Retired and Struggling
Joanne, a Michigan native, says she’s been living in Reno for 40 years now, but that recently mounting bills, and problems with family she was living with led her onto the streets. She is trying to secure some senior housing, but in the meantime she said she avoids the main shelter.
“I just don't care to be around a lot of people, you know, I just don't,” she said.
She says she used to work at the local newspaper, putting inserts in, until she retired a few years ago.
An avid reader, she says she goes to the SPCA of Northern Nevada, and finds books for a dollar.
“I love to read… Once I get my own place, I can get them out. I read all the time. I read all kinds of books. I read most of the day and I do my puzzle books. My favorite books are like, John Grisham, Sue Grafton…”
Hoping for Her Place to Help Others
She says she thinks she’ll be able to get a place soon, and that once she does she’ll put it to good use, to help others.
“Once I get myself together and get a place, I can start cooking in there,” she said. “Like I'm gonna make my homemade spaghetti and put it in containers and bring them down and pass them over.”
She has her eye on the Carriage Stone Senior Apartments, which she says she can get for $450 a month, if she gets the smallest room there.
During the day, she says she feels mostly safe along the Truckee River, but that there have been a few instances where she didn’t feel comfortable. “We've got cameras all over … so you can't get hurt here. They do have police on bicycles right around. But last week I had one guy, he said something, I didn't let him finish and I told him, ‘get the hell out of my way. Get away from me.’ It was nasty. Another guy yesterday said something … if i wanted to smoke pot. I said I don't smoke. And he said something else and I said,’ I don't want to hear it go away.’”
Missing Warmer Temperature
She says winter this year has been rough and she misses the warmer temperatures, when she sits outside all day.
“In the summer here at the Truckee River, the birds come out, the geese come out, the ducks come out and you can watch them. Sometimes you see people out there fishing and sometimes you see them riding …down the river.”
“Do what you want to do, go forward … try and better yourself,” she said as we concluded our interview.