97-year-old L.A. homeless woman gets a home

A 97-year-old homeless woman who was living with her two sons in a battered 1973 Chevrolet Suburban in Venice has received a temporary home, compliments of a nonprofit Los Angeles housing group.

Bessie Mae Berger and sons Larry Wilkerson, 60, and Charlie Wilkerson, 62, had parked nightly on Venice Boulevard after losing their home in Palm Springs and failing to find a place to stay in Northern California.

But a Times story Friday that detailed her plight prompted authorities from the city, the county and the state to step up efforts to assist the trio and led the Integrated Recovery Network to offer them immediate shelter. 

The three are now staying at the California Villa Retirement Hotel in Van Nuys, Charlie Wilkerson said today. “We can make arrangements for the first three months,” said Marsha Temple, the recovery network’s executive director.

She said her group will also work to obtain additional long-term benefits for the three. The recovery network is funded by Kaiser Permanente, the Corp. for Supportive Housing and private donations and can provide placements for those who fall through the cracks for governmental services, she said.

-- Bob Pool

Photo: Bessie Mae Berger sleeps in the front seat of the 1973 Chevolet Suburban. Among the items on the dashboard: lottery tickets. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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97-year-old L.A. homeless woman gets a home

Comments

[Fred]

Thank you. That was one of the most heart breaking stories I've read in a while.

[August]

Integrated Recovery Network is for mentally ill & alcoholic/drug addicts with MANDATORY 12-Step Religious Cult conversion and insane group therapy nonsense. What a disgrace the POVERTY PIMP are doing to this family!

[August]

This family NEEDS HOUSING, NOT A HORRIFYING LOS ANGELES INSTITUTION!

[Nique_mil]

I'm so happy for you, Mrs. Berger. May God bless you and your sons.

[LA Times Reader]

Glad to see that the family is getting some attention and care from the authorities for now.

[MauiPete]

A great example of Republican healthcare for the elderly!

[matthew]

Good job, Bob Pool and the LA Times. I was thinking the story might result in a positive outcome for that family and it seems it has (at least in the short term). Rather quickly, too... nice work!

[hurchel]

That is wonderful news, god bless them and you bob

[William Vaca]

It still amazes me how this administration values life outside our borders and how a poor 97 year old woman could be put out on the street. We would give money to Sudan but can’t give an elderly woman section 8 housing. I guess that is reserved for lazy scums who have 10 kids. How many elderly are homeless in this country??? The city has failed miserably; the police knowing that this poor woman was homeless would threaten her with a ticket for pan handling instead of helping a woman and finding the right agency so she could receive help. Well I know that if she failed to appear in court she would get a cot and a hot meal. Hollywood crowed and their space cadet thinking have seen this poor woman, seeing how she begged on one of the most famous beaches in the world, and for instance Kevin Nealon could just give her a pizza. What a cold hearted individual. I guess his career is really in the toilet and that’s all he could muster. It saddens me to even think of how many senior citizens are homeless in this country and the amount of money this administration spends to socialize every aspect of a free economy. Sending Brazil billions to drill for oil in their country so we can stay dependent on foreign oil and not here at home to help our own citizens. Well I am ashamed of this administration, myself, you, and everyone who calls themselves Americans. Maybe Nancy Pelosi should stop sucking wind and actually start to give a dam of her own constituents she represents.

[William Vaca]

Okay seeing how this is the LA time I bet my comments would not be posted. Good job Elroy

[Nichole Hoffman]

I'm so happy for this family and thankful for the group that is helping them.

[cordelia]

How can this happen in the richest, most powerful country in the world? There's enough money for entertainment, for weapons, for drugs, and no one can take care of these three old people? Shame on the country that invented democracy and luxury and money

[sandie]

Thank God. This story was so so sad.

[G]

Sad
how many others are lost in the system?

[james]

I cant believe this is happening in America. The richest country in the world and America cant find a perminent home for three elder individuals. Think about it, these people cant work and make a living to support themselves.

America needs to spend less on military might and serve the people. That is what governments are for; for the people

[AB]

Happy to hear. Too bad it takes a front page of one of the biggest (and best) papers in the country to get the richest country in the world to do the right thing and take care of its people. Just can't help but think about allll the others curling up in their backseats right now. -AB

[Lou Bricano]

This is wonderful news for this woman and her two shiftless sons, but why does it take a story in the Times to get a 97 year old woman off the streets?

[Beauty4Ashes]

Thank you L.A. Times for getting this story out, I have been critical of you in the past focusing mostly on down and out illegals when there are americans who are just as needy as seen with this story. Please continue to showcase our plight there are many of us.

[Graham Fisher]

I am so glad to hear this. Thank you, L.A. Times, for not just raising awareness of this specific family's plight, but of all L.A.'s homeless. Let's live up to being home of Hollywood - let's make some more happy endings.

[Ann]

Isn't it a nice change for genuine people in genuine straits to get media attention resulting in better circumstances. I would rather read and see such stories being covered then witness the spotlight being shone on those seeking attention by way of unethical actions.

Thank you L.A. Times!

[David E. Rodriguez]

It warms my heart to read this.

[Javier]

Don't everybody think that this is too late for a woman that deserved a modest place to live long time ago? Where are the feelings of the banks. Sooner more people are going to be in the same situation thanks to them. Thanks to them people are loosing their houses because for them the bussines is in front of all. GOD save Us from them.

[kerry]

Kudos for bringing this story out so that something could be done.
We become jaded to the homeless and forget they are real people with real stories.
Thanks again!

[iconico62]

How have we come to see these scenarios? The saddest part, perhaps the most insulting as well, is our claim to be a Christian nation. But for the grace of God, there go !. Or you.

[supa g]

Makes me want to cry. Wall street executives are back to their raping of the system, and people can't even have a roof over their heads, such BS!