I have met JTinDC again tonight and handed over the laptop donated by Gordon20024 as well as the rest of total amount of 260.00 dollars we collected.
.
JTinDC told me to tell you that he is very grateful and that he will try to write a diary as soon as he is able to reach a public library.
For the time being JTinDC has no housing and sleeps on the streets. He hopes that this will change by the end of the month. Though it is getting colder at nights, he prefers still to stay out of a shelter.
Why do you think he prefers to stay away from a shelter as long as he can survive sleeping outside exposed to the elements ?
I would suggest to discuss this here. What do you have to share with those of us, who have never been homeless or in need of a shelter, about the conditions of shelter life for a homeless person?
I hope that JTinDC one day will write about his experiences. It's what he wants to do, he told me.
It's rather in your face simple, so much so I wonder why I write it out at all:
What any homeless person needs is a safe single private room, he can sleep in, without having to fear that his belongings get stolen or he himself being physically harmed or attacked. In addition many homeless should not stay isolated alone, but near the facilities that offer them emotional and therapeutic support and daily meals.
As far as I have understood, shelters offer no safe single rooms. They look more like this:
or this:
The shelters are not always close to the place, where the homeless person has to go for therapy and meals.
Transport from one point to the other might be an issue. I also would like to get feedback or research about how difficult it is for a homeless person to find a place to shower. Or find a place to sit that offers wifi internet for free or simply the usage of a restroom.
Starbucks is not an always an option, because you have to buy a coffee which is often too expensive and dependent on how "nice" the store manager is. There is always the chance to be rejected and not being allowed to come in.
Here Colbert King wonders Why does DC have so many homeless people? and these are Washington DC's homeless numbers. Not so cool, heh?
I add here a list of shelters in Washington DC for men:
SURSUM CORDA CRISIS CENTER
FOOD/SHELTER RESOURCES
FOR MEN
Adam's Place Shelter
2210 Adams Place NW,
Washington DC 20018
(202) 832-8317
Intake everyday 7pm-7am; meal after intake around 7pm
12 hour emergency shelter, 7pm-7am. Free dinner for single men over the age of 18 after they complete intake. Also a hypothermia shelter.
Catholic Charities
James Cardinal Hickey Center
924 G Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 772-4300
(202) 772-4408
Communications@CatholicCharitiesDC.org
Day, overnight and emergency shelters for women, men and children; transitional shelters for formerly homeless residents ready to live in the community; referrals for specialized treatment programs for substance abusers, people with mental illness, those with serious health conditions like HIV and hepatitis, victims of domestic violence, and adults with developmental disabilities; child care assistance programs
Central Union Mission
1350 R Street NW,
Washington DC 20009
(202) 745-7118
Mon-Fri: 9am-3pm
Emergency food pantry. Emergency grocery bag available Mon-Fri 9am-3pm. Limited to one bag per month and 6 bags per year. Need referral and photo ID. Free meals only for men staying overnight. Special program available for people that become clients; clients will receive bags of food everyday if they attend the mandatory religious service. Program is Mon and Tues for 55+, Thurs for 54 and under. Call (202) 745-7118 to find out more about their program or to schedule an appointment.
Community for Creative Non-Violence
425 2nd Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C, 20001
(202) 393-1909
Emergency shelter for men and women. 24-hour facility. Separate floors for men and women. Intake days and times differ for the men and women. Call in advance for specific intake days. Residents can stay up to one year if they abide by the rules and regulations. Dinner is provided.
Franklin School Shelter
925 13th St NW,
Washington DC 20001
(202) 638-7424
Open everyday 7pm-7am, intake at 5pm and dinner at 6pm.
12 hour emergency shelter, 7pm-7am. Free dinner at 6pm for single men over the age of 18 after they complete intake at 5pm. Also a hypothermia shelter.
First Helping Street Outreach- DC Central Kitchen
Park across from Dept of the Interior,
1800 E streets NW,
Washington DC 20006
(202) 438-5035
Mon-Fri: 8:15am-9:15am
First Helping is a street level outreach team working throughout the city to connect homeless individuals to services and resources. Referrals are provided for many different needs and a hot breakfast is served Monday thru Friday.
Gospel Rescue Ministries
810 F St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 842-1731
Must be in before 10:30 p.m.
The Samaritan Overnight Shelter is a temporary shelter for those who are looking for a clean and safe place to spend the night. Each guest is provided dinner, a shower, a bed with clean sheets, and breakfast the next morning. They are also invited to participate in the evening chapel service.
The Samaritan Ministry is designed to address the immediate transitional needs of men trying to find their way through a lost job, a lost home, a lost loved one, the loss of relationships, or loss of direction. These men need a hand up, not a hand out, and we give that to them.
Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS)
18th and Columbia Streets NW, Washington DC 20009
(202) 232-8150 24/7
Hotline: 1-800-676-HIPS
Mon-Fri 10am-5pm
Provides written food referrals, call for exact address information. Does not require identification or proof of residency, though recommended. Services for women, men, transgender sex workers.
LA CASA HOUSE
1436 IRVING STREET NW
MENS SHELTER MEN ONLY
Both of these facilities provide low barrier access to over night shelter, food, clothing and supportive social services. Emergency shelter is the first link in the homeless continuum of care.
SHERMAN AVENUE SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY PROGRAM
2822–2824 Sherman Avenue NW
The Sherman Avenue Single Room Occupancy (SRO) site is the Coalition's last step on the way to self-reliance. Comprised of two houses, Sherman Avenue accommodates ten formerly homeless men, each having his own bedroom and sharing common areas. Residents pay a nominal rent and prepare their own food and share household chores.
THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM FOR MEN
General Frederic Davison House
87 New York Avenue NW
Park Road House
1318 Park Road NW
Webster House
4326 14TH STREET NW
M. Leland House
455 Florida Avenue NW
The Transitional-Housing program is designed to assist individuals move from overnight emergency shelters to independent living. This program provides social services, substance counseling and employment services.
BLAIR SHELTER
611 Eye Street, N.E.
Washington, D. C. 20002
(202) 727-3935.
Intake is held daily between 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Residents should be recovering from substance abuse. Length of stay is 4-6months. Call for more specific information.
Crummel Trailers/New Hope Ministries
1901 Kendall Street, N.E.
Washington, D. C. 20002
(202) 269-4668
Hours of operation are 7:00 pm-7:00am. There is a transitional 90-day program located on site as well. The First Helping mobile food truck provides dinner to the residents nightly.
EMERY HOUSE
1725 LINCOLN ROAD NE
MENS SHELTER
MEN ONLY
Both of these facilities provide low barrier access to over night shelter, food, clothing and supportive social services. Emergency shelter is the first link in the homeless continuum of care.
Regional Addiction Prevention
Our emergency housing program provides beds for ten single adult men for a maximum stay of 4-6 weeks. On site case management, linkage to entitlement and medical providers are some of the services offered to clients.
Call us at (202) 462-7500
Email at info@rapinc.org
Our central Facility
The Calvin Rolark Center
1949 4th Street, N.E.
Washington, D. C. 20002
Administrative Office
Chancellor Williams Learning Center
1957 4th Street, N.E.
Washington, D. C. 20002
Martin Luther King Shelter-
St. Elizabeth's Hospital
2700 A Street, SE.
Washington, D. C. 20018
(202) 889- 7634
Hours of operation are 7:00 pm- 7:00 am. Dinner provided by First Helping mobile food truck. There is a recovery program on sight. Residents are referred to St. Vincent de Paul Center for support services.
RANDALL SHELTER
First and Eye Streets, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20024
(202) 479-0016 or 17
Hours of operation 7:00 pm-7:00 am. Dinner provided by First Helping food truck. Other snacks and foods are available from various donation sources. There is a substance abuse program as well as a working unit. Please call the facility for additional information.
and here is a link to
Catholic Charities, 924 G St., NW, Washington, DC 20001
Please send JTinDC some love and uplifting messages via kosmail, so that he has a lot of good things to read, when he will log in to dailykos for the first time again. The laptop is there, he has an Obama Phone, an essential help to reach out for help, and now he can try to find a way to the library and write.
Please feel free to write about anything you know about homelessness.
Donations to JTinDC
Thanks.
Thu Oct 24, 2013 at 7:25 AM PT: I would like to acknowledge and thank the sixth person for a donation. You know who you are. It will get into the hands of the person it's dedicated to.