Editorial
Letter: Me and my husband are homeless; the streets are tough; we do not drink or do drugs, and we were never late on rent
BRISTOL COUNTY, MA – My husband and I are homeless.
We are both disabled and in our 50s. We have been living in the woods for over a year. This is our first time being homeless due to the fact we don’t make enough for these outrageous prices. We don’t drink nor do drugs.
We were living in an apartment for over 7 years never late once on our rent. The landlord sold the house and the new owner wanted to renovate so we all had to move.
Is it easy on the streets? Absolutely not. I have seen people being stabbed, shot, and drug addicted individuals that will rob you just to get their next fix.
Being homeless, my husband and I decided to buy a bunch of food and make the homeless sandwiches. Besides, I wanted to hear their stories. The stories that I heard broke my heart. About 75% of them don’t want to be on the streets and do drugs. They are broken. Mainly because they were thrown aside by their family. They feel as if no one cares about them. It’s almost like they are invisible.
I have seen many overdoses. They are mainly young adults. They use it to kill the pain that they feel inside. Not once have I seen any authorities walking around trying to help these individuals. Thank the Lord I ended up getting a bunch of Narcan and yes, I had to use it once. It was a 17-year-old male. After speaking to him, he agreed to go into a program. To this day he is drug-free and has turned his life around. I cry inside everyday seeing them slip deeper and deeper down a road that no one wants to travel. Not even the ones that want to be homeless. I truly believe that God put me in this situation to preach his name and try to pull these people out of the darkness, but I am only one person. I wish there were many more people out there that cared. I have seen almost everyone walk by people that were in need. It breaks my heart.
Taunton has a very bad pandemic of drug users and not one thing is done about it.
We are on every housing list you can think of. My husband and I were told that we are on the top of the list and that was quite some time ago. Now we are having a housing crisis. I have no clue how long we will be in these woods. I have diabetes. My kidneys are failing because I have no place to put my insulin. I have a bone disease and suffer from a traumatic brain injury I received by the hands of my father when I was young. I have been rushed to the hospital numerous times because of it. I was even told Morton was getting sick of seeing me so I can understand why the homeless feel invisible and looked down upon. I try to keep my head held high every day and it has been a struggle.
Chanan McIntyre
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Ken Masson
September 20, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Hopefully this nice couple will find something soon.
Because of the severe shortage of available housing I wished we used surplus money to build low income housing that’s severely needed. If there was more housing stock rents would stabilize and maybe even decrease. Using that money would have been a worthwhile investment into the stability of Massachusetts because without low wage workers who’s going to do to work? Because it’s a successful state it makes it more expensive to live here. Makes it tough on a low wage and and disabled people.
MortisMaximus
September 20, 2022 at 2:27 pm
I’ve have never in my life seen so many broken people. We are living under a system of total oppression brought forth by an evil tactic known as COVET MEANS. Our political leaders are blinded and corrupted by political power and will do nothing to help us. Get in their faces and let them know you’ve had enough of their pillaging at the public trough. God save us all!
Accuano
September 20, 2022 at 3:44 pm
If you and your husband are disabled go apply for housing.
Ken Masson
September 20, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Did you even bother to read the article?
Accuano
September 21, 2022 at 2:06 pm
If you are in fact homeless they put you on an emergency list , for maybe not a section 8 but a section 707 which is a project. A lot of people don’t realize there are other programs and only apply for housing
Amelia Smith
September 20, 2022 at 11:44 pm
This is so sad. I wish there was more information so I can go and do something in return. Like give them a hot meal whatever I can do. This breaks my heart that these damn people are doing nothing for the homeless with all these empty buildings everything is about money. I wish I had the power to make a huge difference. I hate these people that just are okay with all this homelessness.
Mr. T
September 23, 2022 at 11:26 am
I don’t believe this story. It’s very well written to say the least and is filled with so much fantasy of doing good is difficult to believe. It’s a feel good story for sure. I only wish it was true.
Milta Valentin
December 31, 2022 at 4:11 pm
Whether the story is true or not it doesn’t matter. It’s true that way too many are homeless and it’s true that they are invisible. I have someone who has 3 kids, 10, 8, & 4. Lived in an apt 5 yrs and because house was sold, new owners wanted her apt (1st fl.)therefore had to move and staying with someone because rents are so high and no apts available. Always paid her rent on time. And this is happening to a lot of people. They’re building homes everywhere, but who can afford them? Not too many. We need more affordable housing, not homes for the rich. Not everyone is bad. Landlords judge people by kids, pets, race etc; etc. Not right.