Meet Joe

We met Joe recently during an interview for series of videos for Degage, an organization that helps homeless people in our neighborhood.

I’ll wait until the video releases so you can experience Joe yourself, but it was the single most moving interview we’ve ever done.

He’s likely in his sixties: he’s battled the ghetto of Detroit, Vietnam, the loss of his wife, and now cancer. He weighs 112 pounds; a walker is his transportation.

When we went to shoot additional footage, I had a minute or two with Joe.

He told me he was mugged by two guys a month ago on South Division.

“Did they get anything?” I asked, after he told me the story.

“Fourteen cents, one bus pass, and a voucher to Degage,” he replied.

About two dollars worth of loot.

Joe ended up in the hospital with fourteen stitches. Before he went to get help, he limped up to his room, fell down and bled on the floor.

The assisted living complex called a bio-hazard company to clean up the blood.

And kindly sent Joe a bill for $1,200.

It will be taken out of his monthly government checks until it’s paid in full.

“You know how much they charge for paper slippers?” he asked me.

I shook my head.

“Sixty eight bucks,” Joe says.

The assisted living complex won’t pay for it, claiming the assault didn’t happen on its property. And our hearts hurt to hear of this injustice.

If you want to help Joe, let me know.