30 Nights with the Martinez / Pacheco Homeless Outreach - A Sad Sunday Scene

Day 11

8:25 p.m.:  I started at Safeway on Alhambra Avenue where I saw a homeless man spend a very long time in the restroom and proceeded to break the soap dispenser, so I take him outside and it turns out he's been in Martinez for two days. He got out of jail, he gave this very long story and then I asked him if had a drug problem. He said "yeah, it's killing me." There wasn't much I could do for him but I told him about treatment services in this county . I gave him a blanket and some food and I was off.

About that time I got a call from the 24-year-old guy I put in shelter a few days back; he had left the shelter but wanted back in. I explained to him that he couldn't go back for 30 days, that's the county's rule. So I fed him and spoke to him for a while. He said he couldn't get back and fourth to volunteer here in Martinez so just didn't go back. I tried to tell him I was glad he was helping kids but he needed to take care of himself first, so I called 211 for him and they gave him some other options I hope he follows up with. 

Then it was off to downtown and right away behind Family Kitchen Cafe I found one of Martinez's chronic alcoholics. He was having a seizure in the middle of the parking lot so I had to call the police and ambulance. While we were waiting he would try to stand up but just fall over. Then he wet himself; it was very sad.

Then right about that time another homeless guy comes up and asked if he could talk to me and starts to rant about another homeless guy at the Amtrak Station and the three police that were on the scene ended up breathlizing him after a bunch of ranting and he was way over the legal limit so he went to jail and the guy having the seizure went to the county hospital. Then it was over to Amtrak where I just handed out supplies and spoke to some guys that were stranded from jail. I ended up giving them both a ride to BART.

Now I'm back and out in the Marina park at the horse park. There was one girl camping alone there -- I told that I didn't think it was safe for her to be out there all alone and tomorrow she should find a better spot, but I gave her socks.

Now I'm walking back to Amtrak where I'm parked and see some younger men on a balcony above Armando's. They were shooting a pellet gun towards the Amtrak parking lot, so I had to call the police again.

Needless to say it was a busy but productive night -- I might not have put anyone in services, but I left a lot people better than I found them.  I was thinking about how people could be involved with helping the less fortunate in our community and I really think the City Council should appoint an advisory committee to give me and the police suggestions. I always like to hear people's suggestions -- sometime people come up with ideas that really help me do my job bettter.