I first noticed the headline "Gallaudet's Other Tent City" while I was at work but didn't have time to read it. Then, the Deaf Sherlock blogged about it. Now I had to read it - and I'm glad I did. Homeless people living that close to Gallaudet? That close to the conference center (according to Sherlock and gBlog)? That close to a public school?
Call me unsympathetic and cold- hearted, but I hope either Gallaudet or the DC government does something to get rid of those homeless people so close to Gallaudet and that school. By and large, homeless people are often mentally ill! In fact, as I rode the Gallaudet shuttle this week on my way to see a basketball game there, I noticed a homeless, mentally ill person out on the street near the DC government offices.
All it takes is ONE serious crime committed by one of those homeless, possibly mentally ill or drug addicted people, and then what? Gallaudet in the news again, negatively? People afraid of staying in the conference center? Parents protesting in front of that school, blaming DC government and/or Gallaudet for not protecting their children? A potential lawsuit by a parent of a Gallaudet (or pre-college) student?
The blogger on gBlog asks, "what can you do for them?" I prefer to ask, "what can be done to get rid of them?" To proactively prevent anything bad from happening? Can Gallaudet afford the risks of tolerating the presence of so many homeless people - I counted 11 in that picture on the gBlog - that close to the campus and its facilities and people? Not to mention the fact that a group of homeless people could be a crime magnet?
But homeless people have rights, you say. So do the people and students at Gallaudet and the nearby public school, and the people staying at the conference center. They have a right to safety. Gallaudet is a "home." Would you tolerate the presence of a large group of homeless people that near your own home? Or your child's school?
Saturday, January 12, 2008
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7 comments:
The homeless people aren't staying on Gallaudet property. It's up to Gallaudet to protect its property and people. However, in my opinion, eviction isn't the answer. Homeless people are people too and have nowhere to go. The city operated shelters are often not safe. I find it despicable that the funding for psychiatric residential programs and mental health programs are slashed, that the homeless people aren't able to have decent housing with assistance
That they are treated with scorn and contempt, worse than an animal, is also despicable. Where is compassion for their suffering? They are human beings, with feelings and intelligence.
Well, I used to lived in VA for two years and commuted to DC on the METRO. Homeless people are usually situated right outside the METRO station begging for money. I've actualy "gotten to know" some of them. I give them change whenever I can. They are harmless for the most part. One Christmass eve, I had an extra cranberry nut bread and gave it to this one homeless guy...he was so thrilled. Asked him what he was doing tonight, he said him and his buddies were going to pool together some food they got and money to get some spirits. They're just people like us with no home. They are for the most part harmless. Most are war vets too. Not all homeless people are mentally ill.
Hi,they are real harmless that I saw lots homeless in my town and dont bother people lots. few several that they asked me for cigarette so I gave it to one of homeless. I am happy that this town have few projrams for homeless like offering them jobs and get a new lives. Please Have A Heart
Homeless people could be real public health threat if they aer not being treated properly, ex. smallpox or TB.
The another tent city next to the Gallaudet property is out of the jurdisiction for the Gallaudet University.
That would be an excellent reminder to Gallaudet University students, staffers and faculty members about the existence of homeless people in the Nation's Captiol.
You need to remmy that more and more homeless people are ex-war veterans. What's matter with our own country for not treating the underappreciated war veterans with dignity and compassion.
The war veterans fought to preserve the ideal of freedom within our country. Where are our gratitude?
You, Jamie Berke, need to stop worrying about what other people think of Gallaudet University from the outside perspective.
Let us leave the worryings to the Gallaudet University's Public Relations office.
MZ and C said beautifully how and what we treat our homeless people.
That could happen to either of us someday. Who knows?
I challenge you, Jamie Berke to host the food servings or get people to donate foods and services. Wouldn't you?
So people could see what Gallaudet's all about.
Go rent the movie called, "The Pursuit of Happyness" It will give you a different picture of homelessness. Most of them aren't criminals. If they were, they would be in jail. They are simply people who have no homes. And yes it's true-- many nowadays are disabled mentally ill people who need medical help because they aren't capable of taking care of themselves. It's a shame our government won't provide medical care for these people and often wait for them to commit crimes before throwing them into jail, which doesn't *cure* them. So I understand your concern to a point, but I feel more charitable toward the homeless. Usually it's not their faults.
KW,
I did see that movie...great movie. Let's hope that group of homeless near Gallaudet *stays* harmless. All it takes is for one of them to commit a serious crime as I said, and then there will be an uproar.
In my residential area, we, neighbours are generous to the homeless. We would give them money and fetch something from a grocery for them . Then we would notify the director of the homeless. The homeless, I have learned not long ago, are not the faceless. Some of them are mentally ill and veterans with nervous breakdown from the Iraqi war. It is some of the D.C. government's social workers that do not do their work. Some homeless people do not trust social workers and choose to live in a place of their own. So I hope that Gallaudet will be in contact with the right people not only once but several times to make sure that the homeless be well taken care of.
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