WORCESTER — After women – both cis and transgender – were turned away from the emergency winter shelter at 611 Main Street, demonstrators set up an encampment in the parking lot, complete with tents, heaters, and a sign stating “homelessness is not a crime.”
The encampment, which was set up early Wednesday morning, was designed as an alternative for those who were turned away as well as for those who did not feel safe in the shelter.
The protest was organized by Project Priceless, an organization consisting of approximately 30 individuals, primarily homeless women who either escaped the sex trade or are living on the streets. All of Project Priceless’ members were denied access to the shelter, despite daily attempts to secure a bed since the shelter opened on Dec. 12, 2023. Members of SOS Worcester, a youth-run, homeless advocacy organization, were also at the protest.
The shelter, which is run by South Middlesex Opportunity Council Inc., is located where the Registry of Motor Vehicles used to be.
The shelter has 60 beds: 45 for men and 15 for women.
Some protesters described the lack of beds for women as discriminatory towards both women and the LGBT community.
“Being transgender, I was told that accommodating me would require creating a separate section,” said Jennifer Baez, a homeless woman at the encampment Wednesday. “The shelter stated they couldn’t place me in either the women’s or men’s areas as I didn’t fit conventional categories. They didn’t have the resources to establish a new section, so I was denied entry.”
At 3:30 p.m. police told the protesters that they had to dismantle their tents in the parking lot by 4 p.m. or risk arrest. Simultaneously, City Manager Eric Batista directed the shelter to expand its capacity from 60 to 85 individuals. The shelter’s staff promised beds for that night to those protesting outside if they took down their encampment. However, when inquiries were made about accommodations for the subsequent night, the shelter staff did not provide any guarantees. Consequently, all those participating in the protest turned down the offer.
At approximately 5 p.m., police intervened, making three arrests and dismantling the encampment.
Those arrested were: Sathi Patel of Project Priceless, a male member of SOS who was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest, and another man apprehended following a short foot pursuit who is now facing charges of assault and battery on a police officer.
Following the removal of the encampment, police permitted some individuals to collect their personal belongings. Subsequently, work crews were dispatched to the site to clear away any remaining tents and supplies.
