Concrete Pillows
In New York City
by Herb Bardavid
This is Chris
While walking south on Lexington Avenue near Hunter College, I noticed a man sitting on the sidewalk holding the remains of a cigarette butt in his hands. He didn't have a cup or a sign typically associated with someone homeless, but he looked like a man living on the streets for a long time. Our eyes met, and he asked if I could help him out.
His name is Chris, a 50-year-old single man originally from North Carolina. He has never been married and has no children. He shared that education was essential to his parents, but he struggled and never did well in school. At 15, he dropped out of High School, and his parents told him he could not live at home if he refused to attend school. This ultimatum led to Chris becoming homeless, and he has been living on the streets ever since.
At 17, Chris decided to move to New York City, believing he would have more freedom and that life would be more interesting there. Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol became a significant part of his life. He became addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol, with alcohol being a constant presence since his teenage years. Chris confessed that he has never truly been sober since the age of 17.
He has participated in numerous rehab programs for both substances but holds a cynical view of their effectiveness. To Chris, rehab programs are merely temporary solutions that offer a place to clean up, sleep, and get regular meals. Although he is currently drug-free, he continues to drink. While he says he drinks less than he used to drink, he is not sober and identifies himself as an active alcoholic.
Chris's drug and alcohol use has led to numerous arrests. Despite these challenges, he has never held a job and has no interest in working or finding a permanent place to live. He attributes his lack of desire to improve his living situation to his many years of alcohol addiction.
He mentioned that he is content living on the streets of New York City and has not faced significant issues with the public or the police. When asked about his future, Chris admitted he doesn't know what lies ahead. For now, he plans to continue living and sleeping on the city's sidewalks with his nightly pillow of concrete.