louise thundercloud

My name is Louise Thundercloud.  I was born Maude Louise Hills, but I decided to use my great granddad's name (His was Joseph Thundercloud & he was Siksika Blackfoot).

I was homeless during 1991-1992. I saw some of the worst behavior while homeless, especially towards women. Men were lurking around to prey on homeless women & often times I found myself on the wrong end of the abuse, because  homelessness creates a vulnerability, more so than just a woman walking around alone in a dark area, it creates in the minds of men who are up to no good, a victim whom they can abuse without risk of being caught, because your life is considered meaningless.

These days I am a speaker with the National Coalition for the Speakers Bureau. I have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome traits, that is part of the autism spectrum. I got into plenty trouble while homeless because I do not read cues & do not understand subtilty.

 I now talk to people about ways they can prevent homelessness, by getting them to think of the things that set the stage for homlessness to occur. The lack of truly affordable housing, rents which DC residents (who generally earn well under 96 thousand dollars) cannot afford. I encourage people to think of how they can push for legislation to challenge the lack of training & learning opportunities which should begin in grade school to prepare district residents for jobs that will give them a living wage.
I also encourage people to think of the reasons this government has cut funding for truly affordable housing, substance abuse programs,and I work hard for  people to think of why there are more animal shelters when so many people need housing. Does anyone besides me see anything wrong with that picture?

I stress the necessity for activism in not just homeless causes, of course that is  importance level one, however so is the issue of housing that everyone can afford, not just a few. The need to confront council when they continue to sell off public property that could well serve the needs of the homeless & those at risk of homelessness.

I work to get people to think in ways they may not have previously done before