Date： Nov 24^th 

Location：Harvard Square, in front of CVS store

Time: 3:30 PM

Weather: Cloudy , 37F windy

White, 51 years old, with a high school education, and currently single.Born and raised in Lexington, Mark’s mother resides in Florida, while his father has passed away.  .

I stumbled upon Mark on a chilly day. He huddled under a blanket and wore a woolen cap. Beside him leaned a board with the plea “Homeless, need help.” Two bottles of Coke stood nearby, and he had set up two small benches in front of him, where a cup awaited offerings of some coins or cash..

I asked him if he had tried to find a job. Mark said yes, and he used to work for Whole Food, but got fired half a year ago. When asked about the reason for his termination, he attributed it to either ineligibility for the position or underperformance.

I then asked where he usually spent the night. He shared that he frequented the shelter, and usually arrived before 9:00 PM before it closed. While the shelter provided three meals daily, he preferred to spend his days on the street, hoping to collect some money.

Questioning his motive for collecting money, Mark explained his desire for better meals, as the shelter’s offerings were sometimes not very good.

I then asked him if he used drugs or smoke. Mark nodded, he smoked weed and cigarettes, depending on what he could put hands on.

As our conversation went on, Mark shared his strategic location opposite the door of CVS, making it convenient for passersby to offer their spare change.

As dusk approached and our conversation neared its end, Mark swiftly gathered his belongings, holding two benches in one hand, and hurried off into the darkness. He left some tissues on the ground as he disappeared from sight.

Mark’s shelter was approximately 0.5 miles away, a brief 10-minute walk.