POOR PEOPLE UNITED IN THIRD WEEK OF HYPOTHERMIA BUS PROJECT

Poor People United is in its third week of providing emergency hypothermia services for people without homes in Rochester. The bus is operated on Broad Street, near West Main, from 9pm until 9am seven days a week. The bus is open to all in need, with ten beds on board, and room for two or three additional people, including the two volunteers, to sit.

The bus project has gone smoothly so far, though more volunteers and
financial support for fuel and supplies are urgently needed.  The police
have stopped by twice, with an apparently supportive tone, and no
interference.  PPU leaders have met with county homeless service providers
and advocates to answer questions about the bus project. 

On Tuesday night there were thirteen people on the bus plus two volunteers.
Temperatures were very cold, and all of the city shelters were full.
Temperatures were below 10 degrees fareinheit, and a few minutes outside was
enough to make a human shiver uncontrollably.  The windows were completely
iced over during the night, though we kept the temperature inside the bus
above 60 most of the time. 

Apparently it was not cold enough, however, to trigger the county's winter
weather emergency shelter plan.  That plan was implemented last year under
pressure from PPU, but is harshly inadequate in that it only takes effect on
a few nights each winter when officials make a "winter weather emergency"
determination.  

On Tuesday one homeless man, even WITH a Department of Social Services form
for emergency shelter, was turned away from five full shelters before
deciding to get on the bus for warmth.   Even though it meant sleeping in an
upright, uncomfortable position because the bunks were already filled up, he
was able to stay warm. 

At about 9:30pm the PPU cell phone rang with a query from a nearby shelter -
is there any more room on the bus?  Unfortunately we were already over
capacity and so were the shelters. 

PPU members have been explicit in stating that the bus project is not a
solution to homelessness - it is an emergency response to the immediate,
life-threatening crisis of hypothermia that comes with Rochester's winters.
Tuesday night's experiences confirmed that the existing shelter system is
inadequate in providing even the most basic level of shelter from the cold
for all the people in need on a given night, including even those who are
"eligible" for social services.   It confirms that the county's winter
weather emergency plan is inadequate - if Tuesday's weather did not
constitute an emergency for any human being without a home, then we are
truly in la-la land.  The nightly PPU bus project also confirms that poor
people are fighting back. 

For more information please call 464-8965.  To make a donation please call
442-2408.