I work for Andre House, an agency in the Capital District “Zone”. We feed and provide hospitality services to those experiencing homelessness. We are working with the Human Services Campus to change the zoning in our area to provide more available shelter beds. Most of what I do is limited to social media so the images I post have to tell a story. The words I use need to bluntly describe the story of a situation unfolding and most importantly give a face to a human being experiencing homelessness.
One has to find a way into hearts to precipitate change. The post below is from a Wednesday sweep on February 5th. It got 158 shares and has been viewed by almost 15,000 people.
5:30a.m. I am at the parking lot next door to Andre House. Gates are opened. A black truck leaves down Jackson and turns on 9th to pick up a man in his wheelchair, his tent and any belongings he has. People start slowly making their way to this lot and another lot on 12th and Madison. They are bringing all their belongings with them. Staff from local agencies and volunteers dragged carts around the streets helping those who are weak or have a lot of stuff. As people and belongings come into the Andre House lot they are assigned a spot, an area is chalked across the front by Sam with the name of the person who these items belong. A sense of safety. A man named David who is in a wheelchair is brought in by a friend. Someone else carries David's meager belongings. We put David right under a light next to the empty building that is on this lot. He is silently weeping. He is tired.
Why is this happening? It had taken him a long time to find that spot. He asks for his blanket that is deep within his folded tent. It is retrieved and wrapped around him. Someone goes to find him a cigarette. The lot fills. Fills with what has been the homes of those experiencing homelessness in "THE ZONE" the area around the human services campus. For the last two months people have been able to camp on the public areas along Jackson, up 11th, down Madison and along 9th Ave. On Wednesdays the city would sent out a small crew that did not disturb the tents or the folks who called them home. They would just have a crew that cleaned around everything. On Mondays and Fridays, a crew of people who lived in these tents would go down the streets, led by Andre House staff, and clean also. It seemed to be working. Until this Wednesday when the city decided that it needed to be scrubbed. And suddenly agency resources needed to be brought down. Only a few had been here on a regular basis before this Wednesday. Folks were warned a few days before. Plans were made by those in the area to help folks bring their belongings to a safe area so they wouldn't be scooped up into city dump trucks. These peoples’ lives and possessions dumped like trash.
As the sun started to fill the morning, I checked on David. He was on his second cigarette. He had traded a pair of socks for them. He couldn’t be over 40. Blond hair and beard overgrown. Sitting in that wheelchair safely watching over his possessions.
The bottom line is there are not enough shelter beds. It is full every night. There is plenty of room to add more beds this local shelter and in a developing low/no barrier shelter next to Andre House but it is not being allowed due to zoning. And the zoning request for change is being stalled due to people’s fears. Next Wednesday when everyone has to move all their belongings and David has to enter the lot, more tears will be shed. Wouldn't it be kinder and more humane to allow more beds where the room is available? Work on affordable options for those so desperately in need?
Before we moved all his belongings back to the precious spot on 9th Ave, I gave David two pairs of socks. One to wear and one for extra cigarettes.
Please Share. Please contact your Phoenix city councilperson.
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