The stories we read are usually the successes. We can all learn from the failures even with the best benefactors we see how hard it can often be. Thank you all for the honesty. Carrie, this is a story I doubt the paper would have published. You have been given the freedom and are using it to help us understand how hard some of these problems are.
Just for the record since Ms Rose has continuously slandered both me and Kathleen Coty to Next Door Digest , The Herald Tribune, and other media I would like to make it clear that I NEVER threatened Ms Rose. To the contrary, both Kathleen Coty and I tried our very best to try and help Ms Rose, continuously, for over 6 months. Unfortunately , it just did not work out..for any of us.
Causes of homelessness are manifold, so must be "solutions", which to me seem best managed by professionals running shelters, rather than private efforts for Ms Rose--even laudable individual efforts as were those by Ms Coty and Mr Thorpe.
Sometimes there just isn't a solution especially when you have a situation where the person refuses to help themselves. Not sure any professional would have solved this one. We had a professional guiding this effort, every day and week for over a year. It didn't work. And i doubt highly that any organization would have solved it either.
I applaud your continued efforts. I wonder if those trained in dealing with the vagaries of those homeless could better apportion the resources poured into this one woman.
I don’t know the answer to that. In this case I guess finding temporary housing for 7 months could be deemed partial success but in the end it was a failure. There are too many sad stories for anyone to address them all. This one was publicized and many people reacted positively to try and help. So many other stories never are heard
Since so many homeless seem drug-dependent vs. mentally impaired vs. bad luck vs.... do you feel categories should be classified and treated accordingly. In what "category" might Ms Rose be classified? Thanks.
For starters I would have proceeded with much more caution before jumping in as fast as I did. There was an incredible amount of time invested by Kathleen Coty and a lot of money contributed to try and rectify this sad situation to have had it end up like it did. No regrets about trying however. Things don’t always end up as planned.
We hope and dream because we live in an imperfect world. Our life's journey can be so wonderful and so cruel yet we continue on. Our enjoyment is measured by our sorrow so we must always seek to lessen the sorrow regardless of the task.
You beautifully conveyed the complicated factors that interplay. Rather than going with assumptions, I admire that as a journalist you dug more deeply and then compassionately communicated what had happened. Having interacted recently with an acquaintance who clearly has exhibited significant mental health issues, I have been reminded that despite great intentions to support and provide resources, intervention is much more complicated and not as straight forward as we might hope for it to be. Through this story as well as with my acquaintance, it is evident that mental health issues are clearly not isolated to a certain demographic and as a community we must continue to create more seamless and systemic avenues for support —-because we really do care. Thank you for your story and I’m sure that I am not alone in hoping that things get much easier for this woman whose story that you’ve shared with us.
I own rental properties in Manasota and strive to be a compassionate landlord. I won't pretend that my position is tantamount to a non-profit, but I do aspire to mutual benefit by keeping rents low and trying to favor single mothers, people with credit issues or a checkered past, and people who are in danger of becoming homeless.
Sometimes it works out great. Sometimes it doesn't. After years of both successes and failures, I hope I've gained the skill of "reading" people, walking the fine line between empathetically working with them to make their living situation workable but still running a business which (should) conform to our mutually signed lease.
It's often luck of the draw. You cannot foresee how things are going to go with anyone. Sometimes the ones that you think are going to be the biggest trouble turn out to be the most grateful and really get something out of the year/s of tenancy. Others, you think they are going to be the no-brainer responsible types... watch out!
One of my favorite success stories was two gentlemen I signed with straight out of the Salvation Army. They both lost their respective homes and work due to medical issues. Over three years later, they both are still my tenants, and have gotten back on their feet. I feel good about having been there for them.
Helping those who need it, as a landlord, makes my privileged position feel more gratifying. We should never stop trying, even if we get burned.
Thank you for the follow up Carrie. I was so moved by your original story about the plight of Tebayane Rose and tried to help with a go-fund-me donation on her behalf. I'm sorry it did not work out-- for all involved-- the way we had hoped. But that is another story, isn't it? We all can only keep doing our best and that includes your telling stories that educate us to the human condition. Thank you for that. Keep up the great work. Susan Kelley
Rose was a good friend and neighbor whose home faced mine in Jacksonville, FL some years ago. Rose has been a two-times millionaire from proceeds in her prior roofing business. Her sister is an owner of a chain of grocery stores. Although she is mentally ill, she has a clear idea of all that’s going on. Rose is a extremely intelligent person who knows how and can get off the streets of homelessness if she chooses. Unfortunately, her home was foreclosed on and after she left Jacksonville, she headed South FL with little belongings in her car. I never heard from her again. I believe this was around 2006 (sooner or later year). May those that donated and helped her be blessed. I know you did your best as her mental illness cannot be as grateful as others may be. I will continue to keep her in my prayers.
I’m sure this is having an emotional toll on you. However you of all people know the ins and outs of mental illness. Your intentions were pure and gracious. Doesn’t always work out. Your loyal readers know the real you 👏👏😘😘
This is a heart trying story but shows the reality of people with serious problems and that things don't always work out. Kudos to Coty and Thorpe - without angels like that, folks who face hard times would have little chance to recover.
It’s a fine line for me...I want to help everyone and yet I know that is not possible, so...
I now donate to places like the Food Bank and Season for Sharing knowing they are better at choosing those who are deserving than I.🌻
The stories we read are usually the successes. We can all learn from the failures even with the best benefactors we see how hard it can often be. Thank you all for the honesty. Carrie, this is a story I doubt the paper would have published. You have been given the freedom and are using it to help us understand how hard some of these problems are.
Just for the record since Ms Rose has continuously slandered both me and Kathleen Coty to Next Door Digest , The Herald Tribune, and other media I would like to make it clear that I NEVER threatened Ms Rose. To the contrary, both Kathleen Coty and I tried our very best to try and help Ms Rose, continuously, for over 6 months. Unfortunately , it just did not work out..for any of us.
Bob Thorpe
Sarasota Fl
Causes of homelessness are manifold, so must be "solutions", which to me seem best managed by professionals running shelters, rather than private efforts for Ms Rose--even laudable individual efforts as were those by Ms Coty and Mr Thorpe.
Sometimes there just isn't a solution especially when you have a situation where the person refuses to help themselves. Not sure any professional would have solved this one. We had a professional guiding this effort, every day and week for over a year. It didn't work. And i doubt highly that any organization would have solved it either.
I applaud your continued efforts. I wonder if those trained in dealing with the vagaries of those homeless could better apportion the resources poured into this one woman.
I don’t know the answer to that. In this case I guess finding temporary housing for 7 months could be deemed partial success but in the end it was a failure. There are too many sad stories for anyone to address them all. This one was publicized and many people reacted positively to try and help. So many other stories never are heard
Since so many homeless seem drug-dependent vs. mentally impaired vs. bad luck vs.... do you feel categories should be classified and treated accordingly. In what "category" might Ms Rose be classified? Thanks.
How would you have handled it now?
For starters I would have proceeded with much more caution before jumping in as fast as I did. There was an incredible amount of time invested by Kathleen Coty and a lot of money contributed to try and rectify this sad situation to have had it end up like it did. No regrets about trying however. Things don’t always end up as planned.
We hope and dream because we live in an imperfect world. Our life's journey can be so wonderful and so cruel yet we continue on. Our enjoyment is measured by our sorrow so we must always seek to lessen the sorrow regardless of the task.
Heartbreaking, but the effort expended is certainly deserving of praise. We just can't fix all the problems of the world! But you keep trying, Carrie.
You beautifully conveyed the complicated factors that interplay. Rather than going with assumptions, I admire that as a journalist you dug more deeply and then compassionately communicated what had happened. Having interacted recently with an acquaintance who clearly has exhibited significant mental health issues, I have been reminded that despite great intentions to support and provide resources, intervention is much more complicated and not as straight forward as we might hope for it to be. Through this story as well as with my acquaintance, it is evident that mental health issues are clearly not isolated to a certain demographic and as a community we must continue to create more seamless and systemic avenues for support —-because we really do care. Thank you for your story and I’m sure that I am not alone in hoping that things get much easier for this woman whose story that you’ve shared with us.
Your story is a reminder that we cannot always fix everything as much as we try.
I own rental properties in Manasota and strive to be a compassionate landlord. I won't pretend that my position is tantamount to a non-profit, but I do aspire to mutual benefit by keeping rents low and trying to favor single mothers, people with credit issues or a checkered past, and people who are in danger of becoming homeless.
Sometimes it works out great. Sometimes it doesn't. After years of both successes and failures, I hope I've gained the skill of "reading" people, walking the fine line between empathetically working with them to make their living situation workable but still running a business which (should) conform to our mutually signed lease.
It's often luck of the draw. You cannot foresee how things are going to go with anyone. Sometimes the ones that you think are going to be the biggest trouble turn out to be the most grateful and really get something out of the year/s of tenancy. Others, you think they are going to be the no-brainer responsible types... watch out!
One of my favorite success stories was two gentlemen I signed with straight out of the Salvation Army. They both lost their respective homes and work due to medical issues. Over three years later, they both are still my tenants, and have gotten back on their feet. I feel good about having been there for them.
Helping those who need it, as a landlord, makes my privileged position feel more gratifying. We should never stop trying, even if we get burned.
Kathleen Cody and Bob Thorpe are amazing examples of humanity.
Thank you for the follow up Carrie. I was so moved by your original story about the plight of Tebayane Rose and tried to help with a go-fund-me donation on her behalf. I'm sorry it did not work out-- for all involved-- the way we had hoped. But that is another story, isn't it? We all can only keep doing our best and that includes your telling stories that educate us to the human condition. Thank you for that. Keep up the great work. Susan Kelley
Rose was a good friend and neighbor whose home faced mine in Jacksonville, FL some years ago. Rose has been a two-times millionaire from proceeds in her prior roofing business. Her sister is an owner of a chain of grocery stores. Although she is mentally ill, she has a clear idea of all that’s going on. Rose is a extremely intelligent person who knows how and can get off the streets of homelessness if she chooses. Unfortunately, her home was foreclosed on and after she left Jacksonville, she headed South FL with little belongings in her car. I never heard from her again. I believe this was around 2006 (sooner or later year). May those that donated and helped her be blessed. I know you did your best as her mental illness cannot be as grateful as others may be. I will continue to keep her in my prayers.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Tebayanne...though it makes me incredibly sad for her.
My sister is Kathleen Coty. Just for the record, if it wasn’t for Kathleen I would probably not be alive and well today. She gave her all
I’m sure this is having an emotional toll on you. However you of all people know the ins and outs of mental illness. Your intentions were pure and gracious. Doesn’t always work out. Your loyal readers know the real you 👏👏😘😘
Ah yes, the many complications of homelessness...
This is a heart trying story but shows the reality of people with serious problems and that things don't always work out. Kudos to Coty and Thorpe - without angels like that, folks who face hard times would have little chance to recover.
Thank you for your research and sharing this heartfelt story.