It's really hard to explain the feeling of powerlessness I felt today. But I guarantee my feelings don't even compare to the feelings of desperation our friends had while police were evicting them from their tents today.
Those of you who have been with me for a bit have heard me say this before, so it's not new. Every now and then I will run into a homeless person that is so interesting to talk to, I could spend days just listening to them. Eli is one of them.
I met Eli about a week ago in a tent city in Sacramento, California. I also met Robert and shared his powerful video about not having any place to go, and Jordan, 19 years-old going to college and living homeless, and a few others you will meet soon.
Eli had his own business doing building remodeling and was an associate minister at a church for over 20 years. Because of the economy he lost everything, and when he shares about losing his books and jazz records, I can feel his pain. I hope you can, too!
"When we had jobs we were important. When we had homes we were important. When we had cars we were important. When we had bank accounts we were important" ~ Eli
Trust me, Eli's interview is very powerful. Please watch it in its entirety. Near the end, when Eli talks about rest being his 3rd wish, and that police keep threatening the campers with arrests, know that Eli stood up for what he believes and went to jail today.
Eli ends the interview with an emotional remembrance of the American Dream and what it would be like if he had a home.
Special thanks to Safe Ground
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It is my understanding that each of the Sacramento shelters for adults, VOA, The Salvation Army and the Winter shelter have a waiting list of 30 to 60 days.
Every person in tent city should be on the waiting list of each shelter.
That means every person in tent city has been there for no more than 30 to 60 days.
So why are there so many people in tent city for an extended period of time?
V. Stark
Sacramento Emergency Shelters 2012
http://onefatherslove.com/Sacramentoemergencyshelters.aspx
And if this is not enough, having thier dignity stripped away day in and day out by police too - this is just too much.
When police say, 'move along' and these people say 'where?' what do the police and other officials say? A little free advice isn't too much for these people to ask is it?