When I wake up in the morning I shower, dress, go downstairs to make some coffee, and read the newspaper.
Thirty minutes or so later, I have a small breakfast before leaving to drop my son off at school before going to work.
This is a typical day for me, just as I assume it is for most of you.
But this is not how the day starts for 23-year-old Danny.
He is a homeless young man whom I met on a cold St. Patrick’s Day morning. He was living in what he called his “mobile condo” (a small wood box on wheels) at the corner of Franklin and State in downtown Olympia.
I asked if I could photograph him as I am a documentary photographer working to keep the issue of the epidemic of homelessness in the public eye.
“Sure, why not?”
He told me about growing up in a series of foster homes before being told to leave when he turned 18 and that for the past five years, he had been homeless.
With his misfitting boots, matted hair, tired eyes, tattered clothing, and dirty hands and face – to say nothing of the jumble of clothing and lumber surrounding his home on wheels – I believed him.
When asked how he came across his possessions, he said that he found them.
I then asked how he fed himself.
“I sometimes get food at the mission or at a food bank,” he replied, “and sometimes people give me money.”
As to his clothing, he wouldn’t say, but he then added that he would not use the facilities at a nearby mission because they were “dirty and dangerous.”
“And the police have told me I have to move to a different city,” he interjected. “Can you believe that?”
Given what I had seen and heard from Danny, no, I don’t think he could make the move.
Not long after, another homeless person stopped by and began talking with Danny. I decided to leave.
But my thoughts about Danny have not departed.
For most of us, tomorrow morning will be some variation of shower, dress, coffee, newspaper, breakfast, and off to work.
But this will not be how Danny starts his day, and I wonder how any of us can sleep well at night knowing this.
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
pheong
will danny be disposing of the trash and detritus he has strewn about him when he relocates either a block or a city's margin away? a more broad aspect of the area that he occupies would be welcome. sympathy is wonderful. lack of accountability for all is as ruinous as accountability for only some. hedging his answers as to the provenance of his 'things that find him' lead one to believe that his 'things that have found him' are simply stolen. having been on the extremely meager side, theft is one sure way to fail further and to not strive.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Report this
Oly1963
Missing from this biased article are questions like:
- Where did Danny come from? Did he grow up in Olympia?
- Does Danny have substance abuse problems - heroin, alcohol, meth? If so, where does he get them and how does he pay for them?
- Has Danny ever had a job - and why isn't he working now?
- How is Danny's mental state? Does he have mental health diagnoses that are currently untreated?
- Does Danny have a criminal record? Are there warrants for him now?
What is so upsetting about these bleeding heart stories (because you cannot call them reports), is that the writer is so clearly biased and isn't looking for solutions, just more of the same for these people. If you want to help them so terribly bad - get to the root cause - if he is a criminal put him in jail. If he has mental health issues, get him the help he needs to get off the streets. If he has substance problems - put him in a program or jail to reform. If this is Danny's choice - then move on to some place else and stop clogging our once beautiful city and making it a dangerous, ugly place!
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Report this
WayTooOld
The idea that one has to have grown up in Olympia to be worthy of living on its streets is offensive - full stop. And, by definition, everyone who lives in Olympia is a resident. Even those “awful people“ from California who come up here and drive the prices up in the real estate market.
And, yes, I have met a number of people on the street who grew up in Olympia. One in particular stands out. She told me about fishing in creeks and rivers here for salmon, before the fish became scarce. For at least part of the year, she would be happily getting her own food without having to pay out-of-pocket for it. Rental prices, driven by market forces, are out of reach. She is not homeless by choice, nor are many others like her.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Report this
Kthycvarney
Thank you for your article and you are right, I will think of Danny often. I will also wonder at some of the mean spirited comments to this article. This story is unfortunately the case for children in the foster care system. We need to extend care and education for these your people.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Report this
BCBEAN
Very sad. In a civilized country, Danny would have a job, health insurance, sufficient food, and adequate housing. But the US is a barbaric country and the barbarians are ok with this.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Report this