Back in June, I got a call from GPD about a homeless camp that needed to be cleaned up. A team of us went out and cleaned it. See the results here. Then, a few weeks ago, I got a call from a City staffer who told me that neighbors had complained to the health department and that they were probably going to send someone to clean everything out of the camp. They wanted to know if we could talk to the folks who lived there and let them know they had to leave. But the camp’s “permanent” resident has been in jail for a while, and I haven’t seen the other guy who stays there, so I wasn’t able to talk to either of them.
I went by the site of the camp today and found… nothing but woods. The tent was gone, and the mattress, and all of the multitude of stuff. The ground even looked as if it had been swept clean. It was quiet and peaceful in the woods. But empty. Another homeless camp gone. My friend had lived there for eight years. Wonder where he’ll go when he gets out of jail?
I know places they can hide.
Moving blog, Michele…You know, even if it was but for only a few weeks it was nice..it was cleaned up and it was even cozy and there was even a tomato plant (remember?)..Remember how they helped us clean and cried that we were not preaching on how they should live but that they were just feeling loved? That is my memory of that beautful campsight.
I think that what we did that day had a big impact on them and they’ll remember that we were there because we love them. The camp is gone, the love remains. We’ll find our friend when he gets out. Maybe he’ll be ready to do the next thing.