Bruce

Bruce Heilig moved to Los Angeles from St. Louis after a divorce, taking a job with an airline slinging luggage for $6.50/hour so he could fly out to see his children back in St. Louis. But after injuring his shoulder and back, he had to give that job up. He searched the yellow pages for interesting, less physically taxing professions and decided on radiography, since he assumed the medical field would always be around. Heilig said his 17 years as an x-ray technician was the best career move of his life. He took a job at Scripps La Jolla and since rents were so high he spent the first six months working varied shifts, while living out of his car.

One Christmas, when his children failed to call or express a desire to see him, he “spiraled into a dark abyss of depression” and didn’t go to work for a week. He lost his job. His SDI check isn’t enough to afford more than the occasional motel room. He has a goal of returning to school and getting a Bachelor’s Degree in education so he can be a radiography instructor, since he enjoyed his own experience at Pima Medical Institute as a student.

Heilig said his name is on several lists for housing but since he's had several cell phones stolen, anyone looking for him has no way to know his current phone number. He doesn’t like to go a day without bathing, so living on the street has been challenging. He’s encouraged by the kindness of strangers that come around with food and blankets, but hopes to get off the streets permanently soon. “I just want a single room with a private bath,” he said. “That’s all.”