We're Number 8! We're Number 8!

Seriously, say aloha to the aloha spirit...

I am a citizen of Kalamazoo, MI (#6 on the list), and I can only say I am ashamed of our City Commissioners who voted for the local ordinances that landed us on this list. 

HOW MEAN does a mid-sized Midwestern city have to be to make a list like this, with huge metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta??? 

When will we learn to stop blaming the victims???

I live near Kalamazoo, used to work there, and am still a frequent visitor there. It's a great place, in so many ways. This, however, is appalling. Sadly, there are many homeless people there, and while there are wonderful places that do provide help, clearly the city commissioners have a long way to go. The fact that the local station is featuring this story in today's news reports is a good thing, I think. Hopefully people who were unaware that this is happening will be disturbed enough to try to do something about it. Being homeless does not automatically make a person a threat to society.

Whatever city we may live in, we all have to remember: there, but for the grace of God, go us. Most of us are only a few paychecks away from the streets and these days, maybe even less. That includes those city politicians who treat the homeless so harshly.

I'm just befuddled as to how Seattle missed the list.  Were we like #11? The Mayor thinks nothing of taking the things of the homeless with little or no warning, never mind proper warning, and even less of having their property destroyed for being of less value than his arbitrary cut off of $25 or for being "unsanitary".  He tried to "appease" area advocates after one fiasco where several homeless were displaced from where they'd been camping and all their stuff was destroyed, with the addition of about 20 shelter beds - when there are regularly at least 2000 people who are homeless at any time in King County and unable to find shelter.  That's like trying to empty a lake with an eyedropper.  I hope the Mayor doesn't break his arm patting himself on the back.  Then there's the oft-mentioned here ongoings with Nicklesville (rooted in much of the above, plus the way Nickles - our mayor - tweaked the housing assistance fund to where it would help those of median income get apartments of median rents rather than helping just those of low incomes get low rent apartments and the dire lack of shelter space).    And what did Nickles do but work quickly to try to chase off Nicklesville.  Plus there's been the Downtown Association's "educational/informational" brochure that encourages/reminds people not to give money to panhandlers and the way large numbers of locals presume that if you're poor (and this kicks in long before homelessness) it's due to laziness, mental illness, substance abuse, alcoholism, fraud, and/or flat out abuse of the system and the kindness of others so the poor should NEVER be helped because it's "just enabling their chosen lifestyle" and "encouraging more of them to come".

Personally, many of those WITH homes - and who are far from homelessness (like our Mayor, for example) - present a far greater threat to having a well operating society that works to the benefit of all than the average poor person does.  And as to who's an individual threat to anyone's well being, whether one is poor or not has nothing to do with that - other than being well off frequently makes it easier to hide unless you REALLY snap.

A guilty concious usually makes people mean.  The same applies to Cities.  If we are greedy so-o-bs and the only thing we think about is ourselves then any city can become a mean city to homeless people.  They drop the human discription when they use the homeless. 

Formerly Homeless Advocate Nashville

Maine is not mentioned because they have a lobbying group called MAIN. The non profits aim is to stall bad laws and get good laws affecting the poor passed.  The part which neither M.A.I.N. nor Hospitality House Inc. understand is how to enforce those laws once they are enacted- The mean ones have no problem getting enforced-The good ones do.

I am in Kentucky until early Monday. At a Nation conf. for and by the poor we said the mean street have to be dealt with in short term provide food and blankets. The medium range changing and improving laws. And the long range changing the population ideas on poverty.

To where it is no longer acceptable to pay people working as hard as they can, less than the full cost to survive. We are talking about human rights, as to housing and livable wage.

I Am trying to convince the Minn group, meeting in Ky, we want to wipe out 100% of poverty for 100% of the poor. That everyone in need, is aided up to the amount of the need.

WE need government to supplement a better minimum wage. One which covers the full cost of living. We need to sell the public that utopia can happen in their lifetime, when we see the radiance of other. When we believe we can end poverty.

Will tell more when get home and rest.

Their is a homeless women from CA Who "I am fighting for a piece of dirt."  This is NOT the American dream. In the northeast we fight the meanest sanctioned acts by changing the laws. If I heard my town were about to impose a move along law, I would go to my town hall and register my disapproval. 

 If I heard of any town within a 45 minutes driving I would also contribute my voice. I would call an other activist to join me.

Even the softest voice can be heard, when other joins in.  Get your neighbors to join in with you. Get your schools to join in. Educate Students and ordinary people, that work TANF ans SSI should pay a full livable wage.

 WE are so-so quick to lable the poor as cheacts when they find the additional funds required. But rarely treat them as if their voice matters. The peoples court judge whom I like, as well as Judge Judy is under the wrongful impression that States gives 100% of the need-NOT!!!!

 In 16 states, or roughly over 1/3 of American states, SSI pays less then the cost of rent. Write your federal lawmakers if you are in one of the 16 states.

Maine is one of those 16 states. I will write the federal lawmakers for that and the State committee on TANF. They start at around $350 for a mother and two children. Rents start at $750 a month.

The mean streets start with underpaying mothers, the disabled and workers.  Someone tell me where to look to find the name of the 16 states. Today I learned that all but 3  states pay under the price of rent to TANF's. I will check that out.

Back to the workshops.

I've been in #10 -- Berkeley. Long known for it's "liberal" and "progressive" pedigree, eh?

Why, just the other day I had to miles to the courthouse in the next town, Oakland (no such courts located in Berkeley), to enter my plea on an "obstructing the sidewalk" ticket, when they caught me sleeping at a curb (no, the sidewalk was not "obstructed"). Having to show up before 7:30am, due to the loooooong line of people trying to get in before showtime, by the time I got to the clerk, I was then scheduled for the 2pm session. By the time I actually got before a judge, it was closer to 4pm. And then miles of travel again. I missed three meals. Is this all credited to "time served" or as punishement? Of course not.

But I pleaded "not guilty", so have to return again for an actual trial on this. GOOD use of public monies, eh? If I lose, the fine for this is -- over $200!!! That's more than a much larger car parking infraction. Or even some potentially dangerous moving violations. And quite a few other things. But it's obviously designed to harass homeless people pretty severely.

This town has a Business Improvement Committee that's involved with city agencies in various "programs", including those that have secured sizable funds for "homeless services" and "programs". Among these has been the hiring of persons to walk around (ironically called "hosts") who have also been missioned with taking the initiative to be sure to "complain" about homeless people, like to the police.

Seems not enough actual citizens have been complaining like that and some proactive local biz owners have arranged to hire and train and direct these employees to do so, instead. Their wages are paid for out of allocated funds "to help the homeless" too. Imagine that.

I am also suprized that Seattle hasn't made the top ten! I have been homeless and pennyless in Seattle now for just over a week and out of that I spent 5 days in a CCU. The only reason I got to the shelter where I am at is because my doctor insested I had to be releasted to it. Now 5 days later a great case of bed bug bites, found out there is a scabies out break, and Mersa infections I am scared to go back! But it is the safest sheltor in Seattle I have been told.

I have watched so many of the clients being arested just for being homeless it is stupid. Sat. night was the 60th Toarch Light Parade and instead of picking up speeders the police were busy picking up homeless people and taking them to jail just to give the apearence of "were ok here in Seattle". Then the food at the shelters is like non I have ever seen even when I have lived in Mexico in 5 days I haven't had a full cup of water to take my meds because it tastes so bad for get bringing in my inslin needles that could get me killed outside! Or heaven forbib I get even a bit more depressed than I all ready am.

Seattle is a scary scary town to be homeless in. For females it is a bit better but not by much. Something has to be done and done soon, as for myself I have maybe one week left and then it is tent city, being as big as I am there is no place to get pants or basic clothing and I am one of the smaller big men on the streets. Since I went homless I was 353 going into the CCU and this morning 10 days later I am at 341 my doc will be a little more than concned with such rapid loss in and unhealthy inviroment. With all the different infections and other health issues I will be luck to stay simi intact.

Do I want sympathy no just some people to take note I am not the only one but 1000's of others dodging the police sweeps and thugs and they don't get you the other bactiera will.

How do homeless people get back on their feet and reintegrated into society?  They don't without extraordinary help.  Without an address, they can't apply for a job.  Without a phone, they can't be called for a job interview.  Without a continuous work history, an honest and open explanation of the gaps in it will disqualify an applicant from consideration in the small, narrow, closed minds of personnel bigots and morons.  EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER-m/y/a/s/s.

You might be correct Banette about maybe it will take UN enforcement to see fruit from these's economic human rights.

The Courts of this land can enough them today. Some courts have. Other Courts across this nation decide to refuse to protect our US constitutional rights If we cannot afford a lawyer.  I say I have a right to see my work flourish. To see the Homeless housed. The Us Supreme Court said railway workers had the right to discuss laws and best lawyers back in the 1970's.

Isn't that like saying that injuried railroad workers have a right to see others enjoy full use of their rights by discussing which lawyer is better?  Doesn't an activist in poverty herself, deserve that same right of seeing her work to a successful conclusion of Laws being fairly applied.   Isn't that what we say America is about fairly applied laws?

I have a cause from last August dealing not with many but ONE families right to fairly applied General Assistance. 

General Assistance is also called General Relief in Mass, RI, and Ct. and Town Welfare in NH. Its form of welfare opened to people both with, or without children; based upon financial need.   If, GA was fairly applied as written their would be no need for the Maine council of Churches to put out a bookmark telling people about their rights.  http://www.mainecouncilofchurches.org/Content/Documents/Document.ashx?DocId=48771

The case I have to file without a lawyer deals with a families rights - being broken, by the GA Official in a town in Maine. called Rockland.  This case gives me what is called standing to sue, I gave the town notice-but many do that and do not get around to finding a lawyer to sue.  You can bet your last dollar, the town's insure company will have a lawyer.  They are refusing to pay the $538 or what ever I spent from my own pocket on a family of four. And the mother delivered the 5th one as I was talking to them.

I have a financial interest  and the issue should be heard. But the court can still twist the law and deny me assess to the courts. You will know about that  at one of these sites if that happens. 

I would love to write on a new topic called Economical Human Rights at Change.org then I could place the updates at that site, instead of at different posting at Homelessness, and Poverty in America.   We could discuss in depth the finer points of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1947.

If you think that would be fun drop an e-mail mention that, to the editorial of this spot. 

Back to my rant: So I do not need a mental health worker:

Oh yeah I had the papers filled out a couple months after it happened. By lacked both filing fee if needed. and copy costs to give the insurance court, town, and myself a copy of the 24 page complaint and memo.  

I tried suing the State for just my right to successfully complete my job, my calling what I volunteer at twice. The federal Court said no standing. Which amounts to Keep Docket  Clear at all cost. 

This Means these courts might not recognize our newer Human Rights, if the fail to admit civil rights provided by the constitutional of underpaid citizens.

I hope to file in this Sept.  Money allowing. I will kept you aware of my progress. But I believe the UN Should have a separate  Court, dealing with just economic human rights violation. Then standing to sue would NOT have been an issue

The case would have been heard the first time. Properly decided. And I would have won.  If we had a specialized Court.