Did You Know?

According to a recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American adults, 70% think that the number homeless families in the country will increase, while a mere 7% think the numbers will go down. 19% believe there will be no change. (Apparently, the remaining 4% must not have had any opinion on the matter). 

83% of people in the survey consider homelessness to be "at least a somewhat serious problem" in the U.S. 

According to HUD's 2008 Annual Homeless Report to Congress (released July 9, 2009), the number of homeless families in the US rose by 9% (the rate of homeless families in rural areas jumped a whopping 56%). The point-in-time estimated increase of homeless families in the state of Oregon rose by 17.4%. (According to this report, Oregon also rates among the 3 states with the highest estimates of homeless persons proportionate to the state's total population-1 in every 200 people.) 51% of the children in homeless families are under the age of 6. Another 34% are between the ages of 6 and 12.

With the national unemployment rate currently hovering at 9.5%, and the state of Oregon's at 12.2%, it seems unlikely that the number of homeless families will decrease anytime soon if all other variables remain constant. 

To read up on the results of the Rasmussen Report, follow the link.

To read the HUD report, follow this one.

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Links

Objects In Cyberspace:

Attention aspiring film makers: Nike and The Homeless World Cup are offering a $50,000 fund to produce a short film (5 minutes, no more than 10 minutes) capturing the Spirit, Unity, Victory of the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup, which will be held 6-13 September 2009. For more information on the Homeless World Cup, check out this link.

The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts hosted a very successful brain injury awareness walk/run. The 2nd annual Walk for Wishes Begun attracted hundreds of participants and helped raise awareness for an all-too-common issue. Along the same lines, ShelterCare will soon be hosting its 1st annual Summit Challenge run/walk. If you haven't already done so, please check out www.sheltercareevents.com.

Here is what Dear Abby has to say about a woman who is haunted by her initial reaction to the discovery an old friend is now homeless.

A Seattle suburb was found by the state Supreme Court to have violated the state constitution by using a temporary ban on development to block a church's effort to set up a tent city for the homeless.

CD

10 "Meanest" Cities for Homeless People

The National Coalition for the Homeless released a report today called Homes Not Handcuffs: The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities. Among other things, this report contains the top 10 "meanest" cities for homeless people to live. Here they are:

 

10. Berkeley, CA

 9.   Brandenton, FL

8.  Honolulu, HI

7.   San Francisco, CA

6.   Kalamazoo, MI

5.   Gainesville, FL

4.   Atlanta, GA

3.   Orlando, FL

2.   St. Petersburg, FL

1.   Los Angeles, CA

So, how did these cities make the meanie list? Well, the organization looked specifically at the criminalization of homelessness. The number of laws against aspects of homelessness, actual enforcement of the laws, and severity of punishment for breaking said laws were all examined. Also considered was recent and/or pending legislation against homelessness (indicating a new or continued hostility towards the homeless as opposed to laws passed decades ago and more or less forgotten about). The political climate towards the homeless within the city was taken into account as well.

To view the report in its entirety (including the "meanest" cities breakdown and detailed explanation, which begins on page 33), go here.

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Monday Morning Special Link

"Those with mental illness are far more likely to be victimized by others than they are to be the perpetrators of crimes. When they do commit infractions, it’s usually because they aren’t getting the support they need."

-A quote from a wonderful op-ed discussing the need for community support for group homes for the mentally ill written by long-time friend of ShelterCare, Gary Cornelius. 

Friday Links

"When you're homeless, the only thing you have are endless days"- a quote from an article about a homeless Minneapolis teenager. Homeless youth are an all-too-common phenomenon in our society, but at least this story has a happy ending. 

Here's a story about a program called Homeless-To-Work, up in Washington County, Oregon. The story also discusses the county's 10 year plan to end homelessness. 

Here's an update on the "Homes for Heroes" bill, introduced by US Senator Charles Schumer last week, which could give $200 million to veterans groups, non-profits and communities to expand and find affordable housing for homeless veterans.

Thursday's Ready-For-The-Weekend Link List

-A new study indicates that an intervention that provides housing for people who are homeless with alcohol dependency without requiring abstinence from alcohol was associated with reduced health care costs and a decrease in the use of alcohol. 

-Today, Navy Admiral, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed a lunchtime audience on the topic of some of the problems faced by many combat veterans returning home, among them homelessness. He stressed that these problems will not go away anytime soon, and that things need to be done to help veterans readjust to civilian life. 

-Homeless tent cities keep springing up in communities around the country. 

-Close to home: On any given night in Washington state, 9,000 children do not have a safe place to stay. 

Did You Know?

-A survey of 23 US cities found that 17.4% of homeless adults with children were employed. 13% of single adults and unaccompanied youth were also found to be employed (US Conference of Mayors 2007). As difficult as it is for the ones who are fortunate enough to have a job, for those without, climbing out of homelessness is virtually impossible without some form of assistance. How does one even go about the process of applying for a job without a permanent address or a reliable phone number? 

-At ShelterCare, many of our consumers work or volunteer throughout the community. We provide our consumers with job skills training to increase their chances of landing a satisfying job. For someone who was formerly homeless, a job can bring about a tremendous sense of accomplishment and purpose. 

Thursday's Ready-For-The-Weekend Link List

-A makeshift tent city populated by Sacramento's homeless will be shut down within a month. In order to accommodate the 125 residents of the tent city , California Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger has ordered that the state facility known as the Cal-Expo at the state fairgrounds be used to serve them for three months. For more information on the Hoovervilles of our era, check out this article in the New York Times.

-Right or Wrong?-cnn.com has a story about the controversial site pimpthisbum.com. The site, the brainchild of father/son duo Kevin and Sean Dolan has raised $50,000 in donations and pledges for a homeless man from Houston named Timothy Edwards. Edwards, upon the Dolan's request, simply added the url to the cardboard sign he normally used while panhandling to attract visitors to the site. Many responded by flocking to the site. Many advocates for the homeless are questioning the usage of such a controversial url address, but the Dolans defend their choice on the grounds that a nicer, more sincere sounding alternative (say, helpthehomeless.com) would never have attracted so many visitors. 

The tragic death of actress Natasha Richardson last week has raised awareness about traumatic brain injury. This website has information about how to identify symptoms in young children. 

The Huffington Post has a piece by Maria Foscarinis called "Invest to End Homelessness."

Did You Know?

A question we are frequently asked at ShelterCare is: "Why are people homeless?" While the answer(s) to this question are quite diverse in nature (every person's story is unique), there are several common factors that can lead to a person becoming homeless. Many of these factors are related to the larger issue of poverty. Often, a person experiences a number of these factors, and they eventually lead to the experience of homelessness. The following are some of the most common factors. 

-Declining employment opportunities/and or stagnating and declining real wages. When a person is forced to live paycheck to paycheck, all it takes is an unexpected expense to get behind on the bills. 

-Job loss. Job losses happen, even if a person is a model employee. As the economy worsens, more people are experiencing job losses. If a new job cannot be found, and a person's savings dry up, homelessness can be the result.

-Lack of affordable housing. A general rule of budgeting is that you should not spend more than a third of your income on housing (rent or mortgage). Affordable housing for low-income people and housing assistance programs come nowhere near meeting the demand. Therefore, many low income families and individuals are putting half or more of their income towards housing. Once again, it is often nothing more than an unexpected expense that puts people on the brink of homelessness. 

-Lack of education/employable job skills. Many people simply don't have realistic access to higher education. Student loans and grants are growing scarcer. Even community college costs have become prohibitive for many people in the lower income brackets, and many elect to enter the workforce as soon as they are able to do so. Many jobs available to people with a high school diploma or less are low paying jobs without benefits or much chance for advancement.  

-Mental illness. A significant percentage of people experiencing homelessness are also experiencing mental illness. Many of these individuals have been unable to obtain access to supportive housing and other treatment that they may need and find themselves homeless. 

-Disability. When a person is unable to work due to disability, it can lead to financial difficulties similar to those experienced by low-income individuals. Unexpected expenses can derail even the most carefully planned budgets.

-Healthcare costs. The cost of healthcare has skyrocketed over the past several years. Many employers have cut healthcare benefits to employees as a means to cut costs, leaving employees to find their own source. For many people, the costs of private insurance are simply too high for their income and they simply go without. Therefore, an unexpected medical expense can be catastrophic, particularly for people without much of a financial safety net to begin with.

There are, of course, many other factors that can lead to a person becoming homeless. The above are simply some of the ones that are seen again and again. 

ShelterCare's 6th Annual HouseWarming Auction Is Sunday, May 3

This exciting event will be held on Sunday, May 3, at the Fairgrounds in Eugene (i.e. the Lane County Events Center). We will be creating a village of "shops" filled with fun and unique items and experience packages that are up for bid. A silent auction will be followed with a sit down dinner and an oral auction. This event is an excellent way to help the homeless, get some amazing deals, and have a fabulous time with friends. 

There are numerous ways to get involved. There are tables (with seating for 8) available to sponsor if you, your company or group is interested. Individual tickets are also available. Donations large and small are, of course always appreciated. The event can also always use volunteers to help us make the event a success. 

If you are interested in being a part of what is sure to be a memorable experience, please contact the ShelterCare Development Office at 541-686-1262 or cdevore@sheltercare.org.

Lindsay the Intern: Week Eight Musings

(This week, our Intern reflects on the sad place many people in this country are currently in, and discusses why it's a good thing to be a Eugenian.)

Recently, ShelterCare mentioned an Oprah segment in a blog entry. I am not going to go into detail as I am sure all the information is sitting below my entry, but I have to say that it was quite interesting and saddening to actually see the effects of these harsh economic times. People who used to have stable jobs and homes are being forced into tent towns all over the country. Until watching this segment, I had not felt truly affected by nation's crisis. Perhaps it is the fact that I am in the college bubble, where my loans are looming in the distant future instead of banging down my door. Or maybe it is simply that I am lucky to have a job and a family willing to support me. Either way, I have somehow managed to escape the fall out, for now anyway. I am thankful for that, but many people have not been so fortunate. Aside from the tent towns popping up everywhere, there are now people taking "survival jobs" just to stay afloat. Once successful realtors are trading in their business cards for brooms and picking up minimum wage checks. It is not such a bad thing that people are being forced to live more simply and rethink their extravagances, but it is scary that those who already live simply are now living unsafely.

If these hard times have knocked you off your feet, you must know that all is not lost. This Friday, at the Lane County Events Center, Project Homeless Connect is setting up shop. Here you will find resources, amenities, and luxuries to help ease the minds of those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. I have to say, the more I discover about Eugene and Lane County in general, the more I want to stay. I have not been to a city where people care more about the well being of their fellow citizens. Before I moved here, I couldn't name one human services organization in my hometown. I may be severely uninformed, but I had lived there for eleven years. It really makes me wonder. Anyway, cheers Eugene, keep up the good work!

Armory Serves As Emergency Cold Shelter

Well the efforts of advocates for the homeless community in Eugene/Springfield have paid off. The Lane County Board of Commissioners voted last week and decided that the county-owned armory at 2515 MLK Boulevard in Eugene will now serve as the emergency shelter for the homeless in Eugene and Springfield during bouts of extreme weather as often as needed until March 31. The armory has been dubbed the Thomas Egan Warming Center. Egan was the homeless military veteran who tragically froze to death during the spell of extreme cold the area experienced this past December. 

Here's a link to a Register Guard article discussing this topic. This is great news!

Thursday's Ready-For-The-Weekend Link List

Image: freedigitalphotos.net

Alright, so we didn't manage to do a link entry last week (things got a little hectic around here), so we have a couple more links than usual this week.

The news in Lane County regarding the skyrocketing homeless count is not good, as was previously mentioned on this blog (here's the link to the Register Guard article again, in case you missed it). We are not alone in the challenges we are facing however, as this is a problem in many locales.

-The down economy and recent major closings have left many residents of the state of Idaho homeless and many shelters in the state are nervous about how they will cope with the increase of people in need.

-The state of Minnesota is generally a place that doesn't see many homeless in the bitter cold winter month, but that is not the case this year, as the numbers are on the rise.

-In better news, a much needed day center with counseling services for the homeless is set to open in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

-The Economic Stimulus and the Homeless: the recently passed stimulus includes an allocation of $1.5 billion dollars for services for the homeless and homelessness prevention. Shannon Moriarty has an interesting take on the good and bad aspects of all of the various breakdowns of the money over at change.org. 

-Foot and ankle doctors attending a conference in Washington D.C. will be donating thousands of pairs of socks to the area's homeless population. 

-Right Guard recently teamed up with the Salvation Army to hold a fantasy basketball camp for kids living in shelters in Phoenix. How cool is that? 

-Oprah recently profiled homeless folks in her "Faces of the Recession Series". Here is a link to a reporter's experience in a tent city in Sacramento. 

There, that is a lot of links folks. Happy reading!

Results of the One Night Homeless Count for Lane County

-The numbers for the one night homeless count for Lane County were just released and the results are not encouraging. The count, conducted by Lane County Human Services Commission and its partner nonprofits (and an army of volunteers) took place on the night of January 28. Staff and volunteers tallied the number of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless, taking the search past shelters to area parks, food pantries, day centers, and under bridges. The final result was a staggering number-2,673- of homeless residents counted. This astounding number is up 27% from last year's count. This is clearly a community problem that will require a community solution.    

**UPDATE-Here is a link to a Register Guard article discussing this topic.

Lindsay the Intern: Week Six Musings

As I have mentioned previously, interning at ShelterCare has given me a heightened sense of awareness. I now ponder every homeless person I see. Where did they come from? How did they get here? What is their story and what would change their circumstances? Recently, I have noticed the tattered army green jackets and the "homeless veteran" signs. The more homeless veterans I notice, the more it makes me seethe. These brave men and women, who bravely stood on the front lines to protect us are now begging for scraps on the side of the road. The unjust epidemic of homeless veterans has got me thinking-those stickers are nice, but do we (or does the government) really "support our troops"?

Well here is a conversation starter for you: "On any given day, as  many as 250,000 veterans (male and female) are living on the streets or in shelters, and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year" (U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs). Pardon my slang, but that is whack. I do not know much about what is promised upon signing up, but I have seen a few Army commercials in my day, and I know that the Army Reserves guarantees you a college education and job skills. Those who actually serve must be awarded these same benefits. Now that I think of it, the problem isn't the opportunities our veterans receive after serving. Instead, it is the lack of preparation and accommodation given to our vets that hinders their ability to take advantage of said opportunities. 

I have had the opportunity, through the FHS program, to learn a few things about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is most certainly a mental illness that affects one's ability to function normally in society. It is also a huge concern among veterans. 300,000 veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD or major depression since returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and it is documented that only half have sought treatment (U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs). That is absolutely alarming. Notice the close correlation between the amount of homeless veterans and those with a mental illness. Coincidence? I think not.

Unfortunately, despite those well-meaning promises of education and pride, mental illness can rob veterans of the ability to sit in a classroom and gain the skills necessary to support themselves. Veterans are also forced to leave behind an extremely regimented lifestyle. They no longer have meticulous orders to follow and must relearn the simplest of tasks.

In my opinion, there needs to be an intensive treatment plan for all veterans who attempt to re-enter civilian society. ShelterCare provides individually based treatment, as do many programs, but the government should take responsibility for this nationally crippling problem. At the very least, a large chunk of change should be distributed between those agencies that attempt to rehabilitate war-torn veterans.

I am not really sure what we can provide other than compassion, gratitude and understanding. Spread awareness and seek answers for those who cannot care for themselves. The veteran population contributes greatly to the homeless population; if we can find a way to help them, then we are that much closer to ending homeless.

Did You Know?

-Numerous studies have shown that homelessness causes damage, sometimes permanent, to a person's mental and physical health. Lack of a stable home environment, constant moving around, crowded shelters, and life on the streets take a heavy toll. Homeless individuals are at increased risk of infectious diseases, upper respiratory infections, and a host of wintertime environmental impacts on their general well-being and health. Malnutrition and chronic dental and skin problems are common.

-Children are especially vulnerable, with research showing that stress brought on by homelessness can cause delays in their cognitive and physical development. Homeless children consistently exhibit more health problems than their housed peers, with higher incidence of infection, asthma, stomach problems, and depression. Individual experiencing homelessness are also more likely to have their mental health impacted, with higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, and nearly twice the rate of depressive and anxiety orders.

-At ShelterCare's Family Housing Program, families with children experiencing homelessness are provided shelter and support until they can transition out of the program and into a successful living situation. Parents are provided budgeting advice and job search coaching. Staff in our Children's Program supervise the children in a supportive, structured and educational environment while their parents work on improving their situation. This past fall, we even introduced a parenting skills course that teaches the parents in our programs how to be more effective in raising their children. We help prevent the tragedy of homelessness from reoccurring in these vulnerable families. 

Lindsay the Intern: Week Four Musings

(During week 4, our Intern finds herself employed and reflects on some assumptions she held about what it means to be employed, and what she learned about the sad reality for many).

For the last month, I have been tirelessly trying to get a job. I have scaled strip malls and scavenged Internet sites in search of a source of income to support my frivolous spending. FINALLY, I found work.

After my first day on the job, I headed over to ShelterCare for the weekly Development meeting. While we waited for the last few members to join us in the meeting room, my focus drifted off to meet my surroundings. The posters and pictures seemed to pop off the white walls, leaving me to ponder each one. Suddenly, a framed statistic tugged my mind to the present. Did you know that 40 percent of people living in shelters are employed? 4o percent! I was stunned by this news. You can have a job and be homeless? Forgive me if I have oversimplified things here, but if a job means money, and money means necessities, and a major necessity is shelter... why is my math not adding up?

I suppose that despite the fact that I am well  into my 4th year of college, I have never held a job that could afford me my lifestyle, let alone my necessities (Hooray for student loans!). It just floors me that well-intentioned people, who have taken the initiative to get a job, have to struggle to live. 

From my Family and Human Services classes, I have learned that poverty perpetuates itself. If your parents are struggling to survive off minimum wage, you are less likely to have the free time, emotional support, and financial support to thrive in a school setting. This means college may not be an option, and without a college degree, well... the good paying jobs just seem to slip away. 

I understand that many jobs require specific qualifications that one cannot gain any other way but college. However, those employers that are not diving into the graduate pool need to make sure they are supporting their employees. How functional is an employee if he or she had to spend half the night finding a place to sleep and the other half worrying about a slew of other pertinent issues surrounding basic survival. Shall we add kids into that equation? Sadly this is the reality for many individuals tossing and turning in rented beds. 

I want to have some powerful lesson or helping hint to change this situation, but this is a bigger task than those previously discussed. How do we as individuals rectify this unjustifiable issue? Compassion aside, it comes down to numbers. Many employers cannot afford to meet liveable wage requests for all employees. I hate not having all the answers.

With all of that said, I think I will take the time to plug a ShelterCare program. The Homelessness Prevention Program is helping to keep those families with children, who teeter on the border of homelessness, off the streets. How, you might ask? Well, donations, for one. It costs more money ($6,000!) to pull a family off the streets into a stable situation than it does to keep them out of poverty. Many families are just able to make ends meet, living paycheck-to-paycheck. One miscalculation or unexpected expense and life is no longer affordable. However, just $950 can prevent a family from reaching the red zone. It may not be a solution, but it certainly is a start. 

Thursday's Ready-For-The-Weekend Link List

Image: freedigitalphotos.net)

Here are some interesting links from elsewhere in cyberspace that may be of interest:

-St. Martin's Hospitality Center, in Albuquerque, NM is conducting a "Street Retreat", during which volunteers will experience what it's like to be homeless for a few days in late January. It's one of several such events that have cropped up in cities across the nation in recent years. 

-Here's an interesting article explaining how blast pressure (generated when weapons are fired) may cause brain injury.

-The December unemployment numbers for the state of Oregon are in, and the news is not so good.

-The economic downturn and punitive welfare policies are exacerbating the issue of homelessness for our friends Down Under. 

-NYC begins to make progress on the dual diagnosis front. 

Lindsay the Intern: Week Two Musings

(Our intern reflects on a trip she just took to Seattle).

What do the mentally ill, the traumatically brain injured, and low-income families have in common? No, this is not the bud of a cruel joke. All of these groups share an extreme vulnerability to homelessness.

I always used to assume that those homeless men and women muttering to themselves, or screaming obscenities must have reached that point as a result of street life and substance abuse. I now understand that many of these people simply either missed out on, or weren't awarded, services they were entitled too. It is hard to comprehend how these people can continually slip through the cracks.

In a perfect world, the minimum wage would be a living wage, and those affected by mental illness, or struck by sudden trauma, would have enough support and guidance to find an accepting place. Unfortunately, this world is far from perfect, and people are suffering everywhere. 

I took a trip to Seattle this weekend to visit my brother and meet his new girlfriend. Although my main agenda was to give my stamp of approval on the relationship, I couldn't help but find myself distracted. I had new knowledge about the homeless community in Eugene and it seemed to follow me. All I could see as I passed vintage shops and trendy restaurants were the shopping carts full of dirty clothes and people without a hand to hold. I wanted to find a way to help each one I passed, but all I ended up doing was giving away a hot dog.

I realized that I would be confronted with this dilemma in every city I visit. I also realized that although I can lead people to great organizations in Eugene, I hadn't the slightest clue of how to help in Seattle, let alone San Francisco. I guess what I'm saying is that it's in your hands too.

Go Google "homelessness" and your city. If you are a Eugenian, then Google a city you visit a lot. I bet a few agencies will pop up. Wow. That took a total of 5 seconds (granted, I am handy with a keyboard). Now just go ahead and bookmark them. Next time you find yourself overstaying your welcome on Facebook, instead check out an agency site and learn about ways to help that are specific to your city or hometown. It is abundantly clear that homelessness is a problem extending far beyond Eugene, Oregon, or even the U.S. If we want to seal up the cracks in society, we are going to have to put in a little elbow grease and take matters into our own hands. Hey, if you are feeling particularly giving, mosey on down to those agencies and pick up a few brochures. Information is crucial to enlightening and empowering the vulnerable. We have the computers and the time, all that's left to do is pass it on. 

Did You Know?

Many famous people experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. 

-Lauralee Summer, author of the critically acclaimed memoir Learning Joy From Dogs Without Collars, was often homeless as a child growing up in Oregon and Washington, and had moved 20 times by the time she was 12. 

-Ella Fitzgerald, the legendary jazz singer, was a homeless teenager in NYC before she was discovered in an amateur singing contest. 

-John Paul DeJoria, cofounder and spokesman for John Paul Mitchell Systems haircare products spent time as a homeless single dad in Los Angeles, working odd jobs and collecting cans and bottles before becoming the billionaire he is today.

As you can see, homelessness can happen to anyone, and people can rebound from it with tremendous results. From July 2007 to June 2008, ShelterCare helped 693 parents and children get back on their feet after suffering from a period of homelessness or the imminent threat of homelessness. ShelterCare provides short-term emergency housing for families with children in its Family Housing and Brethren Housing Programs. We also prevent families from becoming homeless in the first place through our innovative Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP).