Real Change News | Vendor of the Week

January 20, 2010
Vol: 17 No: 4

Vendor of the Week

Vendor of the Week - William Prosolow

by: Jane Austin

Photo by: Jane Austin , None

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“Each night that the sun goes down I am wondering: Am I going to get harassed tonight? By anybody. Not just by the authorities, but by anybody because you’re vulnerable, you’re exposed. Whereas when I was living in my tent in a secluded area, I didn’t feel that, other than just the wild animals. I was a wild animal. I still kind of feel that in my blood.”

William Prosolow was forcibly removed by police from a tent city four years ago. “I thought I had it tough when I was living in a tent … but the people on the streets have it so much rougher because it’s really hard to find a dry place where you’re out of the rain, under cover.”

Exposed on the streets he often finds himself in the company of empty buildings. “There are schools that are sitting idle … great big buildings with boards over the windows that they can make into homeless shelters.”
A passionate advocate for housing for the homeless, he would like the city to “give a person a place where he can go, [so] you’re not hanging out in the library or the park or just walking up and down the street like you don’t know where you’re going.”

Prosolow has found a place to go where he feels welcome and safe from harassment: the Ballard Post Office on 17th and 57th. There he stands six days a week, selling Real Change. “I really enjoy being here … I have the pleasure of speaking with people every day.”

The support and empathy he receives from the community is powerful. “They greet me with open arms every day. I love it … I have a family of people who enjoy seeing me and I enjoy seeing them.”
To his customers and the Ballard postal workers he says: “I love each and every one of you and I appreciate the ‘hello’ and ‘have a good day.’”

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Comments

I’m afraid that unless there is real change more will be joining you. I’m Country Carl an artist and advocate in Maple Valley for the unemployed at http://unemployment-gone-mad.com/

Country Carl | submitted on 01/23/2010, 12:41pm

http://homelessforums.com

tee | submitted on 01/27/2010, 1:26pm

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