Friday, February 28, 2014

Monday, February 24, 2014

LDS BISHOP FOOLS CONGREGATION - TEACHES - LEARNS - ABOUT HOMELESS INVISIBILITY

RAPID CITY - LDS BISHOP DRESSES HOMELESS TO TEACH LESSON

"At least five people asked David Musselman to leave the church property in Taylorsville, some gave him money and most were indifferent.

He said he disguised himself as a homeless man to teach his congregation a lesson about compassion. To make his appearance more convincing, he contacted a Salt Lake City makeup artist to transform his familiar face to that of a stranger not even his family recognized...

The reaction that touched Musselman the most was from children.
"I was impressed by the children. I could see in their eyes they wanted to do more," he said."

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

MEET DALLAS TEXAS "SOUPMAN DAVID" WHO PROVIDES 200,000 MEALS A YEAR!

SOUPMOBILE DALLAS TEXAS - MEET DAVID WHO'S PROVIDED 200,000 MEALS A YEAR!  David Timothy is the Soupman.

David was never homeless himself, but he grew up in a home where food was scarce and he experienced hunger first hand. This has given him a tremendous compassion for the homeless and their daily struggles to find food to eat. So on a wing and a prayer(s) he started the SoupMobile in 2003. In that first year the SoupMobile served 5,000 meals. Today it serves more than 200,000 meals per year.

As the SoupMobile approaches each of its feeding stops, the SoupMan blasts the theme from Rocky, his favorite movie, over the van’s loudspeaker system. Heard for miles around, this music tells the homeless that it’s time for lunch.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

SHOWER TRUCKS - SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RESCUE MISSION - HOME AGAIN FAMILY SHELTER

UPDATED APRIL 2016  as always call ahead for the very latest information

As an alternative for homeless in the area we think M.E.N.D still has showers on Tuesday Mornings, which is homeless day.  No religious requirements at M.E.N.D.  Tuesday mornings at M.E.N.D. includes shower, hot lunch, groceries, clothes, bus tokens once a month (so you can come back next week for your shower.)   LINK TO MEND http://mendpoverty.org/

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RESCUE MISSION  including Home Again Family Shelter
This is a Christian Mission with Bible Based Philosophy

SHOWER MOBILE INFO SHOWER MOBILE

Monday - Chatsworth
Chatsworth Foursquare Church
10210 Canoga Ave.
(Cross street Lemark St.)
Shower Sign Ups: 9:00 - 10:00 am Showers: 9:30 - 11:30 am Hot Meal: Noon


Tuesday - North Hollywood
First Baptist Church of North Hollywood
11210 Ostego St.
(Near Lankershim Blvd.)
Shower Sign Ups: 7:30 - 8:30 am
Showers: 8:00 - 10:00 am
Meal: 10:30 - 11:30 am


Tujunga United Methodist Church
9901 Tujunga Canyon Blvd.
Shower Sign Ups: 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Showers: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Hot Meal: Noon

Friday - Winnetka
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
8520 Winnetka Ave.
(Across from the Winnetka Park, cross street - Chase Street)
Shower Sign Ups: 9:00 - 10:00 am
Showers: 9:30 - 11:30 am
Hot Meal: Noon

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

PANHANDLING AND BUMMING CIGS

Recently someone posted a comment (which we didn't publish) under a post about an individual saying not to give that person any money or cigarettes.  The comment went unsigned.

Before becoming homeless ourselves we were not inclined to give money or anything else to a beggar on the street but our hearts have changed. 


Our heart changed because we got to know so many people who were struggling to have enough to eat even when they got Food Stamps/EBT/Cal Fresh, and even more so when they didn't.  We knew some of these people did use money for beer or cigarettes but decided that when you give you give and it's up to that person on how to spend it. 

You can't stop a person you give to from possibly trading that food for something else.

Even if the person uses some of the money for things besides food, eventually most people do want something to eat.

So if you're reading this because your homeless-curious, consider, if you don't want to give money, giving a lunch.  Walk into that corner story with the person and buy them something.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

AUTUMN LE - GIRL BREAKS HER PIGGY BANK TO BUY SLEEPING BAGS FOR HOMELESS IN CONTRA COSTA

CONTRA COST-" 8 YEAR OLD BUYS HOMELESS SLEEPING BAGS

"Concerned about how those living on the streets would survive the frigid conditions, 8-year-old Autumn Le, a third grader at Leo Croce Elementary School, decided the money she'd scrimped and saved from two years of birthdays, Christmases and Chinese New Years would be better spent on something bigger than herself.

Keeping just enough to buy a goldfish and a fish tank, she used the remaining $400 she'd collected in her piggy bank to buy 25 sleeping bags to donate to the homeless.

"I see the homeless people in the street, and I wonder how they sleep," Le said. "In the winter when I go out, I have a jacket and it's still really cold; the homeless people only have one layer of shirt on. I decided I wanted to help them."

Sunday, February 9, 2014

SACRAMENTO - AT LEAST 500 HOMELESS DIED IN LAST 10 YEARS - SACRAMENTO STEPS FORWARD

SACRAMENTO BEE : 500 HOMELESS DIED IN LAST 10 YEARS IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Many of them took their final breaths alone and anonymously, in narrow alleys, empty fields or cold riverbeds.

During the past 11 years in Sacramento County, at least 501 men, women and children have died homeless, according to the first comprehensive analysis of its kind in the region. That equates to a rate of about one death per week.

About 38 percent of those deaths, all of which were documented by the County Coroner’s Office, occurred outdoors.

Two nonprofit groups, Sacramento Steps Forward and the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, prepared the Homeless Deaths report based on coroner records from June 2002 through June 2013. The records list, among other things, where people died and whether they had a permanent address or were transient.  SACRAMENTO STEPS FORWARD

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/12/19/6015644/study-at-least-500-homeless-people.html#storylink=cpy

Friday, February 7, 2014

HOMELESS USED AS SLAVES - LINKS TO REPORTAGE

We've heard about local homeless who worked full time or even full time and overtime for shelters and nonprofits FOR FREE, feeling that this would help them get housing, and in a couple cases we know of when the person stopped working they got thrown out for no other reason, so goes the story. 

WE WOULD LOVE IT IF THOSE PEOPLE WOULD REPORT THEIR SLAVERY and prosecute but we know they are under too much stress right now.

Here are a number of links and reports about homeless being used as slaves.

We're burning with anger!  Shouldn't you be?


UNITED KINGDOM

HOMELESS TARGETED AS SLAVES IN UK
http://www.calculator.co.uk/2011/09/homeless-targeted-as-slaves-in-the-uk/

"Those sleeping rough on streets throughout the UK have been targeted by gangs forcing them to work for free in what amounts to slavery, according to a statement released by Thames Reach which is one of the largest charities for the homeless. The charity states that there are growing reports of homeless people being targeted in big cities such as Birmingham, London, Southampton, Dover, Manchester, Luton and Leicester."


JAPAN

HOMELESS USED AS SLAVES TO CLEAN UP FUKISHIMA NUCLEAR DISASTER
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/japan-homeless-used-slave-labour-clean-fukushima-115614605.html#d5W5Tae

"Homeless people in Japan are being paid less than minimum wage to clean up the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and often end up in debt once their accommodation is docked from wages.
 
According to a special report by Reuters, the clean-up of the 2011 nuclear spill has become a playing ground for profiteering gangsters who are taking advantage of the need for cheap labour."


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PLEASE LOOK ON OUR SIDE BAR FOR LEGAL, SEX TRAFFICKING, and SLAVERY RESOURCES!

Monday, February 3, 2014

ARE YOU UNABLE TO AFFORD A ROOM IN A HOUSE ON YOUR DISABILITY CHECK?

We keep meeting people who have a small income from Disability but, because of the high cost of living in Southern California, cannot even afford a room for rent.  About $500 a month is all they have for that room - hopefully with kitchen.  Most of them say they would like to live in a van.  YOU?