新加坡多多开奖记录

Being homeless in Auburn. Think about that for a moment. In Syracuse, yes. But in Auburn?

If you pay attention, you might be astonished at the number of people in our community who don't have a place to call home. For some, it's obvious to see. But there are those walking the streets that, at a passing glance, you would never know they may be sleeping under a bridge, in the parking garage, or in a hedgerow.

One such person is Roseann Titus, age 60. She has been homeless for three years.

I was talking with a former colleague about the homeless situation in Auburn and how it seemed to be getting worse. He told me there was an elderly woman who sat on a bench in downtown almost every day. He thought she might be homeless, and that her name was Roseann.

The following day I went to the bench, and there she was. I sat down next to her and asked her if her name was Roseann. 鈥淥h no, now what did I do?鈥� she replied in a raspy smoker's voice and a toothless smile.

Her long silver hair is pulled back in a ponytail. She's wearing a clean black T-shirt with a big apple and New York embroidered on the front. Gray leggings, clean socks and Nike sneakers. Bracelets dangle from her wrist. A black backpack at her feet. Her face is tan and weathered from age and the outdoors. Faded tattoos on her arms. She doesn't look homeless, but confirms to me that she is.

She is extremely friendly and seems to enjoy the company and conversation. She's an open book.

That was Sept. 19.

Over the next several months, I photographed her daily life. What I learned is that she has lived a tough life with many poor decisions. She grew up in Melone Village with five brothers. She dropped out of school at an early age. Never married, worked housecleaning jobs, and got involved with drugs and alcohol. She was incarcerated for selling drugs. Gave birth to one of her four children in prison 鈥� she has two sons and two daughters. She is estranged from her children and two brothers.

She is alone.

For a couple of years, she worked as a live-in caretaker until that person passed away. It was then that Roseann found herself without a home.

She learned quickly how to survive on the streets. Where to hide personal belongings. Where to bathe. Where to get food. Who to talk to and who not to talk to. It can be dangerous for a woman.

Rosanne spent all her time and energy trying to make it through each day. She battled bouts of depression from the loneliness. She felt invisible to the rest of the world.

In October, 新加坡多多开奖记录 ran her story and changed her life. She was no longer invisible to the many people who read the story. She's the old woman who sits on the bench next to the bagel shop.

People started mobilizing on Facebook. Soon, she was receiving food and clothing. A good Samaritan put her up in a hotel for three nights and helped her navigate social services.

In the short term, it seemed to be working. Roseann was finally in a shelter and off the streets. Things looked promising 鈥� but in only a couple of weeks, Roseann was back on the streets. She missed curfews and struggled to adapt to the strict rules in place. She complained that the shelter was unclean and infested with bugs. She was surrounded by other homeless people who were sheltered but continued using drugs and alcohol. In the end, Roseann left and went back to what she knows. The streets, couch surfing and panhandling.

I was disheartened to hear this. I continued to meet with her and photograph her life.

There is a system in place in social services designed for homeless people to find their way off the streets, but it's not an easy one to navigate. Mental health issues, drug and alcohol addictions, and the cost of living are all barriers that often lead to failure. It's a hard cycle to break.

As a working photojournalist for the past 35 years, I've done many stories on homeless people and the human condition. I'm all too well-versed in the reality of her situation. I can't help but to step out from behind the camera and lend her a hand. A meal. A cup of coffee. Conversation.

There are a lot of people who would say her current life situation is her own fault. And that might be true to some extent. But to me, she's an elderly woman who's cold, alone and afraid.

The truly frightening part of Roseann's story is that at any given time, with an unfortunate turn of circumstance, this could easily be you or me.

Count your blessings and pay it forward. Merry Christmas.