A reader notes that a man has been living in a snow pile next to the Starbucks on Second Avenue at Ninth Street the last few days... Apparently the employees of Starbucks and the pet store next door are used to him by now... He also refuses any kind of assistance from police or Social Services... Per the reader: "He's right in front of a bus stop too. All bundled up and packed in w/ the snow, garbage and pigeons."
I saw him on Christmas Eve. A sad sight. You'd think Social Services could do something because he must be mentally ill.
ReplyDeletehmmm. maybe i'll give him the starbucks gift card i got for christmas from my suburban relatives
ReplyDeleteI saw him but felt funny taking a photo, so I didn't do it. Really sad sitting in a snow pile under a piece of plastic.
ReplyDeleteSo then let's all get off our duffs and leave him containerized food... or is that not recommended???
ReplyDelete@ anon 12:49
ReplyDeleteGood idea... He may be refusing any assistance, though.
We were just in Union Square, and we saw two cops stop and ask a homeless guy if he was okay and if he needed anything. He said he was fine and thanked them. It was nice to see.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad, but even if he is mentally ill, and he might not be, it is hard for social services to bring him in against his will these days.
ReplyDeleteBuy him a sandwich and a hot coffee with milk and sugar. Don't even ask him, just put the bag next to him. It's what I do, and I have never been rebuffed. (Altho I have not seen this particular gent, rarely get as far west as 2nd Ave these days!)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty certain he is refusing assistance. I live a block away and walk past this man every morning on my way to work. This past Monday (the morning after the blizzard), I saw him sitting in a snow drift in the same spot as always. I was shocked to think he had been there all night and that the snow just fell around him (no one should be outdoors in that kind of weather!).
ReplyDeleteI called 311 right away and had trouble at first (http://twitter.com/#!/ninanyc/status/19421670234136577), but I tried again. They patched me through to 911, where I asked the dispatcher to please help this man. When I went to lunch later, I passed him again, still sitting in the same spot. Not sure what else can be done.
you need one (or is it two) doctors to certify that a person, (homeless or not) is mentally ill and remove them against their will - the police can take people to shelters if the temperature falls far below freezing, i forget how much. they can do this because the person is supposedly "a danger to himself or others". however, that does not mean mentally ill.
ReplyDeleteI see that guy quite a bit, I can't imagine how he fared during the blizzard & not sleeping in the snow & much. Man...
ReplyDeleteI saw him sitting there this past Saturday. A woman offered him money which he accepted. I honestly don't think he's mentally ill, I just think he doesn't speak English. I also offered him money and he said something to me in (what I believe is) Chinese. I think the poor guy is just trying to survive on his own. I'm going to try to see what I can do to help him, but maybe you all might have better ideas.
ReplyDelete