ONCE HOMELESS NOW HEROINE KAREN TRILEVSKY

May 17 2010 PEOPLE magazine had a one page article on Karen Trilevsky, a once homeless but now heroine, woman, who is responsible for putting 67 people through college.

We're linking to her business here that has a copy of the article by Kristen Harmel.

It says that at 17 Karen fled her dysfunctional home to Denver, and in her 30's was working in restaurants in San Francisco. With $5000 she decided to start a cookie and scones baking company which - well - bloomed. But the $5000 ran out and Karen slept for a year on flour sacks in the storage room of a restaurant. Persistence paid off and now FullBloom employees 340 people with $47 in annual sales... With 2 million Karen began her scholarships.

This is very inspirational for us.

SALVATION ARMY MISSING PERSONS

The Salvation army boasts the worlds largest missing persons bureau. There are some restrictions. The person must be lost at least 6 months. They do not get involved when it's a legal issue or when it's a birth parent or adopted child trying to find each other.

This is your chance to find or be found!

LAHSA LOS ANGELES HOUSING SERVICES AUTHORITY LINK HERE

"The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is a Joint Powers Authority established in 1993 as an independent agency by the County and the City of Los Angeles. LAHSA is the lead agency in the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, and coordinates and manages over $70 million dollars annually in Federal, State, County and City funds for programs providing shelter, housing and services to homeless persons in Los Angeles City and County. "

NEIL YOUNG LONG MAY YOU RUN

HOMELESS WOMEN MAKE OVER at PATH

Does having a makeover improve your self esteem?

We think so - if you can continue to stay clean, dress well in clothes that fit and are appropriate for say, job hunting (Where to hang the clothes? Where to iron them or have them dry cleaned?) and can afford cosmetics and hair cuts and color. Otherwise the makeover lasts a few days.

Link here to news article on PATH and makeovers by a generous stylist.

BURBANK CALIFORNIA TURNS RV DWELLERS INTO GYPSIES

From S.

"In June 2010 the City of Burbank enacted an ordinance restricting where and how long these vehicles may be parked on City Streets. Municipal Code Section 6-1-1010.1 "LARGE NON-COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PARKING," is complicated. YOU MAY NOT PARK AT ALL WITHIN 80 (EIGHTY) FEET OF ANY INTERSECTION, or on any right of way, UNLESS YOU HAVE A PERMIT...

OBVIOUSLY Burbank California, home of DISNEY and many other rich entertainment companies does not want families who must live in these vehicles parking on their streets paved in gold.

TO GET A PERMIT you will need to call 818 238-3915 to "discuss your situation in more detail."

CITY OF BURBANK DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
150 North Third Street
Burbank, California 91510
818 238-3915

SACRAMENTO 10 YEAR PLAN - SALVATION ARMY

Here's the link to the Sacramento Steps Forward 10 year plan to end homelessness in California's governmental capital.
Benefits of Homeless Connect:

Connects homeless individuals to important services all in one place, reducing frustration and increasing awareness about possible sources of assistance

Inspires community members to help end homelessness

Businesses, faith‐based groups, and colleges have the opportunity to make personal connections with people in need

Helps debunk common myths and stereotypes about people who are homeless

MOTEL KIDS OF ORANGE COUNTY

The New York Daily News article on Alexandra Pelossi's documentary HOMELESS KIDS OF ORANGE COUNTY link here.

"There she spent a summer with kids living in motels within walking distance of Disneyland.

"I was surprised and how unapologetic and sincere they were," she says.

"They weren't bitter; they weren't unhappy."

Yet, the stuff that comes out of the mouths of the kids is likely to make viewers feel both emotions, and more. Kids talk about having lice, about bedbugs and violence. They go to a special one-room school for kids like them. At one point, Pelosi asks the kids what their future holds.

The answers are heartbreaking."

Richard Huff DAILY NEWS TV EDITOR

WHY I CHOSE STREET OVER SHELTER

SLUM JACK says on END HOMELESSNESS BLOG...

Here are my reasons for choosing to remain "outdoors" rather than go to the shelters (which I initially tried):

1. Shelters usually require that you enter early in the eve and then remain there until early the next morn when you must leave. This can totally waste HOURs of otherwise possibly productive time, just sitting around in unpleasant to worse circumstances -- and a time when EVERY resource, including time, must be marshalled.

2. The shelters I've been to are designed to try to keep alcoholics, drug addicts and criminals from being able to do those things. I don't do those things, so the preventative measures simply needlessly and oppressively impose upon my own adult freedoms. Like going around the corner for a coffee in a cafe and looking for work or some other way to earn money using the wifi.

3. Literally "imprisonment" with some of the worst people. This is a lousy way to spend evenings and is COUNTERproductive. Or worse.

4. Property Impracticalities - I have a bicycle with a trailer attached. This is a GOOD solution to having to constantly carry around one's belongings. It's a LOT more useful, and less "unattractive" than the stereotypical shopping cart, etc. However, shelters typically do NOT offer any kind of secure options for one's belongings, usually severely limiting how much one can even carry in. This forces people to a ridiculous minimum of belongings... one of the factors that actually contributes to perpetuating a person's homeless predicament.

Also, you DON'T want other people at shelters to see what you DO own and have. There are many thieves that will then know what you're carrying around with you, many of whom you WILL run across later... at night, alone, etc.

5. The "solution" IS the "problem" - Shelters are often euphemized as "emergency shelter"... but the emergency is that you have nowhere else to just be and operate, so being AT a "shelter" is the emergency. And being in that predicament, even with the "help" of merely having a lousy place to sleep indoors, a disgusting bathroom and a gesture of a "meal" - AT BEST - just perpetuates your true problem.

While "outdoors" you can spend up until midnight or so at comfortable cafe's, with options to interact with intelligent and, possibly, helpful people. You can work on things that may actually afford a chance to get out of the jam. Use wifi. Etc. The "price" is that of some modest purchases, but then also having to find a place to sleep outdoors. This is becoming harder and harder to do, as cities virtually outlaw being homeless like that.

ARE YOU TREATING FOR CANCER WHILE LIVING IN A VEHICLE ?

Sadly, we know several people who are treating for CANCER or AIDS while living in a vehicle.