Tom's Story: My 16 Year Friendship with a Homeless Man

by Jo-Ann Oosterman

Tom's Story is about the author's friendship with Tom Hogan, a First Nations man who was perpetually homeless, a self-described chronic alcoholic, and a person who had episodes of psychosis. He was also a great storyteller and a gifted Woodland style artist.

Jo-Ann first met Tom in 1998 when she volunteered to co-ordinate an art group for people who were homeless. She was an outreach worker and an HIV counsellor at the time. During the sixteen years of their friendship, she spent countless weekend and evening hours sitting on sidewalks beside Tom, listening and observing, then heading home to write it all down.

With Tom's permission, she wrote about the hard realities of his life – a traumatic childhood, sleeping in bug-infested shelters, or panhandling in the sub-zero weather for just one more bottle. She became Tom's ally when he entered and left recovery programs, or simply searched for a safe place to live. Sometimes she helped; sometimes she got in the way. Other times, she tried to walk away, but she was always compelled to seek him out again to follow his story.

Tom's Story is a unique and raw window into the lives of people who are homeless and marginalized because of addictions, mental illness, and generational trauma. This book is a testament to the power of hope, friendship, the generosity of people who own nothing, and using art to promote healing. It is also a strong argument for the harm-reduction model of managed-alcohol programs.

288 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2023

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Hogan is a man I might have walked by as he sat panhandling on a street corner. But through this powerful book Jo-Ann Oosterman has given him a name, an endearing and highly developed character as an engaging storyteller and talented artist, and a rich sense of humour.

Tom’s Story is not always easy to read as we learn the unvarnished truth about life on the streets, but should be required reading as the issues of homelessness, addiction and mental illness explode in our cities.

Jo-Ann Oosterman has much to teach us about our humanity and about the deep love and friendship possible between people, even when such and love and friendship is tested over and over again.

I wish I had met and known Tom, and thanks to Oosterman I feel I have.

[Lindasp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book showing the other side of those who are homeless, living on the streets and dealing with drug and alcohol issues! I live in the same city near many of the areas mentioned as where Tom and Jo-Ann lived during the period of the writing. I see so many people living on the streets I walk on regularly. This book has given me pause to consider the homeless people I see daily as not an annoyance but as people who have/had families, have faced hardships and for one reason or another, have ended up on the streets. Tom's story is very moving and deeply sad but he was lucky to have Jo-Ann as a friend. Everyone should be so lucky!

[Geraldine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ unless the community at large and at all levels of government are truly invested, ending homelessness will remain an unrealistic goal “

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent