It was 5:45 AM and dark when Eve, the Americorps person, and I arrived at Pathway for the local iteration of the national homeless census, the Point in Time count. We were joined by 3 members of the Blue Water Safe Horizons Supportive Housing team, two from the Harbor teen shelter, and a Community Mental Health staff member. We divided into teams, with the Supportive Housing team heading to the area behind Wal-Mart in Ft Gratiot, the Harbor people going to the college, and David, Eve and I picking up the core downtown area.
I wore storm pants over my jeans, 3 top layers under my parka, a full-face, windproof balaclava and a “mad bomber” fur hat, with a headlamp. I carried some Mylar thermal rescue blankets. Somehow I thought I was ready.
First we checked the old RR tunnel under Military St.: no sign of anyone there. We went into Pine Grove Park. While the others checked under the trees of the pine grove, and at the waterfront, I walked around the water treatment plant. I found boot tracks, but not the person who made them. We drove around the city hall parking lot, as homeless with cars have been known to park there; all the police cars make it seem safe. Then we also went to the college. I checked between the campus and the Black River, and in some blind alleys between buildings. Then we headed out to the “wilderness” between K-Mart and Goodwill. Again, tracks, recent boot tracks, but no people.
While the others went back to get the CMH van, I walked to the woods north of K-Mart. I found no tracks in there, but I spotted a couple of people walking nearby. They were on their way to work at Community Enterprises, had homes.
As I walked toward 32nd St, I suddenly felt the cold making its way into my boots, creeping inside my balaclava, around my eyes. My lashes began to freeze. I wondered if I should head back to K-Mart and wait in the doorway, or check the last stretch of woods, and be close to that darn van, if it EVER shows up…. I continued along the edge of the woods. Still no people. But the van appeared!
Our BWSH colleagues reported tracks behind Wal-Mart and Meijer, but they didn’t find any people, either. They also checked behind Birchwood Mall, and at the 40th St pond. No one.
The sun was up, and we were done for the morning. Still to come: the soup kitchen needs to be canvassed. Eve will cover lunch, and I’ll be there for the evening meal. We also want to know about those who have no homes but find shelter on friends’ couches or in their cars.