Henrietta Hughes Gets a Kiss and a Home

Yesterday, President Obama held a town hall in Ft. Meyers, Florida, and during the event, a homeless woman named Henrietta Hughes stood up and asked for help, her voice breaking:

Hughes: I have an urgent need on unemployment and homelessness—a very small vehicle for my family and I to live in. We need urgent—and the Housing Authority has two years waiting lists, and [sigh] we need something more than a vehicle and parks to go to. We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom. Please help.

Obama: Well, I, listen, I—what's your name? What's your name?

Hughes: It's Henrietta Hughes.

Obama: Okay, Ms. Hughes, well, we're going to do everything we can to help you. [Walks over to Hughes and shakes her hand, then kisses her on the cheek.] But there are a lot of people like you, and we're going to do everything we can. All right? I'll have my staff talk to you after the town hall. All right.

The look on her face that he took the time to listen to her and care about her; she just looks so hopeful. And her plea "has been answered. Chene Thompson, the wife of State Rep. Nick Thompson (R), has offered her former residence to Hughes. 'Basically, I offered Ms. Hughes and her son the opportunity to stay in my home rent free, for as long as they need to,' said Thompson. 'I'm not a millionaire, I'm not rich, but this is what I can do for someone if they need it'."

What breaks my heart is that there are so many people like Henrietta Hughes in need of help, who won't be so fortunate.

[Thanks to Space Cowboy for passing that along.]