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Beaumont property owner Reginald Levy stood before Beaumont Municipal Court Chief Magistrate Craig Lively on Thursday, July 13, to answer for viola- tions of non-compliance at his down- town McFaddin Avenue property, which has been filled with trash, tents and crime for years. Lively stated that the initial violation was found Feb. 23, although Examiner photos dating back over several years indicate the property has consistently remained in disarray. Noncompliance charges were filed March 10.
“I’ve been calling the police since last year,” Levy told the court as he pre- sented six criminal trespassing warnings issued to unauthorized campers the day prior.
Levy entered a plea of not guilty, electing to have his case set for pre-trial in attempt to have the fees waived.
“Next week, I have a crew coming to clean the property,” Levy said. “I’ve been dealing with this over the last two years, and they try to fight and attack my yardman. “Last Easter, they pulled a knife on me.”
Levy said that he has plans to build affordable housing on the property, but has been unable to secure the land from the vagrants that have overtaken the property.
“We plan on building a four-plex there after Christmas,” Levy said, add- ing that he spends millions of dollars building in Dallas and would like to be able to do the same in Beaumont. Lively advised Levy that he would need to clean up the property and email the photos to the court for a decision to be made regarding the fines.
Tuesday evening, July 18, local contractor Michael Shilo, Levy’s uncle, arrived at 1275 McFaddin Ave. and, with the help of six individuals he encountered upon arrival, he was able to get the property cleared and cleaned up, and provide a paying job for those in need. City staff was not on site.
Where to now?
Community members are often seemingly confused as to why or how there are individuals without homes who choose to camp outside located just a block away from The Salvation Army Shelter, located at 1094 McFaddin Ave. Major Ken Fagan said that the maximum capacity of the shelter is 61, but that on most nights upwards of 10 beds remain unoccupied.
“We do intake every evening at 5 p.m. and, as long as there is bed space, they get to stay the initial three days,” Fagan said. “If they are working toward a goal of getting an ID or employment, we will extend their stay to 30 days as long as they are showing progress to meet their goals and following the rules.”
Residents meet with a caseworker every week, and are offered resources as needed to reposition themselves. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no charge for staying at the shelter.
There are two private bedrooms allotted for families, but minors are not permitted to stay outside of the family rooms, which means family access is almost always full. The Women and Children’s Shelter at 3550 Fannin St. in Beaumont is also available to those women and children in need of a place to stay.
“We serve a meal here every night at the Salvation Army, and everyone is welcome, not just the residents,” said Fagan. Across the street from the shelter, Some Other Place offers laundry and bathing facilities, computer and phone access, and meals nearby. The shelter does have rules and, with lights out at 10 p.m., he said that some people are not accepting of the boundaries. “We have folks that come here to the Salvation Army that are living just outside in a tent, and they come sit and chat and get water and visit, but then they leave. It’s their decision, and some folks prefer that lifestyle.”