This is the first in a two part series written by Mike Murray, a fellow UMass Boston community member.
To tell the name is to begin the story; my name is Mike Murray and this is my adventure in the world of homelessness. Deal with it or not, it’s up to you.
In April 2001, I received a phone call from Dr. Tim Seiber of the Anthropology Department at UMass Boston asking if I would be interested in doing a video project. Being a student of his, he knew I liked to try different and challenging things. I eagerly agreed to the opportunity and we set an appointment to discuss the particulars of this project.
Eventually, I met with a pair of young and dynamic artists Liz Canner and John Ewing who directed the project, Symphony of a City. From the website (symphonyofacity.org) I take this description: Symphony “is meant to provoke critical dialogue and interpretation among participants and viewers on the nature of multicultural relations in today’s rapidly changing Boston.” Eight people, including myself, were nominated and selected through various community groups to wear web cams that attach to eyeglasses to document what we see and hear in the course of our normal day. These images were projected on the Faneuil Hall side of Boston City Hall in April and May of 2001.
The focus of the project is community building through civic and political action, and Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner participated as a web cam operator. Because I am homeless, the focus of my participation is the lack of affordable housing and the homelessness situation in Boston. I videotaped the conversations I had with several homeless people for the project.
Both days I participated in the project I met John, my technical and artistic director, and at the McDonalds on Mass. Ave. near the intersection of Melnea Cass Blvd., where I was fitted with the web cam and microphone. It was here we discussed the finer points of videography and all it entails, such as keeping my head straight. Nodding or making any other natural movement was tough and getting into peoples’ faces was tougher. It was great fun, albeit stiffening to the neck, like wearing a neck brace.
The highlights of the first day included walking around and observing the people that frequent the Boston Common and Downtown Crossing, a couple of favorite stops for the city’s homeless. I had no idea as to the amount of stemming (begging) the tourists have to endure. I personally do not stem. At St. Francis House, a daytime drop in center for the homeless, meals included, the lines extended the length of Boylston Street on both sides of the building. St. Francis House is located between Washington and Tremont Streets next to luxury condominiums. Afterwards I proceeded to the Government Center MBTA station where I spoke with Angelo.
Angelo is a homeless male selling newspapers and flowers from the Government Center T Station with an early morning smile that commuters seem to enjoy. Angelo is a wealth of information regarding homelessness in Boston, particularly where the homeless go at night (other than shelters) and how they cope. While I was talking with him, he clued me in on a few tricks of the homeless, which I won’t reveal here for his protection and to preserve them for my own use. Angelo has seen it all and then some. At night he sleeps in ATM lobbies until security guards kick him out. Then he moves onto the next ATM. Although he prefers sleeping on the pavement as compared to the shelter system, he has a bed at Pine Street Inn anytime he wants one. Angelo does not feel safe in the shelter system because of issues he would not reveal. This is his choice to make. Please God, or whoever, whatever, watch over and protect Angelo and the rest of us!
The same day I spoke with Robyn who works with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (MCH), which advocates for homeless people and homeless families. After talking with Robyn, I learned some very disturbing statistics: the Commonwealth of Massachusetts alone has 10,500 homeless families. Angelo suggests doubling that figure. Not all homeless families are documented with the Commonwealth unless they apply for assistance or housing benefits. Robyn told me there are at least 1,000 state-owned housing units “offline,” meaning unavailable. If these units were renovated and made available to the affordable housing market (however that is defined), many of the families living in motels across the state would have affordable and permanent housing.
Rita lives with her husband and three children at the Countryside Motel in Peabody. Like other couples, they talk about their situation. Their room was neat and well kept, but small. Rita and her children have not recently seen the father/husband because he is working numerous jobs to pay the $300 weekly rent. They are waiting for housing in Revere and have been for two years. By the way, the city of Boston sends homeless families to areas outside the city proper. At this time they were number four on one list and nineteen on another. All Rita could do is call the housing office the first Wednesday of the month to find out if the family has moved up on the list. Rita and her family have made numerous phone calls to elected officials trying to speed up the process, all to no avail.
This is very difficult for the children because they have no place to play except a paved parking lot outside the motel room door. Even though it’s a temporary situation, the school-aged children do attend school, when they can, since there is no bus transportation for them. I believe children must have a stable environment in order to grow and learn right from wrong so they do not become a statistic. Personally, I hope and pray that Rita and her family move into their own home soon for the sake of their children.