fall 2004

Dear Friends;

The calendar tells me it is autumn, but I am not entirely sure about that with temperatures still in the 80’s.   I was curious about how the seasons begin and end and who named them, so I did a little research.  I was struck by the description of autumn and how relevant it is to the work done at The Other Place.  Autumn was described as “a transition season as the thunderstorms and severe weather of the summer give way to a tamer, calmer weather period before the turbulence of the winter commences.”   With that in mind we at The Other Place consider ourselves in the transition period between a difficult summer and what we expect to be a turbulent winter.

The thunderstorms of our summer, while not that severe by most standards was difficult for The Other Place. This summer saw the daily average of homeless people needing services increase from 120 people to 140 people.  Since the spring of this year nine homeless people have died as a result of their life on the street.  The average age of these nine people at the time of their death was 46 years old.  Their deaths, while unnoticed by many, reminds us that everyday is turbulent for a homeless person. 

If it truly is autumn now should be the calmer period.  Today 141 people have entered shelter seeking services, 30 people will sleep outdoors due to lack of emergency night time shelter beds, for families and children there is a 36 month wait for permanent Section 8 Housing,  and a person needing a long term dual residential treatment program will have to wait up to eight weeks before entering.  This is the autumn when things are suppose to be calmer while we prepare for the turbulent winter.

What does the winter have in store for The Other Place and the many homeless we serve?  Is this the calm before the turbulent winter?   I don’t have the answers to these questions.  I know that every season has its thunderstorms when you are homeless.  We have seen the thunderstorms of summer, and look forward the calm of autumn and plan for the turbulent winter.  I also know that as the seasons come and go I can continue to count on your support throughout the year for The Other Place. 

Respectfully,
Tina M. Patterson
Tina M. Patterson
Executive Director

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