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