Member-only story
How Do You Answer ‘How Was Your Day’ When You’ve Heard Tragic News?
On top of a heap of bad news, the worst.
I love what I do (my one-woman nonprofit, HEAR US Inc., advocating for families and youth experiencing homelessness). Most of the time. But today, despite everything going my way, it was a gut-punch.
Today I met with the indefatigable Mike Smith, head of the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, to discuss the many aspects of the massive eviction of 800, including over 100 babies, toddlers and children, from the East Ridge Budgetel hotel on November 16. Mike and his stalwart staff have been scrambling to house families and the most vulnerable, sticking them in whatever hotels and motels they can find, while getting food and essential supplies to their scattered flock. I offered my meager assistance.
Three weeks ago, the newly-elected Hamilton County District Attorney, Coty Wamp, lowered the Budgetel boom to the unsuspecting occupants. Police officers showed up at 6 a.m. announcing they had 4 hours to clear out. From her office’s legal document “justifying” this ouster, it seems that 4 convicted sex offenders living on the property was the…
