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25 tents now part of homeless protest in South Bend

25 tents now part of homeless protest in South Bend
By Mark Peterson | Posted: Thu 7:04 PM, Oct 13, 2016 | Updated: Thu 8:24 PM, Oct 13, 2016
Home is where the tent is, for dozens of displaced residents camping out on South Main Street in South Bend.
“It was the tent right here behind me, guy took a knife and slit the door open on it because the guy wouldn’t’ answer the door,” said Edward Granzo, one of about 40 people living at the tent city under the bridge just south of the TRANSPO station.
The guy who slit the tent door was eventually arrested by police for intimidation—but never charged.
The conditions are a lot closer to hell than heaven according to Granzo who was among the first homeless people to move in. “We kind of put ourselves out there. We're trying I guess to kind of forcing ourselves out there to see if we can't get any help.”



Today, the symbolism was hard to miss. A total of 25 tents were set up along the sidewalks on the east and west sides of S. Main Street.
As for getting help in the short run, the number one, and number two priorities are exactly the same. “We need a bathroom, like a potty john, a couple of them, one for the ladies and one for the men,” said Terry Bolden.
The nearest restroom is now located at the TRANSPO bus station, but tent city residents say use of those facilities is now being restricted to those holding bus tickets. “A lot of people, I don’t know, they find some privacy somewhere it’s ridiculous,” said Granzo, gazing off at the great outdoors.
What you really want to have is a roof, heating, plumbing, sanitation, and most importantly of all, mental health and drug abuse recovery services.”Still, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg dismissed the idea of bringing in portable toilets. “I think it’s probably a move in the wrong direction to do anything that encourages that, encourages them to be outdoors in the public right of way.
Tent city resident Allan Klein argues that mental health and drug abuse recovery services are more essential, than they are available: “Here's the deal, in the south bend of the St. Joseph you cannot starve. There is so much food you cannot go hungry. You cannot go hungry, you cannot go without clothes. You can go without shelter, unfortunately, if you have an alcohol problem or you have a drug problem or you are displaced because of mental problems and other situations.”
The pressing problem now is to find an acceptable solution before the arrival of threatening temperatures.
“My greatest hope is finding some housing, permanent housing where I can actually, you know take a shower every night, have, you know, privacy,” said Edward Granzo. “My greatest fear is that they’re going to come and we’re not going to have anything, 30 to 40 of us that are down here are going to be stuck outside this winter.”
“My biggest hope is to get back to work in construction where I normally do,” said Terry Bolden. My biggest fear, God staying with me. God staying with me. Being by my side.”
Mayor Buttigieg continues to research what can legally be done to address the situation: “I think there are a lot of good intentions out there but it’s also important to note that there are some unintended consequences when people provide services to effectively keep them where they are right now. That may actually divert them away from services from organizations that can actually provide the substance abuse and mental health recovery that these individuals in many cases really need.”