The Truth-Nobody Knows But Me-Pain From Abuse!
Donation protected
Hi, I am Lang Martinez an advocate on accountability and author of Nobody Knows But Me, (articles that can be read on Citizens Journal.US, Hueneme Voice and Keys To Recovery Anniversary Issue July 2019). My articles talk about my addiction and being homeless. My new article talks about the real TRUTH about Nobody Knows But Me. My life living with abuse, trauma and sexual molestation. My articles also talk about the promise I made to God, "God, if you save my life I will give it all back to you". I'm going to be giving back by being the voice of all those who have been abused, physically, mentally and sexually. If you talk to the homeless who are in their addiction or to any addict/ alcoholic, you will find that 8 out of 10 have undergone some type of abuse.
I know abuse, I know addiction, I know homelessness and I know the impact on the core of your being first hand. I am a former homeless man who was in addiction dealing with the abuse from my past. I am a man who is giving back by providing outreach and resources to homeless people on the verge of death due to mental health, addiction problems and abuse. It is a very important thing for me, personally, and in the lives of very desperate and beaten down people who so need a helping hand. My team & I do this work from our hearts and ask you from our hearts to donate what you can.
MORE ON ME:
I volunteer with Mission Church in Ventura County as a Care Team Homeless Specialist. I've been doing outreach work with the City of Oxnard and throughout Ventura county for almost a year.
I took part in a documentary, Humanizing The Homelessness in Oxnard, which can be found on YouTube. I was invited by Oxnard officials to take part in a panel answering questions in regards to the homeless situation in Oxnard on May 9th, 2019.
GOALS:
Our Goals for the monies raised will continue to be used for our nonprofit, (Alleviating Homelessness) and outreach services in an effort to try & connect individuals with services, (see below). Monies will be used to connect individuals to sober livings if they do not have resources to obtain a bed financially, vehicle expenditures such as car payment, insurance and the costs for gas taking individuals to and from appointments, food if individuals do not have CalFresh, EBT, hygeine products (which EBT does not cover), and monies nessasary for living expenses.
SERVICE CONNECTION:
Medical Detoxification
Mental Health
Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers
Veteran Services
Sober living
Oxnard Rescue Mission
Mercy House 24hr Shelter, Oxnard
MediCal-Gold Coast
General Relief
Food Shares/Food Stamp Program
Identification Cards
Services provided by OneStop
"I'm keeping that promise I made to God every single day & will continue to do so the rest of my life"!
LINKS;
AH (Alleviating Homelessness) Nonprofit
AH Nonprofit Email
STILL There: Oxnard’s Most Remote “Homeless” Encampments By the Sea
Nobody Knows But Me"- Part 6- Encounter at
Little Caesar's | Citizens Journal
CJ Columnist's Story in Addiction Recovery Magazine | Citizens Journal
Tom Dunn: Interview of a Formerly Homeless Recovering Addict | Citizens Journal
Keys To Recovery
Humanizing the Homeless in Oxnard
Local Newswriter on John & Ken Show re: Ormond Beach Homeless Encampments | Citizens Journal
PHOTOS:
9/24/19:
AH (Alleviating Homelessness) Nonprofit
9/12/19:
Walking around Ormond Beach with
Mayor Tom Flynn, Dave Schrivner, and
George Miller, Citizens Journal, (taking the picture), discussing the homeless situation.
TESTIMONIALS:
*RAFAEL STONEMAN...
GOLD COAST VETERANS OUTREACH*
Lang has been doing outreach work without getting paid for it, which shows that he is doing it out of a feeling of necessity--both for his own sobriety and for those who want to get sober. And now with this gofundme platform, he can continue and further his outreach work, so that he doesn't have to find other jobs to put his time and energy into but rather move towards a full time income as a homeless outreach worker. Rafael Stoneman
Veterans Mobile Outreach
Gold Coast Veterans Foundation
*TOM DUNN, THE HUENEME VOICE*
When homelessness became a major social issue recently and I saw very little progress was being made in finding a solution, I decided to find someone who had that experience.
I heard about Lang Martinez from his 4-part article that was featured in Citizens Journal. I thought he would be perfect for two reasons: 1)- do a video interview so people could see someone who had experienced homelessness and a lot more, 2)- hear from him what life experiences and what the inner being of a homeless person really felt and wanted.
Since the interview, I have watched Lang be a liaison and spokesperson for the homeless in Oxnard and Ormond Beach. He knows what homeless people think and feel and can convey that to those of us trying to find a solution that will help them and that they can accept.
Lang's GoFundMe program is greatly needed and his knowledge and finding is the best help that the homeless can receive.
Tom Dunn, Publisher, The Hueneme Voice
*GEORGE MILLER, CITIZENS JOURNAL.US*
Peggy Rivera, Chair of the Oxnard Commission on Homelessness, introduced me to former homeless meth addict and ex-con Lang Martinez. My expectations weren't high, but he has exceeded those considerably.
In short, Lang went from living in the gutter, stealing to support his all-consuming meth habit, to being clean for over a year, building a support network and good relationships. It wasn't easy. He has promised God, friends and himself that he will stay clean and devote his time to helping people who were in his situation- and he has. He leans on some of us for support and encouragement to do so and it is worth it to us.
Lang has educated us considerably on the plight of the homeless, how they got there and how they might be helped. He has written or facilitated quite a few articles for us at Citizens Journal.
Although he obviously has some physical and emotional damage from the ordeals he has endured, he is a remarkably clear thinker, believer in personal responsibility and taking charge of your own recovery- but acknowledges that considerable help is needed to do so. He has volunteered himself as someone to do "outreach" - that is finding those who are in need and steering them to services to help them straighten out their lives. He maintains relationships with multiple government and private providers.
He has an uncanny gift of identifying and quickly sizing up people in need. A couple of times when I was with him, I saw him abruptly excuse himself, walk over to someone, confirm his suspicions and immediately start offering help. During my tours with him of the Ormond Beach homeless encampments, he initiated contact with numerous occupants and has had to deal with considerable resistance and denial. He says you have to keep coming back until they are ready to do something and keep trying to motivate them- and he does.
I encourage you to support him and his associates in their efforts.
- George Miller, Publisher/Co-Founder, CitizensJournal.us
VENTURA COUNTY NURSE:
My name is Bonnie. I've been a nurse for 32yrs, 24 of which has been here in Ventura county. I work in the field of behavioral health & addiction, as well as hospice.
I have known Mr. Martinez for a couple years, caring for him as a nurse during his time of using & reuniting with him now through his time of sobriety doing outreach.
I have offered my assistance numerous times to Mr. Martinez & the team members when they are doing outreach to the homeless. Recently Mr. Martinez saw a few homeless individuals outside the Jack-in-the-Box in Ventura, I happened to be present. There was a woman, and two men. The woman made it clear she did not want help and chose to be homeless spreading as she stated, "God's love". One of the men left having no interest in hearing what Mr. Martinez had to say, the other man stayed listening to every word. That man's name is Thomas.
Thomas, a 36 year old man displaced from Kansas, who made his way to California while being homeless on the streets in the other states he traveled thru. Thomas's story is sadly much the same as others who are on the streets in their addiction. Coming from parents of addiction, a childhood filled with abuse, instability, disappointments, overall bad things no child should ever have to experience, and being behind bars. Mr. Martinez offered Thomas his help, explaining he needed to contact him if he wanted that help from him. Unfortunately, the phone call for help usually never comes but in this case Thomas did make that call several days later.
Thomas had no phone to contact Mr. Martinez, so he walked from Ventura to Oxnard in search of Mr. Martinez staying sober in the process. He ended up at a childrens psychiatry service office were staff contacted Mr. Martinez. On the phone Thomas told Mr.Martinez, "I'm ready for help. I don't want to live like this anymore".
Mr. Martinez was right on top of getting Thomas help. He made a call to get him into a sober living for the night, (Trever Roberts's sober living, Living Clean). Mr. Martinez picked Thomas up, took him to an AA meeting which he was attending. Team member Abraham Mendez, (a note below about Mr.Mendez) fed Thomas by the generosity of Oralia's Bakery in Oxnard which his family owns and operates. Before Thomas was safely placed at the sober living for the night, he was directed to meet with Mark Alverado, from the Oxnard Housing Authority in the morning. Mr. Alverado listened to the needs of Thomas and was able to get Thomas into Mercy House the following day. Mr. Martinez's team was able to find and reunite Thomas with his Mother via phone. It was a touching reunion as Thomas had not been in contact with his family for a very long time under the circumstances.
Today Thomas will be taken to get a TB test, and hopefully get a free cell phone by the team members. He will be introduced to Mercy House where he will safely stay as Mr. Martinez assists with connecting Thomas with the services he needs.
This is the beginning of a long journey for Thomas. In the end we pray that Thomas continues on this journey now that a foundation has been layed for him.
I know abuse, I know addiction, I know homelessness and I know the impact on the core of your being first hand. I am a former homeless man who was in addiction dealing with the abuse from my past. I am a man who is giving back by providing outreach and resources to homeless people on the verge of death due to mental health, addiction problems and abuse. It is a very important thing for me, personally, and in the lives of very desperate and beaten down people who so need a helping hand. My team & I do this work from our hearts and ask you from our hearts to donate what you can.
MORE ON ME:
I volunteer with Mission Church in Ventura County as a Care Team Homeless Specialist. I've been doing outreach work with the City of Oxnard and throughout Ventura county for almost a year.
I took part in a documentary, Humanizing The Homelessness in Oxnard, which can be found on YouTube. I was invited by Oxnard officials to take part in a panel answering questions in regards to the homeless situation in Oxnard on May 9th, 2019.
GOALS:
Our Goals for the monies raised will continue to be used for our nonprofit, (Alleviating Homelessness) and outreach services in an effort to try & connect individuals with services, (see below). Monies will be used to connect individuals to sober livings if they do not have resources to obtain a bed financially, vehicle expenditures such as car payment, insurance and the costs for gas taking individuals to and from appointments, food if individuals do not have CalFresh, EBT, hygeine products (which EBT does not cover), and monies nessasary for living expenses.
SERVICE CONNECTION:
Medical Detoxification
Mental Health
Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers
Veteran Services
Sober living
Oxnard Rescue Mission
Mercy House 24hr Shelter, Oxnard
MediCal-Gold Coast
General Relief
Food Shares/Food Stamp Program
Identification Cards
Services provided by OneStop
"I'm keeping that promise I made to God every single day & will continue to do so the rest of my life"!
LINKS;
AH (Alleviating Homelessness) Nonprofit
AH Nonprofit Email
STILL There: Oxnard’s Most Remote “Homeless” Encampments By the Sea
Nobody Knows But Me"- Part 6- Encounter at
Little Caesar's | Citizens Journal
CJ Columnist's Story in Addiction Recovery Magazine | Citizens Journal
Tom Dunn: Interview of a Formerly Homeless Recovering Addict | Citizens Journal
Keys To Recovery
Humanizing the Homeless in Oxnard
Local Newswriter on John & Ken Show re: Ormond Beach Homeless Encampments | Citizens Journal
PHOTOS:
9/24/19:
AH (Alleviating Homelessness) Nonprofit
9/12/19:
Walking around Ormond Beach with
Mayor Tom Flynn, Dave Schrivner, and
George Miller, Citizens Journal, (taking the picture), discussing the homeless situation.
TESTIMONIALS:
*RAFAEL STONEMAN...
GOLD COAST VETERANS OUTREACH*
Lang has been doing outreach work without getting paid for it, which shows that he is doing it out of a feeling of necessity--both for his own sobriety and for those who want to get sober. And now with this gofundme platform, he can continue and further his outreach work, so that he doesn't have to find other jobs to put his time and energy into but rather move towards a full time income as a homeless outreach worker. Rafael Stoneman
Veterans Mobile Outreach
Gold Coast Veterans Foundation
*TOM DUNN, THE HUENEME VOICE*
When homelessness became a major social issue recently and I saw very little progress was being made in finding a solution, I decided to find someone who had that experience.
I heard about Lang Martinez from his 4-part article that was featured in Citizens Journal. I thought he would be perfect for two reasons: 1)- do a video interview so people could see someone who had experienced homelessness and a lot more, 2)- hear from him what life experiences and what the inner being of a homeless person really felt and wanted.
Since the interview, I have watched Lang be a liaison and spokesperson for the homeless in Oxnard and Ormond Beach. He knows what homeless people think and feel and can convey that to those of us trying to find a solution that will help them and that they can accept.
Lang's GoFundMe program is greatly needed and his knowledge and finding is the best help that the homeless can receive.
Tom Dunn, Publisher, The Hueneme Voice
*GEORGE MILLER, CITIZENS JOURNAL.US*
Peggy Rivera, Chair of the Oxnard Commission on Homelessness, introduced me to former homeless meth addict and ex-con Lang Martinez. My expectations weren't high, but he has exceeded those considerably.
In short, Lang went from living in the gutter, stealing to support his all-consuming meth habit, to being clean for over a year, building a support network and good relationships. It wasn't easy. He has promised God, friends and himself that he will stay clean and devote his time to helping people who were in his situation- and he has. He leans on some of us for support and encouragement to do so and it is worth it to us.
Lang has educated us considerably on the plight of the homeless, how they got there and how they might be helped. He has written or facilitated quite a few articles for us at Citizens Journal.
Although he obviously has some physical and emotional damage from the ordeals he has endured, he is a remarkably clear thinker, believer in personal responsibility and taking charge of your own recovery- but acknowledges that considerable help is needed to do so. He has volunteered himself as someone to do "outreach" - that is finding those who are in need and steering them to services to help them straighten out their lives. He maintains relationships with multiple government and private providers.
He has an uncanny gift of identifying and quickly sizing up people in need. A couple of times when I was with him, I saw him abruptly excuse himself, walk over to someone, confirm his suspicions and immediately start offering help. During my tours with him of the Ormond Beach homeless encampments, he initiated contact with numerous occupants and has had to deal with considerable resistance and denial. He says you have to keep coming back until they are ready to do something and keep trying to motivate them- and he does.
I encourage you to support him and his associates in their efforts.
- George Miller, Publisher/Co-Founder, CitizensJournal.us
VENTURA COUNTY NURSE:
My name is Bonnie. I've been a nurse for 32yrs, 24 of which has been here in Ventura county. I work in the field of behavioral health & addiction, as well as hospice.
I have known Mr. Martinez for a couple years, caring for him as a nurse during his time of using & reuniting with him now through his time of sobriety doing outreach.
I have offered my assistance numerous times to Mr. Martinez & the team members when they are doing outreach to the homeless. Recently Mr. Martinez saw a few homeless individuals outside the Jack-in-the-Box in Ventura, I happened to be present. There was a woman, and two men. The woman made it clear she did not want help and chose to be homeless spreading as she stated, "God's love". One of the men left having no interest in hearing what Mr. Martinez had to say, the other man stayed listening to every word. That man's name is Thomas.
Thomas, a 36 year old man displaced from Kansas, who made his way to California while being homeless on the streets in the other states he traveled thru. Thomas's story is sadly much the same as others who are on the streets in their addiction. Coming from parents of addiction, a childhood filled with abuse, instability, disappointments, overall bad things no child should ever have to experience, and being behind bars. Mr. Martinez offered Thomas his help, explaining he needed to contact him if he wanted that help from him. Unfortunately, the phone call for help usually never comes but in this case Thomas did make that call several days later.
Thomas had no phone to contact Mr. Martinez, so he walked from Ventura to Oxnard in search of Mr. Martinez staying sober in the process. He ended up at a childrens psychiatry service office were staff contacted Mr. Martinez. On the phone Thomas told Mr.Martinez, "I'm ready for help. I don't want to live like this anymore".
Mr. Martinez was right on top of getting Thomas help. He made a call to get him into a sober living for the night, (Trever Roberts's sober living, Living Clean). Mr. Martinez picked Thomas up, took him to an AA meeting which he was attending. Team member Abraham Mendez, (a note below about Mr.Mendez) fed Thomas by the generosity of Oralia's Bakery in Oxnard which his family owns and operates. Before Thomas was safely placed at the sober living for the night, he was directed to meet with Mark Alverado, from the Oxnard Housing Authority in the morning. Mr. Alverado listened to the needs of Thomas and was able to get Thomas into Mercy House the following day. Mr. Martinez's team was able to find and reunite Thomas with his Mother via phone. It was a touching reunion as Thomas had not been in contact with his family for a very long time under the circumstances.
Today Thomas will be taken to get a TB test, and hopefully get a free cell phone by the team members. He will be introduced to Mercy House where he will safely stay as Mr. Martinez assists with connecting Thomas with the services he needs.
This is the beginning of a long journey for Thomas. In the end we pray that Thomas continues on this journey now that a foundation has been layed for him.
Organizer
Lang Martinez
Organizer
Oxnard, CA