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Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People
Writing about the homeless and helping the homeless, has given my life a purpose that it didn’t have before. Documenting their stories will, I hope, introduce them to the public in a non-threatening way. Some panhandlers look intimidating, but that disappears when one sees them laugh.
A typical day for me involves taking the bus and walking two blocks to work. I pass Joy’s spot every day. I usually sit and talk with her for twenty to thirty minutes. Chester and Hippo may drop by to chat.
Most afternoons, depending on weather, I walk two blocks to the park where the group of panhandlers varies in size from two to twenty or more. They don’t panhandle at the park. Like a soap opera, every day is different; some scenarios will carry over a few days or weeks. People will disappear for weeks or months due illness, rehab programs or incarceration.
When I met Joy I was going through an emotional crisis. Meeting her and her friends – worrying about them and whether or not they would be able to eat and find a place to sleep – took my mind off my problems, that then, seemed insignificant. It was truly a life changing experience.
A typical day for me involves taking the bus and walking two blocks to work. I pass Joy’s spot every day. I usually sit and talk with her for twenty to thirty minutes. Chester and Hippo may drop by to chat.
Most afternoons, depending on weather, I walk two blocks to the park where the group of panhandlers varies in size from two to twenty or more. They don’t panhandle at the park. Like a soap opera, every day is different; some scenarios will carry over a few days or weeks. People will disappear for weeks or months due illness, rehab programs or incarceration.
When I met Joy I was going through an emotional crisis. Meeting her and her friends – worrying about them and whether or not they would be able to eat and find a place to sleep – took my mind off my problems, that then, seemed insignificant. It was truly a life changing experience.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
355 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 10, 2014
About the author
Dennis Cardiff
6 books497 followersPoetry Website: http://dcardiff.wordpress.com
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People
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They Call Me Red: by Dane Connor
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Amazon Author Page: https://buff.ly/2xHgS3p
Author Dennis Cardiff, promoting his Gotta Find a Home trilogy, has appeared on the Rogers television talk show, Daytime Ottawa, hosted by Derick Fage. He has been interviewed on various podcasts: Blunt Talk with Gino Arcaro, Butterflies of Wisdom with Win Charles, Self Discovery Radio: Their Story Matters and Positive Vibrations Roundtable with Sara Troy. Reviewed on The Write Stuff: Gotta Find a Home by Matthew Fray, Journal with Sue: A Friend to the Homeless by Sue Rowland and Dennis Cardiff by Diane Walters. Dennis's poetry has been published in the Sheaf, the University of Saskatchewan's newspaper, the Writing.com Anthology and online poetry magazine, Shadowlands Express. His three published books Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People (First and Second Edition), More Conversations with Street People and Conversations on the Streets have received 68 Amazon 4.5 star reviews.
Can you find a secure shelter for the night? Have you experienced intense hunger? Are you a regular victim of verbal, emotional or physical abuse? Read the conversations I have had with people who are hungry, homeless and at risk. All author proceeds from the sale of books will be used to support those forced onto the streets, the Ottawa Innercity Ministries, Street Outreach Program and the proposed Cardiff Homeless and Rehabilitation Clinic.
Dennis Cardiff has been involved with street people since 2010, when he began to reach out, on his own, to some of the people without homes who he encountered in his daily life. In his new book, he documents conversations he's had with them over the past 4 years and, in the process, gives those who are often robbed of their humanity a human face. Written in diary form by month, and including some of Cardiff's own poetry, the author chronicles the lives of people who are often ignored, feared or reviled. About this project, Cardiff says,
"Writing about the homeless and helping the homeless, has given my life a purpose that it didn't have before. Documenting their stories will, I hope, introduce them to the public in a non-threatening way. Some panhandlers look intimidating, but that disappears when one sees them laugh."
by Diane Walters
Dennis Cardiff lives with his wife in Ottawa, Canada. They each have two grown sons from previous marriages. An artist of many talents, Cardiff has been a professional portrait painter since 1972. He studied art at the Ontario College of Art, University of Saskatchewan and the University of Ottawa.
Gotta Find a Home 2: More Conversations with Street People was self published 5 April 2016. Books 3 and 4 will be released in the near future. As with Book 1, all proceeds from sales go directly to those forced onto the street.
Gotta Find a Home 3: Conversations on the Street was published 25 May, 2017.
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People
http://buff.ly/1SGzGCY ($2.99 Download)
http://buff.ly/1qLHptc ($2.99 Download)
https://buff.ly/2lUfp6Q ($2.99 Download)
https://buff.ly/2Gkoyxj ($2.99 Download)
They Call Me Red: by Dane Connor
https://buff.ly/2GJSDsG ($2.99 Download)
Podcasts:
http://buff.ly/1Pxlf9p
http://www.blunttalk.libsyn.com/
http://buff.ly/1XU368M
http://buff.ly/2iYvOE4
http://buff.ly/2jdjZd6
Amazon Author Page: https://buff.ly/2xHgS3p
Author Dennis Cardiff, promoting his Gotta Find a Home trilogy, has appeared on the Rogers television talk show, Daytime Ottawa, hosted by Derick Fage. He has been interviewed on various podcasts: Blunt Talk with Gino Arcaro, Butterflies of Wisdom with Win Charles, Self Discovery Radio: Their Story Matters and Positive Vibrations Roundtable with Sara Troy. Reviewed on The Write Stuff: Gotta Find a Home by Matthew Fray, Journal with Sue: A Friend to the Homeless by Sue Rowland and Dennis Cardiff by Diane Walters. Dennis's poetry has been published in the Sheaf, the University of Saskatchewan's newspaper, the Writing.com Anthology and online poetry magazine, Shadowlands Express. His three published books Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People (First and Second Edition), More Conversations with Street People and Conversations on the Streets have received 68 Amazon 4.5 star reviews.
Can you find a secure shelter for the night? Have you experienced intense hunger? Are you a regular victim of verbal, emotional or physical abuse? Read the conversations I have had with people who are hungry, homeless and at risk. All author proceeds from the sale of books will be used to support those forced onto the streets, the Ottawa Innercity Ministries, Street Outreach Program and the proposed Cardiff Homeless and Rehabilitation Clinic.
Dennis Cardiff has been involved with street people since 2010, when he began to reach out, on his own, to some of the people without homes who he encountered in his daily life. In his new book, he documents conversations he's had with them over the past 4 years and, in the process, gives those who are often robbed of their humanity a human face. Written in diary form by month, and including some of Cardiff's own poetry, the author chronicles the lives of people who are often ignored, feared or reviled. About this project, Cardiff says,
"Writing about the homeless and helping the homeless, has given my life a purpose that it didn't have before. Documenting their stories will, I hope, introduce them to the public in a non-threatening way. Some panhandlers look intimidating, but that disappears when one sees them laugh."
by Diane Walters
Dennis Cardiff lives with his wife in Ottawa, Canada. They each have two grown sons from previous marriages. An artist of many talents, Cardiff has been a professional portrait painter since 1972. He studied art at the Ontario College of Art, University of Saskatchewan and the University of Ottawa.
Gotta Find a Home 2: More Conversations with Street People was self published 5 April 2016. Books 3 and 4 will be released in the near future. As with Book 1, all proceeds from sales go directly to those forced onto the street.
Gotta Find a Home 3: Conversations on the Street was published 25 May, 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 18, 2014
Originally interested in street photography myself I stumbled over Dennis via our occasionally overlapping blog postings on Wordpress. He liked some of my stuff, so I read some of his. Instantly identifiable. Emphatically told stories of the real life city dwellers that capitalism creates and spits out.
Dennis is a good man. And the people whom allow him into their lives in such detail, honest and open manner are worthy of being presented to the world at large.
Can only suggest that PHOTOMAN777777 from Instagram ( Photoman on Web.Stagram ) and Mr Cardiff do something world changing with their work.
Changing one life is awesome. Getting that one person to help another is brilliant. Treating others better than you were treated yourself is the answer to life, the universe and everything.
Dennis is a good man. And the people whom allow him into their lives in such detail, honest and open manner are worthy of being presented to the world at large.
Can only suggest that PHOTOMAN777777 from Instagram ( Photoman on Web.Stagram ) and Mr Cardiff do something world changing with their work.
Changing one life is awesome. Getting that one person to help another is brilliant. Treating others better than you were treated yourself is the answer to life, the universe and everything.
February 21, 2015
I was very curious about this book, Gotta Find a Home. Conversations with Street People by Dennis Cardiff. The title and the description of the book were the things that caught my attention. However, for some reason, the beginning was pretty rocky. It made me wonder if maybe this is the sort of book that you read in slices, a bit now, a bit later, a bit tomorrow. It depicts, after all, pieces of people's lives; it's not fiction, but real life. But as I read, I was curious how those lives evolved and in the same time I was wondering if their lives could be more static. It felt like a slow read probably because it was written like a journal, with dates and months written before every entry. Through a journal you don't rush, you take in every day.
But first things first: this book is about panhandlers, about homeless people. They live in Toronto. The information about their lives is gathered by Dennis, the author and the narrator of the book. He worked near the meeting place of the panhandlers. There's a group that keeps showing up in the book, the usual suspects as they are referred to. There are also some other names that are brought up. It's a really vast universe. It was a bit tricky to keep up with all those names, but you soon realise that those who are the real "characters" are quickly etched into your mind.
Every panhandler has a distinct personality. So different. I must admit that I started this book curious, but in the same time with a baggage of judgment towards these people. I started with the ideas that most people have when they have to get in contact, even for the briefest of moments, with panhandlers and homeless: once an addict, always an addict. While this is not whipped away in the book, I like that they are given the chance to show why they are in the situation they are in at the moment. I'm not giving them excuses, but it's nice to see a different perspective on things. I definitely didn't expect such a wide spectrum of backgrounds. Some of the people in the group came from a respectful background, some attended college ["It seems funny now, thinking that I would have gone into law, since nearly everything I do is illegal." -- Irene], some had families, kids, jobs and bosses waiting for them when they decided to go back. If you're looking for a reason why they chose the life on the streets to the life "back home", this book isn't giving you one. Probably more than justifying them, it just aims to offer a look into their lives.
My favourite thing about this book is the narrator's attitude through all this. I love that rather than giving them money, he is quicker to offer breakfast cards, coffee, is willing to buy them breakfast. He helps them in a practical way, serving their needs rather than their wants. This probably sounds harsh, but it's how I see things. I was glad to see that the narrator avoids talking or even writing his thoughts about the panhandlers from a right or bad point of view. Another aspect I loved so much is that he wasn't trying to interfere in their lives; he doesn't adopt a Good Samaritan attitude, or better said the attitude of a social worker. He's there just to chat, ask questions (but not intrusive ones). He accepts them and is not a controlling outsider. This was really refreshing to see, for some reason. "I’m not trying to control his life, or give him my opinion of what I think he should do. I’m trying to enable him to have more control of his life, the way he wants it."
Throughout the book I couldn't help but see the panhandlers as the members of a different world within the world of the everyday normality. There are intertwined relationships forming and breaking every day, week, month, year. It's the learning about the fellow panhandler through the grapevine, what other said, but soon is proved to be not that accurate... It's a wonder, really. It's the world of the regulars who've been in the same place for years, but in the same time the world of the passer-by who's just looking for his place in the panhandling world. It's the world in which good does triumph over bad, panhandlers helping one another through bad times. It's a fairy-tale like world, with bad characters and good characters, but unlike the classic fairy tales, you don't know for sure that good will conquer the bad gradually, as you turn the pages. It's the day by day real life. "It’s like a daily soap opera, lives and loves exposed for all to see." But few have eyes to see beyond the façade.
"It’s nice waking up in the morning. If I don’t, I know something’s wrong." (Little Jake)
But first things first: this book is about panhandlers, about homeless people. They live in Toronto. The information about their lives is gathered by Dennis, the author and the narrator of the book. He worked near the meeting place of the panhandlers. There's a group that keeps showing up in the book, the usual suspects as they are referred to. There are also some other names that are brought up. It's a really vast universe. It was a bit tricky to keep up with all those names, but you soon realise that those who are the real "characters" are quickly etched into your mind.
Every panhandler has a distinct personality. So different. I must admit that I started this book curious, but in the same time with a baggage of judgment towards these people. I started with the ideas that most people have when they have to get in contact, even for the briefest of moments, with panhandlers and homeless: once an addict, always an addict. While this is not whipped away in the book, I like that they are given the chance to show why they are in the situation they are in at the moment. I'm not giving them excuses, but it's nice to see a different perspective on things. I definitely didn't expect such a wide spectrum of backgrounds. Some of the people in the group came from a respectful background, some attended college ["It seems funny now, thinking that I would have gone into law, since nearly everything I do is illegal." -- Irene], some had families, kids, jobs and bosses waiting for them when they decided to go back. If you're looking for a reason why they chose the life on the streets to the life "back home", this book isn't giving you one. Probably more than justifying them, it just aims to offer a look into their lives.
My favourite thing about this book is the narrator's attitude through all this. I love that rather than giving them money, he is quicker to offer breakfast cards, coffee, is willing to buy them breakfast. He helps them in a practical way, serving their needs rather than their wants. This probably sounds harsh, but it's how I see things. I was glad to see that the narrator avoids talking or even writing his thoughts about the panhandlers from a right or bad point of view. Another aspect I loved so much is that he wasn't trying to interfere in their lives; he doesn't adopt a Good Samaritan attitude, or better said the attitude of a social worker. He's there just to chat, ask questions (but not intrusive ones). He accepts them and is not a controlling outsider. This was really refreshing to see, for some reason. "I’m not trying to control his life, or give him my opinion of what I think he should do. I’m trying to enable him to have more control of his life, the way he wants it."
Throughout the book I couldn't help but see the panhandlers as the members of a different world within the world of the everyday normality. There are intertwined relationships forming and breaking every day, week, month, year. It's the learning about the fellow panhandler through the grapevine, what other said, but soon is proved to be not that accurate... It's a wonder, really. It's the world of the regulars who've been in the same place for years, but in the same time the world of the passer-by who's just looking for his place in the panhandling world. It's the world in which good does triumph over bad, panhandlers helping one another through bad times. It's a fairy-tale like world, with bad characters and good characters, but unlike the classic fairy tales, you don't know for sure that good will conquer the bad gradually, as you turn the pages. It's the day by day real life. "It’s like a daily soap opera, lives and loves exposed for all to see." But few have eyes to see beyond the façade.
"It’s nice waking up in the morning. If I don’t, I know something’s wrong." (Little Jake)
February 4, 2015
Raw, Gritty Vignettes That Tell Their Own Tales
Let’s face it – we’ve all done it at one time or another – seen someone panhandling and quickly crossed to the other side of the street or walked by them with our cell phone stuck to our ears, pretending to be deep in conversation so we wouldn’t have to engage with them in any way. The author, Dennis Cardiff, did exactly what most of us would never do – he engaged with the street people he came in contact with on his daily travels to and from work. Over time, these men and women became his friends and his daily interactions with them are chronicled in Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People. This isn’t a book with chapters and pretty prose. It’s a collection of raw, gritty and simplistic vignettes that tell their own tales of abuse, regret, violence and illness (mental and otherwise) that aren’t confined to any particular demographic. One thing is clear, however. Cardiff doesn’t patronize, placate or offer any solutions. All he offers are a sympathetic ear, a bagel and a coffee or some spare change, as the particular encounter warrants. For a reader who still believes in unicorns and happy endings, this was a difficult book to read but certainly a necessary one. Perhaps at some point, we all need to take off our rose-colored glasses and see the world for what it is, warts and all.
Let’s face it – we’ve all done it at one time or another – seen someone panhandling and quickly crossed to the other side of the street or walked by them with our cell phone stuck to our ears, pretending to be deep in conversation so we wouldn’t have to engage with them in any way. The author, Dennis Cardiff, did exactly what most of us would never do – he engaged with the street people he came in contact with on his daily travels to and from work. Over time, these men and women became his friends and his daily interactions with them are chronicled in Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People. This isn’t a book with chapters and pretty prose. It’s a collection of raw, gritty and simplistic vignettes that tell their own tales of abuse, regret, violence and illness (mental and otherwise) that aren’t confined to any particular demographic. One thing is clear, however. Cardiff doesn’t patronize, placate or offer any solutions. All he offers are a sympathetic ear, a bagel and a coffee or some spare change, as the particular encounter warrants. For a reader who still believes in unicorns and happy endings, this was a difficult book to read but certainly a necessary one. Perhaps at some point, we all need to take off our rose-colored glasses and see the world for what it is, warts and all.
May 14, 2014
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People will be available June 10th! I can't tell you what a joy it has been to work with author/blogger, Dennis Cardiff. The man has infinite patience and kindness. His collection of conversations with the homeless in his neighborhood reads like a novel, but is factual in content (names and locations have been changed).
Dennis stops by to visit with the people you will meet in this book almost every morning and every afternoon. They have, in his words, "become like family." He chronicles their ups and downs and everyday happenings. As you turn the pages, you never know what is going to happen next.
I hope you all will join Dennis on this enlightening and heartwarming journey through the world of the people we so often ignore or write off as hopeless cases. You will grow to love them, and some of them you will not like very much, but you will find that at the core, these street people are human beings who deserve to be treated as such. They love and lose, just as we all do. They struggle to survive in a world that is often very much against them. But most of all, the characters in this book are family to one another.
Dennis stops by to visit with the people you will meet in this book almost every morning and every afternoon. They have, in his words, "become like family." He chronicles their ups and downs and everyday happenings. As you turn the pages, you never know what is going to happen next.
I hope you all will join Dennis on this enlightening and heartwarming journey through the world of the people we so often ignore or write off as hopeless cases. You will grow to love them, and some of them you will not like very much, but you will find that at the core, these street people are human beings who deserve to be treated as such. They love and lose, just as we all do. They struggle to survive in a world that is often very much against them. But most of all, the characters in this book are family to one another.
June 18, 2014
Sometimes, we avoid situations we do not understand, but more often than not, we shun circumstances we detest. In the homeless world , it's citizens are often objects of misinterpretation and loathing. They are in need of someone or something that will imbue the truth that homeless people have value because they are human beings, same as the entire world. Dennis Cardiff's conversations with the homeless in "Gotta Find a Home", breaks that barrier between the Haves and the Have Nots. After reading the book, one begins to understand that the homeless are no different than other people...same concerns, same worries, same devotions, and same loves. For me, The conversations were both enlightening and humbling.
April 14, 2015
I just finished this fine work by a very astute observer of “street life.” Mr. Cardiff’s interactions hit a few nerves for me, as well as rekindled memories of my own experiences with similar people in a different time and place.
I was immediately drawn into the writer’s humanity, and kindness as he delved into the dilemmas inherent in these never intended lifestyles. One could sense throughout the winding story his empathy with so many of these lives unable to lift themselves away from the constant downward pull of a gravity set in motion in their youth. The conversations begin with an act of simple kindness by Mr. Cardiff to a lady he sees on the street. He recollects his own living on the edge at various times in his life, and that no doubt allows him to not judge harshly the people who presently come before him.
The story is inhabited by struggling characters of different ages and backgrounds— Hippo, Weasel, Shakes, Antonio, and Toothless Chuck populate the narrative.
The grimness of their lives for me is encapsulated in this brief passage as Mr. Cardiff turns his attention to Joy, the most recurring figure in Gotta Find a Home:
“She has cracked cartilage in her nose with a gash across the bridge, two black eyes and pneumonia in both lungs. Her boyfriend, Big Jake, who is six foot, three and weighs over two hundred pounds, punched her in the face when she wouldn’t give him oral sex (she couldn’t breathe through her nose because of the pneumonia). He left her on the sidewalk in a pool of blood. A month ago he kicked her to the point that her whole right side was bruised; she had two cracked and two fractured ribs. In both cases she phoned the police, so hopefully this time he will be in jail a long time.
I sat with her, gave her a big hug and let her vent. “I love Big Jake, but I have to take care of myself. I can’t be somebody’s punching bag. One day he’s going to kill me.”
One first pained reaction was “BUT SHE LOVES HIM?” How many times have we encountered implausibly connected couples in polite restaurant settings—he badgering her, bullying intellectually, slightly derisive.” What does she see in him,” we ask ourselves. Yet here is a woman declaring her love for a terrible brute, not just a smarmy guy belittling his partner as the tiramisu is brought to the table.
I mentioned my own connection—I worked in the New York City Social Services on the Lower East Side long before its gentrification. It was a time when heroin was easier to find than the Pinot Noir now served in the outdoor cafes. Mr. Cardiff’s sharp characterizations brought me back to that time—unlike his occasional Inuit Native American lost in a Toronto that has no resemblance to his barren birthplace, the inhabitants of my Lower East Side experience were also cut adrift in the same way. They may have come from Puerto Rico and spoke a stumbling English, or a farm boy from Kansas still reeling from Viet Nam.
Whether it’s the Toronto street people of this era’s oxycotin and crack cocaine or the Lower East Side of heroin and pre-AIDS, all of these people have a voice similar in its despair.
I recommend this book—it is an entrance to a world we see everyday, but rarely stop to engage.
Alan Geik, author Glenfiddich Inn
I was immediately drawn into the writer’s humanity, and kindness as he delved into the dilemmas inherent in these never intended lifestyles. One could sense throughout the winding story his empathy with so many of these lives unable to lift themselves away from the constant downward pull of a gravity set in motion in their youth. The conversations begin with an act of simple kindness by Mr. Cardiff to a lady he sees on the street. He recollects his own living on the edge at various times in his life, and that no doubt allows him to not judge harshly the people who presently come before him.
The story is inhabited by struggling characters of different ages and backgrounds— Hippo, Weasel, Shakes, Antonio, and Toothless Chuck populate the narrative.
The grimness of their lives for me is encapsulated in this brief passage as Mr. Cardiff turns his attention to Joy, the most recurring figure in Gotta Find a Home:
“She has cracked cartilage in her nose with a gash across the bridge, two black eyes and pneumonia in both lungs. Her boyfriend, Big Jake, who is six foot, three and weighs over two hundred pounds, punched her in the face when she wouldn’t give him oral sex (she couldn’t breathe through her nose because of the pneumonia). He left her on the sidewalk in a pool of blood. A month ago he kicked her to the point that her whole right side was bruised; she had two cracked and two fractured ribs. In both cases she phoned the police, so hopefully this time he will be in jail a long time.
I sat with her, gave her a big hug and let her vent. “I love Big Jake, but I have to take care of myself. I can’t be somebody’s punching bag. One day he’s going to kill me.”
One first pained reaction was “BUT SHE LOVES HIM?” How many times have we encountered implausibly connected couples in polite restaurant settings—he badgering her, bullying intellectually, slightly derisive.” What does she see in him,” we ask ourselves. Yet here is a woman declaring her love for a terrible brute, not just a smarmy guy belittling his partner as the tiramisu is brought to the table.
I mentioned my own connection—I worked in the New York City Social Services on the Lower East Side long before its gentrification. It was a time when heroin was easier to find than the Pinot Noir now served in the outdoor cafes. Mr. Cardiff’s sharp characterizations brought me back to that time—unlike his occasional Inuit Native American lost in a Toronto that has no resemblance to his barren birthplace, the inhabitants of my Lower East Side experience were also cut adrift in the same way. They may have come from Puerto Rico and spoke a stumbling English, or a farm boy from Kansas still reeling from Viet Nam.
Whether it’s the Toronto street people of this era’s oxycotin and crack cocaine or the Lower East Side of heroin and pre-AIDS, all of these people have a voice similar in its despair.
I recommend this book—it is an entrance to a world we see everyday, but rarely stop to engage.
Alan Geik, author Glenfiddich Inn
April 26, 2015
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People by Dennis Cardiff is all about street people you meet that make life the rich, vibrant experience that it is. They shape our memories more than the locations themselves. They can make a bad place good, or a great place bad. They teach us about what we like or don’t like in others. They shine lights on our ignorance and teach us about ourselves.
The book is written in such detail and it’s highly amusing. Feelings come and go. Sometimes there is sorrow, sometimes joy. Very thought provoking & a uplifting
book that keeps you so emotionally engaged throughout it. Cardiff has a gift for explaining deep thoughts in an approachable and very emotional way.
A little about what have I learned from the book….
Reading page after page we can quickly learn two things about the homeless from Cardiff's book. First, you can learn that many of the homeless, before they were homeless, were people more or less like ourselves: members of the working or middle class. And we can learn that the world of the homeless has its roots in various policies, events, and ways of life. We can also learn from Cardiff’s characters that one of the most important things there is to know about the homeless - that they can be roughly divided into two groups: those who have had homelessness forced upon them and want nothing more than to escape it; and those who have at least in part chosen it for themselves, and now accept, or in some cases, embrace it.
We must learn to accept that there may indeed be people, and not only vets, who have seen so much of our world, or seen it so clearly, that to live in it becomes impossible. Here, for example, is the story of “Joy”, a homeless middle-age woman from Toronto. She sees the streets as her home and the rest of the street people in her group as her family. As a person she has experienced many difficult moments through her life - troubled childhood, raped by male guard in prison for Women, mental problems, abusive and alcoholic boyfriend who beats her very often… but her story have changed Cardiff’s life in a extraordinary way. By writing about her experiences, he tells us that it is important to understand that however disorderly or dirty or unmanageable the world of homeless men and women like “Joy" appears to us, it is not without its significance, and its rules and rituals.
They are many more stories in the book that can make you take a step back and think about the way you live, treat others, and treat yourself. I can relate to most of what the author wrote. I believe that the main message Cardiff is sending is that no matter who they are, no matter where they live good people bring out the good in people. I am so glad that Dennis Cardiff shared his remarkable experience with his readers. I would remember his book for years, because my life have been enriched and transformed by reading Cardiff’s an amazing journey.
The book is written in such detail and it’s highly amusing. Feelings come and go. Sometimes there is sorrow, sometimes joy. Very thought provoking & a uplifting
book that keeps you so emotionally engaged throughout it. Cardiff has a gift for explaining deep thoughts in an approachable and very emotional way.
A little about what have I learned from the book….
Reading page after page we can quickly learn two things about the homeless from Cardiff's book. First, you can learn that many of the homeless, before they were homeless, were people more or less like ourselves: members of the working or middle class. And we can learn that the world of the homeless has its roots in various policies, events, and ways of life. We can also learn from Cardiff’s characters that one of the most important things there is to know about the homeless - that they can be roughly divided into two groups: those who have had homelessness forced upon them and want nothing more than to escape it; and those who have at least in part chosen it for themselves, and now accept, or in some cases, embrace it.
We must learn to accept that there may indeed be people, and not only vets, who have seen so much of our world, or seen it so clearly, that to live in it becomes impossible. Here, for example, is the story of “Joy”, a homeless middle-age woman from Toronto. She sees the streets as her home and the rest of the street people in her group as her family. As a person she has experienced many difficult moments through her life - troubled childhood, raped by male guard in prison for Women, mental problems, abusive and alcoholic boyfriend who beats her very often… but her story have changed Cardiff’s life in a extraordinary way. By writing about her experiences, he tells us that it is important to understand that however disorderly or dirty or unmanageable the world of homeless men and women like “Joy" appears to us, it is not without its significance, and its rules and rituals.
They are many more stories in the book that can make you take a step back and think about the way you live, treat others, and treat yourself. I can relate to most of what the author wrote. I believe that the main message Cardiff is sending is that no matter who they are, no matter where they live good people bring out the good in people. I am so glad that Dennis Cardiff shared his remarkable experience with his readers. I would remember his book for years, because my life have been enriched and transformed by reading Cardiff’s an amazing journey.
November 26, 2014
This is a non fictional story of a group of homeless people in a Canadian city from the perspective of the man who befriended them. Documented in diary format Dennis Cardiff catalogues the conversations he has with the various panhandlers, which brings home the reality of people who are forced, for one reason or another, into a life on the streets. These accounts show just how people’s lives and personalities can be and are formed by past traumas in the form of abuse, addiction and mental and physical disorders.
The conversations throughout the book demonstrate the sense of community among the group and the very noticeably differing personalities, each having their own stories and set of circumstances, and all the while helping the reader to see them as people in their own right, with real feelings and needs, struggling to survive against the odds.
This book tells it like it is, with no frills, and it is a challenging read. Not only because of the plight of the street people but also the way they are viewed and judged by the general public and more often than not, ignored. It’s something I imagine most of us, including myself, are guilty of. Dennis Cardiff tackles the issue in a completely constructive way by offering food, a bus ticket or coffee on daily basis and gradually getting to know the street people. It all started one morning as he was walking to work and saw a woman sitting on the sidewalk. He didn’t know quite what he should do, if anything. A friend advised him to offer her food and coffee and so began a morning ritual which evolved into a life changing experience for the author.
This is a unique insight into homelessness and the views of some of the people who live on the streets. Dennis Cardiff doesn’t try to explain why they are homeless or suggest solutions, he just offers his time, friendship and a willingness to listen.
http://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpr...
The conversations throughout the book demonstrate the sense of community among the group and the very noticeably differing personalities, each having their own stories and set of circumstances, and all the while helping the reader to see them as people in their own right, with real feelings and needs, struggling to survive against the odds.
This book tells it like it is, with no frills, and it is a challenging read. Not only because of the plight of the street people but also the way they are viewed and judged by the general public and more often than not, ignored. It’s something I imagine most of us, including myself, are guilty of. Dennis Cardiff tackles the issue in a completely constructive way by offering food, a bus ticket or coffee on daily basis and gradually getting to know the street people. It all started one morning as he was walking to work and saw a woman sitting on the sidewalk. He didn’t know quite what he should do, if anything. A friend advised him to offer her food and coffee and so began a morning ritual which evolved into a life changing experience for the author.
This is a unique insight into homelessness and the views of some of the people who live on the streets. Dennis Cardiff doesn’t try to explain why they are homeless or suggest solutions, he just offers his time, friendship and a willingness to listen.
http://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpr...
September 18, 2014
From whatever country we come, we are used to seeing homeless people in our cities begging. It is easy to be judgemental, frightened or indifferent but we often forget that they are human beings. Dennis Cardiff is not like that. He makes daily visits to a group of homeless people in his Canadian city to talk to them and maybe buy them a snack. For several years he has kept a journal of these encounters on his blog “Gotta Find Home” and this book is an edited version of this.
I was hoping for a compilation of the conversations with a particular character building up a coherent biography of people like Joy, who slept behind a dumpster and was often beaten up or of Antonio, the small gentle man who slept on a bench in the freezing cold but Dennis Cardiff has stuck to a simple recount of each conversation as it occurred.
The “usual subjects” as Dennis calls his friends on the streets do gradually stamp out their identity in these conversations and we learn some of their back story but perhaps because this is real life and Dennis is determined not to interfere there is no clear timeline of their life events to explain their current predicament.
In an interview at the end of the book Dennis concludes that although many suffer from mental and physical illness and a great many were abused when younger there is no one reason why they are homeless. He does not offer a solution to the problem, but following Buddhist principals to, “open one’s heart and practice generosity,” he gives his time and a listening ear to them.
This book is not an easy read but it does help to increase our understanding by its honest and frank account of the lives of this group of homeless people.
I was hoping for a compilation of the conversations with a particular character building up a coherent biography of people like Joy, who slept behind a dumpster and was often beaten up or of Antonio, the small gentle man who slept on a bench in the freezing cold but Dennis Cardiff has stuck to a simple recount of each conversation as it occurred.
The “usual subjects” as Dennis calls his friends on the streets do gradually stamp out their identity in these conversations and we learn some of their back story but perhaps because this is real life and Dennis is determined not to interfere there is no clear timeline of their life events to explain their current predicament.
In an interview at the end of the book Dennis concludes that although many suffer from mental and physical illness and a great many were abused when younger there is no one reason why they are homeless. He does not offer a solution to the problem, but following Buddhist principals to, “open one’s heart and practice generosity,” he gives his time and a listening ear to them.
This book is not an easy read but it does help to increase our understanding by its honest and frank account of the lives of this group of homeless people.
March 13, 2015
I always tend to rate a creation high if there is a purpose behind it.
Things can be meaningful for self, but to be purposeful they have to serve others, especially those who need to be served.
As for the style of writing, high level of commitment itself becomes a style of its own kind.
I am an author, not a professional critic. No one should expect me to find faults with trivial things. The book is not pretentious that is more than enough for me.
I give it a perfect 5-Star. I did not buy it. I borrowed it from a friend of mine, read it and returned it to him with thanks.
Things can be meaningful for self, but to be purposeful they have to serve others, especially those who need to be served.
As for the style of writing, high level of commitment itself becomes a style of its own kind.
I am an author, not a professional critic. No one should expect me to find faults with trivial things. The book is not pretentious that is more than enough for me.
I give it a perfect 5-Star. I did not buy it. I borrowed it from a friend of mine, read it and returned it to him with thanks.
June 25, 2014
A fascinating look inside a world many others don't want to see. From the time he first meets Joy and her colleagues, Dennis steps back and lets them speak in their own voices, with no judgement and minimal intrusion. Personalities come through and the drama, pathos and humour in their lives is evident. A very enjoyable read, with the minor quibble that descriptions of location can be a bit confusing (is it Toronto or Ottawa?) Looking forward to the next book!
January 1, 2015
`People are strangers only until you meet them. We are all the same, we seek happiness and an end to suffering.'
Canadian author Dennis Cardiff has a heart as big as all outdoors. He seems to be a pretty selfless guy as he doesn't provide much personal resume on which to base a beginning to read his book and he contributes a portion of the proceeds to supporting the homeless. From references within his writing it seems he lives in Toronto and spends his walk to work each day talking to the street folk he has gathered into his circle of friends.
The book is a series of conversations with and about the homeless people he encounters. Cardiff is also a poet and he generously sprinkles some of his poems through out the book that spans eighteen months of experience - growth, laughter, kindness, endless biographical information, and simply people who have no home but the street seeking some sense of dignity and understanding form those who have homes.
Early on in his book he lets us know how this concept originated: `2010 - How It Began - My lungs ached, as frost hung in the bitterly cold December morning air, making breathing difficult. I trudged in the falling snow toward the building where I work, in one of the city's grey, concrete, office tower canyons. I dodged other pedestrians, also trying to get to work on time, I noticed a woman seated cross-legged on the sidewalk with her back against a building wall. A snow-covered Buddha, wrapped in a sleeping bag, shivering in the below freezing temperature. I guessed her to be in her forties. Everything about her seemed round. She had the most angelic face, sparkling blue eyes and a beautiful smile. A cap was upturned in front of her. I thought, There but for the grace of God go I. Her smile and blue eyes haunted me all day. In the past I've been unemployed, my wife and I were unable to pay our mortgage and other bills, we went through bankruptcy, lost our house, my truck. Being in my fifties, my prospects looked dim. It could have been me, on the sidewalk, in her place. I was told not to give money to panhandlers because they'll just spend it on booze. I thought to myself, What should I do, if anything? What would you do? I asked for advice from a friend who has worked with homeless people. She said, `The woman is probably hungry. Why don't you ask her if she'd like a breakfast sandwich and maybe a coffee?' That sounded reasonable, so the next day I asked, "Are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast, perhaps a coffee?""That would be nice," she replied. When I brought her a sandwich and coffee she said to me, "Thank you so much, sir. You're so kind. Bless you." I truly felt blessed. This has become a morning routine for the past four years. The woman (I'll call Joy) and I have become friends. Often I'll sit with her on the sidewalk. We sometimes meet her companions in the park. They have become my closest friends. I think of them as angels. My life has become much richer for the experience.'
As a coda to this street symphony, Cardiff states: `After eighteen months of daily conversations with people living on the streets, in shelters or sharing accommodation, I have made the following observations. A full-fledged member of the street family is one who has been with the group for over ten years. Jacques and Joy are the matriarch and patriarch. Everyone else is a newbie -- on probation. To gain acceptance one must be vouched for and have proven themselves not to be an asshole. The group expects honesty and sincerity. That may seem strange when you consider that most of these people have prison records. Many have been involved in scams of one sort or another, but if you're family they expect the truth. How else, they explained, can they help you? They'll share with you what little they have, even the jackets off their back. The same is expected in return. The people who come around only when they're in need of money, cigarettes, booze, drugs or food are soon put on notice. On check day, all debts are paid in full.'
These are the words of a man who cares, and in his caring and sharing we discover an entirely new outlook on the people whose street homes are beneath benches, in cardboard boxes, in doorways - any place that provides shelter. Dennis Cardiff brings them into our hearts.
Canadian author Dennis Cardiff has a heart as big as all outdoors. He seems to be a pretty selfless guy as he doesn't provide much personal resume on which to base a beginning to read his book and he contributes a portion of the proceeds to supporting the homeless. From references within his writing it seems he lives in Toronto and spends his walk to work each day talking to the street folk he has gathered into his circle of friends.
The book is a series of conversations with and about the homeless people he encounters. Cardiff is also a poet and he generously sprinkles some of his poems through out the book that spans eighteen months of experience - growth, laughter, kindness, endless biographical information, and simply people who have no home but the street seeking some sense of dignity and understanding form those who have homes.
Early on in his book he lets us know how this concept originated: `2010 - How It Began - My lungs ached, as frost hung in the bitterly cold December morning air, making breathing difficult. I trudged in the falling snow toward the building where I work, in one of the city's grey, concrete, office tower canyons. I dodged other pedestrians, also trying to get to work on time, I noticed a woman seated cross-legged on the sidewalk with her back against a building wall. A snow-covered Buddha, wrapped in a sleeping bag, shivering in the below freezing temperature. I guessed her to be in her forties. Everything about her seemed round. She had the most angelic face, sparkling blue eyes and a beautiful smile. A cap was upturned in front of her. I thought, There but for the grace of God go I. Her smile and blue eyes haunted me all day. In the past I've been unemployed, my wife and I were unable to pay our mortgage and other bills, we went through bankruptcy, lost our house, my truck. Being in my fifties, my prospects looked dim. It could have been me, on the sidewalk, in her place. I was told not to give money to panhandlers because they'll just spend it on booze. I thought to myself, What should I do, if anything? What would you do? I asked for advice from a friend who has worked with homeless people. She said, `The woman is probably hungry. Why don't you ask her if she'd like a breakfast sandwich and maybe a coffee?' That sounded reasonable, so the next day I asked, "Are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast, perhaps a coffee?""That would be nice," she replied. When I brought her a sandwich and coffee she said to me, "Thank you so much, sir. You're so kind. Bless you." I truly felt blessed. This has become a morning routine for the past four years. The woman (I'll call Joy) and I have become friends. Often I'll sit with her on the sidewalk. We sometimes meet her companions in the park. They have become my closest friends. I think of them as angels. My life has become much richer for the experience.'
As a coda to this street symphony, Cardiff states: `After eighteen months of daily conversations with people living on the streets, in shelters or sharing accommodation, I have made the following observations. A full-fledged member of the street family is one who has been with the group for over ten years. Jacques and Joy are the matriarch and patriarch. Everyone else is a newbie -- on probation. To gain acceptance one must be vouched for and have proven themselves not to be an asshole. The group expects honesty and sincerity. That may seem strange when you consider that most of these people have prison records. Many have been involved in scams of one sort or another, but if you're family they expect the truth. How else, they explained, can they help you? They'll share with you what little they have, even the jackets off their back. The same is expected in return. The people who come around only when they're in need of money, cigarettes, booze, drugs or food are soon put on notice. On check day, all debts are paid in full.'
These are the words of a man who cares, and in his caring and sharing we discover an entirely new outlook on the people whose street homes are beneath benches, in cardboard boxes, in doorways - any place that provides shelter. Dennis Cardiff brings them into our hearts.
October 14, 2014
Sometimes bleak, sometimes even terrifying, the stories told by street people reveal two sides of human nature: the savagery of “civilization” that puts some into hardship, danger and humiliation -- and the decency, compassion and caring that is equally a part of who we can choose to be.
Dennis has been spending his lunch breaks from work talking to the strays of the city, because he gets a more interesting conversation. He had experienced bankruptcy and losing his home in the past, so he can identify with these people who are now where he could easily have been. He ends up doing voluntary work, as well as being, without realizing, a bit of a therapist and social worker with them.
Much of the power of the stories is in the simplicity of the language. These are accounts of his memory of what people said, and that’s it. You see his friends as... just people, with strengths and weaknesses like anyone else. They are on the streets for a variety of reasons, including drugs and alcohol. It’s clear that, while their lives are bleak and full of hardship, they are not any less happy than those materially better off. Dennis gives a wonderful picture of those spat out by society, giving them personality, dignity and acceptance.
However, the strengths of the presentation also lead to a weakness: repetitiveness. Day to day, the details may change for Dennis’s friends, but it’s more of the same. By giving an accurate, unedited, unvarnished account, he necessarily has to repeat himself. A day to day diary of the average suburban family lacks excitement. A day to day diary of any other group just has to be much the same.
So, I was entertained and inspired by the start of the book. I got to know the key people like Joy, and wished them well in their travails. However, after awhile the story dragged on. All the same, the inspirational nature of the book remains. You could thoroughly improve your wellbeing, the meaning of your life, by copying Dennis.
A generous portion of the proceeds from the sale of these books goes toward helping the homeless. So, do yourself a favor. Spend the few dollars it takes to buy the book (and its companions), and then follow Dennis’s example. The more you give, the more you get, and I mean giving of your essence rather than money. This doesn’t mean you need to associate with homeless people, although that is a worthwhile activity. But find some way you can be of benefit to others, and to make this planet a better place for its inhabitants.
Dennis has been spending his lunch breaks from work talking to the strays of the city, because he gets a more interesting conversation. He had experienced bankruptcy and losing his home in the past, so he can identify with these people who are now where he could easily have been. He ends up doing voluntary work, as well as being, without realizing, a bit of a therapist and social worker with them.
Much of the power of the stories is in the simplicity of the language. These are accounts of his memory of what people said, and that’s it. You see his friends as... just people, with strengths and weaknesses like anyone else. They are on the streets for a variety of reasons, including drugs and alcohol. It’s clear that, while their lives are bleak and full of hardship, they are not any less happy than those materially better off. Dennis gives a wonderful picture of those spat out by society, giving them personality, dignity and acceptance.
However, the strengths of the presentation also lead to a weakness: repetitiveness. Day to day, the details may change for Dennis’s friends, but it’s more of the same. By giving an accurate, unedited, unvarnished account, he necessarily has to repeat himself. A day to day diary of the average suburban family lacks excitement. A day to day diary of any other group just has to be much the same.
So, I was entertained and inspired by the start of the book. I got to know the key people like Joy, and wished them well in their travails. However, after awhile the story dragged on. All the same, the inspirational nature of the book remains. You could thoroughly improve your wellbeing, the meaning of your life, by copying Dennis.
A generous portion of the proceeds from the sale of these books goes toward helping the homeless. So, do yourself a favor. Spend the few dollars it takes to buy the book (and its companions), and then follow Dennis’s example. The more you give, the more you get, and I mean giving of your essence rather than money. This doesn’t mean you need to associate with homeless people, although that is a worthwhile activity. But find some way you can be of benefit to others, and to make this planet a better place for its inhabitants.
July 5, 2015
I discovered Gotta Find A Home on twitter where its author posts as @denniscardiff. I will admit that I am one of those who generally averts their eyes when I notice beggars on the street so, other than the usual political platitudes, I know very little about the people themselves. Intrigued by Dennis' synopsis, I bought his book. All the profits from Gotta Find A Home are donated to homelessness alleviation projects in Toronto so I thought, even if I didn't like the read, I was doing a good thing with its purchase.
As it turned out, this is a pretty fascinating book. Written in diary form, Dennis recounts daily conversations he has had with members of a fluctuating group of homeless panhandlers (beggars) who live near to where he works in Toronto. Conversations aren't recorded, but related from memory, so I did find the speaking style a little odd to begin with. What surprised me most though was the lack of a stereotype within the group. These people are of all ages from their twenties to their sixties (although many will die much younger than they might if they weren't homeless) some are abuse victims but not all, some are alcoholics or drug addicts but not all, some have a university education while others can barely write, some are mentally disturbed while others are highly intelligent and articulate. There is apparently no such thing as A Typical Homeless Person.
Dennis makes no claims to have the answers to homelessness, neither does he defend or vilify the behaviour and actions of the people about whom he writes. Instead he simply presents their day-to-day lives and leaves us readers to make our own decisions. Formerly anonymous grey shapes, as appear in every town in Britain in the same circumstances as in Canada, now define themselves into 'normal people' (if you'll excuse that phrase). This is Joy. This is Ian. This is Hippo. This is Lucy. They talk about their friends and relationships, what they might have for dinner, how much they've earned today, and whether there is enough to pay the rent. Then they mention an acquaintance who had his teeth kicked out and another who was doused in gasoline and set alight.
I think Gotta Find A Home would make a very interesting Book Club choice as I found my assumptions being challenged, but without my being made to feel defensive or hectored. I would definitely like to hear opinions from other readers as I hope that this memoir will remain memorable for me.
As it turned out, this is a pretty fascinating book. Written in diary form, Dennis recounts daily conversations he has had with members of a fluctuating group of homeless panhandlers (beggars) who live near to where he works in Toronto. Conversations aren't recorded, but related from memory, so I did find the speaking style a little odd to begin with. What surprised me most though was the lack of a stereotype within the group. These people are of all ages from their twenties to their sixties (although many will die much younger than they might if they weren't homeless) some are abuse victims but not all, some are alcoholics or drug addicts but not all, some have a university education while others can barely write, some are mentally disturbed while others are highly intelligent and articulate. There is apparently no such thing as A Typical Homeless Person.
Dennis makes no claims to have the answers to homelessness, neither does he defend or vilify the behaviour and actions of the people about whom he writes. Instead he simply presents their day-to-day lives and leaves us readers to make our own decisions. Formerly anonymous grey shapes, as appear in every town in Britain in the same circumstances as in Canada, now define themselves into 'normal people' (if you'll excuse that phrase). This is Joy. This is Ian. This is Hippo. This is Lucy. They talk about their friends and relationships, what they might have for dinner, how much they've earned today, and whether there is enough to pay the rent. Then they mention an acquaintance who had his teeth kicked out and another who was doused in gasoline and set alight.
I think Gotta Find A Home would make a very interesting Book Club choice as I found my assumptions being challenged, but without my being made to feel defensive or hectored. I would definitely like to hear opinions from other readers as I hope that this memoir will remain memorable for me.
July 16, 2014
Dennis Cardiff’s Gotta Find a Home doesn’t just put a human face on street people; it invites non-street people like me to wear a human face too. Short chapters grouped into months offer a diary of life walking the streets, as the author travels to and from work, helps in a food kitchen, and takes time to chat. Sometimes a gentle poem will lighten the mood—“I want to see your smile each day/A memory – it just won’t do.” Sometimes he offers the background story of one of the people he’s met. And sometimes readers are simply asked to listen to voices of strangers not so different from the rest of us; people who live in apartments, struggle with rent, read books, sometimes drink too much, may have suffered abuse in the home or in jail, may have children, grandchildren even, and might like a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast today.
Joy isn’t always joyful, but the author’s writing shares his delight when she is. The dog might bite. The law’s long arm might threaten. Tempers can flare. And yes, this friend might drink too much, that one take drugs, another make foolish financial r social choices. But these people are friends with loyalties and an oddly different sort of hope. Cold in winter, it angers them if someone freezes to death. It should anger us too.
“I’ve been sober for two days now.” Sounds good. “I’m on the second floor of the Salvation Army.” But even shelter life isn’t easy, and fear of crowds might keep a friend away. Meanwhile the author doesn’t judge; he just joins in, like an outsider gaining entry to the family. He finds a willing ear to listen to his worries, as he listens to theirs. Then worlds that might seem far apart grow closer than we think. And I read his blog to learn who’s still alive and who is gone.
Gotta Find a Home is a must-read memoir of real people, real needs, real streets, and a real world we too easily ignore. So go read it!
Disclosure: I was hooked on the blog, signed up for a giveaway, and was given a copy of this book. Thank you Dennis, and I offer my honest review.
Joy isn’t always joyful, but the author’s writing shares his delight when she is. The dog might bite. The law’s long arm might threaten. Tempers can flare. And yes, this friend might drink too much, that one take drugs, another make foolish financial r social choices. But these people are friends with loyalties and an oddly different sort of hope. Cold in winter, it angers them if someone freezes to death. It should anger us too.
“I’ve been sober for two days now.” Sounds good. “I’m on the second floor of the Salvation Army.” But even shelter life isn’t easy, and fear of crowds might keep a friend away. Meanwhile the author doesn’t judge; he just joins in, like an outsider gaining entry to the family. He finds a willing ear to listen to his worries, as he listens to theirs. Then worlds that might seem far apart grow closer than we think. And I read his blog to learn who’s still alive and who is gone.
Gotta Find a Home is a must-read memoir of real people, real needs, real streets, and a real world we too easily ignore. So go read it!
Disclosure: I was hooked on the blog, signed up for a giveaway, and was given a copy of this book. Thank you Dennis, and I offer my honest review.
August 15, 2014
Our big bad world is not so bad after all. There are countless people out in the streets doing their bits to ameliorate the condition of others. Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People by Dennis Cardiff is the story of one such Samaritan whose acts of kindness has altered not only the lives of others that he came in contact with, but his own life. In showing kindness to other, he experienced a life-changing transformation as much as it transformed the lives of others.
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People is a collection of delightful and thoughtful conversations with the homeless and panhandlers. Panhandler is a reference used for people who beg on the street. The book reads like a work of fiction but in actuality is factual in content. Dennis Cardiff has changed the actual names and locations of the people mentioned in order to protect their identity. What I understand from the reading of this book is not to highlight the work that he is doing but to bring to the notice of others the plight of the homeless people.
What really resonates with me is how the author’s life has been transformed. It goes without saying that we all carry our baggage of problems. Many of live and sleep with our problems thinking a way to get rid of them from our memory while we are still preoccupied with them. Dennis Cardiff offers the solution to that problem: helping the homeless, worrying about them, whether or not they would be able to eat and find a place to sleep took Dennis’ mind off his own problems. Helping the helpless was a life-changing experience. It is a heartwarming journey, truly inspiring and worth emulating.
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People is a collection of delightful and thoughtful conversations with the homeless and panhandlers. Panhandler is a reference used for people who beg on the street. The book reads like a work of fiction but in actuality is factual in content. Dennis Cardiff has changed the actual names and locations of the people mentioned in order to protect their identity. What I understand from the reading of this book is not to highlight the work that he is doing but to bring to the notice of others the plight of the homeless people.
What really resonates with me is how the author’s life has been transformed. It goes without saying that we all carry our baggage of problems. Many of live and sleep with our problems thinking a way to get rid of them from our memory while we are still preoccupied with them. Dennis Cardiff offers the solution to that problem: helping the homeless, worrying about them, whether or not they would be able to eat and find a place to sleep took Dennis’ mind off his own problems. Helping the helpless was a life-changing experience. It is a heartwarming journey, truly inspiring and worth emulating.
January 1, 2015
I have been very fortunate in my life to have traveled extensively throughout the world, and have also lived in Chicago, a city known for its homeless population and rampant issues of people living below the poverty line. I have seen thousands of street people in my life, but it wasn't until I was considerably older that I began to genuinely consider what their lives might have been like. It is so easy to dismiss homeless people, as though they blend into the background of a city, like breathing architecture. This is a terrible viewpoint that hundreds of millions of people around the world share in some way.
This book was a tremendous achievement and I have to stand up and applaud Cardiff for not only seeing the value in pursuing this subject, but approaching it in such a unique and eye-opening way. This book will absolutely change the way that you live your daily life and will certainly change your perspective on those less fortunate. He exposes the personality of his characters, befriends them, helps them, reveals the depth of their struggle, and acquits some of them of the unjust judgments that they have surely experienced for decades. Although it feels terrible to say, "I loved this book", given how emotionally charged and challenging it was at times, I can't deny it. Cardiff is a bold and passionate author who is choosing to use his gifts for the betterment of the people he has come to know as friends. Hopefully everyone that reads this book will re-draw the lines in the sand when it comes to their beliefs on homelessness - If we want to improve society, we will have to do it ourselves. Reading this book and opening your eyes is the right way to start.
This book was a tremendous achievement and I have to stand up and applaud Cardiff for not only seeing the value in pursuing this subject, but approaching it in such a unique and eye-opening way. This book will absolutely change the way that you live your daily life and will certainly change your perspective on those less fortunate. He exposes the personality of his characters, befriends them, helps them, reveals the depth of their struggle, and acquits some of them of the unjust judgments that they have surely experienced for decades. Although it feels terrible to say, "I loved this book", given how emotionally charged and challenging it was at times, I can't deny it. Cardiff is a bold and passionate author who is choosing to use his gifts for the betterment of the people he has come to know as friends. Hopefully everyone that reads this book will re-draw the lines in the sand when it comes to their beliefs on homelessness - If we want to improve society, we will have to do it ourselves. Reading this book and opening your eyes is the right way to start.
February 3, 2015
Reading this book has made me think a lot about homeless people, pan handlers and anyone that seems an outsider in developed countries. I’ve always found it difficult to know how to interact with someone in the street that asks for money or help. As a young woman I find some of them scary or aggressive and with those that seem really in pain, ill or in great need, I don’t really know how to treat them because I’m afraid of sounding condescending or pitying them. Where I live, there are not many people living in the streets and those that do are never in groups, usually alone with a cat or a dog, or sometimes as a couple, when they’re young, which is highly unusual. Then, there are organized groups of beggars from different groups but they have nothing to do with the people in the book like Joy. Reading the book has been a humbling experience and also a scary one. It’s unfair and totally unacceptable that in developed countries with a lot of money there are so many people suffering, ill and with no roofs over their heads. It doesn’t matter what they’ve done before or how they got there, it’s everybody’s business to take care of them, to provide them with basic needs and make their life human. If they don’t want the help, let them say so. Today I’ve bought honey to an old man that produces it and was selling in the street. He looked really old and spoke very well but not much, he just sold me the honey and kept asking people to buy him some of it. I wonder what happened to him, although I’m sure he has his own home, but how come you need to sell in the streets when you’ve worked your whole life? Questions keep pouring into my head…brace yourself for this read…
July 10, 2014
The only reason l am not giving this book a five is because l am waiting for the chronology the author acknowledge he will be doing in his interview. Other than that, l must say that the book touched my soul and reinforced my view that there are 'treasures' in the 'street junk'. it's unfortunate that most of them are sheep in wolves clothing. Read between the lines of some of theses exchanges, see how some of them care for the other, see their sense of belonging and togetherness as a 'brand'. Most of them have various issues and yes many is are 'addicts' to one thing or the other. Having frequented them myself and even dated one of them, yes l admit that and call him my treasure, l must say the phenomenon of panhandlers or street kids/people as we call them in Cameroon my country, is a most peculiar one. lt originates from the very foundation of our societies, our homes and then it moves via our various social structures before hitting the streets. Many at time, we 'shun' them like the flea and hold them and their 'bad habits' responsible even for our 'demons'. The Author is most commended not only for visiting these 'outcasts' and listening to them, but also taking the time to recollect and formalize it this much. They are just conversations and he is as objective as he intends it to be taken for what it is. l sincerely think any reader who takes the time to read these conversations, will not be left untouched.
February 5, 2017
Conversations with street people gives a very good insight in the lives of homeless people and how Dennis Cardiff, the author came about writing this book.
It's based on conversations, Mr Cardiff had with the homeless over a period of time in the form of a diary. He started off by buying coffee for one of the ladies and was introduced to her family, not an easy thing to do as trust was one of the deciding factors to be accepted amongst the group. Mr Cardiff started meeting them on his way to work every morning and offered breakfast, coffee and in one case boots. The conversations reflect their backgrounds, ages, sex and how they became homeless. He actually listened to what they had to say and with that came the trust leading to being accepted in the family. He remained non judgemental and did not attempt to advise in any way but by listening and giving moral support, he gained their respect.
This book shows how those who have very little are very supportive of each other, do not feel inhibited in their daily interactions as well as being loyal to each other . The help they receive is quite minimal but they make the most of what they have, having become accustomed to the way of life.
I would encourage others to read this factual and very well documented book which is a real eye opener. I have nothing but respect for Mr Cardiff. More information about the homeless can be obtained on his blog.
It's based on conversations, Mr Cardiff had with the homeless over a period of time in the form of a diary. He started off by buying coffee for one of the ladies and was introduced to her family, not an easy thing to do as trust was one of the deciding factors to be accepted amongst the group. Mr Cardiff started meeting them on his way to work every morning and offered breakfast, coffee and in one case boots. The conversations reflect their backgrounds, ages, sex and how they became homeless. He actually listened to what they had to say and with that came the trust leading to being accepted in the family. He remained non judgemental and did not attempt to advise in any way but by listening and giving moral support, he gained their respect.
This book shows how those who have very little are very supportive of each other, do not feel inhibited in their daily interactions as well as being loyal to each other . The help they receive is quite minimal but they make the most of what they have, having become accustomed to the way of life.
I would encourage others to read this factual and very well documented book which is a real eye opener. I have nothing but respect for Mr Cardiff. More information about the homeless can be obtained on his blog.
June 30, 2014
I have had two family members who were homeless at different times and I clearly recall the day I walked past a homeless man and wondered...
"Is anybody walking past Pete today and SEEING him? (name changed) Could they guess how dear he is, could they know that he once had a job for many years taking care of people in a hospital until he came to work drunk one too many time? How would they guess he loved two children and they really miss him? That's PETE over there. He loves dogs and gardening. His favorite color is blue and he makes a fabulous rabbit stew.
Dennis Cardiff has written a brilliant book about the ordinary days of a group of panhandlers he has gotten to know in brief daily conversations outside of his workplace. What is so brilliant to me is that he does nothing to add context or analysis to his daily meetings. He just brings out a cuppa coffee and a perhaps a treat, and meets them as friends and equals and chronicles those encounters, giving us a clear window into their ordinary daily lives...allowing us to SEE them as people.
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People
"Is anybody walking past Pete today and SEEING him? (name changed) Could they guess how dear he is, could they know that he once had a job for many years taking care of people in a hospital until he came to work drunk one too many time? How would they guess he loved two children and they really miss him? That's PETE over there. He loves dogs and gardening. His favorite color is blue and he makes a fabulous rabbit stew.
Dennis Cardiff has written a brilliant book about the ordinary days of a group of panhandlers he has gotten to know in brief daily conversations outside of his workplace. What is so brilliant to me is that he does nothing to add context or analysis to his daily meetings. He just brings out a cuppa coffee and a perhaps a treat, and meets them as friends and equals and chronicles those encounters, giving us a clear window into their ordinary daily lives...allowing us to SEE them as people.
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People
January 1, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect, but the originality of this wonderful book was stunning. I have spent the past 6 years traveling extensively in dozens of countries, and have made an effort to meet and speak with "street people" as often as possible. I know that there are thousands of stories and hundreds of explanations and issues when it comes to the homeless populations of major cities, but I admire an author that is willing to delve into their lives, not as an observer, but as a participant in certain ways. This was a heartfelt piece of gonzo writing, an honest and uncompromising appraisal of the other side of life. It's this type of writing that can change people's opinions, open their eyes, and generally make the world a more tolerant and accepting place. Cardiff's honest way of writing about these individuals wasn't done in an attempt to garner sympathy, and it wasn't an overly sentimentalized way of tackling this issue. He simply wrote what he saw and explicated the beliefs that he had developed. I was blown away by this book, and it reminded me that I'm not alone in thinking about the lives of those that so many people ignore. This might be one of the best books I've read all year. A must-read for anyone who wants to broaden their view on life as we know it.
July 23, 2021
There was a lot I liked about this book. I love that the author chose to spend time with street people and treat them with value and compassion. I love that he chose to share their lives as they are without romanticizing them or trashing them. I appreciated the authenticity of the scenes shared. I like that he did not try to change them but simply shared in their lives. The book helped open my eyes to the various people who live on the streets and the reasons they do so. I always thought of the homeless as not having a home, but the author shows that many of them have a place to stay (some even pay rent for a place). Street people is a much better description of them. It was also nice to see how certain businesses and other people show kindness toward them.
The author uses his own style to share these snippets. He shares everything through dialogue. I would have preferred more of a story-like feel to it, with descriptions and actions, but this is a stylistic preference. I do feel the book needs a bit more editing. I found punctuation errors. They didn't take away from the overall story, but it did cause me to pause several times to determine who was speaking. All in all, I'm happy I read it and hope others do as well. :-)
The author uses his own style to share these snippets. He shares everything through dialogue. I would have preferred more of a story-like feel to it, with descriptions and actions, but this is a stylistic preference. I do feel the book needs a bit more editing. I found punctuation errors. They didn't take away from the overall story, but it did cause me to pause several times to determine who was speaking. All in all, I'm happy I read it and hope others do as well. :-)
December 13, 2014
Dennis Cardiff, a Canadian author, spends his days writing about and helping the homeless. What he’s done with this collection is open up the eyes of people who have a negative view of street people—he gives them a face. The real heroine of the book is Joy, a woman who made the choice of a roof over her head with an abusive boyfriend, or life on the street, but free from the abuse.
It’s an often difficult reminder that we’re all human. What I thought was especially interesting is the lack of homeless stereotypes. Instead, each one of the people Cardiff mentions is a strong and interesting individuals who has experienced some tough circumstances. Although this journal reads like fiction, it is indeed very real. The writing is not flowery, but instead a no-nonsense daily account of a group of panhandlers in Toronto through conversation. How did these people get there, and are they very different from you or me?
This is an interesting look into a world that is thankfully unfamiliar to most of us. It’s a difficult, yet heartwarming read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys good nonfiction.
It’s an often difficult reminder that we’re all human. What I thought was especially interesting is the lack of homeless stereotypes. Instead, each one of the people Cardiff mentions is a strong and interesting individuals who has experienced some tough circumstances. Although this journal reads like fiction, it is indeed very real. The writing is not flowery, but instead a no-nonsense daily account of a group of panhandlers in Toronto through conversation. How did these people get there, and are they very different from you or me?
This is an interesting look into a world that is thankfully unfamiliar to most of us. It’s a difficult, yet heartwarming read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys good nonfiction.
January 16, 2015
I bought this book in part because it was advertised as "proceeds to charity." After reading a few pages, it was apparent the author already had been giving generously to the homeless folks he met on the street.
Most people seem to have definite opinions on the subject of panhandlers. I've always been ambivalent. I read this book to become better informed. The author did not disappoint. He presents a wide variety of personalities and situations and leaves it up to the reader to draw conclusions. I encourage others to read it for a better understanding of the issue of homelessness. Although these conversations take place in Canada, I'm sure they would be much the same anywhere. The author skillfully recreated these conversations without recording them.
It was helpful for me to take a few notes on those who reappear often. I would have preferred to follow a few stories instead of struggling to remember a huge cast, many of whom played small parts over a period of months.
I felt a range of emotions while reading, including anger, sympathy, frustration, sadness, and hopefulness. The book is well worth reading and will leave you grateful for what you have.
Most people seem to have definite opinions on the subject of panhandlers. I've always been ambivalent. I read this book to become better informed. The author did not disappoint. He presents a wide variety of personalities and situations and leaves it up to the reader to draw conclusions. I encourage others to read it for a better understanding of the issue of homelessness. Although these conversations take place in Canada, I'm sure they would be much the same anywhere. The author skillfully recreated these conversations without recording them.
It was helpful for me to take a few notes on those who reappear often. I would have preferred to follow a few stories instead of struggling to remember a huge cast, many of whom played small parts over a period of months.
I felt a range of emotions while reading, including anger, sympathy, frustration, sadness, and hopefulness. The book is well worth reading and will leave you grateful for what you have.
January 19, 2015
Gotta Find a Home: Conversations with Street People, by Dennis Cardiff, has definitely become a favorite book of mine. It's so real and intense, it makes you feel like you're walking along with him. Living in NYC, I am surrounded by homeless people so I can definitely relate to the need of wanting to help them. I love the fact that the author introduces the experiences and lives of these such people in a way that make them come real and feel relatable.
The best part about these documentary stories is the fact that they changed the authors life in a way. It makes you as a reader think about your own problems and realize that they aren't as bad as you thought they were - people have it a lot worse. Helping the homeless is what helps Dennis cope with his own life while giving back to others.
The homeless are people too - just like the rest of us. Most people mistreat them or simply just walk by them, but Dennis shows up why these actions are so wrong and how we can be better humans by taking the time to help instead of hurt. I was truly touched by this one, and would definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone.
The best part about these documentary stories is the fact that they changed the authors life in a way. It makes you as a reader think about your own problems and realize that they aren't as bad as you thought they were - people have it a lot worse. Helping the homeless is what helps Dennis cope with his own life while giving back to others.
The homeless are people too - just like the rest of us. Most people mistreat them or simply just walk by them, but Dennis shows up why these actions are so wrong and how we can be better humans by taking the time to help instead of hurt. I was truly touched by this one, and would definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone.
February 18, 2015
An Introspective Journey of a Man's Views and Experiences on Homelessness.
This is the first book I've read from the author, and I'll admit I've never read such an intriguing story about homeless panhandlers in Canada.
The book in itself is a journal recounting multiple encounters with different people whom Dennis socializes with on a daily basis. Gotta Find a Home depicts the heartbreaking stories of those who got left behind or the choices they made turned them to the streets.
The author paints a real scene with real characters who have back stories; some with painful pasts and others who do what they do to survive. I especially connected with Joy and her story truly touched me.
Cardiff displays poignant prose abilities and the writing style is real and gritty. Reading this book has shown me the unknown side of homeless people and sometimes we forget they are human beings like us- seeking a connection without judgment or prejudice. They simply desire understanding and their voices need to be heard.
Next time I see a panhandler, I won't look the other way. Perhaps a sesame bagel, tea and a hug is what needs to be done.
Brava, Cardiff. Five stars from me.
This is the first book I've read from the author, and I'll admit I've never read such an intriguing story about homeless panhandlers in Canada.
The book in itself is a journal recounting multiple encounters with different people whom Dennis socializes with on a daily basis. Gotta Find a Home depicts the heartbreaking stories of those who got left behind or the choices they made turned them to the streets.
The author paints a real scene with real characters who have back stories; some with painful pasts and others who do what they do to survive. I especially connected with Joy and her story truly touched me.
Cardiff displays poignant prose abilities and the writing style is real and gritty. Reading this book has shown me the unknown side of homeless people and sometimes we forget they are human beings like us- seeking a connection without judgment or prejudice. They simply desire understanding and their voices need to be heard.
Next time I see a panhandler, I won't look the other way. Perhaps a sesame bagel, tea and a hug is what needs to be done.
Brava, Cardiff. Five stars from me.
February 12, 2015
Gotta Find A Home : Inspirational and Heartwarming
Dennis Cardiff has written a book that inspires, and I believe would assist others; help the unemployed or anyone going through hard times.
The interconnecting stories that author Dennis Cardiff tells shows me that Dennis has a lot of love for the people who he mentions in the narrative of this fascinating book. The story takes place over an eighteen-month period.
I’ve worked with students who display the types of features mentioned throughout this story, and they are often very had to keep on the straight and narrow. They would often prefer to be out shooting up than learning a trade that would help them overcome some of the adversities in their lives.
Cardiff made me smile at times. At other times, my emotions were tugged at. I became deeply concerned, as I was when I was a teacher, as I was caught up in the author's efforts to understand the complexities of the troubled characters portrayed.
It takes writing skill to engage a reader intensely as I was drawn into this work. Five stars.
Dennis Cardiff has written a book that inspires, and I believe would assist others; help the unemployed or anyone going through hard times.
The interconnecting stories that author Dennis Cardiff tells shows me that Dennis has a lot of love for the people who he mentions in the narrative of this fascinating book. The story takes place over an eighteen-month period.
I’ve worked with students who display the types of features mentioned throughout this story, and they are often very had to keep on the straight and narrow. They would often prefer to be out shooting up than learning a trade that would help them overcome some of the adversities in their lives.
Cardiff made me smile at times. At other times, my emotions were tugged at. I became deeply concerned, as I was when I was a teacher, as I was caught up in the author's efforts to understand the complexities of the troubled characters portrayed.
It takes writing skill to engage a reader intensely as I was drawn into this work. Five stars.
Read
February 18, 2015An Introspective Journey of a Man's Views of Homelessness
This is the first book I've read from the author, and I'll admit I've never read such an intriguing story about homeless panhandlers in Canada.
The book in itself is a journal recounting multiple encounters with different people whom Dennis socializes with on a daily basis. Gotta Find a Home depicts the heartbreaking stories of those who got left behind or the choices they made turned them to the streets.
The author paints a real scene with real characters who have back stories; some with painful pasts and others who do what they do to survive. I especially connected with Joy and her story truly touched me.
Cardiff displays poignant prose abilities and the writing style is real and gritty. Reading this book has shown me the unknown side of homeless people and sometimes we forget they are human beings like us- seeking a connection without judgment or prejudice. They simply desire understanding and their voices need to be heard.
Next time I see a panhandler, I won't look the other way. Perhaps a sesame bagel, tea and a hug is what needs to be done.
Brava, Cardiff. Five stars from me.
This is the first book I've read from the author, and I'll admit I've never read such an intriguing story about homeless panhandlers in Canada.
The book in itself is a journal recounting multiple encounters with different people whom Dennis socializes with on a daily basis. Gotta Find a Home depicts the heartbreaking stories of those who got left behind or the choices they made turned them to the streets.
The author paints a real scene with real characters who have back stories; some with painful pasts and others who do what they do to survive. I especially connected with Joy and her story truly touched me.
Cardiff displays poignant prose abilities and the writing style is real and gritty. Reading this book has shown me the unknown side of homeless people and sometimes we forget they are human beings like us- seeking a connection without judgment or prejudice. They simply desire understanding and their voices need to be heard.
Next time I see a panhandler, I won't look the other way. Perhaps a sesame bagel, tea and a hug is what needs to be done.
Brava, Cardiff. Five stars from me.
October 4, 2014
With Gotta Find A Home, Dennis Cardiff has created a quite different and heart-warming chronological collection of conversations. The conversations are often brief, offer insights in the homeless’ lives. The author cares about his protagonists, proves with his book that the homeless are human – a fact which non-street people tend to forget. Street people and non-street people face similar challenges: community, bills, relationships, addictions, etc. Gotta Find A Home is an important reminder that we are all human, making mistakes, and the ability to making things right. There is no reason to beat up a homeless person. If it doesn’t feel right to ‘donate’ money, why not follow Dennis Cardiff’s example to offer a bus ticket or a coffee voucher? The Buddhist approach – respect for the living is a great concept. I soon felt acquainted with the ‘Usual Suspects’, wanted to know what was next. Gotta Find A Home is a great read for those who are interested in humanity and/or the human factor.
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