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Vol. 3 No: 1 Aswan Newscut September 27, 1998

It Could Be A Killer Policy

This story is not based on actual events,
only to show some public attitudes.

"Got a rare one here, Sarge" pulling the inmate toward the receiving room. "Seem that this executive director of a homeless provider got caught handing out blankets to the unsheltered after business hours, in direct violation of Chief Oliver's passing out blankets policy."

"When are those guys going to ever learn?" the Sargent commented while lending farther back in his chair and shaking his head. And then continues; "Whats with them do-gooders handing out prizes? Don't they know they're feeding into the homeless to stay homeless."

"And just so them whiney ego trippers can say; I put my heart, soul, and sweat into helping the homeless, and then later they pick-up their fat fifty thousands dollar paycheck," the guard responded.

"Tired of people making money off the homeless people to satisfied their crabby conscience, lock-up all the homeless and you've solved the problem and saved a lot of money. If I was mayor, the homeless wouldn't be allowed on the city sidewalk, either. Yes sir ree bobb, I'd clean-up these streets," the Sargent countered as he lend forward in his lazy-boy chair.

"Let's see here, put him over there in D Block with all those planeteers who been sleeping behind the Daily Planet."

"Sorry, D Block full, Sarge" the guard added.

"If they would just get a job! They wouldn't be in this mess."

"They don't want to work, not when everything giving to them. They think that they got it made in the shade," the guard countered.

Well, put him over there in E Block with the other planeteers.

"Sorry Sarge, E Block full too."

"Well, at least City Council repealed the church feeding restrictions, we'd never had room for all those ministers, put him over there in B Block with all them transsexuals,"

"Really sorry Sarge, B Block is also full."

"Damn! Put in him in B Block anyway, they'll take care of him."

Now, come on, Jerry. You mean to tell us that if you've just got a shipment of fifteen thousands blankets and two guys came up to your house shivering on a January night, you would turn them away because its after dark? Where your morals, man! Weigh your policy and frigid weather and morals on my side, buddy! Now, all we have to do is come up with a reasonable plan. Before you kill somebody!

On February 1, 1998, Chief of Police Jerry Oliver wrote a letter to the Daily Planet regarding that homeless people might have a legal defense in sleeping behind the Daily Planet and asked them to refrained from handing out blankets after business hours.

Blankets were handed out after business hours by a night Daily Planet staff, in late January of this year. Chief Oliver wrote his letter after two individuals were arrested for sleeping outside in the back, and obtained blankets against normal procedures. The two individuals were turned away from shelters including CARITAS, due to its full capacity, and forced to sleep in frigid weather, the night staff considered "Human Life" more important than the policy. What would you do, if you were that night staff in January of this year?

We at ASWAN feel offended at the nature of this policy, hundreds if not thousands were turn away from full shelters last winter. ASWAN (A Society Without A Name, For People Without A Home) is a homeless advocacy organization that consist of homeless and formerly homeless volunteers. Our objective is to protect the fundamental rights of the homeless people. We decided to work productively with the city to resolve some concerning issues, we'll extended the same to the Chief of Police. This winter lets make sure a person doesn't freezes to death after being refused of a blanket. This winter the Daily Planet will receive fifteen thousands blankets and will save homeless people lives, don't create a killer policy.