Hi everyone, thanks for all of the responses. This week, I visited the bridge to find that the population has drastically decreased. I would estimate that there was may be a total of 30 people under the bridge when I was there (about 2pm).... just two months ago, there were hundreds under the overpass. I asked around, and it seems to be the same story. Many folks are being arrested, and others are being given hotel rooms by UNITY.
After visiting the bridge-folk, I headed to the French Quarter. At the Riverwalk, there are several locations where homeless hang out. I met four men sitting under some trees near the Holocaust Memorial statue. There was a total of about 12 homeless in that area. I will call the four who I talked to Charles, Peter, Larry and John. John had been homeless for a few days at a time, long ago... but this recent stint on the streets has lasted him a couple of months. Charles originally came from Mississippi, where he was living with family. He ended up homeless in New Orleans with his guitar, so he plays blues and country songs on the Riverwalk to passers-by. He played a couple of tunes for me, and I was pretty impressed. Peter didn't say much... Larry didn't say much to me either. He waits for tourists to come by and gives Mardi-Gras beads to their children, hoping that the parents will feel obliged to hand him some money.
During my lengthy conversation with Charles and John, I learned that the homeless on the River and in Jackson Square do not receive the aid from UNITY and other aid organizations that the folks under the bridge are getting. They stated that there is a LOT more crime under the bridge and that they stay as far away from it as possible... so much so that they visit the St. Joseph Rebuild Center (which is located near the bridge settlement) quite rarely. They also talked about the "gutter punks (a population of semi-homeless teenage kids who wandered into the city following the hurricane)." Charles and John stated that these gutter punks are causing problems for the homeless community with law enforcement. It seems that the folks on the Riverwalk are pretty chill and try to stay out of trouble as much as possible. Many sleep in other locations than the Riverwalk, at night. They mentioned a location at the Jax Brewery (an isolated patio), as well as some locations in neighboring parking lots. They just have to be careful, as the cops will frequently sweep these locations.
After listening to several songs performed by Charles on his guitar, I headed to Jackson Square, where I knew there was a group of homeless.... only to find that they were all gone. I chatted with a couple of folks who seemed to be Jackson Square regulars, and they affirmed my suspicions: NOPD had just performed a sweep of the Square, the night before. I asked where all the homeless went, and they both answered "jail." It will be a week or so before they all come back, so I plan to revisit the Square next weekend, or so.
I am putting together a study, from which I hope to gather much-needed data about the homeless population of New Orleans, so there will be more frequent postings, as I go out and gather more background information and seek out more homeless.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Hello, everyone.... long time, I know... it's the end of the school year, so I've been preoccupied with exams... as usual.
Last week, I was out at the French Market (in the French Quarter) and happened to see Dale walking around and chatted with him for a while. I would say that his condition has improved by 200%. He still has his house, has a job, added ANOTHER dog to his family, and looks happy. I just wanted to add his example as a success story. Yes folks, homeless people can be successfully returned to society.... it just takes time and work.
Another development: Richard Brucker (the student that put together the homeless healthcare flyers) has created a website. The site lists all the locations that provide free healthcare for the homeless in New Orleans. You can see it here.
My updates will continue to be sparse for the next few weeks, but I hope to get back on the streets by the end of May.
Last week, I was out at the French Market (in the French Quarter) and happened to see Dale walking around and chatted with him for a while. I would say that his condition has improved by 200%. He still has his house, has a job, added ANOTHER dog to his family, and looks happy. I just wanted to add his example as a success story. Yes folks, homeless people can be successfully returned to society.... it just takes time and work.
Another development: Richard Brucker (the student that put together the homeless healthcare flyers) has created a website. The site lists all the locations that provide free healthcare for the homeless in New Orleans. You can see it here.
My updates will continue to be sparse for the next few weeks, but I hope to get back on the streets by the end of May.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
"the word on the street"
As there is seldom any legitimate news coverage of the homeless under the overpass, I have to rely on the "word on the street" to keep up to date on the happenings in the tent encampment. The "word" is useful, because it allows me to track the development of the camp, but it must be taken with many grains of salt, since it is all based on hearsay. I mention all of this, because the only news I have today is street-talk...
Multiple homeless individuals have stated to me that the police are now fining people for feeding homeless under the overpass. Usually, for the duration of my visits (which last from 30m to 1h30m), I will see 2 to 3 cars drive by with food for the homeless. Today, I noticed that there were no food deliveries during my visit. Also, many approached me asking for food, complaining that food deliveries are coming less frequently.
Other street news is that many homeless are leaving the city. The electrician that I met yesterday was leaving for Houston just as I arrived. I cannot say for sure, but it seems that those homeless who had hopes for easy-to-find jobs and nice weather are quickly becoming disillusioned. It's starting to get hot outside, and the police are not getting friendlier. Many are just getting "fed up" with waiting for help, and have decided to move on.
Of course, this ONLY pertains to the homeless under the overpass... there are MANY other homeless sites around the city (which I hope to visit)... the situation in those locations may be COMPLETELY different....
Multiple homeless individuals have stated to me that the police are now fining people for feeding homeless under the overpass. Usually, for the duration of my visits (which last from 30m to 1h30m), I will see 2 to 3 cars drive by with food for the homeless. Today, I noticed that there were no food deliveries during my visit. Also, many approached me asking for food, complaining that food deliveries are coming less frequently.
Other street news is that many homeless are leaving the city. The electrician that I met yesterday was leaving for Houston just as I arrived. I cannot say for sure, but it seems that those homeless who had hopes for easy-to-find jobs and nice weather are quickly becoming disillusioned. It's starting to get hot outside, and the police are not getting friendlier. Many are just getting "fed up" with waiting for help, and have decided to move on.
Of course, this ONLY pertains to the homeless under the overpass... there are MANY other homeless sites around the city (which I hope to visit)... the situation in those locations may be COMPLETELY different....
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
update from the overpass
I finally found time to hang out under the bridge, again. There are fewer people living on the side of the encampment lying closer to Tulane Avenue. I talked to two individuals, "Tennessee" and Charles, who stated that UNITY has been removing the individuals with medical problems and finding them housing in hotel rooms.
Funny enough, I was reading UNITY's website this morning, and found some data from a recent survey they conducted under the overpass. You can read the powerpoint presentation here. The survey focused on the prevalence of health conditions that can relate to morbidity in the homeless. Part of the conclusion discussed the removal of homeless individuals with higher risk for morbidity from the overpass.
Tennessee also stated that many homeless are being arrested and sent to jail, as well. NOPD is arresting individuals for standing on the side of the road with signs and panhandling, as well as for public drunkenness.
Walking further down the row, I met up with Steve from Homeless Pride. He also confirmed that UNITY has been removing people from the encampment.
I also met several individuals sitting closer to Canal Street, one of which had just arrived from Ohio. His house burnt down, and he came to N.O. with prospects for work (being that he is an electrician), and for the warm weather.
I also met a man who had just been told that he has diabetes and hypertension. He was pretty freaked out about this, as he had no IDEA that he ever had these conditions in the past. Hearing that I am a medical student, he asked me for help regarding procurement of medications. As I cannot prescribe drugs, I could only direct him to some nearby locations where medical care is being provided for the homeless. Apparently, he had already gone to a couple of places, and at one (he couldn't remember which), he was refused because he didn't "qualify"... he marched out without asking WHY he was unqualified for medications (I would really like to know). Another location told him that they did not have the funds available. I am going to return tomorrow with some more flyers for these guys, so they can get some medical care.
I moved out to the other side of the overpass camp (closer to the "Riverside"). It was definitely MORE built up than I have seen in the past. The people there seemed more resistant to UNITY, but I could not get a clear picture as to why. It SEEMS that they are looking for a more permanent solution than a hotel room. Many kept stating that broken down houses and buildings left over from Katrina should be re-built and used to house homeless.
Funny enough, I was reading UNITY's website this morning, and found some data from a recent survey they conducted under the overpass. You can read the powerpoint presentation here. The survey focused on the prevalence of health conditions that can relate to morbidity in the homeless. Part of the conclusion discussed the removal of homeless individuals with higher risk for morbidity from the overpass.
Tennessee also stated that many homeless are being arrested and sent to jail, as well. NOPD is arresting individuals for standing on the side of the road with signs and panhandling, as well as for public drunkenness.
Walking further down the row, I met up with Steve from Homeless Pride. He also confirmed that UNITY has been removing people from the encampment.
I also met several individuals sitting closer to Canal Street, one of which had just arrived from Ohio. His house burnt down, and he came to N.O. with prospects for work (being that he is an electrician), and for the warm weather.
I also met a man who had just been told that he has diabetes and hypertension. He was pretty freaked out about this, as he had no IDEA that he ever had these conditions in the past. Hearing that I am a medical student, he asked me for help regarding procurement of medications. As I cannot prescribe drugs, I could only direct him to some nearby locations where medical care is being provided for the homeless. Apparently, he had already gone to a couple of places, and at one (he couldn't remember which), he was refused because he didn't "qualify"... he marched out without asking WHY he was unqualified for medications (I would really like to know). Another location told him that they did not have the funds available. I am going to return tomorrow with some more flyers for these guys, so they can get some medical care.
I moved out to the other side of the overpass camp (closer to the "Riverside"). It was definitely MORE built up than I have seen in the past. The people there seemed more resistant to UNITY, but I could not get a clear picture as to why. It SEEMS that they are looking for a more permanent solution than a hotel room. Many kept stating that broken down houses and buildings left over from Katrina should be re-built and used to house homeless.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A House for DALE!!
I apologize for the long break in blog posts... I've been dealing with exams and Spring Break.
After my last exam on Friday, I stopped by the I-10 bridge on the way to my car to chat with the homeless. I was lucky to catch up with Dale. He informed me that he found a house in the 9th Ward (I think I remember him stating that it was with UNITY). He's signed a lease for a year, and is working, gutting houses. I was so excited to hear the good news. Dale took his two dogs (he adopted another one, after some folks left theirs under the bridge) and all of his belongings from the encampment and brought them to his new place.
Although things are improving, they are FAR from perfect. Dale and I keep in touch via cellphone (as he has just acquired one), and I recently had another chat with him. Apparently his current employer is not paying him for the past several weeks of work. This is not an isolated incident. Many folks under the bridge have been complaining of the same thing. They have jobs in the hope that they will be able to raise enough income to get, and maintain, an apartment, but employers (mostly in the construction business) are taking advantage of the homeless' compromised condition.
Don't worry... there is more to come... so stay posted.
After my last exam on Friday, I stopped by the I-10 bridge on the way to my car to chat with the homeless. I was lucky to catch up with Dale. He informed me that he found a house in the 9th Ward (I think I remember him stating that it was with UNITY). He's signed a lease for a year, and is working, gutting houses. I was so excited to hear the good news. Dale took his two dogs (he adopted another one, after some folks left theirs under the bridge) and all of his belongings from the encampment and brought them to his new place.
Although things are improving, they are FAR from perfect. Dale and I keep in touch via cellphone (as he has just acquired one), and I recently had another chat with him. Apparently his current employer is not paying him for the past several weeks of work. This is not an isolated incident. Many folks under the bridge have been complaining of the same thing. They have jobs in the hope that they will be able to raise enough income to get, and maintain, an apartment, but employers (mostly in the construction business) are taking advantage of the homeless' compromised condition.
Don't worry... there is more to come... so stay posted.
Monday, February 25, 2008
A quick survey...
Hey, everyone... I've noticed that my blog is getting more traffic, so I was wondering how good this blog actually is. I have one survey question posted on the right side of this screen... if you could just pick one of the choices, so I have an idea as to how you feel about this blog, I would really appreciate it. If you have ANY suggestions about this blog, or our activities with the homeless, PLEASE e-mail them to me at dot.contiguglia@gmail.com
THANKS :)
THANKS :)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The documentary crew
Yesterday, Vinci and Harold arrived from New York to work on their documentary about the homeless of New Orleans, and Alison and I brought them around the city to scope things out. After discussing the situation in detail over some coffee, we all headed to the I-10 overpass so they could get some stories and video of the inhabitants. Dale, being a very talkative individual, gave a detailed description of his experiences being homeless. While they were taping him, I had the opportunity to chat with some other folks hanging around.
(Oh... and a side note, I mentioned bringing a homeless individual to the ER, last week... well, Dale told me that he has been in the hospital for the past few days, and no one has really heard from him... hopefully, he will recover soon)
One old man, Henry, came up to talk to me. He was studying to be an anesthesiologist at one point in his life, but blames his wife for making him change his plans and going to work in the oil fields for 15 years, instead. I did not get a story as to what ROLE his wife played in this change of heart, but he claims that this decision is what lead to his current state of homelessness. In order to prove that he had some medical education, he started naming various cardiac diseases along with descriptions of each disease, anatomical terms, etc... until I was convinced that he had gone to school... and I have to say that I AM convinced... he may know more about medicine than I do, actually. Apart from his medical education, he can draw, write (he plans on writing three books about his experience being homeless), and paint. He is from Baton Rouge and arrived in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras). At the moment, he supports himself by taking odd jobs cleaning the New Orleans Arena and Superdome, as well as picking up soft drink cans. He told me that he has the option to leave the bridge now (must have met some kind of fortunate event, like a home from unity), but elected to stay for a little while and help his new found friends under the bridge. He believes that the best way he can help is by writing those books, and looks forward to getting started on them.
We continued getting film and talked to Steve, Homeless Pride's Vice President. He had been given a house by Unity, but had issues with his landowner. Eventually the landowner kicked him out, and he is now back under the bridge. He keeps a tight ship, watching out for everyone who comes through. He tries to keep crack dealers and hustling away from the tents around him, and I even saw him chase one individual away while we were there, yesterday. He receives donations such as soaps, wipes, paper towels, and distributes them to the folks around him. Alison and I talked to Steve for a while, and he informed us that there are a couple of other large homeless settlements. One is at "The Wall" where Elysian Fields meets the river, and at Audubon Park near the river (behind the Zoo). I was intrigued by this, and am planning to check out these locations. Of course, there are also MANY homeless staying in the hundreds (don't quote this number) of still-abandoned houses in the city.
As I was passing out more health care flyers, I met another man with some medical education. When I mentioned that I was a medical student, a man with no teeth and a half paralyzed face started spouting out the names of all the cranial bones to me. I was quite impressed. It seems that the homeless community has more of an educational background than many people think. I also met a familiar homeless individual, Morocca... he usually hangs out on the River-side of the encampment with a plush mickey mouse.... which sounds crazy.. but this man is actually NOT crazy... just extremely humerous. Everytime I head out there, he greets me with the mickey mouse and asks me where Toto is or if I have ruby slippers on (being that my name is Dorothy, I am quite used to this). Yesterday, he didn't have the mickey mouse, and with a pout, told me that someone stole it.
After we saw the I-10 overpass, we brought Vinci and Henry to the 9th Ward. They got a lot of video and pictures as we stopped at the breach site, and even ventured into an old gutted-out church. We also stopped at the Holy Cross Community, so they could see a recovering neighborhood. For those of you in New Orleans, you have to check out what Americorps did with the levee area near Holy Cross. There is a path along the water, complete with park benches... it's quite pretty.
Needless to say, it was a BUSY day.
I am working on getting a research project underway. I am not sure what the research will encompass, yet... as I have to talk to some people who are already involved with the homeless, and look at past research articles from other cities in order to determine which information is important, and what I should pursue. I feel that with actual, published data, the City and the local organizations can make better decisions and intervention plans regarding the homeless. Hopefully, I am not being OVERLY idealistic.
(Oh... and a side note, I mentioned bringing a homeless individual to the ER, last week... well, Dale told me that he has been in the hospital for the past few days, and no one has really heard from him... hopefully, he will recover soon)
One old man, Henry, came up to talk to me. He was studying to be an anesthesiologist at one point in his life, but blames his wife for making him change his plans and going to work in the oil fields for 15 years, instead. I did not get a story as to what ROLE his wife played in this change of heart, but he claims that this decision is what lead to his current state of homelessness. In order to prove that he had some medical education, he started naming various cardiac diseases along with descriptions of each disease, anatomical terms, etc... until I was convinced that he had gone to school... and I have to say that I AM convinced... he may know more about medicine than I do, actually. Apart from his medical education, he can draw, write (he plans on writing three books about his experience being homeless), and paint. He is from Baton Rouge and arrived in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras). At the moment, he supports himself by taking odd jobs cleaning the New Orleans Arena and Superdome, as well as picking up soft drink cans. He told me that he has the option to leave the bridge now (must have met some kind of fortunate event, like a home from unity), but elected to stay for a little while and help his new found friends under the bridge. He believes that the best way he can help is by writing those books, and looks forward to getting started on them.
We continued getting film and talked to Steve, Homeless Pride's Vice President. He had been given a house by Unity, but had issues with his landowner. Eventually the landowner kicked him out, and he is now back under the bridge. He keeps a tight ship, watching out for everyone who comes through. He tries to keep crack dealers and hustling away from the tents around him, and I even saw him chase one individual away while we were there, yesterday. He receives donations such as soaps, wipes, paper towels, and distributes them to the folks around him. Alison and I talked to Steve for a while, and he informed us that there are a couple of other large homeless settlements. One is at "The Wall" where Elysian Fields meets the river, and at Audubon Park near the river (behind the Zoo). I was intrigued by this, and am planning to check out these locations. Of course, there are also MANY homeless staying in the hundreds (don't quote this number) of still-abandoned houses in the city.
As I was passing out more health care flyers, I met another man with some medical education. When I mentioned that I was a medical student, a man with no teeth and a half paralyzed face started spouting out the names of all the cranial bones to me. I was quite impressed. It seems that the homeless community has more of an educational background than many people think. I also met a familiar homeless individual, Morocca... he usually hangs out on the River-side of the encampment with a plush mickey mouse.... which sounds crazy.. but this man is actually NOT crazy... just extremely humerous. Everytime I head out there, he greets me with the mickey mouse and asks me where Toto is or if I have ruby slippers on (being that my name is Dorothy, I am quite used to this). Yesterday, he didn't have the mickey mouse, and with a pout, told me that someone stole it.
After we saw the I-10 overpass, we brought Vinci and Henry to the 9th Ward. They got a lot of video and pictures as we stopped at the breach site, and even ventured into an old gutted-out church. We also stopped at the Holy Cross Community, so they could see a recovering neighborhood. For those of you in New Orleans, you have to check out what Americorps did with the levee area near Holy Cross. There is a path along the water, complete with park benches... it's quite pretty.
Needless to say, it was a BUSY day.
I am working on getting a research project underway. I am not sure what the research will encompass, yet... as I have to talk to some people who are already involved with the homeless, and look at past research articles from other cities in order to determine which information is important, and what I should pursue. I feel that with actual, published data, the City and the local organizations can make better decisions and intervention plans regarding the homeless. Hopefully, I am not being OVERLY idealistic.
Friday, February 22, 2008
New Orleans' newest plan regarding homelessness
The Times Picayune (local newspaper) just published a front page story concerning the homeless, yesterday (you can read it here). Apparently, the plan is to take the homeless folks from under the bridge and put them into a few giant tents (equipped with triple bunks) where the homeless will recover from their mental illnesses, addictions, and social problems in several months, after which time, they will have enough money to leave the tent for an apartment of their own. I have not seen this alleged tent, yet.. but it's located on Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. I'll probably check it out tomorrow.
The article states that there will be beds for 210 males and 12 females in two tents and one barn. Individuals who stay at this location have to be "clean." Those with severe mental illness will be referred elsewhere... but... where?
I'm trying to avoid throwing judgments out, but... if you read the article... it speaks for itself.
here are some (but not all) of the questions I have to ask about this operation:
* what is being done, regarding prevention of the spread of infectious disease (HIV, TB, flu, etc...)?
* The population of homeless in NO is ESTIMATED at 12,000 - 19,000 ... this camp only focuses on the folks under the bridge (a few hundred).... what is being done for the folks NOT under I-10?
* who is providing the outreach and counseling services? how about the medical services?
* how will law enforcement be approached?
* is there any infringement on these people's rights as they are shuttled away and kept in this camp?
*etc, etc, etc...
The article states that there will be beds for 210 males and 12 females in two tents and one barn. Individuals who stay at this location have to be "clean." Those with severe mental illness will be referred elsewhere... but... where?
I'm trying to avoid throwing judgments out, but... if you read the article... it speaks for itself.
here are some (but not all) of the questions I have to ask about this operation:
* what is being done, regarding prevention of the spread of infectious disease (HIV, TB, flu, etc...)?
* The population of homeless in NO is ESTIMATED at 12,000 - 19,000 ... this camp only focuses on the folks under the bridge (a few hundred).... what is being done for the folks NOT under I-10?
* who is providing the outreach and counseling services? how about the medical services?
* how will law enforcement be approached?
* is there any infringement on these people's rights as they are shuttled away and kept in this camp?
*etc, etc, etc...
Thursday, February 21, 2008
A Possible Documentary!!
Well, I have been contacted by Vincent Jean-Baptiste from New York, who is visiting New Orleans, this weekend. He is interested in filming a documentary on the homeless in the NO, and is coming down to check out the situation. Alison and I will be meeting up with him on Saturday... so stay posted to hear the details of THAT meeting. :)
WELCOME, VINCENT!!
WELCOME, VINCENT!!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
City Council Meeting = DUD
Alison and I came out to City Hall this morning, in order to attend an alleged chamber meeting concerning the homeless. Much to our disappointment when we arrived at City Hall, we were informed that the meeting had been canceled. :( There was no word on whether the meeting will be re-scheduled... so, we're going to keep our ears open and find out what the deal is.
Friday, February 15, 2008
CNN in the NO
So, Anderson Cooper was in New Orleans yesterday, and he did a small piece on the homeless under the I-10 bridge... check out this link to watch his interview of one homeless individual.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A visit to the overpass
After class, this afternoon, I headed out to the interstate overpass with Tim Park, another medical student. We passed out Richard's healthcare flyers to as many people as we could find. It was hard, due to the cold weather. Many homeless were holed up in their tents in order to avoid the cold, but most of those who were out were grateful to receive the flyers.
At the end of our tour, I came across a severely hypothermic individual who looked like he had been badly beaten. His mates told me that he needed a doctor, and it was quite obvious that he did, so I told him to follow me to a nearby emergency room. When he didn't fight back, I knew it was bad. Usually the homeless refuse such grand gestures because they prefer to lay low and avoid too much attention. I brought him to the ER and waited for him to be seen by the triage nurse. After he was seen, I had to run off to classes, but I will keep checking in on him.
I bring this up because I think it is absurd that a man could be, so easily, left to die on the streets in the USA. You think that this is something that only happens in under-developed countries, but it's happening here, too. This man would NOT have made it through another night... and it didn't take a medical student to realize this... all of his friends knew it, too. When we were waiting in the ER together, he showed me a wristband from another hospital that he had been to, last week. When I looked at this man, I could not imagine any doctor or nurse letting this man back onto the street in such a state... yet... what do you do with someone like this? Not only do they need immediate treatment, they need long-term care and counseling. This guy may live through another night, but tomorrow... he's still going to have cuts and bruises all over his body, his fingers will still be close to rotting off, and he will still be stuck out in the cold with nothing but a tent and a beer to keep him warm. The homeless need a WHOLE NETWORK of healthcare and mental health services in order to be rehabilitated.... but no one wants to step up to the plate.
On another note, this week's GAMBIT (local free newspaper) has an article on the homeless living under the bridge. I suggest that everyone check it out.
At the end of our tour, I came across a severely hypothermic individual who looked like he had been badly beaten. His mates told me that he needed a doctor, and it was quite obvious that he did, so I told him to follow me to a nearby emergency room. When he didn't fight back, I knew it was bad. Usually the homeless refuse such grand gestures because they prefer to lay low and avoid too much attention. I brought him to the ER and waited for him to be seen by the triage nurse. After he was seen, I had to run off to classes, but I will keep checking in on him.
I bring this up because I think it is absurd that a man could be, so easily, left to die on the streets in the USA. You think that this is something that only happens in under-developed countries, but it's happening here, too. This man would NOT have made it through another night... and it didn't take a medical student to realize this... all of his friends knew it, too. When we were waiting in the ER together, he showed me a wristband from another hospital that he had been to, last week. When I looked at this man, I could not imagine any doctor or nurse letting this man back onto the street in such a state... yet... what do you do with someone like this? Not only do they need immediate treatment, they need long-term care and counseling. This guy may live through another night, but tomorrow... he's still going to have cuts and bruises all over his body, his fingers will still be close to rotting off, and he will still be stuck out in the cold with nothing but a tent and a beer to keep him warm. The homeless need a WHOLE NETWORK of healthcare and mental health services in order to be rehabilitated.... but no one wants to step up to the plate.
On another note, this week's GAMBIT (local free newspaper) has an article on the homeless living under the bridge. I suggest that everyone check it out.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
A meeting at City Hall
This morning, Alison and I went to City Hall to attend a meeting between some representatives of Homeless Pride and Mr. Jonas Nash, the Director of Community Relations for Council member James Carter of New Orleans. The meeting itself was pretty unproductive, but Homeless Pride had some insight concerning the conditions under the bridge.
They definitely agree that conditions are worse than at Tent City. More tents have caught fire, there are more drugs, more injuries, and several women have been raped. The "CEO"Homeless Pride, Steve, stated that NOPD doesn't make rounds under the bridge. Steve claims that he has to keep the law, himself... I didn't ask any further questions about that.
We also heard that there is going to be a discussion about homelessness in the City Council Chamber on February 20th.
They definitely agree that conditions are worse than at Tent City. More tents have caught fire, there are more drugs, more injuries, and several women have been raped. The "CEO"Homeless Pride, Steve, stated that NOPD doesn't make rounds under the bridge. Steve claims that he has to keep the law, himself... I didn't ask any further questions about that.
We also heard that there is going to be a discussion about homelessness in the City Council Chamber on February 20th.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Homeless Healthcare Resources
Thanks to Richard Brucker (TU med. school), we now have a complete list of healthcare resources for the homeless... read it below!! Feel free to print it out and distribute it to anyone who you think may benefit from this information. THANKS RICHARD!!!
... it seems that I am having trouble with formatting this table to my blog... so if you want the whole table, just e-mail me (dot.contiguglia@gmail.com), and I can forward you the whole document.... if anyone knows how to upload documents like this to a blog, PLEASE let me know.MEDICATION AID:
Wal-Mart offers over 360 prescription drugs at only $4 per 30-day supply. Please ask your doctor if the prescription is available through the
Wal-Mart $4 Prescription Program. If your prescription is for a name-brand medication, ask your doctor to recommend a generic alternative.
Target has a similar $4 Prescription Program too!
If you are homeless, the Ozanam Inn (843 Camp) will give you a voucher for most prescriptions so that you do not have to pay.
| NAME | ADDRESS | HOURS | PHONE | DESCRIPTION |
| Healthcare for the Homeless Program: Edna Pilsbury Health Clinic | | Monday-Friday | 504-658-2825 | Need to come with a letter from a homeless service provider * Physical exams, medical diagnosis, and treatment * Flu vaccines * Limited medications * referrals for x-rays * lab tests * Dental care * Mental health (appointment only) * Provides referrals for substance abuse treatment * For the homeless * FREE. |
| | 1803 Gravier St. ( | Mon, Wed, Fri: 10 am -1 pm | 504-273-5547 (extention 1) | General medical care * Prescriptions written * When available medicine dispensed * Psychiatry on Monday and Wednesday * Free * A homeless outreach center. |
| Fleur de Vie Clinic | (Covenant House) | 2nd and 4th Saturday each month 9am – 2pm (last patient seen at 1pm) | 504-988-3000 | This is a free clinic run by Tulane Medical Students. Every patient is seen by medical students and then by the doctor. Walk-in Medical Care * Mental Health Visits * Social Workers Available * Health Education * Prescriptions * Servicios en Español |
| | | Mon & Thurs: 8am – 7pm. Arrive at 7:45 AM Tues, Wed & Fri: 8 am – 5 pm | 504-988-3000 | Walk-in ok * $10 for walk in, $5 for appointment, FREE if unable to pay * each patient can be assigned a primary physician to lead their medical home team * on-site mental health counseling * behavioral health services * geriatrics care * reproductive health services. |
| Common Ground Health Clinic | (corner Socrates), Algers | Mon: 2-5 pm Tue: 9 am - 12 noon Wed: 10 am -3 pm Sat: 12-3 pm | 504-361-9800 | Walk-in health care * prescriptions * prescription assistance * counseling * herbal medicine * massage & body work * servicios en español * health education * HIV testing * physical therapy * vaccinations * free |
Odyssey House Health Clinic | | Mon, Wed, Friday 1 pm – 5 pm | 504-821-9211 | Offers free primary health care * vaccinations |
| Kingsley House (Medical Bus) | | Tues 9 am – 4 pm | 504-523-6221 | Basic Health Care * Vaccinations * New prescriptions only * Free * Walk-in OK * For Children Only |
| | | Mon – Fri: 8am – 5pm | 504-529-5558 | Comprehensive Primary Care * Eye Clinic * Cardiology (Heart) * ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) * Cancer Screening NOTE: They accept Medicaid and Medicare. Cancer screening programs, optometry (eye), and ENT programs are FREE to eligible patients. For primary care there is a $20 minimum for each visit. Eligible for up to 90% discount for services provided, based on income and family size. |
| St. Anna’s Medical Mission | | Wed: 4 – 6 pm | 504-947-2121 | HIV testing * blood pressure screenings * glucose screenings * basic office visit * FREE |
| LSU | (St. Anna’s) | Thurs: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm | 504-903-7307 | FREE DENTAL CLINIC * by appointment only * For those without access to dental care * Need referral from HIV Service Agencies or St. Anna’s Medical Mission. |
| NO AIDS | | Mon: 1:00 – 3:00 pm Tues: 4:30 – 7:30 pm Wed: 5:00 – 7:00 pm Thurs: 4:30 – 7:30 pm Fri: 1:00 – 3:00 pm Sat: 1:00 – 3:00 pm | 504-821-2601 | Free HIV testing and counseling * anonymous * get your results in less than an hour. For more locations call the statewide HIV/AIDS hotline toll free at (800)-99AIDS9 or (800)-992-4379. |
| Ozanam Inn | | Mon – Fri: Evenings Sat. 12 pm – 4 pm | 504-523-1184 | Weekdays - Free TB testing during the week for the homeless staying at Ozanam Inn. Must put in a bed request by 4:00 PM. Saturday – Basic office visit * for the homeless * run by LSU medical students * prescriptions given * free * TB tests given * Do not need to spend the night to see the doctor. |
| Luke's House | | Tues: 5:30 pm – 8 pm | 504-899-3431 x 14 | basic primary care for adults and children * pastoral counseling * mental health counseling * referrals * FREE * Childhood immunizations for low-income families |
Bad times
So, I've been visiting the I-10 folks over the past few days... things are NOT looking up. It's cold, people are losing their morale, as they have lost their spotlight now that they are removed from Duncan Park, and it seems that more people are walking around with fight and car accident-related injuries.
I found my friend, Dale again. Apparently he was one of the few lucky ones to get a hotel room through Unity for the Homeless when Duncan Park was shut down... but he, and some others, were soon kicked out of the hotel. I could not get a full story as to what happened ... Dale and his friends were heavily intoxicated ... but I would definitely like to know why people who were provided housing by Unity are now back on the streets.
And... another note about Unity's program... I am not criticizing them, as I have not worked with them... but I can only tell about what I am seeing on the street. Many folks who HAVE housing with Unity are ending up back under the bridge. They are complaining that they do not have jobs. ANOTHER chief complaint is that people who are coming in from outside of Louisiana are getting homes from Unity, while homeless New Orleanians are still stuck under I-10.
During my visit today, I encountered a couple of 18 year olds as well as a mother and child living under the bridge. The mother stated that her husband gets enough money during the day in order to get them a cheap motel room for the night, while they use whatever is left to buy food... but during the day, she has to stay under the bridge with her child (who I estimate to be about 2 years old).
In other news, the St. Joseph Rebuild Center (located on Tulane avenue), which provides showers, laundry, and legal services for the homeless, was broken into, last Thursday and Saturday. They had to close the center in order to "re-do" the locks, but are scheduled to re-open this Friday. The bridge inhabitants were definitely in an uproar about this and were very angry to hear that someone robbed the center.
I apologize for the poor quality of my writing... but it's hard to be creative with my English when I have so much studying to do. It's more important that I at least get this information out, when I can. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned... :)
I found my friend, Dale again. Apparently he was one of the few lucky ones to get a hotel room through Unity for the Homeless when Duncan Park was shut down... but he, and some others, were soon kicked out of the hotel. I could not get a full story as to what happened ... Dale and his friends were heavily intoxicated ... but I would definitely like to know why people who were provided housing by Unity are now back on the streets.
And... another note about Unity's program... I am not criticizing them, as I have not worked with them... but I can only tell about what I am seeing on the street. Many folks who HAVE housing with Unity are ending up back under the bridge. They are complaining that they do not have jobs. ANOTHER chief complaint is that people who are coming in from outside of Louisiana are getting homes from Unity, while homeless New Orleanians are still stuck under I-10.
During my visit today, I encountered a couple of 18 year olds as well as a mother and child living under the bridge. The mother stated that her husband gets enough money during the day in order to get them a cheap motel room for the night, while they use whatever is left to buy food... but during the day, she has to stay under the bridge with her child (who I estimate to be about 2 years old).
In other news, the St. Joseph Rebuild Center (located on Tulane avenue), which provides showers, laundry, and legal services for the homeless, was broken into, last Thursday and Saturday. They had to close the center in order to "re-do" the locks, but are scheduled to re-open this Friday. The bridge inhabitants were definitely in an uproar about this and were very angry to hear that someone robbed the center.
I apologize for the poor quality of my writing... but it's hard to be creative with my English when I have so much studying to do. It's more important that I at least get this information out, when I can. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned... :)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
oh.. the clothing drive...
Also, we held a winter clothing drive which was very successful. We had so much stuff, it was overflowing from our boxes... even two weeks into the drive we were STILL getting tons of goods. Some funny items included a frying pan and a camera... hey, you never know when you'll find a stove or some batteries lying in the street... but, it was ALL awesome.
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED AND HELPED TO DISTRIBUTE.
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED AND HELPED TO DISTRIBUTE.
Long time...
Hey everyone,
Thanks for reading the blog. Sorry that I haven't been updating. Medical school has been busy.. I had exams, then a two week course in Taiwan, now I'm catching up with school...
Anyways... let's get up to date with the homeless:
The Panel Discussion:
The discussion that we organized in December went well. Many homeless also from Tent City came out to the panel, which was held at Tulane Medical School. There was a lot of dialog between the homeless and the panel speakers (who represented Unity for the Homeless, the City of New Orleans, Homeless Pride, Tulane School of Social Work, and the Harry Thompson Center). It was great to see these speakers also talk amongst each other, as this was the first time that some of these organizations had been in the same room. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more solution-seeking. The discussion ended up becoming a list of complaints between the organizations, City Hall, and the homeless. Despite all of this, I (as well as my colleagues) were happy to see ANY civilized discussion come out of this meeting, at all.
The Eviction:
Despite the efforts of many activists in the city and our discussion panel involving City Hall, the homeless were evicted from Duncan Plaza on December 21. Alison (a medical student) and I managed to make our way out to Tent City right after our exam that day, in order to chat with the folks who were moving out. There was a whole mess of reporters, abandoned belongings, shredded tents, and homeless carting and backpacking their stuff away. I approached several people and asked them where they were going. Everyone replied that they were heading for the I-10 bridge on Claibourne Ave. and Canal St. In the preceding week however, many were lucky to receive housing through an effort by Unity for the Homeless to house as many people as they could before the eviction (I do not have a number, yet... but I'll find one).
The Present:
Today, I went out to the I-10 bridge. This has got to be the worst weather New Orleans has had in a long time. Not only is it cold and rainy, we also have gale-force winds in some areas of the city, and the bridge which normally is very windy, is one of those spots. The population has skyrocketed (again, no numbers, yet). So many people are under the bridge that others have had to stake out tents under the lanes that feed from Claiborne on the ground to I-10 above. They however, are the lucky ones because there is soil under those feeder lanes in which they can use stakes for their tents. The folks that are directly under the bridge are on top of concrete so their tents are essentially unattached to the ground and are at risk of blowing away even on normal days. I don't know who, but someone was nice enough to donate some port-a-potties and maintains them, too... just as long as the homeless keep them in reasonable condition. Of course there are some who abuse them but there are also others who go out of their way to keep things nice.
One such individual, who I will call Dan in order to protect his identity, lives under one of the feeder lanes next to a parking lot which faces a bar called Handsome Willy's, which is popular with medical students. He tries to keep the area clean by picking up garbage when he is provided with trash bags. Dan is aware that Handsome Willy's rents out the parking lot and is losing money due to people's distaste with parking so close to a homeless camp. He asked me for more garbage bags and cleaning products so that he and another lady could keep the latrines cleaned, as well.
Next to Dan's tent was a massive pile of burnt belongings. He explained that the two inhabitants got into a fight and somehow, their tent caught on fire during the altercation. Luckily, no one was hurt... and according to Dan, the couple is back together.
We walked together to the median under the bridge where Homeless Pride set up another sign (they had one displayed at Tent City). Unfortunately, the president and CEO were not present, and I could not chat with them. Everyone who WAS there was definitely in a bad mood or curled up in a tent due to the weather. There were some familiar faces from Tent City, as well as some new ones. I was chatting with one Duncan Plaza refugee and asked about Unity's housing program. His complaint was that individuals without ID's could not be eligible (many homeless do NOT have ID's), and that people from out of state were getting housing (at the loss of local New Orleanians who were still waiting for housing).
With all of these observations, there is no doubt that the City Government's action has NOT improved the situation for the homeless at all. It did however, clean up the mess in front of City Hall just in time for Mardi Gras. I just don't know what the tourists will think of New Orleans when they start rolling in from all over the nation and come right off of the interstate to see several hundred homeless living like animals. Good Job New Orleans.
MORE NEWS COMING SOON!!
Thanks for reading the blog. Sorry that I haven't been updating. Medical school has been busy.. I had exams, then a two week course in Taiwan, now I'm catching up with school...
Anyways... let's get up to date with the homeless:
The Panel Discussion:
The discussion that we organized in December went well. Many homeless also from Tent City came out to the panel, which was held at Tulane Medical School. There was a lot of dialog between the homeless and the panel speakers (who represented Unity for the Homeless, the City of New Orleans, Homeless Pride, Tulane School of Social Work, and the Harry Thompson Center). It was great to see these speakers also talk amongst each other, as this was the first time that some of these organizations had been in the same room. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more solution-seeking. The discussion ended up becoming a list of complaints between the organizations, City Hall, and the homeless. Despite all of this, I (as well as my colleagues) were happy to see ANY civilized discussion come out of this meeting, at all.
The Eviction:
Despite the efforts of many activists in the city and our discussion panel involving City Hall, the homeless were evicted from Duncan Plaza on December 21. Alison (a medical student) and I managed to make our way out to Tent City right after our exam that day, in order to chat with the folks who were moving out. There was a whole mess of reporters, abandoned belongings, shredded tents, and homeless carting and backpacking their stuff away. I approached several people and asked them where they were going. Everyone replied that they were heading for the I-10 bridge on Claibourne Ave. and Canal St. In the preceding week however, many were lucky to receive housing through an effort by Unity for the Homeless to house as many people as they could before the eviction (I do not have a number, yet... but I'll find one).
The Present:
Today, I went out to the I-10 bridge. This has got to be the worst weather New Orleans has had in a long time. Not only is it cold and rainy, we also have gale-force winds in some areas of the city, and the bridge which normally is very windy, is one of those spots. The population has skyrocketed (again, no numbers, yet). So many people are under the bridge that others have had to stake out tents under the lanes that feed from Claiborne on the ground to I-10 above. They however, are the lucky ones because there is soil under those feeder lanes in which they can use stakes for their tents. The folks that are directly under the bridge are on top of concrete so their tents are essentially unattached to the ground and are at risk of blowing away even on normal days. I don't know who, but someone was nice enough to donate some port-a-potties and maintains them, too... just as long as the homeless keep them in reasonable condition. Of course there are some who abuse them but there are also others who go out of their way to keep things nice.
One such individual, who I will call Dan in order to protect his identity, lives under one of the feeder lanes next to a parking lot which faces a bar called Handsome Willy's, which is popular with medical students. He tries to keep the area clean by picking up garbage when he is provided with trash bags. Dan is aware that Handsome Willy's rents out the parking lot and is losing money due to people's distaste with parking so close to a homeless camp. He asked me for more garbage bags and cleaning products so that he and another lady could keep the latrines cleaned, as well.
Next to Dan's tent was a massive pile of burnt belongings. He explained that the two inhabitants got into a fight and somehow, their tent caught on fire during the altercation. Luckily, no one was hurt... and according to Dan, the couple is back together.
We walked together to the median under the bridge where Homeless Pride set up another sign (they had one displayed at Tent City). Unfortunately, the president and CEO were not present, and I could not chat with them. Everyone who WAS there was definitely in a bad mood or curled up in a tent due to the weather. There were some familiar faces from Tent City, as well as some new ones. I was chatting with one Duncan Plaza refugee and asked about Unity's housing program. His complaint was that individuals without ID's could not be eligible (many homeless do NOT have ID's), and that people from out of state were getting housing (at the loss of local New Orleanians who were still waiting for housing).
With all of these observations, there is no doubt that the City Government's action has NOT improved the situation for the homeless at all. It did however, clean up the mess in front of City Hall just in time for Mardi Gras. I just don't know what the tourists will think of New Orleans when they start rolling in from all over the nation and come right off of the interstate to see several hundred homeless living like animals. Good Job New Orleans.
MORE NEWS COMING SOON!!
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