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John Jimenez, Struggling with Alcoholism After His Dad's Death

“My name is John Jimenez. I’m from San Jose, California.  I came up here to take care of my dad in 2013 and he just died two weeks ago. So I'm drinking, but I want to find some help. 

But I refuse to go to that shelter [the Cares Campus]. I hate it. It just sucks over there. I'd rather be out here and die out here. 

[Sometimes] I rent [motel] rooms for [other people] with my ID because they don’t have it.  

Going back to San Jose? There's nothing over there for me unless I can get something set up before I leave … 

I’m stuck out here and all I'm trying to do, to tell you the truth, is drink right now. 

But I'm to the point where I want to get a couple more beers, go to detox, and then go back to the Victory Outreach [church]. That's what I'm doing. And that's the truth. I've been homeless six years and my Pops just died, like I said. 

I was a licensed caregiver up here before, and I [lived in] apartments. 

Sleeping outside in the summer of course at nighttime it's a lot warmer, but … I'm tired of this, so I guess I'm just trying to get drunk tonight and go to Reno Behavioral Healthcare hospital and get help. 

How do I get alcohol? Asking here or there … Begging people basically.

The ambassadors, they don't help. They've never helped me. I think one ambassador gave me two dollars and all. I managed to buy a beer. 

I hate to say it, but, I'm not a drug addict but I'm an alcoholic. I have to have my beer, but I'm getting tired of it. So I said to myself tonight if I can get a couple more beers and a couple more dollars, I'll catch the 56 and go to RBH and detox. But until then, I'm gonna stay out here and hustle.” 

Our Town Reno interview and photo by Aimee Arellano, July 2023

Tuesday 08.01.23
Posted by Nicolas Colombant
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