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Health & Fitness

30 Nights with the Martinez/Pacheco Homeless Outreach — A Pretty Normal Night

Follow the Martinez/Pacheco Homeless Outreach.

Day 12

I started at the Amtrak Station. Tonight there were seven outside, one inside. Right away there was an inmate who needed a ride but he had no paperwork and he didn't have a BART ticket. The jail gives BART tickets out so guys can get back to where they came from. I'm pretty strict about seeing the release paperwork. I'm a taxi and guys have come up and told me they were in jail when they weren't and last night some guys were released who weren't supposed to be, plus I just want to know who I've got in my car. So I asked him to wait, then I started on my rounds.

There was a new woman out tonight; she told me she had an apartment but couldn't go home because someone else was living there. It didn't make sense to me but I'm not here to judge so I gave her a blanket and put her on the list for a shelter bed. Then I went to 500 Court St. and there was one guy under there but he is conserved so I can't do anything with him except give him supplies, which I did.

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Then I went down the street  to a downtown business. I'm going to tell you where but it is a mess. Unfortunately, the city is not responsible for this property but we're talking lots of trash and clothes and a lot of human waste. It smells; I'm surprised the neighbors aren't complaining — I would be. There was actually someone sleeping there — it was the guy who was so drunk he had seizures last night. I told you about him yesterday. It is so sad — he wants to live like this and there's nothing I can do. I am going to see if he meets the criteria for conservatorship, but I doubt it.

After I left downtown I went around and checked a few of the smaller parks in Martinez like Mountain View, Golden Hills, Nancy Boyd and Morello Park. I didn't find anyone there but it is good to check. I have found people in these parks before. On my way back I came down Alhambra Avenue and stopped behind a local hotel. It was messy, too, but I found some needles at the camp so I picked them up and put them in my sharp container. I have to pick up the used needles — I don't want anyone else getting hurt by them.

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It was a pretty normal night.

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