Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Reno tale likened to Faron Hall case
"Now he's dancing with death," she grimly told me in late December.
Faron had just left a 58-day stay in an alcohol rehab facility and at that point he still had stitches on his face from a beating in front of a Main Street hotel.
Then last Saturday afternoon at his Manitoba Housing apartment in St. Boniface, "the homeless hero" almost had that Last Tango that his friend and now self-appointed spokesperson foresaw. Some street pals of Faron's allegedly beat him so badly about the head that the face of homelessness in Winnipeg was unrecognizable.
Police have charged a man and a woman in the attack that originally left Faron in critical condition.
Marion Willis isn't clairvoyant. Actually, she's so angry it's a wonder she can see straight, never mind into the future. She's not angry at Faron, of course. She's angry because she feels there should have been a supportive plan in place to gently bridge him back into his newly sober life. And beyond.
Marion Willis is right about that. But don't take her word for it. Or even mine.
Malcolm Gladwell is the bestselling author of books with catchy titles like Blink. But it's a book called What the Dog Saw -- a collection of insightful essays Gladwell originally wrote for The New Yorker magazine -- that got my attention last weekend. One chapter in particular: Million Dollar Murray: Why problems like homelessness may be easier to solve than to manage.
Reading about "Million Dollar Murray" reminded me of Faron Hall.
Murray was an alcohol-addicted homeless man from Reno who made a name for himself because he was such a character and good guy. Such a good guy that he became kind of a pet project of a couple of cops who were constantly picking him up when he was on one of his vodka binges.
One of them was a Reno bicycle cop named Patrick O'Bryan.
"He would get picked up," O'Bryan said of Million Dollar Murray, "get detoxed, then get back out a couple of hours later and start up again. A lot of guys on the streets who've been drinking, they get so angry. They are so incredibly abrasive, so violent. Murray was such a character and had such a great sense of humour that we somehow got past that. Even when he was abusive, we'd say, 'Murray, you know you love us,' and he'd say, 'I know' -- and then go back to swearing at us."
O'Bryan and his police partner Steve Johns pleaded with him to stop drinking. Once -- when Murray was placed in a treatment program that amounted to house arrest -- he did stop drinking and actually thrived under the structure. Murray got a job and worked hard. Then the program ended.
"Once he graduated out," O'Bryan said, "he had no one to report to, and he needed that."
That's what happened to Faron Hall.
He was fine when he had structure and supportive people around.
Then the program ended.
It doesn't have to be that way, though -- and it shouldn't be.
One day, O'Bryan and Johns did some calculations on what Murray's lifestyle cost "the system" in substance-abuse treatment, doctors' fees and ambulance pickups over a 10-year period. O'Bryan's conclusion was sobering.
"It cost us one million dollars not to do something about Murray."
Hence "Million Dollar" Murray.
Gladwell came to his own conclusion about the cost of not treating Murray.
"It would probably have been cheaper to give him a full-time nurse and his own apartment."
In fact, Gladwell reported, Denver discovered that actually doing something -- housing and caring for the hard-core homeless -- could be accomplished for about one-third of what was being spent cycling them endlessly through the system.
Gladwell isn't naive about success rates with such hard cases.
"They need time and attention and lots of money," he wrote. "But enormous sums of money are already being spent on the chronically homeless."
That's why Marion Willis wants a supportive, structured system for people like Faron Hall.
It never did happen in Reno.
About six years ago, Steve Johns -- the Reno cop who spent more than a decade picking up Million Dollar Murray -- called his wife from work.
He was weeping. She thought something had happened to a police officer.
"Oh my gosh," she recalled saying. "What happened?'
He said, "Murray died last night. "
gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 9, 2010 B1
The comment period for this story has ended.
-
Breaking News Alerts
Sign up for our new Breaking News Alerts
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins
-
Winnipeg road closures
Check if your commute is affected
-
Blogs to Watch
We pick our favourite local blogs for you to follow
-
Breaking News Widget
Create and embed a Winnipeg Free Press breaking news widget on your site or blog
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and news feeds on Twitter
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Most Popular
- One sister dead, other faces charge in stabbing
- Passerby thwarts sex assault
- Hectic night as police chase gunplay
- Body found in Red River
- Shunned after fling with daughters' friend
- Oh, Zsuzsanna
- An NDP government likely wouldn't spell a quick death for B.C.'s HST
- Foul play not suspected after body pulled from Red
- Five hurt in head-on crash
- Bombers fall 27-23 to Roughriders
- Judge embroiled in sex scandal removes self from bench
- 'Nothing short of a miracle' at how well missing woman fared
- Couple in unwanted spotlight
- Expanded weather warnings issued ahead of hurricane Earl
- Families find Manitoba's first jellyfish
- Homicide unit investigating fatal fall
- Dirty secret not so secret in city's legal community
- Shunned after fling with daughters' friend
- Ice Edge eyes Thunder Bay, looks to advise new Coyotes owner
- Angry mob beats couple with bats, sticks
- Boyfriend's porno secret discovered
- Major downpour floods streets, knocks out power
- Judge embroiled in sex scandal removes self from bench
- Woman dead after apparent fall from downtown high-rise
- Pedestrian dies after collision with truck
- Illegal channel irks cottagers
- Severe weather enters Manitoba
- Jennifer's body
- 'Nothing short of a miracle' at how well missing woman fared
- Earls on Main fined $4,000, loses liquor licence for a day
- Hectic night as police chase gunplay
- Enough for a passport, but not MPI
- Passerby thwarts sex assault
- Bombers fall 27-23 to Roughriders
- Foul play not suspected after body pulled from Red
- Five hurt in head-on crash
- Trouble waiting in on-deck circle if Goldeyes don't wise up
- The man who'll shape our skyline
- Pierce to lead Bombers in Labour Day Classic
- Lions cut Hefney loose
- Enough for a passport, but not MPI
- Swan defends himself and police, offends victim
- Ice Edge eyes Thunder Bay, looks to advise new Coyotes owner
- Shunned after fling with daughters' friend
- Wasylycia-Leis alleges Katz interference in info requests
- Hotel buyouts in core for fewer drunks?
- Man struck by transit bus
- New stretch of skywalks opens
- 'Nothing short of a miracle' at how well missing woman fared
- Five hurt in head-on crash
- Care denied after fee not paid
- RM denies permission for group home
- Just a sec, say traffic activists
- Band threatens to block access to Whiteshell
- Canopy opens can of worms
- Brian really was lyin'
- Wasylycia-Leis pledges to launch two new crime-fighting programs
- Toews says ship carrying migrants a 'test boat'
- Group home residents aren't the scary ones
- RM wrong to run New Directions out of town
- No men in the pews? Could be church's fault
- History BY THE SLICE
- Hungry in New York? Book a trip to Eataly
- Five hurt in head-on crash
- First Nation fraud case encouraging
- Man drowns as Earl yanks trees from their roots, downs power lines on East Coast
- Bug wars
- An NDP government likely wouldn't spell a quick death for B.C.'s HST
- Jean's day goes to arts
- Do MS therapy trials now, researcher urges
- Judge embroiled in sex scandal removes self from bench
- Families find Manitoba's first jellyfish
- Oh, Zsuzsanna
- Polar bear takes dip in river at Shamattawa
- Judge disclosed 'problem'
- Cute Alert! Zoo unveils panda cubs
- Airport plan grounded
- Spin on the river turns adventurous
- Bar association slams CBC over judge sex scandal coverage
- Housing bubble threat resurfaces as prices in major markets hit 30-year highs
- Judge embroiled in sex scandal removes self from bench
- Dashcam video shows car flying into overpass, being reduced to parts; driver critical
- Families find Manitoba's first jellyfish
- Tiny 10-year-old stuns judges, audience with huge voice
- Oh, Zsuzsanna
- Hands-free accidents waiting to happen
- N.D. clinic to offer controversial MS screening
- Green slime can be toxic, experts say
- Best films in Hollywood history to be shown on big screen
- True North unveils new exhibition hall
Events
September 5, 2010
9th Winnipeg Marian Eucharistic Conference
“I am with you always, until the end of the world”(Mt 28:20). Come and listen to seven dynamic, inspiring speakers (Fr.Iannuzzi, was ass’t to Fr. Amorth, chief exorcist of Rome; Susan Tassone on the ...
25 Comments
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Posted by: I know
February 10, 2010 at 1:06 PM
Growing up having an alcoholic father, there was nothing we could do to have him stop drinking until he lost his job from drinking while on the job. He never paid into his pension so when they dismissed him, he was with nothing. Alcoholism is a disease. Even after he quit drinking, if you were to put a bottle in front of him, he would have drunk it empty. But he had to realize on his own that he will lose more than his job & income if he continues his path of self destruction. I will never know how hard it was for him as I've never had a substance problem in my life. I think I stayed away from it knowing how vulnerable my Dad was.
Let's hope Faron decides this on his own soon, because he's costing the system more money than what Gordon Sinclair Jr. is making on this sensational journalism of this over-exposed story.
If Gordon wants to continue airing Mr. Hall’s dirty laundry on the line like this, maybe he should just write a book & then regular readers of the Free Press like myself can decide whether or not to go out & buy his smut, instead of him trying to help him personally, if he's truly concerned for his well being.
Posted by: momof2
February 10, 2010 at 11:19 AM
I have never posted a comment on any article I have ever read but after following Gordon's columns for years I have to finally let loose. For those that are "tired of reading about Faron" and his lifelong struggles - get a grip on reality and put your paper away. Why do you feel it necessary to blast Gordon for continuing to write on a story that clearly creates a buzz amongst the readers. You read it, I read it and here we are all talking about it. Why wouldn't the Free Press publish an article that will create action amongst readers??? I recognize that alcoholism is a disease and wish Faron the best of luck in the future. I will continue to read Gordon's columns as I'm sure you complainers will as well.
Posted by: Brian_wpg
February 10, 2010 at 9:22 AM
The reason people like myself have no empathy is because I work hard, pay my taxes, live an HONEST and CLEAN life and yet I'm still being blamed for somebody elses issues.
People need to watch more episodes of Intervention, they make it quite clear that the only way someone can stay clean is if they themselves want to. They constantly hammer in the point that by throwing money and helping the person with the issue does nothing for their recovery.
If Faron needs to get hit 10 times in the head with a baseball bat in order for him to hit rock bottom then we have to let him until he himself wants to change.
Until then I think his name needs to be out of the paper and instead of writing articles about some guy who hassles me for spare change on the corner of St Marys and Marion perhaps we can focus on stories about the Doctors, Nurses, Police, and Firefighters who are TRUE heroes and save lives every day.
Posted by: SnowDog456
February 10, 2010 at 1:53 AM
gepinniw, I agree. The hateful readers reminds me of what could be read in the 1930s in some European papers.
We should be taking meaningful steps to rehabilitate people with mental health and substance abuse issues.
But even when it is revealed it will save taxpayer dollars, people let their (racial?) prejudice get in the way.
Winnipeg should have half-way house type dormitories with individual "bed & study rooms" or bachelorette apartments where people who are progressing with their mental health or substance abuse problems can live in a safe violence-free intimidation-free structured or semi-structured environment.
Posted by: gepinniw
February 9, 2010 at 11:28 PM
Man, the Faron Hall/Gordon Sinclair haters are puzzling. Where does the anger come from?
Sinclair - I recall hearing about a special residence in T.O. that permitted its alcoholic residents to drink. They'd actually provide the booze, in fact. It was doled out in a controlled way. What they discovered is that once the residents had a stable, safe place, they actually binged much less and had far fewer booze-related problems. Something we should try here?
Posted by: Jason Wayne
February 9, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Maybe you should stick to taking Hall to Tacotime.
Posted by: LadyM
February 9, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Bravo, Gordon Sinclair. For the nay sayers: Yes, we do have programs and services out there. And yes, they do a very good job and the best they can with the resources they have. And yes, any or all of those resources would have been more than willing to work together with Faron to develop a supportive plan. Problem is, someone has to facilitate that. None of those resources would have know Faron was in treatment. Planning would require those who have an established supportive role with him to engage others with the Treatment Centre so planning could take place. The revolving doors on treatment centres and other institutions is a consequence of a lack of supportive planning to assist people to transition back to community in a way that offers the best probability of success. Planning is now underway. It's too bad though that it's taken such extensive media involvement to make that happen. But it's happening now and that's what matters in the end. We need more people on the ground to work with vulnerable people so that when they do make a life altering decisions, those decisions recieve the level of support that produce best possible outcomes. The type of planning that is taking place now, with Faron, should become "standard practice" for all who face similar challenges. Think the old adage; an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure.
Posted by: Wouldn'tyoulovetoknow
February 9, 2010 at 5:16 PM
Of all the people in all of journalism to escape cut backs and layoffs - why in the world is Gordon Sinclair Jr. still working?? Thank goodness there are some many people in this city willing to blame everyone but themselves for their problems - that's the only reason Gordo keeps getting any work.
Posted by: Jessigirl
February 9, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Maybe it's time for Mr. Sinclair to do a bit of investigative journalism to bring balance to his writing. Maybe he could look at the programming that is offered at Pritchard House, The Behavioural Health Foundation, AFM, and Anchorage for example. Then maybe he could investigate how those treatment centres help their clients get into second stage housing like Tamarack Rehab and 210 Recovery. Then he could research the community supports that are avaialable for people like Wolseley Family Place, Crossways and Commom, and Art City. Then maybe he could look at the A.A. programs we have in the city, maybe talk to some revocering addicts who have walked Farons path. Maybe then his heart would stop bleeding b/c he would have found that there is balm for those who are ready for action and matinence when they are actively pursuing change and nets for those that are recycling back. Just a thought.
Posted by: kiterunner
February 9, 2010 at 3:55 PM
Was this article approved by Faron Halls official spokesperson? or has she been laid off already?
View all Comments