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How are you doing young man. Im fine sir. Okay, my name is Vernon Suggs . I work with the Humanities Truck. And what the Humanities Truck is it's a project to ... under the American University. And the professor got a grant to do interviews to accumulate information to get a idea ... perspective straight from the homeless about what we could do ... what people can do to help them from their own perspective, because we really want to know what's really causing homelessness, what can change it, and where begin. Okay, and your name? Mike.

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Okay. Alright Mike, I'm going to ask you a series of questions. I'm going to try to do them ... get this over with as quick as we can, alright. Just answer them honest and you know. Some of them you don't wanna to answer, you don't have to, but try to answer them because we may later and maybe ... have to come back and ...you know, then it'll be another part to this, alright. And like I said, at the end, you'll get a fifty dollar Target certificate alright. Okay, the date is Monday, March the 28th right? I think its Tuesday the 29th. No, its Monday the 28th because I'm off today. Yeah [laughs] Okay, do I have your permission to record this interview? Yeah, I give you my permission.

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Okay, alright. We're going to do the background. Could you tell us your family name? That's going to be the problem right there...Green. Green, okay. Where and when were you born? DC.

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DC, okay. 1962. And try to speak into speaking to that. So we get it.. 1962. Okay, where were you raised in d.c.? Born and raised in DC

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Yeah, you're like me. Okay, you were born and raised ... Are you currently experiencing homelessness? Yes, I am. Okay, how long? Like four years now.

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Alright. Have you ever experienced homelessness? And if so, for how long ? Have you ever experienced it before? Yes, but it was temporary, maybe three months. Okay, How would you describe your current living situation? It's kind of rough going because you have to continue to move from spot to spot, spot to spot. And then the inclement weather. It's really tough because-- You had just have to find shelter.

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Okay. Alright, so currently-- currently where you living like in a building ? On the street. Well, how do you get out the cold? Well, I have to go sometimes in the cold and sometimes I went to the shelter. [inaudible] I just have to brave the cold.

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Okay, alright. Why do you think homelessness continues to be a big problem in Washington DC and the larger region? Because, you know, that's a lot of homeless people, Everywhere Everywhere, yeah. We need focus on what's going on in DC, since we are here ok.

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Yeah so ... So you know the bigger cities the bigger the numbers are, but for here it's like-- they have resources ... I can say they have resources. That can take a person off the street. And right now they are working. They got a lot of homeless off the street and put them into hotels and stuff like that. Okay... For a short period of time or the time they get you in to places, they try and do whatever they're trying to do.

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Okay so, has the ability to live in this area in the city over the course of your life in ways that have many homeless is more or less prevalent. Have you noticed things? I only been homeless in four straight years. So previous time, it was simpler. Like now since I have been out here like ....you only can get help if you want help. Okay... Some people just don't want help.

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Okay... Some people just try to - gave up, but they just living life man, you know. Just living the rest of their life out. So a homeless person come off the street if they want to. Okay... But then it still gonna be stumbling blocks that you have to overcome.

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And what are those ... We might be like I'm going to turn 60. Yeah... You know what I'm saying? Who's going to hire 60 year old man ?

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Well that's possible ... Its a possibility, but I'm just saying-- I'll try to put you in touch with some people from you want me to-- Its like--What kind of career can I choose to get into now? You know what I'm saying, for the rest of my life ? Which you know, but still

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I'm gonna ask you-- well, we are going to get to that. There are going to be some questions I'm going to ask you in reference to that because I may be able to-- I may be able to help you even if it's part-time or something like that, just so you know, at your pace. Yeah, because I was homeless too, I was in Blair shelter for a whole year, and I just took advantage of all the services here. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, and I was blessed and I've been--I've been like six -seven years, man. I got a a job through them. So, you know, and I was like, I was about 60 years old and you--you--.you are more coherent. You-- you-- I believe you can be one of the success stories but let's finish this. What do you think of the biggest causes of homelessness in the city? And in the region? It's a big one because--it's what I always like to ask. Well you know, basically what it is, it's drugs and alcohol

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Okay-- And loss of -- loss of -- family life -- Loss of family values. Loss of family period. As your family members starts passing away of social family could fan as family members start passing away. Sometimes, do you know how to family just like a spit up

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stand? Whether it was a pathway from like magic all the different things, you know. Like my parents, you know, they passed away there. They live their life. Yeah, you say so we're still as togetherness that they had held the way they held the family together, huh, MJ. Yeah, but even though we are all grown him say, But it was always meeting in mind pop out to see right now everybody doing, you know, for real. But so you're saying a lot of people grieving could be grieving and loss and just knowing

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just gave up me and say, well, okay, you can come on the street. He had you see a still image code when he said if you can contact me to today's or try to contact me to believe. This you know, you start wondering me. Have fun with this logo, you know, but still that's what decimal that's another one, right, you know, of course because the family breakup So, no support lack of family. No support. Okay. Oh, and this one, this is one. I really had to deal with myself as your as yours or your family. Ability to access affordable housing change over the course of your life and, or your time living in this area. And how long? Excuse me. Squirrel call. You see what I'm saying? How has your family's ability to access affordable? Housing even though you say your family. You know, he say they bad. But before they pass know how has the ability to access affordable housing changed over the course of your time living in the area. Oh, I can't really answer that question because all the actor has had. How did I didn't respect me? Pull you okay, me / you because, you know, of course, the dividend Skywalker, man, you know. Last 15. 17, 20 years. Okay, you know, and then that's when I couldn't afford cable even though me and my wife was both. But we just had to stay in. A small apartment we couldn't be couldn't go no further. And so and that's just by the discouragement because he was at the age where With what we had. Okay, okay. It wouldn't know taking on extra jobs and stuff like that because he was a day, right?

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So y'all was okay, but he was okay. Okay. My Satisfied Man said, food wasn't. Okay. That's a, that's a great ass. Okay. Hat. Have have you seen significant changes to neighborhoods in the city that have impacted your ability to find housing. If so, can you describe those changes? I have checked, I have things in,

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the city in terms of, To Nino to the neighborhood, the building and stuff like that. Because these questions are The past few questions. I ask you there in reference to gentrification. You understand what? Gentrification? Just what are you doing? No more, no more houses houses.

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So, how has that affected you and your you and your family's ability? Two. How has it impacted your ability to find out? Because it's not. Oh, like you just positioning for black people. It's not desert, you know, but yes, you know, but if you look around you'll be I just feel like black people. Still here and I mind, you know, anybody there. How do you doing? This is only only, they know things ain't right for me. so, the overpricing of all these new album, These scam callers me. Okay, they're overpriced in them. These new properties that build nothing to say. Okay,

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price and cost. Okay, so, You, you lose pay your child beside the lowest year minimum wages between up. Yeah, well, that's better. Yes, you that's better

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but then what it was they say no way. You know, because a lot of people are saying even with it wages going up, it's still not just a drop in the bucket.

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Okay. Oh. How does the job situation in a city impact? People's ability to Access housing. Well, I think you touched on that. Okay. What kind of jobs are available to you? Do? They pay enough to afford housing? How would you describe the quality of those jobs and you address one pod already? But how would you describe the quality of the jobs that are available to you? You know,

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if you know, if you had to go back to work. You could go back to work right now. Yeah, that cuz it comes back to me. Not to see is Meek because my education. Military and all that. I'm asking you back. I know because I never been in the military. That's like a. Lula slavish. Lou lesson everage. Pussy. Salut, Les an average person angle beta tip or make that type of money where I do. so, you feel like your education and your And your education limits, the type of job, you have opportunity to get any type of skin.

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So what skills do you have? So what kind of jobs are available to you? You think? Nothing. Okay, if that goes. Apply for a job.

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Can you lay brick? You're not really labor, you know, but I'm 60 years old, but you could use super bass. I might in labor. Yeah.

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So you basically your age is a big barrier because you got a good mental. You got a good mental Insight stuff. Okay. How has the job since situation change over the course of your time in DC? In a way that has impacted? People's ability to Access housing. and I think the, The income and the level of skill, and the type of job you get and cost of those that house. Okay. That's it. Pretty selfish plant to it. Would you say is hard to find work in the city? Not for that. Okay, why would you say that? It is, it's not, it's not a problem. Not a problem. It's not a problem because that's what I'm saying, boat. Put limitations on yourself. You can we have the same opportunity Tim said, but we just have to Steel for a little short, we always fall really short because we don't have the money. To go to school. Work. Go to school. Stephanie. And Biggs you do this on on concentrate. Okay.

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So so your age is it you believe is a constant variable for you? And, and okay. So with the young people that qualify Why do you think then that not going to get these job? Because I agree with you is in that. It's not hard to find a job, man - begging for people to work, but he does. First place, somebody else. Where we at?

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Instead of what? Who should we be blaming yourself? Is my last job but did come from a older proteases? My mother, never my mother, never all my problems stomach. but he's just The outside information and even and you know, this terrible evening, but they feed you until you is like it was wrong. You listen to me that they are wise, never wrong. Okay. Yeah, you know your parents. They have a lot of influence on you and sometime they have. They've had it rough and they don't know. So yeah, you know a lot of a lot of now that that's going on. Okay. Well, you know what that's called that's generational misinformation General it can go on and on until Maddie break the cycle. You see, it is constantly being broke in the company, taking it in one way or another, and it eventually effects. Would you begin to simulate in your mind and all that that you think, okay? You think it's enough jobs? More than enough. Al enough jobs and in d.c. Physical aspect. In the mental aspect. Okay, and then you see, you see? These I'll go anybody from DC your for know,

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how can they do that? Why do they do it? Because you, The generations. Now they don't want to do a whole new lifestyle. Right. And that, you know, those those are the things that this this Humanity project. Want to

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get out to the media, get out for people to understand. So we can come together as a whole and begin to work on some of these things and never met some of these barriers like that cuz that's up here. Yeah, okay. In terms of government programs, for homeless Services, you you touched on that earlier. They you say they get you off the street.

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Okay, and okay, so in what ways do social services? And and changes to those Services impact homelessness For Better or For Worse. It all goes back to you. The individual trying to do, if they try to get off sleep. They can get your shoes that punish you help you get off the street but to stay office trees on you. Okay, this day office use only. Yeah, so they got this day. Have the services did

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take take advantage of them and stay and okay. Has access to public housing changed over the course of your life and these changes impact and homelessness and it's reason it's changed. And what way have they changed. It's no more. It's what's going on. DC now is so diverse. People going to go live with it. It's available for them to go. So he shall wish these people coming from other states or cities. You know, stuff like that. We looking. Yeah, and it make a living. so now, All the neighbors. Got to be. Rebuilt. To make room for these people. Right. We can't afford this no more. So we pushed out on the street.

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Okay, so, so the housing has changed to the point. Dentist unreachable. For certain people who you should be here. That's what I hear you saying? Okay? Have changes to welfare benefits and packing homelessness. And anyway. Okay, but why is that? Cuz you you old, he liked, you my age, and I often ask that question. Why? Why is that?

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Just just just something that's just something I wanted to ask you. They come in. Two. Become big. We see people who have some saying the wait to see is, right. They're not actually from DC going away off, not like gentrification 8. They coming from all over the country again, so they come in. Indira Judy's possessive man. Saying he were goes what's really happened? Deadly say they out seems like you say, they, we change this and change that. I know their hands tied she has to so, you know, well, how why

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can they why can they come and do that? Why is it so easy for them? Because it's what they want to do. They want to do not saying that they want to come here. Just get in this position to just say here with my career here with their career. So they got to go through the motion. So, so interns and Welfare. People, you're saying they always want to hang out and when they, when well-fed change it. A lot of welfare benefits. Do you think they've gotten more or less? Okay. Okay, I guess is my sister's came up. Right,

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right, but you never experienced. When you own this, oh, okay. How, how about the state and federal employment services?

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Like DC problem, throwing it serves. How do you feel about it? Never had to go there and fly register. And long time.

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Okay. So this is a big one that I always liked it. Yeah it is. How would you describe the state of homelessness shelters in the city region? What impact do they have on homelessness? Because we have quite a few shelters in d.c. Well, not enough with how do you explain the shelters? Ideal man, say that say that again, this is just like being in jail, in the sense. Environment Manchild.

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Hmm. I mean, explain it, they to explaining a night in the shelter. We come in. Did you bed? You sent you? Shall. If you choose to. You come just come over three stories already somehow observed in them. TV watching your time. Then what you want to do to do with its own you there you tell about the cutoff time when you have to be in it, but you see on the machine on your bunk. Goatee TV

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room. Hmm. You play on your computer, whatever you do with all the way out and that's it. Okay, no, but program School alcohol, drug program.

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Alan. And then you got 20 tonight. Oh my God, just keep getting put enough people and like joke you go. Well, I guess that's self-explanatory. Only daily basis. I'm come. If you get any time you get your baby, that's temporary, but the Shelf. William come in. And do you have this time when you believe you need some days, you can

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just say, it just stay in. Okay? in terms of the Criminal Justice System, How has policing in the city impacted? Homelessness have policing policy changed to any way that affects homelessness? Matthew. What about other people? Have you seen? You can't go, right? If I'm doing, if I'm not involved in anything illegal,

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right? Oh, you're wrong. Place at the wrong time, or doing some more handle business too. So they know what they don't bother alone. So I don't drive and crafts. Okay, so

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has have you experienced police brutality as a homeless person? No, okay. I had had the War on Drugs. Had an impact on homelessness.

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Yes. You know, initiate is always a warm trust. Oh, my God. So, this is basically the same. Oh, wait. And had the criminalization of poverty or homelessness. Being an issue in the region or for you? Nope. Yeah, but I'm trying to give you the

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yeah, we gonna, We gonna move my lawn. I ain't okay. This, the health care. I'm gonna get couple of them and in your education will Okay, and what and what way is this home? And his impact your health People's Health? Quite a bit. Okay, and what way? I just can't sleep. Thanks Lee. so,

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So, how has? I mean, how has that kept you? Or how would you describe the state of the health care services available to the the on house or the homeless have have? There been any significant changes? To track to fix the services old. Will know that you are well. Individual individual, okay. Now. The educating, do you think access to education on the quality of education has had any impact on homelessness? Yeah. So, that's okay.

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Lucy last head equation. Education. So, how do you, how would you? Describe the training. And the education that's available to the homeless. And have they changed over time? Okay. This place. I asked you anyway, but I know, I wouldn't know. Now

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you wouldn't know man. Okay, I can see the body sees, I see more younger people. Homeless. Now then it was 4 years ago. I can say that and you think that's because lack of Education. If you don't want to do it, right? Young people. Incarcerated

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speaking from Being that going out. You go down and play around around that good. Yeah, but they don't know,

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they don't realize the value them educated. They take advantage of me. Yes, and no thing, okay. Have you experienced domestic violence as home? It's being home. No, you never seen. Nobody get you know,

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oh, yeah, you sink. Well that you experienced visually, but I He's a sexual. Yes, actually, you know being exposed to as a lot of that going on. Yeah, a lot of that going to

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mean I asked that too because I know I know it's a lot of women be out homeless, too. Be out on the street, just as many as men man.

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Okay, so good, that the valence on the street affect homeless and we wind it down. It's not a joke, okay. Oh, he about it. Oh, I sperm. Okay, and it's just a big question, huh? And answer dishes. I mean, This is a big answer right here because this would we really getting that all the time. Are you aware of any? Current groups of strategies that are people engage and try to try and end homelessness, you know, any groups. Have you talked to anybody already in the humanities truck? That's really pathway the house. Okay. Yeah, I've heard of him. Okay.

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So what are they are? So Catholic, charity movements, or You know, you involved with them. Would you like to get involved with? I went out.

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Yeah, so they trying to help you get the previous. I not tell you. I was too worried, homie. I was in the shelter because I was working. Him James, that's when me and my wife put logs out first to our second plate and she was trying to hang on speak with me. We try to be on the streets together, right? And then it changed for with she stayed in the hospital more. He stay on the street to me because I illness. Okay, you know, show and then later she made desolate. So you can send you back on History. We have to discharge you to a shelf shit out. You got to, you got to go yourself. All right, so where did she go from me? Secondly, be from s and deep with Ichigo. Oh, she got it. And again, it is the male and the female chef,

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so s be big do good on finding housing. Helping you all the way through the process. I'm pretty good at this. Is your you. She did. I say she and if she had a ride, she got her own place. so, in conclusion, Is there a question on questions? I should have asked you. Then I did. Cuz I see a lot of questions. It's just something I should have asked you. And my help. How you doing today?

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How are you doing today? Well, I'm sure Dad. So, do you have any other ideas you would like to share? Like what? We can do as much as anybody.

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I'm showing a man going to hear about these interviews right here. So what do you know what? We still all record of we still on for. I think he's the next best thing. I do. Yes, I can. I don't see. I can't see nothing that she didn T have them set out to do that. She didn't do. Right. So but she might feel sure what if you think brother. That's it. Yeah, I think she's overall good. Good, man, and, and that's going to that's going on. And down interview, okay.