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Street Musician - Nashville
Julie Williams moved to Nashville from Louisiana last year to be closer to her producer and fell in love with the city and its musical atmosphere. She brought with her a heart for the homeless and a desire to, by the time she's 40, open a home for homeless women to enable them to get off the street. The 19-year-old classically trained pianist has played on streets in New Orleans and Mexico, and on other artists' CDs, and is now starting to play ukulele on the Nashville streets to make some extra money, but also to be closer to the women she wants to reach. Julie Williams moved to Nashville from Louisiana last year to be closer to her producer and fell in love with the city and its musical... more
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Street Musician - Austin
Currently homeless, Johnny plays a single white bucket in the downtown Austin area. He loves rhythm and he loves the ladies. Heis a very genuine and hopeful guy, who hopes to achieve recognition for his work on a national level. In the mean time he makes the best of a bad situation. Currently homeless, Johnny plays a single white bucket in the downtown Austin area. He loves rhythm and he loves the ladies. Heis a ... more
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Hunger: Cravings of the Weary Forsaken
This piece examines poet Billy Collins' enigmatic poem "Hunger" by posting the poem's lines up against a short film showing a silent urban landscape like hyper-literary graffiti. The film interprets Collins' poetic riddle with a visual rendering of the poem, showing a forsaken and depopulated cityscape's lonely craving.
In particular, no matter how grand your home might be, the film reveals that it can be a very lonely place on a very big planet. Further, no matter in what esteem you may hold it, or yourself, ultimately you’re very insignificant. In the end, no one is much different from the people who are very poor or are homeless.
The piece presents a number of emotionally stunning photographs, music audio and the remarkable short film, “Hunger.” This piece examines poet Billy Collins' enigmatic poem "Hunger" by posting the poem's lines up against a short fil... more -
Economy creates surge in homeless Mass. families
(AP) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - There's been a surge in the number of homeless families in Massachusetts — a spike that has overwhelmed the state's shelter capacity and forced it to again place homeless families in motels.
It's an increase driven by the sour economy, rising energy costs, escalating unemployment and shortage of affordable housing. For the first time, the state is tracking how many families are winding up homeless due to foreclosures.
"You're seeing a perfect storm," said Robyn Frost, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
The upswing is also putting pressure on a landmark initiative by Gov. Deval Patrick to virtually end homelessness in Massachusetts in the next five years.
In just the past 12 months, the number of homeless families living in Massachusetts motels has skyrocketed from 17 in September 2007 to 550 in September 2008. That's on top of another 1,800 or so families in shelters.
The Department of Transitional Assistance first began placing families in motels in 1999 when its shelters reached capacity. Over the following five years, the state used 97 motels around the state to house families.
By August 2004, the state was able to eliminate the need for motels after launching an initiative that included the creation of self-sufficiency plans for each family, hiring case managers and increasing shelter capacity.
Gov. Patrick is hoping to end homelessness in Massachusetts by coming up with better ways to detect when individuals and families are on the verge of falling into homelessness — and move in swiftly with aid and support. The plan hinges on the increased use of vouchers.
The economic downturn is making those goals harder to meet. "This is going to make it more difficult," said state Rep. Byron Rushing, a supporter of the plan.
Massachusetts isn't alone. Advocates for the homeless say that while statistics are still sketchy, many areas are reporting increases in the number of homeless families.
"Right now we're at the point where communities are holding the line or seeing increases," said Mary Cunningham, a senior research associate at The Urban Institute. "Family budgets are really tight and when you add on other costs, that can push them into homelessness."
A spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance said the state started using motels again in September 2007 when the agency reached its capacity in family shelter units.
Under Massachusetts law, the state is required to find shelter for every eligible family seeking it. With the current demand exceeding shelter capacity, the state turned to motel rooms, with the ultimate goal of moving families into permanent housing.
As of midweek there were 588 families in 29 hotels across the state.
To help move families out of motels, the state has begun identifying vacant public housing units. It's also working with families to help increase their income and offer employment and training support, according to DTA spokeswoman Jennifer Kritz.
The state is also starting to track foreclosures as a cause for homelessness. That typically occurs when a multifamily home or apartment building is foreclosed on and the tenants are evicted, sometimes losing their security deposit in the process, making it harder to come up with the rent for a new apartment.
Frost said the state should focus on creating more housing vouchers to get homeless families into permanent homes quickly.
"If people are permanently housed, kids get education and parents can keep their jobs," she said. "Without vouchers you're going to continue to see this storm." (AP) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - There's been a surge in the number of homeless families in Massachusetts — a spike that has overwhelmed t... more -
Handicapped beggar draws crowds with impressive street-art
Amazing street art drawn by a one-legged homeless man in Guiyang, southwest China. The plight of the homeless and handicapped in China is often difficult and fraught with dangers and discrimination, making this man's determination and spirit particularly impressive.
[more pictures at link] Amazing street art drawn by a one-legged homeless man in Guiyang, southwest China. The plight of the homeless and handicapped in Chin... more -
New figures show drop in homelessness
The number of homeless people in Scotland has dropped by 5% in a year, figures have shown.
In 2007/08, a total of 56,609 homelessness applications were made to local authorities, down 4.9% from 2006/07. Ministers said progress was being made towards meeting their 2012 target of granting all unintentionally homeless people the right to a home. The majority of those applying (60%) were single people, with about a quarter of applications coming from single parents - mostly women.
However, the chief statistician said the number of households with children being sent to unsuitable accommodation such as B&Bs had almost doubled. At the end of March, there were 118 households with children in bed and breakfast accommodation. The number of homeless people in Scotland has dropped by 5% in a year, figures have shown. ... more -
Obama Getting Out The Homeless Vote
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign blitzed bars and advocates for the homeless have lined up vans to ferry potential voters from shelters.
The prize could be thousands of traditionally elusive voters in hard-fought Ohio who would have the chance to register and vote on the same day - if the courts don't intervene.
One-stop voting, scheduled for Tuesday through Oct. 6, would be especially convenient for those Democratic-leaning voters who have traditionally had trouble getting to the polls. It's a reality not lost on two parties locked in a tight race four years after President Bush's 118,000-vote victory in Ohio gave him a second term. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign blitzed bars and advocates for the homeless have lined up va... more -
Proposal to sterilize the poor - an idea that came from hurricane Katrina and Gust...
NEW ORLEANS - State Rep. John LaBruzzo, R-Metairie, fears Louisiana may be headed toward an economic crisis if the percentage of people dependent on the government is not decreased.
His solution: pay impoverished women $1,000 to have their tubes tied so they will stop having babies they can’t afford.
The idea came to LaBruzzo after hurricanes Katrina and Gustav when the state was forced to evacuate, shelter and care for tens of thousands of people.
"I realized that all these people were in Louisiana's care and what a massive financial responsibility that is to the state," LaBruzzo said. "I said, 'I wonder if it might be a good idea to pay some of these people to get sterilized.'"
LaBruzzo said he is researching the issue, and if he finds that the number of people on welfare has increased on a dramatic and continuous basis over the past several decades, he may introduce a bill during the next legislative session promoting voluntary sterilization in exchange for monetary compensation.
"If both the welfare and Social Security system keep growing, one day we're going to have a small minority of people working to fund and finance everybody else who isn’t working or producing," LaBruzzo said. "Our kids, who will be working, will be the minority and any vote of theirs will be canceled out. If your livelihood is based on government handouts, why would you ever vote for somebody who is going to lower taxes? They never would. So once we reach that breaking point there's no return."
Reaction to LaBruzzo's proposal has been swift. It has been called racist and reminiscent of the genocidal policies of the Nazis.
It is obvious who LaBruzzo is targeting with this legislation by mentioning welfare recipients and those dependent on city-assisted evacuation — poor, black women, Griffin said.
"If someone doesn't have a car and needs to utilize city-assisted evacuation, that makes them a social burden? The fact that he feels so comfortable and entitled to make these statements is a reflection of our society, that we’re OK with the most vulnerable of our community being blamed for the social, economic and political crises that we’re experiencing,” Griffin said. “If we really want to improve the lives of people in our communities we would think about raising the minimum wage, holistic health care, improving labor laws, employment opportunities for all people and the educational system.
"Instead he wants to use a form of medical experimentation and forced sterilization on poor women of color, using their economic status as a way to make them more vulnerable to the offer.”
"We're about to go into a major recession or depression and no one economically is blaming it on the black underclass," Scharf said. "They're blaming it on Congress, George W. Bush or the captains of industry. The true victimizers of present-day society live in the corporate boardrooms, and very few of them are black. They’re the people running Fannie Mae, Lehman Brothers and AIG.
"My argument would be if they’re incapable of making a decision whether to cease reproduction are they capable of raising multiple children to be good citizens? And if they're incapable, maybe Social Services should take their children."
"The majority of people on welfare in the nation are white. So the people making those arguments are less concerned with helping those people and more concerned trying to convince themselves that they're not prejudiced, that they're these wonderful, good people. The politically safe thing to do is to not touch this, but the train is potentially going off the cliff and everyone just wants to ignore the problem." NEW ORLEANS - State Rep. John LaBruzzo, R-Metairie, fears Louisiana may be headed toward an economic crisis if the percentage of peopl... more -
Epidemic: Teens Beat Homeless
Epidemic: Teens Beat Homeless
Throughout the United States, more and more teenagers are viciously assualting homeless people for no apparent reason. Kelly Cobiella reports on this alarming and consistently growing trend. Epidemic: Teens Beat Homeless ... more -
Humanitarian Day Detroit 2008
Discusses homelessness in Detroit, a very major issue not talked about or dealt with nearly enough. It also documents the annual Day of Dignity, formerly known as Humanitarian, which is one of the largest events held in MIchigan to help the homeless. Discusses homelessness in Detroit, a very major issue not talked about or dealt with nearly enough. It also documents the annual Day o... more
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Vancouver housing crisis
The vacancy rate for bachelor suites has plummeted to 0.3 per cent, compared to the national average of four per cent for major Canadian cities. The rental shortage is extreme and chronic. Are poor working people the new homeless? The vacancy rate for bachelor suites has plummeted to 0.3 per cent, compared to the national average of four per cent for major Canadi... more
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Down and out in Beverly Hills
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Being homeless in this upper crust enclave is not exactly like living on the street in other places. There are handouts of $2,000 and bottles of Dom Perignon, lucky finds of Gucci shoes and diamond-encrusted bracelets, a chance to rub shoulders with rich and famous locals such as Mark Wahlberg and Master P, even empty houses to live in.
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"This is the finest place you can be," said Isaac Young, an affable 59-year-old with a wide grin and a smooth baritone voice who has been homeless in Beverly Hills since 1992.
In this manicured community of 35,000, Rolls Royces and Lamborghinis glide around city streets, movie stars live in gated mansions and Rodeo Drive price tags provoke gasps from tourists.
But the city also features about 30 rather scruffy residents who live in parks, bus shelters and alleyways.
I just looked at this article, it struck me as kind of funny BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Being homeless in this upper crust enclave is not exactly like living on the street in other places. There are... more -
Homeless person cheats death
The quick thinking of a garbage truck driver likely saved a homeless man's life early yesterday morning, EMS officials said.
The man broke both legs and his pelvis after plummeting some 10 to 15 feet from a BFI bin when it was emptied into the rear of a garbage truck.
While EMS spokesman Paul Lapointe said the man was taken to hospital in serious, life-threatening condition, he and fire department spokesman Jeff Budai said, given the circumstances, things clearly could have been much worse.
"He is very fortunate he is alive," Budai said.
Hearing a thump as he went to dump the bin BFI driver Boi Djalo, 40, said he was relieved he discovered the man before he ended up compacted with the trash.
"I heard the noise and I sensed something was wrong and stopped right away," he said.
He said the man appeared so inebriated he couldn't talk and emergency crews, including firefighters who rescued him from the bin, later discovered serious injuries prevented him from climbing out himself.
"It's just fortunate a switched-on driver noticed him before he was processed with the other garbage," Insp. David Kotowski said.
BFI operations supervisor Dean Richardson said similar incidents have happened -- often enough drivers routinely take steps to try to ensure no one is in a trash bin about to be compacted. The quick thinking of a garbage truck driver likely saved a homeless man's life early yesterday morning, EMS officials said. ... more -
Brotherly Love - A Vision of Hope
Brotherly Love, A Vision of Hope, is a bold and innovative documentary project, designed to bring those in the shadows of modern society into the light of recognition, understanding and acceptance. The belief that a society is judged by the way it treats its poor and helpless is the cornerstone of this photographic/multimedia essay.
With support and logistical assistance from Philadelphia Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Photojournalist/Artist Ron Modro, photographed and recorded the stories of those living in the shadows, to show the hardship of life on the streets, by going into the shelter system to tell their stories from their perspective. Brotherly Love, A Vision of Hope, is a bold and innovative documentary project, designed to bring those in the shadows of modern socie... more -
Inglewood Officers Placed On Leave After Killing Of A Homeless man
Four days after officers fatally shot a homeless man who had a toy gun in his waistband, Inglewood Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks broke her silence on the shooting Thursday, expressing concerns about the officers' tactics and saying she had placed seven of them on administrative leave.
Sunday's shooting of Eddie Felix Franco, 56, was the department's fourth fatal officer-involved shooting in as many months.
Three of those slain by police were unarmed, causing concerns among residents and police activists that officers were using poor judgment when deciding to use deadly force.
Seabrooks has also drawn criticism for failing to provide the public with details about the shooting after it occurred. She defended herself, saying she did not want to release information before it had been verified.
In Franco's case, police said officers opened fire when Franco appeared to reach for a gun in his waistband. The object was actually a realistic-looking toy gun, Seabrooks said. The toy had an orange tip, but it was concealed from the officers' view, she added. Four days after officers fatally shot a homeless man who had a toy gun in his waistband, Inglewood Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks b... more -
Brotherly Love, A Vision of Hope (Homeless in Philadelphia)
Brotherly Love, A Vision of Hope, is a bold and innovative documentary project, designed to bring those in the shadows of modern society into the light of recognition, understanding and acceptance. The belief that a society is judged by the way it treats its poor and helpless is the cornerstone of this photographic/multimedia essay.
With support and logistical assistance from Philadelphia Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Photojournalist/Artist Ron Modro, photographed and recorded the stories of those living in the shadows, to show the hardship of life on the streets, by going into the shelter system to tell their stories from their perspective. Brotherly Love, A Vision of Hope, is a bold and innovative documentary project, designed to bring those in the shadows of modern socie... more -
Japan's dark secret: Kamagasaki the biggest slum, exposed
All it takes is a short train ride to be transported from the affluent, neon-lit streets of central Osaka to the grinding poverty of Japan's biggest slum.
However, you won't find Kamagasaki on any official maps. Osaka's bureaucrats would rather the world knew as little as possible about the maze of dingy streets, tarpaulin-covered parks and high-rise dosshouses that symbolise growing social inequality in the world's second-biggest economy.
When jobs are plentiful, life in Kamagasaki continues largely unnoticed by the rest of Japan. But these are hard times for the thousands of casual labourers who descend on the local employment-welfare centre every morning at dawn, not knowing if they will spend the day earning hard cash on construction sites, or queuing for handouts at the local soup kitchen.
The lucky few clamber aboard waiting trucks, to be offloaded at building sites across the region, where they will earn enough to pay for a room in one of Kamagasaki's dozens of cheap hostels.
The less fortunate will sleep on the streets, sustained by a combination of free meals, cheap alcohol and a camaraderie that comes of shared adversity.
In June, the plight of Kamagasaki's workers came under renewed scrutiny when the neighbourhood erupted into violence amid accusations of police brutality against a local resident. It was the first major disturbance since anger at collusion between local police and the yakuza - Japan's mafia - prompted five-days of rioting in October 1992.
There had been previous clashes between police and residents. The first that drew nationwide attention was in 1961. Kamagasaki has a history of lawlessness. In 1966, the official solution to ridding the region of its crime-ridden image was to rename it Airin-chiku.
It is likely that this year's violence would have gone unreported by the media had it not coincided with a meeting of G8 foreign ministers a few miles away at the Osaka International Convention Centre....
Continued on the site. All it takes is a short train ride to be transported from the affluent, neon-lit streets of central Osaka to the grinding poverty of J... more -
Free Haircuts For The Homeless, Denver's Plan For The Homeless During The DN...
What do you think about this.....
DENVER (CBS4) ― The City of Denver has been working to make sure everything is in tip-top shape for all the visitors coming to town for the Democratic National Convention, and now a local salon is helping in that effort.
It seems to be a first -- don't move the homeless, clean them up. That was the work of one salon and the recipients didn't even seem to care if the Democrats were coming to town. Sly's Salon at 17th and Grant was offering free haircuts to the homeless Monday.
"To give them haircuts and make them all spiffed up for the Democratic National Convention, because they are part of our community as well," said Ghandia Gohnson, co-owner of Sly's Salon.
Rusty Johnson hasn't had a haircut in three-to-four months. He said his appearance during the convention made no difference to him.
Click link for full story and video report- What do you think about this..... ... more -
Beggars can't be sitters on Santa Monica's benches
Santa Monica has a message for panhandlers on the Third Street Promenade: Stand up, please.
If you're going to ask for cheeseburgers or spare change -- or sell cookies (and you know who you are) -- don't do it while resting on one of the public chairs or benches.
That goes for you, Mr. Greenpeace Advocate. And you too, little Miss Girl Scout.
Having restricted, to some degree, where homeless people can eat and sleep, Santa Monica is zeroing in on panhandlers.
The City Council voted unanimously last month to prohibit solicitation by anyone sitting on public chairs or benches on the Third Street Promenade and the so-called transit mall along two neighboring streets, Broadway and Santa Monica Boulevard. The ordinance, which must be approved on a second reading, expected next month, does not seek to ban panhandling or solicitation outright but rather to free up limited public seating.
"The key issue is that the city needs to be open to the public," said Kathleen Rawson, executive director of the Bayside District Corp., the public-private partnership that manages the downtown business district and urged the council to consider the restriction.
When the city installed the slatted metal and wooden chairs and benches, Rawson said, they were not intended for use by people trying to make a living. Santa Monica has a message for panhandlers on the Third Street Promenade: Stand up, please. ... more
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