The Neighbourhood Ministry: September Street Outreach Report
Submitted by Kate Mackin
Packages: 14
Clients: 16
On Saturday, September 7th, Janice and I (Kate) met at St. Philip's closer to 10:00 a.m. than 9:30 a.m. We loaded the van with the usual assortment of clothes, food, etc. plus three sleeping bags and three mats, and 15 McDonald's cards from the Seniors' group.
Perhaps because we were running late, only A. was waiting at the fence, and we provided him with two packages, a t-shirt, and a McDonald's card.
Janice thought it worthwhile to check out Jericho Park, and that';s where we saw T. and his friend R. R. appears to be homeless, but he spoke of a shack ofhis in Halfmoon Bay. Both took packages and cards. T. claimed to be minding his female friend's possessions and pet dog while she was a guest of the police.
P. was at his accustomed post and accepted a package and card. Janice bought a magazine.
We saw no one else on West 4th Avenue that morning, but at the east side of the Granville Loop Park I spied J., who was shirtless, wearing leggings, clutching a bag full of recycling, and talking to himself. He was shy, but wanted a gift card and took a package.
On our way past the west side of the Granville Loop, we had seen a figure on the grass with a handcart. We decided to walk over using the underpass to see if the figure required assistance. It was a woman, around early 40s, quite tall, with no trousers or skirt or leggings, but with obviously self-applied wet paper towels or bandages on her legs. She was wearing a shirt and panties. Once she saw us she used gestures and words to request we not proceed closer and we respected her wishes.
Under the west side of the Granville Street underpass was a medium tent, so we parked behind the old Windsor Plywood to see if anyone was at home. W. is the name of the man who greeted us, but it would appear at least three other persons B., B., and another woman were calling the tent home. W. needs an advocate to speak on his behalf in an animal control/custody case, beginning with reviewing his current court dates and paperwork in his possession. We left four packages, four gift cards, and four lunches, as well as some shirts, sweaters and toiletries.
Janice then moved the van to the VSB park, where J., S. and J. (not the same J.; the J. we generally see fairly consistently) were already loosely assembled. J. took a package and card, as did S. and J., but S. and J. in addition took lunch and shirts, and J. asked for a sleeping bag and mat as his had been stolen. S. tipped us off that L. and A. were in front of the Blenz at West Broadway.
Upon arrival we found L. with his friend D., but no A. Both accepted packages, gift cards and t-shirts, and L. asked for a sleeping bag. We walked around to the Circle K, but nothing was afoot. We walked to 13th Avenue and Granville Street and down the west side of Granville back to the van.
Driving west down West Broadway we saw no one until Macdonald Street, where a woman sitting on the ground in front of the RBC declined our assistance.
Further down Broadway we saw D., who needed a sleeping bag and didn't want a package, but took a gift card and a new sweatshirt.
In front of the Angry Otter Liquor store St. was busking, and we were able to give him food and a pep talk. Janice and I parted.
Janice looked in at the Shopper's on Dunbar Street on her way to replace what few items we had left in the cupboard at St. Philip's. She did not find anyone at Shopper's.