This is the latest in a series on homeless persons in East County based on first-person accounts. Because voices of the homeless are seldom heard in the media, this provides an ongoing platform for the homeless to relay their unfiltered stories. If you are homeless, or know of a homeless individual willing to be interviewed, please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

By Richard Darvas

June 28, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Lucy has lived a rootless life. In a recent interview with East County Magazine, the 46-year-old homeless woman detailed how she lost her way. (To shield her children from untoward attention, she is using a pseudonym for this article.)

By Walter Davis

December 23, 2009 (San Diego)--Richard struggles with the large blue recycling receptical in his effort to find plastic bottles or treasured aluminum cans to fetch money to help put his child through college. Employed, he is an honorable man; he is honest, caring, devoted – determined to provide the best for his family. He never imagined he would be going through his neighbors’ trash to support his child in school.

October 13, 2009 (San Diego) -- The Center for Social Advocacy in El Cajon presents “Homeless in our Community, Homeless on our Border”, a free community awareness event on November 6th at 5:30 p.m. at the San Diego Women’s Club, 2557 Third Ave., San Diego. Keynote speaker John Carlos Frey, award-winning director of The Invisible Chapel, willlscreen his film.