New Photos from Brian Young

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



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More Tent City Photos

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

Tent City: Day 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.