Saturday, December 31, 2016

EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS BLOGSPOT -COMMUNITY SERVICE ON HIATUS - LOTS OF USEFUL INFORMATION TO BE FOUND HERE!


HELLO EVERYONE.  It's MAY 2018.  Just wanted you to know that we're checking in as promised. 


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To our homeless brothers and sisters and the citizen activists who seek to end Poverty and Homelessness in the United States of America.


Researching, writing, interviewing, designing, and producing this Blog has been a Community Service and a Labor of Love.  We've posted near 1,500 times in our effort to help you.  As our own lives became chaotic, exhausting, and sometimes frightening, we have endured to keep at it for eight years now.

We've experienced so many thoughts and feelings in the process:






The hope that we're helping others.  (If even one person has gotten off the street and has healed and is happy because of the information we've posted, it's been worth it.)


The frustration of learning about so many resources yet knowing that the crisis of homelessness in Southern California - and around the world - is an ongoing crisis and that all these nonprofits and charities, all the grassroots organizations and individuals who give of themselves - even it's just going out homemade peanut butter sandwiches - is NOT ENOUGH to eliminate the suffering.


The anger that turns into disgust that we feel when we learn about individuals - male and female - who have turned their lives over to a shelter or housing program in trust, who have been sexually harassed by case managers who even demand sex in exchange for housing, or had the money they saved for apartment deposits kept when they were kicked out, or who were in one of these programs for years waiting for their turn or chance, meanwhile loosing their health and even sanity in the process.


The shock of realization that we live in the Greatest and Richest country in the world, one that pats itself on the back for being "Christian," while homeless who are not Christian or religious are discriminated against because so many organizations want to convert you in exchange for helping you.  Our horror that anyone is allowed to be homeless while others enjoy such prosperity.  It's a complicated issue but it seems to us that the Rich and Powerful are allowing the Poorest of the Poor to be killed off, slowly.


THIS BLOG WILL REMAIN UP...


Since we began blogging the opportunities for people to do their own research, on free or prepaid cell phones, and at public service computers at libraries, has expanded.  There are information hot lines for city and county and other governmental resources (though we don't particularly care for them), and referrals for information and advice all over, sometimes an endless cycle of go-nowhere referrals. We know that we're not as needed as we once were but there is a lot of valuable information here at Expose Homelessness BlogSpot too, which you can continue to use, though as time goes by it needs to be updated.


We are taking a break but we will continue to:
* Check your comments, including Answers to the many Questions we have asked.
* Update links and video and eliminate those that are repetitive or truly defunct.
(We stopped working on our YouTube station a long time ago and it's time to let it go!)
* Work on the innards and make technology updates that are important, including simplifying our labels so that your search word choices bring up all the posts applicable and getting rid of nuisance robot hits that mostly come from Russia.
Update and add information to our Pages, which some people think of as our advice and opinions on how to best survive a shelter, deal with case managers, and use your EBT-SNAP funds to keep to a healthy diet.

ALSO WE WILL ADD MORE HOMELESS BLOGGERS and POVERY ACTIVIST BLOGS ON OUR LIST THAT WE HAVE ON THE SIDEBAR as we discover them.


Please, USE THE SEARCH FEATURE embedded in the side bar of this blog in order to bring up the information that you need, using words such as "shelter,"  "AIDS-HIV,"  or "Homeless Children," in order to access years worth of posts.  Then, go to the linked site or article for the latest information posted by that link.


THANK YOU FOR READING and USING  EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS BLOGSPOT. 




And Thanks Also To:
Google for the opportunity to Blog at no charge, to the posters of YouTube music, documentary, experiential, and testimonial videos that make this Blog an experience of listening as well as seeing, to Dover Publishing for the many images of butterflies and coloring pages sprinkled throughout this Blog that are free for non-profit use, and to FlashVortex for the animated banners and flags that have also been gratis.


WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT ONLY SEARCH THIS BLOG FOR INFORMATION (Use the Google Search feature embedded in the left side bar!) BUT TO CONTINUE TO SHARE INFORMATION. 


Your Friends at EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS BLOGSPOT


Wednesday, December 21, 2016

NATIONAL HOMELESS MEMORIAL DAY - THE SYSTEMIC CAUSES OF TRAGICALLY AVOIDABLE DEATHS

NATIONAL HOMELESS MEMORIAL DAY   FIND AN EVENT NEAR YOU




"The National Consumer Advisory Board, the National Coalition for the Homeless, and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council encourage our constituents to organize or take part in Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day events on or around December 21st, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year.


At these events each year, we remember those who have died and we strengthen our resolve to work for a world where no life is lived or lost in homelessness. We state clearly, together with others in scores of communities across our nation, that no person should die for lack of housing.

Each Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day event is unique to its community, but the events often include readings of names, candles, prayers, personal remembrances, marches, and moments of silence. They are often held outdoors, sometimes – fittingly – in the bitter cold. These events honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our collective failure to adequately address homelessness, and often include calls to address the systemic causes of tragically avoidable deaths."





Monday, December 19, 2016

CATHOLIC CHARITIES - LOS ANGELES

We first posted a link to CATHOLIC CHARITIES in 2011.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN


EXCERPT: In 1984, responding to the urgent needs of homeless women in the Southern California area, Good Shepherd Center opened a drop-in center and Languille Emergency Shelter for 30 women. Expanding to meet the growing homeless problem, Good Shepherd next launched its mobile outreach program in 1986 and opened the Hawkes Transitional Residence for 30 homeless women in 1987. In 1992, Good Shepherd Center established its Mother-Child shelter for nine mothers and 21 children. In 1998, Good Shepherd opened the first of three phases of The Women’s Village; the Hawkes Transitional Residence moved to The Women’s Village and expanded to serve 30 women. The second phase of the Women’s Village, Angel Guardian Home, permanent housing for disabled mothers with children, was dedicated in May 2000. In 2008, the third phase, Farley House, an employment and education-focused transitional housing program, became part of Good Shepherd, along with an employment and client services center. The Village Kitchen, an on-site culinary program/cafe, was dedicated in June 2008. In August 2011, Farley House enhanced its services to include 10 families in its transitional housing program. Farley House currently serves homeless mothers with up to two children in all 21 fully-furnished apartments. Within its present five programs (three residences, drop-in and mobile outreach), in FY 2015-16, 1,266 clients were served.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

JVSWORKS THREE FREE SHORT TERM TRAINING PROGRAMS

If you're in a shelter or sofa hoping, maybe if you have stable residence in an RV, you can probably qualify for JVS training.  Free 8 week training programs in three areas.  INCLUDES JOB PLACEMENT.  We advise you be honest about your living circumstance when you apply as we think the Jewish social services can help you with clothing.  Main thing is you have to be able to consistently show up for classes and then for work.   We think any shelter, any social worker, should be very cool about this.


BANKWORKS...
Job training, placement,  and ongoing coaching to become a bank employee from tellers and service associates to universal bankers and relationship bankers.


HEALTH WORKS - CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT
includes classroom and clinical experience.  Prepare for CALIFORNIA STATE CERTIFICATION.


JVS APARTMENT WORKS -  APARTMENT MAINTENANCE TECH.


Generous sponsors are paying for the training.  You do not have to be Jewish,


Contact Ms. Olive at jolive@jvsla.org
310-273-6633 extension 5436

Thursday, December 15, 2016

LANCASTER, SYLMAR, and SANTA CLARITA COLD WEATHER SHELTERS and 2016-2017 PICK UPS

We especially encourage Women to consider staying at a shelter during the cold months that these are open, for safety and to get referrals to other resources such as year round shelter programs.
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CITY OF LANCASTER - GRACE RESOURCES - Antelope Valley
44611 Yucca Avenue, Lancaster, CA
661-945-7524


39 beds.  Open November 24th 2016 - March 1 2017
Pick ups:
3:40 PM at Corner of K-8 and Gingham Avenue
across from Social Services.


3:50 OM at 45134 North Sierra Highway near Avenue I.
meet in courtyard
WALK INS ARE ALSO WELCOME but show up between 3:30 and 4:15 PM


******


HOPE OF THE VALLEY - SYLMAR ARMORY - San Fernando Valley
12860 Arroyo Drive, Sylmar, CA  91342
170 beds.  Open December 2016 - March 1 2017
WALK INS ARE WELCOME BUT NOT BEFORE 5:30 PM
818-207-8776
Also no shopping carts are allowed inside.  One small bag per guest allowed.
Security inside. hot showers,  hot dinner.  breakfast sack lunch. case management. warmth.


Pick ups:
6:00 PM at the old thrift store location at 8165 San Fernando Road in Sun Valley.
6:30 PM outside of McDonalds at 8045 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood.
6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 PM in front of the bus bench at 6212 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys.
7:30 PM at 8401 Winnetka Ave, at the Winneketa Recreation Park, Winnetka
YOU WANT TO ASK WHEN THE NATIONAL GUARD WILL BE USING THE ARMORY FOR TRAINING AS YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAY THERE AT THAT TIME and may want to plan to go to another, open shelter in advance rather than spend the time sleeping outside.
*****
SANTA CLARITA - BRIDGE TO HOME
23031 Drayton Street, Santa Clarita, CA  91355
60 beds. November 24 2016 - March 1 2017
661-388-3002  or 661-254-4716
Pick ups:
6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Vallarta Supermarket Shopping Center at 18571 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country, 91352
6:00 to 8:00 PM at Newhall Metro Link at 24300 Railroad Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA  91321
Shuttles run every 30 minutes.
WALK IN ALLOWED but line up starting at 6:00 PM.  Please don't show up earlier and loiter. Sensitive location so to keep this shelter open fine tune your arrival.  No shopping carts.  Your possessions that you bring in must fit in a 4 X 2 plastic tub.
*****
Those of you who have done this before know the drill. 





Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Los Angeles LESBIAN GAY TRANSGENDER CENTER

LALGBTCENTER - SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING


For youth and seniors they offer transitional housing, education, employment, healthcare, legal assistance including asylum assistance.  For seniors - affordable housing.


EXCERPT: No organization offers a wider range of services for LGBT and questioning youth than the Los Angeles LGBT Center.


Whether you’re one of the thousands of LGBT young people experiencing homelessness in L.A., you’re looking for an adult mentor, you’re not feeling safe at school, or you just want a fun and welcoming space to connect with others your age, we can help.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

SAN DIEGO'S URBAN ANGELS is HANDS ON NON PROFIT FEEDING STREET HOMELESS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

URBAN ANGELS  hot meals for street homeless in San Diego


EXCERPT:
From cooking to serving to cleaning, Urban Angels runs the entire kitchen at Connections Housing, a state of the art service center and residential community designed to reduce street homelessness. We provide food services to Connections residents 7 days a week, every day of the year.


Urban Angels also assists with feeding services every Wednesday at The Salvation Army.


***
We like it when volunteers actually interact with homeless people.  Although some people think this is because volunteers need to know that homeless people are human beings, it's also because some homeless people need to know that volunteers are human beings.  After experiencing a lot of rejection, censure, and discrimination, homeless are no longer sure.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

TRUMP ADMINSTRATION and the FEAR OF COPAYS or LOSS OF MEDICARE

We're hearing it all over, seniors who are already unable to afford RENT and FOOD and MEDICAL CARE, fearful that changes in MEDICARE in the TRUMP administration will mean co-pays they have no more money for.  Like the senior citizens who are LIVING IN RV's and VANS because they can't afford an apartment on their Social Security.


BERNIE SANDERS didn't win the Presidency but his message is still strong and needs to be carried by all of us.
BERNIE SANDERS - MEDICARE FOR ALL


Trump claimed during his campaign for the Presidency of this United States of America, which he won, that unlike other Republicans he did not want cuts in Medicare.


THE HILL - TRUMPS CAMPAIGN CLAIMS IN DOUBT RE MEDICARE

EXCERPT: The selection of Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to become Health and Human Services secretary is testing President-elect Donald Trump....

Friday, December 9, 2016

FOOD ON FOOT - HOMELESS JOBS and HOUSING

NEED a JOB and HOMELESS?  JUST UNEMPLOYED and AFRAID OF BECOMMING HOMELESS?


Work for Food Program accepts ready to work individuals who will receive an opportunity to earn a FULL TIME JOB, a fully furnished and permanent apartment, a monthly bus pass, food cards, free ID voucher, free meals, gently used clothing, and rewards based on hard work.


APPLICATIONS SUNDAYS ONLY at
1625 North Schrader Blvd.  Hollywood  (north of Selma, east of Highland Avenue.)
in the parking lot of the Gay and Lesbian Center  (You do not need to be gay or lesbian)


NEW PARTICIPANT SCREENING 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM (be in the gate before 11:30 AM).


Let us hear from you after you go through the screening!


https://www.foodonfoot.org/

Thursday, December 8, 2016

HOLLYWOOD METHODIST CHURCH and TEMPLE ISRAEL OF HOLLYWOOD - CHRISTMAS DINNER - DEC 25th 1 PM to 5 PM

HOLLYWOOD METHODIST CHURCH and TEMPLE ISRAEL OF HOLLYWOOD - CHRISTMAS DINNER  Corner of Highland and Franklin, Hollywood, California will have a FREE CHRISTMAS TURKEY DINNER that includes a visit from Santa with toys for the children and personal care item give away for the adults.


EVERYONE IS INVITED.  STARTS AT ONE PM and ENDS at FIVE PM.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

CATERINA's CLUB HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SOME JOB TRAINING and GETTING MOTEL FAMILIES INTO HOUSING

Bruno Serato named his charity CATARINA's CLUB after his mom who suggested he feed the kids.  He's been doing so for several years.  We first linked to this organization in the fall of 2012.  We were able to listen to some of the KFI Marathon, and were happy to hear that Bruno's Charity has expanded.  Every night his volunteers cook up pasta and sauce for about 1,500 kids who live in motels.  His charity has expanded to giving some of the kids the opportunity to have some one the job training in the restaurant business.  Most of all, he has helped over 150 families get into apartments instead of living in the motels.


THE CHARITY GOT TONS OF PASTA AND SAUCE BUT IS STILL TRYING TO MEET IT'S HIGHER FINANCIAL GOALS FOR THE COMING YEAR.


CATERINA'S CLUB ORG


So if you're a motel kid, you might want to take Bruno up on what he's offering.


CHECK OUT HIS SITE TO FIND OUT IF YOU'RE IN HIS RANGE.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

M.E.N.D. STILL GOING STRONG - FOOD BANK, CLOTHING, SHOWERS, REFERRALS

 We first posted on M.E.N.D. in 2011. We recently gave several newly homeless people we met the recommendation to go to Meeting Each Need with Dignity - M.E.N.D.  for showers, clothes, food, and more.  Operating without any government funds, we still think this is one of the best local resources for homeless people.  The other day we met a fellow from the South who has been out here homeless for two years.  He just got his free government cell phone and is looking for work in construction but needs eyeglasses.  We told him to go to M.E.N.D. to get new glasses.



To get there from the North Hollywood Red Line Subway Terminal area, take the 224 bus north,  from Burbank Olive area, take the 794 bus north.  Stay on the bus and watch for the small airport to the right, and then Pierce Street and the huge sign to the right that says. M.E.N.D.


http://mendpoverty.org

Monday, December 5, 2016

WHY BOB HOPE's ESTATE IS HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS

Though it was on the market for a long time and the asking price was slashed to 13 million, Bob and Dolores Hope's Palm Spring house has been sold and the money is going to homeless charity.


DAILY NEWS - DENNIS MCCARTHY - BOB HOPE'S HOUSE SALE AND THE HOMELESS


EXCERPT:
They could have left the family home worth millions to their children or the Catholic church, but Bob and Dolores Hope didn’t.


They left it to the homeless and the veterans of Los Angeles County to help shelter and feed struggling families at the bottom of the economic ladder - a million miles from where the Hopes lived at the top.


They didn’t trust trickle-down economics. There were too many potential hands between their money and where they wanted it to go, so they began a charitable foundation aimed right at the heart of poverty in this city.


Without any fanfare or press releases, the Hopes quietly took on the fight against hopelessness.
The money from their Palm Springs home, which recently sold for $13 million, was placed in the foundation, as will be the family Toluca Lake home now on the market for $22 million.


BOB and DOLORES HOPE FOUNDATION

Saturday, December 3, 2016

DOWNTOWN WOMEN'S CENTER - HOW TO APPLY FOR HOUSING, HEALTH SERVICES, FIND A JOB

DOWNTOWN LA - WOMENS CENTER  link here and find out....

How can I apply for housing?    

  • When do you serve meals?
  • What other services do you provide?
  • Is this a shelter/where can I go if I need a shelter?
  • How do I get case management at DWC?
  • How do I access health clinic services?
  • Can you assist me with finding a job?
  • What is a Day Center Orientation, and am I required to attend one    
  • How do I get bus tokens/Rider Relief?