Homelessness

A Typical Day When I Was Homeless

I try to forget, but I can’t

“ Rise and shine. We need those blankets.” The security goons screamed as the lights came on, jarring me awake. I crawl bleary-eyed off the bunk and grab the handle of my overnight bag, and head to the toilet area.

I quickly shave and brush my teeth, then I take my bag to the lobby and, if I’m lucky, get a cup of coffee from one of the pots. I find a spot against the wall to protect my back and sip my coffee.

It was chaos

The lobby fills with yelling and cursing men; Several minutes pass. The volunteer by the tables yells. “Let’s bow our heads and thank the Lord for this meal.”

After the prayer, the jostling and fighting started. I have enough sense to keep my mouth shut as assholes cut in front of me. I finally make it to the tables. “Oatmeal or grits?” The volunteer asks.

Oatmeal for me

I take my bowl of oatmeal to an empty spot against the wall. I eat and sip my coffee. At exactly 6:00 A.M., the goons scream. “Clear the lobby the lobby is closed.”

Minneapolis is cold in the mornings

I head outside into the cold and dark Minneapolis morning. I follow the other guys to the back of the Greyhound terminal next door.

There’s a garage with uniformed security guards, backed up by a police officer. They allow us to wait there for an hour, then they scream for us to clear out.

I would sit there freezing

My truck hadn’t been impounded, yet I get in and try not to freeze. I head to the library at around 7:00 A.M. I wait in the lobby until the library opens, then I sign up to use a computer.

Homeless folks love libraries

I spend the day on Facebook talking to Olivia and other people, but mostly Olivia. I tire of being on the computer, so I go sit by a window. I look outside, wishing I was somewhere else.

Around 3:30 P.M. I head back to the shelter. The security guys on the night shift like me, so they let me sit in the waiting area early. I doze as the place fills up.

I hardly tasted the food because I ate so fast

At 6:00 P.M. We form a line that crawls into the cafeteria. The line is slow because it takes people several minutes to choose a dessert. I can’t figure out why. Nothing has any taste anyway.

By the time I set down with my tray, it is almost time for the dining area to close. I almost finished eating when the goons scream.

“Clear the dining room, take your trays to the window, and clear the dining room.” I do what I’m told, I head back to the lobby. Sometimes I can get a seat, but a lot of times I have to sit on a hard floor in an overflow room.

Noisy as Hell

Three hours later, I’m about to scream. The noise of shouting men and the smell of weed, booze, and unwashed bodies is making me sick.

The noise dies down for a few minutes, then an invisible signal goes through the room. We all stand and get in line. It’s time for bed.

The line is slow because we have to be frisked, and our bags searched

It takes a few hours, but I finally am in front of the tables. “Let me see your ID.” The tattooed guy in his twenties demands. I give him my license. He enters my name on a list, then he sends me to the end of the table, where another guy assigns me a bottom bunk.

I head to the toilet area and then to my bunk. I take off my shoes and glasses. I lie down and pull the blanket over my head.

Like a damned summer camp

It seems like I’m the only one wanting to sleep. Everyone is loud and playing grab-ass. It goes on for a few hours. The goons turn off the lights.

“It’s quiet time, quiet down.” The Goons scream. The noise dies to a whimper. The bunks are so close together. I have to be careful how I roll over in bed, or I will end up in the bed next to mine. That wouldn’t be good.

I managed to get a few hours of sleep

I finally get to sleep. It seems like only a few minutes have passed. The lights come on, “Rise and shine, I need those blankets.” I get up and start the process all over again.

I can’t forget it, no matter how hard I try

That was my life for the first few months in Minneapolis. I try to forget, but I can’t. I would not wish homelessness on anyone. I pray it doesn’t happen to you.