South Student Tells of Being Homeless

by Michelle Terrenoz, South News Editor, The Collegian, Wed., September 17, 2008

Eleven years sober after seven years homeless in Los Angeles on Skid Row amount to 18 years in a life-altering transition.

Now as a result, Judith Dillard, health educator and treatment activist, speaks publicly about her experience with HIV/AIDS, sharing her story and educating people.

“ I know that those seven years God had his hand on me,” Dillard testified to a mixed audience of women and men Saturday at Billy Miners in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square. “God in his goodness and infinite wisdom still has me here for a reason.”

These days, Dillard fills her schedule sitting on the Board of Directors of the Mayor’s Advisory Commission for Homelessness, the Samaritan House and Fort Worth Sister Cities International, which gave her the opportunity to visit Swaziland, Africa, this past spring. She also is enrolled as a student on South Campus and involved in the Women in New Roles network.

Before, Dillard lived in California with her husband, worked at JCPenney clothing store and sang in the church choir.

In 1992, Dillard was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. As a result of feeling shame and guilt, she dropped everything and took a bus to the streets of Skid Row, where she found residence on Los Angeles’ homeless avenue.

“ I wanted to go where no one knew me,” Dillard said.

“ I would rather have my family to think I was a drug addict on the streets, than let them know I was infected with AIDS.”

For seven years, she was homeless and addicted to drugs, doing whatever she could do to get a hit. She slept in cardboard boxes and had people walk over her as if she were non-existent.

In 1997, she was charged with possession of drugs. The judge looked at her case as a person living with HIV/AIDS and sentenced her to either rehab or prison.

Although rehab was like going to prison for her, she did everything she could to turn her life around, to become clean and sober.

Despite the rain, TCC students and faculty attended the seminar under the influence of extra credit for a course. However, some left with a different outlook on life.

South Campus student Gainer Whitaker was among the roomful of people who attended. Extra credit had an influence, but it was curiosity that brought him here.

“ Everyone else I know was coming,” Whitaker said.

“ She’s been homeless, and I’m homeless right now. Why not hear what she has to say?”

Her story reached close to home. Her success was an inspiration to him, Whitaker said.

“ When you’re on the street, it’s really easy to get the attitude, ‘It can’t be done,’” he said, “But you hear her speak, and it can be done.”

South Campus student Deanna Statam said she’s had her own personal struggles and knows that when someone hits the bottom, there is still hope.

“ Everyday, whatever you learn, you take in,” she said.

“ If it helps you, share it with other people. Be there for one another.”