Tent Cities for the Homeless

A-Z Challenge = Tent Cities , Trespassing, Tiny Houses

Tent cities spring up near railroad tracks, bridges, underpasses and wooded areas.  They can be quite small with a handful of homeless, or larger inside large city limits. The above picture is a make shift tent and if you click you can see others behind in the woods.  Obviously, the police are checking something out.  In many areas they are told they can't be there, they're on someone's land, it's a health hazard.  Sometimes they're arrested and the belongings bulldozed.  Some communities leave them alone.

 Another make shift area in a wooded area.

 Not a great way to live, but some actually feel safer in these tent cities then inside at shelters because they can control the situation and who's there.  And there's never enough room for everyone at shelters so people try to live in little groups, looking out for each other, and each others stuff.

In cities, the tent cities tend to be more like this, actual tents that people have given them.  Some pile their goods up during the day and as night falls the tents pop out.  Nationally, local governments and police are cracking down on the tent cities.  Some communities are building additional shelters once they realize the numbers needing housing.

It's a catch 22, many have no where else to go, yet they don't, in most cases have the legal right to camp wherever they choose.  A difficult problem.  Some reports suggest abandoned houses ought to be utilized to house homeless, some are building little houses that are merely a place to sleep in locations where tent cities used to be.

 Certainly these look nicer then the tent cities, how they would be maintained might be a question.  But variations of these little houses are popping up in small groups around the country as a means to help.

These appear to be on wheels and are almost a dumpster type size.  I saw pictures of some that were half as tall, meant to be a place to sleep made from dumpster and storage crates.

I don't know if this is a good solution or one that will catch on and be sustainable, but it's a start and I think it's good to see something being done that's positive.


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Shelter Living and the Homeless

A-Z challenge = S=Shelters, slippers, socks, scarves, shawls, Star House
No one should have to live like this.

Homeless shelters are temporary residences of desperation for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community. That's the definition we find in wiki.  

Shelters vary from city to city.  Some shelters are very generic, but in recent years shelters have become, or tried to become a bit more select in whom they give shelter too.  Some shelters are adult men only, some are single women only, some are family only, and some...though not many are for teens only.  There are drop in style shelters where people can pop in for the night and must leave by a certain time in the morning, there are shelters that require certain conditions before letting you in, such as attending a prayer service.  Some provide assistance with direction to appropriate social services.  Some are community based, others tied to churches, and some are government supported.  Regardless of the population and the city, they are not enough shelters to properly serve the growing numbers of those in need.

Some Homeless take their chances on the street due to restrictions, lack of space, unsafe or unclean environments at the shelters.  And sometimes the homeless person has no physical ability to get to the shelter before it's locked down for the night and is forced to spend the night in the elements.  During the cold winter months in the colder states, there simply is not enough space for the need.

There are emergency type shelters for runaways or abused women, separate from a bed for the night; but often those in need are unaware of where these emergency shelters are, or how to get to them.  And many of the drop in facilities aren't for overnights, just perhaps a place to get warm, use the bathroom, maybe get a shower and figure out where to go next.  Drop in facilities for teens are often near college campus areas.  Star House for example here in Columbus, Ohio serves kids age 14-24, but is always over crowded.  It's located at 1621 N. High Street and has affiliation with The Ohio State University.  An old plant on the south side of the city houses young teens with children, but currently only has a 21 bed dorm.  Thus you can see the ability to care for all those in need of shelter is huge.

We hear at Bridge and Beyond, supply Homeless Families Foundation (a family shelter), Faith Mission (an adult Male and Female Shelter area), Holy Family (a soup kitchen for all),  and a handful of school in the affected areas.  Additionally we supply 2 grass roots feed the homeless groups, one of the West side of the city and one on the Northeast side of the city.  These 2 grassroots areas are people living outside in the elements.  We refer to them as The Bridge People.

Can you help?  We donate hand knit and crocheted scarves, shawls, and slippers and store bought socks.  See tabs across the top of the blog for the specifics needed to ensure the donations meet the needs of those we serve.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Helping Homeless with Rain Poncho's and Recycling

Today's letter for the A-Z challenge is R=Recycle, Rain Poncho'

Recycle does play a part when thinking about Homelessness.  While we here on Bridge and Beyond don't collect and donate used clothing such as coats, sweaters etc, it is something everyone can do locally to help.  Check with your local Homeless Shelters, Churches, and Firehouses to see what items of clothing they accept.  Coats are probably the largest item needed.  Used items aren't part of our Mission here on Bridge and Beyond.  Handmade items is a large part of our mission, with the exceptions being personal care items, store bought socks, AND

Rain Poncho's.  Rain Poncho's are an easy item to donate for our non knitters and crocheters, they are light weight making postage not a big issue, and they are very much needed for the folks living out in the elements.  They are also a good item for those at the shelters who may be waiting on buses and or walking to work.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.