How to Succeed at Homelessness Without Really Trying

Here's the very beginning of my novel, which I hashed out in the SLCC Community Writing Center Scenewriting Mini-Workshop during Utah Arts Festival 2010:

"Mr Evanston wants to see you in his office first thing," the receptionist informed Donald as he walked into the Daily Monitor's offices.

Oh shit, thought Don. Well, I knew I'd be sticking my neck out and stepping on some toes with this one.

His editor's personal office was all the way to the back of the news room. The door was ajar, and Don could see that Mr. Evanston was talking very fervently with whomever was on the other end of the line. His face was scarlet. don attempted a quick turnaround back toward his desk,, but was stopped by a hoarse shout.

"Morton! Get your ass back here!" Evanston turned his attention back to the mystery caller, made apologies, said goodbye and hung up the phone. "Sit down," he ordered, pointing to a very uncomfortable looking chair at the front side of his desk. He took a piece of chewing gum from his desk drawer, removed a stick, rolled it up and popped it into his mouth. "I need a cig. Fucking clean air laws."

Donald squirmed around, trying to get comfortable in the chair, and failing. "You wanted to see me?"

"Damned right I wanted to see you. Do you have any idea who that was on the phone just now?"

"The pope?" Don guessed, trying to lighten the mood.

"No, wise ass. It was the governor. Our governor.

"Oh. How's he doing?"

Evanston rose from his chair, turned his back to Don, facing out the big office window. He took a deep breath and clasped his hands behind his back. "You, young man, have really stepped in the shit."

Don made a big production of checking his shoes for foreign substances and sniffing the air for any foul smell. Evanston saw this reflected in the window pane and turned to face his budding future Pulitzer winning columnist.

"I took a chance on you five years ago because I like you. But this is not alt press. We're a daily. The Daily Monitor. It's in the name. We don't expose people. We don't print anything that doesn't come from an although confidential, a reliable source. And we don't bite hands that feed us. This paper is a prestigious publication, not some rag."

"Yes, sir."

Evanston picked up the morning edition of his newspaper from the desktop. "Whatever possessed you to write this? Whatever made you think I would approve of this being printed in my paper? The mayor is a close friend, and the governor is his close friend. I can't save you on this one. You're fired, Donald. I'm sorry."



Feel free to comment.

your editor

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

Walking on broken glass

Here's something I submitted to Salt Lake City Street News, SLC's new street newspaper. An abbreviated version of this poem appeared in the SLCC Community Writing Center publication Bridges; Volume 6, No. 1, Winter 2004. It only took me six years to finish it. [photo courtesy of bing]

The Broken, Glass Side

On the broken-glass side of my town

All the windows are shut up.

All the factories are shut down.

Each step upon the sidewalk

Creates a crack-ling sound

On the broken-glass side of my town.

On the broken glass side of my town

Little children rarely laugh;

Teenage mothers often frown.

The mind set seems constructed

To keep the good men down

On the broken glass side of my town.

Crystal shards of history

Strange and wondrous sights did see.

Where the wind

Blew the sun down

Over broken glass.

That side of town.

In your back yard, on your side of town

A human being slowly froze,

Wanting a bowl of soup, some bread,

Lacking food and warm clothes,

A lonely, banished man is dead

In the broken, glass side of your town.

In the stolen,

Bashed, blast-beaten,

Poor, passed

And half-eaten,

Broken, glass side

of our town.

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].

For better? or worse?

[I didn't finish this edition. Too busy the last 2 weeks of tax season. Furthermore, after careful consideration and deliberation, I have decided to discontinue Rio Grande Report. After several attempts to interest local public figures, and to recruit contributors and volunteers, it seems there is little interest in establishing a street paper here in SLC. I have not abandoned those efforts which will see our city have such a paper in print. I have decided that trying to elicit interest through the blog has been fruitless, and no longer can spare the time and effort as a staff of one.]

your ed.

******************************************************

I can't decide whether things are getting better or worse. There's been good new from financial sectors and on Wall Street. So I guess the fat cats will be richer again one day soon.

But how does that affect homeless people and others living in poverty? It seems the second the graphs go into the red, State and Federal governments start to cut services that help the truly needy. the poor suffer more during a recession than anyone else. They are suffering every day. If they have anything at all, is it very little.

Do you think it's right that the poorest people lose what little support they are entitled to while tens of bilions of dollars bailed out financial institutions and rewarded incompetence with huge executive bonuses?

Utah

Utah unemployment rate rises to 7.2 percent from msn.com and Associated Press

Nation

One family's desperate fight for its home from msn.com

This article was reported by Alain Sherter for MarketWatch. It's Part 1 of a two-part series. To read Part 2, click here.

Home seizures by banks set record by Melinda Fulmer of MSN Real Estate msn.com

Homeless man lives on rewards points by Karen Datko msn.com

From homeless drug user to millionaire from Inc.com

Special edition: a missed alternative to panhandling

I ran across this while on my weekly search. Although compassionate and helpful, it did not mention Street Newspapers as a way to help homeless people. This is a big current issue here in SLC. I hope the people who need to hear about ways to reduce panahndling see this. Readers, please help spread the word. Street papers work. Street papers help.

How to handle panhandlers You may give or not give, but chances are you feel guilty and a little angry every time you're asked for money. You're hardly alone. by Liz Pulliam Weston msn.com

ed. note: Thoughtful, but incomplete, and naive.

North American Street Newspaper Association

"Mission: The North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) exists to support and cultivate an effective, self-sustaining street newspaper network that promotes power and opportunity for people living in poverty.

Vision and Values: NASNA is strongly committed to empower local street newspapers to develop leadership among poor people, while cultivating journalistic integrity and sustainable street papers. NASNA supports non-discrimination and values a diverse and inclusive street paper movement. We strive for high ethical standards and require financial accountability from its members." from nasna.org   photo:Wesley and Tammie Clark sell Real Change in Seattle, Washington to support themselves.
Street News Service

International Network of Street Papers

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]

Health care; human care

However you feel about President Obama's historic health care bill, it's a done deal. I never understood how some people got the idea that it was a bad thing. Oh, that's right. Lies and misinformation from greedy people who make a fortune from hard working, poor people by providing unaffordable health care products. For example pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies. Let's not forget politicians who rely on campaign contributions from these huge corporations. Or unscrupulous health care providers who receive kickbacks for every prescription they write, or who defraud government health agencies. Now we need laws that force insurance companies to actually pay out on claims without costly legislation required by the policy holder. Until these obstacles to medical equality are abolished, our health care system will always be broken.

I'm not up on all the details of the bill, but I'm hoping there are provisions to reign in these vampires. I don't care about the cost of more affordable health coverage for more people. I'd rather have our tax dollars spent on improving our quality of life than destroying the homes, lives, cities and nations of other people. Wouldn't you? (feel free to comment.)

Affordable health care for everyone who wants it is a humane social move that will make the U.S. a better place for its citizens. This week's links include other good ideas that help homeless people, and some not so good news about income in Utah, as well as homelessness in New York City and Australia:

Utah

Utahns sees personal income drop in 2009; per capita ranking falls to 49th by Lois M. Collins Deseret News

Utahns say health care reform will help them, their families by Aaron Falk and Elaine Jarvik Deseret News

Nation

Obama signs historic $938 billion health overhaul by Darlene Superville The Associated Press

Reviving a Poor Neighborhood for Its Inhabitants by Linda Baker The New York Times-A Portland, OR neighborhood...to provide shelter and servies for
homeless people

A Shelter for Families in Need of a Push by Julie Bosman (NYT)

Number of People Living on New York Streets Soars by Julie Bosman (NYT)
Tally soars 34% [photo: Damon Winter NYT]

World

World TB Day in pictures by David Rochkind BBC News

Editor's note: Tuberculosis, or TB, is a great concern for homeless people, because many are forced to live in very crowded or unsanitary conditions. TB is predominently transmitted by airborne means. It is easily detected and very curable. To get a free TB test locally, visit 4th Street Clinic .

Learn more about stopping tuberculosis at Stop TB

Homeless lose sleeping spot at Australia's Bondi Beach By Phil Mercer BBC News, Sydney

London receives £362,000 grant to save food from landfill by Hélène Mulholland guardian.co.uk
The funding will pay for the equivalent of 800,000 meals to be distributed to vulnerable groups by the FareShare network

Audio and Video

Women - The Hidden Homeless BBC's Radio 4 Claudia Hammond speaks with homeless women.

Homeless orientation 101

HOMELESS ORIENTATION 101 Friday March 5 2010

Bill Policy's Homeless Man is one of the truest and funniest comic I've ever seen. I thought I'd share it with you. I don't think Bill will mind. You can follow this strip in The Denver Voice.

Two articles about students, here and in the UK, sparked a question: Is it possible to learn about homelessness in one night on the street, through one day of hunger?

I mean sure, you can gain a limited awareness on the subject. I'm glad that's the case, and I'm not condemning these kids for their actions. They are to be commended. But, I really think it takes an entire 24 hours to get even the smallest inkling of what homelessness really means.

Wait in line for clothes, food, medical care, a day labor assignment, etc. Be told "We can't help you with that," a half -dozen times in one day. Be ignored or stared at, or thrown out of a store or off a property because of how you look. Get woke up in the middle of the night and harassed and cited by the police. Shower with a bunch of strangers. Take a crap in a bathroom stall without a door. Have your belongings searched on a regular basis. Get assaulted by a drug-crazed kook in a park...

...just a few of millions of possible suggestions. Give it a full day. Then you're just beginning to experience how homeless people live every day.

Please, leave your experiences, thoughts and opinions by clicking on the "comments" link below.

Utah

Regis Hotel shutting its doors by Aaron Falk Deseret News [photo: Kieth Johnson Deseret News-"Billy Mick stands outside The Regis Hotel in Salt Lake City last May. Its residents have been given eviction notices"]

Salt Lake teens go hungry so others won't by Elizabeth Stuart Deseret News

Budget cuts restrict medical care for poor by Julia Lyon The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah nonprofits get share of $310K grant thespectrum.com (St. George)

Nation

200,000 to lose unemployment benefits this week 1.2 million could lose benefits in March. by Arthur Delaney The Huffington Post

Broke, homeless and now a culinary star by Scott James The New York Times

World

"Life lessons"... tackle homelessness BBC News

[UK] students spend a night out on the streets (article and video) BBC News [photo: BBC. "The students used cardboard boxes to try and keep out the cold."]

Art and Entertainment

Bon Jovi's new tour  "The singer plans to visit as many homeless shelters and programs as time allows..." by Gene Johnson Associated Press [photo: Jason Decrow AP]

CITY ROOM: Homeless NYC man braves Oscar predictions " ...an irregular library regular..." by Corey Kilgannon The New York Times

Romania's homeless [art ] genius, Ian Barladeanu by Lizzie Davies Guardian World News 

Channel as much positive energy as you can spare in sympathy for those in Chile who experienced the largest earthquake ever recorded, and are dealing with the aftermath. Spring is coming; hang in there.

---your editor

Look for more frequent updates here at The Rio Grande Report in the coming weeks. More news, more frequently, in the interest of keeping you better informed and educated on homeless issues.

Change in the seasons brings health concerns for homeless

Homeless boys look out at the Strait of Gibraltar near the port in Tangier October 10, 2009. More than 10,000 homeless minors live on the streets of Morocco according to the Al Jaima association, an association that works with street kids. Most of them are victims of the drugs and the prostitution. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante (MOROCCO SOCIETY)

The wounds of my recent flesh-eating virus have mostly healed. I took my seasonl flu shot. I'm gobbling multi-vitamins and C. My heater is primed and ready for winter. I dug in my closet and washed the mothball smell out of my jackets and sweaters. The shorts and tank tops are stashed away. I'm a lucky man this winter...I'm housed.

There are still thousands of men, women and children right here in Salt Lake City who are not as lucky. Even with emergency shelters like The Road Home and The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, a good portion of those people live---and sleep---outside, on the streets.


Fall and winter weather bring a chill not only to the air, but to the bones of homeless people. Being out side for most of the day, and/or night, waiting in line for services during intemperate weather are a daily dillemma for the unhoused. Even if you are in a shelter, you are required to be out of the building most days from around 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM or later.


This makes staying healthy a big challenge for homeless folks. In recent years there have even been cases of death by exposure in our city. Health care is another long wait in line with no guarantee of being treated.  This often leaves seriously sick people no choice but to take an ambulance to an emergency room. Local hospitals have few funds for 'transient/indigent care.' Therefore, everyone's health care costs go up to subsidize the unrecouped costs.


This hurts everyone, but most of all it is a significant factor in people'w inability to recover from homelesness. A big part of the homeless population are people who have suffered a serious injury or accident, leaving them disabled while waiting years for help from Social Security.


So when people say we don't need an affordable public option health care plan, I tell them they are seriously out of touch with how bads things have become in this country.


Here's this week's links to news of interest to homeless people and their allies:

Utah

top story-

Homeless clinic plans to open H1N1 wing "Plans are underway for an overnight ward for transient patients with H1N1. 'We don't have the ability to say, "Get in bed and rest for five days,"' said Jennifer Hyvonen, spokeswoman for the Fourth Street Clinic, a nonprofit clinic for the homeless."
by Erin Alberty Salt Lake Tribune

Utah homelessness up -- but number of chronics falls again (78%)

"The number of people who experienced homelessness in Utah in 2009 has risen, making it the third consecutive year to show an increase as the state felt the effects of a national recession, according to a new report by two state agencies." by Matthew D.  LaPlante Salt Lake Tribune

Nation

Prosecutor: Beaten homeless men were 'easy prey' PONTIAC, Mich. — "Two homeless men beaten to death last year were "easy prey" for a group of teenagers, a prosecutor said Thursday as the murder trial for two of the teens began." by Ben Leubsdorf Associated Press

Philadelphia homeless man crushed in trash truck PHILADELPHIA (AP) — "Police in Philadelphia say a homeless man sleeping in a trash bin wound up in the back of a garbage truck and was killed by the vehicle's compactor." from Deseret News

She's homeless but for $95 she can go home with your princess "The newest American Girl doll is a honey-haired cutie named Gwen Thompson who wears a simple white eyelet dress with a pink ribbon at the empire waist. She's fresh-faced, sparkly eyed and, hmmmm, let's see, what else? Oh, yes! She's homeless." by Celia Rivenbark McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Wis. priest auctions family silver for homeless October 17 2009 Associated Press

World

Rags-to-riches tramp bags fortune in bottles reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman, editing by Paul Casciato Reuters

Personal Story of the Week:

South of Scotland - Homeless man's life-change honour . "Mr Kirkhope will find out later this month if he has won an award from homelessness charity Crisis." BBC News

Oxfordshire - Emergency help for young homeless .  "A scheme is launched offering emergency accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness in parts of Oxfordshire." BBC News


Union Chapel, London-Gavin Bryars Ensemble "...concert in a series raising money for Margins, a charity for London's homeless..." by John Lewis Guardian

Stay healthy: eat regulalry, dress warmly, get out of the weather if you can, and if you get sick, seek treatment immediately-don't let something simple get worse.

until next week...
---your editor
JW

Peace & Poverty (and Pot?)

Greetings!

Everyone please take time to remember the fallen of September 11, 2001. And bless the veterans who have fought, and the people who have lost their lives since, all due to one unjustifiable, inexplicable tragedy.

And wish for peace.

I was not called for work at the fair. However, I did receive some good news. The people for whom I worked at the beginning of the year, who are doing the tax course, told me not to worry about the books and material fee. They are waiving that for me. All I have to do is show up.

I am eternally thankful. For that, and for many other things. But my first thought was that just when it seems there is no hope, something or someone comes along and restores my faith in the world and human nature.

There is always hope. You only lose if you give up.

Here are this week's news items:

Chili affair
By Kathy Stephenson The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah restaurants are donating chili, salads, breads and desserts for the 23rd annual Great Salt Lake Chili Affair, a benefit for The Road Home, Salt Lake City's homeless shelter. The event is Sept. 16 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Exhibition Hall 4. Tickets are $35 per person. Purchase at www.theroadhome.org or at the door. For details, call 801-355-1433.

 Sign of the times 
by Paul Rolly Tribune Columnist

Volunteers of America, Utah, which provides ready-to-eat cans of food and other basic survival items to homeless youths and adults, is out of food. The organization helped more than 850 homeless youths and 1,200 homeless adults in Salt Lake County last year, but the emergency pantry shelves are practically bare going into the colder season. A drive-by food collection will take place Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Homeless Youth Resource Center, 655 S. State in Salt Lake City.

Food drive to replenish emergency pantry
The Salt Lake Tribune

Census: Number of uninsured rises to 46.3 million
By Hope Yen The Associated Press

Hidden pockets of older Americans in poverty, report says
By Hope Yen The Associated Press

Older Americans' poverty rate could double
New formula for calculating medical cost and cost of living is gaining credibility with some.
By Hope Yen The Associated Press

The bum's rush Public Forum Letter (SLTrib) "Too bad Salt Lake's homeless population isn't gay."

Many Utahns uninsured in '08
Census data say state was 5th lowest in poverty from '06-08
By Lee Davidson Deseret News

Surge in Homeless Pupils Strains Schools
by Erik Eckholm New York Times
(photo by Fred R. Conrad NYT) Her family is facing eviction, but Charity Crowell, 9, and her younger brother are enrolled in elementary school in Asheville, N.C.

Goal: the New York Times soccer blog: U.S. Team headed for Milan and the Homeless World Cup by Lawrence Cann  (photo: Cipriani Wall Street Journal) Lawrence Cann, left, the founder of Street Soccer USA, and the players on the United States team that is headed to the Homeless World Cup in Milan, Italy, which will be played Sept. 6-13.

LA Offers Skid Row Homeless Leniency on Citations The Associated Press

Letters to the Editor(NYT)-Homeless Students


More creative ways to beat the recession:

Americans grow cannabis to beat the recession for  Guardian World News by Ed Pilkington in New York


Peace Out!

---editor

Handling the Stress

[If you'd prefer not to read my rantings, just jump to the bottom to see this week's links - your editor]

July 10 2009

I hope everybody had a less hectic week than I had. I've been trying to find some part-time work, for the reasons previously explained. Along with that, I have this blog to write, three articles to write and post on another website, and come up with a plan of action for a new writing group I'm co-mentoring. Of course there are always the bureaucratic hoops to jump through. I met with my legal counsel to sign a bunch of paperwork for my SSI/SSD calim. At least someone has decided to represent me on that. Thanks Lori Johnson.


I applied for unemployment insurance this past week. I figured my chances were good, since they approved it for me after the last full-time job I had, back in 2007. it was the first time i ever won a wrongful discharge claim. I've worked nothing but temporary jobs since then, which I thought you could not collect unemployment from, but perhaps that's changed. I'm hoping so, since they sent me paers to give me information about those jobs. Since i mentioned a back injury that caused me to be discharged from a temporary position in December, they also sent a medical form for my "physician" to fill out.


Whoever I talked to got the facts all wrong. They had me quitting both my last two temporary jobs, which was incorrect. I had circumstances that made it necessary to leave the temporary job I worked at the beginning of this year. I contacted the employer about the issues, so it was an amiable parting. That should work in my favor. The staffing agency that let me go in December - two days before the end of the assignment - did so because my back went out when I arrived for work on the next to last day of the job. Because it was necessary for me to go to their work clinic, they also withdrew me from any future consideration. Nice, huh? I guess they were afraid I'd file for workmen's comp. Since their doctor said the injury wasn't work related, I don't know why they freaked. Of course that month of standing for hours at a time on concrete in foul winter weather probably in no way contributed to my back injury. (In case you misssed it, there's some heavy sarcasm in that last sentence.)


So I had to write a lengthy letter to the unemployment people explaining where they had erred, why I had left my last position, that I hadn't quit the other job, and that they had not allowed me enough time to get in to see my medical provider. That's ten days from when they mail you the letter.


So, it's a shaky case, but I have my documentation in line, so at least there's a chance. I have a meeting with a lady middle of next week about a work program through the same state agency that dispense unemployment money. I'm hoping that will produce some result. As I've expressed before, I'd much rather be working. It's just that I can't do alot of the kind of work I've done before that makes job searching difficult.


I'm discovering many things in my attempts to procure employment. First, 46 is a bad time for a carreer change. Second, life experience counts for nothing, and you'll play hell getting taken seriously if you don't have at least an Associates Degree or some tech school trianing. I wish someone had let me in on all that when I was younger. I guess I didn't posess the wherewithal to figure it out myself.


Actually, I would have love to have gone to college straight out of high school. Unfortunately, I was told unequivocably, "You're not going to college." I did manage to go to U of U for a year back in 1988-87, but "real life" beckoned, making a "real job" mandatory to survival. I've never been able to make it back to finish a degree. Now, even if I got the funding to go back, I'd lose my housing if I did. Can you believe that? Full-time students don't qualify for housing assistance! Who needs it more?


At my age I guess it makes little sense to go back, go tens of thousands of dollars (or more) into debt to graduate at 50. Not when I have years of life experience in writing and journalism. I actually made a few bucks from it one year. Never enough to make a living though.


Anyhow, to get back to the job search thing: out of the 20 or so applications I filled out on line, resumes I e-mailed or faxed, and phone calls I made, one responded. By the time I got back to Colby at U-Haul, he'd hired someone. It probably didn't help that the numerous times I tried to contact him, I was either put on hold, or left to listen to an answering service's recording. Four times I waited on the phone for at least 30 minutes. I guess I should have just gone down there.


That's another thing that's frustrating about looking for work in our technological age: you rarely get to talk to a person. The majority of job listings I found amenable instructed you to "click here" and fill out an application on line. More and more businesses are taking this route, especially nationwide corporations. I don't know how any HR manager could possibly sift through the thousands of e-apps they must get for every position they have open. I'm guessing it's just a random thing. Whatever the case, I find it very dehumanizing and impersonal.


Another problem that arises is that the unemployment people require that you make two personal contacts - which I take to mean face to face - per week. On line applications, e-mails and faxes don't count. I think in the 21st Century, some dispensations need to be granted in regard to that rule. Just goes to prove my point about how clueless and out of touch government bureaus and agencies are.


If any further proof of that is necessary, they actually thought I could get in to see my regular provider at the free clinic in 10 days or less. Ain't gonna happen, folks! Being unable to show up at said clinic every morning at 8:00 - since I am required to look for work - I tried calling to get an appointment. Each day, when someone finally answered the phone, usually about half an hour after they open, I was told, "We're all full. No more appointments today." They do not make future appointments. I plan to be first in line Monday morning, job search be damned. I have that job appointment thing on Wednesday anyway. I'm probably an idiot to be counting on that to lead to gainful employment.


I must come across as pretty bitter and ungrateful sometimes, but I'm not really - just frustrated. I really want to take whatever steps I can to improve my life. It just seems that those who supposedly exist to be of help in hard times are the ones who stand in your way the most. Rules and regulations seem designed to make it harder, often next to impossible, to meet qualifications or deadlines. The amount of paperwork is mountainous, often asking for the exact same infromation over and over. It's hard not to just throw your hands up and surrender. It's like they want you to fail rather than succeed. It's like they're counting on you giving up.


All I have to say to that is they don't know this boy very well.


---your editor

Here's some helpful information to those struggling to house themselves, or pay high rents:

Low Income Housing ProgramA Website Dedicated to low income housing program.

HousingForLowIncomes.com

Low Income Apartments For RentIf you need low income apartments fill this 30 sec form, Find it fast.
lowincomeapartment.xorgx.com



Here are this weeks links to articles of interest to homeless people and their advocates:



from Salt Lake Tribune:


Vets and criminals
Public Forum Letter
Updated: 07/10/2009 06:15:58 PM MDT

"...in today's world, where more than 250,000 veterans are homeless and without any health care..." http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12812441?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

[I thought that letter was interesting, and will try to link to the original letter cited. I'd like everyone to submit comments on this...It's all about what you think.]


Pride walk raises awareness of homeless LGBT youth
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12768023?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com



Water, food, insect repellent needed for homeless http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12768546?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com



Food and dining notes: Food and wine benefit
By Kathy Stephenson The Salt Lake Tribune: "A Toast to Good Health, a fundraiser for Salt Lake City's Fourth Street Clinic, will be Thursday, July 16..."
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12787327?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Fourth Street Clinic hosts fundraiser
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12676758?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Man accused of groping girl committed to state hospital
By Stephen Hunt
The Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12771253?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Picnic and a flick - at Pioneer Park
By Derek P. Jensen The Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9687279?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

from the Deseret Morning News:

W.V. man arrested in cigarette thefts
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705315967,00.html

Help sought for homeless
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705315424,00.html

Suspected cigarette burglar nabbed
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705315683,00.html

[Many don't realize that many homelss people work, and many more are just one paycheck away from homelessness - you editor]
People with jobs see pay shrinking
Americans may put wallets away and zap any recovery
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705314577,00.html

from New York Times:

Summer Brings a Wave of Homeless Families
By JULIE BOSMAN Published: July 6, 2009
"As the school year sailed to a close last month, Arielle Figueras crossed the stage in her cap and gown and proudly accepted her fifth-grade diploma. The next day, she was homeless."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/nyregion/07summer.html?_r=1

Homeless Families Increasing, U.S. Finds
By ANDREA FULLER Published: July 9, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/us/politics/10homeless.html

Links to June's local articles of homeless interest

I hope everyone had a good 4th of July. I just got around to posting since I just took a break from everything during the holiday. Just trying to figure out what I'm going to do for income, and hoping that I find work, or get my unemployment approved before Sept 1. I paid a month of rent in advance, just to give me a little more time to search. With food, laundry, essentials, etc. I'm broke already until I get another check---from somewhere. So it was easy to do nothing on Independence Day. It was a day that reminded me just how independent we - low income, homeless people and such - are NOT in this country. Whenever there's a crisis in the USA, it seems the elderly and low-income are the 1st to pay; social services that help millions of people in our country survive everyday are the 1st thing to be eliminated from state and federal budgets.

How about rescinding a few perks that those who make over $100,000 a year enjoy, at the expense of hard-working, low wage taxpayers? I bet that would help balance the budget much faster than the pittances that millions living in poverty in the richest nation on the globe depend on to get thorugh everyday and provide for themselves and their families.

It's shameful.

I know many of you are in the same situation as I am (see article below, "Hundreds of Utahns to lose state aid this summer"), and I hope and wish the best for all of us.

When will the government entities understand something: Food can be obtained for free in several places around our city on any given day. It is not food assistance that the average person needs - it is cash!

I cannot pay my rent with Food Stamps. I cannot clean my clothes, my body, or my domicile with Food Stamps. I cannot put gas in my car or buy a transit pass - to look for or get to a job, or to get to a clinic or hospital - with Food Stamps. I cannot buy my prescriptions or pay my co-pays with food stamps! Get it?

Most everything I need to stay well and housed requires cash, not food. I can get food for free anywhere, any day. Personally, I would much rather have my Food Stamps taken away than my General Assistance. With GA money, I can decide what my most important and immediate needs are, and have a resource to meet them. With Food Stamps, well, I hear there are people willing to buy them for cash. So basically, the government might turn me into a federal criminal if worse comes to worse.

I'll do what it takes to survive. I always have. That's how I overcame homelessness. I hope the loss of the only resource I had to pay my rent with doesn't force me back onto the street. That nightmare keeps me awake nights.

See you Friday your editor

From The Salt Lake Tribune:

Hundreds of Utahns to lose state aid this summer

State budget » Advocates fear cutbacks might force some into homelessness.

[editorial note: I am one of these; good luck everyone]

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12586292?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Fourth Street Clinic hosts fundraiser

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12676758?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Jones: McCansions grow up

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12700104?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Questions surround housing in West Valley City for homeless seniors

Neighbors Some homeowners believe that safety is an issue

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12660296?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Salt Lake City homeless day shelter won't close after all

Salt Lake city and county have each contributed $100,000 to the Weigand center.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12717003?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Fleeing violence, refugee finds homelessness in Utah

Housing officials want a complex to house and educate refugees.

[how about educating andhousing US citizens first? your editor]

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11180615?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Bomb threat at homeless shelter was hoax

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12546548?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Corporate giving

[Hats off! -your editor]

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12571495?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Utah health clinics get a share of federal recovery money

Nearly $6.5 million in federal grant funds will be shared among 11 locales

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12716860?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

"The Thumb"

Tribune Editorial

Updated: 07/05/2009 08:30:01 AM MDT

Gimme shelter (thumb up) » Overnight shelters keep hours, turn their wards to the streets each morning. But homelessness is 24 hours a day. That's why the Bishop Weigand Center, a day shelter in Salt Lake City, is a key piece of the valley's social services puzzle. And it will continue to be, thanks to the good graces of the city and Salt Lake County, which each contributed $100,000 to Catholic Community Services keep this important facility open. The shelter, due to declining charitable contributions, was scheduled to close for good Wednesday before it received the last-minute reprieve. Clients wash their clothes, shower, plays cards and watch movies at the center, but more importantly, they connect with counselors who help them find jobs and permanent homes. The infusion of government funds was money well-spent."

from the Deseret Morning News:

(I included a few here that are earlier than June, but good articles -your editor)

The new homeless: Formerly middle class, families fall far after job losses
By Elizabeth Leland
McClatchy Newspapers
Published: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 1:30 p.m. MDT (for those of you who think, It can't happen to me. -y. ed.)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kenneth and Stacy Dowdy can't afford a place to live in Charlotte, N.C. Neither can Charles DuPree. But if you passed them on the street, you might not recognize them for what they are: Homeless.
They are among a growing number of newly homeless who don't fit old stereotypes. Many of them work regular jobs, or did until recently, nursing the sick, caring for other people's children, vacuuming offices, driving cabs.
They lived in apartments or houses, surviving paycheck to paycheck. One thing went wrong in this bad economy, and they didn't have far to fall before they ended up on the street... .

full article at: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705306814,00.html

Help Utah avoid tent cities
Deseret News editorial
Published: Sunday, March 29, 2009 12:12 a.m. MDT

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705293756,00.html

Homeless in rural Utah getting a hand
Associated Press
Published: Saturday, May 30, 2009 10:24 a.m. MDT

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705307479,00.html

Minkevitch finds a home helping the homeless
Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 8:32 p.m. MDT

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705314052,00.html

Donations save homeless shelter
By By Aaron Falk
Deseret News
Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 5:11 p.m. MDT

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705313983,00.html

Pure religion: removing barriers:

Published: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:06 a.m. MDT

A mother and her son sat around a campfire, their Chevy Blazer the only sign of civilization.
After a month of living in a truck with her 5-year-old, Debra realized that she had to get some order back in her life.

The hard times had started five years earlier when her husband left. With a young child and no job, Debra began to wander. During the years that followed, she got involved with drugs, lived on welfare and ended up homeless in Las Vegas, looking for work.

Read the full story via MormonTimes.com

Brighton teens share bowls of joy
By Amy K. Stewart
Deseret News
Published: Wednesday, June 3, 2009 11:22 a.m. MDT

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705308258,00.html

Address change and recent homeless news

Surprisingly enough, I've more time than I expected lately.

Just a quick note here to let you know that the mailing address for "The Rio Grande Report" has changed. If you submit by snail mail, send to: Rio Grande Report; 1000 S. State St.; #2120; Salt Lake City UT 84111.

Barring any response from those I contacted at The Salt Lake Tribune, I've just been scanning the daily headlines on line at sltrib.com . So, here's two links to recent articles of homeless interest.

See you Friday

your editor

P. S. Look for information on an upcoming meeting about getting involved in this blog, and the upcoming print version of "The Rio Grande Report."

We Are Not Alone

Just a short post to direct you to an article that fits in well with "The Rio Grande Report" concept:

Read it HERE .

Although I will probably not be posting full-length articles, I will provide you with this kind of information whenever I'm aware of it.

Another organization I'm trying to hook up with is this one:

INSP International Network of Street Papers

your editor