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Homeless Facing Winter Crisis

December 28, 2015 By Eric Caine 2 Comments

Homeless on the Ground
Homeless on the Ground

Most of us have welcomed our rainy December and recent temperatures below freezing. The rain means a chance to begin replenishing lakes and reservoirs and the cold weather means snow in the mountains, a harbinger of much-needed spring runoff.

But for the homeless, the wet and cold are nothing less than life-threatening. Last week’s heavy downpour caused the creek to rise in Beard Brook Park, soaking many homeless people’s belongings and drowning at least one dog. Wet clothing and bedding are often the beginning of prolonged hospital stays for people with no access to dryers or heat.

The onset of what promises to be a fierce winter has caused some towns and cities to impose emergency measures so that people without homes can at least find temporary shelter. Despite vocal opposition, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has taken the lead in sponsoring homeless camps. One, the Interbay camp, will shelter 80 people. The Ballard camp will shelter another 50.

In Los Angeles, a strong movement for ad hoc housing has people sleeping in pews at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Highland Park. Despite objections by some city leaders that the elevated pews pose a danger from people falling, compassion has thus far ruled over bureaucratic misgivings. Even the head of one the city’s rescue missions is looking for extra space in empty buildings.

Thus far in Modesto, despite a clear need for emergency shelter, none of our local leaders has stepped forward to argue the need for winter shelter during what may be one of our wettest winters ever, if El Nino factors hold true to form.

One of the problems is that our two major shelters, the Salvation Army Haig/Berberian building and the Modesto Gospel Mission, still haven’t reached full bed capacity on a daily basis. On the surface, this looks as though everyone is being sheltered who wants shelter. In fact, homeless people with dogs, significant others, or too many possessions to fit in a backpack, find giving these things up too much of a price even for shelter from the storm.

Another problem is simple distance. Many homeless people have established at least a fragile refuge at some distance from the shelters, even if it means sleeping on the ground. Giving up what little security they have represents a huge gamble for people who are routinely rousted from day and nighttime habitation.

Modesto residents have long claimed their town’s low rankings in various “livability” factors overlook the character of its people. In fact, some have even said homeless people deliberately come here because valley citizens are so compassionate and generous.

While there’s no evidence for that claim, it’s certainly true that many locals give generously of food and clothing in compassionate recognition of the needs of the poor. No matter how much they give, however, citizens can’t provide homeless people space in empty buildings and empty lots for tents and temporary shelter. Those measures require local leaders with the courage to be as compassionate as their constituents.

As a grim winter looms, Modesto’s leaders need to step forward and do the right thing for those among us with nowhere to go. Suspending a few ordinances and working with private property owners to allow access for tents and temporary shelter would reflect the will of the community far more accurately than the rousts and harassment which are the only policies in place today, policies that could one day add to our list of municipal embarrassments and shame.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, History Tagged With: Modesto homeless, Modesto Homelessness

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan Ewers-Illinois says

    December 29, 2015 at 12:22 am

    Thank you Eric for being the “champion” for getting the homeless citizens a warm, clean place to stay. We all have possessions that mean something to us! Why expect those that have so little to give up what they now have. Whether that be a dog or a bag of clothes. We all need some small comforts in life to make living each day worth while.

    My daughter, Jonyce O’Neill, has been trying to get such a place for these citizens to eat, sleep and be warm. She feeds them on weekends and holiday and has done this now for numerous years. She goes to meetings trying to get others to realize that we all need a “place”. It only takes a “few” to hold up any advances to help the homeless get a place to stay! The turn out to donate clothes and sleeping bags was wonderful. But sleeping on the ground and by a river does not make a safe place to take these items. It’s not just Modesto that needs to give these people help but Oakdale as well.

    Reply
  2. Daniel Lempenau says

    January 19, 2016 at 6:26 pm

    But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17

    ‘Christian’ doctrine that turns from the home-less-ness of the homeless — isn’t Christian.

    Thanks for you work Eric.

    Reply

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