This Tuesday, July 24, we’ll be sleeping out with homeless folks in Victor Steinbrueck Park before our silent protest of the governing board meeting of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County (CEHKC). We’d like very much for you to join us.
“Why?” you might ask. “What point could this possibly serve? An evening of discomfort followed by a morning of futile bitching. How attractive.”
Exactly.
It seems to me, every once in a while, there is something to be said for reminding ourselves that several thousand people sleeping on our streets every night is unacceptable. Words are insufficient.
Go ahead. Say it to yourself right now. Open up your lips and say it out loud. “Homelessness is unacceptable.” Do it.
Well, that felt sort of cheap and meaningless, didn’t it?
The thing is, sometimes you just have to be there. In April, when we first did this, I awoke at 3 a.m. to discover that the shallow river of water winding its way down Westlake Plaza had overwhelmed my pad and soaked my sleeping bag. Damp and cold, I had little choice but to get up and tough things out until the McDonald’s down the street opened.
I saw buses going by packed with those who had nowhere to go. I saw people walking around because there was nothing else for them to do. At the McDonald’s, I saw dozens of others who had the same idea as I, but weren’t doing this as a one-off “experience.” This, for now, was their reality.
I am someone, you would think, that doesn’t need to be reminded that homelessness sucks. To me, this is an unsurprising fact. I have been well-exposed to the notion.
But at 4 a.m., damp and in a 50-degree drizzle, the thought of “This sucks” takes on new meaning. One realizes that if everyone could participate in this experience, the abundant cheap sympathy this issue inspires might turn to something like real empathy. And then, maybe things might start to change.
We know that CEHKC understands that homelessness sucks, but perhaps some of that reality has escaped them. If you’re on the street and outside of the shelter system — and thousands are — within their logic, then you barely exist.
That has to change.
On Tuesday, July 24, beginning at noon, we’ll be leafleting and participating in other visible acts at Victor Steinbrueck. The rally starts at 5:30 p.m. and focuses on the reality of the streets and economic justice solutions to homelessness. Operation Sack Lunch will serve a community meal at 7 p.m.
If you’re planning on staying overnight, do not bring your own tent. The four large tents we are allowed will already be there. While the city won’t arrest us, they apparently hope to make us uncomfortable. This seems somehow appropriate. Do bring your own pad and sleeping bag.
Join us in the morning for a noisy 7:30 a.m. march to the silent protest of the cehkc governing board meeting.
There is nothing normal or acceptable about thousands of people sleeping on the streets. We all know it’s true. It’s time to be there.