Someone Must Help

This image in the St. Pete Times really got to me. Two homeless people living in the tent city( forced down by the City Code Enforcement people) are eating donated pizza by flashlight. The kindness of a stranger who brought by several boxes of pizza to help humans just like everyone else affected me emotionally. I know there are many others like him out there.

As a photographer I think this image is strong. It also shows why the city of St. Pete should not of been so cold hearted in closing it down.

The reasons are obvious:

1) SECURITY: It's tough on the streets and the safety in numbers was a big help to many of the homeless people who were women. Meet Ann Rozelle. Rozelle's boyfriend was the last man to hit  her. That was on Christmas Eve, after beer turned to whiskey turned to vodka, and she says he took off his belt and whipped her in the face with its buckle.

She was in the tent city. It was safe until she could get her life back together. Her story was like many women who fall in love and are abused by men. Many of them are frightened and unable really to move on. Their desperation becomes a viscous cycle.

David Heath and Jeffery Schultz who were residents of the tent city were both killed by what the police believe were 3 teenagers mugging and killing for money. I believe they were only looking for a vulnerable victim. What money! They were homeless they ain't got no money!!! What we know is that both victims have had a lifetime struggle with mental illness and substance abuse. They used to say in the '80S that Ronald Reagan was the cause of homelessness, we know it is much deeper than that. That's my next reason.

2) DIRECTION TO SOCIAL SERVICES

Many people on the streets have no clue as to where to go or how to obtain any kind of help. If they are all together we can begin to access each case and now maybe their needs can be identified and they can get real help.

3) FOOD AND MEDICAL CARE: Like the anonymous stranger who dropped off the pizza, they can get food and much needed medical care. I know you are asking were is all of this money going to come from. People have to donate if the government won't.

I started my own charity. You can find it on the left sidebar of this blog. It is trying to raise money for the Metropolitan Ministries to provide food and toys for children next Xmas. So far I have 2 donors for a total of $35. My goal is to raise $1,000. I hope to do it. Than next year if I am successful, raise $100,000 then maybe some real shelter and hope can start to be provided. Hell, the way the cab business is going...I might need the help myself.

Comments

[larry]

Good post. Where did you get such a idea for this post. This is for Mark, you sir should take a week off from your job, unless you don't work. Walk out your door taking only your ID, stay on the "streets" for a week, now remember you have no money. Where are you going to sleep and eat. Don't forget to look behind you in case you are being followed by some young teens wanting to beat the hell out of you for no good reason. If you make it a week, which I doubt, I wonder if you will feeling any different. Oh yeah than invite 3 homeless people into your home. Do you get your lawn work done by one of those high priced companies, why not go to Williams Park and "hire" some homeless men or women to do the work for you. dI think you are the type of person who says I don't want your type of people in my town. Instead of sweeping the problem under your rug, do something to help. Not money but SUPPORT.

[Mark Twinam]

Thank God for a mayor with common sense. He realizes that if you make to good a deal for the homeless in St Pete, then they will come from clearwater and Tampa. When the word gets out how nice the people of St Pete are then we will get the people from Miami and Orlando. After we get them all fixed up with a free place to sleep and eat we can expect the homeless from Atlanta and eventually we could feed the worlds homeless.

My Idea is for all the do gooders to take at least 3 homless people home with them. Out of 900 thousand Pinellas residents if only about 1500 do gooders would take 3 homeless to their house the problem would be solved without taking tax money from the workers and giving it to non workers(homeless drug addicts)

[Jerry Moores]

Tim - Great cause! This is everywhere and most people look the other way and act disgusted. A few bad breaks and many more of us would be homeless! I applaud your efforts!

Jerry in Tampa