The couple had come to know Atkinson during the more than 12 years he sold StreetWise at a Walgreens. Unfailingly polite, he would talk with customers about his dreams of changing his circumstances and of helping others. "I realized he was unusual," Goldberg said.
Seeking a new direction, Atkinson had decided to become a soul food chef and began cooking occasionally at bars. But there wasn't enough money to start a business or pay for a place to sleep.
When he told Goldberg about being forced out of a flophouse, Evi insisted the couple intervene. "He needs some place to get back on his feet," she recalled saying. "We have an apartment and it's empty right now."
In November 2006, Atkinson moved in, and the doctor established ground rules. No smoking. No visitors staying overnight regularly. No commercial cooking in the kitchen. Atkinson signed a lease and agreed to pay rent of an amount of his choosing. He is still selling StreetWise.
"I didn't want him to feel like he was a charity case," Goldberg said. "The whole point was help him become independent."
When Atkinson said he didn't qualify for any government benefits, Goldberg found a social worker who discovered he was indeed eligible for Social Security disability and the state's Medicaid healthcare program.
Before checks from the government arrived, Goldberg took Atkinson to his bank and used his own money to open an account.
The two men meet about twice a week to go over what Atkinson needs to do to get a catering business established. On a recent afternoon, Goldberg emphasized the importance of securing liability insurance, and Atkinson brought the doctor up to date on his plans for a big dinner July 12 at a local bar.
"I want to make this dinner an annual neighborhood event," Atkinson said.
Through their interactions, Goldberg said, he has learned about the need to listen to other people carefully and without judgment -- a lesson he's using in volunteer work with the Chicago Asthma Consortium.
The group plans to hold "listening sessions" with residents of poor neighborhoods later this year about ways to reduce asthma's burden.
"Overcoming inequalities in healthcare has to be done in the community, with the community, by the community," the doctor said.
Atkinson and Goldberg know their arrangement isn't permanent.
"I want to see him succeed and become self-sufficient," the doctor said.
"I want to be like everybody else and pay my rent, have my own place, pay my taxes," Atkinson said.
The formerly homeless man's health has improved too.
Having a place to call home made all the difference, along with constant support from Goldberg and his wife.
"It lifts your health to have a place to rest and get some peace and quiet," Atkinson said. "When you're homeless, you're a disposable person. When you've got an address and a phone number, you're coming back into society again."
--
jgraham@tribune.com
