I met Steve across the street from the main branch of the New York Public Library. He surrounded himself with his pens, brushes and other artist’s implements as well the art he produces and sells in order to survive. Against the
hard gray of the concrete sidewalk, he was awash in color. When I showed him my crucifix, he proudly me showed me his: tattooed on his chest. Even with all that has been taken away from him he declared his faith and said, “I’m a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.” He continued, “I’m not rich in money but I’m rich in faith. God is my best friend.”
Q: Where are you from?
A: I’m from Florida.
Q: How long have you been homeless?
A: Since December of 2013
Q: How did you become homeless?
My father was in the Navy. He was an alcoholic. When he retired from the Navy, his alcoholism got worse. [He didn’t say that his father got violent, but he implied it]. This drove my mother away. I haven’t seen her in nine or ten years. I don’t know how to find her or contact her. I decided to leave Florida and come to New York with a friend in July of 2013. I was cashing my food stamps to pay him rent. I discovered that the money I was giving him he was using for drugs so we got evicted by December of 2013. I moved to a shelter and that first night, someone stole my shoes.
(At this point in the interview a woman walked up to us and started talking to him and offered him a cigarette. I thought she was going to give him money but then I was shocked to find out that she was homeless, as well. She was neatly dressed, with a decent coat and black leggings. She asked Steve, “Who’s your friend?”
She was clearly suspicious of me. I told her I was writing a story and then she asked, “You’re not with the Post, are you?” According to Steve, a few years ago the NY Post had interviewed a homeless man and then used that interview to propagate the myth that homeless people in NY made $300 a day, severely affecting an already vulnerable population.
When she left, Steve further explained the woman’s suspicion of stranger. A while ago, Steve explained, a man lured her to a bathroom by offering her $200. She followed and when they got there, the man punched her in the face and then took advantage of her. Her suspicion of male strangers, in other words, is more than justified)
Q: What is the best thing that happened to you this week?
A: I sold a picture for $50. The person was going to give me $10 but then someone else passing by said it was good so that person gave me $40 more.
Q: If God told you that he would grant you whatever you wanted, what would it be?
A: To have a job that I love to do.
Q: What do you want people to know about you?
That I’m a caring person. People might I’m an asshole because I’m out here but I have a good heart.
I want people to be not so judgmental. People walk by and spit right in front of me, looking at me as if they’ll never be in the same position. It boosts people’s egos to see me.
Would you want people to judge you if you were in the same position? When I see homeless people on the train, the ones that people avoid because they smell, I talk to them. He might smell like pee, but he’s still a human being.
There’s a way to be homeless and clean. I can find showers and a way to keep clean. When you see someone homeless who is dirty, it means they’ve given up. I haven’t given up. I’m only 28 years old. I’m in the city of opportunity. The best place to be recognized. You know I’ve produced 6 murals since I’ve been living on the street? [He showed me pictures of his murals. I included two photos of them]
Steve, like Nicky yesterday, is hopeful. He didn’t expect to be on the streets forever and he is, like Nicky, trying to find a way out. I was struck by the level of friendship amongst all the homeless people. I showed him a picture of Nicky and he knew her. They all looked out for each other and supported which is important since it is no exaggeration that their very lives are at stake. No one protects them.