Sunday, June 30, 2013

GOOGLE ENDS GOOGLE READER (RSS READING) SERVICE TODAY

Google announced they would no longer offer the GOOGLE READER service, so those followers who are using GOOGLE READER to read this blog, please try FEEDLY or DIGG services that we hear will be good replacements for the GOOGLE READER!

THANKS FOR READING US!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

SALVATION ARMY BURBANK FOOD BANK - CLOTHES

SALVATION ARMY BURBANK  Updated April 2016
Call ahead for coverage areas.  Generally serving  Tujunga, North Hollywood, Sun Valley, and BURBANK
(818) 845-7214
300 East Angeleno (between San Fernando Road and Glen Oaks) Burbank, CA  91503

EMERGENCY FOOD 10 AM to 1 PM  Monday through Friday for FOOD BOXES
Bring proof of income and address.  (We find it confusing that they are listing as a homeless service if they need an address.  Call ahead or show up with your old ID and say you are homeless.)


SALVATION ARMY OFFICIAL SITE


SALVATION ARMY VAN NUYS
(818) 781-5739
Emergency Food  9 AM to 12 PM  Monday through Friday.
Walk in with ID and proof of address.
CALL FOR COVERAGE AREAS


BO O'CONNELL PRESENTS THE TALENTED HOMELESS OF VENICE BEACH CALIFORNIA


Thursday, June 27, 2013

WEINGART ORG - RECOMMENDED BY A FRIEND

WEINGART ORG - HOMELESS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES link for information!
For assistance on how to get help, please call our Front Desk at 213.627.9000.

Their site lists these:

■Women’s Renaissance

■Veterans Transitional Housing

■Community Re-Entry Programs EPIC and AB109

■Project Paycheck

■Open Door

■AmeriCorps Hope for the Homeless

■GROW

■Emerge – Workforce Development Program

■Hope Row Resource Center

■Services Offered

■Workforce Development

■Clinical Services

■Case Management

■Community Voice Mail

■Project Fatherhood

■Housing Services


We were talking to someone we know who is usually on the street in the San Fernando Valley.  He said he sometimes goes to Weingart downtown.  His stay costs him $17 a night which is lower than the typically $50 a night at motels in the Valley.  So we take it that staying at Weingart is not free, or for those who only have GR...  As always we're looking for reviews! 

Friday, June 21, 2013

JEWEL TESTIFIES (2008) IN FRONT OF CONGRESS ON HOMELESSNESS

YOUTUBE : JEWEL ON HOMELESS YOUTH


"Consider... kicked out ... abusive and dysfunctional home..... "I moved out when I was fifteen years old.  I thought I could do a better job that my parents... Spring breaks were hard.. I ended up in San Diego... One boss fired me because I wouldn't have sex with him."

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

INVISIBLE HOMELESS KIDS BLOGSPOT - DIANE NILAN

INVISIBLE HOMELESS KIDS BLOGSPOT added to our list!

"Hard to imagine that in this country way over 1,500,000 kids are without homes. H-O-M-E-L-E-S-S Kids. I don't get it. Are we willing to discard these kids? Not me. So this blog will relentlessly focus on this issue, hoping to light a spark to fuel a compassion epidemic. Chime in, argue, but do something..."


Diane Nilan


Saturday, June 15, 2013

DISABLED AND HOMELESS? AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT - HOW ARE YOU TREATED AT THE LIBRARY? AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

We've been hearing about disabled elderly and homeless people who use the library most days being thrown out all around Los Angeles.  We've even heard of a legally blind person being thrown out.

We're really worried about this since it's true that the libraries do provide a place for people to stay indoors and use the toilets, exercise their minds, and stay out of the parks and out of trouble.  (A lot of libraries throughout Los Angeles are located near parks, senior centers, rec centers, etc.  There's only so much sleeping under trees you can do!)  Of course some of you are not actually street homeless.  Some of you are living in your van, or live in an SRO or room, and you just really need to get out of the house.  Or you live in a shelter where your room mates are unbearable.  Nowhere to go and no money...

We've been hearing about the removal of upholstered chairs in favor of really uncomfortable ones. You know how you have to "move along" and be a TRANSIENT even when you don't want to be.

We've heard about one snotty library "patron" complaining to management that they smelled a stinky person. 

We've heard of people being thrown out FOR ALMOST ANY EXCUSE AT ALL, even if they have become regulars and are generally mindful of themselves.

Rules posted mention noise or disrupting other patrons (but we know this rule is not applied fairly because we've seen how SOME PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO TALK ON THEIR CELL PHONES WHILE SITTING AT COMPUTERS but others are TOLD TO SHUT THE PHONES OFF.) 

ADA - AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT - THE PARTICULARS link here

We encourage you, if you are homeless  and disabled and thrown out of a LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY, or any other library - COUNTY, CITY OF BURBANK, CITY OF SANTA MONICA, CITY OF PASADENA, etc - to call your local enforcer of the AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. 

IT'S A QUESTIONS OF EQUAL ACCESS.

Maybe you're hard of hearing, and you talk loud.   Maybe you can barely get up and out of that hard chair.   Maybe your mental illness makes you a little cranky.

Must they allow you to bring in your pet?  Yes, if it's a companion animal who guides you, reminds you to take medication, alerts you to a pending seizure.  And about being STINKY, well, perhaps you can engage your local librarian to get on the Internet and do some research for you.  WHERE ARE THE FREE OR LOW COST SHOWERS?

HERE IS CITY OF LA DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES:

LA CITY : DISABILITIES

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

WHATS NEW ON SCHIZOPHRENIA and BIPOLAR ILLNESS?

SCIENCE DAILY - UPDATES ON SCHIZOPHRENIA and BIPOLAR ILLNESS

Once in a while we wonder what the latest science is saying about these medical conditions that effect the mind, since many homeless are on the street because they're mentally ill with these conditions.

Many things can fall out for a person with a serious medical mental illness.

Parents die leaving adult children to fend for themselves.  Family finances can only go so far.  A person can't cope with the stress of their situation.

Lots of articles at this link.  Here's a little of one of them : "These receptors respond to glutamate, one of the most common nerve-signaling chemicals in the brain, and they are also found on brain circuits that manage dopamine release. Dopamine is a nerve signal associated with reward-seeking, movement and emotions. Deficits in glutamate and dopamine function have both been implicated in schizophrenia but most of the medications that have been developed to treat schizophrenia have targeted dopamine receptors."




Monday, June 10, 2013

TB TESTING - SEVERAL THOUSAND SOUGHT TO TAKE THE TEST

This is an informal update of the situation with TB - resistant strain - which is supposed to have started spreading on SKID ROW in Downtown LA and from which about 80 people have already died.

Los Angeles Public Libraries are posting information on bulletin boards suggesting that TB tests be taken by all HOMELESS and implied, if you've been using libraries then you are exposed to homeless people, so take the test.

That's true. 

It's true of many gyms, parks, rec centers, riding the bus or subways, being in classrooms in local colleges.  But like getting pregnant, you can get TB from ONE CONTACT.  Certain lifestyles expose you more, but you don't have to be in that lifestyle to get it.

It actually doesn't take a whole lot to be exposed to TB.  Read around the news and you'll see that some say illegals are bringing it.  Some are saying it's all of INDIA...

WE THINK GET THAT TB TEST ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO A SHELTER.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

SAN BERNADINO CITY MISSION HAS SOME ADVISEMENT ON INTERACTING WITH HOMELESS

SAN BERNADINO CITY MISSION  link

THIS IS A CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS MISSION and is not a public service of San Bernadino, the City.

On thier list it says not to give a homeless person cash, instead buy them food.

We guess the fear is that the cash will go for drugs or beer, but we say, HOW DO YOU KNOW?

The cash might go for drugs purchased over the counter - like for cramps, or for tampons, or for a bow for babies hair.  It might be going to buy a bus ticket to another town.

We are suggesting that if a homeless person asks you for money for food, ask them if they have ever applied for Food Stamps, or give them some information that could be helpful, like where there are free hot meals, showers, or bus tokens being given out in your area.



Tuesday, June 4, 2013

DOES YOUR SHELTER WARN YOU NOT TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN ANOTHER RESIDENT HARMS YOU?

We're hearing that in some shelters homeless on homeless crime is not only tolerated it's supported by management that does not want the crime to be known to the local police or put them on the police blotter.

We are hearing that at some shelters women are being harassed, propositioned for prostitution, and even raped by the men staying there.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

GLENDALE COUPLE WOULD LIKE TO START FOOD AND WATER DISTRIBUTION

We received an e-mail from a couple who would like to start a food and bottled water distribution in GLENDALE CALIFORNIA.  They didn't say we couldn't post their post but this time we'll error on the side of not posting their e-mail.  However, COUPLE FROM GLENDALE, if you DO WANT TO EXPOSE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS ON THIS BLOG FOR INFORMATION AND INPUT FROM READERS, please contact us again! 

READERS PLEASE POST IDEAS BENEATH THIS POST!

OK.  OUR ADVICE.  Sadly, we think the first thing to do is contact the community outreach police officer in your area to find out if there are any restrictions to your empathy and willingness to give.  WE SAY THIS HAVING HEARD OF POLICE HARASSMENT OF CHURCH PEOPLE SETTING UP HOMELESS  FEEDS IN PARKS WITHIN LA COUNTY.  You don't want or need  problems with Glendale over a hundred peanut butter sandwiches. 

You might want to inquirer at PATH - ASCENCIA also since they've been in the GLENDALE HOMELESS BUSINESS A LONG TIME.  Maybe someone there can help you with information or some sponsoring.  There are churches in the area who give groceries or hot meals maybe once a week.  We'd like to see more HOMELESS SERVICES THAT ARE NOT ABOUT RELIGION.

We think you might want to get involved with a GROUP that is already doing food and water distribution in your area also since there is more safety in numbers.  Good way to learn the ropes?  Try searching through this blog with words like GLENDALE, BURBANK, and PASADENA.

Another thing you may be willing and able to do, and we say this knowing it is way too hot out there and there is a summer need of food and water, is to wait until the COLD WEATHER SHELTERS OPEN.  In your area that would likely be the Glendale area armory.  Those of us who have stayed at the national guard noticed that dinner was often served by various religious groups.  Some of us would love if you just drove up to the park with some lunches but MAYBE SPONSORING A WHOLE DINNER FOR THE COLD WEATHER SHELTER one or two nights a season is the best way to go.  (You'd be feeding 50 to 200 people.) 

We appreciate your interest and efforts!