HOMELESS " VAN NUYS VIOLET" SET ON FIRE - WE'RE WAITING FOR NEWS ON HER CONDITION

FLOWERS CANDLES TO HONOR HOMELESS WOMAN SET ON FIRE AT VAN NUYS BUS BENCH - LA TIMES

..The homeless woman was a familiar presence at the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way. Employees at the nearby businesses knew her habits, if not her name.


She was a small woman with a pale, creased face -– probably in her 70s or 80s, but no one really knew. Every morning, she bought a pack of Grand Prix cigarettes with exact change at the United Oil gas station, said cashier Mauricio Gutierrez. Every night, she curled up on a bus bench outside the 24-hour Walgreens and tried to sink into sleep.

The bench has three seats, some graffiti, a gold-and-turquoise advertisement for a maker of eyeglasses. It could not have been comfortable.

That's where police found the woman early Thursday, after a man doused her with a flammable liquid and set her ablaze. She was whisked to a hospital, where she remains in critical condition.."


SHERMAN WAY AND VAN NUYS BOULEVARD IS THE LOCATION...  We've been following this story, hoping for news on her condition.  The suspect has been arrested.  Setting homeless who are sleeping on fire has become a sport.  This happened to a homeless man in San Diego recently too.

EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS IS A COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOG

EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS IS A COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOG!

WE DO NOT CHARGE MONEY AND WE DO NOT MAKE MONEY.
We do not anticipate charging or making money any time soon.
We do not pay for any Blog related services. 

GOOGLE BLOGGER IS FREE FROM GOOGLE as are all Google products we use.  Over the last year we have, according to Google Stats, enjoyed an average of 3000 hits a month.  We do not pay for any product or service to get these hits.  Interest in our blog is because of  the subject matter and thanks to the talent and energy put into it.

WE WANT TO THANK GOOGLE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

If you are or were homeless and would like to volunteer to help us make phone calls about food banks and shelters, please leave your email address on a comment with the words DO NOT POST.  We will contact you privately!

*****

UPDATE OCTOBER 2013

Everything above remains true.  The only thing that's different is that we see more like 4000 to 5500 hits a month.  We'll continue to do this blog as long as we can!  We've put up some new PAGES on the sidebar with topics such as QUESTIONS TO ASK A SHELTER, or WHAT MAKES A GOOD CASE MANAGER!

ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD PAINTBALLING HOMELESS TARGET

FOX NEWS REPORT from October 16th of 2012

Recruiters for the National Guard hunted homeless people with paintball guns and committed a litany of ethical and criminal violations including sexual abuse, forgery, embezzlement and assault, The Arizona Republic charged after a five-month investigation.

AN INFINATE VARIETY OF TRANSIENT PEOPLE - BUTTERFLIES - OUR PERFECT SYMBOL

EACH OF US UNIQUE AND IN TRANSITION - COLORING PAGE FOR OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN (23)

We're reading that maybe one in 50 children in the United States is Homeless.  If you are a Homeless Child, we want to encourage you to think of yourself as someone who is growing and changing, someone who will some day make a positive contribution to this world we live in just by being you.  We hope you will move into a happier life soon, but we also hope you will never forget your time as a Homeless Person as the experience may give you a greater understanding of this universe we live in and build your character so that you can be a simply amazing adult!

ARE YOU DIABETIC AND GOING WITHOUT MEDICATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO REFRIGERATION?

Homeless people often have very unhealthy diets. Besides not always being able to buy food, they often cannot cook food unless their in a park that allows picnicking and don't have refrigeration unless they keep ice in a cooler in their vehicle. That can get expensive. If you're on foot, forget it!

If this is you, we are wondering if there are any free or low cost clinics near you that would let you keep your insulin in their refrigerator (without making daily appointments that would be billed out to the state, county, federal government) and where you can give yourself shots.

(One homeless man we met died within 6 months of loosing his house because of diabetis and heart failure.)

NEIL DIAMOND - I AM I SAID

NEW YORK'S RESPONSE TO RECORD DEMAND FOR HOMELESS SHELTERS

New York Acts Quickly Amid Sharp Rise in Homelessness AARON EDWARDS's article from New York Times link here!

"...The administration is not legally obligated to get the approval of community boards before opening shelters, but its policy requires it to tell them of its plans ahead of time.


Of the nine new shelters, the city opened three, including the two in Manhattan, under its emergency authority, giving little notice before proceeding. Several of the other shelters were opened under normal practices but officials had moved quickly. The city told a community board in the Bronx this week that a 50-unit homeless shelter would open within days.

By law, the city is obligated to supply shelter to people who have nowhere else to go, though there are limits to how long they can stay in certain shelters... "

SHOULD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COUNTIES FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE?

VAN MORRISON - SOMETIMES WE CRY

PROJECT T.O.U.C.H. - TEMECULA - RIVERSIDE COUNTY - LIST OF SHELTERS

UPDATE NOV 2014 :  Over 700 hits on this post since we first put it up - and 347 hits in the last 12 months -  that means there is NEED!

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2013  the cold weather shelter ended - but by giving some residents tents and sleeping bags - THAT IS CAMPING THAT IS NOT HOUSING

PROJECT TOUCH ON LINE


PROJECT T O U C H SEEKING SHELTER FOR RIVERSIDE HOMELESS article by Ashley Ludwig of Southwest Riverside News network.

"Project T.O.U.C.H. (Together Our Unity Conquers Homelessness) was founded at a time when all was well with the economy after Anne Unmacht had an epiphany.

“In 2003, I was still selling real estate when I was pulled by the needs of the homeless,” Unmacht said.

“There is a national initiative to end homelessness and we hope to soon have a permanent home for Temecula’s homeless shelter,” Unmacht said. “Homelessness is not neat and tidy, but full of complex and complicated issues. We work closely with the local law enforcement and don’t enable our clients who commit crimes.”

OK HERE'S THE LINK and reading it over, you are going to have to check in with the police before you're taken in to their program. Questions is, is this list of shelters on their site run by them or not?  PROJECT TOUCH MAIN PAGE

Path of Life Family Shelter

2530 3rd Street
Riverside, Ca.
951-275-8755 (open from 4pm to 8am)

Path of Life- Year round Emergency Homeless Shelter
2840 Hulen Place
Riverside, Ca.
951-683-4101 (open from 5:30pm to 8am)

United Community Outreach-Lakeland Ranch

One year program for men run by Pastor Jim Trimmer
951-232-1651 (Call 24 hours a day)

Circle of Hope

A shelter for women and children
420 Harrison
Corona, Ca.
951-278-2215 (open 4:30pm until full)

Hacienda House
1 year program for men
951-657-3041 (8:30am to 5:00pm M-F)

The Restart Center
Shelter for Men, Women and families - 90 day maximum stay
200 E. Menlo
Hemet, Ca.
951-766-7476 (Shelter intake 10am to 2pm M-F

PLEASE GO TO OUR SIDEBAR PAGES AND READ "QUESTIONS TO ASK A SHELTER"

MICHAEL BUCHER - YOU'RE NOT ALONE

Michael is Chairman and Co-founder of The You Are Not Alone Network (YANAN) a Native American teen suicide prevention website.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE web site

SAN BERNADINO HOMELESSNESS - BOBBI ALBANO TESTIFIES

SAN BERNADINO HOMELESS TESTIMONIAL full article by Bobbi Albano,

By Bobbi Albano   from June 11 2003, SAN BERNADINO CALIFORNIA

"At one point in my life I was homeless. I wasn't concerned with nutrition, eye checkups, getting enough sleep or the effects of smoking. No, when I was homeless, none of those things concerned me. Since I lived in my car, I ate at drive-through fast food joints. Getting to appointments for regular dental and medical exams was not on my agenda. I smoked cigarettes, mostly to ease the tension of life on the street. I had two young children and I was mostly concerned about keeping a good attitude and making our life seem normal.

A normal life is exactly what Leanne Drieberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Inland Temporary Homes, offers homeless folks in San Bernardino and the surrounding areas. She says people often have the misconception that drugs are the main cause of homelessness in the community.

“Homelessness is caused by a lack of resources and a safety net like family and friends," Drieberg says. "If drug addiction caused homelessness, then wouldn’t we see more rock stars homeless?” ...

MICHAEL LEONI DOCUMENTARY - AMERICAN STREET KID - FILMED IN LOS ANGELES

Written and Directed by: MICHAEL LEONI  from Spare Some Change and An 11:11 Experiment comes the feature documentary, THE AMERICAN STREET KID.
8 Million kids are living on the streets of America and every day, 13 of them will die.


American Street Kid follows theater director Michael Leoni's journey onto the streets of Los Angeles and into the lives of 13 homeless kids. What begins as a weekend project to raise awareness with a Public Service Announcement to expose the hardcore reality of this American crisis, becomes a personal mission to save as many kids as he can from a life of using drugs, begging for money or selling their bodies just to survive. The film is a revealing portrait of the incredible bonds that form between Leoni and the kids, the power of love and what happens when one man gives up everything in the hope of making a difference.

Their powerful stories are heartbreaking and their unrelenting desire and determination to create a better life shines through, in this true tale of love, friendship, and the triumph of the human spirit.

GEORGE CARLIN ON HOMELESSNESS - NOT IN MY BACKYARD - SHOW AT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM

Not In My Back Yard = NIMBY   LOW COST HOUSING!

GEORGE CARLIN OFFICIAL SITE  updated December 2015   NOW A SHOW AT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM in downtown LA is dedicated to George and his comedy.

NEWARK NEW JERSEY CORY BOOKER FOODSTAMP BUDGET DIET - FOODSTAMP CHALLENGE

Kathleen O'Brien/The Star-Ledger The Star-Ledger's article on CORY BOOKERS FOOD STAMP BUDGET DIET  full article link here!

'Booker shopped at the Pathmark in Irvington because it was within walking distance of his home. (Many on food stamps have no way to get to stores beyond their neighborhood.)

Accompanying him was Elizabeth Reynoso, the city’s food policy director. She says they shopped carefully, comparing the unit prices before making choices. The mayor planned to build his meals around potatoes, but when he saw sweet potatoes were on sale — half off! — he switched to them.'

JOHN DOLAN TELLS IT LIKE IT IS - TIPS FOR NEW PAUPERS

JOHN DOLAN TIPS FOR NEW PAUPERS - FULL ARTICLE LINK HERE  originally published October 15th 2008 -  about the time the first wave of middle class homeless were starting to hit the streets in the United States.

... Car. Got one? Maybe you should sell it. Cars drain the last dollars out of you. And there’s something worse: cops can smell desperation, and they hate the poor. I didn’t use to hate cops much, except drug cops, but God, I hate them now. The real purpose of cops is to keep poor people off the roads. That’s their only real goal. On my way to an interview for a job that could have gotten us out of the gutter, a cop stopped me because my insurance was two weeks overdue—for the simple reason we didn’t have money to pay it. She gave me a $600 ticket for that, plus $120 for not having an updated address on my driver’s license. Then she called for a tow truck and told me, “So, a lesson learned here today!” as I watched my car towed away and trudged off with our terrified dog down a typical Western suburban road: four lanes of fast traffic with no sidewalks. Are you poor? The cops are your enemy now. Accept it. The car is how they’ll try to get you. Sell it if you can—which is to say, if there’s any decent public transportation—hah!—where you live...

(We think John was writing from Canada.)

TODAY HOPE OF THE VALLEY OPENS WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY STORE

What happens when someone donates to Hope of the Valley?  According to their site, the homeless are given vouchers to pick up a few items and then the rest is put up for sale.  TODAY HOPE OF THE VALLEY OPENS A SECOND STORE.  This one is in the Chatsworth and Lindley area of the west San Fernando Valley. 

HOPE OF THE VALLEY WEB SITE

They are trying to fund a new Family Services Center and Genesis House, a shelter for women and children. They will also have a Christmas Toys Give Away soon.

Also Keyes Motors will donate $1.00 for every person who becomes a fan of Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission on Facebook, up to $10,000.   http://www.facebook.com/hopeofthevalley

BUTTERFLY COLORING PAGE FOR OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN (52)

OUR PERFECT SYMBOL

FATHERLESS CHICAGO - MURDER CAPITAL - CHILDREN TURN TO CRIME

FATHERLESS CHICAGO YAHOO NEWS ARTICLE

"And today? The Chicago papers say that 85 percent of the children in those same public schools and in our former bungalows live under the poverty level. Nearly 80 percent of black children are illegitimate -- and most, fatherless. But those figures only give us the base for the really frightening things happening in the city that is being called this summer the "Murder Capital of America."

UPDATE ON OUR FRIEND WHO IS SLEEPING IN THE PARK AND GOING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

A while back we reported that a friend of ours was sleeping in the park, even in the winter and rain, but was taking a couple classes in a certificate program at a community college trying to end long term unemployment despite a college degree and some great work history by redirecting his or her career.

Our friend completed one semester with good grades but had trouble re- registering without an address the next semester and with small but important checks from a parent ending was unable to continue.

Our friend has been interviewed by outreach people from a couple programs that visited the park and it's been determined that because he is not mentally ill he isn't a priority to be taken in.

We also know of one program that has ordered homeless who were in school to quit while demanding that other homeless at the same shelter go back to school. "They just want to control."said one of those who was ordered to change their life plan or go back to the street.

 It doesn't seem that there are too many programs willing to let someone stay long enough to complete even a certificate program.

Our friend says he will keep sleeping in the park and doesn't know if he will make it to the age where he can get early social security and apply for low income housing.

One day at a time, even when you've always been clean and sober, dear friend.

CONWAY TWITTY AND SAM MOORE - RAINY NIGHT IN GEORGIA

A wonderful song that's a lot about those of us who are street homeless!

WE WERE RIVITED TO HEAR DAVID CRUZ - KTLK RADIO - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - EXPOSE THE BEATING OF KELLY THOMAS ON THANKSGIVING NIGHT

David Cruz, radio host of his own show on KTALK radio 11 50 AM chose the Thanksgiving diner hour to play portions of a heart rendering tape of the BEATING OF KELLY THOMAS and we want to honor him for doing so.

Hearing the terrible pleaing screams of Kelly as what Cruz called  "A MOB IN UNIFORM" beat and Tazered him made us so upset we were talking about the DEATH PENALTY FOR Officer Manny Romas (not sure of the spelling here) and his hoard.   But as Cruz pointed out Romas is being tried for SECOND DEGREE MURDER which is not correct since there is evidence from the officer's threats that he intended to kill.

YOU CAN CALL THE FULLERTON POLICE AT THIS NUMBER TO ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE PROTEST 
714-566-6308

Cruz said that he's been to the LA morgue and to skid row and that he knows there is another homeless dead every day and that he was not all that interested in the homeless before this but hearing this tape which a woman colleague insisted he hear effected him "AS A HUMAN BEING and AS A FATHER!"

Luckily recorded on video the 33 minutes of beatings smashed Thomas's face  and body till he was chocking on his own blood. 

One of us thinks that maybe the Tazers used on Thomas should be inserted up the asses of the officers involved and turned on.  Some of us would enjoy watching a hanging.

WE WERE SICK! 
AND WE THANK YOU AGAIN DAVID CRUZ!

Link to David Cruz KTALK radio
KTALK DAVID CRUZ LINK

DO YOU SELL WHAT YOU FIND IN THE TRASH ? ON E-BAY?

We were just wondering since we recently met someone going through trash cans and dumpster who told us that he's been selling things he finds - even a laptop - on e-Bay!

BELL SHELTER -CITY OF BELL - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - SALVATION ARMY - TRY THIS ONE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO SKID ROW

Bell Shelter is run by THE SALVATION ARMY

BELL SHELTER - SALVATION ARMY LINK

The Salvation Army Bell Shelter opened in January 1988 with help from Judge Harry Pregerson, who recognized a critical need for emergency shelter for homeless people in southeast Los Angeles County. The shelter is located in a converted 40,000 square foot hangar formerly used as a U.S. Army Air Base, in the city of Bell. It is the only program of its kind in California to fulfill the objectives of the 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, which encouraged the use of vacant Federal facilities as homeless shelters.

On site adult education classes offered through Los Angeles Unified School District - These classes lead to a General Education Diploma (GED), computer competency, HIV/AIDS awareness and/or a security guard certificate.

LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY - EACH OF US IN TRANSITION

CEO SLEEP OUT - PHILADELPHIA PENNSLVANIA -COVENANT HOUSE HELPING STORM SANDY HOMELESS YOUTH

EXAMINER ARTICLE - COVENANT HOUSE CEO SLEEP OUT - AWARENESS and FUNDRAISING

Cardboard boxes and sleeping bags are the only comfort executives had as they slept outside in 12 cities across the U. S. and Canada. They did it to honor Runaway and Homeless Youth Awareness Month and to show solidarity with the young residents of Covenant House.


The idea takes some getting used to. It actually grew out of a successful night last year in New York City, where 50 executives accepted the challenge and raised $500,000 to benefit vulnerable youth.

FREEDOM WARMING CENTERS - SANTA BARBARA LOMPOC and SANTA MARIA - 2013-2014 UPDATE

FREEDOM WARMING CENTER FACEBOOK PAGE - COMMENTS HAVE LOCATIONS  2013-2014

10 emergency homeless shelter locations in Santa Barbara County, CA operating during rain or severe weather. Time of operation: 6am-6pm. Couples and pets allowed.

 HOTLINE: (805) 324-2372

 

 Email: warmingcenters@ussb.org

 

Description

The mission of the Freedom Warming Center is to relieve suffering and save lives to the unsheltered homeless on nights of severe weather conditions.

NO HASSLING & NO ID REQUIRED.

 

Call the hotline for which shelters are activated: (805) 324-2372, or Maria Long (805) 452-5466.

 Email: warmingcenters@ussb.org

 

Some current locations: Unitarian Society - 1535 Santa Barbara St, SB
St. Michaels University Church -6585 Picasso Lane, Isla Vista (10:00pm-6:00am)
Carpinteria Veterans Memorial - 941 Walnut Ave, Carpinteria
First United Methodist Church, 925 "F" Street, Lompoc
New Love Community Center, 1619 S. Thornburg, Santa Maria

***********************************************************
LAST YEAR LOCATIONS WERE : Location Sites (Friday- Sunday)
- First Presbyterian Church; 21 East Constance Ave., Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara University Student Co-Op; 777 Camino Pescadero, Isla Vista
- Good Samaritan Shelter; 401 W. Morrison Rd. #B, Santa Maria

HOMELESS IN SANTA BARBARA ORG and STREET VOICE BLOG  (added to our blog list!)

"Last Tuesday, October 23^rd , (2012) the City of Santa Barbara approved the merging of the three largest agencies that serve the homeless in Santa Barbara County. The vote was 5-2, with Grant House and Cathy Murillo opposing.

Bringing Our Community Home, Common Ground Santa Barbara and the South Coast Homeless Advisory Committee are now The Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness or C3H. The merger was already approved by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, but the City of Santa Maria and Carpinteria have yet to vote on the collaborative."

ASCENCIA GLENDALE and LOS ANGELES HOMELESS AUTHORITY - MORE BEDS IN GLENDALE BUT BURBANK SNOBS CAN'T FIND SPACE - OPENS DECEMBER 1st or 15th 2012

GLENDALE ARMORY COLD WEATHER SHELTER   Brittany Levine from Glendale News Press article link

"A larger winter shelter is coming to Glendale in December, but plans to create a smaller satellite version in Burbank have fallen through.

Ascencia, Glendale's largest nonprofit homeless services provider, plans to host an 80-bed shelter at the National Guard Armory on Colorado Boulevard for three months — larger than the 50-bed version hosted by the cities of Glendale and Burbank at the armory last winter.
Ascencia had planned to host a 60-bed shelter at the armory this year and a concurrent 20-bed shelter in Burbank, but an exhaustive search of roughly 30 buildings there came up short." ...

"The nonprofit doesn't have the vouchers Glendale and Burbank had to house 37 of its 90 shelter participants last year, but it still plans to provide more services than a typical shelter, such as case management and housing referrals.

“We're getting calls already from people asking about the winter shelter,” Profant Komuro said, adding that Ascencia plans to work with Burbank Temporary Aid Center to get the word out.

Since Ascencia received county funds, it must keep the shelter open to any transient who shows up, but the focus will be on local homeless. Due to its size, the shelter — which may open Dec. 1 or Dec. 15 — won't be the regional draw that the 150-bed programs were in the past, Profant Komuro said." ...

SOFA SURFERS HOMELESS CARTOON SERIES - SHANE TALKS ABOUT LOOSING A HOME

Sofa Surfers" Walsh Bros / BBC 2009



As you may know, Sofa Surfers qualify as homeless.

ONCE HOMELESS WILLIAM NOWELL CAME INTO MONEY RENTED AN APARTMENT AND GOT EVICTED ANYWAY

LA WEEKLY ARTICLE - THE MAN WHO SMELLED TOO MUCH  link to the full article.

ILLUSTRATION BY JONATHAN BARTLETT as it appears in the LA Weekly November 8 2012 edition.  Link to the full article and pictures of Mr. Nowells many bags that he brought to the apartment and had not yet unpacked when the trouble with management and fellow tennants started.

We were reading this article with interest.  We think the neighbors are a shitty people and so is the management of this building.  They stink as humans.  Nowell may have smelled bad, but so did most people until the era of indoor plumbing and hot water heaters.  We think that if they knew he smelled bad when they rented to him - and he paid a huge deposite and months in advance - then all these other tactics they did were over the top, and especially having cops show up. 

some excerpts:

"William Nowell lived at 650 Spring St. for eight months, but he never got a chance to feel at home. He never unpacked the 100 percent Egyptian cotton sheets, the printer, the kitchenware, the camera or the blender."

"Unfortunately for Nowell, smell is not one of the seven categories protected by the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. Nowell does not fall into any of them. He is, however, in poor health. The medical condition he declines to name prevents him from bathing regularly, he says. Nowell claims that past surgery has made full immersion in water difficult. Instead, he prefers to give himself sponge baths while sitting at the edge of the tub. Nowell has, though, never claimed disability in any official capacity."

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THAT STALE BREAD!

Stale bread at food banks, with shelter meals, on tables at senior centers...

Everyone knows that man can't live on bread alone! Especially not white bread.

Are store bakeries making too much to sell so they can take a tax deduction?

THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS - ABOUT THE ONLY TIME MANY PEOPLE EVER THINK OF HOMELESS PEOPLE

Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually the ONLY time during the year that most people think of homeless people.  So many charities and philanthropies get involved in staging holiday dinners for the homeless at churches, shelters, and other venues.  Pictures of worn out, sick, old, and disheveled men eating their turkey meal as a break before they return to street homelessness decorate the mailings that some charities send, and certainly those homeless people exist. 

But some of these places give the impression that ALL HOMELESS ARE STREET HOMELESS and frankly, we think there are more options for street homeless than there are for people who are just experiencing homelessness for the first time due to the economic conditions in the USA - loosing homes, evicted from apartments, out of jobs, broke due to a major medical problem in the family...  or displaced due to hurricanes and superstorms.

Some shelters soliciting donations would have the average american believe that all homeless are mentally ill or have a drug problem. 

Living in poverty is stressful and depressing, but we don't hear too much about people being helped to the point where THEY ARE RECIEVING THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO GET WELL.  No, what we hear about is how people who are not mentlally ill are pushed by case managers to lie that they are.  We hear about people being threatened with termination (being put back out on the street)  if they don't "comply" (obey) and people being sent to certain mental health clinics that collaborate with lies, people being sent to certain lawyers to get SSI as if these shelters have some sort of deal. 

Everybody likes the story of someone who was way down there looking up at the curb getting housing because thats drama, but if you're reading this and you are NOT HOMELESS, consider those who are simply parking overnight, sleeping in their vans, trying to go to school, trying to find work, and need a helping hand EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR!

SPOTLIGHT ON POVERTY - CALIFORNIA - HERE'S THE STATS!

If you believe stats...

SPOTLIGHT ON POVERTY link

Child poverty rate: 23%

Senior poverty rate: 18%
Women in poverty: 18%

Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 34% ...

Why Spotlight Poverty and Opportunity?


In the United States, the wealthiest country in the world, nearly 43.6 million people live in poverty, which for a family of four means an annual income of less than $22,100 a year. During the Great Recession millions fell below the poverty line for the first time. The country’s slow economic recovery and continuing high unemployment have resulted in record numbers of families struggling to put enough food on the table and pay for housing, health care and other basic needs.

American poverty disproportionately affects children, with more than 15 million now growing up in impoverished homes. Other industrialized nations do much better. Among 24 developed nations, children in America, along with those in Greece and Italy, suffer the greatest inequalities in health, education and material well-being.

Reducing poverty is not only a moral imperative, it is vital to our nation’s well-being. Children who grow up poor too often become adults who cannot contribute effectively to our economic productivity, put a burden on the public health system or enter the criminal justice system. Economists estimate that child poverty costs the nation about $500 billion a year.

HUNTING THE HOMELESS - SANTA MONICA POLICE

"They're comfortable doing what they're doing." (Being homeless and sick.)

EACH OF US UNIQUE AND IN TRANSITION - COLORING PAGE FOR OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN (24)

BUTTERFLY COLORING PAGE FOR OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN (51)

SOMETHING IN THE AIR - THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN

CHICAGO CARTOONIST SCOTT NYCHAY - HOMELESS FATHER ART TALENT LEGACY

"Any time it would get cold I would think of him."

STORM SANDY - THOUSANDS WILL GET A FEELING FOR WHAT HOMELESS MEANS

As Storm Sandy threatens -

We were thinking about how thousands of people have evacuated to shelters to avoid the worst of it.  Like other Natural Disasters, there's a good chance that hundreds may become homeless, loose everything, and have to relocate.

Here in Southern California we've met and talked to some of the people who were resettled here after Natural Disasters.  Many of them were shocked by how high prices are here, rents, food, car insurance, all of it much higher than the places in New Orleans and Texas that they came from.  Some of us wondered how or why they got settled in Southern California.

We hope those of you in the path of this storm will be able to stay home and stay safe and that in a week or two you will have your electricity back, your fridge running, and be back to work and school. 

We hope you will think of the homeless who have no home to go back to, who cook in the park on a BBQ or eat uncooked canned food right out of the can, who can't shower every day or very often at all, who are cold at night every night in the back of their trucks, who linger in malls for the heat, whose children go to school from motel rooms and camp grounds, and who are ignored, rejected, and often abused by the HAVES.

BUTTERFLIES BROWN and BEIGE

Now that you're here, please read some of our posts, or link to other homeless and poverty activist bloggers on our sidebar!

BESSIE SMITH SINGS MEAN OLD BED BUG BLUES - THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO THE SHELTER THAT'S BEEN BATTLING BED BUGS FOR YEARS!

!

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

January 2015.  This video replaces the expired one that featured the song by Ernest Tubb

BLACK PURPLE AND BLUE BUTTERFLY

 Now that you're here at EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS, we hope you will take a few minutes to read more of our blog.  Besides current posts we have an amazing archive and links to many other citizen activist bloggers.

ARE YOU ABLE TO AFFORD THE GAS TO MOVE YOUR VEHICLE?

With gas prices so high a lot of people are leaving their cars at home and taking public transportation to cut their bills. 


If you're living in your vehicle you usually have to move it, at least from one side of the road to the other.  We know one person who is having friends push his van from one side of the road to the other because he doesn't have the money for gas.  He's trying to avoid citations.

MARK HORVATH INTERVIEWS KAREN COUNTRYMAN - ROSWURM on THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF HOMELESS YOUTH

Karen Countryman-Roswurm: Sexual Exploitation Of Homeless Youth - Wichita Kansas to Hollywood ? Wichita is a prime resource for sex traffickers to find youth to exploit.

What about their parents? 40% of kids aren't even reported missing.

98% were sexually abused as children. Came from violent homes. Separation from family due to job loss and other factors.

COLORING BOOK BUTTERFLY (2) FOR OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN

ARE THOSE MONARCHS?

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, SAUDI ARABIA, CANADA, GABON READ EXPOSE HOMELESSNESS

We noticed in Google Statistics that we're getting about 2800 or more hits a month lately and that at least one person in these countries is reading us frequently or several people are reading us.

We would like to know more about your interest in our site, how homelessness is in your country, what social services there are - if any, and what percentage of the population in your country is living below the "poverty level," i.e. poor! 

Thanks!

NORTH HOLLYWOOD INTERFAITH FOOD BANK - JEWISH JOURNAL

"The bags are moved by pickup truck to the church’s former nursery school annex, where the pantry distributes more than 5.5 tons of food every month on an annual budget of about $70,000. Every Monday and Friday morning, starting at 7:30, families come to the door, some from close by and others from as far away as Santa Clarita. There, they meet volunteers like Rabinowitz and a rotating roster of children and teens who come to lend their hands."

North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry

4387 Troost Avenue Studio City, CA 91604

(818) 760-3575

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RESCUE MISSION - BREAKING GROUND IN NORTHRIDGE

SHOWER TRUCKS... very appreciated.
THRIFT STORES... good deal all around.
Note: This is a Christian organization.

San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission
13422 Saticoy Street
North Hollywood, CA 91605
(818) 785-4476

Outreach Schedule:

Monday - Chatsworth
Chatsworth Foursquare Church
10210 Canoga Ave. (Cross street Lemarsh St.)
Showers: 8:30 - 10:30 am
Meal: Noon - 1:00 pm

Tuesday - North Hollywood1st Baptist Church of North Hollywood
11210 Ostego St. (Near Lankershim Blvd.)
Showers: 7:30 - 10:15 amMeal: 10:30 - 11:30 am

Wednesday - Reseda Zoe Christian Church
7143 Baird Ave. (1 block west of Reseda, cross street Sherman Way)
Showers: 8:30 - 10:30 amMeal: Noon - 1:00 pm

Thursday - Van NuysCentral Lutheran Church (Lutheran Social Services)
6425 Tyrone Ave. (Corner of Victory Blvd., 2 blocks east of Van Nuys Blvd.)
Showers: 8:30 - 10:30 am
Meal: Noon - 1:00 pm

Friday - Winnetka
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
8520 Winnetka Ave.(Across from the Winnetka Park, cross street - Chase Street)
Showers: 8:30 - 10:30 amMeal: Noon - 1:00 pm

Saturday - Van NuysVan Nuys Civic Center (In front of the Probation Office)
(Sylvan St. between Van Nuys Blvd. and Sylmar Ave.)
Showers: Not Available
Meal: 4:00 pm

SEX TRAFFICKING IN LOS ANGELES - FIVE TO TEN GIRLS MAKING OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND EACH FOR THE PIMP

In Los Angeles County, girls, as young as 11 or 12, are being bought and sold on the streets as prostitutes. These young girls are being manipulated by pimps and put on the streets to make money. A trafficker can make over $140,000 annually off of one girl and most have more than one girl in their stable. MANIPULATED is a gritty and real look at this issue that is not just happening "over there."

JUVENILES ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE A PIMP

ON SUKKOT HONORING THE HOMELESS - ARTIST PAINTS PORTRAITS

JEWISH JOURNAL ARTICLE  on Stuart Perlman, who has painted more than 75 portraits of homeless in the Venice - Santa Monica Beach area of Los Angeles.

This weekend, several of Perlman’s paintings will be on display at a conference of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, and segments of his documentary will screen there on Sept. 29. Another 15 of his portraits also will be included in the exhibition “Faces of Homelessness,” presented by Home for Good as part of the Downtown L.A. Art Walk on Oct. 11.

ERIN MORAN HOMELESS ? BUY YOUR OWN MOBIL WITH THAT $65,000!

UPDATE APRIL 24 2017 - YES WE HEARD ERIN HAS PASSED OUT OF THIS LIFE. We feel for her and her family. We do wonder if all those co-stars who did Twitter tributes ever tried to help her.

ACTRESS ERIN MORAN AND HUSBAND HOMELESS - NOT A HAPPY DAY

Happy Days television star Erin Moran has made the news for becoming homeless.  She and her husband lost their home due to forclosure and moved into a mobil home with his mom.  Mom couldn't take the partying.

According to the news story linked here from, they are done to $65,000 dollars.  OK, we want you to know that few people who become homeless have a lot of money like that. 


Some of us went through our retirements and had a hundred bucks in our pocket before we hit the street. 

SO WE HAVE SOME ADVICE FOR ERIN AND HER HUSBAND.  Use the money to buy a mobil home, pay the taxes on it for three years in the future, and get yourself out of the motels. 

UPDATE: We're getting inappropriate and annoying repetive comments on this post that Erin should do hard core porn.  This is getting reported as spam.

We do not agree.  We think homeless people and poor people are EXPLOITED enough.  We simply don't think that the reporting on the article was correct in saying that someone with $65,000 is near homeless.  Most homeless are lucky to have $50 in their pocket and have fallen much further.  We wish Erin Moran the best!

HOT PINK BUTTERFLY

BURBANK CHURCH OF CHRIST - SATURDAY MORNINGS BREAKFAST - BIG JOB BOARD

BURBANK CHURCH OF CHRIST WEB SITE  - HOMELESS OK! SENIORS OK!

Saturday mornings 8:30 Am to 10:00 PM
Pancakes, bacon, orange juice, coffee, etc.

THERE IS A JOB BOARD WITH DOZENS OF LISTINGS.  A VOLUNTEER FINDS JOB LISTINGS ON THE NET FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE INTERNET.

BURBANK CHURCH of CHRIST

3020 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
Office Phone:
(818) 848-0545

WHAT DO THE WORDS "SUPPORTIVE SERVICES" MEAN TO YOU?

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES?  A lot of non-profits that work with the homeless promise that's what they do for us.

What do those words mean to you? 

LIFE IN THE PARK IS NOT A PICNIC - SO TRY THE FREEWAY UNDERPASS

PARKS THAT WATER TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF THE GROUND, wet and cold, that hose down benches and tables, to keep people from using them, that have sprinklers going off during the day instead of night, are not welcoming spaces for homeless.

Usually if you sleep under a tree you won't be bothered during the day, but at night it may be illegal to sleep there.

Here in Southern California FREEWAY UNDERPASSES and the vegetation around them are used by many homeless as a camp though the toxic fumes of vehicles and a lot of garbage around make the breathing bad and the sleep uncomfortable.

Are some of these homeless drunk or high? Sure some are. Not all.

People who are not addicted and who have no mental illness and are not mothers with children have the most difficult time being taken into a shelter.

TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES - TORRES MARTINEZ

888-787-8263 or 800-665-7228

Offices in


Commerce
323-313-1300


Long Beach
310-878-1600


Lancaster
661-466-1100


Wilshire
213-816-2000


Career Guidance (assistance with purchase of clothing for employment)

Youth Services ($500 for completing High School or GED, $1000 for completing Associate Degree, $2000 for completing bachelor's degree.)
Family Preserverance (up to $5000 for wedding and planning)
Cultural Preservation
Social Services

MORE!
Lots more.

HOMELESS IN ORANGE COUNTY : DOCUMENTARY

HOMELESS IN ORANGE COUNTY FROM VIMEO : year 2008 - 2009 about 22,000 homeless youth in Orange County. STAND UP FOR KIDS. Kids leave home because of sexual abuse.

HOPE OF THE VALLEY MISSION SHELTER - SUN VALLEY -DAILY NEWS

San Fernando Valley homeless shelter fills up with people -- and their pets


Six weeks after the Valley's second homeless mission opened its first emergency
shelter, the Courtyard 365 is filled each night to capacity.

Now the $1.4 million nonprofit gives 6,400 meals a month to the homeless each
day at local parks and churches. From its 22,000-square-foot Sun Valley thrift
store and headquarters, it provides thousands of showers, clean clothes and
hygiene kits.

Link to article with pictures here!

EACH OF US UNIQUE AND IN TRANSITION - COLORING PAGE FOR OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN (22)

CHECK OUT THIS GUYS' SIGN!

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR PROPOSES EBT BAN SODA POP PURCHASES

Childhood obesity and other health concerns may be behind the Mayor's idea that EBT/SNAP users no longer be allowed to charge soda pop and other sugary drinks to the state.

"Exactly what one is able to purchase with food stamps does very a little bit however, depending on what state you live in. For instance, in rural Alaska you can buy bows and arrows for traditional hunting purposes."

"Although sodas and the like are huge contributors to unhealthy diets, there are a million other food products full of corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, salt, and a myriad of other questionable additives and ingredients. Chances are that those who are buying soda regularly are also buying not-so-hot food items too. But beyond the narrow scope of the proposal, what's more troubling is that the restriction only applies to those on food stamps, which means it only applies to those who are low-income, and adds stigma to an already stigmatized demographic. It doesn't seem reasonable or fair to effectively label low income individuals as making poor diet choices and breeding obesity."

IS YOUR SHELTER SERVING EXPIRED OR ROTTEN FOOD?

We've experienced it. You have little to no money to buy food. Maybe you have SNAP (Food Stamps) but they don't last you a whole month. Maybe you go to a food bank, or a feed in the park, a senior center that serves hot discounted meals, friends or neighbors who are buying in bulk and sharing, but maybe you live at a shelter that serves meals and well, the food isn't just bad tasting, it's food that some store donated because it EXPIRED.
We've heard about the bouts of FOOD POISONING and the fear about CALLING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

They can't sell this stuff but they can donate it, get a tax deduction, and serve it to homeless people who have little choice if they don't want to feel those hunger pangs.

ALEXANDRIA HOUSE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

"Alexandria House is a transitional residence for single women and women with children in the process of moving from emergency shelter to permanent housing. We provide hospitality to approximately 24 women and children depending on family size. Women living in Alexandria House benefit from a supportive community and an encouraging environment. Residents meet monthly with a case manager to ensure that they are making progress towards their established goals, as well as to identify their need for services and resources.

Weekly house meetings also provide an opportunity to share personal successes and hopes and at the same time build community. Alexandria House's transitional housing program offers financial management, goal setting processes, childcare, counseling, healthcare, and access to other resources such as job search assistance, education, legal counsel, advocacy, and skill-building.

Over 80% of the women who have moved through the program have succeeded in securing financial stability and permanent housing.

Alexandria House is committed to changing the systematic injustices that keep women and children homeless and living in poverty. We engage residents and neighbors in community organizing activities and exercise our rights to peaceably gather to protest unjust social policies and systems."

Alexandria House
426 S. Alexandria Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-381-2649

HOMELESS MAN CHOKES PELICAN TO DEATH OUT OF HUNGER - CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY

OK, we know that if this guy had killed a pigeon probably no one would care, BUT WE ASK YOU WHY ANYONE SHOULD BE SO HUNGRY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA that they would kill a bird with their bare hands!

THIS MAN WAS EXPERIENCING STARVATION!

It's what starving people around the world and in history have done - eat rats, insects, anything that moves, boil some shoe leather, even some books that were glued together with flour. In some places they even ate starving babies and people who've just died.

We say that this man needs some immediate help. WILL HE GET IT?

WHICH OF THE BIG NON-PROFITS WILL REACH OUT TO HIM and OFFER HIM FOOD, SHELTER, and CLOTHING? (And which will do so without trying to make him into an advertising campaign?)

LA CANNOT PITCH THE PERSONAL PROPERTY OF HOMELESS - COURT RULING - CAROL SOBEL ATTORNEY

Maura Dolan reporting for the Los Angeles Times. Linking to the full article here.

"Upholding a court order against Los Angeles, a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, 2-1, that the personal possessions the homeless leave for a short time on city sidewalks may be taken only if the possessions pose an immediate threat to public safety or health or constitute criminal evidence
Even then, the court said, the city may not summarily destroy the property and must notify the owners where they can pick it up."

We know that some shopping cart homeless are hoarding, but we also know of people who have had their gym bag seized which contained their social security card, their passport, their birth certificate, their drivers license and so on, things they could not afford to replace or had no mailing address to receive if they had the money. We know that some of the shopping cart people are mentally ill, or have had it with shelters and "want" to be part of their street community. For the so called middle class that's loosing everything due to long term joblessness, the loss of homes and apartments, and so on, housing is a great priority.

NEW IMAGE SHELTER -DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - PROGRAMS

Someone pointed out that we'd posted on New Image but didn't have a link to their programs so here it is. Why doesn't New Image move out of downtown LA? What about a Woodland Hills location? The ghetto of homeless is SKID ROW. That's where homeless people are herded all around LA County. Certain homeless program(s) kick people out to New Image!

NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS - WASHINGTON DC CONFERENCE NEWS

We've linked to them before. They had another conference about a month ago. Nan Roman is President and CEO. What was accomplished?

LINK UPDATED JANUARY 2015

http://www.endhomelessness.org/

EVERY BUTTERFLY IS DIFFERENT

WHAT DO YOU BUY WITH THE CASH YOU GET FROM SELLING YOUR EBT-SNAP FOOD BENEFITS?

We've noticed that our previous post with the questions DO YOU SELL YOUR FOOD BENEFIT FOR CASH has a lot of hits. Are we telling you to do this? NO. We're just aware that a lot of homeless and simply poor people do sell their stamps for cash. It's trouble for you if you're caught though we were reading over our EBT paperwork and see that there is a penalty for a certain large amount. Stores that do this, usually owner-operated small groceries and convenience stores, are often a well kept secret among the people who sell their stamps, information only shared with those you can trust.

While some people are trading their EBT for cash so they can buy beer, many simply need things they can't stretch their cash benefit or other income to buy like vitamins, over the counter drugs, sanitary supplies, and things for the baby.

JOHNNY CASH - YOUR OWN PERSONAL JESUS

ROLLING STONE ARTICLE ON PARKING LOTS FOR HOMELESS

Article by Jeff Tietz

"Each evening, 150 people in 113 vehicles spend the night in 23 parking lots in Santa Barbara. The lots are part of Safe Parking, a program that offers overnight permits to people living in their vehicles. The nonprofit that runs the program, New Beginnings Counseling Center, requires participants to have a valid driver's license and current registration and insurance. The number of vehicles per lot ranges from one to 15, and lot hours are generally from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Fraternization among those who sleep in the lots is implicitly discouraged – the fainter the program's presence, the less likely it will provoke complaints from neighboring homes and churches and businesses."

By 2009, formerly middle-class people like Janis Adkins had begun turning up – teachers and computer repairmen and yoga instructors seeking refuge in the city's parking­ lots. Safe-parking programs in other cities have experienced a similar influx of middle-class exiles, and their numbers are not expected to decrease anytime soon. It can take years for unemployed workers from the middle class to burn through their resources – savings, credit, salable belongings, home equity, loans from family and friends. Some 5.4 million Americans have been without work for at least six months, and an estimated 750,000 of them are completely broke or heading inexorably toward destitution."

DROUGHT RAISES FOOD PRICES - IMPACTS HUNGER IN AMERICA

"More than 18 percent of Americans say there have been times this year when they couldn't afford the food they needed, according Gullup poll released on Tuesday." Linking to the Yahoo news article here.

COLORING BOOK BUTTERLY (8) FOR OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN

DO YOU BEG OR PANHANDLE FOR MONEY? HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD YOU HAVE TO MAKE AT A JOB TO STOP PANHANDLING?

Do you beg for money?


How much money do you make panhandling on a typical day?

IF YOU HAD A PAYING JOB HOW MUCH WOULD YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO STOP PANHANDLING?

WHAT DO YOU SPEND THE MONEY ON?

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES LA - GRAMERCY PLACE FAMILY SHELTER

Need Help? Start with JFS Central Access (877) 275-4537

HOME IS A PLACE THAT IS NON-VIOLENT

You do not have to be Jewish to recieve help.

"Through our shelter service programs, JFS serves homeless families as well as battered women and their children. Our shelters are staffed by highly qualified professional staff, trained to deal with the unique needs of our clients. JFS shelter residents, in our emergency and transitional shelters, benefit from a wide array of other services provided by JFS, including individual therapy, support groups, case management, food and hunger services and vocational and legal assistance. JFS operates a 24 hour hotline for women who are in all stages of abusive relationships."

ANGEL HANZ FOR THE HOMELESS INC - FOR HOMELESS AND THEIR PETS - A NEW BLOG AND FUNDRAISER ANNOUNCEMENT

ANGEL HANZ was started by a woman who lived in her car with her cat for about a year before finding a job and going from there. Now she's fundraising to continue outreach to homeless and their pets and there's an ANGEL HANZ blog which we'll be linking to.

CURRENTLY ANGEL HANZ NEEDS A USED CAR TO CONTINUE THEIR OUTREACH TO HOMELESS AND THEIR PETS. They are always looking for blanket donations.

ANGEL HANZ FOR THE HOMELESS, INC.
P.O. BOX 10716, Burbank, CA 91510
Or call 818-358-3663 for more information

UPDATE MARCH 2013 - a link to Angel's blog ANGEL HANZ FOR HOMELESS


ANGEL HANZ FOR THE HOMELESS, INC.
COMMUNITY OUTREACHSunday, September 30th, 1pm
North Hollywood Park
11455 Magnolia Blvd.
(Library side, near the underpass) North Hollywood, CA 91601

CHIRSTINA TRINH, shall be at the site supporting "Karen "ANGEL HANZ" HAMZA with professional CHAIR MASSAGE for the homeless to ENJOY! Our September gathering will be all about the homeless having a fun day in the park with their pets playing , dominos, scrabble, chess, checkers and more

UPDATE : ANGEL HANZ BLOG APPEARS ON OUR SIDE-BAR and there have been regular events to raise money including a plea for a grant writer.

UPDATE ON NATALIE, THE WOMAN WHO WAS RIDING THE BUS ALL NIGHT TO SLEEP IN 2011

We posted on Natalie in 2011. We said :

"Natalie's ankles are swollen because she never really gets to lay down unless she goes to a shelter in another, safer county. She sleeps sitting up every night on a particular bus route. Now we think this is kind of cool. Because the bus driver, a woman, knows Natalie's situation, and she never gives her a problem."

UPDATE AUGUST 2012

We are happy to say that we ran into Natalie and she's looking beautiful. Natalie was wearing make-up, had her hair done - shiny and sleek, and was casually dressed in black pants and neat sweater as well as earrings and a necklace for her job. Natalie was given stability by a local shelter where she slept each night and was able to keep a small wardrobe, though she had to leave for the day. She is no longer carrying her possessions in gym bags wherever she goes. She managed to get a starter job working part time for a non-profit animal related charity where she is on commission. She is also dog and cat sitting in private homes. She no longer looks exhausted. Congratulations!

SIX GOLD AND ORANGE BUTTERFLIES

WEST VALLEY FOOD PANTRY - PRINCE OF PEACE

Our volunteer called this food pantry to verify information and spoke to a very rude woman who said she was too busy to talk and hung up. We hope you get better treatment when you show up but some of us would rather go without a meal or two than be talked down to by some "do-gooder" (B. says do-do-gooder) with more attitude than compassion. B. also had this to say; "If you're helping the poor to stroke your ego, why not get out of the empathy business, bitch?"

WEST VALLEY FOOD PANTRY at PRINCE OF PEACE

818 346 -5554
5700 Rudnick Aveneu (near Shoup and Topanga
Woodland Hills 91367

A once every thirty days food distribution program. Photo ID and proof of residency in one of the following zip codes in the last 45 days is required but homeless can recieve food once a week. Open Mondays - Thursdays 10 am to 3 pm. Friodays 10 am 0- 12 noon.

Here's the zip codes: 91301-91302, 91303, 91304, 91305, 91305, 91306, 91307, 91311, 91324, 91335, 91336, 91364, 91367, 91371, 90290....

UPDATE:  We'll call the food banks again and report any changes in attitude or behavior towards the homeless, but it's up to the charity itself to train people.  Our volunteer called a number of food banks that are just as busy if not more so and this was the only one where they were met with rudeness.

NO HOME FOR HANK - HOMELESS NOT NAMELESS BLOG

One more really good blog by and for the homeless, this one we also learned about through HOMELESSFAMILY.BLOGSPOT.

We'll add this one to our HOMELESS AND POVERTY ACTIVISTS SIDE BAR where you can easily link!

"Who the heck is HANK??

This is the hardest post I have ever had to write. When I say 'had' to write, it is almost just that. This is me bowing to the suffering, knowing that everything happens just the way it does, for a reason. With a toast and a tear, I bow to HANK.

HANK is the homeless man that represents all homeless people and families, those who live in poverty, who see no way out, who live in fear they may not eat today or find a safe place to sleep. The people on the streets and in the shelters. Also, the people who have a home, but the type of homes you and I would not wish to even enter. Those who live in poverty, in sickness, in helplessness. And those who live in harsh judgement of others, and those who have given up."

WE DARE YOU TO EAT FOR A MONTH ON $5 A DAY AND NO COOKING!

If you ARE NOT HOMELESS AND READING THIS, we dare you to eat on no more than $5 a day (and no cooking) for one month. We know this diet will probably be too fatty and salty and may raise your blood pressure and your cholesterol level. You may gain some weight around your middle.

We know that you will head for the fast food shops and eat off the $1 meal. Lots of burgers and breaded chicken sandwiches. (El Pollo Loco's prices went way up recently so we're skipping them.)

You may also buy a piece of fruit every day, bananas and oranges. You can't afford to buy vitamin or other "waters" or fruit juices and still have enough to eat.

You'll feel like buying a whole pizza somewhere for that $5 and swear you can make it last three meals.

GO AHEAD AND FEEL IT!

Oh, we're going to give you a little help so you don't actually starve. To extend your budget try going to a discount or free feed or two or a food bank. (Lucky you, don't have to carry groceries around all day, or do you?) Since you aren't paying for the food, you can keep to your budget.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Join VA and help Veterans you know who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. VA is working to end Veteran homelessness by 2015 but can’t do it without your help. If you know a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, VA has dedicated services you can help them access. LINK HERE

Make the Call. 1 - 877-4AID-VET

GRAHAM NASH - BETTER DAYS

WHAT DO YOU DO TO PASS AS NOT HOMELESS?

Summer may be the best part of the year to be homeless anywhere, not just because we're not dealing with freezing cold weather, but because it's the best time to pass as a common person who happens to be camping in a tent or RV in a campground, along the beach road, or other location. You have to have your ID, your vehicle registration, and enough money for gas to keep moving though.We wonder, if you're homeless, what, if anything do you do to "pass."

PEOPLE IN PROGRESS - CLOSING SOON- WILL A NEW PROGRAM TAKE OVER SUN VALLEY SHELTER?

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2013  We were told recently that there is construction going on inside the old PIP building but haven't heard what might be moving in.

We recently got this comment which we are editing the names out of because the comment is unsigned with no contact information no information on if the poster was a resident or employee and we don't know the people named.

Quote " People I  progress was corrupt = big time grants from the Veterans Administration and Dept of Corrections and board directors like _____________ and  ___________  were self serving criminals who promoted gang activity by endorsing racist criminals."

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE POSTER TO CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT to report what he or she knows.  Also please send us a comment with an e-mail address so we can dialogue about what you experienced.  We're getting a lot of PIP bashing comments, don't know if this is from one person or many.

NOTE:  We sent an associate over to Sun Valley to see what's going on with the old PIP location and they reported workman were inside fixing up the place.  ANYONE KNOW WHO MAY BE RENTING OR OPENING AT THAT LOCATION?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

OLD POST

Word is that PEOPLE IN PROGRESS, is going out of business. After the death of the Director, Mr. Sullivan, the non-profit failed to get enough grant money to keep going.

"For 35 years, People In Progress (P.I.P.) has provided intervention and support to individuals and families in crisis with services addressing substance abuse, economic deprivation, hunger and homelessness. We are creating self-reliance- building addiction-free lives. Each year, P.I.P. provides services to more 25,000 individuals. It is our aim to help those we serve transition back into the community as productive citizens. 100 percent of our participants are living well below poverty level. Our services are designed to provide disadvantaged individuals with access - whether directly or through referral - to the resources they need to reach self-sufficiency. As a leader in delivery of alcohol/drug treatment services we provide critically needed services to the chronically homeless population suffering from alcohol and drug dependency, coupled with other mental and physical disabilities."

PIP has faced opposition from commercial neighbors in the area, but the homeless in the area, men and women not in their program, also appreciated being able to take showers in the morning, have a coffee, and occasionally pick up clothes. The presence of PIP in Sun Valley, not far from the post office, also meant that many homeless families and couples living in vehicles were able to park in the lot without being in trouble with police. Several months ago, after Sullivan's death, things changed, and the homeless were no longer allowed to shower there.

Homeless in and around the Sun Valley Park area are hoping that the new Rescue Mission group that opened a Thrift Store and has opened a shelter for women and children will be able to get the money up to take over the PIP facility, which has the capacity to house a hundred or more.

Thanks to "Brat" for the information!

UPDATE March 2013.  We've been told that some of the social workers/ case managers from PIP are now working at LA FAMILY HOUSING'S property called PALO VERDE in Sun Valley, not far from the original location.  Also that the old PIP space may be taken over by another rehab.  We'd like to hear from people staying at PALO VERDE, which was build to house homeless, about their stay there.  We understand it is a shelter for people with Section 8 and other housing vouchers.

UPDATE AUGSUT 2013 : At this point there seems to be an empty building with no non-profit shelter or rehab in place at the location. We are being told that there is a small shelter within the thrift store at the intersection of San Fernando Road and Sunland, Hope of the Valley, which is around the corner from the old PIP sight. We are also being told that the Jack n a Box nearbye which takes EBT has posted a NO LOITERING SIGN, giving only 30 minutes to eat and go.

WHOLE PAGE OF BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES

PALO VERDE PR STARING STEPHANIE KLASKY-GAMER CEO

NOTE: THE ORIGINAL VIDEO POSTED HERE WAS TAKEN DOWN OFF YOUTUBE.


SOUNDS GOOD... now are these apartments really the rent-paying resident's or is this another shelter where anyone can just knock on your door and walk right in? Do you have to come home every night? So you have to sign in or tell a case manager where you were or why you weren't home? What about the restrictions on visitors?

How do you explain the fact that some residents have been at the LAFH Valley shelter for 4, 5, 6, and 7 years? What percentage of people you intake end up in their own apartment in a year? At all?

CROSS FIT LA DEBASES HOMELESS BY JONATHAN MASENG OF THE LA WEEKLY

Link to the article, which appeared in the July 13-19 2012 edition of the LA Weekly now!

"The photos depict members of CrossFit Mean Streets, a gym located on the edge of Skid Row at 265 S. Main St., engaged in mockery and humiliation of troubled local denizens, some of whom had passed out on the sidewalks...In one photo published on his website and Facebook, Teasdale grins and poses with Wayne Willette, owner of CrossFit CrownTown in Corona, and several other CrossFitters as they happily pose over an unconscious man slumped in front of Teasdale's truck. Aris Gregorian, a coach at CrossFit Crown City in Pasadena, holds a CrossFit shirt above the downed man. Oner shot from Teasdale's Facebook page implies that the highly fit bunch had brief contact with, but did not help, the unconscious person: Somebody has laid a CrossFit shirt across his back.Another shows a different unconscious man sprawled on a sidewalk with a CrossFit shirt draped over his body. The photo caption mocks "free gift."It is not known whether CrossFit members tried to verify if these men needed medical help..."

SARGENT SHRIVER NATIONAL CENTER ON POVERTY LAW

"The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law provides national leadership in advancing laws and policies that secure justice to improve the lives and opportunities of people living in poverty. The Center engages in direct advocacy campaigns in Illinois and around the country to improve policies and programs on specific issues, and also engages in broader advocacy on general issues of justice, opportunity, and human rights. Our advocacy niche is the nexus between federal policy and state implementation, a key position in this era of devolution of power to the states in many areas of social policy and law."POVERTY LAW ORG

HUNGRY 24/7 BY SUSAN FREUDENHEIM - JEWISH JOURNAL - MAZON - SOVA

" - right now, one in six Americans is living with food insecurity — which means they either are constantly at risk of being without their next meal or living with disrupted food patterns. This shocking number comes from a study just released by Feeding America, a food-relief organization. These people do not choose to be hungry. And here are some even more stark statistics: • 17 million of America’s children live with food insecurity.• Only 10 percent of the 50 million are homeless.• About 36 percent of food-insecure families include one working adult...MAZON — which Charity Navigator has just raised to four stars, its highest rating for philanthropies — has just begun a promising new initiative to explore ways to distribute more fresh foods. Created in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the program is called “Healthy Options/Healthy Meals” and is initially funding 12 food banks around the nation, helping them explore ways to make healthy and nutritious food more available to populations with specific needs, such as the elderly.

Link to the full article, which appeared in the Jewish Journal October 7-12, 2011. Thank's "Country Bumpkin" for the lead on this story

Link to MAZON on our side bar!

DEATH WARRANTS KILLER SUSPECT PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN STABBINGS OF HOMELESS IN SANTA MONICA and SKID ROW

Courtney Anthony Robinson is pleading Not Guilt of a series of stabbings of homeless men and women in Santa Monica and downtown - skid row - Los Angeles. Detectives believe Anthony may also be responsible for two other stabbings in the Santa Barbara area.

Homeless who are sleeping outdoors at night are targets for violence. There are people who want to pick off homeless people.

BROADCASTER BILL HANDEL - KFI RADIO - SENSITIVITY RATING GOING UP

Successful KFI radio broadcaster Bill Handel has taken some well deserved criticism from us.

KFI is a station with a big range and Bill's got influence. We were upset when he joked that he and his brother baited homeless people with five dollar bills. Bill is however getting more sensitive to the homeless because he has learned that an old friend of his is on the street. Bill recently mentioned the WAR ON POVERTY as over. We have a video at the bottom of this blog on the WAR OF POVERTY as well as inaugural speeches by various U.S. Presidents concerning human rights.

We'd like KFI, which broadcasts out of Burbank, California, to get more activated when it comes to homeless and poverty issues in Burbank.

The myth about Burbank is that, since the movie studios moved in and started paying taxes and shopping areas have been revitalized, there is no poverty or homelessness in Burbank. Some people say Burbank Police throw homeless over the border into LA City territory. Worst of all, Burbank does not want any homeless shelters in the city and does not want the United States Armory, located near the Fry's near the airport to be used as a winter shelter. (As usual, the homeowners are offended.) All of which, as we see it, goes to prove the point that poor people are more generous than rich.

LOS ANGELES FAMILY HOUSING - BITTER RESIDENTS USING FACEBOOK AND TWITTER TO GET THEIR EXPERIENCES OUT THERE

According to our source, bitter residents and ex residents of LOS ANGELES FAMILY HOUSING have set up Facebook and Twitter accounts to get their real experiences to funders about life at the shelter. Bad experiences living at the shelter as well as with the management at Palos Verde apartments, provoked these people into trying to stand up for themselves. Our source says that funders are kept unaware of what life is like at the shelter. Complaints range from other residents to case management. Our source tells us that WEST VALLEY MENTAL HEALTH may separate itself from the shelter due to the recent scandal at the Palo Verde apartments where 35 residents there on their first section 8 voucher where told to give their vouchers back and accept Shelter Plus instead. Since we don't use Twitter or Facebook at this time, we are unable to verify any of this.  this.