Editor's Note: This may be the first in a series of articles about people who fall through the cracks.

Falling Through the Cracks, Part 1

Sandra Anyanwu, who was willing to be identified and have her photo posted, has been falling through the cracks for years.

She is 64 years old and told the Beat she has many medical problems, including fibromyalgia, a five-centimeter hole in her brain and leaky heart valves. Anyanwu has had several strokes and has three degenerated disks. She also has problems getting medications to help her diabetes.

Anyanwu has been on Social Security's Supplemental Security Income since 1988.

"I have applied for HUD," Anyanwu said. "I've been applying for the past three years, but there's always been a problem." One of which is the lack of a federal tax return.

She has been on a homeless list, and has been charged with trespassing, for which she was not convicted.

She has been squatting on a local landlord's property, because she said, her former attorney dropped her off there and a deal was made to let her stay there if she cleaned up the property, which she said she had. Last weekend the landlord began evicting her from the property, and throwing out her belongings, including her food and dog food that a friend had helped her buy for her and her service dog.

The friend told the Beat that all Anyanwu's things were being hauled to the dump Wednesday.

Ironically, Anyanwu is a landowner. She owns 1½ acres in the ranchettes south of Deming. However, she owes back taxes on the property and cannot move onto the land until the taxes are paid. She is trying to save the money so she can live on her own land.

She also showed the Beat pieces of wood, from which she creates art to make a few extra dollars.

Although she seems to have hit a snag in her attempts to become self-sufficient, she continues to try to get HUD, so she can have housing for the winter. Last year, she suffered frostbite on her feet, which makes it hard for her to walk.

Many more residents of the area fall through the cracks. The social service agencies can only do so much to help them, and sometimes the recipients of the help do not appreciate it or follow through.

The best way that a reader who wishes to make a difference for Anyanwu and others is to volunteer and donate to area agencies who help the homeless and hungry.