Street Sights

New Photos from Brian Young

2009-05-05T13:47:00.004-05:00

Here are some recent photos taken by staff photographer Brian Young:

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More Tent City Photos

2009-02-07T16:45:00.010-05:00

Here are some more photos from the Tent City, taken by Street Sights photographer Brian Young:

Tent City: Day 6

2009-01-30T15:49:00.001-05:00

Thursday, January 29

Morning- all’s well. People in the crowded tent pile out – no serious damage done by the wind.
Rep from WPRO- John DePetro
Discussion of misquote in ProJo- about the Mathewson St. Hypothermia shelter being shut down by an advocate, and about trying to get Barbara sustainable housing
3:00 Living Waters Church comes, offers us a Porto-John
3:10 Documentary people
3:30 Church brings a hot dinner
4:30 We get a Porto-John!
8:30 Barbara, Roland, Megan do outreach – finds new bedrolls but no people
8:45 David Cicilline stops by – asks if we need anything – of course!

Tent City: Day 5

2009-01-30T15:47:00.001-05:00

Wednesday, January 28

Morning- all quiet. We find donations that had been dropped off overnight.
11:00 Homeless Memorial – (almost) everyone goes there
All day- donations are brought by so many people – tents, tables, chairs, food, lanterns, clothes…
Weather is gross- cardboard goes under the tents to keep them dry
7:00 We eat dinner- left over from St. John’s and heated over donated sternos- chicken and rice. We drink coffee reheated in a donated teapot
9:00 Winston stops by, confirms one person we were looking for is safe; agrees to drop off anyone he finds out [weather: very windy]
1 (am) One tent blows over – everyone is safely relocated to the big tent, and everyone passes the night safely

Population: 17

Tent City: Day 4

2009-01-30T15:45:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, January 27

Morning- cold, but everyone wake up warm to positive attitudes – no word of more deaths out in the streets of Providence, no thanks to the Mayor or Governor
Media coverage continues…
Daytime- Ernie guards the city- all things quiet. Has a full time job taking in donations- thanks to all who donated!
7:00 Channel 12 and the BDH come
10:25 We hang banners labeling Hope City
10:30 3 residents outreach, and bring one more person in
12:00 The Midnight Cry brings one more person in

As far as we know and hope, no one in RI died in the streets on account of homelessness.

Population: 12

Tent City: Day 3

2009-01-30T15:43:00.000-05:00

Monday, January 26

7:30 Mike stops by with a donation of blankets and clothes
9:30 Amy from Street Sights brings coffee ☺
10:00 John goes to the Coalition, gets input on media matters from Karen Jeffreys
1:00 Lay out our demands for the city and state
3:00 Bicycle police stop by – say they’re sorry that this has to happen, encourages us to call if we need anything
4:00 ProJo stops by – talks to Barbara and Ernie (while the gang’s at St. Pat’s)
4:30 Janice at St. Pats asks everyone to support the tent city; drops food off
8:00 Ernie’s friend brings a donation of blankets, lanterns, etc
8:20 John and Megan do outreach

Population 9: John, Darlene, Steve, Jeff, Schiz, Psycho, Ernie, Barbara, Roland, Z.

Plan for Wednesday night’s snow: if things get bad, go to RIH emergency room.

Tent City: Day 2

2009-01-30T15:40:00.001-05:00

Sunday, January 25

11:30 ProJo stops by with camera – talks to John, Megan, Jeff, etc
4:00 Delegates go to Praise Tabernacle – Hope for the Homeless reiterates its support
9:30 Catherine Rhodes and Bruce and George stop by to see if anyone wants to come in (no one does)
10:00 Providence Police officer stops by to make sure everyone is okay – tells us to call 911 if we ever need help

Population 8: John, Megan, Steve, Z., Jeff, Schiz, Psycho, Ernie

Tent City Photos

2009-01-28T13:29:00.008-05:00

Here are some more photos of the Tent City that were taken on January 27. These photos were taken by Street Sights photographer Brian Young, who will continue to document the happenings at the Tent City as time goes on.

Tent City: First Report

2009-01-25T20:49:00.007-05:00

Members of the Homeless People's Action Committee have organized a tent city under the Crawford Street bridge in Providence, and Street Sights is documenting the daily actions there. To read what the Providence Journal wrote about the tent city, click here.

Street Sights will be reporting daily on what goes on under the Crawford Street Bridge. Here is Saturday's report:

1/24/08

4:00 Transported donated blankets and tents from Mathewson to Crawford Street Bridge. Set up a large tent (ten person), a 4 person tent, and a two person tent. Judy, John, Jeff, Steve, Boots, and Megan help set up.

4 Reporter Tatiana, of the Projo, comes by, talks to almost everyone present

7:40 Ratty dinner!

7 Cathy and her husband from Midnight Cry come by with coffee and donuts

7:30 Elizabeth from Street Sights comes by with much appreciated coffee and donuts

10:00 Outreach throughout the city. Two (Schiz and Psycho) come in. Ernie refuses. No other folks seen in city--bedrolls but no people

11:15 John, Jeff, Steve, Megan turn in the big tent; Schiz and Psycho in the four- man

Overnight low of 9 degrees, wind chill below 0 degrees
Morning clear and cold -- plenty of donuts and iced coffee left

Planning our next moves -- more tents, banners, updating the media, blogging on Street Sights, getting more people, lest we forget Paul Langlais (who died beneath the bridge). His memory should give us strength to fight on.

The police drive by again.

Seminar on Homelessness in Rhode Island

2007-10-21T23:38:00.000-05:00

On October 10, 2007, a seminar and panel discussion was presented on the Brown University Campus about homelessness in Rhode Island. Below you will find a link to photos of the event graciously provided by David St. Germain, one of the speakers at the seminar.

See photos from the panel discussion

48 People Still Displaced

2007-03-22T19:49:00.001-05:00

Mattresses and the State House
Originally uploaded by streetsights.

Today, forty-eight mattresses were placed on the State House lawn to symbolize the forty-eight individuals from the former Welcome Arnold shelter who still have no safe place to call home. Advocates held signs to alert both the governor and the public of this continuing crisis.

Welcome Arnold Occupation

2007-03-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Doc being interviewed
Originally uploaded by streetsights.

Wednesday night was supposed to be the last night anyone stayed at the Welcome Arnold shelter. However, that facility will have to house a few people for at least one more night. Homeless individuals, advocates, and students refused to leave the shelter when it closed this morning. These protesters' message was clear: keep Welcome Arnold open until every person has a place to go. News crews gathered to cover the event.

Welcome Arnold Rally

2007-03-14T16:00:00.002-05:00

Lining up to march
Originally uploaded by streetsights.

Today, March 14th 2007, residents of Welcome Arnold, students, advocates, and concerned citizens convened at the Rhode Island State House to urge Governor Carcieri to keep his promise to house the residents of the Welcome Arnold shelter.
At least 48 individuals do not have any place to go tomorrow night when the shelter is expected to close. Rally participants set up a tent city on the State House lawn, then marched inside to the Governor's office, holding a banner quoting the Governor's promise to relocate all the individuals who use the Welcome Arnold facility.
Noreen Shawcross, the Executive Director of the Office of Homelessness, took questions and comments from rally participants. While recognizing the concern for those individuals without placement in programs, Shawcross was ultimately unable to ensure people a place to stay. With the closing still scheduled for tomorrow, it is doubtful that those 48 individuals will find accomodations.

Welcome Arnold Press Conference

2007-03-13T17:05:00.000-05:00

In response to the impending closing of the Welcome Arnold shelter on Thursday, March 15th, the RI Coalition for the Homeless and allies sponsored a press conference at the Rhode Island State House. Among those voicing concerns were Jim Ryczek (Executive Director of the RI Coalition for the Homeless), David St. Germain (Chairperson of the Homeless Input Committee), and Eric Hirsch (professor of sociology at Providence College). The request of these concerned individuals was simple: keep the Welcome Arnold shelter open until every individual has a place to live. In June of 2006, the governor of Rhode Island pledged to do just that, and the Coalition is aiming to remind the governor of that promise. Upon closing this Thursday, it is estimated that up to fifty individuals will not have any place to go, adding stress to an already stressed population of homeless individuals and service providers. As these providers and individuals search for accommodations (which were promised by the governor), the Coalition asks that the shelter stay open. A rally is planned for tomorrow in support of this cause. For more information, please visit Street Sights' main page (link on right).