Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O'Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People

Kidder describes the trials and experiences of BJ, John Cotrone, and Tony as they support each other, support Jim, and build community together. Tony tries to care for BJ as best he can, particularly since the state refuses BJ a chronically unhoused status. Many of Tony’s friends die. Often, his response is to disappear when this happens. John Cotrone sits with a woman named Angie. She shares with Kidder and John her experience of finding housing, which she eventually gets kicked out of so that the unit can be demolished and turned into condominiums.

Kidder describes Tony’s life living on the streets. He describes the immense lengths to which Tony must go to survive on the street, including sharing his nights with women companions for warmth and company. As Kidder and Jim follow Tony through trains and tunnels, Tony shows them how he navigates the city and shares Boston’s history with them.

Members of the Street Team, like Eileen and Julie, explain to Kidder the importance of community in the face of what they, through their patients, face. The team members tell Kidder it’s important to be dedicated to the job and remain flexible. Angie gets evicted, though the team works to find her new housing.