30 Nights with the Martinez/Pacheco Homeless Outreach — The Face of Alcoholism

Day 19

8:15 p.m.:  I started at the Amtrak Station tonight — there were about six people in the parking lot, some drinking, others just standing around. I offered services to some, others were too drunk to deal with. This will be the theme of the night — too drunk to deal with. But while I was at Amtrak there was one lady who was just getting out jail and needed to go to BART. So I had her wait and while she waited,  she drank. I guess she didn't learn.

Next, it was off to the Marina Park, where I came across four homeless people by the bocce ball courts who were drinking. One guy was passed out on the ground, which is normal for him; the girl was sitting on a table drunk but she could still walk; another had a bottle of beer in his hand and started asking me if I would drive him up to the store for another; and one guy was asleep on top of a table. I offered them some food but they said no, so I left.

Then I had to take a short break from Martinez for Concord so I grabbed the inmate and we left for BART. So now I'm on Arnold Industrial way by Lowe's. I walked through with the Concord police one more time before they level the field tomorrow. No takers but a policeman warned a guy about stealing copper wire. I noticed the camps all had bottles of beer in them. Now I'm on Howe Road, where I see a couple unloading a trailer at midnight but the trailer had no car. I thought that was odd, so I stop. Yes, they were homeless. They told me they were making room to sleep but I could see something wasn't right — they were on something, so I offered services but they said no. I left but I did notify Martinez police so they could drop by and make sure nothing was being taken.

So now I'm back downtown and I see two men, one on his hands and knees. I stop and one is drunk but standing and the other is so drunk he couldn't get up. I tried to get him up for a good 30 minutes, then Martinez police roll by and stop. We ended up calling an ambulance to take him to the hospital but the sad part is that this is a man whom I put in detox maybe a month ago. Then, as I'm standing there with a police officer, I see one of the guys I contacted earlier in the marina park. He sees us and sits down on a bench, so I go over and he had wet himself. So I got him clothes and a blanket.

Tonight, Martinez saw alcoholism at its worst; I feel bad for them. I am one of those people who knows it's a disease but can't help thinking that everyone makes their own choices. I truly believe that alcohol keeps some of the homeless homeless and even if I got them housing, they would lose it. But I also can't help but think that this is the way they deal with day-to-day life on the streets. No matter how you look at it, it is sad.