HOMELESS LESSONS SUCCESS FAILURE - SAN BERNARDINO SUN ARTICLE - link to full article, one of three, here.
Excerpt: " At its peak, Ontario’s Tent City was estimated to have been home to more than 400 people.
Now the camp, formally called the Temporary Homeless Services Area, is down to three or four because of a partnership with the city and Mercy House, an Orange County-based nonprofit that provides housing and comprehensive support for the homeless.
“A wide variety of things have happened,” said Larry Haynes, executive director of Mercy House. “Essentially, it’s just about done. It’s pretty close to being shut down and the reason is because so many folks have been able to get some sort of shelter or housing placement.” ...
It is not illegal to be homeless, said Upland Police Chief Jeff Mendenhall, who deals with the homeless issue in his city, most notably in Memorial Park and encampments south of Cable Airport and 11th Street.
The department receives calls from residents and business owners.
“It is frustrating because we are here to solve problems and when a person calls and complains about a situation, there are limitations to what we can do,” Mendenhall said. “It becomes frustrating for the officers, the department but we will obey by the law.”
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
BURBANK CITY COUNCIL VOTES YES FOR HOUSING FOR VETS PROJECT
BURBANK LEADER - VETERANS HOUSING HELP BURBANK HOUSING CORP link to article from August 23, 2013.
"The cost to acquire and rehabilitate the property, and relocate its current tenants, is $2.7 million, the majority of which will be funded by federal affordable housing funds and the Burbank Housing Corp., according to city officials.
The property includes four buildings and a courtyard located at 1101 W. Verdugo Ave. and 1108 W. Angeleno Ave. Each one-bedroom unit is roughly 580 square feet....City officials said the demand for the program is high since 25 homeless veterans reside in Burbank, according to a recent study.
“Data suggests there is a need to help these veterans, get them off the streets,” said project manager Ross Young.
The idea is to provide housing and support services — including vocational training and job placement — for a period of two years, at which point the veterans are expected to find permanent housing. Ten one-bedroom units will be made available, with the last unit reserved for a program director, Young said.
“I am so supportive of this,” said Councilman Gary Bric. “It’s something that we owe our veterans.”
"The cost to acquire and rehabilitate the property, and relocate its current tenants, is $2.7 million, the majority of which will be funded by federal affordable housing funds and the Burbank Housing Corp., according to city officials.
The property includes four buildings and a courtyard located at 1101 W. Verdugo Ave. and 1108 W. Angeleno Ave. Each one-bedroom unit is roughly 580 square feet....City officials said the demand for the program is high since 25 homeless veterans reside in Burbank, according to a recent study.
“Data suggests there is a need to help these veterans, get them off the streets,” said project manager Ross Young.
The idea is to provide housing and support services — including vocational training and job placement — for a period of two years, at which point the veterans are expected to find permanent housing. Ten one-bedroom units will be made available, with the last unit reserved for a program director, Young said.
“I am so supportive of this,” said Councilman Gary Bric. “It’s something that we owe our veterans.”
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
SCAMED BY SENIOR HOME OWNER WHO RENTS ROOMS TO DISABLED? EVICTED BY YOUR OWN CRAZY MOM? CAN GENESIS HELP?
(Thanks B for editing our original post!)
HOW DID YOU BECOME HOMELESS?
We're posting this because we don't think our friend, who we'll call Shannon, is the ONLY person who has been scammed by a senior citizen home owner in the Toluca Lake area.
Our friend was living in an Assisted Living building but yearned to be away from so many people, to cook her own meals, and have more of a life, because she was one of the younger people in that place and it was lonely and boring.
Shannon found a listing for a room for rent for about $500 a month in the Toluca Lake area. After only a couple weeks there, she found herself locked out with her possessions inside. She had to go to a motel.
She had to have another person retrieve her possessions. She is thinking of buying and living in a van. She is out half a months rent $250 which is huge money for her. She believes that this senior citizen home owner may have pulled the same routine on others before - male and female - as a kind of scam to make money. Or the lady may be crazy.
We also just met up with another friend who has been living with her mom in Sherman Oaks for fifteen years. Mom, in her seventies, is starving herself to keep a much younger boyfriend who is moving in. Guess who is being evicted by mom?
Mom is even willing to lie that her daughter is an abuser and put her on the street as she sees this new man as her last chance at love.
What do you do when confronted by stories like these almost every day?
Social Workers are burned out from hearing them and not all the professionals in the homeless business care. We try our best.
We've given Shannon a couple phone numbers to call and hopefully someone will investigate this home owner.
First of all, just because you rent a room rather than an apartment doesn't mean you have no rights. You should get a lease signed by the both of you just like when you rent a whole apartment. You probably shouldn't rent the place without it because that document gives you protection. Even without a lease, you can get the police to help you get your possessions out of a lock up and that includes at shelters where they lock your possessions up to punish you like we hear they do at LA Family Housing Valley Shelter.
The home owner also has the right to go after you for unpaid rent if you run out on your bills, or evict you legally. It can take months to do this and there are legal services and advisories that may help you if you just need some time to make up the rent.
Most seniors do go into their last years with their wits about them and most parents who have a child living with them for years, maybe because that child is disabled, don't put them on the street. But yea, we've met disabled people living in vans and RV's whose parents put them out, or didn't leave them an inheritance.
If you've been living with a parent for years as a care-giver and you see changes in your parents behavior or attitude, you may also reach out for help for the both of you. If your parent is like letting other people take FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE of them, getting very forgetful, flying into rages, playing games with their medications or forgetting to take important meds, or anything that makes you suspect that they are no longer able to totally take care of themselves or that they have gone crazy, you can talk to social workers yourself.
We are suggesting to both people to go to a local SOVA and ask for an appointment with a lawyer.
You need to talk to a lawyer in person, not talk to a volunteer at LEGAL AID or any do it yourself type legal clinic.
We also had a friend call a place called GENESIS. Geriatric Evaluation Networks Encompassing Services Intervention Support Programs is part of the County of Los Angeles Mental Health. If you are DISABLED and Collecting SSI at any age, or you are simply over 60, and someone is abusing you or taking financial advantage of you, they may be able to help. There is one problem though - you have to give them a Social Security Number. If you are trying to get someone else help or an evaluation rather than yourself then you have to have that other person's Social Security Number. If the person who needs help is your mom, you just might have that.
GENESIS-FCCS is at 213 351-7284.
HOW DID YOU BECOME HOMELESS?
We're posting this because we don't think our friend, who we'll call Shannon, is the ONLY person who has been scammed by a senior citizen home owner in the Toluca Lake area.
Our friend was living in an Assisted Living building but yearned to be away from so many people, to cook her own meals, and have more of a life, because she was one of the younger people in that place and it was lonely and boring.
Shannon found a listing for a room for rent for about $500 a month in the Toluca Lake area. After only a couple weeks there, she found herself locked out with her possessions inside. She had to go to a motel.
She had to have another person retrieve her possessions. She is thinking of buying and living in a van. She is out half a months rent $250 which is huge money for her. She believes that this senior citizen home owner may have pulled the same routine on others before - male and female - as a kind of scam to make money. Or the lady may be crazy.
We also just met up with another friend who has been living with her mom in Sherman Oaks for fifteen years. Mom, in her seventies, is starving herself to keep a much younger boyfriend who is moving in. Guess who is being evicted by mom?
Mom is even willing to lie that her daughter is an abuser and put her on the street as she sees this new man as her last chance at love.
What do you do when confronted by stories like these almost every day?
Social Workers are burned out from hearing them and not all the professionals in the homeless business care. We try our best.
We've given Shannon a couple phone numbers to call and hopefully someone will investigate this home owner.
First of all, just because you rent a room rather than an apartment doesn't mean you have no rights. You should get a lease signed by the both of you just like when you rent a whole apartment. You probably shouldn't rent the place without it because that document gives you protection. Even without a lease, you can get the police to help you get your possessions out of a lock up and that includes at shelters where they lock your possessions up to punish you like we hear they do at LA Family Housing Valley Shelter.
The home owner also has the right to go after you for unpaid rent if you run out on your bills, or evict you legally. It can take months to do this and there are legal services and advisories that may help you if you just need some time to make up the rent.
Most seniors do go into their last years with their wits about them and most parents who have a child living with them for years, maybe because that child is disabled, don't put them on the street. But yea, we've met disabled people living in vans and RV's whose parents put them out, or didn't leave them an inheritance.
If you've been living with a parent for years as a care-giver and you see changes in your parents behavior or attitude, you may also reach out for help for the both of you. If your parent is like letting other people take FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE of them, getting very forgetful, flying into rages, playing games with their medications or forgetting to take important meds, or anything that makes you suspect that they are no longer able to totally take care of themselves or that they have gone crazy, you can talk to social workers yourself.
We are suggesting to both people to go to a local SOVA and ask for an appointment with a lawyer.
You need to talk to a lawyer in person, not talk to a volunteer at LEGAL AID or any do it yourself type legal clinic.
We also had a friend call a place called GENESIS. Geriatric Evaluation Networks Encompassing Services Intervention Support Programs is part of the County of Los Angeles Mental Health. If you are DISABLED and Collecting SSI at any age, or you are simply over 60, and someone is abusing you or taking financial advantage of you, they may be able to help. There is one problem though - you have to give them a Social Security Number. If you are trying to get someone else help or an evaluation rather than yourself then you have to have that other person's Social Security Number. If the person who needs help is your mom, you just might have that.
GENESIS-FCCS is at 213 351-7284.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
BILL HANDEL - KFI RADIO - BELIEVES IN A LIVEABLE MINUMUM WAGE - HE'S HALF THE WAY THERE TO UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEMS OF HOMELESSNESS!
KFI - BILL HANDEL - WEB PAGE HERE! On air: Weekdays 5 - 9 a.m. Call / Text: 1-800-520-1KFI / 640640 Email: bill@kfi640.com
Who says we aren't fair? We've been on the back of KFI radio which we've called 50,000 WATTS OF IGNORANCE, not so long ago and often we listen to the radio, especially early morning radio.
Friday morning, August 2nd, 2013, while talking about fast food workers striking around the country, we actually heard Handel express support for the LIVING WAGE!
Since some of us use EBT for Fast Food at places like Jack In A Box, Subway, and Pizza Hut, and are grateful to have a hot meal, even then we know that so many people are ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS and that some of the people who make the burgers and sandwiches and pies could be next.
People really do need to afford $1000 a month average rent for a one bedroom apartment in most of Southern California and on minimum wage if you're young and single you're going to have to rent a room, live with a lot of people, maybe family or roommates, or live in your van or RV.
We're even meeting employed people who have the retirement plan of living in a Van or RV so that they can save up money to move to another city like maybe Detroit, where there are supposed to be houses for $1.
Bill's understanding that it takes about $18 an hour to live is right on.
We think GREEDY LANDLORDS are the number #1 reason why people who shouldn't be, because they are working or have worked for years, are homeless. WE ALSO SEE WHAT THE GREEDY LANDLORDS ARE DOING TO SECTION 8!
So Bill, we hope you and some of the more ignorant but intelligent members of KFI staff, will read us! (We think you do!)
Who says we aren't fair? We've been on the back of KFI radio which we've called 50,000 WATTS OF IGNORANCE, not so long ago and often we listen to the radio, especially early morning radio.
Friday morning, August 2nd, 2013, while talking about fast food workers striking around the country, we actually heard Handel express support for the LIVING WAGE!
Since some of us use EBT for Fast Food at places like Jack In A Box, Subway, and Pizza Hut, and are grateful to have a hot meal, even then we know that so many people are ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS and that some of the people who make the burgers and sandwiches and pies could be next.
People really do need to afford $1000 a month average rent for a one bedroom apartment in most of Southern California and on minimum wage if you're young and single you're going to have to rent a room, live with a lot of people, maybe family or roommates, or live in your van or RV.
We're even meeting employed people who have the retirement plan of living in a Van or RV so that they can save up money to move to another city like maybe Detroit, where there are supposed to be houses for $1.
Bill's understanding that it takes about $18 an hour to live is right on.
We think GREEDY LANDLORDS are the number #1 reason why people who shouldn't be, because they are working or have worked for years, are homeless. WE ALSO SEE WHAT THE GREEDY LANDLORDS ARE DOING TO SECTION 8!
So Bill, we hope you and some of the more ignorant but intelligent members of KFI staff, will read us! (We think you do!)
Thursday, August 22, 2013
DESERT ONLINE FEATURES LINKS TO INDIO FOOD BANKS AND SHELTERS
THE DESERT ONLINE (INDIO) FOOD BANKS AND SHELTERS LINK
We don't know anyone from Indio and so we're asking people who are using services in that area to give us some feedback. This link includes links to areas that are often thought of as wealthy retirement and vacation destinations.
Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and Family Services Of The Desert & Food Now are some of the links.
We don't know anyone from Indio and so we're asking people who are using services in that area to give us some feedback. This link includes links to areas that are often thought of as wealthy retirement and vacation destinations.
Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and Family Services Of The Desert & Food Now are some of the links.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
WILL COLORADO REOPEN MENTAL HOSPITAL AND CREATE TOWN FOR HOMELESS?
NPR - LISTEN TO STORY - COLORADO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL FOR HOMELESS
Article excerpt : That proposal by the Democratic governor would bring mentally ill and addicted homeless people to Fort Lyon, at one time a psychiatric hospital for veterans and then a prison. The facility, near the tiny town of Las Animas, has been closed for two years.
Under the plan, people would leave the streets of the cities where they live now and voluntarily come to Fort Lyon. And the town would welcome the jobs that reopening the facility would create.
Jack Simms, who's been homeless in Colorado Springs for a decade, says it's needed.
"I see it, man. They need to open some beds somewhere, at a mental health facility or something," says Simms, who says he struggles with depression and smokes pot to cope. "I can survive out here, [but] these mentally ill people, it's rough. They just walk up and down the paths. They look like zombies. I'd be a guinea pig. I'd try it out."
Article excerpt : That proposal by the Democratic governor would bring mentally ill and addicted homeless people to Fort Lyon, at one time a psychiatric hospital for veterans and then a prison. The facility, near the tiny town of Las Animas, has been closed for two years.
Under the plan, people would leave the streets of the cities where they live now and voluntarily come to Fort Lyon. And the town would welcome the jobs that reopening the facility would create.
Jack Simms, who's been homeless in Colorado Springs for a decade, says it's needed.
"I see it, man. They need to open some beds somewhere, at a mental health facility or something," says Simms, who says he struggles with depression and smokes pot to cope. "I can survive out here, [but] these mentally ill people, it's rough. They just walk up and down the paths. They look like zombies. I'd be a guinea pig. I'd try it out."
Monday, August 19, 2013
CAN RV PARKS FOR THE HOMELESS WORK IN LA? WE SAY YES!
Hello everyone. We devoted a couple posts to the Austin Question of RV park communities for the homeless, and we just learned that such a park has been approved in East Travis County - Austin. WE ARE SO HAPPY FOR THE FOLKS! Since believe it or not there are STILL VACANT LOTS in LA we think there is plenty of reason for our City Council and new mayor Eric Garcetti to look into this. Really, even if the lots were used temporarily, say for a year at a time, that could make a lot of difference. Among homeless, those who own RV's are kind of considered the high class of the homeless. Still, there are those who can eventually get an RV or other vehicle providing they can save some income and afford registration and gas. In a nation where they say half are underemployed or not using their degree and possibly in LA 4 families out of 5 are one paycheck from the street (paying their rent but unable to save) we feel that maybe they ought to get a jump start on locating those lots.
Here's an idea.
What about around Dodger's Stadium?
Here's an idea.
What about around Dodger's Stadium?
Saturday, August 17, 2013
NEALE DONALD WALSCH - FORMERLY HOMELESS - SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHER
Author of "Coversations With God," he was in an accident, he lost everything, he became homeless in Ashland Oregon, and gradually worked his way up and out, and was paid over a million dollars for his first book. In this interview Walsch talks about the DVD of the same name.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
MARY HAYES - ONCE HOMELESS HERSELF - CROCHETS MATS FROM PLASTIC BAGS FOR THE HOMELESS!
PJSTAR - MARY HAYES _- CROCHET MASTER -GIVES BACK
PEORIA — Mary Hayes is a knit and crochet master, with a wall of awards from the Heart of Illinois Senior Olympics. She also knows what it's like to be homeless.
So when a friend told Hayes she'd seen someone crocheting plastic bags into yoga mats to give people without shelter a little extra comfort, Hayes thought it was a perfect way to give back.
At South Side Mission's Sunday morning church service, Hayes donated her first mat, rolled up and tied with a shimmering peach-colored bow, to Sandy, one of the shelter's residents. Sandy was homeless for seven months before coming to South Side Mission. Because of her situation, she preferred not to have her full name published.
Though a mat might seem insignificant, she said, little things make a big difference.
"I remember there was cold, there was concrete hard as my mattress," Sandy said. "I wish I'd had something like this."
Hey we found some instructions!
P.S. the woman in this video is not Mary Hayes, who is a Senior Citizen Activist.
PEORIA — Mary Hayes is a knit and crochet master, with a wall of awards from the Heart of Illinois Senior Olympics. She also knows what it's like to be homeless.
So when a friend told Hayes she'd seen someone crocheting plastic bags into yoga mats to give people without shelter a little extra comfort, Hayes thought it was a perfect way to give back.
At South Side Mission's Sunday morning church service, Hayes donated her first mat, rolled up and tied with a shimmering peach-colored bow, to Sandy, one of the shelter's residents. Sandy was homeless for seven months before coming to South Side Mission. Because of her situation, she preferred not to have her full name published.
Though a mat might seem insignificant, she said, little things make a big difference.
"I remember there was cold, there was concrete hard as my mattress," Sandy said. "I wish I'd had something like this."
Hey we found some instructions!
P.S. the woman in this video is not Mary Hayes, who is a Senior Citizen Activist.
Monday, August 12, 2013
LA POOR FARM in DOWNY - WILL IT REOPEN AS HOMELESS SHELTER OR VILLAGE?
LATIMES - LA COUNTY POOR FARM ! link to full article from the Los Angeles Times by Bob Pool on August 4th, 2013 here
(George Atkinson is a citizen activist who has contacted representitives with his idea of reopening the unused areas of the old farm for today's homeless.)
"In its day, the county Poor Farm was an anomaly. A 1902 story in The Times described the place as "wrapped in sunbeams and wreathed with flower gardens."
"The Los Angeles County Poor Farm visibly resents the incongruity of it name," the story said. "The delightful innovation of housing the homeless and unfortunate in such environments belongs exclusively to Southern California, for no other part of America bears record of having done likewise."
The Times' account explained that the farm operated with an eye toward being self-sustaining, not profit-oriented. "There is no intention of going into extensive agriculture for financial profit because such an arrangement would bring pauper labor into competition with the farmers," it stated.
Still, the farm raised $10,061 in 1901 from the sale of oranges, livestock and dairy products, the report said. Operating costs that year totaled $32,914 — or about 341/2 cents per day for each of the farm's residents.
The story described male residents' living quarters as "immense," with as many as 30 beds along the walls. Three men's wards opened to a central courtyard, and each resident was provided with bedding, a chair and a small bed stand. There was a large reading room filled with several hundred books "for those who can read," the story reported. Another building housed female residents.
By 1910, the Poor Farm covered nearly 400 acres."
(George Atkinson is a citizen activist who has contacted representitives with his idea of reopening the unused areas of the old farm for today's homeless.)
"In its day, the county Poor Farm was an anomaly. A 1902 story in The Times described the place as "wrapped in sunbeams and wreathed with flower gardens."
"The Los Angeles County Poor Farm visibly resents the incongruity of it name," the story said. "The delightful innovation of housing the homeless and unfortunate in such environments belongs exclusively to Southern California, for no other part of America bears record of having done likewise."
The Times' account explained that the farm operated with an eye toward being self-sustaining, not profit-oriented. "There is no intention of going into extensive agriculture for financial profit because such an arrangement would bring pauper labor into competition with the farmers," it stated.
Still, the farm raised $10,061 in 1901 from the sale of oranges, livestock and dairy products, the report said. Operating costs that year totaled $32,914 — or about 341/2 cents per day for each of the farm's residents.
The story described male residents' living quarters as "immense," with as many as 30 beds along the walls. Three men's wards opened to a central courtyard, and each resident was provided with bedding, a chair and a small bed stand. There was a large reading room filled with several hundred books "for those who can read," the story reported. Another building housed female residents.
By 1910, the Poor Farm covered nearly 400 acres."
SAN DIEGO NON PROFIT RUNS RECYCLING CENTER HIRES HOMELESS
HUFFINGTON POST - MARK HORVATH - SAN DIEGO NONPROFIT RECYCLING CENTER HIRES HOMELESS
"What started as just an idea turned into going around in a old pic up truck picking up recyclables from businesses and nightclubs. Today, Aware Recycling has a center in downtown San Diego along with a work program that hires homeless people along with a big-brother-type mentor program for youth.
One of the people I met while I was visiting still lived homeless, but thanks to the help of Aware Recycling, he just enrolled in college with dreams of going to law school! How cool is that!!!"
"What started as just an idea turned into going around in a old pic up truck picking up recyclables from businesses and nightclubs. Today, Aware Recycling has a center in downtown San Diego along with a work program that hires homeless people along with a big-brother-type mentor program for youth.
One of the people I met while I was visiting still lived homeless, but thanks to the help of Aware Recycling, he just enrolled in college with dreams of going to law school! How cool is that!!!"
Sunday, August 11, 2013
HOLLYWOOD STABBING OF TOURIST and HOMELESS CRIME - OUR OPINION
We feel we must make a statement due to hearing the ravings of another radio talk show host against all homeless over the stabbing of a woman in Hollywood who was on the tourist streets and taking pictures of homeless people. As we understand the story, the homeless man said no, she took the picture anyway, and he killed her.
We feel we must make a statement especially because we're here encouraging our homeless-curious and caringreaders to not shun us, abandon us, avoid us, or be prejudiced against us.We're not making any excuses for a murder over something which may be trivial.
However, taking photos of anyone without their permission is rude and wrong as is expecting them to pose for you because you want them to. Taking pictures of someone because they are homeless, which is a way of outing them, disrespecting their privacy, and going against their wishes not to be photographed is wrong.
Ask yourself because we are asking the photographer. Does this person you want to photograph really want you to show all your friends when you get back home their picture as an example of a homeless person? What are you going to do with the picture you had no permission to take? Distribute it around the world from your cell phone? Twitter account? Your web page? Have you offered them a tip or other compensation to pose with you?
COMING TO LOS ANGELES or HOLLYWOOD to see CELEBRITIES? On Hollywood Boulevard there are a lot of homeless including lots of run-away kids who are prostituting themselves or being pimped out or trafficked. A lot of homeless go down to Hollywood because the tourists have money and the pan handling can be real good. There is a difference though from a person who has a JOB posing as a Cartoon Character or Dead Celebrity and a person who is simply there!
At last count there were something like 80,000 homeless in LA. Some of them are in Hollywood. On that day that one murdered, 79,000 did not.
We feel we must make a statement especially because we're here encouraging our homeless-curious and caringreaders to not shun us, abandon us, avoid us, or be prejudiced against us.We're not making any excuses for a murder over something which may be trivial.
However, taking photos of anyone without their permission is rude and wrong as is expecting them to pose for you because you want them to. Taking pictures of someone because they are homeless, which is a way of outing them, disrespecting their privacy, and going against their wishes not to be photographed is wrong.
Ask yourself because we are asking the photographer. Does this person you want to photograph really want you to show all your friends when you get back home their picture as an example of a homeless person? What are you going to do with the picture you had no permission to take? Distribute it around the world from your cell phone? Twitter account? Your web page? Have you offered them a tip or other compensation to pose with you?
COMING TO LOS ANGELES or HOLLYWOOD to see CELEBRITIES? On Hollywood Boulevard there are a lot of homeless including lots of run-away kids who are prostituting themselves or being pimped out or trafficked. A lot of homeless go down to Hollywood because the tourists have money and the pan handling can be real good. There is a difference though from a person who has a JOB posing as a Cartoon Character or Dead Celebrity and a person who is simply there!
At last count there were something like 80,000 homeless in LA. Some of them are in Hollywood. On that day that one murdered, 79,000 did not.
Friday, August 9, 2013
NATIONAL COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS ASKS YOU TO HELP GET THAT HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS PASSED
NATONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS - BILL OF RIGHTS ACTION link to this paragraph.
July 26, 2013: Is your state legislator considering a Homeless Bill of Rights? Show your support and be heard by sending a letter to your State Representative or Senator. Click here to take action!
You will go to this statement:
Homeless Person's Bill of Rights Legislation
Years of research and advocacy around criminalization of homelessness and increasing violence committed against people experiencing homelessness has shown that added protections are needed to preserve the civil rights of people experiencing homelessness. NCH staff work to educate public officials and local advocates about the importance of passing protections for those without housing in the United States.
July 26, 2013: Is your state legislator considering a Homeless Bill of Rights? Show your support and be heard by sending a letter to your State Representative or Senator. Click here to take action!
You will go to this statement:
Homeless Person's Bill of Rights Legislation
Years of research and advocacy around criminalization of homelessness and increasing violence committed against people experiencing homelessness has shown that added protections are needed to preserve the civil rights of people experiencing homelessness. NCH staff work to educate public officials and local advocates about the importance of passing protections for those without housing in the United States.
We support the efforts of local advocates to pass Bill of Rights measures that include:
• Protections against segregation, laws targeting homeless people for their lack of housing and not their
behavior, and restrictions on the use of public space.
• Privacy protections for those experiencing homelessness, and the ability to vote or feel safe in the community.
• Providing broad access to shelter, social services, legal counsel and a quality education for the children of homeless families.
The following cities and states have passed or are considering homeless rights legislation:
California | Connecticut | Delaware | Illinois | Baltimore, Maryland | Minnesota | Missouri
Oregon | Puerto Rico | Rhode Island | Tennessee | Vermont | Madison, Wisconsin
* Is your state legislator considering a Homeless Bill of Rights? Show your support and be heard by sending a letter to your State Representative or Senator. Download our sample letter here!
For more information on homeless bills of rights, please contact Michael Stoops, the Director of Community Organizing, at mstoops@nationalhomeless.org or 202.462.4822 x234.
• Protections against segregation, laws targeting homeless people for their lack of housing and not their
behavior, and restrictions on the use of public space.
• Privacy protections for those experiencing homelessness, and the ability to vote or feel safe in the community.
• Providing broad access to shelter, social services, legal counsel and a quality education for the children of homeless families.
The following cities and states have passed or are considering homeless rights legislation:
California | Connecticut | Delaware | Illinois | Baltimore, Maryland | Minnesota | Missouri
Oregon | Puerto Rico | Rhode Island | Tennessee | Vermont | Madison, Wisconsin
* Is your state legislator considering a Homeless Bill of Rights? Show your support and be heard by sending a letter to your State Representative or Senator. Download our sample letter here!
For more information on homeless bills of rights, please contact Michael Stoops, the Director of Community Organizing, at mstoops@nationalhomeless.org or 202.462.4822 x234.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS ARE REVIEWING REHABS DUE TO SO MUCH FRAUD
LA TIMES - CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS REVIEWING REHAB CENTERS - FRAUD REPORTS article by Chris Megerian.
"California officials are conducting a statewide review of taxpayer-funded drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in the wake of reports detailing fraud in the multimillion-dollar program. "We are deeply concerned," said Toby Douglas, director of the California Department of Health Care Services. "We have to put all our resources into fighting fraud in this program." The Center for Investigative Reporting and CNN, in a series of joint reports beginning earlier this week, said some clinics have been billing the state for patients who don't show up or don't have substance-abuse problems. In the last two fiscal years, $94 million was sent to 56 clinics in Southern California where there was evidence of improper billing, the reports said.
A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE HOMELESS. WHY? BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY ARE DRUG ADDICTS and SOME SHELTERS ARE MOVING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT DRUG ADDICTS TO REHABS or REQUIRING REHAB FIRST. IF YOUR CHOICE IS TO STAY ON THE STREET OR LIE THAT YOU NEED REHAB IS THERE A CHOICE?
"California officials are conducting a statewide review of taxpayer-funded drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in the wake of reports detailing fraud in the multimillion-dollar program. "We are deeply concerned," said Toby Douglas, director of the California Department of Health Care Services. "We have to put all our resources into fighting fraud in this program." The Center for Investigative Reporting and CNN, in a series of joint reports beginning earlier this week, said some clinics have been billing the state for patients who don't show up or don't have substance-abuse problems. In the last two fiscal years, $94 million was sent to 56 clinics in Southern California where there was evidence of improper billing, the reports said.
A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE HOMELESS. WHY? BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY ARE DRUG ADDICTS and SOME SHELTERS ARE MOVING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT DRUG ADDICTS TO REHABS or REQUIRING REHAB FIRST. IF YOUR CHOICE IS TO STAY ON THE STREET OR LIE THAT YOU NEED REHAB IS THERE A CHOICE?
HOMELESS MAN SPEAKS BLOG ADDED TO OUR LIST
HOMELESS MAN SPEAKS link!
Been blogging a lot about his friend Tony Clemens who died - people raised money to put up a memorial bench.
Been blogging a lot about his friend Tony Clemens who died - people raised money to put up a memorial bench.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
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