Plan B Forum

The sad fact is homelessness is up all over the country; some folks go through it for just a short time, while others have been on the street for years. California living is easy in the summer, but even our winters can get miserable and cold. Which is why I donate to the shelters when I can, but there's one man on the San Ho street who seems to want to stay outdoors.

At first, I thought he must live in the mobile home park and was just out taking a walk; that's how I always see him waling-walking-walking ...to nowhere in particular. I would see him in this area of the park or that spot on the street. Then, I noticed how sunburned he was, and how random his travels were.

Walking to the store but not buying anything; walking fast through the park and back out the other side, to head into the city for a few miles, then he'll turn around and do it all over again. It worried me a little that he might be a stalker, or may be just a thief, because we'd crossed paths once on the bike trail after midnight, but just that once. So far as I know, he doesn't bother anyone, and I've only seen him panhandle once; he usually doesn't stop moving.
What I figure is: he finds a home that's empty to sleep in for the night, perhaps washes in the community pool bathrooms and keeps moving so he's never discovered by the maintenance men. The trips into town are possibly to dumpster dive for food. We even have a clothes donation box that he can raid.
Ya think, he's fine like that? I wonder if I should do something and if so what? Any authorities will take him down to the shelter, if not to jail; obviously he's chosen not to go there himself. I've not talked to him, nor given him any food or money because I don't know what his mental state is, and I don't want him to turn into a stalker. I don't need that.

As you are a single woman I would not try this on your own. Generosity and compassion are very wonderful qualities but you should recall that your first obligation is to yourself, meaning that you should not take a risk that will put you in a situation of being disabled and thus an additional burden on society. His behavior suggests serious mental illness and that is way beyond your competence as an individual. If you want to reach out do so using some other agency or group. Bringing him home is a really dangerous idea; high risk.

I could give multiple personal testimonials but I don't have the time to write all of them up.

Compassion is good but be cognizant of the risks.

yrs,
rubato

He's still out there, thought he'd found shelter over Christmas, but he's been seen on the trail at daylight, at least when it's warmer.

Hard to alert the charity services, as he's never in one spot to approach ..that leaves me, when/if I see him.

The other night we almost fork'in collided- bike to bum, since then he's learned not to wander the bike trail at night, without a lantern;

Bonus 11. Teaching the Ultimate

In early times in Japan, bamboo-and-paper lanterns were used with candles inside. A blind man, visiting a friend one night, was offered a lantern to carry home with him.

"I do not need a lantern," he said. "Darkness or light is all the same to me."

"I know you do not need a lantern to find your way," his friend replied, "but if you don’t have one, someone else may run into you. So you must take it."

The blind man started off with the lantern and before he had walked very far someone ran squarely into him. "Look out where you are going!" he exclaimed to the stranger. "Can’t you see this lantern?"

"Your candle has burned out, brother," replied the stranger.

loCAtek wrote:He's still out there, thought he'd found shelter over Christmas, but he's been seen on the trail at daylight, at least when it's warmer.

Hard to alert the charity services, as he's never in one spot to approach ..that leaves me, when/if I see him.

The other night we almost fork'in collided- bike to bum, since then he's learned not to wander the bike trail at night, without a lantern;

Bonus 11. Teaching the Ultimate

In early times in Japan, bamboo-and-paper lanterns were used with candles inside. A blind man, visiting a friend one night, was offered a lantern to carry home with him.

"I do not need a lantern," he said. "Darkness or light is all the same to me."

"I know you do not need a lantern to find your way," his friend replied, "but if you don’t have one, someone else may run into you. So you must take it."

The blind man started off with the lantern and before he had walked very far someone ran squarely into him. "Look out where you are going!" he exclaimed to the stranger. "Can’t you see this lantern?"

"Your candle has burned out, brother," replied the stranger.

If you have some extra money, buy him a reflector vest, or better yet find a construction worker who has an extra. I have several "Hunters Orange" sweatshirts and could send you one. They are non reflective but are bright even at night.

What he really needs is a new jacket; the one he has, over the course of months, has gone from ivory to khaki and is quickly turning dark tan.

No, what he really needs is to get inside; it's getting too cold- so, here's the plan. I call the shelter and explain his situation and tell them that the next time I see him, I'll alert them to his position and maybe they can pick him up?

Yup, he's still out there, but I've done as much as I could do, an' I can't do no mo'..

He even inspired me to try and hold a toy drive at work, around the Holidays, but my bosses wouldn't go for it.

So saying, I asked the local Kwik-E-Mart if I could put a toy donation barrel out in front of their store? They were fine with it, but that was the only good news. The bad news was: you know how you put a 'starter' donation in the barrel, to get people thinking, "Someone else did it, I'll do it to"? Well, some lady came along and stole that toy for her kid. No seriously, the Kwik-E-Mart clerk told me so, 'cause they checked the security cameras. After that the donation barrel was cursed, and no one wanted to give anything, but a used shirt. Maybe, it wasn't such a good idea to try this near a low-income trailerhood.
~sigh~

I don't how the homeless guy got himself through the winter, but with warmer temps- he's back out on his beat and his jacket is a deep nicotine brown. I'm sure he recognizes me, as well as I recognize him and I think he's getting up the nerve to say something to me. Plus, he's finally started panhandling out in front of the Kwik-E-Mart. Sooo, I've finally said something to him. See; what I had overheard him saying when he begged, was that he wanted change for a sandwich. I was going into the market anywayZ, so while I was there I bought him a Hot Pocket, even going so far as to heat it up.
That way, you see, I could show him I was willing to do something for him and as I handed it over, I explained, "Sorry, I don't carry any cash."
Now, if he ever had any thoughts of robbing me: a) I have nothing to steal, and b) It'll make him feel guilty! (I hope)

He took the snack with thanks, but he didn't seem very hungry...

That was when I took full notice of the color of his jacket, and how at times, I had seen him walking with a smoke.

This dude wasn't bumming for food, he was bumming for cigarettes! Chingo!

Okay, I'm not going to feel so bad for him, anymore then. This guy wants to be a career bum.

Good for you Lo!

With the price of smokes as high as they are, is it any wonder that the poor man has to beg for his nicotine fix?

One helps when and where they can, but one can only do so much.

Maestro! ...a little traveling music please?








..love the comment to this; "nowadays we listen to the lady gaga shit, this was quality music from the heart!"
-basgetz

He's going mad.


...or just a little angry, still shy, but angry.

It's like he's practicing for that full-blown descent into psychosis, that permanent professional street people are supposed to possess. If you catch him alone on the street in the darkness- he'll be shouting furiously at folks who aren't there.

I first noticed it, in the dim, early dawn; riding in the dark; and hearing up ahead on the sidewalk, somebody cursing and yelling ...but just one somebody, there was no one else to yell at.

Oh he's self-conscious about it, if he sees you across the street, or approaching his position, he'll stop storming and spitting, long enough for you to pass out of the range of his rant. Then, Chad's mad at the molecules, I guess again.
No really, that's his name, didn't made that up!
I'm not the only one who's acknowledged his presence- during the daylight, he's docile ...enough, and some teens have gotten to know his personal details. As I was leaving the Kwik-E-Mart the other day, the kids approached on their street-bikes and called out 'Hey, Chad!'

To which, Chad was pleased and embarrassed by all the attention; smiling but ducking his head. See: we're all getting to know him ...but as a transient.




Maybe, that's who's yelling at? Himself?

Chad's increasing his territory ...why I dunno.

Do you really need more space to be homeless in? Do bums claim turf as currency like gangstas do? Dis be my panhandlin' zone, niggah, step off or I'll cap yer ass!

Nah, not really, I've not known street people to generally be armed. So, I was just kiddin' ... but Chad was seen movin'.


I thought he walked everywhere, from trailerhood to town and back again...
but today he was taking the trolley! To where, still I dunno.

Me? I was going to Moffett Field to work on my project, when I was surprised to see Chad pushing the crosswalk button to cross the street to the San Jose Trolley Station that would take us to Mountain View.

While I was going to work, I wondered why he was riding public transportation? I know San Ho has implemented a new policy that the homeless can ride the VTA - Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority ...for free. Makes you wonder where the homeless have to go by rail, [and how do you verify their homelessness, do they carry a 'Bum Card'?] but really it's brilliant. The shelters can't house them all, and folks like Chad don't wanna go to charity berthing so, they ride the light rail train. It's dry, warm and more interesting than staring at drywall plaster, so they ride the rails like the hobos of old; kinda keeping tradition, 'eh?

What is it about trains and transients, anywayZ?