7-6-19

 

The electrician is tall and decently muscular. He appears very clean and is always clean shaven. However, because he has been isolated from society, he doesn’t seem very confident. He is uneasy and apprehensive of asking for help. 

 

How long have you been on the streets? 

I’ve been homeless at least 4 years.

 

Have you worked any jobs before? 

I used to be a licensed electrician. It paid pretty good. I did a lot of commercial electrical work. One time, I had a project in Monterey to build a walk in fridge. It was huge, almost the size of a small bathroom. I really love my job, but I can’t work construction anymore. 

 

A volunteer helped me get a job interview once at a fast food restaurant, but I was so uneasy. I felt hesitant, like all my confidence had gone away and I forgot how to talk to normal people. I didn’t get the job, but I want to find one. 

 

Do you have any disability or social security insurance? 

None of them, but I got in a car accident once and it really took a toll on me. I couldn’t walk and I had to get knee surgery. 

 

Do you have any family around here? 

My mom lives about 40 minutes away, and my brother lives even closer. I stay in contact with them. Almost all my electrician tools are in my mom’s garage, but I don’t use them now. Sometimes, I visit my brother and shower at his place, but I don’t want to bother him too much. It’s really important for me to stay clean. When I have some money, I buy a gym membership so I can shower and work out there. 

 

How do you cope with living on the streets? 

I do drink, and I started really young, maybe around 9 years old. It’s because my parents own a liquor store so I had access to everything I wanted. I had a drinking problem and I had to stop working and go to rehab. Part of rehab was mandatory volunteering, so I helped cook food at the salvation army. When I got out of rehab, I wanted to go back to working electrician jobs, but my license had expired. I’m still trying to earn money to renew my license. 

 

Do you have any mode of transportation?

I got a bike, so I use it to get to my brother’s house because he lives nearby. If I want to visit my mom, I take the bus and then Bart to get there.