Honey Badger was born in December in New Jersey. She chose her name because “honey badgers don’t care what happens to them, they just keep going.”
Honey Badger lives in Portland in a small apartment, and up until recently, she lived with her Betta fish, Midnight Azul, who recently passed away. He would always perk up when she walked into her apartment and would get so excited to see her.
“I’ve had a difficult time in my housing because the housing umbrella is really corrupt,” Honey said. “They are violating my rights, they come in my house without knocking, and I can’t find a place that I feel safe in. I have been going to counseling for almost two years to try to process trauma in my life.”
COVID-19 has been rough. Honey used to sell more papers, but she is afraid because she is not sure if she trusts everyone to do their part to keep their community safe. Honey leads by example by always using hand sanitizer and wearing a mask.
“I want to change the way people treat other people, and I hope that catches on in this world, especially during COVID-19,” Honey said.
Honey said she likes the opportunity to challenges peoples’ perceptions of homeless people.
“I’ve used Street Roots as a platform for me to try to, not just to go out there to make money from papers, but also go out there to change people’s perception of homelessness and low-income people who are overcoming barriers,” Honey said. “They look at us like we are bugs, and I’m a grandmother and a mother, I’m a real person.”
She prefers to dress up for work because she wants to look professional at her job. People see that she is making the effort and it really pays off. She tries her best every single day.
“I can perform any song, sober, that has ever been on the radio,” Honey said. “I have perfect stage presence, and I believe this is what makes me so good as a vendor, because I can reel the customers in. I can do anything, just not everything. I don’t believe in failing, because if you fail that means you gave up. Eventually, you will do something and it will be right.”
Honey tries to engage in any way possible, and she always tells her customers to have a great day. She appreciates every single customer she has ever had and has many stories.
Honey Badger is incredibly kind. She pays for individuals’ bus fares if they are short, and she cares deeply about her community.
“I didn’t want anyone to be alone on Thanksgiving, so I made turkey sandwiches and handed them out in my neighborhood,” Honey said. “It was a two-way street. I want to always believe that the world is good.”
She visits her grandchildren in Eugene when she can. Her sons, Daniel, Devon, James and Jacob, who collectively gave her three granddaughters, are the lights of her life.
“I raised four kids, and I did a damn good job,” Honey said. “I am so proud of all of my children, and they have beautiful lives and beautiful families, and I am so happy. I raised three boys and a girl. I play sports. I’m 54, and I can still run. I’m not the most graceful looking thing, but I can run.”
Although she has many hardships, she always cracks jokes and tries to find humor in almost every situation. She believes that humor is only relevant if there is a little bit of truth in the joke.
Honey Badger lives every day with pure intention.
“I was meant to do really big things, people who go through life and its easy, they don’t have a high calling, and I know that God wants me to do something huge,” Honey said.
You can support Honey Badger as she lives life with humor, pure intention and gratitude through @StreetRoots Venmo. Her badge number is 178.