University Daily Kansan / Monday, December 11, 1989
9
A WANDERER NO MORE
Before moving in with ilene, McWilliams spent his days roaming.
The holiday season brought McWilliams a temporary minimum-wage job ringing bells outside grocery stores for the Salvation Army.
Lawrence street person finds new job, home
Story and photos by AndrewMorrison
While most people still are trying to find that perfect Christmas gift and preparing for a big holiday party, some people still search for jobs, food and places to live. However, Lawrence now has one less street person
However, Lawrence now has one less street person because of a temporary job and a friend.
John McDaniels, 38, had been homeless for almost half of his life.
He now works as a bell-ringer. He moved in with his friend Ilene, who prefers that her last name not be used, in early November.
"It's all right," McDaniels said about living with Irene. "I just hope it works out. It is right now."
Iiene said, "Hopefully John can find work in January because the bell ringing is only temporary."
McDaniels said that the bell-ringing was easy work at minimum wakes but that it could be frustrating.
"Most people walk right by, and you can tell they have money." he said. "They just don't care."
"I was just passing through, and I sort of got stuck he said. "I met some people, and they talked me into it."
A native of Lawton, Okla., McDaniels left home when he was 16. His parents split up when he was 11, and after four years of bouncing back and forth between his mother and father. McDaniels decided to strike out on his own.
He said he came to Lawrence a little more than a year ago after wandering from place to place in North America, including Canada and Mexico.
McDaniels said he spent most of his time in Lawrence homeless and walking the city's streets.
He said that occasionally he had found an odd job. He also picked up aluminum cans for money.
Finding food wasn't as much of a problem for McDaniels, however, because two organizations in Lawrence serve free meals: the Salvation Army and the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen.
"Sometimes the food is good, and sometimes it 's bad." Melanie said. "Sometimes I tell them that I wouldn't eat it."
"One day I'll get a job, but I don't know when that day is."
McWilliams now has some income, but he still eats a free lunch.
McWilliams and llene sit and eat breakfast in their $185-a-month, one-room Lawrence apartment.
McWilliams periodically checks the local job listings at City Hall.