Homeless In Millburn: Woman And Pomeranian Dog Look For Help

MILLBURN, NJ — Two weeks ago, Marcia Sandford of Millburn got an unusual call from a friend who'd worked with her on cat rescues in the area. But the call was about a Pomeranian dog, not a cat — and actually, it was more about the dog's owner, who had recently become homeless.

The friend told Sandford that earlier that morning, she had encountered a woman named Michelle sitting outside a nearby Wawa convenience store with the little dog, in 90 degree temperatures.

Sandford wasn't sure why her friend had called her specifically.

But she couldn't stop thinking about the situation.

"I drove to the area," Sandford told Patch this week. "I see a woman leaning on a bag, reading a book, with a dog on her chest. I walked over and she was pouring with sweat. It was 10 a.m. and it was already 90-something degrees. The dog was panting."

The pair were sitting in front of the Short Hills Wawa (technically located just across the border in Springfield) two Sundays ago.

What Sandford found out led her to spend 15 hours with the woman over the next week trying to help.

One thing she found out, she said, was how hard it is to get help for someone who's homeless, despite the perception of available services. Sandford said that a call to the state's social services helpline, 211, only resulted in frustrations and wasted time.

How She Got There

Sandford said it took a while to get details from Michelle when they first met up.

Sandford said Michelle told her she'd recently been displaced from an apartment, then spent more than a week in the hospital being treated for pneumonia.

After being released from the hospital, Michelle had spent the past three nights sleeping next to Wawa because it was open 24 hours, she told Sandford.

Sandford said that it was a few minutes into talking with Michelle that she realized Michelle didn't even have shoes on.

Sandford drove the woman and the dog to an office complex where they could wait in the shade. Then, Sandford fetched turkey sandwiches and a pair of shoes.

While Sandford was doing so, she searched Michelle's name on the internet to see if she could get any information. She was shocked by what she found.

She came upon Michelle's LinkedIn profile from years ago.

Michelle had worked in e-commerce and received glowing testimonials about her hard work and giving personality.

But Michelle had become sick, and her world changed.

Trying To Help

Sandford returned to talk to Michelle, who told her that until recently, she'd been living in Florida, helped by family. At some point, Michelle became homeless. Several weeks ago, Michelle's sister got her a plane ticket to fly to New Jersey with the dog.

Michelle said she preferred New Jersey to Florida, and had lived in Millburn years ago, so that's why she came to the area.

She also had been married for 15 years to a man who now lives in the Maplewood-South Orange area, she said.

Sandford said she was saddened by the fact that this woman had a husband, a home, and a full-time job — until all of that changed.

Michelle said she suffered from kidney diseases and other chronic disorders.

Sandford said she showed Michelle the LinkedIn profile on her phone and asked, "Is this you?"

"She takes the phone," Sandford said, "and looks at it and kind of giggles and says, 'I thought I deleted that.' I was like, 'You had a job. You had a life.' I looked at her completely differently."

How Life Can Change

Sandford said that she wasn't sure how to help Michelle and the dog on that Sunday morning after giving them food, water, and shoes. Amid the heatwave, Michelle would have nowhere to go at night.

Sandford posted in the Happy Millburn Facebook group. "At least 20 people" suggested that she call 211, she said.

Sandford first called 211 from her house. But the person on the line told her that he needed to talk to Michelle personally.

So Sandford returned to Michelle and called back. The pair spent more than a half hour answering questions, Sanford said.

Then, Sandford said, they were told the shelters were full.

"They literally kept us on the phone for 30 minutes taking down notes, only to say, 'We're sorry. We don't have anywhere to put you tonight,' " Sandford said. "I said, 'You just wasted 30 minutes of my day, took down a bunch of information, and you have nothing?' "

Sandford said that they told her to take Michelle to the hospital if she needed medical help.

Sandford said that Michelle did look sick. Michelle agreed to go to a nearby emergency room.

The hospital examined Michelle that night. Sandford went home, telling Michelle to call her if she needed help.

The hospital treated Michelle and gave her medications she needed, allowing the dog to stay the whole time. But they released Michelle in the morning.

Sandford said she called Michelle's ex-husband, who said positive things about her. But he said he'd helped with money over the years and was now remarried. He had moved on, he said, and couldn't help anymore.

Sandford talked to other family members, a father and sister, who told similar stories: They had helped in the past, but wanted to move on.

Where To Sleep?

There are ways to help people who appear to be in imminent danger, depending on what kind: Call 911, call the police, or if they need a mobile psychiatric screening unit, there's one designated in each county. (For children in crisis, click here.)

Michelle and the dog did not appear to be in immediate danger. But they still needed a place to live, particularly in the heat.

Sandford managed to meet with a social worker in the local Health Department who deals with Millburn and Livingston. The social worker was able to find a 30-day motel placement in Morris County for Michelle and the dog, Weeble.

While the pair are safe for three more weeks, Sandford is concerned that this is only a temporary solution.

And even though Michelle has gotten Weeble certified as a service dog, having a pet makes finding shelter harder.

"This dog is so attached to her it's not funny," Sandford said. "The dog adores and needs her, and she adores and needs the dog. She's had her for 12 years."

Sandford said the social worker is helping Michelle apply for health care and other aid.

Sandford is now fundraising for pet supplies, veterinary care, and for housing once the 30 days are up.

A local temple donated a phone with service for a year, Sandford said, and some of the donated money has been used for an air fryer so Michelle can cook in the motel room. (Advocates for the poor note that it's hard for them to find nutritious food if they don't even have a kitchen to cook in.)

Sandford said that Michelle told her she'd love to work again.

"She hasn't asked for any junk food," Sandford said, noting that Michelle takes good care of herself and the dog.

Sandford said that she learned a lot in this last week.

"I've heard this from, I can't tell you how many people in the shelter world," she said. "They say 'The shelter system is broken, and it's even more broken with COVID.' A lot more people are in need."

A statewide housing advocate, Maura Collinsgru from New Jersey Citizen Action, recently said that with rents skyrocketing in New Jersey, she expects a "tidal wave" of evictions and homelessness soon.

Even before the pandemic, a count in 2019 found that more than 8,000 people, including kids, were homeless or in temporary shelters in New Jersey.

Sandford wrote an update on a GoFundMe last weekend saying that clothing donations and money have helped tremendously, but that Michelle will need more help.

"Michelle has a new phone that has become her lifeline," Sandford wrote. "She has beautiful bras and underwear thanks to a very generous donor. Her dog has all the Caesar’s dog food a dog could ask for and a few squeaky tennis balls and finally, she has a fanny pack! ...She cooks for herself and her dog. She feels like a person again."

Sandford told Patch this week, "Let's not let her fall back into a dark hole. That would be very sad. She had a past. She had a husband for 15 years. She had a life."

Want to help or find out more? The GoFundMe is here.