The January 2014 point-in-time count is the most recent national estimate of homelessness in the United States. The count identified 578,424 people experiencing homelessness, which translated to a national rate of homelessness of approximately 18 homeless persons out of every 10,000 persons in the general public. Homeless unaccompanied youth and children represented 7.8 percent of the overall homeless population, but it remains unlikely that the point-in-time counts present an accurate enumeration of this population.
Though the vast majority of the homeless population (401,051 people) lived in some form of shelter or in transitional housing in 2014, approximately 31 percent of all the population (177,373 people) lived in a place NOT MEANT FOR HUMAN HABITATION, such as the street or an abandoned building.
This is from National Alliance to End Homelessness in an article called The State of Homelessness in America.
http://b.3cdn.net/naeh/458837a0513453bec1_56m6zdnl3.pdf
I’ve seen homelessness before, I’ve even seen panhandling before, but Austin is the first place that I have lived where it is so prevalent. You come to know the places where the homeless spend their time. At most spotlights (including the one on my road), outside of the Walmart (the one where I waist my money on things I don’t really need), and outside of the shelter on 7th street (the street right next to the one where we go to have a fun evening). I’ve lived in Austin sense November now but every time I see the face of homelessness it shocks me. I think what’s the most shocking is that homelessness knows no race, gender, or age.
The largest subpopulation experiencing homelessness was individuals, comprising almost 63 percent (362,163 people) of all homeless people. Unaccompanied youth and children accounted for 7.8 percent (45,205 people) of the total homeless population.5
Approximately one-third (31 percent) of the homeless population was unsheltered during a single night in January 2014.
There are limited beds available for this population (homeless young people) nationwide, which impacts the size of the sheltered population, and it is widely accepted that homeless young people do not congregate in the same areas as older homeless adults, so targeted outreach during point-in-time counts is required.
This is from National Alliance to End Homelessness in an article called The State of Homelessness in America.
http://b.3cdn.net/naeh/458837a0513453bec1_56m6zdnl3.pdf
I was leaving church this Sunday distracted by the fact that I needed to get gas. “Is it possible to go two days with my gas light on?” “I just needed to make it to the end of the street there is a gas station there”. These are the thoughts that flooded my mind. I turn left to get into the station and I saw that the pumps on my side of the building were all taken. Making a half circle around the front of the building I made my way to the other side.
On any given night there are more than 2,300 Austinites living on the streets of Austin, in shelters or in other places not meant for human habitation, like cars. Over 900 of those who are homeless would be considered chronically homeless; people who have been homeless for over one year, or four times in the past 3 years.
I got out of my car and slide my debit card to start the process. Once the gas was flowing smoothly I took a second to take in my surroundings. Right next-door there was a Bank of America. This is perfect because I was going to go to the bank anyways because I owed my roommate money from the night before. I would finish putting money in my car and then go to the bank.
Sleeping and Camping
The “No Camping Ordinance”25 says you may not camp in a public area that is not designated as a camping area. The following could be seen as camping:
• Store personal belongings;
• Use a tent, vehicle or other structure for a living accommodation.
Places where you may sleep:
• On private property with permission.
• On public property anytime except in a park during curfew hours 27 or after you’ve been warned by a police officer.
Note: A police officer does not need to warn you to leave before giving you a ticket under the “No Camping Ordinance”. Penalty: Class C misdemeanor.
This is from TRLA (Texas RioGrande Legal Aid) from a pamphlet called Street Smart Austin: Know Your Rights!
http://www.texasfosteryouth.org/downloads/homeless_legal_aide.pdf
When I first saw him camped out behind the bank I thought he was an old dirty homeless man. I pictured him to have a long grey/white beard that was stained. Missing a few teeth and the teeth that he did have were probable crocked and discolored. He had probable been homeless for years and maybe even decades. This poor sad old man asleep behind the bank was in my mind the summary of homelessness.
Panhandling or Begging
Note: These laws change frequently. Panhandling (or soliciting for money) is legal in some areas of the city of Austin as long as the panhandler does not become aggressive.
Panhandling is prohibited between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in the downtown central business district, shown in the map on page 3. 32
Other places panhandling is prohibited:
• At a bus, bus station or stop, or a place for transportation.
• Within 25 feet of an ATM, bank, or check cashing business.
• At a marked crosswalk.
• On a block with a school or child care facility.
Penalty: Class C misdemeanor.
This is from TRLA (Texas RioGrande Legal Aid) from a pamphlet called Street Smart Austin: Know Your Rights!
http://www.texasfosteryouth.org/downloads/homeless_legal_aide.pdf
I got out of my car and the perception of this man changed. He was laying there around the corner from the ATM asleep on cardboard. It looked as if he had walked out of his shoes and went straight to bed. The left side of his face was as red as a cherry. The hot Texas sun had burnt him in the way that only the angry sun of the South can do. His face was clean shaven and his hair blond. Most shocking of all was that he was a young man. Definitely in the same age bracket as myself. A homeless millennial, who probably grew up watching Author and the Magic School Bus, in a deep sleep on some cardboard around the corner from the ATM.
I went up to the ATM and went through the motions as my thoughts continued to be with this man. His face was so burnt he must have been asleep in the sun for a while. Right now he was lucky enough to be sleeping in the shade of the building, however the shade was slowly creeping away and he would be in direct sun light again. What would he do then? I can’t even imagine being that burnt, I cry when I get a little pink. He must be so thirsty. The gas station is right next door. Should I get him something?
Austin-based organization the Texas Civil Rights Project is threatening to file a lawsuit in federal court if San Antonio's City Council passes a law proposed by the San Antonio Police Chief.
Chief William McManus told the Public Safety Commission last week that he is putting together an ordinance which would give his officers authority to ticket anyone who gives money to a panhandler.
"Giving money to people on the street simply enables them to continue buying drugs, buying alcohol. That's not the case every time, but in many, many cases it is," McManus said.
The proposal also includes giving food to a panhandler, along with money. McManus suggests donating to the Salvation Army or the United Way instead.
McManus said he hopes to formally present the measure to the Council Committee this month.
This is from KVUE in an article called Police Chief Wants to Stop Donations to Panhandlers.
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2014/09/11/police-chief-wants-to-make-donating-to-panhandlers-illegal/15488157/
I got back in my car with my decision made. I was going to go back to the gas station.
Here is to you my brother. I do not know why you choose to sleep behind the bank that Sunday but I thank you for it. Your red sunburnt face sleeping so soundly is an image my eyes will never forget. I pray for you my brother that the Creator protects you and blesses you. And that next time I meet you some place I won’t take so long to think about it and instead that I will just take care of you.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:34-40