The homeless Jos (54) from Steenbergen is overwhelmed with sweet reactions after he told his story at Omroep Brabant on Monday. He was even offered a job and a temporary place to live. “It’s overwhelming. This does me very well,” says Jos. Yet on Monday, Jos was again hard again with the facts: thieves left with two bags of clothing and food.
Despite the setback, Jos does not let his good mood spoil. “I got an adrenaline boost again,” he says on Tuesday. Until now, attempts to find living space and a job did not make anything. But after he shared his story on Monday, many people want to help Jos now.
“I still have to see if the reactions are serious, but I feel that the good way is going. I have good papers in technology and a mountain of experience in the after -sales. I am open to everything, but let’s first start with a conversation.”
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Eleven weeks ago Jos came back and without a permanent place of residence from Curaçao back to his former hometown of Steenbergen. Since then he has been staying day and night in the parking lot in front of the Albert Heijn. Until now he felt relatively safe there. The theft of his bags changes that: “It gives an unstable feeling, which makes me sleep very restless.”
Jos also does not understand that people from someone who has almost nothing left. “The worst of all is that it is about things I got from the people here.”
“It shows that there are a lot of lovely people living in Steenbergen and I am not used to that at all.”
The news about the theft went like an ongoing fire in Steenbergen. “Someone just gave me twenty euros so that I can buy new socks, underwear and a towel. I am even a bit stripped of it. It shows that there are many lovely people living in Steenbergen and I am not used to that at all.”
“It is actually absurd and inhumane to have to sleep on the street in this country.”
Despite the warm reactions and offers, Jos hopes that the municipality of Steenbergen also wants to mean something for him. “I know very well that according to the rules I am not urgent. I don’t need compassion because I have enough food and drink. But come and lie down next to me night, then you understand exactly what I mean. It is actually absurd and inhumane to have to sleep on the street in this country.”
For the time being, the municipality does not want to respond to questions from Omroep Brabant.