Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Category: Homelessness
The Currency of Homelessness
I heard our local police chief refer to homeless people as an eyesore. An eyesore. Like a junkyard, like old wet carpet piled at the curb, like boarded up, burned out buildings on main street. Living breathing people seen as an eyesore. He wasn’t… Continue Reading “The Currency of Homelessness”
Last Night on Outreach
Last night on homeless outreach, a young woman came out from under a bridge. She was dressed in shorts, a camisole, and shower shoes with white athletic socks and had a thin blanket around her shoulders which she held tight to her chest as… Continue Reading “Last Night on Outreach”
I Know My Place
On the bus last night, doing outreach to homeless people in our town, bundling up hot meals in plastic bags, forgetting sometimes to include a fork because I always make at least one error when I am doing this work, I loved my colleagues… Continue Reading “I Know My Place”
On the Question of Homeless Photography
The homeless outreach group I work with has established a new policy asking volunteers to not post photos on social media of the homeless people we visit on outreach or their encampments. It was a tough call. Photos make homelessness real. A photo of… Continue Reading “On the Question of Homeless Photography”
Good Morning, OB
To the left of the stairs leading up to the pier at Ocean Beach in San Diego, there is an overstuffed couch. A couple of guys with heavy blond dreadlocks are sitting on the couch and smoking while others in various types of homeless… Continue Reading “Good Morning, OB”
The Peculiar Zen of Meal Prep
Every now and then, on no particular schedule, when I think I should or when I feel the need for total immersion in a task that is immediate and elemental, I do meal prep. Meal prep is what Street Angels calls preparing and packaging… Continue Reading “The Peculiar Zen of Meal Prep”
Why Not Friday Round-Up
Why, Arizona can be a question or a place depending on whether you use a comma. The first time we came through “town” I saw the official sign for Why that included when it was established and how many people live there. So the… Continue Reading “Why Not Friday Round-Up”
Mornings in the Polar Vortex
She was an old woman who sat with her purse on her lap like she was waiting to be called to have her blood pressure checked. Instead, she was waiting for breakfast to be served at the homeless warming room and watching the TV… Continue Reading “Mornings in the Polar Vortex”
99 New: True Value
I’ve spent the last year hanging around people who hug you like they mean it. And it’s softened me up. So I get what that does for people who are homeless. God, it is a relief not to be judged. To have people be… Continue Reading “99 New: True Value”
99 New: The Memorial Service
This morning I went to a memorial service for a woman who went by the name Shorty though her given name was June. She had been homeless many years when she died although it probably wouldn’t be fair to say homelessness caused her death… Continue Reading “99 New: The Memorial Service”
Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “At the Breakfast Bar” on WUWM Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “The Parish Hall,” on WUWM Lake Effect
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
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