Flagstaff is my hometown. My Mom was forced to stay in Hope Cottage for about a year or so. That place sounded like a nightmare. She was totally brainwashed when she got out. Went from a 'religion is not the answer' person to a practicing Christian. Its because they forced prayer on everyone to obtain services. Food? Sermon. Help with getting stamps? Sermon. Abuse/substance abuse counseling? Sermon. Church like 3 days a week.
Any abused/high risk women's shelter that disguises itself as such, only to force religious beliefs on at risk, desperate people, who have no other choice, is fucking evil. Fuck that place. There are many people in flag who want to see that place shut down, but I don't think there is another 'at risk' Women's shelter in Flag right now.
Good you caught the aire of that place and avoided it.
There are many travelers that have ended up staying in flag. If you frequent Heritage Square and the downtown neighborhood you will probably find some people to chill with. There is the Family Food Center on the East Side in the Sunnyside neighborhood that is a decent soup kitchen. They feed like 3 times a week or so. Look 'em up.
Not alot of places for free gear, unfortunately....unless that has changed since I was last there.
Flag is like the blue bubble of AZ, but do not get on the eye of the Flagstaff PD. They are fucking terrible. They used to do some fucked up shit to houseless people there before the panhandling case was decided by the Supreme Court, along with the camping bans.
While flag can seem nice at first, there is still a huge amount of assholes whi hate the houseless...along with minorities and queer people. Just know that when venturing into different parts of town/northern AZ.
Try getting down to Sedona if you have the chance. And the Grand Canyon.
Hope cottage - I'll believe it! They didn't like that Google review that I left them completely calling them out, either!
They deserve to be shut down for how they treat people! I want to see them shut down as well!
Travelers staying - I believe that, and I see why. Flagstaff is a neat little town! I've already come across a few travelers that have decided to stay here long term. I've come across a few people that's specifically higher homeless people because they've experienced homelessness or they're very aware of the injustices towards the homeless. Homeless people are the most marginalized across any demographic and spectrum. Some people understand that and some people don't.
A civil justice attorney by the name of Wendy White started an organization called cats, and they have a branch off called pause where they pay homeless people Arizona minimum wage to pick up trash in a few spots in the city.
I've already come across heritage Square, and there were some cool people out there when it wasn't snowing. Now I'm gonna have to wait a few days because there's no decide to stick around.
I yell acab whenever I see the Flagstaff police department! Fuck all cops! I've already heard other people's horror stories about them. But the police are horrible, so I'm not surprised.
I've already come across one person that was totally comfortable comparing mentally ill unhoused people that have to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to children grabbing too much Halloween candy in terms of "being too nice to the homeless." And she didn't care that she offended me.
I don't really have a good reason to go to Sedona or the Grand Canyon. Sedona is just a suburb, right? I talked to another black person that brought up Sedona and they didn't seem too much impressed by it so I'm not worried about it.
Thanks for the tips, homie!
