My Life On The Street

Alone, in his early forties and calling himself Joe Homeless, he wanders the streets of New York City. He is not a drug addict; he is not an alcoholic; he has never been a convict. But one thing he is--he is unwanted. My Life On The Street is the savage, poignant memoir of one of the world's homeless, faceless persons. Joe once had a job, money and a home. But now, his only home is the street. How he got there, what he does there and how he survives are his passionate themes. Deserted by family and friends, Joe has existed in an atmosphere of fear and violence for over ten years. He has survived hunger, freezing temperatures, wild dogs and physical abuse. He has been hunted like an animal by vigilante block associations armed with baseball bats. Along the way Joe found and repaired an old tape recorder and began dictating his experiences in basements and on rooftops--anywhere he could find a quiet spot alone. Years and several tape recorders later, he had over thirty cassettes that told his story. From rush hour subway platforms, Joe recruited a staff of volunteers: musicians and writers, editors and lawyers who transcribed and edited Joe's account of his decade on the streets. Joe finally found help on the street from these people who either admired his guts and persistence, or felt a social responsibility to get his manuscript published. And, although Joe wanted his story told to "make a buck and get me off the street", he also wants to "make things better for everybody else in the street" by letting people know the truth about a homeless existence. Joe Homeless is a pen name adopted to protect the author's identity on the streets, where he feels threatened by police, residents andhis fellow homeless.