National Homeless Persons Memorial Day

I love the Winter Solstice. It means the nights are getting shorter, and the days are getting longer from here on in until Summer Solstice. It has also been called “The Longest Night of the Year.” From this context arose National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. It is a night to remember those who have died on the streets.

There are dozens of activities from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s that help homeless persons, and raise awareness during this period. I think this one needs more attention. It is not a happy message, but it is a reality check. As we rush from store to store, spending dollar after dollar on menial things that we think will make our loved ones happy, people are dying in our “back yard.”

So I am attending our candlelight vigil for National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day here in Salt Lake City (see ad at top of article). As a person who was homeless here for quite a long time, I knew people who died because they had lost everything and everyone, and could find no place to sleep one night when it just happened to get a little too cold. I was lucky not to be one of them.

Attend your local event for NHPMD, if there is one. If not, click the link below to see how you can start one. Please comment to let me know other ways you are all helping to combat homelessness year-round...

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from the National Alliance to End Homelessness 

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day 21st December 2010 written by Catherine An

Photo courtesy of smif.

...If you’re interested in holding your own service, you can visit the National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day page on the website of the National Coalition for the Homeless and download a how-to manual. But as you’re doing that – and definitely do – remember that it’s up to us to remember people experiencing homelessness more than once a year....

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from Homeless Nation “its cold here”  by Shul

A woman died in Winnipeg this week, when she was taking refuge in a dumpster.

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from US Conference of Mayors Hunger, Homeless-ness Still Major Challenges in U.S. Cities Press Release | Report (12/20)

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Here are some ways we are helping homeless and low income people around our city. If you know of any others, please leave the info as a comment, or email: streetnewspaper@gmail.com

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THE ROAD HOME: JOIN US!
Tuesday & Wednesday, December 21 & 22, 2010
6:00am - 6:00pm
The Road Home Salt Lake Shelter
210 S. Rio Grande St. (455 W.)
Join us for our 16th Annual Holiday Broadcast. DJ's from FM 100, 103.5 The Arrow, X96, 1280 The Zone, Movin 100.7 and 101.5 The Eagle, U92, The Mix 107.9 and Jack 103.1...

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Eagle Ranch Chuck Wagon [I’m certain that Jennie Dudley’s group, plans to serve the Sunday (their usual serving day) after Christmas around 9:00 AM. I was unable to reach them about any special meal for Christmas Day.] Eagle Ministries  P.O. Box 26144
Salt Lake City, UT 84126
Telephone : 1 (801) 254-4945

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Christmas Basket Giveaway Wednesday December 22nd 

Salt Lake Dream Center

1624 S. 1000 W.

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

© Copyright 2000 Salt Lake City Mission

 

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© Copyright 2009 RescueSaltLake.com All rights reserved.

Christmas Dinner at Rescue Mission of Salt Lake Thursday December 23 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM 463 S. 400 West - Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Phone: 801.355.1302

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Christmas Celebration (brought to you by Salt Lake City Mission) Saturday, December 25 Call for bus pick up locations or other info: (801) 355-6310 © Copyright 2000 Salt Lake City Mission

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New Year's Day at The Christian Life Center
1055 N. Redwood Road 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Volunteers need from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Our shifts will be in two hour increments. Volunteer Online Request Form

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Have the best of holidays, and look to the New Year to be the time when we all do what we can to make the world a better place  ̶  your editor

A multitude of ways to help people who are homeless for the holidays

With the approach of winter and the holiday season, more attention falls upon those people in need, and their need is greater. Here are some easy and some fun ways to help your homeless neighbors right here in SLC. Thanks to these organizations and the people who make their work possible. I have also linked to a few national and international sites. Of course there’s not the time or space to include everyone, so why not help your editor by leaving comments and links to your favorite charity. As you donate goods, money, and time, please keep in mind that homeless people need your help the entire year...

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Fun Events:

Utah Food Bank Fundraiser with Cameron Rafati this Saturday at In The Venue .

The good folks at Northplatte Records hit us with the lowdown on a great cause, and for music fans in Utah, it's a no-brainer. Headlining this gig is Cameron Rafati, who has worked with the likes of The Fugees and who just completed recording his first... Read More 

cityweekly.net 5 Spot: Coat Exchange With Deanna Taylor
By Rachel Piper

Six years ago, Deanna Taylor organized Utah's first annual Community Coat Exchange. The coat exchange takes place every year on the day after Thanksgiving (also referred to as Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day) at Library Plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Coats are being collected now at four drop-off points, and on the day of... Read More

 

More sites to visit:

Local:

Salt Lake City Mission

Salt Lake Street News

 

Local News Coverage... By John Hollenhorst

Local News Coverage... By Julia Lyon

Crossroads Urban Center 

 

Thank you Harmon’s, Ten Thousand Villages, and Indian Walk-in Center.

 

The Road Home 

for the Red & Blue Rivalry Classic click on the pic above

Rescue Mission of Salt Lake 

Salvation Army 

United Way of Salt Lake (Season Of Sharing) 

(in partnership with 1430 KLO & Now 97.9)

Utah Food Bank 

Volunteers of America (VOA):

Homeless Youth Resource Center (HYRC)

Watch the video: (CBS News story on Utah’s homeless youth)

Homeless Outreach and Housing 

National/International:

Street News Service (SNS)

National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)

International Network of Street Papers (INSP)

North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA)

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The holidays are a time for giving, not just to friends and family, but to all who are in need. Won’t you please share with them? Please leave a comment to tell how you help those in need, or to make others aware of ways to help of which we might not be aware. Look for updates from now until the New Year, have a great holiday season, and blessed be for helping.

---your editor

 

Thought you’d never be homeless?think again!

Homelessness is everywhere, and can happen to anyone. One catastrophic accident or illness, one corporate or government decision or failure, a divorce or death of a spouse or partner...any of these things could happen to any of us. It happens in your family, it happens to your neighbors, it happens to your friends. It’s becoming more and more likely that it could happen to you.

Even if you don’t care about the myriad homeless men, women and children on the street today, it is in everybody’s interest to address homelessness and other poverty and to work together to create solutions. It could very well be YOU next.

[photo: (Scott Sommerdorf  l  The Salt Lake Tribune)  Crystal Childers and her 4-year-old daughter, Theorie Martinez,  play on the bed that has been assigned to them Monday at the homeless shelter in Midvale. The overflow space, which is only open during winter, opened slightly early this year due to the large number of families in need of a place to sleep. On Monday, about two dozen families moved in. ]  See story below.                 

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Number of homeless Utah kids skyrockets Oct 14, 2010

The lingering recession has taken a toll on Utah’s youngest residents, leading to a 48 percent increase in the number of homeless school-age children since 2008, according to state data released Wednesday. 

Utah remains among highest in foreclosures  Oct. 27, 2010 SALT LAKE CITY — Utah and its largest metropolitan areas are again among the nation's highest foreclosure rates, according to a new report.

ksl.com -  The Road Home opens overflow shelter in Midvale

www.ksl.com

The KSL.COM Website

 

 

 

 

Utah winter homeless shelter opens early Oct 19, 2010

MIDVALE • When Stacey Hackle and her family arrived at the winter homeless shelter Monday morning, there was little moving-in to worry about. The parents and three children wore the only pants and shoes they own. Autumn, 8, had black sneakers so worn they were nearly split in half... .

Utah has lost 19,200 jobs to China since 2001 

Utah lost 19,200 jobs to China trade since that country joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, according to a report released Tuesday by the …

3rd month of weak hiring signals long slog ahead 

WASHINGTON — The nation isn't creating nearly enough jobs to reduce persistently high unemployment. 

Economy loses 95K jobs due to government layoffs 

WASHINGTON — A wave of government layoffs in September outpaced weak hiring in the private sector, pushing down the nation's payrolls...

Find out who your government representatives are. Write to them. Find out where they stand and what they have done about these issues. Vote for or against them based on information from your self-education. It’s too late to register for this mid-term election, but don’t fail to vote just because you are a homeless person. A street corner address is all that’s necessary to register. But, especially if you are living in poverty, are in danger of losing your house, or are on the streets,VOTE. It’s your voice. Empower yourself. Get involved. Make a difference in your standing. 

And if you don’t vote, don’t bitch.

---your editor

 

audition for Oprah

I wanted to share this with you, from The Road Home  on facebook:

Oprah is looking for a young star to make a show on her new network. How does that impact homelessness? One auditionee has a profound idea...

Watch Chloe's audition for Your OWN show, titled Homeless Youth Awareness Show

Chloe was one of two participants in the Homeless Youth Pride Walk.
 
Logo image from The Road Home.

New Salt Lake Street News

Look for the new issue of Salt Lake Street News on street corners everywhere July 1!

 Image from: Salt Lake City Mission.

And have a great Independence Day!

your editor

image from: http://www.trawelmart.com/

Turf War?

Selling Salt Lake Street News is fun. Although it's harder than I imagined, I keep hitting the events and street corners whenever I have the time. People in Salt Lake City are generally polite, and receptive to the idea of what we're trying to do, whether or not they buy a copy of the paper. I've only been hassled by security guards at a couple of places, and had only one chat with the police. I just figure they are people doing their job, no sweat. Word will spread as more vendors appear on the city streets.

Unfortunately, there are always people who want to make things difficult.

The entire time I was homeless, I never panhandled. I didn't feel right asking hard working people for their money without giving something in return. Yet I know there are people on the street who have done it for years, at the same spot, everyday, without fail. They get to know people and people get to know them, so it becomes a sweet deal.

So I try to be respectful of that. I never sell on the same corner as panhandlers. If they are there first, I cross the street or go to the next intersection. At the Bees games I talk and have a laugh with the sign flyers. When I do well selling the paper, I've even been known to slip them a buck or two.

So  it was frustrating the other day when a panhandler showed up on the corner where I'd already been selling for two hours. He proceeded to solicit change. I pleaded the case that I'd been there first, and asked him could he please go across the street to an unoccupied corner.

You would have thought that I had asked for a pound of flesh. This man called me everything but a human being, began to badmouth Street News, the Salt Lake City Mission, and those running the organization and the street paper project. Everyone within earshot heard his slanderous remarks. I tried to stand my ground, but sir kept talking smack, interfering with my right to sell. To avoid losing my temper, I left, so angry that I quit selling for the day.

The way I see it, we're all in the same boat and have the same goal-to put a buck in our pocket. I give the panhandlers respect and courtesy. I would expect the same in return. So I have a proposition and a challenge for those with whom we have to share the streets.

When you see vendors selling our paper, don't hassle us, put us down, or try to intimidate us. There are a lot of street corners, people, and events to go around. If you are there first, OK, but if you're not, it's only fair that you concede to whomever is. Nobody wants a turf war; you'll lose eventually anyway. Let's be civil and fair to one another. Those of us who are no longer homeless still remember what it was like. We vendors are just trying to improve our lives a little and make some cash, just like you.

I challenge panhandlers to try vending SLSN before you go around knocking it. At least come to an orientation and get the information. It may not be for you, but at least you'll know. Just don't blame the dedicated people who put this program-along with others from which you may benefit-together without having the facts. They deserve your thanks, not your distrust and badmouthing.

If we cooperate, everyone can benefit from the kindness and generosity of everyone, resident or visitor, on the streets of Salt Lake City.

Peace

Street news in Salt Lake now a reality, Rio Grande blog returns

Well, The Salt Lake City Mission finally got a street newspaper off the ground. I'm an official vendor. The second best thing to starting my own. I was on two local news stations, channel 5 and channel 4.  So I'll post here monthly regarding that, and select articles and my submissions to Salt Lake Street News. City Weekly also did an article. Shari (pictured at left) is our top vendor right now. Contact the Mission for subscription and advertising rates. Mention me, Vendor #009, and I'll benefit from your ad or script. Contact Brad or Pamela at the Mission about that. New issue coming out in July 2010, but you can still get the premiere May/June 2010. If you see us on the street, please buy a copy. That is the most immediate way to help. Also, if you want to purchase quantities of the paper to distribute to the socially conscious clients and customers of your organization or business, email me (mrwrite@live.com). I'll deliver! [photo courtesy of Salt Lake City Weekly].

Republican liars: talk to the hand

I have been unable to grasp all along why the Republican party has fought against Obama's health care bill. After educating myself, even at a very minimal level, I'm more behind our president than ever before, at least on this issue. I've also deduced that Republican's and their supporters have been waging a partisan political war on Democrats, and lying to their constituents, indeed all US citizens, to try and kill this issue.

The facts are:

1. 
   
   Small businesses will get tax credits for insuring their employees
2. 
   
   Sick people will no longer be denied insurance; their policies can no longer be unfairly cancelled; their benefits can no longer be unfairly capped.
3. 
   
   Parents with sick children cannot be denied insurance for them.

See the video below for more about what our president has done to help the elderly and poor obtain better health care.

Republicans are liars. I believe President Obama has the best interests of America, and its most vulnerable citizens, in mind. I applaud his determination to rein in greedy insurance companies who take your money, then refuse to pay your claim.

Worried about what this will cost? It's cheaper than war.

Utah

New food program for low-income Utahns by Julia Lyon The Salt Lake Tribune

Unemployment benefit extension to run out  Deseret News

Poor have no where to turn to get dental care by Stephen W. Carter, DDS-Sandy. Standard-Examiner

Nation

Employers added most jobs in 3 years in March by Christopher S. Rugaber Associated Press

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says banks' bailout 'deeply unfair' by Daniel Wagner Associated Press [photo by Kieth Sracocik AP]

New claims for unemployment benefits drop slightly by Christopher S. Rugaber Associated Press

Video

What health reform does this year Hear president Obama explain on YouTube

More at whitehouse.gov/healthreform

Art and Entertainment

One of my favorite stories with a health care theme, where the underdog wins, is The Rainmaker. The novel is by John Grisham. The movie stars Matt Damon, Claire Daines, Mickey Rourke, Mary Kay Place, Danny De Vito and Jon Voigt.

Without spoiling it for you, I'll just say it's about a young man who dies because a huge insurance company refuses to pay for treatment that could save his life. It's a real tearjerker, but a feel-god at the same time. I recommend both film and book.

Until next week: stay well

-your editor

[cover image: Amazon.com]

RGR special edition-The Road Home: a local shelter; homeless success stories

THE ROAD HOME

I get the impression that many people think that homeless individuals are lazy, that they want everything handed to them, they don't want to work or improve their lives.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Unfortunately, bureaucratic red tape, individual worker ineptness, and incomprehensible policies stand in the way of giving help to people who want and need it.

Shelters are often looked upon as places to warehouse homeless individuals and families, to put them out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately, that  misperception turns out to be true all too often.

Here's some info on a local organization that I recommend. Their service and services have steadily improved over the years. Also, read the success story about Marianne and Jason. It is more the rule than the exception.

-your editor

The Road Home's mission: To help people step out of homelessness and back into our community.

The Road Home
210 South Rio Grande Street (455 West)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
801.359.4142
info@theroadhome.org 
Facebook page

What we do: Agency Programs   Success Stories   Homelessness Facts

How you can help: Donate Money   Donate Items  Volunteer

Who we are: About The Road Home  Friends   

Events Speakers/Tours  News Contact Us

Success stories

Marianne and Jason

Marianne and Jason, her 14 year old son, were evicted from their apartment after Marianne lost her job and was unable to pay rent. After 3 months of camping around the city, they moved into the Shelter.

While living in the Shelter Marianne attended a computer training course at a local credit card company while Jason was busy in school and playing basketball with other teens from the shelter. Upon completion of the computer course, Marianne was anxious to find housing and a job. She worked hard with a case manager to find a home for them.

Last year they moved into a Transitional Housing unit with supportive services from The Road Home. For the first time in four years, she is working full time, has an apartment of her own, and is able to support her son. She is very proud of herself. Jason is looking forward to participating in a few different camps this summer. He is extremely excited about basketball camp at the U of U.

2005 The Road Home. Privacy Policy Hosting Provided By Xmission

Breaking the ice

Breaking the ice is a phrase most of us are familiar with. The most popular meaning is to initially engage someone in a first-time conversation. An ice-breaker is a joke, or lame pick-up line used to ease tension and gain confidence. Most of these definitions refer to personal, individual social interaction.

For the last three years, I've been trying to break the ice in a different way-trying to get through bureaucratic bullshit and promote the Street newspaper idea to which this blog is a mere precursor.

Most agencies I've contacted that I thought would have at least one person willing to meet with me and discuss the concept simply didn't reply. Silent treatment. We've all experienced this when trying to break the ice. Those who agreed to a meeting didn't seem to grasp the concept, although I explained it as simply as possible. I even brought visual aids. Many of them thought I was begging for money. I never uttered the words donation or contribution.

My point is that I've just been getting the brush-off, the cold shoulder, from people who purport to be in the business of helping homeless people.  I've felt like I've been trying to pick up a cheap date with no redeeming qualities to back me up. I can handle rejection, but this seems excessive.

The success, importance, and innovation of street newspapers in helping the homeless has been proven time and again over that last 30 + years, not only in North America, but around the globe. It can and will be done here in Salt Lake. If not by myself, then by someone with more connections, credentials, or maybe just a more attrtactive pitch.

Anyhow, I'm drafting letters to Mayors Ralph Becker and Peter Corroon. Here's hoping they're looking to break the ice, and will warm to finding more solutions to benefit those who need help.

In this issue of RGR, I wanted to concentrate on some publications and organizations from which I receive regular e-mail updates:

'Voluntary homelessness' The unreality of urban plunges by Robert Funke Street Roots  contributing writer. Reprinted from The Contributor

Diaries of the disenfranchised: Optimism is not an early riser by Julie McCurdy Street Roots
Julie McCurdy is a homeless woman living in Portland, Oregon

Lawsuit pushes Social Security... from Street Roots staff reports

What is NASNA? by Israel Bayer, chairperson of the board of directors for the North American Street Newspaper Association

Literature

rocketpoetry: poems by homeless people.

Old Man and a Dog by Jay Theimeyer

Looking at Autumn from a Train by Kareem Ali

until next week...

your editor

Will Write for Food

Sorry for the lateness of this installion of RGR. I'm adjusting to a new schedule, involving, of all things, work!

After a long stretch of unemployment--nearly a full year--I'm proud to report that I'm back to work temporarily. Unfortunately, it's not a writing job. I'll be preparing people's taxes. I took a ten-week course last fall through Liberty Tax. I'll be rotating between the State Street, Downtown, and Rose Park offices. The people I work for are great. I've worked for them last tax season and in 2007, in a much different capacity. You may have seen the people on street corners dressed as Lady Liberty or Uncle Sam. I did that. So I'm not only employed again, but have moved up in the ranks.

This gives me hope that it will be easier to find permanent employment in April when this job will end.

I wish you all good luck, and hope I don't find my reason to doubt my prediction.

Lastly, I want to congratulate those involved in the creation of two new street newspapers that launch in the last months in Philladelphia and St. Petersburg (see stories below).

When will it be Salt Lake City's turn?

Utah

Utahns dug deep for holday...by Julia Lyon The Salt Lake Tribune

Home for pregnant girls closes...by Julia Lyon [photo-Jim Urquhart] The Salt Lake tribune

Food bank director has passion...by Sara Israelson-Hartley Deseret News
www.communityactionprovo.org

Weber homeless to be counted http://www.standard.net/

Center works to end abuse by Tiffany DeMasters  spectrum.com

Nation

...a [NYC] homeless shelter closing by Rachel Senatore The New York Times

New [NYC] public advocate assails [mayor] Bloomberg's performance on homelessness by Julie Bosman The New York Times

From the agencies:
...The neediest cases by Kari Haskell The New York Times Donate to The Neediest Cases today.

Homeless chic? It's so last decade Guardian World News
Audio clip: commentary by cloumnist Hadley Freeman

World

Video and article:
...homeless coping in frozen Britiain by Vanessa Barford BBC News

Help UK homeless  people

Bristol's [UK] homeless women...BBC News

Delhi's homeless...by Gayathri Sreedharan BBC- Delhi, India

NASNA NEWS

Two new street newspapers...

One Step Away Philladelphia, PA

St. Petersburg Homeless Image St. Petersburg, FL

NASNA.org

Find it on Facebook

Follow it on Twitter

Charity should begin at home

As is usual after the holidays, news about homelessness and poverty has taken a nose-dive. But, I was very pleased to learn that RGR recieved some kudos on facebook . Thanks to The Road Home for posting the following update on Monday January 11: "The Road Home: Thanks to [your editor's name here]for his blog aimed to raise awareness of homelessness in the community...." The Road Home is Salt Lake City's primary shelter for homeless men, women, and families. Their mission is, "To help people step out of homelessness and back into our community." [above photo: Anna Bosch Ruidophoto for NYT article "Makeshift homes....]

I'm going to rant a bit. About politics, which I know nothing about. I will be accused of being callous and uncaring; nothing could be further from the truth. Please bear with me. I promise I have a relevant point.

The situation in Haiti is tragic. They have experienced death and destruction on an apocalyptic scale. Few of us in the U.S. can even imagine such an event. As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has no resources for recovery. They need help. However, I take a rather isolationist view of how such assistance should be provided. I do not think our government should rush to inteercede in the fate of every nation in the world, for humanitarian reasons, or other more insiduous goals.

There is a quasi-Christian tent that states "Charity begins at home." I interpret that as meaning we believe we help those in our inner circle who are in need before we consider helping others. I find it hypocritical that money and resources that can and should be used to solve problems on our own soil are, it seems, first and foremost being directed toward interfering in and "repairing" foreign nations. I believe this is a big reason why there are homeless, hungry, impoverished people in the U.S.

We are lucky enough to have the resources to have the capacity to improve our society's ills substantially. National priority should be to meaningfully and effectively address issues within our borders. Then, if there are resources available to help others, I happily support it. But let's stop wasting money on "nation-building" wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and other efforts to spread the capitalist culture around the globe. Let's use those military resources for true "Homeland Security" on our continent. Let's not use them in a futile effort to force our ideology and religion on other cultures. This will avoid recurrences of terroroist events such as September 11. Let's use our strength, through diplomacy, to come to peaceful solutions to conflict, rather than supporting nations such as Israel in their repression of Palestine.

Most importantly, let's not spend one dime, loan one dollar that will never be repaid, elsewhere before every man woman and child in America who wishes to be is clothed, housed, fed, employed and safe. Because we can. Because to do otherwise is irresponsible, immoral, and inexcusable.

Have a good Martin Luther King day. Promote peace.

Utah

Addicted, suicidal veterans push housing program off VA campus by Matthew D. LaPlante Salt Lake Tribune Housing Authority of Salt Lake City purchases former Days Inn to house those displaced from Valor House

Nation

Makeshift homes are leveled in Suffolk County [New York] by Karen Zraick New York Times

 Library social worker rewrites the book on homeless outreach by Josie Raymond on change.org. [photo: San Francisco Chronicle]

Replacing the revolving door with the front door by Shannon Moriarty on change.org

A fight for the homeless and against authority by Jesse McKinley New York Times

World

[UK] Homeless urged not to sleep rough BBC News 

Freezing [UK] weather hits the homeless... BBC News

 Arts/Entertainment

Books: Out of legends, a life more extraordinary by Edward M. Eveld McClatchy Newspapers "A New York journalist living on Park Avenue...looked  out a taxi window one day and saw a homeless, raggedy woman scavenging in a Dumpster. The woman was her mother."

Music: "Strike a Deep Chord: Blues Guitars for the Homeless available on Target.com . Traditional blues artisits record to comabat homelessnes.

Get action and news alerts about Homelessness »

Browse top Homelessness organizations to support »

Find out more about Homelessness and what you can do to help »

Until next week
your editor

Most shocking homeless stories of 2009

Story of the Week:

The five most shocking homelessness stories of 2009

by Shannon Moriarty on change.org

"THE RIO GRANDE REPORT"

Friday January 8 2010

Fifty-eight people died on the streets of Utah in 2009.

Although there are resources available to help homeless people get in out of the cold, they do not meet the need. In addition, there are waiting lists.
When shelters are at maximum capacity, as they are during winter months, one can wait up to two weeks to get a bed.

Many people choose not to stay indoors, perhaps due to drug or alcohol abuse ( those who have been drinking are not allowed in shelters). Other valid reasons include violence and stealing. Many homeless youth, some already subjected to physical or sexual abuse, are afraid they may be vulnerable to such treatment in shelters. Many people have mental disabilities which make it difficult to tolerate the environment and conform to the rules and routine. Shelters have experienced infestations of bedbugs that make people hesitant to stay in them.

There were many nights throughout my years of homelessness that I had no where to comfortably sleep, feared for my safety, and wondered if I would wake up in the morning, or freeze to death. I was one of the lucky ones, unlike the gentleman in the story below. One of 58 souls that died on the street, cold and alone.

Utah

[St. George] Shelter fights bedbug outbreak by Tiffany De Masters The Spectrum

Jordan Beetdiggers raise cash for charity by Lisa Schencker The Salt Lake Tribune

Number of homeless deaths continues to rise by Julia Lyon The Salt Lake Tribune

Nation

Vegas tunnels: saying goodbye to underground 'home' by Ashley Powers Los Angeles Times

Discover the related book, Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas by Matthew O'Brien [image: Matthew O'Brien web site]

More from The Associated Press below

In the shadows, day laborers left homeless as work  vanishes by Fernanado Santos The New York Times   [photo below: Fred R Conrad NYT]

Tunnels beneath Vegas a refuge for homeless people The Associated Press

"LENS" PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO AND VISUAL JOURNALISM-Showcase: Disposed of  (Japan)

blog by Miki Meek The New York Times. 

Pulitzer Prize nominated photos by Shiho Fukada

World

[Jolly good show, your highness.]

Prince William sleeps on streets in solidarity with homeless youth by Shannon Moriarty on change.org [image: Sky News]

New center helps homeless women BBC News

Challenging New Year

[photo at left: "Rubina Ali, star of the Oscar-winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire' sits in despair on the rubble of her damaged home after it was after it was demolished by the civic authorities in Mumbai, India" BBC News Day in Pictures December 30 2009]

 It's a brand new year, and I wish everyone the best. Three-hundred sixty-five opportunities to improve our lives, assuming we pursue just one goal per day.

I don't really make New Year resolutions, but I have a few things I want to improve upon and new realities I want to create for my life. It is said that we only fail if we quit, and that's a big part of my personal philosophy. Woody Allen said, "Ninety percent of life is showing up." I whole heartedly embrace that adage as well. As long as I'm getting out of bed, out of the apartment, and chasing my dreams, I consider myself successful. I've learned that if I expect much more from myself, I'll be frequently disappointed.

To work at evolving this blog into an out and out street newspaper that will help homeless people in Salt Lake City is my major goal for 2010. If you'd like to help, let me know how to contact you in a comment on this blog, or e-mail riograndereport@live.com. Let's resolve to educate Utah about homelessness together.

I'm sure many of us took advantage of the flood of charitable acts, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, coat, hat and boot giveaways, and the like. Thanks to all the volunteers and organizations that make it possible for us to enjoy some warmth and cheer. Let's resolve to remind everyone that homelessness is an everyday, everywhere problem, and we are not invisible the rest of the year.

We have a lot of individual and social challenges ahead of us. Let's make this a year where we acheive much progress.

Utah

Keep helping less fortunate through new year by John Flores Deseret News

Warehouse destroyed as fire burns two homeless men by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

OWATC worker finds opportunities for those in need by Trent Noone [Ogden] Standard-Examiner staff [photo: "Cynthia Prueitt is an employee of the Ogden-Weber Applied   Technology College..." courtesy of Standard - Examiner]

Shelter gives rare steak dinner St. Vincent de Paul serves special Christmas meal to large crowd by Paul Koepp Deseret News

[photo: Chen Wang Deseret News]

Nation

Below: Sherrif Deputies wake Harvey Lesser, 58, with a court order to evict him from his apartment on Dec. 11 in Boulder, Co. Lesser, an unemployed software developer with health problems related to obesity, said he stopped making rent payments after all of his savings were spent. Eviction and foreclosure rates soared in 2009, amid skyrocketing unemployment and an ongoing mortgage crisis. -MSNBC

            

Employers see uptick in hiring in 2010 Reuters

World

UK standard of living drops below 2005 level by Ashley Seager and Biba McCaul The Guardian

[Below: "Bhubaneswar, India: Slum children warm themselves near a bonfire"

Biswaranjan Rout Associated Press]