Last Thursday, at the Homeless Action meeting held at the Palms Inn, William volunteered to tak to those living at the underpass at 6th Street and 101 in Santa Rosa. Here is his report:
William:
As my msg said 20 surveyed
I asked: "how long homeless"....
(some extrodenary #s... )
Some with housing vouchers...
Some vets...
I asked: "why this particular location (under the bridge) the proximity to CC and Mission Topped the list..
Followed by Safety and community.
I asked also :"do you have a safe dry place to go if the area is swept away more purmanantly...
The answer was mostly NO... Most said they guessed they would find another place... But did not really know where...
Aditional comments were things like...
"They were not a "group", they were individual Human beings"
People fealt community/peer support huddled under the bridge.
Women fealt safer...
Men mostly clearly PTSD.
Not All were dual diagnosed...
But mostly...
Some NOT into drugs or alcohol...
Some were there to use and score...
ALL had mental heath issues...
(I directed several to the rocksy shuttle to wellness center.)
My observation was that for the most part it was totally clean.
No trash or butts.
Although one camp had ALOT of bikes and stuff blocking the sidewalk...
Out into the bike lane...
We thank William for his visit and report, and look forward to more of what he learns.
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