Monday, December 29, 2008

Call To Action: Help Homeless Living At Wilson L


Anyone who uses the Wilson L on a regular basis has surely seen this sight; cardboard, newspapers and a sleeping bag in one of the many vacant storefronts of the once grand CTA station. We are asking our readers to call 311 and request the Department of Human Services to send a van to help this person find permanent shelter and care before the bitter cold gets worse. No one should be living like this with all of the social service agencies in Uptown.

20 comments:

  1. Good luck readers with your attempts to help this man. I've tried various carrot and stick methods to encourage him to seek shelter. I've provided a meal if he would just walk with me to the nearest shelter.

    I'm all out of methods except for prayer.

    I'll call 311 again.

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  2. I wonder what Uptown United has done to address this as well? Not only is this dangerous for this homeless man, but I would imagine it's not helpful for retail sales too.

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  3. I'm sure Suellen Long of Uptown United sees this man sleeping in the Wilson L as she DRIVES from Bridgeview Bank to Alma Pita for lunch. Or, when she DRIVES home from work, which is a mere 5 minute walk. These people are out of touch with what is going on in Uptown south of Leland. Nothing will change until there is more new blood in Uptown United and the "everything is fine in Uptown just don't look south of Leland" mentality is changed. Anytime anyone questions the retail near Broadway and Wilson they can say,"but look at Lawrence and Broadway!"

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  4. I say we pay cab fare to take this gentlemen to Alderman Shiller's house, where I'm sure she will take him in with open arms. But then again, she doesn't even live in the ward, so why would she?

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  5. I wonder how this has slipped past the CTA, since Ron Huberman's home stop is Wilson and he surely must have passed this person over the course of the past year?

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  6. Uptown United should be able to see this man every night from the view of the property they own at 4619 N Broadway.

    11/5/2007: Uptown Update's memory lane with Uptown United

    If only Uptown United were actually using 4619 N Broadway as their office instead of camping out in the Bridgeview Bank building using taxpayer money to do so.

    Actually, you might be able to see this man from the 8th floor of the Bridgeview Bank building. Perhaps the TARP stimulus will provide them the means for a better view.

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  7. Caring Neighbor: Mr. Huberman will enter and depart the Wilson red line station from the South turn style entrance. It's unlikely he will ever see this corridor.

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  8. I want to help this person. One being concern for his health, the other to allow me to walk to the train without the all too common stream of urine coming from the spot. Once he was laying down, pants around his knees with his exposed rear facing the street. There I was allowed to watch him wipe after he relieved himself on CTA property.

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  9. Sorry to sound like a grinch, but be prepared for the possibility that this person may not want your help. Shelters and programs can put requirements and demands on these people that they are not willing to deal with. That's why they may choose the street instead of a shelter.

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  10. I wonder what they do in other wards when this kind of problem surfaces? I don't see people camping out on the sidewalks in Lakeview, Lincoln Square, and Edgewater.

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  11. As long as Uptown United refuses to hold the CTA accountable for being a slumlord in Uptown, nothing will change. Anyone remember "Corridors of Vision?" What a joke that was.

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  12. I really don't want this man to freeze to death, or have happen any of the other countless bad things that can happen to homeless people.

    What a horrible thing to happen, especially right in the middle of the city, steps from a host of social services that can help him. I called 311 and hope they've received many many calls so that this person can get the help he so desperately needs.

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  13. "Once he was laying down, pants around his knees with his exposed rear facing the street."

    We are talking about the man in the picture, right? The sentance above sounds more like the new Aldi design at Wilson Yard.

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  14. Hey Folks, this isn't a man. It's a woman. I've spoken with her and buy her coffee on occasion. She is very quiet and nice and never bothers anyone. She walks the neighborhood sometimes during the day and I'll see her walk by while I'm at work. And she has impeccable manners; please and thank-you when applicable. That blue sleeping bag is new, or WAS new a couple of weeks ago.

    There is a man, a real man, who lives under the El tracks with his "bed" suspended from the fence and his belongings hung above him when he sleeps.

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  15. The person has to WANT help. Yes there are plenty of angencies in Uptown that can help. But, help has rules and responsibilities. The chronic homeless can not or will not abide rules and responsibilities. When people give homeless food, money, blankets, or sleeping bags. What would be the incententive to go into a shelter that has rules.

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  16. Amen! The well meaning folks who buy her a cup of coffee, an occasional sandwich and a brand new sleeping bag are exacerbating the problem.

    All the agencies who are trying to get these campers off the streets and into better conditions are frustrated by the free handouts. What is the incentive for this person to work with the Department of Human Services when she gets free food and beverages all the time?

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  17. Shouldn't Ward Superintendent Don Nowotny or CTA workers haul off things that are left unattended on CTA property? She leaves her cardboard and sleeping bag there all day.

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  18. If you see the items left on cta property go to get a CTA worker and report it. Stay there until they remove it.

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  19. *She leaves her cardboard and sleeping bag there all day.*

    That's pretty mean....taking her stuff.

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  20. Her Stuff should be tossed everyday. Leaving it there only encourages her sleeping there. There should be more pressure put on the CTA to do something about the problem

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