Linking to the breaking news: Carol Sobel, Civil Rights Attorney, is filing another lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, for taking the property of homeless individuals.
"The city of Los Angeles faces a fifth lawsuit over the seizure of homeless people's belongings in street cleaning sweeps after recent crackdowns in the beachfront community of Venice.A legal claim against the city was filed Thursday by Santa Monica civil rights attorney Carol Sobel, who has successfully sued the city in the last three cases over the same issue in Skid Row, the most densely populated homeless area in Los Angeles."It's just extremely disappointing that this city won't take a different approach to poor people who don't have a place to live," she said... In many cases, mentally ill people lost their worldly goods, including prescription medications and legal documents, when they left their bundles unattended while they went to shower or eat at a nearby shelter."
We're all for it. If you haven't carried everything you own on your back so that you can sleep at night or wash...if you haven't had everything you own thrown out the door of a police car, bulldozed over in a wash, or thrown into a dumpster by your case manager at a shelter (YES! THEY DO THIS AT SOME SHELTERS TO TERRORIZE AND CONTROL RESIDENTS!) then you may not have much sympathy.
We say GO SOBEL GO!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
RESEDA RESIDENTS OF REFLECTIONS ON WYANDOTTE SENIOR BUILDING "SCARED TO DEATH" OF HOMELESS RESIDENTS? GIVE US A BREAK!
Daily news article by Melissa Palmer linked here. Read it first, then here are our comments:
The question of if senior residents should have been informed:
Seems NOBODY wants homeless people to move in with them or in their neighborhoods. You may have lived in a neighborhood or a building for years but just get evicted and have nowhere to go. If you're like some of us your neighbors won't know you anymore and neither will your oldest friends. Kicked to the curb by society exactly where do you go, especially if you've lived in the San Fernando Valley. Most Valley Homeless do not want to go to skid row. The fear of being downtown keeps a lot of Valley Homeless in local parks and cars.
WHAT ABOUT THE PRIVACY OF A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN HOMELESS? Does anyone get how that label prevents you from finding work when you're able bodied? Are building owners and managers supposed to tell this personal business to any other tenants? We don't think so. It is also not right for building owners and managers to tell residents which people are getting Section 8.
("Chronically Homeless" to describe anyone who has been without a permanent place to live for a year is ridiculous. Most shelters can't get it together to get someone WITHOUT ANY MENTAL ILLNESS OR CRIMINAL RECORD housing in a year so it's all to easy to be considered "chronically" homeless.)
Let's say what if these seniors who are already in a building with HUD and HACLA reducing their income were informed. Exactly where, with rents up everywhere and waiting lists to get into low income buildings going to flee? Probably nowhere.
People who have seen a doctor and been given prescription marijuana "Medical Marijuana" are legal to smoke or ingest it. The smell does bother some people, as does the smell of cooking ethnic foods, smoking cigarettes, pet odor, etc. We're not without sympathy for the sensitive, but there's a difference between someone who smokes legal and someone who smokes illegal.
Obviously community rules about noise and so on should be observed, but we wonder about the stereotype of senior citizens, that they're all sickly and early to bed and early to rise. WE AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR ZEV YAROSLAVSKY that homeless people need to be housed in their own community. Sometimes with all the changes that lead a person to become homeless changing community is one more big stresser.
Though the statistics on homeless vary about how many are on the street due to mental illness or drugs, WE BET IF WE GOT THE TRUTH OUT OF THE SENIORS IN ANY SENIOR BUILDING WE'D FIND OUT THERE ARE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE AND DRUG ADDICTS IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES.
We say SNAP OUT OF THE DENIAL! GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE! YOU MAY BE THE NEXT PERSON WHO NEEDS A CHANCE!
The question of if senior residents should have been informed:
Seems NOBODY wants homeless people to move in with them or in their neighborhoods. You may have lived in a neighborhood or a building for years but just get evicted and have nowhere to go. If you're like some of us your neighbors won't know you anymore and neither will your oldest friends. Kicked to the curb by society exactly where do you go, especially if you've lived in the San Fernando Valley. Most Valley Homeless do not want to go to skid row. The fear of being downtown keeps a lot of Valley Homeless in local parks and cars.
WHAT ABOUT THE PRIVACY OF A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN HOMELESS? Does anyone get how that label prevents you from finding work when you're able bodied? Are building owners and managers supposed to tell this personal business to any other tenants? We don't think so. It is also not right for building owners and managers to tell residents which people are getting Section 8.
("Chronically Homeless" to describe anyone who has been without a permanent place to live for a year is ridiculous. Most shelters can't get it together to get someone WITHOUT ANY MENTAL ILLNESS OR CRIMINAL RECORD housing in a year so it's all to easy to be considered "chronically" homeless.)
Let's say what if these seniors who are already in a building with HUD and HACLA reducing their income were informed. Exactly where, with rents up everywhere and waiting lists to get into low income buildings going to flee? Probably nowhere.
People who have seen a doctor and been given prescription marijuana "Medical Marijuana" are legal to smoke or ingest it. The smell does bother some people, as does the smell of cooking ethnic foods, smoking cigarettes, pet odor, etc. We're not without sympathy for the sensitive, but there's a difference between someone who smokes legal and someone who smokes illegal.
Obviously community rules about noise and so on should be observed, but we wonder about the stereotype of senior citizens, that they're all sickly and early to bed and early to rise. WE AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR ZEV YAROSLAVSKY that homeless people need to be housed in their own community. Sometimes with all the changes that lead a person to become homeless changing community is one more big stresser.
Though the statistics on homeless vary about how many are on the street due to mental illness or drugs, WE BET IF WE GOT THE TRUTH OUT OF THE SENIORS IN ANY SENIOR BUILDING WE'D FIND OUT THERE ARE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE AND DRUG ADDICTS IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES.
We say SNAP OUT OF THE DENIAL! GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE! YOU MAY BE THE NEXT PERSON WHO NEEDS A CHANCE!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
VETERANS CONNECTION AND HOT LINE
What help is available for homeless Veterans?
All Veterans at risk for homelessness or attempting to exit homelessness—as well as their family and friends—can access a variety of resources and benefits, such as prevention services, housing support, job training, and healthcare. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans provides a hotline and online chat for free and confidential assistance.
Trained VA staff are on-call and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist homeless Veterans and their families at 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838).
All Veterans at risk for homelessness or attempting to exit homelessness—as well as their family and friends—can access a variety of resources and benefits, such as prevention services, housing support, job training, and healthcare. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans provides a hotline and online chat for free and confidential assistance.
Trained VA staff are on-call and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist homeless Veterans and their families at 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838).
Saturday, March 24, 2012
FOOD STAMP FRAUD INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED
Fox news article link. " In the 1970s, about one in 50 Americans participated in the program. Today, it's almost 1 in 7."
Selling food money for cash is considered fraud, but we know how difficult it is to afford if you want to buy VITAMINS, TEA THAT HAS SOME MEDICINAL VALUE, SANITARY SUPPLIES, OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES SUCH AS PAIN KILLER FOR CRAMPS, TISSUE, TOILET PAPER... in other words, things you really need and can use. Since the budget is about $5 a day for a person, anyone who is selling stamps just for the cash must be getting a lot of food somewhere else. We know many people who are supplimenting food stamps with visits to food banks.
Selling food money for cash is considered fraud, but we know how difficult it is to afford if you want to buy VITAMINS, TEA THAT HAS SOME MEDICINAL VALUE, SANITARY SUPPLIES, OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES SUCH AS PAIN KILLER FOR CRAMPS, TISSUE, TOILET PAPER... in other words, things you really need and can use. Since the budget is about $5 a day for a person, anyone who is selling stamps just for the cash must be getting a lot of food somewhere else. We know many people who are supplimenting food stamps with visits to food banks.
Friday, March 23, 2012
NEW YORK CITY HOMELESS SHELTER POLICY : PROVE YOU HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!
"The city's Department of Homeless Services in November tried to reduce the number of individual men and women seeking a bed at a city shelter by requiring them to prove they had nowhere else to go, a move the city council speaker described as "cruel and punitive." The policy would require adults seeking shelter to provide information, including documents where possible, about their recent housing history and financial resources."
LINK TO ARTICLE HERE.
LINK TO ARTICLE HERE.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
HUD NEWS! HUD AWARDS $201 MILLION FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMS - 731 PROGRAMS RECIEVING FUNDS
announced on March 13, 2012
HUD AWARDS $201 MILLION FOR NEW LOCAL HOMELESS PROGRAMS
Funding to support 731 programs including 103 projects located in rural communities:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded nearly $201 million to support 731 new local homeless programs across the country. This funding provides critically needed emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support for individuals and families and is a significant part of the Obama Administration’s strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.
To view a complete list of sate and local projects awarded money, go to the link.
HUD AWARDS $201 MILLION FOR NEW LOCAL HOMELESS PROGRAMS
Funding to support 731 programs including 103 projects located in rural communities:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded nearly $201 million to support 731 new local homeless programs across the country. This funding provides critically needed emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support for individuals and families and is a significant part of the Obama Administration’s strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.
To view a complete list of sate and local projects awarded money, go to the link.
Monday, March 19, 2012
ACTIVIST EXPOSES FLORIDA SHELTER - HOMELESS HELPING HOMELESS INC.
This is one of a series of videos. Among the complaints are forced payments in order to stay rather than true donations, questionable 501 non-profit status, staff possibly not following the law when it comes to equal opportunity and respect for people of all races, etc. It's a rare thing that a destitute person is able to create their own videos and post them on YouTube. Usually shelters looking for funds are the one's paying for and posting videos.
UPDATE: DECEMBER 2013. We would love to know what's happened since we posted this!
UPDATE: DECEMBER 2013. We would love to know what's happened since we posted this!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
FAMILY CAMPING IN SANTA PAULA CALIFORNIA
This slideshow and article by Lucy Nicholson from Rueters News Service is pretty impressive. There's been a lot of homeless in the news lately. Sometimes pictures say it better than words. "Homeless Single Moms Struggle to Make Ends Meet" is the name of the article, linked here.
"They all are part of a disturbing trend in the United States. One in 45 children, totaling 1.6 million, is homeless, the highest number in U.S. history, according to a 2011 report from the National Center on Family Homelessness."
"They all are part of a disturbing trend in the United States. One in 45 children, totaling 1.6 million, is homeless, the highest number in U.S. history, according to a 2011 report from the National Center on Family Homelessness."
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
HOMELESS HOT SPOTS - IS THIS ADVERTISING OR EXPLOITATION OF HOMELESS?
The South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin Texas is a very trendy place to be. But now it's the scene for HOMELESS HOT SPOTS. First we're linking to the charity's web page so you can see it from their point of view. The idea seems to be advertising individuals as homeless in order to help them.
ARE YOU A HUMAN BEING OR A HOTSPOT?
"Advertising agency, Bartle Bogle Hegarty's BBH Labs, gave 14 people from a homeless shelter mobile Wi-Fi devices and T-shirts that announced "I am a 4G Hotspot."
This article has hit the Internet running and has been picked up all over. The Fox news article we're linking : Homeless hotspots -- selling souls for a bit of corporate karma.
"They say there's no such thing as bad publicity, but international advertising agency Bartle Bogle and Hegarty (BBH) is testing that theory. In a pathetic grab at some corporate karma, BBH has launched a program at the South By Southwest Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas called “Homeless Hot Spots” in which homeless people are literally are turned into 4G MiFi hotspots that can be accessed for a donation. The participants are recognizable by their T-shirts which introduce them by first name and, of course tell the world of their current living situation. All you do is approach the poor rube, give them some money and then...stand near them...and answer your e-mail. You can talk to them, I guess." T. J. McCormack
This article has hit the Internet running and has been picked up all over. The Fox news article we're linking : Homeless hotspots -- selling souls for a bit of corporate karma.
"They say there's no such thing as bad publicity, but international advertising agency Bartle Bogle and Hegarty (BBH) is testing that theory. In a pathetic grab at some corporate karma, BBH has launched a program at the South By Southwest Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas called “Homeless Hot Spots” in which homeless people are literally are turned into 4G MiFi hotspots that can be accessed for a donation. The participants are recognizable by their T-shirts which introduce them by first name and, of course tell the world of their current living situation. All you do is approach the poor rube, give them some money and then...stand near them...and answer your e-mail. You can talk to them, I guess." T. J. McCormack
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
COLLABORATIVE HOUSING : LOS ANGELES COUNTY: A PUBLIC-PRIVATE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS
AUGUST 2014 update. We have received over 200 hits on this post so we know you are looking for alternatives. We truly hope that if you have found this post and followed through that you are now happily living in a situation that is better a shelter or living in a vehicle. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF YOU WHO MAY HAVE USED THIS RESOURCE!
THANKS FROM US!
Also, we received what appears to be a general comment not specific to this post from someone Dr. Wayne, and we do not know what SLAG means or stands for. Dr. Wayne contact us again with your personal experience posted on the post for the nonprofit you've had that experience with! Thanks
************************
Seriously, would you like to live in a house, share a bedroom with one other person, and live with a total of 6 in a three bedroom house? What about tending a garden?
THANKS FROM US!
Also, we received what appears to be a general comment not specific to this post from someone Dr. Wayne, and we do not know what SLAG means or stands for. Dr. Wayne contact us again with your personal experience posted on the post for the nonprofit you've had that experience with! Thanks
************************
Seriously, would you like to live in a house, share a bedroom with one other person, and live with a total of 6 in a three bedroom house? What about tending a garden?
CALL 310-846-5270 or CALL 1-877-SHARE-49
Here's what to expect:
YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CREDIT CHECK.
YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY DEPOSITS.
YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY UTILITIES.
Your rent will be $500 a month or less.
If you already have SSI or a part time job this is great but if you are on GR and living in zones approved for a PILOT PROGRAM where GR will pay your rent while you wait for SSI to come in, that may work too.
THIS IS NOT A GROUP HOME situation with an authority living in, but you will get two visits a month from a COLLABORATIVE HOUSING person just to see how it's going.
If you are not employed or off to a doctor's appointment, you will attend 3 meetings a week which will be of supportive nature. You get to live your life and perhaps move beyond your situation. You will not be in trouble if you can't make a meeting because you have to be elsewhere.
You may end up living in a better neighborhood and a higher quality of life than you can afford on your own.
Can't hurt to ask can it?
ENDING HOMELESSNESS IS ONE OF THE GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM!
Monday, March 12, 2012
COLD WEATHER SHELTERS CLOSING - TIME TO SLEEP ROUGH AGAIN?
Many of you who are reading this do so on your own personal laptops or in community computer labs in libraries or college campuses. You have access to information the way people who don't use computers can't. It's up to those of us who have this ability to communicate to those who do not. Many of those who do not have information they need are people who are not in shelters, or who will soon be leaving cold weather shelters across the nation.
Those who have never experienced homelessness have no idea how difficult it is to live on the street or in a park, in a car, camping out under the stars or in a tent in a backyard. It's difficult to keep warm and clean stay out of pain that comes from not having a proper bed to sleep in.
Many homeless were once housed but COULD NO LONGER AFFORD THEIR RENT ON a fixed income, and many are still trying to look for jobs or keep jobs while having nowhere to safely keep their clothes and other few possessions.
Some lucky homeless have at least one friend who hasn't totally abandoned them, who gets their mail or lets them come in for a shower once in a while.
There is no easy solution.
Those who have never experienced homelessness have no idea how difficult it is to live on the street or in a park, in a car, camping out under the stars or in a tent in a backyard. It's difficult to keep warm and clean stay out of pain that comes from not having a proper bed to sleep in.
Many homeless were once housed but COULD NO LONGER AFFORD THEIR RENT ON a fixed income, and many are still trying to look for jobs or keep jobs while having nowhere to safely keep their clothes and other few possessions.
Some lucky homeless have at least one friend who hasn't totally abandoned them, who gets their mail or lets them come in for a shower once in a while.
There is no easy solution.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
WORLD HARVEST FOOD BANK in DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES LETS YOU WORK IN EXCHANGE FOR FOOD
WORLD HARVEST FOOD BANK (updated Jan 2015)
213 - 746-2227 and 2228
3200 SOUTH GRAND AVE (near Adams Blvd and Jefferson Ave.)
LA, CA 90007
A flyer we found said this was for LA COUNTY Residents but their own YouTube video says adjacent counties OK... so call ahead and ask.
NEAR LA CONVENTION CENTER!
$30 for over a Hundred Pounds of Food? Many ORGANIC!
You do not need to be a citizen of the United States to get food.
You either donate money or work a few hours in exchange.
Founded and initially funded by Glen Corato in 2007, WORLD HARVEST FOOD BANK IS NOW ASKING FOR OUTSIDE DONATIONS.
WORLD HARVEST FOOD BANK.
IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO LUG ALL THAT HOME ON A BUS!
But if you have a vehicle, and you have the gas money, this might be a foodbank to head to!
UPDATE : http://worldharvestfoodbank.org/
213 - 746-2227 and 2228
3200 SOUTH GRAND AVE (near Adams Blvd and Jefferson Ave.)
LA, CA 90007
A flyer we found said this was for LA COUNTY Residents but their own YouTube video says adjacent counties OK... so call ahead and ask.
NEAR LA CONVENTION CENTER!
$30 for over a Hundred Pounds of Food? Many ORGANIC!
You do not need to be a citizen of the United States to get food.
You either donate money or work a few hours in exchange.
Founded and initially funded by Glen Corato in 2007, WORLD HARVEST FOOD BANK IS NOW ASKING FOR OUTSIDE DONATIONS.
WORLD HARVEST FOOD BANK.
IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO LUG ALL THAT HOME ON A BUS!
But if you have a vehicle, and you have the gas money, this might be a foodbank to head to!
UPDATE : http://worldharvestfoodbank.org/
Friday, March 9, 2012
RICHARD CODEY INVESTIGATES THE REALITY OF HOMELESS SHELTERS IN NEWARK
IMPORTANT... Richard Codey is an ex governer of New Jersey. Undercover he spent ONE NIGHT in a Newark New Jersey shelter.
He says IT'S A CRAP SHOOT ... THE SYSTEM DOES EVERYTHING IT CAN TO DIVERT THE HOMELESS PERSON FROM SERVICE ... UNLESS YOU'RE IN A GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM FORGET IT!
WE KNOW! WE KNOW!
He says IT'S A CRAP SHOOT ... THE SYSTEM DOES EVERYTHING IT CAN TO DIVERT THE HOMELESS PERSON FROM SERVICE ... UNLESS YOU'RE IN A GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM FORGET IT!
WE KNOW! WE KNOW!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
DON'T LINK TO US TO SELL INSURANCE, STOCKS AND BONDS, OR ANYTHING ELSE!
We are NOT in favor of any link to us that is being used to sell insurance, stocks and bonds, or anything else. We feel exploited when we find out that we are being used this way! We are here to expose the conditions that the poorest of the poor live in here in the United States of America. Though no doubt some of us became homeless after loosing our retirements in fraudulent schemes cooked up by wealthy sociopaths who could give a damn about what happened to us. Though no doubt some of us became homeless after being injured and disabled and unable to keep a job, an apartment or house, or even a car.
WE WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THE LINK THAT EXPLOITERS OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE USING TO SELL THEIR STUFF!
WE WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THE LINK THAT EXPLOITERS OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE USING TO SELL THEIR STUFF!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
HOMELESS OK - TUJUNGA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - TUJUNGA FOOD BANK
Volunteer contacted this resource to update information April 2016
TUJUNGA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH(818) 352-1481
9901 Tujunga Canyon Blvd. (near Foothill) Tujunga, California 91042
CLOTHES CLOSET available to ALL on each Friday from 11 am to 1 PM and the fourth Saturday of the month from 10 am to 12 PM. Need ID.
Meals and Showers Thursdays at 10 AM, be there early to sign uyp for the shower.
Homeless served as needed when open.
Wednesday and Friday 11 am to 1 PM and the fourth Saturday of the month from 10 am to 12 noon.
Services people in LA Canada, La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, Montrose, Sunland, and Tujunga. Call ahead if possible to check on availability.
TUJUNGA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH(818) 352-1481
9901 Tujunga Canyon Blvd. (near Foothill) Tujunga, California 91042
CLOTHES CLOSET available to ALL on each Friday from 11 am to 1 PM and the fourth Saturday of the month from 10 am to 12 PM. Need ID.
Meals and Showers Thursdays at 10 AM, be there early to sign uyp for the shower.
Homeless served as needed when open.
Wednesday and Friday 11 am to 1 PM and the fourth Saturday of the month from 10 am to 12 noon.
Services people in LA Canada, La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, Montrose, Sunland, and Tujunga. Call ahead if possible to check on availability.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
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