From Bridge Street to Home: Mike's Story
Prior to 2016, Mike had stable housing in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 2016 he moved to Nashua to help his brother-in-law complete a construction contract. Mike agreed to live in his sister and brother-in-law’s basement while helping out at work; the brother-in-law agreed to pay him a percentage of what he received for the contract. Instead of paying Mike, however, the brother-in-law spent the money on illegal substances to fuel his drug habit. In the end, the brother-in-law owed Mike over $5,000.
With resentments festering and substance misuse increasing, conditions deteriorated rapidly in the household. Mike soon found it impossible to live with his sister and brother-in-law. Having no vehicle of his own, and not enough cash to even buy a bus ticket back to New Bedford, he was stuck. By early 2017 he was couch surfing in the homes of acquaintances – wherever a friendly person would let him stay for the night
Mike found a local shelter and stayed there for a brief period of time, but conflict with some of the other residents convinced him that he’d be better off alone. He needed a safe place to sleep, where he could stay warm and be protected from both inclement weather and dangerous people.
Safe and warm: home was under the bridge.
He found relative warmth and safety beneath Nashua’s Pine Street Extension Bridge. There, he and a few other unsheltered people developed a tight relationship, based on mutual need and support. Together they watched over each other’s precious few material possessions so outsiders could not steal them. They were enough in number to protect each other. Plus, within the group there was always someone awake at night to stand guard while the others slept. This was a huge advantage; many who live on the streets suffer from sleep deprivation. Others use meth and other stimulants to keep themselves awake – and hopefully safe from predators – because late night is the most dangerous time for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The community beneath the bridge answered so many of Mike’s survival needs that he returned there again and again for the next 2 ½ years. He didn’t have a tent, but was able to keep a mattress and blankets dry under the shelter of the concrete overhead.
Mike continued to cobble together the necessities of life. When he needed to do laundry, he washed his shirts, socks, and boxer shorts in a friend’s tub. Because of the drying time involved with cotton denim jeans, however, he wasn’t able to wash and dry them in a reasonable amount of time. He made do by wearing the same jeans until they fell apart, then he would go to a mission or shelter and try to find a pair in his size. Sometimes he wasn’t able to find any, so he once wore the same pair of pants for five months!
Mike became accustomed to this life. It was stark, and uncomfortable, but predictable. He began to call the place under the bridge “home.” Hearing this, his friend Gina would always respond, “this is not our home.” She felt there was someplace better waiting for all of them, if they could just figure out how to reach it.
In late July, Jessica Lorento, Harbor Care’s Homeless Outreach Program Manager, met Mike during encampment outreach. During encampment outreach, Harbor Care staff visit a specific area – often a park, an overpass, along the railroad tracks, or underused industrial space –where one or more homeless people create shelter for themselves.
Mike was enthusiastic about meeting the outreach staff. Upon hearing that housing was available, he quickly confessed that he felt despair at the thought of another winter under the bridge. His backpack had recently been stolen, and he was exhausted from years of being on high alert.
Gina enjoys visiting Mike’s new apartment.
Jessica immediately referred him for Harbor Care’s Mainstream Housing program. Unfortunately, because Mike did not have a Social Security card or a state-issued photo ID, he was not eligible to apply. Harbor Care staff worked with him, however, helping him navigate the Social Security Administration as well as the New Hampshire DMV. The process was slow, exacerbated by COVID-19 related safety restrictions; it was October before he finally received both required items. After that, however, events moved quickly. Mainstream Housing staff performed Mike’s eligibility screening on October 14th. He received a Mainstream Housing voucher on November 4th, and moved into his own apartment on November 19th.
When asked how he feels now about having his own place, Mike admits the change has been overwhelming. It all happened so fast, after years of struggle, and was such a dramatic difference from his old life that he found it difficult to sleep indoors. The walls and enclosed space seemed stifling, and he would often have to go and sit on his front steps in the middle of the night just to see the stars and breathe in the fresh air.
Now he’s settled into his new life, and is very grateful for this opportunity. Mike views getting his own apartment as “pushing restart” on his life. He’s sleeping through the night now without having to retreat to his front steps…and finds it easy to relax, knowing that he’s safe, from both bad weather and bad people.
He’s home.
Learn more about Harbor Care’s Homeless Outreach Program and our Housing Services today.