Homeless means, “The condition of being without a home.” Homeless addicts are people who are addicted to substances living an unmanageable lifestyle, regardless of the consequences, and homeless. Homelessness is a widespread epidemic that is nationwide. Some major cities formed foundations and coalitions for the homeless. Shelters, soup lines, clothing, and medical, are some of the resources those places has to offer to the homeless.

In San Francisco, a large proportion of the homeless, are addicts and African Americans. Statistics provided by St Anthony Foundation projected that 24% of the homeless have substance abuse problems, and 57% of the homeless are African Americans. Involved in a project myself, as a college student, my assignment was to observe the homeless.

In search of the homeless, I decided to view the ones in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, known as the “TL”. According to a survey by Mission Rock Homeless Shelter, “Sixty-two (62%) percent of clients spent most of their time in the Tenderloin and South of Market section of San Francisco….” (Ambromowitz, October 1998, Department of Public Health.)

At 8:00am, September 2000, I observed homeless people around the premises of Bodecker Park, located between Jones and Taylor (west to east), and between Ellis and Eddy (north to south). The exit of the park ironically leads to the front of Glides Memorial Church, another place where some of the homeless go for services.

The homeless addicts I observed in the Tenderloin, were African Americans. Ages ranged from thirties to fifties, both males and females. The Tenderloin is a high-crime, high-risk area known for drug-trafficking. The streets were infested with trash, cars, bottles, etc. As I walked along Eddy, I smelled different odors such as, alcohol, urine, stale odors, cigarettes smoke, and in some cases breathe.

Some of the people I observed were sitting upon a cement fixture. Some were drinking beer, smoking tobacco, with the appearance of indigent and fatigue. Some were wearing old worn clothing, and sneakers. I saw one guy who did not even have shoestrings in his shoes. Their faces looked hard, as if carved by stone, and unwashed. The elements of Mother Nature and addiction had taken its toll on some of these homeless addicts. Their hands look hard, rough, dirty, and black. Some of the one’s I heard speak, their voices had slurs, from fatigue or drugs, or both. Their eyes were red, and some had bags under their eyes from lack of rest.

According to Mission Rock Homeless Shelter Survey, 38% of the clients said, what kept them from using shelters was lack of space. Homeless addicts also suffer from mental illnesses (National Coalition for the Homeless, April 1999) “Mental disorders prevent people from carrying out essential aspects of daily life….” Some homeless people remain so for a long time. This is obvious of the homeless addicts who suffers according to The American Disease Model, which means an addict uses despite the risks and consequences the addict may face.

You may be wondering, how can the homeless afford alcohol and drugs. Well, I observed that on a different night at 9:00pm. The street surrounding Bodecker Park was busy. There were lots of cars moving and stopping; people in-groups, from the beginning of Eddy and Jones, to Eddy and Taylor, including Ellis and Taylor, to Ellis and Jones. Peddlers selling drugs hanging out like it is legal to sell drugs. The homeless addicts become runners for the peddlers. They are used to transport drugs to potential buyers. The homeless addicts make enough money to supply their habits. Some pay the general assistance hotels ten dollars to stay the night in a friend room.

The streets took on a different look. I even noticed something that I did not during the day. I noticed a portal potty at the corner of Eddy and Jones. A place used by the homeless addicts to fix their drugs. The ages ranged different at night, because of the peddlers. The peddler’s ages ranged from teenagers to there thirties. They are dressed in jeans and shirts, which blends with the night.

The Tenderloin has a lot of evil elements to enhance the area. Infested with dope dealers, liquor stores, and cheap hotels. I felt a sense of shame for those homeless addicts. The cycle of addiction compounds the problems of the homeless. Although to them, it is a form of escape to drink and use drugs. The cycle will continue until one day, some of those young peddlers will become the homeless addict, themselves.

A couple of blocks, toward South of Market, is St Anthony Foundation, a place where the homeless go for services, such as shelter, drug programs, medical, employment, and a hot meal. St Anthony’s is located on the corner of Golden Gate and Jones. I interviewed Sister Sheila Keane. She has a MSW from St Louis University and twenty-five years experiences working with the homeless population. During the interview, she stated that St Anthony’s serves about 1,400 meals per day, and the majority are ‘homeless addicts.’