Time to help the Homeless

[Monkeyman]

I know this time of year money is tight. We have a huge problem in this Country. You know I fight for Veterans so I will post what I know for fact. The VA's own numbers show 196,000 Homeless Veterans. And its getting worse. We know for a fact that 2500 Homeless Veterans are from our current War Zones. Yes most of these Homeless have Mental Problems. But Dam-it we are the rich's Country in the world. There is no excuse for the men and women who served this Country to be on the streets.There are Homeless Shelters across this Country. So if you see a Homeless person buy him or her a cup of coffee. And if you have some loose change donate please to a Shelter. I don't ask for myself I ask for those who sleep on the streets in a Country with no heart. America should be ashamed of itself for its failure to take care of her own people. So if you find it in your heart please help the Homeless at this time of year.

[babylonsister]

1. Recommend! Thank you, Monkeyman, for speaking for those

who don't have a voice. We all need to be aware of how lucky we are in comparison. I'm a bleeding heart liberal and intend to put some money where my mouth is.

[Flying Dream Blues]

2. Kick and recommended. I can't think of anything more important

right now. No one should be homeless. But for veterans, many of whom are on the streets due to the damage they sustained in the service of our country, that is something we should not tolerate.

Thanks for the reminder to take care of our own.

[JuniperLea]

3. You've touched on a much bigger problem

Homeless mentally ill people. We should be ashamed at how we treat them. They have no voice, no help. I wish I could find an organization that helps them.



I donate all my business suits and shoes to Chrysalis. They also accept those Estee Lauder and Clinique gifts with purchase that most of us rarely use. This helps give people a boost... it's a bridge from their homeless life to the world of working and making a living.

http://www.changelives.org/

[hashibabba]

5. This is a great suggestion

We really need to help these people at this time of year, and hope in January our government will help more.

I love the idea of the Clinique and Estee Lauder gifts. It makes a woman feel better to have a little makeup to put on once in a while!

[JuniperLea]

6. Put yourself in her shoes...

She's homeless, needs a job, has no appropriate clothes for interviews, no phone number to leave, no means of creating a resume. Imagine the first time you see yourself in a store front window reflection... dirty, disheveled, a deep sadness in your eyes. Then you get hooked up with Chrysalis... This organization takes donations of spa treatments, hair salon certificates, professional clothing, etc. They take you in, help you with a resume and job search, give you a new haircut, a hot shower, a facial, some make-up, a good suit and shoes... imagine the tears of joy when you first see yourself in the mirror! A huge contrast to that glance in a store front window...

Give a man/woman a fish and he/she eats well for a day. Teach them to fish and they never go hungry again.

[meganmonkey]

4. I would like to add that they need help all year round

As someone who works in local hunger-relief, we get more calls from people wanting to volunteer and donate food or money this time of year than any other time. It is overwhelming - and in some cases (esp volunteering) it is more than we can handle.

By no means am I implying that one shouldn't offer help or assistance in the holiday season, I just respectfully ask that you all remember this in April or July as well, when we are struggling to find volunteers and running out of food to distribute.

In peace,

Megan

[Irishonly]

32. Amen

People are hungry 365 days a year.

[merh]

7. Hey, just consider the plight of the homeless in NOLA

and along the MS Gulf Coast.

watch Comic Relief 2006 tonight on TBS or HBO and consider donating.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5853447&mesg_id=5853447

[JuniperLea]

8. Three words....

Habitat for Humanity!!! They do awesome work! Spend your week's vacation with them too and be hands-on in helping the homeless.

[Monkeyman]

9. I been there It made me smile watching a person receive their first home

[merh]

12. it's takes more than Habitat

I suggest you go visit the areas and get an idea of the destruction.

Watch the show tonight. You won't believe the 9th ward in NOLA, it's sickening.

Habitat is at work in MS and doing a hell of a job with what they have, but there have been many road blocks. There is the lack of support of community leaders and the lack of land and all of the red tape to cut through relative to building permits, they are trying but it isn't easy.

FYI - when I get back on my feet, I will try to be more involved in the rebuilding for others, but since losing all I have, it's tiring to try to stand again and I've been trying for 14 months.

[bobbolink]

15. Habitat does not solve anything long term...

I know this is goring a sacred cow, but Habitat does nothing for those who are *really* poor. You have to have more money than I have to qualify. That's for starters.

Then, that home becomes that person's property, and can be sold right away at market value, so it is no longer a home for those who can't otherwise afford a home.

Whereas, a low-income apartment building will be there 5 years from now, housing low-come people. It will be there 10 years from now, 15 years from now, when those habitat homes are long gone.

It's time to realize that Habitat isn't the be-all and end-all.

People in my situation are just as deserving of a decent and safe place to live!

[meganmonkey]

18. There are some exceptions

in local chapters of Habitat, but for the most part there isn't a lot of support for the folks in Habitat homes after they get the keys (and the photo-op, of course). Shitty appliances breaking down, no help. Lose your job and can't make the payments (albeit they are relatively low)? Tough shit.

I know this from people who have been there - they often call me to find out where they can get emergency food assistance :(

[bobbolink]

21. THanks for the corroboration, sad tho it is. We MUST start thinking

beyond Habitat! It's simply not a long-term solution.

It makes people feel good at the moment of taking posession, but does nothing down the road.

Do you know where one could find stats on this? It would help to know this for when I'm trying to get people to understand. There is, as you probably know, a lot of resistance to hearing the downside of Habitat. It's like it's sacred.

Thanks for posting--it's not cheerful, but we need to start with truth.

[calimary]

27. Why couldn't Habitat broaden its scope a little? I mean, if they can

build houses, why not apartment buildings, also? They can be small buildings - maybe 10 units. But it'd be a start? Why can't it be a two-pronged approach? There shouldn't be JUST ONE solution. This is a large, many-sided problem. It requires that kind of problem-solving, as well.

Perhaps we ought to offer something to the construction industry - incentives, tax breaks and so forth, if, for example, they build ONE apartment building for the homeless, for every three to five they build for middle or high income others. Tax incentives AND lots of publicity that make such companies out to be good guys in their own communities. That, in turn, generates more business. Here in L.A., you have these colossal developer/construction entities that sure wanna build shopping malls and high-priced condo towers. Well, let them, ON THE CONDITION THAT they also build a multi-unit something for the homeless. Drop or reduce some of the fees and taxes and stuff to throw them a bone. Maybe, as long as there are capital gains taxes still in force, either waive that OR substantially reduce it, if they in turn will do this. Create an EVERYBODY-WINS-SOMETHING mechanism. They won't do squat unless there's something in it for them.

Just a thought, anyway.

[bobbolink]

28. They say they have their rules, and that's it.

I have come unglued here because Habitat was given 20 acres!! I said, "They can't even allow one acre for an apartment building for those of us who habve NOTHING???"

The rabbi was the only one who heard me, the rest just become defensive. He seemed to agree it was only reasonable, so we'll see if he's able to make any headway. From what I've seen of Habitat, unless he's able to get a lot of support from other clergy, it will be a resounding NO.

It's not like they're flexible, or care about those of us suffering with NOTHING.

[bobbolink]

29. P.S. -- pleeez take note.. I spoke up to Habitat...'k?

Yes, I spoke with them, as you keep saying.

But, as one person, all I get is dismissed, and this time I got also dissed.

While I understand that's a big thing with you, I hope you can understand that there are limits to what one person can do alone.

It will take a group of people to change this.

[calimary]

34. Well, rules can be changed.

Anybody ever broach the subject of refining the rules a little so the mission to provide housing for the homeless can be expanded to include both houses AND apartments? Why can't that at least be brought up?

I'm serious. You'd be surprised to see how much limited thinking there is out there. So we can't modify and adjust the rules to meet changing and evolving need? If the need changes, why should the policies created to meet that need not also change correspondingly? I mean, why does our Constitution have amendments? What was Vatican II? Why do we have revised textbooks? Why do we have regular updates/revisions on everything from Thomas Brothers map books to dictionaries to how many frickin' planets we have in the solar system? Those rules have to be set in stone for all time??? Has ANYONE spoken of challenging or revising or updating or modifying them? And if the answer's no, then WHY?

[bobbolink]

37. Do you really believe I'm not doing anything?

[calimary]

38. Of COURSE not! How'd you get that idea?

Just trying to offer support. I know you're doing everything you can. And you're only one person. But you're not the only person fighting this fight. Maybe you're the only person in the room at that moment with that particular rabbi or the other activist or the group, taking this stand and making these points. But there are many others of us pushing in the same direction in other rooms, before other groups, other rabbis and other activists, and in other forums. The very nature of your comments - where your listeners in these meetings come away having heard things they hadn't ever heard before, or an understanding that they had not had before (maybe they have talked to "experts" about homelessness, and advocates on the homelessness issue, but perhaps they've never spent any quality time actually talking with someone who faces that plight, up close 'n' personal as you have). It makes a difference in the level of understanding.

Robert Heinlein talked about the concept of "grokking" in "Stranger in a Strange Land" - wherein you come to such a profound, deep, and intimate understanding of an idea or another person because you literally ATE of it. Consumed it as food. Literally, not figuratively. You "grokked" it. There's a difference between literal and figurative. When you go into those meetings and present your experiences and insights, you're helping those listening to you to "grok" the issue. And thereby achieve the most pure form of understanding and effective communication.

I hardly think that you, of all people, are doing nothing. You've fired up people like me, for one thing, and increased my own sensitivity about the poverty issue. And you were so effective that you didn't even have to take a meeting with me somewhere. Imagine how many others, just here on DU, whom you've touched, and to whom you've gotten through, if you're able to reach somebody thick like myself.

It may be, however, that this kind of issue is SO huge that it will take time to make a lot of significant difference, to make a real dent. I mean, consider how we're ALL fighting the bullshit attitude that too many people embrace - that "well, there have always been poor people." Well, yeah, there have indeed always been poor people. And isn't there something wrong with that???

I take comfort and encouragement, though, especially when considering the results we saw manifested on November 7th. It took seemingly forever. Or at least it FELT like forever. And it took everything we had, and more. It seemed impossible. Insurmountable. And yes, they still STOLE some, fucked with three million votes (but our side produced so insanely much more that their efforts were overwhelmed). And STILL we actually won. And we may turn the tide. And among Nancy Pelosi's "First Hundred Hours" campaign, among the problems that will be addressed is raising the minimum wage. I thought it was hopeless until November 7th. I thought we were gonna lose again. There were many threads here reflecting "the fix is in" themes. I was seriously afraid, petrified even to watch the returns and grateful as hell that I didn't have to because I was otherwise engaged that night. I was terrified that we'd lose again, despite all our work.

AND WE DIDN'T!!!!!!!!!!

So that gives me hope that other presumably "insurmountable" problems can be solved, and mountains can be climbed. Maybe even poverty and homelessness, too.

[calimary]

39. One other thing - I wasn't suggesting that you somehow hadn't

broached the subject. But we need LOTS of voices chiming in alongside you. Not just you. I'd hope that ANY of us who had a chance to get involved with such organizations as Habitat for Humanity plant this seed. I'd bet you've already thought of all these things, but since it remains a problem, one might assume that not too many others are trying to plant this kind of seed, or perhaps it hasn't even occurred to anyone.

I wonder how many people who do donate to Habitat, or who volunteer, ever get into conversation while they're at it, with some of the officials (if any are present, onsite) and ask them about their rules, the details of their mission statement, their bylaws, board meetings, etc., or challenge them on any of the finer points.

[Imagevision]

25. K&R!!!

[mntleo2]

10. A Festival of Hope

Every year, one weekend before Thanksgiving, my church, Keystone Congregational Church in Seattle, hosts a fund raiser for poverty and hunger. It ia also an alternative Christmas fest as you can donate things in the name of loved ones instead of buying them something they may not be able to use or if they have plenty already. The various organizations that celebrate this with us is: Bread For The World, Northwest Harvest, The Heifer Project, Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition (WROC), and Fair Trade companies who sell clothing, and other goods, will be joining us. Please take a moment to donate or buy a sheep, cow, chicken or goat for a family who can then use the resources in order to feed their families, help welfare moms find their voice. or provide a decent living for families here and abroad.

Here are some websites for many of these organizations, all of whom do good work and could use the support:

WROC: http://www.wroc.org
Bread for the Wotld: http://www.bread.org
the Heifer Project: http://www.heifer.org
Northwest Harvest: http://www.northwestharvest.org/

You can also make a general donation to Keystone and specify that you would like the money to go into the Festival Of Hope general fund that is also divided between the groups. Make checks payable to the Festival of Hope. Every penny goes toward hunger and *not* to the church!

Keystone Congregational Church (United Church of Christ)
5109 Keystone Place North
Seattle, WA 98103-6293

Phone: [phone] Pastor Rich Gamble

PM me if you have any questions.

Cat In Seattle

[etherealtruth]

11. It's always time to feed the homeless ...

Your post is a good reminder, as we enter into a season of excess; there remains a large number of people (and one is too many) that do without having their basic needs met.

Thanks for the reminder to take action!

[Monkeyman]

13. A little Truth here

In the 80's some stuff happen in my life. I found myself sleeping in my car. With no signs of life in my brain. A brother I served with found me by the grace of God. And put me back on the path to help myself. Now I try to do the same thing for people who need help. Now I fight everyday for Veterans and my brother human beings. If we stand tall for our Brothers and Sisters in this world we are all better for it.

[bobbolink]

14. The way to help is to get LOW-INCOME HOUSING ESTABLISHED!

There is very little in the way of housing for people with low income. VERY little. What little there was, was taken for Katrina people, leaving the rest of us with nothing. Poor people shouldn't be put in the position of having to fight each other for necessities!!!

It's time for everyone to start agitating in their communities for low-income housing. Not for shelter, not for left-over food, but for real housing.

I appreciate your post, Monkeyman, but I want to correct one thing-- most of us are NOT "mental cases".

I'm not.

A woman here who had a catastrophic illness and lost her job and then her home and has been homeless for 3 years is NOT mentally ill. She was a victim of this ugly system, and needs a place to live that is decent and safe.

Another woman here was in a bad car wreck, is now brain-injured, and needs a safe and decent place to live. She is NOT "mentally ill" -- what happened to her can happen to anyone.

What can I do, and what can I say to get people to start taking action to see to it that I and these other women have a safe and decent place to live?

[meganmonkey]

16. We are lucky where I live

There is a great organization that buys properties and turns them into extremely low-income housing - people pay a certain amt of their income, and if they have none then they pay nothing. I work in a related area - hunger relief, and there are several organizations here working together to address the root causes, and who recognize the "Housing First" method of getting folks in stable situations. The cool part is that they have very low 'turnover' - even folks who end up able to work and make a decent living tend to stay in their home/apt even though they could afford to move to a regular apt.

Bottom line is that whatever other 'issues' a homeless person has, they cannot be dealt with until someone has stable housing - not a 90-day shelter, not a fucking ghetto, but a stable home. The same rings true for folks who may not be homeless but are at risk. The lack of security and stability makes other parts of life much more difficult (raising family, working steadily, etc)

In fact, the org I work for had 10 acres on the outskirts of town, and a few years ago we "sold" part of it (through a grant) to the housing org so they could build NEW low-income housing - the first such new construction in our county in almost 30 years. And the townhouses are fantastic - most of them are specifically for couples or families, which is really hard to find. The housing org provides tons of other advocacy services to help people figure out what benefits they might qualify for from the gov't (measly of course) and counseling for all sorts of obstacles. It is a great program.

Of course it is all grassroots, local, private nonprofits doing it. The city pays lip-service but doesn't provide much funding or support (we had to fight like hell to get approval/permits to build the townhouses - many the 'neighbors' were assholes about it, typical NIMBY bullshit), and the higher up you go, the worse it is (county, state, feds)...

It shouldn't have to be this way. So many communities refer to a 'homeless problem' rather than facing the fact that we are talking about HUMAN BEINGS, individuals who, regardless of their specific reasons for homelessness/poverty, have a right to fulfillment of their basic human needs. They aren't a 'problem', they are PEOPLE.

[bobbolink]

19. What's the name of this organization? Maybe it could be a model for other

locations.

IN the area where I am, all people can think about is Habitat. But, that doesn't do ANYTHING for those poorer, or single people, and it can go into the general market at anytime, so it isn't something that lasts for those who are poor.

I"d be interested in more info.

Thanks for posting.

[meganmonkey]

24. Check your PMs

:)

[G_j]

17. right on k&r

thank you

[democrank]

20. Thank you so much, Monkeyman.

I`m so hoping that the Democratic Party base will put enormous pressure on our leadership to address this shameful issue and finally do something about it. There`s no excuse for this, none.

Years ago I stood on the side of a road with one parent and my younger brothers and sister. We were homeless and had everything we owned stuffed into an old suitcase held together with a belt. The feelings I had on that day are forever seared into my soul.

It pains me beyond words to know that in this great, wealthy country there are homeless children. Many of these kids have no place to go between the time school closes and the shelters open. Their plight is not their fault, yet we allow these kids to shuffle along sidewalks looking for a place to lay their heads. It disgusts me. As for our homeless veterans....it`s beyond shameful and totally inexcusable.

We MUST find a way to bring this issue into the limelight.

[bobbolink]

30. It will take a LOT of people-- all DU--speaking out before anything is done!

[porphyrian]

22. I'll kick that. - n/t

[earth mom]

23. Well deserving of a K & R!

:kick:

[Monkeyman]

26. You guys have made this old vets day

No one can ever say the DU does not have a heart. Thank You All

[Maraya1969]

31. In NJ we make up baggies with little soaps and shampoo from hotels

and Q tips and some other things I can't remember and took them once a month to the people under the the bridges in NY. People that are homeless really want to be able to use these things but they don't have the resources. Also we brought GOOD sandwiches and hot soup.

It is not hard to find homeless people. I have supplies in my car now to drop off. I am in Florida now and all I have to do is drive to certain areas of town.

So until they get homes, lets do what we can to make their life a little easier.

[petgoat]

33. Actually, at Thanksgiving, everybody wants to help the

homeless. Christmas too. Better to put your contributions in an envelope
and save them for January and February and March when nobody wants to help
the homeless.

[jpwhite]

35. we need to get things started

Yes, a lot of people help out during this time of year, but at least we can make it a priority now before the new congress starts. We should start things here (at the grass roots level) and then once the new congress takes over push for legislation to do more for the poor.

James
[email protected]

[Wheezy]

36. Yeah! k&r

You're breaking my heart with this post, Monkeyman. Sorry I missed it last night.

Don't forget to donate shoes and boots, everybody!