John Doe: Homeless Convict
Anyone who has given the problem of Homelessness serious thought—going beyond indignation—must agree that the cause, or causes, are frustratingly complex—even stubborn—refusing all efforts to help. Nobody believes that homelessness is a choice. Calling it fate doesn't help. It is an illness. What circumstances led to the homeless living as they do?
Accounts are hard to come by. The facts are a private matter. Personal stories are not publicized because of the disturbing subject matter. There is a natural tendency to cover-up—and cover-for—the shame of going so totally exposed in public. The homeless person may be fully-clothed, but may as well be completely exposed, for all his meager effort does any good.
Nonetheless, by diligence, a composite image can be formed of a certain type of homeless person's fall from grace. Personal, and therefore private details, are leaked inadvertently. We gather enough to assume a deep psychological motive. They need to be unburdened by talking. Unfortunately, given the sheer numbers of homeless persons, and disproportionately scarce resources, doctor's office psychoanalysis is out of the question.
Analysis of causes must begin with an incident, one which is not easily covered-up, or sealed, as court records can be. The distal cause of John Doe being homeless is a conviction for sex with a minor. For his crime, John was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Upon release for parole, John was registered as a sex offender. It is an open fact which he cannot escape.
After a hiatus of 15 years, John finds the world a very different place than it was before. John's wife filed for divorce in the meantime. In John's absence, she managed to pay the mortgage on their house, which she now owns. John gets to keep his truck and tools. To complicate John's dilemma, during his incarceration, a daycare center opened within 500 ft of what was (formerly) his house.
Under the terms of his sex offender registration he must relocate immediately. While there are social services and private support associations willing to help, in his current state of mind, John is unable to make a resolute effort to work with others. Thinking himself a rugged individualist, pleading for help is felt to be out-of-character, by John.
John's finances are in a shambles. His felony conviction complicates employment applications. Lacking proof of employment, he is unable to lease an apartment-for-rent, should he find one in an area designated "safe" under the terms of his sex offender registration. Given his reputation as a deviant, John quickly runs out of friends and relations willing to put him up. He is on his own.
John is in a bind. Relocating is seen as impossible while his criminal record stalks his every move. He can run from his past but he cannot hide. John at first tries living in his truck, which requires fuel and maintenance, and for which he cannot pay. He then loses his truck. Walking everywhere, he finds his way to the skid row district, where he frequents a series of transient hotels. He takes to the bottle to drown his sorrows and to dull the pain.
After one such drinking binge, John awakens on the sidewalk. He is embarrassed, but (he reflects), he has at least saved the cost of a room rental. His health suffers from malnutrition, as all the "spare change" he can beg, is squandered on liquor. His behavior becomes a pattern, a routine. John has reached the end of life's possibilities. He considers suicide by drug overdose.
As a reality check, it should be stressed that this narrative is a nonfiction account, drawn from a smattering of details emerging from diverse, individual cases -but all having certain features in common. My Blogger John Doe is a composite. As with my artwork, specific details are discounted, the main features outlined, while each-and-every detail contributes to the whole. I see John Doe's prototype everywhere.