I woke up at my girlfriend’s apartment around 7:00 a.m. and then I went to work around 8:00 a.m.
I went to the faith based homeless day center at 9:00 a.m. to meet with Michelle, who did not show up. She said she wanted to go to treatment, she must have changed her mind or forgot, this is how it goes in the street. I hope she’s alright. Tomorrow is my last day so she’ll have to find another way to get help.
I met up with two workers from the Lahey CBHC at the faith-based homeless day shelter. We took a ride to the encampment along the river behind Doyle Street. We also went to see Dena and Bobby, a couple who live in the woods on an offramp near Cheryl. Dena and Bobby are severe fentanyl addicts, who both have AIDS, Hepatitis C, and Bobby is a registered sex offender. They have been communicative with me, but always refuse service. Bobby once called me after I visited his encampment, and accuse me of telling the police were was. We had a long text exchange, where I explain that I do not report to the police where homeless people live. At this stage in Bobby’s and Dena’s addiction they both look like walking skeletons. We also stopped and saw Cheryl, who’s schizophrenia keeps her in the streets. It was about 100° out, maybe 97°.
I also taught Deanna, who works at the faith-based homeless day center, how to do outreach. I took her to all the encampments and asked if she could check on the people and work to coordinate care for them when I am gone. We went to the secret garden and stopped by the park next to Kelly’s furniture. There I saw Jesus who I just got into detox a week before. He was back in the park he drinks at. He had his medical bracelet on, sweatpants, and no shirt. He was already drinking again. This is a reality that I am faced with in this work. All the trouble I went through to get this man treatment and here he is sitting in the same spot he was before, putting alcohol in his body. After showing Deanna all the homeless spots and educating her on care coordination, I dropped her back off at the faith-based homeless day shelter and went back to my work.
I stayed at work after doing outreach and I didn’t do much. I just kind of let the day pass by. I left work at 4:30 p.m. and I went to my camp and spent the night.
A storm came through so I went to the liquor store down the street and got some Ciders.
I had two ciders. I ate a 10mg melatonin gummy, and I fell asleep. I feared strong winds might rip my camp up. The winds were not that bad, and I was only subjected to torrential downpours. Check out the Glow Bugs in the video. They go wild when the Storm picks up.