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Young, homeless Bostonian opens up about snowstorm survival – Metro US

Young, homeless Bostonian opens up about snowstorm survival

Young, homeless Bostonian opens up about snowstorm survival
Nicolaus Czarnecki, Metro

“I’m just trying to get some rest first before I go panhandle. But I’m really scared to go out there,” said Jade Hosie, 23, as she set up her bedding on the floor in front of South Station’s ticketing area. “There’s really no where to go. We knew it was going to be open at North and South station so we came here and we’re just staying warm.”

The young transient was one of a few dozen people taking shelter at South Station Tuesday as a storm of epic proportions bore down on the city, dumping more than a foot of snow onto the region by midday.

Hosie has been living on the street of Boston for more than two years, surviving two frigid winters. Tuesday was not her first time camping out in South Station, and it won’t be her last.

The closure in October of Boston’s largest homeless housing facilities on Long Island displaced hundreds of homeless just in time for the frigid months.

Hosie said she had sought shelter at a few Boston-area shelters, but there were no beds available. She was hungry, and hopeful that she would be able to catch some sleep before being booted from the station.

“On a normal day the police harass us if we’re tired, they’ll just say, ‘wake up,’ or tell us to move. But everything is shut down so they can’t tell us what to do today,” said Hosie.

Hosie, originally from Niagara Falls, said she has found Massachusetts to be one of the worst states in terms of its helping of the homeless.

“We help each other,” said Hosie. “We give food and the shirt off our backs to each other.”