April 28, 2019

Mission Statement:

-To increase the accuracy of the public’s perception of homelessness

Contributors are designated by number only for the day on which what we have to say is published; the numbers aren’t permanent identifiers.

Homeless shelters aren’t named, also to protect the identities of contributors, who have every reason to fear retaliation from the shelters which are supposed to help us.  

April 28, 2019:

Homeless Human 1:

Health Concerns:

-(HVAC system) Building keeping people sick

-Urine incident lobby 4/9/19:  chair, floor, ignored for 15-20 min

-Shower floors not draining properly/Cement needs re-pouring.  Water pools, creating unsanitary condition.  Can transmit bacteria and germs to feet as water on floor shouldn’t be touching them.

-Asthma/allergies to cigarette smoke on line outside

-Perfume spraying in the dorms

Socio:

-Need race relations speaker to address the guest community

-Dining tables in the lobby too close/creates fights, hazards

Supplies:

-Are disappearing.

-Can’t get scrub robes in my size.

-Flip flops 

-Sometimes no toothpaste or toothbrushes and we are sent to the first floor to get them.

Human Rights:

-(Privacy)  Shower curtains not set up to close properly and some have holes in them.

Additional issues:

-Some mattresses need to be discarded; they are unsanitary and they worsen musculoskeletal problems

-Forced to stand outside for hours on line:

                -Elderly

                -Disabled

                -Sunburn

                -Smoking re:  asthma, etc.

Homeless Human 2:

On Sunday, the only day that we are allowed a stay-in at this shelter, staff decided to shuffle us around the already too-crowded lobby while they folded the tables and “deep-cleaned” the lobby area.  Yesterday (4/27/19) we were put out in a high wind advisory with cold temperatures and rain for 7 hours while the shelter could have been cleaned professionally from the 3^rd floor down to the basement; why didn’t they “deep-clean” the shelter yesterday when we weren’t in the building?  It’s now 9:10 a.m., we haven’t been able to relax at all yet, unless you can call sitting in hard plastic/metal chairs around tables relaxing.  Now that the lobby is ½ clean we are being shuffled again.  It’s standing room only; there are NOT ENOUGH CHAIRS to seat the women regularly.  In my opinion, the sudden cleaning spree today is intentionally controlling and extremely disrespectful.  I’m not sure who the supervisor is because they NEVER use the dry erase board that is supposed to inform us. 

Even though there aren’t enough chairs for everyone, the lobby is still crowded; it’s irresponsible and reprehensible.  This morning, the EMTs could barely get through with their gurney to take a guest to the hospital. 

The guest who needed an ambulance today is wheelchair-bound.  This shelter made her stay outside all day yesterday, refusing to provide her with transportation to a day shelter, even though this shelter provides that transportation one-way for nondisabled guests.  Being outside for hours yesterday worsened her condition to the point that by evening she was in excruciating pain and couldn’t move.  Because she was in so much pain, she was given permission not to take a shower before bed.  Staff who didn’t know that she had permission not to shower for the night refused to give her a blanket or a pillow without first asking a supervisor, even though the rules about showering before bedtime are broken for all sorts of people, with staff knowledge and without a supervisor's permission, every night.  Despite the shelter's inadequate facilities for disabled guests, she is a clean person; her pain was the only reason that she didn't shower last night.  



Copyright Homeless Humans, April 28, 2019