In South Dallas, Bertrand residents face health issues from encampments, while unhoused people seek resources to rebuild amid challenging circumstances.
DALLAS — Willie Mae Coleman has lived in the Bertrand neighborhood in South Dallas for more than 60 years. She says she’s never seen mattresses and couches on the sidewalk until now, and it’s causing unwanted guests.
“I’m just so nervous and upset,” she told WFAA. “I got bugs crawling around over here … and everybody’s complaining about rats.”
Coleman says the bugs and rodents are linked to an uptick in the number of homeless people who are setting up on the sidewalks outside and into an empty lot just steps away from her home, which she believes is causing her some health issues.
“I plan to go to the doctor,” she said.
Belen Luhan is one of at least a dozen people living in the new and growing encampment. Luhan said she’s living in the encampment because she lost her job and eventually her home after getting into a car accident with an uninsured driver. She’s now confined to a wheelchair. She said most of her money was allocated towards her treatment related to her injuries.
“[Doctors] had to give me three-to-seven seven blood transfusions,” said Luhan. “This all came [from] the accident.”
Luhan and at least three people living in tents in the encampment told WFAA that living in the vacant lot is the last thing they want to do.
“Everybody kind of looks at us as less than [or] as stray dogs,” Michael Morales, who is also unhoused, said.
Morales joined Luhan in asking city leaders to help with more resources so they can get on their feet. Community activists want the same.
“They’re not an issue that needs to be resolved or hidden. They are people that need help,” said Dr. Pamela Grayson, executive director of the nonprofit Collective Activism. “They need access to health insurance, transportation, affordable housing, food, water and overall basic needs.”
In a statement to WFAA, Dallas Councilmember Adam Bazaldua, who represents the district, commented:
“Making sure residents feel heard and represented is incredibly important to me.
“Regarding some of the concerns brought up, my team regularly attends neighborhood meetings and the city conducts weekly encampment cleaning, including four that took place in District 7 just last week.
“As we continue working closely with our neighborhood associations, we’ll keep prioritizing clear communications so residents know what services are available and how we’re committed to being responsive to their concerns.”