A COLD WEATHER HOLIDAY MESSAGE FOR OUR READERS

As every homeless person knows Thanksgiving and Christmas guarantee meals. But with all the closures of libraries and other places where, frankly, we hang out to have a roof over our head, heat, and bathrooms, the holidays can also mean days of being uncomfortable, hungry, and sick.

Those of you who have never been homeless might like to think that it's like an extended holiday trip to live in a RV or VA or your car, like going camping. The difference is, there is no home to go home to. A break down. Finding parking spaces - the police identifying you as homeless and harassing you to move on.  The metal cold and damp.

Those of you who have never been homeless probably thank your lucky stars - or God - and those of you with empathy probably think "There but for the grace of God go I." Others of you avoid us. Avoid looking at us, talking to us, thinking about us. You deny that loosing everything - or a whole lot - will ever happen to you.

Think of all those people who lost their homes in Paradise, California fires. Thousands of buildings went down. Those people woke up the morning of the fires never imagining that they would loose everything - and some lost their lives. Some will never be found. As we hear about how thousands of former residents of the town are now far flung in other California cities, we wonder how they got there, if relatives took them in, and if they will ever be able to own a home again.

Blessings to those who have opened their homes and hearts to those in need.

Natural disasters everyone understands as a crisis. It is personal crisis that lands many into homelessness. Health issues and expenses. Unaffordable rent. Divorce. Death of a partner. A car accident. The bite of a black widow spider. One paycheck away from homelessness because the rent is too high to actually save for a rainy day. Job loss. The death of a parent or caregiver. Out of foster care.

Yes, some homeless are mentally ill and therefore cannot cope with life and their circumstances. Homelessness can also make a person mentally ill. It's a stressful existence.

And so here we are the holidays. Watching news about the immigrant caravans coming to the United States.

WE WONDER. WHY NOT HOMELESS PEOPLE - AMERICANS - FIRST and then legal immigrants?

Yes we have heart. We do. It's just that our very lives are so much about finances - affordability - and so we think maybe the United States cannot afford to support the people in these caravans if it cannot afford to support us.

Senior Citizens who worked most of their lives who can't get into senior buildings with long wait lists.
The lady who lost a leg to diabetes and can't give up her dog.
The man whose car was totaled by an uninsured motorist.
The woman who got run over.
The molested girl who ran away to Hollywood.

However, what Tulsa Oklahoma just did - inviting people to apply to live there - 25 people to be given $10,000 each - providing they are self employed or telacommute - we think is the wave of the future. Put it this way. If there are affordable living cities willing to take homeless people - well - provide the transportation and the apartments. Some of us - more than you may realize - are willing to work at something. There may be physical limitations to consider. But most of us would rather earn than be totally dependent on government funds.

Something to think about, anyway.

c 2018 Expose Homelessness BlogSpot.

A HELLO TO EVERYONE READING EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS

Yes, we are still around - and it's nice to know that over a thousand hits registered on our blog, even though we have stepped away from it for a while.  As the cold season is upon us, we know that everyone out there who is in their cars and street homeless (which is easily 2/3rds of homeless) are gearing up for the cold and damp. 

Our friend who has been working while camped out is just one of many who needs a free blanket.
So those of you who have spares donate!

HOMELESSNESS IN THE NEWS - SO IS SKYROCKETING RENT - PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER

Hello Friends!
We've been hearing the news, just like you, about funds going to the remedy for homelessness.  Sometimes we even OVERHEAR this talk all around us.  What it comes down to is that rents are so high people can't move like they used to in Southern California.  Building tear downs put people on the street.  PEOPLE LOOSE THEIR SECTION 8 VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY STILL CAN'T FIND AN AFFORDABLE PLACE before time runs out.  The millions in homeless related services and the construction of new buildings sounds impressive, until you realize that the numbers of people waiting for these is so high, well, it was once said that if tomorrow housing was provided for the HOMELESS, an entire new town would have to be built.

It's is NO LONGER TRUE that homeless people are "all" mentally ill, or disabled, or on drugs, or addicts, or criminals, or just out of prison.  IT IS TRUE THAT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR DISABILITY, homeless in shelters are pressured to "go mental." when their other medical issues won't do it.

So called "Advocacy," lawyers seem to be chasing ambulances around homeless shelters and services. Programs see applying for and getting SSI as the key to income and housing.  Don't be fooled by those who say it is only a matter of months.  It can take years and many tries.

THE PROFESSION OF PSYCHOLOGY is supposed to be about helping you get well, not condemning you to the mental illness stigma.  So many of those working for county mental health and other facilities are pressured by shelters.  If  you have a client and  you really care and they come to you and say that they are going to be thrown out onto the street if they are not "compliant" with a shelter director's command that they "go mental," what does this "professional" do?

As a matter of HEALTH, no one should be homeless.  So what do the nurse practitioners and doctors in the system do when someone is or is going to become street homeless?  Help them find a job?

We just want all of you HOMELESS to know that WE KNOW, WE CARE.  We hope this blog can help  you!  We know there is a lot to sort through.

TRYING TO SURVIVE?

JUST WANTED OUR READERS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL IN SURVIVAL MODE but doing well enough overall.  We're still checking in.  Still hoping that this blog is helpful to some of you.  Though the posts are archived or older, we believe most of the informational links are still valid.  If you find a bad link let us know (comments are open!)

THANKS FOR CHECKINGIN WITH US!

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH - HARLEM BOYS CHOIR

A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS and HOMELESS FRIENDS

We were checking in today, to see what's happening with our blog as we continue to take a vacation from posting.  From the very beginning of this COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOG we have reached out for volunteers.  Homeless people are often struggling, taking things not one day at a time, but an hour at a time.  Constantly having to move also makes it difficult to make a commitment to working with us on this blog.  We know.  We thought that our volunteers should be or once have been homeless themselves.
One way people have given of themselves is through commentaries.  We get a lot that we don't post, but we do get valuable information about places and personalities in the nonprofits that say they will help the homeless.  Sadly, as the cost of living becomes more and more impossible for people to bear in Los Angeles County, our focus on this blog, we see more and more people over 50 homeless.  We see senior citizens who are living in RV's out of necessity, though some of these RV's are new.
Los Angeles made sleeping in vehicles in residential areas not legal earlier this year, and designated that parking has to be along "commercial zones."  These commercial zones have line ups of RV's and other vehicles every day and night. Where are the other 50,000 hiding?
In a city that needs HALF A MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS YESTERDAY, you might wonder why there isn't a mass exodus out.  Isn't that what homeowners, snobby renters, police, city councils, and other assorted politicians want? 
We think they do.
But to where?
Moving homeless from place to place and city to city and state to state doesn't work.  Sure, Southern California has better weather.  Or does it?  As we face heat waves and very unhealthful air, we do wonder.

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. 


***************************************

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

CAROLE KING - SO FAR AWAY

MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. on FRIENDS

"In the end, we will remember NOT THE WORDS OF OUR ENEMIES but the SILENCE of our friends."

BUTTERFLY TREE

THE CLEARING - DAVID CROSBY and JAMES RAYMOND

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."

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.

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

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.
*****
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. 

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.

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.

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....

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/

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.

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.

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

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

SPLASHY BUTTERFLIES #6

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?