Fort Worth Burrito Project
by BernieI wanted to let all you West and Clear readers out there know about a very cool new movement that’s coming to Fort Worth… we’re getting a Burrito Project!I don’t think I can put it any better than the Burrito Project members themselves, so here is their description of what they do:
“The mission of Burrito Project and the purpose of this Myspace burrito project information profile is to provide people with the means to become active members in their community. It is a way for people to bridge a gap between the fed and the hungry. Burrito Project is in no way shape or form affiliated with any religious or political organization; The projects are non-fame and a non-personal recognition groups (hence the bandannas for pictures). There is no Burrito Project head quarters or leader nor a need for one.The Project is simply providing a tool to show how easy, inexpensive, and rewarding feeding hungry people can be. The Project is a guideline for serving people in your community. The homeless and hungry are people. They are our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and parents. The Project is a respectful extension of our collective dinner table. A way to recognize people who through out the day are often ignored, and even demonized. The Project recognizes the problematic nature of our nation’s and world’s homeless situation. There is no sermon or lecture. Burrito project offers substance in the form of a handshake, eye contact, warm food, and even some hugs. The project is not a solution, it is a step by step, DIY (Do It Yourself) outline for a way to get involved. The Project is there for you to expand. Each branch of Burrito Project in each city is independent of each other. The mission is to inspire other burrito project chapters to grow organically.”
Pretty cool, huh? Be sure to check out the local page of the Fort Worth Burrito Project, and let them know if you can help. I’m going to try and make the first ride myself.
30 Comments, Comments or Pings
Suzette
The very LAST thing we need here in Fort Worth is more free food for the homeless. That’s why many of them remain homeless is because it’s free, there are no rules and there are no consequences for their life choices. Think hand UP instead of hand out. Donating to the Union Gospel Mission would be of more “help” than anything because the Mission has programs for these individuals which instills empowerment, strength, self esteem, etc.
Dec 12th, 2007
Adam Donaghey
You have got to be kidding me… “That’s why many of [the homeless] remain homeless is because [the food is] free….” Do you honestly believe that people actually choose to “remain” homeless based on a few dollars of food everyday? Assuming they actually get it, of course. Yeah… I’m certain homeless people CHOOSE to live on the streets, picking up trash, out in the wet and cold elements (especially this time of year!) for some free food. Did ya catch the sarcasm there? Your ignorance absolutely amazes me.
Obviously, there are pan-handling problems and scams and whatever (e.g., the old “I need some gas to get my kids home” routine or the fact that many pan-handlers aren’t homeless at all); but giving out FOOD is NEVER a bad thing: NEVER. Not only am I baffled, but I’m a bit perturbed at your total lack of reason with regards to this subject.
But what really tops things off… What really makes it all that much worse. The proverbial coup de grâce, if you will. Is the fact that you actually suggested donating to a Christian-based mission does more good then simply giving away the food. Why is it that you or any religious organization have the authority–nay, the audacity–to dictate what is good or noble or true? And you really have no way to wiggle yourself out of this because you bluntly argued, “there are no rules and there are no consequences for their life choices.” What is that?
Have you ever had a conversation with a homeless person? Have you ever actually spent any quality time with someone really living on the streets? Have you ever thought for one second that these people are human and don’t necessarily want or need your authority or your blessing?
They need food. This program gives it. And it’s totally NSA. And that’s definitely the way it should be: no strings attached.
Dec 12th, 2007
Bernie
Suzette, I figured you’d have something to say about this, and I’m glad you said it.
Adam, ease up on Suzette just a little. She had indeed worked w/ homeless people; in fact she employs them when she can, as her business is very near FW’s largest homeless population.
I personally think you’re right, though, Adam. There’s a place for both “hand ups” and “hand outs.” True, they need help to improve their lives. But a reminder that they are human and cared for, in the form of a No-strings-attached burrito dinner, will not worsen their situation
Dec 12th, 2007
Suzette
Yes Adam, I’ve spend lots of time with several of the chronically homeless individuals and researched to topic to great lengths. Last winter I took one to my house for about a week when the weather was so very cold. At the moment I employ 4 chronically homeless individuals on a part time basis and have many long discussions with them constantly. I have spent many hours on the phone with social services, taking them to AA meetings, JPS hospital for their meds, etc. There is plenty of hot food around the homeless shelters. Salvation Army feeds them 2-3 meals per day, Beautiful Feet feeds them breakfast each morning, Presbyterian Night Shelter feeds them, Union Gospel Mission feeds them, also many church groups drive down E. Lancaster and give away pizzas, etc. Most of the homeless throw the box/trash down when they are thru eating and we pay for the trash to be cleaned and suffer the nasty look of the neighborhood because of their lack of respect for the lands. The only reason that I suggested giving money to Union Gospel is because they have great intensive programs that truly “help” some of the homeless individuals get back on their feet, rid themselves of addiction and become a participant in society. The Salvation Army also has some great successful programs. These are both religious based orgs. I am certainly not for organized religion nor am I dictating anything. I regret if I came across as dictorial. With the help of people like you, perhaps I can learn to sugar coat my words a little better. BTW, most homeless individuals claim indigency if ever taken to jail, and the City of Fort Worth does not allow these individuals to participate in Community Service because of the “liability,” that’s where the comment of “no consequences” came from. One more thing, it would greatly help if you could get your elected officials to find a different way to handle non-violent criminals as there is a HUGE problem with finding a job if you have a criminal record. Most homeless individuals on the street have a record and it’s near impossible for them to find a job. It’s good to see the passion you have for the topic. We (as a society) need more people like you.
Dec 12th, 2007
Joyce Connelley
Many homeless people are mentally ill and desperately need medical care. Simply feeding these people will not solve their problem. They need access to services that will help them deal with their illness. I am whole-heartedly in favor of having the city develop these kinds of services.
The free food coaltion would do a lot more good for these people if they would direct themselves toward organizations such as NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness), which needs all the donations it can get.
And Yes, Virginia, there are some people who CHOOSE to be homeless. Of course, they will not tell you so because then they wouldn’t be able to sucker you into giving them a hand out. These people remain on the margins of society because they are LAZY. There is no other word for it. They don’t want to work or otherwise shoulder any responsibility for themselves. They are like stray cats - once you feed them you can never get rid of them again. Not only that, they will tell all their kitty kat friends, who will have unprotected sex in your backyard and leave you with their kittens.
I say this because I have family members who fall into this category. I love them very much. So much so that I have stopped taking care of them so that they can begin to take care of themselves.
I agree with Suzette - give a hand up, not a hand out.
Joyce
Dec 12th, 2007
Bernie
I don’t know guys… most of the homeless people, almost all of them even, have mental health problems. To expect them to simply get a job and start supporting themselves is kind of like asking those abandoned cats you mentioned to start hunting to feed themselves. Except they don’t know how.
Now I know, that’s what those services you guys are talking about are meant for. That’s great, bring them on.
But to suggest that private citizens are in the wrong for wanting to give of themselves to tackle the first problem, hunger, isn’t the answer. A good deed is a good deed, whether a few take advantage of the situation or not.
Dec 12th, 2007
Suzette
There is not a shortage of food for the homeless in Fort Worth.
Dec 12th, 2007
Bernie
There may not be a shortage of food available. Not every homeless person is going to make it to a meal kitchen, though. Some won’t feel comfortable at a church; some will get kicked out; stuff happens.
These meals get delivered a little differently. They’re delivered by guys on bikes, so they can reach the people who don’t find their way to shelters/kitchens.
We can agree to disagree on this one, I guess… I’ve got one more thing to consider, though:
If private citizens start doing the right thing and helping feed their homeless neighbors, wouldn’t the existing shelters be able to spend less of their donations on feeding them, and therefore commit more resources to those services that can really help get people off the streets?
Dec 12th, 2007
Will
If there is so much free food in Fort Worth, why am I reading articles everyday in the Star-Telegram about the food banks having HALF the amount of food to distribute as last year?
Seems to me there’s lots of money pouring into town from somewhere. I mean, how many $500,000 and up condos are going up around town? I hope they have nicely designed pantries full of canned food that they can donate.
Dec 13th, 2007
Jim Wilson
Yes- there are homeless in FW.
Yes- they need additional services besides food.
Yes- there are agencies/churchs/groups providing food.
Yes- there is a growing problem which needs new solutions.
Oh, and Yes- like every other section of the population…
… there are the few who take advantage.
However-
There are people, humans like yourself, who are homeless.
They are cold, they need food, they need help.
Simply-
Regardless of method, help is good…
… help is the human thing to do, regardless of the method.
Dec 13th, 2007
Suzette
Bernie -
“If private citizens start doing the “right” thing and help feed their homeless neighbors wouldn’t the existing shelters be able to spend less of their donations on feeding them and commit more resources on services that can really help get people off the streets?”
I guess the words “the right thing” is all relative according to one’s perception of homelessness. I suppose if you worked closely with the shelters and you committed to providing so much food so many days of the week they could cut down on their food expenses and depend on outside source for food. Why don’t you meet with the Directors of the shelters and see what they say? Or at least tour all of the shelters and feeding places for the homeless, interview some homeless individuals and see what your research tells you? Or maybe you have done that, I don’t know.
Unless you live or work in the same neighborhood as service facilities for homeless individuals, I don’t think one really understands the reality of homelessness and the habits of the individuals that choose to remain on the streets. I am of the opinion that if one wants to “help” the homeless, find out first what the needs are before jumping in and doing what one “thinks” may be a need when indeed it very well may not be a need. I understand the idea of wanting to “help” and the good deed stuff and all that and throwing burritos is an easy, feel good type of deed. However, I think there are other ways that would be more help but are less easy to do and the gratificaion isn’t as instant as feeding. If you decide to throw burritos, please stay around long enough to pick up all of the trash and uneaten burritos that will be left on the streets in our neighborhood after you do your good deed of feeding the homeless.
Dec 13th, 2007
Anton
I’m getting in on this late, but here are my thoughts on the comments, for what they’re worth:
Homeless people are often crazy, almost always dirty, affected by disease, they talk to themselves, they smell bad…I could keep going. But really, do any of us even care about people we don’t know, who come from different backgrounds than us? I for one don’t really care about people who aren’t in the creative industries. Why then should we care about a bunch of dirty, crazy people?
I don’t have a real good answer for this, other than it feels good to love people despite all the reasons they give us not to care about them.
I had the opportunity to travel to the Amazon in 2005 with a medical mission team to film them caring for poor people there. Other than all of the religious stuff and prayer, and actual medical procedures, the most powerful thing they did was to teach the people how to brush their teeth and wash their hands after they used the bathroom and before preparing food. The lesson learned here is that education is the most powerful tool to get people out of bad situations.
So feeding homeless people to love them is good, and teaching them that it’s bad to throw their trash on the ground is good. Other than loving a person and educating them, there is not a whole lot you can do to change who they are.
Dec 14th, 2007
Bernie
Well said, Anton. Thanks for your comment. Thanks to everyone who has commented here; the concept of amicable debate is alive and well here at West and Clear!
Dec 14th, 2007
Suzette
I say it’s time for a “Community Council” meeting. We all come with such different perspectives and views; or perhaps it’s different perspectives and the same views. I love this site. It’s awesome. Cheers to all in this season of lights.
Dec 15th, 2007
Kyle Carr
There are those who declare themselves homeless and panhandle on the corners of street intersections and at highway off-ramps. They can take in a fairly decent salary from what they collect if they are persistent.
Those are the ones that, unfortunately, many truly homeless individuals are judged by.
Several years a go, for a graduate project, I spent a weekend in a homeless shelter as one of the homeless. It was very eye opening. The vast majority of the men and women were, indeed, suffering from some mental disorder. Medication would be of great benefit to some of them, but is not always available.
There are those who have fallen on hard times and are making efforts to better themselves.
I did not find a single person who was there because they enjoyed it or thought the free meal was too good to give up. They need our help. We never really know when we might be in their shoes.
Dec 17th, 2007
Brooke in E. Fort Worth
Bernie wrote “I don’t know guys… most of the homeless people, almost all of them even, have mental health problems. To expect them to simply get a job and start supporting themselves is kind of like asking those abandoned cats you mentioned to start hunting to feed themselves. Except they don’t know how.”
—————
Bernie, isn’t this quite a condescending attitude towards the homeless?
Aren’t you further “victimizing” them by this attitude?
Why set the bar so low?
These people have enough street smarts to survive in a fairly hostile environment - give them a LITTLE credit ….
Question … Can they pick up trash? How about giving them a “job” cleaning up Brentwood Stair and Oakland Lake Park.
Build up their self-respect.
Let them GIVE BACK to the community that is trying to help them. Show them that they, too, can be part of the human family .. they don’t have to be the pet cat who just shows up when it needs to be fed.
They may be homeless but they are NOT helpless ….
Dec 17th, 2007
Bernie
I don’t think I was being condescending; if it came across that way, I apologize. Taken out of context, I can see how it could be taken the wrong way, but I was only using the analogy to illustrate a narrow point, not make an overall comparison between stray cats and homeless people.
I think it’s really easy for someone who is not homeless to say that the homeless are not helpless.
I can tell you this: I once experienced a personal crisis in which I felt completely helpless. That crisis was nowhere near as serious as homelessness.
Sure, they can give back to a community that helps them… but that community is going to have to help them pick themselves up first. When you’ve hit rock bottom, I’d imagine it’s pretty hard to hold down a job.
You say to “build up their self-respect.” I think that’s exactly what this project aims to do. If somebody does something nice for you, you feel good. You’re reminded that you’re valuable to them, and your self-esteem and self-respect are better for it.
Dec 17th, 2007
Brooke in E. Fort Worth
Well, Bernie …
I understand your concerns but really … how many burritos does one have to receive to feel good about oneself?
I don’t see how depending on handouts builds up a person’s self-esteem.
There are plenty of well-intentioneded people who want to show their compassion by indiscriminately handing out freebies and yet they do not show the same compassion towards the surrounding community that had to deal with the problem. Why not setup a homeless shelter on University or Camp Bowie. How about a meth clinic around the street from Mayor Moncrief’s house?
If you feel so strongly about giving away free food, then why don’t you setup a free burrito stand close to YOUR home.
I don’t know which part of town you live in .. maybe you do live near Lancaster … but I kind of doubt it.
I’m tired of do-gooders from other parts of town making themselves feel good by encouraging homelessness in MY neighborhood…..
Like I say, we have tried giving them free everything and all it does is ATTRACT more homeless from other places.
That is not the solution.
The solution is to get them out of their situation. Any plans that Fort Worth has for the homeless should start with accountability first .. rehabilitation, medication, entry-level jobs, social work.
These things cost more than a free burrito but I think you and I agree that it is the only solution to the problem.
We should document and register the homeless population that is currently in our area. Then limit our services to only those who are here now. If someone becomes homeless after the initial registration, then they need proof that they have lived in Fort Worth for at least one year.
Then, once we have identified those that are TRULY our own homeless (not those who just jumped the TRE from Dallas or bicycled down from Denton) we can begin to help these people in a meaningful way.
Those who do not want to be helped will not be given free access to services (including food) and will be requird to move on and not hang out under the bridges and behind our businesses and homes.
I have a lot of other ideas but not enough time right now to post them. Chew on this for a little bit … I don’t check this blog often but will check in from time to time. The dialogue is good .. perhaps we can all get on one page because ultimately we have the same goals…
Christmas greetings to everyone …
Those who believe can set aside our cares and troubles for a time as we watch the star shining brightly over the manager where the ultimate homeless Baby was born.
Wishing peace, joy and comfort to you and to those who may be in difficult circumstances this Christmas season …
Dec 18th, 2007
Brooke in E. Fort Worth
Brooke here ..
Correction to the above post …
Meant to write “Plasma Center” near Mayor Moncrief’s home … NOT “meth clinic”.
Also, sorry for the typos .. I am in a hurry … thanks!
Dec 18th, 2007
Steve-O
One thing I would like to commend Suzette and Brooke on is the fact that there is a neighborhood issue that deserves recognition. There are people who live and work in this area who feel as passionately about it as I feel about the neighborhood I live in. And while I believe we have a moral responsibility to help the homeless in our community, East Fort Worth is carrying a disproportionate share of the community’s burden. We need to remember this as we move forward on this issue. Thanks for your comments, guys.
Dec 18th, 2007
Brooke in E. Fort Worth
Thank you, Steve …
And this is where the discussion usually stops.
It’s one thing to help the homeless as long as they stay on the “other side” of town ..
But when you start talking about providing services in Ridglea or Arlington Heights …. that’s when people start to realize what we face here in East Fort Worth.
I’m not saying we need to spread this misery all over town .. what probably needs to happen is a farm/community setting in the countryside away from the liquor stores and away from easy access to drugs, prostitution, quick cash from plasma centers and cars/houses to break into.
And this is only for people who TRULY want help .. for the others who choose to make a career of homelessness and panhandling …let them find some other misguided city in which to further their profession.
Dec 19th, 2007
Steve-O
I’m not sure how you separate the grifters from the truly needy, but what I fear is that nothing will really change until the day when that land is the only undeveloped parcel close to downtown and there is profit to be made. In Dallas, that’s sort of what happened in State-Thomas, and now you have Uptown.
But that could be 20 years from now. And I don’t think anyone wants to wait that long for a solution.
Dec 19th, 2007
Brooke in E. Fort Worth
Steve, you are right .. when the crowd with deep pockets decide there is money to be made by FINALLY developing the Eastside (and only because there will be no place else left to go by that time) THEN you would see the homeless problem disappear quickly!
That is why we watch with dismay at the money being poured into the Race Street/Oakhurst area. Can’t blame them .. I’d pick that side too since you don’t have this pesky homeless “problem” up there…
But we want a Fuzzy’s Tacos and Panera Bread over here, too.
We want a nice grocery store and cool little shops, not just cash advance, pawn places and liquor stores.
To all those undergrounders who are upset about the destruction of their 7th Street habitat, I say COME ON OVER TO THE EASTSIDE! We would love to have some great music and a coffee shop. Besides, pretty soon this is going to be the only place you will be able to afford the rent!
But back to the people on the streets…
The way you separate the professional career homeless persons from those who really want help is to ask them.
IF they are willing to receive rehabilitation services (alcohol, drug, mental illness, physical) then they are mercifully taken off the streets.
IF they are NOT willing to accept the outstretched hand of the community, then they get kicked to the city limits and thrown in jail if they return after a few times.
Sorry if this sounds hardhearted.
Tough love is required … NOT more pandering and enabling.
We have got to quit just throwing food at this situation.
As with pigeons … the more food you throw, the more pigeons you will get.
And Bernie, I’m not comparing them to pigeons .. just using an analogy as you did.
The common belief we SHARE is that most of these unfortunate people are capable of better lives if they can just get a hand up and not just a hand out.
Believe it or not, they do have a CHOICE in the matter.
They are not helpless.
Hard knocks are going to happen to all of us. We ultimately make the individual DECISION about how we handle these difficult times.
We can pick ourselves up or we can choose to wallow.
Sorry but that is the stone cold hard truth.
And those who don’t want to better themselves .. go ahead and feed them if you want. You may get a “thanks man” the first few times.
But, after the initial honeymoon is over, you’ll just see a bunch of burrito wrapper trash blowing down Lancaster and someone bitching about the burritos not being not being hot enough…
Dec 19th, 2007
Suzette
We, as caring citizens of our City AND the homeless, need to watch closely all of the non profits that are getting thousands & millions of dollars to “help” the homeless. The money trail needs to be watched very closely (if that’s possible). One (one) of the most helpful things all of us could do is to make sure the City spends those millions prudently and allows for money to be spent on personnel/case workers/social programs and workers and not just cold buildings. Don’t try to go the cheap route and save on the personnel end of “helping the homeless!” Also, the non profit Executive Directors and CEO’s, do they get more than their fair share of the money? What have they been spending the money on in the past several years? What about the Shelter’s Board of Directors and all of the embedded bureaucracy of the organizations that say they “help” the homeless? They need more concerned citizens watching what they do and don’t do. Bottom line, there needs to be more accountability in regards to the shelter’s and MHMR. There is alot involved including safety for the homeless, the neighborhoods, the local businesses, the City, etc. I would love to know how much money has flowed thru the Presbyterian Night Shelter and where exactly those dollars have gone. What safety measures they have in place, etc. They house 500 - 1000 people every night. I walked in there one night about 10pm — couldn’t believe what I was seeing!! Can we see where the money is going? Are the books open? Really. I’d like to know. Do we have a “right” to know, or are the books/receipts and payroll kept secret?
Just asking.
Dec 19th, 2007
John Peter Smith
A recent FW Weekly article quotes eastside activist Wanda Conlin as saying that the homeless population in FW has increased from 1,500 to 4,000 in the last decade. An article by Michael Best in TCU’s Daily Skiff quotes the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition as stating that the number of homeless has increased by 900 since 2002 to over 5,200. I haven’t checked these numbers out but it does sound to me like Cowtown has more than its share of homeless.
I think it is pretty well established that the long-term homeless will migrate to wherever they can get the best deal. If the perpetually homeless are choosing to be homeless in Cowtown, we should rethink our policies.
Lastly, Mayor Moncrief was quoted in the same Daily Skiff story as saying that one resident of the Presbyterian Night Shelter had been coming there for fourteen years straight. Quite frankly, our mayor is a slimeball and I don’t believe 90% of what he says. But if that is true I think we could all agree that is a system that is broken.
Dec 19th, 2007
Suzette
JPS - there are many that have been living at the Presbyterian “Emergency” Walk In Shelter (no I.D. required last I heard) for many years. One of them I know personally and see everyday. She has been living on the streets of E. Lancaster for 15 years. She is not (not) mentally ill. The other day, she told me the story about when a man handed her and her boyfriend a ten dollar bill, and her boyfriend asked the man, “U gotta twenty?”
The Mayor also says, that “homelessness is not a choice.” That statement, I know for a fact, is not true for at least 20 - 30% of the homeless individuals. Being homeless is the perfect lifestyle for many. IMO, most, if not all, of the 500 - 1200 individuals living in the Presbyterian “Emergency Walk In” Night Shelter are doing so by choice. The individuals that are NOT homeless by choice, ARE in a program, working hard to help themselves to a better, more self sufficient, productive, life. Others may be on a waiting list which is why it would be nice if more people start asking more questions of the non profits (who get millions of dollars to “help” the homeless addicts). Where are those millions of dollars going because if you are an addict wanting to get sober/clean today, you can’t get in…..you must go back to the streets for days & weeks until they have an opening. Then, after 4 to 10 days of detox, there are no 30 day intensive residential program beds for you. You must go to the streets and shelters once again until a bed becomes available! Puh-leez! Where is the money for the beds and intensive long term treatment services? How about Recovery Resource (formely known as Tarrant Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse). How much money did they get last year from our City & County, and what was it spent on?
Dec 20th, 2007
Brooke in E. Fort Worth
Well written words, Suzette …
Everyone, witness the new spirit of activism rising alongside the veterans Conlin, Boren, McBee and others who have worked so hard to bring up the East Side of our fair city.
Check out http://www.meadowbrooktoday.com for further developments after the holidays …
Merry Christmas to all! May Peace and Joy surround us, if only for a few days.
We have so much to be thankful for and hopefully we can provide meaningful help to those who find themselve in less fortunate circumstances …
Dec 21st, 2007
Mike
I think this F.W. Burrito Project is only going to increase the problem of vagrants and transients. Those who are homeless are going to be fed. If the vagrants and transients would only try and make a better life for themself, which they could they would be able to get off the streets. THEY DON’T WANT TO!!! They are on the street because of the choices that they have made in and through-out their lives and which most continue to practice.
It is said that there are 467 members with this “Burrito Project”, If they all would try donating $5.00 a week to the organizations and projects that are already focused and in place they could make and see a huge difference. If all were to do this there could be approx $125,000.00 raised per year to address problems that are needing addressed. Just $5 a week. If this were done the funds that are going to address other needs could go into addressing many voids as well as feeding etc. So now not only are we feeding those on the streets now we are going to deliver to them? Are you going to address the next problem that you are creating? The trash! Make sure you come back around and pick up all the trash that they are going to throw on the streets. Have you ever come in behind a vacated vagrant / transient camp. The conditions that they leave these areas in for our tax dollars to clean up is amazing, nothing but TRASH. If you want to be involved be involved on all ends. Why don’t you (467 members) put your time, energy and money into something that will make a difference in the lives of the “homeless” over the long term instead of trying to do something to make yourself feel good for a short term. (The ones you think you are “helping”, call them what they are vagrant/transients)It would be different if they (transients/vagrants) took pride in their surroundings and clean-up along their journey instead of trash it up, but that is not the case. We may look at this in as a more favorable situation if they treated our neighborhood with respect.
Jan 5th, 2008
Brooke
These “Burrito Bandits” may feel good by handing out their freebies on the east side but their misdirected actions are only encouraging vagrants, transients and bums.
Why don’t these do-gooders pass out burritos on the west side?
Maybe it’s because they don’t want droves of people loitering and trashing their streets, begging at their corner grocery, approaching them in parking lots, camping out in their vacant properties, tearing apart their a/c units for copper, sleeping on their park benches, throwing condoms and liquor bottles on their sidewalks, etc, ad nauseum …
Get smart, people! Quit the street feeding already …
We need rehabilitation services, mental health facilities, a tracking/id system and accountability from both the recipients and the providers ..
Feb 8th, 2008
fort worth burrito project
my comments are to brooke, suzette, and mike.
as a participant in the fort worht burrito project i want to clarify a couple of things that have been misstated in this forum. while(at the time you posted) there were 467 “members” on the fwbp myspace page(now over 700), very few of them are active. there are only about 20-30 people that are really involved in the actual process of building and sharing burritos. well over 90% of the folks that signed on as myspace friends have done only that, signed on as a friend. if we could get even $1 a week(much less $5) from everybody on that list it would be incredible. instead about 10 of us are funding this project ourselves. if we were awash in cash, it would be easy to address deeper issues. right now we are doing what we can.
as for the trash-all of our burritos are wrapped in aluminum foil and a napkin. we all know that the aluminum foil is not going to stay on the ground for long. aluminum is too good of a source of income for the homeless. and quite honestly, we are not part of the pollution problem.
as to the charge that we are only sharing food on the eastside-we have been sharing food in all parts of the city. sure we go to the shelters but ridglea, north side, fairmount, tcu area, riverside, stop six, meadowbrook, far west side, poly, seminary hills, downtown, the hospital district, the cultural district, the stokyards, forest hills, oakhurst, cityview, and como are some of the neighborhoods we have gone to with burritos. and yes we have found people with relative ease in all of these places.
a comment was made incorrectly assuming that we are a “bunch of westsise do-gooders”. myself, i come from south forth worth. the people that are active in fwbp are not mostly from the westside. we come from all of the neighborhoods i mentioned above. we are very scattered thoughout the city.
as to comments about doing more than just feeding folks-that is something we have been engaging in dialogue over. we still havent found the best way to go about it. we have been talking to the homeless and the shelters to come up with a reasonable solution.
virtually all of us involved in the burrito project realize that any of us are basically two or three missed paychecks from being homeless.
that is all for now. i have enjoyed this debate. thank you for your time.
peace and respect,
fwbp
z
Feb 8th, 2008
Reply to “Fort Worth Burrito Project”