Homeless in RI: He wasn’t sleeping, he was dead. But he was counted.

Shocking testimony at the Interagency Council to End Homelessness. So shocking we could not report on it in one report – after the one hour meeting the chair responded to a spontaneous outrage of the group of homeless individuals and their advocates and granted a 15-minute extension.

The testimony of Erich Hirsch phased no one in the room – there were no gasps – there was no surprise – or shock – no one stepped up to take a “report” of it. But it was captured on video, by the tireless Steve Ahlquist, documenting in real time the “institutionalized emergency” of the homeless and those charged with a solution – that have none.

A dead man was part of the Point in Time count night. Maybe he was sleeping? They didn’t try to find out. No one disturbed him. Was he “counted”? We don’t know. But we know he won’t show up on any Utilization Report or committee minutes.

But we say his name. His name is Rico – his story remains untold. As you read this, he resides in Rhode Island’s morgue. Unclaimed. Unheard. Counted. Or maybe, erased. His friends say his name, they tell his story, but it’s sparse, we don’t know much.

And now we learn of at least 2, perhaps 3 others. This testimony is here:

Eric Hirsch:

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No one is coming to rescue the homeless in need – but one person knew he could do something – and we all can help

One person is making a difference. A former student of Hirsch and a familiar face in trying his best to find creative solutions. Dave O’Connor. He has raised GoFundMe money and is quietly putting up homeless people this winter in hotel and motel rooms. As you read this, there are probably 100 or so of Dave’s SAFE HAVENS rescues. The average cost is $30 per day. He is also looking to open four different buildings that can be used as shelter. Here’s his GoFundMe page. You know what to do https://gofund.me/fb8add45

Safe Havens GoFundMe – You know what to do:

He is also looking to rent a building on North Main Street in Providence. He’s working on the insurance and staffing. It will have a capacity of approximately 40. The DaVinci Center is no longer able to be used as an overnight shelter – it is a great loss at this coldest month of the year. Hirsch said, “we do need an alternative given the pathetic lack of city and state action. Let’s talk about how we can support the opening of the building on North Main.”

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Telling one story – we say her name. Karen.

Rising to tell your own story is never easy to do. After standing out in the cold at 8am waiting to be let into the building where the meeting was held, and sitting behind the committee for an hour of report outs to each other by officials, all sitting around a table,