This morning on my way to work, driving through town, and while waiting for the light at the Square to turn green I noticed this old gentleman standing on the corner, both hands in his coat pockets, then he made his way across the road in front of me. Once across the street, he moved to the next corner, and waited for the walk sign. If I'm not mistaken, he lives in the boarding house up the streeet, so I'm sure his life feels like it has come to a stand still. (The clock you see here is also at a stand still. It stopped working some time ago, frozen in time now) We have many displaced individuals who reside in a local boarding house in town. Many were moved from the security of State run insitutions when the State decided to deinstitutionalize everyone back in the mid 80's. Personally I believe it was a big mistake, for many had spent most of their lives there, and to be moved out into the community was a scary thing. When I graduated from college, I worked with some of these individuals, teaching them some of the skills they needed to make a "normal" transition into the community, but their fear of the real world was almost too much for them to adjust to. The biggest hindrance to their success was the community's fear of them. The community looked at them as "crazies" and they were soon labeled as problem people. Many still look at them as a nuisance. It is so unfortunate. Some of their stories would tug at my heart. They really never had a chance. When they lived in the institution, many had jobs, and were earning money. Many grew up there, so that was all they knew. Their lives were totally uprooted and traumatized being thrown into a world of no jobs. So many have been medicated to the point that they can no longer function well enough to work, and many business places wouldn't hire these individuals anyway. It is truly a sad story, because many are just good people who had an unfortunate chance at life. We really need to focus some attention on our mental health system. It is lacking. They need our help. Sorry for the soapbox.
Agh, it is so sad how people can be so judgmental towards others like that. I dont even know his story and it makes me sad. beautiful shot Rick...love the clock in there because of how you said time is probably standing still for him. The clock fits in so nicely with your story.
Please step up to the soapbox any time Rick! This has happened many times in my area. They try to open homes in communities and the communites want to get rid of them. If these people, who shun the unfortunate, only knew that they one day could be in the same place, I bet they would think differently.
I always thought that the whole movement in the 80's was wrong. Of course it's always the people who can't speak for themselves that get the short end of these things. Moving picture and speech.
Same shamefull thing has happened here in BC. to save government money. Many end of in group homes if they are lucky and if not....mission houses or jail. Sad really!
It does break your heart. I think many of the lawmakers believed they were restoring the dignity of these individuals, but as in so many situations, there are unintended consequences that lead to far worse situations.
January 20th, 2013
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