As Tacoma's homeless crisis rages on, how one man is trying to help people on the street
Nov. 19—Richard Dorsett wants you to know he's not a hero or a savior. It's not about him, he insists.
At 69, Dorsett is like many retirees. He's got time on his hands. A couple of years ago, with his career in government relations over, he played a lot of golf. Now, with his wife Liz by his side, he visits Tacoma homeless encampments — almost daily — trying to help where he can while documenting the stories and people he encounters.
In a region with a pronounced homelessness crisis — where an estimated 4,300 are unhoused across Pierce County and only about 1,300 shelter beds exist — Dorsett is far from alone. The list of volunteers and organizations that have stepped forward to help those living on local streets is long and ever-growing. There's the guy with a pickup who's compelled to distribute water. There's the book club that makes toiletry kits. There's the Tacoma Mutual Aid Collective, the local branch of the Democratic Socialists of America and plenty of others.
Dorsett said he first became involved in homeless advocacy when a woman in a tent showed up at a church near his home. He has now spent 15 months and counting visiting local encampments. In essence, he's what Tacoma-Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness member Rob Huff described as a "Lone Ranger" in the world of homelessness activism and outreach.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-tacoma-s-homeless-crisis-rages-on-how-one-man-is-trying-to-help-people-on-the-street/ar-AA14jlNv
