I used to be homeless. I stayed homeless for about 15 years.
I used to be downtown, begging people for money. I wasn’t raised like that, to just walk up to people and ask for money.
When I moved out to Seattle more than 25 years ago, I thought my two brothers would help me out.
My two brothers wouldn’t even let me live with them. I had to live in shelters — at the Union Gospel Mission, the Compass Center, Bread of Life. The mission would put you out at 4:30 a.m. Where are you going to go at 4:30 in the morning?
I used to go to the hospitals to watch watch sports on TV. The security guard would throw us out of the hospital. I’d have to go back to Pioneer Square, and there’s too much drugs and alcohol out there.
I had problems with drugs and alcohol that started when I was homeless. I wasn’t that way before. I used to call 911, and they’d get a van to pick you up and take you to detox.
I worked when I was homeless. They used to pick us up and take us to Labor Ready — I worked day labor. I did that for about two years when I was homeless and nobody ever knew. I worked on a fishing boat sailing the Bering Sea. I worked as a pot washer at Seattle Pacific University and at McCormick and Schmick’s, but I was still homeless.
I worked when I was homeless.
Here’s what helped me — helped me get off drugs and alcohol and find a home. Seattle REACH [affiliated with Evergreen Treatment Services] at Third and Lenora. Mr. Verlon Brown was a case dispatcher there, and he helped me. I talked to the case managers and before they could give me housing I had to go to treatment at Pioneer Center North. I had to go up there for treatment for about 60 days, and then I had to be in transitional housing for two years.
When you’re in transitional housing, you can’t drink and you can’t use drugs for two years. So I stayed off drugs and alcohol and they got me one apartment, and then they helped me get another one. I’ve been off the streets for 12 years now, and Verlon Brown still calls me every day.
I’ve been off the streets for 12 years now, and Verlon Brown still calls me every day.
I’m not a rich man. I get SSI and I sell Real Change. But thank God I have a home. I’ve even got three TVs! Not good ones, but I can watch all the sports I want.
Nobody wants to be homeless. Nobody wants to be sleeping in a tent, but you do what you gotta do.
Nobody wants to be homeless. Nobody wants to be sleeping in a tent, but you do what you gotta do.
I’ve been selling Real Change for four years now. I sell at Sixth and Union, near Rainier Square.
The only thing that stresses me out now are my bills. But I’m used to paying bills now.
And if you want to come by Sixth and Union to get your paper, I’ll be glad to see you.
Steve Gunn is a Real Change Vendor.
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Real Change is a non-profit organization advocating for economic, social and racial justice. Since 1994 our award-winning weekly newspaper has provided an immediate employment opportunity for people who are homeless and low income. Learn more about Real Change.