Homelessness in Greenville: John "Buggy Man" Jones' Story

For over 20 years, John "Buggy Man" Jones navigated life on the streets. This episode, hosted by Place of Hope's Associated Director of Homeless Services Nick Bush, offers an unfiltered look into the realities of homelessness in Greenville through his incredible story. John shares his journey from being one of the city's most well-known scrappers to finding faith, stability, and a new purpose as a community advocate. We dive deep into the real-world challenges faced by those without a home, exploring the systemic issues and personal struggles that create seemingly insurmountable barriers to a stable life. What does it truly take to go from sleeping where it's light to having a key to your own front door? John's story is one of resilience, transformation, and the profound impact of community.

John's journey is a powerful testimony to the human spirit. For decades, he was a fixture in Greenville, known as John "Buggy Man" Jones for his tireless work collecting scrap metal to survive. He candidly discusses the logistics of scrapping, the need for permits, and the grit required to make a living one piece of metal at a time. After a period of incarceration, a turning point came through the Kairos prison ministry program, which set him on a new path of faith and service. This conversation peels back the layers on the barriers to housing, including skyrocketing rent costs in Greenville that push stability out of reach for many. John's experience highlights the complex web of issues, from addiction to the five-year-long battle to receive disability benefits, that define the struggle with homelessness in Greenville.

However, this story is also one of immense hope. John shines a light on the critical role of community support systems like Place of Hope Greenville, United Ministries, and Project Host, which provided not just meals and showers but also the dignity and assistance needed to move forward. The episode culminates in celebrating John's move into Church Street Place, a groundbreaking permanent supportive housing Greenville initiative. This model, a result of collaboration between multiple community partners like United Housing Connections, represents a tangible solution to chronic homelessness. Now housed, John has become an ambassador for these services, embodying the principle of helping others as he was helped and proving that with the right support, overcoming homelessness in Greenville is possible.

Introduction

Nick Bush: Today, I have the privilege of introducing you to one of my favorite people in the world, John, a.k.a. the Buggy Man Jones. I've known John for the past 15 years, and John is one of the most charismatic and amazing people I have known. In those past years at Place of Hope, John has taught me so many things about the realities of homelessness in Greenville. And I have always said, and I will always say, John, you should have your own YouTube show or reality show, everyone would watch it. John, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

John Jones: I was homeless for 20-something years, born and raised in Greenville. I'm originally from Pickens County. I'm the baby I love, 13. My mama and my grandmama sparred me.

Meet John "Buggy Man" Jones: Greenville's Most Famous Scrapper

Nick Bush: At one point, I remember right when we had first met, I remember just how thrifty you were. You Not only a loveseat, but a queen mattress walking down Pendleton, which is a very tiny road, and just walking to that. Is that Adam's scrapyard? Which scrapyard is that?

John Jones: Adam.

Nick Bush: Adam's scrapyard? And man, I was this guy, he could have his own moving company if he wanted. When did you start scrapping? What was that? What was the age around?

John Jones: I started pushing the buggy back in 91 to probably 2018. I'm praying that God will give me the wisdom and knowledge to try to get my license. To sell aluminum and copper, you don't need license to sell beer cans. You just have to show your ID. But copper, aluminum, brass, you have to have a permit.

If the police stop you and you got those items, they can take you to jail. Well, I got two bars still because somebody gave me. If they see me pushing that buggy, people will stop me only. I ain't never seen these people before. But I meet them the first time, and I let them know how I started pushing this buggy.

A Turning Point: Finding Faith and Navigating the Path to Stability

Nick Bush: You went to jail. You were in prison for a while. What was the changing point for you? You started to be much more of a giver and a helper.

John Jones: This is painful stuff. I got in this program. It's called Kairos. That changed me when I got out. And then I started doing what Jesus asked me to do, help people. I ain't perfect. But guess what? I ain't going to go broke because you ain't got nothing. And then I got out, and the United Ministries helped me get my check started, and they helped me get my place.

Nick Bush: We applied for you for disability, what was that, over five years ago?

John Jones: Mm-hmm.

Nick Bush: And it took five years to get that check, huh?

John Jones: I love it.

Barriers to Housing: John's Perspective on Homelessness in Greenville

Nick Bush: John, you've experienced homelessness now for over a decade. Please tell us what you see as the barriers to be. What do you think those reasons are, John? That you see even your life.

John Jones: Housing, everything from downtown, east, west, north, is skyrocket. So high, middle-class black folks came for them. And then they're building condos. I thank God I got my own place. Me, when I was homeless, I have to sleep where it's light. I can't sleep in no bushes like some people do.

People don't know exactly how homeless really make you feel and how to respond to being homeless. It made me feel sad because people want to help me, but for them to help me, I got to help myself. If I can't help myself, why are they willing to help me? I got to help me too.

If you're helping me, I got to help y'all too. If they're trying to help you, show them that respect back. Let them know that you're trying to help yourself too. And people need to come together as a unity. That's another thing. Alcohol and drugs stopping them from going forward. I used to smoke beer for about 10 years. I woke up one morning. I've been stopped smoking for about four years.

The Importance of Community Support: Place of Hope and Local Ministries

Nick Bush: John, I've worked at Place of Hope for many years, but it wasn't until COVID that I saw the importance of the community Place of Hope was. We literally had each other while the rest of the world was at home. We were here every day. What does that mean to you in the importance of places like Place of Hope and Project Host and Miracle Hill and Salvation Army?

John Jones: United Ministries and Project Host do a lot, everybody. To me, they don't never turn me down for nothing that I ask them for. These people get up out their bed to give you something. They don't have to. And feed us. Them people got my back.

Church Street Place: A New Model of Permanent Supportive Housing

Nick Bush: John, as I say to you every time that I can, congratulations on being in your home. This place is called Church Street Place. And so this is the first permanent supportive housing Greenville's had in over a decade. So all these people were chronically homeless, previously homeless. And so what's interesting about it, it's a different type of model.

I have two slots. I have two folks that live there that I still work with if they need my help. The VA has nine. Mental health has seven. And so all of us do the case management together. They were able to get project-based vouchers. And so United Housing Connections, they're the managers of the building.

So Church Street Place had been a dream that many of us have had, I want to say eight years ago. And so it was many community partners working together to create what it is now today. Now that you're housed, what does that mean to you? What would you like listeners to know?

John Jones: Man, I can't even find the words to say it. All I can say, I'm happy and it's great to be here in my own place again. Man, I'm telling you, my place, y'all got to come see it too. It is so lovely, and I know everybody. Out of 36 people, don't but five people come outside.

Unity Park, that's what I'm trying to teach them. If we ain't got no unity over here, guess what? You're in the wrong place. Y'all helped me get over there, and my job is to make sure don't nobody be disrespectful to nobody. If we ain't got love over here, you're in the wrong place. But you got the mingle in this world. Love your brother as your neighbor. So if they ain't got that over there, they're in the wrong place. I love everybody.

Serving as a Community Ambassador

Nick Bush: How many people you told about Place of Hope in the Soup Kitchen to go to? You tell everybody.

John Jones: Thousands of people.

Nick Bush: Ambassador.

John Jones: I just got to preach to him, let him know, look, they got showers. You can go up there and take a shower, brush your teeth, wash your face. Who else gonna let you come in their place or their home and do this?

Looking Ahead: John's Dreams for the Future

Nick Bush: Over the years, John, I've seen you be a buggy man. I've seen you have, one time he had a tape store in his locker and I had to get, I had to yell at him. This is when you could still get tapes. He must've had 150 tapes. And I was, John, your locker's for stuff, not for tapes. But John, what do you, you talked about maybe getting a license. What kinds of things are on your mind to go into the future?

John Jones: Man, to go forward, I want to be able to go get my license and get me a little pickup truck. Cause that buggy kind of toe on my feet. I want to try to get my GED. Only thing I can think about right now is my bed and I got hot water and cold water. And I got AC and I got a sitting fan. I leave both of them on.

Catherine Puckett: Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville. Greater Good Greenville was catalyzed by the merger of the Nonprofit Alliance and the Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy. You can learn more on our website at greatergoodgreenville.org.