We at the People For Fairness Coalition have been on the frontline of the pandemic for the past four months now, faithfully supplying much-needed items to people experiencing homelessness who do not stay in shelters.
Five of us—Robert Warren, Reginald Black, and myself (who are also Street Sense Media vendor-artists), along with Andrew Anderson and Qaadir El-Amin—conduct outreach every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
We work together with the group’s treasurers, directors, and assistant directors and one really great, outstanding person—head advisor and mentor Marcia Bernbaum, who I feel must be acknowledged. She is so caring for the less fortunate.
[Read more: Mutual aid groups help encampment residents gear up for hypothermia season]
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been such a joy and a privilege to do this work, and I have been determined to help the homeless community at the encampment. My motto is to be determined, to help myself in order to help others.
Along with volunteers, every weekend since this pandemic, we have faithfully served Virginia Avenue, New Jersey Avenue and O Street NW, and 2nd and L Street NE. Even when my health is not up to par (old age aches and pains), I still want to service the homeless and supply them with toiletries, personal items, socks, clothing items, tarps, food, and water. Because of grant money and donations, some from personal friends, we have been able to purchase these items.
I have been at peace knowing that they get what they need. But one thing that breaks my heart in a little sadness is when there is harsh weather, such as rain storms, ice storms, snow storms, or even dangerously hot weather—and we can’t service the people. Even at times the directors have had to cancel our outreach. In this instance, I do shed a tear.
I am now an advocate who stands strong and speaks up for some people at these encampments who may not be able to speak up for themselves. Many of them are 60 years old or older. Now this really does destroy me.
So I’m determined to go before whomever in the government to protest and fight and get these seniors housed. Being a senior myself in a homeless community, I really do understand how this must stop. We must find a way to house the seniors.
As the slogan goes, “housing is a human right.” I (we) must FIGHT, FIGHT FIGHT!
This pandemic has not stopped. It’s still for real and going on. I must continue (with my aches and pains) to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!
Queenie Featherstone is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.
