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"What we give to the poor is what
we carry with us when we die."
Peter Marin, Random Acts of Kindness
In memory of my dear friend Curt March 31, 1952 - July 19, 2006
10% of the money made from the sale of my
product line is given to the homeless.
Homelessness in the US
Susan Dunn,
MA, Emotional Intelligence Coach
In 2000, 11.3% of the US population, 31.3 million people, lived in poverty. Here's
the most current information on homeless in the US. For ways to help, scroll down.
1. Since 2000, the number of people
living in extreme poverty
has increased.
2.According to the 2003 report from the National Coalition for the Homeless
(NCH), Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York City, Los
Angeles and Atlanta are the top five "meanest" cities in the US for
poor and homeless people to live in; California is the "meanest" state, followed by Florida.
3.Examples?
"In Milwaukee, a church has been declared a public nuisance for
feeding homeless people and allowing them to sleep there.
In Gainesville, police threatened U. of Florida students with
arrest if they did not stop serving meals to homeless people in a public park.
In Santa Barbara, it is illegal to
lean against the front of a building or a store, and no one can park a motor home on the street in one place for more than
two hours."
4.Families with children are by far the fastest-growing sector of the homeless population.
Children
alone compose about 39% of the homeless.
5.In the median state, a minimum-wage worker would have to work 89 hours a
week to afford a 2-bedroom apartment at 30% of his or her income, which is the federal definition of affordable housing (National
Low Income Housing Coalition, 2001).
6.For the disabled, in 1998, on a national average, someone receiving SSI (Supplemental
Security Income) had to spend 69% of their monthly income to rent a 1-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent.
7.Loss
of single room occupancy housing (SRO) exacerbates the
problem. From 1970-mid 80s, an estimated one million SRO units were
demolish (Dolbeare, 1996).
New York City lost 87% of its $200 a month or less SRO. Chicago
experienced total elimination
of cubicle hotels. By 1985, Los Angeles lock more than half its downtown SRO. San Francisco lost 43%, Portland lost 59% and
Denver lost 64%. [Data is here: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/causes.html]
8.Approximately 22% of the single
adult homeless suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness (US Conference of Mayors, 2001).
9."The relationship between addiction and homelessness is complex
and controversial," says the NCH.
Rates of alcohol and drug abuse are disproportionately high among the homeless but
can't account for the rise in numbers. However addiction does increase the risk of displacement "for the precariously
housed." 10.What's called "eroding work opportunities" contributes.
According to the NCH, contributing factors to homeless
are "a steep drop in the number and bargaining power of unionized workers; erosion in the value of the minimum wage; a decline
in manufacturing jobs and the corresponding expansion of lower-paying service-sector employment; globalization; and increased
nonstandard work, such as temporary and part-time (Mishel, Bernstein, and Schnitt, 1999)".
Source: National Homeless
Organization,HUD, National Coalition for the Homeless, and the Mayors' Report.
If you would like to help, go here:
http://nch.ari.net/local/local.html to find local service providers.
Go here http://www.hud.gov/volunteering/index.cfm to find national and federal volunteer opportunities.
Go here:
http://www.hud.gov/organizing/index.cfm to find out about becoming a community organizer.
©Susan Dunn,
MA, The EQ CoachT, http://www.susandunn.cc . Susan
was formerly the Director of Development for a Homeless
Shelter. She resides in San Antonio, TX and writes on various topics. She offers coaching, distance learning and eBooks
around emotional intelligence for career, relationships, transitions, retirement and wellness. mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE eZine.
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is
just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
I do not agree with the big way of doing things.
-- Mother Teresa
HELP YOUR CHILD HELP YOUR COMMUNITY
by Rachel Goldstein
As a parent, you probably want to guide your
child to become a healthy and ethical adult. How can you lead your child to a healthy future? What kind of activities can
you do together as a family that will steer your child towards becoming a compassionate adult? Community service and Volunteerism
are your answer. Not only will you show your child that it is "cool" to care for others, but it will also be a wonderful way
to meet new people and possibly land scholarship money for college.
How do I get my child involved? Below are some
ways to get your children motivated to want to help. Avoid bribing and coercion, the mission is to get your child enthusiastic
about helping others.
1.What do my parents do? - Children learn by example. If your child sees you volunteer, they
will be more likely to want to volunteer as well. It is also a great idea to involve your child in your own volunteering experience.
2.Find a meaningful activity - Each child has interests that can be converted in a great volunteering experience. If your
child is interested in art, match them up with an art charity (http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org). If your child is interested in homelessness,
match your child up with a homeless shelter. Once your child is matched with the right project, your child will encounter
a rewarding experience that he or she will always remember. 3.Involve friends and family - It might be easier to involve your
child if a friend is also involved. Some children might be shy and will want a peer to help soften the experience. Also, with
a friend, the project becomes more special and enjoyable. 4.Meaningful conversation first - It might be a good idea to watch
the news together and see what sparks your child interest. Sometimes seeing less fortunate people and suffrage can spark a
child into wanting to volunteer. Also, bring up social issues and discuss them with your child.
What are some web sites
to find volunteering opportunities?
Kids for Community - http://www.kidsforcommunity.org/ Family Volunteering
- http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/learn/family.jsp Volunteer Match - http://www.volunteermatch.org SERVEnet - http://www.servenet.org/ Service Leader - http://www.serviceleader.org/new/virtual/index.php Do It - http://www.do-it.org.uk/youthnet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=445 Worldwide Volunteering - http://www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk/ Online Volunteering - http://www.onlinevolunteering.org/
Can volunteering really be good for my
child?
You bet it can! It has been proven by researchers that a child's self-esteem is boosted when taking on altruistic
responsibilities. When children help others, they will begin to understand that they have the strength to make a real difference
in their world…and this is a great feeling. Another enormous benefit of volunteering is that a child will gain a deeper
understanding of the needs and wants of others. Researchers have also noticed that children who volunteer might gain increased
academic skills, including critical thinking and problem solving skills. Another added benefit is that your child might realize
what he or she wants to pursue as a career. I run Artists Helping Children - http://www.ArtistsHelpingChildren.org - A non-profit charity dedicated to bringing comfort
to children in hospitals, clinics, and shelters by brightening their environment with murals, artwork, toys, and art supplies.
If you are interested in getting involved and volunteering for us, please email us at allfreelance@comcast.net and let us
know how you would like to help. Thanks! So what are you waiting for? Get out there and get involved. Good luck!!
About the Author
Rachel Goldstein is founder of http://www.ArtistsHelpingChildren.org - A non-profit charity dedicated to bringing comfort
to children in hospitals, clinics, and shelters by brightening their environment with murals, artwork, toys, and art supplies.
http://www.tampontification.com/donate.php
You probably never thought of this, but women's shelters in the U.S. go through thousands of tampons and pads monthly.
Assistance agencies generally help with expenses of "everyday" necessities such as toilet paper, diapers, and clothing, but
one of the most BASIC needs is overlooked - feminine hygiene products. Seventh Generation, a green paper productsand
cleaning products company, has a do-good attitude and will donate a box of sanitary products to a women's shelter in your
chosen state - just for clicking the link. Talk about easy (and, yes, it is legitimate...2 seconds' time!)
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