By Tatiana Moore

A place where money isn’t real and everything is free. Running on community donations and local support, Free Time Space was just getting its foothold in the Humboldt zeitgeist. That is, until their landlord gave them 48 hours to get out.

Amara Rydz, facilitator of Free Time Space, explained that the 1925 Alliance Road location in Arcata was envisioned as a third space to serve as a meditation center, nap cafe and public facility meant to meet unmet community needs in Arcata. 

On Sept. 14, Rydz said that the landlord issued a termination of the one-year lease, effective in two days. The owner reportedly disapproved of the presence of community members using the shared amenities.

The landlord Mikael, who did not provide a last name, argues that Rydz misstated her intentions behind what the space was going to be.

“Amara represented she wanted to open a yoga studio meditation center with a free store. In reality, she opened a 24/7 shelter. 24/7 shelters are not permitted under our lease agreement. The activities and behavior of Amara‘s guests and invitees created an unacceptable environment to our community.”  

Rydz said Free Time Space accepted the termination rather than fighting to remain in a place where the organization was unwelcome. For people who had begun using the space, this sudden closure represented more than just the loss of a building.

Sociology major Lucas Carballo came to know about Free Time Space because of a post on the Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) sociology department Instagram page. He and his friend were shocked to hear about the 48-hour notice. 

“Just because it’s not being monetized it’s not being valued,” Carballo said. 

For Tomas Topete, a marketing major, the space was representative of a broader idea of community resources. 

“I definitely think whoever is not in favor of this kind of community gathering and this kind of, people for people bond establishment — really [need to] reevaluate your values,” Topete said. “This is a necessity, like a necessary part of change, and you won’t get very far in helping your community if you’re not including them in it.” 

Rydz said the dispute also points toward a larger issue surrounding where people are allowed to exist when they have nowhere else to go. He described meeting people who have received citations for loitering. One person she said had received 18 citations in a month.

Free Time Space’s appeal was rooted in that gap, but people drawn to the space also brought needs that the community space could not necessarily relieve. 

Tyler Debler came to Arcata to attend CPH, but he soon found himself homeless. He feels the county has few viable shelters and criticized the conditions and environment he experienced at the Eureka Rescue Mission, a local homeless shelter.

“The Mission is poorly run,” Debler said. “It’s dirty. They have roaches. They have lice. People  are loaded on harder substances other than maybe marijuana or even alcohol.” 

Debler’s experience points to the difficult position Free Time Space attempted to occupy. The space was not a shelter, treatment center or government-funded social service. Yet as a space shaped by the community, it was attracting people whose needs often extended beyond what an informal community space can provide. 

Filling this gap requires more than a good idea and a welcoming door. It requires resources, structure and the ability to safely serve the people who are walking through it. The people who needed it didn’t disappear with the lease. The need is still there. Now the question is whether Humboldt is up to confront that, or simply find another door to close.

Tatiana is a reporter. Contact at thm18@humboldt.edu