What can we DO NOW to combat poverty and homelessness?

I am far from the brightest and most informed at DU; there are many brilliant people here and this is one of my favorite places to get information.

I am, however, a DOer. I want to DO, not just talk about what can be done. I surely don't want to stay mired in hopelessness and anger. That guarantees our destruction as a civilization. If you feel there's no hope, that's fine. I don't blame you. But please don't piss on those of us who are still trying to DO SOMETHING.

I recently posted what I feel may be one area of focus that we can put our energy behind, as I believe very strongly that corporate control of politics and media prevents everything else we're trying to accomplish and actively destroys many of the freedoms we hold dear.

(http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9478876&mesg_id=9478876)

That is one concerted effort I believe we can work toward to TRY to change things, an effort which will also work toward combating the conditions creating poverty and homelessness.

That said, can those who ARE much more knowledgeable please guide us as to what to DO NOW -- AS A GROUP EFFORT -- to give as much attention and effort as possible toward fighting and preventing poverty and homelessness?

One thing that has always bothered me is how organizations like Amnesty International and others have amazing campaigns bringing attention to global poverty, but we don't have a concerted effort here in the States about our OWN poverty. I have written and called them and similar organizations several times but don't get an adequate response.

It is my understanding, through the sharings of bobbolink, Hannah Bell and others (and Sapphire Blue before them) that educating the populace is the most important thing. Until people understand the root causes of poverty and homelessness, and how we got to this point as a nation, nothing will truly change.

I read what these brilliant DUers post faithfully and, when there is an action item involved, try to do them to the best of my ability and also implement their suggestions regarding educating others where and how I can.

Yet what I haven't seen (and, please forgive me if I have missed such posts) is a specific action(s) that we at DU can get behind with all of our energy. And, for those of you who feel you have tried to get us to DO specific things to alleviate suffering now and we have failed, can you please try again here? Can you please give us specific action items...short term and long term things to do?

In a perfect world, there would be so many DOers that coalitions fighting poverty could be focused on multiple fronts, with much involvement and energy and great headway made. However, I return to my other OP referenced above that, IMHO, there are powers in place that prevent many of those efforts, as both education and enlightenment are NOT in their best interests. Of course, in a truly perfect world, poverty and suffering wouldn't exist.

Some will doubt the sincerity of my words here. I hope this thread can be about the ISSUE, not about we individual DUers or democrats/liberals/progressives or others, but stay focused on WHAT CAN WE DO -- NOW -- TO WORK TOWARD ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS AND SUFFERING.

I won't respond to personal criticisms of me or others here; I will remain focused on what we can DO to work on this issue together.

So, for those who are knowledgeable, can you please give those of us who care (and I do believe most people care very much but are lost as to how to battle this overwhelming, growing crisis) specific action items that we CAN DO...things we can DO NOW? And others who care, can you please help keep this kicked?

Are there specific organizations you've had experience with that are focused on poverty and homelessness that we can get behind and support their efforts and message rather than reinvent the wheel?

Should we create an entirely new effort?

There are many organizations that provide excellent, detailed information, but the efforts to disseminate the information are fragmented.

I differ from many in that I feel a focused effort, getting as much energy behind it as possible especially given the power of social media, is the way to go, versus multiple more individual efforts.

Why can't we do both?

I'm ready to jumpstart multiple efforts -- focused efforts, with various levels of involvement and with guidance provided by those who are knowledgeable -- to the best of my limited ability, yet it's very hard to get people to actually DO things since they feel so disheartened and discouraged. Plus, I fully recognize that many people are truly engaged in the business of SURVIVING day to day.

I'm not judging why people don't engage and do; I'm simply asking -- begging -- those who have the resources (energy, time, contacts, knowledge, whatever) to be involved and let's work together on this issue in some way, with guidance from those who know the issue inside and out.

PLEASE HELP US DEVELOP A TARGETED SPECIFIC TO-DO LIST HERE REGARDING THE FIGHT TO ALLEVIATE AND PREVENT POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS AND SUFFERING.



If we don't DO SOMETHING, I do believe this is what we face...

http://files.myopera.com/farisse/albums/264340/1contrast,favela,inequality,luxury,poverty,society-9fc2ace620bea136fa0a2f5f0a7194e1_h.jpg

I'll leave you with a video based on a poem a friend of mine, who has lived in poverty -- in and out of homelessness her entire life -- wrote: My Name is Not "Those People" (by Julia Dinsmore -- she's not a DUer, but I hope to change that soon. ;) )

Education level is the biggest determinant of poverty, that and having a child out of wedlock. Poverty must be addressed on an individual basis as welfare will never be a path to a stable life. Teach them to fish...

Hopefully others will chime in with ideas regarding what we can do now to alleviate the current suffering and injustice of poverty and homelessness.

Thanks. :)

What if each of us could be the link to one child, two children or five children staying in school? What would that look like? What sort of difference would that make?

But that means each child must also have good nutrition for brain development and a home environment that was not stressful so they would be able to focus on their learning.

Those of us who can, must DO. I can be a DU Gooder! Perhaps we need a forum for the DU Gooders? A place where we can plan and implement our strategies for DOING.

Just think if we engaged the retired community in this fashion. It's strange that nothing has ever been coordinated to ask for help.

There's so much more there than meets the eye and I haven't "pushed" it yet due to awaiting several programming tweaks and programming help.

But this is the essence of Wishadoo -- joining together not only online but taking it into our local communities. Connecting schools, businesses and local organizations with individuals...doing GOOD in the process of going about our daily lives.

I've asked DUers previously to please be ambassadors for your local areas and start a GROUP at Wishadoo....as well as groups focused on issues where these DO~INGS can be discussed.

There is an events feature at Wishadoo that ties in with Groups, too.

The idea is that we're all gathered there with a focused, common intent -- CREATING COMPASSIONATE, COOPERATIVE COMMUNITIES. From there, we can DO so very, very much.....

Some of the listings were some time ago. Is there any way to know if people got help or not?

It's a wonderful idea though. If schools could post on something like this I imagine that could be helpful indeed.

there has been a "changing of hands" at Wishadoo and there is now, hopefully, a programmer on board to gradually help make things easier to navigate, add features, etc.

I've asked people to post in the forum area when/if they receive help, but the gist of Wishadoo is that it is one-on-one. People contact others directly...we're not all privy as to how they may receive help.

We simply need MANY more people to gather in order to be able to come together and help. I'm working on it...one step at a time...and hope to do a full launch very soon.

I do know of several wishlist posters that received help from others who contacted them directly after seeing their post (the wishlist posts need weeded out and updated, you're absolutely right). I've called 211.org (a great setup but very fragmented and not available in all areas) on the behalf of several who had critical needs; they got help with existing structures in their local community.

That's an easy thing others could help with in crisis situations: help people, who are often so beaten down and can't imagine making one more phone call, to find existing help.

Thanks for checking it out; please do so again periodically as things get moving. :hi:

he works in a very economically-depressed school district.he donates multiple hours a week working with 5th graders on need to stay in school,have confidence in themselves,one-on-one tutoring...because he cares...really CARES...about their outcomes.he has stated many times"they can still be reiforced and positively directed...we just need to help them see their own worth"....and sometimes approach it "outside the mandated box"

and fruit snacks(things that don't go bad easily)..pencils,markers,pads...different things.He uses them as positive reinforcement for the kids to do well....and has had stellar results on grade improvement...not the "Mandated" level...but these kids fall outside the "norm"

The tutoring and providing other much-needed items.

What a dynamic duo you both are. :)

:hug:

repeal nafta, quit out sourcing jobs to foreign countries? re-build our manufacturing base?? slow the massive wave of illegal immigration down and fix that system, its a great idea to get all these kids a college education, but if there are no jobs waiting for them after graduation then you have a person with a degree who is still,homeless,hungry and screwed over by the system....plus they owe student loans now!!!

I don't know how to do anything until at least some of the things you mention take place. People can have degrees, multiple degrees, but if there are no jobs what then? And in some cases degrees can make a person overqualified for just getting a job to survive. Years ago I faced this and I lied on job applications by omitting a degree rather than adding education or experience in order to get just a JOB to survive.

I think high schools should be more practical and steer more young people into vocational careers to get jobs that will ALWAYS be needed like plumbing and electrical work and such. The stigma of a "vocational" career needs to end, I don't know how that can happen but there was no such stigma when I was growing up and my Dad and many of his friends made a lot more money with their Master Electrician status than a lot of college grads.

Proprietary schools that take people's money and provide them with an education that doesn't get them any more money than they are already making at Walmart or somewhere, while saddling them with massive student debt they may never repay, should face serious regulations (I have worked at a proprietary school and it stuck in my throat that they paid far more than such education would ever be worth to them). These are just leeches on the poor, making them promises that will not be fulfilled while sucking up their educational loan and grant opportunities and putting them in debt.

And a Congress filled with HUMANISTS rather than millionaires --

Otherwise, today's worker is tomorrow's unemployed and the next week's homeless.

The answers are in regaining control over government --

Latte liberal cop out.

Demand massive investments in public, low income housing, strong safety nets, single payer and make it easy for workers to form a union. Tax the hell out of the rich, they'll create jobs when hoarding is no longer profitable.

Wealth hoarding creates poverty. Poverty is not an individual problem with oh so complex individual solutions only the educated can understand. Wealth is the direct result of a corrupt, undemocratic government that thinks socialism for the rich is just dandy and the tragic accident of mass poverty is just too complex to solve. Bullshit.

right now to address the very good points you raise?

I agree with everything you said, but I'm asking for specific suggestions on what we can do right NOW to work on that?

As soon as legislative initiatives are recommended to address these SYSTEMIC FAILURES, all the pitfalls and delays involved with that are rightfully brought up.

I'm asking because I don't have answers or suggestions myself.

:hi:

The system is corrupt. It must be forced from the outside to comply. Liberals dropped the ball 30 years ago and except for a few who try unsuccessfully to keep poverty front and center, it's a dead issue. Changing a politician here and there does nothing. Legislation is watered down by lobbyists every time.

Right now it will take a massive movement consisting of the middle class on down hammering politicians through civil disobedience and demonstrations which hit the wealth hoarders in the pocketbook hard and often. You think the middle class is ready for that. I don't. Most still believe all the phony pandering the politicians spout daily in order to hide the truth. The middle class is ready to jettison 30 million under and unemployed people for the sake of their measly investments on wall street.

You can't fight abusive power by saying pretty please or working in their system.

That legislative initiatives aren't working. The system is corrupt. (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9478876&mesg_id=9478876)

That's why I'm asking for other ideas, preferably ideas outside existing systems affected by this corruption. :)

Most "solutions" such as communities pulling together, growing food, buying local etc. provide those with property a way to save themselves and help their neighbors who also own property.

I don't hear or read much about homeless families being included in these communities, and not as charity cases but people with something valuable to contribute.

Until middle class liberals understand poverty is their future and join en masse with those of us who are already there and fight for all our lives... well let's just say the elite have made sure there is plenty of room for all of you down here at the bottom. It's just a matter of time.

they aren't going to do those things. Yet.

But if nothing stops this runaway train then we're going to have a lot more people join the lower classes who may finally be ready to do something.

Maybe we should all be irresponsible and spend everything we have. Then we will all be without savings and can be completely dependent on others when we can no longer work.

If you think you are the "wealthy" I am referring to just because you have some money in the bank you are fool. The wealthy are those who's money works for them not the other way around.

Now if you are in the top say 2-3% and can buy tax law and politicians to make your money work for you more $efficiently$ than yes it is you I am referring to.

But if one illness or lasting job loss has the potential to put you in poverty then you are the underclass in this country. Not much separating you from the homeless no matter how much you believe otherwise.

It is the only way your money will keep it's value as putting it in a bank account won't even keep up with inflation.

If ensuring your own financial security is a right wing idea then the left wing is in trouble indeed and will be at the mercy of charity the rest of their lives.

your investments require a large underclass of underpaid workers to pay for it. To get to the point where your money makes your life labor free someone or more likely numbers of people must be slaves.

How does anyone retire if they don't have money that works for them? Do you believe in retirement?

And yes I do agree the system is set up to pit the middle class against the poor. Devastated unions, shredded safety nets, and desperate deluded middle class workers who think retirement is still possible and a right provided to them on the backs of the low paid underclasses, the victims of the massive cuts in our social programs and workers rights, via wall street.

That's quite a mess the middle class created through their ignorance and willingness to turn a blind eye to the victims of 30 years of abusive conservative policies coming from both parties in gov.

And I guess they are also an enemy of the people?

Good luck with that philosophy.

Which would be the majority of the middle class. At least you won't be lonely.

Surely you jest.

Workers lose in unregulated capitalism which is what you are investing in- corruption. Hence the successful 30 year attack on unions, wages, benefits and worker rights around the world. More work from fewer workers, less pay and benefits = bigger return on investment.

And all that = massive poverty. They'll have you eating your own young pretty soon, considering the ecological and financial mess the middle class has allowed and is leaving behind.

If not for investing, my actual saved income would be insufficient to fund my retirement.

So, the original question stands. Am I a right wing class enemy?

BTW, what is your definition of a worker?

politicians low paid workers are sacrificed for return on investment worldwide. The middle class is it's own worst enemy because it refuses to fight for workers rights, unions, single payer health care, a real cost of living minimum wage, housing for the homeless and adequate social security.

Of course to do that the return on their own private retirement investments would diminish. So people are sacrificed and the underclass grows. This last massive theft by the banks took out a sizable chunk of the middle class and your turn is coming. They'll take it away from you too.

Always follow the money. Trickle down didn't work from the top to the middle class and trickle down never worked middle class to poor.

A worker is anyone who doesn't have the money to do the work for them. The difference between a worker with a retirement account or investments and one making minimum wage or homeless is an ever diminishing tiny bit of power. In other words not much difference at all except the conservative illusion of self made wealth held by those who can't acknowledge the sacrifices made by low paid workers.

... won't.

Social Security and their busted investments will hardly pay for a room in their working class kid's rented homes.

And the extremely wealthy will be getting even wealthier.

Hence, the "solutions" they propose have nothing to do with everyday reality for poor people.

The number one thing as far as "where to start" is concerned, is to LISTEN to those one purports to "help".

All else is self-serving.

Thank you for bringing this up! :yourock:

And that is the problem in a nutshell.

The elite love charity as an "answer". It enables their crimes. Charity is nice, a temporary bandaid and it feels so good on the giver's end but we need real liberals with actual conviction and backbone to fight. I agree with Hedges completely-

"The liberal class no longer holds within its ranks those who have the moral autonomy or physical courage to defy the power elite. The rebels, from Chomsky to Sheldon Wolin to Ralph Nader, have been marginalized, shut out of the national debate and expelled from liberal institutions. The liberal class lacks members with the vision and fortitude to challenge dominant free market ideologies. It offers no ideological alternatives. It remains bound to a Democratic Party that has betrayed every basic liberal principle including universal healthcare, an end to our permanent war economy, a robust system of public education, a vigorous defense of civil liberties, job creation, the right to unionize and welfare for the poor.

“The left once dismissed the market as exploitative,” Russell Jacoby writes. “It now honors the market as rational and humane. The left once disdained mass culture as exploitative; now it celebrates it as rebellious. The left once honored independent intellectuals as courageous; now it sneers at them as elitist. The left once rejected pluralism as superficial; now it worships it as profound. We are witnessing not simply a defeat of the left, but its conversion and perhaps inversion.”


http://www.truthdig.com/report/page2/the_world_liberal_opportunists_made_20101025/

Middle class liberals abandoned the underclass decades ago favoring the ill gotten spoils of class warfare. Their salve for the problem they had a large hand in creating seems to be charity combined with the belief that poverty is so individually complicated as to be unsolvable. Baloney.

I'm poor. I'll tell you what I need- real committed middle class liberals who will stand with me and my class and fight in solidarity for the rights of all of us. Instead of some celebrity rally for mushy reasonableness how about a massive rally to demand homes for those without them. Liberals of all classes used to do that but back then it was important, now well not so much.

Charity refuses to look at the cause... because it would blow little minds. It would also entail LISTENING to those in need, which would make us equal to those who want to do the charity. That equality is not to be tolerated.

A very powerful quote:

"Charity is the filthiest invention of the human mind: first you steal what belongs to everyone; then you use the policeman and the atom bomb to protect it. You give charity to prevent the have-nots from rebelling against you. It also makes you feel less guilty. All do-gooders feel ‘high’ when they do good." Krishnamurti


For some reason, I had a hard time getting your link to come up, but I will try it again. Thanks so much for your input! :yourock:

On the one hand, I like how this idea made me feel when I read it (dandy!!!), but on the other hand: Is this a practical solution? I mean, will the rich really "create jobs" when the gov't is taxing the hell out of them? Won't higher taxation be a DISinsentive for them to expand and hire more people?

If the jobs are a way to shelter their money from taxes. Sit on the money it gets the shit taxed out of it. Put it to good use i.e good paying jobs and take a deduction.

Right now the incentive is just the opposite- hoard the wealth you get to keep it all. Less workers = more hoarded wealth.

Ten years of those tax cuts and there were NO JOBS created by them unless you're counting jobs in India and China.

It's almost amazing that anyone still has the temerity to suggest this.


But I know the gig; keep repeating it long enough to "the Commoners" and they will eventually start to believe it!

:rofl:

If we start "taxing the crap out of the rich", won't they just -- eventually -- give up and pull an "Atlas Shrugged" on us?

Hope I'm wrong.

even WITH the tax cuts B*sh gave them (still cannot type that cretin's name.)

The wage disparity, the "tort reform" benefiting corporations, the demonization of unions, the outsourcing of jobs, the Rightwing controlled media.

i think Ayn Rand would be so proud.

No, they received wealth off the backs of the poor and from our "system." They need to give back to the system which protects them.

And you cannot wage high dollar wars AND cut taxes without getting what we've got right now...

rich at that time ... "we'd have to call out the national guard."

Basically, we have a people's government having been torn up into little pieces

and it's a giant jig-saw-puzzle we need to put together again .... one meaningful

piece at a time.

Meanwhile, term limits mean that no matter what effective leadership we put in place

it can be tossed out quickly by right wing.

But we do need to return to progressive taxation -- will the millionaires and multi-

millionaires in Congress do that for us?

There are two mistakes in thinking I feel are being made --

Perhaps the upper Middle Class have no worries, I don't really know --

but certainly the Middle Class -- what's left of it -- has many worries in trying not

to fall into poverty and homelessness itself. Many families have unemployed among them they

are trying to assist. Many families have members who have health problems and lack of

sufficient health care coverage. Middle Class families also have a need for affordable

housing -- maybe they own homes -- but how long does that last if the Mother becomes ill

-- perhaps terminally ill -- and the children in college can no longer be supported at

other than community colleges? And what about when those kids have graduated and still

there are no jobs? No summer jobs this year either!

Many are losing their homes -- FORECLOSURE ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIGH ON OBAMA'S LIST!!

Very little was done to help those having problems stay in their homes!!

Our Senior Citizens need affordable housing -- how many of the homeless are WOMEN -- and

seniors?

JOBS, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING --

Also, don't know what goes on in other cities -- but NYC was ironically and tragically

barred from creating permanent housing for the homeless!! Could only put them up in hotels,

motels -- often out of their known neighborhoods and away from families! Transportation

was an immediate problem. One problem creating many more.

This is insane, of course -- and I hope there aren't still those barriers to creating

permanent homes for IMPOVERISHED AND HOMELESS???


.

wherever there's great wealth concentrated in few hands, the coefficient is great poverty spread to many.

-- sense of Liberalism and Fair Play.

But has it really "worked" in the past? It seems to me (although I am no economist, God knows) that when it has been tried before it has failed -- and quite miserably at that. I am just thinking now of Russia and the failing Social Democracies of Europe (Greece, France, Iceland, etc.)

Am I wrong? (HOPE I'm wrong!)

democracies notwithstanding.

let's compare poverty in modern england to victorian england -- for starters.

then the us in its high tax phase (1940-1978) v its neo-liberal, low-tax phase.

What's your idea of something that worked better?

I concede your point about Modern vs. Victorian England, however...

Was there really less actual prosperity in the U.S. during our "neo liberal, low tax phase"?

Seems to me that the standard of living has risen across-the-board in this country since the 1970s.

Am I wrong?

During the 50s and 60s and 70s we had a very different income tax structure. Reagan basically instituted "trickle down economics" which posited that lower taxes on the rich produced jobs, and that the freeing up of wealth for the wealthy would let them spend more thus we would all benefit. That has been proven to be demonstrably false.

In real dollars, American wages have remained stagnant since Reagan - we have used our equity in our houses, and our credit cards to maintain an illusion of prosperity but at the expense of our national debt (and now the financial crisis which has exposed this fallacy).

I'll have to actually do some research since it's come up a couple times already but the Scandinavian countries - basically Social Democracies - have very low poverty rates in comparison to our capitalist republics which are very, very high. Their tax rates are something like 50% and everyone is basically taken care of.

And comparisons to the USSR are specious. The Soviet elite basically stole everything from everyone else while propagandizing the poor - they weren't true communist governments and can't possibly be used as examples.

also, how old are you?

...it is a myth that the poor "do not create jobs".

Non-profits are raking in the dough and most of it is jobs for the upper income (except for the exploitive low-paying jobs that use the poor in jobs that won't even pay the rent such as laboring in these non-profit's "fund raising stores" that reap millions and pay little to the ones bringing in the cash) ~ and millions in tax breaks for the rich that far exceed the money being donated. Government agencies also employ mostly the upper income people, certainly not the poor in "services". All that are punitive and very paternal in their gate-keeping "services".

Let me give you an example of what the large "non-profits" are doing in WI: http://www.welfarewarriors.org/MWV_Archive/s01/s01--bwe--bus_tour.htm

The *only* reason we know about WI is because some brave and very outspoken POOR WOMEN did the math. Not because any $100,000 a year policy wonk did the work, or that anyone is watching the store at all for funding services for the poor in the entire nation.

And you can damn betcha, if it is happening in WI, it is happening in your state. Many of the above named nons are national entities and are doing it elsewhere, and the large local nons are doing it too.

Like many states are doing to "save money" (yeah right), WI "privatized' many of their services to these greedy nons who are viciously avaricious, punitive and spend most of the money on themselves, not on the people who need their services. Sorry but spending $46,000-67,000 per client while meting out little in the people who need it is not helping anyone but the agencies, their upper management, and their gatekeepers, all who come from upper class people and do little to actually help the poor get a leg up.

I give it to a few large nons, and almost all small grassroots nons are good or at least well-meaning, but the large ones that are who rake in most of the millions a year to make a low-income worker feel like a piece of s**t because they need help with their energy costs or childcare, or where the non helps them with a $50.00 emergency rent assistance that is miserly and meted out by their own choice as to who does and does not deserve to get the government money? They are useless ~ except for themselves and their elitist upper management who actually hate the poor themselves.

It is just not true to ever say the rich are the only ones giving out jobs. The poor generate lots of jobs (and tax breaks for the rich), but as usual they are considered useless and invisible when in fact there are a lot of people living off the backs of the poor as gate keepers themselves.

My 2 cents

Cat in Seattle

it was a huge "aha" moment.

Thank you for sharing this information again. :hi:

I'm starting to lose track of replies in this thread, so please forgive me if you've answered elsewhere (I need to focus on work, so I'm diving in for 30 seconds at a time...lol).

Can you personally ecommend organizations doing good work on the front lines of this issue as far as directly providing help to those in dire need? People really get so confused about the best avenues to offer help -- time, money and other resources.

Getting recommendations from you and bobbolink and Hannah Bell and others would be invaluable, IMHO.

Thanks so much. :hi:

...the "good" nons are usually local and you have to do some homework to find out who is and who is not doing the services right.Most large foundations give money to the large national nons, some to the large local nons, and little or nothing to the grassroots nons.

If you want to find some good ones however I recommend a group of nons who have banded together and are called, Women for Economic Justice, acronym WEJ, pronounced "wedge", which is their mission; to put a giant "wej" in paternalistic government laws, affect the policies of agencies and be advice to policy makers out there who hurt more than help. Wej nons speak to and do advocacy work on poverty issues, policy work on the national level, and because they are a group of mostly local small nons, they are local as well.

Here is the website of their "parent" group that WEJ participates called the Institute for Women's Policy Research: http://www.iwpr.org/Conferences/Conferences.htm.

There on that site you can find and connect with local non-profits who are for the most part, wise, useful and insightful as to the needs of low income. While this is primarily for women's research and policy, it affects poor men as well because it focuses on the laws and policies that affect both sexes and affect low income families.

This is only the beginning because for resources and for the most part good nons are the smaller local ones. In some ways this makes sense because they address unique local issues better than the big ones can. but often they are hard to find, maxed out for the work they do because they have little funding, few staff and *no* financial help.

Here are several welfare rights groups I know about, and while they are local for the state they are in, they may be, and usually are affiliated with others in other parts of the nation:

Welfare Warriors (WI):
http://www.welfarewarriors.org/ _ Pat Gowens is their long time director and if anyone knows the System, its corruption and the damage it does to families, it is Pat (I have known her for years and get a lot of information from her)

Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights (P.O.W.E.R.)(WA): http://www.oly-wa.us/power/

National Welfare Rights Union (this is their points to end poverty but they have a "home" site as well): http://www.nationalwru.org/

Kensington: http://www.povnet.org/node/549

Poverty Network: http://www.povnet.org/

I can give more information, but have to get going.

Hope this helps

Love, Cat

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to share these specifics.

:hug:

For instance, if you're still employed and have money to spend, spend it with local businesses, even if it costs a bit more. We just had a room painted and carpet laid. The cheap way to do it would have been to go to a big box store. We chose to hire a local painter and bought carpet (American made) from a locally-owned store. It cost more, but all the money stayed in the community. Things like groceries, clothing, and household goods are a bit harder to source locally, but you can frequent the farmers market, shop a union grocery store, and shop consignment stores.

I think doing that, and creating a way to find such people/businesses, is needed and is being mentioned more and more here on DU.

Here is one group working toward this:

http://www.the350project.net/home.html

:hi:

Sweden (~$36,000), and Germany (~$34,000).

Our problem is that we also have the most unequal distribution of that income in the developed world by far.

The EU, Canada, Australia, and Japan all have more progressive taxation, stronger social safety nets, better bank and market regulation and stronger unions than the US. These other countries have proven that you don't need as much national "wealth" as the US generates to have a healthy economy and, not coincidentally, a strong, prosperous, competitive middle class. You just have to distribute what you have more equitably.

Of course, there is a 0% chance that the resurgent repub/tea party has any interest in progressive taxation, strengthened safety nets, stronger unions and stricter regulations for banks and the market. I suppose all we can do is push progressive policies knowing that repubs/teabaggers will shoot them down and, hopefully, bury themselves in the long run. Repubs opposed Social Security (and many of FDR's other progressive policies), Medicare, civil rights and women's rights legislation and, more recently, health care reform, financial regulation, etc.

For a long time they looked foolish to a majority of voters for senselessly opposing sound policies with cries of "socialism" and the period equivalents of "We want our country back" (from Blacks, women, etc.). It will happen again.

To me, it all really does tie together, very much affecting (and creating) the issue of poverty.

Corporate control of both politics and media is affecting EVERYTHING. There have always been teabaggers but they joined together effectively, and the brainwashing by Fox News and Limbaugh have taken hold big time. I suggested focusing efforts on a constitutional amendment for Citizens United as one thing we could try to combat this issue:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9497824&mesg_id=9497824


As has been discussed throughout this thread, education (not just teaching students via our educational system) but education ABOUT the issues of poverty is needed.

But it seems we need to break the mind control hold the Limbaughs of the world have on so many, as well as push for a free press, as MSM is just more mind control -- to keep us distracted from the real issues. Very little truth and fact.

Break the hold of propaganda, educate with facts and truth, then help people see it's truly in everyone's best interests (those with any humanity, NOT multinational corporations) to work together on these issues and get away from the "me, me, me" mentality.

Sorry...I'm rambling...not enough coffee.

:hi:

government -- and undo this government of, by and for the wealthy!!

THAT does not mean that I'm recommending that we ignore the homeless and impoverished --

rather that we contribute in any way we can -- and refuse to have them disappeared from

our every day lives --

Whatever message I deliver to anyone in government, I always end with war, poverty,

homelessness and the need for Democrats to get busy on those issues!!

because the causes of each are entirely different, though one could argue that both can be traced back to unregulated capitalistic banking and wall street.

We have to.

:hi:

before he took office. No president since, on either side of the aisle, has restored it to anything close to adequate. That put folks on the streets for decades. Episodic poverty, WTF?

Food stamps cut, welfare cut, medical care non existent, medicaid cuts etc, etc. Social security next slamming the poor the hardest. Long term poverty is created on purpose. Episodic poverty is a dying myth considering the millions falling into poverty as a result of 30 years of disastrous trickle down bullshit economics. Never to rise again because the wealth continues to be stolen by those at the top. We are in the beginning of a mass culling of workers in order to make more of that "in broad daylight theft" possible.

And educated liberals will continue to turn their backs and vomit lame excuses why poverty is just so hard to tackle.

Democrats taking their economic power to really make change. How?? By supporting other Democrats in business and Commerce. This way we control our dollars and remove them from republican hands. I know this seems impossible. But it takes UNITY to be effective. Look we have let them control every aspect of this country. The only one you have left is where your money goes. You must not only voice your vote but also with your LOOT!!

We must STOP being AFRAID of what they will do to us!!!! They have done it already. If we use our money collectively we can start hiring. We can address housing. We can address hunger. Because with economic power we can change the state of our country. It will give us the voice we need. We out number them and their ways of thinking. We have let them define who we are,what we want,what we watch on TV,and what we need to purchase and from whom. It is time for us to make our own decision on who we are!!What we want!!!What we need!!!!AND WHAT WE NEED TO PURCHASE AND FROM WHOM!!!!!!

We have let the Republicans define who we are.Don't you think its time we show them that we are Smart,Courageous,Sincere,Responsible,Loving,Respectful,Hard-working Americans. Americans who do not want the false image of this house of cards economy falling down around us. Make no mistake they can be politically ruined if we TAKE OUR MONEY BACK. You say HOW? If we take our money back and invest it in us and our businesses,They can't make their Margin Call,they fail. Their businesses will take the economic downturn instead of ours. They will need to take more of their own money and put back into their business to keep going. Then we will be the ones with the money to sustain the country.

I'm honestly not trying to be argumentative here, but I'm like a dog with a bone trying to get specifics. We need specifics. If this turns into a bitching and moaning thread about the causes without specific suggestions of how to combat it, we'll continue to get nowhere.

Do you have specific suggestions as to how we can do the above?

I'm a huge fan of cooperative business models -- employee-owned, member-owned everything when possible. The UK is way ahead of us in that regard; I'm gathering as much information about that as possible but there's precious little beyond certain industries (food).

A start (perhaps?) is for people to make wiser choices about where they keep their money?

http://moveyourmoney.info/find-a-bank

One thing I am working toward is a new type of Yellow Pages of sorts at Wishadoo. A "Compassionate Community" Directory where people of like mind can find one another for their transactions and needs.

It's not only business/entrepreneurial listings but also working toward a comprehensive resource directory where people can find existing help via nonprofits, social service agencies, etc., under one roof, locally, nationally...globally.

Thanks. :hi:

We would first need to make some hard decisions. Like getting rid of all investment ties to republican entities. They have many. The only way to get a lot of them at one time is to take money out of Big banks and go to community banking or credit unions. It would mean taking personal losses on 401Ks ( they stole some of it before and surly are coming to get the rest),it would mean connecting with other Democratic business owners and community leaders it would mean sacrificing some of your favorite places to shop. Thus having an opportunity for new business to be open with Democratic money. Look the one thing Republicans have done was to support each other in Commerce and take it and put it together collectively and used their power to run this country. Why is it that we can't take our money to set the country straight????? Why is it we let them define how, when, and why we spend???? Why is it that we have let Republicans tell us they are our only hope??? Why are their businesses the only businesses that can make it. We must put our money with us and STOP giving it to them. They may get you for utilities and gas,but why anything else??? and if they raise the prices on those to get even,they will also be hurting their own. That will create more confusion then they want. If we take our money back then they will be forced to compromise with us. Not us with them. If the car is in DRIVE then the gear is already shifted lets put our feet on the gas and take off down the ROAD with our Money!!!!!

:toast:

We must stop acting as if we need them for everything. We have it among ourselves. They had led a lot of us like sheep to the slaughter. We must stop following other sheep if we are different. We must stop letting them define how we present ourselves. We are strong,confident, and have a responsibility to do what is right. Not Rightwing!!!!! If we are Democrats why are we letting Republicans define us??? It is TIME we DEFINE OURSELVES!!!!!

One of the things bobbolink says is that soup kitchens and shelters and the like are merely bandaids which don't solve the problem.

Affordable, available housing and housing assistance are the answer to homelessness.

Study the issue in your own community.

Look at statistics where you live: How many disabled/low income/elderly need housing? How many units available? What programs/projects/government agencies are designated to deal with this issue?

Write those agencies, find out if any legislators have bills submitted concerning affordable housing, lobby your legislatures, write letters to the editor, and if you have the $$$ consider building safe, warm, decent housing for the poor.



Second issue: Prison planet. Jobs may be taking away income; court is sucking the lifeblood out of the poorest of the poor.

If you attend a General Sessions or Circuit Court "show" in your county, you will come up with many ways people need help - with adequate legal representation, help for the elderly and disabled to keep up with code violations on their properties, transportation for poor working people, help with car insurance, taxes, licenses, fees (I believe these latter three should be waived for the poorest of the poor.)


Third issue: and this one is not for you OneGrassRoot but for those who never considered it: if you know a family or a disabled person or a single parent who is struggling, don't wait for them to ask you for help. Just help them.

Don't want to just give cash? Bring them some groceries, go pay their light bill, buy them a phonecard, keep an eye on their kid or elderly parent so they can get out of the house for a little while, send them a giftcard, talk to them like they are HUMAN.

A little bit of help sometimes is all people need, but many, many people are too proud to ask.

A few thoughts, thank you for being a DOer...it's inspiring.

:applause:


Regarding the first idea, one thing that I know drives many of us insane (more than we already are ;)) on a daily basis is seeing all the empty buildings sitting...abandoned...when they could be made into housing, into homes. I know there are zoning issues and myriad issues at play, but a coordinated effort to tackle this horrendous waste in our local communities would be one thing perhaps?

Thank you again. :pals:

Edit to add that converting these existing, unused/abandoned structures -- and retrofitting many existing structures -- could create local jobs.

I moved to a place where zoning is nonexistent/scattered. Which means there is virtually no homelessness in that anyone can park a camper or a storage building on some land and live there til they get it sorted out. There are many people - like me - living in very substandard housing, but at least we have a warm place to go to escape the cold (in the 20's last night!)

I agree that an effort to convert structures would be ideal. Jobs and housing. But awareness of lack of housing is the first step.

We have so many issues on our plates it's hard to think about every issue unless we are faced with that issue in our own life. So a great step now is to wake up and start fighting for the least of these by raising awareness, keeping elected officials aware as well that you are watching them on this issue.

It's a huge problem and thank you for your patience. Lots of despondent peeps out there. Hopefully your questions will rouse a few out of their sad fog.

Edit to add :pals:

BAM! Absolutely.

Maybe we (the collective "we"...lol) can start a blog series focused on this very, very specific issue in the communities around the country?

There are wonderful people here to contribute to such a series, with current, local information provided -- including contact information for applicable local officials.

:shrug:

:)

See what is already out there in terms of affordable housing-oriented sites. Augment their efforts by collecting and linking to those blogs, while creating blogs in underserved areas.

Something for your website to add?

Now we're getting somewhere. I would be happy to research some of this for you but I am on dialup so I will have to get myself to the library....:)

Maybe by the end of today we'll have a good list of actionable items, this certainly being one of them as part of education and local action.

Let's stay in touch!

:hug:

I will PM you with links I find and then we can decide how to organize them.

Off to play in Google (and maybe a little GD) before I head off to work :hi:

Good luck with this thread. Looks like a discussion has begun and perhaps some ideas will come of it.

:P



:hug:

First and foremost important source for info on Housing and Homelessness: Without Housing

http://www.wraphome.org/downloads/without_housing.pdf
Sapphire Blue posted this over and over and over while she was alive. She was right... it is still, by far, the best resource.


National Low-Income Housing Coalition http://www.nlihc.org/template/index.cfm

National Coalition for the Homeless, factsheets
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/

I do miss Sapphire Blue :cry:

These links are an awesome start.

Just got home and found this and your thread below. Thanks for adding to this thread and for your kind words.

:hi:

If you can print it out, you can get just about all the facts you need there.

They have a recent update. There are also graphs in the art section.

I miss Sapphire Blue so much, and also her daughter. :cry: :cry: I have never met anyone as dedicated as Sapphire Blue, and I was spoiled to be able to just follow her lead, be a cheerleader, and support her in what she was doing.

To now have to find my own way in the wilderness is daunting, and horribly demoralizing. Sapphire Blue was truly one of a kind. :patriot:

way to make use of them?

I understand when you say most people don't know the facts about poverty, including those who consider themselves progressives.

I believe you're working on a way to get these facts out there, right? That's what I greatly look forward to, as that is an actionable item to move forward with as a group.

Until you are ready on your end (and I know it's daunting doing what you're doing), what do you suggest we do with this information if we're already aware of the facts? How can we be most effective in sharing this information other than the neighborhood organizing, listen and learn aspects (please see my post #156)?

There may not be a way; I'm asking to try to get insight into how to DO something concrete to alleviate suffering right now.

thanks bobbie!

Yesterday, a librarian... An Librarian at the INFORMATION desk, said she had read my script, and thought she was aware, but found so many things she hadn't known.

Without a LOT of people who truly UNDERSTAND the issue (and many here still don't), the awareness won't be there to take ACTION, and any action taken is likely to be misdirected.

KNOW THE PROBLEM before jumping to conclusions.

Thank you for seeing that. :yourock:

I hope you know your efforts do make a difference, more than you may realize.


:yourock:










:P

I thought you wanted something concrete we can right away. Feeding hungry people is concrete and quick.

Now, what to do with all these newly homeless, hungry, jobless, talented people that have been sidelined by this economy....

I have some thoughts on creating communities that are cooperative, with the community (a non-profit corp) actually owning it but memberships (paid or bartered/sweat equity) held by resident-members-- democratically run, one member-one vote.

Properties can be obtained using different programs offered in communities they lie in. For example, in my city they will sell homes or buildings for $1 that have been taken by the city in tax liens and are currently blights. One local guy has taken advantage of this to open a building for artists to rent studios in addition to his own home. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/local_developer_rick_destito_g.html

Anyway, to get a cluster of buildings, half a block or so, and use the land collectively with transition town/permaculture principles--helping small microbusinesses (bakeries, grocers, restaurants, small green manufacturing, construction, deconstruction warehouses, bike shop, local artisans/retail, community health center, waldorf type schools, apprenticeships, small start-ups in programming/film/entertainment) get going--will renew our rust belty towns and provide authentic community-- bring everyone up -- does not have high fee entry requirements as sweat equity and talent is needed-lots of hands on, no big corporate entity, all is bottom up, possibly with own currency (still thinking about that)-- anyway, that is where my vision is going. My goal is Buddhist Economics-- right livelihood.

That is what I'm asking for, but I'm also responding to other short- and long-term suggestions, but primarily asking people to be super specific so we can act on it.

I have to work now but will check out that link later...that looks awesome.

You and I share the dream of creating cooperative communities. Absolutely. I'd still love to have others interested in this gather to brainstorm about this.

:hi:

Maybe I'll have some thoughts on this when I'm not in the mood to slash my wrists.

:hug:

http://www.the350project.net/home.html

:hi:

Hammers, Nails 2x4's.

WPA style work programs. Build with manual labor if necessary.

In practice it's a bit more complicated, but it gets things moving again.

For those who are hungry, feed them.
For those who are naked, clothe them.
For those who are homeless, shelter them.
For those who lack knowledge, educate them.
Be compassionate.

We as a society have externalized these tasks to our government or ngo's. We have made the actions to help poor and homeless people an abstraction, a program-- that we have forgotten how to do it ourselves or are afraid to do it ourselves. We lack trust. We fear we will be exploited.

People who are poor and hungry are often afraid to ask for help because they also lack trust. They fear being exploited.

Meanwhile, government, banks and corporations exploit us.

I know this because I am in the same boat. I am just like everyone else here. At the hospital, I can do it without a problem. I can bathe ill sick people, give them blankets to help them keep warm, extra pillows, water, food if there is an order that they can eat (but I can also feed their visiting family without issue).

Here is a first step: Today-- give this week's grocery money away to a poor family who is hungry. You can eat up the stores you have in the pantry and freezer. If you run out of milk, drink water. Your first area of difficulty may be finding a poor family. You might find assistance by calling a local elementary school and asking to speak with the social worker there or calling a homecare agency and asking for the social worker there. I don't know if I would try the public dept. of Social Services as they may count what you give as income and use that as a pretense to deprive the family of food stamps the following month. If you really can't do a week, bring them dinner-- particularly the end of the month is tight.

If being that personal really bothers you, give the money to a food pantry. They get lots of customers.
The Rescue Mission feeds a lot of people-- 3 meals a day, every day for free-- this our local Mission's need list:

Food donations may be dropped off any day between 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Food Services Center, 148 Gifford Street. For more information, call 315-701-3886.

Twenty-gallon tilt kettle to cook soups and sauces
Lunch meats such as ham, bologna and turkey
Powdered or regular juice
Commercial No. 10 cans of vegetables or fruit


Many workplaces put together boxes for Thanksgiving. But hunger is 24/7.

Also, Wishadoo reminds me somewhat of the British Freeconomic site: http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/blog

Thanks for sharing that website. :)

The ideas are very similar, and I'm dancing as fast as I can to get the tools situated and ready for people to make use of to connect about MANY things and DO many things, in their local communities.

The red tape and "qualifying" for help and yada, yada, yada is just too much for most people. There is so little time and energy left...too many people have nothing left to try any more and they surely don't want to have to "prove" their worth to yet another agency.

The direct connections are crucial at this point. Grassroots efforts are mandatory!

People must choose to have an open heart and open mind...to give AND/or receive...or not.

It's a choice. How we move forward and respond to the crises and challenges is the one choice we have.

:pals:

Everyone has a right to food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities. Everyone also has a right to an education.

This would include not only contributing to charities, but major adjustments in how the system works. Social assistance rates need to be raised, daycare should be available for all children, there needs to be more support for struggling parents, education should be made affordable through need-based grants, and health care needs to be socialized.

yet these are huge systemic issues (as I see it), and we're dealing with a corrupt, failing/failed system in many ways.

We must work to change that system and change what you have listed as far as systemic changes, but what are very specific tasks we as individuals -- as groups who are gathered with comment intent such as here at DU - can do now to affect change?

Providing food and shelter, and helping those who are doing so in our communities as much as possible should be a given for all of us reading to deal with the acute needs. We all recognize those are merely band-aids, but we are dealing with a triage situation for sure and have to tackle the crisis on many levels.

We don't want to ignore the current acute suffering as we work to change the system, so I think all ideas are worthy as they're being shared here.

Thank you for doing so. :hi:

Doing a bit of babysitting for a working parent really helps. I used to babysit the daughter of a mom with disabilities who worked on weekends; I was told that it helped a lot.

I definitely think acknowledging our collective responsibilities to each other goes a long way.

You're so right -- help with childcare is HUGE. Elder care, also, as many families are faced with the same dilemma regarding their parents and elderly relatives.

Making more people aware of the number of children, and elderly, who are not only living in poverty but are homeless may engage that collective responsibility. So many have an image -- a false image -- in mind when they think of someone who is homeless.

WE MUST CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.

Some people will still choose not to see it, but for those who have conscience, we must reach them....somehow.

And, something else I have learned from bobbolink and others is how those (especially children) need to change how they see THEMSELVES and not buy into what society is throwing back at them.

I believe that is what bobbolink is working on...and it will be invaluable in the effort to educate.

Pimp This Bum came to mind immediately upon reading this. The title may sound like some sort of callous reality TV show, but it's really anything but. They're tackling the homeless problem in a two-pronged approach: helping certain individuals get back on their feet and raising public awareness to the root causes of poverty and homelessness. The site's founders know full well that they can't get rid of homelessness this way, but it still goes a long way towards fixing things one mind at a time.

As for things I'm personally interested in, I'd like to see a concentrated effort to create more community gardens, especially in downtrodden urban locales. They can be a wonderful focal point for communities to rally around and have the added benefit of providing low-cost fresh produce for the patrons. Community gardens can give otherwise unemployable individuals (felons, the disabled & the elderly, etc.) something to do with their time, as well. Gardens won't "fix" the issue of poverty, but they can do so much to make life better for everyone -- which in my opinion is the most important thing.

Mark Horvath is doing wonderful things via new media about the issue:

http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/

http://wearevisible.com/

Thanks for the new site!

I'm a huge fan of community and urban gardens -- many at DU are. Yes! Magazine has great articles about this...free, online. http://www.yesmagazine.org/

Nice to "see" you. :hi:

And it's nice to see you, too. :)

At least in the US of A. Reasons for poverty are as unique as the individual and some reasons for an individual's poverty cannot be solved by anyone. We certainly need to have the systems and resources in place to help adults who struggle with issues related to poor upbringing, addictions, learning challenges etc. But when it all comes down getting a person or entire family out of poverty for good means one individual willing to personally get involved where they can. Using our collective tax money to create systems to help is all fine and good and certainly we need more of that - but until more Americans are willing to get off their butts and personally do the work then poverty will just lag along.

Systemic failures not the least of them?

I agree about people being involved and AWARE. Being aware -- and being human enough to give a shit -- is where it has to start. Even if people don't yet know what to DO, the very least they can do is not dismiss it or act as though it doesn't exist.

That's why people think they can't find solutions.

When you are willing to recognize that it is a SOCIETAL problem, then the solutions will present themselves.

BTW, the "individual problem" is the RW meme. Are you sure you want to cling to that?

...that poverty is an institution based on racism, sexism, ageism and classism, all those reasons are used to impose poverty on others. You can impose this poverty by;

* legislation against the poor (putting punitive assistance in place, making assistance impossible to access,making laws that discriminate against the poor, etc)
* job discrimination (it is not illegal to discriminate against a person because they are poor, as a matter of fact the rest of the TRUE reasons are listed above and poverty discrimination poverty HIDES the reasons above such as racism, classism, etc)
* housing discrimination (again not illegal to refuse housing because of poverty)
* food resources (meaning making food costs so high it is impossible to afford it, making it unavailable in "poverty" communities, making food so high the only thing available is NOT "nutritional" food, which causes diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer)
* Redlining areas, by forcing poor people into a designated area with "affordable housing" that is not available anywhere else.
* Creating false markets for costs for necessities such as making utilities so high in cost it is unavailable (heat, lights, phone, and right now the Internet)
* laws that make low-income people unable to defend themselves
* credit laws that make sure that the poor have no credit and cannot obtain credit ( in order to help with many things such as obtaining finances in an emergency, paying a bill that results in taking away a necessity, shoes for the kids when you cannot afford to buy them with cash, etc).
* Lack of medical and dental access, making the poor unable to care for themselves, even with fatal diseases where they are unable to work, unable to get around, unable to take care of symptoms that might save them, etc)

Changing these things would significantly go far to eradicate poverty. Many more "institutionalized" reasons for poverty, but perhaps you get the picture.

Hope this helps

Cat in Seattle

"The richest 1 percent of Americans now take home almost 24 percent of income, up from almost 9 percent in 1976. As Timothy Noah of Slate noted in an excellent series on inequality, the United States now arguably has a more unequal distribution of wealth than traditional banana republics like Nicaragua, Venezuela and Guyana."

http://www.wopular.com/us-income-inequality-top-1-percent-take-home-24-percent-us-income

Easiest way to do it - taxes.

Who will do it - nobody on the ballot currently. Including Obama.

I'd much rather have people in the streets marching with banners and being civilly disobedient, being disruptive and clogging up the rich man's roadways and disrupting his commerce.

But, you know, taxes hurt them too.

The whole thing reminds me of the WWF. So turn off your damn TV set, quit getting 3000 messages a day from corporate Amerika and start organizing the bottom of the workforce, the unempl0yed and the homeless. this is why Acorn scared the shit out of them. Because if we ever got over race, religion, and cultural prejudicea then we would realize that we are all poor in the things that matter such as security and freedom of choice in most matters.

that it won't happen without us forcing the issue, a la revolutionary France.

homelessness and poverty as a crime.

Stop demeaning those who are already on the lowest rung of the economic ladder.

Stop insisting that those on "welfare" or in poverty are lazy and unable to work, when the exact opposite is true.

Increase taxes on corporations and the super-rich(they pay less taxes then half the middle class, I read).


Either way, treating the poor with contempt and hatred is not a way to get them to have confidence in their leaders. With the Republicrat take over of the House and now the pseudo-Thatcherite Britain already on the attack, they will lose confidence in you and quick. We need to work with them, help them as much as we can. We can't turn our backs now - the Republicrats have already done that.

How this issue -- and those it affects -- is perceived is step one of the battle, IMHO.

(Getting rid of Faux News and Limbaugh would be a giant step in this direction.)

We must not only change the perception many have about this issue, including those directly impacted by it, but also work to alleviate suffering directly in our own communities as much as possible.

repeal nafta, cut out all the offshoring job killing bullshit!!! that will CREATE jobs!!

stem the flow of illegal immigration, fix this broken system, anybody who thinks that illegal immigrants who come and have anchor babies dont put a strain on our system is sniffing glue!!!

stop the tide of money flowing out to foreign countries that turn around and shit on AMERICA!!!!! this includes bringing an end to dumb ass wars, we can drone kill a gnats ass anytime we want, what do we need all the rest for right now?

It is time for America to pull in its horns, quit trying to buy friends globally, and pull our selves up by our boot straps...but outsourcing all our jobs to india is never gonna get that done!!

Do you have specific suggestions -- specific tasks -- people here can take to work towards that?

Buying products made in the USA, and perhaps supporting efforts like this http://www.the350project.net/home.html are a start.

We need leaders who say: Poverty is huge in America. And we need policies that state: Every American has a human right to SOLID shelter, food, clothing, medical care. It's that simple. These are the things that the majority of Americans are one paycheck away from not having. We also need to have leadership that drives home - you're middle class today - you may not be tomorrow.

My short list of things that I do:
10 backpacks filled with supplies for children in poverty this school year.
10-15 hours a month distributed between 3 food banks in NJ.
Holidays are coming - I believe in Santa. I've volunteered to play Santa for 5 families this year. That's not just presents - that's food too.
Heating Funds - Does your gas/electric company have one? If not - push them to create one. Your $10/$15/$100 could keep someone in a warm home this winter. I give to it year round.
Local Water fund - Again - give a few dollars year round - it adds up.
Clothes Horse? Shelters can use those old clothes.

I learned all of these things by the example of my parents. We'll (the whole extended family) will be at the open door mission on thanksgiving day for a few hours.

One thing my dad, brother, uncles, cousins do? They are big hunters. They eat rabbit, venison, squirrel, wild turkey, etc. etc. Do you know how many mittens can be made from a deer skin? This is a skill that somehow made it down from our Cherokee ancestors. As well - those guys can't eat all that they kill - a deer is a lot of food to a mission/food bank. They will be up hunting at 3:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving day this year, and will have pounds and pounds of fresh venison to that same mission by the monday after Thanksgiving.

Now this is all wonderful - but they are just 'comfort' band-aids. What we need is SURGERY - not bandages slapped on by the individual.

The situation requires triage, so all of these suggestions are excellent, IMHO. Comfort, band-aids, surgery, prevention.

OMG, I was thinking about the deer example yesterday. I saw a deer dead on the side of the road...:(...and my thoughts went to only about how sad it is that continued encroachment on their homes, in part causes these accidents which are also harmful to people, but what an absolute waste that a food source is lying by the side of the road.

No, no, no...please don't anyone jump in asking if I'm advocating that people are given roadkill to eat. I'm observing the extreme waste in our society and lack of being in touch with the basics of existence, as you share here about mittens being made from deer.

I'm not a hunter but respect when people hunt for food and use all aspects of the creature, with reverence and gratitude. That's very different from trophy hunters and it's better, IMHO, than factory farming, too.

Okay, I don't want to get off on too much of a tangent but wanted to share that. ;)

compared with ours which is something that varies between 13 - 17% (children under 18 it's something like 21%!) I don't have the exact stats in front of me but I know I'm reasonably close.

The "Social Democratic" countries like the Scandinavian ones have decided that everyone matters in their community. So the people and their governments cooperate together to ensure everyone is provided for. The US doesn't have that mentality. We are stunningly, staggeringly selfish and blind when it comes to taking care of our own.

Ours is totally fucked up, and bears little resemblance to reality.

Call it DUH!- DU the Homeless.

Here's how it works:

STEP 1: find a DU-HP (homeless person) - not hard in my neighborhood!

STEP 2: treat that homeless person like a real person - befriend him or her, providing a little respect & friendship.

STEP 3: provide your DU-HP with weekly or monthly & yearly needed provisions:
a. a weekly non-perishable food package (incorporate your DU-HP's needs & tastes when performing your weekly food shopping)
b. provide your DU-HP birthday/Christmas gift packages. Some suggestions: pre-paid cellphone, clothing (especially waterproof and warm winter clothing), shoes, job interview type clothing, portable personal care kit, first-aid kit, a backpack, sleeping bag, public transportation pass, etc.). Talking with your DU-HP over time will provide you with a list of needs & wants.

Now a list of CAUTIONS:
1. Do not try to "change" your DU-HP. You are NOT on a mission, you are a big brother/sister. Treat your DU-HP as a friend, not the subject of some project - skip the goals part.
2. Do not do this if you cannot afford to or cannot provide a long term commitment. The cost & commitment is much like that of adding a child to your family.
3. Do not be surprised or disillusioned if your DU-HP continues their lifestyle irrespective of you.
4. Do not expect ANY "results".
5. Do not invite your DU-HP into your home - interact on their turf. This is a safety concern, at least in the early years.

Like a friend, you can be there for your DU-HP if they want to change their situation. But also like a friend,
they are OK as they are and its important that you relate to them as such. If you want to train yourself beforehand, the Big Brother/Sister organizations can train you to be a Big Brother or Sister and will provide you with far more intelligence (and street smarts) than I have provided here.

Your DUH! cost equivalency will fall somewhere between the cost of owning a pet and rearing a child. Be sure you can afford the money, time, and personal commitment BEFORE you start.


IMO, DUers could help thousands of homeless live healthier lives infused with a bit more respect & worth, DUH!

they have the resources to point a person in the right direction if you'd like to be buddy to someone. And yes, I have done this and did it this year (although I had to drop out for physical reasons someone else picked up where I left off).

Don't let not having an agency's help stop *anyone* from doing what you suggested, however.

I'd like to invite several homeless people to share a nice Thanksgiving dinner and day with us. But I have no idea how to go about it.

You're always stirring something up, aren't ya! ;)

Currently I am not in a position to physically or financially help anyone (although we did earlier this year and it taught me a LOT), but hopefully by early next year I can be in at least a position to physically help. My plan was to team up with my favorite charity working in St. Augustine (St. Francis House) who recently had a zoning issue setback when they were trying to expand the number of beds they have available. They work with not just the homeless in St. Augustine but also they feed thousands, locally and migrant workers who are out working. The people there are professionals, they are caring and have been there for the long haul.

I wish we had a marketing campaign which tied in to giving to local charities who quite often do the work the government refuses to do.

You DO a lot.

Yes, a campaign to put focused effort behind those doing the work, "those" who people have had personal, direct experience with and can vouch for them.

That sounds like an actionable item that I'm hoping we can work toward.

Thank you. :hug:

You'll never look at the poor in the same way. We have also housed once-foster-kids who were dumped out of the system at 18. Nobody wants them and they get lost in the system.

thanks for pushing this discussion.

Thank you for kicking. :hi:

there is some really good advice here about listening to the homeless and how to really help them...bobbolink, for one, is a true expert, as you know...

not through a church or agency or whatever - just do it - pick one and help.

This image is used on multiple blogs and websites to show the contrast. Maybe someone else will know?

:)

Habitat for Humanity
Thrivent Builds
New York Foundation for Senior Citizens
The Umbrella Program
Your local food pantry
Literacy Volunteers of America
Your local women's shelter
Big Brother, Big Sisters of America
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
After school tutoring - keeping kids in school so they graduate is incredibly important

It's not hard to get involved once you decide what you want to do - there are a LOT of organizations that can help you get started. But imho, too many people want to TALK about doing something but aren't really DOers like yourself. It takes each person being willing to individually help someone, one on one that makes a difference. I have volunteered for decades at my local food pantry and women's shelters because they are non-denominational (I'm not a big fan of religiously based social service organizations but I do know they are helpful). I love the personal interaction and ability to help people directly.

For those who have loftier ideals like revising the tax codes, repealing NAFTA, patronizing small businesses etc. - all of those are equally as valid and productive. For those who have the time and clout, that sort of thing also desperately needs to be done.

This is a great thread! Thanks for doing this.

It's good to get individual recommendations regarding organizations, as there is so much skepticism these days. Seeing which groups others recommend based on personal experience is very important, though it does probably vary from area to area.

The local food bank, local shelters, and Meals-on-Wheels are among those I've ve worked with in various areas over the years.

:hi:

I always thought that if people were forced by law to take in a homeless person for each unoccupied room they have in their houses, we would see laws addressing this very issue being passed overnight. Also, if people didn't own homes larger than what they needed, it might open up vacant real estate for working class families to buy at reasonable prices.

Thanks, Cleita. :hi:

I wish I had more money to do this myself. Many urban families (especially black and latino) are being pushed out of their neighborhoods by redevelopment. Here is a neighborhood in Oakland that is fighting the condoification of their part of the city. http://web.mac.com/marceldiallo/iWeb/Black%20New%20World/village%20bottoms.html


That's all I've got on specifics right now. My overall aim would be the elimination of capitalism, which is the root of all of this.

For this post and the one below. I appreciate it. And I agree, captalism run amok is part of the insane chasm between the haves and the have nots. :(

:hi:

1. FIRST and FOREMOST, LISTEN to the people you wish to help. That is the number one rule of NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANZING, and has largely been forgotten.


2. Get a LARGE group of DUers (and others) together to first LEARN those concepts.

3. Third, activate that LARGE group to pick ONE "progressive" mouthpiece, and PUSH him/her to begin publicizing those concepts.

4. Move on to another mouthpiece, etc.

5. When the level of understanding reaches a tipping point, THEN there is enough OOOMPH to push for some real government action.

this is the starting point.

Sadly, it won't be heard. :(

great list!

There may not be. But that is what I'm trying to find out.

I hear you that you believe strongly this is the first step, and I don't doubt that it is the most important especially if any real change is to be created systemically. Educating the populace and working toward legislative changes feel like a David and Goliath situation, one which will take a long, long time.

Are there not other things we can act on...more direct immediate things for those in dire need right now?

Can we not take two-pronged approach with the need to listen and learn, as well as do something -- however simple the action may seem yet if done en masse can have a direct effect -- simultaneously?

There are many suggestions in this thread...great suggestions...and I will return to them tonight to see how to create an actionable list from them.

I don't claim to have seen all of your posts, but the ones I've seen contain great resource information, as you have also shared here. Great resource information to educate.

Are there any organizations or actions you can also recommend to immediately work toward alleviating suffering?

To me it's like a patient who comes into the ER in acute pain with obvious multiple underlying conditions. The pain is so acute he/she needs to be relieved of this pain as they address the underlying causes of the pain.

Both need to be done, it seems to me.

And, maybe within this thread there are those who are the ones to gather, listen and learn to affect the changes you envision.

:hi:

Thank you! :hi:

http://www.hostdiva.com/liberalchristians/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=29 Not all the links may work, but most should.

I just want to add my 2 cents that as great as charity is, it's a band-aid where a surgical procedure is necessary. I've been round and round on the charity idea with my RW evangelical in-laws for years. My FIL seems to get it more than the others because he needs the Medicare, my BIL who is younger than I am is still hung up on "leave my money in my pocket so I can decide what I want to give and to whom." He just doesn't get that even if every person possible did actually contribute (and in reality most can't or won't) there would _still_ be so many vulnerable people falling through the cracks. Charity cannot reach everyone. Only government has the reach necessary.

So to everyone who can contribute to charity, thanks! :D That does help some people in the short run, which is important, but please also help us figure out how to cure our society's allergy to *gasp* socialism.

"Only government has the reach that is necessary." I agree. Yet getting help with the urgency of now is -- to me -- important as well. I'm hoping we may discover an "aha" moment in the midst of all these sharings. Thank you for contributing a great resource list!

:hi:

...to understand poverty. Most people, even the poor themselves, who are not enlightened as to the real "reasons" for poverty blame it on the individual (or themselves), when in fact, most of the reasons have nothing to do with "choices" they made, but with the societal position Americans make for their communities:

Poverty is an institution based on racism, sexism, ageism and classism, all those reasons are used to impose poverty on others. Poverty is imposed by, among other things;

* legislation against the poor (putting punitive assistance in place, making assistance impossible to access,making laws that discriminate against the poor, etc)
* job discrimination (it is not illegal to discriminate against a person because they are poor, as a matter of fact the rest of the TRUE reasons are listed above and poverty discrimination poverty HIDES the reasons above such as racism, classism, etc)
* housing discrimination (again not illegal to refuse housing because of poverty)
* food resources (meaning making food costs so high it is impossible to afford it, making it unavailable in "poverty" communities, making food so high the only thing available is NOT "nutritional" food, which causes diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer)
* Redlining areas, by forcing poor people into a designated area with "affordable housing" that is not available anywhere else.
* Creating false markets for costs for necessities such as making utilities so high in cost it is unavailable (heat, lights, phone, and right now the Internet)
* laws that make low-income people unable to defend themselves
* credit laws that make sure that the poor have no credit and cannot obtain credit ( in order to help with many things such as obtaining finances in an emergency, paying a bill that results in taking away a necessity, shoes for the kids when you cannot afford to buy them with cash, etc).
* Lack of medical and dental access, making the poor unable to care for themselves, (even with fatal or chronic diseases where they are unable to work, unable to get around, unable to take care of symptoms that might save them, etc)
* unfair and regressive taxes that keep the poor in poverty when they in fact pay more taxes than any other class

Changing these things would significantly go far to eradicate poverty. Staying silent and not calling these practices out is key for ALL to point to when they see it. Being willing to admit to ourselves that poverty for others is what gives ourselves comfort.

And most of all, standing with those who are trying to change these policies.

Many more "institutionalized" reasons for poverty, but perhaps you get the picture.

Hope this helps

Cat in Seattle

So many DUers don't understand these very basics!

:yourock: :applause:

Wish I could recommend an individual post!

As always, I appreciate your wonderful sharings, Cat. You and bobbolink.

If you'll please bear with me, as this is the crux of my OP....

I understand the need to educate -- about the aspects you have listed here -- and understand bobbolink's point upthread about educating first, as without education sometimes action can be more harmful than helpful.

I hear you.

Yet I think many of us are agreeing -- most ESPECIALLY those who are truly living...existing...on the brink -- that there is an absolute URGENCY OF NOW with this situation.

Are there concrete steps you can both recommend that we can safely (without causing harm down the road in our haste to help) take NOW?

Can we not DO something concrete as a group, something to impact the dire need, outside of the existing system now, as we also work toward the educational steps, to hopefully translate into legislative changes?

Are there specific groups you both recommend we work with? I'm very familiar with the WRAP group and National Coalition for the Homeless, both of which provide excellent educational material.

I'm asking if you can recommend things we can DO now to alleviate suffering now, along with educational approaches...specific groups you know are more effective than others within the communities, for example.

Also, I still would greatly appreciate much more specific guidance as to how we can best -- as a group effort - disseminate the information you've both provided.

Thanks again. :hi:

They mostly go nowhere.

Unless and until a significant people number of people UNDERSTAND the cause, and become angry at being deceived, there is not a large enough number of people to make any significant progress.

What is mostly being talked about here is a continuation of what has been done the last 30 years. If you think that has made the kind of difference that you are content with seeing, then continue with it.

If you think that there needs to be a DIFFERENT direction, then be willing to hear those of us who see other directions.

You have told me a number of times that you are taking another approach from mine. Go for it. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

What I ask you to remember is that simply rehashing what has been done and what has been said isn't getting us there.

It has only become much worse.

...this is a tricky one because most often "they" are people who do not always "get" the issues and the urgency, yet are the ones who have the "ear" of the other ones with the power to do something.

Also never forget that we poor have one advantage that is also a disadvantage: we are invisible. Invisibility means you are not seen or heard, yes this is true, but it also means you can get things done "under the wire" before anybody knows it is being done.

Forget trying to convince anybody else to do it however, it is up to US now. Yes make "Them" aware of the issues, let them ignore it and then go about making the changes ourselves.

Just recently for instance I listened to a group of Christians, Jews, Muslims and former policy makers talk about "Islamaphobia" and how the Powers That Be WANT us to hate and blame the "weakest" ones in order to keep us apart and fighting one another. But if we find common ground, join together to fight Islamaphoia, this unity is too hard for the Powers That Be to counter because we are well aware of their tricks and share them among ourselves to ensure we as a unified group do not let any separation work.

This could also be done among races, religions, classes, or whatever "divisions" we have instead to unite for change.

If the Tea Partiers can do it within a year, surely we can do it. It begins with meeting one another in our communities and then moving up from there. It begins to solidify the disenfranchisement into empowerment ~ and to be honest we can not trust anyone to "empower" us BUT ourselves first.

Recently in a conversation with Bobbie she said something interesting that showed her own empowerment of herself because of what she knew: She was using some public facility and the treatment she got was horrible. But she told me (in essence, this was not a direct quote, but what I "heard"), "This is BS, I pay taxes for this too. I made a far greater sacrifice to pay them then these people getting preferential treatment. By God I deserve to be treated better than I was!"

What I heard in Bobbie's words was a self empowerment saying, no matter what "they" know, SHE knew the truth: she had contributed and they did not contribute as much, if at all. This kind of self awareness needs to spread to the disenfranchised. So they know like Bobbie does, exactly what they do and give themselves the permission to demand what they earned. THEN let that grow and gather as a group of people who are aware of this and begin the work of taking what they deserve as a group.

Remember the Tea Partiers did it in about 18 months. THEY feel empowered because they just TOOK that power. And they were not invisible while doing it, we are. Why can't we do this too?

Hope this gets people thinking ...

Cat in Seattle

Thank you, Cat.... what you have touched on is VERY IMPORTANT!

We so often forget that poor and homeless people have bought into the very same lies, and their own self-hatred is affected. Listening to us/them, and hearing the pain we suffer all the time, and then letting us know that we are JUST as valuable as anyone else is probably the single most important thing we can do!

I remember a number of years ago, there was a woman who set up a card table and two folding chairs and hung up a sign, (ala Lucy in Peanuts) which said "The Listening Table" on the campus of a community college, and was just there to listen. As she gained the trust of the students that she wasn't there to "fix" them, she became a very popular fixture on campus.

The very same is needed for poor folk.. just being HEARD, without the need to "FIX", as I keep hearing others trying to push. "Fixing" isn't helping... it is getting your rocks off by being in the superior position.

Poor people also don't understand the manipulative system any more than we do.... by listening and then explaining how the power is trapping them, it does lead to empowerment.

Also helping them to understand that they are often dealing with BULLIES in the "helping" professions, and that they are NOT at fault as they are led to believe.

These things would be a tremendous help, but it isn't sexy... it isn't what people want to do. :(

Gives me goosebumps when I see it.

Please believe me when I say that I really do understand how very important it is for people to be heard, especially because the poor are made to be invisible in our society. :(

And please also believe me when I say I never intend to try to "fix" any human being; my often clumsy "doings" are aimed at either fixing the system or alleviating suffering in any way possible, trying to be mindful of not causing more harm in the process.

Hence my asking for guidance.

I'm seeing more and more websites devoted to giving the poor a voice. Most of us over a certain age assume that direct contact means in the physical; but more and more very powerful, lifelong connections are formed online. I think every single person I've met in the last 10 years started off as an online connection, and I've subsequently met many in person over the years.

There are obviously many people who aren't online, however...especially those who can't gain access to the library in order to use their services.

I also hear you when you say that for people to speak up -- especially those who have been so abused by so many -- it needs to be safe...and in that regard the Internet can be absolutely brutal. We see all the hateful, judgmental things spewed at news sites, youtube, etc.

I'm rambling here trying to ponder this wonderful idea of virtual and physical "Listening Tables" as you describe here, bobbolink.

Where could such tables -- actual physical tables in the communities -- be set up and be most effective and reach those in most need of simply being heard and acknowledged?

There could be a virtual version, too, but it would need to be safe...a community comprised of people who respect and care about other human beings, not there to fix or judge. I believe that's something you've most definitely been working towards...

I know many faith-based groups do similar things, but their "listening" and any assistance provided often come at a price ("do you choose Jesus as your savior?").

I think there's something here to pursue and flesh out further...maybe?

:)

As you know, others aren't interested in doing that.

Listening is something that is desparately needed in this society just for the sake of peace, but everyone discounts it because they think they already know HOW. :shrug:

I set up a community project to serve as a bridge.... with poor and affluent people alike, and beginning first and foremost with Learning Listening Skills. There were people who wanted to do it, and I had a lot of it in place. Unfortunately, the clergy person who was supposed to get the resources together dropped the ball. :cry: Again, I am supposed to have all the ideas AND all the resources. I just don't.

Just gathering people together to "listen" will end in disaster. People who are above on the social ladder just can't resist the lure of "fixing". They just can't. Without training, they will cause more harm.

Remove regressive taxation structures and increase taxes on everyone under a steep progressive tax structure.
Increase spending on public infrastructure and education.
Take government control over ALL the financial intermediaries until they can be restructured and sold off.

1. Get Congress to directly fund organizations like the NAFC so we can have those massive Free Clinics more frequently.

2. Reform the VA to better help our troops when they come home. Extend post-separation temporary benefits from 30 days to 90 days at least. Sadly enough, lots of servicemen who come home with PTSD or other scars are often kicked to the curb so the DoD doesn't have to pay for them. That shit needs to end the day before yesterday.

3. Encourage and push for urban beautification projects. Not only does this create jobs to get the inner cities repaired, but it helps alleviate a lot of the conditions that perpetuate poverty. Encourage investment in the newly-redesigned sections of the city, and let the local economies grow.

And finally..

GET INVOLVED! If the government drags it feet, it'll be up to us to help! Soup kitchens, Big Brother/Big Sister, DARE, Red Cross, anything you can get involved with to help your neighbor.

:hi:

words fail me! What a wonderful post. You are such a magical, caring, healing leader of many. Thank you for ALL you do. I saw the vid and sent it far and wide! :hug:

Jenn

I surely appreciate the kind words and hugs, and for sharing the video. It's awesomeness.

:hug: back atcha. :)

I mean we give banks money, defense contractors money, political consultants money, why not poor people? What can it hurt?

:thumbsup:

Find the best lawyers we possibly can and get these fucking "Right to Work" laws declared unconstitutional. Then get a manufacturing base established in this country

EVERY country in which the majority of its citizens are doing well--all of Europe and the pre-Reagan United States--has very strong unions and a strong manufacturing base. The nations that don't have strong unions--China, Vietnam, the post-Reagan United States--have a stratified population: there is a rich class and a poor class. Right now, unions are basically illegal--yes you can start one, no you can't force anyone to join as a condition of working in a unionized shop which means there's no impetus to form a union--in the majority of the United States. And, of course, our old manufacturing base is now in China.

One other thing unions did: apprenticeship. Try getting a job in a non-union shop with no experience. Then try getting experience without having had a job. Even if you have a college education you still might not be able to get a job. If you joined a union apprenticeship program and graduated, you could get a job.

Once we get Right to Work removed and the unions come back, and more to the point MANUFACTURING comes back, poverty and homelessness will start to go away.

Thank you. I want to come back to this and really explore, maybe in a separate thread, and you and others can educate those of us lacking in knowledge about this issue and how it's affecting everything today.

:hi:

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Run by people who are poor and/or homeless. I don't think it's a long term solution either, but it was in-line with the OP, I thought. I'm sorry to offend.

The "solution" offered in what you quoted is only helpful to a very, very few. I'm sure if you ponder it, you could think of all the people who would not be able to take advantage of such a program.

Our thinking needs to become much more inclusive, if we are to truly be progressive about this issue.

As I said, I apologize. I agree with you. No "programs" or reforms are going to "help".

to educate a large number of people to the realities. We haven't been doing a very good job, overall, at overcoming the lies fed to us, especially since Raygun. We need to figure out new ways to come at that massive mess.

Thank you, but I don't feel like you need to apologize. I was just pointing out that doing what we have been doing is going to get the same results. It is enough to make one pull out one's hair!

We keep doing the same things and saying the same things, and I really believe that we are smart people and can come up with new directions, if we allow ourselves to think in different ways.

Its also a matter of really learning to LISTEN to those we purport to help, and that is something else that the Raygun regime managed to kill. We must revive it.

There are a whole lot of walls that need to be torn down, and we have to figure out how to do it. The way we have been going about it hasn't been working, and we need to recognize that.

We are smart people and can come up with new ways.

As I've responded several places this morning (see #156), please do believe me when I say I hear you regarding the need to educate...educate the general populace, those who are living in poverty (it's not their fault!), and educate those who genuinely want to help (me and others here, for example).

I get very frustrated though when I know people are DYING...dying all over the country due to this crisis...and I can't help but believe we can come up with some sort of group action, especially with today's social media tools to gather and connect, to tackle the issue of education and gathering to learn and listen you speak of, as well as do SOMETHING concrete immediately to alleviate suffering.

There are myriad organizations on the front line...and different ways we can be on the front line, and many of us are doing it.

I'm simply wondering if there is a coordinated front line effort -- with the specific intent to alleviate suffering -- that you can recommend, be it a group already in existence or an action? Maybe WRAP has an action item I've missed beyond the educational information?

There may not be...but that's what I'm wondering.

Thank you in advance. :)

and want to do something immediately to change that.

As one of those people who are on the death list, I can assure you that is also my concern. I can assure you it was also the concern of Sapphire Blue.

We have discussed this many times, and I don't seem to have any answers that satisfy you, so I am at a loss of what to say any further. I have posted here on DU and have said to you that my existence now is from month to month... I literally do not know if I will live to see January. When I say that, I do not receive caring or empathetic responses, so it isn't something I care to keep repeating, but I do need you to keep it in mind when you are wanting me to come up with solutions that are satisfying to what you are looking for. I am one person, with hardly any resources, and I am doing the best I can with the problems I deal with daily, and what I see as solutions given what I have experienced.

As for the things that people keep repeating... all the charities. Yes, if you want to save ONE life, then maybe you can do that with charity. There are still many others who die. As I keep saying, we have concentrated on charity now for over 30 years, it is what the RW wants us to do, and it has not only NOT changed anything, it has contributed to making the problem WORSE.. But if that is what you want to do because it feels more immediate to you, and gives you some sense of having been instrumental, then go ahead and draw up lists of what people can do. These lists are found all over the internet, so that shouldn't be hard.

If what people want to do is be more distant and give money to organizations, then there are certainly a lot of lists of organizations. Again, that is what we have been doing for over 30 years,and it isn't changing. Again, the RW wants us to contribute to private organizations.


If what you want is for people to push for legislative action, then find the actions you think are the most important and most workable, and push people to call their Reps and Senators and push for those actions. Seems impotent? Yes, it is. A few people from each district calling isn't going to do much at all, as we well know.

What I want, if I may use the word, is actual CHANGE. That means doing something different from what we have already been doing, doesn't it? At least, it does to me.

To affect CHANGE, what we have to do is to reach a sufficient number of people with the actual facts, in a way that inspires them to TAKE ACTION. That is what I have come to after years of bashing my head against a wall, and watching Sapphire Blue bash her head. I know of nothing else.

I am working as much as I can on a project to do exactly that. I am doing it essentially on my own. As most poor people, I continually have crises come up that distract and derail me. I am doing this to the best of my ability, and it isn't helping to feel like I am a failure because I am not saving lives right now. I have actually taken the time to give many ideas of different needs here on this thread, but for the most part, it doesn't get a response. I don't feel like my thoughts have much meaning to very many, and it doesn't make sense to give of my experience and not be heard.

You told me quite some time ago that my project is not of interest to you, that you have a different path you want to follow, and were going to leave me to pursue my project by myself. Fine, I am doing as much as I can.

Yet, there is always that push for me to come up with more. You want me to have my Homelessness 101 done for you to push, you want me to give you other lists of To Dos, and I can't keep trailing off into other directions. If I had any magical way to save lives this instant, including mine, I would certainly tell you. Believe me, I am not withholding any vital information from you.

But without people being willing to help me get my project on a fast track, I am dancing as fast as I can. There were ways you could have helped with the Homelessness 101 project, but you were clear that you wanted to do something different from that.

So, now I am a failure because I haven't produced something concrete in an allotted time. Round up some people to help, and it will go faster.

So, if you want me to come up with ONE single thing you can do to try to save lives, then here it is:

Work to stop the criminalization of homelessness!

Look at this, for example, and notice the comments... not one advocating action of any kind:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9512778E
Even some "humorous" responses... shameful! Peoples' lives are at stake.


Since you want established organizations to contact, the only national one I know that is active with this is the Southern Poverty Law Center:
http://peopleproject.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/whos-public-safety/
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/crimreport/crimreport_2009.pdf
http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/106/brown.html
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/civilrights/index.html

I can guarantee you this isn't something that is getting much attention!

Thank you for doing so. I will say that me not being able to work with you directly on your wonderful project is not because I don't have an interest. That couldn't be further from the truth.

I simply know my own limitations.

But, I'll be back to read and respond more fully as you deserve.

Thank you.

As most poor people, I continually have crises come up that distract and derail me.

This is such an important statement. Many people ask "why don't the homeless/disabled/poverty-ridden organize and help themselves?"

Well, in reality, mere SURVIVAL means you have very little time or resources to fight for yourself. You are too busy keeping the "real" wolves at bay (thinking about your broom/wolf story.) It really is imperative that middle class and upper class people help take up the fight, not because they fear homelessness themselves, but because it is basic human decency to care about the least of these in a progressive, modern nation in 2010.

Bobbolink, for you to take the time to post here, to work on your project so intrepidly (is that a word) shows your amazing resolve and courage. I don't think most people realize how daunting homelessness is, and how much struggle your work represents.

BUT:

"I am doing this to the best of my ability, and it isn't helping to feel like I am a failure because I am not saving lives right now. I have actually taken the time to give many ideas of different needs here on this thread, but for the most part, it doesn't get a response. I don't feel like my thoughts have much meaning to very many, and it doesn't make sense to give of my experience and not be heard."

The fact that many on this board bring up your name in threads about the homeless means that you have raised awareness, even if only a bit. You have kept the issue alive here from the best perspective there is: that of a homeless person.

You are heard. Your thoughts have great meaning. Please keep doing what you are doing.

It's like playing guitar: you practice and practice and sound like crap and don't feel like you will ever get a song out that anyone will ever want to hear, but one day you take up that instrument and it makes real music.

Keep taking up your "instrument" and eventually more and more people will hear your song and join in. It's damn frustrating to wait for results, but I feel in my heart of hearts you are making much more of a difference here than you realize.


:applause:

preventing poverty or homelessness.

Education has nothing to do with the causes of poverty & homelessness; it's not like if every kid magically became a rhodes scholar, poverty would disappear -- just as poverty didn't disappear when the majority of the population became high school graduates, or when the percent of people with college degrees went up.

Simply, as more people become educated, new ways to slice & dice the "educated" into fractions are invented, with the "low" fractions becoming the new (but educated) poor, & the new squirrel wheel becomes the acquisition of ever-greater increments of (mostly irrelevant) "education".

Most jobs being created are neither highly skilled not highly technical. They are jobs that peasants in China & Mexico can do -- & are doing.

Poverty & homelessness are about how we divide what a society produces -- no more & no less. Relatively equal distributions = low poverty, low homelessness. Skewed distributions = high poverty & sometimes high homelessness.

What can we do *now*? Depends on whether you want to work on symptoms or causes.

educate me...I'm open,and want to help

Please see my reply #156.

Thanks to you both. :hi:

The Root Cause of Contemporary Homelessness

While decades of homeless policy responses have focused upon individual – rather than
systemic – factors to explain and address homelessness, the fact that millions of families, single adults, and youth with different biographical backgrounds came to simultaneously experience homelessness in 1983 – and that millions continue to suffer on our streets today – requires a reexamination of historical and social structural forces.

From 1976-1982, HUD built over 755,000 new public housing units, but since 1983, HUD built only 256,000 new public housing units.

From 1976-1985, a yearly average of almost 31,000 new Section 515 rural affordable housing units were built, but from 1986-1995, average yearly production was less than half that of the previous decade.

From 1996-2005, Section 515 built an average of only 1700 new units per year.

In recent years, over 200,000 private-sector rental units have been lost annually, and 1.2 million unsubsidized affordable housing units disappeared from 1993-2003.

HUD budget authority in 1978 was 65% more than its 2006 budget of $29 billion.


The de-funding of federal affordable housing programs, coupled with the loss of public housing units as well as private-sector affordable housing, should be central to any discussion of the causes of homelessness, yet they have been all but ignored in the debates about and policy responses to the current ongoing crisis. No matter what other factors may come into play in any individual’s experience of homelessness – without housing, that person will remain homeless.

From bobbolink's "Without Housing" link upthread.

It's the siphoning of wealth from bottom to the top. Period. Very simple.

red herring.

Yes, education is good..... if it promotes critical thinking, which is needed for an informed citizenry.

But all we in this country see education for is a job ticket, and that is ridiculous.

I have mistakenly used the term "education" when speaking about getting the citizenry to understand the true facts about poverty and homelessness. I need to use the word "awareness" instead.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention---very important point!

then it was re-education --

Let's be honest -- everyone is capable of learning -- everyone is intelligent

-- but corporations don't want to do on the job training any more -- they want

our public schools to turn out robots for them!

Homelessness began with jobs being shipped overseas?

but doing things that actively contribute to homelessness and poverty is sheer insantiy

Your only concern is middleclass people now becoming poor and homeless.

Message received.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Stop the attacks on people who are already vulnerable, for crying in a bucket.

Some "progressivism". :puke:

how about you? :rofl: nice accusations :puke:

without affordable housing -- without health care for those in need.

Without jobs for a large percentage of our population which will worsen all

of these needs --

And without the obvious assistance those suffering FORECLOSURE required --

I appreciate it. :)

Bobbolink's idea below to focus on getting Keith information about this issue is an awesome one!! I have limited time today but will try to compile such information for an email campaign to Keith, unless someone else wants to do so, based on the information and links provided in this thread.

Next week is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week...if he could give it attention, as a thank you to his progressive viewers, that would be so wonderful.

:hi:

If anyone reading this has an "in" with his producers, please PM or contact me via the links in my sig line. Many people who aren't DUers read here. ;)

I've proposed a number of times that DU adopt a campaign -- originally I said

weekly, but that's unrealistic.

Monthly may even be too much?

But, let's say once every 3 or 4 months -- and that info be given with ways to

contact Keith, Rachel, Schultz, Hartmann, whatever -- liberal influences in press.

And, then, however, it has to be left up to the individual here whether or not to

respond -- as it always has been.

:)



PS: And, which is why I think the Olbermann response went so well -- spontaneous

and individual actions adding up to a whopping amount of togetherness.