Ingemar Hankerson
Ingemar Hankerson has recently experienced houslessness and is currently living in a sober living house. He now works with the donations at Elijah’s Promise and has been clean for four years.
ANNOTATIONS
Learn More [1]: Kultys, Kelly. n.d. “Regulating Sober Living Poses Challenge for Lawmakers, Homeowners.” Burlington County Times.
Learn More [2]: “About.” n.d. Oxford House NJ.
Learn More [1] : “Drug Courts.” n.d. njcourts.gov.
Learn More [2] : “Drug Court FAQ.” n.d. njcourts.gov.
Learn More [1] : “For Thousands in N.J. with Special Needs, Wait for Housing Can Be Endless.” n.d.
Learn More [2] : “Social Security Advisory Board Statement on the Supplemental Security Income Program The Complexity of In-Kind Support and Maintenance.” n.d.
Learn More [3]: Social Security Administration. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in New Jersey. PDF file. 2020.
Learn More [1]: “Why Newark Has Trouble Getting Homeless Off the Street | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News.” n.d. WNYC.
Learn More [2]: “News: Mayor Baraka Implements Year-Round Homeless Shelters.” n.d. www.newarknj.gov.
Learn More [1]: “Unsafe and Unwell: How Homelessness Affects Women and How to Help - Blog.” 2019. Usc.Edu. April 5, 2019.
Learn More [2]: People, I., 2020. Dynamics Of Homelessness. [online] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
TRANSCRIPT
Interview conducted by Kristin O'Brassill-Kulfan
New Brunswick, New Jersey
February 11, 2020
Transcription by Ala' Jitan
Annotations by Emily Borowski
Okay, so it is February 11th and my name is Kristin O'Brassil-Kulfan and I am sitting in New Brunswick on Neilson Street with Ingemar Hankerson who has agreed to sit down and talk with me for this afternoon. Thank you so much for being here.
You're welcome. Thank you for having me.
Do you have any stories you would like to tell me?
I don’t know, as far as what though? I mean..
Well, we could start with this question.
Mhmm.
Where are you living right now? Where did you sleep last night?
Oh, I’m living in a, uhh.. like a sober living house--
Okay.
It’s called the Oxford House
Mhmm.
And I’m living there and that’s where I slept at last night. It’s a whole like a long story, but.. You know I was uh [pause] an addictive person to drugs. But, which uh, as a matter of fact next month I have four years clean.
Congratulations.
And uh, it’s really took a big step but, what has helped me with that I’m also on a Drug Court probation, and uh, they really.. they really.. helped me a lot with that. Made me see the light, the other side of the tunnel. You know, so now I’m able to do things that I wouldn't have been able to do, as far as, when I was in my addictive stage. As far as being there for my son-- I was always there for him, but not as much as I am now. You know, and it really feels good and, I’m working here, at Elijah’s promise now and then that feels good too because now I feel like Im getting back. You know I, [pause] help the homeless, I help with donations, I do a lot around here, and I really feel good about myself today.
That’s wonderful.
I really do, especially the part of uh, taking care of my family now. You know that was always a struggle-- and I’m not gonna to say it’s easy now, because it’s not, but uh [pause]. It’s better than it was before. I don’t have a problem with, uh, if my son needs something, saying that I don't have it. Now it’s more like, [chuckles] weed. [Laughter]
[Laughter].
“How you doing in school?”
Mhmm.
And things of that nature. So that’s basically it. I mean, I’ve come far. Believe me, I’ve come far, I’m fifty-seven years old. And I’ve really come far and there’s, it just really like sucks-- because um.. It has taken me this long to do something like that. I think I was, fifty-three? fifty-four? What when I got into recovery. And it really sucks, that it took me that long. I probably had clean time in the past, you know, but it never lasted. You know, I have a couple years here, a couple years there, and then.. something tragic will happen in your life and something like that, and I didn’t know how to deal with it then like I do now. And um, you just go back out there. So, now I feel pretty good about myself. And I really don’t like talking about it too much, because I don’t know why but I’m afraid something is gonna jinx it.
Sure.
You know, and--
We could talk about something else if you prefer?
Ehhh.. [pauses] Yeah.
Okay. Do you want to tell me where you grew up?
Oh, I grew up in uhh.. Essex County, in the Newark- East Orange area.
Mhmm. What was it like growing up there?
Oh that was great. It was really great. That’s where I uh--- well, I was a teenager and that’s where I basically uh [pause] started getting in trouble. Because I was just going to high school and, how could I say, wanted to be a part of the cool crowd so you had to do what the cool guys did, and that’s when I got, basically introducing-- introduced to drinking beer and smoking marijuana. And then, I was a part of the cool-crew, but I was raised very well. My mother took very good care of me, and I have a-- a brother and a sister, I had a older brother who passed. And uh, my moms [sic] took care of us very well. And now we’re trying to do that for her because she’s in a nursing home. But I didn’t graduate high school, and-- in my fifties I’m trying to get my high school equivalency, or my GED [General Educational Development test], I’ve taken the test already but I just can’t get through the math. I failed the math by one point, and they wouldn’t even give it to me.
So close.
Yeah, right?!
You totally get an “A” for that [chuckles].
So, that’s basically how I grew up. Very family oriented-- nephews, great nieces… Our family isn’t as close-knit as it was back then, because everyone’s grown now, and have, you know, other things in their lives. They have kids, and-- but uh. So I was growing up, and, I grew up well, grew up well. If anything I did as a kid, to upset my mother is-- what I did. You know, it’s nothing that she did. You know, she was always there, you know and took good care of us. She worked really hard to do that. She took good care of us. Yes, so I grew up, great. You know: well. Not no spoiled kid, but--
[Laughs].
It wasn’t like whatever I asked for I got. But, other than that, we grew up well. Christmases was fine. Birthdays was fine. Everything was fine, as a kid. So, it was great. She taught us a lot.
What---.
You know, growing up without a father figure in the house. You know, so she was mother and father. And, for her to have three boys and one girl, she raised her boys right. She had to be-- taught us how to be men. You know, and not that we [pause] took to it then, as we do now. Because now, you know, the brain is more clearer and the mind is more clearer, and you can think a lot, and a lot of things you see people doing, and you being like “Wow my mother taught me that and taught me not to do it”. You know, or she said that this was going to happen. So, that’s basically it. I grew up well.
How did you come from Essex County to New Brunswick?
Um… well, my mother moved out not to New Brunswick but to Edison. And I was still living in East Orange and I didn’t want to move. I think I was like maybe-- eighteen? nineteen then? maybe twenty? I told my mother, I didn’t want to leave East Orange-- that’s where I grew up at. My brother and sister had to go, because they were still teenagers in high school. So um.. a very best friend of mine’s mother let me stay with them. And I was a-- I had an uncle who lived in Newark, I was working with him part-time. Paying rent to my friend’s mother. And that was going well, but at the same I was still getting in trouble. So uh [pause] the last time I got into trouble I said this gotta stop. So, that’s when I came out here, I moved to Edison with my mother. Got a job, slowed down a little bit, and then came to New Brunswick. I lived here for a while, back in the late eighties I think. Then wound up moving back to Edison, lived in Piscataway for a while, and all of that and now, I’m back in New Brunswick because uh--- The house in Edison was my mother’s house, it was like a condo. So she sold it, because she’s in a nursing home now. So, everybody had to go on their own, and that’s how I wound up here, in New Brunswick. It was a struggle. It was a struggle, now I’m just trying to live comfortably. You know, staying away from-- and don’t get me wrong it wasn’t like--
[Phone rings]
Excuse me. [Phone continues ringing] Hello? [pause] Speaking. [pause] Oh hi, how are you? I’m good, thank you. [Long pause] Umm… Friday? [Long pause] Um, no it won’t be. I think I work until 2:00 Friday. What time are you guys closed? [Long pause] Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute-- I could make it there um, you said tomorrow? [Pause] Okay, I’ll try to-- well I could be there like I did before? I came like 8:30? [Pause] That’s too early, right? [Pause] I know, but I could be there, and I know you could probably see me at least by 9? [Pause] Okay. [Pause] Oh okay well, who do I have to see? You or her? [Pause] Okay. [Long pause] Okay great, I’ll be there-- that’s it? Okay. Ah, yeah, okay... alrighty great. I’ll see you… well I won’t see you, guess I’ll see [Patricia] at nine. Alrighty. Okay, thank you. Bye-bye.
I’m sorry
Oh, no worries. Not at all.
[sighs] Okay. Guess we continue.
Okay, great. Um.. Did you want to pick up where we left off or would you like me to ask another question?
You can ask another question.
Okay. Are you comfortable sharing whether you’ve ever had trouble finding a place to live or used services similar to what some of the clients here [at Elijah’s Promise] use?
No, I don’t have a problem at all, because I wasn’t in-- my life hasn’t always been hunky-dory. I just came out of homelessness. Uhh.. in October, with the help of Drug Court they helped me get in to this sober living house, at Oxford House. And they’re funding it for a few months for me. That’s why I’m working here, and I can be able to save money…
Mhmm.
And things of that nature, but it hasn’t always been great. Like I said, I just came out of homelessness in October. So... that’s why I feel as though I’m in such a great place right now. You know, I mean, I don’t-- particularly… like, where I live at but it’s better than the streets. I mean, it’s alright I [unclear] , I mean I stay with other guys. And uh, it’s cool. We all keep each other uh… sane. It’s like a recovery house. And… I mean, if you’re caught using drugs or drinking, you’re kicked out immediately. Because that’s not what the house is for. It’s not a room-in-house. You know, it’s a recovery house so you have to live by rules, and things of that nature, but-- Other than that it’s great. Everyone minds their business, and do what they gotta do to survive. You know, so, it’s great but homelessness isn’t. And that’s why I like working here, right now, it’s giving me the chance to like, kick back because I’ve been there. And I know where some of the people are and I know a lot of these people here. You know, so it feels good to be on the other side of the table as far as helping others. Don’t get me wrong, shoot, I still need help too.
Mhmm.
But, as far as helping others it’s good, but homelessness sucks. It really does, you know-- you know, basically where you wanna sleep that night and [pause] it just really sucks. You know, and, you don’t have family that are able-- they understand your situation but they’re not able to help you in that situation so you’re basically on your own. I mean, they’re living with their families or whatever. You know, and.. it’s just not there. So, I had to do what I had to do, and-- but Drug Court helped me out, I’m good now. And the funding isn’t going to last long, that’s why I’m glad I’m working here also, because I’m going to have to start paying that rent, myself. Or wind up back in the streets, and I’m not trying to do that. Not at all. And that’s-- that’s that.
Would you be willing to share a little bit more about what it was like before you moved into the house? How you found places to sleep or got money when you needed it?
The money part was hard. Doing odd jobs here, do odd jobs there. But uh.. the sleeping part was hard. I was sleeping on park benches. It’s a good thing it was semi-warm out, but I was able to do that. Up at night it was like some little chill nights where I would have on a hoodie or something like that. Or my son’s mother would let me stay over there, uh.. a few nights a week. Her and I have a great rapport but, she has grown daughters that live with her too. And uh.. just my son. So, it was pretty difficult staying there too, but a couple days a couple nights out the week was great. She would let me come there and shower, groom up, and things of that nature. But it was basically in a park, and then I started sleeping in a garage. And then I got um... into the Oxford House there. So, eating wasn't really bad I would come here [to Elijah's Promise] and eat. So, eating wasn't really bad. And plus I'm on the SNAP program-- the uh... the food stamps, or whatever, so. I was able to feed myself. The problem was just sleeping. You know, finding some place that I would basically walk around. Practically all night, which wasn't good, neither, you know but... it's something I had to do. I wasn't worried about anyone attacking me or trying to do harm to me. I was more worried about the cops. You know, I mean, they see me walking-- I got a backpack on, two or three in the morning, just walking around, you know, "What is he up to". So, I was more worried about that but-- no one ever bothered me.
The police didn't--
--Not at all.
--Bother you?
No. The police didn't bother me neither. So, I guess they kind of figured, "Oh he's homeless", or whatever. You know, but, even in that situation I still some days kept my groom up but some days I just said man, the hell with it. You know, and I was going through it-- and now I'm on uh.. antidepressants. Which is good, too. You know, I deal with the guys across the hall here, the PATH Project there. So, I'm trying to get SSI now and um.. trying to get help with uh-- how can you say it? Not shelter but uh... housing. Housing, and they're trying to help me with that. But it's so much to that, too. You have to be homeless for like a year, or something. I wasn't homeless for a year. Before I'll be-- no, I was homeless, yeah, for like a year.
What was that transition like? Coming out of [crosstalk]---
Terrible. Because I don't see why they released me with nowhere to go. Not the jail but, basically Drug Court. Why would you--- they, release me with nowhere to go? And they knew I was in that situation. And it took them a while before they got me housing. Until then, I was in the streets. So, I was in the streets from September... seventeenth, until.. like the middle of October. It was rough. But I was also in the streets before I became incarcerated. I was homeless then, too, sleeping in a friend's garage. You know, so, it hasn't always been easy. Not easy at all. But, I'll say it right now, I'm in a better place-- ooh, excuse me--- I'm not on the streets or nothing anymore. And uh... don't frequent into bad areas no more. Learn how to take another route. So it's good now, and I have-- like I said, my family-- that's who I thought that was, who was calling me [earlier during the interview], my sister, but it wasn't. You know, I have family, I have a cousin here that lives in New Brunswick. You know, and my sister, and my younger brother-- one lives in Newark, and one lives in New York. So we just talk a lot, on the phone. Long as I got my son, I'm good, I'm good---
-- How old is your son?
He's seventeen. So as long as I got him, I'm good. I'm great-- but the homelessness is not, hmm. Not [unclear] to ever have to go back to that. You know, and then you call the 2-1-1 thing as far as getting in the shelter. I was already in the hospital, and that was before they called me to go in there. And they called me-- I called them in September, they called me like.. a little bit before Thanksgiving to move in there. Now, I'm already-- it's just a whole bunch of stuff. But like I said, I'm--I'm in a better place now. And it's [crosstalk]---
---Do you get the sense that there aren't enough places to stay? Is that the problem, they don't have enough space?
Absolutely. Absolutely like.. this here is the only shelter, here in New Brunswick, and then during the winter they have the uh---
Code Blue.
They have that, and they have a rotating shelter.
Mhmm.
Which is a... a lot of churches donate their church and, the homeless can stay there for like a week. And then you-- the next week you're somewhere else, and then the next week you're somewhere else. And that's the only time they do that but, like in the summertime or whatever, this [Elijah's Promise] is the only place you can go.
Mhmm.
And it's a waiting list. Believe me, it's a waiting list.
So for people who are waiting to get in, where do they go? Where did you go?
Hmmph, park bench. Park bench. That's where I went.
It's difficult.
Very.
Yeah.
Very. And you can just imagine on-- bad weather, nice, as far as rain. You know, you gotta find some time of shelter. So, that's when I was sleeping on church porches or whatever. It was rough.
Did you ever travel around outside of New Brunswick or to other cities? Back and forth or---
No. No, I just stayed here.
Do you know if other folks move around a lot or---
---Yeah.
---Or [unclear] just stick?
Yeah. They move around a lot um... I know a couple of people who go to Newark and then they just start staying in Penn Station.
Hmm.
Which is rough now because uh... the police are really cracking down on that now, so. But uh, it's a lot of people that came from here that's up there, now, in Newark. But they're still like, you know, in their addictive state. So, and it's [unclear] living better up there, than they are down here. They can get more in Essex County or something like that, than what they can get down here. I guess Essex County has more help. With uh, the homeless and people in needs [sic]--- Than Middlesex County, I could say. Or, I could say it's probably both the same. As far as the living situation is. It's I could say, it's like probably both the same. But I've never did that but-- I've known people who have done it. Just.. moved away. Some moved to uh-- stayed in Middlesex County, though but-- they're going to like Sayreville, South River, or something like that. East Brunswick.. and just, move around. And you won't see them in New Brunswick no more. [Loud bang] But I never did that, I just stayed right here.
If you were the mayor, and you were in charge of policy that would help the folks who come here, and help yourself six months ago--- what would you do?
I ain't gonna say that's kind of hard to say but-- I would really try to help with the homeless. And I'm quite sure the mayor is trying to do that, because they have done a lot with the homeless here. The problem is, is housing them. But, they have done a lot with that. You know, just that-- I would try to provide at least one more shelter. Or somewhere, to put these--- even women. You know, they have a women's shelter and it's all the way in Edison though, but they don't have a women's shelter here. As far as to help the women, who's homeless. So I would try to do something like that, at least get one-- one or two more shelters, either both? One for the males, because that's-- the males is [sic] more frequent. And one for the women, that are homeless. With, with-- with kids. You know, so, I would try to work on something like that. As far as with the homelessness, if I was mayor. And that would probably be my, my biggest thing. That would have probably been my biggest thing, you know, to help these people get off the streets. You know--
Do you see a lot of women coming through? And children coming through? [crosstalk]--
---Yeah.
--Yeah--
Yeah. It's a lot I mean-- it's mostly men, but you do see the-- the women with their-- with their families. You know, [unclear], they probably have a car but they're sleeping in their car. You know, or, a woman with three kids in a motel room-- how is that supposed to be. I know a woman, she has five kids, she's living in a motel room. You know, it's rough. I mean, feeding them, it's-- it's rough. You probably got a microwave, uh.. I've learned to do a lot with a microwave, you can do a lot with a microwave---
[Laughs] Yeah.
--- Believe me. So [pause] but that's how I'd do it. And I would try to help them out in their situations but, it would also be the whereas though they gotta try to help themselves, too. Don't bring the nonsense with you as far as you know-- the drugging, the drinking-- I would have very stiff stipulations on that.
Mhmm.
Very stiff. Just like in Oxford House, if uh... you're caught using or drinking, you get kicked out. You know, so-- that's what I would try to do, bring more shelters for the homelessness around here. I would really work on that.
Do you think there's adequate medical assistance [crosstalk]---
---Yes. Definitely.
For people getting off of-- off of drugs and drinking---
---Definitely.
Yeah.
Uh.. that's if they want it. You know, that's if they want it but-- it is definitely, you just gotta want it. You just gotta be tired now, I mean like... and say "I'm giving up". You know, but, it really is. And I've just known to stop myself, like-- mmm [unclear] six, six months or so gone. And uh.. yeah, but it is. If you want the help, it's not hard to find.
Hmm.
It's not hard to get-- especially uh.. drug abuse. You know, it's not hard to find--- opioid abuse, whatever. Alcohol abuse, whatever. I mean--- it's, it's not hard to find-- people will help you.
Mhmm.
If you want the help, as far as to get into a program or whatever like that-- they will help you. So, you know, it's not hard. It's not hard at all.
Do you want to tell me a little bit more about the work that you're doing here? Since you've been working here?
Oh, since I've been working here-- I basically work with all this stuff here, the donations. And uh.. things of that nature. We [pause] we accept donations, I go through it, pick out the stuff that I think that is best. As far as something that I would wear. Except if it's women's clothes. But-- and then I bag them because it's bagging and tagging. And it's best you know what's inside of each bag. And then sometimes they have things here-- well, I also clean up. I do a little filing. I do, basically a lot around here. And it's only part time work, but this was what I was looking for. You know, trying to get the SSI [Supplemental Security Income] and all that so, this is exactly what I was looking for. And you deal with the donations and then we--- take the donations or whatever to other facilities.
As far as programs and things of that nature, and we drop off what they may need. And then, there's a thing called [pause] -- but we go and pick up donations, too. We drop off donations. And we also take to the streets, and hand out sandwiches, hats, gloves--- things of that nature. I forgot what they called it-- what Marisol and Milton call it-- I forgot what they call it. But, we also do that like maybe once a month. Or something like that. And that was really good. I [unclear] for the first time, a couple of weeks ago. And it was great. So that's basically what I do here--- and go downstairs, help out a little bit downstairs, in the kitchen. And... that's all. That's what I do.
What's the-- the distribution like? Is it-- where is it done? Giving out the sandwiches and the clothes and the---
---Oh, up on the-- we take to the streets,
Mhmm.
And we basically do it on the streets. So it's uh-- there's a spot up here on Joyce Kilmer Avenue. It's where Walgreens and stuff is at, and it's a lot of... bigger areas [pause] of the.. Spanish [sic] descent. And they all go up there, and they stand, and people and-- they're actually waiting for work. And a lot of people would drive by, and if they needed help with something--- that's not just for people a--- a lot of people do it, as far as contractors, or whatever, if you're good.. hanging up sheetrock or whatever. They need an extra hand, that's where they would go and they would snatch these guys up. But it's a whole bunch of them just be standing out there waiting for work. And that's where we basically go. Right up there-- sandwiches, hats, gloves-- 'cause they be standing out there for a while just trying to find work.
And a lot of them are illegals [sic] so they can't get a job. So, they're very cautious of what they do. Because uh-- they was [sic] telling me how they went up there one time to hand out, you know, sandwiches, and stuff like that-- and the police was, was around. And they said, these guys would usually flock to them, but for some reason, they though that they was [sic] trying to set them up or something like that because the police was around but it wasn't nothing like that -- You know, there with the police or nothing like that. And I noticed that, because when we went up there and there wasn't no [sic] police around they came flocking. You know, so-- it was great.
Yeah.
It was great.
Are a lot of people struggling to find work in New Brunswick, and using the day jobs and temp agencies?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah. I could say that. But, I just started on the job search about.. a good month ago. And luckily, I landed that but-- I got called for a couple of interviews. Right. Since I started working here, I've been called for a couple of interviews--- it's what you put into it. Whatever you put into it, what type of work you're looking for, things of that nature, but [pause] A lot of the temp agencies there, they're full. You know, they got who they need, what they need. You know, so, it's not bad. Like a couple of guys that moved with my house-- that moved in the house, they just kicked out, out of like rehabilitation programs--- mm, excuse me--- and they moved into the [Oxford] House. And, you know, a couple guys just went out and they was [sic] looking for work and they found work in the recycling plant. You know, so, it's just how bad you want it. Or, do you just want to sit around and do nothing, and continue to live how you're living. But it's-- it's good. You just gotta be diligent and find it. That's all.
Are you looking for work that you've done before? Or are you looking for new types of jobs for you?
No, I'm looking for easy work right now.
[Laughs]
Yeah.
It was great.
Are a lot of people struggling to find work in New Brunswick, and using the day jobs and temp agencies?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah. I could say that. But, I just started on the job search about.. a good month ago. And luckily, I landed that but-- I got called for a couple of interviews. Right. Since I started working here, I've been called for a couple of interviews--- it's what you put into it. Whatever you put into it, what type of work you're looking for, things of that nature, but [pause] A lot of the temp agencies there, they're full. You know, they got who they need, what they need. You know, so, it's not bad. Like a couple of guys that moved with my house-- that moved in the house, they just kicked out, out of like rehabilitation programs--- mm, excuse me--- and they moved into the [Oxford] House. And, you know, a couple guys just went out and they was [sic] looking for work and they found work in the recycling plant. You know, so, it's just how bad you want it. Or, do you just want to sit around and do nothing, and continue to live how you're living. But it's-- it's good. You just gotta be diligent and find it. That's all.
Are you looking for work that you've done before? Or are you looking for new types of jobs for you?
No, I'm looking for easy work right now.
[Laughs]
Because, the things that I used to do I just can't do no more. Like I said I'm fifty-seven years old. I mean, I can work, but as far as working in warehouses and thing like that-- that's how the-- that's where I-- done most of my working at. In warehouses or doing plumbing work-- I, I can't do that stuff no more. So, that's why I'm glad I worked here [Taps table] and that I work here and they give me the opportunity to do-- cause that's all I was looking for, was a maintenance job. As far as just something to clean up. You know, just clean up work because I can't-- it's not that--[pause] I could do it, but it would be very strenuous on me.
[Knock heard on door]
--[cross-talk] You know, [unclear]
[Milton Rivera]: Excuse me, we're gonna go downstairs and get something to eat. Would you like something to eat, or you're good?
Kristin: I'm good, thank you though.
Milton: Okay, we're gonna set it up--
Oh, I'm going to be getting out of here in a---
Milton: Yeah, a couple of minutes you're out of here okay--
Yeah
Milton: I know, I don't wanna-- they don't wanna overfeed you because you gotta watch that girlish figure of yours--
[Laughter]
Milton: Okay, we'll be right back.
Alright
Kristin: Okay [Laughs]
Milton: We're gonna bring up the next subject, and we'll put them on here. Would that be alright?
Kristin: Fantastic, great, thank you.
[Door is heard being closed]
Now, uh.. where were we?
Uh.. talking about-- new jobs, less strenuous.
Oh, yeah so--
So you used to do construction and warehouse and [crosstalk]---
Yeah, hanging sheetrock, plumbing, [crosstalk] lot of warehouse work--
[crosstalk] Locally, or when you lived down with---
--Uh, when I lived down up in Newark I was doing a lot of the plumbing work. When I lived in East Orange, or whatever, I was doing a lot of the plumbing work. When I came out this way [to the New Brunswick area] I was doing a lot of construction work. You know, sheetrock, things of that nature-- working with a... an independent contractor. You know, we would go in, clean up... construction sites, hang sheetrock. Whatever we could do. I did that for a while. And then it was basically just all warehouse work, on my legs a lot. You know, I had become like a foreman or something like that but-- being a foreman is not easy work neither. You know, so, riding forklifts, high-lows, and all of that-- I don't even wanna do that no more. I'm tired.
[Laughter]
--You've paid your dues
Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah. [Laughs]
So it's done-- so the type of work I'm doing now is fine. Part time... as long as I can eat, pay my bills, whatever-- I'm fine. Partying days is [sic] over. But I'm fine, as long as I can do that now.
So, since we only have a couple of minutes left before you need to go--
Mhmm
Do you want to share anything about your goals? For yourself, and what-- what you're hoping for? In the next couple of years?
You know, I---
---Things you'd like to do?
I get asked that a lot. Not just here, but I get asked that a lot because I'm also involved through the-- an outpatient program. And, they ask you that--- the... the only thing I wanna do is to be able to live comfortably, that's a goal of mine. To get my diploma, that's really a goal of mine. I'm just trying to find time to where as though I can possibly go to school at night. So, that's a goal of mine. As far as [pause] a goal, as far as employment-wise, there's not... no more. You know, I just wanna live comfortably. And be able to work at all and like I'm older now. I mean--- so I just wanna live comfortably, and be able to take me--- take care of myself and my family. Just cut the crap. So, that's a goal of mine. And stay medically healthy. It's been rough. It's been rough, but I'm getting my health back-- and I'm good now. I'm good now.
That's wonderful.
Thank you.
Those are good goals.
Thank you.
It was fantastic talking with you.
Same here.
Thank you for-- for sharing some of your stories, I appreciate it.
No problem at all.
Let me turn off the---