http://chantalzola.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] chantalzola.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2011-09-15 04:16 pm
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Urgent Request for Shelter

((X-posted [livejournal.com profile] b0st0n.))

Bri and AJ were evicted from where they sleep today and have nowhere to go. Here is Bri's post about it on wordpress: http://bribroken.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/evicted/#more-441.



They desperately need a place to stay. They are currently outside of the Davis Square station. They have been sleeping in the area for about 6 weeks and can be seen every day selling jewelry outside of the Holland St. exit. They are lovely people and just really need a place to sleep where they'll be safe from the weather and from being robbed/attacked. Also a place where they can bring their suitcases as they don't have anywhere to leave their bags. Anyone who wants to contact them can email them at xjettx at gmail dot com or comment at the wordpress blog or go visit them. They will most likely be at the Holland St. exit of the Davis Square station until 10:00 or 11:00pm unless they are offered a place to spend the night earlier than that. They have access to a laptop, but the power is running low so they'll be checking email sporadically through the night. The best way to contact them is to go to the train station, but they will be able to read email.

Here again is Bri's post: http://bribroken.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/evicted/#more-441

Thank you. If this is inappropriate, please let me know and I will take the post down or modify it to make it acceptable to the community.

moderator note - post is just fine here

[personal profile] ron_newman 2011-09-15 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
This is about as local as anything gets in our community. I'm upset that Harvard Vanguard treated them this way.

[identity profile] enhf94.livejournal.com 2011-09-15 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/city.cgi?city=Somerville&state=MA

14 Chapel Street was described to me as "queer-friendly" some years ago, and is about two blocks away.

[identity profile] molyflogs.livejournal.com 2011-09-15 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I really, really want to let them sleep in our spare room that is completely empty, except for a bed and a few baby items. I asked my husband and he said that I am completely nuts for wanting to let a couple of strangers stay with us 6 weeks after having a baby. He's probably right, but it still hurts my heart.

[identity profile] jac6787.livejournal.com 2011-09-15 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
If we have anything we'd like to donate to these people, where can we find them now?
squirrelitude: (Default)

[personal profile] squirrelitude 2011-09-16 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
* How far away is too far for suitcase storage? We're a 15 minute walk from DS, but I'm going to ask my housemates if they'd be OK with Bri and AJ storing their suitcases in the alcove under our back porch, which can probably be made weather-proof.

* Do they still need a mailing address? (Is there even any risk in offering?)

* They might consider getting some baking soda (I can provide that if someone else hasn't already) since it is quite effective as both toothpaste and deodorant. I use it myself about half the time.

[identity profile] lonelyholiday.livejournal.com 2011-09-16 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
I just moved out of state, so I can't really offer any help, but I want to say how heartwarming it is to see you guys offering up whatever help and suggestions you can.

I love that sense of community in the Davis area, and it's something I'll really miss and hope I can find in my new home. And probably the reason I haven't left this comm yet, despite now living 600 miles away. Keep it up, Davis.
(deleted comment) (Show 1 comment)

Wow. You all are amazing.

[identity profile] miss-jett.livejournal.com 2011-09-16 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't posted here in a long time because life has been insane. I haven't posted regularly in way longer. But I had to come post once we got a little more charge on the laptop battery.

Tonight, several people have come by to bring us things that we needed (including a gorgeous, brand new coat for me). Several others have helped us with monetary donations as well. We are beyond grateful to all of you. If anyone who did a run-by drop off would like to return sometime, I'd really like to be able to give you a small gift as a token of our gratitude -- nothing fancy; it wouldn't cost me much to make and could even just be a small blessed stone if you're not into my style of jewelry/art or are adamant about not accepting something that I could sell. I'd just really like to be able to help in return, if there is a way that good energy can do so for you. :)

Thank you so much, Chantal, for posting here & sparking this outpouring of support. We love being in this neighborhood, and the amazing people we've met and befriended while here are the reason for that.

AJ & I are trying to get out of Davis for the night; after 1:00, the only people that seem to be out in the square are loud drunks and scary crazy folks. In order to do that, we need to either find a place to stay for the night & a ride there, or we need to find someone to take some of our stuff so that we are more mobile and can go somewhere else. We don't know of anywhere in Davis that is relatively safe and protected from rain, other than the T station (crazy person central) and the place we are no longer allowed to be.

I'm sorry to ask so much of people that have already been so kind, but if anyone can help us in this way for just one night, we would be incredibly grateful. If you can help, please text or call 617-347-6219.

When I have more time & battery, I'll respond to questions & update more.

Blessings,
Bri

[identity profile] zander05.livejournal.com 2011-09-16 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
I don't personally know Bri and AJ, but I've heard some really horrible things from trusted friends.

Without going into it too much in this one comment box, the long and short of it is they ultimately don't want to get back on their feet. Any suggestions or tips for them to help themselves have been turned down in the past and will be turned down again. They keep saying they want to improve their situation, but in almost two years they've not bothered to look into SHC's services (which have been excellent for me when I needed them from 2008-09, and are queer-friendly), any other shelters, SSDI or EAEDC, etc. They claim they have, but then AJ claims transphobia when government agencies like social security have to use his legal name.

It's really frustrating for me to have been somewhat close to where they are, busted my ass to get out of it even when I didn't think I could, only to see them not budging simply because they don't want to.

urgent request for shelter

[identity profile] mark-shc.livejournal.com 2011-09-16 03:58 pm (UTC)(link)
hi folks, Mark here from the Somerville Homeless Coalition. while i can't say anything specific (because of confidentiality and it wouldn't be appropriate anyway) I want you to know we are talking to Bri and offering what we can. the biggest problem is that there are not enough shelter beds for everyone who needs one; generally the system is at least 125% over capacity.

Totally sucks; housing is a human right, just like food is a human right. Thanks for your concerns and I'm sure Bri and AJ are grateful. Peace, Mark

Quickie Update

[identity profile] miss-jett.livejournal.com 2011-09-16 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Just wanted to let folks know that I haven't had an opportunity to charge my laptop battery for more than a few minutes since last night, hence my silence... But your support is absolutely amazing, and we are beyond grateful. Many thanks to everyone who has reached out and helped in any way, including moral support. I will have the battery charged and will be able to update & respond to posts, emails, donations and everything else at some point this evening.

Blessings to all of you! :)

Cheap room for a night?

[identity profile] miss-jett.livejournal.com 2011-09-16 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Does anyone know of anywhere that we could rent a cheap room for the night (under $60)? We'd really like to be able to shower, charge electronics, post updates, look for longer-term temporary solutions, etc... And of course not be out in the freezing windchill weather tonight.
(screened comment) (Show 21 comments)

[identity profile] miss-jett.livejournal.com 2011-09-18 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I just wanted to quickly let people know that we are safe and not in Davis right now, though we will return soon. Many thanks & blessings to everyone who has been supportive to us in any way! Your help is appreciated more than you could possibly know. Here's what's going on with us right now: http://wp.me/p18ziH-7f. More soon!

We hid a comment in the 'Urgent Request for Shelter' post

[identity profile] pingback-bot.livejournal.com 2011-09-19 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
User [livejournal.com profile] ron_newman referenced to your post from We hid a comment in the 'Urgent Request for Shelter' post (http://davis-meta.livejournal.com/38275.html) saying: [...] By mutual agreement of three moderators, we have hidden this comment [...]

[identity profile] hahanonono.livejournal.com 2013-12-06 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Yo, I know this is a few years late, but Bri Crofton is indeed a blatant scammer and has grifted people out of thousands of dollars and has destroyed a number of communities, both virtual and meatspace. On the off-chance somebody might run across this post and still feel the need to give Bri money, here's some information that will shed light on her actual activities.

http://scammingscorpios.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/bri-by-the-numbers-18112-and-5-houses/

http://findingtherightpath.wordpress.com/tag/bri-crofton/

http://baublesnblessings.wordpress.com/

I won't say "I told you so." I just don't want to see any more people get scammed out of their money.
Edited 2013-12-06 18:56 (UTC)