News
The Family of a Homeless Hate Crime Victim Speaks Out
Published September 14, 2009 @ 08:30AM PT
Tonight, thousands of people across the United States will sleep on the streets. The situations that led them there are varied and complicated; each person has their own unique story. At the same time, violent attacks against people living without a home in the U.S. are on the rise. Yet, few families of homeless hate crime victims have spoken out about the tragedy of losing a loved one twice; once to life on the streets, and again at the hands of extreme violence. Until today.
Holly Case's uncle, Daniel Case, was the victim of an attack by two teenagers in February in Bradenton, Florida (read the original story here). She writes on behalf of her family about how her uncle's life and needless death have affected her family.
By Holly Case
As I sit down to write this, it has been six months since my uncle, Daniel Case, was murdered. My uncle was homeless off-and-on for the last 10 years. The night he was murdered started just like any other night for him: taking shelter behind a local business instead of a homeless shelter. Unfortunately, this made him incredibly susceptible. Two teenagers (known gang members) violently assaulted him and he succumbed to those injuries. They left him behind the business, him screaming as they ran off.
The reaction towards my family following that night has typically been "Why was this man living on the streets? How could his family allow that? How could you not help him get off the streets?" I am writing this to help answer those questions and to give a little bit of perspective on our situation (an all-too-common one.)
I should start out by giving you a little background of my uncle: he was born in 1950, the second oldest of seven children. He played football in high school and served his country in the Army in Vietnam. Unfortunately, his time in Vietnam changed him as a person; after returning, he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and would have night terrors almost nightly. During these night terrors, he would suffer flashbacks and re-live the terror of the war: shouting, "Take cover!", and picking up furniture to hide behind. This ordeal was not only traumatic for him, but also quite scary for his family. He had three girls and a wife at home who dealt with this on a regular basis.
Dan started drinking to battle the night terrors. He drank to pass out; in his state of unconsciousness, he would not have to deal with the terrors. Eventually he built up an alcohol tolerance and the drinking lost its efficacy. He ended up divorced and living in Florida, while his girls, Erin, Amy, and Danielle, stayed in Ohio with their mom.
When he did become homeless (after losing his job because of an injury,) he was determined to make it on his own. He was stubborn and retained his pride; he refused to accept help from anybody. His daughters offered numerous times to let him live with them, but he always respectfully declined, citing that he did not want to be "a burden." He would go to the Salvation Army for dinner, but most often chose to sleep on the street so that someone else could have that spot in the shelter. All he ever asked for from anybody was beer, and when he was in the mood for it, company. He rarely asked for money. He just wanted to talk with someone.
In the months leading up to his death, things were starting to look up. He had a hearing set up so that he could start receiving VA benefits. He had been trying to save up money so that he could live in the apartment above the business behind which he was had been staying (he had actually worked out a deal with that business, where he would help them unload trucks in exchange for sleeping behind their building and getting his mail delivered there.) Most recently, and by far the most tragic, is that he had finally agreed to move back to Ohio to live with his daughters; he was to leave in the next couple of weeks. He was finally starting to piece his life back together when two selfish teenagers ripped that away from him.
I do not want to go on ad nauseam about how he will never get to see his grandkids grow up or the multitude of other experiences of which the teens robbed him and his family. The point of this is simply to point out why we "did not help". Simply put, he did not want it.
Not every homeless person wants gratuitous handouts. Sure, they appreciate a meal, a conversation, or a place to sleep that night. However, many feel as though they should provide their own means to get back on their feet as much as possible. Living on the streets is by no means easy. Nevertheless, some people do choose that life; I know my uncle did.
Thanks to Erin Case, Amy Case, Danielle Case, and Bob Case for their help preparing this story.
Pictures below provided by the author.
More Arrests at Sacramento's Safe Ground
Published September 13, 2009 @ 08:38PM PT
For the third time in two weeks, Sacramento police arrested homeless people at a designated "safe ground" camping area for illegal camping.
For the third time in two weeks, police confiscated all of their equipment, including sleeping bags, tents, food, and cookware.
And for the third time in two weeks, the City of Sacramento has sent a cruel message to the world: They would rather criminalize their community's homeless than sanction a designated area where they can safely and peacefully live.
Fifteen people were arrested early Saturday morning for violating the city's anti-camping ordinance. Since the very public dismantling of Sacramento's infamous tent city several months ago, organizations and advocates have been camping in solidarity with the city's homeless at peaceful (but make-shift) "safe ground" sites. Although the campsite is on private land, leased by a local homeless advocate/lawyer, the city ordinance prevents camping on city property -- public or private -- for more than 24 hours at a time.
The arrests come on the heels of two similar police sweeps in the past two weeks and just days after a rally on the steps of Sacramento City Hall (see video from the event below). Advocates are calling for city officials to place a moratorium on the anti-camping ordinance and a sanctioned 'Safe Ground' camping site for homeless residents with no other place to live.
In the meantime, the peaceful advocacy continues. Campers have returned to the campground and replacement supplies have been collected (according to advocates, police are keeping the confiscated gear as "evidence"). Teams of advocates are staying with campers overnight as "legal observers" as a showing of solidarity.
If you live in the Sacramento area and would like to get involved in local advocacy efforts, please email me at shannon (at) change (dot) org for more info.
And for those of you across the country and around the world who are itching to get involved, sit tight. Change.org is awaiting direction from Sacramento advocates as they determine the next step and best strategy to ensure the city's homeless are no longer criminalized for not having a place to live.
Image and video from Loaves and Fishes.
How Lucrative Is Selling Street Papers?
Published September 09, 2009 @ 11:28AM PT
Street papers are important assets to the communities in which they operate. They are lauded as sources for alternative news as well as a means of earning income for homeless individuals. But just how much money can a person earn hawking street papers?
Homeless papers have been around for some time, but recently, they've been booming. The increase in homelessness has seen an increase in circulation as well as the number of individuals willing to sell the papers. According to the North American Street Paper Association, each of the 25 street papers in 19 cities across the U.S. and Canada have seen steady growth despite the down economy. In Denver, for example, circulation has increased from 9,800 to over 15,000 in just a year. These numbers are impressive, especially when you consider the economic strain many traditional print media sources are feeling.
The business model varies slightly from paper to paper, but it typically works like this: Street vendors pay 25 cents per paper, which they then sell for $1, keeping the difference. Other incentives are built in, including various sale benchmarks to earn vendor vests and hats, and free papers for attending vendor meetings. Vendors must also agree to a code of conduct which bar the use of alcohol, drugs, and peddling papers on private property.
Street paper advocates say that the beauty of the model is that individuals can earn as much or as little as they'd like -- it all depends on how hard they are willing to work.
But just how much money can a street paper vendor earn?
One couple in Nashville sells roughly 500 papers per month and earns "a couple hundred dollars." Unfortunately, despite their sales prowess, their earnings are not enough to pay for housing. So they live in a tent, saving their earnings for an apartment. According to the Tennessean, most street vendors do not use their income from selling street papers as a primary source of income, but rather as a supplement to purchase other necessities, such as medicine, toiletries, pet food, or utility payments.
To be honest, this isn't all that surprising. But be careful before you write off the street paper model because it's not a livable wage generator for street vendors. The real value of purchasing a street paper goes way beyond the physical transaction of paying money for a news source; the intangible benefits are worth much, much more.
First, it's the unique content. Street papers often provide a grassroots perspective on poverty and homelessness that, in many cases, are detailed in a first-person voice. Street vendors are often themselves contributors, and in this digital age, how often can you buy a newspaper from a contributing author?
For vendors, selling a street paper is a job. For many, it's the only job that will take them. For others, it's the first job they've had in a very long time. For these people, selling street papers is about the confidence created by operating a micro-business. The human interaction and opportunity to form relationships. It's the feeling of not being invisible, of having a purpose. Having a reason to get up in the morning.
Buying a street newspaper from a vendor is so much more than a business transaction. It is human interaction, eye contact, the seemingly mundane exchange of pleasantries that mean a great deal to a person who may have been written off. Street papers may not pay anyone's rent or provide a financial vehicle for getting off the streets. But they are a crucial first step towards re-acclimation into a world that has shunned them.
Photo from the Tennessean.
5 Things You Absolutely Must Know About Homelessness
Published September 04, 2009 @ 12:20PM PT
Seems everywhere we look these days, the topic of homelessness is making a cameo. Newspapers, blogs, the five o'clock news, even the cover of Vogue!
So while we have your ear, world, let us take advantage of this teachable moment to tell you 5 things about homelessness that you absolutely need to know. Consider it a primer in reality, if you will.
Without further ado...
Japan's Homeless Population Swells
Published September 03, 2009 @ 08:30AM PT
Amid our worldwide recession, the U.S. isn't the only country struggling with an increasing homeless population. In the past year, the number of those slipping from poverty into homelessness has doubled in Japan. In fact, the plight of the homeless in Japan are similar to the challenges of being homeless domestically.
Since the last day of September in 2008 -- known in Japan as "Lehman shokku," or the day when Lehman Brothers collapsed and triggered a worldwide financial crisis -- nearly a half million Japanese have lost their contractual or part-time jobs. The vast majority of these workers had no unemployment insurance. Since nearly half of these laid off workers were living in company housing, the loss of their job was akin to losing, well, everything.
As in the United States, the challenges of being homeless in a recession are multi-faceted. A lack of sleep, difficulty finding food, acute shame, depression, and the catch-22 of finding employment are all challenges faced by Japan's growing homeless population, according to the Christian Science Monitor.
And like the U.S., Japanese service providers face real challenges finding and documenting the scope of the country's homeless crisis. While government statistics say one thing, people who are on the ground providing food, shelter, and information are seeing much higher numbers of people in need. For example; Japanese statistics say there are just over 3,000 "rough sleepers" in the capitol city, but volunteers have distributed upwards of 11,000 assistance booklets.
This is concerning; if the official numbers are not accurate, officials will not see the real depth of the problem. And acquiring the support necessary to meet the basic needs of Japan's growing homeless population amid this crisis will be impossible.
[Image from the Christian Science Monitor.]
How is Homelessness High Fashion?
Published September 02, 2009 @ 06:21AM PT
I'm confused.
Amid our worldwide economic recession, homelessness is on the rise. Domestically, with local budgets being slashed, it's not far-fetched to say we have a bona fide crisis on our hands.
So why is homelessness suddenly being dubbed "high fashion?"
To be clear, it's not that every "homeless high fashion" story is negative. Take, for example, this fantastic news: Homeless Tales contributor Bri (who happens to be homeless herself) landed a dream internship at Elle Magazine. It's a really cool story, and I encourage you to read it all here. Needless to say, this inspirational story has garnered international media attention. Which is extremely cool for Bri (whose story, by the way, you can watch here).
But, this is where the positivity stops.
Also getting attention in the world of fashion is Scott Schumann, also known as the Sartorialist. He featured a photograph of a NYC homeless man on his popular blog. He wrote, "Usually people in this man's position have given up hope. Maybe this gentleman has too, I don't know, but he hasn't given up his sense of self or his sense of expressing something about himself to the world."
Perhaps. And not to undermine the importance of self-expression, but what about his safety or basic needs? Aren't these concerns more important than how he pairs his clothes?
Finally, the cover of Italian Vogue features two models touting a look that the blogosphere has dubbed "homeless chic." (See image below.)
Is this cutting-edge, recession-inspired design? Or are fashionistas just short on ideas?
Perhaps this isn't offensive to some, but I think otherwise. As John Joel Roberts of LA's Homeless Blog rightly points out, "homeless chic" is the ultimate oxymoron, not to mention a slap in the face to those who have fallen on rough times and are struggling to get by:
Just imagine. You lose your job, and your home. You end up in a shelter or on the streets struggling to figure out how to get back into housing, or when and where your next meal might be. You take hand-me-down clothing from the local church or homeless agency, desperately trying to find something that matches.
Then some highfalutin, out-of-touch designer wants to highlight your looks like you're some high society caricature. It's a form of circuitous degradation at its worst.
Perhaps we should be asking this question: Why is the fashion world suddenly latching on to a socio-economic issue like homelessness? Is it a tribute? Mockery? Something inbetween? Or are these creative geniuses just out of ideas?
And if homelessness can be dubbed couture, where we will go next? Will future cover girls be dolled up with black eyes and bloody lips, as "domestic violence chic" takes flight? Where will we draw the line?
For the countless individuals around the world who work everyday to end homelessness, it's a slap in the face from the high fashion world to send the message that homelessness is, like, en vogue.
Lead photo from Fashion Week Daily. Photos from Modelinia and the Sartorialist.
Another Perfect Storm: Falling Revenue, Rising Need
Published August 28, 2009 @ 06:12AM PT
Today, on the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, homeless service providers are facing another perfect storm: With scores of newly homeless people lining up for assistance, providers are struggling to meet the demand despite dramatic budget shortages. How long can this juggling act be sustained before something gives?
Although $1.5 billion in stimulus fund assistance is just starting to be dispersed, service providers told USA Today that these funds will only make up for a part of the funding gap. The real issue lies with fiscal 2010 state budget shortages, which are rampant.
Already, the quantified impacts of these shortfalls aren't pretty, according to USA Today:
• In Illinois, services have been cut 15% this year while shelter demand increased 50%.
• In Arizona, the state eliminated funding for shelter beds for 1,100 families, says Tim Schmaltz of the Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition.
• In Colorado, funding for the Aid to the Needy Disabled Program, which helps 6,400 people, will end in January. "It will put hundreds of people on the street," says Tom Luehrs of the St. Francis Center in Denver.
• In Washington state, a pilot program that helped released convicts find housing has been eliminated, says Alison Eisinger of the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness.
What's more, even states that haven't seen cuts in homeless services (like Massachusetts) are seeing increases in demand for shelter beds.
If ever there was a moment to consider giving a gift of time or money to your local service provider, this is it. When it comes to keeping your community safety net intact, no donation is too small and no volunteer help is too insignificant.
