BRATTLEBORO — Dear people of Brattleboro:
I have been a lifelong member of the area. For the most part, I have had a good life until my partner - my husband of 38 years - died and then things started going south.
My health took a irreversible turn. I had a stroke, and they found blood clots in my lungs. I have mobility issues and breathing problems. I started to not be able to think very well, so I couldn't live alone.
I ended up in the homeless shelter on South Main Street twice. I felt safe.
And then I got pneumonia and was in the hospital for about 10 days, and I wanted to go back to the shelter, which wouldn't take me back, and the hospital kept me until I found a place to go. That was the hotel.
To get to my point: I am not impressed with how long they took to decide what to do with all the people who have to leave the hotel by May 31. They knew this was coming up. They had a lot of time to figure this out.
I have been on waiting lists for a very, very long time. I don't only want to find housing for myself - I would like them to come up with an idea for everyone.