This week, our class presented a number of different books regarding homelessness in America. My group read and presented “Grand Central Winter” which was a man’s story of his experiences on the street in New York. I found this book to be very interesting and eye-awakening. Also, the past week or so in Redlands has been especially cold and rainy (not ideal conditions for someone living on the street). My own unwillingness to spend time outside because of the cold weather, is only met with thoughts of those who have nowhere else to go and are forced to be outside. California’s weather stays pretty nice year round, yet places like New York or Chicago (where some of the books took place), aren’t as lucky. Lee Stringer talks about bracing the cold, harsh winters in New York and how they survived. I couldn’t even imagine how individuals live outside in such cold weather conditions.

Another large theme that I saw in the book I read, as well as some of the others that were presented was the role drugs played in an individual’s housing condition. Lee Stringer, the author of “Grand Central Winter” had a job, apartment, and an honest man’s life prior to becoming addicted to crack. Several months after starting to smoke crack, he found himself several months behind of paying rent, and as a result was on the street. He described this transition in his life as liberating. He was no longer tied to his apartment or job, he was free. Another thing that was talked about was how both rich and poor men do drugs, but the difference between them is that the poor man will get caught because he is on he street and a rich man doesn’t because he does the drugs behind closed doors. I struggled to agree with the author’s thoughts of unfairness about this. To me, drugs should be seen as “a luxury” if you will, and should only be bought and taken after your basic needs as a human are met (shelter, food, water, and safety). The rich man addicted to drugs is not posing a threat to those passing by on the street, whereas a homeless individual doing drugs on the street may (incorrect disposal of needles, exposing children to drugs, bad drug dealing, etc.).

This week was very informative and eye opening and I’m looking forward to seeing where we go next with our learning!