Tori

I first met Tori when I was in a homeless shelter in Philadelphia for around a year, I had done all the proper things; like finding work, fees & savings, any paperwork and whatever else that was required of me, then near the end of my time there, I kept on seeing this woman coming by. It was on one of her visits that I was called to the back office, and I entered the office to meet with three people; the shelter director, a woman from the housing authority and Tori, who turned out was from a group called Resource for Human Development/Family Shelter Support Team (aka: RHD/FaSST Connections). It took me around a week to do what was needed to be done, but it was all done proper, I got the keys to my apartment and couldn't get out of that shelter fast enough.

That would not be the last time I saw Tori, for as I entered my housing (which after 7 years I am still in), part of the prerequisite of my being there was to attend certain groups, one of which she had become the head of.

During the 7 years I knew her, she has become a friend even when nobody else would have anything to do with me and on one occasion came to my rescue in a small, but concerning legal matter when no one else was able to step in. Besides her involvement in RHD/FaSST Connection, she was also one of the leaders of Hoops 4 Hope: Philadelphia's Non-Profit Basketball League for individuals experiencing homelessness. And had somewhat of an involvement with Cradles to Crayons, a children's clothing giveaway program, which while the main location was at a different location, they also had smaller giveaway drives at places like RHD and similar programs.

I am not fully aware of all of the lives Tori has touched through all of these programs that I am aware of, and one or two that I may not be aware of. To begin to guess, I would be amiss, but I know it is a lot, and will be a lot more, as she leaves her position at RHD/FaSST Connections for a position with the prisoner release program, helping those released from the Philadelphia prison system reorient themselves to life outside of prison, in many cases re-establishing their family connections, wherever possible.

While one wouldn't consider her to be outstandingly attractive, rather somewhat short, plain and unassuming, in fact, a face in the crowd. I found myself being attracted to her openness and her ability to prod people in the right direction, even when they didn't want to go in that direction. One of those things is, her encouraging me to take up writing, to get my bottled-up thoughts and emotions out on paper, even if it were merely as a hobby; thus, she is one of the major influences to my being here on Vocal.

Tori has a loving wife and two kids, and recently had a job change which allows her to work a lot closer to home with a higher rate of pay and better hours, which allows her to spend more time at home. I will miss being friends with her at RHD but wish her all the best at her new job with the prisoner release program.

I'm sure that other people will take her place at RHD as she moves on to greater things, and the friendship I had with her for the past 7 years will never be forgotten nor ever fully replaced.