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Although, I was aware that the homeless population chose to call East Village home before I did, and I have lived alongside them for many years, I have also seen much of the population change, hardened under the influence of meth; and I have to admit that my heart has hardened along with it.
Thank you for allowing the voice of Liz Hirsh to shatter that shell. I now once again see the not-so-hardcore homeless who were there all along at my (and Liz’s) neighborhood Starbucks. I now see the older homeless men and women, the families hanging by their fingernails on the streets. In other words, I now see my neighbors, to paraphrase Spencer Quinn, “the nation within a nation,” for the first time in many years. Thank you for giving me back that sight.
I would like to suggest that you and Liz write a book — sure would be a boon to both her financial problems and the pitiful salary a poor reporter makes. In fact, I think you should pick a theme off of what you have gleaned — solicit other homeless women, or other homeless older individuals, or other homeless in general to start emailing you. Heck, if you can get some of those highly literate, hardcore off-the-grid OB homeless kids to write in, you may have Pulitzer Prize material.
No matter what you do, thank you. You are reaching us.
Shannon Biggs lives in East Village.
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