A homeless couple who found themselves moving around the Bay Area from shelter to shelter has obtained stable housing in the last year. They hope their story can show what’s possible. Even as the number of unhoused residents grows and communities struggle with how to respond to the ongoing crisis.
“It looks nice, we liked living on the water. People think that being homeless is a simple thing, and it isn’t so simple,” said Sherry Michaela.
Before they became homeless Michaela and Hauso who are from the Bay Area lived on a boat in Richmond before they became homeless. They spoke to KPIX at the marina this week to reflect on their time here before losing that boat and having to find a new home.
“I enjoyed it here, I mean we’re on the boat for a long time, It was hard because you keep moving,” Hauso told KPIX.
Unable to find another option, they chose to live in an RV and move to a homeless encampment. But last year they lost that home in a sweep. They connected with staff at Catholic Charities East Bay to help them afford senior housing as both are in their seventies and need care for various medical conditions.