An email along with multiple pictures was sent to me yesterday by an individual who tries to assist with the homelessness issues in the Pensacola.
Apparently, these particular homeless folks are entrenched in their own individual areas of this land off of Beggs lane. Camp fires, tents, busted-down RV's, Opened fire hydrant for water, and trash cans coming.
And this issue is NOT unique to Beggs lane and Jones swamp. There are homeless camps in wooded lots throughout Pensacola and Escambia County--everyone now knows this.
So, this individual who sent this information is requesting onsite case management and other support services for the women and children and expectant mothers who also reside here along with homeless males.
Looks like a tent city to me. Interesting that
a tent city was my proposal for helping to manage this homelessness issue that is becoming legion in Escambia County--except I favored having this sort of a camp set up under controlled circumstances, with security, drug treatment, medical services, job training, feeding stations, and other wrap around services far away from town,
out in the woods. This way, services could be brought to them and they would not, in the meantime, be infringing on the peace, quiet, tranquility, and security of existing neighborhoods. Interesting this sort of a set up was also the solution brought to us by the students at Creative Learning Academy (
Minute 13:00 of this video) when they requested to bring solutions to difficult county issues.....
Between this and the Jones Swamp campgrounds--this is starting to look like what I had envisioned albeit way too close in this instance to civilization....
From the email:
"Good
afternoon I just want to give an update on the area of Beggs Lane to everyone
in the county including John Johnson , the COC. We have successfully moved out
permanently 10 people
Today
we served our normal weekly meal serving more than 75 people During our
serving, we noticed many many pregnant women, Families with young children, And
many other disabled individuals, all eager to get off the streets. But are keep
getting told no room at the shelters or programs.
I’m
wondering, is there a way like we did underneath the I110 Bridge of getting
service providers together and start visiting some of our local camps like the
Beggs Lane and others that we are seeing in the news? As you witnessed many of
them benefited from having on-site case management. We would be happy to be a
part of this or to coordinate anything to get this off the ground so we can get
these individuals into something more suitable. We have started much of the
casework.
Many
individuals here at this area are unable to use our public transportation due
to their disabilities as well so having on site case, management and medical
would be a beneficial for all.
I
was advised that the trash cans will be delivered this week as that is becoming
also another health concern. The area has been built by the homeless
individuals Into their own community. When coming on the land, you will see how
each individual section has been laid out from those suffering addiction to
those that are veterans down to women, children, families, and disabled. With
the lack of beds in our area, I am asking for anyone’s help to place these
individuals into something more suitable.
I am
going to attach some of the photos of the area. In one of the photos, you will
also see the fire hydrant busted open where they are using the water. Is there
anyway that we can actually get suitable water that does not have to look like
it is in the picture?"
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