RIVER PLACE STILL HOME
Residents camp on lawn
The former tenants of River Place Residence continued to camp in the building's yard Thursday after being ousted from the building Tuesday night.
A dozen or more residents remained in tents on the front lawn of the building at 245 Detroit St. on Thursday, more than a day after the apartment building was boarded up.
“This was far from part of the plan. I can't go anywhere. I have my stuff,” said Darel Thomas, who had been living at River Place since November.
Thomas said it was hard facing living outdoors again, because he had got rid of his camping gear — he lived rough in the downtown area before moving to River Place — only to be back outdoors. Now, he doesn't even have a tent.
“Transferring from downtown to here, living outside to living inside, I had to get rid of all my camping gear,” Thomas said. “I was set up already and pretty much comfortable. Still, I'm out here.”
Janet White, who said her nephew Dylan lived at River Place, said they both come to the building every day to show support and help out. She said she feels as if the safety net and government systems have failed many of the people at River Place.
“We need everyone's support,” White said. “They're all tired of hearing, `We don't know.' It could happen to me tomorrow.
“We're asking for everyone to ask for mental health and homelessness (support) and we need our city to stand with us until it happens.”
Several of the residents said the last two nights have been chilly. Some people have been dropping off food and bottled water, but others have been driving by to gawk and take pictures, which residents said is incredibly invasive.
Debbie Cercone, the city's director of housing and homelessness, said about 10 of the building's roughly 25 to 30 residents were successful in finding new accommodations, and others are encouraged to access the city's emergency shelters.
The wait list for affordable housing in the city is currently around 5,000 households, she added, but outreach workers, from the city and other agencies, have been on site over the last week.
A city-issued prohibition of occupancy order came into effect at midnight on Tuesday after running water and fire alarms could not be maintained. The building was first deemed unsafe on July 8.
Thomas said he's long been engaged with case workers and outreach support, even before his move to River Place last year, and has been looking for affordable housing that was more than a room for rent.
“I'm not looking for the Taj Mahal, but a little wartime house with my own backyard where I can sit and forget this (B.S.)” Thomas said. “But it comes down to this. Back up against the wall.”