Karlo, 48-godišnjak rodom s Kube, preselio se u SAD sa 21 godinom, ali zbog teških životnih okolnosti našao se kao beskućnik na ulicama New Yorka. Suočavajući se s hladnim zimama, bio je prisiljen pronaći alternativno sklonište, pa je završio živeći u kanalizaciji njujorškog željezničkog tunela na zapadnoj strani grada. Tamo je proveo više od dvije godine, stvorivši dom koji ga je zaštitio od oštrih uvjeta ulica.
Zajedno s drugim ljudima koji preživljavaju na sličan način, poznat je kao “krtica” – izraz za beskućnike koji žive u tunelima i kanalizacijama. Karlo je ispričao kako je uspio stvoriti dom ispod zemlje, opremivši ga osnovnim potrepštinama poput frižidera, računara i mikrotalasne pećnice, sve pronađeno u kontejnerima.
Unatoč poteškoćama, Karlo tvrdi da život u tunelu ima svojih prednosti. Ima grijanje, struju i krov nad glavom, a najveći problem je pronalaženje hrane i donošenje vode, što mu predstavlja izazov, no uspijeva se snaći zahvaljujući odbačenoj hrani iz supermarketa.
Karlo se, s ponosom, osvrnuo na svoj neobični dom, naglasivši kako je mnogo bolje živjeti u tunelima nego na ulicama.
The Moles of New York’s Tunnels: Karlo’s Story of Building a Home in the Sewers
Karlo, a 48-year-old originally from Cuba, moved to the United States at the age of 21. Due to difficult life circumstances, he found himself homeless on the streets of New York. Facing the harsh winter cold, he had no choice but to find an alternative shelter and ended up living in the sewers of New York’s railway tunnels on the west side of the city. He spent over two years there, creating a home that offered him protection from the unforgiving conditions of street life.
Along with others in similar situations, Karlo became known as a “mole”—a term used to describe homeless individuals who live in tunnels and sewers. Karlo shared his story of how he managed to turn his underground space into a livable home, equipped with basic necessities like a fridge, computer, and microwave, all scavenged from dumpsters.
Despite the challenges, Karlo insists that life in the tunnel has its advantages. He has heating, electricity, and a roof over his head. His biggest difficulty is finding food and bringing water, which he must collect from public fountains and carry down in buckets, but he manages by retrieving discarded food from supermarkets.
With pride, Karlo reflected on his unusual living situation, emphasizing that life in the tunnels is far better than life on the streets.