Homeless woman was living inside Michigan rooftop store sign with computer and coffee maker

[dalton99a]

https://apnews.com/article/michigan-store-rooftop-sign-homeless-0185c0d7e4cd7a2f8581e8b8e0eb01b7

Homeless woman was living inside Michigan rooftop store sign with computer and coffee maker
By ED WHITE
Updated 12:44 PM CDT, May 9, 2024

Contractors curious about an extension cord on the roof of a Michigan grocery store made a startling discovery: A 34-year-old woman was living inside the business sign, with enough space for a computer, printer and coffee maker, police said.

“She was homeless,” Officer Brennon Warren of the Midland Police Department said Thursday. “It’s a story that makes you scratch your head, just somebody living up in a sign.”

The woman, whose name was not released, told police she had a job elsewhere but had been living inside the Family Fare sign for roughly a year, Warren said. She was found April 23.

The Family Fare store is in a retail strip with a triangle-shaped sign at the top of the building. The sign structure, probably 5 feet (1.5 meter) wide and 8 feet (2.4 meters) high, has a door and is accessible from the roof, Warren said.

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[Coventina]

1. As a formerly homeless person myself, my first thought was "Good for her!"

She was only discovered due to her extension cord?

Clearly, she wasn't bothering anyone.

I hope her life gets better.

[spanone]

7. Agree completely...K&R

[no_hypocrisy]

2. When I taught at a daycare kindergarten, I met a parent

who lived with her 4 yo daughter in a building with an unfinished top floor. No electricity, no heat, no lights. They slept in the spaces between wooden boards filled with fiberglass insulation. They had nowhere else to go. Obviously unknown to anyone.

That experience humbled me, to know that's how some people survive.

[peppertree]

10. I hear you.

I knew of a Radio Shack manager that lived in the crawlspace in the roof because his greasy landlord had just priced him out of his own apartment. At least two other employees I knew of lived in their cars.

Several Wal-Mart employees nearby lived in their cars in a designated parking area. And, of course, a number of area retirees lived in their campers or (the lucky ones) RVs.

This was in Southern California - though I'm sure it happens in any number of metro areas these days.

God help them.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

12. a college employee managed to live on campus (office) for a few months

[peppertree]

13. Bless his heart

He was lucky. I hope he found his way out of that bind.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. I am glad I never had to deal with this reality.

Homeless with no options must really, really suck.

[MOMFUDSKI]

4. How did this happen in our country? SO

much $$$ went to the top. This is inhumane. Can the planet earth be set right?

[HoosierDebbie]

5. I wish there were more photos than just the front of the building and sign.

I want to see more photos. I want to see the roof, the backside of the sign, several from inside the sign and at least one showing how she got up on the roof. How did she keep herself warm? I also want to know how the kept herself undetected. I am impressed with her ingenuity. I wish she would have remained in place unless a place was found for her to live.

[shrike3]

9. As was I.

Ingenious. 8 by 5 foot space. And she made it work for a year.

[AllaN01Bear]

6. good .creative

[Tansy_Gold]

8. Midland, Michigan, home of

Dow Chemical Company.

[slightlv]

11. When my daughter was about 4 years old,

she and I lived in my Plymouth Horizon. It wasn't fun, for sure. I'd have given anything to have an 5 by 8ft area to live in during that time. Much easier than that compact car! I'll admit, I didn't have ingenuity or experience of this woman. Being homeless, especially with a 4 year old in tow, scared the crap out of me. This was back in the late 70's, early 80's. Hats off to this woman's creativity!

[AllaN01Bear]

14. in my mind she wasnt homeless in the traditional sense . she had a roof over her head. but in the sense

she wasnt living in a conventional house she was homeless. i would have let her stay there , now she is on the street and the rs would be complaining about that.