Homeless but friends forever

RESIDENTS of Bonaero Park will recognise this all too familiar pair who can regularly be found sitting at the entrance of the Checkers Shopping Centre.

For the past two months the grass verge outside the centre has been the home of Gregory Everts (47), who carries most of his worldly possessions around on his back in an old army bag, and his very best friend, Bruno.

When they first arrived in the area people were understandably concerned about the well-being of the eight-year-old Boerboel, who was regularly monitored by Kempton Park SPCA. However, there was never any cause for alarm because these two are totally devoted to each other.

Bruno is not only very well taken care of and in excellent condition but even his inoculations are up-to-date. There are always more than sufficient pellets and treats for Bruno in Gregory’s bag – and he even carries a can of dog food and a tin-opener around with him.

He would rather do without food himself than let his dearest friend go hungry.

Gregory is one of the increasing number of homeless people we see daily at every traffic light and near every shopping centre. Like all those out on the streets, Gregory exists from the generosity of passers-by and he sleeps out in the open, sometimes under the most terrible conditions, with only the ground or wet grass as a mattress.

For Gregory a bath is a luxury, washing his clothes is a mission. A few weeks ago the pair slept under wet bedding because it rained during the night and they had no shelter.

Although there are many kind-hearted and generous people out there, few, if any of them, ever attempt to get close enough to understand these homeless people. However, Gregory’s sad eyes haunted me and I felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and help him.

Once I had his trust, the generally very quiet man opened up to me and made me realise just how blessed I am and just how wrong we are to judge and label a person without even knowing their circumstances.

What he told me stays between us. I will not betray his confidence but what I can say, is that underneath Gregory’s rough exterior is not only an extremely shy and gentle God-fearing person with a heart and soul like everyone else, but a real gentleman with high principles. While there are of course many lazy homeless people who would rather accept hand-outs than do a day’s work, this is not always true – and especially not in Gregory’s case.

The sad and wicked truth is that even when these poor people do manage to find the most menial of work, they are invariably exploited to the enrichment of the very people professing to help them. Gregory has been abused over and over again by working around the clock for a wage he couldn’t even support Bruno on.

Gregory is very quick to acknowledge that most problems in life are self-inflicted and he readily accepts responsibility for the situation he finds himself in today. However, he’s a person who fell so low that he can’t climb up again without help. What happened to Gregory could easily happen to anyone of us. He really does want to climb up again, he wants to get off the street and better himself.

Many passers-by have been kind and generous to the twosome, especially to Bruno, but winter is approaching and the nights are becoming colder. I have been trying to find them a place to stay but while there are a couple of shelters prepared to take Gregory, none of them will take Bruno.

Gregory will never abandon his best friend, who was bred and given to him as a pup by his late brother, who committed suicide in 2009.

The two brothers were brought up in an orphanage and then a string of foster homes. Other than his brother, Bruno is the only family Gregory has ever had and the two have been together 24/7 for the past eight years, so understandably Gregory will never abandon him.

Who could blame him for that?

Gregory has never asked anything of me, he doesn’t even know I’ve asked Kempton EXPRESS to publish this article.

I have approached all the people I thought would and could help but so far, rather disturbingly, my attempts have all fallen on deaf ears.

If you can give this man a chance to get his life back on track by providing him (and Bruno) with a place to stay – and better still, some work for Gregory, please contact me on 072-688-9621072-688-9621.

Please, only genuine offers!