Update
Oh hi! I’m Melissa Jonas. I blog personally over at http://www.highchairhappyhour.com
I moved away from this blog and this project when I had a baby in 2010. The people of People’s Place (volunteers, donors, members) have moved into different stage of their lives, as well. Thanks for your interest in our efforts to build community.
Watch this space
Changes are coming to People’s Place, including new people posting on the blog, facebook & twitter. Members are still working towards permanent housing and volunteers and donations are needed.
Watch this space for more information–and thanks for all your support!
Friday Homeless Headline Roundup
First Step to Help–Learn About Homeless Families Invisible Homeless Kids
Street Papers Do More Than Report the News Change.org
Transforming Public Housing into Supportive Communities Homelessness Ends Here
News Flash: The Poor Do Pay Taxes Change.org
Perspectives on the proposed “aggressive panhandling” ordinance
The Seattle City Council is poised to adopt a proposal to crack down on “aggressive panhandling” in downtown Seattle. Seen by many as political posturing, this proposal has created a great deal of controversy and generated attention about the issue of homelessness and poverty in Seattle.
Unfortunately, much of this attention is in the form of negative comments stereotyping the poor. Fortunately, there are some strong voices of support for the homeless.
Here are just a few of the current headlines :
Lawmakers Slam Burgess’ Aggressive Solicitation Law The Stranger/Slog
Three District Democratic Groups Vote to Oppose Burgess’ Bill The Stranger/Slog
Anti-Solicitation Ordinance Moves Towards Vote RealChange news (If you like their website, you’ll love the print paper. Look for vendors all over Seattle. Support RealChange!)
The Law That Targets “Strange” People on the Street The Stranger
Human Wrongs The Stranger
Don’t succumb to anger and fear Seattle PI blog
Nearly 4 out of 5 Seattle voters like anti-panhandling bill Seattle Times
Proposed street-disorder law useful step to ensure street civility Seattle Times
Opponents assail panhandler limits Seattle Times
Friday Homeless Headline Roundup
Update on Housing Bills in WA State RealChange (Cydney Gillis provides amazing coverage of Olympia news!)
Gov. Gregoire vetoes section of GAU Bill RealChange (another Cydney Gillis piece)
Trauma-Informed Services Homeless Resource Center (This is a topic we’ve explored a great deal in People’s Place. I’m excited to see others discuss it!)
Housing First PBS video (warning, auto-plays when you click the link)
Only One Homeless Person Left in Times Square NY Times
Reason we need affordable housing Change.org — another outstanding individual profile presented by Mark Horvath of InvisiblePeople.tv
The AP Thinks Poor People Are Freeloaders Change.org
New HUD Funding Western Mass Housing First
Six months and counting?
People’s Place formed in October 2009 when a group of homeless couples, pet owners, and families were forced to relocate from Nickelsville after the Port of Seattle evicted the encampment. The group started with 43 people, none of whom were aware of being eligible for any other housing. The group stayed in weekly motels and met with volunteer advocates to review options. Emergency medical needs were addressed and referrals were made to social service programs.
With advocacy, support, and generous support from donors, 25 members found housing–with family, live/work arrangements, and independent living. One couple stayed in the motel long enough that they moved to the top of the waitlist for permanent subsidized housing. Other members moved back to tent cities.
On New Year’s Day–1/1/10–seven members moved into a rental house. The landlord was willing to take a risk with a new social service organization and opened her newly remodeled property to the group–including Buddy the dog. Members have been making progress towards housing, employment, addressing health issues, reuniting with family, and other personal goals. The organization has been making progress, building credibility with other agencies, fund raising, grant writing, etc.
Please help us continue this progress. We are out of money and out of time. We need $800 to pay April rent. Every donation helps.
Click here to support People’s Place. Type “People’s Place” in the designation box to make sure your donate goes to us.
El Centro de la Raza is our fiscal sponsor. All donations are tax deductible.
Thank you.
Friday Homeless Headline roundup
“Top” panhandlers say their job is making people smile RealChange
Update on progress for WA State programs to help low/no income people Real Change
Life After Homelessness: Learning to Leave Violence Behind Change.org
The Media Isolates Homeless People Change.org
Using TANF to End Family Homelessness National Alliance to End Homelessness
Community Court Active in West Seattle West Seattle Herald
Latest news on neighborhood fight to prevent construction of housing for homeless Seattle Times (background story here and here)
Respecting choices; encouraging health
Food means a lot to people. It’s a basic necessity for survival, yes–and it’s a connection with our childhood, our culture, our religion, the part of the world we call home, and so much more. People show affection through food–for others and for ourselves. Food can also be about controlling our environment–when all else feels like it is imposed from the outside, at least we can choose what we put in our mouths.
People’s Place members shop and cook together. They share many (though not all) meals. Each individual has personal preferences for coffee creamer, brand of peanut butter, and food in general. The group includes two members with Type II diabetes and three members with high blood pressure. The medical providers involved in their care recommend diets low in processed food, high in fresh produce, and moderate in calories. Meals in the house do not reflect these recommendations.
Members understand the recommendations and take responsibility for their choices. They are honest and direct about why they make the food choices they do: it’s what they know, and what they like. Most importantly, it’s their choice. Most of our members have been homeless for some time. They have spent time eating exclusively from food banks and meal programs, finding their choices very limited. Now that they have food security and access to a kitchen, they are going to eat what they want. It’s that simple.
The “slow food” and local food movements are not including representatives from poor communities–or at least not including representatives who feel empowered to say “I don’t trust an organic label” or “I prefer fried chicken to salad”. If we’re going to see significant change in our nation’s health statistics, we’re going to have to improve outreach and communication in poor communities. Programs such as Solid Ground’s Operation Frontline are a good start.
Change.org ran a post recently with the headline “Closing the Grocery Gap” . It describes so-called “food deserts”–communities lacking grocery stores or other places to buy fresh, healthy food. Many of these communities are in poor urban areas, but rural areas often lack accessible markets, as well. This lack of access has created a food culture based on what’s available in mini-marts and fast food stands.
One suggestion many researchers and activists suggest is attracting farmer’s markets or specialty markets to underserved areas. A common response to this idea is, “Farmer’s markets are too expensive!” Here’s a breakdown of Farmer’s Market vs. Grocery store prices (link goes to the Seattle Farmer’s Market site http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org). It compares organic produce prices at grocery chains & local farmer’s markets and shows significant savings.
I’m not going to address the inability of farmer’s markets to accept electronic payment (including EBT/food stamp cards) here–but it is one significant reason many low income people don’t visit from farmer’s markets. Let’s look a the price comparison more closely. Excuse the pun, but this is really comparing apples and oranges. Well, technically, it’s comparing apples grown conventionally with organic apples. Low income people don’t usually shop organic. Partially this is a financial decision (organic is often–though not always–more expensive) but it’s also not part of their food culture.
While journalists like Michael Pollan, nutritionists, health care providers, and politicians publish papers and hold rallies about reducing obesity, lowering diabetes rates, and improving health through better diet and exercise, those living below the poverty line are passing over organic cheese at the food bank. If you spend time at food banks and/or providing services to low income and homeless residents, observe the choices customers make. Listen to their conversations about the food offered. Ask questions; engage. Why do so many people overlook the free range beef for the conventional beef? Is it packaging? What do they think the label means?
How can we mainstream health? How can we respect individual choices and decisions while working to improve overall community health outcomes?
Alltop roundup: Friday homeless headlines
Seattle changing approach to homeless campers Real Change
Tent Cities on Change.org
Rapid Rehousing for Domestic Violence Victims and Policy Solutions for Chronic Homelessness North Carolina Commission to End Homelessness
USA Today looks at costs of market rate apartments vs. shelters
The Myth of Self Management
Celebrities hire life coaches, personal assistants, etc to perform many of these tasks: make appointments, pick up laundry, arrange transportation, shop for toilet paper, etc. No one questions the independence or ability of the rich and famous to handle the details of everyday life. Many people perceive these services as a luxury. Why is it seen as an insult when these services are offered to homeless or low income people?
One of the catch phrases in social service/homeless circles is “self management”. Wikipedia has a succinct definition of what that phrase generally means. For the purposes of this post, I’m going to focus on the idea of self management as it relates to case management. Some people consider “self management” as one end of a spectrum, where the individual is entirely independent of any assistance and “case management” at the other end, where a professional is entirely responsible for the choices available to an individual.
In reality, there is no such spectrum. People are complex, and we live in community. We are each constantly balancing between our individual needs and desires and the responsibilities of living around other people. Each individual faces the challenges of every day and tries to decide if he or she can tackle them alone. No matter what Paul Simon may sing, no one is a rock–or an island.
The community housing model at People’s Place is constantly evolving to adapt to the current needs of the members living there. What they all share is a need for assistance with shelter. No one in the house has anywhere else to live. Beyond that common need, each member has a unique combination of needs and assets. Some people have cash benefits, some people have food benefits, others have medical, etc. Everyone is trying to create a stable environment for her/himself to be able to move towards the goal of long-term housing.
People’s Place doesn’t have “case managers”. We have volunteer advocates who help members coordinate the often confusing world of social services. Advocates keep copies of important documents, remind members of appointments, make referrals, and provide transportation and in-person company to important appointments with case managers and service providers from other agencies.
Members also support each other. Meals are shared, people carpool, Buddy the dog is taken out by everyone in the house, cleaning chores are group responsibilities…people care for each other. Caring for someone else and allowing someone else to care for you is a vital part of being human.
Instead of seeing life as something to be managed, and the management something that happens along a spectrum, People’s Place members and advocates work together to address the challenges and celebrate the successes of daily life. We strive to balance the independence of self with the interdependence of community.
It’s working. We need your help to keep it going.
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