Reposting

because apparently I'm an idiot and notes don't show up on your blog page

Part 1
Homeless and Hopeless

Twelve hours into the first day of shelter life, it's clear that like everything else there is a definite organization to the community that homeless men have carved out.

People have staked out areas of the "day room" where time is passed between 6am and 7pm daily.

I showed up on Sunday evening and it was a full house, but Monday morning was far different as many residents dispersed after breakfast, either to jobs or errands.

You surrender all of you prescription meds when you check in--it's kept locked up behind the front desk--and you go and ask when you need them.

You get assigned a bed--there are probably 200 of them, arranged in wards of 25--with 4 each on two floors identified by letter: A, B, C, etc. You confirm that you're gonna sleep in it by checking in at dinner, which is served at 7pm; the order of service is by ward, and I'm in 'B' so I get a spot near the head of the line.

After dinner the day room empties out pretty quickly as a lot of men go to get ready for bed; it seems like a good idea that I discovered my first night--get in and drift off before the heavy snorers get going.

Breakfast and lunch are at 7 am and noon, which is first come first served. The only downside to waiting is the main dish is not very hot, but otherwise the food is passable.

People drag around black garbage bags with their possessions. I got a locker on my first full day so I could at least stuff my clothes and shoes there as well as valuables that I wouldn't want to have to drag around all the time.

First 3 hours on Monday there was an ambulance run for someone who just passed out right after breakfast and an actual fist fight between a staff member and a ‘guest’. ADDED: had another visit from the paramedics this morning for a guy who sleeps in the bed opposite mine who just went sort of catatonic after breakfast. He couldn’t raise his arms or hold them up when lifted by the paramedic. He’s a very LARGE guy, about 5’6 or so and every bit of 350.

(continued in part 2)

link to donate
https://emilmuz.substack.com/p/my-plea-to-you

Part 2
I was out almost all day yesterday--here at the main library with internet access, bus ride to vote, then another bus to pick up a prescription, then all the way back; eight bus trips on seven different routes, with a fairly reasonable minimum amount of walking. All busses were free for Election Day but normally the daily max you'd pay is $6 which is two rides. I'll give credit to the Greater Dayton RTA, they've got the west side of the city covered with bus routes and have the timing down so you can connect without long waits unlike in the bougie white folks part of town where I'm from.

Yesterday I came to you from the second floor of the library but today I'm on the third where there's less commotion and a better view. The table I sat at yesterday forced me to dodge the sun but today is gray, gloomy and overcast--much like our national mood. I started out a bit earlier than I intended because I didn't want to sit around and watch the TV news.

I was able to add money to my bus app (THANK YOU VERY MUCH to those who contributed to my GoFundMe, that is appreciated!!) but I had to make a trek up the hill again this morning to get up to the store where I could pull up wifi to get a scannable code. Plus load up with some snacks for the day with my EBT. If only I had a way to convert some of that allowance to cash money I'd be OK.

You're not allowed to bring food in at the shelter but you see people eating stuff obviously from outside. The trick is being able to hide it effectively from the cursory search they do at the enterance. The big guy who went for an ambulance ride told me that Monday night while he was passing out food from McDonalds he'd hauled if.

Speaking of people coming and going, there have been fewer people in the beds each night, we only had about 15 in our 25 bed pod last night; some people who come into the shelter choose to sleep in the gym on mats and others sleep there who are on punishment ('alternative shelter") who have to also be out of the facility from 7am to 7pm for whatever set time they've been given.

There's a whole cross section of humanity you encounter, including some who probably need more that just a place to sleep. There were two guys who wander around the day room having a running monologue with themselves, but when I got back yesterday evening I noticed neither of them were there. I heard someone ask where Walter was (everyone knows who Walter is because he refers to himself in the third person) and the reply was he went "for a walk" and hadn't come back.

I was waiting at the Meijer where I'd gone to get my prescription and as I walked into the shelter to repack my shoulder bag I thought "that dude looks familiar" and when I stepped out to throw away the bag I saw a big green duffle bag and noticed he had yellow gloves on. Turns out he's in the bed next to me. I try not to embarrass anyone I see out on the street, maybe just give a nod unless they speak to you first. This guy told me he spends every single day, all day, in the general area of this grocery store. Eats no breakfast or lunch, just comes back to claim his bed and then spends a couple of hours in a back hallway in the dorm area before rolling into the room about 9 or 9:30.
(continued in part 3)