For our last episode of this week’s Local Matters series on homelessness, I went to Stemm vun der Strooss, a social restaurant for homeless people and others without money. I meant to ask those who live on the streets how they manage to keep up when it’s freezing out there. Most people however, little surprising, didn’t want to talk to me. One man in his fifties, he wears a beard, a backpack and a beret, was happy to talk, but not really interested in the questions I had for him. But I just let him talk about what he wanted to say. Of course, I was not able to verify his stories, but let’s hear what he has to tell.
It’s a big difference if you decide to live on the streets or if you’re forced to. If you have given everything. I had an apartment, I had a family, I was carpenter in many countries. But today, I gave the apartment to my wife and my children. They needed a roof above their heads, to not end up in the same situation as I am in. I have given everything to live in the streets. But for me, this is only a transition. I manage. I have lived on the streets twice. For the first time when I was 11. I left my home with only a piece of bread. Because they hit me. We were 14 brothers and sisters, we didn’t have enough food and everyone hit each other to get some. So I took to the streets when I was 10, 11. I started to work in the vineyards. The chef wanted to show that he was some kind of king. He took a metal cord and beat us on the back, so that we worked faster to collect the raisins.
In life, you always say there are ups and downs. … Everyone who is on the street thinks they are genius, they will get out of there soon and easily. But that’s not how it is. You need a very good opportunity to get out, and above all, you need a clear mind, and the right spirit.
You know, I came, I am like a collector’s car. You stay aside and wait until the value increases. The value is what you’re doing, where you’re from, and what you’re still good for, still useful.
I actually have a woman, she’s my fiancé, she’s a tramp, too. Her heart made her end up on the streets. Her way of being, she’s a good person. I get a lot from her and I can give her some warmth, some affection. On the streets, there are a lot of people who are married, have a family, but there is no space for love.
The people could have more respect for the homeless people. We are not the homeless ones. They are. Even you. It concerns you too. Today you’re here and tomorrow, you could end up on the streets, for whatever reason, things can become slippery, everyone can become homeless.
You know, you need to manage to live within this system. And this is not easy. Even not talking about the homeless, you know, you have a family who lives in poverty, who need everything, and don’t have enough, the mums go to the grocery store, they want to buy a steak for their children, but don’t have the money to pay it. And the worst thing is: The stores afterwards throw it away, instead of giving it to the poor.
My plans for Christmas? Listen, if I manage to make the person I love happy, and if I manage to make my children laugh, that’s already not bad. And then, Christmas, we will have a feast here, it’s kind of magical, there is a lot of shiny, glittery stuff, that’s good, if you’ve seen that, that lasts for always. A lot of people donate and stuff, but sometimes this is not enough, sometimes, you need to raise the spirits and boost the morale.
On Saturday, the Asbl Noel de la rue invites all the homeless, the poor and the lonely people, for a Christmas feast. Volunteers have already prepared small gifts and volunteers will also hand out a festive meal for Christmas. There will be a Christmas mass and singing, music and card games. One festive day, also for those who don’t have many reasons to celebrate.