Wintering at the Earle

This paper presents the Earle group, members of the Richmond, Virginia Street Community who spent the winter of 1988 sharing an abandoned hotel. As facililator for a "rap group" that included these individuals, as well as in his role as coordinator of a drop-in center, the author was able to observe and learn directly about life "on the streets." Leadership, formation and entry, substance use, and the break-up of this group are presented here. The relationship with the members was also used to develop an understanding of the Street Community, including norms and structures of obligations. The life stories are updated to Autumn 1990. Finally. implications of the material for service provision to groups in the street community are explored.