Jeremy of All Trades 

    This blog serves as a follow-up to the first interview I was privileged enough to conduct with Jeremy. As I mentioned in the first blog I wrote about him in June, titled "My First Interview," we sat down in a local coffee shop to record and put it out as a podcast. I was very excited about this, and having listened to the interview a few times, I got it edited into a product we could put out! This blog captures Jeremy's story and our discussion on the broken system that failed him and many others like him. 

    Jeremy and I first met when I was serving lunch at the shelter. I have been serving lunch every Sunday for over a year. Typically, I would show up and be pretty quiet, and I'd ask the staff how I could be of service and help in whatever way was needed. One day, when Jeremy was coming through the line, he asked me who I was, so I introduced myself. He said he had seen my picture on the Hesed House website, something I still need to find, and called me a Hesed celebrity. After this initial interaction, I would always say hello and try to chat with Jeremy in line. As I began working on Cherry Willow and consuming more of Invisible People's content on YouTube, I thought Jeremy would be the perfect person to approach to ask if he would be interested in sharing his story. I had hesitated to approach anyone in the shelter as I didn't want them to think I was trying to exploit them or their story, as I have seen specific content creators do on social media. When I asked Jeremy, he said he would be very interested in telling his story, and I was thrilled! We set up a meeting time, and I bought the microphones. I was extremely excited to listen to Jeremy's perspective. 

    I started the conversation by introducing myself to our future audience and allowing Jeremy to do so. Jeremy is a fascinating man who has had many life experiences throughout his time. He has been employed as a photographer, worked in the sewer industry, operated heavy machinery, and worked in restaurants. Upon hearing all of the different industries he experienced, I called him "Jeremy of All Trades," playing on the phrase "Jack of All Trades." As a brief aside, the history of the jack-of-all-trades moniker is fascinating. The original quote is attributed to William Shakespeare: "A jack of all trades is a master of none," which is often where the quote ends, but the full quote continues: "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." I describe Jeremy in that way as a compliment because, in his words, "You do what you gotta do to make a living." In addition to working in many different industries and jobs, Jeremy has traveled much of the United States. He has lived in Eugene, Oregon; Austin, Texas; and many other suburbs of Chicago, particularly those in the Fox Valley, namely Dekalb, Batavia, North Aurora & now Aurora. Jeremy has visited 48 states and climbed St Mary’s Glacier and Mt. Hood. He even had a place down in Jamaica for a time. His many different life experiences give him a fascinating and well-rounded perspective. 

    In my experience, when many people see a person experiencing homelessness, they often otherize them and label them as a bum or an addict. They think of them as having done something wrong to end up in that situation. Frequently, people don't take the time to learn about the individual and the experiences that led them to get into their situation. We owe it to the people impacted by homelessness to learn about their lives and experiences before they became unsheltered or unhoused. Jeremy's path to homelessness, like many people in this country, began with an unexpected tragedy. 

    Seven years ago, Jeremy received a phone call that would change the trajectory of his life. On the call, he learned that his older brother had an aneurysm that incapacitated him. To treat the aneurysm, his brother had 3 brain surgeries before ultimately passing away. To cope with the grief of losing a loved one, Jeremy turned to the bottle. He began to drink alcohol to help him get through the trauma he was experiencing. The drinking helped him get through the day, as it does for many people, homeless and with homes alike. I can certainly empathize with Jeremy as I have drank too much at times during my life to get through difficult circumstances. Then began Jeremy's health issues, first he fell down a flight of steps. Then, on another occasion, he was biking, and he was hit by a car. He tried to stop, but his rear brake failed, and his front brake worked, causing him to fly right over the top of the vehicle. Neither of these incidents occurred while he was intoxicated, but they contributed significantly to his alcohol use.

    Now, Jeremy was having to endure not only the emotional grief from losing his brother but also the physical pain from the accidents. Shortly after that, he had a nasty bout of Covid, and the isolation only caused him to lean into the bottle yet again: "If I just have another drink, I'll forget about my pain and problems." Jeremy said in the interview. He also deals with insomnia, and drinking alcohol helped him sleep. A lot of people who drink and do drugs feel forced to because they feel stuck or, like Jeremy, are using them to help ensure hardships. These issues affect a large amount of people in society and, indeed, aren't isolated to the population experiencing homelessness. We all avoid processing problems in some form or fashion. Everyone struggles from time to time and doesn’t have energy. We all practice escapism occasionally by having drinks, watching Netflix or sports, and doing it again the next day. Yet, despite all of the challenges Jeremy has faced since becoming homeless, as of recording this interview, Jeremy was 1 year and 3 months sober! Such an incredible accomplishment to maintain his sobriety while enduring the problematic circumstances of being homeless. This is where we discuss how the system failed Jeremy and so many people like him. 

    As Jeremy began his sobriety journey, he tried to get help for his ailments through the medical system. He was seeing a doctor who prescribed him many different anti-depressants, which often caused more issues with sleeping. When he would go back to the doctor and let them know that the pills they had prescribed weren't working, they would offer many different sleeping pills. Imagine trying to get good sleep in a shelter when there are 300 other men around you in close quarters; that can be a challenge in and of itself. Now, throw in medications that aren't consistent and cause you to be agitated, and it can be a recipe for disaster. Jeremy was able to use marijuana to help get away from alcohol and pain meds. Marijuana helps dull the pain and is healthier and less addictive than narcotics. We discussed the history of narcotic use in the US, specifically the Sackler family, and the blatant lies they spread about OxyContin not being addictive. We discussed how studies have shown psilocybin use to help with depression and how microdosing can help keep depression away. The science behind psilocybin is fascinating in its ability to create new neuropathways. Depression is a negative thought pattern, and doctors have found using psilocybin to aid in the creation of new pathways to enact change quickly. In the '50s, 60’s & even into the ’70s, big pharma successfully lobbied to prevent further medical studies on the use of psilocybin to address things like depression and addiction. This is more than likely because these treatment methods didn't require long-term use of drugs and threatened the pharmaceutical industry's profit machine. Between using weed for pain management and camping to address his anxiety, Jeremy found a solution that worked for him. While camping brings about its own challenges, it was a better solution for Jeremy because of its peace and space. This is another disconnect that I think is very common in society. There is a lack of understanding of why people would choose to camp instead of living in the shelter.

    There are many other reasons that people choose to camp, including things like being able to use drugs and drink (which aren't always permitted in the shelter). Jeremy is sober, yet he decided to camp because he couldn't sleep in a crowded environment. Many people should be able to empathize with this as, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 30% of Americans experience an anxiety disorder at one point in their life. That is one of the reasons why the current approach to addressing homelessness has been largely ineffective, leading to all-time highs in the homeless population in the US. It is unreasonable to expect people to be able to better themselves when living in a shelter or unsheltered and on the street. Think about the chronic levels of stress that these people experience. The shelter can be a tense environment at times, with people who struggle with mental health disorders or are battling addiction. Another system failure is a lack of mental health professionals available for treatment. There are many month-long wait lists to get into a psychiatrist, even for those with a diagnosis. One of the things that Jeremy appreciates the most about the shelter, particularly at Hesed House, is the opportunities to speak to counselors to help. Counselors can only do so much when there are more significant medical and mental health issues that they cannot address. Even coordinating care can be a challenge. Working with multiple doctors and navigating a lack of transportation are difficult hurdles. Thankfully, in Jeremy's case, his insurance provides transportation as long as he can set it up 3 business days in advance. 

    Many people in all walks of life face issues with sleeping or battles with anxiety and substance abuse. These issues are not unique to people experiencing homelessness but are heightened by the circumstances. Imagine if, after a long day at work, instead of being able to go back to your house or your apartment and unwind, you walked into an environment with 200 other people, or you had nowhere to go at all. That alone can be enough to cause anxiety, yet it is a reality that many people impacted by homelessness face every day. This is another misconception that I often hear from the "get a job" crowd. Many people in the shelter have jobs, yet due to the rising cost of housing, they cannot earn enough to support themselves. Again, this is a system failure, not an individual problem. 

    A lack of space is another challenge when living in a shelter or on the street. Jeremy has a small locker available and has to figure out what to put in there; he typically prioritizes a few outfits. When conditions become too difficult to sleep in the tent, Jeremy will sleep in the shelter during the winter. The shelter is doing its best and recently made some beautiful changes, which will undoubtedly help, but these projects have taken years to complete. Before the new construction, up to 300 other men could be in the same quarters. It is common for people to get woken up and startled and become agitated. When it is cold out, you see many people you usually don't see. At the time of the interview, Jeremy was at Hesed every day to shower, use the bathroom & eat. Otherwise, he tried to stay to himself at his campsite for privacy and peace. Currently, he is camped on railroad property; the railroad knows he is there. He and the other guy he shares his campsite with cleaned up their area. They took away 20 bags of garbage, and upon seeing this, the railroad guys let them stay. Living in a tent is not without risks; however, as people will go into tents and steal, there is a sort of code among those who camp. Once you cross that line of stealing, don't be surprised if someone comes back at you. Jeremy shared that self-policing is sometimes ordinary and necessary to keep the peace. 

    There are many different shelters in the area and across the country, and each has specific stipulations for being able to live there. Hesed House is a low-threshold shelter meant to be as accessible as possible. Given that it is a low threshold, some people battle addiction or other mental health issues that stay there. This can add tension and stress to people who are already stressed out. Jeremy discussed a story where one guy got up late and missed breakfast. When he realized he had skipped breakfast, he started yelling; this stirred up the tension in the room, with people feeling nervous. Tense situations can also arise when it rains, as everyone must be inside. The tension brings on fights and scuffles; sometimes, it's much more than that. Jeremy was even head-butted during one altercation when people got mad about something seemingly small, like their table not getting called for lunch. When people started yelling then, Jeremy and a couple other guys told them to shut up and stop screaming, and that's when he got hit. Thankfully, someone was there to help Jeremy calm down, but tense moments are ordinary at the shelter. Another issue contributing to people being on edge in the shelter is theft. Jeremy shared that he feels he must watch his stuff continually; thankfully, he built a community of friends who looked out for each other. He shared how hard it can be if you don't have friends. 

    Another misconception that Jeremy addressed was how long people stay in the shelter, sharing some guests have lived there for 20+ years. Shelters are meant to be a short-term solution, but they often become long-term due to the lack of affordable housing. Jeremy shared he sobered up right before he got to Hesed. He goes to AA (alcoholics anonymous) every once in a while but doesn't care for a lot of the group as meetings are very religious. A typical meeting would consist of reading the bible or other books that Jeremy didn't find beneficial. He goes to NA (narcotics anonymous) meetings much more frequently. Those meetings are typically less about religion and more about sharing stories and personal experiences. NA is very relaxed, encouraging people to share and open up about their struggles. The first step is recognizing that you have a problem and showing up. Identifying that you can't solve the problem alone and need help is a huge first step and difficult for many people to make. Through my volunteer work, I have come to know a wonderful AA group that serves lunch every other month at Hesed. They always have such positive energy; the day they serve is one of my favorite days at the shelter. People coming together and bonding on shared experiences is very powerful. Every time they serve they lead with empathy and offer to support anyone attending in their sobriety journey. When Jeremy decided to get sober, he tried getting into a rehab facility, which took over 2 months. By the time he was able to get in, he had already been sober for 2 months, thanks to the support of a friend who was 50 days ahead of him with his sobriety. They lived together for a few months and supported each other throughout that process. 

    Another observation that Jeremy discussed was the process of getting people placed into housing. From Jeremy's perspective, it seemed like a shotgun approach, with some people having an opportunity to get put into apartments and getting kicked out 3-4 times while others hadn't had one chance. Jeremy is sure there are some criteria that the apartments use to place people, but it can be challenging to understand. Jeremy shared that seeing certain people get opportunities before others can be frustrating. He speculated that the shelter prioritizes placing people causing problems first in housing. That often leaves the people who have been stable and good guests sitting in limbo. 

    Instead of focusing on obtaining housing through the shelter, which can be out of his control. Jeremy is focused on his health. Health is wealth, and Jeremy is working to improve in this area. The first thing Jeremy needs to do is to get his back, shoulder, and neck better. His C2 and T7 are crushed. Finding treatment is the top priority to get the back pain gone. He also needs a shoulder replacement on his left shoulder. The shelter puts up signs where there is work, but most opportunities must be self-generated. Jeremy’s problem is he can’t stand for more than 3 hours as he gets significant back pain, something most employers aren’t the most understanding about. He hopes to get treatment for his back and neck over the summer. Then, will figure out his shoulder, taking it one step at a time. The doctor suggested getting his back worked on first, as shoulder surgery is several hundred thousand dollars. Then, he will redo his shoulder, remove some of the bones, and reattach them with titanium. In Jeremy's story, multiple factors caused him to end up in the shelter. These causes are not unique to him. Anyone can lose their job or get hurt, creating a negative spiral. Once in the negative spiral, plenty of institutions exist that look to capitalize. 

    

    Jeremy and I both have experience working in retail banking, and we discussed how banks often take advantage of people struggling with their finances. For example, Bank of America made 2.5 billion dollars in overdraft fees last year alone. Jeremy used to work at Gary Wheaton, First Chicago Bank, where he observed many people didn’t understand finances. I worked at 5/3 Bank, and I saw people give 10% of their checks to the bank every week to get their paychecks a week early. I also saw people who would leave balances on their credit cards by not paying them off, which led to constantly battling interest—constantly from behind, pushing a boulder uphill. In this country, it is relatively easy if you want to create a business that provides no value, like a payday loan place, to take advantage of people in a desperate financial position. The system is set up like a loan shark. High-interest loans are given to people with the least means. If you miss one payment, you’re screwed, they’ll push you to the edge, and then the bank can seize your assets.

    Another institution that has caused problems recently is institutional buyers acquiring single-family homes. This is a large contributor to the rising home prices, which make It very difficult for people to buy homes currently. The cost of living has completely outpaced earnings. One person used to be able to support a family, and now two people working full time can’t. 50% of our money goes to taxes, 30% to income, and 20% to sales and other taxes. The government frames the lack of action to support people as an issue of lack of funds, yet there is always money for war and corporate tax breaks. The people at the top are interested in maintaining the status quo, which benefits a select few. Lobbyists are present throughout DC, acting on behalf of the corporate interests they represent. This leads to many self-justifications from politicians kicking the can down the road. The government is not incentivized for efficiency; it’s structured to have people constantly needing more. This is something that needs to change!

    Jeremy and I discussed leaving the gold standard and tying our dollar to gasoline as a questionable decision. Tying the dollar to gasoline impacts food costs. We incentivize farmers to take corn and turn it into ethanol. We can produce more than enough food to feed everyone, but companies will throw it away if they can’t sell it at a profit. Farmers measuring stick is yield and relying on government subsidies. Not operating in a sustainable, profitable way. Corporations create hybrid strains for seeds to ensure that they need to buy seeds each year. So many systems have manufactured scarcity to ensure profitability for corporations. The needs of the few do not outweigh the needs of the many. We discuss how exponential growth isn’t a sustainable business model. Big corporations are not paying enough taxes, and energy companies are receiving government subsidies. Giving money to different companies instead of directly to people leads to bad outcomes. We discussed how we are encouraged by increasing awareness of government inefficiency. We discussed that the best action is to participate more in local government. Focus on the impact local representatives can make in your community. We are all in this together! 

    In conclusion, you can’t always tell who is homeless. Treat all people as individuals. Be genuine, sincere, and kind. Don’t judge people. Do your best to not label people and lump them all into one bucket. You do not know someone just because you know a few things about them. For example, knowing someone's religion gives you insight into that person but does not provide the whole story. Knowing that someone has battled addiction or depression gives you an idea of one of the challenges that person has faced, but it does not tell you who they are. There is no one right way to live for everybody, but there is a right way for anyone to live. Whatever belief system enables you to live your best life, do that! Respect others who do the same thing, regardless of whether your beliefs are the same. Everyone’s perception is different. We’re all a collection of our own unique experiences. We are all blessed to be alive and spinning around the planet together. Do your best to recognize that everyone is different and beautiful in their own way. When you see people experiencing homelessness, take the time to get to know them. You don’t know how they got there unless you ask. You create an opportunity to make a difference for that person by asking. For example, if Jeremy had a car, he could have started working again. To get a car, he needs to get a license but to take the test and get the permit, he needs a car. These are the type of challenges that people are facing every day. You can help support Jeremy by sharing his story. This article links to his Facebook page, where he will include some photos that he has available for purchase, which is another way you can provide support!