FEATURE
It’s never too late to start
NF octogenarian publishes book to aid the homeless BY ASHLEY ZIOMEK
A
t the dazzling age of seventy-seven, John Loss decided to write a book. Three years later, in 2020, he released ...Not Always Homeless, a compilation of stories from homeless people in his community.
Longtime Niagara Falls resident and former teacher Loss had noticed that homeless people in his community were ignored and silenced. He was inspired to change that by using his book to give them a voice. “They were not always homeless,” Loss says, “and they had stories to tell about this experience and phase of their lives.” Loss began by reaching out to local organizations dedicated to assisting the homeless, working to bridge the gap between himself and those he hoped to write about. Soon, he’d teamed up with Community Missions, Heart, Love, and Soul Food Pantry, Magdalene Project, and Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission. He volunteered in 2018 with the Community Missions, and Magdalene kitchens, serving food to community members in need. “I have a sincere desire to help the homeless in our local area,” the author says. As Loss began to develop relationships with those he wanted to interview, he put together two posters to find more potential subjects. The first poster introduced himself and his
goal, and asked people to sign up if they were interested in talking. The second poster put forth his promise to not publish anything without consent and approval. Subjects could also choose to use aliases or remain anonymous, as much of the information Loss obtained was personal. He prided himself on maintaining mutual trust and integrity, including giving subjects the option of using their full name, first name only, or an assumed name to maintain anonymity if desired. “These were their stories,” Loss explains. “These individuals bared their souls.” Over three years, Loss interviewed more than twenty people—mostly at the organizations he worked with—ultimately choosing thirteen to feature in the book. Each subject has their own chapter, and each story is paired with an inspirational bible verse. The final chapter, fourteen, is a summary that discusses age, sex, education, marital status, jobs held, time homeless, and more about the thirteen subjects. In January of 2020, with the help of
Longtime Niagara Falls resident John Loss published his first book in 2020. Photo by Matthew Andrus
a distant family connection, author/ publisher Jeff Zygmont agreed to help get the book into “reader-ready” form and see Loss through the publishing
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process. The book is now sold to raise funds for Help and Hope for the Homeless, Inc., a New York state registered charity founded by Loss. “When all was said and done, I had added thirteen new friendships to my life,” Loss says. “No one in a country as rich as ours should be without a place to call home, and should be able to sleep in comfort, security, and safety each, and every night.” FY Loss invites readers to share thoughts using the author contact information in the front of the book. Ashley Ziomek is a freelance writer living in Western New York.
