Signs for the Homeless

An exchange project for homeless people
by artist Kenji Nakayama & Christopher Hope

A sign in exchange for donations and a hand painted sign.

( Editor’s Note: Thank you for your continued support of this art project. Please continue to spread the word! As the project grows, more artists AND subjects are actively requesting to be a part of it. For the design of Mike’s sign, we give thanks to this month’s featured guest artist, Carl Frisso from Norway! Please check out more of his work at http://www.behance.net/frisso)

April 2013, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

Name: Mike a.k.a. “The Pope of Harvard Square”

Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in Boston, MA. 

How old are you?
  57 years old.

What was it like growing up?

I’m adopted Ok. I was adopted through the Catholic Charities at 4 months old to the best family in the world. My father owned funeral homes and construction sites. My mother was a stay-at-home wife. I also had a sister who was adopted. My family are all dead now.

How long have you been homeless?

Since 2009.

How did you become homeless?

I always did relatively well in life. I was a construction work supervisor. In 2008 I had a mild stroke, and months later was laid off during the economic crash. I have a lot of medical bills, and because I haven’t fully recovered from my stroke, I can’t go back into the construction business again. My health is about 65% back to where it was, and I’m grateful for that. But my poor health hinders me from going back into my trade.

How do you get through the cold winters?

It is very tough. Very tough. The problem is when you wake up with 6 inches of snow on you. There is never enough space in the shelters, and you don’t know where your next meal is going to come from. Fortunately, some businesses in Cambridge allow you to sleep in the door ways of some of the stores for shelter.

What is your biggest struggle being homeless?

Maintaining interpersonal relationships. Everybody in the streets are always coming and going. You have friends that are here today but are gone tomorrow. 

I want to thank you guys for your donation of twenty dollars. It will really help me get through this week.

April 2013, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

Name: Colleen

Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised between Boston and Cambridge.

 How old are you?
  20 years old.

What was it like growing up?
My childhood was good. My family did provide the basics. I do remember being a kid and imagining more for my life. I did not aspire for this. No one wants to be homeless. I hope that people read this and understand… no one sets out to be on the street. Its just that life happens, and it can happen to anyone. Growing up I was told not to judge anyone, so I hope people don’t judge me.

How long have you been homeless?

I have been homeless for three years.

How did you become homeless?

I ran away from home. I don’t feel good talking about why I ran away. Speaking about it is very difficult for me.  Unfortunately, when you’re living on the street you get exposed to different things and so I started taking drugs. It is something that I constantly battle with everyday.
A few months ago, I woke up in the hospital, and my boyfriend and the doctors were looking down at me as I lay in the hospital bed. They told me that I had a drug overdose. My boyfriend is the only support that I have out here, and he also struggles with addiction. I love him a lot. But it is difficult to try and help him with his problems when I can’t even help myself. I am hoping for a miracle so that we both can get “clean” soon and get off the streets.
What is your biggest struggle being homeless?

I would say it is the bridges that I’ve burned with my family and friends. My addiction has created so many problems between me and my family. I don’t even know where to start to make amends. Every time that I think I’ve got this thing beat, I let them down. It hurts because I miss my family but I understand why they stay away.

April 2013, Davis Square, Somerville, MA

Name: Jimmy Sunshine

Where are you originally from?
I was born in Massachusetts but raised in Delaware & parts of Pennsylvania. My family returned to Massachusetts almost 20 years ago where we lived in Malden, MA.

 How old are you?
  31 years old.

What was it like growing up?

My Dad was a salesman and my mother was a housewife. I have one younger sister. I had pretty hippy parents, which may be one of the reasons why I am homeless now. My parents had some radical ideas about life. When we owned a farm, my parents would take in homeless men and empower them by having them work for room and board. They would stay in our barn after doing chores like mowing the lawn, or other landscape work.

I remember on one occasion when we had at least six guys living in our barn. All of them eventually got back on their feet! These experiences at a young age were my first with the homeless. They later helped shaped my ideas of homelessness as an adult.

How long have you been homeless?

I have been homeless for four years.

How did you become homeless?

I used to have my own place in Malden , and worked by driving a forklift at a warehouse for meager wages. I just got sick of shelling out money and yet, I’d still be starving. I was working for very low wages, and eventually I thought to myself, “Instead of starving inside my apartment, why not eat like a King outside?”. I decided to start living on the street since March 2009 and have not looked back ever since.

How do you get through the cold winters?

I use one or two sleeping bags. Also, I try to find cover anywhere. My favorite location to sleep is under church doorways, because they tend to be safe. No one messes with you when you sleep under church doorways. They are a safe haven for me.

What is your biggest struggle being homeless?

I would say it is harassment from the police. The police consider me an “eye sore” in the community, so they give me a very hard time. In actuality, I probably do just as much good for the community as they do.  I know who the drug addicts, the rapists, the dealers, and the convicts are. I pray for them all in the streets, and I try to live by example as a Christian. I know several people out here whom I have helped change their lives for the better. God is awesome like that!

March, 2013, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

Name: Susan J.

Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in East Boston, MA, and I have lived with my family in Cambridge for the last 20 years. My husband is from Cambridge so we decided to raise our three sons here. My family is myself, my husband, and our three sons (two of which are under 18 years old). The oldest is 26 years old and he has developmental issues.

 How old are you?
46 years old.

What was it like growing up?

It was great coming from East Boston. I came from a strong family of nine siblings. I come from a working class family. My mom was a caterer and my father was in construction until he had an accident on the job. Our mother was truly the backbone of our family. When she passed, all of the siblings scattered and we have been disconnected ever since.

How long have you been homeless?

We have been homeless for 18 months.

How did you become homeless?

My husband lost his job (truck driving) around the same time I was diagnosed with breast cancer and a cancerous tumor in my neck. I was a stay-at-home mom. We had a house, two cars, and two motorcycles less than three years ago. We now only have each other.  

How do you get through the cold winters?

This past winter we slept outside with lots of blankets and cardboard. We try to stay in shelters when at all possible.

What is your biggest struggle being homeless?

Finding a safe place to lay my head and shower. You don’t realize how you take the small things for granted like a toilet or a shower. 

Also facing the stigma. One of my sisters saw me out in the streets in Harvard Square three times and did not say anything to me. It hurts a lot because I have always looked out for my family and no one is helping us.

Feb. 2013, Central Square, Cambridge, MA

Name: Angela Douyon-Previlon

Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in Boston, MA.

What was it like growing up?

It was very hard growing up in poverty in Boston. I have three siblings on my mother’s side and twenty five siblings on my father’s side. I was in the care of my family until I was nine and then I was put into social services until I was twenty-one.  I stayed in a group home until I was fifth-teen and then bounced from family to family until I was twenty-two.

How long have you been homeless?

Four years.

How did you become homeless?

I just got tired of living under other people’s rules. I was staying with my sister. However, my sister was very abusive and stabbed me in the head during a fight. Obviously, I could not stay with her so I am now on the street.

How do you get through the cold winters?

I always try to find a safe, warm place. There is a safe haven in Cambridge on Broadway St. I go there sometimes.

What is your biggest struggle being homeless?

Being depressed. I do not like this lifestyle. I try to stay positive because you could be depressed living in the streets.

Feb. 2013, Central Square, Cambridge, MA

Name: Rudolph West

Age: 63

Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in North Philadelphia.

What was it like growing up?

I came from a poor family in a tough part of North Philly. My uncle and aunt originally came from Cambridge, MA. My core family is pretty large, with six boys and six girls.

How long have you been homeless?

Eight years.

How did you become homeless?

I have numerous incarcerations and no work place wants to give me a chance.

How do you get through the cold winters?

Friends & family.  I sleep in their homes.

What is your biggest struggle being homeless?

Money and shelter. I can’t gain employment because there are no jobs. My CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) holds me back in many ways.

Feb. 2013, Central Square, Cambridge, MA

Name: Dana Robinson

Age: 45

Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in Jamaica Plains, MA.

What was it like growing up?

I came from a middle class family. My family was very religious (Baptist Christians) so the Church played an important part part in my upbringing. I was real good in playing sports, especially basketball. As a child I remember wanting to be a professional basketball player.

How long have you been homeless?

Three years.

How did you become homeless?

I was arrested. I was never convicted of a crime, only arrested for it. However, it is on my CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information). My CORI is playing a big role in me being denied a job and housing. I am currently being denied housing based on my conviction record and am appealing this decision to get housing. I do not want to be out in the streets.

How do you get through the cold winters?

Friends & family members. I often “couch surf” from one place to another.

What is your biggest struggle being homeless?

Trying to knock down doors of employment and housing. Employers and landlords look at your CORI and deny you access without considering the fact you are trying to change your life for the better. I was never convicted but because I was arrested I can not get a good job. More and more it feels like I can’t escape my past.

Alberto, February 2012. Kneeland Street near South Station. 

He has been in Boston for almost 20 years, before he came to Boston, he was a homeless in Providence. He states ”Boston is a better place for homeless” 

Today, he spends most of his nights in a shelter.  

Jim, February 2012. Kneeland Street near South Station. 

Jim is 58 years old. He has been homeless since he was 16 years old. He is from Boston. 

Frank, February 2012. I-93 off-ramp near South Station. 

Frank is 74 years old. He has been homeless for twenty-two years in Boston, where he also grew up. Before living on the streets, Frank was in jail for theft. He says that since he has been sober, he “has been out of trouble.” When I told him I would stop by again soon, he told me that it wasn’t necessary—“you don’t have to buy a sign anymore!” He spends his days and nights near South Station.