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Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Thought you’d never be homeless?think again!

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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.                 


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
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

 

Friday, September 18, 2009

Go Team!

Greetings!

Less than a week left of Summer. It was a good one: not too hot or dry or wet. I became more aware of the weather when I was homeless. Whenever it gets cold or rains, I think of those people still on the street, and hope they find shelter. I know what it's like when you cannot.

Football. One thing that never changes, homeless or not, is the fanaticism of sports enthusiasts. I'm a baseball person myself, but most people here in Salt Lake are basketball and football fans. the World Series is fast approaching, and It seems to me that football season started early this year. Team sports are the most popular. Maybe it's an appeal to humans' prehistoric clansmanship, or our military nature. I'd like to think it's more due to our compassion and camaraderie.

Whatever the case, I know there were times on the street that I wouldn't have survived without the "team" of us that hung out together, and helped one another out. Sometimes sticking together, sharing with one another is the only thing that gives us hope. And without hope things can seem pretty bleak.

I hope you've all found your teams. And stay healthy in the upcoming Fall and Winter.

In the interest of self education, here's a link to books about homelessness available through amazon.com. Also check your local libraries for these titles.

Here are you article links for the week:

Top Story

The Big Issue celebrates its 18th birthday Exactly 18 years on from the launch of the Big Issue, this radical street paper is still offering a vital lifeline for homeless people by Ro-Wyn Jones (The Guardian)

RGR Editor's note: This is the kind of publication we need, in Salt Lake City, and why we do this blog.


Local & National

H1N1 vaccines expected in Utah mid-October- Health departments are waiting to learn how many doses they'll get. By Lisa Rosetta Salt Lake Tribune

Utah's homeless youth: 'Because I got jumped in my sleep, I got off the street' Severe beating left homeless man, 20, with 7-inch scar on the side of his head. By Julia Lyon Salt Lake Tribune [photo: Chris Detrick SLTribune: Mike Montoya climbs a fence to see if the boarded up Temple View Motel is still accessible to homeless people. Montoya was severely beaten while sleeping there in May. The attack spurred him give up his homeless lifestyle.



Life on the streets for Utah youth-As the number of homeless youths jumps 68 percent, one young woman says, 'I don't want this life anymore.' By Julia Lyon Salt Lake Tribune

View a street kid photo gallery. Go HERE to help.


Festival to celebrate recovery from sub-stance abuse By Brooke Brown Deseret News "Recovery Day will be Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main. Registration for the 5K run begins at 7 a.m. For more information and run registration, visit www.U-SARA.org."

Military says mental wounds of war run deep By Kimberly Hefling Associated Press "Recalling a meeting last year with a group of homeless veterans from the recent wars ..."

The Bread Lady and 'The Porch' help keep the needy fed by Chuck Gates Deseret News [photo: Brian Nicholson Deseret News- Shauna Devenport, left, loads a hand truck with bread and pastries for her grandson, Clayton, right, to put on The Porch for people to share.

Jobless and homeless, blogger scores Elle job  By LEANNE ITALIE   Associated Press

San Francisco Looks to LEED as the Path to Green Jobs and Buildings   from Reuters "San Francisco’s Redevelopment Agency completed the first LEED Silver certified municipal project, the Plaza Apartments, for the formerly homeless with on-site supportive services."

2010 Games branding sparks free speech fears  from Reuters "...International Olympic Committee could be used to curb legitimate political protests on issues such as the Games' impact on Vancouver's homeless people and the poor."


Freakonomics: The hidden side of everything-FREAK Shots: How Effective Is Your Cardboard Sign? By Freakonomics (New York Times) [photo: NYTimes] 








In The Garden-Putting Down Roots and Raising Hopes by Anne Raver (New York Times)

 

International
 




Guardian Charity Awards 2009: the shortlist- Thirty-five charities have been shortlisted for the Guardian's awards, now in their 17th year (guardian.co.uk)

Until next week....
Be careful out there
Work together