Have You Ever Read "Squares of the City" ?

  A fictional novel by John Brunner with a strange connection to chess and the homeless problems in South America. I read the novel years and years ago. If one is interested in the bibliography, look it up, the point being, it was as relevant then, as it is today.    
 If you have ever driven on Columbus Ave in Springfield, Ma., your driving parallel and under Interstate 91.The southbound side of the avenue takes one by the Basketball Hall of Fame to the Broad St intersection where you may view this oversized sneaker. Real easy to see. To head north on Columbus, one must pass under I-91. When you do this ,that is when my blog, "The Invisible Population" and  Mr. Brunner's' novel become relevant.
That hidden population ,in plain sight, working hard at remaining unnoticed, hoping only the pretty sneakers are visible. Why,hope you remain unnoticed ? Would you want someone to see your bedroom, if it looks like this?

Sometimes these areas serve as
storage of the few things a person may have, while they wander in search of.....anything....a warmer blanket, food, cans,handouts, day work, a safer place.












These are women's clothes above, well hidden from the view of the thousands of vehicles that wiz through here daily. Looking across Broad St, I find the men's quarters from the looks of things.
I suspect either another street person went through this occupants things, or he is new to this environment, to leave his belongings in plain view like this. Upon seeing this I must venture down the northern embankment and up the southern. Veterans of the street would never display personal wealth such as this, fear of theft
by the less scrupulous, or even worse, the authorities moving them along.


                                                             


I have been photo documenting
30 years the plight of the street
people, I am not an "expert", but
I like to think I have common
sense.

 Photos' may speak a thousand
words, however being able to
touch and see first hand, this cache of clothing and medication,
and the freshness of the blankets
and bedding................................

only one conclusion can be reached...by "moi" anyway......
This person is new to this
lifestyle. I can only wish him well and providence.

This was only the Broad St underpass, Columbus Ave runs just shy of 5 miles in length, I believe. How many underpasses along this stretch ? Many, I can tell you, all storage and sleeping quarters for a lost soul beyond the cracks of our pathetic system. I don't have the solution, but I hope shining a light on the plight brings some answers. My quest today is to see this years living arrangements as winter approaches by the destitute colonies who become so adept at basic survival in the bowels of a city.

 Walk across the street to the Basketball Hall of Fame complex, find another giant sneaker, take a shot of the shrines' steeple then stroll through the complex to the other end, where there is an elevated

walkway/observation deck. Looking north, I can see the North End Bridge and a river walkway for the city dwellers who frequent the natural beauty and tranquility of the Conn. river. From the moment I stepped into the complex, the opulence, the excesses, all the things designed to please all the aesthetic senses of the general secure population, seemed rather ironic considering what I am seeking today. 

Beyond the tube in the picture above is access to the Connecticut River Walkway, off I go . My plan is to head to the North End Bridge and see if I can locate any encampments. Over the last 30 years, I have never had a problem finding them along the river, and today will prove no exception, unfortunately.

Not long after my trek started on this perfect fall day, I came upon my first encounter of the day. Among the joggers and lovers out for a stroll I met Gladys and Jose.

Gladys was yelling at Jose because he had a foul smell about him.
She was indicating with her finger that Jose was crazy and he smelled but it was all in jest. I asked if they minded talking with me and being photographed. They more than obliged.

All the questions as we walked were met openly. She been on the streets since spring, he was in a shelter until recently, thinks he made a bad move giving up his spot, but Gladys was out here he says.



When asked about shelter, I was invited to walk and see. As we approached their residence Gladys started getting frantic. Three individuals emerged from behind an abutment, 2 men and a women with a black eye. Gladys had told me seven other people stayed where she stayed, I could tell by the way they bolted when she started yelling at them, it was not these folks.

These three are from another campsite, the one in red and shorts is a big thief she declares loud enough for them to hear. As the other two pass me, they had the look of deer in the headlights.



A few moments later this man comes from the same place and it is clear he to doesn't belong there.
However he does stop to talk to Gladys.

       How humbling it is to be invited into a persons home who has nothing and be apologized to for the way it looks   

 

                                                                               

 Gladys and Jose's living room with built in storage.

She is glad all that was scavenged from her was their cardboard they sleep on. Her 2 bibles, shopping cart, and other personals seem to be intact. Just going to a food pantry can cost you all your worldly goods. Gladys is open and talkative while Jose is reserved and quiet. She does most of the talking. She gets some aide in the form of disability, him nothing. Each have minimal employable skills. She has a sugar problem which flares up often. 

 She holds out her hands to show the discolorations and swelling it causes.

 They are well aware of the upcoming winter but must concentrate on getting by today. Gladys  believes the answer lies in her beloved bibles, which she read daily until last week, when she got her glasses stolen. I asked her to try my readers, they worked, I thanked her for sharing her life with me, and left her with the readers. Still a way to go I left my host.

 

Future down the walkway I notice a bridge up ahead, it has a well traveled path next to it, instinct took me down the path and I was not disappointed.

 

 

At least 12 people were in this site, none wished to be  photographed ,they allowed me these shots. They fear authorities moving them on, so I honor their wishes.

Off to the shore of the river where I have found encampments in the past. Once again , not disappointed .


 

No one was here.
I suspect this belongs to the three
who where savaging Gladys' site.
Took a few shots and moved on.




                                           At about this point I was wearing down quickly

                                                 So I headed straight to my destination,
                                                              the North End Bridge
                                          

                                           Taking a couple of shots from past sites on the way.
                  The second site was built 20 or so years ago by an out of work carpenter and his dog.

This is my third post about "The Invisible Population".

 I am not really sure how the general public views the problem or if they really care. To those people please remember, you could be one bad break away from this situation. I was there in California, for 4 months in 1977.

I do know how little priority it is to our elected officials. They are more interested in wars overseas, hugh profits for their giant corporate sponsors, taking care of people who entered this country illegally. and voting themselves $70,000.00 raises.

How do I know this you may ask.......
Are you blind will be my answer.......

Next time you drive in the city, look in the undesirable spots, you may see for yourself what this is about. Stay tuned for more, as the cracks in our system get wider. The official unstated stand on homeless people is to move them along. Its' a problem for someone else. I challenge anyone to walk among these avoided people...........................................