TOM AMMIANO'S HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS MOVES FORWARD TOWARD ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

RAW STORY : HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS  link - one of many stories hitting the Internet this morning.  See below for our commentary on Bill Handel, KFI Radio's, commentary this morning.

BILL HANDEL FKI AM 640 RADIO LINK

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The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, would allow homeless people in California to legally sit, sleep and ask for donations in public without the threat of being arrested or cited. The bill would also allow homeless to reside in parks 24/7, regardless of their operating hours.


Ammiano explained the bill’s primary goal was to stop the criminalization of homelessness. Bill supporter and Coalition on Homelessness organizer Lisa Marie Alatorre told the SF Examiner:

“This bill calls for the immediate end of criminalizing homelessness. We need to stop allowing that to be our response to economic problems.”

The proposal lays out a “bill of rights” for people who are homeless including the right to:

“… move freely, rest, solicit donations, pray, meditate, or practice religion, and to eat, share, accept, or give food and water in public spaces without being subject to criminal or civil sanctions, harassment or arrest.”

If passed, the state would also be required to set up “health and hygiene centers” to provide showers and restrooms for the homeless 24 hours a day. Additionally, legal assistance must be available for anyone issued a citation for an activity related to their housing status.

While the state would foot the bill for these costs, the final price tag is still not known. Ammiano told the committee:

“Citations, arrests and jail time do not solve homelessness. They just route crucial public dollars that could be spent on housing to an already impacted court and corrections system.”

The new proposal would override San Francisco’s sit-lie ordinance passed in 2010 by voters. Sit-lie ordinances, though, would remain enforceable in cities that meet certain criteria, including having available public housing and have not been identified as “an area of concentrated unemployment.”

But sit-lie ordinances would be enforceable if strict criteria are met: the county provides adequate welfare assistance, the city isn’t identified by the U.S. Department of Labor as an area of concentrated unemployment, and the county’s public housing waiting list contains fewer than 50 people.

Assemblyman Donald Wagner, who voted against the bill Tuesday, told the committee:

“The homeless situation in San Francisco is going to be very much different from the homeless situation in Fresno, Los Angeles or central Orange County. By Sacramento passing this law, it doesn’t allow those cities to fix their own problems.”

While many local governments and business groups are in opposition of the bill, they’re probably thankful the current amended version of the bill no longer includes the controversial provision that would have legalized public urination by the homeless.

The legislation, passed by the Assembly Judiciary Committee with a 7-2 vote, will now head to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations...


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We heard the news as part of Bill Handel's Commentary on KFI this morning.  He mentioned that people say to him that he hates the homeless.  Well, we did get the impression, but we think Bill is mostly IGNORANT like a lot of people who rarely come in contact with homeless.  As a lawyer Bill has legal knowledge that a lot of people don't have.  He mentioned that this comes down to being a revenue issue.  He mentioned that while SIDEWALKS are public property, what does a business owner do when some homeless guy is peeing on the sidewalk in front of your business.  He also mentioned that Amiano sees this as a HUMANITARIAN ISSUE and so there will be LOCAL HYGIENE STATIONS open 24 hours a day so that homeless can have a place to wash, pee, whatever.

Needless to say we are all for THE HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS and feel grateful that Tom Ammiano had the guts to bring up the issue.  He is representing ALL THE PEOPLE including HOMELESS PEOPLE, who are usually THE POOREST OF THE POOR.  He's right that people who were never criminals are considered criminals just because they have nowhere else to go.  Homeless people are transient because they are moved along by police wherever they go.  Being harrassed from one community to the next, trying to stay out of trouble means walking till you can't walk anymore, going hungry or panhandling for money to feed yourself, and being under constant stress.  Then some people yell at you to go get a job.

VOICE OF ORANGE COUNTY : UC IRVINE CONFERENCE FOCUS ON CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS

VOICE OF ORANGE COUNTY - article link here


... "Laws allowing police to ticket and arrest homeless people for sleeping in a car, sitting on the sidewalk — or even leaving their bags on the sidewalk while they use a bathroom — are part of a larger strategy to criminalize homelessness and by extension, poverty, according to attorneys and advocates for homeless people at a conference at the UC Irvine School of Law.


The daylong conference, called “Opposing the Criminalization of Homelessness: Building a Human Rights Framework,” drew about 100 people Saturday, including lawyers, activists, law students and academics.

Conference speakers described an aggressive campaign of arrests on charges from littering to loitering in order to drive away homeless residents of Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood. Panelists also discussed efforts to disguise the problem of homelessness in Orange County.

“We’re good at hiding it and hiding it really well,” said Renato Izquieta, attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County. “You will find homeless in every park in this county, including San Clemente, Laguna Beach and more.” .."

WEST SIDE HOMELESS OUTREACH - ADVOCACY AND A COUPLE SPECIAL PROGRAMS - M.O.M.S.

M.O.M.S  ( 2 to 3 weeks) Program WEST SIDE HOMELESS PROGRAMS PAGE link for mothers with children.

"Many people are surprised to learn that the hardest part of homeless-ness isn’t always the lack of material goods—especially an apartment, condo or house.  Scores of homeless people say lack of possessions is only a small part of surviving on city streets. Most major battles are due to the lack of life’s intangibles. For example, most homeless people have great difficulty filling each day with meaningful activities."


  HOMELESS?  call Phone 310-570-9065 (voice and text) for resources. The site also has a form you can fill out and send in and a link for resources.

FOOD STAMPS FOR PETS - A SUPER IDEA - MARK OKEN BLOG ADDED TO OUR LIST

FOOD STAMPS FOR PETS BLOG  called THE OUTSIDE WORLD link!

We tried to get in to see what the application looks like a month ago when we first heard about this and the site was down, due to overwhelming need.  This is a new nonprofit based in New York City.   Those of you who are suffering and hate like hell to give up a pet may be able to access this organization to feed Fido or Fluffy for a 6 month period!

DO YOU IGNOR HOMELESS PEOPLE? DAVID SLEPPY - BOOK " NO ONE SEES ME"

DO YOU IGNOR HOMELESS PEOPLE? - ALTERNET EXPLORES THE PSYCHOLOGY link

... A few years ago, as David Sleppy was walking around downtown Toronto, he spotted a young homeless man who reminded him of his son, sleeping on a sidewalk.


“Whose son is this?” he thought.

He snapped a picture, beginning the creation of a book of photography aimed at capturing the invisible life of the homeless. The book is titled No One Sees Me, which comes from an encounter he had during his journey. ..."

BESSIE SMITH - NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN

HOW DO YOU COVER THE HUGE HOLE IN YOUR RESUME ?

Do you tell the interviewer the truth?

Interviewers!  Will you hire someone who admits to you that they were homeless?

IF YOU ARE IN A SHLETER WHAT HELP, IF ANY, HAVE YOU RECIEVED FROM SHELTER EMPLOYEES TO FIND WORK?

THE HOMELESS ADVISOR BLOG ADDED TO OUR LIST

HOMELESS ADVISOR BLOG link

"My situation regards my lungs limits any number of income opportunities from being within my abilities. Given my age and C.O.P.D. malady, it would be a direct act of God for me to be offered a position other than a Walmart Greeter or some manual labor. The FiOS job I lost when I contracted Pneumonia offered a nice bit-0-cash while it lasted, but doing door to door is not in my realm anymore."

This gentleman writes from Texas.

HOMELESS MARY - HOMELESS IN LONG BEACH BLOG

HOMELESS MARY - HOMELESS IN LONG BEACH link here!

We tried to leave a message for Mary but are not sure it went through.  Anyway, Mary if you're reading this, your blog is linked to ours now!  MARY SURE DOES HAVE A GOOD LIST OF LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA RESOURCES and a story to tell.

This is what we wanted to say to her.  DON'T FEEL YOU ARE A FAILURE WHEN SURVIVAL IS A SUCCESS IN ITSELF!

MARY SAYS "I joke that if the High School yearbook had a category for Most Likely To Fail, I would have been overlooked for the position."

GREEN DRAWING OF BUTTERFLY

NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE WE INVITE YOU TO READ SOME OF OUR BLOG. We have a lot of information, links to national and Southern California news and homeless services!

ONE MILLION STUDENTS HOMELESS - SCHOLASTIC

ONE MILLION STUDENTS HOMELESS by SCHOLASTIC By Caralee Adams  full article

Ways to Support Homeless Students


- Change bus routes so homeless students living in shelters or motels are picked up first and delivered last to respect their privacy.

- Consult service providers in shelters to learn what needs homeless students may have, from transportation to supplies to health care.

- Create a report card to hand to the next teacher that charts students' progress. A running record of students' strengths and needs will help them to maintain continuity if they switch schools. Also, give students a weekly self-evaluation form to reflect on what they are proud of accomplishing.

- Adjust homework by eliminating assignments requiring a computer, a TV, or a phone, or offer supplies or school time to complete those tasks.

- Assign a buddy to each homeless student. They often enter school midyear, and a friend can familiarize them with rules and procedures.

- Never punish homeless students by taking away a possession, friend time, or recess.

Source: BethAnn Berliner, Imagine the Possibilities Sourcebook, wested.org

FREE SPEECH RADIO - CALL FOR PROTECTION OF HOMELESS BECAUSE OF VAN NUYS VIOLET

ADVOCATES CALL FOR PROTECTION OF HOMELESS AFTER VIOLENT ATTACK ON CALIFORNIA WOMAN link here!

This link connects to a radio broadcast.

"Human rights advocates are demanding better protections for the homeless, following a violent attack on a woman sleeping on a bus bench in Van Nuys, California. Witnesses say a man poured rubbing alcohol on the woman known as "Violet" as she slept on a bench and then he set her on fire. She remains in critical condition. Advocacy groups have been documenting an increasing number of attacks on the homeless in the US. Despite the increase, some say the government is doing little to track violence against the vulnerable population. FSRN’s Leilani Albano has more."

RESTAURANTS TAKING EBT CASH BUT NOT EBT FOOD?

WE KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE EBT FOOD BENEFIT as a senior citizen, disabled person, or homeless person, or if you are living without the appliances to cook, YOU CAN BUY HOT FOOD AT A MANY FAST FOOD CHAINS, but if you're looking for healthier food or some variety, you may want to use that FOOD BENEFIT at a smaller, owner-operated restaurant. We are always searching for these.

IF YOU ARE A RESTAURANT OWNER please understand that most people who get CASH BENEFITS such as General Relief or Welfare REALLY NEED THAT CASH MONEY.  They don't want to dip into it for food.  We do not understand  restaurants who are willing to take EBT cash but not EBT food.

People who are senior citizens, disabled, or who do not live where they can cook their own means can get a FOOD BENEFIT like to get out of the house (or shelter or park). 

DAVID BOWIE - CHANGES

KEEP ON MOVING ON!