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The homeless man counting the homeless

By KELLEY BENHAM
Published January 28, 2007

"Where hope lives" Feb. 13, 2006; links.tampabay.com

THE STORY: As Pinellas County counted its homeless population last January, one of the volunteers peering into dark corners with a clipboard was Tom Clark. He knew where to look, because he was technically still homeless himself. Living in transitional housing, 20 years into a struggle with sobriety and two days from the one-year anniversary of his last drink, Clark embodied hope for social workers who thought they could make a difference as the homeless population swelled. He awaited his first real home since 1997 - a government-subsidized apartment - and hoped he didn't mess up again.

FROM THE STORY: "At 54, he has been homeless half his adult life: everything from hippie-on-a-strange-couch homeless to street-wino-avert-your-eyes homeless. . . .

He has both the hard-lined face of someone who has seen everything and the nakedly optimistic grin of someone who must be missing something. He's always this close to making it and one cheap beer from the street."

THE REST OF THE STORY: After waiting almost a year, Clark moved into his apartment Dec. 6. It's in an old Spanish-style building near the main post office in St. Petersburg. The first few nights, the man who once slept under a bridge had trouble sleeping. The place wasn't clean enough yet. It had to be just right.

He took down the blinds and washed them in the tub. He set up his four guitars in the living room. He hung a framed copy of the Times story about him on his bedroom wall. He slept better after that.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Clark is taking classes at St. Petersburg College through a grant from St. Vincent de Paul. He is working toward an associate's degree and hopes to become an addictions counselor. He has grown closer to his family. "A lot of good things have happened to me but I still have to work on my recovery," he says. He looks forward to some nice wicker furniture, and some plants.

This year's homeless count takes place Monday.

[Last modified January 27, 2007, 17:13:40]