Friday, March 29, 2013

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

FAMILY PROMISE SHELTER - BURBANK - NOT FOR THOSE HOMELESS OVER A YEAR

FAMILY PROMISE OF EAST SAN FERNANDO - BURBANK SHELTER link here!
PO Box 1307, Burbank, CA 91507

818-588-6723
"Our interfaith, nonsectarian network brings the faith community together to help our community's families regain housing, independence and dignity in a time of need.

With a 100% success rate of homeless to home transition, Family Promise of East San Fernando Valley is building a better community, one family at a time.

Family Promise of East San Fernando Valley opened in July 2010 as one of over 160 networks across the country affiliated with Family Promise, a national non-profit organization committed to helping low-income families to achieve lasting independence."

 11,000 children ... not for chronically homeless.  OK, it is ridiculous to be called chronically homeless just because you've been homeless 6 months.  6 months is NOTHING!

Saturday, March 23, 2013

LOUIS MEDINA ON THE POSITIVE EFFECT OF RAPID REHOUSING FUNDS ON KERN COUNTY HOMELESSNESS

BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN - LOUIS MEDINA

..."But it is easy to understand that reduction in homelessness when considering that several million dollars in Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing federal stimulus funds came into our community beginning in late 2009. That funding dried up in mid-2012, but while it was available it helped reduce family homelessness in Kern by 12 percent."...




Friday, March 22, 2013

SECTION 8 HOUSING BADLY HURT BY FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS - LOS ANGELES COUNTY MAY ELIMINATE VOUCHERS OR RAISE RENTS

FEDERAL SEQUESTER AND SECTION 8 IN LA - DAILY NEWS link to full article.

"City and county officials are in Washington D.C. this week lobbying to try to soften the blow of the cuts, pushing for permission to increase rents so they don't have to throw most recipients off the program altogether."

"Los Angeles has the largest homeless population in the U.S.," he added. "We've put a lot of resources into addressing that, and made progress, but much of it will be lost because of these enormous cuts."

"HACLA's Section 8 program director Peter Lynn said the agency is reaching out to landlords to see if they can negotiate rents downward, but he conceded this might be difficult."



WE KNOW PANIC HAS ALREADY SET IN.  THIS IS A TERRIBLE BLOW FOR MOST SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHER HOLDERS.  It's very difficult to find housing that is below market rates and accessible to decent public transportation.  We can hope for a miracle...

Thursday, March 21, 2013

WEST SIDE (LA) FOOD BANK

WEST SIDE FOOD BANK link

Westside Food Bank

1710 22nd St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: (310) 828-6016   THERE ARE OTHER SERVICES BESIDES FOOD.

Serves West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Venice, Inglewood.

"The need for food assistance in our area is up by over 75% since the start of the recession."



Good video.  Healthy eating is more and more difficult.

Monday, March 18, 2013

GREGORY BRANDT'S SUPER VIDEO CELEBRITIES WHO WERE ONCE HOMELESS



"Celebrities Who Were Homeless Before They Were Famous" by Gregory Brandt Music  Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins


We hope Gregory won't mind us adding the names on his list to ours!  IT SEEMS LIKE THAT LIST IS EVER EXPANDING!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

ILLUMINATION FOUNDATION OFFERS ORANGE COUNTY HOMELESS HELP AFTER HOSPITAL

VOICE OF ORANGE COUNTY ON ILLUMINATION FOUNDATION AS RESOURCE FOR HOMELESS DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL  (Orange County is one of the richest Counties in the United States.)

..." All she got was a bus pass.


“I was homeless, I was losing my child and I couldn’t sleep in my car anymore,” said Nancy. Only Illumination Foundation stepped in to rescue her with a place to recuperate.

Nancy's dilemma shows how an efficient, local program is being underutilized by the hospital industry, whose emergency rooms often end up with patients from the county's homeless population, which is more than 20,000, along with 22,000 children living in unstable conditions."



ILLUMINATION FOUNDATION HOMEPAGE LINK   History

Experts on homelessness within Orange County agree that it has reached crisis proportions, and that there are not enough resources designated for chronic and emergency programs. With that understanding, IF was founded in late 2007 to effectively lower the barriers for Orange County's homeless population to access existing resources and services. In July 2008 IF launched the "Pre-Transitional Housing and Wrap-Around Program", a comprehensive program that houses and supports homeless families with children in motels in Orange County. IF was established within the UC Irvine Health Care Executive MBA Program as a non-profit public charity organization. Today, IF's governing board consists of community leaders in medicine, nursing, social work, information technology and education.



The Homeless Crisis in Orange County

•21,000 - 35,000 homeless people in Orange County

•Over 26,000 Orange County public school students are living in unstable housing conditions

•3,400 shelter beds have high-entry qualifications that leave homeless people on the street

Thursday, March 14, 2013

NEW POPE FRANCIS A WORKER WITH THE POOR

The new Roman Catholic Pope, who has decided to call himself Francis, after Saint Francis of Assisi, was elected yesterday in Rome by a conclave of Cardinals. It's said that he was the person who came in second during the election of Pope Benedict, who has resigned due to fragility. 

From all we've read, YOU COULD SAY THAT THIS NEW POPE HAS BEEN A POVERTY ACTIVIST in his lifetime and that he HAS TAKEN AS A ROLE MODEL A SAINT KNOWN TO HAVE GIVEN UP ALL PERSONAL WEALTH and TAKEN A VOW OF POVERTY.

Those of us who are concerned about poverty in the United States and the World, await to see what, if any influence this new Pope will have on attitudes about those who have not.

This article in the NON PROFIT QUARTERLY is called WILL NEW POPE RENEW CATHOLIC FOCUS ON POVERTY  link cites the Washington Post.

"Such a message from Rome might invigorate the charitable activity of Catholic Charities and other institutions, offering a reinforcement of their social justice mission."

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

NY CITY TRIES TO BAN FOODSTAMP USERS FROM BUYING SODA - CALLERS INTO GERALDO RIVERA - KABC - SPEW HATRED TOWARDS THE POOR

KABC -GERALDO RIVERA  link to station and contact links.

SCPR ORG. ARTICLE BAN OF SODA - WHAT ABOUT THOSE COKE ADS? link.

"An attempted by New York City to block large sugary drinks has been invalidated by the New York State Supreme Court..."

This morning we were listening to KABC and the Geraldo Rivera show where talk was about the ban in New York which was meant to prevent food stamp recipients from buying soda.  The idea is being thrown around that this will actually BAN OBESITY and that other cities and states will also try to do this!

THE PEOPLE WHO CALLED IN WERE SO IGNORANT AND RUDE, so without understanding and empathy for the have-nots that we couldn't help but wonder where they are in this life spiritually or politically.  FOOD STAMP USERS WERE TALKED ABOUT AS FAT, LAZY, collecting medical benefits and sitting around watching TV.  The typical shit that we are useless people, worthless people, people who do not deserve.  Clearly these callers have never thought "There but for the grace of God go I.

If these people knew the YEARS some people go through, with and without lawyers, to obtain disability benefits, often living at shelters or in their cars with cancer, broken backs, and war injuries, while they are denied two and three times.

If these people knew what it is to TRY AND EAT HEALTHY on about $5 a day, especially when you have to walk and carry groceries while in pain and can't afford the gas to go comparison shopping to find the deals. 

TRY IT FOLKS who aren't already doing it.  FIVE DOLLARS A DAY for three healthy meals and often, no refrigerator or stove.  Maybe a microwave.  Typically the five dollars will buy a couple burgers, a premade sandwich and a piece of fruit.  Vegetables?  How many raw carrots can you crunch?  MANY PEOPLE WHO GET FOOD STAMP BENEFITS ALSO GO TO FOOD BANKS!

It's true that soda pop is loaded with sugar.  But what about the "diet" or no calorie soda?  Still can't buy those?  OK, what about VITAMIN WATER.  We know many people who use about a dollar of that $5 a day to buy a vitamin water because THEY HAVE NO MONEY FOR VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS.

More so, what about all the JUNK FOOD - and we mean FAST FOOD - that homeless and poor people eat.  WILL BANS ON EBT RESTAURANT BENEFIT be next?

HOMELESS and POOR PEOPLE DO GET FAT ON JUNK FOOD.  They often have little choice in food selection.  The goal is sometimes to just get rid of the hunger pangs.  Shelters often serve food that is FAST FOOD.  Plus it seems like Ralphs an other food donation sources give away deserts and breads.  They get a tax deduction but you wonder why their bakeries keep making more than they can sell. We guess it's a tax evasion trick.

One of us almost felt nauseated by the talk heard on Geraldo Rivera this morning.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

SAN FERNANDO FRAUD RING ARRESTS - IDENTITY THEFT OF HOMELESS AT SHELTERS IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

SIX ARRESTED IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FRAUD RING - NORTH HOLLYWOOD TOLUCA LAKE PATCH link

"Federal authorities today arrested six of eight defendants charged in an alleged San Fernando Valley-based fraud ring that used stolen identities to collect nearly $10 million in phony tax refunds.


According to a 132-count indictment, filed this week in Los Angeles federal court, members of the scheme obtained nearly 2,000 stolen identities, many from retired people and residents of homeless shelters, some of whom had not filed federal tax returns in years.

Prosecutors allege the defendants then submitted forms to the Internal Revenue Service under the names of the identity-theft victims. After getting refunds, the defendants took the fraudulently obtained checks to various check cashing companies, which took their own cuts, according to the indictment."

If you're staying at a shelter and think you may have been used like this, please contact the local police and file reports so that you can try and fix your credit! (You may also be able to change your Social Security Number with SS.)

Friday, March 8, 2013

WERE PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE STREET? - HOMELESS CLINIC(S) PUSHING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND MALINGERING ON REFERRALS FOR DIAGNOSTICS

Prescription drugs such as Vicodin are highly addictive.

We're hearing that some homeless who are going to "free," "homeless," or other low income clinics are not getting the immediate referrals they need for diagnosis, and instead are being given a steady supply of muscle relaxants, and/or a variety of prescription painkillers such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, even Morphine. Some of these people are on long waits for X-Rays, MRI's, CAT scans, and other diagnostic tools.

 If the homeless person is impatient, they are told to go to EMERGENCY at COUNTY FACILITIES.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

OXYCONTIN ARRESTS - SEATTLE AND LOS ANGELES - DEA LINK

DEA REPORT ON ARRESTS link

“Members of this ring regularly circulate between Los Angeles and Spokane to fuel their customer’s insatiable appetite and pharmaceutical addiction,” said Seattle DEA Special Agent in Charge Matthew G. Barnes. “For too long, their web of destruction has fed upon, and profited from the misery of many Washingtonians, only to leave a surplus of illegally obtained pain killers and ruined lives in their wake. I would like to commend the ongoing cooperative efforts of our federal, state and local partners to keep our communities safe.”

Basically,  reading other news stories on this same event, 40 people have been arrested and the fraud involves doctors, medical clinics, billing the government, as well as street sells.


Since we' ve heard of homeless selling and using OXYCONTIN, we thought we would post this.  If you're in need of rehab, don't be ashamed.  We know many of you started this addiction from legit prescriptions due to very real bodily pain.   Starting with AA or another 12 step group may be the thing to do.    AA NATIONAL MEETING DIRECTORY!  (Ask your local group if they know of meeting for other substances!)   See our other health links on this blog's side bar!

Monday, March 4, 2013

PASSING AS A TOURIST, SHOPPER, or GYM BUNNY ?

Are you homeless under the stars, camping in a park, official camping ground by the sea, or wherever, perhaps PASSING AS A TOURIST, when there is no home to go home to? Some homeless families find this to be the way to go, especially if someone in the family is also holding down a job.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Saturday, March 2, 2013

RUMOR REACHES US OF HOMELESS RESOURCES COMPETITOR OUT TO GET US!

Competitor?  For POVERTY ACTIVISTS there may be differences of opinion but if you're on the same side of the issue, wanting to eliminate poverty and homelessness, are you actually competing? 

A rumor reached us that an individual staying at San Fernando Valley shelter that you've read about in these posts has a HOMELESS RESOURCES web site which takes contributions of money has been putting us down.  Meanwhile, the story goes, this person is applying for and taking Government Benefits and not reporting the money. 
...

It's not like we aren't aware that there are lists of homeless resources to be found other places.  In fact there are just so many lists of resources.  

We hope that what we have to offer here is MORE THAN the lists.  It's real easy to pretend that each and every homeless shelter or resource provider actually has a heart, has our best interests in mind, and DOES EXACTLY WHAT THEY CLAIM TO DO WHEN THEY TAKE CONTRIBUTIONS.

MOST OF THE HOMELESS RESOURCE PLACES PRIDE THEMSELVES IN HANDING OVER LISTS OF OTHER RESOURCES - often out of date information or repetitive since they have PHOTOCOPIED pages of the same lists.   There are also medical clinics that claim to help the homeless but who do not advocate but who basically think they are helping because they 'send" people to another organization.  You can do a whole hell of a lot of go-sees trying to get help.

When we've told some these places that there was inaccurate information on their lists, well, months go by and they don't correct the list.  One Burbank location had a shelter listed in North Hollywood that had gone out of business more than 2 years before!  One food bank gave us a list and half the places we called had changed info.

It's not easy to keep up with all the changes.

WE THINK THAT SOME ORGANIZATIONS HAVE NON-PROFIT STATUS AND TAKE DONATIONS JUST SO THEY CAN REFER PEOPLE SOMEWHERE ELSE. 

Then there is 211 or 311 phone help lines or one of those 800 numbers where you can call and get the latest information.  Supposedly.  One person we know called 211 and followed through calling 5 referrals who were supposed to have furniture.  None did.  It was all misinformation.

As much as we want to help you, we know that information can go out of date quickly, so while we hope that you'll find a link to that help when you need it, WE HOPE WE WILL INSPIRE YOU TO KEEP ON ASKING QUESTIONS, KEEP ON MAKING THOSE PHONE CALLS, KEEP ON SHOWING UP FOR THOSE INTERVIEWS, while knowing how difficult, exhausting, and numbing that is.  We do want your comments, suggestions, testimonials, and updates!