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End Homelessness
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End Homelessness
Each year, over three million people will experience homelessness. In one of the wealthiest countries in the world, this is simply unacceptable. It's time we establish housing as a national priority by committing to achieve the National Housing Goal of "a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family," as articulated by Congress over a half century ago in the 1949 Housing Act, to ensure that every person has access to a decent, safe, and affordable place to live.
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Everyone needs a home big time.
Posted by Leonardo Cabral on 11/25/2008 @ 05:43AM PST
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I didn't know the United States realized that 50 years ago and didn't act on it yet. This should be big news.
Posted by Ly Syin Lobster on 11/25/2008 @ 10:06AM PST
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It's because many in this country consider the homeless of deserving what has happened to them. I have been homeless in my life and I can tell anyone who cares to listen that such is NOT the case.
Affordable housing in this country is becoming harder and harder to find. Even in San Francisco, most new housing is reserved or built specifically for mothers and children. The homeless tend to be relegated to shelters (of which there are not nearly enough) or dangerous, filthy transient hotels--or absent those two choices, to simply sleep on the street, no matter the season or how bad the weather may be. The only residence available was for homeless people with dual diagnoses--drug/alcohol abuse and physical or mental disability. Since I have only cerebral palsy and am high-end FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) I was not eligible.
President-elect Obama and Congress need to address the problem of homelessness as soon as possible. It is a national disgrace that in America, people do not have at least a place to live, no matter how small.
Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 12/02/2008 @ 11:25AM PST
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This is an idea, and a great one, but a real solution needs more votes- to put homeless people in derelict houses and have them fix up the homes.
Posted by Janelle D. on 12/03/2008 @ 06:14AM PST
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we have the skills and the experience to end homelessness and hunger -- in America and in the world. what we lack are the resources. if we all agreed that this was a priority we could end homelessness in this country in 10 years.
Posted by Somerville Homeless Coalition on 12/08/2008 @ 08:37AM PST
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First of all, homeless people are not going to fix a house that they do not own. That just makes me laugh. Secondly, people in this country have every opportunity to be whatever it is that they want to be, so there is really no excuse to not work. If you cant afford a house then maybe you should figure out how to make more money. I have to work long hours to live in my house, you if you can't do it too...well... GET WITH IT!
Posted by ashley pinion on 12/16/2008 @ 08:19PM PST
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You know, Ashley, you're living in some little never-never land. I WORKED when homeless until I injured my back. How nice that you CAN afford a home. It just amazes me how smug those who don't care about homelessness or who just go around bashing the homeless are. You remind me of all these dot-com millionaires who derided the homeless and told them to "get a job". Once the dot com boom went bust some of these erstwhile millionaires ended up in shelters. Needless to say, they very quickly changed their tune.
If you haven't noticed, there is a deepening recession in this country. Not everyone is as fortunate as you. If you can't show some compassion and quit spewing the "if the poor are poor, it is their own fault" go to the Rethugs!
Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 12/18/2008 @ 01:02AM PST
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@ashley:
Shannon has replied to your comment on her blog:
http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/rethink_homelessness_america
Posted by Mike Smith on 12/18/2008 @ 05:38AM PST
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May I send you to two books which provide important keys to solving our poverty problem and its concommitants, which include homelessness?
Both are by Henry George (b. 1839, Philadelphia; d. 1897, NYC). With Twain and Edison, he was among the best known figures of his day, but few of us know his ideas now. But they are the wisest I've yet found on why we have poverty and how we can END it.
The first is "Progress & Poverty." You can read a new abridgment online at http://www.henrygeorge.org/, or listen to it at http://www.hgchicago.org/audio or order it from Amazon or http://www.schalkenbach.org/. The unabridged is at http://www.schalkenbach.org/library/george.henry/ppcont.html, or in hardcopy. It details the reasons why poverty and progress come hand in hand, and how we can undo the connection. It shows the machine that concentrates wealth and income into the pockets of a relative few, and leaves the rest of us struggling, even in good times.
The second book is "Social Problems," a book of essays written a few years later. It is online at http://www.schalkenbach.org/library/george.henry/spcont.html. Start anywhere, and bounce around until you've read them all.
And you might appreciate some of Henry George's speeches, online at http://www.wealthandwant.com/ (linked from the front page). (They're what first captured my attention; they crystalize his ideas.)
We don't need programs; we need radical and fundamental reform. Henry George points the way and the why.
Posted by LVTfan wealthandwant on 12/20/2008 @ 11:18AM PST
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I'm impressed by what loan Lightoller had to say. You are amazingly intelligent, loan ( is this really your name?) When I see people that are homeless I know from experience that it's not their fault. Somewhere in their lives they were missing something that others take for granted. I was a foster child growing up, and I ran away from home at a young age. I didn't even realize that I was a statistic. I have struggled to survive my entire life, sometimes finding myself homeless. Because of having children I'm extremely motivated to fight to keep a roof over our heads. But the lack of affordable housing is almost insurmountable in some places. Where I live you can work two jobs and still not be able to afford the rent on a decent apartment. The waiting lists are years long. If people are housed, they can accomplish so much. But without that basic security they are reduced almost to an animal state. I don't see how anyone can consider this a great nation when so many of our citizens, and especially veterans, disabled people and single parents are homeless. Its really quite disgraceful.
Posted by Lygeia Johnson on 12/20/2008 @ 09:57PM PST
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Everyone here has the right idea! I'm an RN & a counselor at a homeless shelter. Every day I see...& deal with...the lack of affordable, healthy housing for people dealing with homelessness. A national will to end this untenable situation is what is needed
Posted by Bobbie Monahan on 12/24/2008 @ 05:38AM PST
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A top-down approach must be used to eliminate homelessness. I'm affiliated with a housing organization and offered eleven eleven single family homes at a discount to use for affordable housing for veterans, emergency shelter, etc. However, no one will assist us in obtaining funds to purchase the homes. Although we have letters of intent from other nonprofits to use the housing, banks want firm monetary commitments.
Social enterprise is definitely needed for sustainability of nonprofits. I also feel there's a need to identify ways for Federal, State and local governments to improve funding for performing nonprofit organizations. Enforced oversight for pass-thru funds to grassroot efforts are needed. There is too much emphasis placed on funding only faith-based, mega churches or only the high profile polictically connected organizations.
Posted by Cynthia Whitmire on 12/28/2008 @ 01:06PM PST
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Lack of affordable housing is the cause of homelessness and is now a problem for others sectors of the population. Little has been done over the past 20 years. Let's get going on this!
Posted by Joel Hunter on 12/29/2008 @ 04:49PM PST
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I know firsthand that there is a need for affordable housing in my community. I find that the population that needs it the most is teen parents. They are left to live on the streets or take up residence in unsafe environments for themselves and there young children.
My dream is to provide affordable housing to the teens parents, whether it be in a group home or a monitored independent housing units.
There are several vacant homes in my community and even undeveloped land not for from my home just waiting to be put to good use.
I will continue to spread the word about the need in my community until someone helps me make this dream of mine come true. Every child deserves to thrive in a safe, secure, nurturing and healthy home environment.
Dionne S. Fooks
BIG Think'n Dreamer Inc.
Focused on Expanding the Vision!
Posted by Dionne Fooks on 12/30/2008 @ 04:39PM PST
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Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts has just proposed including $10b in the stimulus package to fund stalled affordable housing projects.
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/12/31/frank_seeks_10b_for_affordable_housing/
This proposal would help build thousands of units of affordable housing right now!
Please write your representatives to ask them to support funding for affordable housing in the economic stimulus package.
Posted by Sharon MacNulty on 12/31/2008 @ 07:38AM PST
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First of all, why have only 98 people voted for this idea? Perhaps it's because there are so many people in the country these days that are like Ashley. By which I mean, people who are living in a dream world, people who don't think that this dying economy will ever effect them in any way, people who think that they are untouchable by this nightmare.
Here's what you do, Ashley - go ahead and be happy for the things that you have, but for goodness sake, please be compassionate for people who have less.
To everyone reading: I'm a 26 year old single mom of one child, I make $14.00 an hour, and nearly 45% of my annual income this year has gone to rent - not counting utility bills. HELLO WORLD! I am a poor person! I am BELOW THE POVERTY LINE!
Well, you know what? I know it's hard, I know it's sad, but there are so many more people in the world out there today that are so worse off than I am. I have to say, I am proud that I can do this on my own and survive, and keep myself and my child safe, well-fed, warm, healthy, and happy. I am proud that I have this opportunity of a good job and a safe place to live, even though I do think it is way too expensive and at the same time, still the cheapest I could find.
Unlike a lot of people out there, I know that I am fortunate. Let's give more people the chance to feel the way I feel, and let them be able to afford a place to LIVE - not just a place to put their things and sleep in.
Please help, Mr. Obama.
Posted by Cheney Giordano on 01/05/2009 @ 09:11PM PST
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Great, This is the same crap that got us into this financial mess in the first place. If you can not afford housing, look to better yourself before asking for the Government to provide for you and steal from someone else. There are a lots of programs today that ensure that you get adequate housing, is it the worlds greatest housing, no? But go to Africa and talk to those who live in Huts made of dung before crying foul play. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have everyone in a house, but not everyone is ready for that responsibility and the ability to generate revenue for your family is one of them. Its not easy, hell, I'm struggling badly, but I'm not looking for the government to "bail me out." Life knocks you down, dust yourself up and get back in the ring. Make a plan and start down the path one step at a time.
Posted by Karl Ellis on 01/06/2009 @ 07:20AM PST
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There many reasons that a person may become homeless and when they do it causes many to lose Hope for the American dream,Lfe,Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. As a result many even those with children suffer from this neglect and many lasting social problem are born as a result of this neglect. Local citizens are the ones to ulimatly pay the price for this neglect so it must be us who deal with this issue because the Fed's want they are too busy dealing with the fat cats.
With my Corp we seek to help the working class become homeowners and qualifly them based on income and what they aare paying in rent and will either build a home or purchase a foreclosed property and allow them to take ownership a actually their home in 15yrs. This method help stop future homeless but does not deal with the current homelesness. But we are willing to purchase properties dedicated for the purpose of allowing the homeless to live and use what ever assitance they are receiving to be used for rent but they will still need food,clothing and some retraing to become self sufficent. I am willing to tackle the problem and with your help and suggestion I beleive we can help a lot of needing people. See my website at http://www.axiomcapitalfunding.com
Best Regards,
Eugene Carter,CEO
Axiom Capital Funding,Inc
Posted by Eugene Carter on 01/06/2009 @ 07:50AM PST
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I wish this idea had more votes on change.org.
It is so important. I voted for it, and I urge others to do the same.
The U.S. should set an example for the world and show what an enlightened democracy can do in creating affordable housing for the poor and eliminating the homelessness problem. The homeless are perhaps the most powerless group in America and certainly the most disenfranchised.
Posted by Suzanne Davis on 01/06/2009 @ 10:21PM PST
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I was very moved by Cheney Giordano's post.
I was frankly horrified at the mean-spiritedness of a couple of posts here. How can anyone blame the homeless for their plight?
If you are a Christian, surely you must be aware of what Jesus would do for the homeless.
Even if you don't believe in any religion, common decency would suggest that compassion is in order, not spite and ignorant assumptions that they would not care for their own property.
For shame.
Posted by Suzanne Davis on 01/07/2009 @ 08:21AM PST
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Observation: Every Habit for Humanity Home built in Memphis, TN as sold by the person it was given to according to a report by the loacl TV station and the local newspaper (to fund cars, drugs, etc.) ... something for free is not worth much to the recipient ... how about spend taxpayer money for job training and get them working so they can afford their own home and pay back the system via taxes on their new productivity ... America is not a Socialist country ... yet!
Posted by Larry Ledbetter on 01/07/2009 @ 09:31AM PST
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I invite all of you to visit the second idea about education in this second round (Introduce Esperanto as the first foreign language subject in schools to help American kids succeed), just about introducing Esperanto in the american schools, firstly as a pedagogical(?) experiment.
The qualities of Esperanto as a language will help your children to learn better your own language and other school subjects.
Look
at the project Springboard to languages been realized in the United
Kingdom successfully. In the commentaries about Esperanto you will find
those very important ideas.
So Esperanto will give to your children all the basis not to need menthors or tutors to succeed (?) in school, cheafly on language learning, including English, maths and other subjects related, because of its reknowed propedeutic value.
So you will win in both ideas for changes in USA, also in the education field during Barak Obama Administration.
José Mário Marques
Federal Attorney
Natal - Brazil
Posted by José Mário Marques on 01/07/2009 @ 10:52AM PST
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I don't think we are talking about free housing here. We are talking about AFFORDABLE housing. It is not true that "every" Habitat For Humanity person sold their home for drugs. I do agree with you, Larry, that we need to get poor people working so that they have decent jobs and can support their families and pay taxes.
And as for America not being a socialist country: we could benefit from some socialism! Problem is, corporatism is the economic system with the most currency here. It goes beyond mere capitalism, extending rights to corporations as though they were people and allowing them to exploit poor people worldwide.
Posted by Suzanne Davis on 01/07/2009 @ 03:08PM PST
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"...And as for America not being a socialist country: we could benefit from some socialism..."
True! Well said Suzanne!
I come from what was left of a socially democratic country; and the more we (Australians) follow in the footsteps of America’s form of democracy and Capitalism, the more fucked up Australian society becomes; the working class and lower working class are the first suffer, closely followed by the middle class.
Face it, Capitalism overall is way fucked up, and only dumb arse Americans fall for the propaganda bullshit that having ANY form of socialism is dangerous. Ironically, you do have socialism in this country; you take from the working class taxpayers and give their money to the rich, whilst allowing the top 1% of the wealthiest Americans not to pay any taxes at all! It’s called the trickle up affect (effect?).
In addition, isn’t Medicaid and public schooling a form of socialism? It seems to me that socialism isn’t all that bad, there just isn’t enough of it.
PS
Larry Ledbetter, your level of naiveté is scary bloke, you’d make a good old boy neo-con Republicunt
Posted by Darren Ackerely on 01/07/2009 @ 07:02PM PST
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