Local voices chime in on a variety of topics.
I’ve heard elected officials in Manchester responding to criticisms about their mishandlings of the homelessness crisis by saying “homelessness is a complicated problem”. For those of us who face the horrific consequences of these mishandlings out on the streets it certainly can be complicated. However the solution is quite simple.
As someone who was homeless myself – three years ago – I have a unique understanding of the homelessness crisis that our Board of Mayor and Aldermen don’t have. Since I worked remotely before moving up to New Hampshire in February 2016, I was able to continue working while I stayed at the New Horizons shelter at 199 Manchester Street.
This past election cycle, Mayor Ruais promised a different approach to the homelessness crisis. Unfortunately, he seems poised to repeat some of the immoral and ineffective policies of past administrations.
To my surprise, help came from an unexpected source. After the first orange sticker, rock bottom hit. I was ready to end my life. Each day became harder than the last. I wound up in the ER one Sunday night, not knowing what would happen in the future. Things were not going well.
Walking the streets of the city has brought a bit of peace to me that I didn’t have before. You won’t see me sitting around on Elm Street with a cardboard sign, or panhandling on South Willow Street. You won’t see me shouting at the air, or putting needles in my body. You might see me going off to work, or taking in the sunshine in the park. If you see me at all, a friendly greeting wouldn’t go amiss.
Next time I’m standing at a corner on Elm Street, sharing a slice of meat-lovers pizza and an orange soda with a homeless person on a Friday night talking about sports or family or about the missteps we’ve taken in life, I’m going to ask if they see more of a willingness from their fellow Mancunians to thumb a quarter their way, or slide a buck into a cup as they both look away.
Disregarded long enough, a man questions his existence. Disregarded long enough, a man hates himself. Disregarded long enough, a man stops acting like a man, forgets he is a man, loses sight of his human nature.