Always Be Prepared

A Wisconsin native has finally landed on his feet in San Francisco and set his sights on solving one of the most glaring injustices in his new hometown: homelessness. “I really like living here, in the Tenderloin. I chose to live here because there is a great need and I like to challenge myself to act on it.” Born in Milwaukee, WI as a member of the baby boomer generation, Aaron is no stranger to homelessness and the complex web of issues that surround it, having endured more than fifteen years of homelessness himself across multiple cities in the US.

Taking a deep breath before beginning to tell what would be a sad and powerful story, Aaron looked somber, but certain of his convictions. He seemed acutely aware of the importance of honesty and openness, and knew the strength of his own tale.

“It was all good and happy. I had a great family, a well-paid job and a house. However, life suddenly turned upside down when my first wife died and it got even worse when my second wife divorced me. From there, I quickly regressed to my old teenage habits of drinking & partying.” Indeed, according to a study by Chamberlain and Guy (2011), as cited by Homeless Hub Canada, family breakdown is one of the five major pathways to adult homelessness. Aaron is clearly not alone in his struggle, and his story only cements the importance of providing adequate support to families and marriages that might be vulnerable.

Daily comforts others may take for granted, like warmth from the cold and a way to easily get from A to B, can be few and far between for people in Aaron’s situation. “Being homeless was a feeling of desperation. Life was difficult and hostile given that transportation was very challenging. I still remember having to ride my bike on subzero days across the ghetto areas of Milwaukee with scary people around [me] for 12 miles.”

There was always hope, however, according to Aaron. When all else seemed lost, he could still build a sense of community, of belonging. A home of sorts, in places other than home. “Hope is the only reason I keep carrying through. I survived by talking to other homeless people, getting information from them, going to the library and churches.”

Aaron didn’t stay too serious for too long — his confident, pragmatic and hopeful self never too far below the surface. He talked astutely about the state of homelessness in San Francisco, arguing that there were some positives to being homeless there, as opposed to in other cities he had been through. “Anyway, out of all the cities I have been homeless in, San Francisco is a very convenient place. There is a load of [homeless] people [living on the street] that can help you.” Data supports Aaron’s observation: San Francisco ranks second only to New York in levels of homelessness, with 795 homeless individuals per 100,000 residents, according to SF Homeless Project data. Additionally, 68.2% of California’s homeless are unsheltered, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Aaron was then able to point out two worrying trends which he had observed over his 4 years in San Francisco, saying, “This city has developed to become more bipolar over the years: You’re either super pro or super against actions taken to help people experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, more homeless people in the city have become more schizophrenic, which is pretty scary.”

Finally, we asked Aaron for some parting words. He said “To the people of San Francisco: All people deserve respect, whoever they may be and whatever state they might be in. Even when they are injecting drugs, lying down naked or shitting, they are human and deserve respect.”

These words, and Aaron’s story, are both stark reminders that things can change very quickly for anyone. That a roof is never a given. It would do us all well to remember to treat our fellow humans the way Aaron does — as our brothers, our sisters and our own.

Thank you to Aaron for sharing his story, perspectives & hope with all of us.

Aaron, alumni of University of Arizona — Tucson class of ’99

written by Ivan Hartanto, edited by Vix Jensen

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