She Lived On The Street, But She Didn’t Ask For Money
Life on the Streets
Wanda Ritter, 80, lived on the streets for 16 years without begging. She held a note asking people to read it. Many thought she was crazy because she kept saying, “the government owed her $100,000.” She carried a suitcase full of documents and unpaid checks, but no one believed her.
A Past Life and a Struggle
Wanda was once a locksmith and mother of four. She said, “I was crazy to get rid of the luggage… if I did something stupid, people would think I was crazy.” Despite receiving checks from $300-$900, she never cashed them, thinking they were wrong.
A Helping Hand
Social worker Julie Turner finally listened and discovered Wanda was owed money, not mental health help. Turner said, “She needed money assistance, not mental health assistance.”
A New Beginning
With Julie’s help, Wanda got a $500 apartment and, soon after, received her first $1,644 Social Security check. Wanda hopes to “get the case under control” and move forward.
