During some down time between meetings yesterday, I asked folks to tell me what they didn’t like about staying in shelter and why a tent in the cold is better. Here is what they had to say . . .
WHAT IS WRONG WITH SHELTER
– It’s dirty.
– They make you keep a strict schedule that people can’t always meet – a missed bus means no shelter.
– It’s run like a “Nazi Camp”.
– It’s like being in jail – they only let you outside to smoke a certain times in the men’s shelter.
– You can’t leave once you get there.
– The curfew (can’t do social things)
– They kick you out early in the morning (7am men, 8am women)
– It’s noisy – hard to sleep
– It’s chaotic in the shelter
– Bad attitudes of the staff
– Bad attitudes of the other people there
– Its a small area with lots of people and that just causes issues
– The restrooms and showers are not clean
– There are not enough towels for people to take showers (and if you bring your own they often take it)
– Your stuff is not safe, it gets stolen
– It’s not physically safe there – sometimes from the staff as well
– People staying there are sick and everyone gets sick
– There are lots of fights in the shelter
– Some people are banned and the bans are inconsistent and unfair
– The sheets are not clean (only washed once or twice a week), the men have to use sheets slept in by others
– There are just too many people
– Even if you have a locker they clean them out once a week (women)
– The women have to move heavy beds and its hazardous
– Laundry machines are often broken
– There is no complaint process
– They don’t follow their own rules consistently
– Bed bugs
– Preston is god
– There is a feeling of being physically threatened by Preston and others
– At the women’s shelter there are lots of screaming kids during the meals.
WHAT IS BETTER ABOUT A TENT
– You get to keep all your things with you.
– It’s peaceful
– Sense of community
– You can control the temperature (its often hot in the shelters)
– Its more pleasant
– Freedom – you can work til 3 am and not get kicked out of the shelter at 7 am
– You can sleep in
– You can eat or sleep whenever you want
– You can access all your belongings 24/7
– They trust the people they are with
– No stealing
– They have food
– They can sleep (not noisy)
– Dignity
– They can use a stick as a cane, in the shelter it is considered a weapon
– You can make your own schedule
– People in the community interact and support them, they are not alone
Their words, not mine. Just relaying the message for all those who ask . . .
So what’s your opinion about these complaints? Some commentary and your insights might be useful.
Well, given the repeated pattern of these complaints from so many individuals, I tend to think they have merit. We have been advocating for a 3rd party complaint system for years, because these have been complaints for years – consistently. Primarily in the men’s shelter. But it has been met with vehement opposition. Without that, we will never really know. But, I personally believe the complaints. I don’t think you should have to get sick to get shelter. Sounds like they need some better cleaning practices and the rules need to be enforced consistently and without so much anomosity. I’m concerned about people nto being able to get much sleep, everyone I know is just so tired. And jfc, wash the sheets between users!
Thanks!
Do you have access to someone at the Shelters who might respond to the complaints? One needs to hear their side of the Story too even if informally.
Maybe someone’s reading this from Porchlight and might post a comment.
The standard response is nothing to see here, we stand by our staff.
Get someone to do a sting with a phone camera! That’d help drive home your message. And force some change.
Problem right now is credibility.
PS.
Can you do a similar post about the reasons that people have gotten barred from shelters? Banning has been mentioned several times and it’d be interesting to explore that aspect more.
This article is dead on. I will not be attempting to sleep in a shelter ever again. I tried it once and found the check-in process strict and humiliating (not to mention dirty). They patted me down and went through my bag for 5 minutes, searching every little crevice. I suppose it’s necessary but it still doesn’t stop the fights inside. They found my weed and handed it over to the processor.
It’s also funny that shelters are so strict and uptight about the homeless people who want to sleep in them but not at all about how CLEAN the place is. Lice, bedbugs, and filth everywhere.
The worst part was when I met the processor: a former meth addict (he was half toothless) who self righteously told me that “drugs aren’t allowed” and then proceeded, in front of me, to call his supervisor for directions on what to do with the weed and SHE said loudly over the phone, “oh, we’ll keep it for later!” He laughed and that’s when I decided to leave and spend the night wandering around.