Point of View

Local voices chime in on a variety of topics.

The Soapbox: Board of Mayor and Aldermen ill-equipped to deal with homelessness crisis

Monday, September 23, 2024Tuesday, April 9, 2024

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.

The Soapbox: The solution to homelessness is not cruelty. It’s housing.

Monday, September 23, 2024Friday, January 5, 2024

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.

Living Without an Address #3: A little prayer goes a long way

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Monday, March 29, 2021

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.

Homeless in Manchester

Monday, September 23, 2024Saturday, September 21, 2019

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.

Of night crawlers, back alleys and a pizza slice of life

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Wednesday, October 31, 2018

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.

Looking into, not Looking through a man: Life as an invisible

Tuesday, June 11, 2024Sunday, April 22, 2018

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.