Service station for the unhoused opens in Overtown
By Daniel A. Varela
The service site for the unhoused in Miami’s Overtown area open at Overtown’s St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church this week. The endeavor is led by Dream Defenders’ Dr. Armen Henderson, the doctor who was handcuffed in front of his Flagami home two weeks ago while loading tents to give out to those living in the streets of Downtown. Henderson, the director of health programs with the civil rights organization, Dream Defenders, says the site will include 20 porta potties, 4 showers and regular access to education about COVID-19 as well as resources such as gloves, masks, meals, tents and sanitary wipes.
Jospeh Simmons is tested by a volunteer medical practitioner as apart of a initiative launched by Dr. Armen Henderson, Dream Defenders and a coalition of community organizations in Overtown to assist the homeless with testing, essential items, and showers, in Overtown, Florida on Friday, April 24, 2020. Daniel A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Jospeh Simmons shows his hands as he laments about the lack of sanitation and poor living conditions for the homeless in Overtown, Florida on Friday, April 24, 2020. Daniel A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Stanley Kessling, 40, and Xavier Tyson, 9, wait to be tested fro the novel coronavirus during an extended services event for the unhoused, hosted by Dr. Armen Henderson, Dream Defenders and a coalition of community organizations and medical providers at St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Overtown, Florida on Friday, April 24, 2020. Daniel A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Dr. Armen Henderson, the young doctor who was handcuffed in front of his Flagami home two weeks ago while loading tents to give out to those living in the streets of Downtown, speaks with a member of the homeless community during an event hosted by The Dream Defenders, in order to aid the unhoused at St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Overtown, Florida on Friday, April 24, 2020. Daniel A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Shelby Ewing has his mouth swabbed to test for the novel coronavirus by a volunteer medical practitioner near St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Overtown, Florida on Friday, April 24, 2020. Dr. Armen Henderson, Dream Defenders and coalition of community organizations and medical providers launched expanded services for the homeless in Overtown, including coronavirus testing for those without homes or regular access to health care. Daniel A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Malachi Woumans, 42, walks out of the porta potty shower unit after finishing a shower during an extended services event for the unhoused, hosted by Dr. Armen Henderson, Dream Defenders and a coalition of community organizations and medical providers at St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Overtown, Florida on Friday, April 24, 2020. Daniel A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Volunteer medical providers screen and test homeless Miamians for the novel coronavirus underneath I-95 North in Overtown, Florida on Friday, April 24, 2020. Dr. Armen Henderson, Dream Defenders and coalition of community organizations and medical providers launched expanded services for the homeless in Overtown, including coronavirus testing for those without homes or regular access to health care. Daniel A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
