Editor’s Note: For many years, residents of Hoboken have seen a short, curly-haired homeless woman named “Maria” walking the streets. Sometimes she would wear pajama bottoms, and sometimes she would hold an umbrella even in sunny weather. In the last few years, she has had gauzes on her legs. Maria was very quiet, but would still look up and politely say “thank you” to anyone who talked to her or gave her money. She rarely asked for anything. Recently, according to a source, she passed away at the local hospital, but not due to her leg infection. A friend wanted to write this tribute and apologize for not doing more to help her, and encourage others to reach out.
She was known to the Hoboken community as “Maria.” “Maria” resided on the streets of Hoboken for approximately 20 years. She was sweet, sensitive, harmless, and intelligent.
Throughout the years, numerous well-intentioned people made promises to “help” Maria with long-term solutions, such as medical care, housing, etc. The promises never materialized into anything tangible.
“Maria’s death was preventable and Maria’s suffering was unnecessary.”
________
On Nov. 28, in late afternoon, Maria died – alone – without family, without a true friend and without a home. The system and the community failed Maria – her suffering and ultimate death is incomprehensible and unconscionable. Guaranteed, Maria is not the sole victim of the system and the misconceptions of the general public.
Being realistic
Homelessness needs to be viewed from a realistic perspective. Homelessness is a tragedy, and it is a question of life or death for those who endure it on a daily basis. First and foremost, the categorization of all of the “homeless” as a homogeneous conglomerate is a gross oversight. The homeless population consists of a group of unique and distinctive individuals.
Some individuals feign homelessness and poverty for profit and attention, unfortunately shifting to focus away from the individuals who are genuinely homeless and suffering in dire circumstances.
“Everyone deserves a foundation – a base of operation and the opportunity to pursue their goals.”
________
The stigma of homelessness is detrimental to the reputation and credibility of any individual. Homelessness is analogous to a motor vehicle accident – the general public stares and is inquisitive, never acknowledging the casualties. The homeless population are the lepers of our society – a population that ‘supposedly’ should be segregated, institutionalized and “placed” – anywhere but here.
Some believe “they” should dwell in, their own colony, so that society can evade the real issue. It’s valid that not all homeless individuals can be “saved”; however many homeless individuals want to be integrated into the community and want to be productive.
The community needs to be pro-active and to expedite real solutions. If we continue to support a system that is paradoxical to its intended goal, then we perpetuate homelessness.
There will be more deaths
Homelessness is responded to with complacency and acceptance, rather then outrage. Homelessness necessitates motivation and mobilization and transferring out interest and concern into action. Everyone deserves a foundation – a base of operation and the opportunity to pursue their goals and aspirations and to experience quality of life, rather than to merely exist.
Maria’s death was preventable and Maria’s suffering was unnecessary. The homeless situation is controversial and fragile. Guaranteed, there will be more homeless – related deaths until “we,” as a community, become a cohesive and assertive force for immediate action.
Maria was not just another face of homelessness. She deserved to be respected and validated as an individual, and to reside in a warm, secure place that she could call home.
Kathy is a resident of Hoboken and was an acquaintance of Maria. To comment on this story, e-mail
Group to hold tribute to homeless who died this year
On Monday, Dec. 21 – the first day of winter and the longest night of the year – a coalition led by Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation and the Church of the Incarnation will host Hudson County’s first interfaith Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. The service will be held at the Church of the Incarnation at 68 Storms Ave., Jersey City, at 1 p.m.
This memorial service will remember friends and loved ones who have passed away from causes related to homelessness and raise awareness that people are still living and dying on the street.
There are many ways to participate in the service. People are invited to submit the names of deceased homeless persons, invite homeless clients to attend, and contribute or solicit contributions of socks, hats, gloves and scarves. The items will be distributed to homeless guests at the service.
The ceremony will also include a tribute to the late Deacon Joe Del Monte, who fed countless homeless people on the streets of Jersey City every week. Del Monte was the founder of St. Francis Workshop, a program that provides food and clothing to the less fortunate out of a storefront in the Lafayette section of the city.
To drop off donations or for further information, please contact them at hudson.homeless.memorial@gmail.com or call 201-604-2600 x. 209.
If your agency would like co-sponsor the service, please let them know before Wednesday, Dec. 16.