This is week two of my latest installment, songs that remind us of homelessness. ”Harry Hippy” is an old Bobby Womack song and is recommended by Kathy, our Housing Coordinator.
This is a totally different style than “Mr. Wendal” and has a different message as well. In our interpretation, Harry is a chronically homeless individual, one of the ones you can’t always reach. We have some clients like Harry – sometimes we can help them, and sometimes they choose a different path. Like Harry, they each sing their own song.
When someone choses an addiction or self-destructive habit over an outstretched hand, it raises so many questions; how did this person slip through the cracks? What could we have done differently? I think this song expresses some of that sense of loss and frustration.
Coming next week . . .
Read the story of Mike T., a former mechanic and drug addict who found his way out of homelessness via Respite Permanent Housing – he’s moving into his new place tomorrow! And although Mike isn’t a “Harry Hippy,” he used one of the same phrases that was used in the song when I interviewed him, “just floating around,” to describe homelessness. His is truly a homeless success story.
My daughter and her husband are the ultimate cocaine addicts. They have two children; the oldest child has cerebral palsy because she smoked cocaine in the early stages of labor. Today, that daughter is 5 years old, can’t talk or walk, can’t see and she has the mind capacity of a 3 month old baby. They have been living with me for 5 months-pay no bills, spend the daughter’s check on drugs, sell food stamps and constantly call me a liar for calling them out. The husband weighs 275 and is gaining. In the meantime she has picked sores in her face. They usually sleep til 1:30 get up fix breakfast go back to sleep then party when I go to sleep usually at 10pm. I don’t know what to do.
Anonymous,
I’m sorry that you’re in such a tough situation and wish I could provide more help. It must be incredibly difficult to deal with. Unfortunately, I’m not an expert on treating people with drug addiction (or a medical professional). There should, however, be social service agencies in your area that can help you. Depending on where you live, you may be able to call 2-1-1 (United Way helpline) for a referral or try googling “help for drug addicts in (your city).” Take care!