I see what I see

Franklin Square Park

Franklin statue in Franklin Square Park. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

I am a Marine Corps veteran. Though housed, I am unemployed with zero income and in need of quality health and dental care.

As an advocate, I try to convey how imperative it is to house people experiencing homelessness and to build much more affordable housing.

As I continue this work, I become more cognizant of the extent of mental instability that exists in the homeless community. Actually, there’s quite a bit in the so-called “normal”

community of housed individuals, too. But since they don’t have housing instability and are employed or otherwise at a certain economic level, different labels are utilized.

Some people’s issues develop after becoming homeless. Some probably grow weary and find themselves unable to deal with life in these extreme conditions. Having walked in those shoes, I understand.

Most of what you see in the actions and behaviors of homeless people is trained and conditioned behavior. Those responsible manipulate most of us and protect themselves, their power. Lots of what transpires in this world is not by happenstance. While everyday events seem spontaneous or isolated, unraveling before your eyes, the system in which they occur is by design. Like laboratory rats, monkeys and guinea pigs in a grand experiment, some of us are rationed just enough, some of us are forced to endure scarcity and some of us are privileged with excess.

Perception, or reality?

Naturally, the test subjects with excess learn to expect it and to seek more of it. I’ve seen a number of people parks converted to dog parks, fenced and unwelcoming to a homeless person. I now see dogs playing with their masters in small quiet areas where I used to see homeless people sleep and obtain precious rest. For people that refuse to endure the horrific conditions of the decaying shelters — theft, drugs and bed bugs, to name a few — there is nowhere left to go.

I am an avid animal lover. This isn’t about the dogs. It’s about their oblivious masters.

One such park, Franklin Park, has grown inhospitable and will soon be closed for renovation. It sits across from an old school building that served as a shelter at one time — one of the last downtown. It has sat vacant since 2008.

These areas, a shelter convenient to walking and transit, and a park welcoming to all, used to protect the homeless.

But things are changing. Space is shrinking. Tension is growing — at least it is for those concerned only with themselves.

Perception, or reality?

I’ve experienced this on a personal level. I was recently discriminated against. I’m not sure if it was income, race, personal appearance, perceived homeless status, or all of the above.

Two individuals, part of new ownership at the Foggy Bottom Johnny Rockets, refused a woman that was trying to buy food for me.

Now, I know this location. I’ve been going there since 2012. Before I worked with Street Sense Media, I would panhandle there from time to time. The long-term staff is excellent and they have always treated me with respect.

And when I questioned their denial of this paying customer, they called the police. A white lady who had been inside approached me after the incident. “Excuse me sir, I saw what happened, that’s a shame,” she said, handing me a donation. “I hope this helps.”

Her kindness was everything in that moment: there is still some good in the world. But it also underlined just how fouly the new leadership had treated me, backed up by law enforcement.

Robert Williams is a Street Sense vendor.


Issues |Health, Mental

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