Doctors for Global Health has organized a discussion panel to speak about homelessness in New Orleans. It will be taking place at noon on Friday (the 7th) in the Medical School Auditorium... and it's OPEN TO THE PUBLIC... homeless and non-homeless, of course.
We've invited:
a representative from the City of New Orleans
So'nia Gilkey (from the Tulane School of Social Work)
Martha Kegel (Exec. Director of Unity of Greater New Orleans)
Donald Tompson (Exec. Director of Harry Tompson Center)
a respresentative from Homeless Pride of Duncan Park (Tent City)
COME BY AND CHECK OUT THIS EXCITING DISCUSSION!!
Meanwhile, those of us working on the vaccination drive have gotten some data, and are waiting for information on procurement and cost of the flu vaccines, so we can send a reasonable cost estimate to Dean Sachs of Tulane Med. School.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Some Developments
Heh... so we mentioned latrines... well, it's not going to work. Aside from various regulations that would prevent us from placing them in public spaces, it turns out that quicklime is a hazardous material... darn.
On a good note, however... the new Dean of Tulane Medical School, Dean Sachs, has offered to help us by obtaining flu vaccines, which we can then distribute to the homeless. Tomorrow, a group of us are going on a fact-finding mission to determine a good estimate of how many flu vaccines we'll need. Yay.
On a good note, however... the new Dean of Tulane Medical School, Dean Sachs, has offered to help us by obtaining flu vaccines, which we can then distribute to the homeless. Tomorrow, a group of us are going on a fact-finding mission to determine a good estimate of how many flu vaccines we'll need. Yay.
homeless clothing drive
As it is getting colder, we are conducting a clothing drive for the homeless. We are collecting jackets, socks, shoes, gloves, and hats. Boxes have been placed at the Tulane School of Public Health and the School of Medicine (student lounge and auditorium).
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Photos and Winter Drive
Hey everyone, I hope Thanksgiving was awesome for y'all. Jay Shukla posted some pictures from last week's visit to "The Village" on flickr. Please check them out. :)
This week, we are starting a winter clothing drive. Collection boxes will be placed in the medical school student lounge and out in front of the auditorium (in the "window room") as well as at the School of Public Health out near the Canal Street entrance.... probably near the elevators. PLEASE donate. THANKS! :)
My other activity will revolve around finding data about the homeless population. STAY TUNED!!
This week, we are starting a winter clothing drive. Collection boxes will be placed in the medical school student lounge and out in front of the auditorium (in the "window room") as well as at the School of Public Health out near the Canal Street entrance.... probably near the elevators. PLEASE donate. THANKS! :)
My other activity will revolve around finding data about the homeless population. STAY TUNED!!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Yay-ness
Plenty of stuff has been going on, the past couple of days:
1. Richard Brucker, a medical student, created flyers that had details about different organizations giving aid to the homeless, which he then posted out on the streets near the homeless settlements. Great Stuff... I'm going to upload the flyer, so anyone who reads this blog can see it, print it, and distribute it, if they feel that they know someone who may need the information. It is also a good source for people who want to volunteer... since the flyer has phone numbers.... anyone can call these organizations, and they will be more than happy to get more volunteers.
2. Yesterday, I went back the the I-10 bridge ("the Village," as one of my friends likes to call it) with Jay and (another Dorothy), second year medical students. We chatted with folks, and found that they have a serious need for latrines (although the stench spoke for itself). We saw that they have a somewhat organized community under the overpass. Many have mattresses set up on the concrete, and one couple even has a whole bed with a box-spring and frame. Their belongings are all kept in garbage bags which they stack around their beds in order to cut the wind, as its strength seems to be amplified by the bridge and pilings. There is some violence and some drug dealing going on, but the inhabitants impressed on us that the level was not even close to that of Tent City. We observed as one do-gooder (I think his name was "Railroad Jack") brought a box filled with fried chicken breasts to the homeless. Apparently, even the "Village" gets well fed.... but they made sure that we understood... they want homes and jobs more than free food.
3. People keep asking me... "what is your goal?" "why are you doing this?" At first, I wasn't sure. "There are people in a street, I'm not... so why SHOULDN'T I help them?" Well, that answer doesn't fly.... so... I've thought about it. My goal is to reduce homelessness in New Orleans. Yes, this is STILL very broad... I need to determine a percentage or proportion by which I want to reduce homelessness, if I'm going to be thorough about it... which I will. How will I do it? Well, now that I understand that these people are NOT just winos, and that they have a desire to get off the streets, my next plan of action is to take a two-pronged approach: conduct a scientific survey of the population + address the immediate needs of the population, in the meantime. I am developing a survey, right now, actually. I want to examine the situation from health, social, economic, and personal (to the homeless person) angles. With some real data, I feel that local officials will be more inclined to approach the problem and help out... right now, all they have is hearsay, and hearsay doesn't get funding.
4. Addressing immediate needs. So, they REALLY need latrines... right now, both Tent City and the I-10 village are filthy with human excrement... this is not acceptable in a "developed country." I have been talking to professors at the Tulane School of Public Health, and have been told that simple, sanitary latrines can be constructed out of large cans that are lined with trash bags and toilet seats and filled with lime. So, some students and I are going to seek some resources to construct these latrines, as well as some basic shelters to put AROUND the latrines, so homeless people don't get arrested for indecent exposure.
Yeap... that's what I have going on, right now. I'm working on constructing a report, delineating the current status of the homeless, as well as a history of the situation... I'll post it when it's finally written.
1. Richard Brucker, a medical student, created flyers that had details about different organizations giving aid to the homeless, which he then posted out on the streets near the homeless settlements. Great Stuff... I'm going to upload the flyer, so anyone who reads this blog can see it, print it, and distribute it, if they feel that they know someone who may need the information. It is also a good source for people who want to volunteer... since the flyer has phone numbers.... anyone can call these organizations, and they will be more than happy to get more volunteers.
2. Yesterday, I went back the the I-10 bridge ("the Village," as one of my friends likes to call it) with Jay and (another Dorothy), second year medical students. We chatted with folks, and found that they have a serious need for latrines (although the stench spoke for itself). We saw that they have a somewhat organized community under the overpass. Many have mattresses set up on the concrete, and one couple even has a whole bed with a box-spring and frame. Their belongings are all kept in garbage bags which they stack around their beds in order to cut the wind, as its strength seems to be amplified by the bridge and pilings. There is some violence and some drug dealing going on, but the inhabitants impressed on us that the level was not even close to that of Tent City. We observed as one do-gooder (I think his name was "Railroad Jack") brought a box filled with fried chicken breasts to the homeless. Apparently, even the "Village" gets well fed.... but they made sure that we understood... they want homes and jobs more than free food.
3. People keep asking me... "what is your goal?" "why are you doing this?" At first, I wasn't sure. "There are people in a street, I'm not... so why SHOULDN'T I help them?" Well, that answer doesn't fly.... so... I've thought about it. My goal is to reduce homelessness in New Orleans. Yes, this is STILL very broad... I need to determine a percentage or proportion by which I want to reduce homelessness, if I'm going to be thorough about it... which I will. How will I do it? Well, now that I understand that these people are NOT just winos, and that they have a desire to get off the streets, my next plan of action is to take a two-pronged approach: conduct a scientific survey of the population + address the immediate needs of the population, in the meantime. I am developing a survey, right now, actually. I want to examine the situation from health, social, economic, and personal (to the homeless person) angles. With some real data, I feel that local officials will be more inclined to approach the problem and help out... right now, all they have is hearsay, and hearsay doesn't get funding.
4. Addressing immediate needs. So, they REALLY need latrines... right now, both Tent City and the I-10 village are filthy with human excrement... this is not acceptable in a "developed country." I have been talking to professors at the Tulane School of Public Health, and have been told that simple, sanitary latrines can be constructed out of large cans that are lined with trash bags and toilet seats and filled with lime. So, some students and I are going to seek some resources to construct these latrines, as well as some basic shelters to put AROUND the latrines, so homeless people don't get arrested for indecent exposure.
Yeap... that's what I have going on, right now. I'm working on constructing a report, delineating the current status of the homeless, as well as a history of the situation... I'll post it when it's finally written.
Monday, November 19, 2007
possibilities
You may have noticed that I have added a list of possible "plans of action" for our group. I just made it off the top of my head, but I will be adding to it as more people send their suggestions, and my colleagues and I will try to make them come true. :)
Richard Brucker's experience
A "little" note from a fellow medical student, Richard Brucker, who helped me last thursday with interviews :)
Talking With the Homeless
New Orleans is unique city with a unique homeless problem. After Katrina, many paying tenants suddenly entered the world of homelessness. FEMA supposedly came to the rescue; however it became apparent to me on the cold Thursday afternoon quite how hard Hurricane Katrina struck. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, George and Tyrone were paying tenants in New Orleans. After the hurricane FEMA paid the landlords who lost their homes for their destroyed property and paid the tenants for their lost clothing. With many homes destroyed and housing less available, rent increased and became unaffordable. Unfortunately the lack of affordable housing meant that people suddenly entered the world of homelessness.
This past Thursday I went to "Tent City," a park across from city hall where many homeless people live. A few of my classmates and I went to the park to talk to these homeless men and women and find their stories. I was most interested in how they became homeless and what we, as a coalition of medical students, could do to help them. Rather than guess what is needed by these men and women, we would find out what THEY want. I was not surprised that every person I spoke to had the same 3 needs: Housing, Medical Care, and Education.
Firstly, I was surprised to find that three of the four men I spoke to worked. The one who didn't suffered five heart attacks and four strokes. He receives a monthly disability stipend from the government. Prior to Katrina this stipend was enough for him to pay for housing. Post Katrina his stipend and these men's forty plus hour work weeks is not enough to pay for housing. Obviously, they want more affordable housing and more shelters. One idea that they had was to turn the abandoned hotel across from "tent city" into a shelter. It could hold thousands of people and provide bathing for many!
As a Tulane Medical Student I really learned a lot that cold Thursday afternoon. The first man I spoke, Jesse, told me that one of the biggest things the homeless needed was more medical and dental clinics. Tyrone had five heart attacks and four strokes, he needs to be seen regularly in order to ensure that he will live. George is a Vietnam veteran and when he went to the VA of New Orleans, they told him they can't see him until he retires in a year. He was told to check out Bridge House, a Drug and Alcoholic treatment center, with a clinic once a week. George did not understand how there are many resources for drug addicts, alcoholics, and mentally ill, yet nothing for the men and women who can't afford healthcare. Another man named George received a prescription for antibiotics from the ER. He told me that it was $54 and he just couldn't afford it. Suddenly it dawned on me that availability of resources is worthless without the knowledge that they are even available.
Although there is a need for more clinics, as a medical student I know that the resources are available. I personally volunteer at a few of the free clinics in town, some of which these men and women did not even know exist. In regards to the prescriptions, until I started medical school I never knew that Wal-Mart had a $4 prescription program. ANYONE, with or without insurance, could get a month supply of over 300 generic drugs for only $4. I told these men that there were more resources available. I told them about the Wal-Mart prescription plan. When I told them that I was going to make up a list of all the available free medical and clinics in the city, complete with their services, their hours, and their addresses George began to cry. He told me that people look away whenever they walk by and that he feels alive knowing that there are people here who really do care.
Lastly, I mentioned that education was also on their list of priorities. Jesse Weathers was a man who lived all over the United States. At one point he lived on Skid Row in Los Angeles. He said that the best thing LA has to offer for the homeless is education. There are education centers for the homeless. These centers provide basic education to help people get their GED and provide job training. He feels that New Orleans would benefit greatly from an Education Center for the Homeless. This education center would be most beneficial, according to Jesse, if it provides Blue-Collar Job Training. This would allow people the homeless to get higher paying, better jobs, which would ultimately help put the homeless in homes. Further, he suggested that the education center provide GED training to these men and women. When I asked if he felt that this would help the homeless situation, he responded, "The homeless situation will always be, but New Orleans needs to have a better avenue … an education training center would be a plus. Not just a few people, but many, would utilize this.
After my few hours talking with the homeless I learned that the problem is extremely complex. In order to best provide for these men and women, we need to cater to their needs. Unfortunately Katrina has made the housing situation rather unfortunate. I do, however, see some things that we as Tulane students can do to help these men and women. Firstly, I created this list for the free clinics in town. I added a note about the Wal-Mart formulary. We could possibly have a mobile clinic travel to "Tent City" and could provide a health education presentation to the homeless. In regards to education, I believe that an education training center is necessary. However, I believe that we can start in small steps. Jesse seemed rather receptive to a once-a-week tutoring session in the New Orleans public library. We could work with people on what they need help with. If people need to learn to read, we can teach them. If people need to study for their GED we can tutor them. The homeless situation in New Orleans is dismal. Even if we can not completely fix it, we can definitely do something to make it better!
Talking With the Homeless
New Orleans is unique city with a unique homeless problem. After Katrina, many paying tenants suddenly entered the world of homelessness. FEMA supposedly came to the rescue; however it became apparent to me on the cold Thursday afternoon quite how hard Hurricane Katrina struck. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, George and Tyrone were paying tenants in New Orleans. After the hurricane FEMA paid the landlords who lost their homes for their destroyed property and paid the tenants for their lost clothing. With many homes destroyed and housing less available, rent increased and became unaffordable. Unfortunately the lack of affordable housing meant that people suddenly entered the world of homelessness.
This past Thursday I went to "Tent City," a park across from city hall where many homeless people live. A few of my classmates and I went to the park to talk to these homeless men and women and find their stories. I was most interested in how they became homeless and what we, as a coalition of medical students, could do to help them. Rather than guess what is needed by these men and women, we would find out what THEY want. I was not surprised that every person I spoke to had the same 3 needs: Housing, Medical Care, and Education.
Firstly, I was surprised to find that three of the four men I spoke to worked. The one who didn't suffered five heart attacks and four strokes. He receives a monthly disability stipend from the government. Prior to Katrina this stipend was enough for him to pay for housing. Post Katrina his stipend and these men's forty plus hour work weeks is not enough to pay for housing. Obviously, they want more affordable housing and more shelters. One idea that they had was to turn the abandoned hotel across from "tent city" into a shelter. It could hold thousands of people and provide bathing for many!
As a Tulane Medical Student I really learned a lot that cold Thursday afternoon. The first man I spoke, Jesse, told me that one of the biggest things the homeless needed was more medical and dental clinics. Tyrone had five heart attacks and four strokes, he needs to be seen regularly in order to ensure that he will live. George is a Vietnam veteran and when he went to the VA of New Orleans, they told him they can't see him until he retires in a year. He was told to check out Bridge House, a Drug and Alcoholic treatment center, with a clinic once a week. George did not understand how there are many resources for drug addicts, alcoholics, and mentally ill, yet nothing for the men and women who can't afford healthcare. Another man named George received a prescription for antibiotics from the ER. He told me that it was $54 and he just couldn't afford it. Suddenly it dawned on me that availability of resources is worthless without the knowledge that they are even available.
Although there is a need for more clinics, as a medical student I know that the resources are available. I personally volunteer at a few of the free clinics in town, some of which these men and women did not even know exist. In regards to the prescriptions, until I started medical school I never knew that Wal-Mart had a $4 prescription program. ANYONE, with or without insurance, could get a month supply of over 300 generic drugs for only $4. I told these men that there were more resources available. I told them about the Wal-Mart prescription plan. When I told them that I was going to make up a list of all the available free medical and clinics in the city, complete with their services, their hours, and their addresses George began to cry. He told me that people look away whenever they walk by and that he feels alive knowing that there are people here who really do care.
Lastly, I mentioned that education was also on their list of priorities. Jesse Weathers was a man who lived all over the United States. At one point he lived on Skid Row in Los Angeles. He said that the best thing LA has to offer for the homeless is education. There are education centers for the homeless. These centers provide basic education to help people get their GED and provide job training. He feels that New Orleans would benefit greatly from an Education Center for the Homeless. This education center would be most beneficial, according to Jesse, if it provides Blue-Collar Job Training. This would allow people the homeless to get higher paying, better jobs, which would ultimately help put the homeless in homes. Further, he suggested that the education center provide GED training to these men and women. When I asked if he felt that this would help the homeless situation, he responded, "The homeless situation will always be, but New Orleans needs to have a better avenue … an education training center would be a plus. Not just a few people, but many, would utilize this.
After my few hours talking with the homeless I learned that the problem is extremely complex. In order to best provide for these men and women, we need to cater to their needs. Unfortunately Katrina has made the housing situation rather unfortunate. I do, however, see some things that we as Tulane students can do to help these men and women. Firstly, I created this list for the free clinics in town. I added a note about the Wal-Mart formulary. We could possibly have a mobile clinic travel to "Tent City" and could provide a health education presentation to the homeless. In regards to education, I believe that an education training center is necessary. However, I believe that we can start in small steps. Jesse seemed rather receptive to a once-a-week tutoring session in the New Orleans public library. We could work with people on what they need help with. If people need to learn to read, we can teach them. If people need to study for their GED we can tutor them. The homeless situation in New Orleans is dismal. Even if we can not completely fix it, we can definitely do something to make it better!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Replies to my posts
Some of the students that I went out with on Thursday have replied to my posts and included the information that they found, as well. Please read those, too. :)
youtube
ummm.... I uploaded 3 videos to youtube... Merci Beaucoup, Merci Beaucoup 2, and Merci Beaucoup 3... but for some reason, I can't find them when I try to search them on youtube... am I missing something? Please let me know if there is something I need to do in order to make them accessible to the public. :)
Merci Beaucoup
So, on Thursday, several students and I went out to Tent City to interview the homeless. We wanted to find out why people were there, how they became homeless, how they are surviving, as well as what they want from us, if we are to help them. I will tell some of their stories, later in this blog.... after I study a little bit...
While interviewing people, I was informed that Mayor Ray Nagin was holding a free dinner for the public on Canal Street and handing out free blankets to the homeless. Intrigued by this, I ran to my car (parked under I-10, near another homeless settlement) and drove towards St. Charles and Canal. While on Gravier Street, I noticed a group of about 15-20 homeless people marching in the street. I immediately parked my car and ran out to catch up with them. Camera in one hand and notepad in the other, I resembled a journalist more than a medical student, and actually had some people ask me what newspaper I was from. ha ha
Led by Dale and his dog, Elvis and bearing an old sheet emblazoned with "Homeless Pride, Love, Peace, Unity," the rag-tag army rapidly marched towards the event. Fists in the air, they chanted "Hey Ray, whaddaya say? We want housing today!" and "What do we want? HOUSING! When do we want it? NOW!!" Once we reached canal, the march continued on the trolley tracks, in order to gather the most attention.
So, what WAS this dinner about? Once we arrived, I shouted with the protesters for a few minutes, and then left in order to investigate. Interestingly, the dinner was not actually intended for the homeless, as we had all thought... and there were no blankets being passed out (there must have been some mis-information in the telephone-arabe that we call the "word on the street"). There was a free, catered meal, however (enough to feed 3,000 people). Once I conducted some research into this matter later on, I found out that this dinner was part of the "Merci Beaucoup Campaign," led by Mayor Nagin to thank the businesses and citizens of New Orleans for coming back and being a part of New Orleans' recovery. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that Rebirth Jazz Band was playing, as well... a New Orleans treat.
Upon finding Nagin milling with his constituents, I decided to take the opportunity to ask him a question. I ducked under the press cameras and called his name... and he turned around. Shaking his hand, I introduced myself as a medical student from Tulane University and informed him about my desire to help the homeless of New Orleans. I stated that, throughout our interviews, the homeless have kept re-iterating that they are more than willing to help fix up some of the old, abandoned buildings around the city in order to create housing, which they could inhabit, afterwards. Of course, Nagin did what I expected any politician to do, he brushed me away with the excuse, "We don't have the resources...," and pretty much made it clear that, for some reason, this would be impossible. I still find that hard to believe... but I am going to give our city government the benefit of the doubt. After all, I am not there, so how can I judge? However, a better explanation of the situation would have been appreciated.
After gorging ourselves on food, I walked back towards T-City with Scooter, Will, and Micheal (three of the tent people). Upon reaching my car, I thanked them for the escort, and they headed out to "the wall" a location where they knew they could find some handouts, including dog food... for Elvis.
While interviewing people, I was informed that Mayor Ray Nagin was holding a free dinner for the public on Canal Street and handing out free blankets to the homeless. Intrigued by this, I ran to my car (parked under I-10, near another homeless settlement) and drove towards St. Charles and Canal. While on Gravier Street, I noticed a group of about 15-20 homeless people marching in the street. I immediately parked my car and ran out to catch up with them. Camera in one hand and notepad in the other, I resembled a journalist more than a medical student, and actually had some people ask me what newspaper I was from. ha ha
Led by Dale and his dog, Elvis and bearing an old sheet emblazoned with "Homeless Pride, Love, Peace, Unity," the rag-tag army rapidly marched towards the event. Fists in the air, they chanted "Hey Ray, whaddaya say? We want housing today!" and "What do we want? HOUSING! When do we want it? NOW!!" Once we reached canal, the march continued on the trolley tracks, in order to gather the most attention.
So, what WAS this dinner about? Once we arrived, I shouted with the protesters for a few minutes, and then left in order to investigate. Interestingly, the dinner was not actually intended for the homeless, as we had all thought... and there were no blankets being passed out (there must have been some mis-information in the telephone-arabe that we call the "word on the street"). There was a free, catered meal, however (enough to feed 3,000 people). Once I conducted some research into this matter later on, I found out that this dinner was part of the "Merci Beaucoup Campaign," led by Mayor Nagin to thank the businesses and citizens of New Orleans for coming back and being a part of New Orleans' recovery. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that Rebirth Jazz Band was playing, as well... a New Orleans treat.
Upon finding Nagin milling with his constituents, I decided to take the opportunity to ask him a question. I ducked under the press cameras and called his name... and he turned around. Shaking his hand, I introduced myself as a medical student from Tulane University and informed him about my desire to help the homeless of New Orleans. I stated that, throughout our interviews, the homeless have kept re-iterating that they are more than willing to help fix up some of the old, abandoned buildings around the city in order to create housing, which they could inhabit, afterwards. Of course, Nagin did what I expected any politician to do, he brushed me away with the excuse, "We don't have the resources...," and pretty much made it clear that, for some reason, this would be impossible. I still find that hard to believe... but I am going to give our city government the benefit of the doubt. After all, I am not there, so how can I judge? However, a better explanation of the situation would have been appreciated.
After gorging ourselves on food, I walked back towards T-City with Scooter, Will, and Micheal (three of the tent people). Upon reaching my car, I thanked them for the escort, and they headed out to "the wall" a location where they knew they could find some handouts, including dog food... for Elvis.
Photos
So, on Thursday, I went out with some medical students to interview homeless people at Tent City. We took some photos, and I created a flickr account for all of us to upload our pictures. Pictures on that account were taken by myself, and a fellow student, Dustin Abadco.
On another website, Larry Huan posted some of his pictures. Yay for the fish-eye lens. :)
On another website, Larry Huan posted some of his pictures. Yay for the fish-eye lens. :)
Who are they?
Who are these homeless people sitting out on City Hall's front yard? Are they a bunch of wino's with nothing better to do? Are they all crazy people, left with nowhere to go after Charity Hospital's unfortunate demise? Or are they just crack addicts waiting to pounce on Tulane medical students for spare change so they can blow it on another trip?
The answer to all of these questions is ... yes, and no. And here is how I know.... I talked to them.
Several medical students and I have watched this settlement grow from a few homeless guys in a park to a whole community, which now goes by the name of "Tent City." We grew curious as to what this whole phenomena was about, so we went out last Thursday, and asked some residents of T-City why they are there. The answers we got were actually quite different from what we were expecting.
Contrary to what we believed, homelessness is not a state that you expect to stay in forever. According to two previously homeless men, who now are spokes peopele from Ozanam Inn (a local homeless shelter), multiple adverse events happen to an individual so fast, and so proximal in time, that the individual cannot recover fast enough and loses everything. These events can be divorce, natural disaster, losing a job, making a bad investment, psychological disorders, addiction, losing family members, etc... When someone doesn't have the resources to recover from these events, they end up homeless.
Many of the residents of Tent City were struggling before Hurricane Katrina, and then the storm served as a coup de grace, and finished the job. Some tried staying in the city, and were eventually escorted out by federal troops, while others made it out to nearby states (some made it as far as New York). At some point, New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin, sent out a message to the nation for the residents of New Orleans to come back and help rebuild. So, they did... and they were in for a bad surprise.
Scores of New Orleanians (as well as individuals from outside of the state) came to the city looking for work... and there is no shortage of work. There is actually a shortage of workers, despite the influx of people returning to the city. The problem is that there is no affordable housing. Ever since the hurricane hit, two years ago, rent and housing prices have sky-rocketed in the city.
Most of the homeless in New Orleans actually do work. They find jobs operating forklifts at the shipping ports, washing dishes at posh restaurants in the French Quarter, working at hotels, gutting and rebuilding houses, etc. Despite the pay, they still cannot afford housing, and are forced to sleep on the streets. You can see them sleeping outside Jackson Square in the French Quarter, at the French Market, under Interstate-10 on Canal, at Tent City, and many more locations. There are an estimated 12,000 homeless in New Orleans, and some are even claiming that this is an under-estimate.
Now, you are thinking... "sure, they are homeless, and it sucks, but they're not innocent little angels, either." That is true. Homelessness goes hand-in-hand with illegal behavior. Living on the streets is rough. Many of these individuals have drug and alcohol addictions, have stolen before, and commit violent acts. This does not warrant that we should ignore them, but should make us want to help them even more. The longer they are marginalized by society, the harder it will be to bring them back into society as productive, happy citizens. They want this chance... so, to use the words of a former homeless man, Sessie Pullins, let's "give them a hand-up, as opposed to a hand-out."
The answer to all of these questions is ... yes, and no. And here is how I know.... I talked to them.
Several medical students and I have watched this settlement grow from a few homeless guys in a park to a whole community, which now goes by the name of "Tent City." We grew curious as to what this whole phenomena was about, so we went out last Thursday, and asked some residents of T-City why they are there. The answers we got were actually quite different from what we were expecting.
Contrary to what we believed, homelessness is not a state that you expect to stay in forever. According to two previously homeless men, who now are spokes peopele from Ozanam Inn (a local homeless shelter), multiple adverse events happen to an individual so fast, and so proximal in time, that the individual cannot recover fast enough and loses everything. These events can be divorce, natural disaster, losing a job, making a bad investment, psychological disorders, addiction, losing family members, etc... When someone doesn't have the resources to recover from these events, they end up homeless.
Many of the residents of Tent City were struggling before Hurricane Katrina, and then the storm served as a coup de grace, and finished the job. Some tried staying in the city, and were eventually escorted out by federal troops, while others made it out to nearby states (some made it as far as New York). At some point, New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin, sent out a message to the nation for the residents of New Orleans to come back and help rebuild. So, they did... and they were in for a bad surprise.
Scores of New Orleanians (as well as individuals from outside of the state) came to the city looking for work... and there is no shortage of work. There is actually a shortage of workers, despite the influx of people returning to the city. The problem is that there is no affordable housing. Ever since the hurricane hit, two years ago, rent and housing prices have sky-rocketed in the city.
Most of the homeless in New Orleans actually do work. They find jobs operating forklifts at the shipping ports, washing dishes at posh restaurants in the French Quarter, working at hotels, gutting and rebuilding houses, etc. Despite the pay, they still cannot afford housing, and are forced to sleep on the streets. You can see them sleeping outside Jackson Square in the French Quarter, at the French Market, under Interstate-10 on Canal, at Tent City, and many more locations. There are an estimated 12,000 homeless in New Orleans, and some are even claiming that this is an under-estimate.
Now, you are thinking... "sure, they are homeless, and it sucks, but they're not innocent little angels, either." That is true. Homelessness goes hand-in-hand with illegal behavior. Living on the streets is rough. Many of these individuals have drug and alcohol addictions, have stolen before, and commit violent acts. This does not warrant that we should ignore them, but should make us want to help them even more. The longer they are marginalized by society, the harder it will be to bring them back into society as productive, happy citizens. They want this chance... so, to use the words of a former homeless man, Sessie Pullins, let's "give them a hand-up, as opposed to a hand-out."
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Intro to the Homeless of New Orleans
Hey y'all,
Welcome to NOhomeless. This blog is all about the homeless of New Orleans and what can be done to help them. I'll be back with some more info...
Welcome to NOhomeless. This blog is all about the homeless of New Orleans and what can be done to help them. I'll be back with some more info...
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