Once More into the Breach with Mark (Part 5)

I found Mark at noon sitting in front of the grocery store reading a book, selling newspapers, his one bag possessions resting neatly next to him

Jacob from the Old Crow Book Club was there.

I got right to the point. Five minutes later I had learned:

Mark had not turned down placements at two Safe Rest Villages because no one had offered them. He hadn't seen his outreach worker since initial contact a week ago. No one else from the program had contacted him in person.

Jacob confirmed that he had been with Mark for most of the last 24 hours and no one had shown up and offered Mark housing.

Mark had said he would accept any placement. It didn't matter anymore, if it ever did.

What the hell was going on?

I let out a stream of profanities. Once more into the breach of bureaucratic maze of molasses and mayonnaise indeed!

Obviously and predictably, there had been some kind of colossal miscommunication or incompetence at some administrative level, something that has distinguished the city, county and non profits' attempts at alleviating the crisis of homelessness.

There was no time to dwell on this. I pulled out my phone and walked around the corner to muffle the street noise. I called the outreach worker. He picked up! I asked if Mark had turned down two placements. He'd didn't know what I was talking about. There was nothing as yet available for Mark. I told him about the communication from the Mayor's office. He didn't know anything about it. I thanked the outreach worker's effort on behalf of Mark and said I was ready to assist in any fashion.

I walked back to Mark and Jacob. I told Mark I had made contact with the outreach worker.

For the next few seconds we hashed out possibilities of this snafu. Then I asked Mark to swear he told me the truth, and said to place his hand on a copy of The Old Crow Book Club while doing so. We laughed but he complied.

We all laughed and then Mark said, “I always tell the truth...except about getting laid.”

That broke us up again.

I said goodbye and returned home.

Two hours later I received a call from Jacob.

“Matt,” he said, “you won't fucking believe what just happened!?”

“What?” I said.

“The outreach worker showed up about a half hour after you called, and arranged for a taxi to take Mark to a Safe Rest Village!!!”

I could not believe it. I started crying. Jacob provided a few more details. Mark seemed a little shell shocked at the whole prospect, but he got in the taxi and left to a new life, if he wanted it.

Jacob also said the outreach worker took his information and he was now on a waiting list!

I told Jacob I would try and find Mark tomorrow in front of the grocery store and see how his first night went at the Safe Rest Village.

It had been years, perhaps decades since I'd felt this happy. I knew there was still a ways to go with Mark, but it didn't feel as long as before.