Gary

I first met Gary back in May of this year.  His story intrigued me and I wondered what the future would hold .  While I've seen Gary nearly every day for the last 3 months, I didn't stop to chat again until today.  Gary has become somewhat of a noticeable public presence, taking up residence in a makeshift popup canopy tent.  His temporary "home," as he described it, sits on the devil's strip of a very busy road in Salem, not far from the state Capitol Building. 

What I learned today is that Gary is on a VA waiting list to get into public housing.  He was unable to maintain his spot in the garage he'd been living in and was basically forced to find alternative housing.  He told me the VA is well aware that he's living on the street and reportedly said that they can't do anything to expedite the subsidized housing Gary is waiting to move into.  "How long?" I asked.  "Well, it's been 3 months and they can't give me a date.  Gotta stay here for now" he said.  "What will you do when it get's much colder?" I asked.  Gary pointed to his mound of sleeping bags and blankets.  "It's dry for now" he told me.  

I'll say it again - I don't understand how our government can turn a blind eye to the folks like Gary in our midst.  Bureaucracy?  Really?  Can't we do better for our veterans?  Can't we do better for humanity?  Perhaps I could invite Gary to stay in my house until he gets things sorted out, but sadly, there are hundreds of others just like Gary who would still go unserved.  The crisis is easy to spot.  The solutions are not.