The Story of Jacob

Steven: “Hello, my name is Steven, and I’m working to share stories and experiences from different people living in New York City. If you’re comfortable, I’d love to hear a bit about your story and discuss some of your daily experiences. Would that be okay?”

Jacob: “Yes, that’s fine with me. It’s not often people want to hear from folks like me, so I appreciate the chance to share my story.”

Steven: “Of course! That’s one of the reasons why I do these interviews. Thank you for sharing your time with me. To start, could you tell me a bit about what a typical day looks like for you here in the city?”

Jacob: “Every day is a bit of a survival challenge, you know? I usually wake up around six in the morning at the shelter where I stay. We have to leave early most days to make room for the cleaning crew and sometimes they would kick us out if we weren’t awake quick enough. I grab whatever breakfast they’re serving and its first come first serve so sometimes we won’t even have any food if we wake up late. I spend a lot of time walking around the city, sometimes looking for job opportunities. I go into McDonalds to ask for a job or food or something I can do, but they always say no. If it gets too cold, I’ll just go to the libraries to keep warm. For lunch and dinner, I have to find which soup kitchens are serving when and lining up sometimes hours in advance. It’s a lot of moving around, trying to stay busy, keep safe.

Steven: “Wow, your perseverance is really something else. Many people would lose hope, but I’m glad you’re trying to get back on your feet…besides that, is there a specific struggle that is the biggest for you?”

Jacob: “Honestly, it would be just living like this. The biggest daily struggle is maintaining basic personal hygiene like brushing my teeth and showering and keeping my belongings safe. Public restrooms aren’t always available, and when they are, they might not be safe to use. I know the Target down the street has a public restroom, but they never let me use it because of how I dress. They know I’m homeless and they’re scared that I’ll scare away the customers even though all I want to do is go use the restroom. When I go to sleep, one eye needs to be open because we get robbed. Even the homeless gets robbed by other homeless. It’s exhausting, really. There’s the social isolation. People see you’re homeless, and they treat you differently, like you’re invisible and if they don’t, then sometimes they would threaten me.

Steven: “I’m sorry to hear that. I might write a piece about the lack of bathroom because that sounds like a serious issue…I mean, peeing is a human right, so it makes no sense for them to restrict you from using the restroom… Let’s look at the positive… are there services or resources in the city that have been helpful to you?”

Jacob: “Yeah, there are a few gems out there that really help. Like the day center where they let you shower and do laundry a couple of times a week. There’s also this job program at a community center that helped me put together a resume and practice for interviews, but its always crowded. It feels good to talk about potential jobs, even if I know I’m not going to get any soon, but I’m glad I have somebody to talk to. Everyone needs interaction and I think it’s people like you and people who are letting me use their service from the kindness of their heart that makes living out here bearably.”

Steven: “That’s good to hear there’s some support out there, and thank you for your kind words. Now that you’ve experienced homelessness, what changes do you think could be made in the city to better support people in your situation?”

Jacob: “We need more affordable housing, that’s the big one. And not just shelters but real homes where people can feel safe and start to rebuild their lives. The city could also do with more comprehensive mental health services. Many people out here are struggling with unresolved traumas and illnesses. And jobs, we need jobs that don’t look down on you for having been homeless because many companies see that you’ve been homeless and automatically rejects. Like I said before, the Target won’t even let me use their bathroom!”

Steven: “Those are really good changes, and I’m trying to push for that too by writing articles about affordable housing too to advocate for them! Hopefully, it’ll happen. Now, shifting focus a bit, what are some of your hopes or goals for the future?”

Jacob: “Honestly, my biggest hope is to find a steady job that can offer me enough stability to afford a place to live. I dream of having a small apartment where I can invite friends over and we can just eat and laugh. Going to bed and having a warm blanket, maybe getting a dog because I’ve always wanted one when I was little. When I wake up and plan my day like anyone else. Have a sip of coffee. More than anything, I want to have a sense of independence. I want to contribute to society again and start a family someday.

Steven: “That sounds amazing, and dreams do come true. Thank you for sharing them with me. Lastly, is there anything you wish more people understood about homelessness?”

Jacob: “I wish people understood that nobody chooses to be homeless. It’s not a lifestyle choice but a difficult reality that many of us are trying to change every day. People look at us like we don’t deserve to live, but we have feelings too. We’re humans just like you and we need empathy. We need your help because humans should help each other. That’s how we grow and if I do get out of my situation, I’ll be sure to help others for sure.”

Steven: “That’s honestly really awesome to hear. Thank you so much for your time and for sharing your experiences with me, Jacob. I hope your situation improves soon. Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

Jacob: “Just thank you for listening. It’s rare for people to ask me to interview them… it’s been a while so it means a lot.”