Your honor, you know, I don't have a dollar to my name?
I really thank you for that, I really do.
You don't understand,
I woke up this morning like, "Man, I need milk,
I need some of everything."
But I just said, "You know what?
I'm not gonna worry about it, I'm gonna go to court."
Alright, is this the matter
of Tisha Miller?
Yes Good morning, your honor.
Andrew Horwitz, Roger Williams, Law clerk for Miss Miller.
It's good to see you.
Miss Smith has been working with Miss Miller
for some period of time.
Miss Miller was experiencing homelessness
for an extended period of time,
which is an explanation really for the parking tickets that
culminated in the boot that's presently before the court.
When one is living in a motor vehicle,
it's really not possible to park in a lawful fashion.
You can't get a permit because you don't have
a residency here in Providence.
Thankfully through efforts of
the two of these women together,
Miss Miller has just very recently secured housing.
Something that she is very, obviously happy about, proud of.
She's trying to get back on her feet,
the boot on the car is obviously a very serious problem.
So we're seeing if the court may be of some assistance
in terms of helping her get the boot removed so that she can
continue on with moving forward with her life
and taking care of her young daughter, who you see.
How many children do you have?
Well, your honor, I actually have four altogether
but they're all grown, I had her when I was... (coughs)
Excuse me, 41.
(people cheering)
(Tisha and Jemiah laughs)
She's impressed by that, apparently. (laughs)
What's your name?
That's, Jemiah.
Hi, Jemiah.
Say, "Hi."
I think she just noticed that mommy's
been telling her a different age.
(everyone laughs)
Alright, so what are you doing, are you working?
Well, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia some years ago
and thankfully The House of Hope,
they're helping me to get social security now.
I kinda was just stuck in a hole
it felt like, for a really long time.
But thankfully through The House of Hope,
the Coalition for the Homeless, Megan,
they really been helping me, you know.
And I really do appreciate their help.
They just made me feel like somebody again.
I felt like I was just stuck in a hole
and they really, they just been helping me
and I couldn't ask for...
I went to someone, everywhere looking for help,
and I got turned down, so many doors turned on me.
And they love their job,
these are the best people I have met in a long, long time.
They love their job, yeah. (chuckles)
I'm very familiar with Miss Smith
and profess the horror with them in the work they do.
And you're right, they love their job
and they do a great job. They do.
And what you mentioned, one word, and that word was, hope.
Yes.
You know, hope.
They gave it back to me because, Your Honor,
I literally was living in my car with my daughter,
and it was tough.
And I just so happened to see Megan and her co-workers
in a parking lot, helping other people.
And I went up to her and I asked her
if she would be able to help me.
She said yes,
and since that day, they have just,
they helped me to turn around a lot in my life.
I'm gonna dismiss the charges.
Thank you.
Actually, I'm gonna do a little bit more than that.
I have people from all over the country send in
contributions for me to use, to help other people.
People that I think are worth helping,
who have some problems in their life.
I always equate it to someone who's in the clothes dryer
and they can't seem to hold on, you know,
Yup, yup. the dry heap's going around.
And as you were talking, I was thinking of that.
So I'm gonna dismiss it but went a little bit more.
These funds that people send in,
I call it the "Filomena Fund"
'cause that was my mother's name, was Filomena.
Oh, wow.
And if she were here now,
she'd probably wanted to say to you,
"Oh, you know, I'm gonna cook for you."
Aww. (chuckles)
And she'd probably go into her handbag
and muscle with it a bit
and maybe take out a dollar and say, "Take this." (chuckles)
So anyway, many times that's my perspective.
So, I'm gonna dismiss the case
and I'm gonna use $50 from the "Filomena Fund".
We're gonna give this to you to take with you today, right.
Your Honor, you know, I don't have a dollar to my name?
I really thank you for that, I really do.
You don't understand,
I woke up this morning like, "Man, I need milk,
I need some of everything."
But I just said, "You know what?
I'm not gonna worry about it, I'm gonna go to court."
Thank you with everything in me, I appreciate you.
I really appreciate that, you know, God bless you.
(crying) I'm sorry.
It's like, lately I've had
so many people do nice things for me.
Thank you.
And I never have people do nice things for me.
So, to some people that might seem like something small.
But to me, I just feel blessed, so thank you. (crying)
God'll love you, good luck.
Thank you, Judge Caprio,
I hope you have a great, great day.
Mind if I give you a hug?
Come up here.
(soft music)
She's so shy.
(soft music)
Come on, don't be shy.
And now she gets shy. (chuckles)
(camera clicks)
(soft music)