Homeless News Roundup

( – promoted by buhdydharma )

Homeless activists delay L.A. City Council meeting

by David Zahniser

L.A. Times

September 29, 2009

Activists and the homeless disrupt a council meeting Tuesday while marking the third anniversary of Police Chief William J. Bratton’s Safer City Initiative, which they say has brought overly aggressive policing to skid row. The protest began when the council deferred public comments to continue a discussion on the city’s budget deficit.

CALIFORNIA

Area coalition forms to help homeless

by April Charlton

October 1, 2009

“We knew there was a need for services for the homeless in the Five Cities area,” said Patricia Diefenderfer, president of the newly formed coalition that consists of different agencies and community organizations.

On any given day, there are at least 536 people without a permanent place to call home in the South County, according to statistics on the local homeless population recently released by the county.

For more information about the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition, call Diefenderfer at 473-7970 or e-mail her at [email protected].

Federal funds to help the homeless

by Natalie Hoffman

October 3, 2009

About $1.6 million worth of help for the homeless is on its way to Napa County as part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Intended to connect homeless and at-risk individuals and families with housing and other services, the funds are a fraction of a recent $42.7 million allocation of so-called Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program awarded to 31 California local governments and organizations, according to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office.

A HomeWalk To Remember

L.A.’s Homeless Blog

October 2, 2009

Next month, the Los Angeles’ version will commence its third annual walk. The United Way of Greater LA calls it, “HomeWalk.” It’s a play on homework. But instead of doing our homework, we are doing our homewalk. Walking to insure that people will find homes.

The voice of blogs, tweets, and Facebook posts are one thing. But these technological statements are minimal compared to thousands of people walking the streets to express their outrage that homelessness exists in the richest country on earth.

I, for one, need to walk the talk of this blog. So I’m going to walk. Will you join me on Saturday, November 7th at Los Angeles’ Exposition Park?

Fresno gets $4m to aid homeless

By Russell Clemings

September 27, 2009

More than $4 million in federal stimulus funding is about to become available to relieve and prevent homelessness in Fresno.

…..

The task now will be more complex. Instead of focusing on a single homeless camp, workers for the 11 agencies will search throughout the county. Instead of limiting their efforts to people living in the open, they’ll also look for people in substandard housing who are in danger of becoming homeless.

ALASKA

City officials plan to address the problem of homeless camps

by Leyla Santiago

September 27, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — With winter approaching and over a dozen homeless people found dead in Anchorage this year, the local Department of Health and Human Services says it plans to move forward with an initiative to bring the city together and address the problem.

“This isn’t a new problem, but certainly with the recent deaths we have heightened concern about how many people are out there and how many need winter care,” said Diane Ingle, the department’s director. “Unfortunately, this isn’t something we’ll be able to solve overnight.”

WASHINGTON

A dozen arrested as homeless camp evicted

Seattle Times

September 30, 2009

A dozen people were arrested as Port of Seattle police evicted the homeless camp known as Nickelsville from Port of Seattle property.

The homeless camp was set up in July at the port site and officials had made Wednesday the deadline for campers to get out. Port spokeswoman Charla Skaggs says about 20 left early, going “to other shelter resources.” About 80 remained when police arrived.

Skaggs said late Wednesday afternoon that the dozen who were arrested were given written trespassing warnings and have been released. She says they included some advocates for the homeless.

In climate of activism, United Way homelessness campaign marches on

by Monica Guzman

September 29, 2009

United Way of King County is halfway through its 2-year-old, $25 million campaign to end chronic homelessness, with $13.1 million raised so far, Erlandson said.

Now it’s launched a video and social media campaign to help meet the goal (see above).

About 8,300 people are homeless in King County at any given night, according to estimates.

ARIZONA

Moore invites homeless and jobless to ‘Capitalism’ screening

by Joseph J. Airdo

October 1, 2009

Phoenix’s homeless and jobless populations will pack into a Valley movie theater tonight for a free screening of Michael Moore’s new documentary.

…..

“[The studio] agreed, and so tonight, the night before our opening day, 10 cities will grant you free admission if you have fallen on hard times,” Moore stated. “You don’t need to bring any ‘proof’ of your situation – just show up – it’s the honor system, no questions asked.”

NORTH DAKOTA

Program kicks off this weekend to help area homeless

West Fargo Pioneer

October 1, 2009

The fourth annual Homeless and Hungry event kicks off this weekend, Oct. 3-4 at 26 sites around the Fargo-Moorhead area. Locations in West Fargo include Faith Lutheran Church, Flame of Faith United Methodist Church and St. Andrew Lutheran Church. Homeless and Hungry begins at noon Saturday and ends Sunday at the Fargodome, where an all-city soup kitchen from 6-7 p.m. culminates the event.

MONTANA

Non-profit organization helps homeless families to become independent

by Susan Olp

September 27, 2009

Thomas Cochran and Angelita Pattugulan live in an airy, two-bedroom North Park apartment with their two sons, 15-month-old Alex and newborn Thomas.

Cochran, 25, works full time as a custodian and Pattugulan, 20, is a stay-at-home mom.

That’s a far cry from where the family was just months ago, new to Billings, homeless and jobless. Cochran and Pattugulan credit the turn-around to the Interfaith Hospitality Network.

UTAH

Stimulus money to help Salt Lake homeless

by Ross Becker

October 2, 2009

Tonight, 70 people will be sleeping on cots in the lobby of the Road Home, a homeless shelter in Salt Lake. They are families who have nowhere else to go.

Matthew Minkevitch, the shelters executive director says he is seeing a 120 percent increase in homeless families in Salt Lake. He says, “It has to be the economy that’s leading to this…we have a disturbing increase in the number of families who have turned to us for shelter”.

WISCONSIN

Homeless advocates unnerved by proposed renovations to Peace Park

by Maggie DeGroot

September 30, 2009

Some see the proposed renovation to Peace Park, located at 452 State St., as necessary, but others see nothing wrong with the park in its current state.

At Tuesday’s neighborhood meeting concerning the proposed renovations, many people wanted to know how the renovations would impact the homeless population known to gather in the area.

One female UW-Madison student spoke out and said that by renovating the park, the homeless would be driven out, no help would be provided to them and they would have nowhere else to go.

Homeless Shelter Gives People a Fresh Start

Newswatch 12

October 1, 2009

When Ralph Schlitz entered recovery from drug and alcohol addictions in 1996, he realized he could do more than get sober.

Ralph Schlitz, the Program Director for Randlin Homes, says “I saw that I could be a benefit to helping other people.”

Ralph and his wife have done just that. The pair’s opened 3 homeless shelters in Wausau that give veterans, ex-offenders, and homeless people a fresh start.

MISSOURI

Salvation Army closes a homeless shelter in Parkville, will develop a new homeless program

by Debra Skodack

September 28, 2009

The nonprofit organization said Monday that it will use federal stimulus funds to develop its Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, which will give recipients either rent or utility assistance or provide transitional housing.

The city of Kansas City awarded the Salvation Army $374,554 in stimulus funds, and Clay County awarded $325,323.

To apply for assistance through the program, contact the Salvation Army at 816-452-5663.

‘Love Your Neighbor’ barbecue to benefit Branson’s homeless

News-Leader

September 27, 2009

A “Love Your Neighbor” barbecue Oct. 11 will benefit Branson’s homeless.

The free barbecue will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Leisure Country Inn at 3350 W. Missouri 76 in Branson, according to a press release from Jesus Was Homeless.

This is the fourth drug- and alcohol-free barbecue hosted by Jesus Was Homeless and Church Army Branson. Each barbecue is held at different weekly- and extended-stay motels in the Branson area.

INDIANA

Lt. Gov. Skillman announces plans to fight area homelessness

by Bill Engle

October 1, 2009

Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman visited Richmond today to announce a new program that will use federal stimulus dollars to address the growing homeless situation in Wayne and several surrounding counties.

She also announced $1.3 million in funding for Dunn Center, soon to be known as Centerstone.

The money will come as a $340,000 grant and $960,000 in tax credits to be used to build a 60-unit apartment complex for homeless residents on South 13th Street in Richmond.

MAINE

A haven for homeless veterans

by Meghan V. Malloy

October 1, 2009

Furnished with sparkling white appliances in the kitchenette, a television, a couch and chair in a modest living room, the apartment means more than home to Smith, an Army veteran: It means stability and starting over.

“This place is phenomenal. Just phenomenal,” he said. “When you’ve been in the woods for six months, it’s nice to have four walls, and a door you can lock.”

Smith is one of four veterans to move into a Winthrop Street home, which has been rehabilitated as affordable housing for the chronically homeless. Each resident has a separate one-bedroom apartment.

RHODE ISLAND

Homeless Camp Runamuck disbands — for now

by Paul Davis

September 29, 2009

“They have every intention of getting together again,” said spokeswoman Meagan Smith.

The nine residents — all friends — hope to regroup on another piece of land, Smith said. The long-term goal, however, “is to get some kind of shared housing for the group.”

NEW YORK

U.S. can afford to house homeless kids (Opinion)

by David A. Love

September 28, 2009

For homeless school-age children — with precarious living arrangements and the daily struggles to find food and shelter — attending school is an uphill battle. At least one-fifth do not attend school at all. Often, there is no transportation from shelters to school.

Those who do attend have more academic problems, are suspended twice as often and are more likely to repeat a grade. Their math and reading scores are 16 percent lower, and only one in four graduates from high school.

We are punishing these kids for the sins of our economic and social policies.

CONNECTICUT

State directs $10.8 million in stimulus to combat homelessness

by Governor Rell’s office

October 2, 2009

(please note that the article has a lot of information about available funds and eligibility requirements)

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state has directed $10.8 million in federal stimulus funds to prevent homeless through a community-based program that provides assistance for rent and utility bills, intervenes during evictions and offers emergency lodging and other services aimed at keeping Connecticut families and individuals from losing their homes.

…..

For more information about the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, members of the public who are at risk of becoming homeless or who are currently homeless may call 2-1-1.  

The Working Homeless

by Shannon Moriarty

September 30, 2009

homelessness.change.org.

January’s homeless census in Connecticut revealed a startling figure: one in three homeless individuals in Connecticut has a job, and 36 percent of adults in homeless families is employed. Seems the profile of a homeless person in America has evolved as the gap between the rich and poor in this country has increased.

WASHINGTON, DC

House Members and Veterans Groups Support Bills to End Homelessness Among Vets

by Cindy Von Quednow

October 2, 2009

With more than 100,000 veterans among the homeless, veterans groups and House members discussed legislation they said could help at a hearing that looked at 13 different bills. The Department of Veterans Affairs said it supports the goals but doesn’t have enough money for all the suggested program.

…..

“If we are not proactive in our approach to solving homelessness, all of the aggravating factors will combine to leave many thousands of my era of veteran homeless,” said Justin Brown, a legislative associate at the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. “We must act immediately to alleviate the problem before it explodes.”

Shelter Is Even More Tenuous City Budget Cuts Stun Advocates for Homeless

by Darryl Fears

October 1, 2009

D.C. Council members and shelter providers were stunned to learn this week that the Fenty administration has cut $20 million from the city’s homeless services budget for fiscal 2010. Advocates said the funding decrease likely will result in shelters being closed, forcing hundreds of adults and children onto the streets within months.

15 Homeless People Get Apartments Next Month

by Darryl Fears

September 29, 2009

The D.C. government is quietly preparing to take nine homeless people off city streets and put them into publicly funded apartments, playing down any fanfare to protect the identities of the recipients, who are mentally ill.

But moving day Thursday will mark another step in the city’s ambitious, five-year-old plan to end homelessness by 2014.

Drafted under former mayor Anthony A. Williams, the strategy calls for using local and federal dollars to develop or subsidize 6,000 units of affordable housing between 2004 and 2014, partly to help the homeless and mentally ill move from street corners into their own homes.

Fenty: Housing for homeless effort a success

by Seth Woods

October 2, 2009

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty on Thursday announced that city officials have provided renovated apartments to 22 homeless seniors as part of a long-term effort to find housing for the city’s most vulnerable residents.

Since April 2008 the Fenty administration has found permanent homes for 144 homeless seniors, ages 60 and above, Mr. Fenty said.

Jaffe: Homeless folks at home in the Obamas’ neighborhood

by Harry Jaffe

October 2, 2009

If first lady Michelle Obama wants to connect with the community and get a glimpse of the homeless problem in her new hometown she won’t have to venture far from the East Wing.

…..

The first lady might wonder why a gaggle of men and a woman pushing a cart are waiting in front of the historic church. She would understand at 7:30 sharp, when a white van pulls up, opens its doors and the homeless folk line up for a hot meal.

For the past 20 years the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Alexandria has been sending its van to corners in Washington to feed and clothe folks in need. It has stops at Dupont Circle and 12th Street — and in the first lady’s ‘hood.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Free eye exams at a mobile clinic for homeless and needy

by Raymond Owens

October 1, 2009

About 100 people are getting free eye exams this week at Crisis Ministries downtown.  VSP http://www.vsp.com is offering the clinic.

Rep. Wendell Gilliard contacted the VSP insurance company to ask them to send their mobile clinic to Charleston.

Local eye doctors are giving the exam at no cost.  The insurance company is paying for the glasses

LOUISIANA

Local homeless man beaten to death in Opelousas jail

The News-Star

September 29, 2009

OPELOUSAS – A 35-year-old homeless man, being held on charges of being drunk and disorderly, was found dead in his cell in the Opelousas City Jail early Monday morning, apparently beaten to death.

….

Later that evening, the other three men were placed into the holding cell with him. Cretian was originally charged with aggravated assault; Chadwick O. King with obstruction of justice; and William King III with aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, resisting an officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and a probation violation.

GEORGIA

Homeless Ga. sex offenders seek new place to live

by Greg Bluestein

September 30, 2009

MARIETTA, Ga. – Georgia probation officers tried to line up temporary housing on Tuesday for nine homeless sex offenders who were kicked out of a makeshift tent city behind a suburban Atlanta office park where state officials had directed them to live.

State officials ordered the offenders to leave Monday night after The Associated Press reported details of the unique arrangement, said Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren. Many met with their probation officers Tuesday and were told that authorities were trying to find them hotels, shelters or other temporary places to live.

“I feel like I’m living on a roller coaster. It’s like up and down, up and down,” said Marque Miechurski, a 30-year-old convicted of child molestation who said Tuesday he found a temporary place to live.

Schools struggling to help homeless students

By Preston Sparks and Donnie Fetter

September 28, 2009

“I can tell it affects him,” Mr. Wright said of his son, who is a first-grader this school year at Windsor Spring Elementary. “From day to day, he’s not sure where we’re going to be living. So it’s tough like that.”

The situation is one area school officials say they have seen more in the past couple of years. In Richmond County, it’s a topic they’ve addressed in the past with grant money and outside agency help.

But this school year the system has been denied a $70,000 federal grant request for homeless student aid and is asking the state Board of Education, which administers the money, to reconsider.

FLORIDA

Prosecutors clear Fort Lauderdale police of anti-homeless allegations

By Rafael A. Olmeda and Brittany Wallman  

October 2, 2009

Broward prosecutors have dismissed a claim that Fort Lauderdale police officers unfairly targeted homeless people to win days off or gift cards to a movie theater.

The complaints were brought last year by veteran officer Michael Hennessy, who said senior officers developed incentives that resulted in the unfair treatment of homeless people in Fort Lauderdale.

The police department never disputed the existence of the incentives over a brief period in 2008, but has consistently denied that they were unfair in concept or in practice. The police department’s Internal Affairs department ruled in a June report that various incentives did not result in any illegal activity, though they have since been ended.

USF building program to help nation’s homeless vets

by Lindsay Peterson

October 1, 2009

TAMPA – People who work with homeless veterans across the country will be taking guidance soon from staff at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and the University of South Florida.

Researchers in Tampa have been working the past two weeks on how they’ll develop the new National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki announced in May that Tampa would be a host for the center.

The plan is to study existing programs for homeless veterans to find out what works best, then provide training to VA staff and community workers across the country, said Roger Casey, director of the VA’s Homeless Providers Program.

Homeless Prevention Funds Coming to Local Counties

by Matt de Nesnera

September 29, 2009

Catholic Charities will be responsible for distributing the funds. Bay County will receive the most, almost $800,000. Jackson County’s share is $150,000. Washington, Holmes, Calhoun and Gulf counties will receive the rest.

….

Officials hope to begin distributing the funds within the next few weeks. There are some specific requirements you must meet in order to qualify for this program.

If you would like more information, you can contact Catholic Charities at [email protected], or soon, you should be able to call (850) 640-1589 or (850) 640-1591. Those numbers should be connected by next week.  

SAMOA

Scramble to help thousands of Samoan tsunami homeless

by Amy Coopes

October 2, 2009

Emergency workers went from house to house counting the missing on Thursday and handed out tents and blankets to stricken villagers as disease fears stalked thousands left homeless by the deadly Samoan tsunami.

…..

ICRC New Zealand director Douglas Clark said supplying fresh water, food and tarpaulins to the more than 2,000 homeless was a priority as fears rise of cholera and other disease outbreaks in makeshift hillside camps.

PHILIPPINES

Philippines Floods Leave Poor Children and Families Homeless

By Children International

September 28, 2009

MANILA, Philippines – Early reports from Children International, a U.S.-based humanitarian organization which supports poor children throughout the Philippines, indicate heavy rains have left much of Manila under water and have forced thousands of sponsored families from their homes.

Children International’s President and CEO Jim Cook said, “We are very concerned about the children and families whose meager belongings have been washed away by Ketsana. Children International will be providing emergency support to our sponsored children and their families whose lives were already challenged by extreme poverty.”

The National Disaster Coordinating Council in the Philippines reports 140 people have died in flash floods resulting from more than 13 inches of rain received in a 6-hour time frame on Saturday. The flooding is reported to be the worst in over 40 years.

Arroyo offers ‘bahay kubo’ for homeless

by TJ Burgonio

October 2, 2009

The President has made a strong pitch for the use of the ready-made “nipa and bamboo huts” to shelter thousands of families left homeless by Storm “Ondoy.”

At the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) meeting in Cainta, Rizal Friday, Ms Arroyo recalled that the hut-the kind sold on national highways at P25,000-has worked for residents of a slum community in Baseco, Manila.

HOMELESS DOLL FLAP CONTINUES

American Girl unveils homeless doll

by Kim Ode

September 30, 2009

As with all American Girl dolls, Gwen offers what Mattel calls “valuable lessons about life.” As well as marketing.

…

A peek at the American Girl Web site’s comments suggests that however well intentioned a life lesson, a doll is always a doll: One young customer was perplexed by Gwen’s lack of accessories. “I expected some outfits.”

from selfabsorbed.me

….”You know what would make a great doll for young women to look up to across the world….a homeless child.” What goes better with afternoon playtime then a little homelessness and talk of the recession?

Yup, that is correct. American Girl Dolls are now introducing “Homeless Gwen”. Homeless Gwen comes with only one dress and flip flops that look like they were rescued straight out of a LaGuardia dumpster.

Homeless Doll Doesn’t Need a Home

from sisterscholar.com

September 29, 2009

“…The issue that I have with Gwen is that her story has a happy ending that doesn’t truly reflect today’s homeless population.

…

Do you explain that everyone doesn’t get their lives back together and move into an apartment? Do you say that all homelessness will go away in 2010? That homelessness is a “limited edition” like the Gwen doll, which is only slated to be available for a few more months?”

COMMENTARY

Notes from a call center

by realwischeese

October 3, 2009

I work in a utility call center. I’d like to share a few painful stories of calls that I have taken over the past few months. They are ordinary Americans fighting to keep their lights on and their furnaces hot in some incredibly difficult times.  I need to share these stories so that maybe they can free my waking thoughts and night time dreams.  To all of those struggling souls that I mention and to those whom I haven’t, may the wind take up your sails and bring you fortune.  But I fear this not to be the case with most.  All the names are made up and the utility company will remain nameless, but the stories are sadly true.

Who is Advocating for Homeless LGBT Youth?

by Shannon Moriarty

September 28, 2009

It’s tough to write about this topic in a voice that is so detached, tame, and reasoned. The truth is, the stories from the LGBTQ street youth covered in the Indypendent, are deeply bothersome. The emotions are raw, the desperation clear. It’s easy to forget that caught up in the mix of beatings, dumpster diving, prostitution, and alcoholism, are kids who were looking for acceptance.

So who is advocating for these young people? Who is helping them escape the nightmares on the streets?

The Mean Country

by David Glenn Cox

October 2, 2009

Last winter I wrote a story about the number of people who were dying in house fires after having their utilities turned off. I began to do some research on the growing numbers of tent cities springing up across America. How, I wondered, will these people deal with the coming months of winter cold?

BrokenRoots is a group for bloggers/advocates interested in issues about and facing homeless people. Our goal is to a create a network of regional ‘stringers’ who can dispatch news and photos from communities across the country to report on the impacts of the economic crisis on the homeless situation. We welcome first person stories, analysis, and reporting. The BrokenRoots

project team will discuss, create and promote journalism on these issues, connect bloggers; create projects, and share related news and resources. (photo by Stranded Wind)