A 100-year-old woman evicted from her apartment has a new home in the Southern California desert after a newspaper reported on her plight and motivational speaker Tony Robbins and a local congressman joined in helping her.
The Desert Sun newspaper says on April 1 Evelyn Heller lost a trial in which her Palm Desert landlord sought her eviction on grounds she had loud, disruptive arguments with one of her daughters.
“I have four grandsons, but I don’t want to be dependent on them,” Heller told the judge at the time. “I can’t be a burden to my family. They don’t have room for me. That happens in life.”
When the story ran, Robbins and U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz contacted the newspaper, which put them in touch with each other.
Ruiz sent social workers to help Heller find a new apartment and Robbins donated $24,000 — $1,000 a month for two years.
She now lives in La Quinta, where Ruiz, his wife, Monica Rivers, and Robbins visited her Friday. Rivers brought a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup.
“That’s wonderful!” Heller said, inviting them in. “How sweet of you.”
Robbins arrived a few minutes later and the group spent 20 minutes chatting.
“I don’t know how anyone my age can have a bigger day than today,” Heller said. “I just don’t know how.”
The benefactors sought to reassure her that she would be looked after.
“You have a lot of people who are going to keep an eye on you now,” Ruiz said.
The congressman, a physician and Democrat representing California’s 36th District, told the newspaper as he left that Heller represents a larger problem.
“I think our seniors are struggling. Their social security isn’t going far enough. Some of them don’t have family or friends,” he said. “And it breaks my heart.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
I have been so blessed! I am an 80 year, old disabled widow blessed with a wonderful son and daughter-in-law. They have taken me into their home and treat me like a queen!!!
I to will be 80 years old in a few months and so far I am able to take care of myself. How blessed you are to have good children that will look after you. Most children expect that the Government take over our lives until we die. We all know what A good job they do.
The sad saying ” A mother can take care of 10 children, but 10 children can’t take care of a mother ! Of course on the other hand we must say ” there are a lot of miserable parents to” Most children are growing up in daycare or with a babysitter. Should they feel obligated to take care of their parents?
Representative Ruiz, if we are to address the budget deficit Social Security will have to be reformed. ‘Entitlements’ account for 2/3 of the national budget. And I know any changes will affect people like Ms. Heller. I don’t know the answer, but we’ve elected Representatives such as you. And now you need to seriously acknowledge this problem. Good luck, Mr. Ruiz.
Social Security IS NOT an entitlement! You pay into the Social Security all your working life. It is like paying for old age insurance while you are young. Then collecting payments from that insurance when you can no longer work. It is not another Government “Freeby”.
An entitlement is unemployment pay, welfare, food stamps and and other things like housing assistance.
There has not been a Social Security Fund for years. The money is all gone, and there is a deficit. Sorry.
CORRECT….Lame Brain Johnson RAIDED the So Called TRUST…NOT…FUND back in 1965….and Replaced it with WORTHLESS IOU’s…
Representative Lutz please be advised, Social Security is NOT an entitlement. The working taxpayers put every penny in that pot. You might say that is our retirement plan or at least a big chunk of it. We worked hard for our retirement next egg and we will not sit idly by forever as Washington elite gives our money away to those who did not contribute. Your term ”entitlement” is offensive to the millions of legal voters.
Representative Lutz please be advised, Social Security is NOT an entitlement. The working taxpayers put every penny in that pot. You might say that is our retirement plan or at least a big chunk of it. We worked hard for our retirement nest egg and we will not sit idly by forever as Washington elite gives our money away to those who did not contribute. Your term ”entitlement” is offensive to the millions of legal voters.
Many people homeless, no jobs. Veterans & Seniors are the victim. SS hasn’t gone up, increase taken away with Medicare cuts. Obama raided Medicare and S.S to support Obama care. Trump for President.
Neat job by Robbins and congressman Ruiz.!
Funds can be found by trimming the CIA “Black Budgets” from the NDAA, which will also preempt the destruction done by the CIA around the earth. Enforcing income tax law, curtailing stipends to foreign governments and enforcing immigration law will release many billions for SSA programs and other programs useful to US citizens.
The Government may taketh away but never giveth back.
I would not want to be in this womans shoes having been through eviction in the past I know what it is like most landlords are just plain greedy and they don’t care what happens when they do this sure they want their money but what has happened here is disgraceful. this lady has the right attitude in not being dependent on her children but I do admire the congressman for being so understanding of this poor lady im sure this was not an easy thing for her but his compassion is truly admirable I have also volunteered at a homeless shelter and I was a client there for several months so I know how important it is for this poor lady to get the help she needs it is not an easy or romantic to be homeless but when you see the stars overhead whe you are sleeping under a blanket of stars it makes you real
You are absolutely correct roy. We worked
For our soc.sec. by the way all the time i worked ..40yrs..i paid into medicare. At
The same time i had to pay for my own insurance. Guess what .. Im still paying for
Medicare.
No matter where in the world we live, charity starts at home!
If a nation has numerous hungry, out of home, in need citizens, then those that control have chosen that path!
Thus they must be challenged and changed!
Make them spend at home before trying to lord over the world!
Good luck America, from down under!