Homeless Journaling, News & Views Timeline

Journaling, blog posts, news and views concerning homelessness, housing, poverty and related matters by various contributors. (please not that since people who either live or formerly have lived homeless, as well as those who work in the field, have lives focused on various matters other than what may be related to homelessness, etc., some posts in the timeline might not always have much if anything to do with the subject matter usually addressed within the timeline)

Create your own timeline via dipity!

Rutland Open Door Mission on VPR

When I lived in Rutland, Vermont from the Spring of 1988 thru the Spring of 1991 I had eaten many a meal at the free nightly community suppers held at the Rutland Open Door Mission, which were open to anyone in need of a good meal as well as socializing. They also held a free community Christmas dinner every year as well of course.

Read the transcript or listen to the archived radio broadcast as Vermont Public Radio (VPR) presents: A visit to Rutland's open door mission [if you are able to do so, listen to the archived audio podcast via the Listen link provided within the right-hand side-column found on the news page;the audio version is slightly different than the transcribed version].

*Must-Read* 7Days Article: Budget ‘Band-Aid’ to Patch Homeless Policy Ills

Read an excellent article concerning urgent matters on the rise both in the Burlington area, as well as elsewhere within Vermont, here [via Seven Days (weekly alternative newspaper); Local Matters news section; Burlington, Vermont; Wednesday, December 12, 2007].

The article is relatively short, too the point, yet with plenty of lean meat (read: good quality information as well as behind the scenes material, often not found within the mainstream press; and, also without all the journalistic fat or filler too often found in pieces done in the fashion were the backgrounders, sources and reporters think the public could never appreciate or understand more weighty material, etc.).

In my opinion, this piece is an informative article fit for a weekly alternative newspaper, yet also reads a lot like a j-blog post, the best of both worlds.

That said, due to the need to balance a journalistic meal of good quality lean meat with a healthy serving of potato's as well as veggies and the like, let's hope 7Days does not stop there however; especially given that there is definitely much more to be covered and dug up regarding these and related matters that they have thus far only managed to report about the tip of the iceberg, including the need to interview and quote people who either live or have lived such experiences in a credible manner and giving voice to such, just like they do with the usual suspects interviewed and quoted.

Salvation Army Volunteer Facing Eviction From Shelter

A Salvation Army volunteer bell ringer says a homeless shelter is going to evict him for not finding gainful employment.

[above news clip via YouTube; posted by WPTZ - Channel 5 TV - News, here (November 30, 2007)]

Stuck in Vermont 32: The Identity Project

Description (via Stuck in VT):

6/18/07: The Identity Project is a show of photographs and oral history interviews on display throughout June at the Metro Gallery in Burlington's City Hall. The artwork was created by homeless and at-risk youth and this show gives the community a rare glimpse into their world.

Spectrum Health and Family Services and the Community Health Center of Burlington joined forces to bring you this exhibit. Both organizations provide a sense of family, security and support to youth who often have no where else to turn.

Sammie, one of the artists, has been on the street since he was 15 yrs old and is not sure what may have become of him without the food, shelter, clothes, and friendship that Spectrum has to offer.

Lizzy carries a doll named "Jaded Jenny" around with her everywhere she goes. She says that Jenny gets a lot of stares and this is a good thing because, "Everyone should be noticed."

The Identity Project is in its third year bringing these artist's voices, talents and identities into the public spotlight. Brian Plisko from Spectrum and Colleen Dwyer from CHCB are the main organizers of the co-sponsored event.

[...]

Additional information, here [via YouTube].

Follow-up Radio Show re: *Resources* re: Homelessness in VT: Tuesday, 12/11th, 9:00 - 10:00 AM [EST]

*Updated*

What: Follow-up radio show re: *resources* re: Homelessness in Vermont + Mental Health ... (following up on the September 25th show)

When: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
On-air from: 9:00 AM - 10: 00AM

Where: WGDR 91.1 FM Radio (also listen online via Website):
Gathering Peace radio show

Joseph Gainza
Day: Tuesday
Time: 08:30 AM - 10:00 AM

www.afsc.org

Gathering Peace offers music, commentary on news, including an hour long interview of people working on issues of justice and peace, locally, nationally and internationally. Listeners are encouraged to call in with questions and comments.

Joseph has been the Field Secretary for the American Friends Service Committee in Vermont since 1995. His work experience includes: program director and instructor at Woodbury College in Montpelier for 10 years, community organizer for anti-poverty agency and director of a program working for the rights of people with disabilities. He taught grade school in New York City for seven years before moving to Vermont in 1973. He has been active in justice and peace issues for over 30 years. Joseph has a BA in American History and an MA in Systematic Theology from St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont. With his wife, Sara Norton, he runs a small fram in Marshfield.

Who: Joseph Gainza with guests:

• Roxy Smith, Associate Director, Another Way Drop-In Center; and,


• Morgan W. Brown (Norsehorse's Home Turf); and,


• potentially others either in person or via telephone as well

How you can help:

• Listen online via WGDR Website [audio of show is *not* archived]


• Call-in during the show: (802) 454-7762 Air Studio


• Please help spread the word far and wide, particularly to anyone you know who works or lives within Vermont, especially anyone within the Central Vermont region where WGDR broadcasts from.

Thank you in advance!

*Update*: There has been a change of plans, thus the planned follow-up radio show on WGDR regarding homelessness will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 from 9 AM to 10 AM.


*Note*: last updated on Friday, December 7, 2007 at 10:20 AM [EST].

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

Squatter - When you're homeless, we're all family

Living under a bridge at age 15, Squatter woke at the crack of dawn to earn a living to get off the streets. There are over 1 million homeless youth in America. November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. [...]

[via YouTube, here; posted by HomelessYouthAmongUs (October 26, 2007); length: 1:15 minutes/seconds]

fyi: HomelessYouthAmongUs.org

Spryte - No one chooses to be homeless

Homeless since she was 12, living on the streets became the norm. There are over 1 million homeless youth in America. That's 1 million too many.

[...]

[via YouTube, here; posted by HomelessYouthAmongUs (October 26, 2007); length: 1:43 minutes/seconds]

fyi: HomelessYouthAmongUs.org

Jewel Testifies Before Congress on Homeless Youth

JUNE 23, 2007 C-SPAN

[via YouTube, here; posted by CSPANJUNKIEdotORG (June 24, 2007); length: 10:56 minutes/seconds]