City adopts new rules for homeless in parks

http://www.lvrj.com/news/las-vegas-adopts-new-rules-for-homeless-in-city-parks-102984514.html?ref=514

Well wha'da ya know about that? A point for the homeless............

Grand Haven, LOVE INC

http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/298166153514548.bsp

Does any of this sound familiar?

Florida Homeless Camping

http://americancityandcounty.com/admin/homeless-camping-ordinance-20100908/

http://www.theledger.com/article/20100907/NEWS/9075040/1134?p=2&tc=pg

Lakeland, Florida restricts homeless camping.

Tent Community Evicted by City

Here is a tent city that is being evicted by the city they live in. The camp is on notice that they must leave by October 11. The city has no plan in place for the people in the camp, except that the police will store the possessions of the residents for 90 days. So there is a plan for the things but not the people. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/08/27/1545769/homeless-ponder-move-as-their.html

A blog analyzing the history and modern incarnation of the tent city

http://tentcityurbanism.blogspot.com/

PORT Soccer

PORT Soccer team goes to Washington DC. http://www.annarbor.com/sports/ann-arbors-street-soccer-program-offers-support-on-and-off-the-field/

Protest in Orlando

Over 100 people protested in from of city hall in Orlando Monday against the city ban on feeding the homeless. This is one of the many cities that now either have or are contemplating an ordinance against feeding the homeless.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-orlando-homeless-feeding-protest-20100726,0,3255933.story

Overcoming Hurdles to Jobs

Example of a community internalizing and sharing responsibility ... putting the front yard in the back yard.

Job fair for those who'd been in jail or without a home.

Collaboration and Integration with the Neighborhood Yields Positive Results

The shelter in this story operates under the premise of YIMBY (rather than NIMBY).

This is similar to the neighborhood education program developed by Jeffrey Canada in Harlem, which helped parents to take better care of their children and end generational poverty.

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_15445101

National Coalitional for the Homeless release new report

This new study is focused on the laws and restriction that local governments placed on food providers to the homeless. These are the restrictions that make it a criminal act to help the homeless. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/foodsharing/pr_2010.html

From the top of the idea(money)-chain

Tent cities might be better understood by the national public within five years, given the work by students and the NCH to study and document their history and resurgence. Until then, they may continue to operate as small start-ups, using -- almost solely -- local money.

On the other side of the food chain, the Fed will hopefully take care of the other need: more permanent housing: Administration broadens effort to fight homelessness

Re-Connecting, Right in our Backyard(s)

Step-by-step re-connection with the local community:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/30/homeless-world-cup-inspir_n_630407.html

Businessman in Tennessee gives land to homeless for tent community

The recent floods in Tennessee displaced the Tent City which was an encampment for homeless. Since the flood last month the camp has been in search of a new place for the camp. A local businessman leased 120 acres to several churches in the area. The camp is helping about 30 residents. However, it would seem that this situation has caused the usual fair of ire from the neighborhood. Nearby residents are unhappy because they were not asked if it was OK with them that the tent community moved to the area. Rather strange as this writer does not usually ask her neighbors what may or may not be done on her property. A city council member is even reported to say that the community should have been consulted before the camp moved into the area. The health department was also it seems called in this case and came out to inspect the camp. The health inspectors said that a camp ground was allowed in the area under the zoning codes. The camp is the subject of a public meeting on June 3rd.

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=12563355

http://www.wsmv.com/news/23715115/detail.html

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=12557270

Health Care for the Homeless

Homeless are less likely to receive basic health care a new study shows. According to poll results analyzed by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program that homeless have a substantial inability to get the health care that they need.

Lack of health insurance or money to pay were the reasons most frequently associated with lack of care, followed by insufficient food, vision problems, and having been in foster care when young.


http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/639182.html

Boston has a Healthcare Program that is specifically aimed helping the homeless receive proper health care.

http://www.bhchp.org/

California Homeless Blog

A California Blog devoted to homelessness and poverty. This is something that everyone interested in these issues might want to take a look at from time-to-time to see what is happening.

http://www.povertyinsights.org/category/news-policies-trends/
http://www.examiner.com/x-37705-LA-Homelessness-Examiner~y2010m5d23-Los-Angeles-homeless-blog-transforms-into-an-online-poverty-site

Quote of the Day

"Some people want a homeless life. "Some people, they really do." Mayor Liionel Rivera

So please Mayor Rivera tell us how you really feel.

This is the Mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

This city has just said no to about $43 million in federal assitance about the city refused to raise taxes in any way, causes the city to sut fire, police, and social services to the city.

The local governments response was that they did not want to add to the federal deficit. How fiscally responsible of them----being that $43 million is just a drop in the great ocean of things that are adding to the federal deficit.

Amazing that it never came into the heads of these politians that people that have jobs, homes, and security tend to spend money----and stimulate the economy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/19/lionel-rivera-makes-olber_n_582193.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/gop-those-thrown-out-of-t_b_577893.html?ir=Denver

Michigan Daily Article

MISSION again spotlighted in the Michigan Daily.
http://www.michigandaily.com/content/tents-still-pitched-camp-take-notice?page=0,0

And here is video interview with Caleb Poirier
http://www.michigandaily.com/content/news-camp-take-notice

Homeless in Boulder hold "sleep-ins"

Boulder, Colorado homeless individuals are holding “sleep-ins” and educational events to press the city of Boulder to provide legal places for the homeless to sleep at night.

Apparently Boulder has an ordinance that allows the police to issue a $100 ticket to anyone caught “seeking shelter” on city property.

Wow!!!! What can anyone say---- that is amazing that human beings in need of shelter are ticketed for sleeping. There are NO shelters in the city of Boulder May 1 through October 15th.

http://cbs4denver.com/wireapnewsco/Boulder.homeless.to.2.1695497.html
http://cbs4denver.com/wireapnewsco/Boulder.homeless.protest.2.1697245.html
http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_15099272#axzz0oF3POMqo

Hopeville in St. Louis

St. Louis “Hopeville” tent community of around 75 individuals were forced to leave the camp by the city. The encampment had asked the city for an acre of land because the response of the city social services was not adequate to meet the demand of the number of individuals that are homeless.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1650125/St..Louis.Public.Radio.News/Homeless.encampment.cleared.without.confrontation

This is another case of a city not providing proper services to those in need but insist on moving people to another place. Just because the camp has moved its location does not mean that the issue of the homeless is going to go away.

Ludington, Michigan

Ludington has a rotating church shelter system.
http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/news/49686-helping-the-homeless

Michigan Daily Editorial about CTN from May 9, 2010

The editors of the Daily recognize the many issues that CTN faces and that there is no support from the community.

http://www.michigandaily.com/content/daily-fighting-homelessness

Wall Stree Journal Article

By ALEX P. KELLOGG
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A group of about 20 homeless people were told by state police to vacate a campsite they'd set up near an interstate highway as this college town is preparing to host President Barack Obama for a commencement address at the University of Michigan.
Members of the group said they believed they were evicted because their site, which they call Camp Take Notice, falls along the route that tens of thousands of people will take to hear the President speak at Michigan Stadium, which seats more than 100,000 people.
"We didn't do nothing for them to move us that fast," said Lynvel Cooper, 51 years old, who has been homeless for nearly seven months and had been living at the camp site for about six weeks. "It didn't feel right."
Brian Nord, a graduate student at the university and president of the board of Mission, a nonprofit group that works with the homeless, said "the local government doesn't want the appearance of this" while the President is in Ann Arbor. Mr. Nord said he plans to attend Obama's speech Saturday.
The camp is located near the Ann Arbor Saline Road exit of Interstate 94, in a wooded area near a commuter parking lot. An Applebee's restaurant is nearby; Michigan Stadium is about two miles away.
Lt. Wynonia Sturdivant, a Michigan state police officer who dealt with the matter, said the people were informed on Tuesday that they were trespassing on property belonging to the Michigan Department of Transportation. "I didn't remove them," she said. "They voluntarily moved."
She added that complaints had been filed in recent weeks about panhandling on the exit ramp near the camp site, although she couldn't verify if panhandling would be illegal at that location. Residents of the camp said they have strict rules that forbid anyone from panhandling nearby. They also said they have had regular visits from city and state police, and were told to move their tents to a different spot near the highway ramp about seven months ago after police said they were trespassing there, but had never before been told to leave.
Mr. Cooper, an Ann Arbor native, said he has moved to a gulley several miles away, along with most of the group. State police said the group could also be trespassing there, but that they haven't gone to check yet. Mr. Cooper did maintenance and landscaping work but ran short on money last fall, forcing him onto the streets, then a shelter and finally to Camp Take Notice.
He described living there as "a lot better" than many shelters, despite the lack of electricity. He said people would watch out for each other and avoid drugs and violence. Many have cell phones, and some jobs.Write to Alex P. Kellogg at alex.kellogg@wsj.com

Michigan Daily from May 3, 2010

The comments on this article are a must read. Oh and be sure to read the article. http://www.michigandaily.com/content/tent-city-eviction-draws-attention-rights-homeless

Detroit News April 30, 2010

ACLU sides with CTN on eviction by the state question. MDOT claims that the moving of the camp has nothing to do with the visit of the president to Ann Arbor.

http://detnews.com/article/20100430/METRO/4300373/Homeless-evictions-questioned-by-ACLU

Channel 7 News Report

Here is the Channel 7 news report on the moving of Camp Take Notice

http://www.wxyz.com/news/story/Hiding-The-Homeless-In-Ann-Arbor/8KVdT7P9IEuQsKaOeNml_A.cspx

Churches will continue to help homeless

Hyannis, Massachusetts. Church volunteers will continue to help the homeless even in the face of new state regulations.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100425mass_churches_vow_to_keep_helping_homeless/srvc=home&position=recent

Honolulu, Hawaii. This is an update to the ban on tents in city parks. (Editor note the original story is found in the April 19, 2010 entry.)

Since the tents are banned in the city parks (including a $500 fine) the homeless living the park have found a loophole to the ban----setting up the tents on the sidewalks.
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100424/NEWS01/4240328/Honolulu+homeless+move+tents+onto+sidewalks+in+legal+loophole

Police say homeless cannot stay at Illinois church

Buffalo, Illinois. Church tries to house homeless, but local police say that the homeless cannot stay in Buffalo. The church has been helping 12 to 20 homeless individuals for almost a month. The police say that the church building is unsafe due to possible fire safety issues. Police say that the church needs to go through the proper procedures to obtain a license.

This seems strange because the church says that there are regular events at the church with individuals staying overnight and fire safety much less a license was never needed in the past. Another situation that smells bad. What do you think?

http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x1394807252/Buffalo-calls-halt-to-church-lock-in-for-homeless

Private landowner has tent city in the backyard

Indiana- A private landowner in a suburban subdivision allows tents to be set up for homeless in the backyard. This is an interesting example of what a private landowner could do as far as tents and the homeless. The landowner has tent space for about eight to ten people per night. However, the neighbors are not very happy about the situation because of what they see as declining property values. The local government is a bit chagrined because apparently there are no laws being broken.

The mayor said “[i]s this a homeless shelter, or simply someone using his private land as a place for his friends to stay? We have to weigh [the landowner’s] rights with the rights of his neighbors, who have made it clear they are not happy. In my personal and professional opinion it seems clear that you don’t allow someone’s backyard to become a homeless shelter, but that opinion is not one that’s based in the law. I think this is Hal’s way of provoking action.”

Check out the entire article here:
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2010/04/23/news.qp-4784548.sto

More from New Jersey

Another tent community in New Jersey faces shut down and "relocation."

Apparently there are around 30 campers in this community.

Once again in this article the local government is faulting the camp for allowing new members to join the Mayor saying “[i]t [the camp] seems to gain residents faster than this committee can get them out.”

Not sure if the "get them out" in this statement is meant to mean helping the homeless find shelter or meant to mean kick the camp out of the place where it is now. In either event, how is the local government able to time-and-time again fault a tent encampment for allowing new people to stay at the camp.

If the local government does not provide adequate shelter---where are these people supposed to go? It is not the tent camp’s fault. The burden lands squarely on the shoulders of the local government.

The Township is gearing up to shut the tent camp down. In the legal brief the township attorney does not use the word eviction but instead substitutes the word relocation because he does not like the word eviction. However, changing the word DOES NOT change the meaning of the overall attempt to shut down and evict the campers.
(Editor's note - Please read the comments to the story)

http://www.app.com/article/20100419/NEWS/4190360/Tent-camp-dwellers-facing-relocation

This also is part of the story and has a MUST WATCH 4 minute video about the camp and short clips of New Jersey State Senator (and mayor?) Robert Singer.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/lakewood_proposes_relocating_h.html

Boulder Camping Case Dismissed

Boulder, Colorado has dropped a case against three homeless men. The three men were ticketed for sleeping in public and for camping in the city of Boulder without a permit. The tickets carry a $100 fine, but this may be exchanged for 12 hours of community service for those that have no means to pay. The men decided to fight the tickets on the basis of the Eight Amendment Cruel and Unusual Punishment clause. But the city prosecutor has dismissed the case citing lack of evidence.

The true ownership of the property where the men slept and camped was not known at the time the case was to go before the court. And since defendants in the municipal courts have the right to trial within 90 days of entering a plea the prosecutor ran out of time.

This all seems very strange.

The prosecutor’s office could not in a 90 day time span find the true owner of a piece of property within the city of Boulder?

In 90 days the prosecutor could not figure out who the owner of the land was?
Either Boulder needs a new prosecutor or this smells really bad.

See the last line of the article that states the Boulder City Council on Tuesday is set to decide whether camping is allowed at all in the city. This is another politically decided case involving the homeless, and camping. Does the city of Boulder really think that by banning camping in the city limits that the homeless will simply disappear? Tell us what you think.

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14915978#ixzz0lfGjMSJ1

San Francisco Public Library

The San Francisco Public Library works with local social workers and the health department to help homeless patrons of the library. The library recognizes that everyone, even homeless individuals, is welcome at the public library. In conjunction with the social worker, four previously homeless individuals were hired by the library to work as monitors of the library and the restrooms.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/american-life/Library-Hosts-Social-Worker-for-the-Homeless-91522499.html

$500 fine for Tent or Shopping Cart in City Parks

Waikiki, Hawaii
A ban on tents, and shopping carts took effect today. The police will cite people in city parks that have tents without a permit and carts up to $500.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12327907

Where is Washtenaw County stimulus money going?

This article gives a little bit of an insight into that question as well as addresses the issue of the Michigan Prison ReEntry Initiative (MPRI). At the end of the article there is a suggestion to stop using the felon box on employment application here in Washtenaw County.

http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/04/12/whats-your-federal-stimulus-good-for/

Tent City in Camden, New Jersey

The Tent City (or “Transition Park) in Camden, New Jersey that was set to be closed on April 15th remains up and running. This is after threats from the local government (or others? Please keep reading) that the camp was on the verge of being shut down for sanitation reasons. Now it would seem that since the city could not find adequate housing for all of the campers the camp will not be shut down.


This article (on the opinion page of the site) http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100418/OPINION/4180328/1047/opinion starts off the by stating “[h]ere are the facts on any Camden County involvement with Tent City in Camden” which is an odd thing to write in a newspaper article as though one must be told that the newspaper/author is now going to tell the truth instead of what it/he usually does?
The article continues, “[t]he land on which Tent City is located is owned by the state Department of Transportation. Neither Camden County nor Camden City has any jurisdiction over it.” This is an interesting point especially in the case of Camp Take Notice. Only the state has jurisdiction over the state owned land.


Later in the article the author accuses the official leader of the Tent City of default on an agreement “to keep any newcomers [new homeless individuals] from joining” the camp made to the city and county. Again this is odd as the article/opinion states that the land is owned by the state, and the city and county have no jurisdiction. So one would assume that the promise should have been made to the state in order to be enforced. The author of this particular article seems to trying to exculpate the county and the city from any blame for the homeless issue in the area of Camden.

This article from Friday indicates that the Attorney General’s office “has no specific plans or strategies to kick anyone out.” So the state does not plan to take action at this time. http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100416/NEWS01/4160323/1006/news01

This article from Saturday indicates that it was a Camden County official that made the threat to shut the camp down. But the camp could not be shut down because alternative adequate shelter could not be found for thirty or so campers remaining at the camp.
http://beforeitsnews.com/news/33987/Camden_Tent_City_Residents_Get_A_Reprieve.html

And finally yesterday. This article indicates that the campers were the ones that mandated the date of April 15 as a deadline to find adequate housing for those living at the camp.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/karen_heller/20100418_Karen_Heller__Spotlight_shining_on_Camden_s_Tent_City.html

Editors Note: So with all of this mismatch of information I have no idea what is true and what is not true. What does everyone else think?

Homeless News and Information Update

MISSION works hard every day to combat issues of homelessness in Washtenaw County. And MISSION believes it is very important to be informed and vigilant about homeless issues around the country. Being informed about homeless concerns will enable MISSION supporters to effectively discuss the issue of homelessness with others in our community. Please read the following news reports and information about homelessness in the U.S.

Washtenaw County is not the only place that faces the issue of homelessness and MISSION is not alone as an organization. Please be sure to tell your friends and family about this site and ask them to support MISSION and to become a member of this site to learn more about homeless issues here in Washtenaw County and around the country.

Detroit – Volunteers counted people sleeping on the streets of Detroit between the hours of 4 am – 7 am. This campaign attempts to place high risk individuals in safe housing. This is the beginning of what is to be a ten-year plan to stop homelessness in Detroit.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/community/23088868/detail.html

http://www.freep.com/article/20100409/NEWS01/100409005/1001/news

http://www.freep.com/article/20100409/NEWS01/4090334/Finding-help-for-homeless-people-goal-of-project

Lansing---Greater Lansing Housing Coalition makes progress for the homeless. Fixing up an old apartment building for homeless individuals that have special needs and homeless that are victims of domestic violence.
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=12272270

Sultan, Washington. Woman is told by the city that in order for her to continue to feed the homeless in a nearby park, she must buy a permit, pay a fee, and prepare the food in a commercially approved kitchen. Yet the mayor of the town admits that there are not enough services to help all of the homeless, and the business owners are only worried about homelessness in the town ruining tourism.
http://www.king5.com/news/Sultan-Homelessness-89951772.html

Merced, California----City officials decide to clear tent city of 30 to 40 individuals after a recently passed no camping law is passed in the city. Citizens that support this action by the city say the camp is an embarrassment and the homeless should go to shelters to live.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14830990

Camden, New Jersey---City officials decide to shut down Transition Park, an internationally known tent camp with over 50 homeless individuals ranging in age from 23 – 68.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20100407_Tent_City_set_to_close__but_questions_remain.html?page=1&c=y#comment

Arborweb.com's Nov 28th Article

http://arborweb.com/articles/the_coldest_winter.html