I met a homeless Vietnamese woman last week who was asking for spare change. I started talking to her and she started crying and said she has no family here, she's homeless and wants to return to Vietnam. I've been searching and I cannot find any answers.
I am in the San Gabriel area of California...
Tags: san gabriel, spare change, vietnam, vietnamese woman
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November 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
How did she get there, if she’s an illegal immigrant. Go to the cops, they can help deport her home.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I suppose if she isn’t here legally, or has been here less than 5 years and tries to get aid, she could be deported. Or she could appeal to a consulate, but I don’t know if that would get her anywhere.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
If you care so much, buy her a plane ticket.
If not, print out a bumper sticker that says "Send the Homeless Vietnamese Woman home" and put it next to you "Free Tibet" bumper sticker.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
The Vietnamese embassy or consulate look like the best option, if not you can start a campaing to get money for a ticket, call the airlines, may be there is some cheap flight or some sort of help from them too.
Look if there is a Vietnamese church around there, sometimes they can help you with cases like this.
I don’t care if she is legal or not she is suffering and you are doing the right thing !!
November 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Probably just a scammer …does her 4 hours and drives homes
November 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
You’ve undertaken quite a challenge! This is how I would tackle it, exploring different avenues in this order:
A. Try to find help through a Vietnamese church or temple or social service organization. That way, if she can’t express herself well in English, they may be able to get as better idea of her circumstances and desires, and they may also be familiar with any precedent for having someone without means repatriated to Vietnam. I’ve listed some below, listing those in the San Gabriel area first.
—1. INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST CULTURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION – http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/socenters.html Scroll 1/3 down the page
—2. CONG DOAN PHUC SINH – A VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC MISSION IN SAN GABRIEL – http://vietnameseface.com/business/R/Religious_Org/CONG-DOAN-PHUC-SINH—SAN-GABRIEL-MISSION_410710.php
—3. IMMANUEL FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH – VIETNAMESE FELLOWSHIP- http://www.immanuelfirst.org/contact.htm Scroll down to phone numbers
—4. ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEGAL CENTER – http://www.immanuelfirst.org/contact.htm Note there are both English and Vietnamese Hotlines
I would also ask the agencies above, (as well as the following agencies, if necessary) to:
—–Explore her feelings to make sure she wouldn’t be more happy here if she were to have a support system (which maybe a church or temple or a support group could provide)
—–Explore HOW she became homeless in case there is a situation in which she might qualify for more help from the last 2 programs
—–Explore what public benefits she may be eligible for until she achieves repatriation.
B. If “A” fails, I would try to find help at at some of the larger social service agencies. They won’t know Vietnamese nor be close to San Gabriel, but they have a bigger network of of more specialized agencies to which they could make referrals:
—1. LA JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE’S CENTRAL INTAKE – (877) 275-4537 – http://www.jfsla.org/index.php
—2. LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – HOMELESS SERVICE PROGRAM – http://lsssc.org/index.php/lss-sc-locations/los-angeles-county-north/homeless-service-program/
—3. CATHOLIC CHARITIES – http://www.catholiccharitiesla.org/contact-us.html
C. If “B” fails, I would contact the Vietnamese consulate in San Francisco (there is none in Los Angeles)
—1. VIETNAM CONSULATE IN SAN FRANCISCO – http://www.vietnamconsulate-sf.org/ecms/index.php?cPath=58 Scroll to the bottom of the page for the phone number.
D. If "C" fails, I would brainstorm what other resources might help her get home. E.g., if she were a crime victim, one of these organizations may be able to help her.
—1. VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM – http://www.vcgcb.ca.gov/victims/default.aspx
—2. NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESOURCE CENTER AT 1.888.3737.888 – http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/about/fact_sex.html
Best of luck to you, Melanie.
Patty