DEAR HARRIETTE: A friend of mine got displaced recently. Her neighborhood is being gentrified, and her apartment building was sold. She had no choice but to move -- even though she had lived there for more than 20 years. It was awful. She told me that she was moving out west, but I realize I have no idea where she is. I have tried to reach her, but I’ve only gotten to her through social media. We used to talk periodically. I am worried that she is not doing well. What do I do? -- Displaced Friend
DEAR DISPLACED FRIEND: Sadly, when people are displaced, like your friend, life can get tough -- and fast. So-called “gentrification” does boost rental rates and often improves the businesses, safety and overall appeal of a neighborhood. The downside is that often, many people and businesses lose the ability to stay in the neighborhood they love.
Your friend may not be ready to talk to you, which is why she is somewhat off the grid. That doesn’t mean that you should stop reaching out. The good news about social media is that at least she can see that you are contacting her to let her know that you care and that you want to be in touch with her. Rather than pressuring her to respond to you, just send her positive messages that let her know she is on your mind.