Written by James Douglas, Matthew Vernon Whalan and homeless citizens of Brattleboro (reprinted from Counterpunch.org)
Brattleboro, Vermont — James Douglas, a homeless citizen of Brattleboro, was arrested on July 11, 2019, at 12:30 a.m. for sleeping in Plaza Park downtown. People who sleep there at night do so because they have no other safe place to go. Now that park is no longer safe.
We in the homeless community feel that the police enforce and threaten to enforce the trespassing ordinances randomly – not consistently – and on public property, which, for the homeless, is like being terrorized; you never know when they will show up.
Due to the recent increase in arrests, no trespass citations, and threats of arrest toward homeless people by police, the homeless community of Brattleboro will be taking direct action in order to demand 3 basic concessions from the community at large.
These three demands are: 1) In the long-term, we demand housing. 2) In the short-term, we demand to be treated with dignity and respect – and no longer with prejudice – by the non-homeless community of Brattleboro. 3) Also in the short-term, we want consistent opportunities to publicly platform homeless voices on the subject of homeless life in the local democratic process – such as in selectboard, the local press, and other forums. The community at large will never understand the realities of homeless life unless homeless people are on the frontlines of information gathering and decision-making related to their lives.
The homeless community of Brattleboro and its allies will be participating in a series of demonstrations over the coming months themed around these three demands. The first of these demonstrations will take place on Monday, July 22, at 4:45 p.m., at which time homeless demonstrators and their allies will surround Plaza Park with Douglas, standing side by side and holding signs with messages themed around the three basic demands cited above – housing, dignity and respect, and a primary role in the political process. The goal is to perform the demonstration while the Amtrak Train is stopped at five p.m. so that those stuck in traffic nearby cannot drive past without noticing our protest.
Where's Plaza Park?
Pardon my ignorance, but I have no idea where Plaza Park is. Assume it’s near the train station?
Yes
Plaza Park is the park between the coop and train station.
Safety
“James Douglas, a homeless citizen of Brattleboro, was arrested on July 11, 2019, at 12:30 a.m. for sleeping in Plaza Park downtown. People who sleep there at night do so because they have no other safe place to go. Now that park is no longer safe.”
When I was briefly on the street in NYC in the early 1980’s, the worst part of homelessness for me was the fear I felt at the approach of nightfall. Where could I be safe after dark?
For a dime, you could ride the Staten Island ferry, trying to exit slowly enough upon arrival so that you could sneak back on for free. The half-hour ride allowed time to catch a snooze… except for the cops. If a cop saw your eyes closed: “THWACK!” [the sound of a nightstick hitting the bench next to you.] I hooked up with 2 other homeless guys, and — each night — we would take turns: two sleeping while the third stood guard for the police.
My impression is that we have a humane and intelligent chief of police in Brattleboro, but I have at least once seen a particular officer acting in a manner which seemed to be gratuitously aggressive toward homeless people.
The police are not responsible for the social dysfunction which affects us all, but they do have a lot to cope with. I would like to see a response on ibrattleboro by the Brattleboro Police Department to what Mr. Douglas has written here.
You Got It
“we want consistent opportunities to publicly platform homeless voices on the subject of homeless life in the local democratic process – such as in selectboard, the local press, and other forums. The community at large will never understand the realities of homeless life unless homeless people are on the frontlines of information gathering and decision-making related to their lives.”
iBrattleboro is open to everyone, for exactly this sort of reason. Anyone with an account can submit stories and comments anytime. Free computers are available at the Library, and we’ve also been known, on occasion, to help out by retyping something handwritten if it is the only way to get the word out.
Also, if you do go speak at Selectboard meetings, I will write up what you say to them.
As for solving this problem short-term, the Town could create a campground area and give out tents, bags, etc. and police it for the protection of those staying there. Some portable storage units could be found to help people keep their things safe. I bet it would cost less than the current $40,000 being spent to “promote” Brattleboro.
Tent City
I believe the growing homeless plight apparent at any given corner or taken up residence by populating along the historic Whetstone Brook Corridor of the downtown area at any given time in Brattleboro these days, deserves the towns peoples attention, understanding and compassion of what can be done to help alleviate those individuals suffering just trying to survive, and there are many growing efforts in place to do so, but where does it end in today’s unstable world, how much can a little town like Brattleboro actually handle, are we becoming a mecca and cross roads for the homeless somehow?.
However be careful what you wish for in what may seem an orderly panacea grouping in such concentrations for aid like establishing a tent city for assistance to the homeless which may in fact may only overburden and serve as a major deterrent for our towns own ability to cope, maintain and survive itself when reliant in good part to a tourist economy and destination trying to compose a positive appeal and attraction to visitors when having to contend at the same time with a constant image of disparity becoming conspicuous part of our identity, not this should be hidden or ignored but certainly not projected in reveled abandon to the point something is lost, or edged out in what made once Brattleboro a decent, comfortable place people want to live and raise their families. Don’t get me wrong it is absolutely not comfortable for those who find themselves fending for themselves on the streets in dire need of community support but who also need to respect the laws and not become disorderly without expecting the consequence of being apprehended.
Creating a tent city on or within public green areas or town parks “occupied” by the homeless and destitute population occurred in Greenfield a few years back with disastrous outcome with a stabbing before police took action finally clearing the area, so in short this did not prove to be a safe haven to congregrate for the homeless whatsoever. It’s not as if the town is dealing with just a local homeless population that is in question here but also the influx transients and those exiting or cycling though the Brattleboro Retreat system. How much can this little town handle really itself before it becomes undesirable for those of us struggling to make it our home and have become uncomfortable relaxing in it’s parks or parking lots without being harassed for money. Yes I sang a different tune once in defense of the homeless situation and how people should no be so quick to judge until someone I know who bought lunches for a certain homeless person on a regular basis also one day tried to rip her purse of her person when she said she had no money to give, that mad me mad, wake up to the reality and changed some of my views for sure, some people out there have some major issues and it becomes complicated finding out what substantial approach would actually work for them and change their lives for the better.
Confused
My question to Mr. Douglas would be;
Has the park become unsafe to sleep over night because of police intervention to enforce the basic rules parks have to “”No Over Night Use or Camping” or from others trying to do the same who pose a threat ? Sleeping outside, even in the summer in the open in an downtown setting can not be safe exposed to what ever may be lurking or seeking the same, sleeping with one eye open on watch even though it may seemingly be a convenient place to to catch some rest is not restful. No one owns the bench you are sleeping on, it is public property so how could you not expect to be reminded of this fact. Mostly because you have limited options I suspect that you see as safe, so you are saying the shelters are not safe so what good are they really? This is where the need should be addressed without a doubt, but should come with some commitment/conduct like most of us experience in securing a living space ie rules.
A women occupied a bench for two weeks on the Commons, we all saw it, what is to become of this kind of desperate type existence if not to remind us how truly rough it can be to find/claim a home in troubled times totally depleted, no matter how simple it may be. I felt really bad for her every time I drove by and at the same time also thought this is a park should be open to all to enjoy within reason without claiming ownership, thus Common Ground. Either way there must be some kind of refuge available for that person to connect with that doesn’t deprive others of green space enjoyment if not, there in lies the obvious problem. The town wants to put porta-potties in the parks to address the accumulating human waste present there, albeit a band-aid to the situation and demand and attracting more homeless occupation. We need public bathrooms now and why not that old railroad building by the train station if Brattleboro is really serious on taken on and embracing the Homeless Delema why not cut to the chase wasting more money.
Good Points
Good points about the tent city… and you are right that there are no easy answers here. If so, we would have done them!
From the surveys they’ve done, the majority of those served by local agencies are indeed local. Brattleboro doesn’t have a lot of people from elsewhere, according to the informal results. Of course, it may be a handful that are from elsewhere that break more rules, but it’s more like opioids – a problem that is everywhere.
The “simple” solution to poverty would be to give people enough money so they weren’t poor. The “simple” answer to homelessness would be to make sure everyone has a home. People generally want to give to middleman agencies that help with these issues rather than to directly give money or homes to people. No one at RTM suggested giving cash directly to the poor, or giving money directly to pay people’s rent and bills. Money was given directly to agencies that have staff to help with these issues. This is just an observation, and may very well be the best way to do things.
It is hard to stay compassionate when the major issues surface. I like it when people are nice and I can be nice to them. I dislike confrontation. I’d prefer everyone try to be happy and stay out of each other’s way. “Try not to annoy other people” is a good rule of thumb.
It’s hard to see how to get out of some of these rabbit holes once we fall down into them.
Encampments
I like the fact the agencies are handling funds because, it may be difficult to control spending if you haven’t had money in your pocket for some time, it certainly is even if you have a bit of chunk change on hand and then it’s gone before you know it.
I agree it is better to hold up a sign asking for money and stay in one place (this gains respect and symbolizes a certain dignity) rather than to press, approach or corner someone in a parking lot trying to pay a parking fee with coinage in hand, not so appreciated, but I’m sure sometimes gets the job done.
Just as with most everything, increasing populations such as with the homeless in Brattleboro create competition for limited space and resources found on the street which in itself causes friction and a chance you will at some point run into trouble when reaching at the same time for any given opportunity that momentarily pays off and present itself.
When Mr. Douglas mentioned he was not safe during the wee hours he could find sleep, it may very well be this feeling is coming from someone in his same position he may find hovering over him, but handles the desperation in an aggressive way by using harassment to get what they want. I don’t see the fact that just because you are homeless means all those in this same situation share solidarity like one big happy family considering the diverse personal issues they each have to combat and struggle with and the possible angst and frustration that goes with it. Homelessness is the one commonality that ties them together on a protest day, but to a lesser extent in every day life doing what they can to fend for themselves, although there must be pockets of camaraderie/friendships and mutual support with those walk in the same worn shoes in need. For this reason I think housing should be spread out and not concentrated and grouped in one hot bed location if possible.
I just don’t think the town parks, libraries, and rivers should have to take on the brunt of homelessness turf, but they do because they are available, open and a pleasant place to be, but should not always represent a sole long term solution or depository for the homeless to find refuge, we have to somehow get beyond this misplaced, inadequate directive we find acceptably affordable even though these places are constantly compromised.
Also learned that the shelter is closed during the summer months and camping gear is handed out, but come winter camping is not going to cut it, should not be encouraged. A homeless couple died in a tent behind a MacDonalds in Greenfield last year in freezing temps, this is the epitome of what shouldn’t happen.