30 Nights with the Martinez / Pacheco Homeless Outreach

Day 2

1:30 p.m.: I took a man to Concord adult mental health for an evaluation that was badly needed.

9 p.m.: I rolled down Alhambra Avenue and stopped one man at a bus stop. He was not open to anything from me so just left my card. I went up Allen Street behind the Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center. In the hills I found four camps but none were being used due to the rain. I will have to go back and speak with whomever is camping in these camps --  they all were gross. At the top of the hill I found one younger man I have seen before; he took some socks and water but wasn't open to services. I feel bad for the guy. He is hard of hearing and needs aids for both ears.

Now I'm at the Amtrak Station and right away two guys come up to my van needing rides -- you guessed it. Just got out of jail. I looked at their release paper work and asked them to wait while I made my rounds. They were grateful or just happy to be out.

Inside the station I woke one guy up that had been there sleeping all day according to staff. He said he was fine but I could see he was sleeping one off. So I gave him some food and socks; this is pretty normal at Amtrak. There weren't very many people outside the station so I decided to take the two inmates to BART.

Later I walked around downtown and actually found two men squished inside of a broken bike locker next to the county building,  but they were warm I guess. Under 500 Court St. there was one man who was really drunk so I just gave him some supplies and was on my way. He wasn't very happy to see me. Sometimes when the homeless are drunk I think I make them feel guilty sometimes, or it's just late and they don't want to be bothered.

Now I'm on my way to police call at Walmart. A 27 year woman is sleeping in her car behind the store. My main concern for her is safety -- it's late and she's parked in an out of the way spot where she wouldn't be able to call for help if there was trouble. It was a bummer story; she lost her place, her parents wouldn't help and she couldn't find work so I am taking her to the shelter tomorrow.

After that I went back downtown to find homeless in front of the Bow Rack getting drunk and yelling at each other, which is common. I spoke to them and the police came and they went on their way.  

It was a good night -- lots of work got done .