Will Unemployment Reach Double-Digits?

by Shannon Moriarty

Published July 03, 2009 @ 03:57AM PT

June marked the highest unemployment rate in 26 years - 9.5 percent, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Even more concerning is that many of the jobs lost were in industries that tend to be lower-paying, such as service, manufacturing, retail, and construction.

In other words, job losses are affecting those who were probably living paycheck-to-paycheck.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, unemployment remains among the most common reasons for homelessness. This is according to surveys in select communities collected during the annual point in time count (surveying for 'reason for homelessness' is not required, so data isn't available for every community). 

There is silver lining, however (if that's what you want to call it). The $1.5 billion bucks in stimulus funds for homeless service providers is slowly starting to trickle down to communities for dispersal. Since the funds are being directed towards homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing, this will undoubtedly help keep vulnerable people and families from having to become homeless in the first place.

But, on the flip-side, the question remains: Without a steady source of income, how long can a household resist the inevitable?

The Obama Administration expects the unemployment rate to exceed 10 percent in the coming months, but insists the economic stimulus plan is starting to show results. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke predicts the U.S. economy will begin to lift out of the recession by the end of this year, and that employment figures often lag behind.

I hope they're right. In the meantime, let's hope that the homeless prevention dollars have their desired immediate effect. 

24 Cities, 49 Days, 8,598 Miles

by Shannon Moriarty

Published July 02, 2009 @ 12:31PM PT

Just because you don't have a home, doesn't mean you don't have a voice, a story, a plan, or hopes for a better future.

Mark Horvath, of InvisiblePeople.tv and contributing editor here at Change.org, has helped people across the world understand this important lesson by bringing the voices of those without a home to the web. Working with him and featuring his stories here at Change.org has been a real honor, and I hope his videos have opened your eyes.

This summer, I'm excited to announce that he's bringing his project to an entirely new level. Here are the details:

This summer, InvisiblePeople.tv is traveling across America to capture the stories of people without a home. By visiting tent cities, motels, and other modern-day accommodations for people without a home, this tour will unearth the modern-day realities of homelessness while providing a venue for "invisible" people to tell their story, raw and unedited.

InvisiblePeople.tv Great American Road Trip will stop at roughly 20 cities and communities across the country (subject to change). A local homeless service provider will be arranged to serve as a "guide." Local and national media outreach and speaking engagements will be a key component of each stop along the tour.

Homeless people from Reno to Raleigh have stories that need to be heard, faces that need to be seen. Here's how you can get involved:

1. Know of a tent city, shelter or other organization Mark should visit? Let us know. Here's Mark's tentative itinerary (with dates). Leave a comment below so we can get in touch or email Mark at mark@markhorvath.net.
    
2. Make donation through Paypal. Cover a tank of gas, a week of meals, or become an official sponsor. Your support is crucial to keeping the tour rolling throughout the summer.
    
3. Spread the word. We'll feature all of the interviews and stories from this tour here on the site. Help us raise the level of understanding about the reality of homelessness in America.

The tour kicks off in less than two weeks. These stories need to be told. Will you help make it happen?

Obama Appoints Paris Hilton to Lead Homeless Strategy

by Dominic Mapstone

Published July 01, 2009 @ 09:24PM PT

Mr. Change had a brainwave inspired after watching a Simple Life marathon. President Obama has decided to appoint Paris Hilton to lead the Homeless Strategy.  The scoop is Sasha and Malia melted the big guy's heart and got in his ear about the issue of homelessness.

The Hilton family has committed to build three new five star resorts, one in New York, the second in New Orleans, and the flagship in New Hampshire. 

President Obama will close homeless shelters on a concurrent basis. For example, as 100 Hilton standard rooms become available to the program 100 shelter beds will be de-funded and services closed.

To fund the program, the old shelters will be gentrified, replacing the rundown buildings with upscale residences.

Homeless shelters are getting a makeover and it's out with the caseworkers, curfews, and rules... and in with room service, massages, spa treatments, concierge service, and staff to clean rooms and turn down beds.

"The aim will be the same as all the charities say their aims are, but we will actually do it," said Ms. Hilton. "You know, treating people with dignity and respect and caring for them in their time of need... with our Hilton five star standard of hospitality."

Ms. Hilton went on to say "If a member of my family was homeless, like my sister Nicky for example, I would want her pampered and cared for and treated like the beautiful Princess she is."

"President Obama asked me what would I do if I was in charge of the nation's homeless strategy..."

End of the joke. Of course this isn't real.

Got a better plan than the fake Paris Hilton plan? What would you do if you were in charge of homeless policy?

Nicole Ritchie as a caseworker?

Really, what would you want changed?

Does this satire pick up on a point you want to make and highlight as a real issue?

Post a reply below with your insights and suggestions for change.

If you are currently or formerly homeless, check out the International Homeless Forums.

Real Stories: Meet Richard

by Mark Horvath

category: Interviews

Published June 30, 2009 @ 11:53AM PT

Richard has slept on the streets, under freeways, in parks, and on sidewalks. But today, he is a proud resident of Nickelsville, a tent city named for Seattle's mayor.

From the moment I walked into the "city limits", Richard made me feel welcome. This interview is taped in front of his home. Richard does a nice job explaining the ins and outs of Nickelsville, such as the rationale for giving each tent an address.

I like Richard. Although his future is uncertain, he has a plan, hopes, and aspirations. He is trying to improve his life. Trying, he says, "to get myself into a more solid structure, a house, and a full-time job." In fact, out of all the stories I've shared on [invisiblepeople.tv] and [change.org], he was the first to know exactly what his three wishes were.

I hope they come true someday.

Richard from InvisiblePeople.tv on Vimeo.

Break from the Streets

by Shannon Moriarty

Published June 30, 2009 @ 04:02AM PT

Living without a home of your own can be exhausting. The worries are endless, the fear is real, the stress unimaginable.

Given the heavy toll of this societal ill - homelessness - it can be tough some days to find a silver lining. But low and behold, on event the most dire news days, there's always something that will squeak a smile across my face .  

I hope these stories make you smile, too:

The Homeless Games in Dallas
This weekend, 550 people gathered in a Dallas, Texas park to play games, eat, relax, and take a much needed break from the day-to-day struggles of living without a home. The event is unique, because homeless families rarely have the time, space, or peace of mind to just play, according to the Dallas Morning News:

"We don't usually get to see people in such a relaxed setting, when their minds aren't on their issues," mission director Bill Thompson said. "We want it to be an experience like they'd have if they were at a family Fourth of July picnic."

Melinda Porter, 30, said she relished "a chance to just feel normal."

"My kids are having a blast - we don't usually get to do anything like this. We just sit inside most of the time," said Porter, who attended the games with her friend Lorrain Batiste, 31.

[Photo from the Dallas Morning News: "Darion Peterson barely missed a pass Saturday at the annual Homeless Games Day at Reverchon Park. Organizers want to provide stress relief for people struggling with difficult life situations."]

5 Days, 25 States, 40 Pizza Parties
Talk about an ambitious attempt to reach the masses. Nonprofit eyeBlink is throwing (you guessed it) 40 pizza parties in 25 states in five days. Phew. 

Each party features musicians to lighten the mood. According to TV personality Obaid Kadwani, creator of the project, "In tough times, you need hope. You need a moment when you can forget your cares. So we do that. We donate food, we provide music, people are happy and clapping and dancing."

Improving the world, one slice of extra-cheese at a time. 

Street Papers: The Story Behind the Stories

by Israel Bayer

category: Street Papers

Published June 29, 2009 @ 04:18AM PT

What is a street newspaper?

It's simple. Street newspapers are independent newspapers and magazines that provide a unique work model for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Vendors buy the newspaper for a portion of the cover price, and then sell the newspaper to the broader community, keeping the proceeds.

There are currently 101 streets newspapers in cities in 37 counties around the world.

Street newspapers tend to thrive in cities that have a high volume of walking and/or bike traffic, and an adequate public transportation system. All of these elements allow for vendors selling the newspaper to be mobile and more important, it allows them to engage with other people living and working in the community.

Each newspaper exists locally in any number of political and cultural environments, often times working with a small team of dedicated staff and volunteers, to produce a newspaper or magazine with individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.

For years, street newspapers existed in a vacuum and more or less were left to their own devices. That's changing. It's a movement that is one the verge of coming into its own.

At Street Roots in Portland, Oregon, we have around 80 vendors selling the newspaper throughout the city. Vendors typically sell the newspaper at busy intersections downtown and at lively neighborhood grocery stores, libraries, coffee shops, and other locations that attract walking traffic. People experiencing homeless and poverty are able to make money to survive and build self-confidence through the relationships built with customers. We also work with and highlight the voices of the streets through poetry, opinion pieces and artwork. It's about making human connections.

We are a modest and hard working publication that works on a fairly small budget. We believe in using quality journalism and community voices, including folks on the streets, to dig down deep to the heart of issues.

We are not alone. Street Roots belongs to both the North American Street Newspaper Association and the International Network of Street Papers, both of which produce the Street News Service (SNS).

The Street News Service is an online news agency that brings together the best of the street paper journalism from around the world. Each street newspaper has the ability to share news and community voices, giving newspapers the ability to share real life stories and poverty news happening around the world.

Alone, we are only one voice in one community. Together we are able to cover regional, national or global politics, including policies effecting homelessness, immigration, and gentrification, to name a few.

Megaphone in Vancouver B.C. has been producing award winning journalism. Real Change in Seattle, the same.

Both Seattle and Vancouver share many of the same values and cultural traits as Portland. People are interested. It gives Portlanders insight to our sister cities that you're not going to find in other print media in Portland.  It's a win-win.

The reporting ultimately leads to educating readers about a variety of topics, and gives people an opportunity to take action.

For example, the Managing Editor of Street Roots, Joanne Zuhl, has been locked into an investigative piece over the past month about 300 families in NW Oregon that are losing their housing. The story has morphed into a grassroots advocacy effort led by dozens of organizations around the country to save the families from homelessness.

In U.S. and Canada, these regional and global partnerships are not isolated to the Pacific Northwest. Street newspapers in cities throughout the world are using a network to build relationships by sharing best practices, technology, fundraising and vendor tips, content and connecting with each other via the web.

My goal for this column will be to bring Change.org readers closer to the street newspaper movement by highlighting news and vendor voices that are having a social and political impact in communities around the world.  I hope you will join me.

NYC Shelter Changes: Necessary Evil? Or Just Plain Evil?

by Shannon Moriarty

Published June 28, 2009 @ 05:59PM PT

Despite a 2004 pledge to dramatically reduce homelessness, the number of homeless families in New York City is at an all time high.

To address the problem, city officials are seeking approval for a new set of policies to shorten the length of time families utilize the city's shelter system, including financial incentives for shelters and stricter shelter rules and regulations. While many recognize the need to free up shelter space for the influx of clients, others question the approach of "evicting" families and children who have nowhere else to go.

Under the new rules, nonprofit organizations contracted through the city will provide shelter beds at a rate of about $100/day. After a family has been in shelter for six months, the daily rate decreases, giving shelters an incentive to move that family out of the shelter before they can get comfortable.

The proposed changes also include stricter shelter rules, with more serious consequences for non-compliance, including being ejected from the shelter. According to the NY Times, the new rules are necessary to provide incentives for both homeless families and shelters to tighten up the process:

"The thing that we have been trying to introduce is a greater expectation of accountability, both by the providers and by the clients themselves," Linda I. Gibbs, the deputy mayor for health and human services, said in an interview. "We want them to overcome homelessness more quickly. We believe they are in shelter far longer than they need to be."

But moving families through the shelter system comes at a cost. One that may worsen the very problems the city is trying to address. Again, the NY Times:

Christy Parque, the executive director of Homeless Services United, a coalition of more than 60 providers, said that further reductions "could result in an increased length of stay in shelter, because there will be fewer staff and resources to help clients address their problems and return to the community quickly."

Advocates for the homeless called the city's plans mean-spirited, and warned that they would threaten the safety of families, especially children, forced to leave the shelter with no place to go.

Certainly, nobody envies the decision NYC shelter officials are having to make to meet the demand.

On the other hand, try being a single mother in a shelter trying to rebuilt a financially stable life for your family. Now, add a time limit to the equation.

[Photo from the NY Times: "Tina Rodriguez, 23, has been in a shelter with her son since September. The number of families in city shelters has increased in recent years."]