PHOTO/PAUL GARNER
HOUSTON, TX — First came the ordinance that restricted feeding the homeless. On April 12 this year, Houston passed a ban on panhandling and tents. On the outskirts of downtown, under state highway 59, the homeless have gathered with tents and sleeping bags and built their own city. But the Houston City Council passed an ordinance that gave occupants 30 days to take down their tents. The city said the panhandling at medians throughout the city must stop immediately!
Below are some of the comments from residents in Houston’s tent city as the city threatens to dismantle the encampment and limit the possessions of its residents.
The People’s Tribune asked: What do you think about the tent ban?
Mama Love: This is BS! There’s such a thing as squatter’s rights! And I grew up with this Mayor in Acres Homes! I have been waiting for a voucher from the city for two years! The city doesn’t offer anything!
T: I’m from Louisiana and it’s the same way there. They don’t care about us! They just want to make sure that they take away all our dignity. It’s OK if we sleep on the ground and get dirty, have to deal with the wind, exposed to the elements, then we can stay, just no tents.
Sharon Cousins: Mayor Sylvester is an asshole! I can get a job? Without a house, what am I supposed to do with my clothes, how do I take a bath? They want to take our tents, we can’t have grills and all our belongings have to fit in a three by three foot area! They don’t tell us where to go!
William: They are only moving the tents. . . We can still sleep out here from 11 p. m to 7 a.m. We are also on the housing list . . . but they shut down the vouchers.
Betty Thorton: I been out here since 1982 and the homeless situation is getting worse! They are not trying to fix anything! They’re just trying to push us further out of the city limits! These so-called shelters only give you 90 days and then you’re out. Out on the streets to get robbed, raped, beat up!
The technology today makes things possible that were unimaginable 20 years ago. It’s not enough that the banks have in their possession more vacant houses than there are homeless . . . We have the technology to build a home with a 3-D printer! Many of us view homelessness as a personal weakness rather than seeing that this is a failed economic system that can provide everything we need . . . if we can buy it! If technology is rapidly making workers obsolete, then we can only conclude that there will be an explosive growth in homelessness as the capitalists turn their backs on the working class. Or we will unite our class to free the bloated banks and warehouses of their vacant homes, food, medical supplies, water and all necessaries of life and distribute them freely, according to need, and end this crisis of plenty forever!
It all starts with our unity.
I agree with the homeless. Don’t try and push them out, but offer more opportunities for them to get help. Some of it could be their fault that they got this way, but there’s nothing they can do about it now. I can see why the tents are a problem, but they aren’t as lucky as some of us. They don’t get the privilege to bathe, to eat three meals a day. They’re left to beg on the streets while across the road are people living in their big fancy houses, wasting space and using their devices 24/7. If you don’t want them to be a problem, don’t MAKE it a problem.
Without stereotyping, I think mental illness plays a big roll in the majority of long term homeless residents. The sad thing is, you have to pose an immediate threat to yourself or someone else’s life to receive assistance.
From a pro-active stand point.. They should do mental health evaluations on these camps. The people not mentally capable of holding employment or residence should be eligible for some sort of treatment and assistance. I think too often these people are written off as drug addicts and criminals. If you have a serious mental condition, BUT are not violent or suicidal, and do not have the support of family or friends.. Ultimately this is where you might end up.
I am still homeless. even though SEARCH assisted me with being granted Housing. It ‘s one thing after another at the apts. where my housing is . the a.c, then thermostsat, then bed bugs, then 3 burglaries in less than one month. I went inside and removed the burglar who was sqautting in my apt. I took videos, etc… and showed HPD, and they still let the offender go. I have everything on video, etc….. And my SEARCH case managers have all proven to be i9ncompetent. I am continously having to educate them. Defaets the purpose of having SEARCH to assist me. And then when I call them out on it they retaliate and ban me from there properties, and I’m a client. The truth is that there really not trying to help anyone other than going throught the motions, so that they can pick up a check.