Kevin

Kevin has lived a hard life.  We met on Church Street today, both happy to see the sun shining. Kevin told me he's been without a house for the last five years.  He's 52 and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer the year before he became homeless.  Although he hasn't had any medical treatment for the last four years, Kevin believes the cancer is still in remission, "but I'm not really sure," he said, looking down as he spoke.  

Challenges for Kevin include staying warm at night, staying away from street crime and not giving in to the temptations of drugs.  "Some people just wanna die and they give in," he told me.  "Not me." 

The city is doing everything it can to shuffle people along, scattering them like used confetti nobody wants anymore.  The problem, though,  isn't really about shooing people away to the darkened corners where we can't see them.  The root problems of the houseless community must be addressed, dignity restored to all.  While I don't have all the answers, I am certain that more enforcement of codes and laws, or chasing our neighbors like roaches into the shadows, is not the answer either.  The darkened corners of our cities are already overflowing because of these measures.