30 Nights with the Martinez / Pacheco Homeless Outreach - One Last Night

Editor's Note: Martinez Patch wants to thank Doug Stewart for his 30-day blog about his experiences with the Martinez/Pacheco Homeless Outreach. We've asked Doug to continue contributing his posts from time to time.

Day 30

6 p.m.:  I started downtown for the first two hours for the car show. I was really surprised -- at first there was only one homeless person that I saw at the show. So I walked over to the Amtrak Station to see if they were all there and, sure enough, at the entrance to Amtrak there were two people asleep on the ground. So I woke them up to see what was up and of course they were just hot, although I could smell alcohol. I just told them that it's not a good idea to sleep at Amtrak's entrance and I gave them some water and I headed back to the show. I just walked around and slowly but surely more homeless showed up and besides the bad dancing they were on pretty good behavior.

When the show was over I saw a lady by a local resturant; she is an older lady but has some mental health issues. I asked if she was hungry; she said she just needed milk, so I got her some milk and we talked a little bit but I really couldn't get her to accept anything, so she just took off walking.

Next I went out to the Marina park. I stopped and talked to a couple in an RV. I asked if they needed anything; they replied money. I said "me too." We just chatted for a few minutes; they were nice people but didn't take anything from me except my card.

Then I ran home for some dinner and in the middle of eating Martinez police called me to go to the post office on Alhambra Avenue, so I headed down there. It was a younger man that I had contacted about week ago; he has some mental health issues going on and I asked him why he didn't go home. He said he changed his mind and didn't want to. He was in bare feet and shorts. I asked if he wanted some new clothes. He said he was good, so I gave him some shoes and a blanket and told him he could call me if he changed his mind.

Then it was off to another Martinez police call downtown. It was a couple -- one was in shelter already and the woman wanted in too, so I called the shelter. They said she could get in the next day so they only had to be out for one night, which is better than nothing. I gave them blankets and my card. They seemed pretty happy about that so we left and I went down to Amtrak for one last look around and it was quiet so I headed home.

I want to thank everyone who followed me and I am grateful for the support that people have given me.