Influx of Homeless Individuals
Joanne - This sounds like a great way to raise money, awareness, and sensitivity. While there's no way to replicate the stress of "no end in sight," it's great people are paying attention.
Studies show a 13 point loss in IQ for people struggling with poverty and housing/food insecurity. This is on top of whatever issues led to their circumstances in the first place. I'm also learning about Toxic Stress and how it wrecks a body. That's a major problem for me.
I'm grateful for support systems much stronger than many I've met, without which I don't know where I'd be. Thankfully, when I'm homeless at the end of the week, I'll have shelter by living in a vehicle (shameless plug: there's a link to a GoFundMe on MOL not far from this thread).
Best beginning practice in community: compassionate understanding. Next: Becoming more comfortable with discomfort. No reason to put up with truly unsafe situations, but knowing resources are scarce, and desperation is real will help discernment.
Another thought: Rights for LGBTQ+ people have advanced at a startling rate compared to other biases and rights, particularly race. Some say this is because all 9f us have LGBTQ+ in our lives, so they're harder to avoid and segregate.
Personal connection builds the notion of common humanity like nothing else. I recommend sitting near the Food Shed and striking up simple conversation with the people who show up. No agenda, just small talk ... with a lot of listening. I've seen this simple things break down barriers in amazing ways.
joanne said:
Vdfam, I truly understand your sentiment here. I do feel, however, that Mr Incredible may have been using the phrase ‘bums on seats’ as in ‘seated people’/‘bottoms on benches’/‘captive audience’ etc. Not necessarily disparaging.
Ive heard there will be thunderstorms tonight, hope you’ll be sheltered & dry.vdfam said:
"bums"??? Surely we can do better than that. Try "people," to at least identify us as human
@joanne in American English, we almost never use "bum" in the sense of "hindquarters" -- it's a British idiom.
Hi Max, my David (shemademedothis) strongly reminded me of this fact ;D I truly am a dag!!
One of the things I love about Connect to Home, and the Blokes Lounge and the Men’s Shed is that vets will visit and make sure animal companions are doing ok. Grooming services also. Everyone understands these are assistance/therapy animals and need to be in peak condition.
And I love the mobile salons that discreetly wash, cut, shave etc as required! No-one knows when the possibility of interview / work might present, and people can feel ready.
I grumble that it’s mostly around August, and maybe April/May this year. Core supporting groups will help all year, but you have to know who/where they are to get that help.
vdfam said:
Personal connection builds the notion of common humanity like nothing else.
+++++
Tall_Mocha said:
Has anyone else noticed the recent number of homeless people on the Hilton side of town? They’re all up and down Springfield Ave going as far up into Millburn. I don’t feel good about this.
Any one else concerned?
Just FYI - Springfield Avenue does not go to Millburn. From Maplewood it goes to Vauxhall (Union) and then Springfield and (in the other direction) to Irvington and Newark.
Re Sleepouts, I believe that Covenant House does something like that, and perhaps other organizations, but it isn't necessarily targeted to CEOs, just to the "everyone else" who have homes.
mrincredible said:
Hey now. I never said “bums”. That was someone else.
I remember calling the Brooklyn Dodgers “dem bums” affectionately.
mrincredible said:
The other option would be to arrest them and throw them into the criminal justice system. There are laws which could be brought into play for things like loitering, or disturbing the peace.
Loitering laws were declared unconstitutional. The behavior is "unconstitutionally vague."
I suggest we put the pantry in the center of town on maplewood Avenue…I’m betting all the rhetoric changes. Compassion is one thing, your property values are a whole nodder animal.
There’s a reason why not many small towns installs food pantries for transients. There are lots of places to get help with food. I’ve seen pantries in front of churches, they work well. My issue is that they hang around instead of just taking what you need and move on. I’m sure the people who organized this had the same plan for it. Drop off, pick up, move on.
I agree it’s not every day that there’s some group hanging out on the benches and calling out to passersby, but I’ve seen it more than once and it’s disgusting. It encourages more problems and it could very well end up being a situation where the police have to clear them out, then the police gets called out for being insensitive to the homeless people. That’s why most small towns don’t even entertain this.
Some people who live in the Hilton neighborhood are not pleased with it, and they have every right not to. It’s offensive when someone from the other side of town comes preaching and cussing people who see this as a problem. You can keep your sanctimonious lecturing, it’s tiresome.
Jaytee said:
Some people who live in the Hilton neighborhood are not pleased with it, and they have every right not to. It’s offensive when someone from the other side of town comes preaching and cussing people who see this as a problem. You can keep your sanctimonious lecturing, it’s tiresome.
This was where I went back to reread vdfam’s comments.
sac said:
Just FYI - Springfield Avenue does not go to Millburn. From Maplewood it goes to Vauxhall (Union) and then Springfield and (in the other direction) to Irvington and Newark.
I'm well aware which direction goes to Vauxhall and Irvington. Let me clarify, The homeless people have made their way into Millburn as well. Thanks again for the quick geography lesson. Very much appreciated
Jaytee said:
I suggest we put the pantry in the center of town on maplewood Avenue…I’m betting all the rhetoric changes. Compassion is one thing, your property values are a whole nodder animal.
There’s a reason why not many small towns installs food pantries for transients. There are lots of places to get help with food. I’ve seen pantries in front of churches, they work well. My issue is that they hang around instead of just taking what you need and move on. I’m sure the people who organized this had the same plan for it. Drop off, pick up, move on.
I agree it’s not every day that there’s some group hanging out on the benches and calling out to passersby, but I’ve seen it more than once and it’s disgusting. It encourages more problems and it could very well end up being a situation where the police have to clear them out, then the police gets called out for being insensitive to the homeless people. That’s why most small towns don’t even entertain this.
Some people who live in the Hilton neighborhood are not pleased with it, and they have every right not to. It’s offensive when someone from the other side of town comes preaching and cussing people who see this as a problem. You can keep your sanctimonious lecturing, it’s tiresome.
I live on this same side of town one block off Springfield. Watch your assumptions, please.
In Canada, there is a real effort to decentralize social services. We live in a relatively well to do neighborhood but there is a halfway house for people with mental illness on our block and a kitchen for hungry people in our local community centre. We still have real problems but I think this system cuts down on the ugly NIMBYism that can lead some people to label other people "disgusting".
Is the problem fights and harassment, just seeing people hanging out there? What is "disgusting"?
fwiw, I've lived in the Hilton neighborhood - otherwise known as Lower Hilton and "Is this still Maplewood???" For 6 years, and within 2 blocks of Springfield Ave for another 10 ... One of the reasons I like this part of town is the integration and different economics compared to other places.
I "preach" not from sanctimony, but from experience on both the helping side and the needy side
Jaytee said:
If you’re sitting in that back rest of the bench and using foul language and looking like you’re in need of a shower you’re a bum.
Do you mean ski bums....
yahooyahoo said:
Do you mean ski bums....
For a minute, I thought that picture was of these bums.
sac said:
Re Sleepouts, I believe that Covenant House does something like that, and perhaps other organizations, but it isn't necessarily targeted to CEOs, just to the "everyone else" who have homes.
Yes, Covenant House sponsors sleepout events. Some of them are Executive Editions. It looks like they raise some serious money. I know someone in Maplewood who participates in one every year.
Tonight the TC spoke about making changes to operations at the Community Fridge. The bench is being moved, the fridge and the parking lot will be closed at night, the fridge and surrounding area will be cleaned more frequently, and a distribution policy will be put in place. For more information, watch the recording when Jamie posts it.
Tall_Mocha said:
I'm well aware which direction goes to Vauxhall and Irvington. Let me clarify, The homeless people have made their way into Millburn as well. Thanks again for the quick geography lesson. Very much appreciated
"Made there way into"
Where do you think the homeless people are coming from? Is there some Homeless Homeland from which these invaders set out?
GoSlugs said:
"Made there way into"
Where do you think the homeless people are coming from? Is there some Homeless Homeland from which these invaders set out?
they are moving into safer areas as they are not safe in Irvington or Newark or east orange. I’m thinking some of you are clueless as to the homeless people situation in Essex county.
joan_crystal said:
Tonight the TC spoke about making changes to operations at the Community Fridge. The bench is being moved, the fridge and the parking lot will be closed at night, the fridge and surrounding area will be cleaned more frequently, and a distribution policy will be put in place. For more information, watch the recording when Jamie posts it.
That’s good news.
I knew it would eventually come to this.
Tall_Mocha said:
I'm well aware which direction goes to Vauxhall and Irvington. Let me clarify, The homeless people have made their way into Millburn as well. Thanks again for the quick geography lesson. Very much appreciated
they’re just playing conveniently dumb. You turn right at 66 gas and go two blocks. They’re in denial that it could affect their property value. Ridiculous.
Was on south broadway in Newark yesterday, there’s a new food pantry and fridge. There was a line of people waiting to get food, and it was orderly because there were two volunteers sharing the food. It won’t be open 24/7 .
If the town is serious about controlling the distribution of food from the community fridge, there will likely be a need for volunteers here too.
joan_crystal said:
If the town is serious about controlling the distribution of food from the community fridge, there will likely be a need for volunteers here too.
Could there be a way to partner with an organization like Bridges Outreach?
There is already an active group of volunteers (organizations and individuals) who keep the community fridge stocked. They could serve as a possible source of volunteers for distribution should the town take this approach. Negative to introducing monitors is that one of the attractions of the community fridge is that a person in need can take food from it unseen with no questions asked. There are people using the community fridge who don't want their neighbors to know that they are food insecure and others who would not want to be seen for other reasons. These are groups that are unlikely to register with a food pantry. They are the ones who most rely on the community fridge and are less apt to do so if monitoring of users is put in place.
joan_crystal said:
Negative to introducing monitors is that one of the attractions of the community fridge is that a person in need can take food from it unseen with no questions asked. There are people using the community fridge who don't want their neighbors to know that they are food insecure and others who would not want to be seen for other reasons. These are groups that are unlikely to register with a food pantry. They are the ones who most rely on the community fridge and are less apt to do so if monitoring of users is put in place.
I think this is the big dilemma here. The community pantry/fridge exists to help preserve the dignity of our neighbors who are going through something that’s already stressful and painful.
But the concept of an open access distribution point for shared food has some downsides. And the negative effects are felt by a small group of people who live local to the fridge.
“But the concept of an open access distribution point for shared food has some downsides. And the negative effects are felt by a small group of people who live local to the fridge.”
Like when I observed one of the homeless guys relieving themselves in the corners of the parking lot? Literally sh***ing where they eat?
Some basic Sleepout info, if someone wants to start one there. The stadium event is glamping version, with toilets etc. The real Sleepouts happen concurrently, on the streets, beaches, etc and the CEOs have grown stubble so they fit in.
https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/event-information/gold-coast.
we also have Connect to Home, formerly Homelessness Connect, a week of services dedicated to mass events for unhoused people. Look up Orange Sky and similar wonderful services
https://www.facebook.com/Gold-Coast-Homeless-Connect-116477198386612/videos/homelessnessweek2021at-this-time-our-guests-wouldve-been-enjoying-their-breakfas/956036841917098/