Some of you ARE!
Have you ever become ill from eating very salty, preserved meats from a can or from a package because you do not have any way to COOK?
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA HOMELESS BLOG ADDED TO OUR LIST
Sacramento California has a Homeless Blog... just added to our list. This is the state of California's Capitol and we hear there are a lot of section 8 apartments available there, if you can get a voucher.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
UNEXPECTED READERSHIP in UNITED ARAB EMARATES and SAUDI ARABIA
This past 30 days our stats showed that we have at least one reader in the United Arab Emirates and at least one reader in Saudi Arabia. We can't afford sophisticated stat compilers that tell us more, so we don't know if the 30 hits we got from those locations are one person checking in with us a lot or many.
As Americans we don't know what to think. Is this just curiosity? Is this person(s) male or female? Do they sneak to read us? Do they have respect for us? Are we flying in their face?
One of us said "They are probably happy that gas prices are driving more of us into unemployment or having to get rid of cars."
Someone else said, "I hope it's a sheik with lots of money who can help us."
Also being so American, we hope that these persons will leave a comment for us. There is a translator now.
As Americans we don't know what to think. Is this just curiosity? Is this person(s) male or female? Do they sneak to read us? Do they have respect for us? Are we flying in their face?
One of us said "They are probably happy that gas prices are driving more of us into unemployment or having to get rid of cars."
Someone else said, "I hope it's a sheik with lots of money who can help us."
Also being so American, we hope that these persons will leave a comment for us. There is a translator now.
Monday, February 21, 2011
CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT MEALS PROGRAM FOR EBT HOLDERS (FOOD STAMPS) NOW CALLED CALFRESH
OUR MOST POPULAR POST - UPDATED DECEMBER 2014
If you are HOMELESS, DISABLED, or ELDERLY, and already financially qualifying for EBT (FOOD STAMPS) SNAP which means you do not get Social Security, you may also be eligible for RESTAURANT MEALS. The Restaurant Meals Program (sometimes called the Hot Meal Program) allows you to have some of your meals on the FOOD portion of your card - that means not from your CASH BENEFIT.
(Since we've walked into some restaurants with EBT signage and learned they expected to take the money out of a CASH benefit we want to emphasize this!)
And OK LET'S PAUSE RIGHT HERE. If you are on Social Security OR if you're on EBT (FOOD STAMPS) SNAP you can STILL GO TO FOOD BANKS and FEEDS so check out our sidebar which has a good National Food Bank directory or search the innards of this blog for food banks and feeds in Los Angeles and some other parts of Southern California.
This special benefit from the State of California is for people who are unable to physically make their own meals, be it because they have housing but no refrigerator or stove like in an SRO or motel room, be it because they are homeless on the street or living in an RV without hook ups, or because their disability makes it difficult to deal with cooking. We know of someone in a Section 8 apartment who has no stove or fridge and is getting this benefit.
Although it's difficult to budget frequent restaurant meals when you have about $5 - $6 a day for all three of your meals and most of the restaurants that take EBT FOOD for payment are fast food, it can make a big difference to you if you can buy a hot coffee on a cold day, if you can actually be inside a restaurant in the warmth and socialize a little bit. We also know of people at shelters who managed to "save up" enough SNAP over many months to go out to a restaurant for a birthday in a small group.
LINK HERE TO CALIFORNIA EBT CLIENT WEBSITE (Check your status, purchases, etc.)
LINK HERE FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES - RESTAURANT MEALS PROGRAM
LINK INCLUDES A LIST OF EBT FARMERS MARKETS. We find the prices are usually out of our range, but sometimes you can find better quality eggs for not too much more than a regular grocer, and it may be worth it to spend maybe $10 a month on fresher or organic fruits and veggies. Please go to PAGES where you will also see a page called TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DIET, where we will remind you to drink enough plain WATER every day as part of your health plan.
*****************************************************************************
LINK HERE for a list of LA County Restaurants taking EBT for hot meals
LADPSS SOCIAL SERVICES - RESTAURANTS TAKING EBT
If you are an independent restaurant owner reading this, you can set up EBT with the state of California, but again, we're talking the FOOD portion not a CASH BENEFIT portion to be charged for the food. We want to eat healthy, freshly cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner, for a reasonable price.
ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA LINKS are at the PAGE! (See the top of our blog!)
If you are from any other place in the Nation of the United States of America, check to see if you are eligible through your state and county by going to their Social Services sites.
*******************************************************************************
HERE IS NEW OPPORTUNITY TO DOUBLE YOUR MONEY when shopping for produce at participating FARMERS MARKETS. It's called MARKET MATCH and WIC and EBT/CalFresh users can get $20 work of produce for $10.
Search for a market here http://ecologycenter.org/fmfinder/
Please contact us through Comments if you know of any independent restaurants who take SNAP - we mean the FOOD PORTION not the CASH PORTION that do not yet appear on the lists!
If you are HOMELESS, DISABLED, or ELDERLY, and already financially qualifying for EBT (FOOD STAMPS) SNAP which means you do not get Social Security, you may also be eligible for RESTAURANT MEALS. The Restaurant Meals Program (sometimes called the Hot Meal Program) allows you to have some of your meals on the FOOD portion of your card - that means not from your CASH BENEFIT.
(Since we've walked into some restaurants with EBT signage and learned they expected to take the money out of a CASH benefit we want to emphasize this!)
And OK LET'S PAUSE RIGHT HERE. If you are on Social Security OR if you're on EBT (FOOD STAMPS) SNAP you can STILL GO TO FOOD BANKS and FEEDS so check out our sidebar which has a good National Food Bank directory or search the innards of this blog for food banks and feeds in Los Angeles and some other parts of Southern California.
This special benefit from the State of California is for people who are unable to physically make their own meals, be it because they have housing but no refrigerator or stove like in an SRO or motel room, be it because they are homeless on the street or living in an RV without hook ups, or because their disability makes it difficult to deal with cooking. We know of someone in a Section 8 apartment who has no stove or fridge and is getting this benefit.
Although it's difficult to budget frequent restaurant meals when you have about $5 - $6 a day for all three of your meals and most of the restaurants that take EBT FOOD for payment are fast food, it can make a big difference to you if you can buy a hot coffee on a cold day, if you can actually be inside a restaurant in the warmth and socialize a little bit. We also know of people at shelters who managed to "save up" enough SNAP over many months to go out to a restaurant for a birthday in a small group.
LINK HERE TO CALIFORNIA EBT CLIENT WEBSITE (Check your status, purchases, etc.)
LINK HERE FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES - RESTAURANT MEALS PROGRAM
LINK INCLUDES A LIST OF EBT FARMERS MARKETS. We find the prices are usually out of our range, but sometimes you can find better quality eggs for not too much more than a regular grocer, and it may be worth it to spend maybe $10 a month on fresher or organic fruits and veggies. Please go to PAGES where you will also see a page called TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DIET, where we will remind you to drink enough plain WATER every day as part of your health plan.
*****************************************************************************
LADPSS SOCIAL SERVICES - RESTAURANTS TAKING EBT
If you are an independent restaurant owner reading this, you can set up EBT with the state of California, but again, we're talking the FOOD portion not a CASH BENEFIT portion to be charged for the food. We want to eat healthy, freshly cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner, for a reasonable price.
ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA LINKS are at the PAGE! (See the top of our blog!)
If you are from any other place in the Nation of the United States of America, check to see if you are eligible through your state and county by going to their Social Services sites.
*******************************************************************************
HERE IS NEW OPPORTUNITY TO DOUBLE YOUR MONEY when shopping for produce at participating FARMERS MARKETS. It's called MARKET MATCH and WIC and EBT/CalFresh users can get $20 work of produce for $10.
Search for a market here http://ecologycenter.org/fmfinder/
Sunday, February 20, 2011
FEEDING AMERICA and HOT POCKETS
Feeding America is supposed to be the LARGEST "solve the hunger problem in America" organization.
"With an astounding one in six Americans not knowing where their next meal may come from, HOT POCKETS® and LEAN POCKETS® brands have teamed up with FEEDING AMERICA®, the nation’s leading hunger-relief charity, in an effort to engage the country in providing relief to those in need."
M found out about this because he is buying HOT POCKETS, letting them thaw out, and eating them without cooking again. So far, so good.
"With an astounding one in six Americans not knowing where their next meal may come from, HOT POCKETS® and LEAN POCKETS® brands have teamed up with FEEDING AMERICA®, the nation’s leading hunger-relief charity, in an effort to engage the country in providing relief to those in need."
M found out about this because he is buying HOT POCKETS, letting them thaw out, and eating them without cooking again. So far, so good.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT - CHILD PROSTITUTION!
"Children of the Night is dedicated.... to assisting children between the ages of 11 and 17 who are forced to prostitute on the streets for food to eat and a place to sleep. Since 1979 we have rescued girls and boys from prostitution and the domination of vicious pimps. And we provide all programs with the support of private donations.
We are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children each year. Our commitment to rescuing these children from the ravages of prostitution is shared with a small but committed group of detectives, FBI agents, and prosecutors in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Ana, Anaheim, San Diego, other areas of California, Las Vegas, Portland, Billings, Montana; Seattle, Washington; Miami, New York, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Phoenix, Hawaii and Washington D.C. — all stops on the child prostitution circuit."
Child prostitutes require specialized care for effective intervention. Most of the children victimized by prostitution were first victimized by a parent or early caregiver. Most have been tortured by treacherous pimps, and many testify in lengthy court proceedings against the pimps who have forced them to work as prostitutes."
***
UPDATE Summer 2014
Please note that we've added a SEX SLAVERY/TRAFFICKING list on our sidebar that includes other options for reporting sex slavery/trafficking or getting help! If you are being prostituted and you are reading this we know that you may have difficulty getting away. We suggest though that you do not have to go directly to the police for help. We are suggesting to you that you can go up to a librarian in a library and ask them to call the police for you - slip them a note if you have to - and that it's worth it to call 911 and get an ambulance to take you to a hospital - any way at all that you can get away from the persons trafficking you.
We are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children each year. Our commitment to rescuing these children from the ravages of prostitution is shared with a small but committed group of detectives, FBI agents, and prosecutors in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Ana, Anaheim, San Diego, other areas of California, Las Vegas, Portland, Billings, Montana; Seattle, Washington; Miami, New York, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Phoenix, Hawaii and Washington D.C. — all stops on the child prostitution circuit."
Child prostitutes require specialized care for effective intervention. Most of the children victimized by prostitution were first victimized by a parent or early caregiver. Most have been tortured by treacherous pimps, and many testify in lengthy court proceedings against the pimps who have forced them to work as prostitutes."
***
UPDATE Summer 2014
Please note that we've added a SEX SLAVERY/TRAFFICKING list on our sidebar that includes other options for reporting sex slavery/trafficking or getting help! If you are being prostituted and you are reading this we know that you may have difficulty getting away. We suggest though that you do not have to go directly to the police for help. We are suggesting to you that you can go up to a librarian in a library and ask them to call the police for you - slip them a note if you have to - and that it's worth it to call 911 and get an ambulance to take you to a hospital - any way at all that you can get away from the persons trafficking you.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
DID YOU RUN AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE OF MOLESTATION OR BEATING?
Did you become homeless because you ran away from home, unable to take being molested or beaten? How long have you been on the street?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
AMPLE HARVEST FIND A PANTRY - NEW LINK
If you need to eat go to the DIRECTORY.... If you want to contribute your extra home garden produce go to http://www.ampleharvest.org/index.php
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
NEW ORLEANS NEWS : FED AWARDS 26.2 MILLION TO HOMELESS PROGRAMS
The federal government has awarded $26.2 million for 153 programs to assist the homeless in Louisiana.The money is coming from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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