Monthly Archives: June 2009

Camp cleanup, homeless needs, Greenway vs. the homeless

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Michele (CM)| 4 Comments

On Saturday, June 27, 2009, my ministry partner, Audrie Keen and I, along with our friends Lavaughn and Lee, participated in an Americorps homeless camp cleanup. The camp we cleaned was one of several in an area that lies in the path of Greensboro’s Downtown Greenway. I recently learned, through an email from an Action Greensboro intern, that the greenway will “displace those living in this area.” Meaning that, if all goes according to plan, our homeless friends will soon be even homeless-er. Hmmm… Guess we need another plan then, don’t we?

There are about 15 men living in that area, and two women.  Meet some of the homeless people we saw today: Cotton, Keith, Mark, Manuel, Yeung.

» View a list of items they currently need, and donate if you’re able.

Here a few pictures from the cleanup:

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Posted in Downtown Greenway, StreetWatch

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Homeless in the path of the greenway: Yong

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Michele (CM)| Leave a comment

Via email, from Action Greensboro:

“… As you may know, Action Greensboro is spearheading a public/private partnership to create a Downtown Greenway…

Construction… will displace those living in this area…”

Yeung

Yeung

This is Yong. She is homeless and lives outside, in a tent in the woods in downtown Greensboro, in the path of the proposed greenway.

I asked Yong where she would live if she didn’t live there. She said:

“I really don’t know. Birds have a place to sleep. Why don’t we?”

But, as if realizing the weight of her words and wanting to lighten their burden, the smiling, peaceful Yong continued on, sharing with us her perspective on living homeless:

“…You don’t have to look like you’re homeless. You don’t have to feel like you’re homeless. Stay clean. Keep your chin up. Keep on trucking! …It may take months or years but keep your confidence. Somebody will come along and give you a chance. There is a hope…”

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Posted in Downtown Greenway

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Homeless in the path of the greenway: Keith

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Michele (CM)| 2 Comments

Via email, from Action Greensboro:

“… As you may know, Action Greensboro is spearheading a public/private partnership to create a Downtown Greenway…

Construction… will displace those living in this area…”

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Keith

This is Keith. He is homeless and lives outside in a wooded camp in downtown Greensboro in the path of the proposed greenway.

Keith needs surgery for a heniated disk.  He walks with a cane.  The pain is so bad that he can’t make it up to Greensboro Urban Ministry every day to eat.  So he goes every other day or so.  He hopes to someday have the surgery he needs to fix his back and stop his pain.  He saw a surgeon in Greensboro once, but when the doctor learned that he lived outside, his attitude toward Keith changed abruptly.  So Keith waits, and hopes, for another doctor and another chance.

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Posted in Downtown Greenway

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