September 4, 2014 New
Orleans, LA USA A few months ago I kept
seeing a young girl who was 9 months pregnant and panhandling. I was always in
a hurry. I never parked my car to
go back and talk to her. Her sign did not mention her obvious state of being.
Having been pregnant myself there was not doubt about this child’s condition. I
have no idea what her story was. I saw her for several weeks sitting in the New
Orleans summer heat with her sign. She disappeared about the time that baby was due. I wonder if she was able to keep her infant?
Then
on Labor Day on almost the same corner I saw a mom with her two kids also
panhandling. This time I stopped to say hello.
There
must be an agency that could assist her through this journey but she rattled off
most of them off while describing her experiences. I never know what anyone’s
personal truths are but I certainly do not doubt her frustration.
If
a single parent gets to the point that they are homeless they want to hide that
fact. Why? Not only out of shame but because parents on the edge of poverty
fear having their children taken away.
Catty
corner to where these women had panhandled is a new homeless camp. The camp sprung
up after being displaced by a sweep a few weeks ago. The sweep was done to
create more parking for tailgating prior to Saints football games.
The
new camp is a mix of people. While the homeless population always segregates along lines of common interest, this particular camp seems to house a lot of
women. One end of the camp appears to be more easy going friendly folks. On the
other side, residents seem to want to mind their own business.
In
a previous post I mentioned being baffled that the neighborhood could comment
on the TV news about the camp since it was really only visible from one home.That one historic townhouse with a view is surrounded by parking lots
and is one of the only few homes that survived construction of the bridge.
The camp IS however visible from the street and is surrounded by traffic on all
sides.
While
making portraits in the camp last week I looked up and saw a man with a camera.
He obviously was not working on an art project like me. He was not paying much attention to how
he was shooting and he appeared nervous.
The
homeless ladies didn’t like the feeling of being stalked and the group leader
went out to have a word with the stranger who was soon pointing and shouting
“Don’t mess with me, I know my rights!” and the camp leader shouting back “You
should ask before taking pictures!” I could see both men were having their manhood tested.
The
camp watched as the man with the camera ran and took refuge in the townhouse. I
felt bad for him as it was clear to me he was angry and felt threatened. Surely
he was taking photos to document his problem. He has a homeless camp catty
corner to his home and my guess is that it makes him uncomfortable.
I
can see both angles. It is also hard for the homeless people to deal with
photographers. I should know since I’m one of those people making images of
them. When people are down they don’t like being reminded of it or gawked at
like they don’t matter. Or worse, have their image attached to someone else’s
story about them. That is why my work is a documentary through “portraiture."
The viewer is well aware of what I am doing and why I am there. I avoid wide
shots often to edit people out who do not want to be photographed.
I
can tell there are folks who don’t care where the homeless go as long as they
never “see” them again. Where do people live when they have nowhere to go? Is it right to force people to keep
moving to appear invisible? Is
invisibility really a solution? Keeping the weakest members of society at a
disadvantage does not seem to “help” them get their world organized. Should
they really be forced to own nothing but that which they can carry? Or should
people be allowed a spot somewhere that they can organize their lives and work
their way back up? A place where
they get to take part in leadership and make rules like adults. A place to call home.
I
also want to address the issue of cleanliness. I have seen homeless people
sweep their camps,wash their laundry, change their sheets, bag trash, use toilet buckets with liners,
and collect pee in bottles for proper disposal. Ok I had to believe them about
the pee as it felt like TMI.
Some campers
(not all) seem to be working hard to prove their worth to a parent that doesn’t
seem to notice. Or maybe they are just doing these things for themselves and
their own dignity. I do not know.
So
what is going to happen to this camp?
Today
the issue is supposed to be debated by the New Orleans City
Council at approximately 2PM. Here is an ordinance that will be discussed:
Ordinances
to amend the City Code relative to obstruction of public rights-of-way and
public places relative to sidewalk obstruction regulations and enforcement. (Expected to be addressed at 2 p.m.)
35. CAL. NO. 30,273 - BY: COUNCILMEMBER
CANTRELL (BY REQUEST)
The camps in question are not on side walks and do not
obstruct passage although they are located on public land. Will the city use
this ordinance as a way to force homeless people to move again?
Will
the City of New Orleans work towards criminalizing homelessness by enforcing
laws? That approach did not go well for Miami or Los Angeles who were sued by
the ACLU for violating the civil rights of homeless people.
Or
will the City of New Orleans recognize that the homeless issue needs to be
faced? They could consider a 1%
tax on alcohol like Miami has to fund homeless programs. They could also consider allowing tent
cities like in Portland where the residents help to run the camps hidden from
public view. If they have several
camps and keep them small they may be an asset for the homeless and not a
liability to tourism. Or they
could enforce camping time periods like they do on skid row in Los
Angeles.
We
can resist our social issues or deal with it and move beyond them. I’m praying
the city council will use good judgment and to think of ALL the citizens that
call New Orleans home. Certainly, that is not an easy job they have.
