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4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HOMELESSNESS No smile, too much goofy On Thursday, September 12, Ramón Roberto Isla Caballero was sitting and selling his Groundcover papers on the corner of Washington and Main Streets. While selling he keeps his belongings under an archway to stay dry and off the sidewalk. A police officer driving by parked their car after they noticed Ramón and his things outside. They walked up to him and said he needed to move his belongings and find a new place to sleep by Monday, September 16 — just four days from then. The officer suggested Ramón talk with someone from the Washtenaw County’s Street Team (PATH) to get a tent and go camp in the woods behind the Kroger on Jackson and Stadium. If he stays downtown to sleep outside, then the officer said they will fine him $250, which he does not have. Ramón is most comfortable staying around downtown because it is where he feels safe knowing there are people around. It is where he sells his paper. This allows him to be close to the services he needs at the Groundcover office and the Street Team’s Annex office. Ramón has grown close to some of the downtown businesses and restaurants, whose staff look out for him in different ways, including helping him with food. This is important to him because he no longer goes to get breakfast at St. Andrew’s Church. There is too much fighting. He no longer goes to the Delonis Center for a meal because the last two or three times he It does not make sense to stress out Ramón about where he sleeps because he is already stressed about it, in addition to all that he has to do for his own health. En Español: El jueves 12 de septiembre RAMÓN ROBERTO ISLA CABALLERO Groundcover vendor No. 347 went, his belongings were stolen. He did not want to say much about it to the staff there because he did not want to get someone in trouble, or have someone then come find him outside to cause trouble for him later. Ramón is a cancer survivor. Now he has other health issues that he is taking care of. He sees doctors often who prescribe a lot of different types of medications to help him feel better and manage the pain on his hip. Staff in the Street Team help him get to all of his appointments so it is very important he is close to their offices for this, and also if there is any emergency, that he is close to the hospital. Leaving downtown to sleep elsewhere is not a better option for Ramón. Not to mention, the suggestion from the police assumes that he can just take the bus back and forth. After selling his papers he must use what he makes to get food. He says, “Who will give me money for bus tokens?” Ramón Roberto Isla Caballero estaba sentado vendiendo sus periódicos Groundcover en la esquina de las calles Washington y Main. Mientras vendía, mantenía sus pertenencias cerca debajo de un arco para mantenerse seco y alejado de la acera. Un oficial de policía que pasaba por allí estacionó su auto después de notar a Ramón y sus cosas afuera. Se acercaron a él y le dijeron que necesitaba mover sus pertenencias y encontrar un nuevo lugar para dormir antes del lunes 16, solo cuatro días después. El oficial sugirió a Ramón hablar con alguien del equipo de calle del condado de Washtenaw para conseguir una tienda de campaña e ir a acampar en el bosque detrás del Kroger en Jackson y Stadium. Si se queda en el centro a dormir afuera, el oficial dijo que le impondrán una multa de 250 dólares, cantidad que no tiene. Ramón se siente más cómodo quedándose cerca del centro porque es donde se siente seguro sabiendo que hay gente alrededor. Es donde vende su periódico. Eso le permite estar cerca de los servicios que necesita en la oficina de Groundcover y la oficina anexa de Street Team. Ramón se ha acercado a algunos de los negocios y restaurantes del centro que lo cuidan de diferentes maneras, incluso ayudándolo con la comida. Esto es importante para él porque ya no va a desayunar a la iglesia de San Andrés. Hay demasiadas peleas. Ya no va al Centro Delonis a comer porque las últimas dos o tres veces que fue le robaron sus pertenencias. No quería decirle mucho al personal porque no quería meter a alguien en problemas, o que luego vendrían a buscarlo afuera para causarle problemas. Ramón es un sobreviviente de cáncer. Ahora tiene otros problemas de salud de los que se está ocupando. A menudo visita médicos que le recetan muchos tipos diferentes de medicamentos para ayudarle a sentirse mejor y controlar el dolor de cadera. El personal del Street Team lo ayuda a llegar a todas sus citas, por lo que es muy importante que esté cerca de sus oficinas para esto y, si hay alguna emergencia, que esté cerca del hospital. Salir del centro para dormir en otro lugar no es la mejor opción para Ramón. Sin mencionar que esto supone que puede tomar el autobús de ida y vuelta. Después de vender sus periódicos debe utilizar lo que gana para conseguir comida. Él dice: "¿Quién me dará el dinero del token del autobús?" No tiene sentido estresar a Ramón por dónde duerme, porque él ya está estresado por eso y por todo lo que tiene que hacer por su propia salud. OCTOBER 4, 2024 How to live for a day How do those who are homeless live and what are their daily concerns? This article focuses mainly on those newly homeless, not chronically homeless. Our first need on Maslow's Pyramid focuses strictly on survival needs: food, safety and shelter. Food — Where to get food? Peggy's House (sometimes called Mercy House) offers free breakfast on Saturday mornings 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., dinner Monday and Wednesday evenings, and some lodging. Inquire within at 805 W Huron St. The nearby Delonis Center provides lunch and dinner. Groundcover News sometimes has food during office hours 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a very early morning breakfast at St. Andrews Church (7:30 to 8:30 a.m.). Pizza in the Park is another option on Fridays at 7 p.m. at Liberty Plaza. FedUp feeds people in both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti on Wednesdays at lunch, and Hospitality JAMIE CAMERON Groundcover vendor No. 612 House (169 N. Washington) has open hours Sunday 12-3 and Thursday 4-7. There is an outdoor barbecue at Wheeler Park at 3:30 every other week, and on the off weeks at the same time in Waterworks Park. Both of these places will change locations in the winter. Money — You can risk police contact or disturbing people by panhandling. Or you can charge for your talents, such as singing and playing guitar with an open guitar case as one example. Or, you can work for Groundcover News. We buy each paper for fifty cents, and go sell them at the cover price of two dollars, sometimes with tips. You can also earn income by participating in the freelance writing program (writing and editing articles). Inquire within (423 S 4th Ave.). As a new vendor, you get ten free papers and a badge to go sell. Safety — The best solution for safety is to be around other people, and sleep during the late day hours or around other people near churches. Tent encampments, the Delonis Center and Peggy's House have lodging potential. In a worst case, perhaps sleep in the ER of the University of Michigan Hospital, if you can be discreet. Clothing — Goodwill, House by the Side of the Road or the Salvation Army. Showers — If you have money, the Washtenaw County Recreation Center on Washtenaw Avenue has lockers and showers. The Delonis Center has laundry and showers. Inquire within for both. Social networking — Take free classes where offered, keep your eyes open as you walk down Main Street and Liberty Street. There are professional social networking shops. The YMCA off Huron or Washington is another option. Mental Health Resources — Community Mental Health is at the Annex on Fourth just north of Huron. This is where you can get help and get a caseworker to talk to. Transportation — The AATA has reduced fare for children, seniors and low income people. At the Blake Transit Center you can buy a weekly or monthly pass. Be safe and take care!

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