9 0w S 0 6B - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 17, 2005 44~4 Michigan Daily - 44444 44' 44 '44~'4~ 4 ~ \4444~ 4~444~ ~ 444 ~4444 44 4 44 - ~4 I 44,4 4 -" 4 4 444 C444*44 .444w . 4 4 44 4 4 44 - 4 4\ 444~ 4. 4('444 4 * 444 4 44'4 4 4444444 (, - 444444 .4444 j4 4 4 444' }4 4. 4, * .,c4~4 4 4 44 4 S44444 44 k.4 444 ( 44444,44.4. BY TIAN LEE .here's a small table, near the back door of Starbucks on State Street - normally T reserved for handicapped peo- ple. The man decided to sit down, choos- ing the closest table; unaware of staring faces and seemingly nonchalant people that looked up warily. He took out his sandwich - Italian meatball, with extra mayo and chili peppers - and began to eat. "I look exactly like my father," Danny Jones began to say. "From the time I was a little kid, all the way until now - I even got his bald, spot. Sometimes I wish I didn't have it because it's the same receding hairline he had. Every time I look at the mirror, it reminds me of him. It's like my father is looking at me in the mirror when I wake up in the morning." He laughed awkwardly, paused and laughed awkwardly again. He took off his tattered black beanie and pointed to a shiny spot at the top of his head. His hands were white and calloused and there was white pus sitting on a wound on his lower lip, which he dabbed at occasionally with a napkin. After he was done, he crumbled up the tissue, and tossed it on the table. It rolled across the surface and stopped near the edge. Danny usually spends his days pan- handling by Borders Books and Music, crouched in the corner by the display window. He has been homeless in Ann Arbor for over a month. But to the city, he's just another statistic. "I dreamed about being a preacher when I was little," he said proudly. "I believe in the Holy Ghost, and it's saving everyone's soul," he said confidently. "The Holy Spirit gets you up in the daytime, brings these tree limbs out on the branches each year, puts the blos- soms and leaves out; even the way we breathe, the breath of life that goes in and out of our body. The way we walk, talk and sing, the way we do anything." Once upon a time, he never would have thought that he would be begging for money on the street - just trying to get by - to survive through each cold winter night. This child who once had dreams for the world was now crouched on the floor by Borders, just a couple of decades older. People walk past him, as if he were part of the cement wall he was sit- ting in front of. "I'm actually from Ann Arbor. I was born and raised here," he said. "I had four brothers, two sisters, two half brothers, and one half sister. My father was what you called a 'player.' He got out there and did what he wanted to do in the world. He did some things that most fathers wouldn't do. My family is so screwed up. It's the most screwed up thing that you could ever think about." He continued to summarize his life chronologically including a sequence of traumatic events with his father. He described them as mere historical events - a pause, seemingly devoid of attached emotions, sitting isolated in a point in time that had already passed. When explaining why he began drink- ing at twenty-something and popping "be cool" pills, or anti-depressants, Danny responded: "My brother Victor enticed me to do that." Once again, as far removed as he could be, he continued to spit out parts of his past. "It was a whole lot of different circum- stances at the time, and I couldn't get my life straightened out because their lives and my life were kinda screwed up." Every morning, Danny wakes up. If he's survived the night, alcohol helps him face the next day. "Well, I don't wanna tell no lie. I'm gonna be honest, and I'm gonna tell the truth. When I wake up in the morning, I get me some alcohol," he said. "And then BY DAN MARCHESE DAILY ARTS WRITER omelessness is a nondiscriminatory event. The IN WASH TENAW COUNTY 275( family is three paychecks away from 7 chomelessness. One major crisis, such as the need WILL EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNI for an expensive car repair, can financially ruin YE AARgWITHLIA PEOPL a low-income family, forcing them out into the street. ill' 1 a~U VYI E J.TU L. For the people who can't avoid this fate, there is help HMELESS ANY GIVEN WEEK , available to get them back on their feet and an abun- dance of people willing to lend a hand. ment. and should be treated'v Singleton for change. I go sit down over there, in that cubby- hole, and I panhandle, while John sits up here in Starbucks and waits for me." John, his "brother," a frazzled-looking man, with long, dirty hair, interjects. "I watch out for him," he croaked in a deeper voice. Danny tacked on to John's response "...to make sure that the police don't find me. They just love to mess with me." Danny continued to dab at the fester- ing white wound on his lip. "They say that I'm mental - but I'm not." His eyes moved around awkward- ly. "See, La Tanya Green ran this night shelter called CMT. They said they could hook me up with a place to stay for the night. But you have to say that you were mentally disturbed," he explained. "Once you're a nut, residential servic- es were supposed to get me housing." But according to Danny, the shelter didn't have room for him to have a place to stay. forcing him on the street with $30 a week. "That wasn't enough to do nothin' with, but get drunk in the street, and kill yourself," he said. Danny Jones, at one point in time, felt the burden of pain before he turned to alcohol and drugs. He used to be able to feel with his hands, before pieces of rough, calloused skin formed over the delicate senses that allowed him to touch. He once was able to sit at Starbucks and look like he belonged.' . "Sometimes, when people see me on the street, they look at me and laugh," he said. He began to get up. "Five years from now, I'll be outta this," he said firmly. "Once I get my (social security) check back, I should be okay. That's why I'm gettin' drunk now. I can't do anything else - can't think about anything else. I have nothing to do anything else with." He put on his coat. "I just need $5 more anyway for tonight," he said. As he headed for the door, he turned around. "I was thinkin' to myself the other day. This is something that my mother has always taught me. She always said, what you do to God's people, or what you do to yourself, or what you do to any- body - no matter who it is - you'll get it back, sooner or later," he said. "Cuz I'm sayin', the least that you've done to ny little ones, you have done it unto me. See, a lot of people don't know this." Danny smiled again. "I've never stopped that thought of wanting to be a preachir" he said charmingly as he walked out the door. Delonis Center Located at 312 W. Huron St., the Robert J. Delonis Center serves the largest percentage of those experienc- ing homelessness in Washtenaw County. "We see a lot of people who are home- less for the first time," said Ellen Schulmeister, Executive Direc- tor of the Shelter Association r 4 of Washtenaw County. Schulmeister said the center sees a lot of people who are homeless for the first time. She explained that many havebarriers to overcome, such as being unemployed because of a low skill level, leading to a hard time finding employment. She added that some may have a mental issue or sub- stance abuse prob- lem. Helping them get 4 through homeless- ness, the Delonis Center offers ser- vices such as pro- viding emergency shelter, referrals for substance abuse treatment, clothing vouch- ers, trans- portation, food, health care, 44 4housing assistance and money {?44 manage- Many University students volunteer their time to help with these programs so the residents can get back on their feet. "There are no throwaway people. Every person that is homeless is someone's mother, father, child or grand- parent. They are a member of aifamily and a member of the community. Together, we should find ways to help them. Every person on earth deserves a place to stay," Schulmeister said. Looking at the statistics In Washtenaw County 2,756 people will experience homelessness within a year, with 41 people becoming homeless any given week, according to www.ahomefor- everyone.org. Not all of these people will spend time in a shelter and are forced to live out in the streets. The lack of affordable housing is a serious issue for those in low-income circumstances. According to the website, the average yearly income for homeless people is $9,500 - which does not cover the average yearly rent on a two bedroom apartment in Washtenaw County. Adam Berge, an LSA junior, said homelessness is a major issue that a lot of people don't recognize. "People should be willing to help out the homeless more," Berge said. "Subtle ways, like saying 'hi' and treating them with more respect would help ... They might not have the money, but they are human beings Service is one opti interested in helping. in Ann Arbor working homelessness. One org vides therapeutic resp dren, ages two months Taking action Jennifer D'Souza, a with some homeless pi that every so often, she to take them out to lur to say. Because of thi has gained a more in-c "It would be nice if of us." she said. "We don't see them ir living our own lives, n what they have to go thD than food that they want Despite the fact tha been forced out on the She said that there tions about homeless p "I don't think these street. Homelessness c ONCE UPON A TIME HE NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THATR HE WOULD BE BEGGING FOR MOYNYT GT ON THE STREET JUST TRYING TO GET BY, TO SUR VIVE THROUGH EACH COLD WINTER NIGHT.