Why Can’t People Be Warm Every Night?

For my wife:

Akron’s emergency shelter system is failing its most vulnerable residents, with inconsistent communication and limited low-barrier options—only one exists, and it’s illegal. In response, I’ve opened a mobile community center, providing warmth and dignity to those in need. Despite the minimal cost and overwhelming success of this grassroots effort, local bureaucracies remain indifferent, prioritizing liability and outdated systems over human lives. The question remains: why can’t everyone be warm every night? The answer is as simple as it is uncomfortable—they just don’t care enough to act.


Fifteen hours ago, Friends in Tents posted Akron Emergency Shelter Cancellation Dates.

Here’s the updated schedule:

That was interesting because right below that in my Facebook feed (I have a fake account since I’ve been permanently banned) I saw this post from Hope Farms:

I’m a very technology-savvy, very plugged-in person. But it took me a minute to sort out which of these posts was the “New” post.

I went to the main website for the Emergency Overnight Shelter. The schedule is not on their website. I cannot find a Facebook page. They seem to rely on others to spread the news.

Here’s Akron’s 10-Day Forecast:

I guess when the temperature hits a balmy 20 degrees, the emergency shelter closes. This is a flyer I found on their website:

What do I think about this all?

As with most things in my mind, It’s complicated.

It’s a privately run organization. So they can do whatever they want. Anything they do is a bonus. I feel the same way about the extreme Christian shelter Haven of Rest.

On the other hand, homeless people are not known for their transportation or phone access. I can guarantee some people will show up on those newly closed nights simply because the old schedule is everywhere online.

Then I’m curious about what will happen starting on Sunday, February 19, when things hit single digits. I can’t find any information about those days.


Here’s a picture from our mobile community center yesterday morning:

We had pancakes yesterday.

It has been open 24/7 since Thursday. I’m going to keep it open until things reliably get above freezing.

Please keep in mind that this is illegal. The city could shut down what I’m doing here at any time. It’s going to be a little challenging for them because it’s on private property owned by a dead man. They can fine him all they want. I don’t think he gives a damn. But I assure you, meetings are going on to figure out what loophole they can find to get me to stop caring for these people.

I bought this mobile community center last week and had it fully functioning within 3 days.

The heat runs on propane. And the electricity runs on a generator.

I have stopped by each day to make sure they have everything they need. But we don’t treat these people like wild animals or children. They do perfectly fine by themselves.

Two nights ago, I came over at about 8:30 pm. Aaron, who is extremely mentally ill, was burning sternos and wildly jumping up and down in the bedroom. I had given him the bedroom because he is not capable of dressing appropriately in winter weather. He lost three toes last year due to frostbite. I thought he would enjoy the privacy. But I don’t think he’s able to be alone like that. I put someone else in the bedroom and told Aaron he had to stay in the common area. He was grumpy about it. But he did it.

It is Monday morning. That is the ONLY issue I’ve had since Thursday. It has been open 24/7 since Thursday, and everything is running fine.

In fact, I have learned something really interesting: When you offer something that deserves respect to a person who has been robbed of all their human dignity and self-respect by a cruel, money-obsessed machine called America, they instantly bring dignity and respect to the space.

Here’s Randy sweeping:

Everyone is keeping things neat and organized. It’s a truly remarkable experiment.

I never once told them they needed to keep the place nice. They just have chosen to do so.

Two of the about 20 people who come into this space intermittently have phones. They can call me if they encounter an issue they can’t handle.

Now… could bad things happen? Absolutely!

It could burn down. Stuff could get broken. People could steal things.

I think that’s about the worst of it. Who gives a shit? Are we really more concerned about an 11-year-old camper than human beings? (I’m pretty sure that today the answer is that “Yes, we care more about the camper than the people.”)

Years ago, a man I really respect—I can’t recall his name offhand now —told me that he would leave his car overnight at homeless camps for people to sleep in. That moved me so deeply, and I’ve always thought about it.

This camper is an extension of that idea.

You can say whatever you want about me. Call me stupid, dumb, bleeding-hearted, irrational, or crazy. But one thing you also have to say about me is that I have experience doing this work.

I have been sheltering homeless people consistently for quite a few years. I’ve learned some valuable things. I wrote a book about my experiences: The Homeless Activist.

No one and I mean NO ONE in any position of power when it comes to homelessness, has ever wanted to talk to me about my experiences. I have all this information, data, and experience, and no one cares.

Why do you think that is? I’ll tell you why: Everything is working perfectly right now. People and organizations are getting paid reliably doing the same thing we’ve always done. My ideas would radically change that.

On Thursday, we bought about $100 worth of propane. We’ve used about a quarter of it. I fill the generator’s 3.7-gallon gas tank about twice a day, for less than $25 a day.

Let’s call it $50/day. I run a shelter 24/7 on the coldest days of the year for that amount. You would think that would be appreciated, but it’s not.

I have always been a disruptor in this space… a space run by bureaucrats and politicians, which is the opposite of disruption. I have always done things that are wildly less expensive than those proposed by bloated governments and non-profit organizations. In addition, the people I’m serving are often happier with our services than with those run by these huge organizations.

“But Sage, that’s just because you don’t have any rules.”

That is what is called “Low-barrier” shelters.

Here’s a general definition of low-barrier shelters if you are new to the concept:

A low-barrier shelter is a homeless shelter that aims to make it easy for people to access services by reducing obstacles to entry. Low-barrier shelters often have the following characteristics:

  • Minimal requirements: Low-barrier shelters have few or no requirements for entry, such as no background checks, income verification, or sobriety checks.
  • 24/7 access: Low-barrier shelters are open all the time.
  • Harm reduction: Low-barrier shelters focus on harm reduction and encourage people to seek resources.
  • Trauma-informed: Low-barrier shelters are trauma-informed and therapeutic environments.
  • Staff training: Low-barrier shelter staff are trained in social work assessment and best practices.

Some things that are not considered low-barrier include: Requiring people to produce ID, Having residency requirements, Mandating mandatory classes, and Requiring people to participate in forced labor.

This is where things are headed with the thoughtful people in the homeless space. It is what is being done in the wealthy, progressive, practiced cities of America and many other places around the world.

How many low-barrier shelters do you think we have in Akron?

ONE. I’m it. And I’m illegal.

Akron is a regressive city. It has always been highly racist and judgemental. It never has been progressive in the least. I predict it will turn Republican like Youngstown as it continues to erode due to small-minded and conservative leadership. Democrats will fail our city long enough until the people finally have enough and start voting Republican. Wait and see.

You can buy a boot for your wheel or steering wheel lock on Amazon for under $50. For these super cold nights, people could donate the use of their cars overnight. They could roll right up to a homeless camp and leave their car running for the night. Compact cars use about 0.16 gallons of gas per hour while idling.

Or how about the Metro leaves a few buses running overnight at the bus center. Literally, all buses lead to the bus transit center. Transit buses use about 1 gallon per hour and I think some of ours are running on natural gas.

This shit is not difficult.

Someone on Facebook asked: “Why can’t people be warm every night?”

I laughed out loud when I read that.

That is THE question. It doesn’t get any more clear and to the point than that.

Why can’t people be warm every night?

“Well, you summer child, it’s much more complicated than that. There’s liability to think of. Who’s going to pay for the security? Where we every find space for that kind of thing? You have a good heart, but you don’t understand the complicated nature of the situation”

BULL FUCKING SHIT!

It’s exactly that simple. They just don’t like these people and they are hoping with all hope that someday they will just magically disappear and we can all forget about the fact that people are freezing to death in the richest, most Christian country in the world.