I
had business to attend to at the U.S. Senate office in downtown Springfield, at
1550 Main St today. Just getting in to see a rep. is another story for another
day. The pictures below were taken outside the offices of two U.S. Senators, or
within a twenty minute walk by a person with a cane. I have to wonder if the
senators or their staff ever see this. I really doubt it, as they have a special
secure entrance to their office where they don’t have to interact with the
general public. If at ten thirty a.m. on a Friday, no one was present in the
office, when are they there? I had the privilege of speaking to three of the
four individuals pictured below . I will share their stories.
In
front of 1550 Main St , I came upon Roger fixing his bedding.
He just woke up from
his spot under the parking garage. He worked for 40+ years ,had some
misfortune, ended up out on the streets. He can’t quite remember how long he has
been out of the system. He hopes to eat at Bliss St today. Says he can’t get
any help from our government.
I looked across the
street as I talked to Roger and caught these shots of this unknown man.
After talking to
Roger ,I walked toward court square, where I met Paul.
A nice soft spoken
man, like Roger, worked for many years, but he also served in the armed forces. His
clothes were tattered and a bit soiled, but his face, skin, and hair were clean
thanks to restrooms at Peter Pan. He planned on lunch at Bliss shelter, but was
not worried about a place to sleep ,its summer he said. Will worry about winter
when it comes. One day at a time he said. Been out on the streets 4 or more
months. Can’t seem to get any help from the government he supported.
Paul keeps a positive
outlook as he picks smoked butts from the gutter to re-roll with Bugler
papers. Talking to Paul ,he wasn't bitter about his position, yet one could tell
he is in and out of the real world, and slipping fast through the cracks of our
system.
Next I headed back to
the Senators office,still not in. This prompted me to go around the block one
more time. Going down by the train tracks by the Stonewall Tavern , I met Jim
getting ready to get his sleep in today.
.
Jim
walks all night for his own safety, naps in daylight out in the open for the same
reasons, plus it is warmer. Born in San Francisco, ex-marine, served 2 tours in Vietnam ,68&70, worked till a couple of years back, does receive some disability, not enough to survive on.
Worthington
St , Taylor St , Bliss St, State & Spring sts, even across the bridge at the
open pantry in West Springfield , these men along with a large hidden
population including women and children, know the only places that truly
address the dire needs are these under funded, not for profit, volunteer run
agencies. They all feel the government has forsaken them and lied to them.
Jim says everyone is out there on the streets
for different reasons, some because of bad choices, some because of bad
breaks, but once out there help from the richest nation in the world is only a
word in the dictionary. Roger and Paul both showed signs of mental deterioration with no obvious signs of being helped. Jim is well aware of loss of reality to
escape the horrors of living in places for only minutes at a time, but moving on
,alone, is the only safety he can find. He hopes to get something he can handle
soon, but he is losing hope. It is harder to stay clean and presentable for job
opps.
All these men were born and worked here in the U.S.
Each never planned on being in this position.
The three I talked to deny alcohol or drugs abuse for their
situation, Roger admitted he turns to booze more now than when he had a home and
job.
A twenty minute limp around the block from these
esteemed offices
I didn't have to look for these 4 photo opps, I
had to decide which ones I wanted to concentrate on and document.
