last Saturday we packed a U-Haul with everything we own and drove from Seattle to Portland, and when we walked into our new home (weβre renting), it was immediately clear that squatters were living here. (1/?)
all I can say is, you and me are one bad unforeseen circumstance away from being in their shoes.
I see myself in every human struggling to exist under the crushing weight of capitalism. (8/8
and what it must feel like to realize that instead of sleeping in the place youβve called home, youβre back out on the street.
we gave them money for a place to stay for the night, and they showed us how they got in so we could re-secure the unit. (7/?)
these people were so kind and so grateful that we were being βnothing special β simply decent about the situation.
it made me think of the folks who come back to find their belongings destroyed and face the threat of abuse and police violence. (6/?)
they quickly gathered their things, and my SO went inside to gather the rest of their belongings.
Iβd put their perishables into a cooler with wheels and filled it with ice so they could keep their food. (5/?)
we found clothes, toiletries, and paraphernalia in the primary bedroom, food in the fridge, and the detached garage in the back alley was filled with camping gear, blankets, and survival gear. (2/?)
so as we spent the evening unloading our truck, we had this awareness that these folks would likely be coming back to the place theyβve been sleeping only to find us there. (3/?)
around 11pm, we saw a couple emerge from a side entrance to our alley and sheepishly approach the detached garage.
we called out that itβs okay and motioned them over. (4/?)
