Where Does He Go?

I sometimes see or hear comments about those homeless people who you see on the streets, wondering why they don’t find employment, find training for a vocation, or otherwise get off of the street.  Let me tell you about one such man who is a “resident” of our church property in downtown Wichita.

Johnny (not his real name) came to our campus about six months ago.  He had just been placed on parole and got out of prison after serving time most of his adult life for several offenses.  When he was placed on parole, he was released with the amount of money he had in his prison account (less than $100), and the clothes he had while in prison.  He was instructed to report to his parole officer and establish a professional relationship with that person.  Transportation was provided for him to come to Wichita where his parole officer was located.

Johnny has a Social Security card, but because he has spent most of his adult life in prison, he has not worked enough quarters (he needed 40 three-month quarters) to qualify for Social Security or Medicare, even though he is 63 years old.  He COULD possibly qualify for disability when he turns 65, but that is not a given.

He does not qualify for food stamps or many government benefits due to his criminal record.  Because he does not qualify for food stamps, he also does not qualify for a government-paid cell phone, even though his parole officer has ordered him to obtain one so she can contact him when needed.  (And if he can’t get one, he is eligible for re-incarceration.)  He has no money otherwise to get a phone, and would not pass a credit check in any event.  He can’t get a prepaid phone because the companies that do that demand a home address.  He has none.

He cannot borrow money.  He has no credit history.  Family long ago disowned him due to his convictions and incarceration.  He does not qualify for many re-training programs or housing programs due to either his age or his history.  Most companies and businesses wouldn’t even look at him to hire because of his age and incarceration history.  He is relatively healthy, and takes advantage of free clinics whenever possible.  He keeps as clean as he can.

Johnny had to find his own counseling service, a condition of his parole.  He had to find one close to where he resides…our campus…because he has to walk everywhere he goes.

Johnny doesn’t want to be here.  He wants a normal life, or as normal as possible.  He is friendly, outgoing, and has a moral compass that works.  However, roadblocks seem to appear in his way each time he tries a route to get out of the cycle of homelessness.  Many of the programs designed to help…don’t help those like him.

So, where does Johnny go?  What does Johnny do?  What would you suggest to Johnny that would get him out of this cycle?  Which platitude that is often said would be the one he could grab hold of and lean on?  No address.  No transportation.  No phone.  No family.  No way to regularly wash clothes and self.  No income.  No government programs that he and I are aware of.  No ID other than a Social Security card and a prison ID.  Not qualified for Social Security or disability at this time.

And who does he turn to for help?  Thankfully, Johnny landed here.  We aren’t able to do much, but we can give him dignity, respect, and from time to time some food, shelter, a restroom, etc.  And we do.  But those things aren’t going to get him out of where he is…those are only going to help maintain him as he is and may prevent him from becoming a statistic of some kind.

If someone has the magic answer, I’m all ears.  Otherwise, we’ll keep plugging away with what we have to work with.  Blessings.