Sit-In Support at the Civic Center Garage against homeless lock-out
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On August 20, the owners of the Civic Center Garage in Rochester, NY decided that after many years of making this indoor heated space open and accessible to the homeless who had no other solution for shelter, they would enforce measures to keep the homeless out. That evening, representatives from the staff of the House of Mercy (Rochester, New York), St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, and others chose to protest the move by refusing to leave the garage. The security staff and the police barred entrance by anyone after 8pm, and those who remained risked arrest. Any one leaving to go to the bathroom or bring back water or food would not be allowed back in. Protesters and supporters gathered on the street outside the doors of the garage and stayed until those inside left at 11pm. These photos are of the scene outside. Sister Grace and supporters will continue to do this every night. Please show your support, too!
The LDC board that conrols the garage opted to spend mega-bucks to install garage and entrance doors that would be locked after 8pm. Two alternative measures they rejected: 1. Support and help promote the purchase of a new shelter located near the Amtrak station that would provide shelter to those who, for one reason or another, are not benefiting from the current shelter options. This requires that the City change the zoning on the space from commercial to zoning that would allow it to be lived in. The City has been dragging its feet on this since March. 2. Until the alternate space becomes available, allow the Civic Center Garage to continue to be an alternative space for those in need. This will provide needed shelter for what may well prove to be another brutal winter. In order to improve sanitation in the space, install porta potties. The large expense of installing the garage doors could have easily and more humanely been avoided!
Photos: see below.
Video coming soon!
Related: Sister Grace and CW of House of Mercy | 13 Rochesterians | Precarious housing for homeless continues at county garage... | "The Throwaways": discussion after the screening
