Every day, we pass by homeless people on the street without giving them a second thought. It’s not often that people consider how they got there. However, when you take a minute to ask, you can discover incredible stories.
Panhandling outside of Safeway, with a shopping cart and faded clothes, is Daniel.
Born in Santa Monica, he grew up different from most. His dad owned a chain of nail salons, and Daniel grew up painting nails. He met a Honduran immigrant in 1988 and, at the age of 18, married her.
Daniel admits that this was just one of many mistakes he’d make in his life. They divorced within six months and less than a year later, he was caught up in an illicit drug operation and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Luckily, he had skills that allowed him to lower his sentence through work credit programs. While in prison, he worked as a head chef and as a barber and was released after 12 years. Leaving prison, Daniel decided to pursue his passions. He attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and earned his bachelor’s degree.
Daniel moved to Humboldt 15 years ago to take over his uncle’s business after he passed. When the business swiftly closed, he was left with nothing and out on the street.
Living on the streets hasn’t been easy on Daniel. He faces harsh weather, cold nights, and violence. He’s been attacked and robbed numerous times, even stabbed. He works afternoons walking dogs and cleaning houses and has a few friends on the streets he can rely on.
The police have been good to him; they give out warm meals and check in on his safety. “It’s about respect,” Daniel said. “If you show them respect, they’ll show you respect.”
Outside of CVS, a weathered man sits on the curb. Despite the cold and rainy weather, he’s smiling, waving at every car that drives by. Approaching him, he sticks out his hand and introduces himself with a grin.
From Ingusetia, a small Russian Republic, Dmitry speaks with a thick Russian accent. His family fled to America when he was 10, escaping violence and political instability.
He attended high school in San Jose, where he played football and ran track. He partied and surrounded himself with unhealthy people. His father was an addict, and Dmitry began to use at a young age. As his addiction grew, he began stealing and living on the streets of San Francisco. After 3 years of this life, he was arrested and sentenced to 6 years in jail for theft.
Prison provided Dmitry with plenty of time to reflect on his life. Disturbed by his actions, he decided to sober up and find healing and peace through religion. With time on his hands, he read the Bhagavad Gita, the Old and New Testaments, the Quran, and the Vedas. Working as part of a fire crew, he was able to reduce his sentence to only 3 years.
After his release, he got a job in a warehouse in Santa Cruz and supported his stepdad, who was suffering from dementia. They frequently argued, and feeling unsatisfied with life, Dmitry decided to embark on a spiritual journey. Inspired by the Buddha’s journey for enlightenment, he sold all his material possessions and began traveling north.
He’s been living in Humboldt for almost 6 months, sleeping on the streets and panhandling. He enjoys spreading positivity and never hesitates to smile and wave at people walking by.
“You never know what kind of day someone is having, or what kinds of things they’re going through. Just being friendly can save someone’s life.”
Multiple of Dmitry’s friends passed by, and each time, he took a minute to offer them food and check in with them.
“What goes around comes around,” he says.
We should all try to be a little like Dmitry, and, no matter the circumstances, stay positive.
Statistics:
- Humboldt County has over 1700 homeless people
- In 2024, California reported having around 71,000 emergency shelter or transitional housing beds. California has an estimated homeless population of 187,000.
- 0.48% of California’s population is homeless, the fourth highest per capita rate in the nation
- The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of cities enacting penalties and fines on homeless individuals in Grants Pass v Johnson.
- The case ruled that “civil and criminal penalties on homeless people are not unconstitutional, does not constitute ‘cruel and unusual punishment’”
- Grants Pass has made it illegal for anyone to camp on public land in their city or even sleep in their car
- Cities are allowed to fine or jail individuals for up to 30 days
- As many as 40% of homeless people have jobs
- The total U.S homeless population rose by 18% from 2023 to 2024
- The total U.S homeless veteran population has been steadily declining since 2009
- Native Americans make up the largest proportion of homeless individuals in the U.S
- Recent cuts to the Housing and Urban Development Department are expected to further increase the housing shortage
