COMMENT GUIDELINES AND EDITORIAL PRIORITIES

WHEN WE POST ABOUT A SHELTER, HOMELESS RESOURCE, or OTHER AGENCY, GOVERNMENTAL OR PRIVATE, WHICH CLAIMS TO HELP THE POOR AND THE HOMELESS, IT IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION.  WE TRY TO RESEARCH AROUND THE SUBJECT AND BE INCLUSIVE.  WE ARE OPEN TO YOUR COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ANY SUCH SERVICE ORGANIZATION or NON-PROFIT!


UPDATE APRIL 2017 - WE ARE STILL CHECKING IN and READING COMMENTS THOUGH WE ARE ON VACATION. 


COMMENT GUIDELINES AND EDITORIAL PRIORITIES is an ongoing list.

Though we are interested in a wide variety of opinions, we do read every comment before publishing it.

We've received some "COMMENT SPAM' in which someone gives a generic compliment and wants to link.  When we go to that link they are advertising or selling something.  We will not publish COMMENT SPAM.

We are especially interested in testimonials about the non-profits that we link to as they advertise themselves to be in the business of busting poverty or providing supportive services to the homeless. We are especially interested if you are dealing with that non-profit or governmental agency NOW or within the last 2 years.  However, we know how scared people are of loosing their shelter space or their opportunity for housing or being retaliated against for complaining about management to us, to a governmental agency, etc.

So what do we do?

If we receive many comments, in person or through the Comments function or by other means, of the same complaint about a shelter or other organization, we are likely to believe there is a truth to what's being said and that's going to effect our own editorial.  (In one case we heard the same complaint from at least six homeless about a certain non-profit and we felt we had to do some ranting ourselves.)

We think there is a difference between a homeless person in need of services and a paid professional at a shelter or other supportive services link. 

We expect more of paid professionals.

We want  homeless service business people to do what they say they do.  ***

We think that if a homeless person, for instance, makes a YouTube video as a personal testimonial about their experience with management at a shelter, that is different than say,  a non-profit posting a YouTube video with a "star client" to promote itself.

We also think it's better to give your own testimonial rather than  post against the previous poster. 

Over the last few months we've denied publication to a couple comments that were pointedly against one individual or another, who was named, and by another individual who wanted to remain unnamed.  How could we let that fly when we don't know the people involved at all?

We simply can't risk that personal vendettas will be played out on the Internet through EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS Google Blogger, which is what it seemed like.

If you see a magazine or news article on the net about a ONCE HOMELESS NOW FAMOUS PERSON (or once famous now homeless person) we want to know about it, but we can't publish comments that out celebrities that you say were in rehab with you.  Remember - rehab and many shelters do expect confidentiality for their inmates.

Our intention is to help homeless people and to uphold your humanity and your rights.  We try to  keep you informed by providing links to supportive services, news articles, homeless bloggers, and other options.  We are clearly on the side of the homeless.  The experiences of other homeless people are important in that quest!

If you would like to guest blog or provide a more detailed testimonial about your personal experience for our consideration, if you feel you represent a number of people with the same issue, leave an e-mail address and add the words DO NOT PUBLISH on your Comment to us so we can communicate back and forth by e-mail about it. THANKS!

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OUR EDITORIAL PRIORITIES

1) People who were or are homeless who are now giving back to the community.
Examples : Mary Hayes who crochets bed mats for homeless.  Angel Hanz who supports homeless and their pets.

2) Grass roots, community based organizations that are self supporting or work purely on volunteerism, grants, donations but who do not take government funds.
Examples: M.E.N.D. , The Gleaners, Shoe Crew, ...

3) Businesses that hire the homeless.
Examples : Homeless News Papers.

4) *** Shelters and non profits that do what they say they do, fairly, and following the laws of our country, The United States of America.  We prioritize an individual or individuals who are speaking from their own experience rather than as spokespersons selected by that organization, and we prioritize individual activists over PR.