Secular Southeast Texas

06/30/2024

06/20/2024

This group is closed.

04/10/2021

And then there’s this kind of stuff. Beaumont actively uses these types of hostile architecture.

We have a broken fu***ng system.

There's something tragically wrong with America when our answer to increased homelessness skyrocketing during COVID 19 is to implement hostile architecture.

Hostile architecture (aka, defensive architecture) refers to designs and structures that governments install around the city to prevent "unwanted behavior."

Some of these designs prevent skateboarding, but MOST of the time it refers to designs restricting unhoused people from sleeping or laying down in an area.

This is a method of evicting unhoused people through design and infrastructure.

This can take the form of giant boulders placed on the sidewalk, tiny spikes built onto a seating area, public benches with large arm rests cutting the seating area in half, or huge rocks placed underneath a bridge.

Even more evil than the actual designs of hostile architecture are the motivations:

Our government doesn't like the sight of homelessness because it "devalues" the look and feel of success that the city wants you to believe exists in the neighborhood.

They don't want you to start thinking that the people under the bridge or at the bus stop could be you.

02/10/2021

With the impending winter weather, we are in desperate need of blankets (new or used), winter gear (such as hats, gloves, socks and hand warmers), and tarps. We have been handing out food, hand warmers and Mylar blankets like crazy folks. The need is great. These people we are helping are in danger of freezing to death this weekend and next week. Please help if you can.

02/02/2021

This afternoon, a fairy left nylon backpacks, snacks & rain ponchos on my doorsteps!! I’ve spent the past couple of hours packing them full of other donations like MREs, water, snacks, hats, gloves and socks. Hygiene items had to be put in ziplock bags because the backpacks are so full! It’s a wonderful issue to have. Now we will just hand each person two bags! We are headed out this evening to hand out what we can. The rest will be handed out tomorrow. Much thanks to our supporters for the generous donations!! Current needs include more drawstring nylon backpacks, rain ponchos and snacks. These go out as fast as they arrive. Suggested items are on our Amazon wishlist but can also be purchased at the location of your choice. It’s always an amazing day to help someone else!!

12/14/2020

We have been distributing the supplies that are donated to the homeless by making up bags to hand out. Bags include hygiene supplies, snacks, at least one MRE, and an extra protein depending on the size of the bags. We used reusable bags in the beginning and we still see them being used in the community. Gallon freezer ziplocks work well and also get reused to keep valuables dry but are limited in how much they will hold. We used the plastic grocery bags but those are limited by the holes in the bottom and tend to be trashed in the community probably due to those holes. Any other suggestions or ideas as to what to use to distribute supplies in? We are currently out of both reusable bags and gallon freezer ziplock bags.

11/11/2020

We received some awesome donations yesterday. Today is Veterans Day. Because so many of our homeless are vets, We will be making up care packages and handing them out in the area. Happy Veterans Day!!

11/06/2020

We were a part of this event yesterday! Exciting things are coming to Beaumont to help our homeless citizens.

10/31/2020

We had a BUNCH of fresh satsumas donated today so we made goodie bags with water bottles and other donations. All were taken and handed out to the homeless today and were much appreciated! Thanks goes to everyone who had a hand in this. 😊

08/23/2020

Look at that gorgeous sky! Decided to do a pop-up event with clothing, ice cold water, and hot pizza.

08/09/2020

Out spreading the love this beautiful morning! I ran out of prepped bags pretty quickly, but fortunately had a few small emergency bags to share. We couldn’t do this without those of you who support our efforts - THANK YOU!