SOCIAL JUSTICE
SNAPSHOT HOMELESSNESS
24 July 2008 By Dr Andy Marks
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Looking beyond the label of homelessness I can wait all day”, says Brian, “it’s just so perfect when you finally see it.” He is well accustomed to waiting, it used to bother him but it doesn’t worry him anymore.
I struck up a conversation with Brian in early July while conducting social justice research for the St Vincent de Paul Society as a volunteer on the Vinnies Night Patrol van. I learnt a great deal that night, beginning with my encounter with Brian. A smallish man in his late forties with a broad grin and an impossibly thick moustache, Brian’s been in various stages of homelessness now for around fifteen years, but he’s tired of talking about that. Standing in the queue at the Night Patrol van, Brian has other things on his mind, things infinitely more important to him than his homelessness. Brian waits to see a breed of owl that frequents Sydney’s Botanical Gardens at night this time of year. His eyes light up as he describes it to me. “It’s called a Tawny Frogmouth, funny name isn’t it”, he gestures to me excitedly, nearly spilling his cup of tea as he stretches his neck and arms out loosely imitating the owl’s odd appearance and distinctive call.
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“Sometimes I go to the State Library”, Brian adds, “you can sit in there all day and look at books about the birds and learn all about their habits.” I ask him how his interest in birds arose. “Well…” says Brian scratching his chin, “I’m a photographer, and any good photographer knows that sometimes you have to wait to get the perfect shot.” Brian continues, “I don’t always have a camera with me but I notice when something comes into my frame of view. Most people are in too much of a hurry to recognise the perfect picture. I’m lucky”, Brian concludes, “I get to see it every day.”
Brian’s friend Bob is less animated. When the Night Patrol Van makes its stop at Sydney’s Martin Place around 9.30pm the large crowd awaiting its arrival forms two long queues. Bob is too frail to stand in line. He waits on a bench at the side of the plaza, where I bring him a sandwich and a cold drink. Jackie, a longstanding Night Patrol volunteer tells me Bob can’t handle hot drinks. He likes apple juice, Jackie adds.
HOMELESSNESS
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Tonight a biting wind is making it very cold and Bob’s breathing is uneasy. He doesn’t like to talk much but I ask him if he’s okay. “Yes thank you”, he murmurs. “I’m sorry Bob, we’re all out of apple juice tonight”, I explain, sitting next to him. “That’s alright mate”, Bob replies, his voice broken yet gentle, “thank you for the sandwich.” I leave him to eat in peace, as Jackie informs me he likes his own space. The volunteers tell me they will keep a close eye on Bob over the coming nights, ensuring that his health doesn’t deteriorate. Moving through the crowd I enjoy a conversation with Michael, a man in his mid-thirties. He updates me on the football results, even though the game only finished 10 minutes ago. “News travels fast out here mate”, he says grinning. Michael goes on to explain he’s a “greenie”. “Whys
When the Night Patrol Van makes its stop at Sydney’s Martin Place around 9.30pm the large crowd awaiting its arrival forms two long queues. that?” I ask. “Well the little heater in my bedsit broke the other night”, he says with a wry smile. “Now I just rug up and save on electricity, I’m environmentally friendly.” Our lively discussion is broken by an elderly homeless woman yelling obscenities indiscriminately at all assembled. “She’s okay”, chuckles Michael, a regular visitor to the van, “she does this nearly every night the poor old girl, never a dull moment with her around.” Other visitors, however, are not so regular, or noisy.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE
SNAPSHOT HOMELESSNESS Looking over to the steps leading up to Macquarie Street, about 20 metres away from the van, Jackie’s colleague, Graeme notices a new face. “She looks very young”, he says to Jackie. “She’s only sixteen”, Jackie replies. “She’s not here alone”, she continues, “I spoke to a chap earlier who explained that the girl’s mother has a home, yet when her parents split up she chose to be with her dad, who, as it happens, lives on the streets now.” Graeme takes a blanket from the back of the van and hands it to the girl who is wearing nothing but a pair of tights and a thin sweater. She nods nervously in thanks but is reluctant to talk. Surveying the scene, I’m can’t escape the irony that politicians, stockbrokers and business people stride purposefully across these very same streets by day. The feelings this powerful disparity provokes are difficult to reconcile and will never leave me. After about 45 minutes, the Night Patrol van has served the roughly ninety people assembled at Martin Place. It’s time to head off to the next destination, St Mary’s Cathedral.
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Arriving at the Cathedral, the crowd assembled is not as large as Martin Place, yet the need remains great. A group of people huddle together by the entrance to the Cathedral’s underground car park. The warm air from the vents provides some respite from the cold. The car park closes at 9pm but the security guard bends the rules, keeping the doors open until the Night Patrol van arrives.
Brian’s been in various stages of homelessness now for around fifteen years, but he’s tired of talking about that. I meet Kim near the car park entrance. He’s a young Korean man, here on a student visa. Kim was evicted from his share flat in Strathfield when the landlord nearly doubled the rent in the space of three months. “I work hard”, he explains. “When I finish my studies I will be a good Australian, a physicist.” He is a remarkably intelligent man. I tell
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SNAPSHOT HOMELESSNESS
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him he is already a “good Australian”. He smiles warmly and thanks me for the sandwich.
Surveying the scene, I’m can’t escape the irony that politicians, stockbrokers and business people stride purposefully across these very same streets by day. I set out on this research expedition to find out more about the multi-faceted experience of homelessness. Of all that I encountered that night, the reluctance of Brian, Bob, Michael and Kim to solely identify themselves as “homeless” left the biggest impression. However, on reflection, their reasoning in this regard is quite unsurprising. After all, when was the last time you opened a conversation with somebody by stating your name and then informing them you have a home? The prospect of spending time on the Night Patrol van led me to believe I would gain a unique insight into homelessness. I did, but not in the manner I expected. I learnt a very important lesson, one that often gets lost in our rush to help people experiencing disadvantage. That lesson is: first and foremost, people are people In seeing the face of Christ in the poor, Vincentians must also seek out the myriad of beauty, complexity and compassion of our Father’s creation. We must not only see poverty, but also
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a person like Brian, who’s patience allows him to recognise the magnificence of God’s design; or Bob who remains gentle and at peace despite the calamity around him; or Michael a character with a sense of humour and resourcefulness that clearly lessons the burden of those around him; and Kim, a man who’s deep intelligence and genuine wish to help others penetrates the despair that engulfs him.
In seeing the face of Christ in the poor, Vincentians must also seek out the myriad of beauty, complexity and compassion of our Father’s creation. If I am blessed, I will have an opportunity to continue to learn from the people I was lucky enough to meet that night. However, as Brian taught me, to glimpse the perfect picture, I will first have to learn how to wait.
Dr Andy Marks is Senior Researcher with the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW andy.marks@vinnies.org.au
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