Poor People United, Emergency Warming Station kicks off !

It has been a long wait to see this project underway. Throughout the process of planning and building, there have been delays, lack of funding, few volunteers, legal obstacles, etc. I am amazed that we have completed at all. Our first night was last Monday. I was so worried that our homeless guests would not stay. Is the heating adequate? Do we have enough blankets? What will we do with no bathroom on the bus? Questions like these worried me as we drove out to our overnight location. As the night progressed, I realized that many of those fears did not materialize.

See also: POOR PEOPLE UNITED IN THIRD WEEK OF HYPOTHERMIA BUS PROJECT

We selected a location centered around where we did outreach last year, in the business and entertainment centers downtown. This location was highly visible, not only to the homeless but to those driving to work. Five people stayed on the bus that first night, and on average 4 since then. One man, on entering and seeing the blanketed beds, asking and learning that he didn’t have to pay, exclaimed that it was a great

Besides the joy of seeing this project to completion, there were two moments that have made me feel really good about what we did. The first was after five people had bedded down, one guy asked the question, “Can I bring my wife here inside the bus?” And I realized that many shelters are gender exclusive in that there is a men’s’ shelter and a women’s shelter and married couples can’t stay in the same shelter together. I was very happy to tell him, “ Of course your wife can stay, and we allow children as well”. His response was “She’s gonna love this”.

My second good feeling moment happened at the end of the 12 hr shift, when four of the five men began making their beds. It was 4:30am and still very dark outside, I asked them why they were leaving so early. One replied, “I have to go to work.” Another joined in, “I have a repeat job at Labor Ready”. They made their beds and left. As they walked away, I recalled my experience of working each day although homeless. I didn’t make enough to support myself, but I always felt good about having money in my pocket. At the end of my workday, I would agonize over whether to chose renting a room or food and transportation. If the warming station bus had been available then, I would not have had to worry, as much about my sheltering needs.

The security of knowing where you will sleep each night provides the stability you need to move forward in your life. No one should have to make such difficult choices concerning their basic needs. I believe that until everyday people step up and demand solutions to these problems, they will continue. I have drawn my line in the sand; I will not stand by idle while others suffer, I will not turn away from the plight of the homeless, and I will not allow people to freeze this winter. By accepting and tolerating what is unjust we enable it to continue. I hope that you will join me and draw your line in the sand.

-Charles Kellum, Poor People United

Poor People United needs your help. A contribution of $60 helps fill up the bus’ gas tank with diesel fuel and $75 buys a week’s worth of propane to keep the bus warm at night. Checks are payable to Poor People United, 167 Flanders Street, Suite D12, Rochester, NY 14619. We also desperately need volunteer to work the overnight shifts on the bus, and document hidden stories of poverty as economic human rights violations to affordable housing and jobs that pay living wages. To volunteer or donate contact Carolyn Brown at 442-2408. For updates on our survival struggle throughout the winter, and coming soon: http://poorpeopleunited.org/

(Photos by Loret Steinberg)