Note to Reader: What you are about to read is one couple’s account of their struggle out of homelessness, only to now find themselves again facing homelessness. They consented to the interview and could refuse to answer any question. This is their story; take it as you will.
In February 2018, Jason Crisp and his wife, Joetta Moak-Crisp, were reduced to standing by the side of a street asking for money.
“I never thought I would ever do that,” he said, “but we were so cold one night that I stood on a corner until I had enough money to go get us some food and a hotel room for a night.”
Earlier in the month, the Crisps had had their motor home stolen, which left them with nowhere to live but in their Chevy Cavalier. They had nothing but the clothes on their backs and a few personal items.
“We immediately went into survival mode,” Moak-Crisp explained. “You will do anything to get something to eat, from standing on a corner with a sign asking for money to stealing from a store.”
Born in 1973 and raised in Fairfield, California, Moak-Crisp grew up in an upper-middle-class family about which she said, “we had everything we needed and most of what we wanted.”
Describing herself as a rebellious 16-year-old who knew all she needed to know, she left home in 1989.
After moving to the Tumwater area, Moak-Crisp explained that she worked as a business owner, mechanic, certified flagger, waitress, bar manager, cocktail waitress and traveled with a carnival. She also earned a GED and an associate degree from South Puget Sound Community College.
As for Crisp, he was born in 1972 and raised in Aberdeen, Washington. “I was not much different than any other kid,” he began. “And I also used marijuana.”
He left high school in 1990, earned a GED and worked as a logger and carpenter. Six years later, Crisp left Aberdeen and moved to Tumwater to work in construction. While making a drug buy, he met Moak-Crisp.
“We both went to the same drug dealer,” she said, “and we hit it off, only to lose track of each other for another 20 years.”
They reconnected at a Tumwater restaurant in 2016 when Moak-Crisp stepped outside on a smoke break.
“I asked if anyone had a menthol cigarette and this voice in the back said, ‘I do,’” continued Moak. “Sure enough, it was Jason, and our relationship grew from there.”
They soon married. She moved out of her duplex to McKenna to live in his motor home, which was situated on a friend’s land near Yelm. Both were working at the time and saving to buy a house.
That dream crashed on February 6, 2018, when their motor home was stolen.
“It was just gone,” Moak-Crisp said flatly. “We were homeless.”
After living in their car for several weeks, Crisp’s brother gave them a travel trailer to live in.
“It was never home, though,” Moak-Crisp continued, “and I was terrified that someone would steal it.”
Both found work in December 2019 at Trader Joe’s Warehouse in Lacey. She worked as a receiving clerk; he worked as a forklift driver.
“We were living on Capitol Lake in the trailer; we had an old Ford Bronco to get us to work; but we were earning money,” added Crisp. He added that he had also made extra money while working in a scrap yard.
In May 2020 they put down a rental deposit on a mobile home south of Tumwater and moved in. “We thought we had turned the corner,” said Moak-Crisp.
Then COVID-19 hit.
“We lost our jobs at Trader Joe’s,” continued Moak-Crisp. “That was bad, but in a weird sense Covid was also one of the best things that ever happened to us because we received government money and could pay our bills.”
But when the COVID-relief funds ended, the Crisp’s began to face financial difficulties. Since then, they have not been able to not find steady employment.
“We’re now facing eviction,” Moak-Crisp said. “It’s been difficult finding work at our age.”
Crisp explained that they have approached a few agencies for help, but have had no luck. “We have also applied for Section 8 help, but we’re at the bottom of the list,” he said.
Both said they have found some part-time work at a friend’s restaurant and worked at some odd jobs.
“I can’t be homeless again,” concluded Moak-Crisp. “We aren’t looking for a handout; we are looking for a hand up.”
JM Simpson - jm@theJOLTnews.com - is a veteran photojournalist who lives in Lacey.
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Iceman
Knowing most of the homeless I've learned one valuable lesson from them and that as a person who has a home I frequently forget that in today world I'm only one step away from being there myself. And given my health that is a scary thought. These two I've come to call family and I know that they struggle very hard to stay afloat but given their situation they both treat everyone like a friend and give to those like me a sense that everything will be alright. That strikes me as amazing and ill say this to them THANK. YOU for allowing me into your lives your both good folk and given that a person is open could learn alot from your demeanor
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 Report this
TheOne88
I personally live next door in an Rv Joetta had a job as a flagged but she could stop driving company vehicle all around town and got fired and Jason worked in Tacoma I gave him rides but he stopped showing up these guys are frauds they use drugs every day they steal electricity from the county and they never pay their rent and now they want a handout because Ken the owner is tired of them not paying so don’t be fooled they are grown ass adults who can get jobs but they don’t and they want people to feel sorry for them. And that’s all I got to say about that..
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 Report this
OneToughBroad
Theone88...Being my so called neighbor...if you have something you would like to say to us, then come and say it to our face. otherwise, shut up
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 Report this
OneToughBroad
I apologize for my previous comment. This person is nothing more than anotherv"Karen" neighbor. I know betrer tgan to let her get under my skin. So again I apologize to the readers and the writters and anyone else involved with the JOLT...I do want to Thank JM for doing the work he has and is doing in getting these stories out there.
Thursday, July 27, 2023 Report this
olyhiker
Hmmmm. She has money for Starbucks and tattoos and it looks like a manicure. She does not look like she is starving...
Tuesday, August 1, 2023 Report this