SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO WRITE ON A MOVING PLANET
That’s an old saying from the 1960s. It has been that kind of a late
summer/early fall at Home Van Central. But now I’M BACK! and glad to be
speaking with you all again.
UPDATE ON GRACE MARKET PLACE
Grace Market Place is continuing to face challenges. This project was
woefully underfunded by both the City and County commissions. They have had to
close down the Pavilion, where many people slept, and the chapel, in order to
save on their utility bill. They can’t afford to hire needed staff members.
Joe Jackson is working with the city on a new contract with the Homeless
Coalition that will hopefully address some of these issues. In the meantime,
community support is very, very, important. Donate to Grace Market Place.
Volunteer there if you can. Do not be complacent that this facility is up and
running so our homeless community no longer needs your help. If we all pull
together, we will get there, but it’s going to be a long pull.
When Grace Market Place opened, Freeman and I were still not clear what our
role would be or if we would want to continue offering services on Williston
Road and downtown. We decided to wait and see how things evolved. Now it is
clear that there is still a need for services at this end of town and will
continue to be until Grace is better funded and does some growing, so we are
going to continue as we have. We are the ‘go to’ people for tents for those
moving out to Grace. Many thanks to all of you who have donated tents or money
to buy tents. It is an ongoing need so one way to help Grace is to give us
money for tents, especially now that the Pavilion is closing.
DIGNITY VILLAGE
Joe Jackson reports that the threat of further evictions of people camping
outside the gates of Grace (now doesn’t that sound like a country western hymn
somebody needs to write – “I’m a campin’ outside the gates of Grace...”) has
been averted! People are diligently establishing a tent city that they have
named Dignity Village, after the tent community on the west coast that has
become a model of self-governance and upward mobility for homeless people
everywhere. I encourage you to Google Dignity Village and learn more. There
are weekly meetings, also attended by Occupy folks and other grassroots
activists, where rules and goals are being established. People beset by
addictions are camping together, in a designated area. As Grace evolves, there
will be more hope and help for them. In the meantime, I think it would be a
good idea if there were 12 Step Meetings out at Dignity Village. The idea of
bringing meetings to people has fallen out of favor in AA – or so I am told –
but it is something that was done by Bill W and Dr. Bob and I think for this
special population it would make sense.
BUG SPRAY AND PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS
These are our two greatest needs. The many rains have caused an explosion
of mosquitos out in the woods. We’re about out of soap and shampoo also.
KIRK STENDER
On August 12 Kirk Stender, a gentle, wonderful man who was homeless in a
wheelchair for at least four or five years, left this world. We were very fond
of Kirk.
We hope to plant a tree in his name out at Grace Market Place. Grace needs
trees so maybe other people can plant trees there, for homeless or housed
friends who have moved on.
Peace and blessings to all of you,
arupa
