Reader writers get up very close to San Diego's homeless

At the plasma center, Balboa Park, San Diego River

Author

By Stephen Dobyns, Doug DuBrul, Robert Kumpel, Steve Sorensen, David Rioux

Publish Date

June 27, 2021

Though Rat, Painter, and Wyoming would rather panhandle for money, they have been donors there off and on for months. (David Diaz)

Blood Brothers

It wasn’t long before the owner of the radiator shop discovered that Rat had been sleeping in the van. But when the man saw Rat’s beat-up face and how sick he was, he agreed to let Rat sleep there. Rat has a certain way about him that makes people like the shop owner want to help him out. Besides his blond, youthful appearance, he has an eager sincerity, like the perfect soldier he once was.

By Steve Sorensen, Dec. 23, 1987 | Read full article

The homeless are easy to spot roaming downtown streets: slow, aimless gait; dirty, unkempt appearance; frayed, shabby clothes; life’s possessions rolled into a sack.

Labyrinth of the Radiant City

He's got hold of my bag. He’s trying to yank me into the bushes. “What do you want?” I scream. He grips my bag. A tug-of-war begins. “What do you want?” It’s obvious what he wants, stupid. He gets two hands on the strap, pulls harder. “Let go! Let go!” I yank with all I have, and the contents of my bag spill to the sidewalk. The man releases the strap and scuttles behind the bushes.

Labyrinth of the Radiant City, part 2

My thoughts drift to the squirrel woman. Where did she get those bruises? Where is she sleeping tonight? My mind wanders to other people. The little artist I met this morning, probably passing this night on El Cajon Boulevard, sketch pad in hand, a streetwalker modeling. And that teenage runaway. She must be at her sister’s by now. And my father back home. Hope he’s all right. Hope everything’s okay back home. Wonder what time it is in Massachusetts.

By David Rioux, June 10, 1993 | Read full article

Goldie Harris: "I got my mom out here, but I got a lot of homeless people that love me more than my own family...thank you, Jesus."

What Do I Have to Be Thankful For?

Reed: "I have no plans for Thanksgiving. Just be with good friends, like my family here and with Sister Winnie and St. Vincent's and the Salvation Army."

Kakei: "Sister Winnie is over at 16th and Island. She's very good. Horizon is the best one for Thanksgiving. You get showers, you get clothes, You also get an eye test and a glaucoma check. They have doctors — they have everything. It's in Clairemont."

By Robert Kumpel, Nov 22, 2000 | Read full article

Jeff Viator. What struck me as somewhat peculiar is that Viator said he had never seen the police and the police said they had never seen Viator.

They Make Their Home by the River

The Mission Valley Preserve is one of the most beautiful areas in San Diego. It also is one of the ugliest and that is part of the problem. It has native plants, like cottonwoods and willows; and invasive exotics like Arundo donax, salt cedar and palms. It has giant blue heron, Least Bell’s vireos, yellow warblers and feral cats and stray dogs. The river has largemouth bass and green sunfish and - shopping carts and Styrofoam containers.

By Stephen Dobyns, Oct. 18, 2001 | Read full article

Robert: "I got into a fight with my roommate in ’98, and I ended up breaking my hand hitting him, which caused me to lose my job."

Houseless

“I had a business that was failing to support me, and I could not bring myself to let it go. I had to sell everything I own — microwave, childhood toys, guitars, all of my CDs, 99 percent of everything I owned — just to keep it going. I finally walked away. I could not stand the pressure. Digging my food out of a Dumpster or getting lunch and a sermon is so much better than working like a dog.”

By Doug DuBrul, June 22, 2000 | Read full article