News and notes from Reston (tm).

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Meet Your Neighbors: Resident of Homeless Encampment Just Like You and Me, If You and Me Lived in a Tent in the Woods

HomelessX_101409_rgb_t203-1.jpgThough Targetville is apparently now gone, we recently learned of another homeless encampment in the woods behind the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride when it became the scene of a sexual assault earlier this month. Now thanks to the Fairfax County Times:, we've gotten to meet Hoyt Nelson Chick III, one of its residents:

As a skilled handyman performing odd jobs such as carpentry, electrical repairs and even some HVAC work, the 58-year-old hauls his tools and 6-foot ladder onto Fairfax Connector buses and comes home the same way.

Like many area residents, he mows his lawn, complains about his neighbors and roots for the Washington Capitals. What may set him apart from most county residents, however, is that his home is a series of tents located in the woods adjacent to the county-owned Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride lot where he has lived for the last six years. According to a study conducted by Fairfax County in April 2009, Chick is one of about 1,730 homeless residents living in Fairfax.

“I’m a homeless advocate,” he said in his raspy voice as he stands in his tent compound wearing Crocs, bifocals and a Washington Nationals cap. “Yeah, I’m homeless, but I don’t bum cigarettes, money, or anything else anyone could complain about, so everyone basically lets me be.”

His compound, consisting of several tents, tables and makeshift workstations, is trash-free and organized. “This is my home,” he said. “I take pride in it like anyone else.”

He uses propane tanks to both cook on a camp stove and to heat his bedroom. “I can be up in here in nothing but my drawers — with a stogie and a cocktail — on a 40-degree day, and feel nice and toasty,” he laughs.

He has a lawn mower that he uses to clear an area he calls “the front lawn.” He has occupied this current abode since early 2003, and has certainly made it his own.
A Vietnam vet, Chick became homeless in 2001. He says his tents were searched after last week's sexual assault.
On Oct. 5, while he was sleeping, someone used one of Chick’s tents to allegedly rape a 19-year-old girl. County police obtained a search warrant and searched the compound. “They were looking for a condom,” he said. “I don’t think they found it, but they took a blanket.”

A suspect turned himself in to police two days later, but Chick said he still feels invaded, the same way anyone would if someone broke into their home and committed a criminal act.

“In addition to the fact that this dude used my tent for whatever,” he said, “police came and went through all my stuff. You’re damn right I feel violated.”
Chick basically just wants a little respect -- and to be left alone.
On days he is not working, Chick utilizes Reston’s Embry Rucker Shelter to do laundry, take a shower and chat with friends. His intelligence and compassion is evident as he counsels other homeless people about programs available for their benefit, and imparts street wisdom to the younger set, giving them the benefit of his experiences.

“He certainly has the ability to become a homeless counselor,” said Aaron Sawyer, manager of the Clothes Closet in Herndon, where Chick once fixed the central air-conditioning system. “There is no shame to him. He wears his lifestyle out in front of him like a badge of honor. He could easily be the link between those in need and those on the outside trying to understand that lifestyle.”

For now, Chick just hopes his life can get back to normal after all the unwelcome attention recent events have brought upon him. “Like I said, all I want is a little respect,” he said. “And maybe something to keep skunks out of my tents.”
In conclusion, anyone who can claim the owner of Jaxx, the awesome Springfield nightclub where you can still go see 80s hair bands like Ratt, as a character witness can't be all bad, the end.

21 comments:

  1. Get a job-pay some taxes- and stop littering our parks and paths with your "stogie and cocktails"

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  2. Anon 1:42

    Did you read the article? It says his place is litter free, and he has a job as a handyman. Plus he is a veteran.

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  3. This isn't surprising. I remember doing a garbage cleanup at Targetville several months ago, and several of the homeless guys helped us clean up the trash (likely tossed out by littering motorists judging from the contents). The homeless are regular just like we are, they just choose to live a little differently.

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  4. So... it is ok to pitch tent on private property and drink in public?
    Hoyt needs to pull himself up by his boot straps and Man-up-

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  5. Sounds like he is manning up you (insert expletive here)

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  6. FWIW - Targetville is still there.. or was a few days ago when I drove by and spotted the tents and tarps in the trees, next to the Toll Road, across from Town Center Drive.

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  7. I have been over to that area, the area is a dump and a hazzard to children.

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  8. I liked the article. Seems like a nice guy making the best of his situation trying to help hisself and others. I may send him a letter to keep me in mind to help homeless kind of person to person instead of a org if he knows any who need help. We had some homeless once here near the nature center livivng in the woods which the American Indians would still be doing if there land wasn't swindled away from them. The RA ran them off.

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  9. How can someone occupy a space like that since 2003 and never be asked to move along? No matter how kind, benevolent and orderly he is, it's still squatting -- and against the law.

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  10. How can he afford Crocs, smokes ,booze, fuel and a lawn mower? I agree, Hoyt needs to man up-BTW, it is not your front lawn!

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  11. It seems the homeless the world over can live in slums or leantos.

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  12. Who owns the property? If it's private then at some point, he might be a landowner due to adverse possession.

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  13. I hear that in Hoyts free time he is the creator/admin. of the Restonian.

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  14. That would explain alot.

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  15. That would explain the extension cord running into the woods and the 300-baud modem.

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  16. Is he advocating for more accomodations for the homeless or for the homeless to squat wherever they want? Isn't it about time that Embry Rucker got a high-rise homeless shelter?

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  17. Why can’t he work a Panera Bread or Mcdonalds? He has a social #. I did that and was able rented a room in a house while I also went to NOVA at the same time. That guy is just LAZY. There are so many illegal in this country that survive and eventually buy or rent a property without having a social security number. If he is a veteran doesn't he get a veterans support or something? Someone needs to tell him to get off his ASS and WORK HARD.

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  18. He makes a living, pays into the system via sales taxes, begs for nothing, and probably works harder than you. Pretty hard-ass to live in tents for six years. Why work some BS food-service job when you are a handyman and paid for it?

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  19. Anonymous 3:43pm

    The fast food worker was just a quick example and what I did to get through school, here is more jobs: construction worker, janitor, or go a temp agency… etc. My choice for him (since he lives in tent for 6 years) is work for the FCPA Fairfax county parks. Every week he can take his home from one park to another. Think of it as a vacation for him every week. Also remember, if the homeless get hurt and they need medical attention from the hospital guess who’s paying the bill, you and me. I don’t even think homeless people pay taxes at all, like you and me. If you think am defending illegal from what I wrote about in my last comment, you’re wrong. I wish Fairfax County had the Prince Williams immigration laws and that they hire sheriff Joe Arpaio from Arizona or follow his example.

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  20. Why jump into conclusions? There must be a personal choice/reason on a choice to live a life. Our standars can not be impossed in someone else. I am sure living without confort is hard life and not one I want to experience. However, I too have opted to not let sociaty, fashion, and anything that dictates who I am. I learned to live with little and refuse to buy unecessary items. Who said that one has to drive the best car, hold the best job, or live in the best home? All these things can be gone in a second. For many of us, in only few hunders that separtes us from being homeless. Those of us that have the luxury to be able to pay our taxes and insurances does not make us better than those that can't. I do not belive that things should be giving free to anyone. Those who need to obtain some sort of aid, should be forced to do some civil work such as keeping areas clean. As some stated above, many well educated individuals are the ones that are the most ignorant and choose to not take pride in helping to make our ares safe and clean. I still to see a post that offers this gentlemam, whom help to make America, what it is today, some help. Many of this Veteran soldiers are homeless for one reason or another. NOt becuse they can not effort or know how to make a living. I can not even began to fill a shoe and fight for those of us whom enjoy the freedom this country is giving us because of people like this man. As mom told me one day when I was little. "If you can not help and do not have anything good to say, keep your mouth closed or step up and do something to help those in need....

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  21. chick was my best man about 28 yrs ago. i cant wait to go there and see him, its been like over 25 years we last spoke. please be kind to him. please let me know if he is still there or where he might be,if they have ran him off.

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