Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Uncertain of how to ask this, but here goes …
- This topic has 40 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 7 months ago by Lisa.
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August 26, 2017 at 11:32 am #893089
TanDLParticipantA friend of mine noticed M-T on California Ave the other day, crying. My friend told me she couldn’t get to her in traffic and lack of parking but wondered what was going on and if there was (is) anything our community can do to help. I looked up this thread and see ideas but it doesn’t seem like any changes have been made in the last couple of years. So I would like to ask if anyone has updated information about this woman? Would she accept shelter if shelter could be built or provided somewhere? Would it be possible to find or build a small place for her where she could store her things and sleep securely at night? If she would accept such a thing, could we set up a funding site for donating to provide shelter? Would it be possible for this community to change the life of one person in need? I would like to try, if anyone knows more about what she will accept and/or need. Thanks for any information anyone might have.
September 4, 2017 at 2:17 am #893878
advntrplzParticipantI’ve wanted to build a push or bicycle cart shelter for situations like these but haven’t a clue about local ordinances. Maybe we can find a couple of local businesses that wouldn’t mind giving her a safe place to lock it down/park?
Stumbled across THIS and wonder if MT would be interested in it.
Pushcart, lightweight, lockable, shelter from elements, storage, and could be an awesome community project. I love the paint job on the last Sara Cloultier example and think it would brighten both MTs day as well as WS locals.
…only if she is open to the idea.
I am more than willing to dedicate build space, materials and sweat to helping.
September 4, 2017 at 8:09 am #893883
TanDLParticipantWell that’s pretty cool. If anyone can catch her on the street, introduce themselves and maybe ask her… or if anyone on the blog already knows her somewhat, could they ask her and then let us know via this posting? Maybe put this photo on a smart phone and show her? Colors would be up to her. If she’s willing, we could start the process and approach some businesses and/or residents for a safe place. I’m in!!!
September 5, 2017 at 2:47 am #893937
JoBParticipantme too
September 10, 2017 at 4:01 pm #894481
LisaParticipant@advntrplz … That looks awesome! First question… Would this be legal to be ‘parked’ somewhere? For instance, if she’s currently ‘ok’ to be hunkered down for the night in a vacant storefront with her carts, would this be ‘ok’ if she were in the same place (say somewhere on California Ave)… in her new ‘portable shelter’?
I could show her images from the link above but I’d want to be somewhat sure that this could actually happen before doing so. I’d certainly be happy/willing/able to provide $ and elbow grease to make this happen!
Lisa
September 11, 2017 at 9:07 am #894526
TanDLParticipantI think we would have to find a private party or business that would be willing to allow her to “park” at night on their private property, not on public sidewalks. Maybe I’m naïve, but I think there must be someone in the area who would be OK with her “parking” one small portable living/storage space off their alley, backyard or behind a fence somewhere during evening hours.
September 11, 2017 at 10:05 am #894534
advntrplzParticipantI think the first option is to find someone willing to allow her to park on their property.
The next question is if this falls into a grey area of trailer parking on city streets etc. Meaning she could possibly park anywhere and just needs to move it every 2/3 days per parking rules. I am not a Seattle native, nor very versed with parking restrictions here. This will require some digging.
Having something to actually lock it down to, or maybe even a U bike lock to stop wheels from rolling will be important.
There are a lot of different ideas out there, a few searches of “Bicycle camper” or “homeless pushcart” will come up with some neat ones.
I am clearing space in my garage, finishing a large woodworking project, but can start on this as early as the 19th. Mostly because I am out of town until then.
Would love to have coffee and put our brains together.
A couple of links-
September 11, 2017 at 8:38 pm #894580
TanDLParticipantSaw M-T this evening and introduced myself. She was very cordial, and quite formal but then I was a stranger. She insisted she has safe places to be at night and would not hear of someone providing her with anything else. I didn’t push it as I have no idea of her real circumstances. Maybe someone who knows her a little better would be able to find out more about what she needs or will accept. If anyone out there has talked to her before and/or is better at this than I, please let us know in this forum. If there is anything we can do to make sure she is warm and safe, there are several of us willing to help. She feels like an integral part of our community and we would like to be there with assistance if she will accept it. Thanks…
September 11, 2017 at 10:39 pm #894590
LisaParticipantI think it’s beautiful that so many members here are sincerely concerned about her and willing to act on her behalf to show it… BUT I think we all need to understand that the ‘reality’ of her psychological situation. I’ve been talking with her for several years and never once… has she alluded to the fact that she sleeps outdoors. She always has stories for me about the ‘terrible landlord’ she has that ‘never fixes the heat’ or that ‘the children she looks after’ having a hard time staying warm and dry…
I can talk to her and try to explain … but like I said in my previous post, I don’t even want to broach this conversation with her… unless it really looks like something that could be viable for her.
Lisa
September 12, 2017 at 8:10 am #894612
HappyOnAlkiParticipantLisa, thank you for your thoughts — it’s so helpful to have somebody who actually knows her. A possible idea: Maybe if the “pod” or whatever were characterized as “someplace to keep your stuff,” it might be easier for her to consider.
September 12, 2017 at 10:51 pm #894755
LisaParticipant@HappyOnAlki I’ve thought about this for years and even approached my employer (who would be totally open to $ helping) about having someone fabricate her a more user-friendly ‘cart’ but it would totally have to be ‘here, would you like to use this’? and being completely open/accepting to her saying ‘Oh, that’s very nice… but no thank you’.
We all have to understand… for whatever reasons… soundly consciously chosen or not… Her LIFE… is just that…
September 13, 2017 at 8:06 am #894784
JoBParticipanti love where this conversation has gone
September 13, 2017 at 9:36 am #894788
advntrplzParticipant@Lisa …
I think that is exactly how I feel as well re: this has to be her choice.
What we feel might improve another’s life may not actually help.
I would still love to build something, and if she want it, awesome. If not, there are others who might. If they don’t, hell, it was a fun, good heart thing to do. Learning lesson and move on.
The thing that warms me most is how so many people here want to help.
September 14, 2017 at 11:25 pm #894981
LisaParticipant@advntrplz I’d be happy to meet with you and of course, any/everyone else in this conversation to discuss and perhaps plan… a project to help someone… It may or may not be Mary Theresa but it would be ‘someone’ :) I don’t know if she wants/would accept this type of structure… But I Do Know… she likes to have AA Batteries for her little portable music player, Hot Chocolate and Cola… (I try to remind her to drink more water and less sugar;) )… when she’s not feeling well sometimes I get her Tylenol or Ricola Cough Drops… Yarn BUT… you have to know ‘what type’ ;) for the project she’s working on :)
Just talk to her… all of you! You don’t need to be offering ‘help’ … just acknowledging her and engaging with her… You know… I think that’s really what all of us want/need… whether we realize it or not <3
September 15, 2017 at 8:26 am #895009
JoBParticipantgreat point.. just say hello.. with our without asking if there is anything you can do to make her life easier… a smile and a hug go a long ways towards making someone’s day
September 19, 2017 at 1:16 am #895416
LisaParticipantI’ve been thinking about our community coming together and building a ‘Tiny Home’… on wheels, for … Someone. Maybe for someone to use and then hand over to the next person who needs it. And that maybe someone … or ones… who have property can allow the “Tiny Home” and inhabitant … to stay a while…
I’m always thinking… it’d be great to align with others that think too … and DO <3
- This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by Lisa.
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