THE ARCH: Haven for the Homeless
The Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) is a shelter that provides a place to sleep, eat, and even medical care for the homeless located on seventh street in Austin, Texas.
This front steps organization was formed in 1997 on the philosophy that every person deserves a safe place to call home. However, it was obvious that the need for shelter obviously outweighed what ARCH could provide, as there was an abundance of homeless congregating outside the doors.
The employees of ARCH were very hesitant to let our group walk around because of confidentiality issues for those that were there. However, we did not need to see the entire facility to get a feel for the shelter. The facility had two levels, with the bottom floor being used as a seating area and the top as a sleeping area where people slept on relatively thin mats.
Most people in the shelter looked slightly disoriented and tired. Many of them carried all of their belongings in the world with them and looked as if they may not know where to go next. The occupants seemed to have no recolection of personal space walking where they pleased even if that meant into the person next to them.
The shelter was surprisingly immaculate and had the smell of bleach, which was probably from the regular cleaning of the facility.
The occupants were all very different and ranged in age as well. Many people looked like they may have been through some hard times, while others looked like they were waiting on job interviews in full business suits. There were many older individuals, but at the same time people that looked like they could have been there with our observation group.
The ARCH is a place with employees who care about their job and helping others who have come across hard times. However, the main problem is the overcrowding in the shelter and where these people go if ARCH is at capacity.
-Jonathan Wachsmann
The Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) is a shelter that provides a place to sleep, eat, and even medical care for the homeless located on seventh street in Austin, Texas.
This front steps organization was formed in 1997 on the philosophy that every person deserves a safe place to call home. However, it was obvious that the need for shelter obviously outweighed what ARCH could provide, as there was an abundance of homeless congregating outside the doors.
The employees of ARCH were very hesitant to let our group walk around because of confidentiality issues for those that were there. However, we did not need to see the entire facility to get a feel for the shelter. The facility had two levels, with the bottom floor being used as a seating area and the top as a sleeping area where people slept on relatively thin mats.
Most people in the shelter looked slightly disoriented and tired. Many of them carried all of their belongings in the world with them and looked as if they may not know where to go next. The occupants seemed to have no recolection of personal space walking where they pleased even if that meant into the person next to them.
The shelter was surprisingly immaculate and had the smell of bleach, which was probably from the regular cleaning of the facility.
The occupants were all very different and ranged in age as well. Many people looked like they may have been through some hard times, while others looked like they were waiting on job interviews in full business suits. There were many older individuals, but at the same time people that looked like they could have been there with our observation group.
The ARCH is a place with employees who care about their job and helping others who have come across hard times. However, the main problem is the overcrowding in the shelter and where these people go if ARCH is at capacity.
-Jonathan Wachsmann
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