MOUNT VERNON — Who is homeless in Mount Vernon?
Craig Baker, 21, a native of Fremont, and Rebecca Mielcarek, 26, and a native of Mount Vernon, live on the street, although they feel fortunate to have a friend with whom they can stay at night — for now — even though they don’t have beds. They sleep in their friend’s chairs.
But their friend will soon be evicted from his apartment for nonpayment of rent — he lost his job and hasn’t been able to find another — which will leave all three without a place to sleep at night.
Asked about their predicament, however, Mielcarek and Baker prefer to talk first about how happy they are together.
“We met at Gamescape,” said Baker, of the store on Coshocton Avenue where young people gather to play electronic games. “I walked to the back and saw her. She was sitting with her now ex-boyfriend. He started ignoring her so I started talking to her and we got to know each other. He asked me to walk her home, then Rebecca invited me to the Wagon Ministry [at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church on Saturday nights]. We went for a walk and started talking and found out we have a lot more in common then we thought we did.
“In fact,” Baker said, “I remember the exact spot I was standing when I fell completely in love with her. It was in front of the Memorial Building.”
He was living with his father; Mielcarek was living with friends. Neither situation worked out, and now they are homeless together. They must leave their friend’s Columbus Road apartment by 7:30 each morning to avoid causing more trouble with his landlord. They walk to United Dairy Farmers on West Chestnut Street for breakfast, usually the two-for-$4 breakfast burritos or sandwiches, plus milk or orange juice.
The best place for the couple to be on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., however, is The Main Place on West High Street.
“They have showers, and a food pantry, a computer, pool table, and they serve lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They have art supplies, too,” said Mielcarek, who is a budding artist. Those supplies helped her create two oil paintings, of which she is very proud. “And we can do two loads of laundry a month there.”
“We have our dinner at the hot meals churches,” said Baker, “except for Wednesday and Saturday, because those churches are too far to walk to. After dinner, we usually go to the library until they close.”
The couple wants to marry and hopes to have a child someday.
“Right now is not a good time,” acknowledged Mielcarek. “But after everything gets straightened out, we will.”
Baker hasn’t been able to find a job, although he has restaurant experience. Mielcarek is epileptic and disabled, and receives Supplemental Security Income benefits. Baker’s SSI benefits were stopped some time ago, due, he said, to a clerical error.
“I would take any kind of job I could get right now,” Baker said. “I kind of wish it was winter again, because I was making a killing shoveling sidewalks [last year]. But if I could choose any job, to tell you the truth, I would love to be in the military, or be a lawyer or a nurse.”
The felony on his record will be a challenge to overcome for employment, said Baker, who suffers from heart problems, learning disabilities, multiple mental illnesses and diabetes. He also got an unfortunate start in life.
“Me and my Dad never got along. When I was 4, I remember he used to swear at me and call me names and tell me to go back in my room. After a while, I started thinking that must be normal [behavior], then I thought it can’t be normal, so I moved away. He didn’t want anything to do with me until I was 17 and started drawing SSI.”
The couple has received help from churches, Interchurch Social Services, The Salvation Army and individuals. As much as they appreciate that help, they said, it alleviates their problems only temporarily.
“I’m supposed to be on medication,” said Baker, “but I can’t afford it.”
“Interchurch is constantly out of funds,” said Mielcarek. “As soon as they get funds, they’re gone. It’s illegal, but one time we slept in Hiawatha Park. We do have two quilts. But we’ve used up so many resources and so many friends that I’ve lost track.”
“One night I didn’t sleep at all,” recalled Baker. “All our friends were asleep before we could get to them. We were going to go to Rebecca’s storage unit, but I didn’t want to get her in trouble. So I stayed up all night.”
As darkness fell, Mielcarek and Baker got their backpacks ready and prepared to walk to the library.
“It stinks being homeless,” said Mielcarek. “It’s scary. This is my first time ever being homeless. Yeah, I get food stamps, but I’m worried if we’re going to make it through the month. We need to get out of the elements. My seizures are set off by the cold.”
“I have a lot of survival skills from the Boy Scouts,” said Baker, “but it’s difficult at times. Sometimes you just want to sit down in a warm house, and you can’t. You don’t have a house. It makes me extra depressed sometimes.”
“It makes you want to not even try to better things,” added Mielcarek.
“The only reason I keep going is my fiancee,” said Baker. “She’s the love of my life. Her little boy calls me Daddy. Those are the only two things that keep me going, keep me waking up in the morning. I’d probably have lost it by now if I didn’t have them.”
Mielcarek’s son is 2 years old and in the custody of her parents.
If Baker could change anything about their next day of homelessness, what would it be?
“The one thing I would change,” said Baker, “is if my fiancee wouldn’t be homeless. If she wasn’t homeless, I wouldn’t even care if I was.”
