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SamIam · 09-06-2012, 12:48 AM

I have just sent an e-mail to the Arizona Department of Social Services. The part about being homeless in Kayenta is a small white lie, but I COULD be homeless there easily enough. One time I was down on the rez and thought I'd camped on BLM land. Wrong! I had inadvertantly camped on the edge of one of the tribal grazing areas. A Navajo lady with a flock of sheep showed up the next morning to look me over and I apologized for my mistake. She just waved me off and told me no one exactly owns the land down there, although clans will usually graze their animals in the same areas every year. Since I wasn't trying to graze sheep and must have appeared harmless enough, she told me to come back any time I wanted. It's nice out here, isn't it, she said. I had to agree. I like the Navajo alot. A white rancher would have probably turned me in for tresspassing or something.

OK, so here's my e-mail:

I am a homeless woman currently camped in the Kayenta vicinity. Today I was informed that the Arizona State Legislature has passed a law stating that a woman is considered pregnant two weeks before her first missed period. Thus, I find myself in the position of being a single pregnant woman with a disability and with no current means of caring for myself and my unborn child as legislated by our law makers. Can you please refer me to an agency which would assist me in applying for programs such as TANF, WIC, and Medicaid? I am deeply concerned for the well being of my unborn child. I also do not wish to break any child endangerment laws due to my lack of resources to assist me through this unplanned pregnancy. Although my camp is located within the Navajo Nation, I am not a Native American and do not qualify for assistance through any Indian Health Agency. I have no access to a phone, so I am sending this e-mail via a terminal at the public library. Please tell me what I should do from now. If you need me to take a drug test just let me know when and where and I will gladly comply with this and all other pertinent Arizona laws. Thanking you in advance - Ms. SamIam

I'll post any reply I may get from the good people at Arizona Social Services and Child Protection.

09-06-2012, 12:48 AM	#15
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	I have just sent an e-mail to the Arizona Department of Social Services. The part about being homeless in Kayenta is a small white lie, but I COULD be homeless there easily enough. One time I was down on the rez and thought I'd camped on BLM land. Wrong! I had inadvertantly camped on the edge of one of the tribal grazing areas. A Navajo lady with a flock of sheep showed up the next morning to look me over and I apologized for my mistake. She just waved me off and told me no one exactly owns the land down there, although clans will usually graze their animals in the same areas every year. Since I wasn't trying to graze sheep and must have appeared harmless enough, she told me to come back any time I wanted. It's nice out here, isn't it, she said. I had to agree. I like the Navajo alot. A white rancher would have probably turned me in for tresspassing or something. OK, so here's my e-mail: I am a homeless woman currently camped in the Kayenta vicinity. Today I was informed that the Arizona State Legislature has passed a law stating that a woman is considered pregnant two weeks before her first missed period. Thus, I find myself in the position of being a single pregnant woman with a disability and with no current means of caring for myself and my unborn child as legislated by our law makers. Can you please refer me to an agency which would assist me in applying for programs such as TANF, WIC, and Medicaid? I am deeply concerned for the well being of my unborn child. I also do not wish to break any child endangerment laws due to my lack of resources to assist me through this unplanned pregnancy. Although my camp is located within the Navajo Nation, I am not a Native American and do not qualify for assistance through any Indian Health Agency. I have no access to a phone, so I am sending this e-mail via a terminal at the public library. Please tell me what I should do from now. If you need me to take a drug test just let me know when and where and I will gladly comply with this and all other pertinent Arizona laws. Thanking you in advance - Ms. SamIam I'll post any reply I may get from the good people at Arizona Social Services and Child Protection.