Giancarlo’s got his makeshift bed rolled out on a Manchester, New Hampshire sidewalk, calling it a night. Four months without a roof over his head, and it’s just… rough. Seeing folks tucking into their sidewalk beds hits you hard. We’re in the richest country on Earth, yet here we are, millions without a proper place to sleep because housing’s just too out of reach.
So, Giancarlo’s looking for some white socks. Funny thing, I used to carry both black and white, but it turns out that white is in higher demand. He says black socks make your feet sweat more. And get this – sweating in the cold can be super dangerous. People might doze off, especially if they’ve had a bit to drink, and next thing you know, they’re losing toes or worse to frostbite because of the sweat.
Just three days back, Giancarlo told me about this guy, another soul without a home, who froze to death. It’s the same tragic news every winter – someone didn’t make it through the cold. And in the summer? It’s the heat claiming lives. And what changes? Seems like nothing much, except the numbers just keep getting worse.
Giancarlo’s also pointing out how insane rent’s gotten, even in smaller towns like Manchester. The squeeze is real everywhere; even rooming houses and single-room occupancies are raising their prices.
Here’s where we step in. It’s on us to get loud, reach out to our lawmakers, and demand some real action on affordable housing and homelessness. It’s a big ask, but hey, if not us, then who?
