As I was reading “She Has a Front Seat to Homelessness” - Oct. 15 , 2009 Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bessie16-2009oct16,0,7618199.story), I though..

There is no fathomable reason that a 97-year old woman should be sleeping in a car, along with her 60 and 63 year old sons. The State of California will provide SSI to them to pay for their room and board for all to live in a senior living facility, staying together, where the sons could live independently and Bessie could receive assisted living services. Each would also receive $125/month extra for incidentals. Depending upon Bessie’s care needs, her SSI may not meet the total cost and an additional maximum of $500 will be necessitated. Having 11 children, 8 still living, and probably a good number of grandchildren and spouses, I can only imagine that there are at least a dozen relatives that could pool their resources to help provide for the matriarch of their family. Each would have to contribute $1.39 per day… less than a cup of coffee!  We make free senior housing referrals and placements every day at Accent On Seniors (www.accentonseniors.org)…