Grassroots Initiative Launched to Help Oneonta New York's Homeles

Oneonta is seemingly at a tipping point with issues surrounding its unhoused population. At just about every meeting meant to discuss issues in Oneonta, the topic dominates the conversation, and continues to be a divisive topic. After an incident in downtown Oneonta, a local resident has stepped up to help.

Alysa Blasetti is a part owner, manager, and producer with Otsego Media. She is also CANO's Art Program Director. While going about her business earlier this week, she encountered a number of things on the street that left her equally appalled and dismayed.

In a post on Facebook, Blasetti outlined what she saw. "People sleeping on benches, people shooting up on Main Street. People screaming at each other in front of a family entering in my favorite place to eat. It’s really unfortunate. I was saddened to see what was taking place today."

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She went on to note that she has connected with other homeless people who can't get the help they desperately need, and stated that she's not ok with folks stealing from local businesses and people using hard drugs on Main Street. The post ended with "enough is enough".

Instead of her words amounting to nothing and being cast off into the ether, Blasetti took action. The very next day she found herself at Oneonta's "Tent City", an off the grid enclave where the area's unhoused population lives in ramshackle structures and tents.

There, Blasetti met a 29 year old woman, Maggie who detailed and outlined how life is at tent city. Living on the streets for three years, Maggie described how she collects cans and does odd jobs to fund her usage of drugs. Recently, after collecting cans and cashing them in, Maggie was robbed of money, her phone, and clothes. Her glasses were also broken in the process. Each day is spent trying to find whatever money she can to stave off withdrawal from substances. Maggie has used drugs since the age of 15.

Maggie's story is best told in her words in this video courtesy of Otsego Media:

Over the course of the conversation, Maggie revealed that she is a survivor of physical and sexual assault within the encampment. Seemingly, such incidents are commonplace.

In an effort to help, Blasetti offered to come back the next day and offered to return with food, clothes, and blankets, to which Maggie accepted. When she returned to connect Maggie she was unable to find her, and posted an update.

In the interim, Blasetti has seen an outpouring of support from the community. She told me that "my car is filled to the brim. So many people dropped off food, blankets, clothes in the past 2 hours. I have to pick up a tent tomorrow, and meet 3 other people for bags of winter clothes. I am working with members of our local community to revive a nonprofit headed by a local business owner that focuses on providing sheets, blankets & various articles of clothing to sexual abuse survivors and others in need. It will become a 501(c)(3) focusing on these needs".

It's clear the issues surrounding Oneonta's unhoused population aren't going away any time soon. If anything, they're compounding and building by the day. Despite their best efforts, services provided by the state, city, town, and independent organizations are just not enough right now. Grassroots initiatives like these are essential, as they fill in the gaps left by other efforts. Efforts like these do the most good, and must be supported so the work can continue.