Living life wheelchair bound and homeless

Of Auburn?s homeless, one man sticks out among those residents who seldom have the opportunity to bathe, wash their clothes and who carry packs around with them ? unless they are brave enough to risk losing all their possessions by hiding them in the brush.Jesse Novak is often seen at East Placer Park in downtown Auburn talking with local youth from his wheelchair. A sleeping bag hangs from the back, where his pack is kept as he smokes a cigarette and drinks a cup of coffee ? usually purchased from Depoe Bay Coffee Co.The thin 68-year-old with blue eyes, a beard and white hair said he hid his sleeping bag once and it disappeared, so he carries all that he owns on his chair.Novak said he grew up in Illinois orphanages until he was 2 and has no information about his family. He was in and out of orphanages throughout his youth, got his first job sweeping stores at age 7, and was taught how to hotwire a car before he learned to write.He said the job he worked at the longest was as a card dealer in Salt Lake City, but he?s held numerous odd jobs throughout his life. Since his arthritis bound him to a wheelchair two years ago, he said he?s been unable to get a job or the funds necessary to get into an apartment in Auburn.Although he says the foothills are a better place to be as a homeless man than cities such as Sacramento, he?s still seen his fair share of fights. He said people like to knock him out of his chair and beat him up and he had to have back surgery once after being beaten with a baseball bat. Four months ago he went to Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital for the first time in his two-year stay in the foothills for a stab wound, but he says he still prefers the wide outdoors to controlling and sometimes corrupt institutions.He said the rules of the street are: Don?t camp at the same place, don?t let people know where you?re at and don?t stay in large groups. Although it?s rough, he said other places are worse.?The homeless in Sacramento are a lot rowdier,? Novak said. ?They?ll beat you up for a pair of shoes.?Novak said he called Hope, Help and Healing, a non-profit organization in Auburn that takes in addicts and homeless, but could not receive services because he is disabled.?We are not licensed for Americans with Disabilities Act approval,? Danielle Roberts, administrator for Hope, Help and Healing, said Friday. ?Ramps, bathrooms and doors cost a lot of money to become wheelchair accessible.?Although few disabled people have requested services from her agency, Roberts said there is a need for accessible housing.?I haven?t seen that there?s really a lot of places that are out there that are wheelchair accessible,? she said.Although Novak deals with physical constraints every day, he said he tries to look on the bright side of life and help others through their personal troubles.?Things are going to happen to you but if you can find something positive and pass it on, that?s good,? said the former general service clerk for the state of Utah Welfare Department.Novak said he hasn?t had a drink of alcohol in 40 years because he doesn?t like the confrontational attitude that accompanies his consumption of the mind-altering substance. However, the experience has helped him understand when he?s talking to Auburn?s youth about their addictions.Matt King, 26, of Auburn, said he is among those who benefit from the talks with the expert Pinochle card-game player.?He?ll share his wisdom about life. Usually it?s something I already know,? said King, who?s also homeless. ?He?s fun to talk to and a great person. He?ll talk to whoever walks by.?Novak said life can bring a person down if they let it. And it is easy to get depressed with a physical ailment such as his ? crippling arthritis from numerous back and foot surgeries. Since his Jan. 27th birthday, Novak received another set back when his identification card expired. The card is necessary to cash checks and run errands, but costs $20 to replace. Unfortunately, that is a lot of money for a homeless man who said he avoids panhandling. When his Social Security check runs out and he can?t find enough change for a meal at TacoTree, he works odd jobs for those who offer, such as Joe Polansky, an Auburn painter.?I?ve gone to Jerry?s (UpTown Sign) shop asking for work saying, ?I don?t want another burrito. I?m hearing too much music,?? said the light-hearted Novak.Novak said he wishes all the Auburn churches would apply for grants and pool their money to run a winter homeless shelter. ?But people are scared of the homeless because they think everybody is a druggie,? he said.He classifies homeless in three categories. Junkies are one, wheelers and dealers are another, and then there are those who are working to get out of the situation. Although Novak said he would like to get a place to live, he doesn?t want to have his life dictated to him. He claims to have been abused at several housing facilities, as well as a private citizen?s home. ?I?ve never been in a war, but I was in a different war zone ? institutions,? he said with a crooked smile. ?Sometimes I think, ?If I get locked up, what the hell. What do I have to lose?? But when I see that I?ve helped (talk) someone through a problem I think, ?I do serve a purpose.??The Journal?s Erin Gallup-Main can be reached at ering@goldcountrymedia.com.