I Leave You With This

Throughout the semester I have blogged about the topic of homelessness and other tangential topics such as, domestic violence, housing first, homelessness & the church, programs that help aid homelessness, vacant properties, one step away etc. While blogging, I have learned a great deal about the issue of homelessness of America. It’s been such an eye opening experience to delve into the issue of homelessness, its roots and causes, the devastation, the solutions, the political side, and finally the success stories. It wasn’t typical for a middle class individual to know someone homeless or near homeless. It especially wasn’t typical for the middle class to fear the prospect of homelessness and now they are. Exploring this topic has opened my eyes. I have met and talked to different people who are homeless at the Mercy House and people who work for programs that help the homeless.

Photo Citation:http://www.howardcountyhousing.com/2010/03/homelessness-prevention-and-rapid-re-housing-program/

Unfortunately, through all my research and in my travels, I don’t see it all coming together. Sunday night, Osama Bin Laden was declared dead. The media bombarded news websites, television screens, radio programs etc. announcing the death of Osama after 10 years of hiding. Not only was Osama Bin Laden’s death featured on the news, but people’s Facebook’s and Twitter accounts read “America winning!” or “Proud to be an American.” Don’t get me wrong, I am glad that our country is able to bond over the death of a terrorist, but I can’t help but wonder,  why can’t we come together as a nation for people who endure homelessness everyday and fight our “home terrorism?”

“HOMEWARD BOUND”

Photo Citation:http://moremarin.com/buzzhome/2008/11/the-next-key-is.html

As I mentioned in an older blog post, I think we spend too much money overseas and we need to concentrate our efforts on fighting our own war, especially with the recession. To make matters worse, Obama proposed a 50 percent reduction in community service block grants. We have so many great non-profit agencies, including the Mercy House, Quincy Community Action Programs, Housing and Urban Development, School on Wheels, but they need proper funding to operate and help the homeless through outreach programs. Because the cost of living is increasing these days and job qualifications are stricter, the homeless rely on such programs to offer financial relief and mentoring.

Photo Citation:http://wglb-tv.blogspot.com/2010/12/portland-rescue-mission-wants-your.html

Through blogging, I have seen more local communities collaborate and organize agencies that help the homeless youth and adults. I would like to see a more tight knit and widespread effort on a national basis. I think that there should be more of a fight for case managers in agencies, who don’t just house those in need for low-income housing, but see that their finances are in order and they are able to successfully ween back into society. Low-income housing rent also shouldn’t have to be so high. People do desperate things, like sell drugs, in order to survive. Shelters may not be safe for the abused female and her child (ren), so low-income housing is necessary and must be made more affordable. So we as a nation need to support programs that can offer these woman who are fleeing domestic violence, child care, employment assistance, legal aid and advocacy, counseling and permanent supportive housing. We rely on the federal government’s budgetary decisions to fund these non-profit programs. We need the federal government to pay more attention to the homelessness crisis plaguing America because it is trickling up to the middle class. Middle class families are suffering from mortgage foreclosures, while their children are in college. We need the support and the attention of the federal government to fund these non-profit agencies that offer financial aid, mentoring, counseling, networking etc.

Photo citation:http://eupnews.com/2011/04/13078/

I’m sick of hearing the overwhelming cry with “SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!” Well, I have been pointing out the specific problematic areas related to homelessness, what our government is doing in regards to solving (or not solving for that matter) the homelessness issue and what I propose shouldto be done. Like QCAP, a letter needs to be written to the Federal Government explaining how their 50% budgetary cuts is insanity and we are all going to be on the streets. I would like to see a political figure dedicated to working on the homelessness crisis in America, like Michelle Obama is dedicated to children learning and staying in school. I want to see a political figure passionate about ending homelessness.

Furthermore, I think we need to focus on sustainability; sustaining operations, funding and housing. We need to create affordable housing for people who are homeless, perhaps by launching a campaign that will fund and provide resources for housing and assistance. Housing is considered unaffordable if its monthly cost is more than 30 percent of one’s monthly income. So we can’t have individuals spending half their paycheck’s on rent, when they have other expenses to think about. This is also where a program like School on Wheels could come in, as they donate backpacks, pencils, books etc.

So, are we just one step away from homelessness? Seriously, think about it. People in the work force are not really as understanding anymore because times are tough. One missed paycheck is like going without a week of groceries. What about the kids? The baby-boomer generation is feeling the grunt of the recession as jobs are being snatched left and right. What does that mean for families? How can a parent keep up with car payments, mortgage, child support, credit card bills etc. without any paychecks? Unemployment only pays so much. It’s scary to think that we may be heading on a downward spiral and the next step could be homelessness. If this is the case, then I’d like to know that there are supportive and legitimate agencies out there willing to help keep me off the streets. I hope that if we all start going down, we can come together, just like we did over the death of Osama Bin Laden.

Photo citation:http://insiderspassport.com/celebrate-presidents-day-in-colonial-williamsburg

Mercy House Turn Out

For our Advocacy event, Lindsey and I set up boxes in all the corner market stores around campus (Mr. Chips, D-hall and Jemmys.) I also put a box in the Mail room on campus where I work and Lindsey set up a box in her sorority house. After a week, we raised a total of 180 perishable goods! Dining services has promised to match the amount of cans that we raised, so in total we have raised 360 perishable goods. Lindsey and I are ecstatic to bring our proceeds over to the Mercy House. We weren’t expecting this great of a turnout, so we were pleasantly surprised.

We are happy to be donating to such a wonderful organization that already gives back to the community by sheltering homeless individuals and families. JMU students are closely affiliated with working and volunteering at the Mercy House, so we are happy to donate to their food bank.

Photo Citation: http://themercyhouse.org/

The Mercy House is such a successful organization because of its collaborative ties and efforts with other non-profit organizations and with local churches. By maintaining strong ties with these organizations, the Mercy House is able to receive both funding for their programs and assistance in running such educational programs. Mercy House is able to network throughout the community and seek any aid they are offered, whether monetary aid, volunteering, community service, after school tutoring or community dinners. They keep their options open and welcome all who are willing to help, which is a great plan.

In this case, the more helping, the better. 🙂

One Step Away

This is a scary thought – how many people in the United States are actually one step away from homelessness? Is it just one or two missed paychecks perhaps due to an accident or illness? Many employers don’t offer sick time – particularly in the construction industry. Being out of work just one week with the flu and not receiving that paycheck could be the catalyst for “the new homeless.” Without a doubt a majority of people in the shelters are there due to substance issues and/or mental health issues which either caused them to lose a job or not be able to secure one in the first place. But increasingly, we are seeing individuals and families alike who either had a decent job and lost it due to the economic crisis or had some kind of illness that caused a lapse in wages and homelessness was the result.

http://video.witf.org/video/1825968491 (From the “One Step Away” Website.)

As I mentioned earlier in my blog, my mother meets and works with people who seek low income housing. She told me this story just last week:

She met a woman who was married for over 13 years, has one son who was awarded a full scholarship to a private boarding school and was kicked out of the home by the husband. She tried staying with her mother for a while, but the apartment was too small and it just wasn’t working. She only works part-time because she is going to school for her education degree. What was she to do? She looked for a shelter and that’s where she resides today. My mother spoke candidly with her and asked her how she felt about shelter life. She said she is grateful to have a roof over her head, but it is not what she wants for herself and her son. Right now, she can’t be with her son in the shelter, so when he comes home on the weekends he goes to the fathers. Despite having her own sleeping room, personal items are constantly being stolen, you share the bathroom with 15 other women and you are required to participate in group meetings and work with your case manager. This woman said that 95% of the woman in the shelter are there because of substance abuse issues. She says she has a real sense of “not belonging.” However, because she chose to use the shelter system and not stay “doubled up” with her mother, she can avail the services they have to offer. They will assist her with move in costs and pay part of her rent for a year while she stabilizes her finances.

This woman’s situation and so many others like her are more prevalent than ever today. The shelters are filled with working people who just don’t make enough to afford “the rent.” People who once had a good job and got struck with an illness or had an accident and are waiting for disability checks or insurance claims, become homeless in the mean while. People who never thought this could happen to them. How many of us are just ONE STEP AWAY from homelessness? All it takes is one missed housing payment to put your home and life in jeopardy.

However, as some very intuitive folks from the Philadelphia homeless shelter system say – you are also only ONE STEP AWAY from getting out the shelter. There is actually a newspaper entitled ONE STEP AWAY which is published by the Philadelphiahomeless shelter system, written by mostly homeless residents of the area shelters, which gives a voice to the homeless as they share their stories.

Photo citation: http://www.witf.org/real-life-real-issues/we-re-all-one-step-away-from-being-homeless

Homelessness & the Church

According to Isaiah 58:6-7, God says, “It is not this the fast that I choose . . . to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; [and] when you see the naked, to cover them?” The homeless are most assuredly the people of God—the people of God who call the church to both repentance and action. They are the hungry we are asked to feed, the strangers we are to welcome, and the naked that we are to clothe. They are the sick and imprisoned we are commanded to visit (Matthew 25:31-36).

Most homeless people call upon the church in their communities, to seek shelter. Church organizations have become more aware and affected by this crisis and are determined to do more than house the homeless. Some churches want to help integrate the homeless back into communities.

When all hope seems gone and waking up from this nightmare seems impossible, a lot of people turn inward and seek spiritual guidance. Sometimes when science and all else fails, all that is left is faith. Preachers, Priests, Rabis, Ministers, etc. offer unconditional love and moral support to homeless persons in need of some direction. They offer prayer services and have soup kitchens.

For example, “The Homeless Church of San Francisco” believes that there is a solution for homelessness that does not lie in just outer changes, but more importantly in inner changes. We believe God can bring hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick, confidence to those who have none left. We rely not on our own strength, but in the power of God to transform lives through His church.”

Quote Citation and Website:http://www.homelesschurch.org/

Photo Citation: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanposey/page19/

In Richmond, VA an organization called God’s Active Spiritual  Hand Ministry trains new disciples as community organizers who will develop grassroots efforts that will relieve the impoverished conditions of the poor and disenfranchised in the Richmond area. This organization believes in networking.

“Before anyone can change the conditions of their world they must first change the condition of their soul.”　 Rev.J.E. Gash-Executive Minister of the Active Hand Ministry.

Quote Citation: http://www.tahm.org/about

LOGO for ACTIVE HAND MINISTRY,

Citation for Picture:http://www.linkedin.com/pub/junius-gash/15/805/276

School on Wheels

When a struggling family is finally able to find a stable low-income home, they’re not out of the woodworks yet. With all other costs aside, a major financial endeavor to consider is the child (ren)’s schooling. The costs of school supplies, field trips, books and any other miscellaneous fees that may occur, add up and can be significantly expensive.

There is a great non-profit outreach program called “School on Wheels” where extra time and attention is given to homeless or post homeless students so they can become successful. The School on Wheels organization also collects donations of notebooks, backpacks, pens, pencils etc. for the post-homeless students to have. This is an excellent giving organization that offers beneficial services to the students and provides financial relief for the parents. Another important aspect of the organization is the tutoring sessions they provide for the students. The staff and the volunteers that work there ensure the success of the students and make sure they keep on the right track.

Check out School On Wheels website in California and another one in Massachusetts

I believe this non-profit organization is exactly what we need in metropolitan areas across the United States. The School on Wheels benefits all those who are involved, as it is rewarding for the volunteers and tutors and keeps children focused and learning in a stable environment. The type of mentors that the program offers is like assigning the caseworkers to individuals who have settled into low income housing.

Vacant Properties and Homeless

In large urban areas, there are hundreds upon hundreds of vacant  buildings that are not being utilized. Every year, an overwhelming amount of money is lost as a result of property abandonment. Blocks with boarded-up buildings experience two to three times as many police calls for violent offenses as blocks in the same neighborhood without vacant property.

So why not invest federal or state money into turning these buildings into low income units for victims of domestic violence, single mothers, victims of natural disasters, war veterans etc.?

According to http://www.findhelp.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=703:housing-act-to-use-vacant-properties-to-house-homeless&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50, the ACT Government has made 12 vacant public housing properties available for crisis accommodation to assist families who are homeless, with more properties to follow.

Vacant buildings are costing the government unnecessary money in tax dollars and are an easy place for crime and rape. We need more space for affordable housing, so I believe we should turn the vacant buildings into low income housing and have these units run by non profit agencies in the areas. Case workers would supervise the tenants and provide thorough services for the tenants including victims of domestic violence, war veterans, victims of natural disaster, prisoners just re-entering society, recovering addicts etc.

Photo Citation: http://media.photobucket.com/image/vacant%20property%20and%20homelessness

/SiblingNunchuku/HomelessPeopleCount.jpg

Self Sufficiency vs Federal Poverty Line Thresholds

Let’s face it. It is hard to survive and make ends meat out here, let alone be happy. Education and job standards are rising as we know it. The cost of living is at an all time high. Middle class families are struggling to keep their heads above water. So how do we expect the less fortunate to survive and keep on the right track in such hard times?

My mother works for a non-profit agency in Massachusetts. On a daily basis she interviews potential tenants to live in the low income houses her agency. Sometimes she tells me good stories and other times she tells me disheartening stories. In one recent case, a woman told my mother that her daughter lived in Florida with her two children. She was supposed to stop using and dealing drugs so they could get a low income apartment. Unfortunately, she didn’t stop using and dealing because she had to pay the rent somehow. The grandmother said she went “doctor fishing” where she visited 20 different doctors to get prescription pills to sell them for money. Eventually the feds caught on, and the woman was arrested in front of her children. Luckily, the neighbor across the street had a more stable living space for the children to stay until the government figured out what to do. Somehow the grandmother found enough money to fly the grandchildren up to MA to live with her.

Photo citation: http://news.change.org/stories/doctors-and-drug-dealers-team-up-to-exploit-homeless-patients

The point of the story is, this situation wouldn’t have necessarily had to happen, if low-income housing rent wasn’t so high. I can’t assume that this woman wouldn’t have resorted to selling drugs had her rent been lower, but maybe it would have changed her mind. There is no excuse for getting involved in illegal activity, but a high school degree can only get one so far. Even if an individual went beyond high school and took classes at a community college or worked 40 hours a week somewhere, earning minimum wage ($7.25/hr) it only goes so far. Sometimes the individuals don’t have enough money to meet the basic necessities of life. Child support, medical insurance, dental care, rent, taxes etc. The laundry list of bills grows even higher if there is a child (ren) involved.

I feel that poverty shouldn’t be measured by federal standards and every one should be classified together, but poverty should be measured by self-sufficiency.

For example,

Quote Citation: http://www.wowonline.org/ourprograms/fess/state-resources/SSS/The%20Self-Sufficiency%20Standard%20for%20Massachusetts.pdf

“The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Massachusetts provides a measure that is customized to each family’s circumstances, making it possible to determine whether or not income is adequate to meet basic needs. The Self Sufficiency Standard for Massachusetts calculates a bare-bones budget of costs, including housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, miscellaneous (clothing, shoes, household items, telephone, etc.) and federal, state and local taxes that a working family in Massachusetts faces. The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Massachusetts also provides vital information about the way work supports, such as Medicaid, Food Stamps and child care assistance, can lower costs so that families can make ends meet in the short-term while they gain skills and experience to advance to better-paying jobs. The result is a measure set at a level that is neither luxurious-or even comfortable-nor so low that it is insufficient to adequately provide for a family.”

Photo Citation:http://smartgrowthusa.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/census-maps-show-americas-exodus-out-of-cities/

So, I believe that we need a revised measure of poverty in the United States. The Federal Poverty Line is too low, as many people who should be considered “poor” are NOT, according to the FDL criteria. We need to be measuring poverty in terms of Self Sufficiency Standards. We need to revise the way we measure poverty and refine the measurement to the individual versus thresholds.

Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis

(Photo citation: http://www.foreclosure1.com/blog/foreclosures/start-foreclosure-crisis-mortgage-lending)

What is the true effect of the mortgage foreclosure crisis on homelessness? It is true that some families who have been foreclosed upon have been forced into the world of homelessness; but, many more have simply traded the title “homeowner” for “renter.” Yes, many families who have been foreclosed upon, couch surf at families and friends for a period of time, but this is typically short in nature. Currently there are still programs out there that can help homeless and or near homeless families with move in costs, which can be quite extensive. As the sub prime debacle makes the turn downward, we see a rise in the foreclosures on conventional mortgages. This is primarily due to our downtrodden economic climate, which has significantly reduced many household incomes and/or increased living expenses. Because the family income has been severely cut either by unemployment, underemployment and/or increased non-discretionary expenses, they can no longer afford a mortgage and all the costs of homeownership. However, many can still afford to rent. This sounds like a good thing, but when we look at the severe shortage of affordable housing in this country we see another perspective. Prior to the foreclosure crisis, very low income people had a hard time renting. Now, given that we are adding a pool of previously housed people to this mix, many of whom still have some financial resources, we see these very low income people pushed further back into the black hole as our homeless crisis worsens.

President Obama passed The Protections for Tenants in Foreclosed Properties in 2009 as a measure to alleviate the homeless crisis. Giving renters of foreclosed properties at least 90 days to vacate (or even to the end of their lease) is obviously a positive action, but isn’t it really just putting off the inevitable? There are too many low income renters and not enough affordable housing.

The definition of the “American Dream” has morphed over the centuries from the opportunity of prosperity for all to a more common inference of homeownership. During the post depression and post war years, our economy grew and homeownership seemed like a sound financial investment boosted by an emotion of pride. But when did it become the be all and end all? Why did our banking industry, our government, our culture, push the idea of homeownership to the brink? We created many entitlement programs over the last century because we saw that prosperity wasn’t possible for all. We supported government sponsored mortgage loan programs that nearly bankrupt our country. Isn’t it time we pay attention to the needs of all our people, drop the idealism of homeownership and support the overwhelming need of affordable housing in this country?

Articles About Homelessness Plaguing America

Take a look at these links relating to America’s Invisible People.
What is interesting is that you have our Federal government pretty much declaring war on “the war on poverty, ” while you have progressive states like Massachusetts vowing to surge ahead with homeless prevention programs. The math doesn’t add up. The final article quoting Jay Levy, the author of,HOmeless Narratives and Pre-treatment Pathways: From Words to Housing answers questions about homelessness and provides several pathways for valuable resources for both the homeless and the homeless providers. But who funds those programs? Ultimately, where does a lot of a state’s resources come from, but the federal government. If the federal government makes budgetary decisions that in effect create policy changes that don’t further the mission of homeless prevention – how can we believe that the state’s proclamations are any more than rhetoric?

Bracing The Squeeze

Governor Deval Patrick

People speak out about homelessness

Citation for Photo: http://sonomacountygazette.blogspot.com/2009/08/vagabond-homeless-journal-running-for.html

What to do?

So for the past couple of months I have been blogging about the homelessness crisis. I have stated my opinion regarding how the government has handled the issue and what we as a society need to do. I have highlighted certain people, such as Mother Theresa and former presidents, who strove to help end homelessness. Later in my blog, I decided to post You tube videos and post tidbits from different News Websites, such as the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in order to promote the information on that site. I believe that such large organizations in major cities “have said it all.” They have the publicity, the means and the resources to advocate and fight homelessness on a local, state and national level. I hoped to elicit a response from fellow classmates and bloggers. I only cited these websites and certain news articles because I wanted to talk more about the good things we are doing on a local, state and national level versus drown everyone in posts that only talked about how the homelessness crisis is escalating. So if you get a chance, please comment on a YouTube video or an article that I have posted. I would love to hear if you support their actions or if you think they could be doing something more. Have they, Governor McDonnell for example, doing enough or handling this crisis in the right way? I support these articles and the famous political figures I have mentioned in my blog…do you?

Photo Citation: http://benlopresti.blogspot.com/2007/06/madison-james-madison_24.html

I have done some thinking of my own over the past couple of weeks. Even though I am only one person I am going to do my damnedest to try to make a difference, even if small, at least I will have tried and done something. As of now, I believe I am going to partner up with a fellow classmate of mine to donate the leftover grilled cheeses and tomato soup from James Madison University’s Dining Hall, to the Mercy House or OCP. It will allegedly be called “Give your Grilled Cheese Thursday.” So, we were thinking at D-hall, there could be two lines formed. One for those who simply wish to use their punch and eat dinner and another for those who may have an extra punch or not want to use a punch and donate their meal to a shelter. It could even work for those students who have a “double punch” on Thursday and are able to give one punch to the Mercy House and use the other punch for themselves! We would then transport and donate all the food we gathered over to either shelter. We hope to provide a hot, special DUKE meal for those in need.

So that is our tentative plan. Please let me know if you have any suggestions!

 Photo Citation: http://digitallydelicious.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/the-ultimate-sandwich/