A couple of weeks ago drew and I went to Duncan Plaza for our first assignment together. There are a LOT and LOTS of homeless people living there. This is right in front of City Hall ! And an organization there called “Homeless Pride” has really gotten peoples attention lately . I have one of their flyers on my refrigerator . So what the heck is going on here ... with all these red tents .

Everyone we talked to was fascinating and nice . Three of the issues that were mentioned by people here over and over were ... A) housing is super expensive now, B) lots of people had lost their IDs and this made everything hard - you can’t get into a shelter without one, cash checks, etc. and C) Police harassment if they were hanging out in other parts of town.

Surprisingly many people had jobs but still could not afford housing . Several people did not look like your stereo type for being indigent at all . Many had tents and tools and in some cases... were snappy dressers. But then there was a whole class of cardboarders as well.

There seemed to be little neighborhoods and subdivisions within the encampment . Groups of people who came from the same places or looked alike stuck together. The gazebo on the hill was prime real estate.

Young, old, black and white, men and women. Lots of homeless people in this urban campground . Housing IS really expensive . What can we do ? Maybe lightup inflatable igloos or biodegradable bungalows for everyone ... I want to believe it is the beginning of an advanced utopian civilization not the apocalypse .

- Miss P