We all count

Posting a little early this week in hopes I can convince readers to send in their census forms. Today is the deadline. If you didn't receive one in the mail, you can get them at Utah Department of Workforce Services, post offices, libraries and many other government offices.

Kudos to the census workers in Salt Lake City who are leaving no stone unturned in finding and counting homeless people for the 2010 Census (see article below) I hope similar efforts are being pursued around the country. The more aware our government representatives are made of  the vast number of people without even basic shelter and other human needs, the more hopeful we can be that more will be done about it. I know a lot of homeless men and women are mistrustful of the government, but I urge everyone to be counted.

An important reason for homeless people to be visible and vocal is that more funding will go to new ways to help them. There is a shift in philosophy from warehousing or sheltering people in poverty to helping them acquire assisted and permanent housing (see "New strategy for homeless" below. I was a beneficiary of one such program, and have been off the streets, out of shelters, and living at Palmer Court for one year now. If more complexes like this, and the ones opening in Helper and Price, a big dent will be made in the homeless population.

Utah

The Road Home facebook page
Join The Road Home for our annual One by One Breakfast! Tuesday, May 4 8:00-9:00 a.m. Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City To reserve your seat or host your own table for this free, informative breakfast, please call Benita Flores at 801.359.4142.

Health services from The Spectrum
ST. GEORGE - Community-based health resource services offered by Southwest Community Health Center will be the topic of Intermountain Healthcare's Prime Senior Lecture Series Friday at 10 a.m. at the Knight Education Center, 600 South and 300 East. This free event is open to the public.

Nancy Neff, executive director of the Southwest Utah Community Health Center, will be guest speaker. She has a master's degree in health education and has served as executive director for five years. Prevention, health education and linking patients with needed resources are an integral part of Southwest Utah Community Health Center. Serving as a primary health care system in Washington County, the center provides safe, comprehensive and timely health care and follow-up services for all patients regardless of financial or other barriers. Services are provided in a proficient, compassionate and linguistically and culturally competent manner.

New strategy for homeless by Julia Lyon The Salt Lake Tribune. Helper-"Two newly renovated buildings - one opened Monday in nearby Price - will offer transitional and permanent housing for low-income residents."

Utah census workers count the homeless by Lee Davidson Deseret News

Utah Economic Summit starts off with down-note prospects Speakers lament unemployment, other challenges, though say they're not insurmountable. by Steven Oberbeck The Salt Lake Tribune

Nation

Times Square’s Homeless Holdout, Not Budging by Julie Bosman. Photo by Michael Appleton The New York Times "Heavy, as he is known, is said to be the only person still living on the streets of Times Square."



New health insurance requirement ... was GOP idea by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press Writer

For more on health care reform

Jobless activists have plenty of time for tea party protests by Kate Zernike The New York Times

Congress fails to act on extending jobless benefits by Andrew Taylor Associated Press

One of the hardest things to escape in prison is your past by Art Garcia Street Roots

World

Acutely curious blog at BBC Island Blogging (Scotland) "Homelessness, the scurge of modern day living."
Eyeopening links: http://www.homelesspages.org.uk/ , www.homeless.org.uk/policyandinfo/facts ,

www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20020007 , www.childline.org.uk/Homelessnessandrunaways.asp