A Lady is living in the open air on the south side of Markham Street, in the park. She is prone on the ground with her belongings in a shopping cart and scattered nearby. She is clearly visible to thousands of people who drive by each day.

I saw her the afternoon of January 9th and parked at the city facilities a couple of hundred yards from her campsite. When I announced myself from about 20 feet away, she rose quickly and easily to her feet and greeted me in English with only a very faint oriental accent. For a few minutes we conversed about the weather before I turned the conversation to my concern. Why did she choose to live outside in the winter?

Her first response seemed to indicate that the Almighty had mandated that she do so. As I explored that with her, it became clear that she had been to court and probably been charged with trespass. Even then, it was not clear whether her aversion to sleeping in a building was mandated by His Honor or the Almighty.

When our conversation turned to the possibility of her going to a women’s shelter it became clear that she did not wish to sleep in any enclosed space. Or maybe I misunderstood her. Perhaps she is not sure why she is where she is.

In any case, she had no interest in seeking shelter in any of the facilities available to indigents, so we talked about her other needs. She is running short of water and would like to have a bottle of Coke. Or
Mountain Dew. She expressed no desire for food. She told me she had no money, but never asked for any.

After that, she shared with me that she had been assaulted recently. She didn’t know why the man attacked her, but was glad that a bystander had reported it and Little Rock Police arrested her assailant. She seemed unconcerned that it might happen again. Since I had neither water nor Coke we parted ways agreeing to pray for each other.

According to a statement made by a city employee at a neighborhood association meeting I attended last year, they do not interfere with folks camping on public property – even sidewalks. It is clear that they have the authority to do so. A recent Supreme Court decision (City of Grants Pass v. Johnson) opened the way for cities to end the practice of public camping.

The city has no obligation to enforce a ban on camping. They seem to think that it is a kindness to allow homeless residents to sleep on the ground in public places. I am convinced that it is not. It is easier than the alternatives, but I believe it is cruel to allow indigents to be exposed to violence and the elements in summer heat and frigid winter weather.