Transitions by Mike Hormek - HTML preview

Chapter 4

Jack requested and was granted a leave of absence from his firm to gather his thoughts and decide his future direction. For some time now, he has been aware of homeless veterans on the streets of Vegas. Jack found the police routes on their beats and identified the cops who were the drivers.

There were six, three of whom he worked with and knew personally.

His plan was a way out. He would help only the homeless Vets, limiting them to eight to ten. He would also need the help of the six police officers on the beat, for they would look the other way on his plan.

Jack gathered the cops together.

"You know you guys did have my back when Tom planted the drugs. I feel you guys owe me.

Since I got out of prison, I had some turmoil, as you know, with the murder of my girlfriend and unborn child. And I work for a legal firm as an investigator and analyst."

One of the cops asked, "What's the perpetrator's status?"

"Well, her DNA was all over the place, and in her briefcase was the knife. Her trial is pending; however, her defense is a mental deficit. So we don't know how it will turn out."

"What's your plan, Jack?"

"I will get a van, then gather up eight to ten homeless Vets. Then, I will begin a file on each and determine their health, shelter, banking needs, dress, etc. Each morning, I will meet them in a designated area close to where they are sleeping. I will pack lunch, designate each corner, and then they will panhandle it all day. I will provide signs. I will pick them up and collect ten percent of their take to break even on my expenses. I will keep books on each of them. As they save up enough money, I will buy each a bike and backpack for personal use. I will even hold their money for safekeeping. Then, to keep it random."

"What do you need from us, Jack?"

"Security on your patrols from bullies and look the other way when they are working. I don't need legal or criminal hassles. Can all of you help?"

All cops nodded. A Sergeant spoke up. "We might get some heat from the third floor, but we will do our best to buffer it."

Another cop asked, "How can you trust that they will be honest at the end of the day?"

"There is a certain amount of trust, but they will have a hard time hiding it unless they have a partner coming to get it."

The plan took about a week to organize. Eight men and one woman, all but one of the homeless Vets, bought into the program.

Jack implemented the plan, and corners as the most productive. Some issues were present; other homeless people also used those corners, but they worked around them. There was an issue that Gums needed help with.

"Jack, I need your help."

"What is it, Gums?"

"It appears that some bully is shaking down our people. I have a description, and it sounds a lot like the guy who landed me in prison. Can we get the cops to bring him in?"

"I sure will."

A few days later, Jack got a call from the sergeant. They caught the guy and wanted Gus to check him in a lineup. It turns out it was the same guy. He was arrested for shaking down the homeless and got some jail time. It was a slight justification for Gums but heartwarming.

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Jack returned to work and had another plan in mind. He would form a non-profit organization on Sarah's behalf to assist people experiencing homelessness in Vegas. His vision is to develop a homeless camp with all the amenities.

Meanwhile, Gum's release from prison lands him a job cleaning Jack's employer's offices. He also gives him a room at Sarah's house, where Jack retains residency.

Jack frequently ate at a casino buffet, and it was on a fateful day, he and a friend Danny, a female, would enter the back door and come upon a vicious fight between two men in the alley. One named "Slots" was a familiar homeless person well known to help other homeless in the Vegas shelters and food pantries. Slots appeared hurt and bleeding from his shoulder.

Jack and Danny, a well-built woman who worked as a waitress in the casino, managed to break up the fight and disarm the man with the knife. Jack called 911 and had an ambulance dispatched.

As fate would have it, a producer interviewed Slots for a life storybook and movie, and Busby caught the producer's interest. Slots found and contacted Busby to come in for an interview. As it turned out, Busby's story paid him enough money to begin funding his homeless camp. Gums frequented the food banks and befriended Slots as well.

"I think the camp project might come to fruition after all, "Jack told Gums. But we need a place to hide it from the city's grasp."

"Come to think of it, I have a friend in the Air Force with me and had a lot off the strip. It had buildings torn down, but now it's vacant, and several homeless people have already placed their belongings there."

They met with the lot owner, who said they could use the lot but would have to pay taxes and license fees.

Jack checked with local laws and ordinances, and there were no restrictions as long as the camp remained on regional property and was kept clean and crime-free. His police buddies would help with that, and Gums would be in charge. Jack's law firm agreed to help fund his non-profit organization, which would be the camp's owners.

Jack and Gums immediately went to work. They set up thirty-two tents with screen enclosures for privacy and the weather. Two tents were primarily for the temporary use of families until they could find more permanent shelter. They solicited donations from business owners, who gladly contributed because homeless people would be on the sidewalk before their businesses. Thirty-two tents were a small step in removing more than thirteen thousand homeless people from the street.

Donations allow the purchase of generators and gasoline, such as three refrigerators and a freezer, six gas grills with bottles, and a soft drink machine equipped with bottled water. Some volunteers would visit food banks and make daily deliveries to prepare hot meals for those with afflictions who could not get to food shelters. A bus was donated to transport those needing medical assistance to facilities. A doctor, a nurse, and a pro-bono lawyer from Busby's firm donated their time once a week. A mailbox is available for anyone who wants an address. A community area was available with a TV and library under a giant tent with donated couches. Carpenters made wooden boxes for clothes that came from thrift stores. A minister from the Salvation Army provided services and consultation on Sundays. If anyone wanted to shop elsewhere, a volunteer would provide transportation. For Vets, a staff member visited frequently from the VA for opportunities for employment and stability.

Sarah would have been proud, and Jack sometimes felt like she whispered in his ear, well done, Jack, I am proud of you."

The end

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THE SCARLET HABIT