Friday, December 30, 2011

CALIFORNIA MAKES DEEP CUTS IN WELFARE : MORE HOMELESS WILL BE THE RESULT

Linking to this breaking news article from Yahoo...

"steps taken in recent years to cut costs and get more recipients back in the workforce have run head-on into the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression. Recipients have been left with fewer training programs, shrinking welfare checks and a shorter period during which they are eligible to receive assistance at a time when employment prospects for even highly qualified job-seekers are dim."

"Funding for CalWorks, the welfare-to-work program that is the state's main welfare service, was cut by $1 billion this year. The legislation that reduced the spending also shortened the amount of time a recipient can stay on welfare, from 60 months to 48, while also reducing monthly checks by at least 8 percent.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

HUMAN TRAFFICKING - SLAVERY - SEX SLAVES - RICHMOND JUSTICE INITIATIVE

We were inspired by reading a Cosmopolitan Magazine article about this issue and we want to give you a list of organizations from that article that are working on Sex Slavery, Child Prostitution, and the use and abuse of other human beings for profit.


linked above : RICHMOND JUSTICE INITIATIVE

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

HOMELESS MEMORIAL DAY IS TODAY

This is the day that we remember those homeless who didn't make it off the streets or out of the shelter or out of abusive relationships and died. Sadly, there are too many. The streets are hard. If you weren't drinking, drugging, or committing some crime to make money before you landed on the street, it's going to be a challenge to not start. So many homeless do have a history of drug abuse or mental illness. Shelters are only a temporary answer and while you're in one you are still homeless. The drinking, drugging, and crimes committed in shelters is also a problem for those who don't want to be around that.

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

Sunday, December 18, 2011

BILL HANDEL : KFI : THE JOKES ON THE HOMELESS : HANDEL AND STAFF NEED A LESSON IN HOMELESSNESS

A few days ago, shortly after 5 am in the morning when the Bill Handel show begins on KFI radio, Bill had a real joke to tell about the homeless. HA HA HA HA HA! His dummy staff chimed in behind him.

Without any sensitivity at all, which is Handel's Hallmark, he began to deride homeless people, as drunks and beggars, who use the handouts they receive only for alcohol. Handel added that it was a FAMILY CHARACTERISTIC to bait homeless beggars with five dollar bills. He said this was what his brother did, and of course we homeless, when we see five dollar bills our eyes get real wide. Oh yes sir, do we want that five dollar bill.

When we heard that we thought of the stereotype that used to play of blacks; their eyes got real big too didn't they?

Of course it is cheap to deride people who are picked on and often defenseless and have to hide to survive. Handel and staff are PART OF THE SAME PROBLEM that allows teenagers to beat the living hell out of homeless.

It has been 40 degrees at night this past week in many parts of Los Angeles, colder where the wind blows, and it's been raining. Handel and his staff have apparently never spent a night standing under an overhang trying to stay dry and warm. Handel and his staff apparently do not know that while many homeless are drug addicted or alcoholic, the majority are not.

Handel and his jokey staff need to spend a week out in the cold, sleeping on cement (personally we don't think they could even handle (ha ha!) sleeping on a cot in a cold weather shelter for a week. They should do so with five dollars in their pockets, no ID, no access to food without locating and attending feeds, and try out the humiliation some of us feel to have to beg for our meal or for the bus fare to get to the next one. They should feel what it's like to go a week without a shower. They should pick their clothes off giveaway tables. They should find themselves thrown out of (or asked to leave) restaurants and coffee houses, where they are trying to have a meal, because they stink.

WE INVITE BILL HANDEL AND HIS STAFF to read this blog so they won't think IGNORANCE IS FUNNY OR EVEN ACCEPTABLE broadcasting on their 50,000 watt station.

GO TO HELL HANDEL!

Thanks Buffy for letting us know we spelled his name wrong in the original post. We've also decided to link to his official site so you can see what he looks like and maybe contact him yourself!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

UPDATED! A DISASTER OF PLANNING ! LA FAMILY HOUSING AWARDS THE KEYS TO GLEN OAKS APARTMENTS IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

UPDATE : BELOW IS THE ORIGINAL POST

Promises were made. Some promises were kept.

This week final decisions were made about which homeless sheltered at Los Angeles Family Housing and other County of Mental Health Programs will live at GLEN OAKS.

LA Family personnel, wearing their blue T-shirts, were there to oversee the hanging of blinds and installation of furniture. There are 60 units and by Christmas most of them will be lived in, leaving vacancies that the LA Family Housing wait list people will quickly take. We know that many residents have waited over a year, even two or three years, to get those keys, under threat of being terminated the whole time.


We're waiting to hear from new residents about their experience living at GLEN OAKS.

How involved in your personal life will employees (case management) of LA FAMILY HOUSING be? If you have problems with other residents will they be involved in the resolution? What do you have to do to get kicked out? (We hate to bring that up!)

We wish the best to all of you who have come this far to get housing. We hope you will be happy, healthy, and see this residency as a stepping stone to greater independence and the kind of life you really want to live!

By the way, word on the street is that LA FAMILY HOUSING has just bought another building but is still claiming they have no money to provide promised deposit money for residents moving into Section 8 and other housing! Right!

HERE IS THE UPDATE! SHAMEFULLY and ALMOST UNBELIEVABLY, THE GLEN OAKS MOVE IN HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A DISASTER IN PLANNING! A GOOD NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SHELTER CONDITIONS WAITING TO BE MOVED, TOLD IT WOULD BE OCTOBER, NO AUGUST, NO IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS 2011, MOVED TO GLEN OAKS, but before they could get comfortable or pop a champagne cork in celebration, THEY WERE TOLD THEY HAD NOT BEEN APPROVED AND WERE MOVED BACK TO THE SHELTER! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT FROM CEO STEPHANIE DOWN TO JOHN THE DIRECTOR TO THE CASE MANAGERS NO ONE KNEW THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR MOVING RESIDENTS INTO THE BUILDING. AGAIN, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

HAS YOUR VEHICLE BEEN TOWED BECAUSE YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO REGISTER IT?

ONE DAY YOU ARE LIVING IN YOUR VAN or RV and PARKING IT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, careful to move it every few days so that no one notices you're living in there.

The next day it's been towed, with all your possessions inside, and you can't afford to get it out of impound.

There goes your shelter.

Welcome to life on the street.

Unaffordable rents. Greedy landlords. Landlords who evict so they can raise the rent on units under rent control.

Where does it end?

With you on the street.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

IT'S RAINING AND COLD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

If you're one of the many who sleep outside and use fast food restaurants or libraries to keep warm and dry during the day, and be near a bathroom, then you know that it's extremely cold outside in southern California with the REAL FEEL close to freezing some nights in the last week or so. One of the problems here is that not too many people keep winter clothing like they do back east. So that means that donated coats, hats, scarves, gloves, rain boots, warm boots that you can walk in (homeless women do not need spike heels) are few.

Some long term homeless do acclimate to the colder temperatures but usually the cold brings with it bad health.

Last year a homeless man we met, who had lost a house on the West Side, then been evicted when he and his room mate failed to pay the rent, lasted about 6 months outside before he died. He was in a car in someones back yard that didn't run for a while, and then on a screened in sun porch that hid him but had no heat. Depressed or maybe without the resources to pay for medicine, he went without. This man looked for work using public computers every day and managed to shower and keep himself looking clean (not homeless looking) through the use of public showers such as at the gym and the roving shower truck.

Cold weather shelters can help, but many people who have never been on the street are afraid of them, don't like their family separated within the shelter, or use them only when they can't take it any more, or do not want to give personal information in order to stay in them. We believe that every city should have its own year round shelter rather than expect homeless, especially not newly homeless, to move to skid row in downtown.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

HAVE OTHER HOMELESS PEOPLE VICTIMIZED YOU?

Victimized ??

HOMELESS PEOPLE STEALING FROM OTHER HOMELESS.

HOMELESS PEOPLE RAPING OTHER HOMELESS.

HOMELESS PEOPLE SABOTAGING OTHER HOMELESS.

ARE YOU PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT PROTECTS MEMBERS FROM OUTSIDER HOMELESS WHO PREY ON OTHERS?

We know it, we've experienced it, we think it's terrible!

We'd like to hear from you!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

THANKSGIVING - THE BIG HOMELESS HOLIDAY

OPINION BY DC.
Thanksgiving is the BIG HOMELESS HOLIDAY. This is the day that homeless charities focus on and it's maybe bigger than Christmas since Christmas is for Christians and Thanksgiving is for everyone. Pictures of Homeless People who Fit The Stereotype - usually bearded men from skid row who are on the pavement - are circulated and, though those people are part of our population, they are also the stereotype.

It's that stereotype that holds a lot of other homeless people down. As soon as people hear "homeless" they think you spent time on the street as a drug addict. So while the charities collect a lot of money based on that stereotype, many of us find THERE ARE NO SERVICES FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE NEVER ON THE STREET, NEVER ON DRUGS, WHO DO NOT HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS.

Finding a shelter that gives a shit about you is even more difficult if you are CHILDLESS and SINGLE! There is so much focus on familys, women with children, abused women.

So today I'm thankful that I'm not on the street. I'm also frustrated that there isn't much out there for homeless people like me.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

DO YOU HAVE BLADDER OR URINARY TRACK INFECTIONS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT

OR ARE YOU DEHYDRATED?

Many of us are because drinking enough fluid means you have to have easy access to a toilet. Many homeless women "hold it" for long periods of time, especially when living in vehicles.

We have to use public restrooms.

We need to park near 24 hours supermarkets that will let us use the toilet.

Monday, November 21, 2011

SANTA PAULA HOMELESS SHELTER

Santa Paula
Richard’s House Family Shelter : For Information call: (805) 340-5025
Site: El Buen Pastor Methodist Church – 1029 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula
Open: December 4th – April 30th
Serves: Families and singles. Preference to Santa Paula residents.
Services: Place to sleep and dinner, breakfast, sack lunch.
Hours: 5:00pm – 7:30 am
Capacity: 24
Note: Drop In Center – Mon – Fri – 8:30 –noon
First United Methodist Church, 133 N. Mill Street, Santa Paula

Sunday, November 20, 2011

CRISIS ORG GREAT BRITAIN EXPOSES THE TRUTH ACROSS THE BIG POND

CRISIS ORG IS THE NATIONAL CHARITY FOR SINGLE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

"In one case a 17-year-old was told to return to her family home although she said feared sexual assault there. In another, a mystery shopper who said he was sleeping rough was told to come back with six months' pay slips and bank statements."

Friday, November 18, 2011

SOVA GIVES OUT 850 CHICKENS (and the fixings) THANKS TO REPUBLIC SERVICES

SOVA Food Bank located on Vanowen and Havenhurst in the San Fernando Valley, gave out 850 chickens (along with corn, stuffing, yams, cranberry sauces, etc.) yesterday in a major give out that had hundreds standing in line. REPUBLIC SERVICES - a RECYCLING and WASTE COLLECTION company provided the chickens.

Homeless and Low Income people who benefited want to thank SOVA and REPUBLIC SERVICES. We're linking to that company above. We think it's interesting because so many homeless recycle for money.

Monday, November 14, 2011

THE GLEANERS HARVEST THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF BACKYARD FRUIT FOR FOOD BANKS - THE JEWISH JOURNAL'S RYAN TOROK REPORTS

A portion of this article:

"On this October morning, it took 10 volunteers just two hours to pick approximately 1,200 pounds of oranges from four trees — and that’s a small pick.

Since Food Forward got its start in early 2009, its troops have harvested approximately 575,000 pounds of fruit from more than 300 sites.

That’s “2.3 million servings of fruit,” Rick Nahmias, the organization’s founder and executive director, said proudly. “And of course every week that goes up.” ...

Currently, the group organizes about 15 to 20 picks each month — most often in Northridge, Granada Hills, Chatsworth, Reseda and other areas of the San Fernando Valley. Before the region was developed into today’s suburban sprawl, it was nearly all orchards, and thousands of fruit trees in residents’ yards still yield an overabundance of citrus year round, thanks to the warm climate."
WE ARE ADDING THE FOOD FORWARD WEB SITE TO OUR SIDE BAR LISTED UNDER FOOD. phone 818.530.4125 if your background needs harvested or you want to help pick fruit for local foodbanks.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

VENTURA COUNTY HOMELESS SHELTERS

Our Place Shelter: 538 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura (805) 652-2151
Operated by: Turning Point Foundation
Open: Year Round
Serves: Homeless mentally ill/single men and women
Services: Place to sleep, shower, meals, laundry facilities, mail and phone, case management
Must do intake interview: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (There is a waiting list).
Capacity: 10


Oxnard
Ventura County Rescue Mission: 234 E. 6th Street, Oxnard (805) 487-1234
Operated by: The Rescue Mission Alliance
Open: Year Round
Serves: Single men
Services: Place to sleep, hot meal, and shower.
Check In: 5:30 p.m.
Capacity: 35
Policy: After sheltering for 10 nights, must vacate for 5 days before returning

Friday, November 11, 2011

SUN VALLEY HOMELESS RESOURCE FAIR - NOVEMBER 16 2011

HOPE OF THE VALLEY RESCUE MISSION
8165 North San Fernando Road, Sun Valley, CA 91352

Mental Health, medical Care, Veterans Services and Benefits, ID Assistance, etc.

10 AM to 2 PM

Sunday, November 6, 2011

SIMI VALLEY HOMELESS SHELTER

Simi Valley P.A.D.S. (805) 579-9166
(Call Mon –Thurs. 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. only)

CALL FOR 2011 UPDATES CONTACT US IF ANY MORE INFORMATION

Rotating Hot Meal Sites – Year Round - Call (805) 579-9166 for locations.

Dinner every Thursday 5-7
at Still Waters Caf̩ ( Shepherd of the Valley Church Р4191 Cochran St.)
Rotating Church Sites:
Open: November 1st – April 15th


Serves: Families and singles
Services: Place to sleep and hot meal
Check In: 7:45 p.m. (No early arrivals)
Capacity: 30 – 40 (Varies by site )

Shelter Sleep Sites: CALL FOR 2011 UPDATES
Sunday: Knights of Columbus Wednesday: Seventh Day Adventist
1255 Patricia Avenue 1636 Sinaloa Road
Monday: Cornerstone Church Thursday: Community Church
Tapo & Valley Fair 2000 Royal Avenue
Tuesday: Stone Bridge Community Friday: Shepherd of the Valley
4832 Cochran St. 4191

Saturday, November 5, 2011

LOST BOYS BY KRISTEN HINMAN : SAN FRANCISCO WEEKLY : BOYS ARE UNDERAGE PROSTITUTES

Linking here to an article called "LOST BOYS," By Kristen Hinman, which appeared in the San Francisco and Los Angeles Weekly. In this article we learn that there are few beds across the nation for teenagers involved in prostitution, that only 10% say they have pimps, that teenage boys represent an ignored population of teen prostitutes - up to 40% - and that there are rapes in shelters... (We knew about rapes in shelters.) Researcher Mary Finn a criminologist says research in Atlanta was foiled.

Friday, November 4, 2011

OJAI VALLEY FAMILY SHELTER - ROTATING CHURCH SITES VENTURA COUNTY

Ojai Valley Family Shelter: For information call: (805) 804-7094
Rotating Church Sites
Open: December 1st – March 31st

CALL FOR 2011 DATES CONTAT US IF ANY UPDATES NEEDED
Serves: Ojai residents: families and singles as space allows
Services: Hot meal, place to sleep and shower.
Check In: 6:00 PM.
Capacity: 25 to 30


Sites:
Sunday: Wesleyan Church Wednesday: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
S. Ventura & Topa Topa St., Ojai 409 Topa Topa, Ojai


Monday: Ojai Valley Grange Hall Thursday: Ojai Presbyterian Church
381 Cruzero, Mira Monte 304 N. Foothill, Ojai

Tuesday: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Friday: Ojai Community Church
185 St. Thomas Drive, Ojai 907 El Centro

OTHER LOCATIONS

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

VENTURA COUNTY HOMELESS SHELTER - SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY COUNCIL LOS ANGELES and other SHELTERS

Assistance Hot-Line Saint Vincent de Paul Society
888-552-7872


"This program operates from the beginning of December to the end of March, during the hours of 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, and provides transportation to the shelter site; intake, case-management and referral services; dinner; showers; television entertainment; cots or air mattresses for sleeping; blankets that are assigned to each client and laundered weekly; a light breakfast; and transportation to a drop-off site."


West County Winter Shelter: For information call “ 211 “or (805) 385-1800
Operated by: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Open Approx: December 6th – March 31st (funds permitting)


CALL FOR 2011 DATES
Serves: Families and Singles
Services: Hot meal, place to sleep and shelter
Check In: 6:00 PM. – Oxnard National Guard Armory – 351 S. “K” Street, Oxnard
Capacity: 125 Dinner 6:30 -7:30 pm
No transportation provided. Use Gold Coast Transit bus #6. Call 643-3158 for the schedule.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

FOOD BANKS EXPERIENCING FOOD SHORTAGES AROUND THE COUNTRY

Dana Bartholowmew is reporting in the Daily News - San Fernando Valley Edition - that there is one fifth the donations going to LA REGIONAL FOOD BANK, which then provides 600 other food banks. If you're reading this and are a HAVE, please contact them at 818-474-1283.

Linking to their web site.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

LA FAMILY HOUSING CASE MANAGERS REACH OUT TO HOMELESS IN THE PARKS BUT CAN'T HELP THE HOMELESS THEY ALREADY HAVE IN THEIR SHELTER

So we've been hearing the stories on the street about this for a few months now.

LA FAMILY HOUSING boasts that it's the biggest and best shelter in Los Angeles County, and has case managers outreaching by appearing in known homeless locations to hand out their business cards and make their little pitch that they can help BUT THE SHELTER HAS BEEN TERMINATING (THROWING OUT) RESIDENTS THEY PROMISED TO HELP LEFT AND RIGHT. Some of these people are now in other shelters, in cars, in parks, and in abandoned buildings. We don't want to pick on LA Family Housing, just that it's kind of like the Titanic. Other ships sunk but they didn't boast that they wouldn't.


The shelter puts out a newsletter that boasts about their success stories and gives some numbers which must be real impressive to all those donors who are philanthropists.

But what we want to know is HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES THE SHELTER TAKE IN and terminate without housing? Maybe those success numbers aren't so impressive after all.

IF YOU ARE A CURRENT or PAST RESIDENT OF LA FAMILY HOUSING or ANY OTHER SHELTER and had been promised housing and been terminated without it, we want to hear your story.


You can use comments to leave your story or your contact info without being identified if you don't want to be. Just let us know that you do or don't want with the comment.

Monday, October 24, 2011

SUSAN FREUDENHEIM OF THE JEWISH JOURNAL LOS ANGELES REPORTS ON FOOD INSECURITY

A portion of this article :

On Yom Kippur, we fast to focus our minds. We give up food for 25 hours as a mitzvah, but it is also our choice.

That’s not the situation for more than 50 million Americans — right now, one in six Americans is living with food insecurity — which means they either are constantly at risk of being without their next meal or living with disrupted food patterns. This shocking number comes from a study just released by Feeding America, a food-relief organization. These people do not choose to be hungry.

And here are some even more stark statistics:
• 17 million of America’s children live with food insecurity.
• Only 10 percent of the 50 million are homeless.
• About 36 percent of food-insecure families include one working adult.


This problem is rampant in a country that prides itself on being one of the most affluent in the world.

WE ARE ADDING MAZON - A JEWISH RESPONSE TO HUNGER ON OUR SIDEBAR UNDER FOOD.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

UJJALDIDAR SINGH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION - SIIK

Ujjaldidar Singh Memorial Foundation have been getting together and volunteering at the Sylmar Homeless Shelter. This is appreciated. It is never happy to think you've been totally forgotten. But some of us would like religious communities other than Christian Missions to open shelters for those of us who are not Christian. So will you think about that?

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

CATHOLIC CHARITIES LOS ANGELES

Catholic Charities seem to have homeless shelters around the country and each has it's own web site. This is the one for Los Angeles. We noticed that there is a shelter in LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA run by Catholic Charities. They also run the GOOD SHEPARD HOME FOR WOMEN near the city of Los Angeles.



http://catholiccharitiesla.org/what-we-do/transform-homelessness/good-shepherd-center-for-homeless-women-and-children/


LINK UPDATE DECEMBER 2016

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Monday, October 3, 2011

HAWAII H.O.M.E MEDICAL PROJECT for the HOMELESS

"The following statistics are quite discouraging:

Statewide, 12-15,000 people are homeless at some point of the year.
At least 6,000 are homeless at any given day.
Children make up 23.5-39% of the homeless.
17-42% of Hawaii's homeless are employed full-time.
37% of the homeless are of Native Hawaiian ethnicity."



BET IT'S THAT HIGH COST OF HOUSING AGAIN!
Life's not a beach for these people!

Friday, September 30, 2011

LA TIMES - A LASTING TOLL - ALEXANDRA ZAVIS REPORTS ON FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING - ALMOST

Linking to the article from the 9/25/2011 Sunday edition. These families have lost everything - almost. Of course we feel for the family with children who were reduced from a house, to an apartment, to a room with a friend - who got evicted.

Read now!

Monday, September 26, 2011

PATH ACHIEVE IS NOW INDEPENDENT - NEW NAME IS ASENCIA

LINKING TO THEIR NEW SITE. MOBIL OUTREACH VAN. Since at least one of us did intake with Path a few years ago and was not accepted into their program, we will keep our ears to the street. Here is the PR.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

FULLERTON POLICE CHARGED IN DEATH OF HOMELESS

KELLY THOMAS died a few days after being beaten by police officers. Now those officers have been charged. The story is all over the media and we're linking to a Yahoo news/ Associated Press article about it.

LET'S USE THIS MOMENT TO DISCUSS POLICE BRUTALITY ON THE HOMELESS

.
It's not just beatings.

It's being picked up and your bike, sleeping bag, and back pack (with your ID and worldly goods) being thrown out of a police car, so even if you didn't do anything worth getting arrested for, your life is made even more difficult.

It's renting a motel room in a motel that's raided by the police and even though you aren't one of the drug addicts or dope sellers staying in the motel, even though you're in another room entirely, YOUR CASH BEING TAKEN BY AN OFFICER FROM YOUR WALLET! ("Thank You Sucker!")


It's having your homeless status in a data base so you can't open a bank account, and you can't get a job. Talk about a hole in your resume! You don't want to lie but they can find out, so you're doomed to unemployment, poverty, the streets.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

HUNGER ACTION DAY in LA is THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd 2011

GATHER AT LA CITY HALL located SPRING STREET STEPS BETWEEN TEMPLE AND FIRST ST DOWNTOWN!



BUS WILL BE LEAVING THE M E N D Center at 10641 San Fernando Road at Pierce at 2 PM and return around 6:30 PM. CALL 818 896 -2443 to reserve a seat.

SHOW PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HEALTH FOOD POLICIES THREATENED BY FEDERAL CUTS and ADVOCATE FOR PRESERVATION OF SNAP (FOOD STAMP PROGRAM)

NATIONAL COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS REGISTER TO VOTE

You can so vote, but it may take interacting with the National Coalition to find out how!


Title Link - http://www.nationalhomeless.org/projects/vote/index.html

UPDATED APRIL 2014 - Also see our side bar for links to ALL YOUR REPRESENTITIVES and VOTING RIGHTS INFORMATION by COUNTY as well as other LEGAL RESOURCES!

Monday, September 19, 2011

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HOMELESS EDUCATION PROGRAM

LINK UPDATED MAY 2014LAUSD - HOMELES PROGRAM LINK FULL INFORMATION

*****

Hector Madrigal, Director of Pupil Services
Melissa Schoonmaker, Coordinator Pupil Services and Attendance
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
1430 South San Julian Street, Building 7
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 765-2880

If your child, 2- 18 years old, is missing school because you live in a shelter or motel or in a car, or move frequently...

Or YOU as a child live in an abandoned building, parked car, share housing with another family due to economic hardship, live in a trailer park or campsite, are abandoned at a hospital, are awaiting shelter, foster care, are migratory, runway, or abandoned.

YES YOU CAN STILL GO TO SCHOOL. LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HELP. You still have rights. You do not need to wait for your academic or health records to arrive. You can go to preschool. You can go to a magnet program. You will get backpacks, school supplies, transportation, and school clothing.

SCHOOL HAS STARTED. CALL THIS NUMBER RIGHT AWAY!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

ONCE HOMELESS BILLIONAIRE INTERVIEW!

Blazer House in downtown LA is one of the projects that once homeless in his car, John Paul DeJoria, speaks about in this interview with Forbes Magazine!

Friday, September 16, 2011

MEDICARE FRAUD CRACKDOWN : HOMELESS

"A nationwide law enforcement crackdown has charged 91 people — including doctors and other medical professionals — with participating in Medicare fraud schemes involving $295 million in false billing...Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday that 70 people were charged in indictments unsealed Tuesday and Wednesday and 21 others were charged earlier, beginning Aug. 24. Charges were filed in Baton Rouge, La.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston; Los Angeles and Miami.

"In Miami, U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer said investigators noticed a new twist in which people who already were receiving Medicare disability checks were recruited with promises they could live in a halfway house in South Florida — as long as they agreed to receive mental health services they did not need. Many were addicted to drugs or alcohol, and some were homeless, and Ferrer said they would be threatened with eviction if they did not participate in the fraud scheme."

Thursday, September 15, 2011

FOSTER YOUTH : LOS ANGELES COUNTY : WRITING CONTEST

Contact Amanda Riddle at 323 938-9194
or email her at arridle @layouth.com (that's a newspaper)

EARN $100 for each story published.
WHAT'S YOUR STORY ABOUT LIVING IN FOSTER CARE?
If you are 14 to 18 and you write, this may be your chance to get published while letting other teenagers know what it's like to live in foster care!

Amanda Riddle will also welcome speaking at your school, group home, or foster agency.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

I HATE MY LIFE : EXCELLENT RESOURCES POSTED BY A FORMERLY HOMELESS MAN IN LOS ANGELES

Reading over the responses this man got when he called his "friends" to say he was homeless, we were thinking about what people said to us when we called them to tell them the same thing. (We just want to tell them all to GO TO HELL!)

This man has compiled a great list of resources - food - shelters - legal - health care.

We are honored to post his site as a resource and want to say THANK YOU!

Monday, September 12, 2011

GREAT BRITAIN HOMELESS HELD AS SLAVES

Breaking news. Britain passed an antislavery law long ago and then again last year. Now police are raiding a travelers camp where homeless were held as slaves.

"British police say they have rescued 24 men that were kept as virtual slaves - some for as long as 15 years. Police say many of the men, from England and parts of eastern Europe, were homeless and lured with promises of food and shelter."


(IS YOUR SHELTER TURNING YOU INTO AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER? A SLAVE?)

DO YOU SELL YOUR PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE ON THE STREET?

It's usually not legal, especially not when it's a psychotropic or strong pain killer, but some homeless sell part of their own prescriptions to make cash on the street.

It's not just drug addicts or abusers who are buying or selling.

Some homeless are lured into scams that involve doctors and pharmacies and billing the county or other governmental agency in order to make some money.

Friday, September 9, 2011

GIVING PLEDGE ORG BARRON HILTON

Barron Hilton is one of the people on this list of those who took the oath to give away at least 50% of their fortunes in this life or upon their death. Because the Hiltons, famous for their hotels around the world, are financing projects to end homelessness, we homeless take special interest...

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Monday, September 5, 2011

DAILY NEWS REPORTS ON SUN VALLEY HOMELESS



EXCERPTS AND OUR COMMENTS

"... photograph and interview men and women using a 30-question survey that includes questions about health problems and drug use. The homeless who participate will receive a $10 gift certificate to McDonald's. (WE ASK WHY THE PHOTOGRAPHS? DID YOU REPORT THEM TO HOMELAND SECURITY?)

"We're not going to promise housing, but what we can do is find services for people," said John Horn, co-chair of the San Fernando Valley Homeless Coalition. "The challenge will be to come to the parks and find those who do qualify." (WE ASK AND IF YOU AREN'T SICK ENOUGH TO RECIEVE SSI or SSDI?)

"Those who qualify will have the opportunity to move into one of the 60 new studio units at Glenoaks Gardens at 8925 Glenoaks Blvd., where a do-it-yourself carwash once stood. The complex is designed to serve the homeless and low-income mentally ill.

(REALLY? WE HEARD IT WAS ALL FOR PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES THAT ARE ALREADY IN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.)

All residents will pay rent and sign a lease agreement and receive supportive services. Those who don't qualify will be placed on a waiting list to enter temporary housing, or the shelter. But people can end up waiting for up to three years, Horn said, a result of the need and shortage of places. (WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO WAITED 8 YEARS OR MORE FOR SECTION 8.)
... Last year, the city helped build 1,600 supportive units - double the number compared to 2005 - and has 2,200 more in the pipeline, including many for military veterans. But many agree that may not be enough.

More than 51,000 people in Los Angeles County are homeless..."
(WE KNOW THERE ARE MORE BECAUSE OF ALL THE INVISIBLE HOMELESS WHO PROTECT THEIR PRIVACY AND PASS AS NOT HOMELESS!)

Friday, September 2, 2011

GARY SNYDER'S NONPROFIT WATCHDOG SITE

Link here and read a list of NON PROFITS who got BUSTED FOR FRAUD by GARY SYNDER and his WATCHDOGS! (This site links to his book and we'll be adding his blog to our blog list!)

DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION THAT ABOUT A NON PROFIT THAT SHOULD BE WATCHED FOR FRAUD?

We flagged these few examples of nonprofit mischief
1. St. Paul’s Memorial Episcopal Church (NY) $85,000
2. San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (CA) $70,000 (S.D.Union-Tribune)
3. Turning Pointe Therapeutic Riding $209,000 (Westerlysun.com)
4. The Starting Place (FL) $2 million (Sun-Sentinel.com)
5. California State Bar $675,000 (Law.com)
6. First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center (MN) $125,000 (wcco.com)
7. Fremont (MI) Area Community Foundation $20,000 (Muskegon Chronicle)
8. United Steelworkers of America (PA) $88,000 (Pitt. Post-Gazette)
9. Ranch Hope (NJ) $350,000 (nj.com)
10. First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center (MN) $125,000 (Duluth News Tribune)
11. Salem United Methodist Church $113,000 (FDLREPORTER.COM)
12. First Congregational Church (MI) $50,000 (Gaylord Herald-Times)
13. First Baptist Church on Highland Avenue (NC) $300,000 (journalnow.com)
14. Community Senior Serv (CA) $1 million (Huntington Beach Independent)
15. Southern Arizona Legal Aid $18,000 (azstarnet.com)


Sunday, August 21, 2011

LOS ANGELES FAMILY HOUSING and NEW IMAGE GOSSIP OVERHEARD AT MEND : YOU'RE BRANDED IN THE 211 COMPUTER SYSTEM SO GO AHEAD AND TRY TO SHELTER HOP!

Several weeks back, in the waiting area of MEND, several residents or ex residents of Los Angeles Family Housing started talking about case management and the tactics used on them.

Residents or ex residents said that the threat of being sent to NEW IMAGE shelter in down town Los Angeles (skid row) had been made to them for "non compliance" (disobedience) when they were also threatened with termination from the LAFH program. "Non compliance" included refusing to "go mental" in order to get SSI benefits, having too many possessions in their assigned space, or not finding housing with a Section 8 voucher fast enough and included the threat that if they did not take an apartment they would loose the voucher and be "sent" to New Image.

We say this! NO ONE HAS TO GO TO A SHELTER just because CASE MANAGEMENT at one says they are "sending" them.

Homeless people who had stayed at NEW IMAGE said that they knew that case managers from both shelters seemed to have a relationship. There was even talk overheard of LAFH and NEW IMAGE employees going on a cruise together.

Then the fact that calling 211 for shelter or other needs means having your records accessed in a database. If you call for EMERGENCY SHELTER, if you are in the database (and you will be because LAFH and other Los Angeles County and Orange County shelters insist you sign that they be allowed to share information), you may be branded trouble because you DID NOT LIKE THE WAY YOU WERE TREATED AT ONE SHELTER OR ANOTHER and be refused admittance at another.
SHELTERS are NOT THE BIG SOLUTION FOR HOMELESS. They are temporary and better in most cases than being on the street but they are as close to the street as you can get.

Many homeless do not want to be part of a program that is cold hearted and all about statistics to get more funding which can be used for case managers pay checks.

SHELTERS should all be aware that homeless compare notes wherever they go.

Friday, August 19, 2011

SKID ROW NEEDLE EXCHANGE and HOMELESS HEALTH CARE

If you are living in an SRO or in SKID ROW HOUSING TRUST buildings, you are eligible for health care. This article from USC mentions the NEEDLE EXCHANGE and HIV prevention.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

HILTON FOUNDATION PHILANTHROPY 13 MILLION TO FUND HOMELESSNESS PROJECTS

Conrad Hilton Foundation has pledged 9 more million in 2010 to create 2500 new places to live in Los Angeles for the long term homeless.

We appreciate that, but we also want the foundation to hold those organizations that have received funds to ACCOUNTABILITY.

Those of us in shelters often find that life in the shelter is difficult - even hellish. And shelters are where we wait for that permanent housing in some form:

"Rent Free" Caregiving assignments as long as the person we are assigned to is alive. Caregiving is one of the ways some of us became homeless.

Being forced or heavily pressured into room mating with other people we meet at the shelter.

And when you aren't compatible and one person gets arrested or goes back to drug use, then what?

Single Room Occupancies (SRO'S) like boarding houses often with no cooking and shared bathrooms. (So your food costs are high and diet is unhealthy.)

ALL THREE OF THESE ARE CONSIDERED "PERMANENT PLACEMENT" and then they claim they want to help us end our (endless) "cycle of homelessness."

At best, a liveable clean single costing, 1/3rd our fixed income is achievable.

But let's also NOT FORGET about holding the BIG DEVELOPERS who take down low income housing PROMISING a certain number of section 8 or low income units, who interpret that to mean A COUPLE THOUSAND A MONTH!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

IS YOUR SHELTER CASE MANAGER SEXUALLY HARASSING YOU?

Harassing? Some case managers at shelters - male and female - expect or will accept "favors" from male and female clients in exchange for looking the other way when the client, drinks, uses drugs, prostitutes, etc.

Some of them will give priority to a resident who gives them favors when it comes to providing vouchers for housing, transportation, or other benefits.

SINCE WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE and we DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER LIFE WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL OF YOURSELF OR YOUR SITUATION, we are sickened when we hear this.

Even when it's the homeless person who offers first - because that's street behavior and we want you out of the cycle of homelessness and a return to your self respect.
Don't think that just because we run videos and links to shelters and nonprofits that we don't know this goes on at some of them.

Since when did unprofessional behavior and illegal behavior become OK?

COMMENTS to this blogpost DO NOT REQUIRE ID.
THEY ARE READ BEFORE PUBLICATION by us.

Friday, August 12, 2011

HOMELESS TEENAGERS - SPOKANE WASHINGTON

Homeless Teenagers are often Homeless alone, without family. Often they have fled bad family life and been on the street in street families. Or left foster care without anywhere to go. Like the teacher says in this video, looking back, she knows there were homeless teenagers in her classes. Homelessness makes it real difficult to study and get good grades. A few who succeed anyway are the exceptions and make for good news stories and movies but the reality of poverty and even shelter life is that it's not the best atmosphere for studying and doing homework.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

RV LIVING IS THIS AN OPTION FOR YOU?

For those of you who use an RV for a few weeks a year vacation, life always going down the road looking for a place to sleep where you won't be disturbed by the cops or theives is no way to live.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

CYNTHIA'S STORY AS REPORTED BY ONE OF OUR WRITERS

"When I first became homeless I knew some homeless people from the library I went to. One of them was Cynthia. She was sleeping in her truck and part of a caravan of homeless people who slept in their cars and lived around the park. Cynthia had one friend who let her come into her house once a week for a shower and to get mail there. But even in the coldest weather she would not go to a shelter. She wore snow suit outfits most days, washed her face and hands and brushed her teeth in the library bathroom, and kept to herself.

A couple years ago Cynthia got her SSDI and saved enough to move into an apartment. She let her park friends move on and invited a man to live in the apartment with her. I don't know what happened, but I've been seeing Cynthia walking down the street every day with one of the biggest wheeled suitcases they sell. I think she is homeless again, and this time without a truck.

I don't know what happened to her friends in the park.

I don't know why she won't go to a shelter.

I don't know if there is something more wrong with her - maybe dementia set in?

She's getting older now.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

AUSTIN HOMELESS RV PARK ?

EAST TRAVIS COUNTY HOMELESS PARKUPDATE! IT LOOKS LIKE AN AUSTIN HOMELESS PARK HAS BEEN APPROVED> SEE THIS ARTICLE


NEW VIDEO JUNE 2014


PLEASE SEE THE NEW COMMENT and OUR ANSWER, which we will also be posting in the near future on this BLOG.

We feel that ANYWHERE the Homeless can park officially, so that they don't have to deal with police problems is an improvement on their situation.  The problem of where to put a shelter is also very real.  Homeless people are supposed to keep moving on.  With what gas costs today, it may be cheaper for the homeless to stay parked.  The fact that there is no grocery store nearbye is a challenge.  However, people who have RV's and hook ups can at least cook!  We see advantages to that financially.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

FAMILY SERVICES KING COUNTY SEATTLE AREA

"So, I went from having this amazing potential future to, literally, in under a year living in a van I remember just the terror and fear. How am I going to raise this baby? What am I going to do?

Melissa, mother of 2-year-old Rowan is just one story out of the thousands of families who become homeless every year in Seattle and King County.

Children and families are the fastest growing portion of the homeless population today!! The tragic effect on families is devastating to families, and communities around U.S."


Link to this Youtube video and many others sent to us by one of our Youtube subscribers. Click on Family Services title.

Get involved in helping your community by visiting www.family-services.org or connect with a local non-profit in your area.



Click on the title to get to the link...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

HOMELESS COURT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA, LITTLE ROCK, MILWAUKEE

"Many criminal charges against the homeless stem from their homelessness: loitering, sleeping on the sidewalks, drinking or urinating in public. Once cited, they don’t have a mailing address to receive summonses if they fail to pay the fine. That means a single infraction can often mushroom into multiple summonses, resulting in an inability to secure a job and housing."

35 such courts — half of them in California — have sprung up, including in Columbia, S.C., Little Rock, Ark., and Milwaukee."

HOMELESS COURT LOS ANGELES COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BLOGPOSTS WE HAVE! So we thought we'd look to see if there are HOMELESS COURTS IN OTHER CITIES AND THERE ARE!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

LA TIMES - FULLERTON POLICE BEAT HOMELESS MAN TO DEATH

"Officers responding to reports of an attempted car break-in near the station confronted Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old schizophrenic homeless man who had become a fixture in downtown Fullerton. Six officers fought with Thomas and Tasered him several times, according to witness accounts. He emerged severely beaten and in a coma. A photo taken of him at the hospital shows his face grotesquely swollen and covered with bruises and cuts. He died five days later after being removed from life support. Now, both the FBI and the Orange County district attorney's office are investigating, and the case has generated an emotional response from residents of the college town, who are demanding answers from the Police Department."

Monday, July 25, 2011

UNION RESCUE MISSION LACKING MILLIONS IN FUNDS FROM GOVERNMENT : LOS ANGELES SHELTERS DOWNTOWN ONLY YEAR AROUND SHELTERS

Watching the hits we get by post we know that our SYLMAR SHELTER information is one of the most frequently read posts - even though it's summer and that shelter and all the cold weather shelters in the county are not open. THAT MEANS PEOPLE ARE IN NEED OF SHELTERS NOW - IN THE SUMMER!

Contact us (leave a comment!) if you know of shelters that are opened ALL YEAR ROUND in Los Angeles County besides the downtown "skid row" shelters. AND AS USUAL WE ARE LOOKING FOR HONEST TESTIMONIALS.

We are linking to the latest news in the LA times about Union Rescue Mission."Union Rescue Mission, faced with a $1.3-million shortfall, says the government doesn't cover all the programs' costs or is slow to pay."

Sunday, July 24, 2011

COCAINE ANONYMOUS WORLD WIDE

Here's the link if you want to stop using. You'll be around those who know your ways best and are trying to help each other beat the substance that helped you loose everything you had.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013.  THE LINK IS AT THE TITLE AND HERE
COCAINE ANONYMOUS WORLD WIDE

AND HERE IS THE LINK FOR LOS ANGELES CA4LA LINK

Cocaine Anonymous began in Los Angeles November 18th, 1982, and has since expanded throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Our literature is available in English, French, Farsi, German, and Spanish and our first book "Hope, Faith and Courage: Stories from the Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous" was published in 1994. As of 2010 we estimate that our membership is 48,000 members in over 7,000 groups.

Friday, July 22, 2011

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS NATIONAL SEARCH FOR MEETINGS HERE!

SELF TREATING DEPRESSION OR OTHER EMOTIONAL OR MENTAL ISSUES WITH BOOZE.
PARTYING THAT HAS TURNED INTO AN ADDICTION.
GRADUATING TO STRONGER SUBSTANCES.
UNABLE TO KEEP A RELATIONSHIP.
UNABLE TO HOLD A JOB.

(Recently we talked to someone who used to have a heroin addiction but who is now a social worker at a homeless shelter. He said that AA is not for everyone. He said he experienced hearing people being competitive with each other about how much they had spent on drugs in one Twelve Step setting. But a lot of former alcoholics feel AA has made all the difference and that it's the largest networking club in the world.)


IS IT TOO LATE?

HERE IS THE LINK TO NATIONAL AA and there is a meeting search!

LOVE YOURSELF FIRST AND LOVING OTHER PEOPLE BECOMES EASIER!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

HAVE YOU BEEN THROWN OUT OF A BUSINESS, LIBRARY, OR RESTAURANT BECAUSE YOU STINK?

A lot of people who HAVE don't know how difficult it is to have a place to shower (free) and frequently enough not to stink!

They don't know that if you are on foot, it means carrying everything you own with you, including supplies like soap and shampoo, deodorant, and so on.

They don't know that the lightest load is that you wear what you own, and it doesn't get laundered very often or at all. Maybe you just CHANGE CLOTHES.

So answer the question!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

INVESTING ON THE INSIDE TOO

"The Charles Cobb, designed by the Pasadena architecture firm Kivotos Montenegro Partners Inc., opened in early April to provide apartments for chronically homeless and disabled people. It was built by the Skid Row Housing Trust for $13.1 million and includes first-floor offices for healthcare, case management and other services — a combination known as supportive housing. Residents pay 30% of their income in rent."

Linking to the LA Times Article above (sorry about all those ads for furniture).

76 homeless are housed in a well designed building where the interiors count too!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

CHINA INTERESTED IN LOS ANGELES HOMELESSNESS - OVER 55 or a VETERAN ? LOS ANGELES HOMELESS COUNT RESULTS

"Los Angeles County's homeless population dropped 3 percent in 2010 on the previous count, despite the economic downturn, according to a report released Tuesday.


More than 51,000 people were registered as homeless in Los Angeles County in 2010, said the report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which counts the homeless population once every two years."


"The report highlighted that 18 percent of the 51,340 homeless were war veterans, who had a higher rate of chronic homelessness than the general population.

The report also found the homeless population was aging, with nearly 34 percent of chronic homeless persons aged 55 or older, which would increase the public cost of homelessness."

FULL ARTICLE LINKED ABOVE and ask yourself how interested in our homelessness CHINA is!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE

This one is for our sister P. who got out of prison after seven years, seven years because she shot her long time abusive husband. P left a shelter without the housing they promised, to go live in a motel with another man who was on best behavior for a long time but just started hitting her.

P. we want you to leave that man and get into a safe house. Please sister do this for yourself and all abused women!

Remember what Aretha sang ? R E S P E C T!

Notice the computer privacy alert on this site...

"SAFETY ALERT!
Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, and/or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE(7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224."

Saturday, July 9, 2011

BURBANK REZONES : HOMELESS SHELTERS ALLOWED IN INDUSTRIAL STRIPS HOMEOWNERS WANT TO FAINT

Burbank homeowners apparently don't want to think about what happens to their own town people when they loose everything. (You know, like when the movie business that funds the town with taxes moves out?) They don't want to see us! They want to keep us away from residential neighborhoods. Breaking news here from the LA Times. Why would HOUSING US TEMPORARILY place us in a "not residential" zone only? Wake up Burbank!

"Assistant Community Development Director Michael Forbes said the zones were selected because they are farthest away from residential neighborhoods. The City Council also approved changes that would allow a homeless shelter to be built near downtown.“There are some places where an M-2 zone is very close to residential neighborhoods, or it is in a less-than-ideal place for a shelter, but we still need to allow it by law,” Forbes said. “In addition to M-2, there is a commercial/industrial zone near the downtown area, away from residential areas and near transit, that would be well-suited for a homeless shelter.”

Friday, July 8, 2011

WILLIAM AND KATE TO VISIT LA SKID ROW CHILDREN TODAY

Inner-City Arts will be visited today by the newly wed Prince William and Catherine Middleton, otherwise known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as representatives of Great Britain..

"The duke and duchess plan to work on ceramics and do some painting with 120 Elementary school kids on their visit. Prince William and his wife are to attend a teen dance troupe's performance. That the royal guests are coming is not lost on at least one teenage dance troupe member, 19-year-old Jessica Cornejo:

This is what's going on outside their castle. They're going to get a taste of what life is like for us. It's the best way to end that royal trip.

What might be embarrassing to some Americans, to let members of the British Royal family visit an area known to squeeze 4,000 homeless people in a 50-square block, could actually be a wake-up call.


Inner-City Arts teaches children dancing, acting, music, and the visual arts. Ninety percent of the students are Hispanic and come from broken or unstable homes. That Prince William and Kate want to visit a place like Skid Row, instead of just spending time with the "elite," says a lot about them and how they embrace culture, especially in places where you would least expect it."

Thursday, July 7, 2011

DO YOU SELL YOUR BLOOD OR PLASMA FOR EXTRA CASH?

Homeless, healthy homeless anyway, are often seen at blood and plasma centers selling theirs for cash, movie tickets, raffle prizes, gift cards from stores, or the latest - charge cards that are charged up so they can buy whatever they want.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

ABOUT NATALIE, THE HOMELESS WOMAN WHO RIDES THE SAME BUS ALL NIGHT EVERY NIGHT

Natalie's ankles are swollen because she never really gets to lay down unless she goes to a shelter in another, safer county.

She sleeps sitting up every night on a particular bus route.

Now we think this is kind of cool. Because the bus driver, a woman, knows Natalie's situation, and she never gives her a problem.

UPDATE AUGUST 2012 We are happy to say that we ran into Natalie and she's looking beautiful. Natalie was wearing make-up, had her hair done - shiny and sleek, and was casually dressed in black pants and sweater for her job. Natalie was given stability by a local shelter where she slept each night and was able to keep a small wardrobe, though she had to leave for the day. She managed to get a starter job working part time for a non-profit animal related charity where she is on commission. She is also dog and cat sitting in private homes.
She no longer looks exhausted.

JFK SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES : SPEECH

Saturday, July 2, 2011

IS IT BETTER TO HAND OUT TO A BEGGER THAN GIVE TO A CHARITY?

Some people hate beggars bothering them, others are receptive: It gives them a chance to do a little something. SOME PEOPLE WANT THE TAX DEDUCTIONS and the SOCIALITE PARTY SCENE TO GIVE AWAY THEIR MONEY. They trust that non-profits will use the funds wisely!

Recently one of us used some of our EBT benefits to buy bread, peanut butter, and oranges to buy lunch for some of our homeless beggers. We didn't have the money cash and this way we knew the money would go to food.

Some people feel "So what if the guy uses this money to buy a beer? He needs it!"

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

"For 30 years, since 1980, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has had a clear mission: We organize and advocate to prevent and end homelessness because we believe housing is a human right in a just society."

We checked and our post for CHICAGO HOMELESS YOUTH is one of the most popular posts we ever did. We feel Chicago has a lot of potential because housing is generally not as expensive there as it is in New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. But homeless in Chicago means DAMN COLD too, and just for that reason it's a terrible place to be homeless.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

AUSSIE HOMELESS HAVE CEO'S SLEEP ROUGH - OUT IN THE COLD TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS THEMSELVES

"It was inspired by the CEO Sleepout, in which business and community leaders experience homelessness first-hand for one night..."

Phoebe Port and Tia Gelman, both in their twenties and once homeless have a great idea here.

Kim Arlington writes for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Friday, June 24, 2011

CHURCH OF TITHES BEIT M'ASER SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FEEDS and PANTRIES

A long list of FEED opps and VALLEY PANTRY LOCATIONS. Now we want to know if you have to deal with being prayed over every day of the week so you can eat!

SORRY BUT IT APPEARS THAT THIS SITE WAS TAKEN DOWN : WE WILL TRY TO GET YOU AN ALTERNATIVE FEEDS LIST! June 23 2011

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

BIG SUNDAY CHILL PILL BAND HUGE HIT AT LAFH

Sunday the 15th of May 2011 was Big Sunday (link above) at LAFH. The shelter's side for HOMELESS SINGLES (one of few in Southern California) was the recipient of BIG SUNDAY, a group of volunteers, that cooked a barbecue dinner with dogs, burgers, chicken, and all the fixings, and music by 80's cover band CHILL PILL.

Residents want to say thanks especially because that SINGLE SIDE of the SHELTER rarely gets the tickets, parties, or donations, that the FAMILY SIDE DOES.

CHILL PILL brought back the memories of Van Halen, Blondie, Billy Idol, and more.

They're an exciting cover band, and they like to play for money too.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

BOSTON HOMELESS ORG

"The Shawmut Education mission provides a database of homeless shelters and food service programs initiated by the Task Force to End Homelessness which is a subcommittee of the Boston Society of Architects."

This may be a different approach since it involves the ARCHITECTS.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK FREEDOM FROM FEAR

Linking to an article which mentions that the Federal Goverment of the United States has a mention of we the homeless people:

"Our government’s commitment to provide for the basic social and economic needs of our people is clear, and it reflects the will of the American people.

The people ask us to care for the sick… and we do. In 2009, our nation spent nearly $900 billion on Medicare and Medicaid. And as you know, last year the administration passed and signed the Affordable Care Act to expand access to health care in America.

They ask us to provide shelter for the destitute… and we do. In the wake of the housing crisis, last year the federal government committed almost $4 billion to target homelessness."

Michael H. Posner
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Address to the American Society of International Law
Ritz Carlton Hotel, Washington, DC
March 24, 2011

Friday, June 10, 2011

Thursday, June 9, 2011

SKID ROW LAS VEGAS

Abandoned Apartment Builds and boarded up homes... who would have ever thought that this city, where some of the richest entertainers in the world perform and some of the richest people in the world gamble and loss money - for fun - will allow this to happen. Lots of grafitti as self expression!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

ePATH LOS ANGELES

PATH SERVICES


PATH MALL


You may be able to get a haircut, clothing, and some food, without being taken in at a PATH SHELTER. Path runs a few shelters. Here is the link to their information.

As always we would like testimonials and reports from people using these services.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

SPARE CHANGE HOMELESS AND POVERTY NEWSPAPER : BOSTON !

We're adding the blog to our blog list and a link to the newspaper (above) today! SPARE CHANGE is interested in Boston - Cambridge area homelessness, poverty, and activism. But we all have a lot in common, don't we?

Thanks to a homeless writer for the paper leaving a comment to us! Go to the link and see how you can participate in this project.

Friday, June 3, 2011

LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK

Homeless Rights, concentrating on the Central and East side of Los Angeles including the resident hotels - abuse by landlords and owners of hotels - anti-poverty campaign, grassroots efforts.

We all know someone who spends at least some of their income on going to a motel for a night, weekend, or a couple weeks a month, to wash, sleep, and get off the streets.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

MEMORIAL DAY : WE REMEMBER OUR PAST PRESIDENTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS

To celebrate MEMORIAL DAY, we decided to post videos of Past Presidents and Civil Rights Leaders on the left margin of this blog.

We remember their messages and feel hopeless that not much has changed.

Friday, May 27, 2011

PACIFICA HOSPITAL SHITTY TO NORTH HOLLYWOOD HOMELESS - AMBULANCES FROM LA FAMILY HOUSING GO THERE

We've been hearing complaints about PACIFICA HOSPITAL'S rude and incompetant treatment of homeless patients who are AMBULANCED from LOS ANGELES FAMILY HOUSING and surrounding area for several years now, so where there's smoke there's fire.

Homeless never choose Pacifica if they can get a ride to Olive View or Saint Joseph's in Burbank or another hospital.


Paramedics say that they can only take residents of Los Angeles Family Housing there due to some sort of territory issue. Residents say the ride to Pacifica is often a waste of time. That they are soon out the door without their health issues resolved and back at the shelter, and often then need another ambulance ride or to find someone to take them to another hospital.

Residents say that Pacifica doctor's attitudes change towards them when they find out the person is homeless, which has to do also with their inability to pay or lack of insurance. While Pacifica doctors might be on a commission or under pressure to provide income to the hospital, THIS MEANS THAT THE CITY/ COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES NEEDS TO REZONE THE AMBULANCE SERVICE to take homeless to Olive View or other hospitals.

Residents say that Pacifica doctors give them prescriptions, but then THEY CANNOT FILL THE PRESCRIPTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO MONEY. Going to Olive View or another COUNTY hospital would mean that the homeless in North Hollywood/ Sun Valley area would BE ABLE TO BEGIN TREATMENT.

A paraplegic resident whose pain management went out of control recently took the ride and the reject. At Pacifica they did little to nothing. The same person then went to Saint Joseph's where they did extensive tests to see if a bullet lodged in his body was moving.

Residents say that Pacifica is a bad choice when someone needs a liver transplant and has health related issues. One person in this condition was rejected repeatedly over a few months. This person recently died at USC.

Residents say that a woman who was taken to Pacifica after a rape or attempted rape at the shelter was sedated and because they knew of how others had been treated they started visiting her in shifts to watch that medics and other personnel at Pacifica did not throw her around gurneys or mishandle her.

We think that a class action lawsuit against Pacifica may be in the future.

RAPID REHOUSING and HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAM HPRP PDF FILE ON ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS

LINK HERE TO READ THE PDF. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RESIST HOMELESSNESS or GET BACK INTO AN APARTMENT QUICKLY!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTO INSURANCE LESS THAN $400 A YEAR LINK HERE

California has some of the highest vehicle insurance and registration costs in the Nation.

That makes it especially difficult to live legal and stay out of jail for us homeless. Here again we are punished for poverty and trapped by poverty.

Also we know of people who are having their vans and rv's towed because they simply cannot come up with the money to pay off tickets or register. This leaves them more vulnerable to street life and crime than ever.

As Marvin Gaye would sing, DON'T PUNISH ME WITH BRUTALITY.

If you are low income, we believe giving the State of California insurance a try is the way to go rather than go illegal without insurance.

Friday, May 20, 2011

LANDLORDS GUIDE TO SIGNING UP TO BE A SECTION 8 HOUSING PROVIDER

There's something in it for you Dear Landlord and we would like more selection when it comes to Section 8.

But you'll have to ask yourself if you think HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT OR NOT!

A whole lot of us have evictions on our credit. We don't want to loose our apartment again and have another eviction or face the FIVE YEAR WAIT PENALTY if we do.

Because it ain't cool at all when someone goes into a Section 8 apartment after a long wait too and then a year later you raise the rent so that their 1/3rd is unaffordable. That person still has to come up with money to move again and find another Section 8 apartment! So if you're an asshole we don't want to rent from you in the first place because you can make our life rotten again. Jacey

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

ANGEL HANZ FOR THE HOMELESS, INC CELEBRITY CHARITY EVENT MAY 22 2011 NORTH HOLLYWOOD

Angel Hanz for the Homeless (Never Forgets About The Pets)
is having a celebrity charity event
12-5 PM $10 entrance fee
at CALDWELL HALL
11640 Hesby Street North Hollywood CA 91607
(Corner of Colfax and Hesby)

Includes Raffle, Refreshments, Jeri Estes, Gangster Girls (book signing), Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night (book signing), DJ Sharehl, Silent Auction (including REMO percussion and yoga classes) etc.

THERE ARE PICTURES OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH THEIR DOGS ON THE FLYER, and we are curious to know (so ANGEL HANZ needs to comment) how this Inc provides funds for the homeless and their pets. Dog bones? Vet bills? What?

Where do the homeless sign up?
If homeless people and their pets COME TO THE EVENT will they be welcome? Can they be part of the REMO drum circle (if they have no drivers license to turn over? It says you have to have a license to play.)

UPDATE MARCH 2013  link to Angel's blog ANGEL HANZ FOR THE HOMELESS AND THEIR PETS

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

THE TREASURE BOX FOOD PURCHASING OPTION

We would like testimonials for this organization.

We are being told that for about $32 once a month you can buy a box of food worth more money. We hear you do not have to buy every month, just when you want to. THIS MAY EXPAND THE FOOD AVAILABLE TO THOSE OF YOU ON SSI.

"The Treasure Box provides families and individuals with a large box of grocery store quality food retailing for $60 to $85 at the much-reduced cost of just $32 each. They work differently from government and church food assistance programs that provide food for families in need. Instead, they cultivate relationships with more than 500 major food manufacturers across the country to purchase and provide food to the general public that is top quality, nutritious, and available for sizeable volume discounts. While other food assistance programs might provide some food for free to those who meet certain requirements, The Treasure Box offers anyone the opportunity to get the quality food they need at a fraction of the cost."

866-712- 0925

Thursday, May 12, 2011

HOMELESS ALLIANCES OF BUFFALO NEW YORK

Myth: Those who are homeless choose to be homeless
Fact: The greatest need identified by those experiencing homelessness was permanent housing. Transportation and education/training were also cited as important needs. Shelter allowances provided by the Department of Social Services ($214 per month for a single parent with children) fell far short of the fair market rent for a two bedroom apartment in the…

Myth: Everyone who is homeless is mentally ill or addicted to drugs
Fact: The majority of homeless individuals do not suffer from mental illness or chemical addiction. In fact, only 30% of homeless people residing in shelters cited mental health as one of many reasons for their homelessness and only 22.9% cited substance abuse as a reason. These numbers are significantly smaller for the larger population of individuals accessing… Read More

Myth: There aren’t many homeless people on the streets of Buffalo, so it isn’t a big problem.
Fact: The homeless are not only those we see on the street. The homeless that are on the streets make up a small percentage of the local homeless population. About 58% of recently homeless individuals have spent time in transitional or emergency shelter, not on the street. About 25% of individuals who are accessing…

Myth: Some people will always be homeless
Fact: 23% of the homeless population nationwide are identified as chronically or long-term homeless. While this population has been difficult to serve in traditional service models, new models are emerging around the country that are assisting the chronically homeless in becoming self-sufficient. Safe Haven programs that offer—but do not require—supportive services

Friday, May 6, 2011

OCEAN COUNTY NEW JERSEY : NO OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE HOMELESS SHELTER

"Lawyers for the county made that assertion in court Monday in response to litigation filed by homeless advocates against the Board of Freeholders and its Board of Social Services. The county government is being petitioned to open a shelter as an alternative to the encampments such as Tent City in Lakewood that have popped up in the woods off main highways."





Link to the article here!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY STAMP OUT HUNGER FOOD DRIVE

MM MM GOOD? or just a way of a big corporation getting a tax deduction by having a non-profit side? They've got the actor David Arquette working on this one and hundreds of mail carriers around the United States.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

STARBUCKS GOSSIPERS AGAINST HOMELESS CUSTOMERS

STARBUCKS GOSSIP? Link here!

In many places in the United States homeless individuals, many who had housing not so long ago, are forced to find safe places to stay such as Starbucks, other coffee houses, public libraries and parks, in order to stay out of the weather, have a place to use the toilet (especially difficult for women having their periods while sleeping in vehicles).

In some places Starbucks employees have been sensitive and in others they are jerks. We know of a Starbucks that gives food that would go into the garbage cans to people who sit for hours until closing beating the cold, we know of a Starbucks were employees put left overs outside on tables before they left for the night until the rich local bitches decided they didn't want to "attract" homeless, we know of a Starbucks were people (including me) have sat all day on one coffee because it was cold and a public holiday so no libraries were open. We know of Starbucks were there is both a rush of people coming in to pick up expensive coffees and others who sit for hours nursing a tea (while they go hungry).

We believe that a business that serves food or drink can ask a person to leave if they have stayed too long, but do so nicely, respecting the person's humanity, rather than resort to tactics or causing a humiliating scene. We also believe there is corporate KARMA, just as there is individual KARMA... so there by the grace of God (or Goddess) go I.

Monday, May 2, 2011

ARE YOU PASSING AS NOT HOMELESS BY USING A LAPTOP ?

We know many homeless people who sit all day in coffeeshops and libraries or fast food places with a little heart, using their laptops, working on their own projects or just passing the time. Are you one of them?

Friday, April 29, 2011

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FSP (FULL SERVICE PARTNERSHIP)

FSP Programs for Adults 26-59 is a Proposition 63 Program of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE if you are HOMELESS, in jail or have frequent contact with the criminal justice system, frequently in psychiatric hospitals or receiving psychiatric emergency services, or are living with family members and at risk of any of the above circumstances.


ANTELOPE VALLEY Service Area 1 *** (661) 223-3813

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Service Area 2 *** (818) 610-6705

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Service Area 3 *** (626) 471-6535

METRO LOS ANGELES Service Area 4 *** (323) 290-5822

WEST LOS ANGELES Service Area 5 *** (310) 482-6613 or (310) 482-6617


SOUTH CENTRAL/COMPTON/LYNWOOD Service Area 6 *** (323) 290-5822
SOUTHEAST LOS ANGELES Service Area 7 *** (213) 738-6150

LONG BEACH/SOUTH BAY Service Area 8 *** (562) 435-2287 or (562) 435-2078

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

NORTH HOLLYWOOD INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY

Linking to the NORTH HOLLYWOOD INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY.

"Established in 1983, North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry (NHIFP) is a 100% volunteer coalition of Jewish and Christian congregations working together to address the problem of hunger in the community. Food is collected by congregations, individuals, schools and community organizations. Some free or low cost food is obtained from the LA Regional Food Bank in conjunction with Valley Interfaith Council. We welcome all clients and volunteers."

4390 Colfax Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91604