Poverty is just around the corner
Beka Mech
Be prepared for a fight at anytime. This is the advice a man named Joe offered, while waiting for his bus at the corner of 16th and College Ave. Indianapolis residents admitted that there are dangerous communities near their homes but said people can make a difference.
Joe said he has lived in Indianapolis since 1988, when he was hired by a laundry service. He said he keeps to himself in this part of downtown.
“It’s a dangerous community,” he said, his eyes yellowed and watering, he sat with a brown-bagged bottle of liquor at his feet. “If a group comes through, be prepared for a fight at anytime,” he said.
Ashley Avilla is a landlord where she lives in the 3000 block of College Ave. While she said she feels safe on College Ave, she acknowledged the rough neighborhood a few blocks from her home, where she says she often sees “drug guys” standing on the corners. She said the community has much less police supervision, since local police departments merged.
Poverty affects north Indianapolis because people can’t make rent payments, which creates a lot of vacant buildings, Avilla said.
Avilla said she has had to evict all three tenants she has had since becoming a landlord.
“The last one had been a good tenant for the first year and a half, but then his girlfriend moved out and he had to pay child support, so he couldn’t afford the rent,” she said.
Avilla said she tries to give a tenants grace when tenants have extenuating circumstances.
Joe said that people could help the community by setting up a basketball court. He points to a soccer field down the road where the goal nets are tattered and torn. Joe said that people play pool with attitude, but a basketball court or football field might foster more community.
Avilla said being good neighbors for each other is the best way to help poverty.
“People can help by not being afraid to move here,” Avilla said. “Its not that bad.”
Beka Mech
Be prepared for a fight at anytime. This is the advice a man named Joe offered, while waiting for his bus at the corner of 16th and College Ave. Indianapolis residents admitted that there are dangerous communities near their homes but said people can make a difference.
Joe said he has lived in Indianapolis since 1988, when he was hired by a laundry service. He said he keeps to himself in this part of downtown.
“It’s a dangerous community,” he said, his eyes yellowed and watering, he sat with a brown-bagged bottle of liquor at his feet. “If a group comes through, be prepared for a fight at anytime,” he said.
Ashley Avilla is a landlord where she lives in the 3000 block of College Ave. While she said she feels safe on College Ave, she acknowledged the rough neighborhood a few blocks from her home, where she says she often sees “drug guys” standing on the corners. She said the community has much less police supervision, since local police departments merged.
Poverty affects north Indianapolis because people can’t make rent payments, which creates a lot of vacant buildings, Avilla said.
Avilla said she has had to evict all three tenants she has had since becoming a landlord.
“The last one had been a good tenant for the first year and a half, but then his girlfriend moved out and he had to pay child support, so he couldn’t afford the rent,” she said.
Avilla said she tries to give a tenants grace when tenants have extenuating circumstances.
Joe said that people could help the community by setting up a basketball court. He points to a soccer field down the road where the goal nets are tattered and torn. Joe said that people play pool with attitude, but a basketball court or football field might foster more community.
Avilla said being good neighbors for each other is the best way to help poverty.
“People can help by not being afraid to move here,” Avilla said. “Its not that bad.”
No comments:
Post a Comment