PARC Group Offers Temporary Shelter for Those in Need
Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel
We don’t always agree with Humboldt County activist and advocate Verbena, her point of view, or her more oft than not controversial methods for initiating change. Sometimes
we do agree, however. This is one of those times.
Her heart is in the right place on this one– and we would like
to show her some love and bring this grassroots message to
the forefront of your awareness.
The following is her post from the Humboldt Herald:
EMERGENCY- Freezing Weather and People with No Shelter
Cold weather, especially over an extended period of time, takes a heavy toll on the health and well-being of the most vulnerable members in our community.
Recently, a small household in Eureka, made its garage available as a safe sleeping space for people with no shelter. The household and a group of friends (many PEOPLE PROJECT folks) organized the space in response to the dangerous weather and police conditions on the street.
It was actually quite simple. Prior to opening the safe sleeping
space, we discussed how we thought it would work best. One of the
things decided beforehand was that we would make the space available
for 11 nights (December 21-31), and we would be explicit about that time
frame so that people sleeping there could depend on a stable schedule.
At this time, opening your home or some covered space is imperative. We were so grateful for the garage, and all went well.
Being only a temporary situation, we are reaching out to you, asking you to open your garage, yard, or big room for whatever time you decide is possible. We imagine a rotating emergency sleeping space. We have found that when a community cooperates and shares in the protection of its most vulnerable members, the result is a vital sense of security experienced by all.
The people who recently shared their garage and those of us who supported
and helped coordinate that emergency shelter space are available to talk
with you about our experiences. We are eager to assist you in many ways
if you are able to open up a sleeping space.
Ways we can assist you include:
Collecting floor padding, blankets, sleepware, and other necessary warm things (the garage just used had a cement floor);- Driving folks who need a ride to and from the space;
- And being present in the sleeping space overnight.
The volunteer-run PARC (Peoples’ Action for Rights and Community) in Old Town, Eureka, fully supports the creation of temporary or permanent dignified community sleeping spaces. PARC is available for any set-up you may provide, as a phone contact, a donation drop-off, and a dedicated resource for people offering or utilizing a safe shelter.
People can and do freeze to death in cold or wet or windy weather. Here
we have all three at once. And the police continue to harass people and
ruin their gear in the rain and cold.
Please call and/or email if you want to talk about opening a space up yourself. It is freezing at night, and we can make a way through these hard times together.
Please Call PARC: (707) 442-7465
The following are the guidelines that were posted on the inside of the garage. You may have some different ideas for your place. We believe that emphasizing honor, dignity, and relationship makes for a truly “safe space.”
–WELCOME–
T
his is a hate-free space. That means…
NO racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.
* please no physical or verbal violence
* smaller room is for women only
* bigger room is for allTo protect this safe sleeping space…
- no drinking alcohol or doing drugs (including pot) here
- use lights, not candles
- every night, come through front house door when you first arrive;
then use the front gate to go in/out.
- use bathroom in the house (walk in back door, then to right)
- quiet after 9pm, and during cigarette breaksYou are welcome to sleep here…
- every night through the night of Dec 31st.
- Please come in no earlier than 6 pm and no later than 10:30 pm
-mornings, out by 9 am pleasePlease do not leave your belongings here,
as no-one is here to protect them.Please communicate theses guide-lines with newcomers.
If you need anything, please feel free to ask.
Thank you.
(Images by the Humboldt Sentinel. Posted by Skippy Massey)
Skippy,
I had heard the Humboldt Sentinel left with Charles. Glad to see you still here.
I don’t always agree with Verbena either, but I know her heart is always in the right place.
Thanks, Janelle.
Verbena and others’ effort is on a grassroots community level, staffed by volunteers, and operating on a budget of zero. It’s morally the right thing to do at the most basic level. People taking care of people.
Even if shelter is provided to only one individual, it’s one individual less sheltered from the freezing and wet weather outside. As we know, people without homes in our community have died from exposure. PARC is helping do something about that and going about it in the best they can given their resources.