e :: :I f:x t ' :T ' pAl t k --—- $'e-- '- - lZe4J ) - '''1- - I - ' S ''5 g 1 :A firr :' Atteot ' t !E: ' ''1 I ''''t r V4 :': v:710:0- ''' ::':'' : :A h : :ti 4 t: A1 '7: A ' v!I'li'2-!'4-- - (7''R --'- Vg4 - '- - i 0 - --- e'' e cE :1 :f '':1 0ki :41:' !:''':':i 1 '4sl't 41''''e-t:i4t: :4' 4'' i:: ç:' : ciN'cgrt-r:' ::::: :: 49I0tii''' 7 ':: --L1q0 :' 7414k 4 ' ! i'::2':7 ::':'- ' l t k- '''''''""' - t1 ''''''' ' 'ki 1 '1 ' ' ‘'?":' 4Tit--- ' H ' i "':w ' P t'- li i t' 1 ' i ': ? y ' I I: ::1:: 4 '''' ''''3-- ? I t - ' - ' 4':-:- : 5 '' :::rlf::-- 4 -- ' 'r'-'- " i ' - ::: -- ' - c j - 4 A r':f o :"41 43 '''' " ": ' : ' :' -- '!"'!'or!'4'"''-''''-- ' 3 ' - — ' tiI- ' -: 1 Ad 0?'N :4 v 0''' '" ' '' V ::1 - '7"'0'''S' ui i 0:-- $' '4 - N : - ' '4 ' ap 4: ii ' ' - 4 e!--y-- ii 41 ':' ' - ' ' :::q: :: ' ':: ' ' A4 ' ' :'' '' here" she says "Lots of people bring food donations and clothing" ' 4 :''''V V:: ' 4'ev ' 0 -- - - " '''''- - '" ''" 'i( ti '1 ' -' - V 4!1 !5:: ty: f - ''' - :: ? "' ' '!i- 't1 ' : f ""' : ' 4' - '' e ' ? $f- ''-- ' 4 t 17- t e- :1-4' 1si e :: - 1 "!' !14' ': f ':'' 9 4- '''''''' ):' : t: j:-' '' i '' ''--- - !:'''- '''''''''' ' ''' '! 1 '''! -- - ' - ti' 2: ::: '''' v '''''''''!' '!'' 's''' '' :i11' eIf :4 li:- - ' 'r:: :i: iit ''' 1 '1 l::::':::' -- many things - ' i'4'- -(- :' l'414:'24:' ' '' 4:'AP'J'i'Ci'' - :r v11:'?'-- J - e ' i ' 7::40f- ':" ' $' -- "" ' ' 4 - : ‘ ':' Z'i'" 'fr:e ? !! ? 41r ::'4'::' works on a pair of gloves in the small bedroom she shares with three other women - :7t''(:— T7'':'040:: x " '1g L'i -- :: ':Vi1''': e ' t ': ' ' " d - ' 7''' 4'ei- 2" co111 Is A'r 41: it ''' i'- 1: ' kgs: '''''''' - " e' li :i :: t41A! rpr- 43 i t!ot 41411‘V 41! v4 410- s "4' td) Mary enjoys knitting or crocheting in the '4P450g5o 4'''''-''t-4- 1:::: - trs1- AO: ':r44 F ' : : "4 11'l''' Mk' '''' ' i':''' ‘'''''dervh '''' ' 4 014 41A:L9''': '''''A:' fs:'-:4' ''''" ' 14''' '''''' 40-A'''?! g 14 4:r:--i- '44 ''' :f " 'ilt qr :e11'''':2':l°47 :'1' '''''""- 1 ':-:- Pbotos by Rid( Won to buy personal necessities vensH 4 40g - that's -- 14:---- z :: r:4 : '' VIP 14 '''''''' ' k')::':::1''''Nk 14Apep:: - r- evenings at the women's shelter Here she 1tt ttW Tif- name is Katherine and that has she just arrived on a bus from California where her husband had died two weeks before "When my husband died the disability checks stopped and I got kicked out of my place" Katherine tells Mary Ann and a woman named Donna "So I came out here thinking I might stay with my kids in Logan But when I called them from the bus well they were silent station They didn't want me I guess So ly-- : - 14— - :'?"'::':'':''"'f'1:-1-'-- ''''' ' ' I SN: ' else" she explains She says that her k 1:: 4 4: ::::t :A:':7- ' :44''' i ' a :fe:?i'i!: 1opos V4IP:e::::::::::! i ‘IiiA - i c: oe :::: ':' Ai 47 $::''':':''::1":?:'::'''-t:- :14 ACIedawAz? ' 1 4 4 : - - --- --- v:' i tll :' - odt44104 : i --- 1::::-::-z-eii-- 4: h f:' '" - e"' - 'E- - ' -- :tcf10 :'::::4' 4 ::: ''!'': 4'7ttPl:''2:-:ii'-:-4- : 4-- 4rfr ! ::1":)4:ii :4i: :: ::iIi:--:i4144v- 1: N 401 '' l' N ' :01:?4 some new things" Mary Ann makes sure she is back at the shelter by nightfall — "The streets are scary enough as it is during the daytime" she says The worn-en- s shelter has a communal kitchen so she will either help prepare a meal with other residents using donated goods or fix herself a sandwich On this particular Friday evening after opening a can of chili and fetching herself an apple she joined five other women in the shelters living room to watch the television news The women sit silently eating and reading — one is reading a liarlequinn romance while another is deeply involved in her horoscope book Midway through the news the front door opens and a new arrival walks in wearing a thick coat and fuzzy bedroom slippers "My feet hurt too much to wear anything V' el00::rs0° : '11T '4 ':' - ''''!' ' t i'v Nv4nri?---4'vA'f'‘!::'-:'I1- ' o ':::M:'?:At C": :' ' 1 ' :1:::?1::::f-::--- :0401c::ii:' 4' 4''''''''''''' ''- Twice a week on Tuesday and Friday Mary Ann donates plasma and receives $8 374:::::::-::::- fi‘ !:1-- '1'' '414i 4riA::-- 'r-fr4::'--'- : 01:01041'j'-:4 - ' ' !?A:-- i ': 4144 Lo:"4A-':i-'K'-'-::'--7- : 1 1 -:: i4::- t If ''-:li':ii- "' AV4e-- :sIi4:4'' :"' '' ::4'c!''::- :n::f'W- x:14f(4'K'- 4‘ -- : - v: t s :: '" '' ' f:rfr'f'::::'':7::::'?1:k''': 1"i'll''':'!':' : '4:4r:'iii41-s14e-:i-1i::':--- i' 3 fr ' f' f v: 4 0 ''''r:t-14172'- 1701v e: - L'' -- f ''' :1': :" ii:::::::"ii::'IS P to?:A 4::4 4: :1014— - 'KAr 4:': siv— " '4A ' ': e L - : t - : ' t"r0s '? -- S :z'Z'i::':ttio:' Ai'4!':: W3'" 124 ' Z!!?--I:- :- ' it o0'--'' 4: ' ''11- siyr 1:''''P'-:::''- 4 ') Tc : ' r: 11 :: kr' ::: :'':' ''' ' iif::: :i:::- - ! 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''' 40 K'' 4i: : :1 - ' I 4' '"":' it' 08' 44 '''?t'iat 1c'er 10k p '' '3?' ::::':::::tt :: - ''''Itk: t14'::-4'-0'-kf 11 s::i i 91i :: e: ":t - - 4i zi''-0- ' 70 e' 'I' ' IIF ' ‘ or !41 VI -- -- - 1' - '''''4 ilte '4'''':'!':1':'!''''-''''':- - 1 - :' ':: 1 :1' :Ziii44±:t 4-0- L - 'llt From 8 am to 4 pm each day Mary Ann and the city's other homeless women are not supposed to stay at the shelter so Mary Ann will usually take the bus downtown to check on job possibilities visit the library or donate plasma if it is Tuesday or Friday Often she will be at the plasma center more than five hours waiting to earn her $8 but Mary Ann doesn't mind "I'll take along my knitting" she says showing off a pair of light blue and yellow gloves that she has almost finished "I can always find some yarn or something in the donations Besides these gloves I'm working on an afghan and some baby clothes There are three pregnant women living at the shelter — they could use :':: ' —k :' 4 ! x '''':4) 0' - A-5--- :'g: t 41': ii4t4615Y-:::-:- : !- ':"ri" l A:1-:---:-:e- M 4 i ':' ''t'-- ' 1 te ''''''' or so" 70 -00- c 4it!:N tckrtii4'''''' V:‘'"'4 ' ful to have a place to stay I was as signed a bed and had somqpiing to eat and was given a voucheo go to the Salvation Army to pick out some clothing I also found quite a few nice things to wear in the donation boxes that people had dropped off at the shelter" Mary Ann is hoping to get a day job helping the elderly (or as she prefers to say "the nzature") in their homes so she can move out of the shelter into a place of her own but it hasn't been easy "There are so many things I need to take care of that I'm not sure where to start" she says with a sigh "I have an application in with the senior employment program but what I really want is to become certified as a nurse in Utah I'd like to go in and help people in their homes so they don't have to live in nursing homes I did this work briefly before and it really made me happy" "You go into the person's home maybe do a little light housekeeping and help the people with bathing or washing their hair" she says "Or perhaps you'll take them to the doctor or go for a walk or cook a meal and leave it in the icebox so they can heat it up for supper I really like to work — I'm itching to get back at it again I don't want to retire until I'm After graduating from Lake 'V'z t::$ ' - 4- p4 '40:' :''''? 7:rflA - - J!'4 ' :::P4 ' 1- IPt7--f11)!'- :z :4P-"'"-:-' :i 'Y: 4a 4 ‘t7ii4' 4411491ki :4":4:- l " ' 4' C ': ti- 4t?414f ' ii:i41471 4 1 4if:'''-'‘-:41:' 1 1 GtL there from the bus station "The people were very good to me" she says "and I felt very grate- with a comfortable home and plenty of money to pay her rent and buy groceries Mary Ann is the perfect example of how homelessness can happen to anybody By Cathy Free ' liite-- 411r: Mother of 7 to Spend Holiday At SL Homeless Shelter 4 l'414eA - I 4 it ' 4144''' -- '': 74' : like Katherine left and Donna middle "We all have our stories" says Mary Ann Evenings are usually spent in the shelter living room with other homeless residents - f Eii 4''::1f1:: 4't'14 ''544 :!'ie-::'47- ii::: Fs ' -- 54 CaggoAN t thi rir 3':4 '41'4 '1- :'7‘::--:Y:'::a-:'- :' ':i:-'V:'- ' F VAt$11- 7 il r4?':1 'oat ' ''' 31!8ss1iv4I Natitt i IIII - 1144: - sr- - Ati' 41te ' :' ' Arykrz''4C'': ' r f1 vt ' ::::r4::: :Z:::27i:4''':"s4:1'n'!''''':': 1111gs::: 4- - :'' 7 ilijtil !' f '::' :'--7 1 k- - 4- - : -- '' ' - -- it c::i- ' - :4 !t ‘k-:41- kocomdsoat - 1 0 i-- Ti - pei- -- ' itiV I '"4t' - ' - i 4''' :ii:::i:-f?:''-- ::!HY jtil''':':?'::i''''':''''''-- ' :''' "4:Afi''1Al - - r- iYL'A7-- '''sr :r1 '' ' t3'' vt' '1 1 '': "z "4i:)4 '::': 4 1Irizc-- I ''4 ''Y &-- ' --e- 0 - 11 ::'''N'S ' e 41N 4 kk I"""'!"A 41sk - Its wiit" 1- i :5 i '''0'?"-- k'41 ) iN '' t 40V 4' f4 '' lIeltAitS--::'1'- U l'' vir s t tr L"I - :: k-- ''''''::'''''''Z:lc-:-- 1f ' ''s c4 ''N: t:'S ttim '' 7111 Each morning Mary leaves the women's shelter by 8 am She checks back in at 4 pm "before it gets dark because it's scary for a woman to walk the streets out there" |
