Day 180 at the 16th St. Plaza: 'The Bear'

"'The Bear' says he got his name in prison (there, inmates used the Spanish word for bear, "Oso") for starting too many fights. He sells his goods at the 16th St. Plaza to make a living. It's temporary, he says, while he waits for his disability papers to process. He estimates that it will take six months or so. Despite his nickname and towering 6 ft plus frame, Heller has a gentle demeanor."

""I got real bad anxiety, you know what I mean? It makes it hard for me to go to work, I psych myself out," he says. Heller left prison a year ago after a stint for fraud and package theft. "Make sure you always get your Amazon packages signed for," he advises. Now, with the help of his case manager - who he credits with "saving his life"- Heller sees a pathway forward. "Honestly, I want to stop stealing to be able to survive," he said."

Jacob Heller, nicknamed 'The Bear', sells mismatched goods at the 16th St. Plaza in the evenings to make a living while awaiting disability paperwork. He received the nickname in prison for starting fights. Heller has been intermittently homeless since moving from Austin three years ago. He attributes his homelessness to severe anxiety that impedes steady work and causes him to psych himself out. He left prison a year ago after serving time for fraud and package theft. A case manager provides support and he aims to stop stealing to survive. Police frequently confiscate vendors' merchandise.

Read at Mission Local