Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Democrat and Chronicle: Homeless find warmth, dental care at Central Library

Jan 5, 2018
By Erica Bryant

Shakeia Watkins and her 9 month old baby wait inside the front vestibule of the Central Library. Security guards allow people to come into this area to avoid the cold as they wait for the library to open. (Photo: Erica Bryant)


The Central Library didn't open until 11 a.m. on Thursday, but by 10 a.m. a dozen people were waiting outside its doors. One of them was a 9-month-old baby named Avayah.

It was 19 degrees and snowing. The security guard opened the door. 

Avayah's mother is homeless and staying at a shelter. On Thursday morning she dropped her older daughter off at pre-k and took the bus to the library.

Many homeless people make the same decision each day, seeking warmth, safety and clean bathrooms. The library has increased the services offered to its homeless patrons, including on-site medical and dental care.

"They don't need a book on how to take care of their teeth," said Jennifer Byrnes, the library's division head of science and history. "They need a dentist."

A couple of months ago, Rochester Regional Health started sending its mobile dentist unit to the library to provide homeless patrons with cleanings, extractions and other needed dental procedures. It joined a variety of organizations that send service providers to assist homeless patrons.

Barbara Best, a retired nurse, was recruited to volunteer at the Central Library by her daughter, Jennifer Byrnes, the division head of science and technology at the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County. (Photo: Erica Bryant)

During certain months, University of Rochester medical students staff a station at the library, offering glucose monitoring, eye checkups and other medical services. To fill the gap when they are unavailable, Byrnes recruited her mother, Barbara Best, who is a retired nurse. This week Best started volunteering to staff a medical station in the Central Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 Fliers advertise nursing services offered at the Central Library twice a week. (Photo: Erica Bryant)

Midtown Plaza was once a go-to place for homeless people who were looking to stay warm downtown. When the mall closed in 2008, the library saw a tremendous influx of homeless visitors. "The Central Library became the only source of public restrooms and warmth," said Library Director Patricia Uttaro. Library staff doesn't know how many homeless people visit the library on an average day. They do know that there are always people outside waiting for the library to open. The security guard is allowed to let them in early to wait in the front vestibule.  

Baby Avayah's mother, Shakeia Watkins, who was let in about 50 minutes before opening time on Thursday, was happy for that policy. Once inside the vestibule, she removed the stroller cover so that Avayah could look around and the baby's bright eyes peeked out from under a furry hat, puffy coat and big blanket. "I try to keep her bundled up," Watkins said.

Shakeia Watkins brought her 9 month old baby to the Central Library. (Photo: Erica Bryant)

She had been homeless for about a week. Living with Avayah's father had not worked out and she had come to the library hoping for some help finding shelter for herself and her two children. "I am just looking for something to call home for me and my kids."

Housing help can be found on the third floor, in the Library Resource Outreach Center. This office is staffed by local human service agencies that can help people access food, housing, shelter, employment and legal assistance. LROC started in 2014 and has expanded to serving patrons five days a week. It is open on Monday from 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday through Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. and on Friday (for legal services only) from 1 to 3 p.m.

 Francis Miles said that the library helped him when he was homeless (Photo: Erica Bryant)

Francis C. Miles sat at a table near the glass offices of LROC on Thursday afternoon reading What You Say Is What You Get, a book that starts with the Jaques Lacan quote, "whatever a man is, he becomes it by speaking."

About three months ago he lost his housing after a tax foreclosure and was homeless. LROC helped him help finding housing near Dewey Avenue.

"This library is a lifesaver," he said. "This library is the most resourceful library I have ever been in." He now has a warm place to live, but said he still comes to the library every day to read the books.

Erica Bryant is the Democrat and Chronicle's Pay It Forward columnist. Contact her at ebryant@gannett.com.

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