Purpose of This Page
The goal of the community page is to provide insight on community issues as well as offer ways for you to get involved with helping out.
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From the Forsaken Perspective
by: Jordan Armstrong
About a year ago I gave a homeless man a water and after a short conversation noticed he was personable and polite. This led me to continue to assist him with food and water when I could and over time get to know him a little bit. Recently I asked if I could interview him about his story and his struggle with poverty and he agreed, although he requested that his picture not be taken and his last name not be included.
On any given day on a bench near the cross streets 1st and Roosevelt you might see a large African American homeless man by the name of Billy. Unlike the stereotypical homeless man you won’t see Billy with a sign or a hand held out begging for money; instead you’re more likely to see him with his shades on and headphones in, simply minding his own business. Originally from Florida, Billy made his way to Texas and then settled here in Phoenix, AZ. He said the reason he left Florida was to escape his troubled neighborhood in Dade County and then left Texas because “there was just too many problems for me there.”
Billy informed me that he has lived in Arizona for almost three years and has been homeless for nearly the entire time with some brief stints in shelters and run down living quarters. One thing that bewildered me in spending time with Billy was that he had an Mp3 player, headphones, sunglasses and a wallet with approximately $100 cash inside. When I inquired as to where he got the money he said he does odd jobs around the area when he can. When I then asked why he didn’t try to invest the money in shelter he replied, “I don’t have enough money coming in to pay rent so I save the money for food and other stuff. Besides, I’ve gotten used to being homeless, you never get used to being hungry.”
When I was talking to Billy I noticed that people walking by were looking at us weird, like I shouldn’t be conversing with him or something. This caused me to ask how he feels the students and other people passing by view him. He told me he thinks he makes people uneasy, that they don’t like that he’s there. When I asked him why he said “I don’t know, I don’t bother nobody. People just get scared of things they don’t know and they don’t know me.”
Billy continued to tell me how he had been forced to pack up his stuff and move by the police because people had complained about his presence. “It’s a public bench, ain’t it made for sitting?” Billy questioned. Even worse he said that once the cops confiscated his belongings, which includes the materials he sleeps on. Due to this risk he said he no longer keeps his stuff out in the open but instead hides it where he knows it will be safe. Since conducting the interview it has been two weeks and I haven’t seen Billy in his usual spot. Hopefully it’s because he found a better spot or possibly a roof to sleep under. The point is that he is a person with problems, opinions and a story to tell just like everyone else, yet because of his financial status is looked at differently.
Downtown Students Question Safety
by: Jordan Armstrong
One of the most important aspects of attending school is being in a safe environment where you feel comfortable and can focus on learning. Part of this safety comes from within the school buildings and classrooms and another comes from the surrounding area. While downtown Phoenix is an up-and-coming area, it is still an area inhabited by many unfortunate, homeless individuals. Being that these people are unknown and perceived to be desperate, most students I have spoken with label them as unstable and potentially dangerous.
For female students commuting by themselves to the Downtown Phoenix campus of ASU it is very understandable that there is some uneasiness about walking to their cars after a night class is dismissed. The area outside of the main Walter Cronkite building isn't what you would necessarily describe as well lit, either. "Walking to my car - where I park it is further away from the downtown campus, kind of off of it a little bit - walking to it is pretty sketchy at times, I feel a little uncomfortable," describes ASU student Lauren Penland.
Lauren goes on to say that she doesn't feel that it is right that she have to feel unsafe while she is at a campus that she pays to attend. Another downtown campus female student, Danielle Teitelbaum, says that she also feels nervous when leaving her night classes and that her biggest fear is being assaulted and/or robbed by a homeless person. "They are desperate for money and have nothing to lose," explains Teitelbaum. She also mentioned that she thinks ASU should do something to fix the issue and increase student safety. Unfortunately, after further consideration, Teitelbaum realized that it probably isn't the university's issue to fix but instead the City of Phoenix.
You would have to imagine that Arizona State would be on the same page as these two students and wish to have all their students feel safe, so what can Phoenix do to help out? The obvious answer is to get the homeless people off of the street and into shelters and programs to help them. Here with Forsaken Faces we encourage everyone to get involved and contribute in any way, shape, or form to making this happen because it benefits everyone.
Interview with Lauren Penland
-Photos Courtesy of Alyssa Prano