1 10 10 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/5a2f863242b103080cf28773eeb1fec7.pdf 043d4d004f2aa1c222fdc8ac0c7124d5 PDF Text Text December 2006 STREETVIBES cover story 3CDC, Affordable Housing and Over-the-Rhine As winter sets into the Tri-State and people everywhere celebrate the re-opening of Fountain Square, 33 men and women have been evicted from their homes in Over-the-Rhine to make way for 3CDC development. 1316 - 18 Race Street Across the street from Washington Park the thirty-three residents of 1316-18 Race Street find themselves out in the cold. Technically designated a boarding house, this SRO (Single Room Occupancy) has been in operation for over 40 years, housing people for approximately $250 ­ $320 per month. On October 1, all of the residents of 1316-18 Race Street received their eviction notices. Development corporation 3CDC had offered to buy the building, but only if it was vacated. The owner of the building served notice to the residents, leaving it in the hands of the building manager to place the residents in other housing. The building is finally vacated and boarded up. “This is an alarming trend that we’ve seen before with 3CDC,” stated Georgine Getty, director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. “They will only buy vacant buildings so they can claim they haven’t displaced anyone, but that’s disingenuous. They are making the landlords do the dirty work, then swooping in and buying up these buildings.” Getty adds that 3CDC is in the process of developing 90 units in Over the Rhine by Spring of 2007, but plans to make only about 5 of these units affordable to the current residents of Over the Rhine. “This is in clear violation of the Over the Rhine Comprehensive Plan which calls for affordable housing and mixedincome development. When you add in that 3CDC receives thousands of dollars in subsidy from the government per unit, it really is unjust.” As for the residents of 1316-18 Race Street, they were offered a service fair on October 20 to find them new housing, but due to the specific nature of the SRO they currently occupy, many found this attempt futile. “The problem is that this is very unique housing serving a unique population. Relocation is extremely difficult,” stated Getty. Gordon Dean, a Vietnam Veteran and resident for 17 months is angry. “I want these rich folks to just go back where they came from and leave us alone.” Mr. Dean has found a new place in Walnut Hills, and is moving with the help of the VA who will pay his rent for 3 months. Mr. Dean has fared better than others. One woman, with the help of her cousin, moved into the Drake Hotel, another boarding house in Bond Hill. The rent there is twice as expensive as the rent at 1316-18 Race Street and she wonders how she will be able to pay it with only her wages earned working temporary labor jobs. Further, the Agency Spotlight: Tender Mercies Tender Mercies began in 1985 when Father Chris Hall took care of two women released from Summit Behavioral Healthcare and placed at the Drop Inn Center. Father Chris found them a place to live, got them benefits, paid their rent, bought groceries, and checked on them daily. Tender Mercies now has six buildings in Over-The-Rhine with 150 Single Occupancy rooms, offering transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons with mental illness. Some people have lived here longer than anywhere else including the hospital or the streets. We break the cycle of hospital, streets and jail. This winter someone with a mental illness who is homeless may come to your doors looking for housing. To make a referral, call Mary Grover, Community Resource Manager, at 639-7042. An application appointment will be set. Acceptance into Tender Mercies is a process. We do not offer emergency shelter. We offer transitional and permanent placement. Tender Mercies is here to serve homeless persons with mental illness and treat our residents with dignity, security and provide community and belonging. If you have any questions, please call Mary Grover at Tender Mercies, 639-7042. Drop Inn Center has confirmed their first intake of a displaced resident of 1316-18 Race Street on October 19, and they fear that this will not be the last. “This is just really sad,” said Pat Clifford, General Coordinator of the Drop Inn Center. “We had 230 residents last weekend, since it started getting cold. 3CDC is concerned with homeless people in Washington Park and at the Drop Inn Center, and they block attempts to create permanent supportive housing, yet they are making new people homeless through their actions.” Clifford is referring to the Drop Inn Center’s recent attempts to develop 40 units of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless people in Over the Rhine. These attempts were frustrated when 3CDC vowed to “actively fight” the site location for the housing. On October 1, residents were offered $75 to leave 1316-18 Race Street on October 21, two weeks before their 30 days would be up. Many took this money and left early, on a very cold Friday night. Because this is a privately owned building, residents are not technically entitled to a reasonable relocation allotment. This practice flies in the face of commonly accepted relocation practices. Residents have lived rent free for the month of October. One resident, who preferred to be known only as “Joe” indicates that the loss of this building is more than just an irreplaceable hit to the affordable housing stock in Cincinnati, it’s the dissolution of a community. Joe, who worked as a machine operator before he was laid off, found out about his eviction a week before he lost his job. He is currently staying at another area shelter. Some critics of 1316-18 Race Street claim that this is a building full of criminals. Crime statistics to this building are spotty, but most point to minor offenses such as open container violations and jaywalking. Ultimately, safety has been proven to increase when residents of a community are safely housed and provided supportive services. Some residents of 1316-18 Race Street do have past criminal records; this is why it is so difficult for them to find jobs and housing. “People look at this place as a building of unemployed people. It’s more than that. It’s a family, it’s a community. You don’t just displace people, you displace emotions and temperament as well.” Joe added that he has lived at 1316-18 Race Street for 3 years and enjoys its access to bus lines, local grocery stores and restaurants. “In the future, profiteers need to find another way to make their profits other than coming into communities that are already devastated. You’re just moving people into poverty somewhere else,” Joe concluded. The residents gathered perhaps for the last time on the steps of their home and shared their thoughts. On the one hand, the sentiment was clear that they just wanted to get it over with, especially the manager who has lost a lot of sleep trying to make sure his people have a place to go. On the other hand, there was a lot of sorrow at leaving their family and many residents were concerned about the cold, and the upcoming holidays. “It’s really depressing, you know?” said one young woman who lived in the building. “The holidays can be hard enough, but it’s really depressing when you’re moving and losing all your stuff.” Joe sums it up best, “Everyone doesn’t need a condo to make this a good neighborhood. They’ve scattered my family. Everyone gets a dollar off our misery and we’re tired of it.” Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director John Lavelle - Administrative Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Susan Smith - Volunteer Melvin Williams - Reception Linda Pittman - Reception Matt Cohen - AHA Staff Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor jimmyheath@yahoo.com Photography Jimmy Heath, Berta Lambert Cover 1316 - 18 Race Street, boarded up for rehab. Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 Finding the Holidays in Something Deeper by Jimmy Heath (jimmyheath@yahoo.com) I think getting older is a gift for me; a reward for the long road traveled. I remember back to my youth thinking that I knew everything. After a few gut kicks and traveling the path of rude awakenings and self-destructive behavior, I started to learn that I wasn’t the only person in the world. “Pass me another beer!” “Move aside wanna be hippies.” “My hair is long and I dress and I act the act...” Boy, did I have a lot to learn. Many years later I’m still searching for a better understanding of the people and the world around me. There is hardly a thing that hasn’t crossed my life experience. All of this experience, even the bad, has helped me to wish for something better and deeper; God, and the meaning of life. Too bad I didn’t begin the search thirty years ago. I guess that’s part of my journey too. I wish that I could find the power that goes beyond the body. How elusive! I meditate and I find quiet time to think about my position on earth, and my relationship with all things alive around me. But I’m still rude and anti­ social at times. I still search the physical world for self-gratification. After I curse under my breath, I regret it. When I make fun of someone I feel ashamed. I go to church now and pray with my fiancé, Brenda. I look at myself and ask for clarity. I meditate on almost everything; the blowing leaves and the winds and the sky and the sunshine. I know of a great power around me, a power that anyone can harness. I would imagine the discovery of the “source” would change everyone’s life. But you can’t sit and wait for it to come to you. The answers are right in front of me. I try to take the time to Jimmy Heath pause and understand the position of the homeless person, for example. Why are some so angry? Would they see it someday and make changes in their lives and help the lives of others? I feel regret when I walk away feeling that I had not done enough. We are not so different. We enjoy decent food and housing. We all want security and respect. We are all the same and are connected by the all encompassing spirit of a life that underlies and connects us to an elusive mystery. Void of TV’s, houses and high-priced cars the needs of the body become unimportant in the spiritual place. What is this place? Are there trees and birds or just a different level of living that does not include the body? When we are dead we are traditionally buried in the ground. Where did the life source from that body go? What are we without the physical body? Nothing, or everything? We are all centered on the surface, the body. Look at the struggle for riches, the material things, as we discard the restrictions of life in this body and instead try to practice the joy of helping others so that we may reach our own understanding and peace. I don’t think these are two different places; the body and the spirit. Certainly we can practice our lives in a spiritual way, with kindness, calmness and serenity during our brief stay in the physical body. Rich folk, don’t despair, there is hope for you yet! And for all of us. Watch the world as it passes you by. Don’t miss an opportunity to show a little kindness. Get rid of the rage. Stop honking the horn because you are aggravated. Listen for a moment when a stranger on the street speaks to you Find kindness in youself, or make it. The Firecat Review The 2006 Election Firecat Chameleon: I’m glad the minimum wage passed. Now maybe I can get a living wage. Firecat Silver: I want a living wage. Firecat Beige: Me too. Chameleon: I felt efficacious at the polls. Firecat Blue: I’m not writing down “efficacious.” (Firecat Red walks in) Chameleon: Any thoughts on the election, Firecat Red? Weird how what you voted for passed? Firecat Red: Yeah, except Wulsin. I wish it was a presidential election. Then maybe we could have gotten that guy out of there. Beige: Disorienting, isn’t it? I thought it was interesting that Heimlich and the jail tax lost. Isn’t that his thing? Silver: Pepper’s hot. Beige: He looks really silly in the CityBeat. Silver: Where? (flipping through CityBeat) Chameleon: Pepper…Hot…get it? (ironically begins to choke on soup) Quick, someone do the Heimlich! Silver: I’m going to miss smoking in bars. Blue: Uh-huh. Beige: I feel bad for smokers, but it will be nice going to bars and not having to do laundry afterward. I go to bars in Lexington and I’m like, “Why don’t I smell bad?” Blue: (discussion of Firecat Beige’s super powers of letter writing) I missed writing down almost all of that. Silver: We should tape record this. Beige: No, then we’d have a record of ALL that we say. Silver: I didn’t know Streetvibes was the 3rd largest newspaper. Blue: No, 3rd best in North America. Silver: Says who? Blue: The North American Street Newspaper Association. Beige: Why is Streetvibes so dynamic? Blue: Firecat Reviews… and when we get a Sudoku puzzle all bets are off. Chameleon: Grapevine sucks! Streetvibes (alluding to Cleveland’s street newspaper) Blue: We’re not talking politics anymore? Beige: Can Schmidt be our new nemesis? All: YES. Firecat Favorite Political Stuff: A recap 1. Fishsticks vs. Shrimp: Cranley vs. Chabot 2. Tazing 8 year olds: Chabot vs. Cranley 3. Playboy “Call me, Harold”: Corker vs. Ford (Tennessee) Firecat Beige: Corker won because he hates gays, loves babies, and he’s white – and it’s Tennessee. 4. Brown vs. DeWine on Meet the Press: Firecats were embarrassed to be from Ohio. 5. Chabot being turned away to vote for insufficient ID. 6. Cranley checking his cell phone during his concession speech. 7. Blackwell’s one and only “my daughter’s hot” ad. �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath San Francisco, CA. - Hundreds of people in need lined up for free clothing at the first ever Homeless Jubilee in Golden Gate Park’s Lindley Meadow. Coats, shoes and other apparel were available to keep people warm before winter sets in. Participants also heard some music, got a free meal and a bit of spiritual advice, if they wanted it. More than 30 ministries from across the Bay Area sponsored the afternoon event. Orlando, FL - A group opposed to a controversial new ordinance limiting homeless feedings in downtown Orlando plans to take their protest to City Hall. Earlier this year, city commissioners passed an ordinance on group feedings in certain downtown areas like Lake Eola Park saying they cause a rise in crime. The ordinance requires a permit and limits them to two per year. A coalition called Stop The Ordinance Partnership (STOP) says the ordinance is unconstitutional and wants it repelled. Buffalo, NY - Two grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs will enhance services to homeless veterans in Batavia and Buffalo. One of them, for $828,322, was awarded to Cazenovia Recovery Systems of Batavia. The other, for $102,134, was awarded to Altamont Program of Buffalo. Both locations will offer job training and referrals, as well as mental health and substance abuse treatments. The grants were announced by R. James Nicholson, secretary of veteran’s affairs. New Orleans - With temperatures dipping into the 30s, advocates for the homeless are concerned that a lack of shelters in the wake of Hurricane Katrina will leave many people who live on the streets dangerously exposed to the cold. When the temperature or wind chill is forecast to hit 38 degrees or lower, New Orleans officials try to move homeless into shelters. But two of the city’s six major shelters are closed and another one is getting back on its feet only now after losing its roof. A spokeswoman for Mayor Ray Nagin said the city is aware of the problem but has not pinpointed any new shelters. Advocates estimated that the homeless population stood about 65­ hundred before the storm and now is at least three-thousand. There are about 450 beds in shelters now compared to 11-hundred beds before the storm. Vicki Judice, director of programs for UNITY of Greater New Orleans, the lead agency for the local network of homeless service organizations, said the city’s available shelters already are turning away people every night. LOS ANGELES - Hollywood tough guy Kirk Douglas brought seasonal cheer to thousands of Los Angeles’ homeless, leading an army of volunteers serving up Thanksgiving meals. Douglas, 89, most famous for his role as the slave who leads a revolution in “Spartacus,” joined around 400 people helping to dish out turkey dinners to homeless people at the city’s skid row. “What a wonderful day, people from all religions and all colors,” said Douglas, who was joined by his wife Ann. Other celebrities included actors Minnie Driver and Tony Danza, who were joined by Los Angeles city mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Fresno, CA - A federal judge ordered Fresno officials to stop seizing homeless people’s property without warning as a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union proceeds against the city. The civil liberties group says the police and sanitation workers violated the constitutional rights of thousands of homeless people in the last three years by defining their property as trash and bulldozing their encampments. Advocates for the homeless said the order by the judge, Oliver W. Wanger of Federal District Court, would help cement homeless people’s property rights. James Betts, a lawyer for the city, argued that forcing Fresno to log and store belongings would be a burden because the city did not have the space, money or manpower to handle the volume of items. Palm Beach, FL - Homeless, disabled Eddie Montry spent Thanksgiving on a median at a busy intersection in suburban Boynton Beach, begging for money. “I’m thankful for all the good people in the Boynton Beach area,” he said after some reflection, the wind from a passing tow truck ruffling his curly red hair and beard. For the police who put up with him; for the people at the bank who tacitly permit him and his girlfriend to sleep under their drivethrough awning; for the grocery store people who look the other way when he comes to bathe in the bathroom sink; for the Taco Bell people who, if he’s had a bad day, will feed him for free. He interrupted himself to limp into traffic and accept a crumpled dollar bill. People eyed him. He cut a funny figure on the corner, with his Santa cap, his red-blue-and-white­ striped shirt - “my holiday outfit,” he said - and his message, lettered with care on one of those real-estate signs you can pluck from a Dumpster, which read: “BEING HOMELESS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE.” “It can,” said Montry, 44. A lot of people refuse to accept that, he said, and he understands. He remembered how he felt back when he was working, driving a dump truck 12 hours a day, and he would see a beggar on the corner. In one of life’s little ironies, he would rumble past them and sneer. Then it sort of came apart at the seams, he said. He had a thing for cocaine, his arrest record showed. Got into some bad fights with his wife. Drove without a license and went to jail. He was on a bus full of prisoners that crashed, he said, and dislocated his shoulder and busted his hip. By the time he got out of the hospital, his wife was gone for good. He couldn’t drive and couldn’t work and couldn’t pay rent or hire a lawyer, he said. He was wandering near Okeechobee Boulevard when some other homeless guys introduced him to “flying signs,” which is what they call what he does on the corner. The terrain around this shopping center - the grocery store, the retention pond, the flock of white ducks, which he feeds every night ­ has come to comprise his entire universe. Just a few paces from his corner, which is all the distance he can manage to walk at a stretch, is the shopping cart full of his possessions: a little charcoal grill, a 5­ inch, battery-powered TV, some blankets, two pillows and a change of clothes. During a regular day he ties a tarp over it all and tucks it out of sight. Streetvibes But this was Thanksgiving. He had left his grill out under the bank awning. “I bought some turkey legs, and they’re thawing out,” he said. Somebody had given him a bag of fresh biscuits and if the day went well, which it was, he and Sheri, his girlfreind, would wash it all down with a four-pack of Natural Ice. But at least the weather was good. He glanced at the sky, toward which, at that moment, who knows how many families were directing their prayers for the less fortunate, for the Eddie Montrys of the world. Austin,TX - From 2005 to 2006, more than 6,000 homeless people lived in Austin with about 1,500 that were homeless children. On any given day, the ARCH Shelter downtown is full to capacity, but it’s a temporary shelter. Now community leaders are looking for permanent solutions. John Covington carries a heavy load. It’s not the bags he’s got, but the sting he feels from others because of being homeless. “Most of them are afraid to make eye contact and stuff,” Covington said. “Does it make you feel invisible when people don’t want to give you eye contact?” Covington said: “That’s one thing half the time. Sometimes when I’m depressed, I fell invisible because a couple of hundred people walk by me.” Covington has been homeless for 10 years. He worked manual labor for 25 years, and one day when a boss refused to pay him, he just quit. Now he sells cans to make money. A decent place to live would be even better. “I got a sleeping bag and a tarp,” Covington said. “One of the paths that we’re looking at to try to get a hold on this is the housing first model. What we do is get a person that’s homeless, we get them into housing and then we start providing them services that can help them stabilized,” said Rick Rivera with the Austin Area Homeless Task force. Homelessness even affects big cities like Los Angeles. Last month, the city filed a lawsuit against a hospital accusing it of dumping homeless people on LA’s skid row after treating them. In Austin, Covington says he once attended college and wishes people wouldn’t judge so quickly. “We’re all a little bit different,” Covington said. The community realizes it will take a lot of work to solve the problem of homeless people. Covington says in the meantime, he just wants to be treated like everyone else. Page 3 �Dark humor brightens life in battered New Orleans the rebounding crime rates to the tourists who take by Ellen Wulfhorst NEW ORLEANS, - A Hurricane Katrina evacuee walks up to a woman in a bar and says, “Want to go back to my place?” “I’d love to,” the woman replies. “So would I,” the man says. In New Orleans, struggling to get back on its feet more than a year after Hurricane Katrina, stand-up comedy and satire are surging in popularity, as survivors of the storm turn to humor, the darker the better, to cope with their plight. Navigating government bureaucracies, battling over insurance claims, and watching politicians roll out recovery plans that are never put into practice have all whetted what was always a large appetite for the ridiculous and the absurd. “After the storm, I came back and wondered what kind of crowds we would get and what kind of mood they would be in,” said Mike Strecker, who tells the joke about the evacuee’s pickup line in his comic routine. “The crowds are larger, and they’re so much more responsive. “It’s a release just waiting to happen,” he said of the mood in his audiences who have returned since Katrina burst the New Orleans levees and flooded the city. Among the new additions to the comedy scene is a satirical newspaper, “The New Orleans Levee,” with the motto: “We Don’t Hold Anything Back.” The free paper pokes fun at politicians and officials who are supposed to lead the post-Katrina rebuilding effort, said publisher Rudy Vorkapic, 42. “This isn’t making fun of New Orleans. This is making fun of people who are failing New Orleans,” he said. “This is born out of frustration.” Launched this fall with a budget of just $5,000, the nascent newspaper is almost breaking even and attracting thousands of viewers to its online edition (http://nolevee.com ), Vorkapic said. Unlike comedy by professionals such as those in the televised “Comic Relief” benefit for Katrina on Nov. 18, local humor is rooted in storm experiences, said Mike Strecker, 43, who works in the communications department at Tulane University. “Before the storm, if you had a tree fall in your front yard, you had a story to tell. Now when somebody asks, ‘How did you do in the storm,’ you say, ‘Good, good, we got nine feet of water and we can’t find Grandma, but we were blessed,” he said. Local comics make fun of everything from the so-called devastation tours of storm-ravaged neighborhoods. “Comedy isn’t the jokes,” said comic Bill Dykes, 40. “It’s your experience and how you tell it.” The number of amateur comics showing up at “open-mike” nights has grown from a handful to dozens, said Dane Faucheux, 27, a local professional comic. “Before Katrina, people would think, ‘I can’t get up before an audience,’” he said. “Now, who gives a crap?” Not that he finds the trend surprising, he added, in a city where T-shirts mock the initials of the New Orleans Police Department, with the slogan “Not Our Problem, Dude” and the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the slogan “Fix Everything, My Ass.” “We’re a city who throws parties for funerals. That’s how we deal with grief,” said Faucheux. The interest in comedy has Dykes and Rodney Tate, 39, who moved to New Orleans after Katrina to build sewer lines, trying to open a ull-time comedy club. “It would be therapeutic for New Orleans,” Tate said.”People need to laugh.” Free Speech in Harvard Square, Massachusetts, USA? by Paul Rice A book vendor who was arrested this year in a potential violation of his First Amendment rights has had his case turned down by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, even though the organization’s New York chapter has been active in similar cases. The vendor, Gary Kibler, had been selling books on a table in Harvard Square for about three hours when police arrested him for selling books without a permit, using a table that took up more than 25 percent of the sidewalk. According to measurements taken by Spare Change News at the time, the bookstand was only taking up approximately 9 percent of the 28-and-a-half-foot sidewalk. “The state, when it regulates what [vendors] do, are allowed to ask for permits,” said John Reinstein, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. “[Kibler] asked us to represent him, and we elected not to.” “The people running tables in the Square that I’ve asked don’t know anything about permits,” O’Brien said. He had noticed over a dozen tables set up throughout Harvard Square, with no police interference. There are also Harvard Square businesses in violation of this law – Toscanini’s at 1310 Massachusetts Avenue, only a block away from where Kibler’s stand was located, takes up approximately 40 percent (or six and a half feet) of the 17-foot sidewalk, according to measurements taken by SCN. According to the Cambridge Licensing Commission, the entity that licenses outdoor seating for restaurants, Toscanini’s meets their size standards. The Cambridge Police Department could not be reached for comment in time to make this paper’s deadline. Reinstrin advised him to ask for a week’s continuance, and the judge granted the request. Kibler was scheduled to appear in court on June 26 to provide evidence that his First Amendment rights were violated, but the Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU turned him down on June 20. Asked whether this will slow him down, Kibler didn’t mince words. “I’m taking it all the way,” he said. “My fundamental rights have been violated.” When Spare Change News approached Kibler for an interview on June 21, the reporter noticed Kibler having a conversation with a Cambridge police officer. Kibler was explaining his situation to the officer, while the officer nodded. When Kibler finished, the officer told him he believed he was doing the right thing and wished him luck, then the officer continued down Massachusetts Avenue, walking his afternoon beat. More homeless in Wyoming CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Despite Wyoming’s booming economy and low unemployment rate, the number of people seeking help from homeless shelters and similar services is growing. The Casper Star-Tribune surveyed emergency shelters, low-income housing providers and clinics for the homeless across the state. The newspaper reports shelters statewide are serving more women, children and families than they were two years ago. City officials and shelter managers across the state say many communities lack money for homeless services. Wyoming now relies almost entirely on federal dollars to care for the homeless. Meanwhile, state government hasn’t implemented the recommendations of its own homelessness survey completed in May 2005 that called for increased state funding. The state survey called for $150,000 to fund a permanent, statewide organization to track homelessness and produce an annual survey. It also called for better cooperation among state agencies, nonprofit groups, Indian tribes and shelters. Page 4 Lara Azar, spokeswoman for Gov. Dave Freudenthal, said the recommendations haven’t yet produced action because “I think the governor feels that they have not yet had the time to fully mature.” Richard McCullough, outreach worker for the homeless in Cheyenne, said he made 337 contacts with the homeless in all of 2005 but has already made more than 400 contacts this year. “People always ask me, ‘Do we have a homeless population?’ “McCullough said.”It’s time to get past that. Yes, we have a homeless population.” According to last year’s survey, completed by the Wyoming Interagency Council on Homelessness, half the homeless people in the state are women and children and more than one-third of the homeless are members of homeless families. More than 50 percent reported that Wyoming is their permanent place of residence. Other survey findings include that a quarter of the state’s homeless are veterans. And while American Indians make up just 3 percent of the Streetvibes state’s population, they are 19 percent of the homeless. The survey cites substance abuse, physical illness and mental disabilities as the major causes of homelessness. About 80 percent of homeless women reported they had experienced domestic violence, and many said it was a prime reason for their being homeless. A lack of housing in many areas is also a significant factor, according to professionals around the state. “This is not the stereotypical profile of homelessness,” said Lynne Weidel, co-chairwoman of the Wyoming Interagency Council on Homelessness. “These are fellow Wyomingites. They are women and children. They’re our people.” Buy Streetvibes �Homeless Woman Dropped Off on City’s Skid Row, City Attorney Says LOS ANGELES - In an unprecedented under investigation on suspicion of discharging crackdown on a practice experts say is shamefully homeless patients onto the streets instead of into common around the country, a major hospital chain the custody of a relative or shelter. was accused by prosecutors last month of ridding The legal actions filed against Kaiser last itself of a homeless patient by dumping her on month include criminal charges of false crime-plagued Skid Row. imprisonment and dependent-adult endangerment, A surveillance camera at and civil claims involving the a rescue mission recorded the treatment of patients and laws demented 63-year-old woman on discharging them. wandering around the streets in a “They have violated every hospital gown and slippers last ethical obligation under which March. they operate,” Delgadillo said, In announcing the criminal “and they have also broken the and civil charges, City Attorney law.” Rocky Delgadillo said a Kaiser Diana Bonta, vice Permanente hospital put the president of public affairs for Patient wandering the streets woman in a taxi and sent her to Kaiser Southern California, said the neighborhood even though she had serious, untreated health problems. “Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, part of Kaiser Permanente, the largest HMO in the nation, will be held accountable for violating state law, its commitment to its patients, its obligations under the Hippocratic oath, and perhaps most importantly, principles of common decency,” Delgadillo said. No U.S. hospital has ever been prosecuted on criminal charges of patient dumping, said President Bush’s homelessness chief, Philip F. Mangano. Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said patient dumping is a widespread practice. “We need to hold hospitals accountable, but also work with them to resolve these issues,” he said. Kaiser’s Bellflower hospital, which discharged the woman, is among 10 Los Angeles-area hospitals the legal action unfairly demonizes Kaiser, which she said has taken steps to see that no more of its patients are left on Skid Row. “It’s a big disappointment,” she said. “They’re taking one isolated case and saying, ‘This is what hospitals do.’ In reality, hospitals are trying our best to take care of all people, including and especially the most vulnerable.” Bonta acknowledged that hospital officials had called a taxi to take the woman to Skid Row, but added that they had called ahead to a shelter there to let workers know she was coming. Kaiser could be fined in the civil case and be hit with penalties including restrictions on its practices if convicted of the criminal charges. Police have long suspected that medical centers and outside law enforcement agencies were using Skid Row as a dumping ground for the homeless. Skid Row already has one of the nation’s largest concentrations of homeless people, in part because of its cluster of shelters and services to help them. The woman found wandering on the street, Carol Ann Reyes, was taken in at the Union Rescue Mission. Its director, Andy Bales, said Reyes is being cared for. Advocates to test homeless feeding ban in Orlando ORLANDO, Fla. Advocates for the homeless say they’ll test the Orlando ordinance banning the feeding of the homeless. Ben Markeson is a member of Stop the Ordinance Partnership, a homeless-advocacy group. He says the group will go to Lake Eola Park on Friday to pass out food. The City Council passed an ordinance in July forbidding the feeding of the homeless in city parks, and set up a designated feeding area on city-owned property. The homeless who camp near the feeding site were recently evicted by Orlando police. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit challenging the anti-feeding ordinance. Streetvibes Page 5 �Boys in the Alley My brother and I are looking out of the window. The one that overlooks the alley. Where we played during the day. But tonight we have spotted rats from the second floor. They were a problem. One ran right below the window. Plop! My brother just missed one. We had small pumpkins we were dropping on the rats. Dropping these on the rats. She looks at my father. He looked back. Mom says I don’t know why you rented this apartment. His reply is your mother is just up the street. She looks at him with disgust. We try to go back to what we were doing. Mom will have none of that. It’s time for bed boys. It is hard for me to get to sleep. The day before we had been in the alley with Mr. Cox. Grannies third husband. He is a preacher. Although I never heard him preach. He had a fellow with him and out of this shed he brought it. The most wonderful thing I ever saw. A wagon! A wagon with wooden spokes, metal around the wheels. A wooden tongue and a flat bed. I was envious. The man was moving things around on it. I wanted that wagon. It looked old. One of a kind. I dare not ask We were not allowed to do things like that. All I could do is stand there watch and wish. So tonight knowing that I could not have that wagon. I was thinking of a way I could get one. As I drifted off to sleep that was what was on my mind. The next morning as I was waking up half dreaming. Half awake. A dream as if it was real. In the dream I had built a wagon. Using paint lids for wheels. The more awake I became. The clearer it became that it just would not work. Something happened that morning. In my mind I started assembling a wagon in my mind. If I had the parts I was sure it would work. That started something. Let’s call it my gift. To see how things should go together. By now Gene was awake. We were already talking about today. We were going to grannies apartment. Mom was up. She had my two sisters in the kitchen downstairs. Breakfast smelled good. Eggs, bacon and biscuits. I reached for Gail in the highchair. She banged on the table in front of her. Mary was squirming in her chair. My sisters were so different than us boys. They were always with mom. Gail was about two or three. Mary was four. Gail’s hair is blond and fine. Mary’s hair is auburn thick and curly. It went in every direction. Gene enters the room. Always the general. Come on eat so we can go. Mom says where are you going? To grannies Gene replies. I nod and run out of the door. The ally is old. I can tell because it is made of cobble stone. The curb is that stone kind sparkles in the sunshine. The buildings that are not apartments are not painted. They look dark brown to black. Then there is the houses on right on the left are fences and gates that lead to houses. At the end of the alley there are stairs leading up to McMillan Hill. We were not allowed up there. We are at grannies. Lots of stairs. A steep climb for small boys. My brother knocks on the door. My uncle Bruce answers. He is a few years older than Gene. They go off together. I see my uncle Red. He is called that because of his hair. It’s red. I go and stand in front of him. Red what is that I ask? It’s a guitar he replied. A guitar I repeated. He strums the shiny strings. The notes I can hear each one of them. The sound is so soothing. Can I try I ask. Red says yea go ahead. I drag my fingers across slowly trying to hear each note again. Red asks would you like to hear a song. I shake my head up and down. Jesting yes. Sixteen Candles is the song. I am very impressed. I always looked up to my uncle. Forty five years later after his death I would own an old guitar belonging to him. It is one of my most cherished possessions. We stay for a while then leave. Back in the alley we go to the lot next to our apartment. There are mounds of dirt. It was dumped there, or left by people who torn down a building. At least that was my brother’s theory. The kid next door wants to come out to play. We see him at his door. He doesn’t come out every day like us. He is a little different. For one thing he has two thumbs on each hand. His speech is off a bit. My uncle Bruce calls him monkey boy. Luckily not to where he would hear. Grannies would get him good if she knew. I don’t make fun of him because I stutter some. I get very uncomfortable when people laugh. Anyway today he gets to come out. The mounds of dirt make a perfect place to play army. This will go on all day. That evening my uncles show up. They are going to do something about the vermin. I’m sure mom has got something to do with this decision. Gene had gotten wind of tonights events earlier than me. He had fashioned spears using mop sticks with nails sticking out of the end. Vicious weapons for vicious times. The rats had to be stopped. I have a vision of us to this day. A five and seven year old in louse fitting shorts, printed buttoned up shirts wide open. Those shoes that refuse to wear out. You know the ones taps everywhere little boots. Yes we were killers. Rat killers. Not that we ever killed a rat. Or for that mater ever seen one up close. Backed by uncles we were at least willing to try. My uncles went about there business. Mixing noxious potions of poisons and broken glass. Mixing it all in milk cartons. Then pouring it all down the rat holes. Then they set rat traps. Big traps. Using bacon as bate. Then burning the traps getting rid of any man sent. Later that same night the uncles began throwing rocks in the air. Throwing them as far in the air as they could straight up. A strange thing began to happen. The bats began diving for the rocks. About then mom called and we had to go in. The rat killers had to go to bed. Soon after all that settled down. One day everyone went into a panic. My mother had a terrified look on her face. What I wondered. What was going on? My dad was angry he was angry a lot. He seemed different this time. He also looked scared. Soon the house was full of people. My mother by now was holding her head and crying. My brother stepped next to me and said Mary is missing. I went flush. Mary can’t be missing. The girls never leave the house. They play inside with mom. The search was on. The whole family was there. Not one person wasn’t doing their part. The search went on for hours. Everyone was getting tired and frightened. My brother and I went downstairs to the kitchen. There were two rooms down there. The kitchen of course and mom and dads bedroom. We pretty much never went into their bedroom. But today we walk right in. The day before mom was trying dresses on Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Page 6 Streetvibes the girls and those skirts with the big ruffles. They were mint green, pink and starched stiff. I noticed something move. Gene looked at me. He saw it to. We walked over to the bed and begun removing the starchy stuff. We both gasp. Mary looked up oblivious to the uproar going on around her. They had checked the room but not under the dresses. She had tried on the dresses and fell asleep. All were relieved. That summer was completely comfortable. In two years or less my father will brutalize my mother. They will divorce. Somehow my father will get custody. My father’s mother will come to live with us. The comfort I knew that summer with my family close. My brother is my best friend. Will never be the same again. But for now this summer we were just boys in the alley. Vendor Spotlight David Watkins by Andy Freeze David Watkins is a very friendly gentleman. One would know this if you ran into him selling Streetvibes or if you saw him in our lobby. David always has a smile on his face and wants to know what is going on in your life. David has been selling Streetvibes for approximately 3 years. Streetvibes has helped him financially. He also details cars and uses Streetvibes as a second job to increase his income. A few of the things David enjoys most about selling Streetvibes is that he gets the opportunity to talk to people about the issues of homelessness and the events occurring in Over-the-Rhine. He also meets new people each day. David’s goal each month is to be the top vendor. He hopes that by selling papers he will push others to understand what is really going on in Cincinnati. You can usually find David selling his papers on court street by the DMV. David says, “Streetvibes is a great paper and everyone should actually read it, know about homelessness, the Coalition, and Over-the-Rhine.” �Homeless vets to get chance to rebuild Frederick, MA- Way Station, a Frederick-based mental health nonprofit organization, has partnered with government agencies to start a transitional living program for homeless veterans. In a ceremony the shelter officially opened and dedicated a 10­ bedroom duplex house in Hagerstown for veterans in the Welcome Home Program. “Our slogan is we don’t leave anyone behind,” said Bob Simpson, veteran’s program manager at Way Station. A retired Marine, Mr. Simpson has worked with homeless veterans for many years. Those who are accepted into the program must be motivated to improve their lives, he said. “Our job is to clean them up, help them with their mental health issues,” he said. “I hope we can maybe make a small dent.” Ten veterans will initially live in the house; move-in is still pending final approval from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Simpson said. Sixteen veterans will be able to live in the house once additional funding is acquired, according to a Way Station press release. The residents must be clean and sober for at least 90 days before they move in, Mr. Simpson said. Stays will range from about seven months to two years and residents will ideally have saved between $1,500 and $2,000 when they move out. Case managers will assist veterans with employment preparation, counseling and obtaining benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs if needed. Several agencies collaborated with Way Station so they could acquire and renovate the house, including the VA, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and Washington County Gaming Commission. Dogs and cats comfort the homeless and others who ‘don’t have a lot’ Seatle, WA - -Just before Halloween, Urlina Nozlic sat in the basement of the Union Gospel Mission holding Pumpkin, an orange cat, on her lap. Kiki and Brano sat quietly next to her in cat carriers in downtown Seattle. “We have a special rapport,” she said of the furry brood. She has to. They all live in her car. “It’s a good thing I have a 1992 Buick LeSabre,” she said. It is Saturday afternoon, and Nozlic is waiting to see one of three veterinarians and an assistant who donate their time every other week to the furry friends of the homeless and the very poor. In the basement of the Union Gospel Mission men’s shelter in Pioneer Square in late October, a few people tell hard-luck stories — and the comfort provided by the cats and dogs they clutch. Near Nozlic and her cats sits a blind man holding the leash of a 13­ year-old brown terrier. Witton Rabon says Buster is the last of his litter. “He’s a survivor,” he says. And so it seems is Rabon. The dog, like the other animals, is quiet, resting his aging head on the floor at Rabon’s feet. There are those who volunteer at food banks to nourish people in need. And there are those, such as Dr. Stanley Coe, a retired veterinarian, who nourish the souls of people by volunteering to keep their best friends — and sometimes only companions — healthy. Dr. Larry King of Lien Animal Clinic in Seattle explains to C’zar Carter of Seattle what should be done for some swelling on his dog, Skipper, at the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic at the Union Gospel Mission men’s shelter in downtown Seattle. “It seemed like there was a need to provide the service,” said Coe, who has run the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic for 20 years. The pets “probably give some people a reason to live.” Nozlic said she would try to raise the money to care for her cats even if the clinic were not available. “They’re my friends,” said Nozlic, who said she’s been homeless since losing a job as a stagehand in March. Upstairs in the mission, Eli, a 55-year-old woman who lives in a small, subsidized studio at the Yesler Terrace housing project, stood in line for free pet food and medication for her cat, Choo Chool. Eli, who did not reveal her last name to protect her privacy, is one of about 40 people who typically come to the clinic each Saturday. Choo Chool means “tassel” in her native Bulgarian, Eli said. “When I first got him, he’d jump on the drapes and hang there.” She said she would have committed suicide if not for the clinic. “I suffer from chronic depression and fibromyalgia, which means I have constant muscle pains,” she said. “My daughter won’t have anything to do with me, so I’m alone.” Referring to her black and white pet, who she says is a “tuxedo cat,” she said: “It’s because of her that I have to get up and leave the house and take care of her. She seems to know when I’m sad.” Last year, the cat developed an infection in her eye and could no longer see. She said Coe, who used to be a co-owner of the Elliott Bay Animal Hospital, operated on Choo Chool for free at the hospital. These days the cat’s eye has reopened and can see just fine. The non-profit clinic, supported by donations and volunteers, was started by veterinarian C.W. “Bud” Doney in 1983 in the basement of what was then a Christian coffee shop and drop-in center. It was across the street from the mission at Second Avenue South and South Main Street, and Doney ran the center until he died of cancer in 1986. “I read in the paper that his wife didn’t think the clinic could keep going, so I called her up and said, Streetvibes ‘Let’s do lunch because we can probably figure something out,’ “ said Coe, who has kept the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic going ever since. Among the 15 volunteers, mostly veterinarians, who keep the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic going is Don Rolf, who used to train dolphins and whales at Sea World. He has volunteered at the clinic for 20 years. Twice a month, he drives to the shelter in Seattle from Centralia. Why does he do it? “The bond between the people and the pets seems to be a comfort” to the owners, Rolf said. “I think maybe because they don’t have a lot.” Page 7 �Letters Send your letters, edi­ torials or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com Letter from Texas prison inmate Berta’s Art Corner Corporate entrance, Cincinnati, 525 Vine Street, 2nd floor. Quotes... “It is not necessary to advertise food to hungry people, fuel to cold people, or houses to the homeless.” John Kenneth Galbraith To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. Johannes A. Gaertner We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear Albert Barnes Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time. Albert Camus Page 8 Streetvibes On the Sunny Side of the Street by Chris Miller Seattle - “Go ahead, I won’t tell anybody,” Jonas says to the young man with a low baseball brim walking by onto the pedestrian walkway to the ferry terminal. The man pulls his hat lower but can’t suppress a smile with the half-shake of his head. “For some people, maybe they just can’t smile, maybe they’ve got loved ones in harm’s way, some it takes four years to notice, recognize what it is that I’m doing out here,” Jonas says. Most downtowners, though, are expectant to trade jokes, jibes, and smiles passing Jonas standing at the southwest corner of First Avenue and Marion Street. Some hurriedly head onward to the ferries. “Hope you win the race!” he bellows to the ferry-catching runners. “Injected humor,” he dubs it, and calls out to one woman passing by, “When will you marry me?” She pauses, turns, and smiles. While greeting pedestrians on the street corner, his “smile” sign is a painted, gold-lettered rainbow proffered as equal parts subtitle, stage prop, and street-level PowerPoint visual aid. Five years now the staunch Chippewa from “the Great Lakes States” who declines to give his last name has been a sight more regular than rain — totaling a personal smile-streak of 43 bright days to the city’s mere 33 drizzle-dim days of 1953. He most recently completed a 20­ day stretch this summer. The smiles actually brighten the brainchemistry of gray Seattle, as long as they are genuine, or so-called Duchenne smiles, which crinkle the skin around the eyes. Anything less than an eye-crinkler is a polite counterfeit. “There are so many people walking around downtown like they’re the last person on earth!” Jonas decries. “People in Seattle just need to put that smile on and wear it around.” A spate of copycat smile-signers have spread the request around downtown in homage to the success of his idea. “He works eight-hour days just like all of us and he doesn’t have a [cardboard] cutpiece, he’s out there entertaining people,” says a young woman who works nearby. Her coworker estimates his smile success rate at 90 percent — he puts it at 99.5 percent. How? An improvisation of compliments and jokes makes up his “tireless, never-ending” patter, and operations are donations-only. “It’s the toughest, most rewarding job I’ve ever had. It’s not about me, it’s a way to do something for everyone else out there.” Jonas calls his work his “anti-depressant.” An epileptic with Parkinson’s, he moved to Seattle in 1991 with a wife and kids for a job, then became addicted to heroin. Now he’s hooked on smiling. “I’ve lost all: kids in foster care, wife remarried. I got no means, nothing, but I got tired of flying a sign saying ‘I’m broke, I’m hungry.’ No chin-dragging on the ground for me.” This attitude helps Jonas let his message of peace — what he calls the “most natural thing in the world” — reach thousands of passersby daily. “There’s so much negativity in the world already right now — I pray every day. I don’t go to church, I pray all day long, and Creator is with me always.” A last word from the Sultan of Smile: “Go on, take a smile home with you, maybe you’ll find it when you wake up, or pass it on, but somebody’s going to need that smile later.” �Many Attend buddy gray Memorial On November 15th several hundred people attended a memorial in Over-the-Rhine to commemorate the life of activist, buddy gray. Killed ten years ago by a formerly homeless man whom buddy had helped over the years, the spirit of his commitment to low-income housing and taking care of the homeless is still alive and active today. The large group of friends and mourners first gathered at buddy’s place, on 14th and Vine Street The buddy’s place building represented a major struggle. The building had been half destroyed by a fire and needed extensive renovation. The city wanted to see it torn down. After several years of restoration by contractors and volunteers, the twenty unit building for exhomeless people opened. The first floor storefront of the building is now occupied by Miami University’s design and architecture programs. buddy did not see the building to its completion. Bonnie Neumeier The march began from Miami University’s space in buddy’s place. There was a hard rain for the marchers to Washington Park and a change of plans were made. The large group squeezed into Nast Trinity Church’s sanctuary on Race Street. There were photos and other memorabilia on display at Nast Trinity and chili-spaghetti with cakes for dessert. Speakers included Marion Spenser, Jack Gray, buddy’s brother and friend Bonnie Neumeier. Michael Stoops and Donald Whitehead of the Nationl Coalition for the Homeless spoke at the memorial. There was wonderful music from members and friends of the Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement. buddy founded the Drop Inn Center, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, local and national offices of the Coalition for the Homeless and others. Countless individuals benefited from the non-profits that buddy and many others helped to establish. buddy’s fight for social justice and peace in the world continues to this day. Jack Gray, buddy’s brother Marion Spenser Michael Stoops, of the National Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Page 9 �Voters Wanted Change by Gary D. Bass Executive Director, OMB Watch Clearly voters said it was time for a change. But will change occur? And what type of change will it be? Election exit polls indicate the top issues on the mind of voters as they voted for the House were the economy, corruption and scandal in government, and the war in Iraq - and in that order. Eighty-two percent of voters responding to exit polls said they voted the way they did because they thought the economy was an important issue ­ and those votes didn’t go Republican. While Bush may have thought the past tax cuts for the rich would resonate with voters, they didn’t. This may be because of stagnant wages and the growing gap between the rich and the rest of us or because voters may recognize that we cannot continue to mortgage our future with a national debt that now stands at $32,000 for every American family and growing. Three of four voters also said corruption and scandal in government was either an extremely or very important factor in how they voted. No doubt the revelations about the Mark Foley scandal just before the election had a huge impact. But Foley represented a broader set of problems and frustration with how our government operates. The abuse of power exhibited in the Jack Abramoff-Duke Cunningham-Robert Ney-David Safavian ever expanding circle of cozy deals is but one example. The mosaic of corruption and scandal also comes from a government that has put special interest and party interest above public interest in so many of its actions. This includes powerful corporations shaping federal policies (energy policy and oil industry, health care and the pharmaceutical industry), and appointing representatives of industry to regulate the industries they represent. It also comes from a Congress that treats appropriations and tax earmarks as normal business, a president that abuses power by infringing on civil liberties and increasing government secrecy, and a Congress that has too little transparency. These are all part of the corruption and scandal picture the public wants addressed. It appears the House Democrats have a good jump on addressing these voter concerns with a blueprint for legislation to be tackled in the first 100 hours of the new Congress. It includes: Addressing corruption and fiscal responsibility by “breaking the link between lobbyists and legislation” and committing to “pay­ as-you-go, no new deficit spending” rules; Implementing the recommendations of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission; Raising the minimum wage; Making health care more affordable for all Americans, negotiating for lower drug prices under Medicare, and promoting stem cell research; Broadening college opportunity, and cutting interest rates for student loans in half. Moving towards energy independence, and “rolling back the multi-billion dollar subsidies for Big Oil”; Guaranteeing a “dignified retirement,” and opposing attempts to privatize Social Security. This is certainly an ambitious agenda. And incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D­ NV) has talked about the importance of transparency and open government. We concur. But while disclosure is vital, strong rules, oversight, and enforcement are essential. And, of course, the specifics of the Democrats plan will be what really matters. We hope the 100 hour agenda is put in the context of a broader goal: putting us on the path to fiscal sanity - certainly not an easy task given recent policies. While pay-as-you-go rules are a critical element, it’s not the entire solution. National priorities must be realigned so that government spends the public’s money on the common good. This must be done in a responsible manner so as not to continue mortgaging our future. Our elected Cincinnati, OH - According to Georgine Getty, Chair of the 1.5% Coalition, the watchdog collaborative over city human service funding, the City of Cincinnati human services funding has been cut in half. Milton R. Dohoney, Jr. City of Cincinnati City Manager presented the Human Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) an amount that is to appear in the budget $1.2 million dollars, somewhere between .2% and .3% of the general fund. A setback to the government commitment to human services as a priority in ifs funding plans, the total impact to HIV clients who rely upon the whole array of agencies funded is unclear. . HSAC was challenged to divide this money evenly and, in doing so, not have any substantial income to any agency or prioritize the funding. Consequently, the committee decided to fund the Tier 1 agencies, but only at 80% of their original funding. According to the 1.5% Committee the other agencies ranked in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 agencies were eliminated from the budget completely. According to Getty, “these agencies are needed, necessary and important. As we know, we are all connected in a web, and the cut of make and they did the best they could. The Coalition is developing three points in its response to the cuts. 1. Mayor Mallory is scheduling a series of public hearings about the budget. Supporters, agencies and clients are encouraged to attend these meetings to demonstrate support 2. An information sheet is now being developed highlighting the impact of these cuts on the community 3. The 1.5 Coalition has always said we had two goals: to restore the funding to 1.5% and to preserve the HSAC process. It has succeeded in one of these goals. The HSAC Committee has been forced to make hard decisions, but at least it was they who made them and not a lead agency or politician. leaders must recognize that this requires fair and progressive ways of raising the necessary revenue to meet our national priorities. This is not to shun the need for spending cuts, but to put it in perspective. Cutting spending to the bone leads to inadequate and inept governmental response such as with Hurricane Katrina. We must have a government that responds to public needs, both before and after crises. Democrats will face difficult choices and a lot is yet to be decided about their path. For example, they must fix the Alternative Minimum Tax, a tax aimed at the rich but because it was never indexed to inflation is now hitting the uppermiddle class. This fix will be costly and may prove difficult to do within the confines of pay-as-you-go rules. Another issue will likely be the minimum wage. If firebrand conservatives take over the House Republican leadership - an issue all should keep an eye on - they could push hard to include special interest favors, such as further tax breaks for the wealthy, which could undercut any progress being sought by minimum wage legislation. Strengthening homeland security is another daunting task before the new Congress. For example, we need a comprehensive regulatory approach to address chemical plant, nuclear plant, and port security. As we move forward on strengthening homeland security, basic civil liberties must be protected - and Congress should revisit policy changes that have infringed on such civil liberties. Now the governing must begin. The president and the new Democratic leadership have been in dialogue - a constructive sign. However, it may not be sufficient to overcome the partisan infighting that has dominated our nation’s politics. OMB Watch will continue working with Democrats and Republicans alike in our pursuit of a more open and accountable government that promotes fairness and equity. We hope the new leadership in Congress will provide fresh views and leadership in moving towards this vision. City Of Cincinnati Human Services receive Bush Looking Haggard agency hurts us all.” Adds Getty, “I know Severe Financial Hit any that HSAC was given an impossible choice to by Dr. Wesley Browning Page 10 For more information contact Georgine Getty, Executive Director. Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. 513-421-7803, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Streetvibes Many weeks ago we enjoyed Ted Haggard’s pronouncement that President George Bush is not Satan. Years before, the evangelical leader Reverend Ted Arthur “I Did Not Have Sex With That Male Whore And Never Used That Meth” Haggard made a key endorsement. George Bush needed to win the presidency in 2000. “He is a good, honorable man and I, for one, totally believe his denials of wrongdoing.” Haggard was only being Christ like in his love for his male flesh merchant. His frequent payments of $200 to his for-hire boy toy were not for sex. They made Haggard an instrument of God’s Love to a poor struggling sinner. Likewise, when he bought unwanted meth from his drug-dealing hooker it was just a kind way to give without demeaning the recipient. Who needs happy endings, when they’re on the Way to the Lord’s Eternal Happy Ending? �Bed race highlights homeless concerns Superman, Batman, the X-Men and even Scooby Doo raced to the rescue last month to help fight homelessness. For the third annual Great City Rescue Bed Race, more than a hundred people dressed as superheroes and raced beds on wheels around a track. It was to raise money for City Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter. More than 25 teams of five raised more than $25,000 through corporate sponsorships and grass-roots fundraising. Each team had to construct and decorate its own bed on wheels and push them around the track at Landon Middle School to compete for the best times. There was also an obstacle course and costume competition. A wide variety of superheroes were represented for this race’s theme. There were Care Bears in a bed adorned with cottony clouds. Scooby Doo and his gang raced in a bed made to look like the Mystery Machine. Traditional superheroes like the Justice League raced against Pixar-inspired superfamily, the Incredibles. Even real-life heroes were represented with an Army tank bed, which ended up winning for fastest bed. The residents of the McDuff Avenue area dressed as the Super Jaguars and posted a track record time of 1:13. Considering the real NFL team’s 5-4 record, team member Eugene Garcia said, they might be just as fast. “I don’t know, the real Jaguars haven’t tested us yet,” he said. The top overall winner was a team of University of North Florida nursing students dressed up as Ghostbusters. Nursing student James Tesh said they spent more than 50 hours working on their version of the Ecto-1 ambulance, complete with a stereo playing the theme song, but the work was all worth it to be able to help the cause. Dallas nonprofit buys building for homeless DALLAS, TX - The Central Dallas Community Development Corp. last month completed the purchase of a downtown Dallas building that will be converted into apartments for the homeless and low-income residents. Construction on the project will begin next year. The 15-story, 167,000-square-foot building at 511 N. Akard St. will be redeveloped into 209 apartments, ground-floor retail and two floors of office space. The project will have 200 apartments that will be used for affordable, work force housing. Of those, 50 will be set aside for homeless individuals. Nine of the units will rent at market rates. Central Dallas CDC has secured nearly $14 million in funding for the project, including $1.75 million from the city of Dallas and $12 million in low-income, housing tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The estimated total cost for the project is $23 million. “Dallas currently has less than one unit of permanent housing for every 25 homeless people that need a home,” said Larry James, president and Something strange in your neighborhood? Who you gonna call? The Ghostbusters team of University of North Florida School of Nursing were overall winners in the Bed Race. The annual event was a fundraiser for City Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter. More than 3,000 people are homeless in Jacksonville, and Robin Wilson, publicist for the City Rescue Mission, said the shouts of “Get a job!” from passersby aren’t going to solve the problem. Wilson said many of Jacksonville’s homeless work full time, but a lack of affordable housing is forcing many to the streets. Housing costs in Jacksonville have increased more than 15 percent a year since 2004. Valerie Wrenn, director of development for City Rescue Mission, said the hard work that went into the race will help raise awareness about the problem and possibly inspire others to contribute their time or money to the cause. “We get money all of the time, but something like this really shows that people care,” she said. CEO of Central Dallas Ministries. “We firmly believe that providing our homeless neighbors with a place of their own will allow them to address the most significant problems that forced them onto the streets of our city.” Central Dallas CDC is a nonprofit organization started by Central Dallas Ministries to increase the affordable housing in the inner city of Dallas. Central Dallas CDC is co-developer of the project along with Dallas-based McCaslin Development. “King of the Hobos” passes away An Ohio man who was known as the “King of the Hobos” has died. Maurice Graham began riding the rails at age 14 in 1931. He died last month at a rehabilitation center in Napoleon. He was 89. Services were held in Toledo. What is the Hobo Convention? The National Hobo Convention is the largest gathering of hobos, rail-riders, and tramps, who gather to celebrate the American traveling worker. When and where is the Hobo Convention? The National Hobo Convention is held the second weekend every August in Britt, Iowa How can we get to the Hobo Convention? Britt, Iowa is located 31 miles west of Mason City, Iowa. Route 18 travels through Britt. Greyhound Bus Services mason City. Clear Lake Municipal Airport offers flight service. Can we still ride a freight train to the Convention? Freight train riding is illegal! Train service to Britt, Iowa is sporadic at best. There are 2-3 trains daily in either direction. While we don’t condone freight train riding, we recognize that there will be individuals who will choose to travel that way. Please be careful. What is there to do at the Hobo Convention? Aside from the scheduled events, there are many opportunities to visit with local townspeople and hobos and share stories and music and poetry. Are there any real Hobos at the Convention? There are many former and current hobos who join us at the Convention Are there any hotel or camping facilities at the Convention? There are hotels in Mason City and Clear Lake, Iowa. There are also primitive (no services) camping available in Britt. Where do the Hobos stay? Most of the hobos stay at the hobo jungle, located on the Northeast side of town, by the railroad tracks. Who runs the Hobo Convention? The City of Britt runs the Hobo Days Celebration, The Council of Hobos handles the business of the convention. The Hobo Foundation operates the Hobo Museum and maintains the Hobo Cemetery. Can we drink at the Convention? The Convention events are located on public property. Local laws do not allow for drinking alcoholic beverages on public property. There are a number of taverns located in Britt. Can anyone become Hobo King or Hobo Queen? To be elected King you must be a true railrider. You must pass a committee of hobos who will test your worthiness to run. How can we trace a loved one who was on the rails or possibly still on the rails? You may contact the Hobo Museum for more information. Call 641-843-9104. During Hobo week, you may ask at the Hobo Jungle. How can we get someone buried at the Hobo Cemetery? Contact the Hobo Foundation for information at 641-843-9104. How can I donate to the Hobos? You may donate to the hobos at the hobo jungle during Hobo Week, or you can donate financially or with memorabilia at the Hobo Museum 641-843-9104 “Don “Don’’t Leave Home t” Without IIt” Streetvibes Page 11 �Albany hosted homeless summit Albany, NY - Faced with what seems like a rising number of homeless, the city of Albany organized a local summit meeting to try to find answers. About 70 people were invited, and so far more than 40 have said they’ll come, according to Marilyn Smith, the Albany public information officer. Capt. Ben Atchley of the Albany Police is took the lead in setting up the meeting. This past summer the city closed a squatters’ settlement, “Camp Boondoggle,” in a remote part of Simpson Park, displacing a number of people who had lived there in improvised shelters. Later, the Albany Helping Hands homeless shelter off the Pacific Boulevard overpass reported it was having trouble accommodating all the people seeking shelter there, and city officials increased the authorized capacity of the place. Both events helped focus new attention on homelessness in Albany, Smith said in the invitation to attend. Invitations went to groups or people who provide some kind of service to homeless people. “It is time for all of us who provide help or services to the homeless to look for more effective solutions,” the invitation said. It also said the conference will be a chance to “learn about the services we provide, address areas of concern, and begin to form an integrated approach to getting these individuals the housing, jobs, supervision, and other help that will end their homelessness.” Terry Holderness, captain of the special operations division of the Fontana, Calif., Police Department and an expert in ending homelessness, also is expected to attend. kicking a homeless woman in Berkeley last year. Jarell Maurice Johnson, 19, of San Leandro and Derrell Lamont Morgan, 19, of Berkeley were each found guilty in September of seconddegree murder for attacking Maria King, 49, at about 1 a.m. Feb. 8, 2005, behind a secondhand clothing store near University Avenue and California Street. King died at a hospital 12 days later. Doctors said the beating was so bad that her brain shifted 5 centimeters. King was a university graduate and a legal writer from Illinois who injured her back while trying to move a desk after moving to the Bay Area. She quit work, became permanently unemployed and her on the streets. At a hearing in Oakland, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Horner sentenced both men to 15 years to life in prison. Neither will be eligible for parole until after they serve at least 15 years behind bars. The two men attacked King “for the simple reason that they could,” Deputy District Attorney Ben Beltramo said after the jury delivered its verdicts in September. The prosecutor had argued for firstdegree murder convictions. An apartment manager who witnessed part of the attack saw what he described as “two people kicking an object as if they were kicking a soccer ball,” Beltramo said. their roles in the attack, authorities said. Johnson had a history of attacking homeless people “for no reason,” including a couple in Oakland in 2003, Beltramo said. Johnson smashed a bottle over the male victim’s head, and the couple testified about the incident during this murder trial, the prosecutor said. Morgan’s attorney, Walter Pyle, argued during the trial that his client wasn’t involved in the attack. “The jury has spoken in this case,” Pyle said today. “Nevertheless, I continue to believe that young Mr. Morgan was not the second assailant, and I will pursue on his behalf whatever remedies are available under the law.” Jackson, MS - Only just over a hundred poor and homeless people showed up at the Gateway Rescue Mission in Jackson, Thanksgiving Day. That is fewer than normal. Gateway Director Rex Baker, a former television reporter says churches will feed the needy on Thanksgiving when they don’t other days and that is one reason for the reduced number. Baker says to run the program for the needy means, in his words, “My life makes a difference. You can come here every day and find somebody who needs help. And, it feels good to help them and leave with a sense of fulfillment.” Gateway exists on donations and is located in the heart of the inner city in Jackson on South Gallatin Street. Gateway Rescue 2 sentenced in fatal beating of homeless woman Mission Feeds attempted suicide twice. She lived in Johnson was arrested at the Oakland, CA - Two men were a residential hotel in Oakland before scene. Morgan was arrested several sentenced last month to 15 years to Homeless a dispute with her landlord landed months later. Both bragged about life in prison for fatally beating and Where Your Streetvibes Dollar Goes Streetvibes Production 25 cents Vendor Profit 75 cents Page 12 Streetvibes Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. �Program helps homeless veterans reclaim their lives Lexington, KY - If you asked Ken Banta to share his life story, the 51­ year-old would probably tell you his fall from combat medic in the Army to homeless alcoholic is not unique. He might show you the large scar that stretches across the middle of his belly. Or the two thick scars, one hidden under his gold-and-silver watch band, below the palms of his large hands. All were attempts he made at cutting his ties to life. And it’s also likely Banta would tell you he’s thankful his life was spared because he knows not everyone is so lucky. “I’m not supposed to be here,” he says solemnly, gazing at the reminders on his wrists. “I was so down and out — down emotionally — that I either had to seek out help or die.” That period in his life, when Banta says he hit rock bottom, was more than two years ago. It’s been nearly a year and a half since he took his last drink. Today, Banta is one of four men living in a new wing for veterans in recovery at Central Christian Church’s St. James Place. The 38-unit residence, which opened in September, is a supportive housing program subsidized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and run by the Foundation for Affordable Housing Inc., which is affiliated with Central Christian Church. The rooms, which resemble those in a college dormitory, each have a single bed, a kitchenette with a full-size refrigerator, sink, and microwave and a private toilet with shower. “It’s not very big, but I’m grateful for what I got,” Banta said of his room, still littered with moving boxes. Banta arrived in September at the residence, tucked away on Deweese Street, after he graduated from the Homeless Veterans Transitional Treatment Program at the VA Medical Center’s Leestown campus. To date, there have been five veterans in the program, said James Kemper Millard, president and chief executive officer of the Foundation for Affordable Housing. But one veteran fell out of the program and returned to rehab. Part of the residents’ leasing agreement is that they remain drug- and alcohol-free. Most, but not all, have already gone through some type of treatment before their arrival, Millard said. The veterans are given job training and assistance. When they feel ready, they’re free to move out. Millard, who became president shortly after the wing was built in May, says homeless veterans are often “ignored by our community.” The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated in 2003 there were 313,087 homeless veterans in the United States. In 2004, the figure was reported at nearly 200,000. Kentucky had 963 homeless veterans in 2005, according to a department report. The Foundation for Affordable Housing estimates there are more than 400 homeless veterans in Fayette County. “It’s a critical situation that we have,” Millard said. “What are we doing as a community to help the warriors who came back and they’re not whole?” Banta’s rough patch in life came around 1987, when the Bryan Station High School graduate returned to Lexington from a yearlong company tour in Korea after 12 years in the Army. A nasty divorce left the father of three depressed and he began drinking. He didn’t see the point in returning to the Army, so he became a nurse, which is what he had done during his last six years in the service. But he began drinking heavily. “I would never come to work drinking, but I would go to work hung over, and that’s just as bad,” he said. He was eventually fired and his nursing license was revoked. Rather than getting his act together, Banta fled to Ohio, where he began working as a nurse again. But he eventually let that license lapse and was out of work again. “That put me on the road to homelessness,” he said. For Banta, homelessness led him to make the change. He got tired of living in his car (before he totaled it and lost his license for a DUI), living under bridges in the summer and bouncing from shelter to shelter in winters. Another drunk found him outside one day, bleeding from Downtown Partnership to use parking meters for city homeless donations The partnership plans to use old parking meters throughout downtown as donation coffers for Baltimore Homeless Service Inc. City officials hope the program will decrease panhandling downtown. As part of the program, dubbed Make A Change, the partnership will collect parking meters that are being replaced by new high-tech meters that accept credit cards. The old meters will be painted bright green and display the phrase, “Give your change to make a change for homeless people.” They will be relocated in pedestrian areas downtown, away from parking spots to avoid confusing them with actual parking meters, city officials said. Nine meters will be installed at first. The partnership also operates collection boxes for the homeless that can be found inside downtown businesses and hotels. Baltimore Homeless Service will receive all donations collected from the meters and collection boxes. The new meters are part of a 10-year plan to end homelessness in Baltimore City, according to city officials. plunging a steak knife into his stomach. It was time to get it together. “See, there gets to be a point where you gotta hit rock bottom before you’re ready to give in,” Banta said. “I had hit several bottoms — like losing my marriage, losing my job, losing my nursing license. But they weren’t enough for me. For me, it wasn’t until I became homeless — without a job, a car, a driver’s license, without any hope at all.” Banta sought help. There were the temporary programs — five to be exact — but none of them worked. Then he enrolled in the program at the VA Medical Center’s Leestown campus. He hasn’t had a sip of alcohol since May 20, 2005. He started working toward getting his nursing license back, which he thought would require him to jump through “hoops bigger than Rupp Arena.” He will appear before The Kentucky Board of Nursing in December to learn what stipulations will be placed on his license. He realizes he will have to tell his employer about his past. He’ll have to attend a nurse support group and submit a drug test to “anyone who wants it.” But he welcomes it. He wants to put his life back together. Although he could stay at St. James Place for two years, Banta hopes to leave in six to 18 months. “You wouldn’t have wanted to know me a year and a half ago,” Banta says. “It’s taken me several years to put all of this together. But I’ll be able to hold my head up and say ‘I did the right thing.’” Boise Restaurant “Cazba” Serves Meals To Homeless Boise, ID - On Thanksgiving Day, one Boise restaurant opened its doors to the homeless for a turkey meal and some holiday cheer. The Cazba was rockin’ as staff and volunteers served more than a thousand turkeys to those in need. For a decade the owners have helped the homeless to an elegant meal. One of Cazba’s owners says why he started this tradition. ”My parents overseas, we are from Iran, they used to feed once a year about 5,000 people and that’s a big production,” says Max Mohammadi. “I do 500 and I think that’s pretty big.” Mohammadi says the event wouldn’t be possible without volunteers, and he hopes that people in the Treasure Valley won’t forget about the homeless this season. Officers From Other Cities Accused Of Dumping Homeless DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach’s police chief said he’s fed up with his neighbors. He said officers from nearby police agencies are dumping homeless people in his city. The Daytona Beach Coalition for the Homeless is where the homeless from Daytona Beach and surrounding areas come for services. It’s no secret that Daytona Beach has more than its fair share of homeless. Now the chief says other cities are making it worse. Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood alleges his officers have caught other police departments, Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach Shores, dropping homeless people off at the Daytona Beach city limits. Chitwood has said in the past that he intends to lock-up all transients if they don’t agree to go and get help with employment or medical conditions. He said it is an issue that has been around in Daytona for a long time. He just seems to be the first one to address it. “Did one of our sergeants catch somebody dropping someone off on Silver Beach? Yeah,” Chief Chitwood said. “Don’t just drop them off on the corner; drive them to where they have to go.” Chitwood is already training a special task force of his officers to be able to deal with homeless people with mental and drug problems. Local social services said they simply do not have the money or the facilities to deal with all the homeless in the area. Streetvibes Page 13 �Homeless For Christmas Homeless Poem All alone he sat, on the sidewalk cold, Ragged coat, beaten hat, stooped over, looking old. He asked for change for a coffee and a smoke, Of all the people passing by, who thought him just a joke. He was just another homeless guy, another bum on the street, On the street, he’ll probably die, right at the Christmas shoppers’ feet. It’s the time of good will to men, when, for all, we’re supposed to care. We hear that time and time again. Why then was he still there? On the dirty side of town, Where does this man go? On his sodden way down? Nobody knows about his past, nobody knows his sad story. Why has he gone down so fast? All the way to ruin from glory. I came upon him on the street and put five dollars in his hat, Right about then, we began to talk, I joined him where he sat. “Do you have a smoke?” he asked as I sat down, Soon he was enjoying his smoke, there on the dirty side of town. He told me the story of his life, about the trail of abuse and neglect. How his soul “died” when he lost his wife, how his family he began to reject. He finally hit rock bottom. He had nowhere else to go. Where the booze had finally got him, what then? He didn’t know. I said, “I know how you feel, helpless and alone.” “You need a bed and a hot meal, and someplace to call home.” I’ll send you to a friend of mine, he’ll help you on your way, And the bus fare I will lend, you go and see him today.” “He runs the South-Side Mission, on the other side of town,” “You talk to him, he’ll listen. Get him to show you around.” I gave him the change for the bus and heartily shook his hand, I thought, “He’s the same as one of us, throughout this great big land.” As I watched him go down the street, I wondered to myself, “will he come back?” Will we ever again meet, on the better side of the tracks?” I realized it was getting late, I had to get to a Christmas Party, I hurried to make my appointed date, for eggnog and turkey hearty. As I hurried on through the snow, I wondered to myself, “Where does all our compassion go? Is it put upon the shelf?” At this Christmas time of year, Let us think of those who are with us all the year. The homeless, the hungry, the destitute, who live on our streets each day. Let us show them a better route, where they can find their way. It’s Christmas time, Do you care? Will you help another one? Come on people, show you care. Do what the Master would have done. Just think, if that was you, sitting on the sidewalk cold, Wouldn’t you want some help too? Or would you rather die in the cold? by Charles Hice A homeless man lays helpless at nite; no friendship in sight. He cries to Jesus ‘please help me’! An opened letter inside not just a man. Heart is twisting and turning because some people have hurt him. If you can not help him and aid him then at least you can leave him alone. Please dont hurt him. Someday soon he will die and go home. by John McKay Withey She left her home in her early teens, In torn shirt and faded jeans. Looking for the love she was never given, Away from her family she was finally driven. She sits by the fountain every day, Her lovely young face looking cold and grey. Her sad blue eyes slowly searching around, Looking for coins dropped on the ground. With pleading eyes she holds out a hand, In pouring rain for hours she will stand. All she wants is a lttle respite, And something warm for her teeth to bite. Uncaring people pass her by, They see her plight and wonder why, So young a person has no home, And around the streets aimlessly roam. Addicts and prostitutes, she knows them all, They tell her the dangers, if her pride should fall. Often tempted, her back to the wall, When deep inside she hears a call. Her bed is a box propped in a door, Often her body is tender and sore. But when she sees those ever so younger, She forgers the pain caused by hunger. Up to the skies she will often look, Remembering words she read in a book. The meaning now she can clearly see, ”Suffer little children to come unto me”. WHY? by Vera Zlatkin Why do you hate me? Is it something I did, or something I said; Is it the way I look or walk or talk; Or the color of my skin? Why do you hate me? Is it the cloths I wear; is it my hair: my size, my shape, my smell; Or what you believe I am? Why do you hate me? When you see me walking toward you, Why do you turn your face away Forbidding me to greet you? Why? Why do you hate me? Is it my age; do I talk too much, Or have I remained silent too long So you never got to know me. Why do you hate me? Do you perceive me as something less than Those you deem to be acceptable But how can you judge me? How can you hate me, When you don’t even know me; How can you judge me as less? Am I so much different than you? Why do you hate me? I don’t hate you. STAND by Billy Ray Sanders Be careful if you stand against something, in which you do not believe. Talking with your mother about all your fears. Talking to your lover revealing that your queer. Caution the lines are taped. The walls have ears. An American with a different color skin. Is to be locked away, from which there is no reprieve. Oh I can hear what is in the wind. Our freedom is being tested again. Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Page 14 Streetvibes �Acquainted With The Nite Elves in the Nite by buddy gray by buddy gray i am one acquainted with the nite, From my growing up years in the country, to my adult life in the inner city. i began with the very dark – unless moonlit – nites, With people all asleep And crickets – 1000’s it seemed – chirping their screeky, leggy noises, And occasionally – in the wee hours of the nite – long-distance soulful whistle of the train, blowing for a crossing – long and deep. THEN to the city, at first hard to sleep, Since, it seemed, there were always People and Machines that never sleep, All beneath my 4th floor window – echo-ing between the concrete streets and rows of tall brick buildings, Voices in Stress, or High or in Terror, Fighting intoxicated, or children playing late on concrete, Or hot-muggy polluted summer and poverty stress, Many nitely screams of our city’s Women being battered, On Lonely, unsafe, nite streets – or echoes imprisoned in an apartment with the abuser. Cops – often siren-maniacs – racing dangerously down dark, skinny, populated streets Going the wrong way down one-way streets chasing one individual. The Flood of voices and cars of the Well-To-Do in evening gowns oblivious to the social stress Ending their social event – in the wee AM hours from Music Hall across the street. JUST before dawn – the whirring, brushing sound – of the city’s street sweeper Through many ALL-Niter work projects at the shelter, or sleepless, tossing nites, i’ve heard and seen it all. June 1995 This has been typical of my life 8AM to 5 ReSTOC, Housing 7 – 4 AM DIC Working late on DIC bills, $ etc. MY LIFE by buddy gray Then time to go home But 3 vehicles need moved To prepare for street sweeper Can’t afford $29 ticket Then finally getting to move My clothes chest to Sort out my clothes Time for personal tasks When streets are quiet And all else is asleep Elves in the nite My Life is so HELLIOUS with battle and demands of services that when there is a brief letup – an evening with no pressing battle – my body and mind, can’t believe or accept it. i have to talk to myself and say there is no immediate crisis tomorrow we can relax and rest for a brief bit without worrying March 12, 1995 Found written on yellow note paper June 5, 1991 5:00 AM Found in yellow pad On the occasion of buddy gray’s 10th anniversary of his tragic death, Bonnie Neumeier, a long time friend and co-worker, compiled 27 pieces of buddy’s writing, edited and wrote a foreword to a book entitled FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES: Selected Writings of buddy gray. Bonnie said: “There is no better way to celebrate buddy’s life than to share his raw and passionate words with the public. Let buddy’s words inspire you to keep on keepin’ on morning by morning for the cause of justice and peace in our world.” If anyone is interested in having a personal copy of this book please email Bonnie at bonnie49@zoomtown.com. All proceeds of this book will go to support Drop Inn Center and Over-the-Rhine Community Housing. A minimum donation of $10 is the suggested donation. Afraid of Truth I want you back! Holding on Do You Know? Love Blues Love Her Heart Break The White Man Just A Little Reminder Within Yourself Just Please Is There a Reason? Thoughts From a Drama Filled Mind Why not love me I Love You? Singing Dancing Eating and Loving Dirty Words I Miss You Hard If lLove Is Poem All I Did Wrong Love Is The Reason Love Is Leave Him This Is the Real End My Dad Drunk I Loved Her Poem Pain Goodbye And Life Goes On Un American by Billy Ray Sanders Food Banks So, it’s off to the food bank one more time, Hours of waiting in that long, long line. Every month you make this trip, Ask yourself, is it worth it? Half-dead vegetables and second-hand food, You rarely get anything that’s any good. Canned food and that horrid Kraft Dinner, We all know that stuff’s not a winner. All around us food banks close, They say, to ease the financial load. But what about the load of hunger we bear? What about us? Does anyone care? We need food, to live we must eat, Even those who live on the street. Because Welfare rates are so low, To rent, our food money must go. What will replace the food banks that close? We need to be making more of those. So I’m off on my monthly trip to the city, Believe me, the picture’s not pretty. I’m hungry because there’s no food, I am sick because the food is no good. This is the life of a person who’s poor, Is that all there is? Is there nothing more? Streetvibes Endless wars on the side of right. Justice only for the ones in sight.. Children paying with there flesh. From Harlan County to the west. To Africa and Asia the stories told. Torture made legal in America you know. With our leaders truth is made loose. The pain is the same to much to bear. No caskets in sight are they not there. Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Page 15 �569-9500 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 324-2321 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 Tom Gieger Guest House 961-4555 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 HOUSING: CMHA 977-5660 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Tender Mercies 639-7042 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 381--0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 946-7601 Healing Connections 751-0600 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 IJ & Peace Center 579-8547 Worker Center 621-5991 Justice Watch 241-0490 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 Mercy Fransiscan at St John 981-5841 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 NAMI (Mental Health) 948-3094 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Oral Health Council 621-0248 Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen 961-1983 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect, Homeless Kids 363-1060 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 Services United For Mothers 487-7862 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless Worker Center 621-5991 W omen Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Ye ar si nP ub lica tio n! December 2006 3CDC, Affordable Housing and Over-the-Rhine cover story 10 BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: 3CDC, Affordable Housing and Over-the-Rhine Pg 2: Finding the Holidays in Something Deeper Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Free Speech in Harvard Square, Massachusetts, USA? Pg 5: Homeless Woman Dropped Off on City’s Skid Row, City Attorney Says Pg 6: Boys in the Alley Pg 7: Homeless Vets to Get Chance to Rebuild Pg 8: Letters Pg 9: Many Attend Buddy Gray Memorial Pg 10: Voters Wanted Change Pg 11: Bed Race Highlights Homeless Concerns Pg 12: Albany Hosted Homeless Summit 2 Sentenced in Fatal Beating of Homeless Woman Pg 13: Program Helps Homeless Veterans Reclaim Their Lives Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Matt Cohen Berta Lambert Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF affordable housing Albany Andy Freeze Berta Lambert buddy gray Bush Cincinnati Dallas Donations Georgine Getty Harvard Holidays Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Massachusetts Matt Cohen Meals Melvin Williams New Orleans Orlando Over-the-Rhine Parking Meters police brutality veterans Voters Wyoming https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/5879d89986cf177350c1eff3dacb5058.pdf f74e52a7873b12e7180877326eaa2ff1 PDF Text Text November 2006 STREETVIBES Who was buddy gray? buddy gray (he preferred his name in lower case letters) was a war resister, carpenter, preservationist, poet, community journalist, baseball coach, and friend to many. And he was known best as a relentless and uncompromising advocate for low-income housing and other services for the poor. He came from a small-town working-class family to live in Over-the-Rhine because he believed in the cause of liberation. He had decided when he was still a young man that he could not tolerate the poverty and discrimination he saw in the world around him. So he entered what his brother Jack called “a journey of fearless, selfless service.” Many people are dedicated to feeding and housing the poor. Others are dedicated to organizing for change. Buddy’s insight was to bring these two ways of service together. He saw the people of Over-the-Rhine, not just as downtrodden souls to be given a meal or a bed for the night, but partners in a struggle to change the system and heal society. Therefore, buddy worked to organize people and groups into an Over-the-Rhine Peoples Movement that includes organizations like the Drop Inn Center, ReSTOC, the Over-the-Rhine Housing Network, and the local, state, and national Coalitions for the Homeless. He worked with many homeless people who are now leaders in that movement. His capacity for work was legendary. Within a day’s time, he might attend a City Council hearing, work on the plumbing of a ReSTOC building, help an old man get off a park bench and into the shelter of the Drop Inn Center, write a poem, and do the notes for the next day’s meetings. He lived very simply, in an apartment on Race Street, owned little, and cared nothing for fashion or show. As Jack Gray said at the memorial after buddy’s death, “He feared no man. He took nothing and he served everyone. He worked to feed the hungry, free the captive, and heal the sick.” Many people are alive and living healthy lives today because of the work of buddy gray. He earned, thereby, the respect and love of many. He also earned the bitter hatred of some real estate developers and some politicians, including, of course, some developer-politicians. For months before his death, an unknown person (or persons, or class of persons) maintained a hate campaign which featured death threats, stop-sign­ shaped stickers reading “NO WAY BUDDY GRAY,” and, if you called a certain number, a seven-minute, antibuddy recorded phone message. On November 15, 1996, during a meeting at the Drop Inn Center, buddy was shot and killed by a mentally ill, formerly homeless man buddy had befriended. buddy was 46 years old. No one knows if the asassin had contacts with the NO-WAY-BUDDY-GRAY campaign. No one knows how he obtained the expensive pistol he used in the shooting. Within an hour of buddy’s death, the phone recording was disconnected. Eight days later, over two thousand people from Cincinnati, Boston, Washington, Chicago, and other cities marched silently through the streets in buddy gray’s honor and in support of the homeless. buddy gray lives on because the work he started lives on. He lives on because his vision lives on. He lives on because we carry on his work and his vision. Learning from buddy gray by Thomas A. Dutton buddy was arguably the most misunderstood man in Cincinnati. I first met buddy in 1981, when I started attending meetings that resulted in the Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan of 1985. I have learned much from buddy gray. Let me just share two examples. First, buddy was not alone in his founding of institutions like the Drop Inn Center and his leadership of the Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement. Not by a long shot. And while my words here remembering buddy’s lessons may glorify a single, heroic life (as commemorations tend to do), I do not forget the many that worked closely with him. This was one of buddy’s greatest strengths, to effect a democratic, multi-voiced leadership. Decisions made in the interest of the People’s Movement always came out of the voices of many. Second, buddy was a thinker who integrated all sorts of issues into a whole. This was especially so in how he analyzed Over-theRhine through an internationalist lens. He saw the circumstances in Over-the-Rhine— homelessness, economic injustice, class inequality, inadequate housing, intractable poverty—as different colors of the same painting, a painting that now due to globalization is of worldly proportions. For buddy, Over-theRhine was the domestic face of world imperialism, where the for-profit system of capitalism, now penetrating everywhere in its transnational corporate form, constitutes the greatest threat to democracy the world-over and oppresses people of color and immigrants here at home. Over-the-Rhine is an example of America’s own structural adjustment program. Imperialism and democracy are not bedfellows. The former kills the latter. Similar to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who “didn’t believe that capitalism as it was constructed could meet the needs of poor people,” buddy was not overt in his use of this kind of language, though it came out in many of his poems. Consider this stanza from his “How Did It Happen”(1989): As long as churches and synagogues and temples do reverent rituals for rightsand speak in pious platitudes of peace and take no angry action that stops American Business as usual to end homelessness, imperialism. Some may interpret this stanza as a critique of religion, but I am more fascinated by his linking of homelessness and imperialism. Imperialism and homelessness are bound together. You cannot know one without the other. And again, the stakes are high: imperialism kills the homeless. This was buddy’s important insight and a lesson for all of us. All movements organized for social justice and social rights should continue to see themselves in this larger picture and analyze liberation movements the world-over in order to understand their own conditions more deeply. Early on, buddy sensed the constriction of “community organizing” and recognized that organizing at the community level had to link to national and international levels. For those of us who have learned from buddy and remain inspired by his vision, we need to be vigilant against what scholar Arjun Appadurai calls “econocide,” which refers to new modes of violence that are playing out across the world in light of the massive inequalities and the rapidity of change produced by world capitalism. To Appadurai econocide does not just mean that whole sections of the world are undergoing death by economic means. He has something more sinister in mind: “Econocide is a worldwide tendency to arrange the disappearance of the losers in the great drama of globalization.” “Arrange the disappearance”— displacement by gentrification? Crime “prevention” by police sweeps and mass incarceration? Social cleansing by criminalizing the homeless? Relocate the Drop Inn Center? buddy had the insight of econocide 35 years ago, which is why he aligned with the homeless and the poor, so that they would not disappear and hopefully come to be understood by those more fortunate as having their own gifts to contribute to the human struggle. A lesson to us all is to overcome the obstacles of our privilege and power that too often restrict our own learning, so that those less fortunate are not made to disappear. Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director John Lavelle - Administrative Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Gina King - VISTA Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Susan Smith - Volunteer Melvin Williams - Reception Linda Pittman - Reception Matt Cohen - AHA Staff Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor jimmyheath@yahoo.com Photography Jimmy Heath, Berta Lambert buddy gray; He Empowered Lives This month is the tenth year .anniversary of the death of Over-theRhine community activist and friend buddy gray. When I speak to groups about my work I preface the discussion with how buddy, his fellow activists and the Drop Inn Center were responsible for literally saving my life. This was no small feat. I was living on the streets, caught up in the deadly grip of alcohol and depression. Alcoholism was literally killing me, destroying my body and my soul and my will. I was convinced that this was the way I was going to die and I didn’t have any choice in the matter. I was doomed to die homeless, alcoholic and alone. One day, almost eleven years ago, I stumbled into the Drop Inn Center in Over-the­ Rhine and another human Jimmy Heath being, a staff member, took the time to reach out to me. In me, they recognized a person, a human being, buried and hidden away in that fog. Later, I was told that I looked like “a mountain man, hair and beard all wild” and “we thought about throwing Jimmy to the mental health care workers.” But at the same time I was told that I didn’t need to die on the streets, that I had a choice and that I could be helped to find my way out of the clutch of certain death by alcohol. Those days are a hazy memory numbed by my emotional and physical condition. I was given a chance to enter the Drop Inn Center’s Detox program and I eventually took a step up to the six month Live-In Recovery program.. The program epitomized buddy’s vision of creating a transition out of homelessness, through treatment, therapy, hard work and education for homeless people. I thought I was alone in my struggle with addiction but at the Drop Inn Center I met a lot of people, including staff, that were just like me in so many ways; men and women whose lives were lost to drug addiction and alcoholism, homeless and hopeless, all trying to find their way out of various struggles. I soon learned that the value of a human life was placed above all other things, and that many others had come before me and had been given back their lives because of this simple and just philosophy. You would not think at first glance that all of this would be connected to a homeless shelter in Cincinnati, Ohio. There is a denial in this city about the homeless, and the more hidden they are the better. This begins with city leaders and drives the misconceptions of the ordinary citizen. buddy forced people to think about the homeless, and many people in local government dreaded his confrontational style. Thirty plus years ago, buddy gray and a group of devoted activists began picking up homeless, and some would say hopeless drunks off the street and bringing them into their apartments in Over-the-Rhine, taking care of them as if they were family, coaxing them out of alcoholism, feeding them and clothing them. A small storefront shelter on Main Street soon followed. buddy and the group of volunteers soon recognized that more than just temporary shelter was needed to help these people left behind by society...The needs of the homeless through permanent housing and employment and training and opportunity also had to be met. Developing programs like this took a lot of work, with no pay and little support from the city or private citizens. buddy was aggressive and demanding in his convictions because Cover Buddy Gray, spring of 1996 Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org of his passion for the rights of folks at the bottom of the ladder. As time went on buddy became a national figure in the struggle for human rights, justice and the treatment of the homeless. buddy and his crew were tireless in their efforts in finding ways to provide the homeless and disenfranchised with a voice. These were visionary actions. Out of those humble beginnings grew the Drop Inn Center, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, and other organizations supporting many causes, started by buddy and many committed volunteers and linked by a single vision; human rights and justice. buddy helped set up and establish the vision of the Streetvibes program before he died.. buddy understood the power of getting the word out by using alternative media. Ten years later Streetvibes still thrives. On November 15th, 1996, buddy was gunned down at the Drop Inn Center. Ironically, buddy was killed by a man he had helped through the years – a man who had struggled through mental illness, addiction and homelessness. His assassin personified what buddy had stood up for; helping and creating programs to help these individuals. (buddy’s killer is now in a state mental hospital) As news about buddy’s murder spread, people in the community grieved deeply for the man who dedicated his life to serving the people. Days after his death in 1996, thousands of people came to Over-the-Rhine for a memorial march and recognition of buddy’s work. buddy “Stanley” gray went to college in the early ‘70’s and became active in protests against the war in Vietnam and other causes. He did volunteer work in Over-the-Rhine and eventually made it home. He organized and fought against big business developers who wanted to push the poor out of OTR. I have not been able to leave this inner-city neighborhood. buddy and others taught me to recognize a new life as a sober individual. He encouraged my photography and carefully analyzed my usefulness to the cause, driving me to see poverty and injustice and do something about it. Through buddy and all of the people that I have met and worked with since my pathetic beginnings at the Drop Inn Center over 11 years ago I have discovered the beauty of OTR, in the faces of the people and the strength in their adversity; the power of the poor to rise up. For me, this where my life began again, renewed and with a sense of purpose. Thanks buddy, for saving my life. (jimmyheath@yahoo.com) Page 2 Streetvibes �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath Portland, OR. - Portland mayor Tom Potter has been a long-time advocate of helping the city’s mentally ill and those battling drugs and alcohol addiction. Now he has a plan to do that in hopes of preventing more tragedies like the Chasse case. In just the past few weeks there have been a number of highprofile cases involving Portland police and mentally ill suspects like James Chasse Jr, who died while in police custody. Last Month, Julius Lee walked into a family’s southwest Portland home and refused to leave. Police say he was mentally ill as well. Now Mayor Potter plans to organize a committee to help the homeless and mentally ill. Potter says that estimates indicate that 60 percent of the homeless in Portland are mentally ill, and as many as 25 percent of those imprisoned need mental health assistance as well. Elected officials, mental health experts, police and homeless advocates would all take part. Potter hopes this will help bridge the gap between health care providers and police to prevent situation’s like Chasse’s in the future. Daytona Beach, FL - The beds were made. The floors were clean. The new playground was ready. All that was missing last month at the official opening of the new 94-bed homeless shelter were the families. The shelter at North and Segrave streets is for families and those with medical problems, but officials were having problems getting homeless families staying in local motels to come over. “We’re all ready and waiting for folks right now,” Linda Callaghan, executive director of the Homeless Assistance Corp., which operates the shelter and other services, said. “We thought there would be more families showing up today. It’s quieter than we expected.” But later, a medically needy man had moved in as well as a single mother who had been living in her car with her two daughters. Several families were expected, but some decided to stay in motels until today, when the local homeless coalition would no longer foot their motel bill. Two others found permanent homes, Callaghan said, and at least one was leery about the new shelter and its surroundings on North Street and decided against staying in the shelter altogether. “Some are hesitant,” Callaghan said. “We’re still talking to people.” Denver, CO - Daunted by the throngs of more than 600 homeless people and 700 volunteers, 16-year-old Epiphany Flores and her family nearly gave up at the Project Homeless Connect services fair. But one of the project’s supervisors caught them at the door. Did they have housing? Food stamps? Did they need medical attention? Diapers? What about the baby and toddler? How about some lunch? Then Jamie Van Leeuwen, project director of Denver’s Road Home and one of the leaders of Project Homeless Connect, learned that Flores’ mother, Danza Simpson, was HIV- positive. It had been two months since she had access to the cocktail of medications that hinders full-blown AIDS. Van Leeuwen steered the little group back inside the Department of Human Services on Saturday and led them through a gantlet that left the family exhausted but with a place to live, transportation, arrangements for Epiphany’s mother to resume medical treatment, food, diapers and a medical exam. “We got done in one hour what it can take a month to do,” Van Leeuwen said. This was Denver’s third Project Homeless Connect fair. More than 700 volunteers worked with the homeless one-on-one. St. Petersburg, FL - Homeless people with mental illnesses in Pinellas County finally are getting some attention that should help improve their lives for the long term. Until now, if they needed help beyond the basics of a meal or a bed, they struggled to find the right person or agency. Last year, the therapists and counselors at the Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health decided to do more for this homeless population by establishing offices where people with mental illnesses routinely go for help: shelters, soup kitchens, the Pinellas jail and other sites. From all indications, the program is succeeding. Managed by Larry Chambers, it now has offices in places such as the Davis-Bradley Center, a drug rehabilitation facility; the Enoch Davis Center, site of a criminal justice diversion program; St. Vincent de Paul; the county jail; the Family Emergency Treatment Center; and the Salvation Army’s emergency shelter and one-stop center. Homeless people with mental illnesses need a host of complex services for them to enjoy a simple quality of life the rest of us take for granted. Renee Kilroy, director of adult services at Suncoast Center, told the St. Petersburg Times that during the last fiscal year, 95 percent of the people the agency helped were referred to other assistance programs that can serve their special needs. She said the staff in the jail’s booking department, for example, looks for signs of mental illnesses as homeless people are being processed. In this way, they can get the people out of jail more quickly and get them the right help sooner. Chambers said that two-thirds of the program focuses on continuous care to prevent people from committing more offenses. Santa Cruz, NM - With rain starting to fall and temperatures dropping, more and more homeless people across Santa Cruz County will be looking for a warm bed at night. The county’s 2005 Homeless Census Survey, the latest count available, estimates that nearly 2,700 of the 3,371 homeless people tallied live outdoors or in their vehicles. According to the county Human Resources Agency, there are currently 319 year-round emergency shelter beds to serve them and another 120 beds expected to become available in November. That’s in addition to roughly 1,000 transitional spaces aimed at people more serious about getting their lives back together. But the resources are inadequate, homeless services providers say. Marcus Banuelos, day services coordinator of the Homeless Services Center on Coral Street, said nearly 40 people are turned down at the shelter every day. “I am sure that many more don’t even try to come because they know they won’t get in,” he said. Ken Cole, executive director of the Homeless Services Center, said many are waiting for winter emergency programs to begin Nov. 15, which will provide at least 100 more emergency beds in the city of Santa Cruz and about 20 more in Watsonville. “This is a very hard time of the year for those without a place to go,” Cole said. Dennis Hargrove said he benefits from the Homeless Services Center. He came from Reno, Nev., and suffers from mental health problems that make him unable to work, he says. He, like others, lines Streetvibes up at 2:30 p.m. every day in front of the shelter and hopes he can get accommodation. “If it wasn’t for this place, I’d probably freeze to death”, he said. Frederick, MD - Advocates for Homeless Families Inc., a local non-profit organization, recently received the Wise Giving Charity Seal from the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland. The organization is one of five in the state to receive the seal, which shows donors that the organization is accountable and operates responsibly. “It’s sort of a reaffirmation for us that we are doing things right,” said Elizabeth Galaida, executive director of Advocates for Homeless Families. The organization was officially recognized by the Better Business Bureau during the bureau’s annual meeting on Oct. 12 in Baltimore. Omaha, Neb - A new city bus route is creating opportunities for some Omaha homeless people. Metro Area Transit has created a bus stop near the Open Door Mission after 20 years of lobbying. Residents of the shelter said it’s already changing their lives. “I think it’s really wonderful,” said shelter resident Arthur Franklin. “It’s really great because it gives us the opportunity to get away when we need to. With the bus line, it allows us once again to be able to be more mobile, to be more free instead of being stuck down here trying to get a ride if you need to get somewhere else.” Washington - ‘Desperate Housewives’ star Eva Longoria’s unexpected sneak peek into her new mansion left her horrified, after she discovered a squatter living in her brand new Hollywood manor. She found the unexpected guest when she took her mother to view the dream home - one she has been renovating for the past five months. Although she earlier didn’t want to set foot inside until contractors and builders had completed their work, she decided to drop in without warning. She was stunned to find a homeless man living there. “We walk in and there’s beer cans everywhere and I’m like, ‘What is this?’ And a guy comes down (the stairs) in, like, boxers and he’s like, ‘Oh crap..! I’m fixing the electricity.”. “He was a worker on the house that just decided to squat. There’s nothing there, it’s like and empty house... I was livid,” she added. Page 3 �Images of buddy gray - by Jimmy Heath I remember buddy by Bonnie Neumeier zipping through Washington Park on his bike wearing his yellow hard hat fixing up housing carrying a huge stack of documents to the podium at City Hall drinking a carton of chocolate milk hugging children on the street putting his arms around friends homeless in the park picking up Nannie to defend our homes from demolition encouraging involvement in our efforts sending little notes at meetings to keep us sane calling his Mom often playing an energetic game of baseball remembering names and phone numbers by rote watching election returns and naming senators in each state riding around in his blue truck wearing headbands of all different colors saying so much in a small sound bite taking lengthy notes for clarity and documentation listening to Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul & Mary buddy and Bonnie Neumeier lead protest march...One of many. carrying his tools in a big 5 gallon white bucket offering ReSTOC housing to displaced neighbors planting trees and seeds for change sacrificing his life for what he believed in making mountains of phone calls late at night teaching others how to lead and live simply dreaming big dreams doing the seemingly impossible building connections around the country standing up for human rights laughing to help get us through loving Wilbur his friend who pulled the trigger buddy was as ordinary as you and me but with extraordinary fiery determination to put all he had in the service of his vision believing that one day we all will be free demanding justice shine in Over-the-Rhine as well as all over this land. buddy with the late Rev. Maurice McCrackin. “Mac” was a friend and inspiration to buddy and an activist in his own right. buddy gray Reflection ­ Continue to Involve Younger People buddy with filmmaker Michael Moore in front of the Drop Inn Center. Moore was interested in how the demise of the local automotive industry affects homelessness in Cincinnati. Page 4 by John Lavelle I never had the pleasure of knowing buddy personally. To put it in perspective, I was one year old when the Coalition was founded in 1984. When buddy died, I was looking forward to Thanksgiving break as a big, bad eighth grader. Now, a year and a half out of college, it’s hard not to feel a little overwhelmed by the tradition and history surrounding the homelessness advocacy movement in Cincinnati. Like buddy did to many of the individuals who now run our agencies, several people have helped me join the movement and find my place. It is imperative that all of us continue to involve more young people in our work, thus engaging and fostering the next generation of advocates and service providers. They possess fresh eyes, new vision, and often limitless energy. As one of these young people, the part of buddy’s vision that I relate to the most is his sense of urgency. There is a sign in our office that looks like it has seen its fair share of battle. It reads: “HOUSING NOW.” Housing NOW – not tomorrow, not after we get that funding we’re holding out for, but NOW. Even as advocacy techniques change, I believe that we must not lose this sense of urgency in what we do. There have been two particularly tragic deaths in the homeless community so far this year, deaths that very likely would not have happened had there been housing for some of the toughest to serve. I pray that I never get to the point where these daily tragedies don’t upset me, make me angry, and shake me to my core. Ten years after buddy’s death, I hope that we stay angry, upset, and, in buddy’s words: “contagiously collectively…as long as is necessary.” Streetvibes �New tools implemented to help the homeless Addison County, VT—Addison County human services providers are putting the finishing touches on a new DVD, brochure and other material aimed at helping local homeless people find — and keep — affordable housing. The providers, working under the banner of the Addison County Housing Coalition, have also enlisted the help of Northlands Job Corps students in making a series of wooden human silhouettes that were placed throughout the county to increase public awareness of the plight of the homeless. Cheryl Mitchell, director of People of Addison County Together (PACT), is spearheading creation of the new brochure titled, “Almost Home: Finding an Affordable Place to Live in Addison County.” The 11-page brochure, in its final draft, will let homeless people know how their incomes play into qualifying for affordable housing; how to overcome bad credit; how to apply for rental housing; and what their rights are as tenants. Area college students helped create illustrations for the brochure. “It looks like we will be able to print out about 200 copies for human services agencies,” Mitchell said, adding the brochure could be useful in giving legislators background on future affordable housing lobbying efforts. Another new arrow in the coalition’s quiver is a training DVD, titled simply “Finding Affordable Housing.” The DVD offers some role-play discussions between counselors and individuals looking for affordable housing. A copy of the DVD will be given to each social service agency in the county, according to Mitchell. Those agencies are currently dealing with many clients who are finding it hard to keep up with local rents. The average fair market rent for a modest, two-bedroom apartment in Vermont was $723 in 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. An Addison County resident needs to earn at least $13.67 per hour to pay that rent and still have enough left over to cover utilities and other basic expenses, according to the Vermont Housing Council. There are currently 4,000 Vermonters regularly relying on homeless shelters, including 1,000 children. The Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity estimated that 1,443 people were turned away from Vermont homeless shelters between July of 2004 and June of 2005, due to those shelters being full. In Addison County, many homeless citizens try to make ends meet by rooming with families, friends, or living out of their car during the warmer months. “I think poverty is really well hidden in Middlebury,” said Laura Morse, housing advocate with the Addison Communit Action ChamplainValley Office of Economic Opportunity. “We really don’t see it publicly.” That will change later this month, thanks to a project being spearheaded by Northlands Job Corps students, the John Graham Emergency Shelter and Addison County Community Action Group (ACCAG). Northlands students have been busy transforming plywood sheets into the silhouettes of everyday people. Once complete, ACCAG and the John Graham Shelter will provide written profiles of real homeless people in Addison County that will be tagged onto the silhouettes. Here are two of those stories: • Connie had just started her new job. She was under a lot of pressure already because her boyfriend was insanely jealous. Then she found out that she was pregnant. Her boyfriend, the baby’s Streetvibes father, beat her so severely that her eye was swollen shut when she came to the shelter. She also now had a broken leg and was forced to quit her new job. •Andy, an elderly man who suffers from schizophrenia comes to the shelter to cook a meal and take a shower. He has lived outside and bounced from shelter to shelter. He is offered a bed. He is found in the morning sleeping on the kitchen table. He explains that after sleeping on the ground for so many years, he can only sleep on flat surfaces. He moves into a nursing home. On Oct. 28, Job Corps students and local volunteers took the dozens of the silhouettes to pre-approved locations throughout the county, including parks, stores, churches, schools and other public venues. The silhouettes will stay up for several weeks, officials said. Page 5 �New Compactor Trash Cans Leave ‘Canners’ Feeling Dumped by Paul Rice ‘Canners’ working in downtown Boston, are concerned about the recently installed solarpowered trash compactors in the Hub. For the uninitiated, canners are people who comb city streets and trashcans for bottles and aluminum cans left by passersby in an urban environment. Canners collect other’s trash and turn it into a living for themselves. Peter Azadian has been an active canner in Boston and Cambridge for the past five years, earning enough from the job to buy food and meager supplies for his life, not to mention discovering any number of useful items abandoned at landfills by their previous owners. “Not only have I taken good, quality clothes out of the trash, but also quilts, blankets, and even some expensive copper wire,” Azadian told Spare Change News. Unfortunately for Azadian and other canners, the new bins do not allow for such rummaging. Manufactured by the Seahorse Power Company, the “Big Belly” bins look more like giant mailboxes than trashcans. Once refuse enters the receptacle, there is no way to retrieve it. Solar cells implanted at the top of the cans store electricity, which is then used to power a pneumatic press that flattens the contents of the can, making room for more refuse. Ever since July, when the new trashcans were installed throughout downtown Boston, Azadian has seen a significant drop in the amount of business he does in that area. He watches as cans and bottles get dropped in the receptacles, but has no way to get them out. “There’s a problem with fastidiousness,” he said, explaining his view on the introduction of the compactors. “The city wants things more sanitary, more visually appealing.” He also sees it as cheap publicity in the form of new technology. It’s a high-tech glamour sort of thing, a politician thing rather than a people thing,” Azadian said. He also believes the compactors might embody discrimination. “They probably don’t want scruffy people digging in the barrels,” Azadian surmised. “I think the city may be trying to squeeze out people who are supplementing their incomes with cans and bottles.” Not so, according to Tim McCarthy, spokesman for the Boston Department of Public Works (DPW). “We certainly want to help out some of the people who need these cans to subsidize their living,” he said. The DPW is in talks with James Poss, the founder and CEO of Seahorse, to provide recycling bins adjacent to every solar dumpster in the city. There is already one such bin currently being tested at a compactor in the Boston Common. “We are an environmental company, so recycling is important to us for sure,” James Poss told SCN. He says he understands the concern on the part of the recycling community, specifically the canners. “The best thing to do is have open recycling containers so the canners have access.” Recycling advocates in the state have been eyeing these compactors and are happy to see steps taken to promote recycling alongside the solar-powered bins. “That’s the first step and that’s wonderful,” Jessica Wozniak, assistant director of MassRecycle, a recycling advocacy organization centered in Boston, told SCN. “You need to make it so easy to recycle.” The attached recycling bins may give people the easy option to recycle, but Azadian is still concerned about myriad useful things people throw away every day. Without allowing canners to dig through the trash, the city may unwittingly upset an ecological balance in this urban environment. “If you waste resources, it’s going to come around and bite you in the butt,” Azadian said. He may yet see a return to normal trashcans. The “Big Belly” receptacles are part of a pilot program that is not guaranteed to last forever. “The reality is, if the barrels aren’t saving us money, they’re not going to work,” noted McCarthy. Reprinted from Spare Change News Reedy Place apartments give 15 residents new lease on life Greenville, MN - Chronically homeless for six years, Emma Swittenburg has since moved into Reedy Place in Greenville and says she’s experiencing something she has only dreamed about. Swittenburg, saddled with a drug problem, said she slept on benches, under bridges or wherever she could find a dry place. She said she’s had a reversal of fortune since her address became Reedy Place, a $1.4 million housing project built for the homeless. “I have my own place,” Swittenburg, 44, said at last week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at Reedy Place on North Calhoun Street, on the edge of downtown. “I’m a productive member of society. I pay taxes.” Swittenburg and 14 others will reside at Reedy Place, which took four years to design and build, said Mike Chesser, executive director of the Upstate Homeless Coalition. He said those like Swittenburg have been screened and approved by mental health clinicians and have a good chance of avoiding future homelessness. Chesser said those who are homeless tend to be timid, carting everything they own in the world with them. “When they come here, they will feel safe, and no one will bother them,” Chesser said. “This is an opportunity to recover.” How long each person stays is an individual choice, he said. He said most are able-bodied and hardworking, but frequently aren’t able to handle setbacks. “They’re able to be selfsufficient until they have an emergency,” Chesser said. Michael Dahl, executive director of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, said providing permanent housing for homeless people provides an environment in which they can work on their problems. “When you provide temporary shelter, you don’t give them the support so that they can recover,” said Dahl, who spearheads a statewide homeless effort in Minnesota. Dahl said permanent housing is also cost-effective. He said when you add the costs of the police who must deal with the homeless, emergency room costs and the expense of temporary housing; it’s cheaper over the long run to provide permanent housing. He said Minnesota plans to provide housing for 4,000 households in the next six years. Mary Duckett, a Greenville civic leader, said she was impressed with the local effort. She said it takes some of the strain off an overpopulation of homeless people in her neighborhood, HamptonPinckney, and the Pete Hollis Redevelopment District. Richard Chludzinski, 39, a new Reedy Place resident, said he’s had a tough time keeping a roof above his head. He said he is disabled. He said his pastor has played a big role in getting him in Reedy Place. Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Page 6 Streetvibes Chludzinski said he would spend his days in therapy, Bible studies and group activities. “Now, I can live like everybody else and have goals,” he said. Jack Read, who chairs the board of the Upstate Homeless Coalition, said he’s impressed with what Chesser and other homeless workers, along with mental health experts have accomplished with envisioning and building Reedy Place. He said the group is “a unique blend of people who can achieve.” Swittenburg, employed by McDonald’s, said a key part of this new phase of her life is the safety net from the Upstate Homeless Coalition. “I have people who support me,” Swittenburg said. “This is more than I could ever achieve.” Chesser said residents are given access to their living space with an electronic key to their front door. “We want to help those who cost the community the most,” Chesser said. “We want them off the street.” �Church program for homeless cuts its hours San Francisco - They line up each weekday morning — not for food or clothes or welfare checks, but for the simple luxury of lying down and falling asleep. For hundreds of homeless people in San Francisco, the wooden pews of St. Boniface Catholic Church in the Tenderloin are the only place where they can sleep for a solid nine hours. Many say they’re too frightened of being robbed or attacked if they sleep on the streets or in shelters at night, so they force themselves to stay awake until the church opens at 7 a.m. and they can drift off peacefully until 4 p.m. In appreciation of the rare opportunity for tranquility — believed to be the only one of its kind in the country — the homeless people call it “Sacred Sleep.” “I call them owls because they’re up all night and they come here for refuge,” said Luis Ramirez, 44, who is paid to watch over and help the sleepers. But starting last month, they’ll only be able to sleep from 8 a.m. to noon, cutting their sleep time in half. The St. Boniface Neighborhood Center, an outgrowth of the church that runs the sleeping program and provides other services, has had a tough time fundraising lately — and if the financial situation doesn’t turn around, the sleeping program could end altogether. “Whatever we’re getting in just isn’t sufficient to keep the doors open until 4 o’clock,” said John Weeks, the interim executive director of the neighborhood center, adding that he hopes cutting the hours in half staves off the need to close. “The likelihood of us shutting down is greatly reduced, but there’s always a danger of that happening.” Weeks said an endowment used to start the program, private donations and public grants have dried up. His staff has been focused on opening a new shelter in the coming months in the South of Market area and hasn’t had time to conduct a major fundraising effort to replace the lost money. It costs $140,000 annually to run the program, and the Neighborhood Center is now $60,000 short. The city contributes 20 percent of the program’s annual budget. Currently, the program employs nine staff members to oversee and help the sleepers, and it will cut back to four staffers with the shortened hours. It’s a big blow to Miley Wilson, 55, who said he has been out of jail since February 2005 — his longest period of freedom since he was 13. He said he recently kicked his crack addiction and attributes it, in part, to the staff at St. Boniface. At the church on a recent afternoon, Wilson pointed to a statue on the wall of Jesus being crucified. “I have peace when I come here. I reach back to my old morals, to my parents and my grandparents,” he said. “I’m not reaching for the drugs.” Wilson comes to St. Boniface every day to sleep or just kill time away from the squalid, rough streets of the Tenderloin, where drug use is rampant. He said sending all the homeless sleepers outside onto Golden Gate Avenue every afternoon will be disastrous. “If you wake up everybody in here and put them out on the streets, you don’t know how much crime there will be,” he said, shaking his head. “We have bad people in here that’s doing good. In here, they can be away from that. The bad stops at the door. “Once you go out that door, the bad starts again — women being abused, things getting stolen, drugs getting sold. It’s all right out there.” That’s why Miley and others fear neighbors in the Tenderloin also will suffer the side effects of the cut in hours, including more people loitering on the streets — and urinating and defecating on the sidewalks. If the chance to stretch out and sleep seems basic, the use of a toilet is equally so. The bathroom at St. Boniface is one of the few public restrooms in the neighborhood that homeless people can use, according to Michele Thorsen, who coordinates the program, and the neighborhood is likely to suffer if the restrooms are closed. “It’ll mean a poor quality of life for neighbors,” she said. “It’s going to be really rough.” Angela Alioto, the former San Francisco supervisor asked by Mayor Gavin Newsom to lead the writing of a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness in the city, said she admires the work of those at St. Boniface tremendously, but does see an upside to limiting the sleeping hours at the church. “Nobody should be sleeping in the day and up all night,” Alioto said. “It’s just not humane.” She said that programs like these, while well intentioned, can keep people from finding the motivation to seek permanent housing. “They won’t assertively search for permanent, supportive housing if they think they can sleep in the church all day long,” she said. Still, others who advocate for the extended hours say people stop by the church for more than just the chance to sleep or use the restroom. They talk to staff members to get referrals to mental health clinics, legal aid and other assistance. They also pick up toothpaste or socks or take a meditation class — or even get their hair cut. The program was begun around Easter 2004 by the Rev. Louie Vitale, the activist pastor of the church who retired last year. He named it the Gubbio Project after the town of Gubbio, Italy. Legend has it townspeople there befriended a killer wolf after realizing the animal was not dangerous, just hungry. When the program started, just 30 people slept there — but now the number has climbed to 200 or 300. Reached at his temporary post at a church outside Carson City, Nev., Vitale said he was saddened by Streetvibes the news of the cutbacks — especially since the cold days of winter are fast approaching. “I’m relieved that they’re not having to close it down completely, but I would really hope that people will hear about it and come forth,” he said. “We hope the generosity of the city of St. Francis can rise to help restore it to full time.” The new pastor, the Rev. Jorge Hernandez, has made some changes to the Gubbio Project, such as not allowing the homeless people to store their belongings in the confessional closets and requiring them to sit up during the noon Mass. Hernandez is traveling in Rome and couldn’t be reached. Michele Thorsen, who coordinates the Gubbio Project, said despite small changes that have irked some of the homeless people, Hernandez has been incredibly supportive of the program overall. “Rumors started flying around that he was going to shut down the Gubbio Project, and he never did — that’s just not true,” Thorsen said. “The fact that he’s allowed this program to continue is a real gift.” On a recent afternoon, Jeffery Grant, 44, was just waking up from a nap on one of the pews. Bleary-eyed, he said that he never has dreams when he dozes outside; he has to keep his guard up and resists the urge to fall into a deep sleep. At St. Boniface, though, he dreams. “Good dreams,” he said. “About good things happening in my life.” Page 7 �Letters Anti-War Protesters Still Active Four Years After old high school student, a minister, and a filmmaker. Start of War in Iraq They were joined by other socially conscience To the Editor: With all the scandals swirling around Congress, one serious failing has not received enough attention. Congress left for its pre-election recess without fulfilling its most basic responsibility – to enact spending bills that invest our tax dollars wisely. Instead, they passed a short - term measure that shrinks most domestic programs and tosses decisions about the rest of the year to a post election “lame duck” session. The failure to protect funding for education, health care, job training, housing and energy assistance, nutrition aid, HeadStart and many other services hurts all of us. The federal government ought to be investing in our children – making sure they grow up healthy, safe, and ready to learn. Low income people, young and old, need relief from high energy and housing costs. Workers and students need training for decent jobs. In recent years Congress has cut billions from domestic programs while at the same time continuing tax cuts that help only the wealthiest few. When Congress comes back, members will confront proposals to cut still more. Every member of Congress and every candidate, including (candidates and members in your district), should commit to support enough funding to reverse recent cutbacks and reject proposals to make things even worse. Crow Call - Poems by Michael Henson West End Press 12.95 Bright orange stickers reading “NO WAY BUDDY GRAY” were plastered around the city of Cincinnati and particularly the Page 8 by Lynne Ausman Cincinnati, Ohio - On Wednesday September 28, 2006, a group of anti-War protesters descended on the office of Congressman Steve Chabot, located in the Carew Tower, downtown Cincinnati. The peaceful demonstration began at one o’clock in the afternoon. Every hour a protestor would board the Carew Tower elevator to the thirtieth floor and request that Chabot sign the Declaration of Peace. When the document was not signed by Representative Chabot, the demonstrator would remain in the office. This continued for the rest of the work day. The Declaration of Peace calls for the immediate Lynne Ausman “withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, the payment of damages for the destruction caused by U.S. forces and the rejection of ‘pre-emptive war’against Iran or any other nation.” Among those involved in the peaceful demonstration were a 78-year-old nun, a 15-year- Send your letters, edi­ torials or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com citizens who waved signs promoting peace near the Vine Street entrance to the Carew Tower. “Nah, he’s a wiener he won’t sign.” says Bill Lonneman, a professor at the College of Mount St. Joseph. “He’s afraid to stand up against anything against the President [of the United States].” Meanwhile, in Chabot’s thirtieth floor office, demonstrators were in good spirits, singing songs such as Kumbaya and John Lennon’s famous song, “Imagine.” “They [Congressmen and women] have more influence to end this war, but not enough is being done. Our family members are still being sent, the numbers of dead on both sides continues to rise, the situation is worsening, and we still have no exit plan in sight.” says Ellen Dienger, a demonstrator in Chabot’s office. Close to six o’clock Wednesday evening, three uniformed police officers seemed to have escorted two of Chabot’s staff members out of the office, but had not arrested any of the demonstrators. “I think the people of the world need to know that American citizens feel strongly enough that the war is so wrong and tragic that they are willing to be arrested to stop it,” says Barb Wolf, a demonstrator in Chabot’s office. Around nine o’clock that evening, when the Carew Tower closed, police arrested the remaining protestors, still in Chabot’s office. homelessness has on a person’s spirit with neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine days before forty-six poems. Henson calls upon personal the shooting death of grassroots activist buddy sacrifice and the rising of a common voice as a gray on November 15, 1996. cure for social malaise and political corruption. gray (who preferred his name spelled in A pair of watchful crows announces each lower case) was a relentless supporter of the section of work in this new collection. homeless and worked diligently against The poetry and writing of Michael developers and their sympathetic political Henson keeps a watchful eye on the sensitive machine by advocating low-income housing and yet sorrowful images of inner city life and services for the poor. buddy was a co-founder of the National Coalition for the Homeless, struggles. Michael Henson is the author of the local coaltion, the Drop Inn Center and Ransack, a novel, and A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, a short fiction of local low-income housing groups. The Appalachia, both published by West End perpetrator who shot gray was a formerly Press; and also, The Tao of Longing, a homeless friend with a mental illness who chapbook of poetry. Henson currently lives was later found to be unfit for trial. No in Cincinnati. one knows how the killer obtained the expensive Berta’s Art Corner pistol he used (1980) sculptor by Stewart Fink, University of Cincinnati, facing in the Clifton Avenue... shooting. He is now in a state mental facility. In Crow Call, Cincinnati poet, activist and friend to buddy, Henson pays homage to gray dealing with his murder, grief, poverty, the environment, being homeless, and the effect Streetvibes �The Bush Tax Cuts: Are Ohioans Better Off? Over the past six years, President George W. Bush and his allies in Congress have enacted multiple rounds of major tax cuts, including special tax breaks for capital gains and dividends, reductions in personal income tax rates, estate tax cuts and an array of corporate tax loopholes. This issue brief summarizes the effects of the Bush tax cuts on Ohioans at different income levels. There are two key findings: First of all, the tax breaks enacted since 2001 are heavily skewed towards the very wealthiest few. Second, because the tax cuts are being paid for with borrowed money, the cost of paying the added national debt more than wipes out any benefits from the tax cuts for 99 percent of Ohioans. Only the best-off one percent of Ohioans are net winners. Over the 2001-2010 period, the wealthiest Ohioans will receive 26.7 percent of the Bush tax cuts in the state. # Over the 2001-2010 period, the wealthiest one percent of Ohioans, who have an average income of $784,700 in 2006, will receive 26.7 percent of the tax cuts. # The total 10-year average tax cut for this wealthiest group is $297,278, an average of $29,728 per year. # In contrast, the poorest 60 percent will get only 21.6 percent of the tax cuts, with an average annual tax cut over the 10 years of only $403. For ninety-nine percent of Ohioans, the Bush tax cuts are much smaller than the share of the increased national debt they’ll have to pay off. Only the wealthiest one percent are net winners. The tax cuts enacted by President Bush and his allies in Congress have been “paid for” entirely with borrowed money. This means that every dollar of tax cuts received results in a dollar of debt that must be paid back in the future — with interest. We analyzed the effects of this added debt on a per-person basis, rather than by family units. That’s because everyone — adults as well as their children — will eventually have to pay off the added debt and interest. We also looked only at the tax cuts and added debt that have been actually taken place so far (i.e., though 2006). For the wealthiest one percent of Ohio residents, the tax cuts they’ve received from 2001 through 2006 outweigh their share of the added debt accumulated over the past six years by an average of $13,480 per family member. They have received an average tax cut of $49,537 per family member, which exceeds their added debt burden of $36,057 per person by $13,480. But for the other ninety-nine percent of Ohio residents, their share of the added debt accumulated from 2001 through 2006 outweighs their tax cuts by an average of $7,163 per person. They have received an average tax break of $2,585 per person over the six year period, but their added debt burden averages $9,748 per person. President Bush has borrowed all the money to finance his tax reductions, and the interest on that enormous borrowing is building up rapidly. What makes this borrowing more alarming is that the benefits are skewed so heavily towards the wealthiest taxpayers. As the above data show, in Ohio, ninety-nine percent of taxpayers will get a debt bill that far exceeds any small benefits from these policies. Tax cuts by state and income group were calculated by the Instiute on Taxation and Economic Policy.. Additions to the national debt (including amounts borrowed from the Social Security Trust Fund) are based on actual figures for fiscal 2002 through 2005 and Congressional Budget Office estimates for fiscal 2006 and 2007. The added debt was allocated among states and income groups based on shares of adjusted gross income and population (double-weighted). Of course, no one can say for sure how the debt will be paid for in the future, whether through huge program cuts or very large, potentially regressive tax increases. The approach here, which allocates the debt payments two-thirds to spending cuts (per capita) and one third to proportional tax increases (by AGI), seems to be a middle ground of the possible outcomes. Memorial and Vigil for the 10th Anniversary of the death of buddy gray Wednesday, November 15, 2006 5:00PM March from Buddy’s Place (1300 Vine St.) to Washington Park 5:30PM - Memorial in the park 6:30PM - Fellowship at Nast Trinity United Methodist Church Songs—Speeches—Poetry—Food “I don’t expect to be patient until there is Housing Now for all.” - buddy gray Other events: Wednesday, November 1, 7:30PM: Video presentation on buddy’s life, Know Theater, 1120 Jackson Street. (Free) *** Thursday, November 9, 7:30PM: Open Mic Poetry Reading, Drop Inn Center 217 W. 12th Street. For information, call (513) 421-7803, extension 13 Streetvibes Page 9 �Drop Inn Center Update Large Men’s Sweatshirts and Jackets Needed Large Men’s Sweatshirts and Jackets Needed: With the cooler temperatures, there is a sudden, urgent demand for sweatshirts and jackets, especially XL and XXL! If you have any laying around or see a deal at the store this weekend, please keep us in mind. We accept dropoffs any time, but it helps to call the front desk before you come at 721-0643. 5 pm : Gather at Buddy’s Place, 1300 Vine Street, Walk to Washington Park 5:30 pm: Speakers, music and food at Washington Park 6:30 pm: Fellowship at Nast Trinity UMC buddy gray Video Nite: November 1st, Know Theater, 1120 Jackson , 7:30pm Special Open Mic: November 9th, McCracken Room, 7:30pm Planned buddy gray Memorial Activities: November 15th will mark the Ten Year Anniversary of buddy’s tragic passing. For those who don’t know, buddy was one of the founders and original Coordinator of the Drop Inn Center. He was also a visionary activist for social justice, peace and housing. buddy gray Memorial and Vigil Wednesday, November 15th... Family Dollar Stores Target Food Stamps “In an effort to carve a niche as a ‘neighborhood convenience store without the convenience store prices,” Family Dollar Stores Inc. plans to offer more groceries in its stores and to begin installing machines capable of accepting food stamps, company officials said last month. While food generally has low profit margins compared with products such as apparel and house decorations, people buy food more often and it gets them in the door to explore other products such as prepaid phones and clothing, said Stephanie Hoff, investment specialist “What they’re doing is to think a little out of the box as far as what dollar stores have traditionally sold,” Hoff said. Family Dollar spokesman Kiley Rawlins said accepting food stamps will increase food sales even more because many of the company’s customers can afford to buy groceries only by using the food cards. “By not accepting food stamps, that’s a whole transaction we’ve been missing,” she said. Injection of US funds for BHA raises hope for the homeless Boston - After escaping a physically and verbally abusive boyfriend in 2001, Marly and her two children joined the ranks of Boston’s homeless. The family moved into a shelter, took out a restraining order against the boyfriend, and soon was placed at the bottom of the list of thousands of people awaiting government-assisted housing. Marly’s name never rose to the top of the list, and since then, the family has been bouncing between shelters and the apartments of extended family members. All that changed this month, when the Boston Housing Authority announced plans to distribute about 700 Section 8 housing-subsidy vouchers. It has been years since the program has been fully funded, and now, people like Marly have a renewed chance at trading the shelter for a home. “To be quite honest, I had given up on it,” said Marly, who works as a receptionist and who is excited about the BHA’s pending approval of a small rental house for herself and her children. She asked that her last name not be published for fear of being found by the former boyfriend. “I got really excited because Section 8 is even better than public housing,” she said. “You get to pick where you want. “I would have taken public housing because it’s better than a shelter, but this is definitely better,” Marly said in an interview. Several years ago, the BHA’s Section 8 housing-subsidy program, which pays a portion of the rent for needy families, ran out of the money needed to provide housing help for families new to the waiting list. Rather than leave people hanging, the agency decided to close the program. This year, the federal government provided the agency with an unexpected influx of $2.5 million — enough to finance the 700 housingsubsidy vouchers that are now available. The voucher program is separate from the agency’s public housing facilities, for which there is also a waiting list of several thousand families and individuals. The 700 vouchers will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to any family who qualifies for immediate housing. Families or individuals who qualify for this housing are those who have a dire need, such as survivors of domestic violence, people who are homeless, or families who have lost homes because of fire or condemnation or a no-fault eviction. The voucher can then be used anywhere in the country to help offset the cost of a market-rent apartment. In Boston, this means the BHA will help pay for any apartment that is listed for no more than $1,116 a month for a studio, and up to $2,101 a month for a five-bedroom. The waiting-list application period runs from Oct. 18 to Oct. 31 and is being advertised to people who currently live in shelters or who have previously applied for housing help. After being thoroughly reviewed (to ensure they meet the criteria), the people who make the waiting list are then placed into a lottery, which then randomly assigns their name to a number. The housing vouchers are then given out to the first 700 people whose names are pulled out of the lottery list. Although the BHA is giving out only 700, the waiting list will be capped at 7,000, said Lydia Agro, communications director for the agency. She expects several thousand to apply. “Many of those people, depending on where they fall on the list, might qualify but will have to wait and see how our funding situation goes,” Agro said. “The people at the top of the list will get a voucher if they qualify.” Marly said she knows of people who would be eager to get back on the waiting list because of the difficulties they encounter getting into public housing in Boston. “It’s not that easy,” said Marly, who has a voucher, but who is waiting for the BHA to approve her choice of a rental. “You think because you’re in a shelter you’ll get the help quick. But no...some people I meet, they’ve been waiting for years and still nothing.” Peace Village help, the chance for a very different life became a reality. buddy never gave up the dream that the poor could be helped by both respect and by direct action for compassionate housing. Housing for the poor is a disgrace in Cincinnati and stands as an act of war against our citizens who deserve better from a city. buddy tried to build a bridge to a different city, a place where peace in Over-the-Rhine was directly connected to fair housing and compassionate streets. And, police that really cared to protect and not disrupt the streets and the people. Today, buddy’s legacy is to warn the city to stop warring against the poor, the homeless and those needing good housing. No part of downtown will be safe as long as this war continues and buddy’s peace message is ignored. Those brave people that have continued his work need to be celebrated for keeping alive a belief that Cincinnati is a city for all of the people. They make it clear that peace and justice, buddy’s signal words, still need to be fulfilled. I bow to his memory and to those who continue the work of making peace. In peace, Steve. by Dr. Steve Sunderland Cincinnati has not recovered from the death of buddy gray. His tough approach to fighting for housing for the poor stands out as an amazing act of peace making. Cincinnati cannot be a great city when it forces out the poor, destroys reasonably priced housing and does everything possible to say that the poor are unwelcome citizens. buddy took the more difficult and humane path. The poor were seen as citizens of worth, as capable of making good decisions, and of being agents for the changing of the city. buddy knew that poverty was for many a temporary condition that robbed people of their internal peace. With Page 10 Streetvibes Steve Sunderland �Bookselling Homeless Man Beats the Odds by Paul Rice Cambridge, MA – After enduring multiple arrests and vaulting numerous (and potentially unconstitutional) legal barriers, a native Cantabrigian who is homeless, finally won the right to sell used books in the local meeting place, Harvard Square. “All of the obstacles melted,” said newly permitted bookseller Kenneth O’Brien. “They knew they were wrong.” O’Brien was arrested twice over a two month period for selling books without a permit on the sidewalk at 1324 Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard Square. The first case against him was dismissed, but was arrested again when he set up shop the next day. At his second arraignment, O’Brien was assigned a defense attorney named Daniel Beck, an unusual move considering the charges O’Brien faced didn’t carry a jail term. “My guess is the judge thought it was an interesting enough case, and Mr. O’Brien needed a lawyer,” Beck told Spare Change News. O’Brien and his associate Gary Kibler, who was also arrested in June for selling books without a permit, provided Beck with numerous court cases they felt proved they should be allowed to sell books without an expensive permit from the city. The city continued to arrest them for not having the proper permit. However, O’Brien believed the permit the city instructed him to acquire did not apply to his circumstances. It required a $5,000 surety bond as well as $1 million in liability insurance to be approved by the city, fiscal requirements that didn’t bode well for a man who lives on the street with his family. A glimmer of hope for O’Brien came in the form of an old Cambridge ordinance, entitled “Peddlers”. The ordinance reads: “No person shall place or keep any table, stall, booth or other erection, in any street, public place or any sidewalk, for the sale of any merchandise, without permission from the Superintendent of Streets. The fee for the permit set out in this chapter shall be fifty cents.” This was the perfect permit for O’Brien’s business. There was only one problem: no one in the city’s bureaucracy knew about this ordinance, or how to apply for the peddler’s permit. Even Superintendent of Streets Bill Dwyer had no clue what the permit was, even though according to the ordinance, he was in charge of giving them out. Gnomon Copy in Harvard Square helped O’Brien print out hundreds of pages of case files he eventually submitted to his attorney. Beck then filed a motion of weighty determination with the judge: “The defendant hereby moves this Court to dismiss this case. In support he states that he was engaged in constitutionally protected activity, and that therefore there was no probable cause for the arrest.” The judge ruled in favor of the dismissal about three weeks later, leaving O’Brien feeling vindicated and hopeful. “The fact that they had no probable cause to arrest me was in black and white,” he said, smiling. But whether or not Cambridge police would arrest him again if he tried to set up his stand remained to be seen. O’Brien went to the Cambridge police station in Central Square and inquired at the front desk whether he would be arrested since he now had a dismissal that clearly showed they had no right to take him into custody in the first place. The police sent him over to the City Solicitor’s office in Cambridge City Hall, who could not help him because the lead solicitor was unavailable. He went to Mayor Reeve’s office with the dismissal and inquired as to what his best course of action would be. Staff in the mayor’s office explained that the mayor of Cambridge has little to no political power and that he should try the City Manager’s office. Making his way to that office, he started to feel a bit loopy. A staff member in the City Manager’s Streetvibes office looked at his dismissal and listened to O’Brien’s story; the books, the arrests and the enigmatic permit. She made a call to the City Solicitor’s office and discovered that in fact the lead solicitor was available, and would see O’Brien. He returned to the office he started in and immediately received an audience, and, to his surprise, a peddler’s permit. The permit he sought for more than 85 days suddenly fell into his lap. The next morning it was signed and approved by Bill Dwyer. A homeless man won a victory over an entire city’s bureaucracy, earning the right to sell books on the Harvard Square sidewalk. O’Brien’s business, which he officially named “Almost Banned in Harvard Square Booksellers”, has now been in operation for four weeks. At the outset, Cambridge police would routinely stop at his stand and ask whether he had a permit to be there. He willingly shared his laminated copy with anybody who asked. Police interest has since died down, and his stand quickly became recognized by Square denizens as a legitimate business. “Everybody in the community who’s known about this has been walking up to shake my hand,” O’Brien said. Now that his business has an official name, O’Brien is looking for more ways to link arms with the local business community, namely the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA). “The objective of the HSBA is to promote commerce and commerce comes in a lot of forms,” says Denise Gillson, the organization’s executive director. “I think the board would be generally supportive of this kind of enterprise.” As of press time, O’Brien had received an application for membership from the HSBA and hoped to be a full member within a month. As for other booksellers in Harvard Square, O’Brien initially expected to meet resistance. As it turned out, he found himself and his business welcomed. “We welcome competition,” says Alan Powell, corporate general manager for the Harvard Coop. “If anything, we need more bookseller competition. That’s what Harvard Square is traditionally known for.” Harvard Book Store, O’Brien’s closest bookselling neighbor, agrees. “We do acknowledge that the bookstand in question is competition,” wrote Frank Kramer, owner of Harvard Book Store, in an email to SCN. “Harvard Book Store deals with competition every day – we compete with the Harvard Coop/Barnes & Noble, with Raven Books, among others. Competition keeps us on our toes, and encourages us to be the best bookstore we can be.” O’Brien believes he can be stalwart competition, but he’s not looking to put anyone out of business. In fact, he’s hoping to put some people in business as he looks for ways his bookstand can give back to the community he grew up in. He set up importing networks among local homeless people, and even brought in some of his friends, homeless and not, to help him run the table for a share in the day’s profits. “I especially want to work with the longer-term homeless, not the kids,” he told SCN. “Being older and homeless is two strikes against you right there.” He sees the potential for a new street economy to arise centered around his activities, an economy that may benefit all those living on the streets of Harvard Square. “What better than to give back to the streets, where I’ve come from myself,” he said. Page 11 �Suit filed over homeless meals Voter ID News In Ohio Orlando, FL - The Central Florida ACLU filed a lawsuit last month that claims the Orlando ordinance limiting the feeding of homeless people, adopted in July, is unconstitutional and should be overturned. There were two hours already on the meter when Jacqueline Dowd pulled into the parking spot across from the federal courthouse. “I thought, ‘That’s a good omen,’ “ the Orlando attorney said. Dowd needed only seven minutes to file the lawsuit in U.S. District Court. The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of First Vagabonds Church of God; Brian Nichols, the homeless man who serves as pastor of the church that meets in city parks; and Orlando Food Not Bombs and four of its members. City officials and politicians reacted with dismay at the lawsuit, saying they would have preferred for both sides to have a dialogue on the issue. But the architect of the city law said the suit could become the force for that discussion to finally happen. “If there is a silver lining, maybe it’s that this will get us to coordinate efforts. We need to coordinate, and we need a drop-in center,” Commissioner Patty Sheehan said. George Crossley, who heads the local ACLU, agreed but said the agency had no choice but to sue to get the city’s attention. “We want to find a long-term solution to this problem,” Crossley said. “This lawsuit will On October 4, a federal judge in Cleveland blocked part of a new Ohio state law that would require naturalized citizens to provide a certificate of naturalization upon trying to vote if a poll worker challenged their eligibility. Fortunately this clear form of discrimination, where naturalized citizens are meant to be treated differently from native-born citizens at the polling place, will be blocked. “Absent proof of citizenship, the person would be allowed to cast a provisional ballot but would have to provide proof of citizenship within 10 days for the vote to count. A group of foreignborn citizens, many from Greater Cleveland, filed a lawsuit in August, saying the new law could lead to ethnic and racial profiling.” definitely go somewhere.”A handful of charities have been at odds with the city since July, when Orlando banned groups from serving meals at Lake Eola Park and other downtown city land without a special permit. Permits are available to any group or person just twice a year. Food Not Bombs has continued to provide weekly vegan meals at Lake Eola, in defiance of the law. The city has responded by issuing permits to it and other groups that have continued their feedings. The lawsuit argues restricting those meals violates freedom of expression and freedom of speech. It also argues for equal protection under the Constitution, arguing that if any person can eat lunch in the parks, everyone has the same right. But Sheehan noted that the city also had provided an alternative feeding site, on Sylvia Lane, which does not require a permit or any fees. That factor is likely to be included in the city’s response, which it has 20 days to file. There is no clear legal precedent on the issue. In a state case in Fort Lauderdale, where the city had adopted a law restricting a religious group’s feedings on a public beach, the city was required to create an alternative site. However, a 1996 federal court in Virginia allowed a religious group to continue with its feedings because it proved the meals were a central part of its religion. A vile teen fad: beating the homeless by Michael Stoops and Brian Levin Across the nation, America’s homeless are under attack - literally. They are hunted down during youthful rites of passage by roving packs of males armed with prejudice and tools of torture. The number of violent incidents against our country’s most vulnerable members has risen dramatically this year, with 16 murders in the first nine months so far. One homeless man was set ablaze in his wheelchair in Spokane, Wash.; another man was beaten with baseball bats in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; a homeless woman was drowned by two young men who rolled her into Tennessee’s Cumberland River while she slept. The hate behind this brutality is not fostered in rural Klan rallies or overseas terrorist camps, but in high school locker rooms and suburban living rooms. While homeless people have often been stereotyped as worthless, depraved, and disposable, prejudice now has a potent new ally: “bum rushing” videos. This twisted fad has inspired some youths to kill for the “fun” of emulating what they see on a video screen. One group of teens inspired by these videos murdered Michael Roberts, a frail homeless man who succumbed after being relentlessly pummeled by nailstudded two-by-fours and a log in Holly Hill, Fla. Teens buy and trade hundreds of thousands of these videos, making their producers rich. They also film their own assaults, broadcasting them online. In the first nine months of 2006, 36 of 58 Page 12 Las Vegas homeless man shot in face by Nevada trooper LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas homeless man was hospitalized this weekend after being shot in the face by a Nevada trooper. 51-year-old Donald O’Day was shot in face last month. O’Day has a history of mental illness. Police say he was throwing rocks at the trooper in a vacant lot where officers had gone to respond to complaints of people soliciting. O’Day’s family says they are trying to get more information about what happened. They say O’Day is a paranoid schizophrenic who has been living in and out of institutions, on the streets and with family members for nearly 30 years. Officials should work to raise community awareness so neighbors can help eradicate homelessness altogether, not just remove it from their own line of vision. Community education efforts should model the NCH’s Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau. The Bureau is made up of current and former homeless people who give talks to break stereotypes. This year, this panel has made more than 300 appearances, speaking to more than 17,000 people, mostly youths. Their work is leading the way to stop the dehumanization of those without homes. Without further effort, violence against the homeless will continue. The burden falls on all our shoulders to end homelessness. Until the day when all Americans are housed, the least we can do is ensure their safety. * Michael Stoops is acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington. Brian Levin is director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino known homeless attackers were teens ages 14 to 19. Such violence seems to be correlated with the rise of bum videos. The number of reported incidents in 2003 nearly doubled, jumping from 36 reported attacks in 2002 to 70 in 2003. The number of nonlethal attacks reached 77 through the end of this September. In Calgary, Alberta, youths filmed themselves beating and urinating on a homeless man, and screaming out “bum fights!” In Los Angeles, a youth admitted that he, too, was inspired to kill a homeless man with an aluminum baseball bat after viewing a video. Perhaps most disturbing is not the media’s influence on violence and prejudice, but the nation’s almost casual acceptance of this violence and the images that derive from it. If any other minority group reported hate- crime homicide numbers this high there would be a national outcry for justice. A comparison by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, and the National Coalition for Judging Streetvibes? the Homeless (NCH), found that from 1999 to 2005 there were 167 homeless homicides by domiciled attackers. The number of these killings is more than double the number of all other officially tabulated hate- crime homicides combined. The glaring disparity underscores the case for action. But how do we act? s We need to enhance data collection by ibe etv law enforcement and improve outreach to the Stre homeless community. Homelessness must be added to vulnerable-victim laws and hate-crime legislation. Streetvibes Buy it Now! �Foley’s Meltdown – The Seductions of Clicking by Paul Rogat Loeb It’s easy to delight in the Hastert/Foley meltdown, and how it’s hit a national nerve. Building on all the administration’s abuses, failures, and lies, the cover up of this out-of-control congressman may just giveAmerica the inadvertent gift of a chance to finally change course. As I read the daily stories, though, I fear that too many of us will devour them with relish, then do little more than gloat. I worry that we’ll be so busy following each breaking revelation about the self-destruction of a regime so drunk on its own power it’s finally overreached, that we’ll end up doing nothing but cheering. At a moment when those long disengaged or disagreeing might finally be receptive, that would be a profound loss. Because the degree of the electoral shift in this key election will likely be decided by the volunteer energy that turns out borderline participants to vote. Many of us have followed the Foley/ Hastert story by reading about it on progressive websites, and these sites have done a great job of placing it in context. Yet the time we spend online also risks being part of the problem. I’m not talking about the ability to click and donate. That’s played a profound role in making the Democratic Party at least partially one of small contributors again, and helped bring within reach the once improbable Paul Loeb challenge of helping the Democrats take back the House and Senate. The dollars we contribute may make the difference between winning and losing. But we also need to get out from behind our computers, and realize that not all politics can be accomplished with the click of a mouse. That means walking local precincts, traveling to swing districts, signing up for the remote voter calling programs of groups like MoveOn, and talking to people who don’t normally agree with us. Just reading wonderful blog posts and forwarding inspiring emails won’t get sympathetic or newly sympathetic voters to the polls. This last would seem obvious, but most of us don’t participate in these more direct ways. For instance, MoveOn now has three million members, but just 38,000 have signed up so far for a powerful new program where people from less competitive geographic areas call potentially supportive voters in swing states or districts. Thirty-eight thousand people will make a real impact, but nothing compared to 300,000, which would be just a tenth of their members, or the half million or more who have signed their on-line petitions. I’ve seen similarly precipitous drop offs in practically every progressive group that’s rooted in online communities. This isn’t a critique of the online organizations trying to make this happen. To take the case of MoveOn, few progressive groups in America’s history have enlisted more people to be involved in at least some modest ways, gotten out more useful information, or raised more grassroots dollars for critical races and issues. But we need to look at why more people haven’t found ways of acting offline. Most of us do have overloaded lives. Clicking and emailing gives us a chance to act despite them. But between now and the election, most of us could find a few additional hours to make calls or maybe even a day or two to walk precincts or monitor polls on the day of the vote. But somehow we use the excuse of lack of time to rationalize a larger withdrawal. . We also may not feel our small individual efforts will really make a difference, a resignation that echoes that of many of the people we’re trying to reach and turn out-those who similarly discount the importance of their individual votes. When I volunteer to walk a precinct or call voters, I envision the modest impact of my actions being multiplied by that all the other volunteers who are joining me. If we have 15,000-20,000 progressive campaign volunteers in my state of Washington, which we often have, and we each make the different for just two votes apiece, that’s 30,000-40,000 votes in a state where the past two elections have seen a US Senator elected by 2,400 votes and a governor by 129 votes following three recounts. But for many of us our reflex fatalism leaves us passive spectators, dismissing the power of our potential efforts before we even attempt them. Even if we’re not feeling pessimistic, or at least not during the last couple weeks, we still may end up acting as little more than political spectators. Given a juicy scandal like the Foley/ Hastert affair, it’s just too tempting to spend the “Don “Don’’t Leave Home Without IIt” t” Streetvibes entire time we devote to politics just following the news, on this or other issues, until we never have to face the question of how to actually reach beyond the chorus of the already committed. The potential for people to become political junkies didn’t originate with the Internet. We could always spend free hours reading piles of magazines and newspapers. But it’s far easier in a world of endless connected links. Our blogs and listservs keep us informed, offering facts and arguments to use in convincing friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Reminding us that we aren’t alone in our concerns, they give us quick and efficient ways to pressure our elected representatives to take wiser and more courageous stands—which if they do speak out will create powerful additional ripples. They help us reflect on every conceivable key issue, including the critical question of how to head America back from the present destructive course. But by themselves they don’t reach the unconvinced—those who’d potentially be receptive, but remain silent or disconnected. If we want to actually change America’s political culture, we’re going to have to find ways to act offline. We now have an unexpected opportunity. Just a few weeks until a pivotal election, during which the Republican game plan has just imploded and voters long part of their coalition are beginning to question and bolt. A month during which our perspectives and outreach just might make the difference in deciding who chairs the committees, who brings bills to the House or Senate floor, and who has the ability to pass or block legislation. But this will only happen if we find ways to reach out. To do that, we’re going to have to step back at some point from our keyboards and screens, turn away from our favorite listsservs and blogs, and expose ourselves to the vulnerability of talking to people we don’t already know. The stakes are worth it. Paul Rogat Loeb is the author of The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear, named the #3 political book of 2004 by the History Channel and the American Book Association. His previous books include Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time. Page 13 �How Did It Happen? by buddy gray February 19, 1950 – November 15, 1996 Tennessee i don’t know how it happened…many events, Witnesses, years… But more important—it has… i don’t desire to be happy unless happiness is a universal right i don’t care to be at peace when teenagers of the third world must learn to shoot anti-aircraft guns at American invading planes i don’t want to be acceptable as long as rape, racism/sexism, multinational profit, CIA destabilization of governments, joblessness, homelessness are acceptable i don’t intend to be calm, pleasant and likable if the stink of injustice must be raised i don’t expect to be patient until there is “HOUSING NOW” FOR ALL i don’t know how to be quiet when our voices may be the only counter to the Rich’s media controls, limits, inversions of the truth i don’t think about being respectful when hunger exists in the land of plenty poverty exists in this nation of wealth uneducation and ill health run rampant in this place of advanced technology and toxic waste ravages this once-beautiful country now owned by a handful i don’t plan to be non-disruptive of the “order” around us i don’t yet choose to be a carpenter if nuclear bombs production still steals the housing construction budget As long as churches and synagogues and temples do reverent rituals for rights and speak in pious platitudes of peace and take no angry action that stops American Business as usual to end homelessness, imperialism As long as business lunches still happen in the glass condos looking out over the homeless and hungry on the cold streets 10 stories below As long as the City Fathers can work 8 hours a week for $35,000 and do little to learn of the peoples problems over whom they rule i fully intend to dream of happiness and peace when i sleep. food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, equality, green space and peace for all… And meanwhile, awake to live as unacceptably, non-calmly unpleasantly dislikably impatiently loudly disrespectfully and disruptively and as contagiously collectively as i am able as long as is necessary December 1st, 1989 Page 14 Campaigns At the Capitol i’ve been gone 3 days, Tennessee, Gone again, Tennessee To campaigns at the Capitol You always greet me, Tennessee, When I return. You always say “I been knowing you 20 years” “You’re a good man” You have 3 little spots i know, Tennessee The steps west side of your building ‘ The stone ledge along the park The 1st bench inside the park gate Campaigns at the Capitol You support me strong Your voice has fire and wisdom You say of Tennessee a poor, old, black man But you don’t march any more Your eyes are cataract’ed Your walk is slow Your drinking now has major role Today you were at spot 3 A high man was swearing And threatening you i came up and put my arms around you and stayed a short while till things cooled down. I plead with you to come home You say, “I’m thinking about it” I say, “Don’t wait too late.” Campaigns at the Capitol, Tennessee They have me worried You knew the youth i was You know the route we’ve both fought Since the early days of the shelter’s struggle. Conditions have greatly worsened since we met Campaigns are on and on and on Campaigns, Tennessee You know have taken their toll My friendships with those walking slow My time on the street My street-work intervening vs. addiction — where we met Campaigns, have me worried, Tennessee You say you’re thinking about coming back home “To save your life, Tennessee” Tennessee, I’m really worried And my heart is torn Campaigns at the Capitol shall have me And when I return and rest I’ll find You waited too late to Come back home By buddy gray Found in a yellow notepad by Bonnie Neumeier No date Tennessee was a frequent guest at Drop Inn Center Streetvibes �Fall is a Time by Ron Martin Fall is a time for the leaves to fly off the trees. Fall is a time for the leaves to turn colors. Fall is a time for the wind to whistle. Fall is a time for the grass to get covered with leaves Fall is a time for the people to make pumpkin pie because with pumpkin you can by. Fall is a time to throw the pigskin. Fall is a time to put on your orange and black. Fall is a time to be together, stick together and bake together. Fall is a time to keep warm. Fall is a time to eat candy corn. Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Disaster or Misunderstanding? I’m sure by now that you know of Hurricane Katrina and the disaster she left behind. Thousands upon thousands of people have no homes and no place to go. Some say the disaster could’ve been avoided, others say it was just a misunderstanding. The warning came out Friday that a hurricane was forming in the ocean. Some people didn’t take it seriously, others simply had no way out. Many depended upon public transportation to get around. Yes, some didn’t want to leave their homes, but many had no choice. To make things worse, the government responded slowly to the disaster. They said they couldn’t get in there. If the news crews were able to get down there, why couldn’t our government? The government says, “We did help.” They told people to go to the Superdome; they would send buses to get them out. The buses never came. After the hurricane and the flood, they had nothing. People started looting because they needed food, water and diapers. The President sent Armed Forces to stop the looting, but did not send any supplies for the victims. Can we blame them for looting? People were dying on the streets, and all they could do was stack the bodies to the side. Can we blame them for their despair? I pray for everyone and ask God to help them. May they find the help and hope they need. War by Jessye Marie Daily What does it mean? It means children with lost dreams. It means people lost forever, People we will never know. People who will no longer grow. Families who will never be together again. All the hurt it causes And people hardly pause, To stop and think of all the effects. The whole situation has left me perplexed. Why is it that the children have to suffer most, While the old men are the ones who sit back and boast. Wrong is becoming meshed with right. We have decided against word and toward might. Fear Days of Darkness by Jessye Marie Daily They forced us to live in a desolate place Where our hearts never saw the sunshine. They turned us into their slaves Making us mold adobes and build their fort Though they said we were free. The soldiers gave us strange food that we didn’t like And the soil was no good for farming our corn. The illness spread through our people like a wildfire And we couldn’t withstand the cold winter rain and wind. It’s like they’re wasting us As they did our Buffalo that had once roamed so free. Yet here we are, the Navajo, Desolate Ill of spirit Not defeated by the white man. (This is a poem describing The Long Walk, in my own words, as so many Native Americans had to take.) Fear is not a good thing. Fear is not a bad thing, though. Fear is a part of life and you can’t control it. Fear is like what you may have for roller coasters, or heights, or Saddam. We should not let it control us; if we do we will live with fear, and our hearts will die, and our fears will live on. Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Page 15 �569-9500 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel 241-5525 Mission Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House 324-2321 (Veterans) St. Francis/St.Joseph 381-4941 House 661-4620 Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 921-1131 Bethany House 762-5660 Salvation Army Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis 859-491-3335 Center Grace Place Catholic Worker 681-2365 House Tom Gieger Guest House 961-4555 If you need help help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of 421-2437 Cincinnati Appalachian Identity 621-5991 Center 231-6630 Beech Acres Center for Independent Living 241-2600 Options Churches Active in 591-2246 Northside Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 381-4242 Contact Center Center for Respite Care 621-1868 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 241-2563 Emanuel Center Freestore/ TREATMENT: Both 820-2947 N.A. Hopeline 351-0422 A.A. Hotline 381-6672 C.C.A.T. 684-7956 Talbert House Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In 721-0643 Program TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 921-1613 Prospect House 961-2256 Starting Over TREATMENT: Women 961-4663 First Step Home HOUSING: 977-5660 CMHA Excel Development 632-7149 241-0504 Miami Purchase OTR Community Housing 381-1171 721-8666 Tender Mercies Dana Transitional Bridge 751-9797 Services, Inc 761-1480 Caracole (AIDS) 381-5432 Friars Club 721-0643 Drop Inn Center 863-8866 Haven House Interfaith 471-1100 Hospitality Lighthouse Youth Center 961-4080 (Teens) St. John’s Housing 651-6446 or Want to Help? Need Help or would like to 241-1064 Foodbank Fransiscan Haircuts 381--0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental 946-8600 Health Board Mental Health Access 558-8888 Point Hamilton Co. TB Control 946-7601 Healing Connections 751-0600 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile 352-2902 Health Van House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 IJ & Peace Center 579-8547 621-5991 Worker Center 241-0490 Justice Watch Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. 271-5501 Center Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 Mercy Fransiscan at St John 981-5841 McMicken Dental 352-6363 Clinic NAMI (Mental Health) 948-3094 621-6364 Our Daily Bread Oral Health Council 621-0248 Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen 961-1983 Peaslee Neighborhood 621-5514 Center Project Connect, Homeless 363-1060 Kids People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 Services United For Mothers 487-7862 721-7660 Travelers Aid 721-7900 United Way VA Homeless 621-5991 Worker Center W omen Helping 872-9259 Women MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) 863-3184 St. Raphaels 863-1445 Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 November 2006 rs in Pu bli ca tio Remembering buddy gray Cover story BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY 10 Ye a n! STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource November 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Who Was Buddy Gray? Learning from Buddy Gray Pg 2: Buddy Gray; He Empowered Lives Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: I Remember Buddy Pg 5: New Tools Implemented to Help the Homeless Pg 6: New Compactor Trash Cans Leave ‘Canners’ Feeling Dumped Reedy Place apartments Give 15 Residents New Lease on Life Pg 7: Church Program for Homeless Cuts its Hours Pg 8: Anti-War Protesters Still Active Four Years After Start of War in Iraq Pg 9: The Bush Tax Cuts Pg 10: Injection of US Funds for BHA Raises Hope for the Homeless Pg 11: Bookselling Homeless Man Beats the Odds Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: Foley’s Meltdown- The Seductions of Clicking Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Gina King Andy Freeze Melvin Williams Susan Smith Linda Pittman Matt Cohen Berta Lambert Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Anti-War Berta Lambert BHA Books buddy gray Bush Church Drop Inn Center Family Dollar Foley food stamps Georgine Getty Gina King Homeless News Digest Iraq Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Las Vegas Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Matt Cohen Melvin Williams Ohio Remembering Buddy Gray Susan Smith Tax Cuts US Funds Voters https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/ec2081610c26964d2d211c730f02b47a.pdf d4091d8595e6369588651e11ededb676 PDF Text Text September 2006 STREETVIBES Cover Story Declare Peace by Elizabeth Byrd & Curt Braman Later this month Cincinnatians will join the national call for a Declaration of Peace. Since July 4, 2006, high profile fasts, marches, rallies and acts of civil disobedience have surfaced across the country as opposition to the war in Iraq. Oppostion continues to grow with more Americans recognizing the staggering costs of the war. These Americans are telling U. S. Senators and Congressional Representatives tobring the troops home, close all the bases in Iraq, undertake a real reconstruction plan for Iraq’s infrastructure and use redirect the massive amount of money now spent to occupy Iraq and kill its people to pay for health care, education, job creation and affordable housing. They are asking Congress to pass legislation accomplishing these goals by September 21, the International Day of Peace. Finally, in the absence of Congressional action, they are committing to a week of increased Anti-War activity (September 21 - 28). Kristen Barker of the Cincinnati Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC), the organization coordinating the local effort, has noticed the noticed activists’ increased concern for the domestic costs of the war. “The Declaration of Peace Coalition has multiple goals for the week: to highlight the local cost of the war; to draw attention to the growing opposition to the war (a CNN poll taken August 9th showed that 60% of Americans oppose the war); and to involve faith based communities and all people of good will in witnessing against the war.” Barker added, “Not only does military spending lead to cuts in existing social services, but the potential of a “Peace Dividend” redirecting resources from the war to providing economic security and opportunity is immense.” The U.S. Government Budget Office and non-government sources agree that the cost of the Iraq war will exceed $300 billion by the end of September. At the same time, the administration and its supporters in Congress pledge further cuts in necessary social, educational, and health programs to offset the cost of the war.. The U.S. economy has been operating with record deficits that has negatively impacted funding for essential services. Programs for Veterans have been attacked while the unprecedented use of the National Guard and Reserve Forces as combat troops has reduced manpower in vital emergency services and has left communities less prepared to respond to natural disasters. The Center for Defense Information, the Friends Committee on National Legislation and the War Resisters League all report that military spending amounts to nearly half of the federal budget. The National Priorities Project estimates that over $11 billion Ohio tax dollars have gone to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Cincinnati’s share has been nearly $300 million. Statewide, the money could have been spent for 1.5 million people receiving health care, 102 thousand affordable housing units, 12 hundred new elementary schools and 1.6 million university scholarships. In an effort to bring these issues to the front of ongoing Congressional campaigns in the area, The Declaration of Peace Coalition has invited Congressional Representatives Geoff Davis, Steve Chabot and Jean Schmidt as well as their challengers, Ken Lucas, Victoria Wulson and John Cranley to participate as panelists at a Town Hall Meeting to be held September 18, 6:00 pm at St. Monica-St. George Parish Newman Center. The focus of the meeting will be on local citizens giving testimony regarding the impact of the war in Iraq on the community. Georgine Getty, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless will moderate the event and offer a keynote presentation. Getty thinks all the candidates would benefit from hearing directly from constituents who are advocates, social workers, educators and others affected by budgetary policies. “The American public is way ahead of members of Congress in recognizing that stable housing, employment and health care should take priority over war.” Getty said, “Policy makers should take advantage of hearing from the people whose vocation is seeking economic and social justice for all of us.” Members of the local religious community are organizing a week of fasting prior to the September 21 deadline. The invitation sent to faith based groups in the area explains: “Fasting has been an important part of all faith traditions. Through fasting, we are able to carve out a space within ourselves to focus on prayer. This prayer is that God’s Spirit would transform the conscience of our lawmakers to sign the Declaration and make concrete steps to peace making.” Without a clear legislative mandate endorsing the Declaration of Peace, organizers in Cincinnati and throughout the nation are planning multiple events during the September 21-28 time frame. Banners with pro-peace and economic justice messages are expected to hang from locations above city streets and roadways. A Tent City will be built around the Peaslee Neighborhood Center at 215 E. 14th Street featuring a peace fair, a cost of war display, workshops, information sessions and films. Leaflets will be distributed at schools, military recruiting stations and other public locations encouraging people to contact congress. A rally and march will proceed from the Federal Building to Congressional offices and nonviolent acts of civil disobedience are in the planning stages. In Lexington, the week will feature a march to Representative Ben Chandler’s office asking that he sign the Declaration. The Louisville Peace Action Community will continue distributing materials and engaging in dialogue from their booth at the Kentucky State Fair. Frankfurt’s chapter of Code Pink will rally at the State Capital Rotunda. Events in Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana are being planned. The supporters of The Declaration of Peace hope that these events will move our nation closer to ending this costly military endeavor, and closer to committing the resources needed to eliminate the serious inequities so many Americans face everyday. They call on individuals and religious, labor, peace and economic justice groups who share this hope to Declare Peace and to let policy makers know of their determination to change course. To get involved in Declaration of Peace activities contact Kristen Barker at IJPC: 513.579.8547; email: kristen@ijpc­ cincinnati.org or fill out the on-line form at www.ijpc-cincinnati.org. Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Monique Little - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Gina King - VISTA Andy Freeze - Intern John Lavelle - Administrative Coordinator Susan Smith - Volunteer Melvin Williams - Reception Linda Pittman - Reception Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photography Jimmy Heath, Berta Lambert Cover Protest Sign at Peace Rally Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 New Jails, or Education? homeowners who complain about by Jimmy Heath It appears that the Hamilton training programs for low-income crime will vote no on school levy’s. . County sheriff, the county judges, the people.) Why aren’t we talking It costs an average of $67 Cincinnati police and a whole gaggle about real human issues with as much per day to house county inmates. It of politicians are missing the point fervor as the jail issue? Why not bite costs taxpayers $46 each per student when discussing the building of a new the bullet now, diverting some of the in 77 schools with a total of 35,600 jail. It may be what we need now City and County budgets into a students in Cincinnati. (CPS has the because we have so many adults crime-free investment in the future? fifth-highest per-pupil spending in the stuck in crime - some may be very Hire more teachers with higher pay. state. But the district also has the dangerous. Clean up the schools. Create a task highest poverty rate.) But, in a neighborhood like force with the power to look at each With an average daily inmate Over-the-Rhine, half the kids drop school and the student population, population of 2000 and an estimated out of school before they graduate. creating individual attention for each 55,000 admissions annually the local Many of them are left to student. Concentrate jail system is already ranked in the the streets, or get caught more on emptying jails top 25 largest in the nation. And the up in the drug trade and through prevention inmate numbers continue to rise. other bad behavior. strategies, rather than There is a time to step in, to Some of these just deal with it by break the cycle of kids being lost in kids are products of locking everyone up. an education system that is grossly generations of crime and Most of the money under funded, instead of trying to addiction. If the kids now funding public patch up the problem later on when aren’t getting what they Jimmy Heath schools comes from these kids become adults and fodder property taxes. But need at home and the for the criminal justice system. schools continually fail them, what are we going to get? Overflow in future jails? These are the kids that later wind up filling the criminal justice system. We will never solve the criminal element by simply locking someone away later in life. But are we going to continue to let our kids slip away, creating a future that generates a thriving criminal justice Mr. Homeless Downtowner Ms. Homeless Downtowner system? Someone needs to have the Name: Allen Johnson Name: Cheryl Yates courage to step out of their little Hometown: Cincinnati Hometown: Cincinnati kingdom and stop this cycle. We Neighborhood: Avondale Neighborhood: Over-theneed more money for schools and Occupation: Carpentry, Painting Rhine after-school programs, individual Favorite Interest: Pretty Favorite Interest: singing, attention to our kids, more teachers Women, watching kids play, good dancing, reading, writing, with higher pay and buildings that memories shopping, eating aren’t falling down around the I can’t resist: money I can’t resist: church students and teachers. I can’t stand: Greed I can’t stand: violence The School Board talks Person I admire most: Pastor at Person I admire the most: about overall improvement in test Westside Venue because he Mother scores but a lot of kids are still going genuinely wants to help the What I like most about to the street. Of course, not all kids community Cincinnati: All of the are bad – poor maybe – but not all What I like most about different sites bad. Nearly 100% of Over-theCincinnati: That they help the Place I’d like to visit: Rhine school age children qualify for homeless and feed them. There is California again free lunch programs because of their always a place to eat. If I won the lottery I would: poverty. But their poverty presents Place I’d like to visit: Disney buy a building for the homeless another real challenge. Poverty in the Land and give them their own minds of the middle-class public If I won the lottery I would: clothes, shoes, car, food, air sometimes means criminal. The real get my nieces and nephews conditioning and all other crime is what these kids go through in whatever they wanted and help luxuries order to be qualified for college, a my family. I would build a shelter Happiness would be: going good job, or a future as law-abiding and get things right. to heaven productive members of society. Happiness would be: serene Life Philosophy: to just be . City leaders are proposing peace and my nephew. stable. a quarter-cent increase in Hamilton Life philosophy: If everyone in County taxes to build a new jail. The the world was happy there would plan now is to build a jail with 1,800 be no depression. beds at a cost of $225 million. The new jail issue may be close to being settled by the time this publication is printed, but the issue won’t go away for a long time. Citizens still have time to speak their Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct and opposition with a vote. agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Vendor Pro­ Why aren’t Cincinnati Public gram. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may Schools a budget priority? (And be removed from the Program. See page 12 for rules and regula­ what about homeless treatment tions on Vendor conduct. programs, low-income housing and To report a Violating Vendor, call 421-7803. ext. 16 Mr. and Ms. Homeless Downtowner Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Streetvibes �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath New York City - Nearly 25,000 Homeless New Yorkers Currently Live In City Shelters The number of homeless in the city has jumped this summer after a two year decline. The New York Post reports more than 8,400 families or nearly 25,000 people are currently living in city shelters; that’s a 5-percent jump from last July. According to the Post, 120 new shelter rooms were set up last month to accommodate the extra people. The Department of Homeless Services tells the Post that this year’s rise is unusual. Despite the increase, the amount of homeless families is reportedly still less than its peak in 2003. In Des Moines, during the winter, homeless shelters fill up fast when the temperature falls. It turns out the same is true when the mercury rises. The air conditioning at Central Iowa Shelter and Services offered homeless Iowans an escape from the heat today. The staff says, when people are outdoors without protection summertime can be just as dangerous as the harsh Iowa winter season. The shelter sends out a van to deliver cold water to people who live in homeless camps, but they are not staffed to do so on the weekends. If you need a cool place to stay overnight Polk county officials will open a cooling center. In Aspen, CO the city manager has fired a policewoman who used a Taser on a 63-year-old homeless woman who was rummaging through donations behind a thrift shop. “Your decision to use a Taser on an elderly woman who posed no immediate threat to you, herself, or anyone else in the community displays a complete lack of understanding of the values, philosophy and mission statement of the Aspen Police Department,” City Manager Steve Barwick wrote in a memo delivered to fired patrolwoman Melinda Calvano. Barwick said Calvano can contest her dismissal through the city’s appeal process In Orlando, FL a charity skirted the city’s new ordinance against feeding the homeless in downtown public parks by serving food out of a van on a nearby street. Joined by a local American Civil Liberties Union representative, Food Not Bombs distributed vegetarian meals to the homeless last month just as it has for more than a year. But this time, with police officers there to monitor, volunteers scooped the items from containers in a parked van nearby. That could be a loophole in an ordinance passed Monday that prevents serving large groups in parks and other public property within 2 miles of City Hall. Such feedings would be legal only with a one-time use permit. “Wherever they go after we feed them, well, that’s their own business,” volunteer John Hughes said. The ACLU, which said after the ordinance passed it intended to sue the city, says it’s also exploring other options. “I think we’ve won. We got to feed people and didn’t break the law,” local ACLU president George Crossley said. Police were there with a one­ time permit already made out for the group, which would have made the feeding, but not future ones, legal. “This is a new ordinance. People may not yet understand all the requirements, so we want to work with them,” said Sgt. Barbara Jones said. In Detroit MI, Charles Moore found $21,000 in a trash bin. Some might say, “Finders keepers.” But Charles Moore, a 59­ year-old homeless Detroit man, made the choice to return the nearly $21,000 he found in the trash to its rightful owners — and in return got the unexpected. In Texarkana, Ark. fleas from a cat apparently infested a homeless shelter and drove about 50 residents outdoors. Shelter officials closed the doors of Randy Sams Shelter. Shelter director Nina White says the fleas posed a health hazard after the cat found its way into the shelter several weeks ago and brought four kittens in with her. The kittens since died but the cat cannot be found. Meanwhile, shelter workers are cleaning the building. They have ripped out the carpet from one upstairs office and have paid an exterminator to get rid of the fleas. Shelter resident Robert Harper says many residents have been sleeping outside wherever they feel safe. He says even birds have nests and foxes have holes but they have nothing. At least, though, as long as it’s not raining, Harper says, the residents have a dry place to sleep. Homeless athletes shoot for spot on Team USA in Charlotte, NC for tryouts for the national soccer squad Junior McGregor, 14, celebrates following his goal during the Street Soccer 945 team practice at a field in Dilworth. The soccer players from Charlotte who competed in the Homeless World Cup last year will have to prove their skills if they want to do so again. For the first time, organizers are holding national tryouts. More than 50 homeless athletes from 12 cities came to Charlotte to compete for one of eight spots on the U.S. team. Those who are selected will play street soccer against other national teams in South Africa this fall. Charlotte beat out San Francisco to host the tryouts because its program was more organized, said Lawrence Cann, who launched Charlotte’s team at Urban Ministry Center almost two years ago. Now, Cann is visiting homeless shelters across the Southeast to spread the word. “Being homeless, you’re on the sidelines of life, and any opportunity to become involved is humanizing,” he said. Last year, Charlotte’s team was picked to compete at the World Cup in Scotland after the New York team couldn’t go. The team members won the Fair Play award for the spirit they showed in front of about 50,000 spectators. Many players on the Street Soccer 945 team, named after the center’s address, have since found homes and jobs, said Ray Isaac, the team’s captain. A local radio station pushes the limit and breaks the City of Las Vegas’ homeless ordinance. On a Monday morning last month, deejays from the classic rock station KKLZ fed the homeless at Frank Wright Park. The ordinance has a hefty fine of $1,000 and possible jail time for feeding the homeless in city parks. “Let them have a voice, let them tell you what they want, listen to the homeless.” Beth Monk insists it wasn’t a publicity stunt, but was intended as a protest against Las Vegas’ most aggressive move on those living on the streets. Earlier this month City leaders outlawed feeding the homeless in public parks to stop them from gathering in large groups and to steer them towards community shelters. But Monk says the move isn’t a solution. “I can’t believe we’re worried more about helping people than anything else. Shouldn’t we be looking at crime, about people stealing cars than helping our homeless?” Still, rules are the rules, and Monk quickly learned that with a citation for feeding homeless and two traffic citations on top of that. Streetvibes Eventually Monk left bringing the food her. But she says her fight with the law isn’t over. “The fine is worth it to prove a point. I didn’t care how much they charge me. To get it out there that the homeless need help, that’s okay.” In Honolulu homeless get safety kits to help prevent hepatitis The first batch of safety kits assembled to help prevent the spread of hepatitis in O’ahu’s homeless population has been distributed at the Next Step shelter in Kaka’ako. The Hepatitis Prevention, Education, Treatment and Support Network of Hawaii and OutPatient Intravenous Infusion Therapy Association began collecting donations for the kits in June and handed them out at the shelter. Organization officials said people were then sharing personalhygiene products, and they know of at least one case in which hepatitis may have been transmitted to an individual sharing a razor. They hope donations will help buy 1,000 kits containing razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, nail clippers, nail files, soap and other hygiene products. The nonprofit groups intend to continue passing out the kits to homeless individuals for a year. A Maine congressman wants the government to put more effort into helping homeless veterans, particularly for women and for veterans in rural areas providing adequate support to prevent at-risk veterans from falling into homelessness,” Rep. Michael Michaud said as he introduced HR 5960, the Homeless Veterans Assistance Act. Michaud, in repeating frequently used numbers, said there are up to 200,000 homeless veterans, with about half suffering from mental illness and two-thirds having alcohol or drug problems. The bill would do several things: It would increase to $31.30 the per diem rate to community service providers who provide shelter, food and services for homeless veterans. The current rate is $24.16. “It would be hard to find a hotel room in most cities at that rate, let alone provide a veteran with means and supportive services, such as mental health and vocational counseling,” Michaud said. Department of Veterans Affairs programs for homeless veterans would have to include safe lodging for female veterans, something current programs are not equipped to handle, he said, although the VA is trying. “Given that more women are serving in our armed forces and those women veterans are at greater risk for homelessness, we must ensure that female veterans have access to safe VA programs,” Michaud said. Page 3 �Homeless for 24 hours The Burglar had a Key Before dawn the next morning, Omar used his master key to enter Ibrahim’s unit and by Cydney Gillis Seattle - Tenant sues landlord over building was rustling around in the bedroom closet when Ibrahim woke up. When Ibrahim demanded to manager’s assault. know what was going on, Omar punched him, Getting beaten up and robbed was bad then shoved him so hard onto the bed that the enough. headboard broke, injuring Ibrahim. But the man who assaulted Ahmed Omar was later arrested and got six Ibrahim and took $5,400 from his apartment at months in jail after pleading guilty to first-degree a Seattle Housing Authority building two years burglary. His sentence included paying $200 a ago was the building’s night manager. month in restitution to Ibrahim. But Omar has The question now is whether SHA bears since skipped town. any responsibility for what happened at Barton In court papers, Ibrahim’s lawyer, Mark Place, a 90-unit building in Rainier Valley. Lee, contends the burglary and assault wouldn’t Ibrahim plans to find out. have happened if SHA had acted quickly and The Somali immigrant is suing SHA for monetary damages to cover his medical bills, lost removed the manager after Barton Place resident Jacquline Potts complained months wages, and emotional distress. The lawsuit, filed in March in King County Superior Court, argues earlier that Omar had been sexually harassing her. that SHA was negligent: Months before the “In spite of having notice of Mr. Omar’s burglary, the agency had good reason to fire conduct towards Ms. Potts,” Lee argues in court night manager Mursal Omar, but failed to do so. papers, the “Seattle The claim is Housing Authority based on another lawsuit “There is evidence that continued to employ Mr. filed before the burglary. Omar as a manager, In that suit, a female Mursal Omar entered which provided him with resident of Barton Place the unit unlawfully and the opportunity to attack, said Omar had forced intimidate, and burglarize her to have sex with him that is a cause for another vulnerable under threat of eviction. tenant.” According to which the housing Court filings in Ibrahim’s lawsuit and a Potts’ case state that authority could have police declaration, Omar started demanding Ibrahim cashed a large some liability.” sex from her shortly after disability settlement he became night manager check in April 2004 and, in 2003. Because she feared losing her housing, believing that he should inform the housing the filings say, Potts acquiesced to oral sex and authority of his finances, made the mistake of intercourse on several occasions. Then, in telling Mursal Omar. November 2003, Potts reported Omar to the day manager of Barton Place. Show your support! Get your STEETVIBES After she complained, Omar’s demands T- Shirt Today! stopped. But SHA took no action against the night manager, so, in February 2004, Potts sued the agency in federal court, claiming her civil rights had been violated and seeking Omar’s removal. In its reply to the lawsuit, SHA argued that Potts had no case specifically because the problem was solved — Omar’s demands had stopped. But the housing authority’s general counsel, James Fearn, says the agency later settled with Potts out of court for an undisclosed sum. That doesn’t mean Omar was guilty of the harassment, Fearn says. In fact, SHA had considered him a model employee. “But it was essentially a he-said, she-said incident,” says Fearn. “There were no witnesses.” More importantly, by the time Potts’ lawsuit was headed to court in late 2004, Mursal Omar was in jail for robbing Ahmed Ibrahim, leaving him with “a lack of credibility,” he says. SHA couldn’t have removed the manager sooner, Fearn says, because Omar had rights as an employee. Until he walked into Ibrahim’s apartment, he says,” It wasn’t demonstrated in any way that he was a danger to other people.” “I can’t say the case is without merit,” Only $15 Fearn adds of Ibrahim’s lawsuit against SHA. “There is evidence that Mursal Omar entered the We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ unit unlawfully and that is a cause for which the All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for housing authority could have some liability.” the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call It’s too early to tell, he says, whether 513.421.7803 SHA will defend itself in court or settle. Lima, OH — Members of a youth ministry spent 24 hours pretending as though they were homeless with their own shanty town outside Lima’s St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. This is Lima Life Teens second annual Homeless Awareness Retreat. Teens from Lima and Delphos spent an hour creating a shanty town of cardboard shelters on the church’s lawn near the bell tower. Dinner for the participants was potato soup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, said organizer Chrissy Yakir. Those attending Mass at the church saw the teens “street performing” with signs on homelessness. Prior to the conclusion of the retreat, the teens presented Samaritan House and Safe Harbor with donations the teens have been collecting for two weeks. The guest speaker was the Rev. Patty Crisp of the Fort Wayne, Ind., Charis House. Participants conducted a candlelight rosary walk and attended a midnight Mass. The youth ministry includes teens from St. Charles, St. Gerard, St. Rose and St. John in Lima, and St. John in Delphos. Page 4 Streetvibes �Former Homeless Men Offer Solutions Las Vegas - Mike Searfoss said, “It’s all up to the individual. You can show them how to better themselves, but until they are willing. “Dennis” said, “I was addicted to meth, homeless and I had nothing.” The city of Las Vegas created a new ordinance banning people from feeding the homeless in city parks. Since then, there has been an increased focus on the homeless population and the resources to help them. Free health screenings are just one of the many services the homeless have access to at the Salvation Army. Mike Searfoss moved to Las Vegas from Pennsylvania. He is taking advantage of these programs. “I was homeless for quite a while. I ran into some other problems like alcohol addiction,” he said. Searfoss says ending the homeless problem is simple. “It’s all up to the individual. You can show them how to better themselves, but until they are willing. I know in my case, until I was serious about getting on the right track, it would have been just preaching,” Searfoss continued. “If they want to grow and better themselves there are people and programs willing to help them,” he continued. Mike isn’t the only one who sees the solution as a simple one. “Dennis” said, “I was addicted to meth, homeless and I had nothing.” Dennis has completed a culinary program and is now enrolled at a local community college. He, too, sees homelessness’ as a choice. “If you are homeless, you are homeless because you want to be. There are ways for the homeless to get out of being homeless,” he said. Ways that are working for two former homeless men, as they try to find their place in the Las Vegas community. The Salvation Army says many homeless people don’t take advantage of the programs it offers because of the rules they have to follow. Few services available for homeless in rural Arizona PHOENIX - As bad as it is to be homeless in Arizona’s urban centers, it can be much worse in the rural areas. A lack of resources in rural areas means people can often get only minimal assistance if any at all. Lake Havasu City has no services for the homeless. Elsewhere in Mohave County, social workers say 200 homeless families were turned away for help in June because of a lack of shelter and money. The latest state and federal estimates say there are nearly 35-hundred homeless people who live outside Maricopa and Pima counties Providence police investigate beatings of homeless people PROVIDENCE, R.I. —Police have assembled a special team to investigate reports that homeless people are being attacked by a small group of young men. That action comes after officials at one Providence shelter said as many as a half-dozen homeless people have been beaten in less than a week. The Providence Police Department has put together a team of officers to investigate the matter and look for victims, although only one attack has been reported to police so far, Police Maj. Stephen Campbell said. William Spencer, a homeless man staying at the Crossroads Rhode Island shelter, said he Streetvibes was attacked by three men last month. The men, who appeared to be in their late teens, approached him at a bus stop and asked for a light. “All I remember is reaching for my lighter in my right front pocket and waking up in intensive care at Roger Williams Hospital,” Spencer said. He suffered a broken wrist, ribs and nose as well as a black eye. Crossroads’ spokesman Alan Neville said it appears homeless people are being attacked “for the sport.” Send your letters or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com Page 5 �Huge Shelter Shortage for Domestic Violence Victims by Catharine Zambon In Washington, D.C., there are just 48 beds, in two confidential shelters, for women and children fleeing domestic violence. And in any given month these shelters may turn away 350 families due to lack of space. Oftentimes these women simply return to their abusive relationships, according to Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE) executive director Thia Hamilton. “We know that fear of an inability to find housing” is the biggest reason women stay in violent relationships, Hamilton said. Many of the other women and families simply end up on the streets, in a similar vulnerable situation, because they do not have the means to find housing on their own. In fact, more than 1,300 homeless individuals in D.C. reported being victims of domestic violence in a 2005 survey. These staggering numbers have prompted advocates to challenge laws that unfairly penalize victims, and demand that the City Council increase the number of confidential shelter spaces available to domestic violence survivors. “Domestic violence victims in D.C. continue to be trapped in violent relationships because they have no other options for shelter or housing …. For an individual who is in a violent relationship and already living in poverty, this harsh reality often means that she literally must choose between life with her abuser or life on the streets,” said Naomi Stern, a staff attorney with the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP), at a recent D.C. City Council Judiciary Committee hearing. Stern manages NLCHP’s national domestic violence program and heads up the D.C. Working Group on Domestic Violence and Housing. She has advocated for the past several years for changes in the city to help survivors, and said that the three most necessary changes are funding to increase confidential shelter space, affordable housing opportunities for victims, and legal protections for victims facing eviction or breaking a lease. Local legal and social services providers have reported that domestic violence victims “are often evicted or expelled from their homes or shelters, or denied or turned away from housing or shelter, because of domestic abuse committed against them,” according to the NLCHP. Additionally, domestic violence victims frequently have problems with housing because of poor credit and lack of employment and housing history, which typically stem from the abuse. Many domestic violence survivors have to deal with the same marginalization faced by all homeless populations, additionally “complicated by the safety issues … and the gender implications,” Hamilton explained. Domestic violence “overwhelmingly” affects women and children, she added. In fact, the NLCHP found that 85% of protective orders granted by D.C. Superior Court in 2001 were filed by women. And many advocates believe that the number of homeless domestic violence victims is likely underreported. House of Ruth executive director Christel Nichols explained that obtaining such information is challenging because it largely depends on victims identifying themselves. Hamilton noted that the reason there aren’t good numbers on homelessness and domestic violence is because “many, many victims do not seek assistance in the police and court system.” To address the housing and financial difficulties that confront many domestic violence survivors, Council members Adrian Fenty (Ward 4) and Jim Graham (Ward 1) introduced a pair of bills this spring. The Housing Authority Rent Supplement Act of 2006 (B16-0661) would provide housing subsidies to private and nonprofit housing providers, to house low-income populations at affordable rates and help low-income populations find decent and affordable housing options. The other bill, the Protection from Discriminatory Eviction for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendments Act of 2006 (B16-0703), would protect victims from eviction, release victims from their leases should their safety be compromised, and prohibit discrimination against victims. “We’re excited about some current prospects with the administration in D.C.,” Hamilton said. Stern said that outside D.C., public awareness of domestic violence issues is increasing, especially with reauthorization of the federal Violence Against Women Act in January. “Things addressing domestic violence have become politically popular,” she said. “There’s been an emerging trend around the country to adopt these kinds of legal protections.” Colorado, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington state all have laws similar to those that the D.C. Council is considering, according to the NLCHP. Additionally, Housing anti-discrimination and early lease termination by battered tenant laws have been proposed in the California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Massachusetts state legislatures. Still, advocates agree that domestic violence victims need more than temporary shelter. Nichols explained that there also needs to be an increase in affordable housing and services for domestic violence victims. “Having someone go to a shelter is not the solution,” she said. “The shelter is just a place where” service providers can address the underlying issues. Hamilton agreed and added that all parties need to work together to increase housing in a way so it does not become “additional warehousing.” “There have been some encouraging gestures made,” Hamilton said. “But it’s not anywhere near where we need to be.” Town seeks to close homeless shelter But the agency wanted to first open a separate residential facility for people recovering from substance abuse to take in some of those who would be displaced. The agency acknowledges that there are significant problems with the shelter system but insists that housing is a right and wants to move toward providing more permanent housing for those in need, rather than a cot in a room shared with 30 people. Esty doesn’t see it that way. Housing is “a need,” she said. “But aren’t you supposed to be working all your life toward providing that? It’s a right if you can afford it.” Selectmen said they do not want to wait for the agency to open a facility, and want the Irving Street shelter, which houses 25 to 40 residents, closed now. “I really believe that SMOC management and the board of trustees should look at that program and should unconditionally close it,” said Dennis Giombetti, chairman of the board. Giombetti, Esty, and Selectman Jason Smith said Framingham should not have to take in troubled people who are not from the town. “That’s what we’re trying not to become — a wet shelter for the state,” said Giombetti. Smith said they should return to “wherever they came from.” He said he doesn’t have a problem helping people who are from Framingham, but believes the focus should be permanent housing, not temporary shelter. Asked about the possibility that once the shelter is closed, homeless people will take to nearby streets, Smith said, “That’s the next step we have to look at.” Joseph Mikielian, building commissioner, who was out of the office and unavailable for comment last week, previously ruled that the shelter is protected under the state’s Dover Amendment, which exempts properties that serve an educational purpose from most local zoning regulations. by Lisa Kocian Town officials in Framingham, MA want a downtown homeless shelter closed immediately and without conditions. In a recent vote, the Board of Selectmen approved an investigation of the shelter, with a majority of members saying they hoped the findings would lead to its closure. The shelter — formally known as the Common Ground Shelter — is called a “wet” shelter locally because it is open to people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It has come under fire from town officials and local residents in recent months after revelations that its residents include sex offenders and people from faraway parts of the state. “I’m saying we can close them and we can close them on our own terms,” said Selectwoman Ginger Esty, who made the motion to launch the investigation. Selectmen want to find out if shelter residents are actually in recovery and receiving educational services, which would help determine whether the facility is protected under state or federal laws. The South Middlesex Opportunity Council, the agency that runs the Irving Street shelter, announced plans this summer to close it. Page 6 Streetvibes Raising Minimum Wage Brings Economic Gains, Researchers Say “Whether it‘s Oregon apple pickers plucking $7.50 an hour or New York dishwashers clearing $6.75 an hour, states that have raised the minimum wage above the federal level of $5.15 have netted economic gains, not losses,” said researchers from different states at an Economic Policy Institute news conference, organized to discuss the increase of the minimum wage in Ohio. “It’s been a really good experience for Oregon,” said Dan Gardner, the state’s labor commissioner. “None of the predictions of the devastating effects of this have come true at all.” Researchers from Illinois and Wisconsin, whose economies closely resemble Ohio’s, said arguments that a minimum wage hike would be a job-killer haven’t held up. �Sprawled Out by Dena Burke Seattle - Author Anthony Flint says rampant growth destroys community and makes us less healthy. Suburbs, exurbs, and boomburbs have been portrayed as the American dream, but instead of paradise, many are discovering long commutes, rising gas prices, and big-box stores with no sense of community. An alternative to these drawn-out neighborhoods is a dense, mixed-use, urban neighborhood. Anthony Flint, author of This Land: The Battle Over Sprawl and the Future of America (John Hopkins, 2006), predicts that a renewal in city living will replace the mass exodus to suburban developments. The quiet fight to eliminate sprawl and promote urban living has taken two forms: smart growth and New Urbanism. Smart growth encourages the redevelopment of land in cities through incentives and zoning changes. New Urbanism focuses on designing neighborhoods as they were before World War II: human scale, walkable, and compact. Flint analyzes these growing movements in his book, but acknowledges that most Americans will not rise up against sprawl out of altruistic or political concern. They will do so only when it directly and immediately affects their own interests. Real Change: What are the effects of sprawl on the environment? Anthony Flint: Twenty-five million acres of land between 1982 and 1997 succumbed to suburban development. That is a lot of wildlife habitat [and] farmland that has disappeared. It is a lot of pollution from cars, which are necessary to get around in these dispersed environments. Though, it has not been enough to change anybody’s mind about sprawl until now. On a personal level, people are discovering that it is inconvenient and actually very expensive to live in sprawl. RC: Does sprawl also have an effect on people’s health? Flint: Yes, people are discovering that a little bit of physical activity like I did today [walking up the hills of Seattle] is good for you, and it can have great effects on your health. When we spend so much time in a car, driving around these separated dispersed environments, we’re not out there walking around. A walkable, urban neighborhood promotes a kind of physical activity that can have a big impact, especially as we see the obesity epidemic. RC: A lot of Americans want to live closer to where they work, but many cannot afford it. Flint:Affordability is the central challenge for the smart growth movement and the New Urbanism movement. It’s not smart growth if it’s not affordable. There are very few New Urbanism projects compared to sprawl, which is ubiquitous, so part of the challenge is to increase the supply of these places, to make urban neighborhoods appealing, [and to make] urban neighborhoods more ubiquitous. Then they won’t be as expensive because they won’t be as rare. There is a range of housing in a smart growth development: one-bedroom, threebedroom, rental apartments, and townhomes. Now you have one choice: the single-family home as a periphery. If communities receive funding for smart growth development, they could be required to make 20 percent affordable, that is affordable to families making 80 percent of median income. RC: In your book you mentioned the notFlint: [Laughs] That’s quite a prediction. in-my-backyard movement, where people who Density has a bad rap in America, but many of us have purchased their house and want to protect love going to Paris and that has more density than their investment fight against low-income Boston or Seattle. [Paris] has a lot of density, and developments. How can those people be we love it because it works. There are virtues to convinced to allow low-income housing? density, having access to transit, and all the Flint: The NIMBY phenomenon is very functions of life jumbled together a bit more. The real, and it is a big challenge for smart growth and suburban model is based on separated use: all the New Urbanism. Established residents have to homes in one place, the stores in another, [and] the recognize that these developments actually add offices in another. I think you’re going to see a value. There are legitimate concerns about traffic, different version of theAmerican dream that parking, and things like that, but that is what makes celebrates the advantages of density. smart growth and New Urbanism harder. You have RC: In your book, you mention that some to deal with neighborhoods. You have to make it a commentators have said that sprawl is a sign of a good economy. What is participatory process. It is your response to that? much easier to go into the Twenty-five million Flint: Critics of countryside and turn the smart growth and New bulldozers lose. In the Urbanism have been book, I ask folks in those acres of land between hitting the blogosphere neighborhoods to not have and writing up op-ed a knee-jerk response to 1982 and 1997 essays celebrating sprawl. more development. [It is] a playing of devil’s RC: Is there an advocate, poking holes in example of anAmerican succumbed to smart growth and New city that used smart Urbanism, but not having growth and New suburban development. a program of their own. Urbanism to change their These critics are not area? addressing the real issues Flint: I think That is a lot of wildlife that communities all over you’re seeing a great the country are wrestling momentum right here in habitat [and] farmland with in terms of planning Seattle. Certainly Portland for future growth. has been a model for We disperse when dense residential and that has disappeared... we are able to because of mixed-use settlement that affluence. If you can uses transit and light rail. Anthony Flint afford a big house on a big All of this is about a “back piece of land, you might to the future” kind of go ahead and do that, notion. If you look at [but] it is not a straightforward analysis. Sprawl has Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco, what was been so popular, not because it is driven by great about some of these neighborhoods is that affluence, but because it is seen as affordable, at they have a center and vibrancy. That only comes least initially, by the middle class. You have folks with density. You could look at any city across the now moving out to West Virginia and commuting country, whether it’s Chattanooga, Minneapolis or into D.C. The Central Valley in California has Dallas, [and they] are re-discovering the become a commuter-shed for San Jose, Oakland, advantages of living in a compact, more and San Francisco. The initial sticker price is very concentrated, mixed use way. attractive and within reach, and then of course RC: In the future, do you think that the [with the price of a car and gas] it doesn’t turn out rich will live in the city and the poor and lower to be the bargain it’s cracked up to be. income will live out in the suburbs? Flint: No, living in the suburbs is not less expensive because you have to factor in the cost of keeping a car filled with gasoline. That is going to drive change. You have to factor in the true cost of housing, and the only way to do that is to calculate the cost of transportation and energy. Energy is never going be cheap again; it’s only going to be more expensive — whatever form it takes. A more concentrated settlement will be the choice of the rich and not­ so-rich alike, almost out of necessity. RC: Do you think people will have issues living in densely populated areas? Perhaps neighbor rage replacing road rage? “Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IItt Without Streetvibes Page 7 �Berta’s Art Corner by Berta Lambert The Face of Over-the-Rhine - detail of entrance mural, 1737 Elm Street. Earth: Love It or Lose It by Adam Hyla, (Real Change News, USA) Book Review: A Short History of Progress By Ronald Wright Avalon, 2004 Paperback, 211 pages We humans are a dangerously ingenious bunch. We’ve feasted on vast plains of now-extinct fauna, watered deserts for food and then salted them up until they’re worse than deserts, ran recklessly through peak oil like a Pike Street pothole. Now we are looking forward to the hydrogen economy or deep-sea fish farms to support 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8 billion hungry people. Careful what you wish for, says the British Columbian Ronald Wright in his book on our planet’s biggest enemy, ourselves. Wright’s frightful, then reassuring, then frightful again thesis is that homo sapiens are facing a progress trap that threatens to end our civilization. But, that we’ve faced, and solved, similar problems many times before. But, in this crisis — as we forecast a worldwide loss of biodiversity, for example, in which 23 percent of all mammals are threatened — this time a community wouldn’t collapse just on Easter Island or the Yucatan Peninsula; we all fall down, in one gargantuan global crash. Despite the talk of sustainable this and sustainable that, humans have not lit upon a way to defy the Malthusian law that says populations surge past their carrying capacity, then fall back due to disease, predation, or starvation. Homo Sapiens and their forerunners and relations have been doing this for millions of years: running out of game or gathered foods, inventing agriculture, succeeding well enough to clear forest for farmland until the topsoil washes away, and either starving, resorting to cannibalism, or moving on. Now, though, the earth is our dominion; there’s no next valley to move on to. Hope springs eternal, though, so maybe, like a sick doctor, we’ll try to heal ourselves: start that Manhattan Project of alternative energy. But every new device also carries some new menace. The Maya wrote about how the tools and household implements rebel in their creation myth, Popul Vuh: “‘You… shall feel our strength. We shall grind and tear your flesh to pieces,’ said the grinding stones.” Half the 20th century was consumed with the mutual annihilation assured by nuclear weapons, Wright notes: that was the tools we thought we controlled in full revolt. With nuclear war and overseas imbroglios to worry about, it’s tempting to unleash the Luddite and welcome the end of civilization. Especially if this is really the best we can do. But delivering all Homeless veterans invited to ‘tent city’ RE ET VI BE S Page 8 civilian life. Yahiro, a Danville resident, served in the Army during the Vietnam War. “It has to do with the trauma and the experience of being in the military,” he said. “In many cases, it’s difficult to readjust after serving in the military, especially for combat veterans. East Bay Stand Down is the Bay Area chapter of an organization that is made up of more than 200 groups across the country. ST Pleasanton, CA— East Bay Stand Down 2006 pitched its tents last month at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in an effort to reach out for homeless, downtrodden veterans. “We pride ourselves as a one-stop shop,” said Jerry Yahiro, director of East Bay Stand Down. “One-third of all the homeless you see in the Bay Area are veterans. Nationally, there are over 250,000 homeless veterans.” The biennial event, which ran Aug. 10-13, turned the fairgrounds into “Tent City,” where homeless veterans and their relatives where bused in throughout the Bay Area. Participants will receive free drug and alcohol counseling, dental care and medical attention. Judges will be present to settle warrants and other legal problems. There also will be job and benefits counseling. Yahiro said veterans often become homeless because of the hardships of adjusting to Support Your Vendor Streetvibes Homeless for 24 hours Lima, OH — Members of a youth ministry spent 24 hours pretending as though they were homeless with their own shanty town outside Lima’s St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. This is Lima Life Teens second annual Homeless Awareness Retreat. Teens from Lima and Delphos spent an hour creating a shanty town of cardboard shelters on the church’s lawn near the bell tower. Dinner for the participants was potato soup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, said organizer Chrissy Yakir. Those attending Mass at the church saw the teens “street performing” with signs on homelessness. Prior to the conclusion of the retreat, the teens presented Samaritan House and Safe Harbor with donations the teens have been collecting for two weeks. The guest speaker was the Rev. Patty Crisp of the Fort Wayne, Ind., Charis House. Participants conducted a candlelight rosary walk and attended a midnight Mass. of humanity back to the Stone Age entails the deaths of five billion people. It wouldn’t be pretty. But it might be coming. From what we can tell from the potsherds and the gravesites, we humans have been bad at stepping back from the brink. In the last 10,000 years of human history, since the invention of agriculture, tools ever more remotely resembled the raw materials lying about. From chipped flint to wrought iron, we’ve lost the craft of our ancestors. As we ascend the ladder of invention, says Wright, we kicked out the rungs below us. Perhaps this is because of our greatest and most reliable invention, culture: the laws and customs that swaddle us in custom, in language, in law. Having money to buy with, and language to speak with, and laws to live under means never having to reinvent the wheel. When it first came out, Wright’s book was a sort of sideshow to Jared Diamond’s work of civilizational misfortune, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, the critically acclaimed pop prehistory that takes a comparative look at ancient societies to ponder our present-day crisis in sustainability. What Diamond presented was much more data than necessary; what you get from Wright is a great deal more fun: a witty, readable breeze with just a hint of chill . If you’re going to take a book about the human race’s ruination of itself and its planet to the beach this summer, take this one. Ohio Governor Rewards Schools for Best Nutrition Practices Ohio Gov. Taft presented both the elementary and the high schools of United Local School in Hanoverton, Ohio, with Governor’s Buckeye Best Healthy Schools Gold Awards. The awards were given under the “Healthy Ohioans” program which rewards schools for promoting nutrition, physical fitness and tobacco prevention. One of the health team’s most recent initiatives was letting students take their breakfast to their first period classes and attempting to improve the quality of school snacks. The school installed the Snackwise computer program in a vending machine that allows users to rate different snacks based on their nutritional value: green means “best choice”; yellow signals “choose occasionally”; and the red warns “choose rarely.” �Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Welcomes New Staff Lynne Ausman I would first like to say that I am very excited to be working in the Over-the-Rhine community. I grew up on the west side of Cincinnati and attended Kent State University near Akron, Ohio. I majored in International Relations and minored in French. I am happy to be back in the Cincinnati area and very excited to be an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. I am hoping to work closely with issues surrounding day labor, HIV/AIDS, and civil rights, as well as working on the Homeless Memorial Day, Stand-down, and the Ohio Coalition for Homeless Advocates (OCHA). I hope that the knowledge I acquire with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless will help me fulfill my goal of working in international development. I am looking forward to a positive and fulfilling year working in the Over-the-Rhine community. Violent attacks on Kalamazoo homeless halted for now Gina R. King Gina received her BA in Communications Arts from Xavier University in 2006. Gina is a Civil Rights Coordinator with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Gina is very excited about working on projects such as the Youth Empowerment Program, ReEntry and the Homeless Individuals Task Force. She hopes that her time with the GCCH will prepare her for a career in social services. “As one of the newest civil rights coordinators to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless I am very excited to be working in one of the most historic communities in Cincinnati. The people of Over-the-Rhine have been unexpectedly welcoming and friendly. “Originally from Cleveland, I have spent the last four years in Cincinnati where I received a BA in communications from Xavier University in 2006. “After four years I found myself pleasantly immersed in the rich culture and so smitten by the charming personality of Cincinnati that I found it hard to leave. “I just began my new position as a Civil Rights Coordinator with the Coalition for the Homeless. I am very excited about working on projects such as the Youth Empowerment Program, Re-Entry and the Homeless Individuals Task Force. I hope that my time with the GCCH will prepare me for a career in the civil, public and social services sector. I look forward making a positive impact in the fight to eliminate homelessness in Cincinnati.” Kingg_gcch@yahoo.com Kalamazoo, MI - Stepped-up police presence is being credited with stopping attacks on homeless and vulnerable people in downtown Kalamazoo. But Carl Paddock, a supervisor at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission shelter, says he fears the violence is just on hold. “The simple truth of it is, the police being around all the time will help,” he said. “But they can’t maintain a raised presence all the time.’’ Paddock said it will take at least one arrest, prosecution and stiff judicial consequences to significantly curb the brick and club attacks that homeless advocates say have averaged 15 to 20 a year over the last several summers. The culprits, it’s alleged, are bike-riding groups of young teenagers who encircle victims and beat them as part of a robbery or just for fun. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety has run a number of plainclothes stings in recent weeks, trying to draw out the attackers. But the bait hasn’t been taken, officers say. “These kids can spot ‘em. They need to get somebody from outside or they need to get a little dirtier and appear a little drunker,” Paddock said of police. Officials say the last reported attack occurred in late June when 45-year-old Ken Madison was attacked by young teens on bikes as he and two other homeless friends left a baseball game at Mayors’ Riverfront Park. Madison said he fought back after being struck by a board. The attack left him with scalp staples, stitches and a bruised face. OBIT Cincinnati Homeless Man Struck and Killed by City Bus by Jimmy Heath Louis Donnamaria, a homeless person who frequented the Coalition For the Homeless office in OTR, was struck and killed by a city bus on Monday, July 25th. A memorial was held at Holy Name Church on August 16th. Witnesses say that Louis fell behind his group because of an injured leg, the bus rounded a corner and struck him. “All of us at Metro just feel terrible about this,” said Sally Hilvers, Metro representative. Alicia Bryant was driving the bus and is now charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter, both misdemeanors. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless sends it condolences to Louis’ family and friends. Louis Donnamaria Streetvibes Page 9 �Hobo 101 The down and out found strength and hope in Ben Reitman’s Hobo College (Street Roots. USA) by Marc Moscato If you are homeless or have an interest in the rights and history of the homeless you need to know the story of Ben Reitman and the long-lost Hobo College. Founded in 1907, Ben Reitman’s remarkable Hobo College presented an unprecedented effort to address the needs of Chicago’s down and out. A welcoming center and medical clinic by day, an intellectual forum and educational facility by night, the Hobo College served to empower Chicago’s homeless population in a way never seen before or since — non-secular and non-hierarchical. And for nearly three decades, it actually worked. Although vagrancy had been an issue in the United States since the Civil War, the homeless crisis first came to the forefront of national politics during the economic depression of the early 1890s and again later in the late 1920s, when thousands of families were displaced during the Great Depression. During these lean years, thousands of men took to the road in search of work, hopping freight trains, living in hobo jungles and cheap boardinghouses and working as migrant laborers. At the center of it all was Chicago (known to hoboes as “The Big Chi”), the hub of the nation’s railroad lines, where between 300,000 and 500,000 refugees passed through each year during the ’20s and ’30s. “Chicago was the gathering point for migrants as it was the jumping point to all points West,” said Roger Bruns, author of “Knights Of The Road: A Hobo History.” “It was the natural place to look for seasonal work in harvesting, logging or crop picking and to reside in the winter months when there was no work.” Slowly West Madison Street saw its former upper-crust residences transform into a “main stem” of dilapidated tenements, seedy bars, diners, cheap theatres and shabby hotels inhabited by dozens of hoboes and tramps. But with the poverty there also was some serious intellectual fare. “There was a creation of a whole culture along the West Madison Street area and in the freight yards,” Bruns said. “This included many authors such as Theodore Dreiser and Carl Sandburg, as well as many sociologists from the Page 10 University of Chicago who were studying patterns of social migration.” With the mass influx in homeless population, The Salvation Army, the YMCA and other religious organizations began to recruit on West Madison Street, holding revivals and opening their doors to Chicago’s displaced. While the charities provided immediate relief to the needy, living quarters were cramped to capacity, meals were known for their mediocrity and tenants had a limit of one week’s stay. Many hoboes preferred instead to board at one of the many cheap hotels to forgo the religious sermons for their own independence and self-pride. Most problematic was an anti-homeless attitude emanated by religious organizations of the day. Charities believed that the hobo lifestyle was a sin, and that by being homeless they were in need of repentance. “Religious charities tried to get recruits and save them,” said Franklin Rosemont, author of “Hobohemia” and a member of Charles H. Kerr Publishers in Chicago. “They were fundamentally authoritarian. They made them pray and had strict regulations… it was very condescending.” It was evident that there was a need for an organization to directly address the needs of the displaced without the moral baggage. James Eads How, heir to his family’s wealth in the Wabash Railroad, realized the opportunity, and in 1907 he founded the International Brotherhood Welfare Association, or IBWA, dedicated to serving the poor and lobbying for the rights of the homeless. How also launched a new phenomena: hobo colleges, alternative educational environments for people on the streets. He started colleges in major cities across the United States and also ran a newspaper, The Hobo News. The IBWA was heavily influenced by How’s socialist politics, and it was at the St. Louis Hobo College where he fatefully met and befriended Dr. Ben Reitman who, under How’s guidance, went on to found the largest and most successful Hobo College. It is no surprise the Chicago Hobo College was a success—if anyone could pull off managing such a project, it was the flamboyant and charismatic Dr. Ben Reitman. Reitman had a rare knack for bridging the barriers between the outcasts and authority. Once a “Hobo King” himself, Reitman was also a doctor who worked with tramps and prostitutes, was an abortion provider and birth control advocate before either were legal, and was probably best known for his ability at attracting the attention of the media (for 10 years he was press agent and lover to anarchist Emma Goldman, whose notoriety is owed almost entirely to Reitman’s promotion). Under the good doctor’s lead as master of ceremonies, Reitman’s Hobo College flourished. With his networking ability, he amassed a faculty that included leading professors at Streetvibes area colleges and the best soapboxers of Chicago, alongside featured guest appearances by luminaries such as lawyer and author Clarence Darrow, the notorious con-man Yellow Kid Weil and tramp author Jim Tully. “There was always a meal and coffee, and food was served,” Rosemont said. “Then there was a debate or lecture followed by question and answer. Some characters showed up at all the meetings and were notorious for haranguing and refuting everything that was said. Some were single-tax advocates, some anarchists, but all had at least some opinion.” “The Hobo College was run by and for the hoboes. It didn’t make demands or try to convert anyone,” said Todd DePastino, author of “Citizen Hobo: How a Century of Homelessness Shaped America.” “It provided a model of citizenship and an opportunity for self-education. It not only allowed homeless people to become part of an active system, it made them take on leadership roles. This idea is very foreign today.” Most impressively, the Hobo College grew to be a well-known center for debate. Rosemont related stories about University of Chicago professors bringing their classes to the Hobo College because the debates were livelier than lectures at the universities. Often, the student debate teams would face off against a team of resident hoboes, only to be thoroughly humiliated by the hobo soapboxers. As like any college, each spring the Hobo College held a graduating ceremony in which hoboes who had faithfully attended lectures throughout the winter months would receive diplomas. Graduation was marked by food, music and speeches, and concluded with Reitman handing out papers stating: “Be It Known To All The World That ____ has been a student at THE HOBO COLLEGE and has attended the lectures, discussions, clinics, musicals, readings and visits to art galleries and theatres. He has also expressed a desire to get an education, better his own conditions and help build a better world that will be without unemployment, poverty, wars, prostitution, ignorance and injustice. He pledges himself to try individually to live a clean, honest, manly life, and to take care of his health and morals, and abstain from all habits that undermine his health and better nature. He agrees to cooperate with all people and organizations that are really trying to abolish poverty and misery and to work to build a better world in which to live.” “There is a great deal to be learned from the Hobo College in how to develop organic programs for the homeless,” DePastino said. “There already exists a homeless subculture. We can build around this subculture and engage social service programs that promote a real and radical democracy.” “I don’t know much about social service programs of today but I rarely hear homeless people say good things about them,” Rosemont said. “There is little genuine care in many of the programs—they are almost entirely church-based and have rigorous rules. They can learn a lot from the Hobo College, but I’m not sure they are ready to learn.” In this light, Reitman’s Hobo College provides a working model of a self-help program for and by the needy that is urgent and relevant to today’s homeless crisis. And in this sense, the Hobo College serves as a utopian ideal of how our social service programs could function—or as Roger Bruns describes it, “an oasis in a homeless man’s desert of despair.” �S.F.’S Homeless Aging On The Street A majority of the homeless people on San Francisco’s streets have been there since the 1980s and never left, and without concentrated care they soon will start crowding hospital emergency rooms and dying in large numbers, according to a 14-year-long, first-of-its-kind examination of chronic homelessness in the United States. The finding — which the researchers say is reflected in other cities — is sure to give added impetus to initiatives in San Francisco and elsewhere to create more programs that combine permanent housing and social services for residents under the same roof. Without such supportive housing programs, the aging homeless are likely to experience rapid health decline and death, said Judy Hahn, the UCSF assistant professor who led the study. “The already-troubling health issues for these older street people are not going to go away. They will just get worse, and we will see them in increasing numbers in our hospitals,” Hahn said. “If they don’t go into the hospitals, many will simply die from living outside. Giving them a residence with on-site health care available will go a long way toward avoiding these troubles.” Thirty UC researchers and students surveyed homeless people in San Francisco during four periods — 1990-1994, 1996-1997, 1999­ 2000 and 2003 — and found the median age of the homeless rose from 37 years old at the start to 46 by the end. Today, they estimate, the median age of the city’s homeless population is about 50 — which in hard-time street years is the equivalent of about 65 given the physical wear and tear, they said. As the median age grew, so did the number of years the homeless had been on the street, the survey found. It also found worsening health problems usually associated with older people, reflected in higher rates of hypertension, diabetes and emphysema and in the number of emergency room visits. Hypertension, for instance, rose from 14 percent of those surveyed at the start of the 1990s to 21 percent in 2003. The findings support what many social workers have long suspected — that there was a “big bang” homeless population explosion as federal housing programs were slashed and the closing of mental hospitals hit home in the mid­ 1980s and that this core group constitutes the bulk of the street population. Local and national homelessness experts said the study confirms their long-held belief that the homeless population is aging at an alarming rate and that the national movement to create supportive housing is going in the right direction. “We’ve known instinctively about this phenomenon, but now having this research to back up that instinct is great,” said Philip Mangano, President Bush’s national point man on homelessness. “This shows that supportive housing is perfectly matched as an antidote to the premature aging of this population.” An account of the study’s findings, cowritten by Hahn and four other UC researchers, appeared this week in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Hahn said the “big bang” theory, first propounded in the early 2000s by University of Pennsylvania homelessness researcher Dennis Culhane, seems to be supported by her findings. Aside from cuts to federal housing programs and the closing of mental institutions, she identified worsening drug abuse nationwide and rising housing prices as contributors to chronic homelessness over the past 20 years. “It’s clear to me, from our study, that a huge number hit the street back then, and some may have gone in and out of housing over the years, but they wind up back out there again,” Hahn said. “The fact that the median age went up almost exactly with the calendar years as we did our study told us that this group wasn’t being replenished by a lot of new people.” During the 14 years of research, 3,534 homeless adults were interviewed at six emergency shelters and soup kitchens. These included the biggest two such institutions in the city, MultiService Center South shelter, south of Market Street, and the St. Anthony Dining Room in the Tenderloin. The team checked with social workers who worked closely with the homeless in Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Philadelphia and reported that the same aging phenomenon appeared to be happening in those cities, too. Trent Rhorer, director of city homeless policy and head of San Francisco’s Human Services Agency, said the study “could have a huge policy implication.” “The study suggests that a one-time increase in the supportive housing stock could have a big impact on homelessness, and not only have we been doing that, but we intend to keep creating supportive housing in the future,” Rhorer said. “The report suggests exactly what we have assumed — that we are dealing with what, to some extent, is a static population and that we are Teens attack homeless man Huntsville, AL - A homeless man is recovering from broken ribs and head injuries after teenagers beat him with golf clubs. Craig Steven Rupert, 45, was attacked in his makeshift home in the woods. Rupert told police that a group of seven teenagers threw rocks into his campsite at 2 a.m., then returned with golf clubs and beat him until he couldn’t get up. Rupert is in the intensive care unit at Crestwood Medical Center. Huntsville police spokesman Wendell Johnson said the attack on Rupert was the fourth such teens-on-homeless assault in the past few weeks in west Huntsville. “Its kids who think they’re doing something funny, but there’s nothing funny about it,” Johnson said. “Last summer, some kids attacked a double amputee homeless man in Big Spring Park and then threw his wheelchair in the lake. “It isn’t funny at all.” Principal Leslie Esneault offered the school auditorium for a fundraising concert after a group of pranksters enticed a homeless man to disrobe in a Huntsville High hallway at the end of the school year. Several students are volunteering to make amends for the prank that got national media attention. The Rev. Sherry Birney, a chaplain advocate for the homeless, called it “sad” that while some young people are working to show their compassion for the homeless, others are out terrorizing “the most vulnerable segment of our population.” “Of all the homeless people I’ve ever worked with, Craig is the most unlikely person to be assaulted,” said Birney, who spent time with Streetvibes dealing with the largest portion of the problem right now.” In the past three years, the city has created 1,482 units of supportive housing for homeless people. San Francisco’s 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, written in 2004, calls for another 1,518 units to be created by 2010. Michael Stoops, who has been working with the homeless around the country since the early 1980s and directs the National Coalition on Homelessness, said he isn’t surprised by the report’s findings because the U.S. population in general is aging as the Baby Boom generation grows. “Boomers are the biggest segment of the population for decades, so just like in the rest of the population, Boomers are aging in the homeless population,” Stoops said. “As they’ve aged, society has had a tendency to give up on them; the attitude is that they’ll never get off the streets because they’ve been there too long.” The homeless population in San Francisco is estimated on any given night to be about 6,000, according to the last one-day homeless count conducted by the city, in 2005. Throughout an entire year, though, the number of people who experience homelessness at some point is estimated to be closer to 17,000. “This is probably the most important thing I’ve seen written about San Francisco homelessness,” said Dr. Josh Bamberger, who as housing and urban health director at the city Department of Public Health runs treatment programs for the most severely homeless people in the city. “It shows this is largely a static population that we can actually house and treat, and then we will see a reduction on the street. “So much of the rhetoric we hear is that homeless people are moving into San Francisco all the time, and we can never stem the tide,” said Bamberger, who helped in the early stages of the study. “But this absolutely refutes that.” Fifty-year-old Nathan “Nasty” Swift, who has the wrinkled face of a 65-year-old and has been homeless most of the time since 1981, said the study’s findings “sound about right to me.” Swift was a submarine sonar technician in the Navy, but after he mustered out on July 5, 1980, he said, he did too many drugs and made too many bad job decisions to stay stable. “I was like a lot of guys who just burned out and had nothing around to help us,” he said, heading to a panhandling spot on Market Street near Van Ness Avenue. “That study says we’re all old and our health is shot? Sounds like me and everyone I know. “I don’t see a lot of young guys out here anymore. Just old guys like me.” Rupert. “He’s so mild-mannered. He’s completely nonaggressive. He’s a kind, special man who admits he’s got a problem with alcohol. “But, in my opinion, these teenagers who attacked him showed they have far more deepseeded problems than Craig does.” Birney said Rupert told her that the teenagers live in the area and that they had harassed him several times, including shooting BB guns into the homeless camps in the woods behind a mobile-home park on Colonial Park Circle. “But they had been friendlier to him recently,” she said. “He told me he thought they’d turned over a new leaf and that they were going to be his friends. “We have to put a value on human life. Maybe the judicial system can help these kids realize that there are repercussions.” Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. Vendors must not tell customers that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 Cents (75 cent profit goes directly to the vendor) Homeless Coalition 25 Cents Printing and Production: 25 cents (this cost does not cover expenses) Page 12 About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... earned. This program has helped The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Streetvibes Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! �Marching on in Montgomery by August Mallory (Street Sense, Washington, DC) One of Street Sense’s vendors, August Mallory, is currently traveling around the United States, reporting back on the homelessness and poverty he encounters. This month he reports from Montgomery, Alabama. As late Saturday approaches in Montgomery, Ala., I arrive in the city just before everything closes for the day. I ask a local store clerk if there are buses available to board for downtown, being that I am several miles just outside the Montgomery downtown area. The clerk informs me that there is no public transportation on Saturday or Sunday, and I would have to take a taxi, though taxi service is rather high priced in Montgomery. I only had enough money to last me for the four days that I had planned for, so I had to hoof it into downtown—and talk about a walk into downtown. The roads in Montgomery are very long and wide and winding, but I didn’t have much to carry so it wasn’t a big problem for me. As I make my way down Rosa Parks Avenue, I walk at least seven miles to Fairview Lane, down Oak Street, past the Interstate-295 exit ramp, and onto Bell Street, past the Overlook Park leading to the Salvation Army Center of Hope. Located at 900 Bell Street, I check in for a night’s stay as I am directed to a dorm of 14 beds with top and bottom bunks available. I was awakened at 4:45 a.m. and offered a continental breakfast of coffee and donuts, then a sack lunch for later. As I am still trying wake up to focus on my assignment, I notice all the security cameras around the property. I have no problem with a facility protecting its property but sometimes this security West Palm forms ‘Homeless Strike Force’ following complaints West Palm Beach · Housing officials, social service agencies and Mayor Lois Frankel have implemented a “Homeless Strike Force” to identify and help homeless people in the community. During a meeting last month, the group, joined by business owners and residents, discussed a plan to identify and help some 40 to 50 people identified as homeless in downtown West Palm Beach. The city called the meeting, in part, because some business owners and residents complained about panhandlers and homeless people in the city’s downtown restaurant and entertainment district. The task force will assess the needs of the homeless and connect them with the appropriate social service agencies to help them get off the streets. In addition, the city will look at establishing ordinances that would prohibit habitual and disruptive or aggressive panhandlers from loitering downtown. “They come up to customers asking for money even after I politely ask them to leave,” said David Smith, business owner. Some business owners said panhandlers thing just goes too far—especially with uniformed security people. However, at least in Montgomery no one is subjected to a police search the way one can be in the Washington D.C. area. I spend my day in a lot of the shelters looking at landmarks and retracing history. I came upon Montgomery and Commerce streets in downtown Montgomery, the corner where civil rights icon Rosa Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955 for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person. During those days it was against the law for blacks to sit at the front of a public bus, to enter at the front door of a restaurant, and to drink from a public drinking fountain that did not say, “Colored Only.” Montgomery, like many other cities across the United States, has a severe problem with homelessness. I decided to pay a visit to the Friendship Gospel Rescue Mission to see how they operate at mealtime. It is a total zoo in that facility. As one man put it, “This place is off the chain!” While many people claim that homelessness is caused by laziness, in Montgomery, I did not see that. Instead, I noticed a lot of willingness and ability in the men and women there and they would jump at just about any job to earn a living. But employment is very scarce in Alabama, and unemployment is very high. I then left Montgomery for Selma, Ala., to visit the Edmund Pettus Bridge, made famous when civil rights marchers crossed it to protest for voting rights and were met by Alabama state troopers by orders of then Governor George Wallace. His orders were to not let those marchers cross no matter what, so troops viciously clubbed and beat them with nightsticks. As I look back on all the struggles that went on during the civil rights era, why hasn’t more change taken place for those that are homeless. stand in front of restaurants and scream, demand food, and cause other disturbances. Last month, Duane Vanduyl, 39, whom police identified as a homeless man, terrorized tourists and a Wellington resident at about 2 a.m. near the Palm Beach County Courthouse. “In my neighborhood, you can’t even put the garbage out because they’ll open it to find something to eat,” said Valerie Luster, a city code enforcement officer and resident of the Pleasant City neighborhood near downtown. After a lengthy discussion, Frankel established the strike force, led by The Vickers House and other area social service agencies, including The Lord’s Place and the Palm Beach County Homeless Coalition. Other ideas mentioned included building a homeless assistance center. The center would temporarily house hundreds of homeless until they could find permanent homes. Representatives from the Palm Beach County’s Human Services division said it will meet in a couple of months with all the agencies that do homeless outreach to discuss a countywide solution. Buy Streetvibes Streetvibes More Housing and Services for Veterans by Jill Merselis Introduced in the Senate on June 7, 2006, the Homes for Heroes Act (S.3475) seeks to give veterans greater access to the housing and homeless assistance services offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill focuses on increasing the amount of permanent housing that is available to “very low-income” veterans and their families. If signed into law, this bill would amend HUD to create a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs. This Assistant would coordinate all HUD programs that relate to veterans — while also acting as a liaison between HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs — and would be responsible for researching the effectiveness of HUD programs that provide housing assistance to veterans. The bill would authorize $25,000,000 to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the fiscal year 2007. In following years, funds would be allocated as deemed necessary. The Secretary of HUD would provide assistance to private, nonprofit organizations to increase the amount of housing available to impoverished veterans. Funding would be used for constructing, reconstructing, or fixing up any housing structure for veterans in need of housing assistance; with the possibility of an allocation to assist very low-income level veterans with rent payments. In addition, the bill would ensure extra assistance to the veteran population; services to include: outreach, physical and mental health care (including substance abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder treatment); case management; personal finance planning; employment training and education; and childcare. Veterans would also be advised on benefits, income support and health insurance, all with the end goal of promoting independent living. Survey Participants Wanted You are invited to participate in a brief survey on hate crimes and violence against homeless persons. Go to: http:// www.surveymonkey.com/ s.asp?u=870921968238Y Your input will help the National Coalition for the Homeless direct our advocacy efforts. The results of this national survey will be released to general public and media in late August. Please contact NCH for information concerning the rising incidents of hates crimes and violence against homeless persons at www.nationalhomeless.org Page 13 �Holding On Understand by Joyce Ann Robinson by Robert Leech Trying hard to continue to stand, wondering, finding words and the strength to hold on. Thoughts of the past and lots of present pain spears my every silence of joy. Debilitating dreams of yesterday seems as if they just again occurred. The stillness in the darkness hoping for the light to appear for tomorrow, hearing just what I want to hear, seems for just a little while that some peace has come. Not to mention what lay ahead. All the killings, all the conspiracies, the hungry and the homeless. The hate mongers of these raging wars that may be pushing our way. No time for family gatherings without someone bringing up somebody’s sinful past. Not finding time to forgive should be the thing of the past, when we can learn to do that, we’ll be able to stand. Our religion should not be base on race because God did not come to save one race or a particular culture so, until the people realize that whatever their belief may be they all have one thing in common, which is either we are going to heaven or hell. So lets stop all the chaos and love one another like God said and together we can all stand. It would be so damn cool to live underground Where no liquor store, gun runner or dope dealer can be found No electricity, no sunlight to brighten your day Just the dim lights of candles to show you the way No worrying about gung-ho police or crossing the street No sense of direction, you just follow your feet No more bull*&%$ government or the president’s lies You just go from tunnel to tunnel as time flies And what do you do when you come to a dead end? It’s simple; you just turn around and start the same process over again All this sounds weird, and you wonder where it will stop But soon as your ass gets hungry, you’ll find your way to the top I guess some people say living underground is real cool But if you think you can do it without coming to the top You are the world’s biggest damn fool. Mama’s Hands, Father’s Necklace by Gary Evans What can I say? Momma’s hands were full of talent. She made biscuits delicious with them. She shelled peas, washed, sorted beans with them and raising three sometimes hardheaded boys by herself. If you messed up bad enough she could use her hands to knock you into next week. Her hands gave us an allowance. Not on a regular basis but pretty regular — when she could. Her hands opened our report cards and trembled with anger when she got hurt or mad. One time my live-away father came over and they were arguing about something he did. They were in the bathroom and he punched her hard in the eye. We didn’t see it cause we were on the steps. The toilet seat was broke and loose. She took those hands and wrapped the toilet seat around his neck. He ran out of the house like that. Everyone saw it and laughed. Where Am I? by jh A garbage bag holds everything I own. My camp is a spot under the highway bridge or sometimes in the bushes near the railroad tracks. Or near the river, hidden out of sight. Fitful night sleeping outside. Maybe a nap in the public library during the day. Newspaper in my face so security doesn’t notice me nodding off. Away from the heat or away from the cold. New Day The plywood is loose on an abandoned building during the winter, easy access. by Daniel Anderson A pile of newspapers makes a bed. An abandoned car is best, if you don’t have to share it with too many critters. As the sun sets and the stars begin to shine, Good to be alone sometimes. My heart pounds because it’s you on my mind. Some of the guys run con’s – “need milk for the baby, please” – or Holding you in my arms as we drift off to sleep, “my car ran out of gas, can you help me out.” I dream of happiness and my mind’s at peace. Some of them sell stuff. Morning comes along with a brand new day, Others stand at the corner with a sign and a cup. And another chance to show my love in a new and special way. The mat at the shelter is hard and noisy – snoring, coughing. It smells like booze, vomit and piss in there. Lights on early. A meal at the soup kitchen and maybe another nap. Low paying, unreliable work at the day labor. How come there are so many day labor businesses in the neighborhood? Sweeping the stadium. Washing barrels. Not enough money to get on my feet, but maybe a hamburger meal, a pack of smokes. A 40 ounce and some food for the cat. A night at the mission where they force you to listen to preaching before a meal. A walk downtown where you are looked at with contempt. Beneath the Surface Gosh, the girls in the suits are so pretty. by Renee My feet hurt and so do my teeth. I can smell myself. Always looking for a convenient sink for baths. Hoboken is a city of beauty and at night it is Public restrooms where you walk in and nobody notices– the restroom at the church. a city of lights. Beneath all the beauty and A bath from a sink in the restaurant bathroom. lights it is a city full of people who are You have to rotate bathrooms so you don’t get noticed. striving to survive, who have lost all hope A good splash under the arms and the face, maybe rinse out some clothes with the system and only find strength in A pickup truck from the suburbs pulls up to the park with a load of young blonde white girls, those who can relate or those who are in the passing out sandwiches to the eager throng. same situation or predicament and find I don’t want to get in that line – Am I ashamed of myself or the crowd? Ha! To have pride! Ironic. comfort in knowing that they are not alone On the busy streets I amble with my head down, avoiding my reflection in the shop windows. no matter how lost, lonely or forgotten they may be. Policemen drive by slowly, again and again. I’m afraid I’m doing something wrong. I can’t cry anymore. I don’t know how. Years ago, my old lady kicked me out because I drank too much. Lost my job. Don’t know where my family is, but I know I have one somewhere. They don’t want to see me or hear from me. My friends on the street are my family – Slim, J. J., New York, and Bob. One of my friends died under an overpass – he was sick. He went to sleep and never woke up. Died with his eyes open. We cried like it mattered. I’d like to go to sleep too. Don’t have the guts to die. Page 14 Streetvibes �The homeless by Don Foran Ten men clamber out of the creaking van, Their sweaty bodies meeting a kiss Of cool night air. They drift, silently, sullenly Toward the darkened church. Mattresses lie, two or three to a room, Along walls decorated with children’s Drawings and almost casual crucifixions. Carl, Eddie, Jake and the others Throw their worn packs and bags Onto the makeshift beds, and John, It’s always John, is first to ask If he can have his sack lunch now, Not in the morning as we had planned. “Sure,” I say, almost as anxious as he To assuage this remediable hunger. Several echo John, and soon all Are feasting on pb and j; apples, celery, And other healthy fare remains on the table, But they’re happier now, even communicative. One thanks me for setting a new pair of white socks On each mattress. Another offers a juice cup To a friend. “Lights out!” Rick calls at ten, And no one argues, no one hesitates. Sleep Knits once more the raveled sleeve of care, Obliterates the hurt, soothes the jangled nerves. Tomorrow will be another day, Another cheerless day embroidered With small triumphs, fragile dreams. Homeless by “Homeless” Who Am I? Your sister or brother, your Mother or father, your daughter or your son. I am homeless. Black or white, red or brown, I walk the streets all day looking just to make it. Through the day people look at me and stand back to their friends and talk about me, about how I look and how I smell, never knowing the real person that is inside of me. As you watch your TV and play your tapes, I try to stay warm on very cold days. When you are warm in your home, I am homeless. As you sleep at night in your nice warm bed I am trying to sleep anywhere I can: rooftops and doorways, park benches and so on. Homeless Night by Rodney E. Penilton In the darkness, I saw four people, huddled beneath a gazebo in a park downtown; as I sat feeling depressed about my life, I watched and saw the broad shoulders of a man reaching for the gentle form of a woman, as she pulled thin covers over the small frames of two children, as they lifted theirs heads for a good night kiss. In that moment, I saw love amidst struggle, hope come from despair and Loyalty bred of trust. As the children lay in the arms of the night and the wind, Mother and Father held one another and watched as shadows passed, and dust and leaves did their dance. ‘Imagine the anguish, anguish of our babies sleeping in the park beneath the stars, with no home other than those found each night.’ Tears unseen and questions unanswered, the children know that this is not the way it should be as they watch other kids in new, clean clothes and cool shoes, thinking to themselves, ‘ The stares don’t matter, because mommy said they don’t and daddy promised things will get better.’ It’s Called Pain by Bridget Sapp It comes like a springtime rain, It’s called pain. As the day goes by, All I can do is think of you and cry. It’s called pain. Like Cupid’s famous art You captured my heart. You shattered and broke it, This I can not fix. It’s called pain. I wish I could find, A way to change your mind. God put us together, I thought it would haven forever. It’s called pain. Just like a sad song, I was so wrong. I thought what we had was real, But now it is cold and empty, is how I feel. It’s called pain. I talked with a friend on the phone, But yet I still feel Alone. It’s called pain. ‘Maybe my sister? No. ‘ ‘My aunt? How would we get them there?’ ‘My mother? She is too old.’ ‘Baby, I just don’t know.’ ‘Something has to happen, has to change, they deserve better than this. Baby, I know, we’ll figure something out tomorrow.’ Shutter Speed by Jimmy Heath One check away by James Chionsini twinkling stars cant keep you warm when your sleeping in the park till the break of dawn newspaper pillow and a plastic tarp watching for the pigs that come out after dark lost your job got jacked and robbed your landlord said that’s not my prob doctor bills kill you can’t afford the pills now you’re shaking heart breaking drink as much as you spill waiting on the first to quench your thirst alleviate the discomfort of an asphalt earth trying to find a shelter to get some rest but nowhere seems safe without a knife proof vest if you could just get back to square one start to heal the disease that’s got you on the run feeling invisible going insane scowls and nightsticks fall like rain The Streets of Buenos Aries, Argentina - 2005 Streetvibes Page 15 �569-9500 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 324-2321 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 921-1131 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 Tom Gieger Guest House 961-4555 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 HOUSING: CMHA 977-5660 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 381--0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 946-7601 Healing Connections 751-0600 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 IJ & Peace Center 579-8547 Justice Watch 241-0490 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 Mercy Fransiscan at St John 981-5841 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 NAMI (Mental Health) 948-3094 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Oral Health Council 621-0248 Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen 961-1983 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect, Homeless Kids 363-1060 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 Services United For Mothers 487-7862 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless Worker Center 621-5991 W omen Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 10 Years in Publication! BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY September 2006 P y r to S r 1 e ov ge C a STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Declare Peace Pg 2: New Jails, or Education? Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: The Burglar Had A Key Pg 5: Former Homeless Men Offer Solutions Pg 6: Huge Shelter Shortage for Domestic Violence Victims Pg 7: Sprawled Out Pg 8: Earth: Love It or Lose It Pg 9: Violent Attacks on Kalamazoo Homeless Halted for Now Cincinnati Homeless Man Struck and Killed by City Bus Pg 10: Hobo 101 Pg 11: S.F.’s Homeless Aging on the Street Teens Attack Homeless Man Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: Marching on in Montgomery Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Monique Little Lynne Ausman Gina King Andy Freeze John Lavelle Melvin Williams Susan Smith Linda Pittman Berta Lambert Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Arizona Berta Lambert Cincinnati City Bus domestic violence education Georgine Getty Gina King Governor Homeless News Digest Jails Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kalamazoo Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Melvin Williams Minimum Wage Monique Little Montgomery San Francisco Susan Smith Teens veterans West Palms https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/f2a9c9d18c74ed5a77b2e40012e0864f.pdf 8b507949591dd7b32fe121d109232616 PDF Text Text August 2006 STREETVIBES Cover Story Day Labor in Cincinnati: A Portrait of Exploitation They then work until 4:00pm, by Georgine Getty, Executive Director, Greater often with no breaks. Workers Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Day labor halls are this nation’s dirty little are also charged rent on any safety equipment (goggles, secret. Recently, the press has been filled with gloves, hardhats) they use, even if stories exploring the labor and exploitation of day this equipment is provided by the labor workers in such places as Los Angeles and contractor. At 4:00pm they clock New York. Often these discussions center around out and wait for the labor hall the issues of undocumented workers, but more civil rights and labor groups have been focusing their transportation to pick them up. attention on the fact that day laborers perform some They are not reimbursed for this time. Between 5:30 and 6:00pm, of the hardest, dirtiest work in this country for very the workers arrive back at the little pay and with almost none of the protections labor hall. If they are paid daily, that people with regular work enjoy. Across the they may wait several hours for country, groups supporting day labor workers, such as the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, their check. If at any time in this (NDLON) have begun giving a glimmer of hope to process the worker complains, he this invisible section of the workforce. or she may be blacklisted and will In Cincinnati, an estimated 500-600 men not be hired again. There is no and women work at these labor halls each day. Day labor halls are usually located on major roads in grievance procedure for those poorer neighborhoods such as Over-the-Rhine. On who are blacklisted; they are simply never sent out again. The the surface, day labor halls seem fair enough: you next day, they wake up and start show up, they send you out to work, you get paid all over again. 7 days a week, the same day. However the devil is in the detail, people are working 12-14 hour and many labor halls violate both labor laws and days, and ending up with just human rights. To understand labor halls, it is helpful to enough in their pockets to keep them in poverty. It’s no wonder follow a day laborer through his or her day. They wake up at 4:00am and head to work. According to that the labor halls, when they find themselves short of workers, swing by local a 2001 study, Homeless in Cincinnati, an estimated shelters to recruit. 60% of homeless individuals work, often at day Another way to understand day labor is to labor halls; this means that a disproportionate talk directly to the people who work it. Derrick has amount of these workers wake up at a shelter or under a bridge, forgoing both sleep and breakfast to been working day labor for 3 or 4 years while he stays at the Drop Inn Center. He cleans the find work. Around 4:30am they arrive at the labor stadiums after the games, unloads trucks and sorts hall and wait for it to open. At 5:00am, employees garbage. His average day starts at 4 a.m. and goes show up to open the labor hall. Workers add their until 8p.m., when he is name to a list and wait in As a laborer for a temporary labor dropped off back at the the hall. These halls pool, you have certain rights; shelter with between $25 rarely provide bathrooms and $40 in his pocket. for workers, and if they You have the right to be paid a fair Thomas works do, they tend to be filthy wage; full time as a and harbor criminal maintenance manager at activity. At 6:30am, those McDonalds, but has who have shown up early You have a right to a safe workplace; worked day labor for 25 enough are sent out to You have a right not to be years to supplement his available jobs. At this discriminated against; income and keep from point, favoritism is becoming homeless. routinely shown to people You have a right to overtime, if you Thomas keeps a little who are known and liked qualify; notebook with him in by the dispatcher. Even which he interviews his more troubling, workers You have a right to be paid on time; fellow workers and are often selected solely chronicles the injustices based on race or gender. You have a right to workers they face, such as being At 7:00am, the compensation if you are injured on charged for workers arrive at the the job. transportation that never workplace on the arrives to pick them up. substandard bus If you need help in getting what you As he puts it, “if you pay transportation mandated have a right to call John Lavelle at for transportation daily by the labor hall (for 421-7803, ext 16. for a year, that’s a down which the workers are payment for a car. If you charged $6.00 - $7.00, a pay it for 5 years, why, you’ve bought a car!” full hour of wages). They then wait until 8:00am to clock in. They are not paid for any of this time, yet Further, most labor halls keep over 50% of the pay they are required to be there. At 8:00am, they clock offered by the contractors, meaning that Thomas receives half of the money for his labor, and the in and begin work. Contracts vary from industrial work to shipping to picking through trash at a landfill labor hall receives the other half. Randy had a good job with GM Motors to cleaning the baseball stadium after a Red’s game. from 1977 until 1990, when his job was shipped out of the country and he was downsized. Randy’s been working day labor ever since. A certified welder, he’s worked on skyscrapers with workers who made $25 per hour for the same work for which he was paid $6.50 an hour. Unfortunately, Randy can’t work anymore since he was run over by a forklift at a day labor job site and his leg is failing to heal properly. He is currently trying to get disability and find an apartment. A new collaboration of workers and faith and justice groups has formed called the Day Labor Organizing Project (DLOP). This group meets every Wednesday at 9:00am at Our Daily Bread, a local soup kitchen that many day laborers frequent. According to Don Sherman, director of the Cincinnati Interfaith Worker’s Center, this group has three goals, “to educate the public about the abuses of day labors, to pass legislation so that day labor workers are protected by labor laws, and to create a non-profit labor hall so that the money earned by workers goes directly to the workers.” In May, DLOP released its report card of local day labor halls. Volunteers interviewed over 100 day labor workers and asked them to rate the labor halls on issues such as wait times for work, failure to pay, lack of restrooms, unsafe transportation, unnecessary and superfluous fees, wrongful termination, harassment, refusal of permanent employment, and racial discrimination. The highest rating went to CinTemp, who received a C. The lowest rating went to Labor Solutions, who received a D-. “On top of low wages and long hours, day laborers are often subject to poor working conditions, harassment by labor hall staff members, and termination at any time for any reason,” states Don Sherman. “This is an unregulated industry that exploits the most vulnerable of populations.” Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Monique Little - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Gina King - VISTA Andy Freeze - Intern Andy Lawrence - AHA Coordinator John Lavelle - VISTA Melvin Williams - Reception Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photography Jimmy Heath Cover Day Labor Office Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 Blessing From The Edge by Jimmy Heath It’s a hard lesson to be sure, When we see a person on the imagining yourself without the things we take for granted. But a moment street standing idle, holding a sign or shaking a paper cup for spare change of reflection as we pass this individual what do we see, what do we feel? Is might bring a sense of gratitude for even the simplest things in our lives. it possibly the reality of where our I guess we like “pleasant” lives could be that frightens us? things. Although I’m When we look not sure what that is at the dirty shoes and anymore. A nice meal, the torn clothes are we a home with a white terrified by this picket fence, a individual without a comfortable bed and a name because this could sympathetic social and be us, or are we governmental angered by a perception environment? And that challenges our own Jimmy Heath going to work every wealth and socially day, raising a family – things that are accepted norms – wealth and dignity “normal?” that certainly could be achieved by I think that for most homeless the panhandler if only he would people life is not miserable. Their life shave, dress up, and get a job? is manageable in a different and I think the homeless teach us unfamiliar way. They work together, a valuable lesson. Imagine that lonely, anonymous person shaking the share together and rise up together. But it’s a life that can’t be cup on a downtown corner comfortable or predictable. bestowing on us a kind of miracle? To visit a homeless That we are able to make it through encampment under a bridge or along life safely and with most of the things the river reveals our own we need in order to be comfortable. shortcomings as a sympathetic social Have you ever asked yourself, environment. The man and woman “There but for the Grace of God go who live outside choose the used and I?” Or do you swerve around this worn out barbeque grill as a stove phantom on the corner or cross the and tree limbs as clothes lines, but in street to avoid a lesson that we think our life we recoil in fear and disgust we don’t need or have the time for? at the mere thought of living like that. Sympathy and shame usually comes last, if at all. Most of the time we ignore it. It’s like much of what is missing in modern life. Connection. Recognition. Simple kindness to a stranger. We will hold the door for a stranger and feel good about it, yet cower at the sight of a human we may not fully understand. The homeless are treated like lepers. The homeless remain aliens in a hostile land - hanging on the fringes like 21st century garbage pickers or street urchins. Where did these people come from? What is at the root of their defiance and eccentricity? What happened in their lives that put them on the street? In reality, they are givers of truth to those who pass by, if you step out of yourself for a moment. When I wake up for the day ahead, I take the time to review this truth with gratitude. I thank my brothers and sisters living on the edge for reminding me of the joy in life; their lives, my life and the lives of people close to me. Underneath the concern I have for my friends on the street is remembering the glint in their eyes and the ready laugh. The carefree way in which they share their limited possessions. It is a blessing ­ a sweet sorrow they bring to my heart. I wonder whose life is better. SPCA visit upsets homeless dog-owner Canada - A homeless woman in Halifax is accusing the SPCA of discrimination after getting a visit from an investigator about her dog. Maureen Chapman says the investigator approached her and other homeless people last month and explained the definition of animal cruelty before handing out instructions on how to build a dog house. Chapman, who has lived on the streets for seven years and calls her dog her family, says she was insulted. “He always eats, but I don’t always eat,” Chapman told CBC News while taking a break from cleaning car windows near Halifax’s busy Robie and Quinpool intersection. “You can’t just discriminate against people who live on the streets because you assume they aren’t taking care of their dogs.” Dorothy Patterson, a worker with the Ark Outreach Centre in Halifax, says the homeless people who visit her centre take good care of their dogs, even going so far as to make visits to the veterinarian. “We know that our youth get their dogs shots and are well looked after,” Patterson said. But the Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spokeswoman Judith Gass says her group receives complaints every summer about homeless people and their dogs. Gass says it’s the SPCA’s mandate to investigate accusations of cruelty, and denies Chapman is being unfairly targeted. “We wouldn’t expect other people who are walking their dogs to have water and food with them at all times because they’re probably just out for a short jaunt and are going back home where they’re going to have plenty of water and food,” Gass said. It’s unfair to keep a dog out in the sun all day without shelter, she added. Gass says the SPCA’s investigators will keep making the rounds this summer to make sure that dogs are not mistreated. Obit - Jim Orr John Young, president of the Freestore/Foodbank, told the Cincinnati Enquirer that Orr was “considered a champion of individuals in the world for people who needed help. He was a strong force in addiction treatment.” He served on any number of boards and committees, including the Red Cross, Cincinnati Union Bethel, the Children’s Home, the Center for Comprehensive Addictions Treatment (CCAT), and Central Psychiatric Clinic (now the Crossroads Center). As first president of the ADAS Board, he struggled to see that indigent alcoholics and addicts could receive help. But he took a personal, up-close interest as well. He was not afraid to enter the gloomiest tenement or the most wretched abandoned building to reach an addict in need of help. He was especially remembered by the recovering community of the East End where, on Monday, July 17, members of the Home Boys (and Girls) group of Alcoholics Anonymous held a memorial meeting for “Old Man Orr.” One member recalled, “Jim always told us to remember what a great thing we have. He had a great capacity for love, a great capacity for joy. And he expressed that to everyone he met.” Jim Orr, founding member of the Hamilton County Addiction Services board and its first president, died Friday, July 14, in the Beechwood Home in Hyde Park. He was 82. Jim Orr, a combat veteran of World War II, was the heir to a family business, the Potter Shoe Store, and a life-long Jim Orr resident of Hyde Park. He made many contributions to the Cincinnati community, but his deepest commitment, after his family, was to the poor and under-served, especially those who suffered from addiction. Streetvibes �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath San Francisco. CA - Hamilton Family Center, the foremost organization providing shelter to homeless families in San Francisco, has started a new program designed to give rental assistance to as many as 70 families in the coming year to help them move into permanent housing. The “First Avenues” program will provide each family with subsidies of about $500, as well as in-home counseling for core survival issues such as jobs and finances, said Suzanne Sheedy, Hamilton’s development director. About 60 percent of the program’s $900,000 budget will come from city funding. Private organizations will provide the rest. Mayor Gavin Newsom called the program a valuable new asset in his administration’s effort to provide permanent, counseling-enriched housing to the homeless instead of shelters or other temporary accommodations. Las Vegas, NV - It’s a crackdown on the homeless. Last month, Las Vegas City Marshals again tried to clean up local parks and kick out everyone who has camped out. It’s all part of an effort by the Mayor and City Council to clean up Huntridge Circle and Baker Parks. Mayor Oscar Goodman watched as marshals made several arrests. Three people were arrested for being at city parks before opening time. Five others were cited for trespassing on private property. Marshals have also been training on a new ordinance that requires homeless people with mental illnesses to be hospitalized for three days. Reno. NV - A homeless man died last month when he was hit by a train near the Tracy-Clark exit of Interstate 80. The man was walking along the tracks about 1:30 p.m. south of the highway when the train hit him, the Storey County sheriff’s office said. The man was dead when officials arrived. Fingerprints will be used to identify the man, who carried no identification. Langley, BC - Six homeless people are on the move after their camp was closed by police. The path to the camp was lined with a string of plastic Canadian flags, strung from tree to tree within the dense cedar grove. While the camp itself was a collection of tarps and tents, the inhabitants had tried to add some homey touches. Clocks were attached to poles, plastic and real houseplants stood here and there, and windchimes dangled from poles. Laundry and bedding hung on clotheslines between the ramshackle structures. There were also piles of garbage and discarded items stacked near the trail, including bicycle parts, chainsaws, plastic bags, luggage, children’s toys, a shop vac and propane tanks. It was this garbage and the fires that led Langley RCMP to move in and close down the squatters camp evicting its homeless tenants. “This is just bull—t. This is really hard on somebody. I’m not hurting nobody,” Joanne, one of the camp’s residents said as she packed up her personal belongings under the watchful eyes of police and bylaw officers. Joanne, a 54-year-old who says she has lived in the clearing since last December, broke down in tears over the eviction while speaking to a community police officer. A few moments later, she yelled that she would come back the next day and blow the whole place up with dynamite. The property owner, the Township fire department and nearby residents were all concerned about the squatters living in the woods. Smoke seen coming from the area led to the action, said the Township’s chief bylaw officer, Bill Storie. “It wouldn’t take much for this to go up, it’s so dry,” said Storie. Workers hauled the accumulated debris and garbage to the edge of the property. Joanne, the only one of the six residents present when reporters arrived, was frantically hauling away the things she needs. She said she isn’t sure where she’ll go now, but she won’t go to a shelter. Joanne has been living homeless for between two and a half and three years, she said. “A miserable two and a half years,” she added. Police tried to convince her to move into housing in Vancouver, where she could live with her two kittens, the orange Tigger and black Mishka. Officers offered her a bus ticket to Ontario, where she has family, but she refused that as well. Shawn McSweeney said he and another man visited the camp once, looking for a stolen barbecue. They didn’t find it, and the only person there at the time was a man sitting in a wheelchair, apparently high, McSweeney said. Langley has no homeless shelter, yet the police estimate there are up to 70 people living on the street and in similar camps or squatting in abandoned buildings. The Salvation Army has estimated there are up to 100 homeless people in Langley. In Jackson, MI, twenty homeless people were housed and fed at a gymnasium on the first night of a curfew Mayor Frank Melton ordered for the homeless. A city transit bus picked up the homeless at Union Station in downtown Jackson and took them to the Champion Gymnasium at 1355 Hattiesburg St. There, snacks, pizza, milk and water were offered, and cots were lying against the wall. “Nobody is going to hurt you,” said Melton, who had planned to spend the night at the gym. “We just need to know what to do to get close to you.” Among them were Jonathan Graham, 17, who moved from Texas to Jackson two years ago to take care of his grandmother. After she died, he’s drifted around with no place to call home. “I just want to do something with myself,” said Graham, before boarding the bus at Union Station. “I’m ashamed of being here.” Earlier in the day, Melton predicted about 50 or 60 homeless people would show up. Melton had said he was including a 10 p.m. curfew for the homeless as part of a new state of emergency. The new proclamation also continues the juvenile curfew the mayor established June 22 with his first emergency proclamation. The homeless curfew drew immediate complaint from the Washington, D.C.-based National Coalition for the Homeless. Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the group, said Melton’s plan criminalizes homelessness. “If the city of Jackson goes through with this, it will be the first curfew (on homeless people), the first law of its kind in the country,” he said. Melton said those refusing to go to the gym would not be arrested. The mayor said homeless people who refused to go risked being arrested on charges like loitering. Melton said those who agree to spend the night in the gym will be fed and given a cot to sleep on. Social workers from the city’s Youth Services Division will gather basic information about the homeless people, including whether they have alcohol or drug problems or suffer from mental illness, he said. “We are going to try to get to the bottom of this,” he said. Melton maintains that the effort will not cost the city money because he is going to have the homeless people who stay in the gym Streetvibes pick up litter and mow grass on public property. He said teams of workers will begin in the Washington Addition neighborhood. “I don’t believe in a giveaway program,” he said. “People are going to have to earn their keep.” Melton said the impetus for his plan came from his recent encounter with a 17-year-old homeless boy and out of concern from the business community over crimes linked to homeless people. The mayor’s plan drew mixed reaction from some of the city’s homeless. Willie Rogers, a homeless man reeled on a pair of crutches, raised his voice to be heard over the crowd at the Daybreak Shelter on Pascagoula Street near Gallatin Street. “You know if you don’t pick up paper, you are going to be taken to jail,” he said. Mike Thomas, the manager at Daybreak, a daytime shelter for homeless people, said some people are convinced the mayor’s offer is a trap. But he thinks it is a good start to address homelessness in the city. Most shelters in the city require overnight residents to be inside by 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Thomas said allowing homeless people until 10 p.m. to get to the gym gives some homeless people the flexibility to work a job and still have a place to sleep. “If the men work until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., they can’t get in there. They are just out here on the street,” he said. Another atypical feature of Melton’s plan is that the Champion Gymnasium will accept men and women. Most homeless shelters are strictly segregated by gender. “There will be both females and males there for supervision, so that’s not going to be a problem,” the mayor said. Ace Knox, a homeless man, said he thinks the city needs more shelter space for women. But he is not sure that the curfew is fair. “It sounds a little bit like discrimination,” he said. “Instead of rounding up homeless people and forcing them into a gym, the city should be tackling the root causes of homelessness and implementing its 10-year plan to end homelessness,” he said. “This curfew will only tarnish the reputation of Jackson as being a caring community.” The details of Melton’s plan were developed in little more than 24 hours following a morning news conference. But Michael Raff, deputy director for the Department of Human and Cultural Services in Jackson, said it fits into the city’s 10­ year plan to end chronic homelessness. “We’re trying to do things differently,” he said. The plan “calls for innovating ways to deal with this problem,” he said. It already is a hit with some local business owners who are fed up with their shops being broken into. Page 3 �Dumfries Regrets Raid on Homeless Dumfries, VA - The tents erected in a tangle of woods were obviously illegal, their occupants no doubt squatters. But Dumfries officials say that although the police chief’s decision to dismantle a homeless camp — and toss out four men’s sparse belongings — may have been legal, it was not right. The chief has been ordered to say he’s sorry. “I don’t know what the ultimate answer is on how we deal with the homeless,” Dumfries Town Manager Dave Whitlow said yesterday. “But it’s not going to be that we just push them out on the street and destroy what little they have.” He told Police Chief Calvin L. Johnson to write a letter of apology and have his force “do whatever it takes” to replace some of the lost items — including birth certificates, military discharge papers and identification. “What I have directed the police department to do is to make these people whole,” Whitlow said. “This is not the way we want to be known. This is not the way we want to act. That’s not to say I condone folks trespassing on private property, but I also believe we need to treat people with dignity and respect.” The police chief was responding to a resident’s complaint last month when he ordered officers and public works employees to tear down the camp, which was hidden on 27 wooded acres near Route 1, Whitlow said. A few of the men might have lived there for more than a year, he added. Whitlow, who was on vacation at the time of the eviction, said his recent call for repentance had the full support of the Town Council. Johnson’s office referred calls for comment to Whitlow. Dumfries, at 1.63 square miles, is a smudge on the map. The town is about 35 miles from the District and just north of Quantico Marine Corps Base. About 5,000 people live there. Already, community members have begun donating items such as a tent and clothes, and yesterday a police department employee ordered a birth certificate for one of the men, Whitlow said. Frances Harris is the program director for Action in the Community Through Service, a Dumfries nonprofit group that the men sometimes have gone to for food. She said they showed up the morning after the camp was dismantled. “They were upset. What bothered them most were the things that kept them in touch with the world, like phones and phone numbers for job opportunities,” she said. “One of the comments one of the gentlemen made was, ‘It’s not easy to live like this, but at this point, it’s the only option Saving A Way Out of Poverty Pitts (R-PA). If signed into law, this bill will allocate $1.2 billion over 10 years towards the creation of Individual Development Account (IDA) programs that will give lower income families and individuals an incentive to save money to put towards education, homeownership, and small businesses enterprises. Many supporters of IDA’s believe (Street Sense, USA) The Savings for Working Families Act (H.R. 4751) was introduced to the House on February 14, 2006 by Representative Joseph Show your support! Get your STEETVIBES T- Shirt Today! we have.’ “ Along with the their belongings, “a piece of their dignity” was also tossed out, Harris said. “When you have so little, everything you have is so important to you,” she said. In the fiscal year that ended in June, about 8,400 people went to the organization — which serves eastern Prince William County — seeking food or financial assistance. Employees estimate that there are more than 500 homeless people countywide. For someone already on the edge, the loss of a small item, such as a driver’s license, can be a heavy blow, Harris said. Some form of identification is needed even to use the organization’s food bank. “If you lose your access to the world, your identification or your cellphone, where people can contact you, it is devastating,” she said. “And just the fact that someone comes in and destroys everything you have — and it was on purpose. It wasn’t the wind, the fire or the rain.” Whitlow said he planned to meet with Johnson today to check on the apology. He has insisted that the apology be written — even if there is no fixed address to send it to. Two of the displaced men have taken shelter at a local trailer park, officials said. The whereabouts of the other two were unknown. that the accounts will help to stabilize families and communities. An IDA is a tax-exempt account into which qualified financial institutions deposit funds that match the savings of an individual or family enrolled in the program dollar for dollar, up to $500 per person per year. Across the country there are around 50,000 IDAs that states and organizations have created to help citizens save money for certain qualified expenses including spending towards a home, a business and education. The $1.2 billion over 10 years that this act would allot to such accounts would make IDA’s available to 900,000 qualified US citizens. Enrolled citizens must be between 18 and 61 years of age, and must have incomes that do not exceed $20,000 for individuals, $30,000 for heads of households, and $40,000 for married couples. The individual holding the account can withdraw funds from the IDA after accumulating the goal amount, and taking an educational finance course. Qualified financial institutions that offer IDA’s will receive a tax credit to cover the administrative costs and matching funds. Crackdown on homeless Only $15 We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call 513.421.7803 Page 4 Streetvibes Las Vegas - It was a crackdown on the homeless. Last month, Las Vegas City Marshals again tryed to clean up local parks and kick out everyone who has camped out. It’s all part of an effort by the Mayor and City Council to clean up Huntridge Circle and Baker Parks. Mayor Oscar Goodman watched Monday as marshals made several arrests. Three people were arrested for being at city parks before opening time. Five others were cited for trespassing on private property. Marshals have also been training on a new ordinance that requires homeless people with mental illnesses to be hospitalized for three days. �The Firecat Review Firecats are poor. As such, when we take a break from fighting rampant injustice, we know where all the cool cats and kittens go to get their DVD’s: the library. You want to spend 25 bucks for a new release with your honey, pick up a CityBeat. You want the down and dirty on the slightly less-than­ new fares from the best free resource in the ‘nasty? Firecats got you covered. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005 ­ starring Miranda July & John Hawkes) Review by Firecats Blue, Turquoise & Lavendar Irreverent, ironic and real, this movie is a firecat fave. This indie film was funny in a dry way, sweet in a dark way and realistic. The movie had the flavor of such films as American Beauty and judging by the sassy discussion that broke out in the firecat lair about it, it’s well worth seeing with someone you know and like to discuss with. Paperclips (2004 – documentary) Review by Firecat Blue This documentary explores a small, rural town in Tennessee as they try to explain diversity to their children. To accomplish this, they have the kids collect 6 million paperclips to understand how many Jewish people were killed in the Holocaust. This touching documentary sometimes leaped a bit high on the saccharine chart, but frequently captured some very emotional moments. One firecat complaint: not enough interviews with the kids at the heart of this project, which made it seem a bit insincere in its efforts to teach said kids, however infectious the enthusiasm of the adult participants. Where Are We? (1991 documentary – directed by Jeffrey Friedman & Rob Epstein) Review by Firecat Blue This documentary can only be described as bad. Not just bad, offensively bad. Friedman and Epstein, hot off the success of their actually good documentary, “Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt” are way out of their element as they travel through small town southern America as selfdescribed “tourists in their own land.” Their condescending approach to the people they meet show in every face on camera as their subjects uncomfortably look off to the side and politely try to get them to go away. Friedman and Epstein ooze the snootiness usually reserved for 19th century anthropologists as they uncover the surface obvious: small town southern America is full of poor people who are homophobic, watch NASCAR, are racist, have babies young, love Elvis, have crappy knick-knacks, etc. Unfortunately, they are too busy kissing their own butts to ever present more than stereotypes as they literally pop in front of people’s faces and ask them idiotic personal questions such as “what’s your greatest fear?” and “how much money do you make?” The only exception to this is when they focus on closeted Marines or people suffering from AIDS, which they portray very well with depth and compassion because they actually took the time to. Apparently the library also has books now, so in salute, a book review. The 48 Laws of Power (written by Robert Greene) Review by Firecat Turquoise This book is a must read for everyone. Actually, those who are power hungry needn’t read the book – no doubt they’re already operating under the Laws. This book offers an understanding of the actions of those in positions of power and those trying to attain it. With laws such as “never outshine the master” and “play the perfect courtier,” The 48 Laws of Power teachers the different tools of manipulation. Coupled with historical anecdotes, this book is sure to delight the Machiavellian megalomaniac in us all. Let’s call the homeless heroes by Brent Bodowsky The parades are over, the fireworks are stilled, and the politicians have finished their July 4 rounds. Why don’t we begin, here and now, the moral equivalent of the Berlin airlift to mobilize support, education, voluntarism and fundraising for causes and groups that serve the homeless veterans of America? Let’s call them the homeless heroes, and to paraphrase President Kennedy, who said that we must do things not because they are easy, but because they are hard, make this pledge: Within 100 days of the inaugural of the next American President resolve that there should not be one homeless or hungry veteran in America and resolve that our commitment moves beyond that day until we banish hunger and homelessness from the land. If we stand for anything, we stand for this, and if we fight for this, we will mobilize old friends and win new friends in every military family and house of worship in America. Let our opponents talk their trash of treason; our real response should be to reach out with our hearts and our help in the spirit of national unity, standing with our young men and women who serve with courage and valor before the parades begin, and after the fireworks end. Every day stories are written about a new generation of homeless vets who return from Iraq, joining hundreds of thousands who are without homes today, from wars fought before. There are stories of disabled vets who don’t get the full support they deserve, or face a benefit structure that is stingy and unworthy. There are new cases of relapse of post traumatic stress disorder, from vets who suffered in previous wars and have their problem re-emerge more acutely with the headlines of news from Iraq. When I refer to a new Berlin airlift, I mean a wholehearted commitment beyond any level that exists today from Congress or the Bush Administration; efforts from entertainers to light the sky with their talent and call to action; new alliances between progressives and the blogosphere with groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans and groups serving those who return from Iraq and Afghanistan. When I refer to the “moral equivalent” of a new Berlin Airlift, I propose a reaching out to the great religions and religious leaders throughout America, where progressives, the blogosphere and entertainers cross the great divide of our national divisions and seek reconciliation, unity and reaching out to build There are alliances in common cause. stories of Why not a higher level of hearings in disabled vets Congress and far bolder who don’t get proposals from our political leaders? the full support Why not teach ins and seminars in our they deserve... colleges and universities inviting the vets, groups that support them and religious leaders who stand against homelessness to make their case and issue their call to action? Why not a direct airlift of entertainers, through the USO and to communities across the nation, in a historic industry-wide commitment that builds on good work being done today and rises to higher and higher levels at a time when these vets genuinely need and deserve our help, Streetvibes and a grateful nation will join our efforts with pride? Why not a one week national road show or tour with leading Democratic heroes in war, John Kerry, Jack Murtha, Bob Kerrey, John Glenn, Max Cleland, Daniel Inouye, Wes Clark where they travel by bus or train to the community centers, campuses, churches and synagogues of the nation to stir the conscience and rally the support of an America tired of the politics of anger, bitterness and partisanship? Thomas Paine wrote, we have the power to remake the world. We, here, today, have the power to remake our politics into a united endeavor of shared patriotism and purpose. Let our opponents play their politics of fear and demonization; let our answer be the answer of the countless entertainers who fought the Second World War on the battlefield or toured the world in support of the effort; and let our answer be the answer of the 101st Airborne memorialized so brilliantly by Ambrose in his Band Of Brothers. We should stand by our heroes, because it is right. The American people will stand with us, because they will know that we are right. They are America’s homeless heroes, our neighbors and our cause, and we have the power lift them up, if only we care, and act. With the moral equivalent of an airlift of hope and support to those who serve, we will seek to achieve a long overdue airlift of integrity and honor to our political system, based on the highest ideals and aspirations of our democracy. The parades are over, the fireworks are stilled, and the politicians have finished their July 4 rounds. Why don’t we begin, here and now, the moral equivalent of the Berlin airlift to mobilize support, education, voluntarism and fundraising for causes and groups that serve the homeless veterans of America? Page 5 �Collaboration weaves stronger safety net for city’s homeless Portland, OR - A year and a half ago, the city and county unveiled a 10­ year plan to end homelessness. The loftiness of the goal captured the imagination of Portlanders, even as it also invited skepticism. But as months pass, and more of the city’s homeless move into housing, some of the initial skepticism is fading. One impressive thing about the plan to end homelessness is that it keeps Portlanders focused on housing the homeless in the summer, too, not just in the winter, when most cities traditionally gear up their efforts. For obvious reasons, bad weather may tug on a community’s heartstrings more, but the reality is that many homeless people are more visible and easier to reach in the warm-weather months. So any city serious about ending homelessness has to be actively engaged in that task all year long. One bonus of having a plan is that it requires social service agencies to coordinate their efforts, something many resist doing. The caliber of collaboration achieved under the plan will be on display Tuesday at Memorial Coliseum, where advocates are staging Project Homeless Families Connect, a day of one-stop assistance for homeless families. On any given night, it’s estimated that 600 families, including 870 children, are living in relatives’ basements, cars, campgrounds, garages or somewhere else that doesn’t qualify as a home. In January, advocates staged a similar day of assistance for chronically homeless adults. Volunteers thought they’d be providing eyeglasses, shampoo, socks, dental referrals, diabetic screenings, legal help and lunch to 500 or 600 people. More than 1,000 turned up. Sadly, only 900 could be helped. Those who showed up with their possessions in shopping carts had their photos taken with the cart to reassure them that their things would be returned, once the event was over. What coaxed others into Memorial Coliseum that day was the promise of veterinary care. During the day, 23 dogs and five cats got vaccinations, new collars and leashes, and basic medical treatment. Lessons learned from the event open a sad window on the hazards and humiliations of living on the street. For instance, apples aren’t the best choice for lunch, organizers reported, because so many homeless people have dental problems that make biting down on an apple painful. The pet area in the future needs to have “a stronger crate for pit bulls,” organizers reported. And “we should offer haircuts and wheelchair repair.” But the main lesson distilled from the January event is the one advocates all over the city already knew: Homeless people need help, beginning with decent housing. Thanks to the city-county plan to end homelessness, advocates have never had better data about homelessness, or better results. Since the plan was launched a year and a half ago, 805 chronically homeless people have been placed in housing. In addition, 507 families have been placed. The goal for this year is to move 390 chronically homeless people into housing; 145 had moved in by the end of March. The retention rate is running about 79 percent, which is not too bad, considering the health problems and other vulnerabilities that made some of these individuals homeless in the first place. Some continued skepticism about the city-county plan is in order. But it certainly appears that Portlanders have good reason to be hopeful. In galvanizing advocates, coordinating resources and moving the homeless into housing, the plan is slowly and steadily helping to end homelessness. In Worcester, suit filed over library’s homeless policy Worcester, MA - First the city launched a campaign to stop panhandling, urging residents to give to charities, not the people shaking cups on street corners and sidewalks. Then came a proposal for zoning restrictions to keep homeless shelters out of residential neighborhoods. But when the Worcester Public Library cut the number of books homeless people could borrow to two at a time — as opposed to the 40 books other residents could check out — book lovers in the city’s shelters decided to fight back. Last month, three homeless patrons of the library filed a class action lawsuit in US District Court, alleging that the policy violates their constitutional right to equal access to public services. The plaintiffs include a homeless couple whose 8-year-old daughter seeks out the latest Lemony Snicket adventures, and a woman who fled a home where she was the victim of domestic violence. The lawsuit has struck a nerve in Worcester. Many residents said the policy runs counter to the library’s mission to serve less fortunate readers. Librarians across Massachusetts are also watching the lawsuit: Other public libraries, such as the ones in Springfield and Fitchburg, impose their own limits on the number of books homeless patrons can borrow. “It just goes against the spirit of what our country was founded on and just goes against the spirit of libraries in general,” said Dave McMahon , who runs Dismas House, a transitional shelter in Worcester that houses 13 ex-convicts, including one Page 6 man who volunteered at the city but said the policy had helped curb library. “They were founded as the problem institutions to level society so A towering structure of light everyone could have access to yellow stone, Worcester’s library is materials they wouldn’t otherwise the largest in Central Massachusetts, have, and I worry about our library boasting about 120,000 cardhere in Worcester moving away from carrying members, more than that.” 700,000 visitors a year, and a The city describes the collection of 900,000 books, videos, restrictions as a practical measure to audiocassettes, newspapers, and prevent the loss of library books. magazines. “The Several policy was put “The policy was put in place dozen members in place are homeless, because we’re losing items because we’re Johnson said. losing items to Many come to to people where we could people where cool off in the we could not air-conditioned not track them down,” said track them confines of the Penelope B. Johnson , the down,” said library. Others Penelope B. read in the city’s head librarian. “The Johnson , the stacks or leaf city’s head through library has a fiduciary librarian. “The newspapers. responsibility to make those library has a “They have fiduciary total access to resources available to responsibility to the resources in make those the library, they everyone and the rules we resources can use the set in place are to do that.” available to computers, they everyone and can use all the the rules we set in place are to do resources we have on the shelves, the that.” newspapers, whatever,” Johnson The seeds of Worcester’s said. battle were sewn two years ago, Librarians require everyone when a city librarian noticed that applying for a library card to show a many of the library’s missing books picture ID. If the street address had been loaned to people staying in matches that of a city shelter, the city’s shelters. Unable to find the librarians impose the two-book limit. offenders, the librarian proposed the “It’s certainly a rational two-book limit to the board of response to a non-returned book trustees, which approved the policy. problem,” said the city solicitor, Johnson said she did not have data David M. Moore. on how many books had been lost But earlier this year, Suzette over the years to homeless patrons, Lindgren and David Moyer, who live Streetvibes in a shelter in Worcester with their daughter, Taylor , 8, were “embarrassed” to have their living situation publicly disclosed during a library visit, according to court papers. Aided by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Lindgren and Moyer filed suit, along with a third plaintiff, a victim of domestic violence, named Jane Doe in court papers, who lives in a city shelter. On the streets and in the stacks last month, homeless people and others expressed disdain for the two-book limit for homeless people. Sympathy for the policy was in short supply. “I believe this is just another one of those things people do to get rid of homeless people,” said Lionell Thompson , a volunteer at PIP, a shelter in Worcester. “Today it may be limiting the number of books they get and tomorrow it will be not allowing them in at all.” Bo Bulger, 30, a Worcester computer technician who said he checks out about a dozen books a month to use for home schooling his children, bristled at the rule. “I think it’s totally ridiculous to limit someone because they’re homeless,” he said. “You see signs around the library that panhandling is not allowed. Hopefully they allow an education for the homeless.” Anthony Brown, a homeless man, called the limit unfair. “I come here every day to read, and sometimes I check out a book or two,” Brown said. “And I always return them.” �Selling Big Issue Japan: It reminds me of the Joy of Working (The Big Issue Japan) by Yuko Iijima The interviewer commented “When I talk to Big Issue vendors I sometimes forget that at night they have to go back to their beds on the cold road.” Mr. Eiichi Matsumoto is fifty years old and sleeps in front of a shop near Kawasaki station, where even at night the street lights are so bright that the place is well lit. “Bright places are safer because attacks are less likely to occur, so I am relieved. I don’t feel particularly cold as I’ve quite got used to it,” said Mr. Matsumoto, laughing. Matsumoto became a Big Issue seller about three months ago. He avoids the morning rush hour, preferring to sell from 4.30- 6.30 in the evenings where he targets people around Kawasaki station who are shopping for dinner or businessmen going home. Although he stands there for only a short time every day, he sells as many as fifty or sixty copies a week, because he pinpoints this time for good sales. “A magazine’s front cover is important. When I see the reactions of passersby to the front cover, I can tell whether the sales will be good or bad” he says. Now he has regular customers who buy every issue and there are also passersby who hand him a hot drink. He says that such friendly relations warm his heart. Matsumoto became a Big Issue seller after a member of the Kawasaki Patrol Group who help homeless people in Kawasaki, told him about it. Kawasaki Patrol Group regularly visit homeless people and open their office for homeless people to wash themselves and their clothes. It is also where Big Issues are distributed. The group and the homeless people themselves voluntarily clean up the parks and collect illegally dumped garbage. “When I come to the Patrol Group office I feel reassured because there are co-sellers there. When I have sold out my stock I borrow copies to sell. And we give each other coffee and help each other to sell.” Mr. Matsumoto was born in Omiya city, the last child of a family of six. “I am the last child. My oldest brother was already married when I entered elementary school. When my brothers and sisters bullied me I used to run to my mother. Without asking them for reasons she scolded them. I was Mother’s Pet! “After graduating from Middle School, I got a job at a cardboard box company. I worked in the manufacturing and printing section. But after I had been working there for ten years I wanted to learn a skill that could be recognized anywhere.” After quitting, Masumoto trained himself to be a professional gardener, lodging in his boss’ house. After a while, he decided he did not want to continue with gardening and went to work in his father’s business laying foundations for buildings under construction. “My elder brother, who is a carpenter, took over the business. I stayed in my parents’ house but after they died I felt uncomfortable there so I left the house and started a job as a day laborer which provided me with lodgings. At that time the economy was much better than now. Daily wages were high.” He was dispatched to different sites and his lodgings changed accordingly. He continued like this for more than ten years. After that, the Japanese economic bubble burst and jobs decreased. As he was approaching fifty his physical strength was diminishing so he could not get jobs easily. This is when he found himself on the street. Kawaski city gives out meal tickets to homeless people. Masumoto received some of these tickets which were a help for him. “It was not that I was unwilling to work and if I had had a chance I would have worked. Work makes me move my body.” He said that he is better at listening to other people’s stories than telling his own. When he talks to customers he tends to show a bright Streetvibes attitude and use polite expressions. “After I started to sell Big Issue Japan, the biggest change I made was checking my appearance in the mirror because I am an advertisement for Big Issue. My customers always look at me so I must at least keep myself clean… I keep myself clean shaven.” In the near future Kawasaki city will stop giving out meal tickets but they will provide free lodgings for people on the streets. They also plan on introducing jobs, “This is a time to find a job. I want to work again. Selling Big Issue reminds me of the joy of working and I want to continue to sell the Big Issue,” said Mr. Matsumoto, a big smile appearing behind his glasses. Page 7 �Raising minimum wage provides $1,520 more annually Washington, DC: Raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour over the next 26 months would increase the annual earnings of the average full-time, full-year, minimumwage worker by $1,520, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Last month Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) offered an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill that would increase the minimum wage from the current $5.15 per hour to $7.25. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) offered an amendment to raise the minimum wage in the House Appropriations Committee and it was approved by a vote of 32-27. It is pending in the House now. The federal minimum wage is at its lowest point in 50 years. Congress has not raised the minimum wage in a decade. As of December 2006, this will be the longest time Congress has ever gone without raising the minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage is only the first step in helping families to make ends meet. The substantial share of minimum wage workers are adults making significant contributions to the total family income. In the early 2000s, fewer than one-in-five minimum wage workers was under the age of 20 and half were between ages 25 and 54. Fewer Middle-Class Neighborhoods as Poor and Rich Neighborhoods Grow floods local markets with new, everUntil last month, Jim and INDIANAPOLIS — Middle-class neighborhoods, long regarded as incubators for the American dream, are losing ground in cities across the country, shrinking at more than twice the rate of the middle class itself. In their place, poor and rich neighborhoods are both on the rise, as cities and suburbs have become increasingly segregated by income, according to a Brookings Institution study released last month. It found that as a share of all urban and suburban neighborhoods, middleincome neighborhoods in the nation’s 100 largest metro areas have declined from 58 percent in 1970 to 41 percent in 2000. Widening income inequality in the United States has been well documented in recent years, but the Brookings analysis of census data uncovered a much more accelerated decline in communities that house the middle class. It far outpaced the decline of seven percentage points between 1970 and 2000 in the proportion of middle-income families living in and around cities. Middle-income neighborhoods are down 10 percent in the Washington area. It’s happening, too, in this prosperous, mostly white middleincome Midwestern city where unemployment is low and a vibrant downtown has been preserved. As poor and rich neighborhoods proliferate, the share of middleincome neighborhoods in greater Indianapolis has dropped by 21 percent since 1970. “No city in America has gotten more integrated by income in the last 30 years,” said Alan Berube, an urban demographer at Brookings who worked on the report. “It means that if you are not living in one of the well-off areas, you are not going to have access to the same amenities — good schools and safe environment — that you could find 30 years ago,” he said. “This is about upward mobility and class. Until the 1970s, middle-class blacks and other minorities often had little choice about where they could live,” said Kotkin, the author of “The City: A Global History.” He added: “They usually had to live close to lower-income people of their own race. Now, if they can afford it, they can move to higher-income neighborhoods. Dollars trump race. Many choose not to live around poor people.” “We are increasingly being bifurcated on an economic basis,” said Paul Ong, a professor of public affairs at the University of California at Los Angeles. “It has taken a big chunk out of the middle.” In Los Angeles — the most hollowed-out metropolitan area in the country over the past three decades — the share of poor neighborhoods is up 10 percent, rich neighborhoods are up 14 percent and middle-income areas are down by 24 percent. The Brookings study says that increased residential segregation by income can remove a fundamental rung from the nation’s ladder for social mobility: moderate-income neighborhoods with decent schools, nearby jobs, low crime and reliable services. For people who do not want to put up with aging, troubled neighborhoods and have the means to do something about it, escape is remarkably easy — in Indianapolis and across much of the country. The housing industry in the Midwest and the Northeast routinely larger houses. In greater Indianapolis, more than 27,500 houses were constructed between 2000 and 2004, even though the population grew by only 3,000. In the process, older houses and many older neighborhoods — such as McCray’s — have become as disposable as used cars. In a pattern that is the mirror opposite of what is happening in the Midwest and Northeast, there is a chronic undersupply of housing in many cities on the West Coast. But it, too, has contributed to a decline of middle-income neighborhoods, said Berube, the Brookings demographer. He said rapid population growth in cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle combines with rigid geographic and legal restraints on construction to limit housing supply. In Los Angeles, for example, the population grew by 11 percent between 1990 and 2002, but the number of housing units increased by just 5 percent. That has pushed up the price of housing in mixed-income neighborhoods. Gentrification often pushes the poor away to lessdesirable suburbs. In Indianapolis, it is an abundance of housing that lures the middle class out of established neighborhoods. National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 Page 8 Streetvibes Lynn Russell lived with their 1-year­ old son, Adam, in a middle-income neighborhood called Irvington on the city’s near east side. The area of restored historic houses is 20 minutes by car from downtown, where they both work as bank executives. But the Russells, who have another baby due in the fall, were worried about mediocre test scores at nearby public schools. They were also concerned about safety. A mass killing — seven people shot in their home — took place this month not far from their former house. Carmel, where the Russells just bought a house, is not a close-in suburb. About 45 minutes north of downtown at rush hour, it is one of the fastest-growing communities in greater Indianapolis. Schools are among the best in Indiana, and housing is abundant and, by national standards, extremely affordable for professional couples. The Russells bought their four-bedroom house on half an acre for $230,000. Urban planners complain that exurbs such as Carmel are bleeding cities of the middle class. But Jim Russell said he and his wife have made “the logical choice” by moving to an upper-income neighborhood that is safe, comfortable and better for their growing family. �NYC moves to break up homeless encampments by Sara Kugler NEW YORK - Hundreds of homeless people living in encampments under highways and bridges and next to train trestles will be aggressively urged to leave the streets, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said last month The city’s Department of Homeless Services has found 73 areas — difficult to reach and mostly out of sight — where some 350 homeless people have set up encampments and communities. The majority are in Manhattan. Outreach workers will “humanely, respectfully and firmly” encourage them to stop living on the streets and take advantage of city services like housing assistance, substance treatment programs and shelters, the mayor said. “We’re going to let them know that their days on the streets must come to an end, and we’ll secure and clean up the places where they’ve been bedding down to make sure that they won’t be occupied again,” Bloomberg said in a speech before the National Alliance to End Homelessness in Washington, D.C the text was given to reporters in New York. The People’s Republic? (Spare Change News, USA) The Cambridge, MA Police Department may have violated a street vendor’s First Amendment rights when they arrested him on June 13 and charged him with obstructing a Massachusetts Avenue sidewalk. Gary Kibler, 54, a formerly homeless man who now lives in Allston, and his associate, Kenneth O’Brien, who is currently homeless, had set up a stand on the sidewalk in front of the Yenching Chinese restaurant and the J. August Company at 1324 Massachusetts Avenue, where, for approximately three hours that day, Kibler had been selling used books for $2 each to passersby. At around 2 p.m., four Cambridge police officers, led by Sgt. Paul Oppedisano, approached the bookstand and told Kibler to dismantle the display. According to Kibler, one of the officers said he could move the stand to Central Square as an alternative location. Kibler refused and was arrested at 2:14 p.m. for allegedly violating Subsection C of Cambridge City Code 12.08.020, according to a police report that was made out by Officer Darin Cromwell and obtained by Spare Change News. Kibler was released later that day on $40 bail, with a court appointment the following day. At his arraignment, Kibler said he attempted to get the charges dismissed with prejudice, on the grounds that his right to free speech had been violated, even though his court-appointed defense lawyer attempted to get him to plead out of the charge. He refused, and was given until a hearing on June 19 to prove that the case should be dismissed. He planned to do extensive research on his case over the weekend, but was apprehensive about his chances. “The burden of proof is on me,” Kibler said. Subsection C, the ordinance under which Kibler was charged, states in part that “no permit shall be granted for encroachment of such merchandise, counter, platform or other apparatus or structure to exceed more than twenty-five percent of the width of the sidewalk.” The table was set up next to a lamppost, directly in front of the street’s curb. According to measurements taken by SCN, the three-foot-wide table on which the books were located encompassed approximately nine percent of the 28­ and-a-half-foot sidewalk on which it stood. The aforementioned charge is a civil violation, but Kibler was also charged with a criminal violation against “good order” under Chapter 272, Section 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The law allows police to arrest anyone who is in willful violation of a city or town ordinance without a warrant. Kibler, then, received a criminal violation for committing a civil offense in the city of Cambridge. The second issue at hand, according to the vendor, is an alleged violation of his constitutional rights, under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to sell printed material in public without a permit. Kibler and O’Brien made an arrangement whereby O’Brien procures the books, and Kibler acts as the vendor of the books. Kibler says he agreed to sell the books for O’Brien due to financial reasons. “The basic reason I need extra income right now is for medical An estimated 3,800 people live on New York’s streets and in its subways, according to 2006 figures from the city’s annual homeless head count. Officials say the number dropped from last year’s 4,400, and Bloomberg has set a goal of reducing it to 1,465 by the time he leaves office in 2009. Thousands more homeless people stay in city shelters each night. The most recent count, from a night last month 31,861. Bloomberg aides said this new approach to homeless encampments will not involve law enforcement, which has a controversial history in the city. Bloomberg’s predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani, was known for zerotolerance tactics that often involved threatening arrests and sending police to break up homeless communities. The teams of outreach workers will not include police officers or anyone forcefully removing the homeless, mayoral aides said. They will make repeated visits to encampments with the goal of relocating people into assistance programs. expenses, since Mass Medical doesn’t cover dental and I need extensive dental care,” Kibler said. O’Brien, a native and homeless Cantabrigian, also has reasons for setting up the stand. “I’m trying to not have to panhandle anymore, and a book business might be a way out,” he said. Kibler and O’Brien believe the First Amendment protects their right to sell books and other printed material in public without obtaining a permit. “Getting a permit is asking me to suppress my freedom of speech,” Kibler told SCN. There is precedent for this argument in New York City, where so-called “First Amendment vendors” sell merchandise related to the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment on the streets. According to Sean Basinski, director of the Street Vendor Project in New York City, the First Amendment protects the right to distribute printed material such as books, and in New York City specifically, the law does not require “First Amendment vendors” to acquire a permit or license of any kind. The same is true here, according to the Cambridge Licensing Commission. “We tell people that you don’t need anything from us, if you’re selling things that are protected under the First Amendment,” said Elizabeth Lint, the CLC’s executive officer. Jason Weeks, executive director of the Cambridge Arts Council, which licenses street performers and artists, agreed with Lint, and assumed that for a vendor selling books on the street, the only charge he could have brought against him would be for obstruction of a sidewalk. “The understanding I have is that free speech includes books and flowers,” Weeks told SCN. Officer Frank Pasquarello, public information officer for the Cambridge Police Department, was not interested in debating the First Amendment. “We don’t make the laws, we just enforce them,” he told SCN. Amanda Darling, marketing manager for the Harvard Book Store, which is located two blocks from Kibler’s stand, expressed sympathy for his arrest, but concern over future sales rivalries. “If someone does have a permit to sell books on the street and they set up near our store, we are of course concerned about what is essentially new competition,” Darling wrote in an email to SCN. According to O’Brien and Kibler, the vendors, this is a developing issue. As soon as they are able to retrieve their books from the police, they plan to set up the table again – in the exact same location. O’Brien also alluded to an expansion. “There are plans for at least two more tables in [Harvard] Square,” he told SCN. “My book table will be a hodge-podge of coffee table books and signed, first editions – what you would call an upper-end table.” And the Cambridge police will be ready. “We’d be more than happy to arrest him again,” said Officer Pasquarello. Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Streetvibes Page 9 �Gentrification - It Ain’t What You Think by Jonathan Diskin, Professor and Thomas A. Dutton, Professor and Director, Miami University Center for Community Engagement in Over-the-Rhine Any development in OTR will change the neighborhood, but gentrification systematically facilitates a ‘class transition’ that marginalizes current (and recently displaced) residents from decision-making processes, and from defining and capturing a fair share of the benefits of development. Equitable community development, in contrast, focuses on development that, as its first priority, enhances the capabilities of existing residents and local institutions. Such e Equitable development certainly includes developing market-rate housing and homeownership opportunities, among other forms of housing differs in its organizing principle. The key tenet of equitable community development is to foster development that enables current residents to reap benefits they value and to be integrally involved in development decision-making. The focus is on fairness and on a sociallyjust distribution of benefits, supported by democratic involvement of local residents and community-based institutions with long ties to the neighborhood. The problem with gentrification is not that it produces no benefits for low-income residents of OTR but that it does so in a way that fails the test of fairness, despite Not so long ago Thomas Denhart controlled about a 1000 units of subsidized low-income housing in Over-the-Rhine (OTR), far more than all the community based non-profit housing groups in the neighborhood combined. So it was quite ironic to hear Mr. Denhart, in fine form and to great applause at an April 4th public meeting on development at Memorial Hall, extol the virtues of 3CDC’s market-rate housing based development strategy for OTR. It seems we are all for gentrification now. We evoke Mr. Denhart because his comments convey, we believe, a commonsense consensus that market-rate housing and public spending that draws wealthier residents to OTR should be favored above all other forms of investment as the paths to a mixed-income neighborhood. This is a strange moment in Cincinnati, where terms such as “mixed-income housing” and “economic mix” enjoy near-universal purchase across a multitude of competing interests and groups. Yet their meanings are loose and slippery, allowing gentrification to be pursued at all costs as a Over-the-Rhine has the capacity to strategy to address povertystricken communities of color honor the history of its current like Over-the-Rhine, “impacted” by a “concentration” of lowresidents; to stay focused on income housing and social services. defining and distributing benefits Our concern is that a failure to distinguish between of development in ways that help alternative forms of development will lead, by local residents and institutions default, to development via gentrification as services and develop their capacities more fully. subsidies for wealthier inmigrants to OTR squeeze out services and subsidies for current lower-income residents. the intention of those who see it as Already a good amount of policy, the best way to help the poor in investment spending, and marketing OTR. For decades inner-city and planning rhetoric favor neighborhoods in the industrialized development by gentrification. We cityscapes of the United States have our doubts about the presumed suffered from middle-class out congruence between gentrification migration, job loss, segregation, and mixed-income development, and increased homelessness, in-migration argue for a more inclusive and fair of poorer populations zoned and conception and practice of discriminated out of other development in OTR. Fairness and neighborhoods, the fiscal pressures of inclusion are not automatically an aging infrastructure and declining delivered by gentrification. tax bases, and city neglect. Public In general terms, we define and private investments focusing gentrification as development that bringing new, market-rate residents to privileges the interests of new OTR will likely increase amenities residents over those of existing ones and safety for all residents of OTR. by targeting subsidies, public policy These are real benefits, but incentives, public service amenities, the extent to which the poor enjoy and marketing-rhetoric toward them, they are spillover effects of higher-income potential residents and investments and policy changes those who develop market-rate directed principally at new, higher housing. income and higher status residents. They are benefits that only trickle down—what the late John Kenneth Galbraith defined as “feeding the sparrows through the horses.” Because gentrification is, by definition, a strategy focused on providing incentives to new residents and those who facilitate their inmigration, it of necessity directs primary benefits to those new residents and their agents. It does not provide a fair share of benefits to existing residents who receive only general, indirect benefits by virtue of sharing the neighborhood space. They are to consider themselves lucky bystanders to a process that has little to do with them directly. The problem here is not only the distribution of the benefits of new investment, but the types of benefits that are dictated by the needs of new residents. Thus, resources needed by existing residents to improve their lives, to enhance their own development and that of local institutions are forced back in the queue, behind the requirements of those who are positioned as the “right stuff” to lift up the neighborhood. The message to long-time, low-income residents is, you will benefit in the longer run as those who are already more prosperous than you, get direct benefits and subsidies simply because they move to your neighborhood. Gentrification has indeed become the dominant logic of development in OTR though the term itself is not embraced by key players. From Cincinnati’s “Housing Impaction Ordinance” that pressures all new development to be marketrate, to 3CDC’s focus on marketrate development, to the punitive efforts to control and police poverty and homelessness through the Panhandling Licensing process we see that almost all the eggs of public policy, public-private investment, and the rhetoric of development are in the basket of market-rate development. Coupled with the decline in buildingbased Section 8 and the more restrictive environment for producing low-income housing, a clear shift has been effected toward a development by gentrification strategy. Toward More Equity As gentrification becomes more pervasive and property values in OTR rise, there will be marketbased displacement as rents rise. Housing and land markets tend to cluster uses by income, taste, and function. Markets segregate uses in space and thus are very unlikely to produce a mixed-income neighborhood except as a brief transitional form. We are not against private investment and market activity in OTR. But a sustainable mixedincome neighborhood requires that markets and private activity be balanced with public policy, continuing housing subsidies, and a longer range set of mechanisms for equity and mixed-income. Again, prices, in time, will mitigate against an economically diverse OTR and it is incumbent on all who value diversity to plan for diversity even while private market activity is increasing and playing an important role in bringing investment to OTR. If central city land values rise and OTR becomes the ‘bohemian’ or ‘chic’ neighborhood that, development boosters have long envisioned, OTR will be reduced to a few “lifestyle” enclaves for those who like some aspects of urban life, but who want to organize a sanitized public realm and be protected from unpleasant public experiences. Further, we cannot leave questions of equity and fairness to a point later-on in the development process. In the future, there will too many “facts of the ground,” as the Israeli’s say about their developments on occupied territory, too many entrenched interests to change the rules of the game. Finally, it is important to recognize that many, too many, people in the United States cannot afford housing (and other goods) on their income. Thus we should honor, not denigrate mercilessly, the tradition of selforganization and outreach to the least well-off among us in OTR. Markets are powerful incentive directing guides, but an equitable, diverse OTR that honors its recent past must be a mix of market and non-market forms of housing and uses of space. It is important at the outset to pay close attention to what development with equity entails and to build it into the ground rules. Over-the-Rhine has the capacity to honor the history of its current residents; to stay focused on defining and distributing benefits of development in ways that help local residents and institutions develop their capacities more fully. To achieve this rare, worthy outcome, we must have clarity about our intentions as well as specific and thoughtful mechanisms for defining and distributing benefits of development. This requires public and private leadership. This prospect for a sustainable, diverse neighborhood will be lost if we rely on boosting markets alone and simply keep our fingers crossed that everyone’s interests will be served in the end. It is important to recognize that public policy and the state in all its functions operates today in a more global and a more ‘neoliberal’ context than in the past. Today the state, at all levels, is under pressure to privatize assets, and, as geographer Neil Smith argues about national states, to reframe “themselves as purer, territorially rooted economic actors in and of the market, rather than as external complements of it.” The transformation of state and local governments in the above directions does not bode well for areas like Over-the-Rhine. Can cities Cont. Next Page... Page 10 Streetvibes �in today’s global conditions protect mixed-income neighborhood is those most marginalized or who have rooted in this possibility of a plural fallen below the reach of the market? public space not completely managed The evidence does not suggest so. by commercial interests, a space As global forces play themselves out where strangers mix and create in the United States, “urban policy no something unique and unscripted. longer aspires to guide or regulate the This is part of the reason why any direction of economic growth so reasonable strategy for development much as to fit itself to the grooves in OTR should encourage new already established by the market in residents from diverse backgrounds. search of the highest returns, either We would add, however, that the directly or in terms of tax receipts” (Smith). Thus in Cincinnati, like many cities, “real­ estate development becomes a centerpiece of the city’s productive economy” (Smith), facilitated by a new integration of state and corporate powers. This is not a case of the state withering in the face of the market. The state is acting Over-the-Rhine, Winter and asserting benefits of a more diverse OTR, of itself, but according to a market logic itself, resulting in what sociologist publicity, of living in a stimulating, Andrew Barlow calls “the private pluralist place, are benefits equally valuable to existing residents. If investment state.” existing residents and local institutions Such trends make poverty in are squeezed out or culturally and the US intractable, where “poor economically marginalized as the people find themselves cut off from condition for development, their entry-level jobs, stripped of government social services like health interests will have been sacrificed so others can leverage property values. care and housing subsidies, and forced to endure horrific conditions in The Future? In five to ten years we hope crumbling public schools, all under to see in Over-the-Rhine a truly the mounting presence of police and diverse mixture of peoples, cultures, prisons” (Barlow). As these classes, and races, living within conditions worsen, an increased reliance on the use of repressive conventional and alternative forms of property tenure, from market-rate force, such as the military, the police, and prisons will ensue in order “to condos to below-market apartments to cooperatives to renter-equity maintain social order and to manage those without a stake in the global programs, with business and entrepreneurial enterprises that cater economy” (Barlow). The increase in inequality in to a spectrum of incomes and tastes. While we understand the drive for the United States and the use of repressive force indicate, as more market-rate housing and do geographer Don Mitchell notes, a indeed see it as one element of priority for order over the right to be equitable development in OTR, we in public, and that it is a difficult time caution against market-rate development has become an end in to call the state to its more humane, itself. We do not believe that markets inclusive functions. But the will produce the diversity and importance of truly plural public economic mix so widely claimed as a spaces, a precious resource in today’s world, demands it. We hope common goal. We challenge 3CDC and city to avoid what scholar Henry Giroux officials to make equity for all in OTR calls the “corporatization of civil more than rhetoric and to make it the society”, wherein the commons, guiding principle of development public realm, and a democratic strategy, backed by real practices sphere vital for fostering public and programs. Market-rate housing debate are severely diminished by will be part of the package, but must commercialization. not become an end in itself that Ironically, we believe that obscures our focus on defining and part of the appeal of OTR as a allocating benefits of development in a way that enlarges the capacities of local residents and organizations. In order for development to be equitable, we would need an accounting and monitoring system that tracks the rise and fall of property values and demographics in the neighborhood in order to ensure a just distribution of benefits from development and to avoid a strengthening democracy are also first principles here. To that end we can make sure that people have a voice in defining the nature and distribution of benefits that are likely to flow from development, including increased property values. As Policy Link puts it, equitable development connects the quest for full racial inclusion and participation to local, metropolitan, and regional planning and photo by Jimmy Heath patchwork of wealthy, isolated enclaves amid deep poverty in OTR. In addition to a serious effort to gather information to inform decisions, we need to be able to direct some of the benefits of rising property values, local incomes, and investment opportunities to local residents. Policy Link, a nonprofit research and capacity building organization that consulted with the OTR Comprehensive Plan working groups in 2002, has compiled an impressive database on equitable development policies and practices. Their ‘best practices’ focus on multiple forms of land tenure, including land banks, cooperative housing, and public policy that puts teeth into anti-displacement without deterring private investment (www.policylink.org). We must not be shy about advocating for substantial housing subsidies and land that will not circulate on the market. We need a mix of market and non-market, and the creation of a public space that recognizes the contribution and legitimate right to belong for existing residents. This is especially important as substantial numbers of Section 8 buildings are converted to marketrate and the environment for building new low-income housing gets tougher and tougher. The guidelines for a mixed income neighborhood agreed to in OTR Comprehensive Plan are useful in this respect. Increasing transparency and Streetvibes development. It is grounded in four guiding principles: the integration of people and place strategies; reduction of local and regional disparities; promotion of “double bottom line” investments; and inclusion of meaningful community voice, participation, and leadership (http://www.policylink.org/ EquitableDevelopment/default.html#). This is a big challenge, but the possibility exists to guide the market and to create a diverse, plural public space, few of which exist anywhere in the world. The fact that our real-estate market is not subject to the same kind of insane bubble as in other places gives us the hope of proceeding in a more thoughtful way to both encourage the benefits of market development while not allowing market incentives to resegregate the neighborhood along class lines. The older mix that cities used to support is a relic of an economic structure whose time has come and gone. We can work toward a new, 21st century mix. We will only get there if we are clear that we must be inclusive from the beginning and not postpone benefits for long suffering residents of OTR until some future moment when the market has done its work. Buy Streetvibes Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. Vendors must not tell customers that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 Cents (75 cent profit goes directly to the vendor) Homeless Coalition 25 Cents Printing and Production: 25 cents (this cost does not cover expenses) Page 12 About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... earned. This program has helped The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Streetvibes Homeless Man Stabbed Multiple Times Houston, TX - A homeless man was stabbed multiple times in southwest Harris County. Deputies said the 54-year­ old man was attacked under a bridge on Alief Clodine Road near Highway 6 at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. Officials said the man walked to a convenience store on Highway 6 near West Bend Drive where he collapsed. The man was taken by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Officials said he is in serious condition. No arrests have been made. �Action on the Minimum Wage in the Senate and the House Coalition on Human Needs, Wasington, DC In the Senate. More than 80 percent of Americans favor increasing the minimum wage to $7.15 an hour and a majority live in the 20 states that have raised the minimum wage above the federal $5.15. Despite this overwhelming support, two separate amendments to raise the minimum wage in the Senate were defeated on June 21. Both amendments were offered during consideration of the Defense Authorization bill. According to pre-determined procedures, both would have required 60 votes for passage. The first, proposed by Senator Kennedy (D-MA), was voted down 52-46. The second amendment, proposed by Senator Enzi (R-WY), failed 45-53. The amendment proposed by Senator Kennedy would have raised the minimum wage to $7.25 over the next two years, an increase of $2.10 above the current federal minimum wage of $5.15. Kennedy’s amendment would also have extended the minimum wage requirement to the US territory of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which is currently exempt from the requirement and has a minimum wage of $3.15. Eight Republicans joined all of the Democrats in supporting the amendment. Senator Enzi’s amendment would have increased the minimum wage only to $6.25, and also included “poison pills” that would undermine worker rights and reduce incomes. The Enzi amendment eroded the Fair Labor Standards Act by ending protections for the 40-hour work week. Employers would be allowed to avoid paying overtime if two weeks of work did not exceed 80 hours, even though employees worked more than 40 hours in one of the weeks. In addition, Enzi’s amendment undermined the minimum wage tip credit. According to Senate reports, Senator Kennedy will try to add his amendment to other legislation moving through the Senate sometime this year. In the House. An amendment to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 over the next two years was added to the House Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill in the full committee on June 13. Rep. Hoyer (D-MD) proposed the amendment, which passed by a vote of 32-27 with the support of 7 Republicans. The addition of the minimum wage provision and disputes over funding levels has stalled the bill. On June 22, in an effort to get a minimum wage vote on the House floor, Democrats attempted to add the amendment to another appropriations bill: for Science/State/ Justice/Commerce. This time the Republicans who’d supported the amendment on the earlier bill withdrew their support. The amendment failed, and the bill went to the floor without the minimum wage provision. However, on June 28 when the bill came to the floor, Rep. Obey (D-WI) offered an amendment to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 by January 2009. Obey withdrew the amendment under objections that it violated the House rules for legislating changes on an unrelated spending bill. The strategy of the House Democratic leadership is to continue using appropriations bills and votes on the rules setting the parameters for their consideration as mechanisms for bringing up the minimum wage. In other action related to the minimum wage, during House consideration of the estate tax bill on June 22, House Minority Leader Pelosi (D-CA) raised a procedural issue saying, “It is inappropriate to consider this bill until the Republican leadership schedules a vote on an increase in the minimum wage, which they are now blocking.” A vote was then taken to block proceeding with the estate tax vote. It failed 182­ 236. All but ten of the Democrats present voted for the Pelosi motion. No Republicans voted with her. House Majority Leader Boehner (R-OH), in reversing an earlier statement, said that the minimum wage would come up for a vote in the House this year. The Democratic leaders believe that if a Republican bill does come up it will be similar to the Enzi bill offered in the Senate. For more information, see “Most Americans Now Live in States That Have Raised the Wage Floor” by Michael Dimock, Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, April 19, 2006 On the Road: ‘Birmingham Battles’ by August Mallory (Street Sense, USA) (August Mallory, one of Street Sense’s vendors is visiting other cities in the USA. He writes about the homeless situation there and his personal encounters.) As I begin this story from Birmingham, Alabama, I must explain why I focus on issues in the Deep South, where homelessness and poverty rank the highest in the nation. As one gentleman once explained to me, it’s the Jim Crow attitude that is still there, only it is institutionalized now. As much as I try to understand the hardships that the homeless in our nation face, I still cannot believe the hatred and discontent and the insulting behavior and the grudges that the homeless have toward one another. It is early Saturday afternoon and as I make my way to the Jimmie Hale Mission, in downtown Birmingham, I see many homeless men sitting around outside, waiting to check in. So I decided to wait with them, and I have a good conversation with a few of them. I was expecting to hear quite a few rude and arrogant remarks, but believe it or not, these men were quite polite and friendly. But many expressed their anger and frustration at the system that was supposed to assist them but only drove them deeper into the rut they were already in. And it is this matter of red tape and bureaucratic behavior by the city and the federal government, in the Deep South, that triggers the hostile grudge against the system and toward each other. As dinnertime rolls around, I listen to some of the men talk about how they are harassed by the local police, who do body searches. One man was telling how he was just standing talking to two other men and a patrol car pulls up on him and the officer gets out and demands ID because he was wearing military-type fatigues. The officer wanted to find out if he was AWOL. I don’t know where that officer had been the last several years, but the military no longer uses the phrase absent without leave. You are now considered an UA – an unauthorized absentee. Police departments take note of this! Update your information! However, moving on, after dinner we prepared to bed down for the night, and after the lights were out, it is still chatter, chatter, chatter, until a staff person orders us all to keep it quite. Finally, silence. The next morning is Sunday, and I am very anxious to see the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. I make my way to Kelly Ingram Park, and I spot the church. For those who are not familiar with the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, this is the church that was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan on Sunday, September 15, 1963. Four young girls died in the bombing. As I was speaking with an older gentleman there, he gave me the details. He saw the whole incident. As I look around the park, I notice a marble and bronze statue Georgia: the three cities in the south of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. I that were the center of attention end my conversation with this man, during the civil rights years. and he directs me back downtown, I am thinking today that to the corner of 19th Avenue North. despite the laws that were passed There was a reason to go there. On during those days and after, why May 14, 1961, civil rights freedom haven’t conditions for the homeless riders were enroute from Washington improved? I guess it still goes back to New Orleans to protest against to institutionalized Jim Crow. To court ruling that decreed that a bury the racist past of Birmingham segregated public transportation was and places elsewhere will take much not unconstitutional, it was ok. They work. For America to become a were met by the Ku Klux Klan and whole Nation will take much work. mobbed, beaten and kicked savagely For America to care for its poor and while the Birmingham police just homeless will take even more work. stood by and watched. American says it a caring nation, and As I am reading a memorial if this is true, then let’s show it. plaque on the site, a woman shouts This is my story from out and says, “I remember that!” I Birmingham. nearly jump out of my skin, and as I turn to face her, I Survey Participants Wanted ask, “do you remember this?” She says that she was You are invited to participate 19 years old when it in a brief survey on hate happened, and she was crimes and violence against proud of all the students. homeless persons. Go to: They stood their ground well. http:// She goes over all the details of that day in 1963. I just www.surveymonkey.com/ take a deep breath and s.asp?u=870921968238Y silently thank those students Your input will help the for their courage. National Coalition for the And I thank that lady for her information, and make Homeless direct our advocacy efforts. The results of this national my way to the Brother Bryan Mission to chat with people survey will be released to general there. But enroute I meet public and media in late August. another homeless gentleman Please contact NCH for information who told me more of the concerning the rising incidents of horrifying events that took hates crimes and violence against place in the 1960s in homeless persons at Birmingham, Montgomery, www.nationalhomeless.org Alabama, and Atlanta, Streetvibes Page 13 �Under The Sun Jonah in Nevada by Bernard Howard He did not go to Nineveh. He went instead to the west. When the bus broke down outside of Reno, he took that for a sign and hitchhiked into the city. Two beers, four beers, he watched the work of the strippers. Six beers, eight, he had become such a curse a pair of bouncers grabbed him at each arm and launched him into the street. Ten beers, a dozen and he was swallowed by oblivion and lay cramped in the belly of amnesia for three days. He woke in the desert with the sun straight above him like a spike. His skull was drumming and his mouth was caked with salt. His backpack had been stolen and some fist had gifted him with bruises above his eye and in the arcades of his ribs. His face and arms were blistered by the withering sun. He stared at the empty road and tried to conjure which way would take him back to where he had derailed. Aching, broke, I hate the sun I love the rain. To soak in water not bake in sweat. I feel the rain when it’s falling down. Despise the heat that you bring around. We have no grounds in common to relate. Your lighted cycle only seems to burn. Like rain drops I have fell in life. Some drops were short and others were long. Seems like you rise when things are bad. To show a hatred or make me sad. But my thoughts are much bigger than you. I can ignore everything you try and prove. Sometimes I fall, but when I rise. It’s not the sun that I despise. I wish our views could share a start. To answer the reason we can’t get along. Beneath the Surface Homeless by Octavia I am hungry and cold I wonder will I get a home I hear my family laughing I see food on the table One check away by James Chionsini twinkling stars can’t keep you warm when you’re sleeping in the park till he break of dawn newspaper pillow and a plastic tarp watching for he pigs that come out after dark I want a nice little home I am hungry and cold I pretend to sleep in a bed lost your job got jacked and robbed your landlord said that’s not my prob doctor bills kill you can’t afford the pills now you’re shaking heart breaking drink as much as you spill I feel warm covers waiting on the first to quench your thirst alleviate the discomfort of an asphalt earth trying to find a shelter to get some rest but nowhere seems safe without a knife proof vest I cry because I don’t have a home if you could just get back to square one start to heal the disease that’s got you on the run feeling invisible going insane scowls and nightsticks fall like rain I touch the bed I lie in I worry will I ever get a home I am hungry and cold I understand I don’t have a home I say I will get a home I dream to have a home I cry because I have don’t have a home I try to visualize a home I hope I get a home I am hungry and cold Page 14 Streetvibes by Renee Hoboken is a city of beauty and at night it is a city of lights. Beneath all the beauty and lights it is a city full of people who are striving to survive, who have lost all hope with the system and only find strength in those who can relate or those who are in the same situation or predicament and find comfort in knowing that they are not alone no matter how lost, lonely or forgotten they may be. Life Story by Cleon (Pee Wee) Hughes I remember when I was young I did some things I should not have done You must understand it was hard for me Cuz there were no presents under my tree. Just bills unpaid, starving for days and My grades were far from A’s Being a thief just to eat What would you do if you were me? Made it to Jr. High, I don’t know how I done that. I guess my teacher didn’t want Me to come back. Shoes was bummy, Shirt was too That’s when I started hangin With a hungry Crew. First it was steal’n Then drug deal’n And in the 10th grade I was mak’n a kill’n Cuz I remember starving at night Now there’s steak With the beans and rice Now there’s Guess Jeans And fresh K-Swiss And being broke, man I do not miss My Mom used to say Have faith in Jesus OK then, Why did Daddy leave us? It’s hard to have faith When you’re stuck in the moment And on top of that My feet kept grow’n Put the drugs down And pick up a book Take a look around I mean take a GOOD look I really think there is something miss’n Cuz don’t nobody look up to a politician How bout the pastor? Going to church, people just laugh at cha Then a man stepped in my life And this man was for real You don’t have to do dirt Cuz you was dealt a raw deal He said you’re just like a puppy You been led astray Here read this book And it will show you the way Now I’m 35 And have new beliefs Jesus paid for my sins And I have the receipt �Understand Walking Through Paradise with a Friend Who Doesn’t Believe by Robert Leech by Leo Luke Marcello It would be so damn cool to live underground Where no liquor store, gun runner or dope dealer can be found No electricity, no sunlight to brighten your day Just the dim lights of candles to show you the way No worrying about gung-ho police, or crossing the street No sense of direction, you just follow your feet No more bullshit government, or the president’s lies You just go from tunnel to tunnel as time flies And what do you do when you come to a dead end? It’s simple, you just turn around and start the same process over again All this sounds weird, and you wonder where it will stop But soon as your ass get hungry, you’ll find your way to the top I guess some people say living underground is real cool But if you think you can do it without coming to the top You are the world’s biggest damn fool. At the end of the path you expect nothing, a clearing perhaps and then pure air, no trace of animal droppings, insect bites, just an opening in the trees, an end of the path cleared before us, a suddenly treeless empty plain, not even the sounds of birds chirping. Here is the story that you desire. There will be no suffering, no cross. Everyone you love will feel good. Around each neck a chain with a rock, instead of that man on a cross. You would celebrate the caves of birth. Naming the Logos by John J. Brugaletta Though trees are ragged, every building’s plumb. We see the world and wish it fit our mind The way a grapefruit’s segments fit their rind, But quarks and toadstools only leave me dumb. The word I most desire will never come. For me, there are rocks and blood, nails and broken bones, but I am not alone in this. We are all within this one suffering body of life, Christ, so long as we breathe, but there is a window, a clearing, an opening in the wall, a way out of the cave. Someone has shown us the opening by passing through it first and now calls us along this way. I will meet you in that clearing, friend. Whatever we go through, we’ll go through. We will sing together in Paradise where we have begun to sing even now. Tell me why earth should intersect with hay. And what have oaks to do with apple trees, Or cactus blossoms with the needful bees? Does thinking know, or does it only play? The phrase I want to say I never say. The homeless by Don Foran The best the world contains is so remote, My hands fit nothing and my lips are dry. I take two breaths, then on the third I die. We’re most precise at what our words connote. The only name I love eludes my throat. Ten men clamber out of the creaking van, Their sweaty bodies meeting a kiss Of cool night air. They drift, silently, sullenly Toward the darkened church. Mattresses lie, two or three to a room, Along walls decorated with children’s Drawings and almost casual crucifixions. Carl, Eddie, Jake and the others Throw their worn packs and bags Onto the makeshift beds, and John, It’s always John, is first to ask If he can have his sack lunch now, Not in the morning as we had planned. “Sure,” I say, almost as anxious as he To assuage this remediable hunger. Several echo John, and soon all Are feasting on pb and j; apples, celery, And other healthy fare remains on the table, But they’re happier now, even communicative. One thanks me for setting a new pair of white socks On each mattress. Another offers a juice cup To a friend. “Lights out!” Rick calls at ten, And no one argues, no one hesitates. Sleep Knits once more the raveled sleeve of care, Obliterates the hurt, soothes the jangled nerves. Tomorrow will be another day, Another cheerless day embroidered With small triumphs, fragile dreams. Streetvibes Page 15 �569-9500 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel 241-5525 Mission Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House 324-2321 (Veterans) St. Francis/St.Joseph 381-4941 House 661-4620 Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 921-1131 Bethany House 762-5660 Salvation Army Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis 859-491-3335 Center Grace Place Catholic Worker 681-2365 House Tom Gieger Guest House 961-4555 If you need help or help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of 421-2437 Cincinnati Appalachian Identity 621-5991 Center 231-6630 Beech Acres Center for Independent Living 241-2600 Options Churches Active in 591-2246 Northside Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 381-4242 Contact Center Center for Respite Care 621-1868 241-2563 Emanuel Center Freestore/ 241-1064 Foodbank TREATMENT: Both 820-2947 N.A. Hopeline 351-0422 A.A. Hotline 381-6672 C.C.A.T. 684-7956 Talbert House Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In 721-0643 Program TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 921-1613 Prospect House 961-2256 Starting Over TREATMENT: Women 961-4663 First Step Home Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: 977-5660 CMHA Excel Development 632-7149 241-0504 Miami Purchase OTR Community Housing 381-1171 721-8666 Tender Mercies Dana Transitional Bridge 751-9797 Services, Inc 761-1480 Caracole (AIDS) 381-5432 Friars Club 721-0643 Drop Inn Center 863-8866 Haven House Interfaith 471-1100 Hospitality Lighthouse Youth Center 961-4080 (Teens) St. John’s Housing 651-6446 or Want to Help? Need Help would like to Fransiscan Haircuts 381--0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental 946-8600 Health Board Mental Health Access 558-8888 Point Hamilton Co. TB Control 946-7601 Healing Connections 751-0600 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile 352-2902 Health Van House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 IJ & Peace Center 579-8547 241-0490 Justice Watch Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. 271-5501 Center Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 Mercy Fransiscan at St John 981-5841 McMicken Dental 352-6363 Clinic NAMI (Mental Health) 948-3094 621-6364 Our Daily Bread Oral Health Council 621-0248 Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen 961-1983 Peaslee Neighborhood 621-5514 Center Project Connect, Homeless 363-1060 Kids People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 Services United For Mothers 487-7862 721-7660 Travelers Aid 721-7900 United Way VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping 872-9259 Women MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) 863-3184 St. Raphaels 863-1445 Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 August 2006 10 Years in Publication! Gentrification - It Ain’t What You Think Page 10 Feature y Labor a D h t i W e l b The Trou in Cincinnati Cover Story BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Day Labor in Cincinnati: A Portrait of Exploitation Pg 2: Blessing from the Edge SPCA Visit Upsets Homeless Dog-Owner Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Dumfries Regrets Raid on Homeless Saving a Way Out of Poverty Pg 5: Let’s Call the Homeless Heroes Pg 6: Collaboration Weaves Stronger Safety Net for City’s Homeless In Worcester, Suit Filed Over Library’s Homeless Policy Pg 7: Selling Big Issue Japan Pg 8: Raising Minimum Wage Provides $1,520 More Annually Pg 9: NYC Moves to Break Up Homeless Encampments The People’s Republic? Pg 10: Gentrification- It Ain’t What You Think Pg 11: Gentrification- It Ain’t What You Think Continued Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: Action on the Minimum Wage in the Senate and the House Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Monique Little Lynne Ausman Gina King Andy Freeze Andy Lawrence John Lavelle Melvin Williams Susan Smith Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Andy Lawrence Birmingham Cincinnati Gentrification Georgine Getty Gina King Homeless News Digest Japan Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Melvin Williams Middle-Class Minimum Wage Monique Little New York City Republic Senate SPCA Susan Smith The House of Representative Worcester https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/2effcfe3c7018a9e0da962366e62c7f3.pdf ccb7e330d5f9963c7067fe25148e3f89 PDF Text Text July 2006 STREETVIBES New Hope for the Homeless? by Pat Clifford, General Coordinator, DIC, Cinti, Oh Are some of the homeless hopeless? Can housing be found for people who have been on the streets for years? People often see homeless individuals when they are driving downtown. Sometimes under bridges. Sometimes sitting on curbs. The “regulars.” The “long timers.” Pitied by some, reviled by others, they are the chronically homeless. The question is: can the chronically homeless be helped and live in our city with dignity? Or are they too far gone to change. The first question one may ask is how many chronically homeless are there in Cincinnati and what percentage of the homeless population do they comprise. Often it is thought that almost all those who are homeless go without housing for a long time. Not true, according to the Cincinnati – Hamilton County Homeless Management Information System. “The myth is that most people that are homeless are homeless for a long time. The numbers don’t bear that out,” according to Steve Knight, who has worked with the homeless for years and is now Shelter Coordinator for the Drop Inn Center. He says that the average stay in a Cincinnati homeless shelter is approximately three weeks. Families typically stay longer, but most homeless individuals stay about two weeks. How many of the homeless qualify as “chronically homeless?” Statistics show that about 352 at any given time qualify, about 26% of the homeless population. If that is the case, why do those images come to mind whenever one thinks of the homeless? Perhaps because they are more visible. Whenever someone drives downtown, the image they take away is one of the panhandlers on the Cover Story street corner. Unnoticed are the people working day labor or waiting in line for a landlord. Regardless of whether the long term homeless comprise the majority of the homeless or a relatively small amount, what can be done about meeting the needs of this population rather than demonizing them? Cincinnati has tried many methods. Some have succeeded, some have not. Is law enforcement the solution to chronic homelessness? Cincinnati City Council just passed permanent legislation to require panhandlers to obtain a license through the City. The Cincinnati Police Department just completed a month of sweeps for nuisance crimes targeted toward removing criminals from the streets of Over-theRhine. During that period, Over-the-Rhine residents were quoted as saying that the streets feel much safer, drug dealers are now off the corners and that people can walk without fear of being shot. However, did these efforts impact the number of homeless? The Drop Inn Center disputes that a large segment of its population was involved in the recent sweeps. Police claim that fifteen percent of those caught in the sweeps were homeless. Shelter officials counter that the number is more like five percent. “The records show that 95% of our residents were not involved in criminal behavior so far this year. I think that’s a pretty telling statistic,” says Knight. Also according to shelter officials, the shelter’s nightly census also remained level for the period of the sweeps, showing that these efforts, while they may have made the neighborhood feel safer, did not have an impact on reducing homelessness What then is to be done about the long term homeless? Researchers and homeless advocates think they have the answer: Put them in housing. That is hard for many to believe. How can one place someone who has been homeless for years, many with multiple physical and mental disabilities, in an apartment among the general population? Isn’t that unsafe? The difference lies in the support that comes with the housing. The term “supportive housing” is unfamiliar to many, but cities across the country are embracing this housing as a solution to homelessness. In Denver, for example, their Mayor has called for the creation of over three thousand units of supportive housing and calls to aid their “Denver’s Road Home” effort are advertised on banners in their downtown area. In Chicago, a non-profit group called Lakefront SRO has developed thousands of units of supportive housing in their downtown area, including a “supportive housing” high-rise in the trendy South Loop. New York City even has a supportive housing complex in the Times Square district. According to Amy Harpenau, a licensed social worker who works daily with the long term homeless, “The key is to remove the barriers to housing that traditionally block this population from entry.” Barriers like high rents, sobriety requirements and background checks are what have kept this population homeless. In their place, groups have added high levels of supportive services that encourage people to reduce risky behavior, implement heightened security precautions and refer people to the medical and treatment services they need. What do residents and community leaders feel about this housing being located in their neighborhood. We can look to Columbus for an answer. When the Columbus Community Shelter Board was looking at creating 100 units of Hope... cont. on page 2 Cincinnati Police Profiling Homeless Individuals Cincinnati, OH – Melisa, Henry and Charley, three area homeless people, were awakened in their camp at 7:30 a.m. June 13 by Cincinnati Police who took their photographs, social security numbers and dates of birth. When they asked why this was happening, they were told it was in case they became the victims of crime. This action was not isolated. Over a month ago homeless youth in Over-the-Rhine reported being detained by officers, photographed and having their personal information written down before being sent on their way. They were walking down Vine Street when this happened, and they were not charged with any violations. Police are giving mixed justification for their actions. At the Southeast Sector, sponsored by Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. (DCI), the Cincinnati Police announced that they were going to start photographing homeless people so that they are “on file” in case a crime is committed. Mixed reports have been given as to whether the concern is with homeless individuals as the perpetrators or victims of these crimes. Either way, homeless rights advocates are calling this an outrage. “This is a gross violation of civil rights and profiling to the highest degree,” stated Georgine Getty, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. “This is merely one part of a systemic campaign to harass and degrade people experiencing homelessness.” Melisa became homeless on August 26 when fleeing from her boyfriend who frequently hit her. Melisa had unsteady employment at a call center, working 4 hours a day, at most, if work was available. In August, her boyfriend drank away the rent money and she found herself homeless. She stayed at two separate shelters, but was forced to leave one because of time limits. She voluntarily left the other because she did not feel safe there. Melisa suffers from mental illness and takes anti-depressants. In the homeless camp, she found an environment where she felt supported. Her boyfriend, Henry, is working with a case manager and plans to have an apartment by the end of the month. Melisa stated that she “hated this” and that she felt “very violated and discriminated against.” She added that if she had robbed someone, she would be staying at a hotel, not living by the river in a makeshift camp. Homeless Campers, Melisa and Henry Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Monique Little - Education Coordinator Kelly Carr - VISTA Andy Lawrence - AHA Coordinator John Lavelle - VISTA Melvin Williams - Reception Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photography Georgine Getty, Berta Lambert Cover Homeless campers being interviewed by local TV news for police harassment story Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 Hope... cont. from page 1 supportive housing in their downtown, they met resistance at first. However, that resistance soon dwindled once the project, called Commons at Grant, was up and in operation. In April of this year, a coalition of developers, homeless advocates and service providers including the Drop Inn Center presented a concept to City leaders to bring Supportive Housing to the area. They sought a site that had a secure entry, an enclosed courtyard, office space for counselors and between 20-35 units for living. The group pointed to a potential site: a vacant home for the blind located at 1505 Elm Street. Business groups, led by the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation or 3CDC. balked at the proposal, saying that it would jeopardize potential development. As of the end of June, talks were stalled with no timeline set. Can supportive housing be the solution for Cincinnati’s homeless? Some advocates feel that it can, however it is clear that education needs to be done. Harpenau comments, “This type of housing has not been attempted here. There is a lot of skepticism.” However, there is a cost to doing nothing. Long term homeless individuals wait for long periods in crowded emergency shelters because no appropriate housing exists. They are under bridges, line park benches and wander the streets, waiting for hope. Police Harass Homeless at Community Dining Hall Portland, OR - In late June, Copwatch (a national civil rights organization) received several calls from homeless clients as well as workers at St. Francis Dining Hall, located near SE 11th and Stark streets in Portland, Oregon. St. Francis serves dinner for the homeless nearly every day. Callers complained that police were asking Latino-looking folks for their papers, giving out tickets for “offensive littering” over cigarette butts, and in general asking people if they had ever been arrested in Portland. On July 1, the Workers Organizing Committee held a bi­ lingual meeting, letting people know that the police are not allowed to ask “are you legally in this country?” Testimony was taken at that time from numerous people who had been harassed by police, mostly by the provocative Officer Mary Wheat. Apparently, neighbors are unhappy with St. Francis. Lieutenant Donna Henderson said the police are just responding to complaints. The only specific incident cited by police was a female neighbor taking a picture of a homeless man (not a great idea) who was upset that he put his hand up to her camera. The woman says he touched her. Later, while a copwatcher was talking to a Euro-American homeless man, Wheat interrupted the conversation. She said she’d seen the man dealing drugs before. When asked why she didn’t arrest him, she said “I was after the Hispanics, I was undercover.” When we showed surprise at her comment, she added “I can say whatever I want, it’s my constitutional right.” Mr. and Ms. Homeless Downtowner Mr. Homeless Downtowner Ms. Homeless Downtowner Name: Hustle Man Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Neighborhood: OTR Occupation: Honest Hustler If I could do something different: I would: run for Mayor I can’t stand it when: people stereotype and judge Favorite interest: Conversing with people Favorite spot in Cincinnati: Clay and 14th If I won the lottery: I would give it all away Place I’d most like to visit: Disney World Happiness would be: Changing this community What I like most about Cincinnati is: my mother What I desire most but are afraid to go after is: the stars My life’s philosophy is: staying comfortable. Name: Julie Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Neighborhood: E-town Occupation: Streetvibes vendor If I could do something different: I would: be a Social Worker and an Advocate for the homeless I can’t stand it when people: don’t try but then complain Favorite interest: spending time with my daughter and grandkids Favorite spot downtown: Washington Park If I won the lottery I would: Help people and then go to Disney World Happiness to me would be: the world in perfect harmony with love, trust, and understanding Place’d most like to visit: Africa as a volunteer What I like most about Cincinnati is: the Zoo and all the recreational activities for the children What I desire most but am afraid to go after: Nothing My life’s philosophy: You can pull yourself up by your bootstraps, but you have to want to try. Streetvibes �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath Reality TV star Sharon Osborne saved a homeless teenager from spiraling into despair with the help of British royal Prince Charles’ PRINCE CHARLES’ charity, The Prince’s Trust. England - Osbourne was devastated by the plight of Danny Howarth, who had been kicked out by his mother’s new boyfriend, forcing him to live rough on the streets. But Howarth enrolled on a course organized by The Prince’s Trust, and under the watchful eye of Osbourne - an ambassador for the initiative - he started to rebuild his life. Osbourne invited Howarth into her and husband Ozzy’s mansion in Buckinghamshire, England, last month, spending time talking through his problems and plans for the future. She says, “Danny is a loving, bright, but vulnerable young man who has turned his life around with the help of The Prince’s Trust. ”Next time you pass a homeless person remember most of them aren’t there because they’re addicts. They’re there because of emotional problems at home - they’re not wanted or loved and have no money, so they end up homeless on the street. “Don’t turn your face away from them - they’re young people who need our help.” In Washington some D.C. residents are trying to stop the construction of a 170-bed homeless shelter along Georgia Avenue in Northwest. Washinton, DC - Officials with the privately run Central Union Mission want to move the shelter from the Logan Circle area because the current building is antiquated. But opponents of the shelter say the area along Georgia Avenue already offers housing and services for the poor, including a Salvation Army branch. They’re also worried the shelter could harm efforts to revitalize the neighborhood. Instead, they’re pushing for more outdoor cafes, restaurants — and even a drug store. Central Union’s new $15 million shelter would include a drug rehabilitation center, a chapel and a cafe that will provide breakfast and dinner for the homeless. In Edmonton, Canada a body found near the Shaw was discovered by homeless man. Canadian Police and medical examiners investigated the scene of a body found last month, where the body of a woman was discovered in some bushes east of the Shaw Conference Center. Cops have labeled the woman’s death as suspicious, though a cause of death, as well as the woman’s identity, won’t be known until an autopsy . The woman is believed to be in her 30s or 40s and is possibly aboriginal, police said. Insp. Dennis Pysyk said that although the woman was found in an area frequented by homeless people, it’s premature to conclude she too was homeless. After finding the woman between two trees in a largely grassy area south of Jasper Avenue at 96 Street, the man went to a nearby home, where residents phoned for an ambulance, said acting Sgt. Steve Zielie. In 2004 a survey conducted by city social agencies recorded nearly 2,200 people describing themselves as homeless. In warmer weather, the city’s river valley becomes dotted with homeless campsites. Park rangers started counting homeless camps in the river valley in 1999. That year they found 62 camps. The figure rose steadily until 2003 when it reached 451. A year later it had dropped to 234. A spokesman for the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness said the woman’s death serves as reminder that being homeless is dangerous to people’s lives. “This is just a warning call again that we are still not making the progress we need on this issue,” Jim Gurnett said. “It’s not just an unfortunate situation – it’s an actual life and death situation not to address homelessness in this city.” Homelessness or substandard housing played a role in at least 32 deaths in Edmonton last year, the coalition found. Ele Gibson, the resource development director for the Bissell Center who participated in calculating that figure, said she believes the number of homelessness-related deaths is actually much higher. Inadequate shelter leaves people at greater risk of violence and health problems and restricts access to health care, she said. Police from homicide and the forensic identification section are assisting in the investigation, which is standard. Cops are asking anyone with information about the woman’s death to call the EPS or Crimestoppers. Possible homeless man’s body found in Boston Boston, Ma - The condition of the body suggests the man had been dead for a significant period of time, said David Procopio, a spokesman for the Suffolk District Attorney’s office. There was no evidence of foul play, he said. Authorities said the man was 69 years old with ties to the Quincy area, but did not release his name pending notification of family. The body, which was found by an employee during a routine check, was turned over to the state medical examiner for an autopsy. Conley Terminal is a container facility for the Port of Boston. On a day of remembrance, several volunteers are working to make sure one group isn’t forgotten. Federal Way, Washington State - Members of the All Saints Lutheran Church worked on Memorial Day, preparing 50 sack lunches for the area’s homeless population. “The homeless people still need compassion and support,” coordinator Cheri Staples said. She said the church, along with several other local churches, is part of the Federal Way Community Caregivers Network. Typically, she said, the network prepares a community supper for the homeless every Monday at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church. The network’s president, Doug Johnson, said the group also hosts community suppers on Thursday nights at Calvary Lutheran Church. All Saints church members are responsible for community suppers on the fourth Monday of each month where Staples said about 40 people were served. The church got a first-hand look at the homeless situation when they met Randy, a homeless man who began attending services three years ago, Staples explained. “We realized they’re still one of God’s children and they still need love,” Staples said. When Randy passed away, Staples said the church felt the need to do more for the homeless and joined the Caregivers Network. “It just opened our eyes that there are more Randy’s that need help,” she said. The lunches were prepared at All Saints Church, Staples said, Streetvibes before they were transported to Steel Lake Presbyterian Church. Johnson said the community suppers are just part of what the Caregivers Network does to help those in need. The Caregivers Network also provides rent assistance for families at risk of losing their homes. “We think it’s critically important,” he said. For any number of reasons, be it an auto accident or a medical emergency, families can find themselves pushed to the financial brink, he said. “You find yourself where you can’t quite make ends meet,” Johnson said. Families can quickly run the risk of eviction from their apartments or homes, he added. Once they’re evicted they’re practically homeless. “That’s kind of the breeding ground for homelessness,” he said. The group’s work to help others in the community is a reflection of the community as a whole, Johnson explained. “It’s a powerful statement about our commitment to people in need,” he said. A former U.S. solider living in some woods in DeLand, Fla., was ambushed by four teens in the city’s third attack on a homeless man, according to news reports. Deland, - Fl - Police said Bill Railsback, 51, was drinking a beer at a homeless camp when the teens jumped and began to beat him. However, Railsback fought back and injured at least one of the attackers. Railsback believes he broke one of his attacker’s arms during the scuffle. He said his attackers were ages 16 to 20. Detectives are questioning hospital employees and hospital workers to see if one of the attackers was treated for an arm injury. The attacks are happening in remote locations in woods. “This is the third assault on a homeless man in DeLand since March. “Six weeks ago, they beat up one of our elderly homeless so badly that he has permanent brain and eye injuries,” First Untied Methodist Church member Linda Brown said. “They could very easily kill someone and I think that is of grave concern.” In April, four Holly Hill teens received 22 to 35 years in prison for beating a homeless man to death. The First United Methodist Church in DeLand is offering a $1,000 reward for information concerning the attack or the identity of the attackers. Page 3 �American Revolutionary (Real Change News, USA) Timothy Harris Activist-historian Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz uncovers the beating heart of America. Historian Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz has been around. In the mid-sixties, she was in South Africa, working with the underground African National Congress. Upon her return to the United States, she challenged New Left sexism to become a leader in the newly formed radical women’s movement. From there, she took a brief detour though a Weather Underground-like revolutionary cell before turning up, in 1973, in South Dakota at Wounded Knee. Her work in indigenous movement-building led her to human rights work at the United Nations, where she became involved in mediating the conflict between the Miskitu Indians and the Sandinistas in the early ’80s. Her latest book, Blood on the Border: a Memoir of the Contra War (South End Press, 2005), completes a trilogy of historical memoirs that seamlessly blend the personal with the political and explore the world stage through the viewpoint of one of its more politically engaged actors. Blood on the Border offers a harrowingly personal view of the tragedy of the U.S. war on Nicaragua and its divisive role in the American Indian movement. Previous memoirs include Red Dirt: Growing Up Okie (Verso, 1997), an examination of the suppressed radical history of the Midwest and being raised poor in rural Oklahoma, and Outlaw Woman: A Memoir of the War Years, 1960-1975 (City Lights, 2002). Dr. Ortiz is a professor of ethnic studies at California State University East Bay. RC: Much of your activism has been through the United Nations and the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. How do you view the prospects of the U.N. now as a force for international justice? Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz: I think the indigenous movement has been extremely important in refocusing things, and in challenging the United States and the European powers. There has also been the Women’s Decade [the ’70s], and South Africa leading the non-aligned nations. Most people think that the U.N. not passing the go-ahead for the Iraq war was all about France. That wasn’t it. A hundred and thirty countries didn’t support it, led by South Africa and the non-aligned movement. South Africa has been really important in kind of reviving the non-aligned bloc. That was always the majority of the U.N. And that’s what the U.S. was really fighting — not communism, not the Soviet Union, but the whole formerly colonized world. RC: You say that indigenous movements may be our best hope for avoiding nuclear and ecological catastrophe. Why is that? Dunbar-Ortiz: Because we’re in the heart of the empire, the Indian movement here is important beyond numbers ideologically, to really analyze what the United States is. It’s only if you look at it from the Indian point of view that the truth is revealed, under all that propaganda about the founding fathers and democracy and all that. It just becomes a naked empire when you look at it from the beginning. There’s a lot of work on the part of indigenous people, who are fighting for life or death as peoples. I’ve always felt it will come down to the Andes and Central America. It’s in the subconscious of U.S. imperialism, and that is the heart of everything. Their influence spread up to the Great Lakes and into Canada and to this area. Show your support! Get your STEETVIBES T- Shirt Today! Only $15 We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call 513.421.7803 Page 4 Streetvibes This was a huge civilization. And the beating heart of it is Mesoamerica. And the same for South America, and the Andes, and the great civilizations there. So it’s like, you know, just “kiiiilllll that thing,” and keep it killed. I would not have predicted, myself, 10 years ago, that there would be a militant, socialist, native person president of Bolivia. I could not have imagined that. I would have said someday, maybe, but this is remarkable. And in Ecuador, and Peru is moving toward that too. RC: You’ve drawn this line that extends from the colonialist Indian wars to the policy in Central America and to what we’re involved in now. What is the common denominator there? Dunbar-Ortiz: I know it doesn’t come down to just John Negroponte, but that sort of symbolizes or reflects the whole pattern. From Vietnam to the present, you can follow John Negroponte’s career. He was a political officer in Saigon in the ’60s, as was Colin Powell. We had Rumsfeld and Cheney in the Ford administration. There are 18 people, right now, engaged in the Bush administration, who were involved in the Contra war. Negroponte was the U.S. ambassador to Honduras, and he micromanaged the Contra war. One of George W. Bush’s first appointments, in February 2001, was John Negroponte to be the ambassador to the United Nations. I tell you, it just took my breath away, because I thought, “This means something.” I just knew that it was going to be something terrible. This is what this man is for. Then he was made the first ambassador to Iraq, after the invasion, and now he’s the National Intelligence Chief, over the CIA, the FBI, the NSA. I’ve come to see that it’s partly the fragility and weakness and poverty of Central America that makes it necessary for the United States to keep hold of it. Because how would it look to the rest of the world if the empire’s weakest link were to break out? All hell breaks loose! RC: You talk about some parallels with Vietnam, where the CIA exploited some of the indigenous people: arming the Montagnards, for example, and how they exploited that rift in Nicaragua as well. Dunbar-Ortiz: Yeah. And of course, in Iraq. The divide and rule. It’s an old colonial method of control, and throughout Africa there are civil wars going on now that are still remnants of British, French, and Belgian colonialism and U.S. neocolonialism. And then, the secret war in Laos, organizing the Hmong. This is really what frightened me. Because I cared about the Miskitu Indians. If they did get involved with the CIA program, it could decimate them. Before the big Indian Movement, although it was just beginning, the Sandinistas would have just slaughtered those people. That’s basically what the Pathet Lao did and that is what the Vietcong in Vietnam did, because they were working with the enemy. I was able to get a lot of insight from Ralph Mcgehee, who had just retired from the CIA and wrote a book called Deadly Deceits. I got to meet him in New York, and described to him what was going on, and he said, “I wrote that plan. I worked with organizing the Hmong. It’s going to be a terrible tragedy if it doesn’t get stopped.” So he also talked to the Sandinistas. Revolutionary cont. next page... �Homeless Man’s Story Becomes Book, Movie CHICAGO - It was just a movie set, but in a moment it showed Chris Gardner where he’d been - and how far he’d come. There with actor Will Smith - who was playing Gardner, a former homeless man turned millionaire - Gardner stood in what looked like the train station bathroom where he once slept a quarter century ago. Suddenly he was overcome with memories of teaching his 2-year-old son to never, ever open the locked bathroom door, no matter how hard someone pounded on the other side. It didn’t matter that he now had three homes - one a condo in New York’s Trump Tower - or that he’d gone from selling his own blood to buying Michael Jordan’s car. “I had to get out of there,” he said. The story of how the 52-year-old Gardner did just that: climbed out of homelessness and became a millionaire stockbroker with his own 15­ employee Chicago firm, is being turned into a motion picture, due out in December. It’s also the subject of Gardner’s own justreleased book, “The Pursuit of Happiness.” The unique spelling of “happiness.” Even in the realm of rags-to-riches tales, Gardner’s story is unique. Take, for example, the events that led to his descent into homelessness. A medical supplies salesman barely making enough money to support his girlfriend and baby, Gardner had one of those Hollywood moments in a San Francisco parking lot in 1981 when he spotted a man looking for a place to park his red Ferrari. “I said to him, ‘You can have my (parking) place but I’ve got to ask you two questions. What do you do and how do you do it?”’ recalled Gardner. The man was a stockbroker. Gardner didn’t know a single stockbroker or even what one did. But the man said he made $80,000 a month - $50,000 more than Gardner made a year. Gardner found a brokerage firm willing to hire him and quit his job. But when he showed up for work he learned the guy who’d hired him had been fired. Gardner’s job was gone. Then, days before a scheduled interview with Dean Witter, a loud fight with his girlfriend brought the police to his door. The next thing Gardner knew they were asking him for $1,200 to clear up some unpaid parking tickets. They may as well have asked for $12 million. Gardner spent 10 days in jail. When he was released, his girlfriend and son were gone. He had no money, no home and the only clothes he had for his job interview the next day were the ones he wore to jail. How was he going to explain showing up wearing jeans and paint-splattered Adidas shoes? “I couldn’t think of nothing that could top the truth,” he said. He went with that and got the job. A few months later came a knock on the door of the boarding house where he was staying. “It’s my ex and, guess what, she doesn’t want the baby any more, here.” he said. “The boarding house does not allow children. That’s how we became homeless.” Some nights they stayed in a $25-a-night hotel, a park or under his desk at work. And a few nights were spent in an Oakland Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station. “I had to teach my little boy how to play a game and the game is called SHHHH,” he said. “That means no matter what anybody says on the other side of that door, no matter how much noise they make or what they threaten, we ain’t here, OK?” Finally, they moved into a homeless hotel in San Francisco, run by Glide Memorial United Methodist Church. “There were no keys, so every day you take everything with you,” said Gardner. “For a year, I’d take my son, his stroller, a big duffel bag with all his clothes in it, my briefcase, an umbrella, the biggest bag of Pampers in the world, one suit on my back and one suit in a hanging bag and we’d hit it every day.” When it rained, he covered the stroller with plastic sheets he’d picked up from dry cleaners. Gardner told his co-workers nothing. He also distinguished himself from others who turned to Glide for food and shelter. “If you saw a man with a child, that was rare, incredibly rare,” said the Rev. Cecil Williams, Glide’s pastor. “I remember discussions about him, about how that man really loves that boy because he won’t let him get away from him, he won’t push him aside.” Day care took a huge chunk of his meager stockbroker trainee salary, and it took Gardner about a year to save enough to move himself and his son into their own home. From there, his career blossomed, and in 1987 he opened his own firm in Chicago. Today, signs of his success are everywhere, starting with an office that includes a gleaming desk made of a DC-10 tail wing, African art work, boxing gloves and photographs autographed by Muhammad Ali. Sharing space with pictures of his adult son and daughter are photographs of Gardner with Nelson Mandela, and a vase full of dirt that Gardner brought from Mandela’s yard after visiting the former South Africa president. He no longer has the Ferrari he bought from Jordan. Gardner, who never went to college, has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to education, writing checks for as much as $25,000 to teachers, janitors, bus drivers and others who work at schools. Gardner is focusing much of his attention now on South Africa, trying to persuade major investors to invest $1 billion there - an effort praised by South African officials. “In the current state of our economy, creating an investment fund is critical,” said Yusuf Omar, South African Consul General in Chicago, who recently stopped by Gardner’s office. For Gardner, helping South Africans pull themselves up makes perfect sense. “Everything I’ve learned working on Wall Street, 25 years is to be able to make a difference in the lives of a lot of people and we all make money, it (doesn’t) get any better than that,” he said. Revolutionary... who say you have to have these democratic elections. Well, here it is. And then they say, “Well, the people can’t be trusted” (laughs). Or, “Chavez is a dictator.” Just repeat that enough and people will believe it. But no matter what the opinion is here, to invade all those countries is not like invading Central America. They’re afraid to invade Cuba because of the resistance. I mean, they could, of course, destroy Cuba. But they would take a lot of U.S. lives. They would fight until every person with a gun — and everyone has a gun — was dead. And they know that. That’s why the U.S. hasn’t invaded Cuba. It seems like it would be so easy. Not so easy, and then you think of these massively populated places…. So, there’s not a lot they can really do, except they can try to assassinate Chavez, and I’m sure they are. And maybe they will succeed, and maybe it will even set back that movement, but it’s in so many places, now. There’s a momentum. So… I think they’re kind of up against the wall. And it’s sort of scary, in terms of this talk of using nuclear weapons and all, but they’re getting desperate. And so I think it’s a pretty dangerous time for the whole world. We’ve got to get a sense of the urgency here. RC: When most people think about revolutionaries in America, I think they visualize something like the Weathermen and decide pretty quickly that that’s not really for them. So what does a more sustainable revolutionary politics look like? Dunbar-Ortiz: It has to be like we saw on May Day. That’s a revolutionary spirit being revealed. And it has to be positive, in the sense that there is life ahead — these are young people. There is life worth fighting for. Every human life is precious, and not this dreary, “We just gotta get rid of this thing because it’s a monster.” We have to believe in ourselves as human beings. I think there’s a widespread depression in our movement these days, and even in the Black movement. And in the Native movement in the United States there has been so much questioning. Young native people it’s amazing, when I meet them. And a lot of young white people, too. But not masses like we saw on the streets—I mean, that was a representation of practically every Latino young person in this country, and many of the older people. And they’re fighting for us, too, but we have to get involved in it to make it bigger. Join it, instead of thinking we have to lead it. Join in this revolution! It’s happening, get involved, you know? from previous page And it was hard. I mean, the Sandinistas, they were nationalists, and it’s been the Achilles’ heel of revolutions in Latin America, especially in the Andes and Guatemala, where the majority of the people are indigenous, that they haven’t been able to break through this nationalism, which assumes a unitary idea of the state. In the Mexican Revolution, they could idolize the Mestizo and Raza Unida and the great fusing of the indigenous and the European into a new race. But there were still Indians there. And many thought it would be better if they just disappeared and joined the Mexican state. And that’s been the attitude. I think you see that changing now with Evo Morales’ election. RC: Given the U.S. governments past intolerance of liberation movements, it’s hard not to be fearful for the progressive governments that are emerging now in Latin America. Dunbar-Ortiz: Well, you know, what really surprised me is that it would ever be possible again, after Chile, for revolutions to come to power through election. And I think that’s remarkable work that’s been going on there. And it just slams the United States in the face. They’re the ones Streetvibes Page 5 �L.A. decision tolls a bell for Portland’s policies on homeless (Street Roots, USA) by Monica Goracke On April 14, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision, Jones v. City of Los Angeles, holding that Los Angeles may not punish involuntary sitting, lying, or sleeping on public sidewalks “that is an unavoidable consequence of being human and in that city. While the court explicitly limited its ruling to Los Angeles, relying heavily on statistics and evidence of the lack of shelter for homeless people there, cities across the country, and Portland in particular, will take note. “Human beings are biologically compelled to rest, whether by sitting, lying, or sleeping,” the court said. To criminalize such conduct, when it is involuntary and inseparable from the status of being without a home, is to violate constitutional protections. Yet Portland, along with many other cities, has enacted and enforced laws that implicate not only constitutional but also human rights concerns. As the Ninth Circuit recognized, we should not punish people for life-sustaining behavior that is unavoidably linked to their homelessness. Skid Row, an area covering 50 city blocks just east of downtown Los Angeles, was the focus of the case brought on behalf of homeless people who were arrested or cited for violating Los Angeles’s ordinance. With the highest concentration of homeless individuals in the United States, it is “a place of desperate poverty, drug use and crime,” according to the court. This concentration is no accident: the city of Los Angeles has had a deliberate policy to concentrate and contain the homeless in Skid Row since at least the 1970s. Skid Row has space in SRO (single room occupancy) hotels, shelters, and other temporary or transitional housing for 9,000 to 10,000 people a night, but approximately 11,000 to 12,000 individuals live there. This means that more than 1,000 people are unable to find shelter each night. The court also noted that in all of Los Angeles County, there are almost 50,000 more homeless people than available beds. As Los Angeles officials admitted, this 1,000-person deficit is “severely large.” What is the magnitude of homelessness in Portland? As a smaller city, Portland has lower overall numbers of homeless people, but its rate of unmet need is almost the same as Los Angeles’: 27 percent for Portland, compared with 30 percent for Los Angeles. The onenight street count conducted on Jan. 26, 2005, covering Multnomah County and the cities of Portland and Gresham, found 2,355 people sleeping outside, in a vehicle or in an abandoned vehicle. 1,020 people had been turned away from shelters that night – very close to the number in Los Angeles. These numbers are much higher than the previous street count from March 15, 2004, which found 465 people turned away. An accurate determination of the number of homeless people in Portland is very difficult, but the City’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness estimates that in Multnomah County, 16,000 to 18,000 people experience homelessness annually, and 4,000 people experience homelessness on any given night. This number tries to take into account the “hidden homeless” doubled or tripled-up in other households, staying out of sight or otherwise missed by the counters. “Human beings are biologically compelled to rest, whether by sitting, lying, or sleeping,” the court said. CityBeat recognizes Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes Editor help others through his advocacy, writing and photography. Heath and his coworkers at the Greater Cincinnati, Oh - CityBeat, Cincinnati Coalition for the a local alternative newspaper, Homeless, which publishes recognized Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes, help others tell their Streetvibes editor, as the “Best stories and find dignity Unsung Activist” in its Best of Cincinnati through meaningful work.” 2006 issue. The article CityBeat also stated, “Jimmy Heath, recognized the Greater editor of Streetvibes, Cincinnati Coalition for the local newspaper of the Homeless’ newest the homeless, is an activist who board member, Bob Jimmy Heath Newman, who understands the streets achieved the title “Best Civil Rights of Cincinnati. He’s been there, Lawyer” for his landmark case that living as a homeless person, in prevents Hamilton County Over-the-Rhine, lost to drugs and Municipal Court from jailing people alcohol, and is still working there today - recovered and working to for being unable to pay fines. Page 6 When you consider that the average length of homelessness is 21 weeks, and the average wait to get into a publicly-funded shelter is four to six weeks (up to 10 weeks in the winter months), the word “crisis” begins to seem woefully inadequate. In Los Angeles, as in Portland, increasing rates of homelessness mean that homeless people are more visible in public than ever before. Laws prohibiting the obstruction of sidewalks and streets have been used to move people along, including those who have few or no other places to go. The Ninth Circuit sharply criticized Los Angeles’s ordinance as “one of the most restrictive municipal laws regulating public spaces in the United States.” The ordinance prohibits sitting, lying, and sleeping in or on any street, sidewalk or other public way at any time of day or night within the city limits. The court distinguished LA’s law from similar ordinances in places such as Las Vegas, Seattle, and Portland which, it said, do better by requiring that some type of inappropriate conduct be part of the crime other than just sitting, lying, or sleeping in a state of homelessness. While the court’s reasoning in criticizing the Los Angeles ordinance was sound, a closer look at Portland’s laws, along with evidence of how they are enforced, would have shown that it cannot be so easily distinguished. Portland’s two ordinances prohibit “camping” on public property and rights of way, and obstructing public sidewalks in a large downtown area. While the enforceability of the sidewalk obstruction ordinance is very much in doubt after a late 2005 ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals, this ordinance is still used verbally by police and private security officials to move homeless people from sidewalks, although it is limited in time from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The camping ordinance, as written, is not just about pitching a tent on the bus mall. It can be – and often is – used by police to cite people for simply sleeping in parks, under freeways and other out­ of-way places, with so little as a bedroll or a piece of cardboard beneath them. Just as in Los Angeles, homeless people in Portland often lose all their belongings when police cite them for unlawful camping. The Streetvibes camping law is enforced both day and night, even though many homeless men and women sleep during the day because it is so unsafe for them to sleep on the streets at night. Although Oregon state law requires 24-hour notice to homeless people who are in violation of camping laws, officers sometimes stage surprise raids complete with a work crew to remove and destroy homeless people’s personal property. Losing the few possessions you have – a blanket, clothing, but especially documents such as an ID or birth certificate – can be debilitating, to put it mildly. When homeless people in Portland are arrested, prosecuted, and lose their belongings for the crime of sleeping outside when they had nowhere else to go, it drives them even further into hopelessness and poverty. The Ninth Circuit’s decision contains two important legal principles. First, it found that the homeless plaintiffs in this case had standing to challenge a law that criminalizes their involuntary conduct even though not all of them had been actually convicted under that law. When people are arrested, jailed, fined, and prosecuted for violations of a law, the court found, they are subjected to the criminal process and therefore can challenge the law under the Eighth Amendment’s cruel-and­ unusual punishment clause. Second, the decision finds, based on prior cases establishing that people cannot be punished simply for being poor or homeless, that the government cannot make criminal those acts that are “involuntary and inseparable from status” – specifically, physically resting in a public place when there is no other way a human being living in the city of Los Angeles who is homeless could meet this fundamental need. The court’s distinction between Los Angeles’s sweeping ordinance and the more limited laws in Portland, Seattle, and other cities is likely to be read as foreclosing similar challenges. However, the court’s reasoning clearly applies to some aspects of local laws. Portland has a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness that acknowledges the destructive effect of laws criminalizing behavior that homeless people are forced to engage in, such as sleeping or sitting outside, because they are homeless. For individuals, a criminal record of any kind makes it difficult to find housing and employment, which are so essential to escaping homelessness. For the community, criminalization imposes an enormous financial, physical, and psychic toll. We should not treat homeless people this way not only because it is costly, but because it is inhumane. We must find a better way. �Voice Mail Becomes Lifeline for Homeless Program Washington, Dc - Mabel McNair, who was once homeless, is enrolled in a culinary arts class and plans to take advantage of a new District program that will provide a free voice-mail service to low-income individuals and the homeless. McNair, 49, lives in transitional housing in Northwest Washington and is midway through a 12-week training program sponsored by D.C. Central Kitchen. Her goal is to land a job by the time she graduates. She uses a prepaid cell phone and pays $10 for 50 minutes. “That goes quickly,” she said. “I know it would benefit me,” McNair said about access to free voice mail. “There are a lot of jobs that come through the school.” Community Voice Mail, a national program, will make 350 voice-mail boxes available to lowincome and homeless individuals in the District at no cost. People who want to enroll in the program will be asked to work with a social services case manager who will make the service available as part of a client’s overall plan to find a job or to move out of a shelter or transitional housing. Each person enrolled will receive a private District phone number that is connected to a voice-mail box. The number can be used only to check messages. Staff members take messages at shelters or other places where the homeless and lowincome live, but sometimes individuals don’t return to the shelter every night, Litzenberger said. In addition, enrollment in social services programs, such as food stamps and Medicaid, often requires follow-up and private voice mail is critical, Litzenberger said. “Nowadays, things like voice mail and e-mail are not luxuries; they are necessities,” he said. Community Voice Mail, designed by a Seattle-based nonprofit organization, explains its mission through the motto “turning phone lines into lifelines.” The nonprofit group collects testimonials, including a story from one user in Minnesota who said she got a job simply because she could put a phone number down on an application. Jennifer Brandon, executive director of Community Voice Mail, said the group began the program more than a decade ago and serves 46,000 people across 37 cities annually. During Hurricane Katrina, Community Voice Mail provided phone numbers to evacuees. The District will be the 38th city in the program. The group plans to expand to Fort Worth this summer. “It’s a tool to help people get on their feet,” said Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, a nonprofit group of 44 churches throughout the District that does social service outreach and funds programs. A member church, St. John’s Episcopal, near Lafayette Square, where many homeless people congregate, gave $15,000 in start-up funds for the project. The District and the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District also contributed funds for the program. D.C. Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides meals for the homeless in addition to running the culinary training program, will notify other nonprofit groups about the voicemail service. Brandon said she first met Robert Egger, chief executive of D.C. Central Kitchen, two years ago to talk about the program. “This is exactly the kind of partner we need,” Brandon said. Streetvibes Survey Participants Wanted You are invited to participate in a brief survey on hate crimes and violence against homeless persons. Go to: http:// www.surveymonkey.com/ s.asp?u=870921968238Y Your input will help the National Coalition for the Homeless direct our advocacy efforts. The results of this national survey will be released to general public and media in late August. Please contact NCH for information concerning the rising incidents of hates crimes and violence against homeless persons at www.nationalhomeless.org Page 7 �Drop Inn Center Update Also, analysis of the same Homeless Not Lawbreakers, Crime Stats Misleading by Pat Clifford, General Cordinator, DIC, Cincinnati,Oh data shows that 95% of Drop Inn Center residents have not been arrested at any point during this year. Only those 93 individuals out of Just because arrest records contain the Drop Inn Center address does not mean that those charged actually reside at the Center. That is what an analysis of arrest and shelter records from January 1, 2006 – May 22, 2006 has shown. According to Cincinnati Police Department records, 286 individuals with the Drop Inn Center address have been arrested this year so far. However, Drop Inn Center records show that only 93 of them had, in fact, been residents during that time period. Therefore over 67% of those arrested with our address were not really our residents. 1,767 total residents so far this year have been charged with any crime. Therefore, analysis of the data shows that Drop Inn Center residents are not significantly contributing to crime in the Washington Park area. In fact, our stats show that the Drop Inn Center is committed to transforming people’s lives and is working to minimize residents’ length of stay. 40% of Drop Inn Center residents have an average stay of two weeks or less. We are calling on the Cincinnati Police Department to meet with Drop Inn Center staff to reduce the use of our address, 217 W. 12th Street, when there is no proof that they have actually stayed here. In this way, we will close a potential loophole for actual criminals to falsify their place of residence. It will also, provide a realistic picture of the vast majority of our residents, who are struggling to get back on their feet with our help. In addition, the Drop Inn Center is asking for a hearing before the Cincinnati Law and Public Safety Committee to highlight our partnership with law enforcement and the success of our programs designed to promote and support positive behavioral changes for our residents. down to small cities like DeLand,” said Linda Brown, who runs a Florida - In Orlando a year teens terrorized homeless men about daytime shelter in DeLand. “The ago, a homeless man pleaded in vain 30 miles away in broad daylight in attacks by youths are random and for his life as a group of teenagers downtown DeLand. senseless.” beat him to death at his campsite in Philip Tarbell was walking on Seven days before Tarbell’s the woods of Holly Hill. West Voorhis Avenue in the afternoon first attack, four other teens robbed a The attackers have since April 19 when five teens started pair of homeless men on the same been sentenced to decades in prison, following him. The youths lobbed a street, hitting them with a steel pipe. but the homeless are no safer, 4-inch piece of cinderblock at his The teens were arrested and charged advocates say. head. The impact fractured his face. with attempted robbery and battery. Violence stalks the streets He can no longer see out of his left DeLand police said it was and the woods where they sleep, and eye. unusual to have two attacks against the biggest threat is from teenagers. “I saw a piece of the the homeless reported in the same From 1999 to 2005, there cinderblock coming at my head, and week. A review of the city’s police were 472 attacks on the homeless, when I ducked it hit my eye,” said records found five attacks against the which resulted in 169 deaths Tarbell, 56, who bags groceries at a homeless during the past year. nationwide, according to the National supermarket and has been homeless The National Coalition for the Coalition for the Homeless in for two years. “There was so much Homeless says such attacks are not Washington, D.C. Nearly two-thirds blood, I thought I was going to die.” unusual; 86 were reported last year of the attackers were between 11 and Ten days later, he was and 105 the year before. 19 years old. mugged by a homeless man who “This is only the tip of the The same week that Michael forced him to hand over his day’s iceberg,” said Michael Stoops, Eugene Roberts’ four killers stood wages. executive director. He said the before a judge to learn their fates in a “Attacks on the homeless are group’s statistics represent a fraction Daytona Beach court, two groups of a national problem that is filtering of the incidents because they are collected from media accounts, not police Berta’s Art Corner reports, which often do not identify victims the homeless. Many homeless people do not report crimes committed against them because of mental-health issues, substance abuse, fear of retaliation or frustration with the police. A 2003 University of Central Florida survey of 100 homeless men in Orlando and 800 homeless women in Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Peace symbol, (Global Nuclear Disarmament), Liberty and Jacksonville found Homeless at high risk for attacks Central, Over-the-Rhine Page 8 Streetvibes that 90 percent of the men and 78 percent of the women had been physically assaulted. “The homeless live in a very high-risk environment and are especially vulnerable,” said Jim Wright, a UCF sociology professor and a member of the board at the Coalition for the Homeless in Orlando. “Their ability to self-defend is often compromised by alcohol, drug or mental problems.” Florida, which ranks second behind California in the number of homeless people, had the highest number of attacks last year, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. The Holly Hill teenagers who killed Roberts on May 25, 2005, admitted beating the man just to have something to do. Classmates later told the Orlando Sentinel that “bum bashing” was a common game. Homeless advocates think there is a correlation between the violence and the proliferation of “bum videos,” available for sale online, in which homeless people are coerced to perform degrading and dangerous stunts including fighting each other for drugs, money, alcohol or food. “A lot of young people are Internet-savvy and view these videos,” Stoops said. “The word is out. The homeless are the only minority group in America you can pick on and get away with. If there was a Jewfights.com, there would be a national outcry.” Don Sanz, a DeLand psychologist and Stetson University professor, said teenagers who attack the homeless are not normal. “There is a lot of violence, anger and anxiety in our society,” Sanz said. “But people who are attacking the homeless — whether they are teens or not — have a personality disorder or are psychopaths who don’t care if they injure another human being.” U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, DBoca Raton, proposed classifying violent acts against the homeless as hate crimes, so offenders would face stricter penalties, but the legislation has stalled awaiting the results of a federal study. Wexler’s bill was prompted by the Jan. 12 bludgeoning of a homeless man — captured on video — by three teens in Fort Lauderdale. “The attack in Fort Lauderdale brought home to people all over the country that violence against the homeless is increasing,” Wexler said. “They have no homes, no doors to go behind. Many have medical, physical or psychological challenges. They are defenseless and deserve our protection.” �Working, but still homeless Louisville, Ky - It wasn’t long ago that Jennifer Haysley was a methamphetamine addict who slept wherever she could find a place to crash, with friends and family and strangers — even living out of an ex­ boyfriend’s car when she had nowhere else to turn. Now the 25-year-old former exotic dancer works full time as a cook for Bristol Catering and heads home each day to a two-bedroom apartment as part of a Society of St. Vincent de Paul program that offers transitional housing for the homeless. Haysley is among the more than 3,000 people, according to the Louisville Coalition for the Homeless, who last year made up Louisville’s working homeless, a growing segment of the estimated 11,251 men, women and children who received homeless services in 2005. The coalition, an umbrella agency that coordinates 27 service providers and other members, says the 2005 report indicates that more people in the city’s shelters and programs are employed — but working for low wages. “A lot of them work but they work minimum wage, so as long as we pay just $5.15 an hour, they’re going to be homeless the rest of their life,” said Sister Mary Kathleen Sheehan, director of the St. John Center on Muhammad Ali Boulevard, which serves 160 to 200 men each day Got The Vibe? More than one-quarter of the homeless surveyed said they were working part - or full-time jobs, up slightly from the year before, the report says. One-third of those workers earned less than $10 an hour. That’s less than the $10.83 an hour a worker needs to rent an average two-bedroom apartment in metro Louisville, according to the coalition. It’s likely that Louisville’s total homeless count is much higher than the census shows because those who didn’t seek services or who were turned away because shelters were full weren’t counted — nor were about 1,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees who received homeless services. Marlene Gordon, the coalition’s executive director, said she’s particularly concerned about the rise of women military veterans. That group rose to 40 in 2005 from one the year before. In December, Louisville’s homeless programs were awarded a record $5.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. About $1.7 million will finance permanent housing. “It certainly would help us with resources that we need,” Gordon said. “Cities that have made big strides in ending and reducing homelessness are places with dedicated funding.” NSA Has Massive Database of Americans’ Phone Calls USA Today - American telecommunications giants AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth exceed media activists’ worst fears by illegally facilitating the National Security Agency’s creation of “the largest database ever assembled in the world,” to consist of “‘every call ever made’ within the nation’s borders.” “The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans—most of whom aren’t suspected of any crime.” Contrasting this news with telecom corporations’ current bid to “strip away Net Neutrality protections so they can become benevolent overlords of the World Wide Web.” Verizon, AT&T and BellSouth maintain networks that reach into the homes and businesses of tens of millions of Americans. These companies built this access to our private lives— and the billions in revenues that come with it—on a “bedrock principle” of consumer protection. Now, that they’ve sold out this trust to help the government monitor ordinary Americans, how credible are their claims that no Net Neutrality safeguards are necessary? National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors. Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct and agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Vendor Pro­ gram. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may be removed from the Program. See page 12 for rules and regula­ tions on Vendor conduct. To report a Violating Vendor, call 421-7803. ext. 16 Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Streetvibes Page 9 �Dying For Nixon, Dying For Bush by Paul Rogat Loeb “I didn’t want to die for Nixon,” said a man I met recently in a Seattle park. He’d served on military bases in a half dozen states, and then had a car accident just before being shipped to Vietnam. “The accident was lucky,” he said. “It was a worthless war and I didn’t want to go.” I agreed. I admired those who fought in World War II, I said. We owe them the debt of our freedom. But to die for Nixon’s love of power, fear of losing face, deception and vindictiveness—to die for him was obscene. Nixon’s war, the man said, had nothing noble about it. And neither did Iraq. What does it mean to die in a war so founded on lies? Bush may lack Nixon’s scowl, but he’s equally insulated from the consequences of profoundly destructive actions. He came to power riding on the success of Nixon’s racially divisive “Southern Strategy,” which enshrined the Republicans as the party of backlash. He won reelection by similarly manipulating polarization and fear. Like Nixon, he’s flouted America’s laws while Paul demonizing political opponents. His insistence that withdrawing from Iraq would create a world where terrorists reign echoes Nixon’s claim that defeat in Vietnam would leave the U.S. “a pitiful, helpless giant.” While Bush assures our soldiers they fight for Iraqi freedom, and to “make America safer for generations to come,” 82 percent of Iraqis, according to a British Ministry of Defense poll, say they’re “strongly opposed” to the presence of American and British troops, and 45 percent justify attacks against them. This creates what psychologist Robert Jay Lifton calls “an atrocitycreating situation.” Lifton first used the phrase during Vietnam. He now uses it to describe a “counterinsurgency war in which US soldiers, despite their extraordinary firepower, feel extremely vulnerable in a hostile environment,” amplified by “the great difficulty of tracking down Loeb or even recognizing the enemy.” This sense of an environment out of control has seeded the ground for Abu Ghraib and for massacres, at the villages of Haditha and Mukaradeeb, already being compared to My Lai. Former Army sniper Jody Blake recently described his unit keeping extra spades on their vehicles so that Useless Equals Good by John Siscoe The Theory of the Leisure Class by Thorstein Veblen Dover Thrift Editions, 1994 Seattle, Wa - Thorstein Veblen, the American economist and social critic, was born to Norwegian immigrant parents in 1857. He taught for most of his academic career at the University of Chicago. Veblen was a gruff man who did not brook contradiction. He was also a bit of an oddball; his house was a perpetual mess and he had a fondness for clothes made out of paper. He also had a fondness for the faculty wives and his reputed inability to keep his hands to himself led to his dismissal from Chicago in 1906. He continued to teach and to publish, but ultimately died in obscurity in 1929. Veblen is remembered today for his first and most successful book The Theory of the Leisure Class, which is both a scathing indictment of materialist consumerism and a very Page 10 funny satire on human folly. When it was published in 1899, it ignited a furious controversy, for it amounted to a direct attack on the established values of what Mark Twain termed the Gilded Age — a time, not so unlike the present, when a small number of Americans became enormously rich and lived lives of remarkable ostentation. These fortunate few, and those who strove to emulate them, are the slowlymoving targets of Veblen’s ridicule. Veblen analyzed American society as essentially consumerist, obsessed with wealth, material possessions, and the desire for leisure. In such a society the more expensive and useless an object or activity is, the greater its cultural value and the more mesmerizing its hold over the imagination. Veblen is especially perceptive of how flaunting wealth is a demonstration of power, and how economic decisions are often irrational: driven by fear, envy, if they killed innocent Iraqis in response to an attack with an Improvised Explosive Device, they could throw one next to the corpses to make it appear those killed were preparing a roadside bomb. Last December Bush called the Iraqi election “a watershed moment in the story of freedom.” But if our invasion and occupation has created a watershed moment, it’s one whose rivers of resentment and bitterness may poison the global landscape for decades to come. And when Bush talks of promoting freedom, the world sees the freedom of America to do whatever we please, no matter how many nations oppose us. America’s Vietnam-era leaders made much of their embrace of freedom as well, while overthrowing elected governments from Brazil to Chile to Greece. The war they waged in Southeast Asia killed two to five million Vietnamese, plus more deaths in Laos and Cambodia. And as with Iraq, those making the key decisions were profoundly insulated: Out of 234 eligible sons of Senators and Congressmen, only 28 served in Vietnam, only 19 saw combat, only one was wounded and none were killed. In Iraq, as we know, the chicken hawks led the march to war, and the sole Congressman or Senator with a son who initially served was Democrat Tim Johnson, who the Republicans still attacked as insufficiently patriotic. While the sons of Republican Senator Kit Bond and three Republican congressmen have since also volunteered and been deployed, most who initiated this war have never been intimately touched by it. Counting Eisenhower’s first deployment of soldiers and CIA agents to Vietnam in support of the French, Kennedy’s further commitment, and Johnson’s major escalation, the United States fought there for over twenty years. We’ve now been in and out of Iraq for nearly forty years, since the 1963 coup when the CIA first helped the Baath Party overthrow the founder of OPEC. (And intervening in Iran since our 1953 overthrow of the democratically elected government of Mohammed Mossadegh, who we replaced with the dictatorial Shah). With the administration promising no immediate end in sight, Bush now tells us it will be up to “future presidents” even to consider withdrawing our troops. Who wants to be the last man or woman to die for George Bush? Paul Rogat Loeb is the author of The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear, named the #3 political book of 2004 by the History Channel and the American Book Association, and winner of the Nautilus Award for best social change book of the year. His previous books include Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time. See www.paulloeb.org. To get his articles directly email sympa@lists.onenw.org with the subject line: subscribe paulloeb­ articles and blind hope. The Theory of the Leisure Class made a profound impact on the study of economics, for after Veblen, few would be so brave (or so foolish) as to study economics in isolation from social or cultural factors. But while Veblen deserves a lasting, if modest place in the history of economics, his real accomplishment lies in satire. The Theory of the Leisure Class is a send-up of human vanity and pretensions, and there’s scarcely a page in the book where one of Veblen’s shafts doesn’t strike home. Veblen’s diction and the shape of his sentences are late Victorian academic, but his observant eye is timeless, and this makes his book as lively and as pertinent today as when it was first published. Veblen loved the useful and the inexpensive and he would have been delighted to learn that The Theory of the Leisure Class has now been republished by Dover in their Thrift Classics Series, making the entire book available for the price of a ritzy cup of coffee. Dover has published nearly 500 titles in this format and they represent some of the best bargains in publishing. Thorstein Veblen, paper clothes and love affairs aside, deserves to be among them. John Siscoe is the proprietor of Globe Books in Seattle. He can be reached at johnsiscoe@zipcon.net. Streetvibes Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! �A Mother’s Words - the Futility of Death by Dr. Steve Sunderland audience of 600. The mother had Cinti, Oh - Cindy Sheehan, also attempted suicide but was saved. peace activist, grieving mother of a This point provided the opportunity “murdered child,” and eloquent for Sheehan to discuss her own spokesperson for humanity, came to feelings of suicide since the death of Cincinnati last month. She opened an her son, the “murder” she called it, amazing program organized by Cathy and what stopped her she suggested, Roma, director of MUSE, was a combination of caring about Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir, and also her remaining children and “still featuring MUSE and peace activist believing in hope and justice.” and singer, Holly Near. Prior to her Her talk had three major speech, I had a chance to introduce points: myself to Cindy Sheehan and express A. “George Bush is not the gratitude for her coming. She is a problem, but the symptom. Why are pale woman, reddish hair, and the people and the Congress looking deeply tired. She couldn’t following him in his mad and violent have been friendlier. The church we leadership?” She elaborated on what were in was filling, her phone was she saw as the ownership of the ringing, and her eyes looked kindly government and the media by big but distracted, a storm within a storm. business, calling it a form of If there were critics of her “fascism.” This take over, she position on the war, or the way she chose to frame the issues in terms of grief and murder, they were not visible. Again and again, we gave her rousing cheers of support and even some standing ovations. What she said was almost too painful to hear. Cindy sat on a raised chair, on a stage in the front of the church, her tired voice gathering strength and humor as she spoke. Her talk was framed Steve Sunderland by a story of a woman, a “good friend,” who was recently believes, goes on due to the apathy arrested for giving her daughter an and consumerist addiction of overdose of medication. “What Americans who would rather drive would cause a mother to murder her their SUVs than live with a fair and child?” she asked in her simple and more balance approach to resources. plaintive voice to an attentive The President’s justification of the war amounts to “revenge’ for those who have been killed on September 11 and thereafter in Iraq. She asked: “Why would I want anyone, Iraqi or American, to die because my son was killed? Who wants this mission other than the “War Party?” B. “What can we do to bring our own hearts to peace?” Sheehan elaborated that peace in our own hearts starts the peace process, builds strength and overcomes both “bitterness and hatred.” “I am full of anger but not bitterness and hatred about my son’s death and the war. I believe in the future of hope and justice.” She spoke of the futility of more death, especially for families directly engaged in the war, be the families ofAmerican soldiers or the mothers and fathers of Iraqis. . C. “I seek what Gandhi called, ‘heart unity.’ My heart is connected to the Iraqi mother of the son who killed my son. And, my heart is connected to the Iraqi mother who my son may have killed.” She elaborated on these shocking points, tears streaming down her face, gasping for breath, pausing for her and our benefit, the death of her son now so vivid and his responsibility as a soldier so horrifying. We must remember them and work for their memories to be reminders of peace. “I think there is a Buddhist story,” she said in conclusion, “that a person dies two times: first, when they biologically die and second, when they are forgotten. My son will never die, and the Iraqis will never die because I am going to use the rest of life to remind the world of their lives.” We rose to our feet as one group of fellow grievers, our hearts opening and breaking and hoping for healing. So much was said and left unsaid as we stirred in her and our common pain. The beauty and power of the grief linked us together, going beyond the imagination and into a space of connection that defies words. We knew we heard a tough speech, very difficult to deliver and almost unbearable for those who had a family death of a veteran. Yet, the grief weighed down and up, falling across faces and into hearts that were now open to this woman who wanted us to share in her story by stopping the violence toward other children. She spoke from a fundamental value, a citizen of the world of war calling out for the stopping of the killing of anyone. She spoke as someone not expecting herself to see a happy ending to this conflict; rather, she suggested that there will be many more widows, families without peace, and more grief to come unless there is a widespread commitment to transforming the heart of violence into peace. Her grief was moving on her, threatening to engulf her into a step back into hopelessness, triggered by not only tiredness, insults, and rejection of her basic themes. She seemed to be teetering on the edge of a reality about how easily the human condition can kill thousands of mothers’ sons and daughters. How many more times could she ask out loud, for herself and others: “Why is my child dead? Controversy Over City Commissioner’s “Homeless” Email ORLANDO, Fla. —An Orlando city commissioner’s email is creating quite a controversy over Orlando’s homeless. The email from an aide to Commissioner Patty Sheehan refers to group “feedings” of homeless people and a new effort to move them away from Lake Eola. “I just felt it was a little slimy, a little underhanded,” said homeless rights activist Cooper Brinson. The email, written by Commissioner Patty Sheehan’s aide, Chase Smith, was sent to eight business owners in the Thornton Park neighborhood, talking about Sheehan’s proposed ordinance banning wellintentioned volunteers from feeding the homeless there each Wednesday afternoon. The intent of the ordinance, Smith wrote, is to try to move the large groups of homeless out of downtown and create less of a “situation” for the businesses and residents, potentially resolving many of the “post-feeding issues that everyone’s experiencing” downtown. Brinson said the group giving out the food, Food Not Bombs, needs a helping hand from city leaders and not the boot. “They’re just pushing the problem away to another place so they don’t have to look at it,” he said. But it isn’t so cut and dry. Ask people who live or own businesses in the area and they tell a much different story. “Their set of rules on the street isn’t our set of rules,” said Robin Stotter. Stotter plans to open a new restaurant right on the park in three months. Over the past three months, he said, the homeless population has exploded. “When I come to work every day, I have to get people out of my front door. I have to get ‘em out of the stairs getting down,” he said. “They come into the building during the day. I found two people doing heroin in my bathroom.” Stotter fears a recent rise in neighborhood crime is scaring customers away. It’s an argument blurred by the rhetoric in an email whose own author admits is a bit strong. Eyewitness News spoke to Sheehan’s assistant who wrote the email and, while he said he does regret the choice of words, he does not regret the message that something has to change in the park and anyone who wants a say should show up at a public meeting. Sheehan’s proposed ordinance would move the permitted location for the so-called “feedings” to an area near city hall. “Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IItt Without Streetvibes Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. Vendors must not tell customers that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 Cents (75 cent profit goes directly to the vendor) Homeless Coalition 25 Cents Printing and Production: 25 cents (this cost does not cover expenses) Page 12 About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... earned. This program has helped The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Letters Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Send your letters or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com Buy Streetvibes Streetvibes �The Firecat Review Firecats are poor. As such, when we take a break from fighting rampant injustice, we know where all the cool cats and kittens go to get their DVD’s: the library. You want to spend 25 bucks for a new release with your honey, pick up a CityBeat. You want the down and dirty on the slightly less-than-new fares from the best free resource in the ‘nasty? Firecats got you covered. Snow Falling on the Cedars (1999 – Scott Hicks, starring Rick Yune & Ethan Hawke) Review by Firecat Blue About 20 minutes in, I fell asleep out of sheer self-preservation. The inside of my eyelids were literally more entertaining. There was something about a forbidden love between and entire 15 hours in two or three days. Of course if you favor more boy on boy action, I recommend Queer as Folk, also found at the library. I give The “L” Word two paws up. Japanese American lady and a white dude and maybe there was also a murder. Also, I think it was a period drama because a lot of people were wearing hats. It was soft lit and slow with lots of “interesting” trolling-forOscars angles and lighting. This one’s not worth the wear and tear on your library card. The “L” Word (Showtime Series, starring Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Mia Kirshner, Karina Lombard, Leisha Haily, Laurel Holloman, Katherine Moennig, Pam Grier) Review by Firecat Lavendar This friend-incestuous Lesbian drama is emotional, heart-warming and many times laughable because of its lesbian clichés. If you like soap operas and appreciate queer culture then you’ll love it and may even become a little obsessed, watching an 9 Good Teeth (Documentary starring Mary Mirabito a.k.a. “Nana”) Review by Firecat Blue Filmmaker Alex Halpern, pretty sure his 104 year old Nana is going to kick it soon, pulled together a sweet, funny, slightly morbid view of the 5 foot matriarch from Sicily. Nana steals the show, revealing family secrets, intrigues and brushes with infamy via the mafia and Beat poet Jack Kerouac. A decent – and fair- view of family complications and resolution, this is definitely worth a watch. The Meaning of Food (2004 PBS Documentary) Review by Firecats Blue, Turquoise & Chameleon This series focuses on the human relationship with food featuring three parts: Food and Life, Food and Culture and Food and Family. Nicely filmed in easy to digest 5-10 minute segments, this documentary appealed to our special brand of Firecat ADD. We liked the Culture one the best. The host was slightly annoying, but likable enough and not a major focus. Highlights included stories on the final meals of death row inmates, a Booyah festival in Minnesota, a Kalache contest and a Samoan funeral. Supersize Me (2004 Documentary starring Morgan Spurlock) Review by Firecat Turquoise Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock commits to eating nothing but McDonalds for 30 days straight. For lack of a better word, it was awesome. Definitely not a slam against Micky D’s, though you may never view those tasty fries the same again. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s a documentary, it’s the most entertaining documentary I’ve ever seen. I’d recommend this move to anyone who has ever eaten at McDonalds, who eats fast food on a regular basis or is concerned about their health. Oh wait, that’s pretty much everyone. 3 paws up! Prior Month Caseloads Reflect Disaster Food Stamp Program FRAC - Food Research and Action Committee - www.frac.org Caseload trends in late 2005 were affected by the temporary disaster Food Stamp Program relief in the wake of several hurricanes, relief that by December was on the wane. A positive feature of the Food Stamp Program is its ability to meet increased need, whether due to economic changes or disasters. For information about the Disaster Food Stamp Program, go to http:// www.frac.org/html/disaster/ disaster_index.html and http:// www.frac.org/Press_Release/ 07.21.05.html Three states with large numbers of those affected by the hurricanes– Florida, Louisiana, and Texas—accounted for nearly 3.4 million of the 3.8 million person increase between August and November 2005. Also ranking in the ten states with the largest percentage increases between August and November 2005 were three other states disproportionately impacted by hurricanes— Mississippi (hit by Katrina), Georgia and Arkansas (both reportedly serving large numbers of hurricane evacuees). Not reflected in the caseload figures was additional nutrition assistance provided to many regular food stamp households affected by the hurricanes. Many households already enrolled in the program received replacement allotments to help cope with their food losses. Additional nutrition assistance also was provided to hurricane victims through the school meals programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and WIC Program. The significant food stamp service to hurricane survivors was due to a combination of factors: the Man beaten in 3rd attack on homeless in 3 months DeLAND, Fl — Police are investigating the third attack on the homeless by teenagers in as many months, but authorities have nothing to link the seemingly random and senseless beatings. “It could be just a stupid, juvenile prank,” DeLand police Cmdr. Randel Henderson said last month. “We’re not downplaying this by any means. These things can tend to escalate. ”Last month, Bill Railsback was drinking a beer in a wooded lot on East Howry Avenue when, he said, a group of four men, about 16 to 20 years of age, beat him with no warning or words, police said. Railsback, 51, suffered some scratches and told police he thought his attackers received the brunt of the beating. “He did fight back,” Henderson said of the military-trained man. “He believes he injured the arm of one young man.” Police contacted local hospitals to see if anyone has come in with a broken arm, but nothing turned up so far. Police said it was unusual to have so many attacks on homeless people. In April, there were two attacks on the homeless in the span of a week. Philip Tarbell was walking on West Voorhis Avenue in the afternoon of April 19 when five teens following him lobbed a 4-inch piece of concrete block at his head. The impact fractured his face, and he can no longer see out of his left eye. Seven days before that, four other teens robbed a pair of homeless men on the same street, hitting them with a steel pipe. The three attacks occurred within a two-block area. He said police will remain vigilant in the area where Railsback was beaten, a place where the homeless commonly congregate and set up camps. But Henderson said these attacks seem spontaneous and without a clear motive. From 1999 to 2005, there were 472 attacks on the homeless nationwide, which resulted in 169 deaths, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, D.C. Nearly two-thirds of the attackers were between 11 and 19 years old. The area’s most high-profile homeless attack ended last year with the death of Michael Eugene Roberts in Holly Hill. The frail man was beaten May 25, 2005, on three separate occasions by a group of teens with logs, fists and sticks. Streetvibes entitlement structure of the program which allowed it to respond quickly to deep and urgent need; strong leadership from political appointees and career officials at the US Department of Agriculture; key efforts of state governments; efficiency of the Electronic Benefit Transfer delivery system; and outreach and advocacy by non-profit groups. The teens, who now are between 15 and 19 years old, were sentenced in April to prison terms between 22 and 35 years. Homeless men and women are particularly vulnerable to crimes against them because they represent an easy, visible target and often lack a place to retreat for safety and protection, Henderson said. Several clients of the Agape Clubhouse in DeLand, a daytime homeless shelter, said there is a group of teens that have threatened several homeless people in downtown. “They have ‘No Fear’ tattoos on their arms and necks,” said John Fowler, 48. “There’s a lack of respect with teenagers today.” Police did not know anything about the group. One woman who has lived on the streets of DeLand for three years said that many of the homeless have to look out for each other to prevent the attacks. “We have to stick together,” she said. “These kids think they are better than us.” Page 13 �Where I’m From by Joyce Robinson I’m from a place where there is beauty all around. I can see it in the people and in the phenomenal beauty of nature. It gives me a sense of appreciation that life is for me. When I smell the fragrance of roses penetrating through the air, It makes me wonder just exactly where I’m from. When I’m surrounded by trees and all kinds of exotic birds, I even imagine sometimes what it would be like just to fly. I’m from just the ordinary and not at all from the extraordinary. High up in the morning when I begin to rise, I feel the horizon, which makes me laugh and smile. It even gives me a shine just in time to dine, I don’t need to have my table set with all the resplendent, Or silverware and all the rest of the fancy stuff. I’m from a place where I couldn’t sleep at night. Taxi cabs and buses running all through the night, Tranquility once before I could not understand but, Just to know it now is exactly where I’m from. I’m from the stars that only I can know I glow like the sun as the new day moon. I’m happy just to be me and free I am indeed. From Stagnation To Motivation On Into Revelation by Joyce Ann Robinson We the people who are made so harmonious and so sweet, it is givin to us as an ocean so deep, and river’s so wide and mountains so high and valleys so low, streams so freshly flowing with all of God’s Blessing’s of delights. Even blazing fire which so for the better to be used wisely. For some of us we may pass up our Blessing, simply because we use our brains for a little while. Like a sink faucet we turn it off and on. We use our heart as if black coal is being added to continue to burn with hatred and all the rest of the evils that follow with it. We use our hands as if they were maintenance tools lying around never to be used and, for our torso bodies is concern. We use it like an old tree log just to decompose. Especially when we are able to do a lot more with it. We use our gender for self-control as if it takes the place of our resources and even to selfdestruct. It has become one of our major concerns in our society today. This is one of the reasons that a lot of us go through the waters, the floods, and even sometimes the fire. Some of us carry with us a great deal of sorrow, famine, and affliction. Most of us take our feet to places they should not go. We will always come across stumbling blocks in our live’s but, many will have plenty of them if they continue not to follow in a more clever path through life’s journey. We most not never forget the (Blood) not, the blood in which we see lying in the street’s when we go around self-destructing one another. Murdering our mothers, our fathers and our children. We need to draw closer to God, and in Jesus’s name and remember that it is His Blood that has healed and still heals and always will only, if we let him take control of our live’s. We may be able to plan our future but, only God knows where He wants us to go, what He wants us to say and, who He wants us to be, so leave room in your life and in your heart’s and let God lead you and remember, every knee must bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Page 14 I Will Never Be Homeless I will never be homeless, It won’t happen to me. I will never be homeless, Anonymous I’m doing so well, don’t you see? The law locks up the man or woman I have a good job, a nice house and a car, Who steals the goose from off the common I have everything I need to go far. But leaves the greater villain loose I am not like those Welfare bums, Who steals the common from off the goose. To whom prosperity never comes. The law demands that we alone You know, the ones who don’t want to work, When we take things we do not own Any kind of physical labor, they shirk. But leaves the lords and ladies fine All they want to do is drink, Who take things that are yours and mine. Some are not clean, and they stink. The poor and wretched don’t escape Then, I see a man, lying in the street, If they conspire the law to break; A tattered coat around him and no shoes on his feet. This must be so but they endure But, I sense that something is wrong, Those who conspire to make the law. That somehow, this man does not belong. The law locks up the man or woman So, I decide to stop to say hello, Who steals the goose from off the common And ask him why he fell so low. And geese will still a common lack He once worked on a street called Bay. Till they go and steal it back. Making good money every day. Then, one day his job was gone. He was told, “just go on home.” He soon just didn’t care, His purpose in life no longer there. He lost his family, his home, and his car. In just a few months, he fell so far. So here he was, on the street, With a tattered coat around him and no shoes on his feet. Then I saw the lines on his face and the pain in his eyes, I will never be homeless, will I? Streetvibes �BrokenGlass by Evanne Fisher I’m so Angry I slam the door The glass breaks. It falls to the floor Like sleet from the sky. Like the shattered pieces of my life, The broken glass lies at my feet As I look down, I see all of my hopes and dreams Splattered there amongst The glistening pieces of glass. I reach down to pick up the pieces of my life, The glass cuts my hands, Blood everywhere Dripping Flowing into the vast darkness Where I’ve chosen to live. Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com One check away “DEAR JUDGE” by William Moore ORDER IN THE COURT, I’VE BEEN ORDERED TO COME TO COURT ­ IT’S THE 3RD TIME, I’M BOUND TO DO SOME TIME ­ FOR AN OPEN CANTAINER, SLEEPING IN THE PARK AFTER DARK. AN OPEN CANTAINER, A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING DOLLARS ­ ”DEAR JUDGE” HOW CAN I PAY THIS WHEN I DONT HAVE NO JOB”? BOY, WHOS THE ONE GETTING ROBBED? by James Chionsini twinkling stars can’t keep you warm when you’re sleeping in the park till the break of dawn newspaper pillow and a plastic tarp watching for the pigs that come out after dark lost your job, got jacked and robbed your landlord said that’s not my prob doctor bills kill you, can’t afford the pills now you’re shaking, heart breaking drink as much as you spill waiting on the first to quench your thirst alleviate the discomfort of an asphalt earth trying to find a shelter to get some rest but nowhere seems safe without a knife proof vest if you could just get back to square one start to heal the disease that’s got you on the run feeling invisible going insane scowls and nightsticks fall like rain The homeless by Don Foran Ten men clamber out of the creaking van, Their sweaty bodies meeting a kiss Of cool night air. They drift, silently, sullenly Toward the darkened church. Mattresses lie, two or three to a room, Along walls decorated with children’s Drawings and almost casual crucifixions. Carl, Eddie, Jake and the others Throw their worn packs and bags Onto the makeshift beds, and John, It’s always John, is first to ask If he can have his sack lunch now, Not in the morning as we had planned. “Sure,” I say, almost as anxious as he To assuage this remediable hunger. Several echo John, and soon all Are feasting on pb and j; apples, celery, And other healthy fare remains on the table, But they’re happier now, even communicative. One thanks me for setting a new pair of white socks On each mattress. Another offers a juice cup To a friend. “Lights out!” Rick calls at ten, And no one argues, no one hesitates. Sleep Knits once more the raveled sleeve of care, Obliterates the hurt, soothes the jangled nerves. Tomorrow will be another day, Another cheerless day embroidered With small triumphs, fragile dreams. Shutter Speed Harold by JH Who is the man that staggers in the park? The old man, with gray hair… The poor gentleman that lives in a flea-bag hotel. The man that reminds me of my father, my dad… He’s tall and thin. Had an egg-sandwich for breakfast. In his tiny room, downtown. This thin man, this papa, the gray-haired guy, staggers in the park, on a brutal, hot day… He sits on the bench, with his counterfeit friend, and he falls on the ground, with the heavy limpness of a cruel torture. On the asphalt, in the shade of the trees, this old man falls. The deception of life, and the deny of death. I feel the spirit of this man, myself, on the ground, the hot, cruel asphalt… by Jimmy Heath Key West Sunset Celebration Streetvibes Page 15 �569-9500 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel 241-5525 Mission Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House 324-2321 (Veterans) St. Francis/St.Joseph 381-4941 House 661-4620 Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 921-1131 Bethany House 762-5660 Salvation Army Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis 859-491-3335 Center Grace Place Catholic Worker 681-2365 House Tom Gieger Guest House 961-4555 If you need help or would help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of 421-2437 Cincinnati Appalachian Identity 621-5991 Center 231-6630 Beech Acres Center for Independent Living 241-2600 Options Churches Active in 591-2246 Northside Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 381-4242 Contact Center Center for Respite Care 621-1868 241-2563 Emanuel Center Freestore/ 241-1064 Foodbank TREATMENT: Both 820-2947 N.A. Hopeline 351-0422 A.A. Hotline 381-6672 C.C.A.T. 684-7956 Talbert House Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In 721-0643 Program TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 921-1613 Prospect House 961-2256 Starting Over TREATMENT: Women 961-4663 First Step Home Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: 977-5660 CMHA Excel Development 632-7149 241-0504 Miami Purchase OTR Community Housing 381-1171 721-8666 Tender Mercies Dana Transitional Bridge 751-9797 Services, Inc 761-1480 Caracole (AIDS) 381-5432 Friars Club 721-0643 Drop Inn Center 863-8866 Haven House Interfaith 471-1100 Hospitality Lighthouse Youth Center 961-4080 (Teens) St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Want to Help? Need Help or like to Fransiscan Haircuts 381--0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental 946-8600 Health Board Mental Health Access 558-8888 Point Hamilton Co. TB Control 946-7601 Healing Connections 751-0600 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile 352-2902 Health Van House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 IJ & Peace Center 579-8547 241-0490 Justice Watch Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. 271-5501 Center Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 Mercy Fransiscan at St John 981-5841 McMicken Dental 352-6363 Clinic NAMI (Mental Health) 948-3094 621-6364 Our Daily Bread Oral Health Council 621-0248 Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen 961-1983 Peaslee Neighborhood 621-5514 Center Project Connect, Homeless 363-1060 Kids People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 Services United For Mothers 487-7862 721-7660 Travelers Aid 721-7900 United Way VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping 872-9259 Women MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) 863-3184 St. Raphaels 863-1445 Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 July 2006 10 Years in Publication! Cincinnati Police Profiling The Homeless Cover Story BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource July 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: New Hope for the Homeless? Cincinnati Police Profiling Homeless Individuals Pg 2: Hope Continued Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: American Revolutionary Pg 5: Homeless Man’s Story Becomes Book, Movie Pg 6: L.A. Decision Tolls a Bell for Portland’s Policies on Homeless Pg 7: Voice Mail Becomes Lifeline for Homeless Program Pg 8: Homeless at High Risk for Attacks Pg 9: Working, But Still Homeless NSA Has Massive Database of Americans’ Phone Calls Pg 10: Dying for Nixon, Dying for Bush Pg 11: A Mother’s Words Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: Prior Month Caseloads Reflect Disaster Food Stamp Program Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Monique Little Kelly Carr Andy Lawrence John Lavelle Melvin Williams Susan Smith Berta Lambert Georgine Getty Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Lawrence Berta Lambert Bush Cincinnati Drop Inn Center Food Stamp Program Georgine Getty Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kelly Carr L.A. Melvin Williams Monique Little Nixon NSA Police police brutality Portland Susan Smith Washington D.C. https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/da7fb964815735f4261d29ad3dc4fbf3.pdf 6fc4f0195a74a1302bf43b559dc859af PDF Text Text June 2006 STREETVIBES Two Prominent Community Development Organizations Merge, form Over-the-Rhine Community Housing - Providing Hope for Inclusive Re-Development of OTR housing in 1988. Over-the-Rhine Housing Over-the-Rhine Network focused its development efforts in the Community Housing will be responsible for the combined North Central area of Over-the-Rhine. ReSTOC (Race Street Tenant Organization Coassets of the Housing Operative) was chartered in 1978 by volunteers of Network and ReSTOC, Drop Inn Center, a homeless shelter, to ensure the totaling a net worth of 5.5 existence of affordable housing in Over-the-Rhine. million in property and over ReSTOC was organized as a cooperative where 90 buildings in this neighborhood that spans one the board of owners was controlled by the tenants. ReSTOC developed a strong education program, square mile north of serving as a site for 3,000 volunteers yearly on downtown. Of equal value and more difficult to quantify their Saturday Work Crews and Urban Plunges. ReSTOC had focused its development efforts in are the people who live in the Washington Park area. those properties and the The community of Over-the-Rhine lost thousands of volunteers who over 1000 units of affordable housing over the past have volunteered over the 5 years. The loss comes primarily as the result of years and who continue to ReSTOC office gets a facelift for new merger the section 8 opt-outs where owners like Tom support the efforts of Denhart and Metro Management chose to leave ReSTOC and Over-theOver-the-Rhine — The boards of two the section 8 program that kept their buildings Rhine Housing Network. Roger Auer, board community development organizations, Over-theaffordable for the previous 20 years. Many of president of ReSTOC and now president of Rhine Housing Network and ReSTOC (Race those buildings have been vacated and sold for Community Housing put it this way, “We are Street Tenant Organization Co-Operative), voted development by market rate providers. grateful for support from within OTR and from the unanimously to merge, forming a new non-profit Contrary to the spin of the mainstream broader community of Greater Cincinnati. Beyond community development corporation—Over-themedia that affordable housing led to the problems the nuts and bolts of the work they do year in and Rhine Community Housing. that face Over-the-Rhine, the exact opposite is year out, they lift our spirits The merger became official and provide renewing energy.” true. As we steadily lost affordable housing in the this month. community over the past 5 years, open air drug Auer said he feels good about Like its preceding markets and gun violence steadily increased. As the talents of both boards. organizations, the mission of people were forced out, drugs and violence moved “The combined skills of our Over-the-Rhine Community in. board members and the Housing is to provide In 2001 the corporate sponsored supportive communities they affordable housing to residents Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation are affiliated with including the of Over-the-Rhine. The (3CDC) was created and Over-the-Rhine was religious, business, resident organization will play a key identified as one of their 3 areas of focus. 3CDC and education communities role in the development efforts has acquired about 80 buildings and vacant lots, allow us to receive input and of the neighborhood. spending more than $8 million during the past support from a broad range of With a staff of 16, perspectives. That feels good.” couple of years on acquisitions and board-ups. A Over-the-Rhine Community Walter Reinhaus, President similar strategy used by ReSTOC in the ‘80s to Housing will continue to secure and stabilize buildings for the sole purpose of the Over-the-Rhine provide housing to all existing of community control of affordable housing, Community Council believes tenants of both former the merger will be good for the Housing organizations. Mary Burke, community. “The merger the former director of Over­ seems like a natural or obvious cont. on page 8 the-Rhine Housing Network idea given Sharon Jones, Over-the-Rhine will serve as executive director Community Council the history of the new organization. Her and leadership style is one of collaboration and has a closeness of the two dedicated staff to build a strong team. Andy Hutzel organizations. It seems especially the former executive director of ReSTOC will so in these times of limited serve as the Operations Director. Both Mary and resources and increased Andy’s leadership roles will allow them to focus reporting requirements. more time on their areas of responsibilities and Additionally, the community will strengths. be able to go to one office to “We are excited about our future and the access a wider variety of housing potential for inclusive community development” and services. “ Burke said. “Bringing together the expertise of our About the former organizations two organizations bodes well for the future of Over-the-Rhine Housing Over-the-Rhine and the opportunity for a mixed Network was formed in 1983 as income community. We believe that we can model a resource for housing for our city the way to develop a mixed income development organizations in the community where all residents are valued.” neighborhood and began New board members of OTR Community Housing developing its own affordable Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw -Administrative Coordinator Monique Little - Education Coordinator Kelly Carr - VISTA Andy Lawrence - AHA Coordinator John Lavelle - VISTA Melvin Williams - Reception Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photography Mary Burke, Jimmy Heath Cover Over-the-Rhine Community housing board meets for new merger Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 City Council Keeps Panhandling Registration by Streetvibes Staff At its evening meeting on Wednesday, May 10, Cincinnati City Council voted 7-2 in favorremoving the sunset provision from the “Improper Solicitation” ordinance (910-12). Without this motion, the registration requirement from the so called “panhandling ordinance” would have expired on June 20, 2006. For both lawmakers and homeless advocates, this motion means that the panhandling registration remains law indefinitely. The improper solicitation ordinance requires that anyone wishing to panhandle in the city of Cincinnati register for a license. Without a license, it is illegal to verbally solicit. The ordinance also provides restrictions for where and when one may panhandle, and it specifically defines aggressive solicitation. Councilmember Crowley explained that he originally wanted the sunset provision because he was unsure of whether or not the registration program would be effective. He stated that after three years, he is convinced that it works. Several employees of Downtown Cincinnati, Inc., as well as downtown business owners and residents spoke before council in support of keeping the registration, claiming that they have seen a decrease in panhandling due to increased outreach and police enforcement. If there has been a decrease in downtown panhandling, says Georgine Getty, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, it has little to do with the registration. “If you are at a point where you have been on the streets for years and have to beg for money day in and day out, eight hours in jail is not going to deter you from panhandling.” She continues: “I have always opposed this ordinance based upon the First Amendment right to free speech, but as a taxpayer I am incensed that our city is wasting thousands of dollars arresting and jailing panhandlers for doing nothing more than asking for some spare change.” Advocates for the homeless have continually denounced the registration as criminalizing homelessness by requiring individuals to register for something they are guaranteed by the First Amendment. What is needed, says Getty, is more outreach. Public officials and proponents of the panhandling ordinance cite outreach done through Downtown Cincinnati, Inc., as a major part of the success, even though there is no mention or provision for outreach in the ordinance. Besides the registration, the ordinance specifically targets “aggressive” solicitation. Councilmember Cranley – who, along with Cole, voted against the motion – stated during the Law and Public Safety Committee meeting on May 9 that he thinks existing laws already address the issue of “aggressive panhandling.” The actions involved in aggressive panhandling often encompass assault and menacing. Those wishing to peacefully panhandle will still be required to register at the Elm Street Clinic for their license. Anyone soliciting without a license may be subject to an initial warning, followed by a violation that could result in a fine or time in jail. Workers, Advocates Release Report Card of Exploitive Labor Halls Cincinnati, OH – On Thursday, May 4, 2006, a group of advocates and laborers called the Day Labor Organizing Project (DLOP) released their report card of day labor halls in Cincinnati. They surveyed over 100 day laborers on their experiences working at various labor halls and averaged the ratings of particular practices and overall quality. Labor Hall Overall Scores One Force/Labor Solutions - DMinute Men - D CinTemp - C Quikstaff - D Labor Works - C­ TLC - D+ Every day in Cincinnati, hundreds of low-income and often homeless individuals turn to day labor halls as their primary source of income. These halls contract with local businesses to provide unskilled, manual labor on both a short-term and lonterm basis. Particularly for a worker lacking a permanent address, identification, and/or marketable job skills, this is the only immediate option for fiscal survival. Labor halls such as One Force/Labor Solutions (208 W. Liberty St.) are known to provide low wages for long hours at undesirable jobs. Through interviews conducted by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Center over the past months, day laborers have voiced numerous problems with labor halls, including: long wait times for work, failure to pay, lack of restrooms, unsafe transportation, unnecessary and superfluous fees, wrongful termination, harassment, refusal of permanent employment, and racial discrimination, among many issues. “Many of these workers wake up at four in the morning to wait for work,” says Georgine Getty, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. “If they do get sent out, they work long hours at difficult jobs, only to be dropped back off at a shelter. After all the fees and deductions, someone might get less than $40 for over 12 hours of their time.” The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless estimates that over 60% of homeless people work. Nevertheless, many simply do not earn enough to get out of the shelters and into permanent housing. “On top of low wages and long hours, day laborers are often subject to poor working conditions, harassment by labor hall staff members, and termination at any time for any reason,” states Don Sherman, executive director of the Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Center. “This is an unregulated industry that exploits the most vulnerable of populations.” Streetvibes Members of DLOP began compiling surveys for the report card in order to document day labors’ experiences of different labor halls’ practices. Three labor halls – One Force/Labor Solutions, Minute Men, and Quikstaff – scored the lowest, particularly with regard to charging high fees for transportation, unfairly terminating employment, and not providing bathrooms. Advocates and workers hope to use the report card and other educational materials to raise public awareness in order to force day labor halls to stop charging superfluous fees and treat workers more fairly. They also hope to increase wages to workers by getting the labor halls to stop taking so large a percentage – often over 50% - of the amount the contractor pays for each worker. Vincent Kirksey, a day laborer and member of DLOP, believes that he has been blacklisted from at least one labor hall due to his involvement in organizing workers. Even with employment through the labor halls, he was unable to move out of homelessness. Now that he is blocked from employment, he can only continue working with DLOP and hope for the best. “It’s bad enough that there are so few jobs available,” stated Getty. “Many of the jobs that are available are just not enough for anybody to make ends meet.” �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath The seven-county Denver metro-area homeless population dropped 11.5 percent last year to 9,091 - but by only 4 percent in Denver, according to a survey released last month. While the study found an overall decline - the first since 2004 ­ the number of homeless families increased 12 percent, and the chronically homeless surged 47 percent. The homeless population also continued to concentrate in Denver, hitting a seven-year high. While Denver’s homeless population went down, the percentage of homeless in the metro area who are in Denver has gone up. The survey was done on the night of Jan. 23 by the Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative and Mile High United Way. It found that just over half the 9,091 displaced people were in Denver, the greatest cluster there since the survey began in 2000. Denver held 46 percent of the area’s homeless population last year, up from 40 percent in 2004. “The Cats of Mirikitani,” a film documenting the life of a New York homeless JapaneseAmerican painter who had been sent to a U.S. internment camp during World War II, won the Audience Award at the Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary depicts in a somber manner the painful postwar experiences of Japanese-Americans through the life of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani, an 86-year-old painter. Linda Hattendorf, who directed the documentary, met Mirikitani in 2001 when she began documenting street people. Calling himself a “peace artist,” Mirikitani told Hattendorf that he had drawn pictures of cats on the sidewalks in a Manhattan neighborhood. As Hattendorf realized the homeless artist had been victim of discrimination in the United States, she decided to explore his past life. The film chronicled how the long-time homeless man eventually deserted street life and began living on his own with Hattendorf’s help. Born in January 1920 in Sacramento, California, Mirikitani studied painting in Hiroshima, Japan. He did not want to go to war so he returned to the United States. But like most Japanese-Americans at the time, he was sent to an internment camp and stripped of his American citizenship. Robbed of his dream of becoming a successful painter, Mirikitani ended up living on the streets of New York. New York businessman Frank Marzano decided to do something about the atrocities being committed against homeless people. He teamed up with the National Coalition for the Homeless, songwriter Bervin Harris, and film producer Hedley Turk, with Harris and Turk donating their talents, to create an awareness program in song and dance. Aimed at youths and adults, the record and video entertain as well as educate. The audio visual project heightens people’s sensitivity toward the plight of the homeless as well as increases public and private support of projects to help the homeless and eventually eradicate homelessness. The case of a Florida homeless man beaten to death with a baseball bat by a gang of violent teens shocked the nation. It brought to the public eye the problem of crimes perpetuated on the vulnerable homeless as they lay sleeping on public streets. Mr. Marzano’s motto is: “Instead of beating the Homeless with a stick, feed them a steak.” He launched and funded the project not only to protect the homeless but to try and put an end to homelessness in America through help programs, education and behavior modification. To enable the men and women who sleep on the streets to become self sufficient and prideful is the ultimate resolution of the homeless problem. Marzano states, “There will never be an end to homelessness, but we can educate everyone to help them, not hurt them.” In Wichita Kansas, Ricky Heuer, the 48-year-old homeless man who fell into the Arkansas River downtown last month, has died. Heuer died at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was standing or walking next to the river when he lost his balance and fell into the water. Alcohol may have played a role in the accident, police said. D.C. Central Kitchen did not deliver 2,300 meals to eight homeless programs last month and is refusing to resume the service until the city awards a new contract and makes changes in how it serves food to the homeless. Robert Egger, founder and president of D.C. Central Kitchen, said that the nonprofit group had served meals for 17 years but could not continue to operate as the main provider of meals for the city’s homeless without more city funding. “We can’t do this independently,” Egger said. He said the growth in the homeless population over the years has put a larger burden on the group and its homeless meal program, which costs $1.6 million annually and is funded almost entirely through private donations. The city was to announce a contract for the meal service April 15, but the process got delayed, said Mike Ferrell, chief of program operations for the Community Partnership for the Homelessness, the nonprofit group that manages the city’s homeless programs. Ferrell said the contract will be awarded no later than May 15. D.C. Central Kitchen had been receiving $50,000 monthly from the city since January for meals, but Egger said he was not informed about any funding in May, and without definite word from the city, the group suspended service. In addition, Egger said the program is increasingly concerned about the nutritional value of the meals served to shelter residents with specific health concerns — people with diabetes Gov. Linda Lingle described as “pure shibai” one of the reasons Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s administration gave for moving homeless people out of Ala Moana Beach Park. On the same day the state opened a temporary shelter in Kakaako Hawaii for the homeless who were displaced from the park, the governor criticized the city for not doing enough to help the homeless after they were evicted from Ala Moana. “I think it should’ve been done in a different way,” Lingle told reporters. Bill Brennan, the mayor’s press secretary, noted that had the city not closed the park at night, the state might never have stepped up to address homelessness in Hawaii. “You can see by the fact that the state went into action after the Ala Moana Park closure that they can and they have the expertise and the resources to provide shelter for the homeless,” Brennan said. The city began closing the park at night on March 27, moving out about 200 homeless people. City officials said the park needed to be closed at night to prepare for a major renovation of park facilities. Streetvibes But they also said that they wanted to close the park before the state began evicting homeless people living under the freeway at the Keehi Interchange. Lingle said city officials were not honest in using the freeway eviction, which came after police reported illegal activities in the area, as an excuse to get rid of homeless people at Ala Moana park. “Let me put it clearly: That is shibai, pure shibai. Let’s call it for what it is. Those two things were completely unrelated,” Lingle said. “They wanted to paint some pavilions and move some sand around, and they wanted the people out of the park.” In Los Angeles a homeless woman was stomped to death as she slept on a sidewalk in downtown’s Skid Row, police said, and a parolee suspected in the attack was arrested. Witnesses said they saw an attacker repeatedly kicking Kristi Morales for several minutes. A passer-by attempted to intervene, but the attacker knocked the person down at least two times before an officer arrested him, police said. Morales, 49, died Monday from her injuries. She was the fourth person killed on Skid Row this year as police try to crack down on crime in the troubled area. Her death “highlights the plight of the homeless, and the danger they face every day living, indeed sleeping, on the streets at night,” Police Chief William Bratton said. Gregory Hampton, 52, was being held without bail in connection with the attack, police said. A court hearing was scheduled for May 17. Councilwoman Jan Perry said she will ask the state Department of Corrections to stop releasing parolees into the area. Hampton has a long record, mostly for property crimes, dating back to 1970, police said. In Los Angeles County, more than 82,000 people were homeless on any given night in 2005, including about 48,000 within Los Angeles city limits, according to survey by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! Page 3 �Does Cincinnati Need a Needle Exchange? by Kelly Carr First off, what is a needle exchange? A needle-exchange, as controversial as it seems, centers around the concept of harm reduction. Persons may obtain hypodermic needles and syringes in the exchange of a dirty/used needle. Most centers such as Xchange point in Cleveland or Tacoma Seattle’s exchange van utilize exchanges as an opportunity to educate addicts and provide outreach services in addition to their efforts in reducing blood-borne diseases. These facilities not only act as a vehicle to provide outreach and treatment services to addicts, but exchanges also ensure that dirty/used needles are disposed of properly rather than tossed in the street. Needle exchanges prevent the sharing of contaminated needles, a major cause in the spread of HIV and hepatitis C. According to the United States Surgeon General’s site “a third of all new HIV infections can be traced to needle sharing and almost 50% of long-term addicts have hepatitis C.” Needle exchanges provide the social benefits of reducing health costs. Simply consider what it would cost to provide an individual with clean needles verses the cost of providing treatment and medications for HIV or hepatitis C over an extended period of time. Critics opposing exchanges believe such programs endorse injection drug use and do not provide encouragement for drug users to become abstinent. However, European studies have found that needle exchanges do not cause a rise in drug use and credible scientific evidence flatly refutes such notions. Support for needle exchanges and such findings have been endorsed by former United States Surgeon General Dr. Davis Satcher, former Director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Harold Varmus, and former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala. Needle exchanges make sense; however does Cincinnati need a needle exchange? According to statistics provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s website www.usdoj.gov, heroin distribution and abuse are increasing in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services data Show your support! Get your STEETVIBES T- Shirt Today! Only $15 We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call 513.421.7803 Page 4 Streetvibes indicates the number of treatment admissions for heroin abuse increased overall from 6,878 in 2002 to 7,416 in 2003. The Cincinnati Post in 2000 reported heroin use and sales surging in the Cincinnati area, with the number of arrests involving heroin climbing from less than 20 in 1990 to more than 400 in 2000. In January of 2004 a report issued by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy provided a snapshot of Cincinnati. The reported indicated Heroin use has increased dramatically, especially among Whites. The increase is most likely due to OxyContin abusers switching to heroin as Oxy-Contin becomes less available. The report also determined the primary route of administering heroin was through injection. According to the Ohio Department of Health, in 2003 Hamilton County reported a total of 3,624 persons infected with HIV/AIDS, HIV (without AIDS), and AIDS. Out of that 3624, a total of 244 persons were infected by injection drug use. There was no information regarding the spread of hepatitis C on the Ohio Department of Health’s website, however according to Office of National Drug Control Policy Clearinghouse more than one half of all hepatitis C cases in the United States are caused by injection drug use. A needle exchange program in Cincinnati would increase an addicts chance of accessing services and education; and would decrease the infection rates of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C in our community. Would we rather an addict share a needle and toss it in the street or approach an outreach worker who can provide treatment and dispose of dirty/used needles properly? Bells and Whistles by Mike Henson Through the hazy, fog-wisped smalltown air of my schoolday morning I hear the bells for Mass at Holy Angels and the low, asthmatic whistles of the factories near the poisoned river. My mother makes breakfast and I dress for school, but I know that men in gray work clothes will now swing lunch buckets off kitchen counters painted white. My father is gone two hours already to his window at the Post Office, but my uncle is among these men and my neighbors and the fathers of my friends. Across town and around the corner and in the next street over and in the slate-sided houses of Buckeye Terrace, men with gray knuckles clothes that smell of tobacco and machine oil and hearts thickening in their chests leave, under the call of the whistles, for Liberty Folder, LeRoy, Mack and the river-fouling tannery and the nameless foundries where my grandfather caught the red of his lungs. They do not complain. It is not in them to complain. A word to the wife a word to the kids an ear to the great solemn bells toiling in the catholic steeple and out the door and into the chill, fog-dark, bell-bespoken whistle-haunted streets to the places where they make their living and their death. �Continuing struggle to aid the homeless NOTHING CAUSES a NIMBY response faster than a homeless shelter. The city of Hackensack NJ, reluctant host to the county’s homeless programs, has gained the upper hand in its own version of NIMBY that translates into Not In My Downtown. Three programs to serve street people are in limbo at the same time. To block a planned expansion of programs for the homeless into the Social Security Administration building on Sussex Street, Hackensack officials refused to sign off on federal funding to Christ Church Community Development Corp., which established Peter’s Place 10 years ago to offer food and overnight shelter for the homeless. Talks are now under way for the county’s new 100-bed facility, to be relocated from East Kansas Street to River Street at the old S. Goldberg & Co. slipper factory. Groundbreaking is almost a year behind schedule, And last, the soon-to-be-homeless Faith Foundation program is being forced to move from its State Street location to make way for condos. It is not unheard of for homeless men and women to be unceremoniously deposited in the streets of Hackensack by outside police agencies bringing them in from other Bergen towns. Left to fend for themselves, they might end up anywhere. What Bergen needs at the county level is a Homeless Czar or Czarina to coordinate the scattered efforts. The Faith Foundation’s program for Hackensack’s street people has a touch of home. Freshly washed white curtains hang in the windows wrapping around the first floor storefront. But why bother? They’ll have to vacate soon. The storefront is styled with a look that says “Welcome” to the troubled, confused, alcoholic or just plain down-and-out clients who don’t fit in any place else and who have few other alternatives. Inside the dingy storefront at 86 State St., Robin Reilly frets. As founder and director, she’s got her hands full looking for new space where her rescue program can provide a catchall of services for homeless people, from a bottle of shampoo to burial arrangements. Reilly, honored by the city last year on Mother’s Day, volunteers her days, her car, and her compassion to keep them out of dangerous abandoned buildings or makeshift camps down by the river. What she’s fretting about at the moment, however, is not the pending move, but the pending crisis with Pat’s leg. One of the regulars, Pat, who asked me not to use his last name, may lose his leg. Over the past few months, his left leg has grown to more than twice normal size. Discoloration suggests circulatory problems, and a deep, jagged wound that won’t heal signals major infection. He should be in agony, but he can’t feel a thing. A lack of pain is dangerous. The clients have virtually nothing, but they pool their skills in emergencies to take care of one another. Mary, showing all the talent of a trained nurse, which she might have been earlier in her life before seizures made it difficult for her to stay on track, removes Pat’s bandage without wincing or gasping, washes the gaping wound as clean a possible, and rewraps the leg. ‘Gray Areas’ Confuse Homeless Policy LAKELAND, FL — Prompted by the recent controversy over banning the feeding of poor or homeless people sandwiches or doughnuts at locations around downtown, city leaders met with representatives of the area’s churches and three shelters. The officials agreed that keeping the homeless in the area of the shelters, where they can get food and services, was in the best interest of everyone. But a Salvation Army worker didn’t get a clear answer from city officials when he asked whether his troops could search for homeless enclaves, offer people a hot dog and a cold drink and invite them to the downtown shelters for help. The city officials said the answer was probably yes, but they’d have to do some research. “There are a lot of gray areas” in community development and code enforcement, said Jim Studiale, the city’s community development director. Studiale’s assistant, Steve Bissonnette, was the one to deliver the news last month to people associated with All Saints’ Episcopal Church that they could no longer feed the poor Tuesdays behind the bus station or at a Sunday sidewalk worship near the church. Bissonnette said providing a hot dog might be OK because it wouldn’t be done at the same time and place every week. But Lakeland police Officer Todd Edwards, who often works with the homeless, said in most cases it would probably be a waste of time to try to attract people from homeless camps to the downtown homeless shelters. He said people became isolated by choice and if they wanted to be in a shelter, they’d be in one. Edwards said that if you ask a panhandler how much money he wants, he doesn’t say $1 or $5, “it’s $1.35. The price of a quart of beer.” Salvation Army Capt. Edward Lee provided figures compiled by the local shelter. The median length of time each resident spent in Lakeland before going to the Salvation Army shelter was just less than two weeks, meaning half the residents went to the shelter before that point and half went after. Emergencies like that occur several times a week, sometimes after clients are released prematurely from local hospitals. Faith Foundation’s furniture restoration business was started five years ago to give the homeless somewhere to go, when other shelters, hospitals, and programs refused to admit them. Sometimes behavior associated with acute alcoholism, drugs, sickness, or psychological problems make them unwelcome in other settings. With just a few more months to go before the lease ends, there are no prospects for a new site. “Faith Foundation can’t close down, even if I have to do this out of my car,” she insists. “I need the city behind me. I help them keep order by giving my people a place to go.” Business owners downtown see the shelters and the people who use them as undesirables. They draw attention to the long strips of distressed businesses and closed retail shops on Main Street. The street people are a walking advertisement for the lack of prosperity in Hackensack’s distressed downtown business area. The Faith Foundation is only a short walk from where I work, but worlds away from the mainstream of downtown Hackensack business activity. An industrial area would be an ideal spot to relocate Faith Foundation. But guaranteed, wherever Reilly’s program goes, she’ll be without much help except for the clients in their lucid moments. Many homeless people who arrive in town head straight for the shelter. But the average amount of time spent in Lakeland before seeking refuge in the shelter is 31/ 2 years. That’s because some residents live in Lakeland for years before eventually seeking help at the shelter and are figured into the mix. The Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness was organized about five years ago, when downtown was a haven for the homeless and Munn Park often resembled a homeless reunion. The solution — and it has worked well — was for homeless people to be invited to the huge yard at the Talbot House on the northern edge of downtown. Some days, there are more than a hundred people there. The task force intends to meet every three months. Lakeland is fortunate, city officials said, because the leaders of the Talbot House, Lighthouse Ministries and the Salvation Army work with each other rather than against each other, as was sometimes the case 15 or 20 years ago. Mayor Buddy Fletcher warned against people giving money to the homeless and becoming “enablers” who help people buy beer or drugs. He said he recently bought a sandwich for a homeless man, “and I watched him eat it, too.” Mayor’s homeless deal questioned CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Questions about the city of Chattanooga buying land to develop a community for homeless people, including concerns about ground pollution, have prompted Mayor Ron Littlefield to say the city has contamination “everywhere.” Littlefield said Chattanooga’s manufacturing history has left the city with the same pollution problems that affect many other urban areas. He said groundwater in any urban city is contaminated and Chattanooga is a railroad city, and rail yards are inherently dirty.” Downtown sites that he described as polluted include the Tennessee Riverwalk and the Enterprise South industrial park on the former Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant property. At least three City Council members are questioning the mayor’s’efforts to build a homeless shelter on the nine-acre former Farmers Market Streetvibes property. The property is a former landfill which contains coal tar and other polluting manufacturing byproducts. Councilman Manny Rico said he might ask Littlefield’s administration to produce an independent environmental survey of the land. Councilwoman Linda Bennett said the mayor did not reveal the extent of the contamination and the conflicts in previous discussions. Page 5 �Letters To Whom It May Concern: As an advocate for the homeless (and taxpaying citizen of Hamilton County), I have worked with many community groups, including the United Church of Christ in Camp Washington. This church schedules work camp groups from all over the U.S. and with inner-city ministries, we have taken groups to Washington Park for Street Feeds for over six years. My role in this endeavor is as interpreter of the culture of homelessness. Being formerly homeless myself, I know many men and women currently homeless in Over-the-Rhine, and my presence gives a safer feeling to folks in the park and our out-of-town guests. On March 22, 2006, during a street banquet in Washington Park, the Cincinnati Park Board approached us for the first time and said we needed a permit. So that very afternoon we called the Park Board and requested an application, which we received by fax. We assumed securing a permit would not be difficult. By 5:00 P.M. that very afternoon, the Park Board decided there would be no more permits! Armed with this information, I went to the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce meeting on April 4, 2006, to get clarification on the rules regarding permits. Three Cincinnati Police Officers at the meeting told me if the Park Board makes an executive decision not to grant a permit for a particular function or group, then the Police Department will have to enforce the Board’s decision – even if it is the reversal of previous policy. Such a thoughtless and heartless policy grieves me. These people live outside – where else are we supposed to help them? If this is an established Cincinnati Park Board policy, we’d like to see it in print. But as a national advocate (on the national board of Health Care for the Homeless), I would be ashamed of such a policy. Bob McGonagle Outofself@hotmail.com Congressional Spotlight: Budget, Tax, and appropiations During the week of May 8th, a conference agreement on tax cuts cleared the House and Senate; House leaders delayed action on the FY 2007 Budget Resolution as moderates continued to hold back support for a measure that underfunds domestic programs; the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2007 Agriculture Appropriations Bill; the House Agriculture Committee launched a web-based tool to solicit “producer” input on 2007 Farm Bill priorities; numerous school districts adopted wellness policies; Iowa farmers markets accommodated Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cardholders; the Texas Comptroller planned to audit the contractor operating the state’s call centers for enrolling people in the food stamp, health and other programs; and the budget stalemate in Puerto Rico kept children from school meals and led thousands of furloughed public employees to apply for food stamps and other aid. In the weeks ahead, the Senate may take up immigration legislation based on an agreement announced May 11th by Senators Bill Frist (R-TN) and Harry Reid (D-NV); also, the House could take up its FY 2007 Budget Resolution. The Coalition on Human Needs (CHN), the Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities (ECAP) and allies across the country will continue to urge House Members to reject the Budget Resolution. A House vote on the FY 2007 Agriculture Appropriations bill is likely before the Memorial Day recess. Closing soon are deadlines for nominations for two important nutrition program awards: Victory Against Hunger (May 31st) and Hunger Champions (June 30th). instead establishing Immigrant Communities Combat Criminalization citizenship, arbitrary eligibility thresholds. by Juan Prada When House Republicans supported HR 4437, they were hoping they’d found the wedge issue they needed to improve electoral prospects for the 2006 mid-term elections. This has proven to be a gross miscalculation. By passing legislation that would automatically make felons of an estimated 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants, they blissfully ignored that those 12 million “illegal aliens” are the parents, children, nieces and cousins of yet millions more legal residents. Or, as Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina put it: “If we tell millions of people that we will make felons of their grandparents, we (the GOP) will suffer mightily.” It is no coincidence that the most remarkable aspect of the mass mobilizations in March and April, besides their overwhelming size, was the impressive participation of young people, particularly high school students. Republican strategists seem to have read the polls to mean a majority of legal immigrants would favor restraining illegal immigration, but never considered to dig a little deeper. The most vocal supporters for unleashing massive state repression on immigrant communities all come from states where immigrant numbers have been growing in recent years, but are still short of the definitive clout they wield in larger states where immigrants and their descendents comprise large slices of the population. Had Reps. Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Tom Tancredo (R-CO) spoken to their fellow Republican governors of California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois before acting on their xenophobic whims, they would certainly have understood that this was indeed a very bad idea. Even Gov. Schwarzenegger—who denied driver licenses to undocumented immigrants and loudly praised the Minutemen’s foolish vigilantism—opposed HR 4437 on the grounds that the U.S. rounding up and deporting 11 million people is an unrealistic expectation. We can only guess that even the most ardent xenophobes will agree that such a proposition would be unenforceable, even if we were ready to bring the troops home from Iraq and deploy them in San Bernardino, Tucson, South Chicago, Queens, etc. Giving Republicans the benefit of the doubt (i.e., they might be evil, but not stupid), one has to consider that HR 4437 was a bluff by Local Artist’s Welcomed by Bernard Terrell Howard When you’re homeless it seems like the best things in life are free. For several months I’ve been homeless and as I begin my transition of getting reestablished I reminisce the day I had enough money toenjoy the night-life. Page 6 Moving to Cincinnati late February this year I just missed the February 3 deadline to place my work into this year’s competition. After contacting Saad Ghosn, who is in charge of the annual event, I received information about the Mockbee where almost every local aspirating or accomplished talent House Republicans to force the President and the Senate to deal with an issue that everyone agreed needed confronting sooner or later. The unexpected outcome was the outraged response of immigrant, particularly Latino, communities. What began as a series of small demonstrations and rallies by the usual handful of immigrant rights activists snowballed into the largest mass demonstrations that some American cities have ever seen. HR 4437 managed to alienate not only immigrants, but has also split two key constituencies that together have ensured the GOP’s series of electoral victories: business interests and religious people. Businesses using large pools of unskilled labor would lose their workers, and pastors across the nation would see their flocks ravaged by deportation and broken families. As the legislative debate continues on Capitol Hill, and ever growing mass mobilizations reach the streets, it seems unlikely that HR 4437 will enlist enough supporters in the Senate to pass a similar bill. Nevertheless, even the most “liberal” measures being presented as alternatives would come short of guaranteeing the rights of all immigrants to have a shot at has a chance to mingle and converse artistic thoughts. Jumping at a chance to attend a poetic event the Mockbee is free to everyone and not just exclusive to the rich folk. The weekend events that concluded the festival were a poetry reading and multimedia Streetvibes No matter what kind of legislation we end up with, likely results will increase repressive measures along the border, as well as limit the ability of immigrants to challenge their detention and deportation in courts. It will also pretend to be “definitive”—since the last time immigration laws were subject to major reform was in 1986. Whatever law we end up with, it will allow some to stay permanently and force others to leave or yet again become “illegal”. It will also intend to prevent others from coming in the future. But even as the immigrant movement remains united in its demand for a full amnesty and equal rights, gearing up for more powerful mobilizations, no one is yet challenging increased border militarization, its body count and negative impact on everyone’s civil rights. Nor has there been any talk about the root causes of the recent surge in immigration: corporate globalization and “free” trade policies. Until those factors are also figured into the equation, the migrating flow from the impoverished global South will continue, no matter how tall the fence is built. performance on Saturday, and a wrap-up and closing held the following evening on Sunday. Since the event returns every year it’s a nice way to feel connected to something that can bring the best out of life, while being totally free. �Homeless man dies after beating WATSONVILLE, CA — Police are investigating the death of a 47-year­ old homeless man found beaten and bloody in an alley just off Main Street last month. And the man who beat him says he had no idea his acquaintance had died. Jesse Rodriguez was found lying on the sidewalk on Stoesser Way, an alley behind a municipal parking garage at Rodriguez and West Beach streets, when police and emergency personnel arrived at 5:20 p.m. after a 911 call from the nearby Discount Mall. Rodriguez was taken to Watsonville Community Hospital, where he died less than six hours later of heart failure. Rodriguez, who was lying in a pool of blood that had formed around his head, was alert when emergency personnel arrived and told them he had been drinking. Sgt. David McCartney, who spent part of the day looking for evidence in what could be a potential crime scene, said an investigation did not begin immediately because Rodriguez’s injuries were first reported as a result of a fall. “It’s not a crime to fall down,” said McCartney who was in the company of other detectives, including some from the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office. Rodriguez’s death became the subject of a police investigation after detectives learned he had been beaten up, according to Watsonville police Capt. Eddie Rodriguez. Detectives were waiting for the results of the autopsy to determine what direction the investigation moves, Capt. Rodriguez said. Detectives interviewed a homeless man in the alley where the assault occurred. Capt. Rodriguez said he could not disclose what the man, Barry Franklin Schrope, told police. But two hours after police interviewed him, he told the Sentinel that he and Rodriguez had an altercation the previous Monday. Schrope said he confronted Jesse Rodriguez about stealing money and pills from his uncle and told him to never do it again. He said Jesse Rodriguez hit him and the altercation escalated. Schrope said he kicked Jesse Rodriguez in the abdomen sending him to the ground. He said he left before police and firefighters arrived though he was later treated for an injury to his foot, the one he used to kick Rodriguez. Schrope said he was shocked to learn Rodriguez died. “I feel really bad now,” he said. “I’m not a bad person.” Rodriguez’s homeless friends who spent their final hours drinking alcohol with him described him as a once married man who was divorced, had children and grew up in San Juan Bautista. Jesse Rodriguez told the Sentinel weeks ago that his wife had died and that he was depressed and had a drinking problem. Gary Anderson, a close friend who is also homeless, said Jesse Rodriguez told him on several occasions that he spent most of his life “in and out of prison,” and that he was a recovering heroin addict. “He never went back to it, and all he’s been doing is drinking beer. But I think that heroin stuff fried his brain,” said Anderson, originally from the east side of San Jose who now wanders the streets of Watsonville as did Rodriguez. Police said Jesse Rodriguez lives on Kearney Street, though they described it as “shelter” and not a house. They said he was well known to police having arrests for being drunk in public, evading police and narcotics violations, but most of those were in the past. Capt. Rodriguez said there is no indication that the incident is related to a recent shooting that injured two transient men Pajaro River bridge at Main Street. Streetvibes “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” Mother Teresa of Calcutta “I knew at an early age I wanted to act. Acting was always easy for me. I don’t believe in predestination, but I do believe that once you get where ever it is you are going, that is where you were going to be. Was I always going to be here? No I was not. I was going to be homeless at one time, a taxi driver, truck driver, or any kind of job that would get me a crust of bread. You never know what’s going to happen.” Morgan Freeman Page 7 �Housing cont. from page 1 although on a considerably smaller budget. ReSTOC was criticized for using this strategy, but now it is used by the corporate sponsored group. 3CDC is preparing to launch a $16.7 million redevelopment plan and recently went before Cincinnati City Council asking for a city grant of $2.4 million, along with up to $5.8 million in city tax-increment financing revenue. To date they have not made a commitment to include affordable housing in their projects. Given these significant changes in the community, Over-theRhine Housing Network and ReSTOC realized that a realignment of resources and strengths was necessary. The merger and creation of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing provides us the opportunity to grow into an organization that can take advantage of the growing market interest to benefit the low-income community. “The merger of ReSTOC and the OTR Housing Network will allow us to think and act more ‘strategically’, when it comes to Over-the-Rhine as a whole” according to Andy Hutzel. “We will partner with the community in developing and managing high-quality affordable housing units, and leverage additional resources to assist in many community-building activities. ReSTOC is not putting an end to its 29 history; instead we are evolving to meet the changing community. It is exciting to think of the possibilities with the new Over-the-Rhine Community Housing.” Hope lies in the ability to refute the myths, to responsibly analyze the problems and then to seek solutions that build on our hopes instead of our fears. Solutions lie in creating more resources for affordable housing which will responsibly increase the supply and choice for low-income residents in our city. In part, it will be the responsibility of OTR Community Housing to educate and model a way to do things differently. Many espouse economic mix but it takes creative strategies and a political will to really make this happen. Current Secretary of Over­ the-Rhine Community Housing, Bonnie Neumeier says, “I’ve lived in Over-the-Rhine over 32 years. Affordable housing has always been an issue here. The poor, homeless and oppressed people of our community are not to blame for the conditions of poverty and the increased violence on our streets. It’s easy to target “too much subsidized housing” as the problem rather than looking at how our society has unfairly distributed resources that Drop Inn Center Update As many of you know, the SCPA arts school has been planning to become our neighbor for some time. I know that many are wary of this move; however, I have always felt that sufficient services for the poor and high-quality arts education are both compatible and we should not be made to choose between one or the other. We can have both. Almost two years ago, we were approached by school planners who wished to acquire our 18-unit Transitional Housing complex for the school grounds. This caused some anxiety for us; nevertheless, we decided to move forward with discussions with one condition: that in exchange for selling our housing to make way for their project, we would end up with a completed facility that would be the same or better quality. After conversations with our staff and residents, we determined that an ideal site would have a single point of entry, an interior courtyard, between 20-40 units and have office HOG Survey Follow-up by Streetvibes Staff This is a follow-up to the May 2006 Streetvibes article “Homeless Outreach Workers Take to the Streets.” Volunteers from the Homeless Outreach Group found fewer than expected individuals sleeping on the streets during their street survey on the morning of Wednesday, April 26. All in all, they counted 49 individuals and Page 8 engaged 23 with surveys and outreach. “This is lower than we expected,” commented John Lavelle, Chair of the Homeless Outreach Group. “During the spring and summer, the number of individuals sleeping on the streets generally increases significantly.” One reason may be that it was an unseasonably cold night, with temperatures dipping into the favor the privileged while the poor are left out. Our society does not value every human being. It treats the poor, homeless and those on the margins as expendable. Economics and greed is taking over our hearts and minds. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing values a broader vision with bigger hearts that includes everyone. It takes courage, risk and a lot of faith to believe in something different for our world and our neighborhood. We are up for the challenge.” Sharon Jones who is a 20+ year resident of Over-the-Rhine and proud parent of two, serves as Vice President of Over-the-Rhine Community Council. Sharon choose to serve on the board of Over-theRhine Community Housing because, “Over-the-Rhine is special. I like being involved in the community where I live and where I raise my children. I go after what I believe in and I take this Board to heart, I like the name, and I am proud to be here.” Inspiration and Hope With the loss of affordable housing, the vacant and abandoned properties, litter and the increase in gun violence one can get discouraged. But inspiration for a beautiful Over­ the-Rhine can be found everywhere. From the children space for our six case managers on site. During the past two years we have had countless meetings with developers, funders, residents, social workers, city staff and have put many of the pieces in place for a workable replacement. We have gone through several sites, yet, each time, when it comes time to finalize the deal, we run into opposition from some of the same developers who asked us to relocate in the first place. Over the last several months, a site for replacement has been identified that meets our needs: a former home for the blind located at 15th and Elm streets, three blocks away. It has all the amenities we would need to operate a successful project. The Over-the-Rhine Community Council has been approached and has given its overwhelming support. The Mayor’s upper thirties. The Drop Inn Center reported a slight increase in intake for the series of cold nights that week. Surveyors in the Over the Rhine area reported 18 individuals sleeping outside that evening, almost half of the number they found sleeping in below-freezing temperatures during the January survey. Two men in Washington Park reported that police had been sweeping them out routinely since Streetvibes playing in our parks, laughing, swinging on the swings, holding the water fountain for their friends. From the poetry of Alice Walker and John Lennon who inspire us to imagine a world of peace where all people are valued. From the sunflower that magically grows tall out of the crack in the sidewalk behind the ReSTOC office every summer as if planted by the spirit of buddy gray, co-founder of both organizations, encouraging us to keep on keeping on. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing won’t give up on ReSTOC and Over-the-Rhine Housing Network’s dream of food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, equality, green space and peace for all. In fact, this is what the merger is about. Together we can imagine a new way of developing our communities. Together, we can create the beloved community that Maurice McCracken, Martin Luther King and so many others have dreamed of. Main Office address: 114 W. 14th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 513-381-1171 Satellite Office address: 220 E. Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 513-369-0004 Office has been approached and has signaled support. We have even been given a chance to explain the project to the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce. It’s important to remember that the Drop Inn Center is engaged in these discussions at the request of developers and school planners. We are taking the lead in developing a collaborative solution that meets everyone’s needs. The choice, as I see it, is this: We either move down the street, allow the Arts School to move ahead as well as provide a fair replacement for the Drop Inn Center OR we stay put where we are and put the Arts School at risk. Unfortunately, there are some who are approaching City Council at the last minute, trying to turn this into a confrontational, win-lose situation. We are asking people to call Council now to help defend us and our collaborative stance. the police presence was increased in Over the Rhine. Most importantly from the survey, outreach workers were able to engage individuals and offer services. In one instance, and individual who had been previously engaged by outreach workers entered substance abuse treatment two days after the survey. Members of the Homeless Outreach Group will continue to discuss the survey and compare it to results from previous surveys. �Denver’s homeless initiative touted as a model of success Matthew Windgate, 11, follows his brother Terry Combast, 15, to a basketball court at the Crossing, a transitional housing development for homeless families. A January survey showed an 11 percent decrease in general homelessness six months after Denver launched a wide-ranging strategy to combat the problem. At a national homelessness summit in Denver on last month, Mayor John Hickenlooper’s campaign to end this “national disgrace” was hailed as a model success story among many communities cutting chronic homeless numbers nationwide. The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative announced that a Jan. 23 survey showed an 11 percent decrease in general homelessness and a 40 percent drop in street-dwelling homeless six months after Hickenlooper and community advocates launched a strategy to end homelessness. “Denver’s numbers are hardly aberrational. They’re simply part of a national trend,” Philip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, told officials from 40 states attending the three-day summit at the Colorado Convention Center. Hickenlooper, who was awarded the council’s “A Home for Every American Award” for his ambitious plan to end homelessness in a decade, was praised by Mangano as “a mayor who’s been on this issue literally from the first week that he took office.” The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless also received an award, along with other individuals and organizations from across the nation. “We are at a point in history,” Hickenlooper told the gathering, “that in 10 years or 20 years all of us in this room are going to point back to this summit as the place where suddenly it became real: the fact that we could actually step forward as communities, as a country, and end a blight that most people had come to accept.” By creating a measurable “system of accountability,” the mayor said, Denver is tracking its success at getting people off the street and into treatment, job training and stable lives. Supporting homeless individuals by providing “Housing First,” Hickenlooper said, is saving money, cutting by 60 percent the number of program participants using hospitals, jail and detoxification centers. While traditional “Band-Aid” homeless services cost metro Denver $70 million, that’s been slashed to $13 million, he added. Got The Vibe? National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors. Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct and agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Vendor Pro­ gram. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may be removed from the Program. To report a Vendor, call 421­ 7803. ext. 16 Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Streetvibes Page 9 �Out of the Shadows by Paul Rogat Loeb People marched because families and futures were at stake. Seattle didn’t have a half million marching for immigrant rights, like Los Angeles or Dallas, or 300,000 like Chicago, But 25,000 marched for 15 blocks through the heart of our city April 10, and as many as 60,000 packed the streets on May 1. “I heard it on the radio,” people said. “I heard it at my church.” “I heard it from a friend.” This march didn’t rely on the online networks that have become the activist standard. It built on more intimate networks, and as coverage rippled out, people came and brought others, affirming that this was now their country too, and they wanted to be treated with dignity and respect. “It moved me to tears to see people coming out of the shadows to find their voice,” said my friend Jay Sauceda, a community activist who grew up poor in South Texas. “There are so many people in this situation,” he said. “They’ve been so quiet. Now they’re marching.” Children paraded in strollers, teenagers laughed with their friends, elderly women helped each other walk step by step. The march was mostly Latino but also Korean, Filipino, Somalian. There’s been a lot of flag brandishing for blind patriotism these days. The sea of American flags were part political strategy—a more salable image than a sea of Mexican flags. But they also felt proud and celebratory. People carried them high, waved them again and again to say that they were Americans too and ask that this country honor promises of refuge and hope. The flags felt so far from the “we’re number one” belligerence of sealed-off Bush rallies. Immigration politics are complicated — flooding this or any country with cheap labor will drive down wages, especially when unions are being busted and undocumented workers live in fear of deportation. If we don’t create enough global justice so desperate people don’t continue leaving their homes, then all but the wealthiest will succumb to the worldwide race to the bottom. These marches reminded those of us who Paul Loeb are legal because our ancestors immigrated earlier on that even in the land of Microsoft, we cannot separate our fates from the fates of those who pick our crops, build our houses, and clean our office buildings — that we’re tied in what King called “an inescapable network of Cincinnati Youth Council is Back YEP is happy to announce the return of the Cincinnati Youth Council (CYC) and report on the issues raised at the group’s first meeting in early April. At the CYC meeting topics included job prospects; the difficulties of parents forcing kids out of the home before the age of 18; and the need to improve foster care conditions to prevent abuse and neglect. Of interest to all was the idea of helping youths to know their rights, both while they’re in foster care and after they exit the system. YEP will continue to assist the fledgling Cincinnati Youth Council as it gains strength and voice. Some youths were interested in support services for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) young people ­ especially those who are in social service settings or who are independently homeless. According to research, LGBT youths are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than non-LGBT; and Page 10 transgender youths are at an even higher risk. We would like to thank Kelly Carr, The Anthony House, and the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for their support in helping YEP re-establish youth organizing in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati group had great energy and passion about their issues and YEP looks forward to reporting on CYC’s many future successes. For information on how to become a part of YEP, please contact Nick Bates at COHHIO in Columbus at 614-280-1984 or at nickbates@cohhio.org. We can connect you with a local youth council or work with you in starting a new YEP chapter in your neighborhood. We are currently growing, and seeking to create new youth councils across the state. YEP works on leadership development, community service, and civic engagement by addressing issues that are youth-driven, including housing, education, young adults voting, and much more. mutuality… a single garment of destiny.” The marches may not have found perfect policy solutions: the ideal path to citizenship, the ideal way to respond to those who’d make this land their home without making things worse for others already at the bottom, the ideal way to pass and enforce workplace laws so employers pay a decent wage for all. But they are more about recognizing those who participated and all they spoke for as having a core human dignity, being fellow children of God, deserving respect and gratitude for their innate worth and for the labors that serve us all. It was about their giving themselves a face and a voice. Why can’t we have these kinds of marches to challenge the war or global warming, or Bush’s appropriation of the divine right of kings? True, Air America has a fraction of the reach of Spanish radio, and the Catholic churches that helped mobilize so many have been silent on most issues except abortion. But maybe it’s also because those more comfortable sit behind our computers so much that we come to believe we can do all politics with the click of a mouse. Maybe the issues feel too abstract. Unless you have a son or daughter there, Iraq doesn’t hit home nearly as much as the raw callousness of Congressman Sensenbrenner’s plan to make 12 million people instant felons, as well as anyone who gives them water or food, education or medical care. Here the stakes were clear and immediate. People turned out despite the risks of being deported, because had Sensenbrenner’s bill had gone through, as might well have happened without these massive outcries, life would have immediately gotten far harsher and crueler. So for those of us who didn’t march but claim to act for justice, we need to heed the lives these voices represent, and do what we can to ensure they are heard. We also need to link this issue of fundamental human dignity to all the threats that make it difficult for people to live and flourish on this earth. Maybe by finding their voice and courage, those who marched in America’s cities these past weeks can teach the rest of us how to come out of our own shadows and fears and join across our own divides. Paul Rogat Loeb (www.paulloeb.org) is the author of The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear, named the numberthree political book of 2004 by the History Channel and the American Book Association, and winner of the Nautilus Award for best social change book of the year. His previous books include Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time. Mr. Homeless Downtowner Ms. Homeless Downtowner Name: Cleo Wombles Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Neighborhood: OTR Occupation: Streetvibes Vender If I could do something different for living: X-ray Technician I can’t stand it when: People rob and hurt me Favorite interest: reading the bible & playing basketball Favorite spot downtown: 5th & Walnut If I won the lottery I would: pay all my bills Placed I’d like to visit: Mexico cause I speak Spanish Happiness to me would be: having an endearing relationship with my daughter and grandkids What I like most about Cincinnati: the people, not all the people but I especially like the people at the homeless coalition What’s the one thing you desire most: a “normal” life? Life’s philosophy: start everything with a prayer Streetvibes Name: Elizabeth Smith Hometown: Hamilton, Ohio Neighborhood: Lindenwold If I could have done something different: I wouldn’t have quit school I can’t stand it when: People drive too close to the side walk and puddles splash up on me Favorite Interest: walking Favorite spot downtown: on the river If I won the lottery I would: buy a home Place I’d most like to visit: a place to live and work What I like most about Cincinnati: all the lights of the skyline at night What’s the one thing you desire most, but are afraid? to go after: college Life’s philosophy: Whatever �L.A. decision tolls a bell for Portland’s policies on homeless (Street Roots, USA) by Monica Goracke While the court explicitly limited its ruling to Los Angeles, relying heavily on statistics and evidence of the lack of shelter for homeless people there, cities across the country, and Portland in particular, will take note. “Human beings are biologically compelled to rest, whether by sitting, lying, or sleeping,” the court said. To criminalize such conduct, when it is involuntary and inseparable from the status of being without a home, is to violate constitutional protections. Yet Portland, along with many other cities, has enacted and enforced laws that implicate not only constitutional but also human rights concerns. As the Ninth Circuit recognized, we should not punish people for life-sustaining behavior that is unavoidably linked to their homelessness. Skid Row, an area covering 50 city blocks just east of downtown Los Angeles, was the focus of the case brought on behalf of homeless people who were arrested or cited for violating Los Angeles’s ordinance. With the highest concentration of homeless individuals in the United States, it is “a place of desperate poverty, drug use and crime,” according to the court. This concentration is no accident: the city of Los Angeles has had a deliberate policy to concentrate and contain the homeless in Skid Row since at least the 1970s. Skid Row has space in SRO (single room occupancy) hotels, shelters, and other temporary or transitional housing for 9,000 to 10,000 people a night, but approximately 11,000 to 12,000 individuals live there. This means that more than 1,000 people are unable to find shelter each night. The court also noted that in all of Los Angeles County, there are almost 50,000 more homeless people than available beds. As Los Angeles officials admitted, this 1,000-person deficit is “severely large.” What is the magnitude of homelessness in Portland? As a smaller city, Portland has lower overall numbers of homeless people, but its rate of unmet need is almost the same as Los Angeles’: 27 percent for Portland compared with 30 percent for Los Angeles. The one-night street count conducted on Jan. 26, 2005, covering Multnomah County and the cities of Portland and Gresham, found 2,355 people sleeping outside, in a vehicle or in an abandoned vehicle. 1,020 people had been turned away from shelters that night – very close to the number in Los Angeles. These numbers are much higher than the previous street count from March 15, 2004, which found 465 people turned away. An accurate determination of the number of homeless people in Portland is very difficult, but the City’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness estimates that in Multnomah County, 16,000 to 18,000 people experience homelessness annually, and 4,000 people experience homelessness on any given night. This number tries to take into account the “hidden homeless” doubled or tripled-up in other households, staying out of sight or otherwise missed by the counters. When you consider that the average length of homelessness is 21 weeks, and the average wait to get into a publicly-funded shelter is four to six weeks (up to 10 weeks in the winter months), the word “crisis” begins to seem woefully inadequate. In Los Angeles, as in Portland and Cincinnati, increasing rates of homelessness mean that homeless people are more visible in public than ever before. Laws prohibiting the obstruction of sidewalks and streets have been used to move people along, including those who have few or no other places to go. The Ninth Circuit sharply criticized Los Angeles’s ordinance as “one of the most restrictive municipal laws regulating public spaces in the United States.” The ordinance prohibits sitting, lying, and sleeping in or on any street, sidewalk or other public way at any time of day or night within the city limits. The court distinguished LA’s law from similar ordinances in places such as Las Vegas, Seattle, and Portland which, it said, do better by requiring that some type of inappropriate conduct be part of the crime other than just sitting, lying, or sleeping in a state of homelessness. While the court’s reasoning in criticizing the Los Angeles ordinance was sound, a closer look at Portland’s laws, along with evidence of how they are enforced, would have shown that it cannot be so easily distinguished. Portland’s two ordinances prohibit “camping” on public property and rights of way, and obstructing public sidewalks in a large downtown area. While the enforceability of the sidewalk obstruction ordinance is very much in doubt after a late 2005 ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals, this ordinance is still used verbally by police and private security officials to move homeless people from sidewalks, although it is limited in time from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The camping ordinance, as written, is not just about pitching a tent on the bus mall. It can be – and often is – used by police to cite people for simply sleeping in parks, under freeways and other out-of­ way places, with so little as a bedroll or a piece of cardboard beneath them. Just as in Los Angeles, homeless people in Portland often lose all their belongings when police cite them for unlawful camping. The camping law is enforced both day and night, even though many homeless men and women sleep during the day because it is so unsafe for them to sleep on the streets at night. Although Oregon state law requires 24-hour notice to homeless people who are in violation of camping laws, officers sometimes stage surprise raids complete with a work crew to remove and destroy homeless people’s personal property. Losing the few possessions you have – a blanket, clothing, but especially documents such as an ID or birth certificate – can be debilitating, to put it mildly. When homeless people in Portland are arrested, prosecuted, and lose their belongings for the crime of sleeping outside when they had nowhere else to go, it drives them even further into hopelessness and poverty. The Ninth Circuit’s decision contains two important legal principles. First, it found that the homeless plaintiffs in this case had standing to challenge a law that criminalizes their involuntary conduct even though not all of them had been actually convicted under that law. When people are arrested, jailed, fined, and prosecuted for violations of a law, the court found, they are subjected to the criminal process and therefore can challenge the law under the Eighth Amendment’s cruel-and-unusual punishment clause. Second, the decision finds, based on prior cases establishing that people cannot be punished simply for being poor or homeless, that the government cannot make criminal those acts that are “involuntary and inseparable from status” – specifically, physically resting in a public place when there is no other way a human being living in the city of Los Angeles who is homeless could meet this fundamental need. The court’s distinction between Los Angeles’s sweeping ordinance and the more limited laws in Portland, Seattle, and other cities is likely to be read as foreclosing similar challenges. However, the court’s reasoning clearly applies to some aspects of local laws. Portland has a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness that acknowledges the destructive effect of laws criminalizing behavior that homeless people are forced to engage in, such as sleeping or sitting outside, because they are homeless. For individuals, a criminal record of any kind makes it difficult to find housing and employment, which are so essential to escaping homelessness. For the community, criminalization imposes an enormous financial, physical, and psychic toll. We should not treat homeless people this way not only because it is costly, but because it is inhumane. We must find a better way. “Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IIt...” t...” Streetvibes Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. Vendors must not tell customers that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 Cents (75 cent profit goes directly to the vendor) Homeless Coalition 25 Cents Printing and Production: 25 cents (this cost does not cover expenses) Page 12 About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... earned. This program has helped The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Streetvibes Send your letters or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com Buy Streetvibes �FRAC Report The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is a leading national organization working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States. Founded in 1970 as a public interest law firm, FRAC is a nonprofit and nonpartisan research and public policy center that serves as the hub of an antihunger network of thousands of individuals and agencies across the country. www.frac.org House Subcommittee Passes FY 2007 Funding for Nutrition Programs (“House Subcommittee Passes FY 2007 Funding for Nutrition Programs,” frac.org, May 4, 2006) On May 3, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee reported out its FY 2007 funding bill for the Department of Agriculture. Highlights of some program funding have been released. The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee is not expected to take up its bill until after the Memorial Day recess. In general, the Administration’s proposal to eliminate CSFP and harmful proposals to WIC are not in the subcommittee bill. On the other hand, additional funding was not provided to expand the Simplified Summer Food Program (“Lugar Pilots”). The document describes subcommittee’s action on the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP); WIC; food stamps; child nutrition programs; TEFAP; farmers’ market programs; and fresh fruit and vegetable pilots. Every Minute 10 Children Die from Malnutrition in Developing Countries (“Malnutrition Kills 10 Children Every Minute, Says UN,” independent.co.uk, May 3, 2006) Ten children die every minute as a result of malnutrition in the developing world, according to a new United Nations report. It found that 146 million children under age 5 suffer from insufficient food intake, repeated infectious diseases, muscle wastage and vitamin deficiencies. Three quarters of the undernourished children come from just 10 countries, including 57 million children suffering from malnutrition in India and 8 million each in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Almost half of all children in south Asia are underweight, and girls have higher hunger rates than boys. In Iraq, 16 percent of children go hungry, a rate “substantially higher” than in 1990. China and Latin American nations have made progress in reducing childhood hunger, but the overall decrease in hunger is considerably slower than the 2.8 percent annual reduction needed to fulfill the pledge by the world’s leaders to cut the proportion of the hungry in half by 2015. “Few things have more impact than nutrition on a child’s ability to survive, learn effectively and escape a life of poverty,” said Ann Veneman, executive director of Unicef. “We still have time to achieve … [the 2005] goal, but only if the international community acts now to deliver the commitments and resources it has promised.” Food Insecure Mothers May Increase Child’s Risk for Obesity, Study Says (“Maternal Choices May Increase Risk of Overweight Children,” newswise.com, May 2, 2006) A study by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health and Boston Medical Center found that lack of access to adequate food for an active and healthy life may affect maternal food choices, increasing the risk to children of becoming overweight. “What we have is a paradox. Mothers in households where food availability was either erratic or scarce had approximately twice the odds of giving their child food to boost calories or to stimulate the appetite,” explained lead researcher Emily Feinberg from Boston Medical Center. The findings suggest that the mothers may provide high-calorie nutritional supplements and that such supplements may increase the risk to a child of becoming overweight, particularly in households with food shortages. The researchers interviewed 248 mothers of normal and overweight Haitian and AfricanAmerican children, ages 2 to 12. Growing Numbers of “Near Poor” Increasingly Exposed to Sudden Ruin (“America’s ‘Near Poor’Are Increasingly at Economic Risk, Experts Say,” nytimes.com, May 8, 2006) With soaring costs of housing and medical care and a decline in low-end wages and benefits, tens of millions of people in lower economic ranks are living on increasingly shakier ground, according to studies focusing on what some scholars call the “near poor.” “There’s strong evidence that over the past five years, record numbers of lower-income Americans find themselves in a more precarious economic position than at any time in recent memory,” said Mark R. Rank, a sociologist at Washington University in St. Louis. For all age groups except those 70 and older, the odds of a temporary spell of poverty doubled in the 1990’s, Rank and two colleagues from Cornell University wrote in a 2004 paper. Rank says the situation has worsened since the 1990s. According to the analysis, during the 1980s, about 13 percent of Americans in their forties spent at least one year below the poverty line, while in the 1990s, 36 percent of people in their forties experienced at least a year in poverty. More people work in jobs without health coverage and other benefits or access to unemployment insurance. The real value of welfare has eroded, while the benefits are more difficult to secure. The people behind these grim statistics suffer the consequences every day. “In the center of Orange County [ Calif.,], a world away from its polished coastal towns, borderline poverty is common but seldom visible. … Behind strip malls and fast food restaurants, families, sometimes two of them, cram into small, aging bungalows. “What look like tourist motels along Beach Boulevard are mostly filled by working families or single people who stay for months or years, paying high weekly fees.” California waitress Machele Sauer tries to support herself and four daughters by waitressing four nights and two days a week, receiving food stamps (which cover food costs for about two weeks a month) and charity. Beverage Industry Agrees to Halt Almost All Soda Sales at Schools (“Soda Distributors to End Most School Sales,” newsday.com, May 3, 2006) The nation’s largest beverage distributors have agreed to end nearly all sales of sodas to public schools, announced the William J. Clinton Foundation. Under the agreement, the companies will sell only water, unsweetened juice and low-fat milks in elementary and middle schools. High schools will be able to sell diet soda and low-calorie drinks, as well as nutritious drinks, such as juice, sports drinks and low-fat milk. The new rules will apply to sales on school grounds during regular school hours and after school activities. But they will not apply to events such as school plays, band concerts and sporting events, where a significant portion of the audience are adults, according to Jay Carson, a spokesman for Clinton. The beverage industry move comes during a wave of regulation by school districts and legislators alarmed by increasing rates of childhood obesity. According to a recent report by the American Beverage Association, school sales of sports drinks, diet sodas and bottled water have been on the rise in recent years, while sugary soft drink purchases by students have been falling. The companies and the American Beverage Association agreed to make the changes at 75 percent of the nation’s public schools Streetvibes before the 2008-2009 school year, and at all public schools a year later. Op-Ed: “Let Justice Roll” by Raising Minimum Wage (“Institutionalizing The Working Poor,” sltrib.com, April 28, 2006) “A just and living wage is what is needed in Utah and the nation,” writes Dan Webster, an Episcopal priest from Salt Lake City currently working in New York for the National Council of Churches. The federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour has not changed since 1997. “Can you imagine working for 10 years without a raise?” asks Webster. People who work for minimum wage often take two or three jobs just to get by, hardly having time for their families and children. “Nowhere in the Bible does it say God helps those who help themselves. But a lot of people quote that as if it were a Bible verse,” Webster says. He notes that the Bible says: “You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land.” The failure of the recent proposal to raise Utah’s minimum wage is “frightening,” especially in the state that prides itself on hard work. The National Council of Churches has been advocating for a living wage. “Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty,” reads its banner. “That advocacy is based on scripture. The beginning of that slogan on the banner comes from the Hebrew prophet Amos: ‘Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.’.” 21 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Empowering our neighborhood chil­ dren through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Page 13 �ReSTOC By Bonnie Neumeier March 16, 2006 On occasion of our last official Board Meeting And before merging with Over-the-Rhine Housing Network In thanksgiving for all the people who made ReSTOC possible The place to be on Saturday mornings at 9AM Actually anytime in between How many times has this ReSTOC story been told And unfolded on the lips of those involved Gorilla crews doing the unthinkable, the impossible Without much modern machinery Just hard working hands Hundreds of hands In assembly lines Moving mountains of materials Piece by piece Out of buildings saved from the wrecking ball We were filled with dreams of how we can bring These buildings back to life Making homes for our people Taking a stand here on this Over-the-Rhine land We claim as our own. A spirit of camaraderie and connection created While hands were deep in garbage Clouds of dust filling the air As crowbars yanked plastered walls down Pulling out endless nails from the wooden lath Fire escapes painted stroke by stroke Cracks and holes filled up brick by brick Those brown Rohs Hardware gloves our trademark Those white protective masks we wore covered up our mouths But not our laughter When the day was done We looked more like coal miners Bone tired but a joy sat on our chests I remember that night of terror When the Jimmy Skinner building on Vine caught on fire Flames high in the night sky I can still feel the trembles Hoping upon hope that no one was inside The City wanted it torn down But our wills to save it Were a deeper red than the flames that night Brick by brick hoisted up in a bucket We put it back together again And this became “buddy’s place” A home for the homeless Pleasant Street Garden Grapes and green beans Sunflowers and squash Raspberries and roses An oasis in the concrete city Gardeners meet and mingle Curious children climb over the fence With questions about smelly manure And how does a garden grow. With a cheese sandwich in hand From the Bang’s corner store We’d go to the garden And sit on the wooden bench To hold a small meeting The stray cats slithered around Our ankles while our eyes admired The colors of the flowers A respite for ReSTOCers Catching our breath for the next Page 14 Round of struggles Children from the streets Residents of Drop Inn Center College students Tenacious Tenants Church groups High Schools Friends and Parents People assigned to do community service A rainbow mix of talent and skill and personalities We had a common desire To be a part of something bigger than ourselves It was our way to build a circle of hope Much broader than just affordable housing We believed we were making a difference And we did and WE STILLARE On a Sunday morning in May Our hopes for the Dunlap warehouse building collapsed Part of the roof caved in and onto the street below A crisis deliberation occurred on the street It was painful to let this one go We were torn with our decision. ReSTOC office a grand central station So much can happen in one day A call to fix a leaky pipe, or a stopped up toilet, a lost key A quickly designed flyer to defend our homes from the latest attacks A displaced person looking for housing A newspaper reporter pushing to get our response about a pressing housing issue A person’s possessions in a plastic bag dropped here for storage A meeting or two or three to strategize our next move Pickups to make for donated refrigerators and stoves Trips to scrap metal for a little piece of change Bills to pay, deposits to make, thank you’s to write, Stacks of paperwork to organize And the determination to carry on despite obstacles And here in this ReSTOC place on 14th Street Once called Harriet Tubman/Mother Jones Folk School We laughed, we cried, we sang, And feasted on donuts and chips and pop We grew to appreciate our just anger We learned how to speak our truth We planned, plotted, and protested To defend our neighborhood’s 5520 low income housing units We made creative banners and cardboard signs Dreamed up beautiful murals Yes, our people’s hope will rise and stand tall like the sunflower And here in this ReSTOC place Many peoples eyes were opened up and made more aware Residents organized, made history and got a place to call home People got jobs, a second chance, and learned a trade Interns learned more than books could teach Activists were born and nurtured here Barriers of race and class were breached We worked; we loved, and experienced our solidarity This place has been home to the displaced and oppressed But all the while a proud people fighting for freedoms long denied. Streetvibes Republic Street Block Club Elm Street Block Club Cleanup Campaigns Gunther and Brick Laying Projects Tree Plantings Recovery Hotel buddy’s Place Tenant Christmas Parties Summer Picnics Miami Design and Build Studio ReSTOC Internship Program Adopt-An-Apartment Xavier Learning Semester Vine Street Community Project Tour upon tour Lobbying politicians To insist our voices be counted People living with us Dempsey, Howard, and Mary Eva, Anna, Betty and Bob Steve, Pat, Georgia and Jimmy, Demus, Catherine, Jerry and Janie Willie, Doyle, McDade The list goes on and on People who have shaped us, challenged us buddy, Bob, Mike, and Tom, Gary, Jenn, and Andy Roger and Butch and many others People with courage leading the way I remember Sitting on the side stoop at 1324 Race Street A plan was made to buy that first building Mr. Suder was going to sell the building to Mr. Denhart With knowledge of Denhart’s history Residents living there did not want Denhart as their landlord We sat there late into the night Under the dim light bulb Making a list of people we could approach To help us buy that building There was excitement in the air that night We were dreaming possibilities Little did we know where our dreaming would take us We just knew we had to act. And act we did buddy’s relentless energy, our cornerstone And we all pushed out from there The ReSTOC name will not slide slowly off our lips ReSTOC is imprinted in our hearts forever ReSTOC made possible this pathway to our future ReSTOC has always been about risk taking So tonight we celebrate our history And give thanks for the blessings we all have received By being a part of this great story and vision The ReSTOC Stories, may they always be told And remembered The ReSTOC spirit, let’s carry it on �Cries Of The Homeless The homeless Misplaced Tears by Bernard Terrell Howard I wanna cry not letting the world know. Just by myself let my feelings show. So much hurt that my tears are dry. My cold heart that you cannot pray. But nothing’s there as it’s been too long. My pen has etched every right and wrong. My tears are ink and stain with words. A prison of sorrow like all caged birds. Can’t crack my will, but you always try. To hurt my spirit while inside I fly. How can you touch where my father’s at? If I’m a bird you’re a blood sucking bat. You had to steal everything you got. Blind of your ways inside you rot. You hear the echo of your lying voice. That fuels your ego you choose to hoist. You’re like a curse that others can see. To stray from God for the devil’s plea. I write in pen all my misplaced years. To ease the pain of my misplaced tears. One check away by Don Foran Ten men clamber out of the creaking van, Their sweaty bodies meeting a kiss Of cool night air. They drift, silently, sullenly Toward the darkened church. Mattresses lie, two or three to a room, Along walls decorated with children’s Drawings and almost casual crucifixions. Carl, Eddie, Jake and the others Throw their worn packs and bags Onto the makeshift beds, and John, It’s always John, is first to ask If he can have his sack lunch now, Not in the morning as we had planned. “Sure,” I say, almost as anxious as he To assuage this remediable hunger. Several echo John, and soon all Are feasting on pb and j; apples, celery, And other healthy fare remains on the table, But they’re happier now, even communicative. One thanks me for setting a new pair of white socks On each mattress. Another offers a juice cup To a friend. “Lights out!” Rick calls at ten, And no one argues, no one hesitates. Sleep Knits once more the raveled sleeve of care, Obliterates the hurt, soothes the jangled nerves. Tomorrow will be another day, Another cheerless day embroidered With small triumphs, fragile dreams. by James Chionsini twinkling stars can’t keep you warm when you’re sleeping in the park till he break of dawn newspaper pillow and a plastic tarp watching for he pigs that come out after dark lost your job got jacked and robbed your landlord said that’s not my prob doctor bills kill you can’t afford the pills now you’re shaking heart breaking drink as much as you spill waiting on the first to quench your thirst alleviate the discomfort of an asphalt earth trying to find a shelter to get some rest but nowhere seems safe without a knife proof vest if you could just get back to square one start to heal the disease that’s got you on the run feeling invisible going insane scowls and nightsticks fall like rain Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com by John McKay Withey She left her home in her early teens, In torn shirt and faded jeans. Looking for the love she was never given, Away from her family she was finally driven. She sits by the fountain every day, Her lovely young face looking cold and grey. Her sad blue eyes slowly searching around, Looking for coins dropped on the ground. With pleading eyes she holds out a hand, In pouring rain for hours she will stand. All she wants is a little respite, And something warm for her teeth to bite. Uncaring people pass her by, They see her plight and wonder why, So young a person has no home, And around the streets aimlessly roam. Our pleas have gone unnoticed. Our voices are unknown. We roam the alleys and your streets, While searching for a home. Our mouths do not know the taste Of food that’s off a plate. We depend on scraps from others, After they have ate. While money’s spent to fight our wars And build military might, We, the homeless, struggle on ~ With rags to warm the night. Our brothers and our sisters Walk by and only stare, No kindness offered from their hearts. The compassion is not there. Saddened and discouraged, From disgusted looks we receive, We see the children laugh and point At what they do perceive. They are made believe that we are dirt And have brought about our woes. How very wrong for you to think. How little that you know. We are part of society, too. But, we pay the ultimate price Of having lonely roads to walk, While governments roll their dice. Politicians will not face us Or look us in the eye. They seem to think we don’t exist And the problem soon will die. Know the country is turning its back And ignoring human rights While we, the homeless, try to survive; So weak we cannot fight. Priorities appear to get mixed up When juggled by a few. Politicians who long for nothing, They’re so shiny and brand new. The art museum must be given a grant To continue its marvelous work. The elite would not know what to do, To satisfy their quirk. Let’s not forget the pilot study. Should we build a road through there? Spend that money foolishly. Governments simply don’t care. Addicts and prostitutes, she knows them all, They tell her the dangers, if her pride should fall. Often tempted, her back to the wall, When deep inside she hears a call. And, don’t forget to toss more money To renovate some old house; The importance of who lived there, once, And the interest it would arouse. Her bed is a box propped in a door, Often her body is tender and sore. But when she sees those ever so younger, She forgers the pain caused by hunger. These are a few of our misspent dollars, Being laid and put to rest. Sadly enough, these politicians All think it’s for the best. Up to the skies she will often look, Remembering words she read in a book. The meaning now she can clearly see, “Suffer little children to come unto me”. The words that I am trying to say Are meant to open some eyes. When governments say they’re doing their best, That’s nothing but a lie! So take a look around you, At where these grants should go. Take the homeless off cold streets. Let’s warm their hearts and soul. Streetvibes Page 15 �569-9500 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 324-2321 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 921-1131 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 Tom Gieger Guest House 961-4555 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: CMHA 977-5660 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? Fransiscan Haircuts 381--0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 946-7601 Healing Connections 751-0600 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 IJ & Peace Center 579-8547 Justice Watch 241-0490 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 Mercy Fransiscan at St John 981-5841 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 NAMI (Mental Health) 948-3094 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Oral Health Council 6210248 Over-the-Rhine Soup Kitchen 961-1983 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect, Homeless Kids 363-1060 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 Services United For Mothers 487-7862 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 10 Years in Publication! Over-the-Rhine Community Development Organizations Merge Page one Streetvibes Exclusive BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY June 2006 STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource June 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Two Prominent Community Development Organizations Merge… Pg 2: City Council Keeps Panhandling Registration Workers, Advocated Release Report Card of Exploitive Labor Hall Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Does Cincinnati Need a Needle Exchange? Pg 5: Continuing Struggle to Aid the Homeless Pg 6: Letters Pg 7: Homeless Man Dies After Beating Pg 8: Housing Continued Pg 9: Denver’s Homeless Initiative Touted as a Model of Success Pg 10: Out of the Shadows Cincinnati Youth Council is Back Pg 11: L.A. Decision Tolls a Bell for Portland’s Policies on Homeless Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: FRAC Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Alison Leeuw Monique Little Kelly Carr Andy Lawrence John Lavelle Melvin Williams Susan Smith Jimmy Heath Mary Burke Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aid Alison Leeuw Andy Lawrence Budget Cincinnati city council Community Housing Denver Drop Inn Center FRAC Georgine Getty HOG Survey Homeless News Digest Homeless Policy Immigrant Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kelly Carr L.A. Labor Halls Letters Mary Burke Mayors Melvin Williams Monique Little Over-the-Rhine panhandling Portland Susan Smith Youth Council https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/7f6af13bce6ed9354608be86466fb8ab.pdf 1d031016c3ead567a4ebc7e387da96a9 PDF Text Text April 2006 STREETVIBES CityLink offers opportunities for people who want real life “CityLink will change connect people to Just like any other city in the U.S., Cincinnati has its own poverty issue. Cincinnati is ranked 16th, ahead of Los Angeles and New York, for percentage of residents living in poverty. One-fifth of Cincinnati residents live in poverty. One-third of Cincinnati’s children live in poverty; simple statements describing a complex problem. Enter CityLink Center, a new proposal to join the fight against poverty in Cincinnati. CityLink is made up of four experienced service providers, dozens of visiting service providers, and hundreds of volunteers who are working together to provide health and wellness recreation, life skills and employment and education services. The four permanent service providers—City Gospel Mission, Jobs Plus, the Lord’s Gym and Crossroad Health Center— believe that they can have greater impact by working together under one roof and coordinating services, rather than providing services independently in their current Over-theRhine locations. concrete, lifechanging programs and a support network,” says Mark Stecher, Director of CityLink. “It is a place for people to learn how to get a different and better life.” “In our experience with CityCURE and City Gospel Mission, we found two key things: first there are many people who are hoping that a better life is just around the corner, and second, there are hundreds of organizations, donors and volunteers scattered across the city who want to help, but just don’t know how,” says Roger Howell, President of CityCURE. “This center provides a place where these News From the Drop Inn Center First Day of Spring?: Unfortunately, we are dealing with what will hopefully be the last blast of winter. One night recently there were 249 people who stayed with us. Let’s hope warmer weather is on the way. New Mats for the Men: A Grant from the Helen Steiner Rice Foundation for new mats for the Men’s Dorm as well as bus tokens for Advocates to use for the next year. Thank you to the Helen Steiner Rice Foundation as well as the staff of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation for making this possible. Funk for the Whole Family: Please mark your calendar for Friday, April 28 from 7-10 PM at the Starlite Ballroom. Be there for a Benefit Concert for the Drop Inn Center featuring the Clark Montessori Steel Band. For a mere $15 you can enjoy co-hosts Bootsy Collins and Tracy Wilson, “Name That Jam” Emcee Tori Turner from MOJO 94.9 and much more! For more information or for tickets visit www.hoxworth.org/ clark (as of now, still under construction) or call 363-7184. Drop Inn Center 5K Run and Walk: This year’s run and walk is themed “A Celebration of Life and Hope” and will be held on Sunday, April 30th at Spring Grove Cemetery. The run starts at 8:30. You can register online by following the link at www.dropinn.org. We will be mailing fliers soon to past participants. If you want to be sure to get a registration form, send an e-mail to amerritt@dropinn.org. Congratulations to Staff Worker Arthur Gerald!: Arthur was the winner of the Entree Competition at Guys, Griddles and Grub— a fundraiser for Community Shares. He prepared people can be linked together to help each other.” The vision is to create a place for people who want to work towards real life change. “You have to want real life change,” says Keenan Robbison, who went through multiple agencies to get on his feet. “CityLink is necessary for this change.” CityLink brings together experienced service providers to offer employment and education, health/wellness, life skills and recreation services under one roof. CityLink also provides the infrastructure to mobilize volunteers and connect individuals to meaningful ways to utilize their skills. Volunteers can offer discussions, greet clients, help with ongoing research to develop best practices or just be a friend. “I grew up in the West End, and my family had to travel to every social service in the city just to meet our basic needs,” says Aaron Jones, who is now a successful mortgage/life insurance broker in Cincinnati. “CityLink will make it easier for families to get help. It will be an asset to the community and force people to acknowledge the West End.” Not only will CityLink make it easier for people to coordinate true, life-changing services, it will also provide them a strong support network of caring friends that will last for a life time. CityLink desires that all people coming to the center will find a friend who will partner with them and support them in meeting their goals. pork crown roast, stuffed with his special dressing. Truly one of a kind! Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw -Administrative Coordinator Monique Little - Education Coordinator Kelly Carr - VISTA Chris Dourson - AHA Coordinator John Lavelle - VISTA Melvin Williams - Reception Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photography Jimmy Heath, Berta Lambert Cover Proposed site of CityLink Center in the West End Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 Homeless Empowerment Project by: Mike O’Neill from the National Coalition for the Homeless We are grateful for the Catholic Campaign For Human Development, Archdiocese of Washington which gave the National Coalition for the Homeless a grant to assist us with our Homeless Empowerment Project mission of empowering those who have or are experiencing homelessness through trainings and skill-building workshops on various issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. The first workshop, “Know Your Legal Rights on the Streets of DC” was led by Tulin Ozdeger, Civil Rights Attorney, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. Twenty-five homeless and formerly homeless individuals attended this workshop. At this workshop Ms. Ozdeger discussed the D.C. antipanhandling, anti-sleeping and other ordinances targeting the homeless population. Street rights cards were given to each of those attending the workshop-the street rights cars talk about how “vagrancy” or loitering is not a crime-one can’t be stopped or arrested by the police for simply being on the street, a sidewalk or in a public park and police do not have the right to tell you to move from a particular area if you are doing nothing illegal. You also have a right to panhandle in D.C. as long as you are not within 10 feet of an ATM or 15 feet of Metro property and as long as you aren’t aggressively panhandling.” The second workshop had 10 participants and was led by Michael Stoops, Acting Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless and Tulin Ozdeger, Civil Rights Attorney, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. The workshop was titled, “Criminalization of Homelessness” and was aimed at discussing the various laws that target the homeless population not only in the District of Columbia, but across the country. NCH and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty surveyed 224 cities across the country and ranked the “Twenty Meanest Cities” based solely on the laws targeting the homeless such as curfew laws, restrictions on feedings, sweeps and raids of homeless encampments, anti-sleeping and antipanhandling laws. The various laws were discussed, as well as verdicts that have been reached in various court cases on these issues. The most recent workshop was led by Richard Troxell, National Chairman, Universal Living Wage and Board Member of the National Coalition for the Homeless. Nine participants attended Mr. Troxell’s workshop where they learned about the Living Wage formula and how if put into effect, it could end homelessness for over 1 million homeless citizens and prevents economic hardship for all 11.8 million minimum wage workers. The goal of the Universal Living wage campaign is to fix the Federal Minimum wage so that someone working forty hours a week can afford a place to live in their community. Statistics were given on the average amount one would need to make to afford a one bedroom apartment in the United States. The goal of these workshops and the Homeless Empowerment project is to provide the opportunity for people who have or are experiencing homelessness to use their voices and faces to dispel stereotypes, personalize homelessness and inspire involvement through volunteerism and advocacy. The project also aims to serve as a training, skill-building and empowerment tool for those who have experienced homelessness. The Homeless Empowerment Project works in conjunctions with the Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau which recruits currently and formerly homeless individuals to share their personal stories dealing with homelessness to groups throughout the country. Please check our website at www.nationalhomeless.org for more information on the Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau and the Homeless Empowerment Project. Information on future workshops and activities, as well as pictures and recaps from our events will be posted on our website. Stay tuned for information on Hill lobbying visits and other projects. Group’s goal: Housing for all homeless in 10 On any given day, there are years an estimated 792 homeless people in states largely on their own to deal Muskegon County by 2016. Grand Rapids, Michigan It’s an ambitious goal, but officials involved in the effort said they will pull it off by changing the way social service agencies assist the chronically homeless. A coalition of social service agencies plans to attack the problem by getting homeless individuals and families into permanent housing much faster than in the past. Under the current system, the chronically homeless are shuttled between emergency shelters and transitional housing for two to three years before they are placed in permanent housing. “We can’t afford to have solutions that take three years to provide (housing) stability,” said Jane Johnson, director of the state Department of Human Services office in Muskegon. “We’ll house people first and then help them solve their other problems.” Muskegon’s effort is similar to an initiative started last year by the city of Grand Rapids and Kent County. Officials there also hope to end homelessness in 10 years. Muskegon — 394 of them children, according to government data. Of those 792 individuals, 126 are chronically homeless, which means they are living on the streets, in shelters or regularly moving from one temporary residence to another. Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell spoke to a group of about 60 social service providers Tuesday to kick off Muskegon’s effort to end homelessness by 2016. “We got into this problem of homelessness relatively quickly and we can solve the problem quickly if there is a community will to do it,” Heartwell said. The number of homeless families in America soared in the early 1980s, Heartwell said, when former President Ronald Reagan’s administration “eviscerated” funding for the department of Housing and Urban Development. Funding for HUD, the primary source of assistance for the homeless, has been reduced by every presidential administration since Reagan, Heartwell said. Federal budget cuts for subsidized housing have left cities and Streetvibes with the homeless, Heartwell said. Bolstering the safety net for the homeless will require support of local, county and state agencies, as well as faith-based organizations and philanthropists, he said. Johnson said homeless individuals often need help dealing with other issues, such as substance abuse and mental illness, before they can hold a job and pay for housing. Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath In Boston last month a homeless man sleeping in a park was attacked by two men who kicked him in the stomach and then set him on fire, police said. No arrests were made and police gave no indication of what might have provoked the attack. The 30-year-old homeless man, whose name was not released, told police he was awakened by the men kicking him in Langone Park in the city’s North End. He drifted back to sleep after the assault, but the men returned, drenched him with a flammable liquid and set his legs on fire, police said. A 911 caller reported flames in the park, and firefighters found the man wrapped in a blanket after he had ripped off some of his burning clothes. “He was shivering and was partially dressed,” said police spokesman John Boyle. The park is a short walk from a cluster of downtown bars. The victim was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital for burns to his legs. Nationally, the number of assaults against the homeless has risen dramatically since 2002, according to a recent report by the National Coalition for the Homeless. In 2005, 73 homeless people were assaulted nationwide and 13 died, the report said. Last August, a 40-year-old homeless man died in Boston after he was beaten. Two teenagers have been charged with manslaughter. In Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a surveillance camera captured two people beating a homeless man to death with baseball bats, the same night two other men were seriously injured. Three teenagers have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder. In Cleveland homeless men and women snooze in the early morning hours inside Hopkins International Airport, the occasional boarding call the only disturbance to their peaceful slumber. They’ve been coming here and to airports in Chicago, New York and other cities for years, seeking quiet, warmth and safety, while blending in with weary travelers. “It’s relaxed and they don’t really bother you here,” said James Miller, who recently became homeless after losing a restaurant job. “It’s kind of comfortable.” Cleveland airport officials have tolerated the presence of the roughly 20 people who sleep on cushioned seats in the ticketing and baggage claim areas on any given winter night. But now they’re joining other airports around the country in looking for ways to help relocate homeless people because of concerns about security. Although the homeless haven’t caused problems, Fred Szabo, the airport’s commissioner, said that because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, airport officials need to make sure that anyone at the airport has a legitimate reason to be there. Cleveland Hopkins has joined LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in inviting outreach workers to the airport to help the homeless with the goal of relocating them. “We’re not looking to arrest anybody,” Szabo said. More than 50 area agencies participated in a 24­ hour count earlier this year of homeless people in St. Joseph County, South Bend Now the numbers have been added up: The count found 560 people living in shelters and 93 homeless people who weren’t living in a shelter. That’s similar to last year’s count, where there were 523 in shelters and 100 out of shelters, said the project’s coordinator, Beth Morlock, who directs residential programs at Hope Rescue Mission in South Bend. It isn’t an exhaustive count. Folks may have been at work, at a friend’s house or somewhere away from the counters. But this “snapshot” proves to federal officials that — in general — the community still needs money for homeless services, said Marzy Bauer, who coordinates a local committee of services that sets goals and plans to meet those needs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the annual count of each community that receives money for homeless services. Homeless people were found in about a dozen shelters. And those living outside of shelters were interviewed at AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist, St. Augustine’s church soup kitchen, Broadway Christian Parish, St. Margaret’s House, Hope Rescue Mission, First United Methodist Church soup kitchen and the Center for the Homeless. In British Columbia a vacant home that may have been occupied by squatters has been destroyed by fire. Fire crews were called to the western portion of Abbotsford last month, and arrived in the 27700-block of Fraser Highway to find a house fully involved with fire, said Capt. Steve Oldroyd. With the help of Langley Township fire crews, Abbotsford firefighters established a water supply from the hydrant and worked to put out the fire. “The house appeared to have been occupied by squatters but was vacant at the time of the fire,” said Oldroyd. As there was no power or natural gas connected to the house, investigators are considering the cause of the fire suspicious. The incident remains under investigation. In Eureka, Calif. two teenage boys were charged as adults last month in the murder of a 38-year-old homeless man near Humboldt Bay. Fifteen-year-old Keyontae Lamar Taylor and 16-year-old Joaquin Fitzgerald appeared before a Humboldt County Superior Court judge, but their arraignment was postponed. Both were arrested this week in the death of Tracy Daniel Reynolds. Authorities say Taylor and Fitzgerald encountered Reynolds along the railroad tracks and the three drank some beer together before the teens left. They allegedly returned a short time later to rob Reynolds. The victim was shot once in the leg and once in the chest. In Newark N.J. a homeless man with a history of suing government agencies has dropped a federal lawsuit against the city of Summit. Richard Kreimer, 55, had alleged he was wrongly ejected from train stations, and he sued the city, NJ Transit and others. He signed court papers on Feb. 10 to drop the suit, and it was dismissed in court last month. Kreimer did not list a reason for dropping the lawsuit. Last month, Kreimer settled another lawsuit against a bus company that he said barred him and other homeless people from Streetvibes riding. Kreimer said he was prohibited by the settlement from revealing its terms. Summit Police Chief Robert Lucid said city officials felt his case against Summit had no merit. “The city feels relieved that the issue has been resolved,” he said. “We feel completely vindicated. We never did anything to violate Mr. Kreimer’s rights or any homeless person.” Kreimer, who uses a post office box in Morristown, could not immediately be reached for comment. He received $230,000 in 1991 when he sued Morristown and the Morris Township Public Library for ejecting him because of his body odor and a habit of staring at patrons. He spent that money. In New Delhi, India while President George W. Bush was busy with his official engagements in the Indian capital, First Lady Laura Bush visited homeless children at a juvenile center. Laura visited the Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre, a charity run by a nongovernmental organization for homeless and trafficked children, and interacted with the children at a round table conference. She later enjoyed a Rajasthani folk dance performance by the children. Dressed in an ash-grey suit, Laura accompanied by Jennie Mulford, wife of US ambassador to India David Mulford, took stock of the alternative educational centers run by the center located in Tughlaqabad, south Delhi. “The First Lady interacted with the children without the help of a translator and was impressed by their courage to take life positively,” said Rajib Haldar, executive director of the NGO. Haldar said Laura interacted with five children about children’s problems and patted them for studying despite facing several obstacles. The children had queries on whether there is any gender bias in the US and do all children get equal education. They also asked about women’s empowerment in the US and the situation on the education of the girl child there. In reply, Laura said the women’s workforce in her country was more than that of men but admitted that trafficking of children was still prevalent. Laura was given a glimpse of a village council which the NGO presented through puppets under a tree. The First Lady asked the children to write to her regularly, and promised to reply. Page 3 �Remembering Cincinnati’s 2001 Civil Unrest Did Cincinnati’s Civil Unrest Change City Politics? story and photos by Jimmy Heath . 19 year-old Timothy Thomas was wanted on misdemeanor arrest warrants and running from police in Over-theRhine on Saturday, April 7th, 2001 when he was shot by a Cincinnati policeman. Police Officer Stephen Roach, who had never fired his weapon on duty, shot and killed Thomas in a dead-end alley off Republic Street. Thomas appeared to be reaching for his waistband during a confrontation with the policeman in the alley, according to early police reports. Timothy Thomas was the fourth black man killed by Cincinnati police since November of 2000, and the fifteenth such victim since 1995. Thomas was the father of a three-month-old son. This month is the fifth anniversary of the shooting of Thomas. His death fueled nearly a week of civil unrest and rioting in urban Cincinnati, the effects of which can still be felt in urban neighborhoods, especially Over­ the-Rhine. Violence erupted on Monday, April 9th, 2001 following a police news conference about the Thomas shooting. Angry residents crowded Cincinnati City Hall, targeting their rage against then Mayor Luken, City Council members, and police representatives. The protesters filled the council chambers, some standing on tables and chairs screaming at city leaders, almost preventing them from leaving during the three hour confrontation. Thomas’s mother, Angela Leisure, took the podium at one point and demanded an explanation for the shooting of her son. “You took him from his family and his son and we want to know why. And don’t get me wrong, even when you tell me why, it’s not going to make it better.” The lack of answers fueled additional anger and frustration in the assembled crowd and the waiting community. That evening, (Monday night) after a makeshift march from the confrontation at City Hall, hundreds of angry protesters assembled outside police headquarters in downtown Cincinnati. Police in riot gear and on horseback sprayed the crowd with a chemical irritant and fired at the protesters with beanbag shotguns. A brick was thrown, breaking the glass front door of Page 4 police headquarters. Ten arrests were reported. The rioting became more serious Tuesday afternoon and evening as crowds took to the streets again. Clothing shops, restaurants and convenience stores were broken into and looted. The fire department stayed busy putting out building and garbage can fires. Most of the unrest was focused on the downtown, West End and Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods ­ some of the poorest communities in the city. Cincinnati NAACP President Norma Holt Davis said the fatal shooting of Thomas by a Cincinnati police officer lead her to only one conclusion. “It appears the police force has declared war on African-Americans,” she said. “Fifteen black males have died at the hands of Cincinnati police in the past six years. Before the healing process can ever finish, the wound reopens,” said Rev. Damon Lynch III, pastor of Over­ the-Rhine’s New Prospect Baptist Church, referring to the shooting death of Thomas. Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen, who denounced participants as “law­ breaking thugs who should be prosecuted vigorously,” announced he was indicting 63 people arrested on felony charges, ranging from aggravated rioting, breaking and entering, weapons possession, inducing panic and other misdemeanor offenses, such as resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. All of these events led the evening news programs – the violence, the fear, the images of rampaging “thugs” and burning dumpsters. The media continued to descend on the scene to record the mayhem throughout the week - eventually the whole world knew what was going on in Cincinnati. Local and nationally recognized civil rights activists came to Over-theRhine calling for peaceful discussions and an end to violence on the streets. It made for good TV and painful politics. The death of Thomas was the shot heard around the world, with Cincinnati suddenly thrown into the international spotlight. His death was a rallying point for national discussions on police violence, poverty and racism. When protestors first took to the streets, the events in Cincinnati were put in the context of a “race riot.” However, when the discussions turned to racism, the frustration of the oppressed and the poor, the gleam of the story started to wear thin. A lot of people on the streets saw themselves as fighting the oppressor white society which is not quite the same as fighting against white people. Is it possible that Timothy Thomas would have never been shot in the first place if he had been white? Nearly 800 people were eventually arrested for violating the four-day curfew imposed by Mayor Charlie Luken when he declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, April 12, 2001. Over 1,000 people attended the Thomas’ funeral on Saturday, April 14 at New Prospect Baptist Church in Over­ the-Rhine. More than a funeral, it was a media and political showand-tell event. Mayor Luken was there and so was the Bob Taft, the Governor of Ohio, along with other political bigwigs and throngs of reporters. Streetvibes Following the funeral service, mourners joined with hundreds outside the church and marched peacefully through the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood where Thomas was shot. Some 1,000 people of all races participated in the march. Conspicuously absent from the march were the politicians. Politically, nothing much has changed. The poor neighborhoods, predominately African-American communities, still feel the frustration of being black in a white dominated City Hall and police force. Some inner-city residents are just as frightened of the police as they are of the drug thugs and street-corner­ gangsters. Many of the thugs and looters, who were “vigorously” prosecuted five years ago have long-since been released from jail after serving out their sentences, only to return to the street filled with prison-anger and resentment. Many businesses in Over­ the-Rhine, even after five years, continue to struggle with the stigma of the event with many fearful money-spending white suburbanites staying away from the downtown area in droves. Many businesses in Over-the-Rhine left the neighborhood, never to return. In a recent TV news show it was reported that some businesses lost up to 90% of their sales after the unrest. Patrons of the Main Street �Entertainment District still feel fearful of the neighborhood and many have never returned. People frequently ask me if things in Over­ the-Rhine have returned to normal. Sadly, things have slowly returned to the same as before - if “normal” is a war zone, a crime zone, and a drug-filled zone. The most obvious thing is the slow and agonizing lack of progress in community and police relations. Although the police have adopted less lethal methods for subduing suspects (they are now armed with the recently approved Taser stun guns), and we now have an African-American mayor, the sense of isolation and lack of communication dominates the relationship between the police and the urban community. The police division’s leadership continues to be criticized as unresponsive and uncaring. It is simplistic to dismiss the deaths of black people at the hands of police as unfortunate and unavoidable aspects of police work. Since the unrest, the deaths of black men at the hands of the police have dropped dramatically but the police must come to understand the frustrations and fears that these incidents continue to engender in the communities it patrols. Even more significant from the perspective of black Cincinnatians is that no city police officer has ever been convicted of a killing. (There has been only one reprimand.) Sadly, all that makes the news is the drama of life on the streets in the inner-city. We don’t often hear the stories of the families and the senior citizens and the majority of residents in Over-the-Rhine and other poor Cincinnati neighborhoods that are law-abiding and working hard to support their families - trying to build something for themselves and their neighbors. Many of these families have packed-up and left the neighborhood long ago. Maybe that’s the plan. To rid the downtown area of the “less-desirable” poor. We only hear the horror stories of shootings, robbery and drug dealing. The drama that feeds the evening news is taken as truth by middle-class white Cincinnati. Even in the face of overwhelming historical precedent, American denial about the role that race or racism plays Unrest cont. on page 8 OHIO EMPOWERMENT COALITION MAY MOBILIZATION DAY Thursday, May 11, 2006 Trinity Episcopal Church 125 E. Broad Street, Columbus Ohio (across from Statehouse) 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. OEC’s Annual Mobilization Day brings together low-income people and advocates from around the state to mobilize to impact Ohio’s policies that directly affect our lives. The Mobilization Day focuses on our Safe and Stable Families Campaign: Win Back Health Care This year we are raring to go to win back health care programs that are essential to keeping our Families (both single adults without children and parents with children) Safe and Stable! We refuse to be silent when we are being terminated out of essential lifesaving health care programs. Health Care is essential to be Safe and Stable! Win Increase in Minimum Wage We will also raise the banner cry for a raise in the minimum wage in Ohio. No one who is working should be forced to live in poverty on poverty wages. A livable wage is essential for Ohio Families to be Safe (from bankruptcy & homelessness) and Stable. Win Protections for Domestic Violence Victims Thirdly we continue to raise the cry for those who are crying and so far Ohio’s Legislators turn a deaf ear! It should be a no-brainer for the Ohio Assembly to adopt domestic violence protections in the “Family Violence Option” so all domestic violence victims in Ohio are humanely treated. Why is Ohio one of ONLY 3 states that has not adopted this? We won’t be quiet until we get it so that more Ohio Families can be Safe and Stable! If you care about these issues join us May 11th in Columbus. Fill out registration form on back so we will know how many lunches are needed. Also if you have special needs or need child care. For more information call Ohio Empowerment Coalition at 877-862-5179. Streetvibes Page 5 �Spring is Near! new hope will enter into your life of by Ms. Mary Gaffney employment and a place to call home. Hello there, my Streetvibes And to the monthly friends. purchasers of Welcome to Streetvibes, my the first month of heartfelt thanks. Each spring. I do hope purchase of a dollar that the flowers and paper helps to trees soon begin to maintain things that bloom, bringing with are needed – food, the smell of new life clothing and shelter. to the New Year. Without you, some Miss Mary Gaffney And to my vendor’s lives would homeless friends, as be very bleak and the opening days of spring appear, stormy. I know personally, they could Dear Editor: In the article appearing in the Post on Wed. March 8th, “Panel OKs Minimum Wage Hike”, Rep. Flowers (Rep) from Columbus who voted for the increase is quoted as saying raising the minimum wage is “the right thing to do.” I agree with the Representative. However raising Ohio’s minimum wage to merely $5.15, as the Ohio General Assembly recently did, is a slap in the face of low wage workers. The wage of $5.15, set by the Federal government nine years ago in 1997, is woefully low! At $5.15 a full time worker who works every week of the year Peace Village by Dr. Steve Sunderland The Peace or Hunger Conference is coming together as the planning team, the UC Peace Village student organization, the UC Just Community and the University of Cincinnati’s Facilities and Campus Scheduling staff all have added their very valuable pieces. We are doing a conference for the first time in the city’s history, really, in the region’s history. Students, high school and college, can come together to reduce hunger in our community by direct action and service provided by teams of schools and colleges. We meet to deepen our knowledge of just what is needed and what is possible. We meet to offer spiritual support and food to those in our community who are in greatest need. We will meet and conference on 4/29-30/2006 at the University of Cincinnati’s Campus Green. This is a large and flat green space that we will be able to seal off with tape, bike barriers, and other ways that secure our space. It is a very large space, with room for lots of cardboard “houses,” and room for groups to meet and discuss local, regional and national issues of hunger, and room for other activities that heighten our understanding of hunger. Ms. Kathleen Armontrout, UC Administrative Support Page 6 not make it. That is why I give thanks each month for your generosity to my friends. Until next month, enjoy the first days of spring and remember, it doesn’t take much to give a smile to help a person through their day. Until next time, also remember to be kind to your fellow man, for this person could some day return and lend you a helping hand. Enjoy the sunny days to come. will make a paltry $10,712. Poverty level for a family of three is $16,600. As an organizer for Let Justice Roll Ohio, I have heard countless stories of low-wage workers who are playing by the rules, but don’t get paid enough to afford rent, utilities, rising prices at the pump, daycare. I’ve talked with homeless families working for full-time for $5.25/hour and can’t afford housing. Ohio needs to truly support its workers. Most Ohioans agree. We believe a good first step is to raise Ohio’s wage through a ballot initiative that raises the minimum wage in Ohio to $6.85/hour and indexed to inflation. Yes, Rep. Flowers, it is “the right thing to do,” but it is also the moral thing to do. Katy Heins No Honor in Bush’s War With the 2004 election farce behind us and spewing out the kind of politics the Republican party has come to known for, I was initially surprised at the level of my anger at Bush’s contest over who is the better Vietnam veteran, Bush or anti-war veterans of previous wars. To understand the “veteran” question in 2006, it is important to understand what is at stake with the Republican party’s attempts to define themselves as loyal veterans. Bush served in the military during the Vietnam War and, he opposed the war with his National Guard stint. Through involvement of thousands of veterans against the war, with actions like the Winter-Soldier Specialist for Campus Scheduling, informs me that we will be very secure with 6-8 campus police. Karen will be checking with campus security for special bracelets for every participant that will permit each person to enter into our conference. We hope to be able to issue each team a bracelet either before or when you arrive at the conference. We would expect people to arrive at UC’s Campus Green with their boxes/ houses and set them up between 8­ 10am on 4/ 29/06. We are hoping that the Clark Montessori High School Steve Sunderland Steel Band will open our conference with their great music. We will have a morning of orientation, meeting new people, introductions and welcome by officials of the conference, the city and the university. We thought it would be great if everyone brought a small lunch, peanut butter and jelly, or whatever, to eat at the end of the morning. We will leave for Over-the-Rhine service activities via either cars and/or city busses. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is placing teams at various agencies. The service events take place between 1-5pm. Then we return to UC’s Campus Green for an “Empty Bowls” dinner, discussion about our service activities in regard to what we learned, and then we will have an evening of discussing many of the issues connected to hunger in our city and world. Our seminars will end around 11. We will then enter our “Shantytown Houses” for an evening of rest. We have a breakfast in the morning and proceed to discussions about what are the key ways we can bring the “message” of reducing hunger back to our schools and colleges. We are planning to end by noon on Sunday. Some part of our closing will be the making of posters that can be used both back at schools or colleges and loaned to a “Peace and Hunger Exhibit” at Xavier University. We might want to turn our “houses” into art for the exhibit, too. Streetvibes War Crimes Tribunal, Dewey Canyon III, and throwing back of medals and ribbons on the Capital steps, the Vietnam War changed the image of what it meant to be a veteran in the US. No longer was the image of the veteran that of the flag-waving VFW. Rather it was now one of an anti-war activist veteran speaking out and acting in opposition to militarist policies and actions of the government. Simply put, to be a Vietnam veteran was to be against the Vietnam War. This understanding was a key component to our opposition to the overt and covert operations in Central and south America in the late 70’s and 80’s. Anti-war veterans were among the first to oppose the first Gulf War by Bush the Elder, calling it the immoral and illegal invasion it was. Today’s war in Afghanistan and Iraq should also be opposed. Sonny Williams Send your letters or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com We are asking high schools to form teams of 7 people, 6 students and a teacher and/or parent. Each team will bring a case of food for the FreeStore and pay a team conference fee of $25.00. This money will cover any related conference expenses and, if not completely used, be donated to the FreeStore FoodBank. College students are also to be pre­ registered and in teams of 7 people. Teams will travel to the service agencies on Saturday afternoon. Everyone needs to pre­ register. This is important for figuring out our community space, food needs, security needs, service agency participation, seminar formats, and written materials. Forms for pre-registration will be sent to everyone on our email list. Todd Forman of Moeller High School is developing a web page for our conference. Please go to: http://homepages.moeller.org/ pastmin/peacevillage. We will update this page as needed. Contact ­ sundersc@email.uc.edu for any questions about any of the conference. I am director of the Peace Village, professor of educational foundations and peace studies, University of Cincinnati, and co faculty advisor for the UC Peace Village. �Pontiac, Michigan to hear plan for homeless Late last year, Pontiac officials gave the cold shoulder to a $1-million state grant to provide housing for homeless people. The officials carried on a refrain heard for years in their city: They were tired of Pontiac being a dumping ground for homeless people. Since then, two deadlines for getting the grant, set by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, have come and gone. But hope is not lost, say leaders of the nonprofit group Lighthouse of Oakland County Inc. — whose headquarters and symbolic 2 1/2 -story lighthouse sit on Woodward Avenue a few blocks from Pontiac City Hall. They expect to meet today with new Mayor Clarence Phillips to show him that the grant wouldn’t create a magnet for street people. Lighthouse officials, charged with implementing the grant from the state housing authority in Lansing, are enthusiastic about a new way to use the money — an approach called supportive housing, said John Ziraldo, president and chief executive officer of the 34-year-old service agency. Supportive housing provides permanent shelter backed by intensive social assistance — from family and financial counseling to job training, mental health care and addiction treatment, Ziraldo said. The idea is working well in Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, southwest Detroit and on a small scale in scattered Oakland County communities. Those include Royal Oak, Waterford and even Pontiac, where supportive housing has been quietly implemented in cases where the city’s approval wasn’t needed, Ziraldo said last week. To Pontiac officials’ demands that the $1-million state grant be spent elsewhere, Ziraldo said the situation is one of use it or lose it: “The state is clear that this grant is intended to serve people who are homeless and in Pontiac.” The Lighthouse proposal would use the grant to lease apartments in existing buildings in Pontiac, then set up social programs to qualify homeless candidates and begin counseling them, Ziraldo said. Phillips could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for the mayor said she thought Lighthouse would face obstacles in getting the city to approve the plan, although she couldn’t elaborate. Also at the meeting at City Hall, Ziraldo and Lighthouse Executive Director Joseph Heaphy plan to ask Phillips to bless another of their plans — to build or renovate about 40 apartments in the city’s Unity Park area, where Lighthouse has its headquarters just east of downtown. That plan would use city money dedicated for housing to match a low-income tax credit that Lighthouse is seeking from the state, but the match would not require that any dollars be taken from the city’s deficit-ridden general fund, Ziraldo said. “We are going to apply for this tax credit in March, and part of that process is the state asking us, ‘What kind of local support do you have?’ “ he said. Homeless Man Attacked in Boston In Boston last month police were searching for two people who attacked a homeless man as he slept in a park and set his legs on fire. The 30-year-old victim, whose name was not released, was being treated for burns at Massachusetts General Hospital, officials said. Mayor Thomas M. Menino promised that the attackers would be tracked down and arrested. “We’re going to find you,” he told reporters. “We’re going to lock you up. We’re going to hope the jury and the judge throw the book at you.” The homeless man told police he was awakened early in the morning by the men kicking him in Langone Park in the city’s North End. He drifted back to sleep but the men returned, drenched him with a flammable liquid and set his legs on fire, police said. A 911 caller reported flames in the park, and firefighters found the man wrapped in a blanket after he had ripped off some of his burning clothes. The park is a short walk from a cluster of downtown bars. Nationally, the number of assaults against the homeless has risen dramatically since 2002, according to a recent report by the National Coalition for the Homeless. In 2005, 73 homeless people were assaulted nationwide and 13 died, the report said. “It’s the perception that it’s someone insignificant that doesn’t matter,” said Emmanuel Smith, a The Provider You have people who want to rob you, other suppliers who don’t want the competition, the police who want to shut your operation down, and the uncertain hours which are mostly late night and early morning. Combined, it causes family problems. It’s not that you’re not providing for them. It’s every time they hear a gunshot, or an ambulance go by, or a telephone ring late at night or early in the morning when you’re not at home. By you being out all times of the day and night, you’re not spending enough time with them. They’re also worried about what might happen to you. Then it gets to the point you’re expendable. They would rather you go than live the way they’re living. And you wonder why. Didn’t I provide? Didn’t I take all the risk? Wasn’t I the one in constant danger? But when it all boils down and you think about it, they lived in fear thinking about what might happen to you. So this was a way to distance them away for you. Like the old saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” by Luther K. Being a provider! How do you provide for someone when you’re having a hard time providing for yourself? You know it’s your responsibility despite the circumstances that put you in that position. You try to do the right thing. You look for a job. You do the temporary services. It’s just not enough. The work isn’t steady and they make it seem like you’re making a lot of money. After taxes, lunch fee, and transportation cost, you’re basically working for them. They’re making a whole lot of profit off of you. Then someone tells you there’s a better way to make money. You listen to their pitch. It seems like a good idea at the time, so you become an independent contractor with an unlimited supply of product that’s in popular demand. You make your own hours, your own base. But there’s also a downside. What you’re doing is dangerous and illegal. counselor at the Pine Street Inn, a Boston homeless shelter. In the overwhelming number of cases, the attackers are teenagers, according to the national report. Last August, a 40-year-old homeless man died in Boston after he was beaten; two teenagers were charged with manslaughter. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a homeless man was beaten to death the same night a surveillance camera captured two people assaulting a homeless men with a baseball bat. A third homeless man was bludgeoned nearby with a golf club. Three teenagers have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder. 21 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Empowering our neighborhood chil­ dren through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Streetvibes Homeless Count Completed Overnight In New York, more than 2,000 volunteers spent the night out in the freezing cold as they participated in the fourth annual homeless count. They scoured the city’s parks, streets, and subways, counting the number of homeless they saw. The annual count helps the city track its progress in getting New Yorkers off the streets. For the first time last year, all five boroughs were included in the count. “It’s a good way for the city to take account of the homeless people and I feel like I’m helping people, doing something worthwhile,” said volunteer Tom Facchiano. Volunteers also offer help to any homeless person they encounter, but it isn’t always accepted. “Like Malcolm X said, ‘If you need help from your enemy, then you’re in trouble,’” said a homeless man. “I don’t view the government as helping people. The government is part of the problem.” Results of the count are expected in about a month. Critics, however, say the count itself is inaccurate because it doesn’t include people living in cars, abandoned buildings, or other hidden places. Last year, volunteers counted 4,400 homeless people. The mayor has set a goal of reducing that number to less than 1,500 by 2009. Page 7 �Unrest cont. from page 5 in these, and similar events, remains strong. Despite repeated warnings from civil rights leaders and black police officers in Cincinnati, the police department’s official response was that the shootings must be considered individually rather than as a pattern. Tragic as the death of Mr. Thomas was, the rioting that swept the city was about more than the loss of one young man. It was about the deep rifts that separate citizens and city government. It shows just how tenuous the relations are between the police and the African-American community. And it reveals dissatisfaction in the areas of education, jobs and economic opportunity, housing and community leadership. With this crisis has come the opportunity for improvement. Cincinnati must make real changes in each of these areas if the city is to grow beyond the turmoil of that fateful week three years ago. Many Americans, particularly white Americans, are quick to deny race as the primary motive in almost any negative act against a person of color (unless the person committing the act is wearing a white sheet). Police brutality cases are just a Show your support! Get your STEETVIBES T- Shirt Today! Only $15 We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call 513.421.7803 Page 8 Streetvibes symptom of the illness. Cincinnati city government continues to struggle with the ‘distasteful’ symptoms of poverty and racism, confronting the issue with window dressing, sound bites and half­ hearted attempts at reconciliation. The gap continues even after five years. In Cincinnati government, denial may be the most serious affliction. Minimum Wage Campaign Let Justice Roll Cincinnati is sponsoring a forum along with many others on the Minimum Wage campaign in Ohio. The forum will be Sunday April 23rd at 2:00 pm at the Schiff Family conference center on Xavier University campus (in the Cintas Center). The goal of the conference is to educate people on the issue, hear testimony from workers, businesses and religious leaders and gather signatures. We hope you will come out in support of this great event. Show Cincinnati and Ohio that we support the increase in Ohio’s minimum wage!! If you belong to a church or an organization who would co­ sponsor the event, please contact Betsy or Bill at ljro_interns@hotmail.com Cosponsorship responsibilities are to have your name on the flyer and press releases, circulate the information in your church or organization, a representative of your church or organization attend the event. We hope to have a long list of co-sponsors to again show the wide support of the Cincinnati Community in raising the minimum wage! �The Firecat Review Firecats Review the Oscars: Firecat Chameleon: Did we only watch it because Jon Stewart hosted it? Firecat Black: I did. Firecat Blue: I always watch it. Firecat Turquoise: I didn’t watch it. Oh! This yogurt is think and creamy. Black: She’s a robot. Also, who else was I thinking’s a robot? Bob Barker! Chameleon: She’s like 60. She’s a few months older than my dad. Blue: She could be you dad! Chameleon: You mean my mom? Blue: No. Chameleon: I don’t even know what Oh! I don’t like this. I AM picky. that means. Damn. Turquoise: Yoplait, you and me ain’t Chameleon: So what else happened, doing so well this week. besides Three 6 Mafia? Chameleon: Is it bad? Black: Dolly performed. Turquoise: No – it’s like pudding. Blue: She looked weird. It’s the consistency. It feels funny in Black: Kind of proof that Barbie my mouth. There’s something about could walk. food you don’t have to chew… Blue: I was thinking the same thing! Blue: Okay, so back to the Oscars. Turquoise: On her show she came I thought it was really funny that they out on a swing. I loved that! sat Keira Knightly next to Jack Nicholson. Black: Oh yeah! She looked terrified. Chameleon: He looked like a pederast. Turquoise: I like Jack Nicholson. Black: Don’t they usually sit with friends and families? Got The Vibe? Turquoise: Maybe they’re all dead. He’s old. Or they don’t like him. Blue: What about her? Black: She’s from England. Maybe they didn’t come over to L.A. She probably lives in L.A. Blue: She does…I don’t stalk her… Black: I only know Harry Potter and American Idol (brief fight erupts over “R.A.B.’s” identity in book 6). Turquoise: I saw American Idol. Black: Did you like any of them? Turquoise: There was one Simon says set the bar. And the white girl with bleach blonde hair sang the hell out of her song. Black: She’s the one from ass- nowhere in like Arkansas. Turquoise: I knew watching it would come in handy. Blue: Why was Lost another repeat? I watched “Little People, Big World” – so good! Turquoise: I saw a show on them! There’s twins and one’s a little person and one’s average height. Blue: So good! I LOVE TLC. National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors. Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct and agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Vendor Pro­ gram. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may be removed from the Program. To report a Vendor, call 421­ 7803. ext. 16 Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Streetvibes Page 9 �Six Months After Katrina: Who Was Left Behind - Then and Now by Bill Quigley Nearly six months ago, my wife Debbie and I boated out of New Orleans. We left five days after Katrina struck. Debbie worked as an oncology nurse in a New Orleans hospital. She volunteered to come in during the hurricane so that other nurses with children could evacuate. There were about 2000 people huddled in the hospital ­ patients, staff and families of staff and patients. Plate glass windows exploded in the lobby and on crosswalks and on several floors. Water poured in though broken windows, ceilings, and down the elevator shafts. Eight feet of brown floodwater surrounded us. The entire city immediately lost electricity. Soon the hospital backup generators located in the basement failed. No lights. No phones. Even the water system stopped. No drinking water. No flush toilets. You can imagine a hospital with 2000 people and no electricity, water, food, or flushing toilets. Breathing machines did not work. Cell phones did not work. Because the computers stopped working medicines were unavailable. Elevators in the 8 floor building did not work. We quickly ran out of food because the cafeteria and food were also in the flooded basement. The gains of 21st century medicine disappeared. Over 40 people died in the hospital over the next few days as we waited for help. Now imagine an entire city with no electricity, water, food or flushing toilets and tens of thousands of people left behind. Debbie and I left five days later by way of a small fishing boat, the back of a garden truck, and the kindness of strangers. We returned 15 weeks later. Many of those left behind then who evacuated with us have yet to return. The Katrina evacuation was totally self-help. If you had the resources, a car, money and a place to go, you left. Over one million people evacuated - 80 to 90% of the population. No provisions were made for those who could not evacuate themselves. To this day no one has a reliable estimate of how many people were left behind in Katrina - that in itself says quite a bit about what happened. Who was left behind in the self-help evacuation? In the hospital, we could not see who was left behind because we did not have electricity or TV. We certainly knew the 2000 of us were left behind, and from the hospital we could see others. Some were floating in the street - face down. Some were Page 10 paddling down the street - helping older folks get to high ground. Some were swimming down the streets. We could hear people left behind screaming for help from rooftops. We routinely heard gunshots as people trapped on rooftops tried to get the attention of helicopters crisscrossing the skies above. We could see the people trapped in the Salvation Army home a block away. We could hear breaking glass as people scrambled to get away from flooded one story homes and into the higher ground of several story office buildings. We saw people swimming to the local drugstore and swimming out with provisions. But we had no idea how many were actually left behind. The poor, especially those without cars, were left behind. Twenty-seven percent of the people of New Orleans did not have access to a car. Government authorities knew in advance that “.100,000 citizens of New Orleans did not have means of personal transportation.” The sick were left behind. Some government reports estimated 12,000 patients were evacuated. I estimate at least an additional 24,000 people - staff and families of patients ­ were left behind in the twenty-two hospitals which were open at the time. The elderly were left behind. The 280 plus local nursing homes remained mostly full. Only 21% evacuated and as a consequence 215 people died in nursing homes, at least six people died at a single nursing home while they waited four days for busses. The aged who lived at home also certainly found it more difficult than most to evacuate as they were more likely to live alone, less likely to own a car and nearly half were disabled. A physician reported hundreds of people in wheelchairs were in front of the Convention Center. A comprehensive study of evacuees in Houston shelters found one in seven physically disabled, 22% physically unable to evacuate, 23% stayed behind to care for someone physically disabled, and 25% had a chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure. There were no provisions made for their evacuations. Children were left behind. While there are no official estimates breaking out children left behind, I know from what we saw during our evacuation that many, many children were among those left behind. About one-fourth of the people living in the areas damaged were children, about 183,000 kids, including 47,000 children under the age of 5. Over half of the children displaced were African-American and 30% of children in the damaged areas were poor, nearly double the 2000 national census rate for child poverty of 16.6%. These children were almost twice as likely to live in a femaleheaded home than children nationally. Prisoners were left behind. Local prisons held 8300 inmates, most on local minor charges awaiting trial and too poor to post bond. Thousands were left behind with no food, water, or medical attention. Jails depend on electricity as much as hospitals do - doors of cells and halls and pods and entrances and exits are electronically opened and closed. More than 600 hundred prisoners, one entire building, were left behind once the prisons were evacuated - left in chest deep water, locked into cells. Ultimately as many as 40,000 people took refuge in the Superdome which lost power, lost part of its roof, the water system failed and the toilets backed up. Another 20-30,000 people were dropped off at the Convention Center. Conditions at the Convention Center were far worse than at the Superdome because the Convention Center was never intended to be used for evacuees it did not have any drinking water, food, or medical care at all. Ten people died in or around the Superdome, four at the convention center. Unfounded rumors flew about rapes and murders inside these centers - and the myth that rescue helicopters were fired upon - have all been found to be untrue. But those rumors so upset military and medical responders that many slowed down demanding protection from the evacuees - only to be greeted by “a whole lot of people clapping and cheering” when they arrived. Debbie and I left the hospital after five days. Helicopters finally came and airlifted out many patients, their families and staff. Others, like us, left in small fishing boats piloted by volunteers. The Coast Guard reported it rescued 33,000 people and the National Guard reported rescues of another 25,000 people. Louisiana Department of Homeland Security said 62,000 people were rescued from rooftops or out of water - not including those already in shelters. Many, many others, like us, were rescued by volunteers in boats and trucks. Some people never made it out of metropolitan New Orleans. February 2006 reports from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals show 1,103 bodies were recovered from the storm and flood, with over 2,000 people still reported missing. About 215 people died in local hospitals and nursing homes. Where did the survivors end up? According to FEMA, evacuees Streetvibes ended up all over - applications came in from 18,700 zip codes in all 50 states - half of the nation’s residential postal zones. Most evacuee families stayed within 250 miles of New Orleans, but 240,000 households went to Houston and other cities over 250 miles away and another 60,000 households went over 750 miles away. Who ended up in shelters? Over 270,000 evacuees started out in shelters. The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health surveyed 680 randomly selected adult evacuees in Houston shelters on September 10-12, 2005. “Hurricane Katrina likely made one of the poorest areas of the country even poorer. Both those who were poor before the storm and those who have become poor following the storm, are likely to face a particularly difficult time in reestablishing their lives, have few if any financial resources upon which to draw.” Congressional Research Service 2005. Debbie and I ultimately ended up spending several months in an apartment in Houston while New Orleans started its recovery. Loyola Law Clinic, where I work, moved into the Disaster Relief Center in Houston and our clinic students interviewed and gave assistance to over a thousand evacuees. We were able to come back to New Orleans for good in midDecember because our house was located close to the University and only sustained roof damage. Very few of the people who were evacuated with us have been able to return. It seems clear that most of the same people who were left behind in the evacuation for Katrina are being left behind again in the reconstruction of New Orleans. In fact, now there are even more being left behind. Hundreds of thousands of people have not been able to make it back. Drive through the city away from the French Quarter, Central Business District and the St. Charles streetcar line and you will see tens of thousands of still damaged and unoccupied homes. Hundreds of thousands of people have not made it back. There were 469,000 fewer people in the metropolitan New Orleans area in January 2006 than in August 2005. Most of the City was still without power in early 2006. About two-thirds of the homes in New Orleans did not have electricity in early 2006, even fewer had gas. Seventy-three percent of the homes in New Orleans were in areas damaged by the storm. But, as the �Brown University study concluded “storm damage data shows that the storm’s impact was disproportionately borne by the region’s African-American community, by people who rented their homes and by the poor and unemployed.” The little reconstruction that has started is aimed at home-owners. Louisiana is slated to receive $6.2 billion in Community Development Block Grant money and the Governor says $1 billion “could be used to encourage the rebuilding of affordable housing.” So with 45% of the homes damaged occupied by renters, affordable housing “could” end up with 16% of the assistance. Public housing is politically out of the question in early 2006. There is no national or local commitment to re-opening public housing in the city. U.S. Congressman Richard Baker, a longtime critic of public housing in New Orleans, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal after the storm saying “We finally cleaned up in New Orleans. We couldn’t do it, but God did.” As the Brown study politely observed “people who previously lived in public housing seem to have the least chances to return, given current policy. All public housing has been closed (and special barriers bolted to the doors).plans for reopening the projects or for constructing new affordable housing have not become public.” Debbie lost her nursing job when her hospital failed to reopen. She is not alone. There are now 200,000 fewer jobs in the area than in August. The sick are not likely to return anytime soon. Healthcare in New Orleans is now difficult even for those with insurance but nearly impossible for the poor without it. While there were 22 hospitals open in New Orleans in June, in early 2006 there were 7, a 78% reduction. Before Katrina there were 53,000 hospital beds in the area, in February 2006 there were 15,000 - waits of more than 8 hours in emergency rooms are not uncommon. With so many hospitals closed, people needing regular medical care like dialysis or chemotherapy cannot expect to return. Worse still for the poor, there is no public hospital in New Orleans any more - the Charity Hospital that over 50% of the people in shelters went to has not been reopened. Many of the disabled are still in the areas where they evacuated to, causing financial and medical concerns in those states. Others of the disabled, who lived at home prior to the evacuation, fear being institutionalized. Children have not returned to New Orleans. Most public schools remain closed or have been converted into charter schools. Before the storm there were 117 public schools with 60,000 students. In January 2006, there were 19 open, including 8 new charter schools, serving about 13,000 students. Houston alone has nearly 20,000 evacuated students. The failure to reopen public schools in New Orleans has prompted litigation to force the charter and public schools to accept children. Even among homeowners, it is much more likely that white homeowners will have the chance to rebuild than black homeowners because of deep patterns of racial disparities in income - white median income is $61,000 compared to black income of $25,000. Black businesses were severely impacted by Katrina. Rebuilding by homeowners in mostly black lowlying neighborhoods is much less likely at the time of the writing of this article because of bulldozing plans by the city and because rebuilding in those areas depends heavily on planning and homeowners insurance and flood insurance issues, many of which have yet to be resolved. As a result, because renters, poor people and those without work are overwhelmingly African-American, “New Orleans is at risk of losing 80% of its black population.” There is not a sign outside of New Orleans saying “If you are poor, sick, elderly, disabled, children or African-American, you cannot return.” But there might as well be. The people left behind in the evacuation of New Orleans after Katrina are the same people left behind in rebuilding of New Orleans ­ the poor, the sick, the elderly, the disabled, and children, mostly African-American. Now that we are back from Houston, Debbie has just started a new job at another hospital. I am fortunate enough to work at one of the universities which was not severely physically damaged by the storm and floods. We are back. But where are our neighbors, the people we rode out of the city with? Where are the hundreds of thousands of our neighbors and will they ever be allowed to return? Where is New Orleans now, and more importantly, where is it going to be? Finally, if all levels of government and corporate power allow this to happen in New Orleans, do you think it will be any different in your city? Bill Quigley is a civil and human rights lawyer and Professor of Law at Loyola University New Orleans School of Law. He donated this story to the Street News Service. All opinions held in the article are the author’s-you can reach him at Quigley@loyno.edu Agencies Mislead the Public on Katrina State and federal government NRDC senior scientist who oversaw officials are misleading the public about potential health hazards from toxic contamination in New Orleans, according to a Feb. 23 report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Hurricane Katrina’s winds and floodwaters released heavy metals and other industrial byproducts throughout the area, according to the report. These hazardous materials then deposited in homes, yards, and schools across the region, in what is now a cracked layer of toxic muck. The Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), however, state that contamination levels in the city pose no “unacceptable” health risks — a statement disputed by the NRDC report using EPA’s own data. EPA took hundreds of soil samples in the New Orleans region from Sept. 10, 2005 to Jan. 15, 2006. While EPA has posted its testing data online, the agency has provided no comprehensive analysis of that data. The hundreds of data points are too complex to be useful to the average concerned citizen trying to determine if it is safe to return to his or her home, or what precautions should take before returning home. Without analysis of the data, residents are left with little other than EPA’s and LDEQ’s vague press statements about environmental conditions in the area. The NRDC, for the first time, analyzed the hundreds of EPA soil samples, connecting the data to create the missing overview for the area. The NRDC analysis found high problem,” said Dr. Gina Solomon, the the analysis. “More than a third of the EPA samples in New Orleans had arsenic levels that exceed the Louisiana threshold level requiring an investigation or cleanup. Federal and state agencies have to clean up this toxic mess to ensure returning residents are safe.” The report identified eight hot spots where levels of diesel fuel ingredients, which can cause kidney damage, increased blood pressure, and decreased ability to form blood clots, are more than 100 times higher than the LDEQ’s standard for residential neighborhoods. These hot spots are located in Bywater, Lakeview, Central City/Garden District, and Mid-City, as well as in Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish. In the absence of meaningful state and federal warnings against possible chemical exposures, community members in St. Bernard Parish are taking matters into their own hands. The Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and the St. Bernard Citizens for Environmental Quality held a March 4 training to distribute and instruct on the use of sampling kits for residents to take soil samples on their property. The samples collected by residents will be shipped to a laboratory to be tested for heavy metals and diesel fuel ingredients — called diesel-range organics. Environmental groups are pressing EPA to remove toxic sediment and contaminated soil from yards, fully inform people of the precise scope and nature of the health threats, and provide detailed information about what precautions citizens should take to protect themselves and their families. “Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IIt...” t...” Streetvibes Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Coalition for the Homeless and Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 Streetvibes.... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed Vendors must not tell customers earned. This program has helped for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 Cents (75 cent profit goes directly to the vendor) Homeless Coalition 25 Cents Printing and Production: 25 cents (this cost does not cover expenses) The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked for human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection. Mother Teresa Buy Streetvibes Page 12 Streetvibes �Gunshot victim waits 32 hours for help The Oakland, California police answered call but didn’t see homeless woman. The graveyard-shift dispatcher at Veteran’s Cab in Oakland heard gunfire and called the police, but more than a day passed before anyone peered into the bulletriddled car on the street and saw the homeless woman inside with a gunshot wound to her head. She was still alive after spending 32 hours wrapped in blankets and slumped in the back seat of the abandoned Oldsmobile she had called home. Police had been alerted to the shooting moments after it occurred. “It’s a real miracle that she stayed alive so long,” the dispatcher, Linda, said that day, asking that her last name not be published for fear of retribution. “There was a bullet hole above her right eye, and the whole (right) side of her face was swelled up. It was shocking. How did she survive like that?” Oakland police, who insisted they promptly checked out Linda’s report of gunfire early Sunday morning and found nothing amiss, had not determined a motive and had few clues in the shooting, which occurred in a desolate industrial stretch of East Oakland. “It just appears to be a random incident,” and Oakland police spokesman, Officer Roland Homeless problem hardly swept away In Hawaii homeless advocates say it will take more than “sweeps” to clear areas where homeless are reappearing About a year ago, police officers swept through the Lake Wilson area, removing homeless people living there. One of the homeless who moved before police got there was Owena Hooks. But after staying away for a week, she returned because she didn’t want to be a burden on her friends and family. Today the 47-year-old woman lives in a neatly kept tent by the bank of the lake. The tent — with a small living and kitchen area, coffee table and couch — is hidden from view, unseen by passing motorists on the road above. Hooks has worked hard over the past year to make it “homey.” Holmgren, said. “It’s under investigation.” Although police were called to the scene moments after the shooting, no one spotted her until 9:30 a.m. the following Monday, when employees at Veteran’s Cab and an auto body repair shop across the street found her sprawled across the backseat of a silver 1987 Oldsmobile 98 on 54th Avenue. “I saw the gunshot holes on the (driver’s) side of the car, and then I looked inside,” said Alberto, who was the first to see the woman. He was opening his auto repair shop when he wandered over to check out the Oldsmobile, which the woman had lived in for three months. “I saw her and the gunshot wound in her face. I thought she was dead, then she moved. I was surprised she was alive.” Alberto, who also did not want his last name published, called 911. He said it seemed to take forever for help to arrive. “There was a big bullet hole in her forehead, and I thought she was going to die any minute,” Alberto said. “It took police 20 minutes to get here. I was praying they would be faster. I didn’t realize she was there just hanging on for two nights.” Police said the woman told them she did not know who attacked her or why. Investigators do not believe anyone witnessed the shooting because it happened in the early morning in an area filled mostly with small auto-repair businesses that are closed nights and weekends. “It’s a desolate area,” said Holmgren, who spent five years patrolling that neighborhood. “There’s no real reason to be there in the late hours of the night and the early morning. There’s really nothing there.” Linda, Alberto and several employees of Veteran’s Cab said the homeless woman was quiet and kept to herself. She would return a greeting or smile, they said, but would never initiate a conversation and often kept her eyes downcast. They said she would sleep in the car at night but leave the block during the day. No one knew where she went. Her return underscores Oahu’s homelessness problem and the ineffectiveness of sweeps. A year after law enforcement cleared the homeless from Wahiawa, Ewa Beach and Mokuleia, some have returned simply because there is nowhere else to go, homeless advocates say. “There’s nowhere to go and the numbers are increasing,” said the Rev. Jack Smith of the Wahiawa Community Church of the Nazarene, among those who assist the homeless at the lake. “The success rate is one out of 100. There are other areas in Lake Wilson that we have not begin to touch yet.” Smith stressed that education is necessary for the homeless to maintain jobs and manage their own finances. “Unless they are taught responsibility and management, they will return back to where they have been taken from,” he said, noting there are about 50 people he assists in the area. Forcing them to move from one place to another is not the solution, according to Darlene Hein, director of the Waikiki Health Center’s Care-A-Van program, which provides food, clothing and medical care to the homeless around the island. More low-income housing is needed, as well as treatment and services for the homeless, said Hein, who recently testified at the state Legislature in favor of repealing a law that makes it a petty misdemeanor to trespass at public parks and recreational grounds. A report compiled by the Joint Legislative Housing and Homeless Task Force made recommendations to lawmakers that include a five-year plan that calls for developing more affordable housing, repairs to vacant public housing units and additional services for the homeless. According to one recent study, nearly 6,000 people statewide are homeless at any given time, said Sen. Ron Menor, co-chairman of the task force. In Ewa Beach, near Oneula Beach Park, a hibachi, two mattresses and other personal items partially covered by tarp crowded the side of a van parked along a small, rocky edge. Several other vehicles lined the edge where some fishermen go to cast their lines. “She was living in that car, and I think she didn’t want anyone to complain about her,” Alberto said. “She wasn’t friendly or unfriendly. She was trying to keep a low profile.” The car was not registered in the woman’s name, police said, and witnesses said it had been there since last fall. It was unclear why the wounded woman didn’t seek help or honk the car’s horn. She may have been unconscious for much of the time, witnesses said, or may not have realized anyone was at the taxi company to help. “I darkened the lights and looked outside, and I saw a green car drive away and then turn onto San Leandro Way,” Linda recalled . “I didn’t hear any shouting or screaming or anything, so I just called 911. I was afraid to go outside.” Streetvibes Linda said she never saw a police officer, but Holmgren said an officer checked the area but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Linda said she called 911 again just before her shift ended at 9 a.m. Sunday to report what she’d heard, then left. She didn’t see bullet holes on the driver’s side of the Oldsmobile until she was driving away. She knew the homeless woman lived in the car, but it didn’t occur to her that she might be lying wounded inside. “I didn’t see anyone inside, I just saw blankets in the back seat,” Linda said. “I didn’t realize she was in there.” When Linda arrived at work at about 11 p.m. Sunday, she called the police again ask what had happened and if the homeless woman was OK. “I got frustrated because the police didn’t seem to know what I was talking about, and it was my third call,” she said. Then, as she was getting ready to leave work Monday morning, Linda heard a commotion outside, and Alberto and several mechanics who work for the taxi company urging her to call 911. She made the call, then ran to the Oldsmobile. She opened the door and saw the woman looking back at her. “I told her that an ambulance was on the way, and she just nodded at me. I think she was in shock,” Linda said. “I’m so glad she’s alive. I can’t believe she made it.” About 30 homeless people have returned to the beach park, according to Jeff Alexander, member of the Ewa Neighborhood Board. “They live in their cars. They’re setting up tents on the beach again,” Alexander said. On March 2, 2005, police evicted about 100 homeless people from the park. And as in other places, some slowly trickled back after the sweep. At Lake Wilson, Jody Celoza has been camping for a month after leaving a transitional home in Waipahu. Celoza, 34, said she overcame a five-year habit of abusing crystal meth, or “ice.” She has been drug-free for six months. Celoza learned about the campsite near the Wilson Bridge through a friend, and said she is staying there temporarily. Though she has family members on the island, Celoza said she doesn’t want to burden them with her problems. “I don’t want to be homeless. But I am,” Celoza said, smoking and standing under the tarp to protect herself from the rain. “Hopefully, I’ll get back on my feet.” Page 13 �Friendship in Over-the-Rhine by W. McLindon Hey man, give me a dime. How about letting me have half-a­ dollar? Come on man, you can do that for me, can’t you? Most of the time I hear words of this nature from total strangers. But more and more they are the echoes of the mouths of people I have thought of as – if not friends, at least as being close. I can not help but wonder has the situation in this part of town come to measuring all emotions on the scale of what one person can give another. So everyday I am going to see how much friendship I can buy with a halfa-dollar. Maybe I can buy enough to last until I make it to the next block on the street. Friendship – such a strong, powerful word; yet how often have we misused it. Put it in such a small, unimportant position. Be my friend doesn’t appear to mean the same thing as it did when I was a kid. Now to say we are friends don’t have to mean anymore than we know (knew) each other for more than 5 or 6 minutes. Have the financial means (meaning 5 or 6 dollars in one’s pocket) in Over-theRhine one can purchase friendship, but only 5 or 6 dollars worth. Yet friends do exist; someday even we may become friends. The Color of my Skin by George Herrell I remember when I was younger, some kids couldn’t be my friends They’d said their parents had said something , about the color of my skin We had laughed together often, and we got along fine. We just figured that as time went on They would surely change their minds. But is seemed as we got older, we grew further apart I found their parents opinions of me had polluted their minds and hearts THE FLOOD OF ’83 Alough that was many years ago Not very much has changed I would have sworn that time would overcome, And yet prejudice remains by Sarge Lintecum One time when city livin’ Became more than I could afford, I took my wife and children To a place with free room and board. How could people be so ignorant? And have so much hate within? That thy would judge me not by heart but by the color of my skin? We moved out in the boonies And in case a ranger came, So we could be there legal, I decided to stake a claim. We made our camp at the junction Of Temporal and Gringo Gulch. The scenery was breathtaking And the soil felt like mulch. I stacked stones at each corner Till they were three feet high. I didn’t have a measuring tape So I did it all by eye. For two months we were happy; The kids had room to run. I made them bows and arrows; Our days were filled with fun. Then the sky turned black with thunder And lightening crashed all around. We brought our two dobie guard dogs In the truck so they wouldn’t drown. Four days and nights the rain came down But we stayed dry inside, Till some town folks came sayin’ we should come in Before the stream’s too wide. We got a rope across the water So we could all hang on, ‘Cause if you were to fall on a slippery rock In a second you would be gone. Well we all made it out to safety And soon we were dry and warm, But you know when I think back on those days I don’t hardly think of the storm. I can see my wife smile by the campfire; I can hear her sweet laugh in the sun. She made us prickly pear jelly To go on a freshly baked bun. I’m Back by Robert Manassa I made a vow to self and to you To sell you Streetvibes on Saturday Though someone else had something else in mind They thought evil thoughts about me, they thought I was in the blind I’m Back I’m proud of you , you have fait in me, you are on my side. You helped me to hold to hold on to my dignity and my pride When you are right, you are right, and when you are wrong you are wrong I’m here now and forever I’m not ready to say so long I’m back Sure, my given name is Robert, that I won’t change From this day forward I will tell the story You call me Robert need more You won’t find me in any store I need more of this, more of that I need more of everything, and that’s a fact I’m back STREET DOG by Sarge Lintecum I was brought up to be just a big puppy, Then they trained me to be an attack dog. After my career as an attack dog They said I didn’t fit back into the pack any more, And they wanted to have me put to sleep, So I ran away and became a stray dog, Looking for a kind handout, but expecting a kick. I tried to get a job as a guard dog, But after a few days I wouldn’t even let the owner in. Being a stray dog is no picnic, But being old and a stray is a bitter fate for any dog, Especially since I’m not a dog at all; I’m an American veteran. You could say back then we were homeless, But I just remember the fun. When the worst times leave you fond memories, You know that you’re with the right one. Page 14 Streetvibes �Song of Wounds by Michael Henson I look at you, my friend, and I see nothing but wounds. Just one wound, and you might still be with us. We might tell stories, we might embrace as friends. But no, there are far too many wounds. The blood, broken from its familiar channels, is naked and confused. Muscles, unstrung, will not stand. Nerves throw up their pale hands in surrender, for there are just too many wounds. I press my fingers to the lips of each. I note the contours closely. I see them in their intimate and parasitical relations. I give each one a name: the one that tore at the moorings of the lungs the one that cut at the roots of the liver the one that frayed the ropes of the intestines the one that broke through bone like an axe the one that shattered the beating heart: For today, I see nothing but wounds. Wounds in the alley Wounds in the park Wounds blackened in the asphalt of the beltway Wounds with the marks of the teeth of the wind Wounds in the bellies of small brown children. Wounds sleepless at four in the morning Wounds in the disordered ladders of the cell: Five wounds, and I ponder over them within me. Five wounds, sharp as a hammer Five wounds in the shock of morning Five wounds and there is no escape Five wounds and five curses My friend! My friend! I see nothing today but wounds! Spring by Michael Henson First hints: A red haze among the maples. A great clutter of branches thrown down by a storm. A row of daffodils that raise their baffled heads out of the cold beds of the garden. The light, stretched back by the black fingers of the trees at the horizon, stretched back by the rooftops at the head of the alley, ekes out the lingering days. The winter rains become the spring rains, cold and persistent. The rivers rise to their banks; they darken with silt. They boil coldly in their drive to the Gulf bearing downstream anything loose in their path. Then, a day that ignites green fires at the tips of the sycamores. A day when the earth shimmers with a dim mammalian pulse. After the million deaths of winter, partisan births, clandestine cadres, in tens and twelves, here, and here, and in the hedges. Everything swells. Everything grows more numerous. New hungers arise, some small as the belly of a vole, some neatly small as thought. Some hungers large as a field of wheat. Still others larger than we dare name. Everywhere the hungers assert themselves. They stretch among the root hairs in the compost. They call from the nests tucked in the branches of the cedars. They quiver on the dark floor of every pond. They weep themselves known in the houses of the poor. Berta’s Art Corner Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Painted Circles on Glass, Cincinnati Streetvibes Page 15 �357-4602 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 381--0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect, Homeless Kids 363-1060 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 10 Years in Publication! Streetvibes Exclusive - Page 1 CityLink ­ “Right or Blight?” BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY April 2006 STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: CityLink Offers Opportunities for People Who Want Real Life Change Pg 2: Homeless Empowerment Project Group’s Goal: Housing for All Homeless in 10 Years Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Remembering Cincinnati’s 2001 Civil Unrest Pg 5: Remembering Cincinnati’s 2001 Civil Unrest Continued Pg 6: Peace Village Pg 7: Pontiac, Michigan to Hear Plan for Homeless Homeless Man Attacked in Boston Pg 8: Unrest Continued Pg 9: Vendors Pg 10: Six Months After Katrina: Who Was Left Behind- Then and Now Pg 11: Agencies Mislead the Public on Katrina Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: Gunshot Victim Waits 32 Hours for Help Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Alison Leeuw Monique Little Kelly Carr Chris Dourson John Lavelle Melvin Williams Susan Smith Berta Lambert Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alison Leeuw Berta Lambert Boston Chris Dourson Cincinnati CityLink Civil Unrest Drop Inn Center Georgine Getty Gunshot Victim Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Katrina Kelly Carr Melvin Williams Michigan Minimum Wage Monique Little Peace Village Pontiac Susan Smith https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/054adbb7d55c72cff995f318146a5b60.pdf 99edf2585f07c1776cd45e127d5246d9 PDF Text Text March 2006 STREETVIBES Peace, Unity, Freedom and Community Art in Over-the-Rhine by Brenda Zechmeister, Arts Program Coordinator Peaslee Neighborhood Center Over-the-Rhine Enter the Community Education room at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and you’ll find several beautiful mosaic panels in various stages of completion. At regularly scheduled times, you’ll see groups of varying ages, such as youth from Lighthouse Community Services, adults from Our Daily Bread, or men from City Gospel Mission’s Exodus program learning the art of mosaic making and creating public art pieces that will be installed in Over-the-Rhine. None of them have had any previous mosaic-making experience before, and many of them have never thought of themselves as artists. The program is The Over-the-Rhine Community Art Project, an ongoing collaboration of Peaslee Neighborhood Center and the Art Academy of Cincinnati with Over­ the-Rhine schools, churches, and agencies. The initiative began in 2001 after riots heightened racial tension in Cincinnati’s inner-city neighborhood of Over-The-Rhine. I had shared the idea of building community through art with Michelle Markert, the Art Academy’s Director of Community Education, as a pro-active response to further understanding and promote a positive side of Over-the-Rhine. The two of us wanted to develop deeper relationships within the neighborhood and produce useful, beautiful works of art. The purpose of the project is to be a community-building instrument that brings together a diverse group of people whose common goal is to create works of art. This artwork uses the themes of peace, unity and freedom to enhance the beauty of the neighborhood. With the guidance of lead artist Suzanne Fisher, this community-driven project involves neighborhood participants at every level of the artistic process. Neighborhood resident, Lisa Haynes, is Artistic Assistant. This year’s projects include making additional mosaic panels for the Over-the-Rhine Freedom Trail and Imagination Alley, a pocket park on Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine. The theme for the Freedom Trail was inspired by Martin Luther King III’s visit to Cincinnati in honor of the 40th anniversary of his father’s march on Washington and his “I have a dream…” speech. Mr. King III spoke about Over-the-Rhine being the key spot for change in this city, change that could lead to true freedom, equality and economic justice for everyone. The aim of the project is to raise awareness of these issues while also increasing awareness of the work that each participating organization is doing to bring about Freedom to our community. The projects in Imagination Alley (located on Vine Street between 13th and 14th streets in Over-the-Rhine) promote the themes of Peace and Unity. To date, mosaic panels adorn a wall and an archway entry to the park. Soon, more panels will be installed on planters and benches. Later this summer, the panels currently being created will be installed in a sidewalk through the park. Our first project, a park bench entitled, “I Have a Dream of Peace,” is installed in Washington Park. To date, over five hundred participants have enjoyed coming together to design and create beautiful mosaic works of art that promote the themes of peace, unity and freedom. Our Daily Bread is one of the groups coming this year. One of their staff members, Cookie Vogelpohl, has shared that they are “so very excited about being a part of the Freedom Trail and the mosaic project! The entire staff has been involved from the very beginning, from coming up with the message we want to express about ourselves and our commitment to the people of Over the Rhine and vicinity. It has been so interesting watching and listening to the Mosiac cont. on page 8 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw -Administrative Coordinator Monique Little - Education Coordinator Kelly Carr - VISTA Chris Dourson - AHA Coordinator John Lavelle - VISTA Melvin Williams - Reception Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photography Jimmy Heath, Berta Lambert Cover Suzanne Fisher directs OTR mosaic project Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 Inquiry into Government Spying on Nonprofits behalf of seven organizations, while Expands expressing dissent or engaging in press release from the ACLU of On Feb. 1, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) expanded its inquiry into government spying on U.S. nonprofit groups by filing multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Department of Defense (DOD), in order to determine the full extent of monitoring by the Pentagon. The new ACLU information requests seek information on four national groups and several local groups in six states. Further review of documents already released to the ACLU reveals that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has used reports by right-wing groups in its investigations. The ACLU requests seek all documents maintained by the DOD, including its TALON database. TALON, which stands for Threat and Local Observation Notice, was launched in 2003 to track groups and individuals with “links” to terrorism. Leaks to the media in December 2005, however, revealed that TALON was also being used to spy on peace groups. The ACLU requests also seek details on whether TALON records have been or will be shared with other agencies. In a statement released by the ACLU, announcing the new FOIA requests, Associate Legal Director Ann Beeson said, “Unchecked government spying has a chilling effect on free speech and causes Americans to think twice before lawful protests.” In January, after the uncovering of TALON and other spying on domestic groups and the outcry it sparked, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England ordered intelligence personnel to get “refresher training” on collection and use of information on U.S. citizens. The groups identified in the ACLU’s recent FOIA requests are the American Friends Service Committee, Veterans for Peace, United for Peace and Justice, Greenpeace and dozens of groups in California, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. A press release from the Maine Civil Liberties Union said the group found evidence of FBI interception of communications from members of the Maine Coalition for Peace and Justice. It joined the recent FOIA requests to DOD, asking for information on three peace groups and itself. In California, students at UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley learned in December 2005 that they were the subject of TALON investigations. An ACLU of Northern California press release, announcing that its request for further documents, said, “Students should be able to freely express themselves on campus without fear of ending up in a military database.” An ACLU of Pennsylvania press release said its FOIA requests were filed on Florida said the chapter sought DOD information on nine organizations and four individuals. Meanwhile, a review of previously released documents by the ACLU and National Public Radio (NPR) showed that the FBI is using research reports about environmental groups from right-wing think tanks in conducting its domestic surveillance of nonprofits. NPR’s Living on Earth guest host Jeff Young described searching through nearly 2,000 pages of FBI documents and concluded the FBI investigation of the environmental group Greenpeace depended “pretty heavily on research done by a couple of think tanks that are very conservative, pro-business, antiregulation in their mindset and their mission.” The two groups were identified as the Capital Research Center and the Washington Legal Foundation. Capital Research Center’s website says the group analyzes “organizations that promote the growth of government and in identifying viable private alternatives to government regulatory and entitlement programs.” The Washington Legal Foundation’s site says its mission is “advocating freeenterprise principles, responsible government, property rights, a strong national security and defense, and a balanced civil and criminal justice system.” Recognize Attacks Against the Homeless as bats on the Fort Lauderdale campus Hate Crimes Norris Gaynor and aggravated of Florida Atlantic University. The Cooperative Feeding Program of Fort Lauderdale is calling for the state to recognize attacks against the homeless as hate crimes. In a news conference scheduled for later today, local and national representatives will speak about the recent beatings of three homeless men in Fort Lauderdale that killed one of them. Three teenagers face murder charges in the death of 46-year-old battery charges in the videotaped beatings of Jacques Pierre, 58, last month. They are also suspects in the beating of Raymond Perez, 49. Thomas Daugherty, Brian Hooks and William Ammons are being tried as adults. Police said Ammons admitted he shot Gaynor in the torso with a paintball gun while Daugherty bashed Gaynor’s skull with a bat. Daugherty and Hooks were also caught on surveillance video beating Pierre with First Success for Fair Day Labor Coalition by Randy and Vincent A group working for better conditions at Cincinnati’s temporary labor halls met with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory at the “Mayor’s Night In” on February 7th. Three of the members of this group work at the labor halls. They informed the Mayor and his Chief of Staff about the transportation fees workers pay to go to work and submitted a proposal on how to improve the conditions though legislation. He commented that he had heard nothing about the problems with the labor halls and was very interested in the proposal. All in all, his reaction was very positive, and he resolved to look into the issue more to see what can be done. If interested, please contact the Fair Day Labor Coalition at 621-5991. Worker meetings are Wednesdays at 9:00AM at the Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Center (1415 Walnut Street). Streetvibes Miami-Dade County’s homeless trust has also gotten involved by starting a campaign to protect the homeless and push the state legislature to treat attacks on the homeless as hate crimes. The trust wants to have a hate crime provision added as an amendment to an existing bill. The campaign is targeting the homeless as well, encouraging them to report attacks similar to the ones that occurred in Fort Lauderdale. Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath San Francisco officials have agreed to stop sending homeless people to Humboldt County without notifying their counterparts in the far northern county. The agreement reached last month resolves a dispute that began after Humboldt County officials learned that San Francisco had sent at least 13 homeless people north on one-way bus tickets over the past year. San Francisco officials said they will inform Humboldt officials whenever homeless people are sent there through the city’s Homeward Bound program. The program has given more than 960 homeless people one-way tickets home where friends or family members are willing to help after they return. In Fort Worth, Texas a 52­ year-old homeless man died last month after he was struck by a car while trying to cross the street in the 3400 block of Lancaster Avenue East. Ronald Leech died shortly after being transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. He had been staying at The Presbyterian Night Shelter, according to police. Police are looking for a 1990s model two-door beige Cadillac in connection with the accident, said Sgt. Rodney Bangs, of the Fort Worth Police Department’s Traffic Investigation Unit. Bangs said a witness saw the car leave the scene. “They clearly knew they struck someone,” Bangs said. “They could have stopped and they didn’t.” In Ansley, MS a homeless man who has lived peacefully for years in a secluded patch of woods here before allegedly assaulting two men with a machete is a decent, welleducated man, according to locals. Wayne Stephen Parks, 57, has been living in the wilderness in this south Mississippi town for the past five years, in a makeshift tent. It is the site where he allegedly “hacked” two men with a machete last month following an argument at his forest quarters. The story in this small community is a bit different: Hunters say Parks was defending himself and his land. “He was a good man to me,” said Roy Necaise, 37. “We’d go back there and visit him all the time; he’s never hurt nobody.” Kevin LaFontaine, who also hunts deer in the same woods, said Parks would sometimes leave to get food and supplies, but that’s it. “I hunted all around him, and we’ve never had any problems,” LaFontaine said. Authorities believe the victims were passing through town earlier that day on a train, which often stops in the area to switch tracks. County investigator John Luther said three men allegedly spent the day with Parks, but only two were assaulted. The men were treated for machete wounds at Hancock Medical Center. “They tore his camp up, and destroyed the water and food that FEMA gave him,” he said. “To me, he was defending himself.” In Texas, Phil Lipnick flipped through a half-dozen envelopes marked with places Galveston’s homeless are known to frequent. “We’ll go through these, and if we run out, we’ll come back here for more,” he said. Lipnick, project coordinator for The Jesse Tree’s homeless management information system, was among more than 20 volunteers fanning out across Galveston Island last month for the Gulf Coast Homeless Coalition’s annual survey. At least some of the volunteers, he said, would be out past midnight. “The count is done to get a baseline on how many homeless we actually have in our community and what we need to do to alleviate homelessness,” he said. The coalition is made up of 20 agencies working with the homeless in Galveston, Brazoria, Liberty and Chambers counties. The count is a requirement for coalitions seeking to obtain funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A homeless man already in police custody for allegedly breaking into a shoe repair shop has confessed to as many as 100 burglaries in the downtown area, authorities said. Andrew Larry Austin, 56, was arrested about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 11 after officers found him looking into a garbage can about two blocks away from Model Shoe Renew on Shattuck Avenue. The store’s front glass door had been shattered, and — according to police — Austin had slivers of glass on his hat, jacket and gloves and stolen property and burglary tools in his possession. After questioning Austin, police initially tied him to about 50 commercial burglaries in Berkeley. In subsequent interviews, Austin has admitted to committing at least 50 more burglaries, police said. In Springettsbury Township, Pa. a homeless man was found dead last month under the Mt. Zion Road railroad overpass at Concord Road. Police said the 50-year-old man died from being out in the cold weather. His name is being withheld until his family is notified. In South Florida, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is demanding that the state attorney’s office charge a 17­ year-old boy accused of beating three homeless men as an adult. Thomas Daugherty is being held without bond at a juvenile detention facility for his alleged involvement in the beatings. Daugherty, along with Brian Hooks and William Ammons, both 18, face murder charges in the death of 46-year-old Norris Gaynor and aggravated battery charges in the videotaped beating of Jacques Pierre, 58. They also are charged in the beating of Raymond Perez, 49. Police said Ammons admitted he shot Gaynor, who was black, in the torso with a paintball gun while Daugherty bashed Gaynor’s skull with a bat. Daugherty has been held in juvenile detention since his arrest and was ordered to undergo a psychological examination. In Miami, following a sermon about respecting the dignity of all people, parishioners at All Saints Episcopal Church said Sunday they supported pressing charges against a homeless man for sleeping inside the Fort Lauderdale church and eating canned goods from its donation basket. Orienthal Bowens, a 36­ year-old drifter from Georgia, spent 16 months in a Pompano Beach lock-up until Jan. 23 when a judge sentenced him to time served. ‘’We don’t mind [homeless people] sleeping here, but when they start destroying things - it’s like, would you let someone continue to stay in your house who was doing that?’’ said Michael Hargrave, 56. “[Bowens] wasn’t a nice guy.” It’s unclear why it took so long for Bowens’ case to come to trial. Though one thing is clear — he Streetvibes remained behind bars at the Joseph V. Conte Facility because he couldn’t come up with a $1,500 bond. “That in itself is disturbing to us — that he spent so much time there,’’ said the Rev. Sherod Mallow. Last month, Mallow posted a letter to his congregation on All Saints’ website defending his decision about Bowens. The church, he tried to emphasize, is a place of tolerance and kindness. Bowens wasn’t just sleeping at the church or taking food, Mallow said. The homeless man had also lit a fire in the balcony during one overnight stay. And parishioners said he had harassed them. Church member Beth Welker, 39, said Bowens made her uncomfortable. “People were scared of him,’’ she said. Five days a week, homeless veterans show up at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix and get a simple bag lunch. But sometimes a turkey sandwich and a banana is more than it seems. In addition to providing sustenance to people who don’t eat well, the lunch allows social workers to start a dialogue with the vets. The daily interaction allows staff members to check up on them and get them involved in programs to make sure they are taking their medications and staying off street drugs. Six months ago Westside Food Bank hooked up with the veterans hospital to provide the meals. They serve about 35 a day. “I’m having a pretty rough time right now. I’m on the street,” said James Aylor. “A lot of the halfway houses and shelters do not feed you well. This helps take the hunger pangs away.” Aylor, 49, served in the Army in 1974 and 1975. Now he comes to the hospital a few days a week to attend meetings and pick up a lunch. That is what Michael Leon was hoping for when the program began. “First of all, these people are hungry,” said Leon, the health care for homeless veterans coordinator at the hospital. “The lunches serve as an outreach mechanism.” Leon said that sometimes a homeless veteran will hang around without ever talking to anybody. “It is frustrating for them to be so close without taking advantage of the programs we offer,” said Leon, a social worker and a veteran. There are 3,000-4,000 homeless veterans in the state, according to Leon, the majority of them in the Valley. Page 3 �The Incantation I dream of singing with the kids by Koichi Yoshida Big Issue (Japan) vendor Mr. T and I were casually chatting outside Osaka station, when suddenly Mr. T recited “Back issue! Come on! Come on! Come on!” and clapped his hands as if in prayer. Somewhat taken aback I asked what he was doing. Mr. T replied that it was an incantation to sell back issues of the magazine. Sensing my incredulity, Mr. T insisted that it worked and that he had, in fact, sold 10 back issues, not once but twice thanks to this incantation. I remained skeptical, but later on that evening my office received a call from an excited Mr. T. A customer had bought 20 back issues! The next time I visited Mr. T, I asked him about the incantation. He said there were three tricks to using it: 1. chant “Back issue! Come on! Come on! Come on!”; 2. Only use the incantation when it pops into your head suddenly; 3. Don’t do it everyday. It seems that the day I visited Mr. T was a “back issue” day. by Naoki Koide Mr. Hori sells The Big Issue in a residential area about seven kilometers south of the center of Sendai. While there is a large shopping mall, most of the people who pass by are commuters hurrying to work and school. Few people have time to notice The Big Issue. Ironically, a group of elementary school students were the first to pay attention to Mr. Hori. Initially, Mr. Hori was hurt by their unfriendly stares, but he mustered up his courage and explained that this was his job. By making the effort to talk to the students they accepted Mr. Hori and began to chat with him. Hearing of Mr. Hori’s efforts in cleaning up the area around him and watching out for the students, a local teacher even called on Mr. Hori to thank him. One day, a child he recognized walked past singing to himself, “big, Big Issue”. Mr. Hori was struck by an idea: he would write a song about The Big Issue! Though his musical past was distant, Mr. Hori had recently received an old guitar from a street musician friend, Mr. Nii (who wrote the music for “Look at My BIG ISSUE”), and had just started to get a feel for it once more. Mr. Hori wrote the lyrics of “Look at my BIG ISSUE” to show how he feels when he is selling The Big Issue. Riding the sound of the arpeggio chords, Mr. Hori’s Big Issue sales pitch always seems to lead into the song, calling people to the street: “The info mag that was born in England and spread to Japan…” A lot of memories flow through Mr. Hori’s mind as he plays his guitar: when people from Osaka or Tokyo have remembered his face and have greeted him; when a university student bought a magazine from him as a good luck charm for a job interview at the local convenience store; or the time when it became tradition for university students wanting to pass their exams to buy a Big Issue from Mr. Hori. There was even a time when Mr. Hori reported a suspicious-looking car that had hit a pedestrian on the corner right in front of him. Compared to vendors based amongst offices and public buildings in the city center, Mr. Hori’s location is a tough one. Putting a positive spin on it, however, he says that he sees the same people at the same time Show your support! Get your STREETVIBES T-Shirt Today! (Back shown here. Shirt not actual size) everyday, so his face is quickly remembered. Mr. Hori was forced to start living on the streets five or six years ago after suffering from the effects of the recession. Before that, he had worked in machine manufacturing and security. Mr. Hori says that selling The Big Issue has made him think about things that didn’t even cross his mind when he worked for a company– how daily sales are affected by customer interaction, for example. “That makes it all worthwhile,” Mr. Hori says. Traveling about 6 kilometers by bicycle to his supplier, Mr. Hori starts at 6am and on busy days will make a second trip to the supplier and back to his sales base in the afternoon. Mr. Hori only takes a few magazines at a time and his sales are limited, but he savors the joy of each sale. “I still have a long way to go”, says Mr. Hori, “First I just want to increase my sales by five copies a day. What is more important, though, is what I’ve gained from The Big Issue in terms of courage, connections and compassion. The song is my way of giving something back. It was the kids who inspired the song, so I would really like to sing it with them”. Of the one million people living in Sendai there are more than 200 without homes. Despite the harsh winters, this number is on the increase. The homeless are both young and old, and there is an increase in women on the streets. Homeless woman have become more noticeable recently. I have no greater wish than the desire for each person living on the streets to take even the smallest opportunity and use it constructively as a step towards independence – just like Mr. Hori and his song. Translated from Japanese by INSP volunteer Kathryn Johnson, Australia by Booger Love When someone needs a hand of a friend, they can’t be found. No one to talk to, walk around with. All you want is someone to talk to. When there is a pain in your heart, all you need is friend you can talk to. To tell them your troubles, so you don’t lose you mind. Only $15 We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call 513.421.7803 x 16, or come in to our office at 117 E 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine Page 4 Streetvibes We give up on everything sometimes, When we are down. More Poetry on Pages 14 and 15 �Drop Inn Center Roll Up Your Sleeves, America! president used the words ‘the societies and our market’s by John Lavelle Update Middle East’ when he didn’t really “addiction to oil” should be I’m sure many people have * Cross Town Help Out: Thanks to all the volunteers from Xavier and UC who participated in the Cross Town Help Out. They helped the men in the recovery program here at the Drop Inn Center repaint and uplift their dorm rooms. * Summit on Homeless Individuals: The Partnership Center convened key staff and board members from all the agencies working with homeless individuals (people not currently with their family...) all day on January 27th. After presenting updates on how each group fits into the fabric of the system, we brainstormed on needs and goals across the system. We also heard a presentation from City Ministries on their proposed CityLink project. Hopefully, the information presented will help in determining what possible unmet needs could be addressed through that project. The Drop Inn Center also presented on our need for Permanent Supportive Housing for the Long-term Homeless. * Budget Status: Although we were successful in meeting last year’s level in our Holiday Drive (thanks to your help!), we still are facing a tough six months due to state cutbacks as well as greatly increased energy costs. We will be trimming some part time and on-call positions as well as cutting back on some of the food we buy. If you know of any grant or funding sources, please let us know. Also, if you know of any sources of prepared food we could use for meals, we would appreciate it. Cold Snap Effects: Just briefly, this past weekend our average census was 242, up from 224 for the previous week, due to the cold weather. seen the humorous picture of Uncle Sam proclaiming “Roll Up Your Sleeves, America” as he gleefully injects gasoline directly from a gas station pump into his exposed arm, parodying the vintage war propaganda of classic Uncle Sam and his female counterpart, Rosie the Riveter (“We can do it!”). How appropriate this seemed, when during President Bush’s January 31, 2006, State of the Union Address he acknowledged that “America is addicted to oil” and that we must John Lavelle “break this addiction.” For the first time that night I stopped screaming at the television and lent a heartfelt ear to what our country’s “elected” leader had to say. “Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025,” he stated. Even a raging cynic such as myself had to stop for a second and give Bush his due…provided that he actually follows through on any of this. However, hearing all this from an oil profiteer is a start, right? Right? Well, the morning after, his administration was quick to make clear that they were not ready for a committed relationship with reduction of oil dependency. In reference to the quote above by President Bush, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said on February 1 that: “This was purely an example.” Oh. From Knight Ridder writer Kevin G. Hall: “Asked why the mean them, one administration official said Bush wanted to dramatize the issue in a way that ‘every American sitting out there listening to the speech understands.’ The official spoke only on condition of anonymity because he feared that his remarks might get him in trouble.” In other words, we really shouldn’t take the president literally. Well, time to roll up your sleeves, America. A week later in Houston, the heart of Bush’s home state, Exxon Mobil Corp. Senior Vice President Stuart McGill said that the United States should stop trying to make ourselves energy independent and that we will always be reliant on foreign imports. “Realistically, it is simply not feasible in any time period relevant to our discussion today…No combination of conservation measures, alternative energy sources, and technological advances could realistically and economically provide a way to completely replace those imports in the short or medium term.” So, according the largest publicly traded oil company – who just posted the largest quarterly profits ($10.71 billion, despite two damaging hurricanes) of any company in U.S. history – energy independence is impossible and just plain bad. And while we’re on it, Exxon Mobil very recently asked a federal court to wipe out its $5 billion in fines for the 1989 Valdez oil spill. The issues surrounding our important to all Americans. Perhaps the most seminal way in which average Americans have felt the impact of the oil economy is at the gas pump with surging and fluctuating prices. Even Americans who do not own automobiles and take the bus should be wary of increased fares for public transportation – even small increases can be devastating to the tight budgets of low-income individuals and families. Along with sheer market economics, we have seen very clearly in the past 30 years or so how closely petroleum is tied to our national security. Regardless of anyone’s feelings on why we went to war with Iraq in 2003, one must admit that the ensuing conflict has had a grand effect on the oil industry. Despite their multifarious ties to terrorist threats, Saudi Arabia has carried on largely unchallenged. Many theorize that this is due to them being one of our largest exporters of oil. The increased production and popularity of hybrid automobile models is promising, as consumers realize that they are economically and environmentally responsible. In the spirit of the market, some are finding that new energy resources can be profitable and responsible. Nevertheless, Americans are still addicted to oil. And much like the case with “big tobacco,” it will take years of lawsuits and legislation to force most oil companies to invest in reducing dependency on their damaging and limited product. Until then, roll up your sleeves, America! Thanks to Juicio Brennan for his compilations of resources on his website. Check it out at: www.juiciobrennan.com The Orange Bicycle placing a box filled with magazines on the bike rack and carefully covering the side with a poster Mr. Toyomura’s bike is transformed into a sales promotion machine. The sight reminds me of the bicycle salesmen of old who would sell tofu or put on shows for children. It gives Omotensando a distinctive atmosphere. My biggest surprise, however, was to see Mr. Toyomura polishing his bicycle with CRC5-56 oil everyday before work. It startled me and made me think of a craftsman polishing his tools before starting work. Today, the sparkling orange bicycle will once again be carrying Mr. Toyomura’s hopes on its handlebars. Back on Track I couldn’t get a regular job. Streetvibes really gives people like me a chance to get back on their feet. I can now save money, pay my rent and get my baby back. The Streetvibes Program has really turned my life around. It gives the homeless hope and faith again. I give a huge thanks to the people who purchase Streetvibes. I would not have been given the chance to get myself back on track without your donations. Keep donating to Streetvibes. You could change someone else’s life with only one dollar. Just doing a little turns out to be a whole lot. God Bless all of you. by Mariko Ikeda It takes Big Issue vendor Mr. Toyomura one and a half hours to ride his bicycle to his sales base in Omotesando, Osaka. That’s three hours both ways – with 100­ 200 magazines weighing down the bicycle, it’s a battle just to pedal. To struggle like this everyday, Mr. Toyomura must be a man of great determination and will power, as well as having awesome quadriceps. Mr. Toyomura’s beloved bicycle is not just his transportation, however, it is also a sales tool. By by Tiffanie Schaffer I give all thanks to the Coalition for the Homeless for the Streetvibes Vendors Program. It really has changed my life. I wasn’t always homeless. I came from a good home with money. As I went out on my own I made some bad choices. I found myself 21, homeless and with a baby. I was homeless for three months. Then I found the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. I heard about the Vendors Program and became a vendor in the first week of January. By the first week of February I had an apartment. Streetvibes Page 5 �Thanks Susan streets, for our young people, the elderly and my homeless friends. by Ms. Mary Gaffney My homeless friends come around the office each Wednesday To the purchasers of afternoon for a full Streetvibes and my meal and desert from homeless friends, this a special lady who is now the third serves and donates month of the New these delicious meals. Year, and we have Also, there are always seen the appearance pastries on hand for of the groundhog. He the walk-in homeless. saw its shadow, but Susan is her name and we will see what’s Miss Mary Gaffney she is a very down to what in the coming earth person. She is months. always jolly. She always uses a I do hope during this parking meter but never asks for a beginning of the New Year we will donation. Inside of three weeks she hopefully see a new beginning of has received two parking tickets, at more safety on our neighborhood New Report Finds a Widespread Epidemic of Hate Crimes/ Violence Against Homeless People by Michael Stoops, Acting Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) released its 2005 report tracking the widespread epidemic of hate crimes/violence against homeless people. The report entitled, Hate, Violence, & Death on Main Street USA: A Report on Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness in 2005 is NCH’s seventh annual report on this issue. The report documents incidents that occurred in 2005 against homeless persons by housed individuals who were overwhelmingly teens and young adults. A seven-year historical analysis of NCH’s reports is also available. For a complete copy of all seven reports, please go to: (www.nationalhomeless.org). This latest report continues to maintain the same goals and objectives as in the previous ones: * To compile the incidents of hate crimes/violence that NCH has received and reviewed in order to document this alarming trend against people who are homeless. * To make lawmakers and the general public aware of this serious issue. * To recommend proactive measures to be taken. The report also includes information about model legislative/organizing/ public educational initiatives in California, Florida, Maine and Washington, DC The 2005 report documents hate crimes/violence against homeless people in the following 38 cities from 22 states and Puerto Rico. Page 6 Battle Creek, MI Berkeley, CA Boston, MA Broward County, FL Camden, NJ Cave Junction, OR Cheyenne, WY. Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Dade County, FL Davenport, IA Daytona Beach, FL Detroit, MI Duluth, MN East Palatka, FL Fairbanks, AK Fairfield, CA Holiday, FL Holly Hill, FL Indianapolis, IN Kansas City, MO. Los Angeles, CA Myrtle Beach, SC New York, NY. Orlando, FL. Pascagoula, MS Portland, ME Roosevelt, NY Sacramento, CA San Antonio, TX San Francisco, CA San Juan, PR. Springfield, IL Staten Island, NY Stockbridge, GA St. Paul, MN Tucson, AZ Virginia Beach, National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 “P” St., NW Washington, DC 20037-1033 Phone: (202) 462-4822 x19 Fax: (202) 462-4823 Email: mstoops@nationalhomeless.org Website: www.nationalhomeless.org $25 dollars each, with no complaints. Sometimes it takes her a while to unload the food and ingredients! I do hope that she can find somewhere nearby to park her car where the homeless don’t always have to watch her car for tickets because they always look forward to her meals. She also supplies the office with coffee, creamer and sugar and pastries for in the mornings. My hat goes off to you Susan, for the kindness and concern you have shown to our homeless visitors. This month, this article is dedicated to Susan for the concern you show for your fellow man. May God forever bless you. I am very proud to have a friend like you and my homeless friends. They really appreciate your kindness. Until next time, thanks to you and my friends. Send your letters or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com 21 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Beaten Homeless Man Remains in Critical Condition A homeless man remained in critical condition in South Florida after being severely beaten by three suspects at a convenience store pay phone, police said. Thomas Kotowski, 36, was found bloody and barely conscious last month outside the H&M Discount Beverage Store at 1361 Ave. E. He was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center. Riviera Beach police were searching for the three attackers, described as young men or teenagers. In some ways, the attack resembled the deadly beating of a homeless man January 12 by three Broward County teens. Video of a related attack that night was broadcast worldwide, drawing attention to the plight of the homeless. The motive for the attack was not known. Police say one of the unidentified attackers was using a pay phone outside H&M Discount Beverage when Kotowski approached him about 6 p.m. and asked to make a call. The man said no. Kotowski waited nearby until the man’s call was finished, then stepped to the phone to make his own call, police say. That’s when the first man struck, pummeling Kotowski repeatedly. Streetvibes A moment later, two other attackers joined in, investigators said. Together, the three beat and kicked him bloody, then ran off after someone called 911. Kotowski has lived in the area for years, running up an arrest record on charges ranging from cocaine possession and resisting arrest to trespassing and shoplifting. During the past six years, the National Coalition for the Homeless has documented 386 attacks on the homeless, including 156 deaths, although experts agree the actual numbers are probably much higher. Last month, Moses Prophet, a 58-year-old homeless man, was shot and killed on 55th Street in West Palm Beach. Police say he knew his killer and that his murder was prompted by an argument. Violence against the homeless is nothing new, but the issue has taken on new currency in recent months. “This is not an increasing phenomenon, but what has happened since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans is the invisible class has suddenly become visible,” said Alan Clapsaddle, associate pastor at Westgate Tabernacle, which operates a homeless shelter. “Before, this stuff would have been unnoticed. Now it’s becoming visible.” �Citizens X by Joanne Zuhl Most of us think the picture on our ID is embarrassing enough, but how about having your residence listed as “under the Burnside Bridge?” That’s what has happened to one man who prefers to remain anonymous for this story. He says he knows of one other person in the same situation. “Talk about embarrassment,” the man said of his ID. “You go out for a job application, they see that and they laugh at you. I’m 48 years old. This is the first time I’ve been homeless, down-and-out like this, and I can’t get a job.” “I’ve got to do something, I’ve got to work,” he said. “I was brought up to work and work hard and now I can’t work. I never had nothing like this happen to me before. I don’t know how to take it.” Despite the man’s embarrassing setback, he’s fortunate to have a state ID at all. For many people living on the streets, or extreme poverty, an ID card is an elusive item, and one that holds the key to housing, employment, social services and civil rights. “Basically, since 9/11, without a photo ID you’re a persona non grata in our society,” said Ed Johnson, an attorney and homeless advocate with the Oregon Law Center in Portland. “There’s a whole range of things you can’t do. Not only can you not get permanent housing, there’s a lot of temporary emergency shelter you can’t access without photo ID. So, if you find yourself on the street without a photo ID, getting off the street, as an essential priority, is almost impossible.” Likewise, a state photo ID is the key for accessing disability assistance, medical insurance, food stamps and other government-based social services, according to Johnson. Employment? “Forget about it,” Johnson said. “You’re not going to get any steady employment without a photo ID.” To get a standard state ID through the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles, you need some other form of ID: a drivers license, proof of address, employment, Social Security, birth records and the like. And the streets are a lousy place for keeping records. “When you’re moving around, things get lost when you don’t have a stable place to keep your things,” said Fern Elledge, director of the Community Service Center at Transition Projects, Inc. “I hear stories from a lot of people that the police took their ID and they didn’t get it back. And for women leaving domestic violence situations, lots of times the abuser will keep the ID as part of keeping control. People are vulnerable, things get stolen. There are just lots of reasons.” Transition Projects, or TPI as its known, assists people in getting photo IDs through the DMV. TPI will help people locate the necessary records, such as birth certificates, and pay the state’s $25 to $30 fee for the ID. TPI can only afford to serve four people in the morning and four people in the afternoon. “People come early to get in line, and usually we have to turn people away,” Elledge said. The combination of 9/11 and concerns about identity theft has made getting IDs even harder in recent years, according to Elledge. Picture IDs are prerequisites to accessing other forms of ID, including Social Security cards and birth certificates, in some states, Elledge said. In some cases, living relatives can help people get birth certificates, but not everyone has that option available. “There are some people we just can’t help,” Elledge said. Debbie Eagle had her backpack – carrying her birth certificate, ID, Social Security card and tuberculosis card — stolen from her on the streets. That was five months ago and she doesn’t have the money to gather all of the documentation she needs to get them restored. “I don’t have any picture ID,” said Eagle, who is hoping to hold out until mid February when she’ll have money to begin relocating documents. Deborah Mandley bounced between the DMV and the Social Security office for more than a week trying to get her ID replaced after it was stolen. She was recently released from prison and had her inmate ID and little else. Getting the necessary documentation cost her valuable time, money she didn’t have, and possibly a job. “I needed my ID in order to get a second job interview,” Handley said. “I didn’t have my ID so I didn’t get the second interview and I didn’t get the job.” She has since gotten her ID, and is now looking for a job. Eric Sevos, manager of the Royal Palm for Cascadia Behavioral Health Care, says he’s also seen the barriers to getting ID cards increase, and he fears that they are only going to get worse. “It’s a catch-22,” Sevos said. “You need a birth certificate to get a photo ID, but you can’t get a birth certificate without a photo ID.” The process, which in difficult circumstances can take months or years to get primary documentation to get an ID, is a stressful one for all those involved. Sometimes there’s no resolution at all. “I’ve seen clients who have lost their IDs, and the level of anxiety, and sometimes panic, rises,” Sevos said. “I think that like a lot of things, the safeguards are necessary and practical, but when they get applied to the homeless population, or folks who don’t necessarily have as much of a voice in political and economic affairs, people get lost in the shuffle.” In a 2004 report, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty found that state laws, particularly those instituted in the wake of post Sept. 11, have created unreasonable barriers to acquiring identification, and as a result Streetvibes are exacerbating and prolonging homelessness. After Sept. 11, at least 43 states considered some form of legislation or rule change to restrict access to drivers licenses, according to the report. In 2003, approximately 117 state bills were considered that similarly intended to restrict access The NLCHP issued a survey to service providers across the country, focusing on three primary areas: barriers to accessing services and benefits, problems with law enforcement, and lack of adequate funds to pay for identification. NLCHP surveyed 56 service providers in fifteen states that serve a total of 25,647 clients per year. The providers surveyed range from homeless shelters and food pantries to transitional living facilities. The survey found that large percentages of clients were being denied basic benefits because they lack photo identification. In one month, more than half of those applying for SSI, Food Stamps and housing or shelter services, and 45 percent of those who applied for medical services, were turned away for lack of photo ID. Among its recommendations, the law center says states should waive the fees for obtaining ID for people who are homeless, and use logical verification, when appropriate, such as a mother’s maiden name. While most people take for granted their documents of identification, there is also the benefit of simply being stable — of being known in the community. People on the streets often lack that more subtle form of identification, and can simply disappear from the social network. That extended disconnect can make the process of attaining an ID very intimidating for some people. “They’re just further outside of the mainstream,’ said Brad Taylor, an outreach worker with Cascadia’s Project Respond. “So they have to operate outside of that, and staying indoors is more challenging, finding ways to make money is more challenging.” Taylor said he comes across people every day who don’t have an ID or are having trouble getting one. If someone has an ID one day, he said, the person’s often lost it or had it stolen by the next time he sees him. Mental health issues also complicate the process. There are some people who simply don’t know their own names, Taylor said. “We’ve had police do fingerprints just to find out who they were.” Patricia Barrera, director of Community Education with the Lola Greene Baldwin Foundation, works with women escaping prostitution. Prostitutes are vulnerable to having their identification stolen by pimps Citizens X cont. on page 9 Page 7 �Mosiac cont. from page 1 staff talk about the project and being really involved with the idea and the design.” Another participant, Joseph, says “This place gets better and better! Plus, pretty; not so many places are this pretty for us.” Cookie goes on to say, “The trips to the studio to take part in putting the chosen colors into place and anticipating the gluing and grouting of same, has been a real source of community building among the staff. It has been that for all of us, and at the same time, finding that creative part in each of us, and being able to celebrate that with others. The staff has also become very interested in studying the other mosaics already being displayed around the neighborhood! We are all very excited about finishing ours; it has been a wonderful experience to work with such dedicated, talented professionals who want to tell our story. Amen.” I think Ed, another mosaic art student, sums it up very nicely: “I heard about the picture that is going to go outside; I know it is going to be good. Everything is good here.” Recently, the project was awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Fine Arts Fund, Summerfair, Inc., the George B. Riley Trust, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and the LaBoiteaux Family Foundation. Artist Suzanne Fisher directs work on a mosaic project Street Paper vendors in Russia inspire modern classical music piece A classical music concert took place at Herzen University in St Petersburg on 5th February, within the framework of a project called ‘the New Music Initiative of St Petersburg’. The project represents a dialogue between classical and modern music. The participants of this particular concert were the St Petersburg State Orchestra and two British composers, Peter Dyson and Marcus Tristan Hitcock. Peter Dyson was born in Huddersfield in Yorkshire in 1949 and came to study at the State Conservatoire in St Petersburg 10 years ago. He has lived in the city ever since, considering it his own and writing music for St Petersburg. “Life in Russia has definitely had a bearing on my music”, says Peter, currently teaching a course Page 8 called ‘British Cultural Identities at the beginning of the 21st century’ at the St Petersburg University. “I would call my music a reflection of the time and milieu in which I am living. I consider it to be social realism.” Peter Dyson titled his narrated piece for orchestra and clarinet, ‘Conversations and Observations: The reflection of a homeless street paper seller in winter’. Dyson explains his reasons for the theme of the project: “Many people’s rights are limited here, the authorities neglect the elderly, the ill, the homeless and the hungry. I composed the music about homelessness because I can understand what it means to stand in the freezing cold all day in order to sell even a few street papers to earn enough to live. So the least we can do for a homeless vendor is buy a street paper from him” Dyson’s narrator starts by painting a picture of life on the street, and by the final movements, the audience understands that he is actually a homeless street paper vendor. He speaks about what is happening in that part of the city and in society in general. The concert finishes with the words “Sometimes, when the sun is setting, I hear music ….” And then it becomes clear that the narrator is the composer himself. Many of the homeless vendors of the St Petersburg street paper ‘Journey Home’ came to enjoy the concert and had the opportunity to sell papers during the interval. National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 Streetvibes �The Big Issue South Africa calls for Low-Income Children Are at full enquiry into beating Health, Developmental, and Izak van Staden, who lives at “I hope that the relevant Educational Disadvantage, U.S. a shelter in Cape Town, was taken to authorities will conduct a full hospital after being beaten at the investigation into this incident and Chartbook Says Wynberg Military Base. He is in take necessary disciplinary action critical condition. Richard Ishmail, managing director of The Big Issue homeless streetpaper, South Africa has called for a full investigation into the incident. “In the past six months, there has been a series of attacks on homeless people in Cape Town ­ some of which were fatal - and the time has come to protect the rights of this vulnerable group and to seek justice against those who perpetrate crimes against them. should it be required. By doing so, they will be sending out a message that homeless people deserve to be treated with respect like any other human being,” he says. “Attacks on homeless people worldwide have become a growing phenomenon. Organizations, government and members of the public must collectively raise their voices to protest against the abuse of homeless people.” Got The Vibe? This chartbook highlighting the major findings of the 2003 first National Survey of Children’s Health was released by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The book includes many positive findings about American children, but it also reports on conditions of children who are particularly vulnerable to health risks, such as children in lowincome families. Compared to children in higher-income families, children in low-income families are less likely to be in excellent or very good health; they miss more days of school due to illness; they are more likely to have moderate or severe emotional or behavioral problems; and they are more likely to live in neighborhoods that do not feel safe or supportive. Since mothers in lowincome families are one-third as likely as higher-income mothers to be in excellent or very good physical and mental health, their ability to care for their children is adversely affected. The book’s data show that children in lowincome families are put at a health, developmental, and educational disadvantage compared to higherincome children. http:// www.mchb.hrsa.gov/thechild/ index.htm Buy Streetvibes Citizens X cont. from page 7 and Johns as a means of exerting power and control. Barrera’s organization focuses on advocating for the victims, and goes with them to help them get a replacement ID at the DMV. “They are up against people who pass judgment on them and people who think they are nothing but filthy whores,” Barrera said. “Often they are treated disrespectfully if they’re not with an advocate. So we go with them to help them get their ID. It seems to go more smoothly when they have an advocate.” Barrera said the more experienced people at DMV are generally very receptive to helping people get their ID, provided they have something verifying who they are. While 9/11 takes a lot of the rap, David House with the DMV says identity theft is the primary reason for tougher ID requirements. This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors. “We have to be safe rather than sorry,” House said. “ID theft has been getting bigger and worse for decades. It’s an arms race, essentially. So we have to constantly update the card, our procedures and our requirements for documentation.” In the past four years, the lists of allowed identify verification documents has shrunk, House said, and employees have undergone training in fraudulent identity measures. For people who are homeless, individual field office managers can make exceptions, but House said he believes those are very rare. Regarding the address of “under the Burnside Bridge,” House said that’s one of the exceptions allowed. “We will do that under circumstances where somebody has no actual mailing address,” he said. House recommends that the man who’s ID names the Burnside Bridge as a residence request a change of address from the DMV, which is free of charge. Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct and agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Vendor Pro­ gram. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may be removed from the Program. To report a Vendor, call 421­ 7803. ext. 16 Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Streetvibes Page 9 �The Big Issue South Africa calls for Low-Income Children Are at full enquiry into beating Health, Developmental, and Izak van Staden, who lives at “I hope that the relevant Educational Disadvantage, U.S. a shelter in Cape Town, was taken to authorities will conduct a full hospital after being beaten at the investigation into this incident and Chartbook Says Wynberg Military Base. He is in take necessary disciplinary action critical condition. Richard Ishmail, managing director of The Big Issue homeless streetpaper, South Africa has called for a full investigation into the incident. “In the past six months, there has been a series of attacks on homeless people in Cape Town ­ some of which were fatal - and the time has come to protect the rights of this vulnerable group and to seek justice against those who perpetrate crimes against them. should it be required. By doing so, they will be sending out a message that homeless people deserve to be treated with respect like any other human being,” he says. “Attacks on homeless people worldwide have become a growing phenomenon. Organizations, government and members of the public must collectively raise their voices to protest against the abuse of homeless people.” Got The Vibe? This chartbook highlighting the major findings of the 2003 first National Survey of Children’s Health was released by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The book includes many positive findings about American children, but it also reports on conditions of children who are particularly vulnerable to health risks, such as children in lowincome families. Compared to children in higher-income families, children in low-income families are less likely to be in excellent or very good health; they miss more days of school due to illness; they are more likely to have moderate or severe emotional or behavioral problems; and they are more likely to live in neighborhoods that do not feel safe or supportive. Since mothers in lowincome families are one-third as likely as higher-income mothers to be in excellent or very good physical and mental health, their ability to care for their children is adversely affected. The book’s data show that children in lowincome families are put at a health, developmental, and educational disadvantage compared to higherincome children. http:// www.mchb.hrsa.gov/thechild/ index.htm Buy Streetvibes Citizens X cont. from page 7 and Johns as a means of exerting power and control. Barrera’s organization focuses on advocating for the victims, and goes with them to help them get a replacement ID at the DMV. “They are up against people who pass judgment on them and people who think they are nothing but filthy whores,” Barrera said. “Often they are treated disrespectfully if they’re not with an advocate. So we go with them to help them get their ID. It seems to go more smoothly when they have an advocate.” Barrera said the more experienced people at DMV are generally very receptive to helping people get their ID, provided they have something verifying who they are. While 9/11 takes a lot of the rap, David House with the DMV says identity theft is the primary reason for tougher ID requirements. This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors. “We have to be safe rather than sorry,” House said. “ID theft has been getting bigger and worse for decades. It’s an arms race, essentially. So we have to constantly update the card, our procedures and our requirements for documentation.” In the past four years, the lists of allowed identify verification documents has shrunk, House said, and employees have undergone training in fraudulent identity measures. For people who are homeless, individual field office managers can make exceptions, but House said he believes those are very rare. Regarding the address of “under the Burnside Bridge,” House said that’s one of the exceptions allowed. “We will do that under circumstances where somebody has no actual mailing address,” he said. House recommends that the man who’s ID names the Burnside Bridge as a residence request a change of address from the DMV, which is free of charge. Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct and agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Vendor Pro­ gram. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may be removed from the Program. To report a Vendor, call 421­ 7803. ext. 16 Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Streetvibes Page 9 �A New form of kidnapping About a month ago there was a woman standing by a mall entrance passing out flyers to all the women going in. The woman had written the flyer herself to tell about an experience she had, so that she might warn other women. The previous day, this woman had finished shopping, went out to her car and discovered that she had a flat. She got the jack out of the trunk and began to change the flat. A nice man dressed in business suit and carrying a briefcase walked up to her and said, “I noticed you’re changing a flat tire. Would you like me to take care of it for you?” The woman was grateful for his offer and accepted his help. They chatted amiably while the man changed the flat, and then put the flat tire and the jack in the trunk, shut it and dusted his hands off. The woman thanked him profusely, and as she was about to get in her car, the man told her that he left his car around on the other side of the mall, and asked if she would mind giving him a lift to his car. She was a little surprised and she asked him why his car was on other side. He explained that he had seen an old friend in the mall that he hadn’t seen for some time and they had a bite to eat and visited for a while. He got turned around in the mall and left through the wrong exit, and now he was running late and his car was clear around on the other side of the mall. The woman hated to tell him “no” because he had just rescued her from having to change her flat tire all by herself, but she felt uneasy. Then she remembered seeing the man put his briefcase in her trunk before shutting it and before he asked her for a ride to his car. She told him that she’d be happy to drive him around to his car, but she just remembered one last thing she needed to buy. She said she would only be a few minutes; he could sit down in her car and wait for her; she would be as quick as she could be. She hurried into the mall, and told a security guard what had happened; the guard came out to her car with her, but the man had left. They opened the trunk, took out his locked briefcase and took it down to the police station. The police opened it (ostensibly to look for ID so they could return it to the man). What they found was rope, duct tape, and knives. When the police checked her “flat” tire, there was nothing wrong with it; the air had simply been let out. It was obvious what the man’s intention was, and obvious that he had carefully thought it out in advance. The woman was blessed to have escaped harm. How much worse it would have been if she had children with her and had them wait in the car while the man fixed the tire, or if she had a baby strapped into a car seat? Or if she’d gone against her judgment and given him a lift? I’d like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only; but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it on to them, as well. State of Union Address Foreshadows Fiscal 2007 Budget President Bush’s annual State of the Union address on January 31 foreshadowed his plans for the Fiscal 2007 budget, which will be released February 6. Most significantly, the President proposed expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), tax-free savings accounts created in the 2003 Medicare law that can be used to pay deductibles and out-of-pocket costs of health care provided through a high-deductible health insurance plan. Many economists and analysts point out that HSAs offer the greatest benefits to those at the highest tax brackets who need help with health care the least. HSAs drive up the cost of health care for low-income and sicker people who would be more likely to stay in traditional lower-premium plans. Further, higher out-of-pocket costs will induce many lower-income people to avoid seeking necessary care, which could eventually result in health problems that are more costly to treat. The idea behind HSAs is to create a greater incentive for people to avoid unnecessary health care costs, but research shows that the vast majority of health care costs are spent on the ten percent of people who have major illnesses or disabilities, situations in which health care cannot be safely avoided. Critics also argue that some ways of expanding HSAs could even encourage employers to stop providing coverage, making health care further out of reach for the average worker. (For more information, see the recent paper released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities at http:// www.cbpp.org/1-31-06health.htm) The President’s speech included other proposals that could affect services for moderate- and low-income families. The President pledged, as he has in previous budget cycles, to reduce or eliminate a number of programs his administration deems to be not successful. He will propose to save $14 billion in fiscal 2007 by eliminating 140 programs. The President called for reducing or eliminating 150 programs last year and 65 programs the year before that and each time Congress has largely declined to do so. The sorts of programs targeted for elimination last year included the Safe and Drug Free Schools program, Upward Bound for low-income high school students, and Hope VI funding for revitalizing public housing. Although funding has been cut for these programs, Congress rejected the President’s plan to eliminate them. The President also announced a proposal to “train 70,000 high school teachers to lead advanced placement courses in math and science, bring 30,000 math and science professionals to teach in classrooms, and give early help to students who struggle with math so they have a better chance at good, high-wage jobs.” This proposal would be one prong of his American Competitiveness Initiative, which would also increase federal funding for scientific research and make permanent the research and development tax credit. Educators generally agree with the need for more focus on math and science, but the new initiatives are hardly adequate to make up for other shortfalls in federal education policy, such as underfunding the Leave No Child Behind Law by $40 billion over the past five years. Costs of Making Tax Cuts Permanent Would Grow to Unsustainable Levels Notwithstanding the country’s swelling deficits and debt and long-term fiscal challenges, the President now insists on making all the tax cuts enacted between fiscal years 2001 and 2006 permanent. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has estimated that the overall cost of the tax cuts enacted to date, plus interest on the debt they create, would total $3.2 trillion through 2016. If extended, Bush’s tax cut policies would cost the country another $3.3 trillion over the same period, and the total cost would be $6.5 trillion through 2016. Costs would be higher in subsequent decades. To put this figure into some perspective, the annual cost of the tax cuts would equal the cost of 10 government agency budgets combined: agriculture, labor, education, veterans affairs, transportation, HUD, justice, state, interior, EPA, and energy, when the tax cuts are fully in effect. The size of the Social Security shortfall, emphasized by the President, “pales” when compared with the cost of making the tax cuts permanent. “Just the cost of the tax cuts for the top one percent of households … is nearly as large as the entire Social Security deficit.” Go to http:// www.cbpp.org/2-6-06tax.htm “Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IIt...” t...” Streetvibes Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Coalition for the Homeless and Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 Streetvibes.... Vendors must not tell customers 1. Streetvibes will be distributed earned. This program has helped for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 Cents (75 cent profit goes directly to the vendor) Homeless Coalition 25 Cents Printing and Production: 25 cents (this cost does not cover expenses) The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Slumlord Survival (Real Change News, USA) by Cydney Gillis So much for holding bad landlords accountable: If Zane and Renee Morris can’t get any help under the state’s one-year-old antislumlord law, there’s a good chance no one else can, either. After six years of living in a duplex in the town of Spokane Valley, Zane, his wife Renee and their three children were being evicted Jan. 31. It’s not what they did, but what they asked their landlord to do: fix an ant infestation so bad that, to wash, “We have to take out the bath mat and hose out the bathtub,” Renee Morris says. Slumlord cont. next page Page 12 Streetvibes �Numbers by Cindy Sheehan The now famous black shirt with white lettering that I was wearing on January 31st to the State of the Union address originally read: 2000 Dead. How many more? That shirt was made by Veterans for Peace on the occasion of the 2000th U.S. soldier killed in Iraq. That tragic number was reached on September 25th, 2005. About four months later, on the morning of January 31st, before my fellow peace activist and partner in patriotic dissent, Ann Wright, and I set out for our day’s adventures, Ann put masking tape over the zeroes in the 2000 and wrote: 242. Thus changing the number to 2242, which was the upsetting casualty total for that day. Before I set out for my fateful trip to the Capitol Building, we discovered that the number had sorrowfully risen to 2245. While Ann and I were giving the People’s State of the Union address that afternoon with Congressman John Conyers, courageous Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Katrina rights activist, Malik Rahim, three more American families were sent into a tailspin of loss, grief and despair from which they will never fully recover. The number on my shirt was changed to 2245. 2245 Dead. How many more? As of January 31st, at least 2245 North American families had paid the ultimate price for this administration’s stupid and careless policies in Iraq. Thousands upon thousands of our young men and women have been wounded, some Slumlord The ants are the end of a long trail that includes dry rot, moisture, serious mold and an electrical short in the $625-a-month, four-bedroom unit, which is paid for by Section 8 federal housing assistance. At 32, Renee has had two strokes and Zane’s work options are limited by a back injury. The Morrises believe the landlord owes them $2,000 in moving assistance under a law dubbed the Slumlord Accountability Act, which the legislature passed one year ago to help low-income tenants like the Morrises. Without the $2,000, Renee Morris says, the couple and their children, ages 15, 12 and 10, will end up homeless. But just try getting the money. Despite contacting a myriad of city and state officials, “We can’t get anyone to tell us how to enforce it,” Morris says. Whether the family is entitled to the money, says Siobhan Ring, director of the Tenants Union, a nonprofit tenant advocacy group that pushed for the anti-slumlord act, depends on the building code in the grievously, for the arrogance of empire. Innumerable Iraqis have been slaughtered for just going about their lives that day and for the heartless and supercilious policy of “fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here.” Today, in the City of Brotherly Love, I attended an awards ceremony for the Shalom Peace Center where I was given an award for being a prophetic voice. (It’s not an easy job). But, that’s not the important thing. The important thing is that one of my friends and biggest supporters brought some masking tape and a marker and many of the attendees were wearing about four inches of tape with the number 2250. That means five more angels were sent to an early grave, five more Mothers were unjustly and needlessly given a life’s sentence of pain, five more Fathers will be beginning an odyssey of mostly silent heartache: countless families ruined for our country’s preemptive foreign policy against imaginary enemies. I believe that whether one supports the wars of aggression of the malicious empire that is taking away our civil liberties as it is sending our young people off to kill and be killed, or whether one opposes preemptive murder, we should all be honoring our children who have given their lives nobly for such an ignoble cause. Numbers frighten people. The number of crosses that the Veterans for Peace put up each Sunday on some California beaches scares the living daylights out of the people who support George and his murderous policies. These people claim that the VFP are making a political statement and want the numbers to go away and not disturb them. Being confronted with numbers, faces, and reality is too much for some people. As a former math teacher, I know that many people have an unreasonable fear of numbers. The number of our war dead in Iraq is very fear inducing. I know numbers are very alarming especially when there is no logical reason for them. We know George Bush went AWOL from his dangerous ‘Nam duty in the Alabama Air National Guard. I suppose he was fighting them in Alabama so they wouldn’t have to fight them in Massachusetts. We know George Bush did not have the tiniest bit of the courage of our troops when he wouldn’t meet me face to face on his adoptive turf of Crawford, Texas. Now the world knows that he doesn’t even have the fortitude to face a t-shirt. As humans, we all know that it is very hard to face one’s mistakes, especially when undeserving people have paid a horrible toll for that foolishness. But what am I talking about? From failures in his business life to compound, harmful and inexcusable failures in his public life, George Bush has never even admitted a mistake, let alone faced one. Well, it’s time George faced this mistake and is somehow made to feel intense shame for the biggest mistake of his miserable mistake filled life. I call on people that are for peace and justice to wear the number on their chests every day…near their hearts. To honor our dead, but to also confront the ones who are waging this war, and supporting the wagers of death, but who won’t risk their own flesh and blood for the crimes against humanity that are perpetrated on a daily basis. I implore everyone in the U.S. to remember that each number in the grisly count represents a living, breathing, wonderful, loving and indispensable member of a family, community, and our nation. They are not just numbers. They were human beings before they were exploited for oil and greed. Wear the number for our dead. Wear the number for their families. Wear the number for our wounded. Wear the number for our children still in harm’s way whose confusion about the mission is growing and who only want to come home. Wear the number for people who will be in the way of the future wars of aggression that the war criminals in DC are already planning. Wear it for the people of Iraq who only want us to go away. Wear the number for peace. To find the number each day go to: www.iCasualties.org Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Specialist. Casey Austin Sheehan who was killed in Iraq on April 04, 2004; Founder and President of Gold Star Families for Peace (www.GSFP.org) and author of Not One More Mother’s Child. Cindy is also the very proud mother of Carly, Andy, and Janey Sheehan who hold down the fort in Vacaville, California. given jurisdiction and how the inspectors there interpret it. On Dec. 29, after a month of asking the unit’s new property manager, Moland Management, to fix the problems, the family filed a building code complaint and contacted the local Section 8 administrator, the Spokane Housing Authority. A city inspector came out and issued the property manager a notice to fix the ant problem in five days. Moland responded by calling in an exterminator, who wrote a report stating no pest control could be done until the floor and walls were replaced. The same day they filed the complaint, the Morrises found an eviction notice posted on their door. Outside of Seattle, a landlord doesn’t need any cause for eviction, so the notice might have been legal — except that state law prohibits retaliatory eviction and, as it happens, Section 8 rentals do require a just cause. On Jan. 6, Morris says, Moland sidestepped the law simply by giving the family a new eviction notice citing “economic reasons”: The Morrises have to vacate so that Moland can replace the bathroom floor and walls as ordered by the exterminator. Siobhan Ring says it’s a common switch for a landlord to make. “It is illegal for a landlord to terminate tenancy in retaliation for a tenant asserting her rights,” Ring says. “But the landlord can come up with a non-retaliatory reason like ‘Oh, I need to do all this work.’” In order for the Morrises to qualify for the moving assistance — which the anti-slumlord act sets at $2,000 or three times the monthly rent, whichever is greater — Ring says a code inspector from the city of Spokane Valley would have had to declare the unit uninhabitable. But, under Spokane Valley code, “The infestation did not rise to a level that it would require that declaration,” says city spokesperson Carolbelle Branch. According to Branch, the city had no jurisdiction to order the landlord to pay the moving assistance. Since then, the Morrises have contacted the Northwest Justice Project in hopes of suing Moland Management, which represents landlord R. Ryan Properties. They’ve also been frantic in looking for help to move. The state turned them down for $1,500 in emergency cash known as a “diversion grant,” but a private nonprofit called the Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs (SNAP) has offered to put the family up in a motel for 30 days. Bob Peeler, the Morrises’ counselor at SNAP, says he sits on a local homeless commission that includes 45 agencies but had never heard of the anti-slumlord law. That’s a problem the family has run into over and over. With eviction day just around the corner, Renee Morris said her children are stressed out and having trouble sleeping. Her grandmother just paid for a storage unit for the family’s belongings, but Morris says she’s worried five people, two dogs, and a cat aren’t going to fit in one motel room. “How are we going to manage to live like that for 30 days?” Morris asks. “Granted, we won’t be living on the street, but it’s all because these rich people can’t divvy up a couple thousand to help us get out of this dump.” Streetvibes Page 13 �Real Man The Homeless Man by Angela C. A homeless man Scavenges In trash barrels And envies People who look down on him With scorn As they hurry home To their evening meals. He crouches In a rat infested corner, Content to be with creatures That don’t cringe At the sight of him. Angel by Erin C. Although I was young I remember. . . Memories shared, Games played, Times spent talking, All in the distant past now That you are gone away, Watching from above, Loving, caring, An angel in the heavens My grandpa Faith by Tiffanie Schaffer Life is a struggle and even a fight. Sometimes you feel hopeless. You may find yourself shelterless. But remember, you are never homeless. Home is where the heart is. Keep the faith. by Tina Bapp It’s a grey night, clouds roll in. It’s cold. Yet in your home, you are safe. You fail to notice the storm. You fail to feel the frigid night air. You fail to notice. You’re all to consumed with your warm life. Your work. Your Family. Your Home. You fail to notice. On this grey night, the family hovering, in the tiny damp corner, the baby wet, the mother coughing, the father distraught. Unemployment hit. welfare reform hit. The cold hits hardest. On this grey night, are you going to notice? Day of Silence by Dan T. Dedicated to Sgt. Andrew K. Farrar killed in Iraq on his 31st birthday. A line of black marches on hallowed ground. The pipes call out to him Though he cannot hear. The pipes play a tune he holds dear. A tune all can hear. We lost a brother on that day. We honored him as the pipes did play. His boys close, so young, so cute. All silent for the twenty-one gun salute. by Ron O’Neal It’s hard to be a real man Most of us can, but some of us can’t Some of us take the word ‘man’ so lightly But why do we hold on to our freedom so tightly A real man has to make so many hard choices No matter what someone else says, or how loud their voices It’s hard to understand why they stay on top They must have the strength of a rock They live life, one day at a time It’s a wonder they don’t loose their minds They have to make choices, right or wrong No matter what, they remain strong They’re always there for family and fiends They’ll never give up, even if the world comes to an end I only wish to live my life like a real man And I know with God’s grace and mercy, I can How would you like to be a real man? Not just me, anyone can I Will Never Be Homeless I will never be homeless, It won’t happen to me. I will never be homeless, I’m doing so well, don’t you see? I have a good job, a nice house and a car, I have everything I need to go far. I am not like those Welfare bums, To whom prosperity never comes. You know, the ones who don’t want to work, Any kind of physical labor, they shirk. All they want to do is drink, Some are not clean, and they stink. Then, I see a man, lying in the street, A tattered coat around him and no shoes on his feet. But, I sense that something is wrong, That somehow, this man does not belong. So, I decide to stop to say hello, And ask him why he fell so low. He once worked on a street called Bay, Making good money every day. Then, one day his job was gone. He was told, “just go on home.” He soon just didn’t care, His purpose in life no longer there. He lost his family, his home, and his car. In just a few months, he fell so far. So here he was, on the street, With a tattered coat around him and no shoes on his feet. Then I saw the lines on his face and the pain in his eyes, I will never be homeless, will I? Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to He lies just six feet away. I swell up with tears. For this is the thing I did fear. The pipes played loud and proud on that silent day. If only you had been there as the pipes did play. Streetvibes@juno.com Page 14 Streetvibes �Our Greatest Fear The Weighted Hour by Nelson Mandela (From 1994 Inaugural Speech) Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. by Michael Henson There is an hour when the world is too weighted for us to bear. When the minutes press on us like the stones of Salem. An hour when the slant light falls to ash. When the red-eyed liar gnaws at the ear. When there is no end to the drone of engines. And there is no end to the sad parades. And hour when anger clots the lungs. When there seems to be no hope. Then I look to the lonely crow. There, in his cold rooms high above the red tips of the maples above the strung powerlines above the cell phone towers. He is a black ship in a vast bottle. He works his wings in short bursts against the wind, then coasts for a time, works in a burst, then coasts again. Then I want to think myself the crow, eagling across a broken heartland. Far below me, the asphalt ribbons and the bulldozer scars. Far below me, the suburban checkerboard, Far below me, the gash of abandoned factories. Far below me, the rivers that choke with the runoff of the poisoned farms. Far below me, the small men who walk green fields hitting small white balls. Far below me, strip malls and theme parks. Far below me, the broad separate roofs of the houses on streets that meander like the tunnels of the mole. Far below me, the close-packed roofs of the projects. And I am sad, for I see nothing that looks like home. The horizon is wide and far off. At the line where the sun sets, I see the gray fences and the leaning stalks of corn. The light leans to the earth’s back door. I search the dusk for my brothers and my sisters. I call them in a voice of husks and gravel. What the World Is Made Of by Brittany Owens What the world is made of, children Playing in dirty streets. What the world is made of, Trash Left by passing individuals. What the world is made of, single Mothers struggling to give her child The simple things in life. What the world is made of, homeless Begging on the corners. What the world is made of, more polluted Air outdoors than an indoor cramped space. What the world is made of, dreams, Hopes, and wishes crushed in a single moment. What the world is made of, people wishing This was not what the world is made of. Berta’s Art Corner The Clock by Kevin G. The Clock Ticks, Counting out bits of time. Monotonous and never ceasing, making minutes seem eternities or a day of fun only a minute long. It is our master, we its slaves. From its place on the wall the clock rules our modern world, counting the seconds toward eternity. Dancing in the snow - Sculture at Clifton and Ludlow Avenues (Burnet Woods) Streetvibes Page 15 �357-4602 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 381--0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect, Homeless Kids 363-1060 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 March 2006 10 Years in Publication! Peace, Unity, Freedom and Community Art in Over-the-Rhine Cover Story BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource March 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Peace, Unity, Freedom and Community Art in Over-the-Rhine Pg 2: Inquiry into Government Spying on Nonprofits Expands Recognize Attacks Against the Homeless as Hate Crimes Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: I Dream of Singing with the Kids Pg 5: Roll Up Your Sleeves, America! Pg 6: Thanks Susan Pg 7: Citizens X Pg 8: Street Paper Vendors in Russia Inspire Modern Classical Music Piece Pg 9: Low-Income Children Are at Health, Developmental, and Educational Disadvantage, U.S. Chartbook Says Pg 11: A New Form of Kidnapping State of Union Address Foreshadows Fiscal 2007 Budget Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: Numbers Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Alison Leeuw Monique Little Kelly Carr Chris Dourson John Lavelle Melvin Williams Susan Smith Berta Lambert Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF 2007 Budget Alison Leeuw Art Berta Lambert Chris Dourson Drop Inn Center education Georgine Getty Hate Crimes Health Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kelly Carr Kidnapping Low-Income Melvin Williams Monique Little Nonprofits Over-the-Rhine Russia South Africa State of Union Address Susan Smith Tax Cuts https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/2623c16587ff1f753eb62cf792dd777b.pdf 6920e3c24676410b90b57c621ae06cd3 PDF Text Text February 2006 STREETVIBES Looking Back To “The Peoples Move” - January, 1978 by Bonnie Nuemeier (One of the original members of ShelterHouse Volunteer Group, Long Time Over-the-Rhine Resident. This story is dedicated to all those who gave their hand and heart to The Peoples Move.) Written in January 1998 Over 20 years ago on a cold blizzardy Friday night a momentous event occurred which has gone down in our Over-the-Rhine history as THE PEOPLES MOVE. The ShelterHouse Volunteer Group, operators of the Drop Inn Center ShelterHouse, consciously planned and organized a secret, “illegal” midnight move from its second home at 1324 Main Street to our current location at 217 West 12th Street, which had been owned and not too long vacated by the local Teamsters Union. This group decision of conscience was made deliberately to get out of a dilemma we believed to be inhumane. Our story unfolded like this: Drop Inn Center began in l973 as a volunteer people’s program in a one room storefront at 1711 Vine Street, a much needed place in our neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine for men who were homeless and suffering from the disease of chronic alcoholism. As numbers grew and government money secured to build a program and hire paid staff, the Drop Inn Center moved to a five-room place at 1324 Main Street in l974. In the following couple of years the program got into the hands of social professionals who were not based in our neighborhood and had different ideas about the direction of the program. The community was angered when a decision was made without community input to close the Drop Inn on weekends in the Spring of l976. We were angered further by talk of eliminating the overnight shelter and running a daytime program only. The winter hawk would soon be upon us and we did not want to see our people freezing to death out on the streets or in abandoned buildings. People had to be alive first before there were any hopes of recovery from chemical addiction. This pushed us into organizing a grassroots effort to reclaim our Drop Inn Center; we named ourselves the ShelterHouse Volunteer Drop Inn Center Shelter Report Winter Update: Our average nightly census continues to hover around the 240-250 range. We have been sheltering about 25-30% women, which is up from previous averages. Also, we are not looking forward to our January utility bill... Funding Drive Update: Thanks to many of you who contributed to our Holiday Drive. Unfortunately, as of January 1st, we are about $30,000 short of our goal. Please, if you can think of any avenue for support for our operations, we would appreciate it. Contact 721-0643... Group. We were determined to keep the shelter open on weekends even if we had to do it ourselves. And we ended up doing it ourselves with food donations we hustled and use of only two of the five rooms. During that winter of l976-77 the ShelterHouse Volunteer Group raised more grievances and these conflicts resulted in the professional staff quitting. On March 31st, l977 the community, through the ShelterHouse Volunteer Group, took back control of the Drop Inn Center and have been running it seven days a week ever since. Those were hard times, for when we got control the funds were withdrawn and it took a long lobbying effort to get those state funds restored. From that day forward we would stand firm on the principle that housing is a basic human right and that neighborhood people have the right to staff and run their own shelter. We believe strongly that residents of the shelter have the right to participate and give their strong voice to the operations of their temporary home. And Even Harder Times Were to Come Within a very short time the Health Department threatened to close down the Drop Inn Center. They claimed our kitchen and building had 36 code violations even though this very same kitchen two months earlier was approved for a food license. We were given no reasonable time to comply. Many of the major building violations were the responsibility of the landlord, Leslie Fox, who for years neglected the building and now was in much need of repair. We were being blamed for the slumlord’s neglect. We marched to City Hall and pleaded with City Council to not carry through with the close-down orders. We were willing to comply with the orders, but we needed more time. The inspectors came in like storm troopers. When we had complied with all orders, new violations were cited. Inspection after inspection, and we still could not pass the test. It was clear to us that we were selectively being harassed by the Health Department. We would never pass inspection because the powers at be did not support community people running a community program at the Drop Inn Center – we were not professional enough in their eyes. By this time we were feeling the crunch of over crowdedness. We were getting nowhere with the landlord. And getting nowhere with passing inspections. Rat holes, water leaks, sewage backup were everyday problems. Conditions in the building were unlivable for person’s homeless sleeping there, many on the hard cold floors. We could not see surviving another winter in this rundown place where icicles dangled from the walls in the back storage room. The requirements demanded of our shelter by the Health and Building Departments could never be met by the 1324 Main Street facility. We started dreaming of a better and bigger facility. We wanted a place big enough to house men AND WOMEN. We wanted a warmer, safer, dryer place. We wanted out from under this landlord who refused to do needed repairs. So we started scouting around the neighborhood for a building large enough to meet our needs. (We were not interested in going out to Lunken Airport where it was suggested we look. We were determined to find a place in our own neighborhood.) Of all the buildings we looked at, the former Teamster Union Hall at 217 West 12th Street had the best possibility. We started negotiating with the Teamsters on a rental lease agreement. We kept the site quiet for we knew this location would be controversial, being one People’s Move cont. on page 9 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw -Administrative Coordinator Monique Little - Education Coordinator Kelly Carr - VISTA Chris Dourson - AHA Coordinator John Lavelle - VISTA Mary Gaffney - Reception Melvin Williams - Reception Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photography Jimmy Heath Cover Early photo of the Drop Inn Center Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 The Winter and Our Discontent by John Lavelle February arrives, and winter has no doubt worn out its welcome among most Cincinnatians. For the city’s most vulnerable residents, each winter seems just that much longer. Those with housing face heating bills that every year rise quicker than inflation and much faster than wages. For the thousands that spend all or part of each winter on the streets of Cincinnati, the four months or so can be grueling. Sleeping outdoors, a dangerous endeavor at any time of the year can become extremely hazardous to the health or even life-threatening. Life in the shelters becomes much more difficult as resources and bed space are stretched thin. According to Steve Knight, Shelter Coordinator for the Drop Inn Center in Over-the-Rhine, the shelter was at or above its 235 person capacity for 20 out of the 31 days in this past December. It is Drop Inn Center policy not to turn anyone away during the winter. When they are above capacity, those without beds must sleep on benches or John Lavelle the floor; there just simply is not enough room for the sheer amount of people without a place to stay. If it gets cold enough, the city will open an emergency overflow shelter at the Over-theRhine Community Center on Republic Street. Under the current policy, if the overnight wind chill is expected to dip to 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and the Drop Inn Center is at or above capacity the previous night, the Health Department will make a recommendation to the mayor that he declare a winter shelter emergency. Under such an emergency situation, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission opens the OTR Community Center as a shelter from 10pm-8am, and the Red Cross often provides snacks and other amenities. Those in need of shelter can go directly to the community center or be referred by other shelters that have reached capacity. This winter, the emergency shelter was opened for three nights straight The Future Suffers by Jimmy Heath American TV newscasts are sometimes impossible to watch. It is always about the drama: death, accidents, natural disasters and war. TV’s mantra, “if it bleeds, it leads” is at the heart of American public news viewing. From my neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine, notoriety is gained by the flow of blood. It gets tiresome constantly defending the neighborhood against the permeating stereotypes of violence and bloodshed lead by the evening local newscasts. For our suburban neighbors, this is the reality of the “hood”. We who live here know it is different. My neighbors and I live in peace and respect and watch out for each other, but there is no denying the real violence – 10 murders in Over-theRhine alone last year. The last time there were so many murders in Cincinnati was in 1978. (Of course, that number is deceiving because triage and advanced medical services mean many more lives are saved than in 1978.) Nevertheless, the loss of any life is tragic and unacceptable. Cincinnati’s new mayor starting on December 19th, a particularly cold night. However, on the brisk nights that do not qualify for the incredibly low temperature requirements of the overflow policy, individuals experiencing homelessness can quite literally get left out in the cold. For numerous and varying reasons, some individuals prefer not to stay at regular shelters, opting to sleep independently on the streets rather that in a crowded shelter. The emergency overflow shelter that periodically opens on extremely cold nights offers an alternative for many of these individuals. Just prior to publication of the February Streetvibes, the Homeless Outreach Group (HOG), a collaboration of local outreach workers helping the homeless, completed its quarterly street survey during an early morning undertaking. The results of the forthcoming survey may shed some light on the population sleeping on the streets in the winter. younger people to succeed or do we create more jail space to deal with recently outlined a plan to reduce them as young men? Do we create a violent crime in the city. Cincinnati powerful and engaging public school police will focus on mid-level drug environment for everyone, including dealers and seizing property through the poorest of the poor children who drug forfeiture laws. The mayor and suffer the ravages of City officials are asking less than adequate the U.S. Attorney’s education, or do we Office to accept more allow the “corner” to cases on a federal level, continue to be a viable and there will be more option and an of an effort to publicize inducement for truancy? the city’s 50 most violent Do we do something criminals. The police real to address racism chief says about 5 Jimmy Heath and classicism or do we percent of the cities allow another generation criminals are responsible for 50 of separation from opportunity for all? percent of the violent crime Sometimes the violence feeds Cincinnati police have itself through how we initiate these recently initiated more truancy sweeps discussions, especially in the news. in public places, including downtown’s We need a more positive discussion public library. and not more of the “same old.” A lot of people say that all this More cops and more effort is just more of the same. Most punishment won’t address the root of the violence surrounds the drug causes of the violence. Listen to us trade, but cleaning up hot spots just small folk on the side streets and ask moves the dealers to other places, us what we need. Break down the other corners, other neighborhoods. wall between the police and the Somewhere, we as a society citizenry. Engage the children through need to step in with more than just high quality education and support “more of the same.” It’s going to cost programs that promote sobriety. Let’s money no matter how we deal with it. break the cycle. Contact Do we create opportunities for jimmyheath@yahoo.com Streetvibes �have been developing the network in the Baltimore area. Ascension is one of the seven congregations that will house the families, who will stay at each location for a week before switching to another. The families will be housed in spare classrooms that the state also has received a Compiled by Jimmy Heath and offices at the congregations. $600,000 grant to help run shelters, Because most area shelters help the homeless find shelter or Near the University of don’t house men and women help people who are at risk of California, Davis last month, together, homeless families often get eviction, foreclosure or utility David Van Buren awoke to find split up, with the mother and shutoffs. he was lying in a puddle. children typically going to one It was raining hard onto the shelter, and the father - and teenage makeshift camp where he, his In Washington County, male children - to another. As a brother Michael and three other Maryland the Community Action result, families who find themselves homeless people had lived for Council was awarded $191,192 homeless often don’t seek help. about a month. and the Washington County “There are very few shelters The five friends - Van Department of Social Services that provide services for intact Buren’s “street family,” he says ­ will receive $45,839, according families,” says Laura Gillis, director In Stockton, California a pooled what money they had and to a statement from the U.S. of Baltimore Homeless Services, a 39-year-old homeless man died got a room at Motel 6 in Davis. Department of Housing and last month after being shot near quasi-public agency that runs Their tents, sleeping bags, Urban Development (HUD). homeless programs in the city. a freeway underpass. clothes and other belongings were The Maryland Department The 10 congregations that Police have no suspects in ruined. A utility line and 21/2 inches of Health and Mental Hygiene will are not providing housing will help the shooting at Lincoln and of water had fallen onto their camp. receive $180,948 for programs for Lafayette streets. The victim was with meals and childcare. The About 5 inches of water still sit in the homeless in Washington County. shot once in the upper body and families will be provided with three the bottom of Van Buren and his The $417,979 awarded died last month after being taken to home-cooked meals daily. brother’s tent, and their sleeping locally is part of $1.33 billion in The program is almost San Joaquin General Hospital. bags are soaked. federal funding that will assist entirely volunteer-based. Baltimore Police have not released his name. They were staying at the homelessness programs nationwide. It is the first homicide in San Homeless Services provided about Motel 6, funding it with money they HUD made the $50,000 annually to hire a full-time Joaquin County this year. Last have collected and with help from announcement last month. year, homicides claimed the lives of director for the BIHN, but local charity Grace In Action, but There are more than 150 congregations are responsible for 62 people across the county. they have nothing. programs throughout Maryland and The victim was found under feeding and housing the families. With Christmas nearly 5,000 programs in the U.S., an Interstate 5 overpass in an area approaching, it was difficult to be as well as Puerto Rico, Guam and In Cincinnati it’s a commonly used by homeless homeless, then to lose all of one’s the U.S. Virgin Islands, according Tuesday morning ritual for the people. The intersection is only a shelter and belongings on top of it, to the statement. sandwich crew at Guardian few blocks from both St. Mary’s a polite, almost soft-spoken Van The money is for emergency Interfaith Community Services and Angels Roman Catholic Church, Buren told The Enterprise. shelter and HUD’s Continuum of filling hundreds of baggies for the Stockton Shelter for the “I mean, we lost Care programs. distribution at an inner-city Homeless. everything,” he said last month in an Emergency shelter grants friary. “He was a transient who interview.. help convert buildings to homeless The volunteers, about 15 to lived in some of the camps there,” He and his brother moved shelters, pay for operating costs Stockton police Sgt. Juan Zermeno 20 regulars dubbed the Peanut from Oregon to Roseville several and social service and homeless said Monday. “He also frequented Butter Group, meet in the basement weeks before. They moved to prevention programs, according to of the church rectory after 7:30 the homeless shelter.” Davis when someone destroyed the statement. a.m. Mass and churn out 1,300 to their camp in Roseville and took The Continuum of Care 1,400 simple but filling sandwiches In Baltimore, area their belongings. They had heard programs provide permanent and homeless families will soon have — peanut butter, no jelly; bologna, Davis had organizations that would transitional housing to the homeless, a new option: 17 area religious no mayo. help them. job training, health care, mental When they’re done, the congregations have combined They started over, gathering health counseling, substance abuse forces to offer housing, food and sandwiches are taken to the St. enough items to survive and treatment and child care. support specifically designed for Francis Friary to feed the hungry. creating a camp in Davis about a When all the sandwiches are such families. month ago. Shelters across the made, bagged and stacked into The group, the Baltimore With 16 people, the Davis country are taking a closer look Interfaith Hospitality Network, will milk crates, Pat George and Ginny Community Meals shelter is at at an Ottawa shelter that gives house up to 14 people - usually two Farrell load them into Farrell’s van, capacity. The staff there has tried to drinks to homeless alcoholics along with donated bakery or three families - at seven area help and has given Van Buren and after a study suggested the doughnuts and cookies made by places of worship. The network the others a tarp, food, blankets program is having a positive Guardian Angels School students includes Baptist, Catholic and and the only two sleeping bags impact. Presbyterian churches, as well as a and their parents. available. They want to get a couple Dr. Tiina Podymow The women drive synagogue and a Baha’i temple. of tents for the group and are envisioned the program after downtown from Mount Washington The congregations are in the city hoping the community will help. volunteering with chronic to the back kitchen door of St. and in Baltimore County. alcoholics, including some who Francis, where Sister Bernadette “This addresses a segment drank upwards of 40 drinks per In Concord, N.H. the of the homeless population that isn’t Asbach starts handing out the food day, including mouthwash. government is sending a $2 well-served by other services,” said at 10:30 a.m. Two men in the program About 35 to 50 regulars million grant to help the Jennifer Arnold, recruitment receive their drinks at an Ottawa show up every day among the 150 homeless. coordinator for the BIHN. shelter. or so who receive the sandwiches, The grant will help pay for Arnold is a member of Participants in the Managed Ascension Evangelical Lutheran along with a kind word of transitional and permanent housing, Alcohol Project were given encouragement. outreach programs and to develop Church in Towson, which is permanent beds in a shelter and, “They should get more than a statewide information system on involved in the effort. For the past from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m, allowed to food when they come to the door,” the homeless. two years she has been part of a Sister Asbach said. “Spreading the Health and Human Services have one drink of homemade wine group of about 10 volunteers who or beer per hour, carefully word of hope is important.” Commissioner John Stephen said Homeless News Digest measured out at a dispensary counter. Now a study published in last month’s edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal is raising interest in the program. Completed by the shelter’s medical director, Dr. Jeff Turnbull, the study examined the program’s impact on 17 residents. Most had been alcoholics for 35 years before starting the program. Critics say there’s no way to judge how effective the harmreduction approach is because there’s no comparison group in the study, such as people taking part in an abstinence program like Alcoholics Anonymous. Streetvibes Page 3 �and fearful. Many are victims of robbery, rape or attack and are by James Gonser overwhelmed by traditional Safe Haven in Hawai’i , garbage. programs, Lundstrom said. celebrated its 10th anniversary last Advocates say they are They live in miserable month at its downtown shelter at 41 extremely difficult to help because conditions, sometimes not even S. Beretania Street. typically they don’t seek or often The program celebrates a decade of knowing they are ill. The shelter is for people who won’t accept professional help. work last month with an open house Inside Safe Haven is a calm are homeless and have a mental “Safe Haven is an example of at its downtown shelter. atmosphere with soothing color illness. It offers outreach, medical and how you can take those folks that are Started in 1995 with a $1.5 schemes and friendly faces. The psychiatric care, case management, on the street and they can be saved,” million federal grant and matching offices are in the basement. A 24-hour residential services and said Joanne Lundstrom, chief local money, Safe Haven is part of a reception area, kitchen, activity social rehabilitation activities. Mental executive officer of Mental Health national system developed to help center and medical offices are on the Health Kokua and Kalihi-Palama Kokua, the nonprofit agency that runs end chronic homelessness. ground floor. Apartments are on the Health Center operate the facility. Safe Haven. “They can begin to Today, the shelter operates upper floors. The federal Department of change their behaviors and live more with a $1.3 million annual budget and Only 25 can live there, but Housing and Urban Development independently. It works.” 19 employees. In addition, Kalihianyone diagnosed with a mental identified “safe havens” as a national John Perkins has his own Palama Heath Center’s Health Care illness who is at least 18 years old need for the homeless and financed room on the shelter’s third floor. for the Homeless Project provides and homeless can make use of the 80 programs nationwide. For Perkins, 52, that is a big outreach to people on the streets place for free meals, showers, For 10 years, Safe Haven deal. His last address was the along with psychiatric and medical laundry, storing items in a secure has helped some of O’ahu’s mentally downtown sidewalk along Kuakini care. locker, getting mail and using the ill homeless people rebuild their lives Street. Safe Haven does have rules phone. by not telling them what to do. “Over here is the sink,” said — no drugs or alcohol, and the door “The uniqueness of Safe The shelter doesn’t tell them Perkins, who is proud to show off his is locked at 9 p.m. But outside of the Haven is the soft approach,” they have to take their medication, or amenities, including a window and a shelter, the clients are on their own, Lundstrom said. “Other group homes attend mandatory counseling sessions desk where he likes to draw. Lundstrom said. and residential programs have clearly or stop using drugs or alcohol. The soft-spoken Perkins “They may be drinking and defined expectations coming in. You What Safe Haven workers frequently changes the subject in the doing drugs, but they cannot do it in need to participate.” do is listen, and take the time to build middle of a conversation. But he Safe Haven,” she said. “We In 10 years, Lundstrom said, trust with people who have serious draws intricate pictures, mixing discourage them from doing that but about 80 percent of Safe Haven’s mental and substance abuse problems Buddhist symbols and political don’t bar them from getting help if residents — about 180 people — who are chronically homeless. leaders such as former President Bill they are.” have found more permanent housing These people often are the Clinton. There are an estimated 6,000 and are no longer homeless. most visible of those on the streets — Perkins moved into his room homeless people in Hawai’i on any Among the success stories is loudly talking to themselves, living six months ago, and in a year he given day. Safe Haven estimates that Sesa Toelupe, 45, who five years ago outside public bathrooms and bus would like to be in a home of his at least one-third, or about 2,000, are was living in public parks. Today she stops or wandering the streets own. “We’ll see,” he said. “I’m chronically homeless. Mentally ill lives in a group home in Waipahu and pushing shopping carts filled with working on it.” homeless are vulnerable, disoriented works at the Lanakila Rehabilitation Center. Show your support! Get your STREETVIBES “I was so insecure,” she said. “Just being out there with all those T-Shirt Today! people in the park. People taking drugs. It scared me. You don’t know what is out there.” She said Safe Haven gave her a place to live for three years, the treatment she needed and the confidence to start a new life. Ten years ago, the facility opened amid controversy over its location and how a facility for mentally ill homeless people would affect the neighborhood. Lynne Matusow, chairwoman of the Downtown Neighborhood Board, said at the time there was a (Back shown here. push to locate the shelter at the old Shirt not actual size) fire station on South Street, away from downtown. But because many of the chronic homeless live in downtown and Chinatown areas, the neighborhood board supported its placement in the Edwin Thomas Home on Beretania Street near Fort Street Mall. “We wanted it to be right here in the community,” Matusow said. “We said it needed to be right where the problem is.” Only $15 Laura E. Thielen, executive We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ director of the Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, a nonprofit All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for group that works with Safe Haven, the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call said the program is the only one in 513.421.7803 x 16, or come in to our office at 117 E Hawai’i that’s tailored to get people who are both mentally ill and 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine chronically homeless off the streets. ‘Soft approach’ Saving Homeless Once trust is established, the shelter provides medical and psychiatric care, case management and social rehabilitation services. Page 4 Streetvibes �Filibuster Evasion by Paul Rogat Loeb In the wake of the Alito hearings, mainline pundits are calling his nomination a done deal. Alito didn’t spew obscenities or green bile. He didn’t admit that he’d reverse Roe v. Wade or vow to proclaim George Bush Lord Emperor. Rehearsed and coached by committee member Lindsay Graham (and by some of the same lawyers who justified Bush’s NSA wiretaps), he instead spoke deferentially and humbly about respecting legal precedent and separation of powers, while Republican committee members made him out to be a mix of Solomon and Mother Teresa. Much like Clarence Thomas during his hearings, Alito dodged the tough questions with evasions and platitudes, suffered convenient memory lapses on areas he couldn’t dodge, and justified controversial past stands by saying he was just trying to be a team player. We know little more about him than before—except about his capacity to dissemble. Meanwhile, in a galaxy far away, former Congresswoman Liz Holtzman, who sat on Nixon’s impeachment committee, just wrote that Bush’s defiance of the law through illegal wiretapping, lying about the reasons for going to war, and condoning of violation of US law about detainee abuse constitute grounds for impeachment. Holtzman said impeachment should never be undertaken lightly. She found “voting for [Nixon’s] impeachment to be one of the most sobering and unpleasant tasks I ever had to undertake.” But she said it was necessary in Nixon’s case, and merited in Bush’s as well. A Zogby poll taken last November, just before the wiretap scandal broke, found that 53 percent of those questioned favored impeachment of President Bush if he lied about the war in Iraq. If there’s a chance to stop Alito, much less reclaim our democracy, we need to bring these realities together. The filibuster just might be the vehicle to do that, as Senators could spell out the links between link runaway executive Paul Loeb power and a nominee who has consistently ruled and spoken in favor of the unaccountable expansion of that power. Suppose the Democratic Senators actually used a filibuster to talk about the Alito nomination in its broadest context. They wouldn’t read the phone book. They wouldn’t get lost in an endless maze of legal rhetoric about stare decisions. They could talk about how they’d have readily accepted a more moderate nominee, much as Clinton nominated Steven Breyer and Ruth Ginzberg in part because Orrin Hatch said he’d accept them as preferable to other proposed justices. They’d use the filibuster to educate as well as impede. However they label their actions, suppose the Democrats started debating the nomination, and didn’t stop, in the process illegal, what it’s like to be discriminated against, then told you don’t meet an impossible burden of proof, and whether police should be able to shoot unarmed 15-year­ olds who flee after stealing $10. They could tell the stories that bring seemingly abstract issues of jurisdiction and constitutional interpretation to life, and make clear their real-world consequences. In the process they could remind America that this president, with this track record of lies, deceptions, and favors for the most destructive private interests, deserves no presumption of deference. And that when he nominates someone, like Alito, who will only further his abuses of power, Senators have a moral responsibility to oppose him however they can. The wink-and­ nod games of the hearings were designed to obscure Alito’s record and frame him as genial and reasonable. If the Democrats accept this, or even quietly vote against him without further protest, addressing the real roots of why they further the lie that this is an Alito would be so destructive. They ordinary nomination in an ordinary could read from articles and books time. If they filibuster and stand about this administration’s abuse of firm, there’s a chance that just presidential power. They could talk enough of the now politically about whether we really want weakened Republicans will back government officials to be able to down and not risk putting strip us of our rights at will, listen in themselves on the line to destroy on our phone and email nearly 200 years of Senate tradition conversations without a court order, for the naked goal of increasing and infiltrate the citizen groups their power. But Democrats have to through which we gather peacefully take the risk of standing up, and we to express our beliefs. They could as ordinary citizens have to do all talk about the choices women were we can to convince them to do so. forced to make when abortion was Third Teen Held in Homeless Beating Death In Fort Lauderdale, Florida a third teenager was ordered held without bail last month after he was charged with murder in the death of a homeless man who was beaten with a baseball bat and shot with a paintball gun. William Ammons, 18, was charged in the killing of 45-year-old Norris Gaynor, one of at least three homeless men allegedly attacked last month by a group of teens. He didn’t comment on the allegations during a video court appearance, but said he was trying to hire a private lawyer. Ammons, Brian Hooks, 18, and Thomas Daugherty, 17, all face murder and assault charges in the attacks. One beating was caught by a security camera, and authorities say the video played a key role in identifying the alleged assailants. Ammons initially was accused only of assaulting another homeless man. He was released on $5,000 bail on the assault charge but was arrested again a few hours later on the murder charge. Witnesses said Video tape shows only Daugherty struck Gaynor with a bat. Police said Ammons admitted he shot Gaynor with a paintball gun and that his slain, even if they didn’t commit the actual killing. “When people come together to commit a crime, they are all charged separately as if they each committed the crime,” said Assistant State Attorney Lee Cohen. Gaynor was buried in Fort Lauderdale after a short funeral attended by about 25 relatives and strangers. His family described him as restless, and as an adult he drifted around the country, working in landscaping, roofing and as an artist. “This needs to be stopped,” his mother, Georgia Gaynor, 72, told The Miami Herald. “I don’t want there to be another Norris Gaynor.” National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) Dispute leads to homeless shelter shooting Residents of the I.M. Sulzbacher Center in Jacksonville, Florida said Jelen Shropshire, 52, and Paul Williams, 45, had been fighting since before Christmas, but their argument turned deadly when vehicle was used by assailants in at least two of the attacks. “I can’t imagine what would go through somebody’s mind or what they were thinking to commit a heinous crime such as this,” said police Captain Michael Gregory. homeless beating Under Florida law, anyone who takes part in a crime can be charged with murder if someone is Shropshire allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Williams in the chest. Williams died at the scene. Now, some residents of the center said they are worried about their own safety. 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 Streetvibes Page 5 �Retiring Doesn’t Mean Goodbye by Ms. Mary Gaffney I will share one or two days As we enter the second a week with a visit here at the month of the New Year, I’d like to Coalition as a volunteer. I will also thank each and every continue my column. I one of my friends who will visit with my purchase Streetvibes. homeless friends and You have helped the bring coffee to share. poor and homeless Even though I won’t vendors have a place be here, I am still and an income of their concerned about the own. I have been here homeless – keep your Miss Mary Gaffney five years and have head up and walk tall, watched what you have and if you stumble get up, brush done for our vendors. I will not be yourself off and continue on. with my homeless friends here at History shows that you the Coalition because I am retiring. aren’t the only one who have made a miss-step in life or fallen during life’s strides. We have all stubbed our toes in life. Remember, there is always a brighter day ahead. Keep the faith and attitude that you can and will make it. Remember, regardless of who you are and what has happened in your life, you are still important in my sight and the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Until next month, to the purchasers each month of Streetvibes, continue helping my friends. Taxes continue to rise and jobs dry up but there is always a brighter day ahead. Until next month. National News on Homelessness and Poverty FRAC (the Food Research and Action Center) and its partners in the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) and the Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities (ECAP) will try to build on partial victories from 2005 to derail remaining FY 2006 Budget Reconciliation Bill cuts to lowincome programs and legislation giving tax cuts to wealthy Americans when Congress returns in late January. One key victory came in December when Congressional leaders abandoned cuts to the Food Stamp Program. In addition, due to a successful parliamentary challenge, the conference report that passed the Senate differed from that passed by the House and so will require further action to become law. In a December 27th ECAP Update, Jeff Blum and Brad Woodhouse report, “These victories are, to be sure, still partial. But they are very real. And few pundits, legislators or even activists would have given us much chance to achieve them before we started ECAP fewer than three short months ago. The discipline of thousands of activists to believe we could win, to stay together on message and to target vulnerable Members with a never-ending barrage of constituent pressure was unprecedented in federal budget fights.” As US Student Association President Eddy Morales says, “This was the one issue where we were able to generate student activism. Students made 15,000 phone calls about budget reconciliation – about student loans, and also about Medicaid and food stamps. Our discipline helped Democratic leadership hold their entire caucuses on very tough votes, and convinced moderate Republicans that they should be with us on very tough votes.” ECAP partners met on January 5th in Washington, DC Page 6 President Likely to Propose Entitlement Program Cuts in 2007 Budget (“Bush Seeking to Limit Spending Growth in ’07 Budget,” bloomberg.com, January 10, 2006) President Bush is preparing a budget proposal for fiscal year 2007 and officials say it likely will cut programs such as Medicaid, NASA and agriculture programs to restrain budget growth spurred by the cost of hurricane relief, the war in Iraq and prescription drugs for senior citizens. “The rate of growth [in the budget] is going to be below the rate of inflation” except for defense and homeland security, commented Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg. Gregg said, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for about 60 percent of the federal budget, so they should account for 60 percent of budget savings. The president may face resistance to his plan. All members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senators will be reelected in November, and many of them may not risk going against the wishes of their constituencies who support the targeted programs. ”Policy is going to butt heads with politics this year,” said Bill Hoagland, a budget analyst for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Cuts in entitlement programs “aren’t politically saleable.” Along with farmers and environmentalists, who fear a further tightening of the Agriculture Department’s budget, Maine Senator Olympia Snowe also would resist the cuts. ”She wouldn’t want the beneficiaries to bear the brunt of cuts,” in any new proposal affecting Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps, said Snowe’s spokesman Preston Hartman. IRS Withholds Hundreds of Thousands of EITC Refunds for Poor (“I.R.S. Limited Tax Refunds of Poor, Congress Is Told,” nytimes.com, January 10, 2006) The tax refunds sought by hundreds of thousands of lowincome Americans were frozen and their returns labeled fraudulent by the Internal Revenue Service without any notification, according to a report by the IRS taxpayer advocate, Nina Olson. Affected taxpayers had an average income of $13,000. They were seeking the earned income tax credit, a benefit for the working poor, and their requests were assigned questionable status by an IRS criminal division’s computer program. Once a return is flagged, future requests by the same taxpayer also are frozen for a number of years which IRS rules prohibit the advocate from specifying publicly. Olson reported that the IRS devoted more resources to investigating questionable refunds to the poor, worth no more than $9 billion, than to a $100 billion problem involving unreported incomes from small businesses. Olson found that the IRS owed all the money, or more, to two-thirds of the taxpayers who pursued their refunds, and it was unfair, and a waste of resources, to withhold refunds from poor people when, at most, one in five of them appeared not to be due refunds. Leslie M. Book of Villanova University commented: “Freezing refunds without giving taxpayers process is an extremely dangerous way to administer the earned income tax credit. These taxpayers often need more rather than less protection because they are not sophisticated, are afraid of government involvement.” High Costs of Poverty Make it Harder for Poor to Improve Their Lives (“High Living Costs Help Perpetuate Poverty,” Streetvibes Homeless Quotes It’s so bad being homeless in winter. They should buy a plane ticket and go somewhere hot like the Caribbean where they can eat free fish all day. by Lady Victoria Hervey What we have found in this country, and maybe we’re more aware of it now, is one problem that we’ve had, even in the best of times, and that is the people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless, you might say, by choice. by Ronald Reagan Is not necessary to advertise food to hungry people, fuel to cold people, or houses to the homeless. by Galbraith palmbeachpost.com, January 8, 2006) Megan Adams learned the hard way that being poor is not cheap. On payday she was usually able to leave work only when the bank was already closed and her paycheck often ended up at the local check casher. For Adams, who provided for her children on $9 to $10 per hour, a 3 percent fee for cashing a check was significant. A Brookings Institution study concluded that the higher prices paid by the poor for everything from car insurance to utilities to groceries leave them too little to invest in education or homes. A survey of convenience stores in Adams’ Delray Beach, FL neighborhood found their prices more than 25 percent higher than those of grocery stores just outside the neighborhood. The high cost of poverty often prevents the poor from acquiring assets, including homes, said Bonnie Howard of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Also, poor people do not have savings to use during hard times and live one crisis away from a financial disaster. California: Governor Schwarzenegger’s Budget Cuts Hit Welfare Programs (“Gov’s Budget Cuts Welfare, Boosts Schools,” latimes.com, January 11, 2006) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced a budget proposal that would cut welfare programs almost $200 million over the next two years while increasing funding for schools and health care programs for lowincome children. The proposal was a departure from the governor’s previous plans that called for reductions across the board, but came as a shock to anti-poverty activists who had hoped that services for the poor would be spared cuts. �Dallas library code of conduct New Study Finds 20 Meanest Cities and Constructive Alterna­ draws criticism A new Dallas Public Library code of conduct that bans distracting odors has drawn criticism from homeless advocates who say the rule unfairly targets the homeless and poor. “No one in Dallas wants the homeless hanging around their door, especially the city,” said Paul Voorhees, a homeless man who spends much of his day reading and using the computer at the downtown library. But library officials say the code of conduct, which took months to develop and will be implemented in February, is meant to create a reader-friendly atmosphere. The rules prohibit a variety of activities, including sleeping, eating, bathing, loud talking on cell phones, fighting, bare feet and sex. The rules also apply to city recreation centers. Dallas library Director Laurie Evans said the conduct code has not been updated for years. The rules are meant to address behaviors, not people, and are not an excuse to kick people out of the building, she said. Any violations, including offensive smell, would be addressed on a case-by-case basis, and only when visitors or staff members complain. “The intent is to provide a welcoming environment for anyone who walks through the doors,” Evans said. “They deserve to be comfortable; they deserve to feel welcomed in public buildings.” Dallas homeless advocate James Waghorne said the city does not provide facilities for some of the library’s neediest patrons to keep shower-fresh. Homeless people often need libraries for resources they can’t get elsewhere, he said. “There are resources there that are set up for everyone to use,” Waghorne said. “If you don’t have 50 cents to buy a newspaper, you can go to the library and read want ads.” For years, library patrons have complained about homeless people using Dallas’ downtown public library for activities such as bathing in the restroom or loitering outside. Dallas City Council member Angela Hunt said the homeless are welcome at Dallas libraries, but that libraries were never intended to be used as shelters. Libraries across the country, from Redwood City, Calif., to Boston and Houston, have adopted similar policies. “If people can’t take care of basic hygiene and are disturbing to the 100 or so people around them, then it’s perfectly acceptable for the library to say, ‘Will you please sit somewhere else?’ or ‘Will you consider coming back another day?’ “ said Leslie Burger, president-elect of the American Library Association. Burger said similar codes have held up in court. tives to a “Dream Denied” The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP) will release their 2006 report tracking the escalating trend of criminalizing homelessness in 224 U.S. cities. The report also ranks the top 20 meanest cities in the country based on a number of factors, including the number of antihomeless laws in the city, the enforcement of those laws, the general political climate toward homeless people in the city, and the city’s history of criminalization measures. A Dream Denied focuses on specific city measures from 2005 that have targeted homeless persons, such as laws that make it illegal to sleep, eat, or sit in public spaces or placing restrictions on providers serving food to poor and homeless persons in public spaces. The report also includes information about constitutional challenges to laws and practices that criminalize homelessness, as well as models for more constructive approaches to homelessness. Top Twenty Ranked Cities: 1. Sarasota, FL 2. Lawrence, KS 3. Little Rock, AR 4. Atlanta, GA 5. Las Vegas, NV 6. Dallas, TX 7. Houston, TX 8. San Juan, PR 9. Santa Monica, CA 10. Flagstaff, AZ 11. San Francisco, CA 12. Chicago, IL 13. San Antonio, TX 14. New York City, NY 15. Austin, TX 16. Anchorage, AK 17. Phoenix, AZ 18. Los Angeles, CA 19. St. Louis, MO 20. Pittsburgh, PA CONTACT: For more information contact Melanie Mullen: mmullen@nlchp.org or Michael Stoops: mstoops@nationalhomelessness.org, and receive an Executive Summary. 21 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 A Call to Greater Cincinnati Poets For the 2006 annual Book of Poems and Drawings on Peace and Justice 1) Call for poems from any poet from the Greater Cincinnati area 2) Poems to relate to themes of peace and justice 3) Poet may submit up to 3 poems 4) All submissions will be considered. The editors will be looking for quality, inclusiveness, and appropriateness to the themes of peace and justice. 5) If space becomes limited, priority will be given to poets not published in previous books 6) Poems selected will be illustrated in B&W by Greater Cincinnati artists (one drawing per poet) 7) Poems and illustrations will be printed in For a Better World 2006, a book to be available April, 2006 8) Book will be launched and available for sale at SOS ART 2006. 9) Poets included in book will be invited to read their poems at SOS ART 2006 10) Proceeds from sale of book will finance publication of future similar books to accompany annual SOS ART events. (Note: this is the 3rd annual book) 11) Submission deadline: February 20, 2006 12) Please send submissions in full text and as a Word attachments by e-mail or by US mail (on a floppy disk) to: Saad Ghosn (saad.ghosn@uc.edu), 216 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, Oh 45229 Streetvibes Page 7 �People’s Move cont. from page 2 of the top spots for future profitmaking development so close to Music Hall. But it was our top spot for a home for the homeless, and that was top priority. We were not making headway fast enough with the Teamsters, and feeling the moral urgency to get out of the unsafe environment, we plotted THE PEOPLES MOVE for midnight on January 13th, l978. We did not plan for the blizzard. Though the blizzard made the move more treacherous, it was a blessing in disguise. It gave us time to get somewhat settled in before the City discovered we were there. The City’s reaction to our move was to wage a vicious campaign to close us down. On January 20th we were forced into court. The Building Department ordered our immediate eviction and our leadership was threatened with criminal charges. That day with 14 Early Drop Inn Center photograph ruled on behalf of the homeless. It inches of snow on the ground and was a victory for the people. zero temperatures, the 120 The Peoples Power Ran homeless residents of the shelter Through Our Veins That Day were waiting with intense anxiety As I reflect on our their fate as buddy gray on the courageous action twenty years ago witness stand defended our decision to “illegally” move into our I can still feel the people’s power new home. The prosecutors grilled that ran through our veins that day. him unmercifully. The Spirit moved It was no small feat to do what we did. Many people, including the with us that day. Judge Outcalt residents, staff, neighborhood and community-wide volunteers, participated in the midnight move. We were taking control of our lives and determining our own history. We were actors, not victims. We were powerful, not powerless. We were hopeful, not despairing. We were risk-takers and not afraid to stand our ground. We stood our ground despite obstacles and determinedly weathered many torrential rains that came pouring down on us as a result of the location we chose and the City feeling threatened by our people’s action. Inspired by the Spirit of our people’s just anger I wrote this song during that tumultuous time in our history. There are many more chapters to our Drop Inn Center story. My hope is that we continue to remember the fighting spirit that was a part of our beginnings…and never lose sight of that. The story and the spirit needs to be passed on so those who join our effort along the way can feel and claim in their own veins the power of the people and carry this struggle forward…so that someday all our sisters and brothers will be afforded a safe and decent place to call home. I believe to remember and honor our peoples history reminds us that where we are today was made possible by those who labored and loved before us. Our participation in this important work is our ticket on the Freedom Train, which has been going down the track for centuries. Once aboard we must continue to tell the stories of people seeking justice and freedom. Homeless Early photo of the Drop Inn Center and former Teamsters Hall on 12th Street My world fell apart the other day. A personal tragedy tore my world away. I was once so comfortable and secure. My life is now a constant blur. Family times and days well spent Are now replaced by cold, hard cement. I never chose to live this way. A personal tragedy tore my world away. It’s kind of you to help me when you do. Maybe you realize it could happen to you. The House of Christmas buddy gray (center) in his new office at the Drop Inn Center Page 8 buddy gray and Maurice McCrackin Streetvibes There fared a mother driven forth Out of an inn to roam; In the place where she was homeless All men are at home. The crazy stable close at hand, With shaking timber and shifting sand, Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand. �Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! Let my people go! Beyond the noble ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the American dream of ownership and fulfillment, there are the little things that make us simply feel human. Bathrooms are one of those unheralded accessories: one of those things you don’t appreciate until it’s not there in your time of need. In the measures of a civilized society, public restrooms have to rank among the most basic criteria for success. Providing them should be a community concern as intrinsic as our desire for peace on earth and a worldwide wi-fi network. Got The Vibe? moments of privacy. But we’re willing to bet most people use them It’s not just a matter of aesthetics, or hygiene, or safety — to take care of more important business, more immediate business. although those reasons alone are enough to justify the placement and The benefits of eliminating feces management of accessible 24-hour and urine on the sidewalks, unhealthy hygiene, criminal bathroom facilities. It’s more citations, sex crimes and humiliation importantly a matter of dignity, for demand a creative solution. A the people caught between an person does not choose to use alcove and a wet spot and the drugs because there are public community that should rise to the restrooms, but a person’s humanity basic needs of all its members. PHLUSH, an ad-hoc group and health is compromised in their absence. assembled through the Old Town/ Public restrooms also Chinatown Neighborhood present the potential for employing Association in Portland, Oregon is people to monitor and manage researching how it can make 24­ hour bathrooms a reality in a part of them, a service that would be offset by alleviating the cost of police and the city that needs them the most. Old Town/Chinatown is proudly the security personnel from processing offensive deposit violations, not to city’s hub of services for people mention the improved general experiencing homelessness, but it’s hygiene of a community and its not just a homeless issue. This residents. neighborhood also hosts the If, for a moment, you have gateway for rail and bus travelers put yourself in the position of coming into town after long trips. needing, but not having, a And it’s the center of Portland’s vibrant nightlife, where clubs empty bathroom, you know how much this is the right thing to do. out around 2 a.m.; a time when emptying anything else can result in Reprinted from Street Roots a misdemeanor and a $1,000 fine. My Life It’s time for a public by Janet Sharp restroom, or restrooms, to be My life always changes, established in the Old Town New details to find out, neighborhood. To make that happen, the businessmen, residents Family secrets known and unknown, and the people on the streets have My temper to keep under to rally behind the effort. To make control. that happen, money and management will have to be put forward, along with innovation and Find a way to hide from the understanding. It will have to be world, seen as an investment, not a liability, Learn to listen more and talk although there are many concerns less, that can derail the right course. Find a way to keep my mind People have, on occasion, active. used public restrooms for engaging in drugs, sex and the elusive So much to do, So little time, Finding some balance in my life. Send your letters or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors. One of these days I’ll find that balance. When, I don’t know. More Poetry on Pages 14 and 15 Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct and agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Vendor Pro­ gram. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may be removed from the Program. To report a Vendor, call 421­ 7803. ext. 16 Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Streetvibes Page 9 �of a federal program called the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, prosecutor Kate Pflaumer. “Criminal concurs that “law enforcement by enforcement is not working, and there itself won’t solve the problem. You needs to be a big, open debate about need good prevention and treatment programs.” However, he adds, that.” “Legalization misses the whole Echoing the overall tone of the conference, retired Seattle Police concept of what addiction is about Chief Norm Stamper declared, “The and what drives people to become addicts. It’s a fallacy that flies in the drug war is causing more harm than face of common sense. Treatment good. We are creating much more dangerous, unhealthy communities by programs tell us that law enforcement leaving the drug trade in the hands of is a necessary first intervention in the user’s life.” the underworld.” Stamper favors full Satterberg said he appeared legalization of all drugs. at the conference to dispel some Privately, many law enforcement misperceptions. “A lot of people professionals acknowledge a certain come to these conferences without futility in trying to uphold present knowing how our current system has laws. Others are convinced that any evolved. The state of Washington has softening of them will only lead to made significant progress in reducing greater damage to communities and our reliance on prison. Treatment is users. “We’ve seen the conference’s the answer.” Rodriguez points to the proposals and feel they are out of success of drug courts and deferred touch with reality,” says Jeff Eig, prosecution. “This is a sensible spokesperson for the local Drug solution, because many addicts need Enforcement Administration. “It’s completely away from the situation on supervised and coerced treatment” — something that could not happen the ground and going in the wrong without the threat of incarceration. direction.” While nearly everyone agrees Dave Rodriguez, local head Drug Debate Goes On by Tom Cogbill Can America’s longstanding love-hate relationship with addictive substances be defused by drastic reform of current drug laws? That’s the $20 billion question — about what the U.S. government spends annually on the War on Drugs. Nearly 200 reform advocates met in Seattle Dec. 1-2 to discuss issues and strategies for dismantling the present “prohibition” approach to problematic drugs. Speaker after speaker decried the bankruptcy of the policy, which relies heavily on imprisonment as a deterrent, and on interdiction and eradication (which take up two-thirds of the overall budget). About 70 percent of inmates are serving drug convictions; yet, as Dan Satterberg, chief of staff for the King County Prosecutor, noted, “No one believes we can incarcerate our way out of the problem.” “If we took the money spent poisoning fields abroad and spent it on treatment here, it would be far more useful,” says former federal Funeral Show “One way to get rid of the race problem.” He was being sarcastic, by Jay Thiemeyer unlike that white Republican It’s Xmas Eve and I’m Louisiana legislator talking about missing “It’s AWonderful Life” Katrina’s elimination of low-income again. I like Jimmy Stewart. And black folks’ housing on the Gulf. Donna Reed. I had scarlet fever Clearing the way for “Opportunity when I was 8 and spent a feverish month in bed watching “The Donna Zones.” Clearing out affordable housing and people with no dough Reed Show” every day. If it was to contribute to the business model on every day, I watched it every of how civilization was supposed to day. It was just me and the boob work. Business enterprise tube. unimpeded by human Donna Reed was the cat’s a#$ as far as I was concerned. Just considerations. The PBA’s dream me, and the post-war ideal of a big written out on the blank slate of a post-Katrina world. Clear the sister. Scarlet fever and the cat’s South Park blocks of human refuse a#$ of American iconic women, to promote Holiday commerce. suburban domestic. Remote, Business has its entitlement and the untouchable, but big sisterly. The police goons are there to enforce it. ideal, insinuated into a kid’s Advance their careers. Win awards feverish, defenseless brain. and citations as productive citizens. And I remember seeing And for the homeless, we “Birth of a Nation” on the small have vigils. box. Norfolk offered it all on the When I was 8 and feverish small box. All the acculturation a and bed-ridden, though, I didn’t young boy in a fever would ever know from nothing. But even as need. obtuse as I was, I knew I had it There were no homeless in good. Living indoors isn’t bad. A Norfolk that I recall. The GI Bill new sort of entitlement. Lying in had assimilated the returning vets bed watching cable. Old movies before they could constitute a from the ’50s. “The Far Country” homeless army of malcontents, in Alaska. Made in 1956. It permanent evacuees from the wasn’t bad; interesting comparison bivouacs of war. with Clint Eastwood. Same loner, The government and the drifter, hobo type. Inner Child American Legion and bureaucratic buried deep, incommunicable. Iron anti-Communist unions had made sure there would be no more Bonus Man shell was what was happening. High Plains Drifter, or Jimmy Armies or Anacostia Flats. There Stewart in “The Far Country.” were only the dreaded skid rows Same character, same American where non-whites red-lined from white manhood appeal. Masters of suburbia were quarantined, and their fate. Living by their wits. urban renewal would soon erase Very romantic. Very rad. An ideal. them. “Bulldozer diplomacy,” a A fiction. friend in city planning called it. Page 10 Earlier in the evening I had been to a candlelight vigil, part of a nationwide acknowledgement of the homeless who’d died over the past year. It was, predictably, not well-attended. A handful standing in the rain. Some had skin in the game, some were simply sympathetic. Xmas lights hung dreamily in the trees. The newly refurbished Art Museum to the west of us, The Schnitzer to the east of us. On we rode into our small valley of dead homeless. A regular light brigade of sympathizers. Very tame, very domesticated and contained. No outrage was voiced. One of the perhaps dozen names was one I knew. Richard Nash. I had been to a memorial for him a month ago. His parents, his twin, a cousin, were there. Dave Utzinger, the facilitator for Potluck in the Park, had arranged it, expecting the people he told about it and who promised they’d be there, to actually show up. They didn’t. Couldn’t remember his face or name. Maybe that’s ultimately why I went. I should have known him but couldn’t place him. Nash slept squeezed against a fence that separated PDOT land, a small slice of it, from I-84. He lived alone in that same place for years, during every day of every season. Come rain or come shine. Barely sheltered by some low-hanging evergreen. Richard drew no comment that I discovered the particular afternoon of his memorial. He apparently lived as anonymously as Streetvibes more should be spent on education and treatment, reform advocates claim a certain percentage of the population gets addicted to drugs no matter what. These people can be managed most effectively by “medicalizing” their addiction: providing inexpensive, pharmaceutical dosing of their drugs in a hygienic environment with treatment and social services available upon demand. The idea is to expose addiction as a serious risk to health and social status and thus deflate the glamorous image young people often have of prohibited substances. DEA’s Eig doesn’t buy it. “We have to be sending a clear message to our young people that drug use is unacceptable.” “I commend [the conference] for discussing the topic,” says Satterberg. “There’s plenty to criticize in our current approach. But you need to have thought out the details. Nobody knows what would happen if the state were to hand out heroin and hard drugs. There’s lots of rhetoric, but it’s not an academic matter. It’s a real [bad] deal for people who lose their families.” he died. His body went unclaimed at first. Either his ID was knocked so far by the collision that they couldn’t find it, or he didn’t have one. It costs a lot of money to have an ID. Which brings me back to why I attended. That’s what I really wanted to say. What I went there to see. The appearance of grief and sympathy. Richard’s family seemed nice enough. They lived within an hour’s ride by TriMet. Their door, they said, was always open. So, why did things happen the way they did? How did he wind up dead, wiped out while pushing a cart, something he’d been doing for years? What does “accident” mean? What does “home” mean? Why did I care about going to his memorial? Was it because it didn’t matter? At the candlelight vigil nonetheless, someone held his name printed boldly on a sheet of paper along with the others. The mayor made some remarks about providing housing for the homeless. To rehabilitate and incorporate into the mainstream. Something to that effect. He mentioned Project Homeless Connect on Jan 17 at the convention center. That resources including foot massage and haircuts would be there. Dentists and visionaries. And expanded community awareness. Volunteer involvement. “It’s only when people see for themselves what homelessness is about. When they Funeral Show cont. on page 13 �Alito’s Extraodinary Circumstances by Paul Rogat Loeb Remember the “nuclear option” compromise? When the group of 14 Senators reached their agreement last May, they said they’d support a filibuster only under “extraordinary circumstances,” presumably if Bush nominated Attila the Hun. I’d suggest these circumstances apply not only to Samuel Alito’s track record but also to his nomination’s entire political context. In threatening to end the Senate’s ability to filibuster judges, Republican leaders talk much about high principle, the right of Presidents to have their nominees accepted or rejected without parliamentary obstructions. But the sole principle behind this proposed change is that of the power grab. The Republicans control the White House and Senate. They’re attempting to consolidate control in every way they can, including trying to obliterate 200 years of Senate tradition on the filibuster. This threat isn’t a moral stand: Republicans have filibustered nominees themselves. It’s just one more in series of attacks on individuals and institutions that they’ve viewed as political obstacles, like Tom DeLay’s mid-census gerrymandering, the leaking of Valerie Plame’s identity, the jamming of Democratic phone banks, and the branding of political opponents as unpatriotic. Honorable conservatives used to warn against the raw power of the state. But the love of power has now become the political right’s prime gospel, making the slightest notion of checks or balances heretical treason. Republican leaders work to end the filibuster not because they believe it violates some deep constitutional mandate, but because they believe they can get away with it. But maybe they can’t anymore. When Republicans first floated the “nuclear option” threat in early 2005, Bush’s polling numbers were as high as 57 percent. His support has dropped steadily since, in the wake of the Katrina disaster, the legal problems of DeLay, Bill Frist, Karl Rove, Scooter Libby, and Duke Cunningham, and an Iraqi quagmire that’s inspired powerful challenges by Cindy Sheehan and Congressman John Murtha. Republicans have lost key electoral battles in Virginia, New Jersey and California. Bush’s polls have dropped as low as 37 percent. With once-solid Republican Senate and House seats now seemingly vulnerable, those who vote to eliminate the filibuster and confirm Alito will be taking far more of a Ken Blackwell’s elimination of 300,000 overwhelmingly Democrats and moderate political risk than they would have Democratic voters from the Ohio Republicans have a responsibility to just a year ago. rolls and the withholding of voting challenge his nomination through Were Alito a reasonable machines from key Democratic every possible mechanism, including Supreme Court choice, all this precincts. My friend Egil Krogh, the filibuster. Republican leaders would be moot. But he isn’t. He’ll who worked in the Nixon who try to eliminate it as a political follow the script and evade administration, hired G. Gordon option need to be branded, along specifics at his confirmation Liddy, and went to prison for hearings, but he’s still the candidate with every Senator who supports Watergate, told the sentencing them, as embodying a politics that nominated to appease the political judge that he and his colleagues had believes in nothing except its own right because they deemed Harriet “almost destroyed democracy.” The right to power. With Roberts, Miers insufficiently hard-line. Bush people, he said to me Senators could say they were Consistently opposing the federal recently, “are even more ruthless.” replacing the equally conservative government’s right to address Alito’s nomination embodies corporate abuses, Alito has argued William Rehnquist. To support that ruthlessness. If confirmed, his Alito, we need to make clear, is to for virtually unlimited executive track record suggests he’d support alter the balance on the Court power, including the government’s the Republican consolidation of radically for the most dubious of right to intervene in the most power at every opportunity. But political ends. It does no good to intimate realms of personal life. maybe the capacity of that power reserve the right to filibuster in He’s endorsed the rights of police to intimidate is finally beginning to theory. If our Senators aren’t willing to shoot an unarmed 15-year-old wane. If the Senate can find the who was fleeing after breaking into to risk using it in a situation this courage to block Alito’s exceptional, it becomes practically a house, defended the refusal of confirmation, they will draw a state employers to pay damages for meaningless. critical line on a choice whose Senators accept a violating the Family and Medical effects could echo for the next forty president’s court nominations for Leave Act, and said it created no years. They need to recognize the three reasons: They respect the undue burden if husbands could high stakes and extraordinary perspectives of their nominees; they prevent their wives from getting circumstances of our time. believe a president should have the abortions. Citizen groups, he’s Paul Rogat Loeb is the right to choose whomever they ruled, have no standing to sue author of The Impossible Will convicted polluters under the Clean please as America’s legitimately Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Water Act. The federal government, elected leader; or they fear the Guide to Hope in a Time of president’s political power. But this he’s argued, has no right to pass Fear, named the #3 political administration has no moral national consumer protection book of 2004 by the History standing to which Senators should legislation aimed at preventing Channel and the American odometer fraud or banning the sales automatically defer. Bush gained the Book Association, and winner of presidency through the of machine guns. Regarding the the Nautilus Award for best extraordinary interventions of his exclusion of blacks from juries in social change book of the year. death penalty cases, he’s called the brother Jeb and the existing His previous books include Soul Supreme Court. He was reelected statistical evidence as of a Citizen: Living With based on lies about Iraqi weapons inconsequential as the Conviction in a Cynical Time. of mass destruction, ties between disproportionate number of recent See www.paulloeb.org To Saddam Hussein and Al Qaida, U.S. presidents who’ve been leftreceive his monthly articles John Kerry’s war record, and the handed. In one case, Alito’s Third email sympa@onenw.org with true costs of his tax cut and Circuit colleagues said the federal the subject line: subscribe prescription drug plans. And law prohibiting employment paulloeb-articles through Ohio Secretary of State discrimination “would be eviscerated if our analysis were to halt where [Judge Alito] suggests.” Alito now downplays his membership in a Princeton alumni group so hostile to the admission of women and minorities that even Senate Majority Leader Frist condemned it. He dismisses as mere job-seeking his declarations, while applying to the Reagan-era Justice Department, that the Constitution does not protect a woman’s right to choose an abortion, and that he disagreed with the Warren Court rulings that desegregated schools and expanded voting rights. He’s trying to dismiss he memo he wrote, after getting the job, embracing the “goals of bringing about the eventual overturning of Roe v. Wade.” He also minimizes the breaking of his pledge to recuse himself from cases involving his sister’s law firm. It’s precisely because Alito’s presence on the Court is so potentially damaging that “Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IIt...” t...” Streetvibes Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Coalition for the Homeless and Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 Streetvibes.... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed Vendors must not tell customers earned. This program has helped for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 Cents (75 cent profit goes directly to the vendor) Homeless Coalition 25 Cents Printing and Production: 25 cents (this cost does not cover expenses) Page 12 The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Streetvibes �Homeless man a reminder of Christ’s life by Pastor Mark Driscoll I was sitting at a traffic light in my old truck next to the Ballard Bridge in Seattle rocking out with my sons recently. To our left was a homeless man with a hand-written sign asking for money that also read “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and May God Bless You.” It dawned on me that not only was his sign about Jesus, but that his life was, in some ways, like Jesus’ life. The happy New Year he was wishing passers-by is 2006 anno Domini (in the year of the Lord) and contrasts with the years before the birth of Jesus Christ (B.C). Isn’t it curious that in all of human history, it was the brief life of a homeless man that was chosen as a reference point for time? Jesus was born in a small town to a poor, unmarried teen mother. He was adopted by Joseph, a simple carpenter, and spent the first 30 years of his life in obscurity swinging a hammer with his dad. Around the age of 30 he began a public ministry that included preaching, healing the sick, feeding the poor and befriending people who were marginalized because they were considered sexually immoral, alcoholics and thieves. His ministry spanned only three short years before he was put to death for declaring himself to be God. He died by shameful crucifixion like tens of thousands of people had before him. curiously, his résumé is rather simple. He never traveled more than a few hundred miles from home. He never held a political office, never wrote a book, never married, never attended college, never visited a big city and he died both homeless and poor. Yet, he is the most famous person in all of human history. More songs have been sung about him, artwork done about him and books written about him than about anyone who has ever lived. Furthermore, billions of people from the nations of the earth worship him as God. No army, nation, or person has changed human history to the degree that Jesus, the homeless man, has. In his book “What if Jesus Had Never Been Born,” Dr. James Kennedy explores some of the ways that Jesus has forever changed history. Had Jesus not been born, the value of human life would be diminished. In the ancient world, child sacrifice and abandonment were common, and it was Jesus who not only taught and demonstrated the love of children, but his own adoption by Joseph set a precedent that Christians emulated in adopting discarded children. Jesus also elevated the dignity of women by befriending and teaching women as God’s image-bearers, equal in worth to men — a revolutionary concept in his day when women were denigrated as mere property. Funeral Show cont. from page 10 on the police accident report. Soon forgotten. To float in some police bureau’s cyberspace forever. Time immemorial. The question comes to mind, of course, was his death a suicide? Was his life, at least the latter half of it, really just a protracted suicide attempt? Was there a fork in his life that, having unwittingly committed to it, found him in the crosshairs of a car, two cars, at the intersection of 33rd and Sandy? Is it fair to ask that? I ask it of myself sometimes. On some level I know the answer. I opted out awhile back. I knew enough, had seen enough examples of how it was done, that I could have chosen a certain life that now, in retrospect, might have been preferable. But I chose one that became clearly self-destructive. A denial of possibilities that would have led to a place of so-called success. A place I thought was a fraud, but I didn’t know where contrary choices would get me. Now I know. Whatever choices or refusals Richard Nash made, whatever confusion, we know where all that ended up. We just don’t know why, or if a step right or left might have led him to a better place. meet real homeless... When you’re eye-to-eye....” Several CEOs who had expressed interest in sitting at the intake tables. I thought: “This could be like Xmas 365 days of the year!” I looked at a picture of Richard Nash at his memorial. Richard had a face that didn’t draw attention to itself. In the photo, he wore a cap with a visor, pulled evenly down, not concealing anything important. His expression was non-committal and bland. Amazingly even, as I studied it. Like a police sketch. Nothing suggested itself in the photo. His hair had been recently cut, his ears were clear. His mouth drawn impassively across in an untaught line. His eyes seemed almost perfectly round. They revealed nothing that I recall in the way of experience or world-weariness or discovery as to life’s meaning or lack thereof. The brim of his cap didn’t shade or obscure them. What you saw was what you got. That was the impression I had. Reality be told, Richard Nash simply was. For 48 years, he was and then he wasn’t. For all but a handful, no one will know what he was about more than could be read Jesus the great physician set an example of healing in his ministry that carried over into the establishing of Christian hospitals in an effort to provide medical care for all. For example, the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325 decreed that a hospital be established wherever there was a church to ensure that people had both body and soul cared for. Today many hospitals continue to denote their heritage by retaining names connected to Christian saints and denominations. Jesus the teacher demonstrated a love for literacy that has greatly benefited the entire world. Many of the world’s languages were first put in writing by missionaries, the first printing press was invented by a Christian, and for the first few hundred years of our nation’s history, essentially all education was private and Christian. Additionally, nearly every one of the first 123 American colleges and universities had Christian origins. If Jesus had never been born, the world would indeed be considerably different. It is truly amazing to consider what a difference one homeless man who lived some two millennia ago has made in all our lives as we enter the year of the Lord 2006. Pastor Mark Driscoll is founder of the nondenominational Mars Hill Church in Ballard, Seattle. Homeless Man Sues Over Toxic Drink Waffle House, Fired Employee Named In Suit In Atlanta, Georgia a homeless man has filed a lawsuit claiming he suffered injuries when a Waffle House cook offered him $5 to drink a toxic mix of industrialstrength dish cleaner and apple juice. The lawsuit, filed last month in Henry County Superior Court, names Waffle House and the cook, Quinton Wilson. In the lawsuit, Rex Leo claims Wilson mixed dish cleaner with apple juice, sugar and sliced lemons to disguise the odor and flavor. He then offered Leo $5 to drink it, telling him it was a “Christmas shake.” Wilson knew Leo was frequently intoxicated and in such “dire financial straits” that he would take the offer, the lawsuit says. Waffle House is liable, according to the lawsuit, because officials knew Wilson had a “propensity to exhibit dangerous and inappropriate behavior.” Leo, 50, remains in Henry Medical Center for treatment of Funeral show. I went to the corrosive damage to his mouth and internal organs from the December memorial and vigil and others I’ve 14 alleged incident. Wilson, 19, of been to, to muster myself. To remember myself before it was too Jonesboro has been charged with aggravated battery. He was also late to do something. To see if I mattered by checking out what this immediately fired after the incident. The lawsuit also claims gone person mattered. To see if Waffle House employees helped I’ve been wrong all these years in believing there’s not anything real to Leo get alcohol before he was believe in, least of all people. That served the toxic drink. The lawsuit does not seek life is not what we’re instructed and any specific monetary damages, but manipulated to support; that general damages to be determined whatever it is, it’s not what we in court. know. And all the right ways are Leo’s sister, Linda Leo, illegal and unattainable. said her brother continues to It did bother me that at the vigil nothing very human was said to improve and will be moved to a long-term care facility because flesh in the people we were theoretically there for. Were any of ingesting the drink caused brain them vets? What did that say about damage. Wyoming Youth Services the kids returning from the desert? Who was Whiskey Jack? Was he Bureau is looking for a rail-riding Nam vet who never left volunteer tutors to assist the jungle? Some kind of longwith 5th through 8th grade range re-con still living his outlaw students. The program is myth in the free state of the jungle? held at the Presbyterian Or was it just a name he assumed, Church of Wyoming, Mondays like Wheeler or Doc? For lack of through Thursdays after anything real about him? school from 3:15-5:00 and will I can project onto large continue through June 1st, issues like war and justice. The 2006. All materials are way I used to dream an American provided. Please contact Dream when I was small and Jackie Smith at 821-2428 or impressionable. The way some by email at people watch “It’s A Wonderful smithj@wyomingcityschools.org Life” and weep every Xmas. if you are interested. Streetvibes Page 13 �Homeless Guy Looking for Cigarettes at the Bus Stop by David Fewster He picks up a crushed butt, Doral, with lipstick stain. “Low tar, less nicotine,” he frowns. Old adage of beggars and choosers. Inhaling, his mouth caresses the livid filter, Color of a blood spoor, As he dreams of kisses from the legal secretary he dated All those many years ago. waiting at a bus stop “This isn’t City. All the stores are closed. This is Night, and I am safer in my book.” “This is the place between work and home the long dull ride between frustrating boredom and irritation.” “This is the Main Street, this is the Hot Time, this is the Bad Dude, you ain’t gotta Clue!” “This is the Feeding Ground. There’s a likely pocket. Soft Touch; Too Strong; That one’s Broke.” People start to glance my way, increasingly. A woman on the bus darts sharp, quick glances at me as she reads car ads. This is the Danger Ground between safe burrows. I am possibly Falcon. I have discarded layers of gags over my mouth; I never noticed the silent press of the Gag Order on Eyes. The Weighted Hour The Map Is Not The Territory by Michael Henson Eskimos have a hundred words for snow. Here in the land that made dysfunctional famous we have one word for one thousand realities: depression. There is an hour when the world is too weighted for us to bear. When the minutes press on us like the stones of Salem. open your eyes to the faded ceiling An hour when the slant light falls to ash. stare without interest When the red-eyed liar gnaws at the ear. fall asleep again When there is no end to the drone of engines. And there is no end to the sad parades. rock on the toilet And hour when anger clots the lungs. stare at the razor on the sink When there seems to be no hope. teetering on the edge Then I look to the lonely crow. There, in his cold rooms walk through a crowd high above the red tips of the maples stare ahead fixedly above the strung powerlines ignore all the saw-edged above the cell phone towers. whispers of your name He is a black ship in a vast bottle. He works his wings in short bursts against the wind, walk through a crowd then coasts for a time, hearing nothing works in a burst, then coasts again. Then I want to think myself the crow, my bones have turned to concrete eagling across a broken heartland. my flesh bruises itself on them Far below me, the asphalt ribbons and the bulldozer scars. I do not touch Far below me, I do not taste the suburban checkerboard, my body is a feather Far below me, anchored in nothing the gash of abandoned factories. Far below me, I will never stop weeping the rivers that choke with the runoff of the poisoned I will never cry again farms. Far below me, rock and bone have turned villain the small men who walk green fields hitting small white balls. I am all that is wrong with Life Far below me, strip malls and theme parks. Daddy came in at midnight Far below me, it has been midnight ever since the broad separate roofs of the houses on streets that meander like the tunnels of the mole. I lost my Daddy to cancer Far below me, I am lost the close-packed roofs of the projects. And I am sad, everything is fine for I see nothing that looks like home. and I don’t give a damn The horizon is wide and far off. I need more than a hundred words. At the line where the sun sets, I see the gray fences and the leaning stalks of corn. The light leans to the earth’s back door. I search the dusk for my brothers and my sisters. Homeless I call them by Skip Zilla in a voice of husks Come out and play, they said. and gravel. We’ll see if we can bat grenades over the red river with the butts of rifles. The bayonets are sheathed so our swings won’t bloody the bases from cuts in our bellies. Oh God, Thank You by Karen Bowman For saving me when I did not know how to save myself. For rescuing me from the grip of crack, from the grip of a rapist. For jamming the gun that was placed at my head. For keeping me alert after the blow that was placed to my jaw. For protecting me on the nights I walked through alleys And abandoned houses looking for a place to sleep. For directing me to N Street Village and placing the right People in my life. For being on earth as you are in heaven. For loving me, Oh God, Thank You. Page 14 This isn’t the game I played, I said, when wee kids wrapped a broken ball with tape and hit it with a naily Louisville slugger and ran paths in the grass to laughing collisions at home. Come on, they said. We’ll clear a field of corpses and run round the red sucking mud. No, I can’t, I said. I’ve lost my legs for running fun, and you’ve no home to return to. Streetvibes �The Flood of ‘83 Me!! by Sarge Lintecumb by Robin Remy One time when city livin’ Became more than I could afford, I took my wife and children To a place with free room and board. Me (Mother) Through my addiction I Manage to be a Mother and only by the grace and mercy of God I made sure of the essential things In my sons’ lives in order for them (1) to become men, and (2) to be able to survive. We moved out in the boonies And in case a ranger came, So we could be there legal, I decided to stake a claim. We made our camp at the junction Of Temporal and Gringo Gulch. The scenery was breathtaking And the soil felt like mulch. I stacked stones at each corner Till they were three feet high. I didn’t have a measuring tape So I did it all by eye. For two months we were happy; The kids had room to run. I made them bows and arrows; Our days were filled with fun. Me (Friend) I’m a good listener. I have very profound advice. Always willing to share even my last. I must have been a good friend, Because my friends have been with me for the last 30-40 years. Me (Robin) I’m a giving person. I’m a no-nonsense person. I’m very strong with inner strength. I have a lot more to give from my spirit and my soul. Then the sky turned black with thunder And lightening crashed all around. We brought our two dobie guard dogs In the truck so they wouldn’t drown. Four days and nights the rain came down But we stayed dry inside, Till some town folks came sayin’ we should come in Before the stream’s too wide. We got a rope across the water So we could all hang on, ‘Cause if you were to fall on a slippery rock In a second you would be gone. Well we all made it out to safety And soon we were dry and warm, But you know when I think back on those days I don’t hardly think of the storm. I can see my wife smile by the campfire; I can hear her sweet laugh in the sun. She made us prickly pear jelly To go on a freshly baked bun. Under an Azure Blue Sky by Andrea Hayfile Under an azure blue sky That’s so clear, not a cloud in sight I stand With the white sand hot beneath my feet Sand so fine, so soft, so clean And with the smell of the ocean All salty and sweet I think How there is such perfection in this Moment and I marvel at the beauty of this place. Now, Who Will Lead the Way? by Judi Mendriski buddy, you led the way to help the downtrodden people, who could not help themselves; Homeless, Low-Income Housing you, with “in-your-face confrontationalattitude” Now, who will lead the way? Earnest, you led the way with the Civil Rights Movement, bussing and discrimination, you, with your quiet & yet, steadfast attitude; Now, who will lead the way? Mac, you led the way empowered people for a peaceful planet; fought for arms disarmament, you, with your quiet voice, put up a hard & strong fight; Now, who will lead the way? All of you, were branded Radicals, Troublemakers, Renegades; All had the strength of giants; NOW, WHO WILL LEAD THE WAY? But, as I listen to the crashing Sound of the waves as they Find their way to the stony shore That waits My spirit is not safe. I am uneasy As uneasy as the furious ocean waves And with the rise and fall of each Sound, I long for peace and I search my soul and pray That one day I will become as marvelous as this place. .. I Feel Blue You could say back then we were homeless, But I just remember the fun. When the worst times leave you fond memories, You know that you’re with the right one. by Toni Bell I feel blue . . . not like the bright pretty sky. I feel blue like the dark blue sea. There is a rumble in me, Not a rumbling like a raggedy car, But a rumble from a distant storm waiting to erupt As soon as it arrives. Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to I yearn to blossom like a flower When it blooms, releasing my Petals and fragrance through all My spiritual rooms. I want to bloom away the gloom That sometimes invades my soul. Streetvibes@juno.com I want to be free to be me. Streetvibes Page 15 �357-4602 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect, Homeless Kids 363-1060 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 February 2006 10 Years in Publication! Looking Back on the “People’s Move” Cover Story - Working in Cincinnati to Eradicate Homelessness BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource February 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Looking Back to “The Peoples Move: - January, 1978 Pg 2: The Winter and Our Discontent Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: ‘Soft Approach’ Saving Homeless Pg 5: Filibuster Evasion Pg 6: Retiring Doesn’t Mean Goodbye National News on Homelessness and Poverty Pg 7: Dallas Library Code of Conduct Draws Criticism New Study Finds 20 Meanest Cities and Constructive Alternatives to a “Dream Denied” Pg 8: People’s Move Continued Pg 9: Let My People Go! Pg 10: Drug Debate Goes On Funeral Show Pg 11: Alito’s Extraordinary Circumstances Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: Homeless Man a Reminder of Christ’s Life Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Alison Leeuw Monique Little Kelly Carr Chris Dourson John Lavelle Mary Gaffney Melvin Williams Susan Smith Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alison Leeuw Chris Dourson Dallas Drop Inn Center Drugs Georgine Getty Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kelly Carr Mary Gaffney Melvin Williams Monique Little National News Over-the-Rhine Peace Village Religion Shooting Susan Smith Waffle House Winter https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/7ef9f591b2214fcf1df6d00e4a1ae9df.pdf 2517ad2dabee7a6e44234eeb171fc26e PDF Text Text January 2006 STREETVIBES Cover Story Homeless Remembered on Winter Solstice ecumenical prayer service was held in Over-the-Rhine’s Washington Park at dusk. Supporters gathered around a warming fire in a barrel to remember those who have passed. In an effort to maximize the impact of the day, NCH, the GCCH and the NHCHC encouraged local Lighting of the candles in and statewide organizations to hold memorials of their own. Last year, over 100 cities across the nation, from Detroit to Seattle to Washington, DC, sponsored events to honor those who had died and to recommit to the task of ending homelessness. This year, cities across the nation sponsored events, which included candle light marches and vigils, graveside services, plays and other performances and special religious services. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton all held candle light vigils, encouraging all to attend. For over 20 years, concerned citizens, religious persons, students, homeless advocates and people experiencing homelessness have gathered on the Winter Solstice in December for National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. In Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) in conjunction with Care Alliance held the 19th Annual Candlelight Vigil. The vigil took place at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Meal Site on West 38th and Bridge Avenue. Last year in Cleveland mourners gathered at the 18th annual candlelight vigil at St. Patrick’s Church to remember and read the names of the homeless men and women who died in Cleveland over the past year. The 15th annual Teach In was set to follow in January 2005, to raise awareness about homelessness and honor the memory of homeless people who have died. In Dayton, advocates gathered at Courthouse Square at noon on December 21st for a reading of the homeless individuals’ names that have passed away. Gathering in front of the fire barrel, Washington Park Each year since 1990, on or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, (GCCH) and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) along with numerous other homeless organizations around the country sponsor the National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless friends who have paid the ultimate price for our nation’s failure to end homelessness. Homeless Memorial Day is also a chance to mourn the national tragedy of homelessness in general and bring awareness to the suffering of the 25,000 men, women and children who experience homelessness each year in Cincinnati. “It is great to see the community pull together to help provide relief for the people experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati,” stated Georgine Getty, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, “it’s just unfortunate that we have to meet on such somber terms. It’s a tragedy that people continue to die homeless.” This year’s event was held Wednesday evening, December 21st in Cincinnati’s Washington Park. Dozens of people listened as the names of the deceased were read aloud. An Cincinnati’s Washington Park Last year in Austin, Texas for the eleventh year in a row, mourners held a Sunrise Homeless Memorial Service at 6:57 a.m. on November 14. Men and women met at the Homeless Memorial Plaque and Tree of Remembrance to sing, salute homeless veterans, and listen to several speakers. The House the Homeless Curtis Ray Wilson Compassion Award, given in honor of a homeless man who died in Austin earlier that year, was presented to Detective Lisa Morrill. Sara Hickman sang several songs, including “What if God Was One of Us” and “I Wish You Well.” In Indianapolis, Indiana, the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention and The FaithCEP cosponsored a memorial to commemorate the 22 homeless men and women who died in Indianapolis in 2004. Mourners created a large sign to memorialize the deceased, while several homeless and formerly homeless speakers spoke to the large crowd. Volunteers blew out one candle as the name of each homeless person was read. Dan Shepley, director of the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention, noted, “I think it throws a spotlight on the fact that homelessness is a life or death issue.” Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw -Administrative Coordinator Monique Little - Education Coordinator Kelly Carr - VISTA Andy Lawrence - AHA Coordinator John Lavelle - VISTA Mary Gaffney - Reception Melvin Williams - Reception Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photography Jimmy Heath Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 Each One, Touch One asked if they had any questions and the ones they asked were not only intelligent, some of them were quite challenging. Monique Little, the education by George Herrell coordinator for the Homeless “Each one, teach one,” the Coalition had accompanied me to the saying goes. Well the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless event and several times I has taken that idea to a whole new had to refer to level with their “Outreach Speakers her for Program.” assistance in This program enlists individuals who are either presently or answering the questions after formerly homeless to speak to civic which I groups, sharing their stories and discussing the issues faced by today’s dedicated both the questions homeless population. and answers to I was recently honored with memory. This the opportunity to speak to a group was definitely a of very civic minded young men and women at Shroder Paideia Academy “sharing experience” and I must say that the experience where everyone was one I’ll never forget! The young people to whom I learned something. spoke had set up a “shantytown” at George Herrell I had the school and were actually planning shared the on spending the night in it. As I experience of being an absentee shared my story I looked in the eyes of those youth and I could clearly see father with a problem of addiction the heartfelt interest and compassion. and after the lecture one young lady approached me with tears in her eyes This was my very first and shared with me that her father engagement for the Homeless was also an absentee father who had Coalition’s Speakers Program and suffered with addiction. She said my I’m not sure what I expected. All I talk had given her a whole new can say is that if there are more youths out there like those to whom I outlook and left her with the hope of spoke, then there is still hope for this re-establishing an active father/ daughter relationship with him. A country! young man said that he had thought After I told them my story I the issue of beating homelessness was cut and dry – “Get an income, get a place to live.” However, now he knew that the problem for some was much more complex. When I talk about my experiences I’m always very open and honest; I pull no punches and I make no excuses for my own plight. I believe that the only way to educate and to work towards a solution is to keep it real. Although I much prefer speaking to youth seeing that they are our future, the speakers program is open to all civic groups regardless of age, and never will pass up an opportunity to share or to learn. after lecturing I always encourage individuals to share their experience with family members and peers. That’s how wisdom is spread! For more information about the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Speakers Bureau, please contact Monique Little at (513) 421-7803, extension 14. Bagel Dude particular day the guy behind the counter informed me that he would give me the bagels, since the store was closing early and they would soon be thrown out. In fact, he told me, I could have all the day old bagels. I obtained a bag and took all the bagels, and there were still bagels left over. I rearranged the contents of my backpack, stuffing bags of bagels between manila folders, and still there were bagels. I rearranged the contents of the bagel bag, again, and miraculously managed to rescue every last bagel. Walking down the street, I remembered the humble, saint-like example of Bagel Dude. Let me be like him—! I thought, looking for hungry people in need of bagels, but the homeless and street youth culture is not so deep in Minnesota as in Seattle...the cold winter kills social roots, yearly. So I thought that I would give the bagels to my classmates at The Humphrey Institute, leaving them in the lounge with a note. But the by John Hoff He would come, you see, with gifts of free bagels, walking down the street handing out this manna. The cult was only known among the street youth until court battles against the Sidran No Sitting Ordinance accidentally revealed its existence to the outside world. Questioned at length about rational reasons for sitting on the sidewalk, a homeless youth confessed...she would wait, sometimes, looking for The Bagel Dude. Like a figure from scripture, he was described as a “Good Samaritan” whose mission, certain evenings, was to walk down University Way, handing out bagels. Sometimes he would take a while to arrive, and then the youth would wait, congregate, peel eyes and divide up the turning of heads down various directions of the street. You see, Bagel Dude didn’t want to cause a commotion and blow his corporate connection to the Big Rock Doughy Mountain of excess bready largesse. So he would appear quietly, in different spots along University Way. And when he would be maddeningly late in coming (like the Messiah) the youth would, only half jokingly, put all fingers of both hands together in a big thick “O” shape, making The Sign Of The Bagel Dude. “Bagel Duuuuuuuuuude,” they would say, making the sign above their heads and rocking, eyes closed momentarily. “Bagel Duuuuuuuude.” I had not thought about The Cult Of The Bagel Dude for many years, until one recent Sunday when I was in a bagel shop in Dinkytown, which is kind of like University Way, only it’s in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I now study Public Administration at the Humphrey Institute. Rather than paying through the nose to have somebody make me a bagel sandwich at the shop, I prefer to buy a bag of day old bagels, a tub of salmon cream cheese (private homage to Seattle, which will always be, at some level, my home) and make my own sandwiches while messing around on wireless internet. But this Bagel Dude cont. on page 9 Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath Of all the handwritten signs carried by all the homeless people in Santa Clara Valley, near San Jose California, Cornelius Van Der Vies might have the most original: “Donation for Engine,” his says. The engine belongs to his 1986 Volkswagen van, which is parked on Bassett Street, about five blocks from Cornelius’ regular haunt outside a San Jose office building at Market and Santa Clara streets. And yes, it’s got a problem: The engine needs replacement. If it dies, the van might be towed, leaving Cornelius and his dog, Boo-Boo, with no place to sleep. “If I had an engine that ran good, I’d get around,” he says wistfully. Ah: Another Christmas pitch. Another tear-jerker. The difference in this story, however, is that Cornelius — everyone uses his first name — has a legion of friends in the eight-story office building who have already raised $700 for his engine. If homelessness has a hierarchy, the 66-year-old Cornelius might be a count. Every weekday, he sits with Boo-Boo on a low stone wall facing Market Street, sporting a trim gray beard and an American flag in a star-studded cap. “Hi, sweetie,” he says to a passing woman. She smiles, not seeming to mind the flattery. “He’s pleasant, he’s not aggressive, he doesn’t panhandle you,” says Jim Sunseri, an attorney in the building, called the Entrepreneur Center. “If you didn’t know he was homeless, you wouldn’t guess. Everybody in the building loves him.” Day Shelter and Resource Center opened in February, 825 people — none counted twice — have sought assistance. Records show 440 were men and 385 women — 256 were children younger than 17, said Rita Arancibia, community development manager. In addition to reaching more homeless people, Clarksville’s event will unify the Community Service Providers to End Homelessness and bring in new agencies and departments, said Lorraine Pratt, executive director of the United Way. “The more we work together, the more we find out what the issues are (for those who need housing),” Pratt said. Coalition members plan to distribute fliers throughout the city to make sure Clarksville’s homeless know about the event. Planners are hoping for participation from about 20 agencies, including the Department of Human Services, the Health Department, the Adult Literacy Council, Centerstone mental health services and the Adult Literacy Council. Arancibia said Project Homeless Connect is helping the group expand its reach. “It’s really opened our eyes to the gaps,” she said. “We’ll see what kind of a response we get — getting the word out will be the challenge. In San Francisco, additional emergency shelter beds opened last month as part of the city’s annual program to provide homeless people with a warm place to sleep during the winter months. The program, scheduled to operate through the end of March, provides an additional 260 In Clarksville, Tenn, one emergency beds in the city, bringing of the challenges to serving the the total to 1,731, said Trent Rhorer, homeless is to make sure their director of the city’s Human Services varied needs are met. While many Agency. social service agencies are available, The winter shelter program matching individual needs to specific relies on churches and other religious providers isn’t easy. institutions to provide temporary, To meet that challenge, a overnight accommodations, usually as coalition called Clarksville’s simple as a cot and a blanket. Community Service Providers to End Meanwhile, the San Francisco Homelessness is joining national Interfaith Council started its winter efforts to gather volunteers, civic shelter program last month. leaders and social service agencies in Participating churches include one place for one day. Trinity Episcopal Church, the First “In Clarksville, we’re kind of Friendship Institutional Baptist a Project Homeless Connect every Church, Bethel AME Church, day of the week,” said Beverly Dycus Providence Baptist Church, Third of Urban Ministries. “We do this Baptist Church, St. Mary’s Cathedral every day.” and the First Unitarian Church. The Figures from Oct. 5 show San Francisco Islamic Society also that since Clarksville’s Old Firehouse will open its doors. He blames short-sightedness Seattle homicide on the part of the city and the detectives are investigating the Salvation Army for the failings at death of a homeless woman whose Carlton House. body was found after firefighters extinguished a small fire under Pittsburgh police have the Alaskan Way Viaduct on arrested a homeless man in Thanksgiving Day. connection with a series of Initially, police were burglaries in the South Side area investigating the death of Davina of Pittsburgh. Garrison, 42, as an accident. But on Randall Bowen, 41, was the following Monday, police arrested last month after police said a received word from the King County state trooper witnessed Bowen and Medical Examiner’s Office that another person break into a home in Garrison’s death had been the 1400 block of Muriel Street. reclassified as a homicide due to blunt The home the men entered force injuries to her head, said police belonged to a friend of the trooper, spokesman Sean Whitcomb. police said. The trooper told police Death investigators have not he was waiting for his friend to arrive been able to find family members to home when he saw the men entering notify them of Garrison’s death, an the home. investigator said. The medical The trooper called 911 and examiner is awaiting toxicology then confronted the men as they were results before officially determining leaving the home, police said. Police the cause and manner of her death. later connected Bowen to other Around 3 p.m. on Nov. 24, break ins in the area. Seattle firefighters were called to Bowen is charged with 14 what appeared to be a small trash fire counts of burglary, two counts of burning against a building south of criminal attempt burglary, 13 counts downtown. The blaze was quickly of theft and one count of criminal extinguished and Garrison’s body conspiracy. A hearing was scheduled was found in the fire debris. for Dec. 8. Darrell Dennis, 36, also In New York City, the homeless, is the second person comptroller’s audit report charged in the break in on Muriel released last month outlined the Street. Dennis faces charges details of the conditions at the including burglary, theft and criminal South Ozone Park shelter, which conspiracy. included roach infestations, backed up toilets, mice, bedbugs Each year, more and more and generally unsafe and teenage students in The unsanitary conditions. Washington Community School Congressman Gregory District become homeless. Meeks of St. Albans said they knew Homeless youth are from the beginning the facility was too individuals under the age of 18 who large to be appropriately maintained. lack parental, foster, or institutional With whole families living in single care. These young people are hotel rooms, “it doesn’t take a rocket sometimes referred to as scientist to see what would happen,” “unaccompanied youth.” They hop he said. from house to house, staying with The Department of Homeless friends or family. When they have Services said the audit only confirmed nowhere to go, they sleep outside. what they already knew. “The shelter “Sometimes they are was too large and presented unique homeless for one day, one week, one management challenges—that’s why month, or longer,” said Julie Gentz, it was the first shelter we closed when special services coordinator at the homeless census started to drop,” Washington High School. “When said an agency spokesperson. they have nowhere to go, nothing to The shelter was first opened eat and nowhere to sleep, that’s in 2002 on an “emergency basis” homeless.” when the numbers of the city’s Washington Community homeless were on the rise. Despite School District social worker Kelly early indications of unsanitary Swift said that the assumption of conditions (the shelter saw roof many people is often that homeless repairs and more frequent pest kids are mentally ill or addicted to extermination in December 2004) it drugs. Although that is sometimes the was not closed until this past August. case, frequently there is a cause much Under the city contract, the harder to remedy at the root of the Salvation Army received $72 per day problem. The cause of homelessness per room to operate the shelter. Prior among adolescents in Washington is to its opening, local Council member most often conflict between the child Allan Jennings warned that the price and the parent. was too steep. “They are functional kids in Meeks agrees the city was non-functional homes, with abusive, paying too much for too little. “As the addicted parents,” said Swift. “They audit shows, we weren’t getting the are kids with poor parenting who most bang for our buck.” have fallen through the cracks.” Streetvibes Page 3 �DC Makes Plans to Protect Homeless From Cold Show your support! Get your STREETVIBES T-Shirt Today! (Back shown here. Shirt not actual size) Only $15 We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call 513.421.7803 x 16, or come in to our office at 117 E 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine Page 4 Streetvibes by Julie Buss After witnessing an unprecedented demand for shelter on the coldest days of last winter, the District of Columbia has stepped up its plan for this season, in hopes of protecting all the city’s homeless from the threat of hypothermia. The $1.3 million budget for the 2005-06 Winter Plan would cover up to 110 hypothermia alert days, when the wind-chill temperature dips below 32°F. On hypothermia alert days most shelters will remain open from 7am to 7pm, hours when they would normally be closed. Although last year there were only 72 days with hypothermia alerts, the previous year a hypothermia alert was issued on 110 days during the November 1 to March 31 season. According to Deborah Daniels, spokeswoman for the District’s Department of Human Services, the Winter Plan is “designed to make sure we do everything we can to prevent homeless individuals from succumbing to hypothermia.” The need for shelter beds has risen each year. Last year saw an unprecedented demand for family housing on the coldest days. An estimated 8,925 adults sought shelter during hypothermia alerts, and the overall demand for shelter increased 23% over the 2003-04 season. The District has allocated more shelter beds this year in every category—men, women, teens, and families—and has procedures in place to provide further shelter in case of overflow capacity. Housing for women has increased by 25 beds to 290 spaces over last season, while shelter for men has gone up by 63 beds to a total of 1,253 spaces. Housing for families has increased by 75 beds over last year. These beds may not meet the growing need, however. The Southwest section of the city has only 25 beds—not even close to the 100 beds that were available last winter at the Randall School Shelter. (Randall was shut down in the spring.) Many shelters in other parts of the city were already at capacity on November 10, as Street Sense went to press. The New York Avenue Shelter for men counted 365 people for its 360 spaces, and the Franklin School in downtown DC was full. Some people expressed skepticism that the District is doing enough to help during the winter season. Donald Brooks, a Street Sense vendor who sleeps at the Center for Creative Non-Violence shelter downtown, said that the city needs to provide more and better transportation to shelters in the winter, especially since many of them are far from downtown. He added that the shelters also need to have better facilities. “They can’t just warehouse people,” he said. “We also need showers, meals, and much better security.” Asked whether he would go to a shelter on cold days this winter, a homeless man said, “I prefer to stay on the street than to go in there,” referring to the often overcrowded and unclean hypothermia shelters. He hopes to find a single room he can afford before Christmas, but admits that it is unlikely because of rising rental prices. Daniels, who has managed the public outreach campaign for the Winter Plan since 2001, said she believes the message for the public to be vigilant and active is getting out. “The absolute evidence of that are the calls placed to the United Planning Organization for van service” she said, in reference to the transportation service contracted by the District. �Precarious Lives stock crashed, may lose her pension in the current bankruptcy, and has to supplement her now part-time wages with a second job cleaning houses. I by Paul Rogat Loeb recently spoke in Kokomo, Indiana, “Advice to Retirees: Embrace where a major Delphi plant is likely to the future,” syndicated columnist Tad be closed, devastating a once-secure Bartimus recently wrote in my local community of decent blue-collar jobs. Seattle paper. Sounds good, but for My brother-in-law, now eking out a Bartimus the future was a layoff, in a living as a substitute teacher, has been corporate cutback, from a 25-year out of full time work for almost a career at the Associated Press news decade now, in part because of a service. Faced with the Hobson’s heart condition which would saddle choice of agreeing to it or losing all any but the largest employers with health care access and pension prohibitively unaffordable insurance benefits, she suddenly had to find costs. Everywhere I go, I encounter ways to reinvent herself and survive, people with once-comfortable lives with less than half of her previously who are borrowing on their houses, promised pension. She explores how running up their credit cards, losing her situation echoes the predicament their health insurance, and generally of more and more Americans, like running faster and faster to avoid the those who took middle-class futures economic abyss. for granted at companies such as Bartimus highlights a real and General Motors, Delta Airlines, and urgent problem. The promises on Ford, but who now scramble to get which many of us have based our by at jobs paying a fraction of the entire economic lives are no longer wages they were used to. America’s being honored. We’re increasingly a social contract is being ripped apart, winner-take-all society, where those she writes—then she backs off to at the top gorge on luxury counsel individual adaptation and consumption to an extent that makes seeing life as “a banquet,” where we the Robber Barons look like paupers, need to savor even the unexpected while those at the bottom scramble courses. for crumbs. But the solutions I know lots of people like Bartimus counsels are exclusively Bartimus’s friend Sue. Sue worked individual. “The trick,” she writes, “it for United Airlines for 23 years, lost so figure out what comes next,” and her savings when the company’s to focus “on possibilities, not regrets.” Maybe, she writes, she’ll forge a new future in woodworking, or open a gardening shop. I hope Bartimus keeps landing on her feet, and I bet that she will. Of course people should, like her, be optimistic and muster all their resourcefulness, creativity, and tenacity to deal with the cards they’re dealt. But we should also work together to help insure a future where everyone gets dealt a decent hand. The problems Bartimus describes can’t be solved by quietly accepting the global corporate mantra: “It’s here. It’s the future. Get used to it.” It’s not our individual decisions that are gutting our pensions, raising medical costs sky high, and making our lives on this rich and fruitful earth increasingly precarious. The economic squeeze faced by everyone except a handful of individuals at the top comes from thirty years of deliberate political choices—union-busting, regressive tax and trade policies, an eroding minimum wage, and a collapse of moral and political restraints on destructive greed. These pressures have been accelerated vastly since Bush took office. Think of the moral obscenity of funding the rebuilding of New Orleans by cutting food stamps, Medicaid, and low-income energy assistance. They’ll only be reversed by common effort. I worry that by framing the solution totally in terms of individual adaptation, Bartimus steers her readers away from the major lesson of the stories she tells: that ordinary citizens must join together and speak out on the larger roots of these problems, on the choices we’re allowing to be made in our common name. If we simply buckle down and accept our fate, some of us will indeed find ways to adapt and survive, but many more will fall through the cracks. In a time when we’re taking The Apprentice as a national model, we need less silent adaptation, not more. Life should indeed be a banquet—for all of us. Whether we make it so is contingent on our common actions, not just how well we handle our individual challenges. Paul Rogat Loeb is the author of The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear, named the #3 political book of 2004 by the History Channel and the American Book Association, and winner of the Nautilus Award for best social change book of the year. His previous books include Soul of a Citizen. See www.paulloeb.org To receive his monthly articles email sympa@onenw.org with the subject line: subscribe paulloeb-articles The Need for the Family Violence Option in Ohio Lynn Williams, Lead Organizer, Ohio Empowerment Coalition Christina never planned to end up in a County Department of Job & Family Services applying for cash assistance and food stamps. She also never planned to end up divorced. She got married with the outlook that life is good and her husband would be the breadwinner for the family. He made enough income so that she could stay home with the children. However something went tragically wrong. Her husband started drinking heavily and when he did, Christina tried to stay away from him as far as possible. If she didn’t get away in time, he would knock her to the ground, bludgeon and ram her head in the walls of their house. Her daughter witnessed the beatings. At one point the daughter tried to call the police for help to protect her mother. Her father tore the phone wires out of the wall. Another time he hit his daughter when she was trying to protect her mother from being beaten. Christina said, “That was the last straw for me, to see my daughter struck. That’s when I decided to leave for good.” They went to the nearest battered women’s shelter, and from there, ended up at the county welfare department only as a last resort. She felt it was better to apply for assistance than risk her life and her children’s lives living with a breadwinner who was abusive. No one at the welfare department ever asked her if she was a victim of domestic violence. The Federal government allows states to choose whether or not to adopt the Family Violence Option as part of their states’ public assistance programs. The designers of this policy, one of whom was the late Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, recognized that domestic violence affects a high number of families in low-income families, although battering occurs at all income levels. Sen. Wellstone recognized that battering is a main obstacle to holding down a job or even being job ready. If a main goal of “welfare reform” is to assist lowincome parents in getting and keeping jobs, domestic violence issues must be addressed. Domestic violence is a huge obstacle to “work success” for thousands of low-income mothers. The Family Violence Option would ensure that public assistance recipients in Ohio are screened for domestic violence by trained caseworkers, ensure that victims receive referrals for care and support services; and allow caseworkers to grant waivers exempting recipients on a case by case basis from program requirements if the requirements would place a victim’s family in danger. These waivers will allow battered victims time to access the supports needed to successfully mend their lives back together without jeopardizing their safety. In August 2005, the United States General Accountability Office (GAO) released a report: “TANF: State Approaches to Screening for Domestic Violence Could Benefit from HHS Guidance” (GAO-05-701 that detailed information on how states address domestic violence in their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, including the Family Violence Option. The report’s findings showed that Ohio ranked among three states that had not adopted the Family Violence Option and did not have comparable policies in place. The other two states were Maine and Oklahoma. The Family Violence Option does not claim to be the end all solution to battering in our society. To end battering, it will take a tremendous united effort by all sectors of society: churches, law enforcement, private agencies, concerned citizens, as well as the government. The Family Violence Option helps the victims and their children to get the help and support services they need to get on with their lives in safety. That in itself is a tall order. If Ohio has this choice, why not take it? Let’s err on the side of doing too much rather than too little on behalf of Ohio’s battered women and children. National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 Streetvibes Page 5 �Happy New Year To All by Ms. Mary Gaffney remember, don’t give up. Keep the As we enter the year 2006, Faith. There is a brighter day ahead. to you the monthly purchaser of Remember, a ball can Streetvibes, (and also fall or it can be thrown the homeless vendors), I very hard. But when it hope that you continue hits the ground it always to support the paper. bounces, whether hard As we look or softly thrown. If you forward to the New are in this situation, just Year, let there be Peace hold on and never say, toward each other, and also the foreign countries Miss Mary Gaffney “I can’t, I am not able.” It will bounce back that make up this world. because this is a New Year, a new Show more love and concern to the person’s who do not have a place to day in your life, and this year, you will succeed. call home, or a table to sit down to We are all children who with thier families. To you, my homeless friends, were placed in the garden of life. Until next time, peace to all. as you travel through the New Year Union Steamed by Cydney Gillis That’s the position of Seattle’s world-renowned coffee company, which faces charges from the National Labor Relations Board in the wake of a union organizing drive this summer in New York City by the Industrial Workers of the World. The NLRB has charged 15 Starbucks officials with anti-union activity. The IWW says that includes firing one union member, giving another a bad performance review because of her union membership, and sending another home for wearing a union pin. National News on Homelessness and Poverty ‘hopefully by the 19th or 20th of this State Beat: Indiana month. Notably missing was a tax Look on the web site of the cut reconciliation bill.” See “Frist Indiana Coalition on Housing and Says Congress Will Finish BudgetHomelessness Issues (ICHHI) Savings Bill But Tax Cuts Uncertain,” (www.ichhi.org) for a new report by Liriel Higa, CQ Today, 12/2/05. “Ensuring a Hunger-Free Indiana.” Behind-the-scenes The report has generated significant media attention on hunger in the state, maneuvering over the Conference including how mounting energy costs Report on the FY 2006 Budget Reconciliation Bill reportedly has are affecting families’ food security. started at the staff level in advance of “Pointing to previously released formal Member-level negotiations. statistics such as the 75.3 percent Keeping any budget conference increase in food stamp participation from 2000 to 2004 in Indiana, report agreement closer to the lower overall Senate cuts level of $35 billion rather author Jill Nielsen, a senior policy than the House level of $50 billion analyst at the coalition, notes the would improve prospects for continued growth of poverty in the protecting the Food Stamp Program. state. As heating costs skyrocket, In response to questioning at even more Hoosier families this year a press conference, Senator Frist will face the painful ‘heat or eat’ reportedly stated, “:That progress, decision, she said. Economics is at the core of the problem, Nielsen said. once conferees are appointed — and I think they’ll appointed here shortly ‘The reason why more people are — means the conference can actually becoming eligible (for assistance begin. But the work that’s been done programs) is that Indiana has been at the staff level, in terms of taking slow to recover from the economic some very different approaches to downturn,’ she said. ‘Hunger is an accomplish the $35 billion and $50 income problem. People don’t have billion in spending, I believe can be enough money to buy the food that they need.’ The Food Research and reconciled in the conference. There are different approaches on things Action Center, a national advocacy like Medicare and Medicaid and on organization that works on public policies aimed at eradicating hunger in welfare and on LIHEAP, but all of which can be resolved. And I went the United States, issued a report through the list yesterday afternoon titled ‘Heat and Eat: Using Federal with the speaker, with the conference, Nutrition Programs to Cushion the Shock of Skyrocketing Heating Bills.’ and just read through the list. And on each one, although we didn’t come to It is available at www.frac.org.” specific decisions, there is a sense that once conference begins formally, Congressional Spotlight: Protect that we can accomplish that. And that the Food Stamp Program will be our goal.” On December 2nd, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) Food stamp funding got an and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) reported intentions to wrap up important boost last year with Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) budget legislation in December. making public his opposition to a “Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., expressed optimism Friday conference agreement if it makes that Congress will complete work on the House food stamp and Medicaid cuts. its budget savings package before While senior Members of the adjourning for the year, but he was House and Senate Budget and decidedly less certain about a Agriculture Committees likely will companion tax-cut bill. Frist said the have the most direct voices on the spending-cut bill should be cleared Page 6 Starbucks, which now owns or licenses 9,671 stores worldwide and had nearly half a billion in profit in the fiscal year that just ended Oct. 2, says the charges are only allegations, which the company intends to defend in a hearing Feb. 7. In the meantime, “We firmly believe that our progressive, positive work environment, coupled with our outstanding compensation and benefits, make unions unnecessary at Starbucks,” says Audrey Lincoff, vice president of Starbucks’ global media relations. “We believe we do not need a third party to act on behalf of our partners.” this fall, the Fairhaven Rescue nutrition cuts issues in the conference Mission provides meals and grocery and clothing vouchers to more people negotiations, the views of all than it has served in its 31-year Members of Congress will be influential as leaders assess how many history. Difficulties in obtaining votes for or against a final conference government commodities – such as canned meats and vegetables, fruit, package would be gained or lost by cheese and bread – have only including food stamp cuts. exacerbated this situation, according to Tom Dorman of Action Ministries, Editorial: Congress Fails the Poor by not Providing Heating which operates a food pantry in Latonia. In the past, the pantry Aid offered 22 commodities. Now it As the winter looms, offers only one item – boxed raisins. Congress has not yet managed to Dorman and other nonprofit directors approve any money to help poor were disappointed with the House of Americans pay for their heating bills, Representatives’ budget votes that editorializes The New York Times. might result in cuts for food stamps “They failed to pass the bill that and other social programs. “Politics included $2 billion in home heating aside, people in need should not subsidies . . . last spring. They also starve,” said Dorman. failed to come up with the additional $3 billion that is needed to cover the Indiana Needs to Expand big price jumps in various fuels since Anti-Hunger Programs, Study Hurricane Katrina.” A majority of Finds senators support heating subsidies, With poverty on the rise, but such subsidy approval needed a Indiana needs to expand and improve supermajority vote, which did not occur. Besides adding an extra billion its anti-hunger programs, such as food stamps and school breakfast dollars for heating assistance to one bill by cutting a billion from other anti­ and lunch programs, according to a poverty programs, the House by and report released by the Indiana large ignored the issue. “The intended Coalition on Housing and Homeless recipients of federal heating subsidies Issues. As winter approaches and heating costs are expected to include millions of low-income Americans who are old and disabled, skyrocket, even more Indiana families as well as poor families with children will be forced to make the “heat or eat” decision. Report author Jill - people who cannot afford heat Nielsen urges program expansions often make trade-offs that risk their that would not require additional state health or safety: deciding between dollars but rather use federal funds. heating or eating, between heat or medicine, between turning on the heat The report also argues for publicprivate partnerships to educate lowor resorting to oven flames or income people about existing dangerous kerosene heaters.” benefits, and recommends that Indiana make the school breakfast Donations Down, But program available to all students. Need Still High for Northern Families moving out of the Temporary Kentucky’s Charities Assistance for Needy Families This holiday season, program should be allowed to keep Northern Kentucky’s faith-based nonprofits reported as much as a 50­ receiving food stamps for at least five months to ease their welfare-to-work percent decrease in donations as transition. “Hunger is an income more people instead help causes problem. People don’t have enough assisting tsunami victims in Asia and money to buy the food that they hurricane victims along the Gulf need,” Nielsen said. Coast. While donations were down Streetvibes �Vendor Story: My Name is Ray and I’m an alcoholic by Jemal Swoboda My addiction is what put me out on the streets – I mean, it really tore me up pretty bad. There was a long time where I didn’t care about myself or anything else. In my early age, my dad was an alcoholic and he used to beat on me anytime he felt like it and it didn’t help that he used to hide my grandmother’s nerve pills in the booze he drank. Well, needless to say, the old bastard died and I’m glad of that. But before he did, I moved out to get away from it with a girl I got pregnant. But it didn’t matter. He used to go out of his way 30 miles to come beat on me. Now, he got by with it the first time – but the second time I warped him pretty good. Well, back then when I was drinking it was a lot of fun. I was the bully of that town, and there wasn’t much I couldn’t do that people could do anything about. I used to go around and shoot at people and the whole time I be eating handfuls of pills and drinking handles of vodka. I was like that until I was about 30 and then my addiction got real bad – and believe it or not that is when I met somebody and we got married and stayed together for almost 11 years, until my addiction ran me out of there. I lost the house, car, boat, and eighty acres. And with me being drunk and never there, I guess she found herself someone who would take care of her and provide for her. That pretty much blew it up right there and I found myself homeless. Now momma didn’t want me at the house anymore with the way I’d been acting - then somehow I met another girl and stayed with her five years and eventually pissed that away too. My first wife, who was 7 years older than me, drank a little wine but with my habit it just got real old, real quick for her. My second wife wouldn’t drink at all – she was a very religious person, but I couldn’t get along with her young boys – mainly because of my addiction. So, after all these relationships disappeared, I found myself at 42 and I was seriously homeless. So, I got a bright idea to come to St. Louis, but I didn’t know how things worked and to feed myself I ate out of trashcans – and to this day I’m not ashamed of it. But I wasn’t taking care of myself physically and I never bathed and was scruffy all the time – and just slept wherever I could find a place to lay my head. I guess I was scared of the shelters, mainly because I didn’t trust myself. When I got wound up and drunk there wasn’t anyone who could stop me and I was afraid I’d hurt somebody. So, the shelters were out – because life is just not sacred there and they’re just dangerous places. If a man wants to hurt you – they’ll just do it. I mean, if they like your shirt or anything else…it doesn’t matter they will take it. On the streets we would sleep in a circle to protect ourselves, but I got tired of relying on others for my safety, so I went and got myself a tent and decided to get away from the streets. The only thing I would come back downtown for was to get together enough money for food and booze. The first place where I set up my tent up was doomed from the beginning just by the mosquitoes. They were just bad, but for nearly three years I didn’t mind, because I was buying four gallons of vodka a week and that is all I would drink – just lay there, get sick, sober up and do it again. The funny thing about alcohol is that it’s legal, it’s easy to get, and if you keep enough of it in you – it’s almost like heroin. When I was 46, I decided I needed to get cleaned up and I tried doing it on my own. That worked for a month or so, but then I was at it again for about six or seven months. It was about this time that I met Tom from St. Patrick’s Center and we seemed to hit it off good, and when he saw how badly off I was he took me down to the Harbor Light and I got through their program and was clean for almost a year when my mom told me I could come back home. Once I was back in Summerfield, Illinois it was tough getting around without my driver’s license. I tried working at a McDonald’s, but it just didn’t make any sense having to go so far (regardless of the weather) to get paid nothing for doing nothing. Then I had someone give me an old, beat-up push mower and I started getting customers and building up my own business. I was making $1,000 per month and within six months time I was up to around $6,000 each month and was doing real good. It was a time where I was able to gain back a lot of the respect I had lost when I was living in the town ten years ago and that just really made me feel good. But then my lawn mower started breaking down and I without work to do I would just sit in my room for 7 or 8 hours and my mom figured I was back drinking again – but I was just down. I told her that I was an ex-alcoholic and I was just broken to a certain extent – it wasn’t like I was going to be brand-new again just like that - I guess I was just depressed. I finally got my lawn mower back running again and just about the time things started looking up, the guy I had working for me got killed in a car accident. I just went downhill from there. My mom put me out and I headed back to St. Louis to my current campsite and started drinking again. After I got my campsite set up I happened to run into Tom from St. Patrick’s again and he told me about a program that St. Patrick offered as a refresher course for ex-alcoholics and I got myself enrolled in the eight-week BEST program. One of the big things I’ve learned is that my ability to stay cleaned up and take care of my hygiene makes a huge difference on how I feel about myself. I just don’t think many people understand how important it is for homeless folks who are trying to put down the bottle to keep cleaned up and shaved – it makes a huge difference. Well, this BEST program pays $160 each week and I’ve been able to pay for my asthma medicine and even though I’m living in a tent, I come to St. Patrick’s cleaner than most of the other folks. I’m hoping I won’t have to be in the woods much longer, but then again I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with living outside. I just don’t know if I’m ready to be around people again. Sometimes I wonder whether I’m going to be able to survive with a roof over my head. It is going to take an adjustment, but this is not a fun game out here and I’m ready to get up and do something about it. I’ll miss the solitude, but if a change is necessary to get clean then I’ll do it. I guess the most important thing I’ve started doing is to start caring about myself, even though I’m old and tired. I can’t take back what has happened and I don’t blame anyone but myself, but you can do what I am doing now and stop using the drugs and alcohol and keep your nose to the grindstone and don’t give up – and don’t pick it up. I guess that is what I’m doing. I’m trying real, real hard – I guess that is all I can do. JS - Roy was about to move into an apartment when we last spoke and was doing very well thanks to hard work and the help of St. Patrick’s Center and the BEST program. 21 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 A Call to Greater Cincinnati Poets For the 2006 annual Book of Poems and Drawings on Peace and Justice 1) Call for poems from any poet from the Greater Cincinnati area 2) Poems to relate to themes of peace and justice 3) Poet may submit up to 3 poems 4) All submissions will be considered. The editors will be looking for quality, inclusiveness, and appropriateness to the themes of peace and justice. 5) If space becomes limited, priority will be given to poets not published in previous books 6) Poems selected will be illustrated in B&W by Greater Cincinnati artists (one drawing per poet) 7) Poems and illustrations will be printed in For a Better World 2006, a book to be available April, 2006 8) Book will be launched and available for sale at SOS ART 2006. 9) Poets included in book will be invited to read their poems at SOS ART 2006 10) Proceeds from sale of book will finance publication of future similar books to accompany annual SOS ART events. (Note: this is the 3rd annual book) 11) Submission deadline: February 3, 2006 12) Please send submissions in full text and as a Word attachments by e-mail or by US mail (on a floppy disk) to: Saad Ghosn (saad.ghosn@uc.edu), 216 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, Oh 45229 Streetvibes Page 7 �Remove low-income voter restrictions from Street Roots, USA It was out of the ordinary, to say the least, but considering what the Republicans see as politics as usual, it was a noble act. Our case in point is the new Federal Housing Finance Reform Act. This bill would create the Affordable Housing Fund, an estimated $600 million dedicated to creating affordable housing for extremely low-income families through nonprofit and for-profit housing providers. But after emerging from committee, Republicans in the House added a provision that would prohibit nonprofits that engage in non-partisan voter registration activities and get-out­ the-vote efforts from receiving a dime of this money. They are even forbidden from having participated in these efforts in the 12 months prior to receiving funds. For-profit organizations have no such limitations. To clarify, the bill dedicates the fund’s money exclusively to creating affordable housing; none of it could be used for voter registration activities. Yet even if the martyrdom for trying to provide an Affordable Housing Fund, only to organization uses its own funds to This provision flies in the have it blocked by the opposition. distribute and display voter face of the Motor Voter law of This, over $600 million a registration information, or help 1993 that required certain lowyear, a drop in the bucket people register to vote, they would income housing providers to make compared to the housing needs be disqualified, including if they voter registration access a among extremely low-income invited in a third party, such as the requirement for receiving state families. And the Democrats were Oregon Bus Project, to distribute funds. This cripples the entire audacious enough to demand voter registration forms at their network of nonprofit organizations answers for the more than $100 facilities. that incorporate voting rights in their billion spent on invading and A for-profit organization can work to empower people occupying Iraq. But to the conduct initiatives with impunity, but disenfranchised from economic and Republicans, stunts like that only it is the non-profits that provide the social inclusion. This places another interfere with the work at hand — bulk of affordable housing obstacle between people to suppress low-income people opportunities to the poorest of the experiencing homelessness and from going to the polls; to poor. poverty and their rightful discourage non-profit organizations The National Low-Income participation of the democratic from engaging people experiencing Housing Coalition calls it an unfair process. poverty in the democratic process; and unnecessary restriction and an This is a poison pill with and to scuttle the effort of a muchassault on low-income people and win-win implications for the needed national trust fund the non-profit organizations that Republican Party. If this absurd dedicated to ensuring affordable provide their housing. Nearly 700 provision clears the Senate, it housing for people on the brink of national, state and local means a suppression of voter homelessness. organizations, including faith-based registration and consequently votes Shameful political stunt, and civil rights groups, signed a from the low-income constituents indeed. letter that was sent to every targeted by federal policies. If it Reprinted from Street member of the House, calling on fails, it means the party can claim Roots them to drop the gag rule from this bill. Their request went unheard. It now falls to the Senate, and you, to stop this provision from becoming law. Got The Vibe? Can’t Go Home by Mecello Barrar Lord, why am I walking your streets at night? Did you know that homeless days Started with a homeless night Rain pouring down on my head, but where can I go? I know one place where I cannot go And that’s home for sure. Cause for some reason they wanted me gone. Will tomorrow be a better turn? Cause I can’t go home. This homeless life can’t be true. Whatever happened to my life? How did it ever come to this? Wasn’t poor nor either rich. I be down on my knees just asking the Lord to Please give me a place to sleep. People looking at me like I’m dirty Because I’m all on the street. Living in boxes and buildings Make what I can to feed the children. Wife die 2 years ago. Hard to explain to my baby boy that mama won’t be back No more, And we can’t find a place to call home Can’t find a job And we forced to be gone. Lord, all I ask of you Is to open the hearts of all your children. Make them help one another Stop looking down at my kind, Send your letters or And give just a little change Before it’s somebody in their lives comments to Living this homeless life. Streetvibes, 117 East More Poetry on Pages 14 and 15 Page 8 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors. Streetvibes �Coalition Annual Dinner Faces Challenge From Mother Nature An unexpected “surprise” snow storm from Mother Nature forced the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless to postpone the majority of its 21st anniversary dinner “Ripples of Hope, Waves of Change.” About 70 people braved the weather and were able to attend. The mass amounts of left over food were sent back to member agencies, Bethany House and the Drop Inn Center for residents to enjoy. The event was held December 8 at Xavier University’s Cintas Center. The dinner is normally a chance to extend awards to exemplary homeless advocates. Due to the cancellation, the award ceremony will be held at a potluck on March 16. Awards will given in the following categories: Service Provider of the Year to McMicken Dental Clinic, Streetvibes Vendor of the Year to Alford Woolfolk, the Jimmy Render Award to Robert Brown of the Drop Inn Center, and the buddy gray Award to Dr. Robert Donovan. buddy gray was a grassroots activist who saved housing in Over-theRhine and helped found the Coalition. Georgine Getty, executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, addresses dinner crowd Sr. Mary (right) leads prayer at “Ripples of Change, Waves of Hope” dinner celebration at the Cintas Center Guests at GCCH Dinner Bagel Dude cont. from page 2 Humphrey doors were locked, which drove me into an area across the street called The West Bank, where the nation’s largest population of refugees from Somalia have built an amazing culture, and mingle with hip college youth, some of which took over a failing cafe and made it into a cooperative called the Hard Times. It is like nothing so much as the old Black Cat Cafe from the Seattle University District. Back in the old days, when there were more street youth in the Seattle University District, and you could buy plenty of vegan food at The Black Cat, there was a kind of schism among the adherents of The Bagel Dude Cult. There was, you see, another Bagel Dude...some called him Old Bagel Dude. He was known to trash dive his bagels, not liberate them fresh from the source. Some were grateful for the lower quality bagels, but others swore they would have faith in none but The One True Dude. Now, outside the Hard Times Cafe, I noticed where the hip and earthy had congregated and, trying to walk in the footsteps of The One True Dude, I offered bagels. One guy quickly accepted my offer, wondering aloud if there were onion bagels. There were, as a deep sniff right through the plastic confirmed. A young woman with skin art all about the face looked through all the bags...she asked about pumpernickel, what on earth was THAT? “Kind of like rye,” I explained. And what about the poppy seed bagels, she wondered, what were they like? I explained that the poppy seeds had no flavor, really, but just imparted a kind of pleasant crunch. How about some onion, maybe? I asked, but she would have nothing to do with onion, and hoped that nothing had TOUCHED the onion, and finally settled upon a bag of...plain bagels. I went inside the Hard Times Cafe and explained the deal about the bagels to the girl behind the counter. Everybody who works there is an owner, and 10 people work there. “You’re not selling them?” she asked. “You’re giving them away?” I confirmed that was the deal. She grasped the bag and pulled it behind the counter, saying only, “People will eat them.” What more needed to be said? Walking back to where my bike must still be chained near the bagel place, a mile or two away, I thought how I would go back to the shop and discreetly tell the young man behind the counter how happy I would be to take more bagels off his hands...in fact, he could even call me on my cell phone. I thought how I would take the bagels to the Hard Times Cafe, stopping first on the exterior where people congregated and I would give away a few bags, also offering bags to anybody I might see on the way, who might look in need of free bagels. I would, I thought, try in my unworthy way to follow the example of The One True Bagel Dude. And then it hit me, and I realized...I had become The Bagel Dude. Visit the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless website at - http://www.cincihomeless.org Visit the Streevibes archives at - http:// www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Streetvibes Page 9 �The Farrah Gray Peace Signs on as Spokesperson Village by Steve Sunderland, Ph.D., professor, Educational for National Foundations and Peace Studies, College of Education, Criminal Coalition for Justice and Human Services war in Iraq continues the Homeless with theThe president announcing the The National Coalition for the Homeless is pleased to announce Farrah Gray as a new spokesperson and partner in the fight to end homelessness. Gray will be the honorary chairperson for the Bringing America Home Campaign, a comprehensive effort designed to end homelessness in the United States and includes housing,health, income and civil rights components. Gray is no stranger to the issues of poverty and homelessness. As a native of inner city Chicago, he both experienced and witnessed the effects of inequality. When he was just six, Farrah’s mother became seriously ill, prompting his decision to help provide for his family. He made handpainted rocks and sold them door-to­ door as paperweights, doorstoppers and bookends. He spent the first $50 he ever made taking his family for a real sit-down dinner. By age 14, he had an office on Wall Street and was a millionaire, founding and fostering companies as diverse as publishing and venture capital. Now, at 21 years old has become one of the great business minds and icons of his generation. He has served as the youngest member of the United Way Board of Directors and created a foundation, which provides seed money to youth aspiring to create legal means of acquiring additional funds for their struggling families through entrepreneurship. “We are very excited about Farrah’s commitment to the cause of ending homelessness. He is a role model that has experienced poverty and hardship firsthand. We are confidant that he will be able to apply the vision and determination that has made him successful in business to make a difference in the struggle to end homelessness around the country,” says Michael Stoops, Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. The National Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1984, is a national network of people committed to ending homelessness by creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. Additionally, NCH works to meet the immediate needs of people who are currently experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of doing so. We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work. Page 10 deaths of 30,000 Iraqis and over 2100 American soldiers. Violence and bravery seem to also fill our media as the election occured in Iraq. And, we hold our Steve Sunderland breath for the four Quaker peacemakers who are currently being held hostage by an Iraqi terrorist group. The announced date of their death has already passed but there is no word. So much news to digest and grieve about this brutal way of solving problems and conflicts. Hidden from view is the toll that terrorism is taking on Moslems who do not identify with the terrorists and those Moslems who feel that Islam has been deeply dishonored by those using violence in the name of this holy religion. “My children are being threatened and hardened by having to defend our religion,” Ms. Zeinab Schwen, co-founder of the Cincinnati based, Moslem Mothers Against Violence, says with a bitter and strong passion. “We are Americans, full citizens of this country, and my children were born right here in Cincinnati,” she continues, “and I do not like how we are being treated by either Americans or terrorists.” A group of 14 people listened to her stirring presentation last December at St. Johns Unitarian Church. Ms. Schwen and the Peace Village have agreed to visit schools, colleges and religious institutions to discuss the irrationality of responses to all things Islamic. Our goal is to increase peace through understanding, through sharing stories of fear and ignorance, and it joining together in partnership to educate about Islam our fellow students and members of religious institutions. (Please write me if you would like us to visit for a conversation.) Ms. Schwen, a Palestinian by birth, raised in Egypt, possessing graduate degrees in pharmacy from both the University of Cairo and the University of Minnesota, is an American citizen, married and the mother of 3 high school and college aged children. Zeinab, as she prefers being called, is a very attractive woman in her 40’s, with blazing brown eyes, a wonderful bright smile, and a fearless soul. She wore a lovely suit and, around her neck, a lovely light brown and white scarf. Our group met with the Rev. Frank Carpenter, as kind host, in a large meeting room in his church. This was the first of a hoped for series of discussions in many sites. Zeinab gave us the history of this new organization, founded immediately after and in response to the bombing in London, England, in July, 2005. “The bombers were home grown young British people, average and well educated members of the London community. If they could turn to suicidal bombing, what would prevent our children from going that route?,” she asked in a way that both dumbfounded us and brought questions of what could motivate young people to take this course of action. We didn’t know what brought young people to such a level of sacrifice and to violence, and we were eager to hear what Zeinab could do to help us understand. “Since September 11, 2001,” she said, “women wearing the head scarf and men who have been identified as Moslem have been subjected to an experience of hatred, distrust, and frustration.” Zeinab had noticed, as had other Moslem mothers in our area, that their children were being placed in school situations that they were unprepared for. No longer seen as Americans, or as regular kids, they were now the victims of hard looks, prejudiced comments, and scary actions that brought a new pressure to their relationships. How much pressure could they take? Would their good hearts be changed by the dramatic shift in symbols and actions of their fellow schoolmates? “What would keep them from turning violent?,” Zeinab asked with heartfelt concern. “We are good Moslems, and believe that Islam is a religion of peace, and means, “inner peace by following our God,” she began an answer to what were the principles of her religion. “Any action that links violence to Islam is wrong, and what the non-Moslem world is seeing is the opposite of our teaching about being a good Moslem,” she continued.” No one is to be treated violently, Moslem or non-Moslem, according to our teaching,” she said with determination to us, “and nonMoslems are to be treated with kindness and gratitude, especially if they are of a different faith.” Clearly, her grip on her strong feelings was relaxing as she felt that we could hear what was giving her heart so much pain. “Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IIt...” t...” Streetvibes �A Rain to Remember You By by Jay Thiemeyer (Street Roots, USA) With a roof these days, it’s easy to forget what it was like being out in this crap. A memory best remembered as a plaque on the wall, gathering the dust in only two dimensions. Being out in it the whole day long. Then flopping on a thin mat on a chapel floor with a hundred others, wet and worn out. Too exhausted and bones aching to sleep. Spend the whole night decompressing with the two hunks of beef pressed against each side. The snoring men, grown men mumbling in their dreams, men who no longer felt like men, the explosive coughing and abrupt cries; no one would sleep most of the night. Then out in it again. To find a doorway to drink some instant coffee and watch the buses pass. How would that old man over there make it through the winter? Of course, he wouldn’t make it. There was a given handful who wouldn’t be there next spring, and that man over there was surely one. Sitting in the shelter I, for no seeming reason, begin remembering women known on the street and wondering briefly what might have become of them. Particularly in Atlanta and St Augustine. And one old woman in No’fuk. I didn’t wonder long where they would be these days, 20 years or more down the road. A yearly handful of departed accumulating over two or more decades amounted to something worth remembering. I remember in Hotlanta Ober-Lynne, as I called her. She’d been an English major at Oberlin, once upon a time. When they were describing Rosa Parks on Democracy NOW coverage, I was reminded of her. And in the shelter I was reminded of her again. Slight, with delicate features, according to one speaker. Quiet, dignified. I met Ober Lynne in the Fulton County detox in ’84. Taking the cure. Cure number the fourth. I wasn’t there on a research project, as Jerry Jeff Walker put it. Early in the morning she was brewing coffee and I joined her. We had the place to ourselves and it was quiet. A temporary sanity for us. I don’t remember anything more about our conversation than that it was a peaceful one. On the bus now, people are talking, animated about the foul weather: “When I got up this morning it was awfully dark and it was raining, just a-coming down! cats and dogs..” followed by the requisite nodding of bent wet heads. Just like church to the preacher I remember being put out of Harbor Lights at 5:30 in the morning, with the hundred of the rest. And all of us dispersing to go our own separate way. And the women off their blankets — they slept on single folded blankets, not even mats — rising like haunts off the floor of the kitchen of the shelter. Dispersing to wander or wait for Blanchet to feed. The streets were beautiful in the rain. There was a vet who lived in a wheelchair, slept close to the solitary bathroom, his house folded next to him, against the wall. All night people would step over him on their way to the head. God knows how he slept or what’s become of him. What’s become of him could be any of a number of fine things. In the morning I remember he, like the rest, would disappear for the day to re-appear to move past the line of us and into the door. The door separated the rain from the not-rain. He had the privilege that came with his wheelchair, his house. Last time I saw Ober Lynne, she was all drunk and ugly, stumbling around — no longer slight or delicate-featured. She was yelling at the fountain in the downtown plaza of Hotlanta, not even at the passing suits who did their best, their very best, to ignore her. When she passed, she looked right through me. She disappeared like something briefly seen on the water. Here, not here. Like walking through a door leaving the rain. When I watched the tribute to Rosa Parks, I thought of her and that empty stare. It was unavoidable. Never forget that look and what it signified. She was gone. Her fine Atlanta family shunned her for her “lifestyle.” Well, if it matters, wherever you might be now, you do remain in one person’s memory. Ober Lynne. I was raised like her, a Southern Baptist. I was taught like her to believe there is no rarer punishment than shunning. But I know there is no greater victory than the final one, to prevail, not merely endure, as Faulkner said, and he was indisputable on this, over whatever degradation, insult or unkindness is heaped on a person, any person. And to prevail, I know for a fact, takes a movement. Rosa Parks on Dec. 1, 1955, was not about a single day, a single action or least of all, a single person acting alone. She was part of a powerful movement and knew it and had had enough of insults to her dignity. She acted on what she knew and inspired the movement she was a part of. Ober Lynne, listen to me! You are not, you were NEVER alone! WE ARE NEVER ALONE! One of the speakers called Rosa Parks not the mother of the civil rights movement but the mother of her country. It’s hard to argue with that. She was not a wealthy white man like Geo. Washington, (who freed his slaves — after he was dead and they were no longer at his beck and call, but still), she was a woman of color who refused indignity. The evening wore on and I tactfully disengaged from my now drunk girlfriend. I wandered about by Melissa Mosley and spotted the lady I know. We Last night, I found myself someplace I usually don’t frequent - a began talking and soon a guy she knew joined us. We all had being an bar. My already inebriated girlfriend ordered a Chardonnay and I had my artist in common (besides being human being living in OTR). They ever popular soda pop. After just a took interest in me. I know that my few moments, I wanted to leave. This bar is on Main Street. I feelings of discomfort were evident. They overlooked it. There were am homeless on Main Street. The moments when I was so awed by patrons of this bar have never seen simply being there, being welcome, me inside. They see me outside on and feeling connected that I’m sure the phone, hanging around, washing cars, trucks, bikes, dogs – whatever I they thought I wasn’t even listening. I was. can do to earn dollars, food or My heart was heavy even as clothes. They see me trying to I felt the sense of belonging they maintain a sense of enterprise and emanated. They encouraged me. self-sufficiency. We’ve never spent social time or frolicked playfully. My They offered their knowledge (which was immense) of opportunities in impression of them was that they which I could expand the breadth and were wary of me, looked down on audience of my writing. me, looked through me, disregarded We connected. We me. A lady I know came and stood conversed. We vibed. We liked and next to me. Ah, a friendly face and only one! I expressed my discomfort encouraged one another. We were people. I felt like a person and that’s and desire to jump ship. Through patience and an earnest desire for me such a wonderful feeling. As I said, to feel welcome, we openly discussed last night I found myself someplace I usually don’t frequent. my perspective, (the beer helped). Last Night Streetvibes Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Coalition for the Homeless and Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 Streetvibes.... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed Vendors must not tell customers earned. This program has helped for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 Cents (75 cent profit goes directly to the vendor) Homeless Coalition 25 Cents Printing and Production: 25 cents (this cost does not cover expenses) Page 12 The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Streetvibes Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! �Cincinnati is moving up on the list of “most dangerous cities.” According to the latest statistics, Cincinnati ranks 20th on among the nation’s most dangerous cities, up from 25th last year. Other Ohio cities on the list include Cleveland at 12th and Dayton at 17th. For the second year in a row, Camden, New Jersey is ranked the most dangerous city. Detroit is second. Newton, Massachusetts was ranked the safest. Safest Cities: 1. Newton, Mass. 2. Clarkstown, N.Y. 3. Amherst, N.Y. 4. Mission Viejo, Calif. 5. Brick Township, N.J. 6. Troy, Mich. 7. Thousand Oaks, Calif. 8. Round Rock, Texas 9. Lake Forest, Calif. 10. Cary, N.C. Most Dangerous Cities: 1. Camden, N.J. 2. Detroit 3. St. Louis 4. Flint, Mich. 5. Richmond, Va. 6. Baltimore 7. Atlanta 8. New Orleans 9. Gary, Ind. 10. Birmingham, Ala. Drop Inn Center Shelter Report Crowding: Our number of residents jumped to 268 on a cold Wednesday night last month. We are also looking at a long streak of cold weather which usually pushes up our numbers even more. For that reason... Donated Items Needed: Frozen hams, oatmeal in bulk and paper products are much needed items. But, if you’re stuck inside with just an envelope, stamp and checkbook... Please Support Holiday Drive: Just send your support to the Drop Inn Center, 217 W. 12th St., Cincinnati, OH 45219 The Heart of War by Laura Kelly Just as in Iraq, we flew into the war on the wings of lies,” says Peter Davis. The veteran filmmaker and journalist is in the UK to promote his Oscar-winning 1975 Vietnam documentary, Hearts and Minds, which has just had a long-overdue release on DVD. Essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand the Vietnam war and its effect on the US, it is the film’s relevance to the current war – and the support of one Michael Moore, who says Davis’ film is the reason why he picked up a camera – that has led to the release. “In Vietnam, the soldiers did not know which Vietnamese peasant was on their side and which wasn’t. Well, it’s the same thing in Iraq. We have completely misunderstood the ethnic, religious and political realities of Iraq, just as we did in Vietnam,” he adds. As the horrific images of lives destroyed flash past on the screen, there’s a sense of amnesia that has allowed these things to happen all over again. A Vietnamese man, stripped from the waist down, lies on the ground as a US soldier kicks him in the stomach and chest; another man is held by his hair and then shot in the head, his blood spurting out on a dusty road. How could anybody who saw what happened in Vietnam – or even this film – decide to wade in for another go? That was not the question on Davis’ mind, however, when he arrived in Vietnam in 1972. As he stood in a crater that was once someone’s home he looked at his watch and became fixated on the next 10 minutes. “In the crater was a bicycle wrapped around a tree; some shards of pottery that a woman had used to cook meals in,” he recalls, “then I saw an arm, and a leg, and then finally a torso and a head. ” He pauses, sniffs and continues, “ of a little kid’s doll. I hadn’t seen any human damage or even a dead animal but I was quite horrified.” At that moment, Davis says, all political feeling drained from him. “I remember looking at my watch and it was 10 minutes before noon and I thought, well it doesn’t really matter about opinions any more, I’d like someone to be declared the victor. I don’t care if it’s the North Vietnamese Communists, I don’t care if it’s just a stalemate, but in 10 minutes it’ll be noon and at noon this should all stop. “The next feeling I had was – well, here’s how to make the film.” Of course, at noon the war did not stop. It would be three more years, but Davis’ incendiary film would play its part in the end of the violence. Turning conventional network wisdom on its head, Davis removed the narrator from his film, stringing together interviews and images without a guiding voice. He describes his whole two-hour documentary as being akin to the 10 seconds of scene-setting shots you get at the beginning of a network news item. “In a television report,” he explains, “you would have had a close-up of that bicycle wrapped around a tree and you’d keep pulling back until you see the reporter. “He’s not damaged. His arms and legs haven’t blown off, in fact he looks fine. He becomes the medium through which you know about the war, and he’s alright. You had 12 seconds of the war before he started to talk and then he did away with all that. “What those first 15 seconds are called in America by network executives is dead air. And they hate dead air. But I decided at that moment that that was how I would make the film. I would make a two-hour film about those 15 seconds.” The result is a very direct experience of the conflict: we see soldiers in the middle of combat, mud smeared across their face as the interview is interrupted by gunfire, then two GIs in a Saigon brothel, playing with the prostitutes like toys – then a bereaved father in the wreckage of his home screaming “Nixon murderer!”. Meanwhile, in the US, we’re shown the cult of victory played out on the football field, limbless veterans bewailing their country’s desire to forget the war they fought, and a general’s racist proclamations against the “Orientals”. Some of this is stock footage, but the bulk was filmed by Davis and his three-man team. In our age of embedded reporters and PR control, it seems incredible that Davis was allowed to capture these images, and that his subjects were willing to be so open on camera.” A documentarian learns very early on to be as little as possible an intruder and as much as possible a companion,” says Davis. “In the case of those two GIs in a brothel, we had been filming with them for several days and they had gotten completely bored with our presence. They had to get on with their lives.” Their lives at that moment are nothing much to brag about. They talk to each other as they play with the women’s nipples, discussing how to get one of the prostitute’s bras off. As Davis puts it, “they are no longer human Streetvibes beings, and they are not treating the prostitutes like human beings either. That’s what war does.” Watching these gangly lads at play, and the prostitutes at work, is uncomfortable. It feels like intruding, just as viewers intrude on a man’s death later in the film and on a father’s grief. “First they bomb us,” the stricken man says direct to the camera, “and then they come and take pictures of us.” While acknowledging that his documentary is a further invasion of these lives, Davis stands by his choice to film and show these images. In fact he defends the decision passionately. “The only way to be honest about a war is to show what it does to people,” he says. But does he just show what was there, or are his artful juxtapositions – such as setting General Westmoreland’s testimony that “Orientals” don’t value life as much as Westerners against a Vietnamese woman wailing at her son’s funeral – a kind of counterpropaganda? “I didn’t want to seem neutral because I was very much engaged in the war,” Davis acknowledges. “Certainly, I had all kinds of feelings that I hoped other people would have too. Feelings of how cruel and unnecessary war is.” By making such an overtly emotional statement Davis defied traditional assumptions about the value of impartial news, and for it he faced the same kind of criticism as his successor Michael Moore received for Fahrenheit 9/11 or Bowling for Columbine. At the end of the day, though, the viewer must decide whether it is more ‘real’ to be forced to feel outrage and grief at the US actions or to listen to the man in the pressed suit giving a detached overview. In any case, Davis is happy with his choice, and has continued to come up with challenging journalism that goes beyond fact. As he said in a recent article for left wing US magazine The Nation, “enough facts. Now for opinion.” Still, all the opinion in the world does not appear to stop wars happening. Does he ever feel his role is pointless? “I think we did learn some lessons from the Vietnam War,” he begins, “but they were knocked out of our head by 9/11. We learnt some things about not fighting wars of choice, but 9/11 caused amnesia.” Despite the “hard, bitter pill of King George’s coronation” and the forgetfulness of his fellow citizens Davis is not discouraged , “I’m not tired, but inspired,” he says. “Power and its excesses and absurdities are very inspiring to a certain kind of journalist and perhaps I am that kind who just loves to scrutinize power.” Page 13 �The Homeless Man by Angela C. A homeless man Scavenges In trash barrels And envies People who look down on him With scorn As they hurry home To their evening meals. He crouches In a rat infested corner, Content to be with creatures That don’t cringe At the sight of him. The Winds of December by Michael Henson The Clock by Kevin G. The Clock Ticks, Counting out bits of time. Monotonous and never ceasing, making minutes seem eternities or a day of fun only a minute long. It is our master, we its slaves. From its place on the wall the clock rules our modern world, counting the seconds toward eternity. Angel by Erin C. Although I was young I remember Memories shared, Games played, Times spent talking, All in the distant past now That you are gone away, Watching from above, Loving, caring, An angel in the heavens My grandpa My Silver Lining by Chase D. In my pocket On the chair Shiny as a rocket I take it everywhere. Size of a hand Size of a shoe Loud like a band Loves to play U2. The bitter winds of December curl around the towers of City Hall. Knives of the snow, breath of the lords of ice, the winds sweep across the roof slates as over a prairie. Pressed and pried, a single slate loosens its grip, slips an inch, but falls no further for now. The November leaves in the gutters raise their red hands and would fly off but they are frozen to the mire of the rotting leaves of October. Justice-in-the-stained-glass winces at the naked blast; the scales tremble in her hand. On his perch, the gargoyle shivers. He tightens the muscles in his stony wings. His claws grip tighter at the parapet. He bares his long, stone teeth. It’s a palm pilot Never shuts up Doesn’t come in violet Feels like a porcelain cup. Both like music Listen all day To use it, You simply push play. My Mushroom Toad by Sarah M. Beady brown eyes Mushroom-like hat “No smoking,” he says. Now how about that! He lives on my shelf With the other knick-knacks Funny like me But life, yes, he lacks Like my mother Treats me right Annoying like my brother All family at the end of the night. It’s my silver lining On each and every day When I’m whining, I just push play My iPod Bought at the mall On a day of pure fun Only one dollar My love had begun He sits on the rocks Amongst the nice flowers Too bad my good toad Has no magical powers He looks oh so real But has a bar code I love him to death He is my little stone toad Page 14 Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Streetvibes Me!! by Robin Remy Me (Mother) Through my addiction I Manage to be a Mother and only by the grace and mercy of God I made sure of the essential things In my sons’ lives in order for them (1) to become men, and (2) to be able to survive. Me (Friend) I’m a good listener. I have very profound advice. Always willing to share even my last. I must have been a good friend, Because my friends have been with me for the last 30-40 years. Me (Robin) I’m a giving person. I’m a no-nonsense person. I’m very strong with inner strength. I have a lot more to give from my spirit and my soul. �I Will Never Be Homeless A Story by Booger Love I live a hell of a life everyday. I lost hope a long time ago. My life is nothing but a game. Sometimes, it’s a bad game. I will lock myself away from my self and other people, sometimes for days. Right now, I’m feeling that way – To just lock people out. It helps to walk around alone. But I manage to carry on timeto time, as I slowly go out of my mind. My life is no good for anyone, not even me. I can’t put up with myself sometimes. I give up on everything, including life itself. I‘ve never had hope in anything because there is nothing to hope for. The life that I live everyday should not be lived by anyone. It’s hell out here but fun also, sometimes. Sometimes it’s bad for me to stay the same all the times. Hey, it’s hell living the way I do – don’t let it happen to you. I will never be homeless, It won’t happen to me. I will never be homeless, I’m doing so well, don’t you see? I have a good job, a nice house and a car, I have everything I need to go far. I am not like those Welfare bums, To whom prosperity never comes. You know, the ones who don’t want to work, Any kind of physical labor, they shirk. All they want to do is drink, Some are not clean, and they stink. Then, I see a man, lying in the street, A tattered coat around him and no shoes on his feet. But, I sense that something is wrong, That somehow, this man does not belong. So, I decide to stop to say hello, And ask him why he fell so low. He once worked on a street called Bay, Making good money every day. Then, one day his job was gone. He was told, “just go on home.” He soon just didn’t care, His purpose in life no longer there. He lost his family, his home, and his car. In just a few months, he fell so far. So here he was, on the street, With a tattered coat around him and no shoes on his feet. Then I saw the lines on his face and the pain in his eyes, I will never be homeless, will I? by Cheryl (Sunshine) Effiom by Tonya Haley I only want relief, Life is full of pain, Not just for me, Look around – we’re all to blame One night, I had a wondrous dream, One set of footprints there were seen, The footprints of my precious Lord, But mine were not among the shore. Now, some of us are homeless And we don’t even know why, Whenever I think about this, I just break down and cry. But then some strange prints appeared, And I asked the Lord, “What have we here?” Those prints are large and round and neat, “But Lord, they are too big for feet.” You want to know and understand, Why we do what we do, Close your eyes and visualize, You as me and I as you. by John McKay Withey “My child”, He said in somber tones, “For miles I carried you alone, I challenged you to walk in faith, but you refused and made me wait.” I just know that your prayers will help us through. We all have done wrong, But to God we all belong. She left her home in her early teens, In torn shirt and faded jeans. Looking for the love she was never given, Away from her family she was finally driven. Butt Prints in the Sand She sits by the fountain every day, Her lovely young face looking cold and grey. Her sad blue eyes slowly searching around, Looking for coins dropped on the ground. “You disobeyed, you would not grow, The walk of faith you would not know, So I got tired, I got fed up, And there I dropped you on your butt.” With pleading eyes she holds out a hand, In pouring rain for hours she will stand. All she wants is a lttle respite, And something warm for her teeth to bite. “Because in life there comes a time, when one must fight and one must climb, When one must rise and take a stand, Or leave their butt prints in the stand.” Uncaring people pass her by, They see her plight and wonder why, So young a person has no home, And around the streets aimlessly roam. How I Became A Man Addicts and prostitutes, she knows them all, They tell her the dangers, if her pride should fall. Often tempted, her back to the wall, When deep inside she hears a call. by Maurice Wheeler It’s been said before that when you are a child you do childish things, but when you become a man you grow up and leave your childish ways behind. I remember someone telling me that it’s a cold-hearted world and once you are no longer under your parents’ wings that no one gives a damn about you. But I was young and didn’t quite understand. I was too busy having fun and chasing girls. Needless to say, the fun stopped when a young girlfriend of mine told me that she was pregnant. Being young and full of fun I had a choice to run and hide. But I chose to take the responsibility. I got a job and decided to be a dad. Anyone can make a baby, but it takes a man to raise one. Her bed is a box propped in a door, Often her body is tender and sore. But when she sees those ever so younger, She forgers the pain caused by hunger. Up to the skies she will often look, Remembering words she read in a book. The meaning now she can clearly see, “Suffer little children to come unto me”. Streetvibes Page 15 �357-4602 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect, Homeless Kids 363-1060 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 Cities Remember Those Who Have Died on the Streets Homeless Memorial Day Cover Story BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY January 2006 STREETVIBES $1 Donation � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2006 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource January 2006 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Homeless Remembered on Winter Solstice Pg 2: Each One, Touch One Bagel Dude Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: DC Makes Plans to Protect Homeless from Cold Pg 5: Precarious Lives The Need for the Family Violence Option in Ohio Pg 6: Happy New Year to All Union Steamed National News on Homelessness and Poverty Pg 7: Vendor Story Pg 8: Remove Low-Income Voter Restrictions Pg 9: Coalition Annual Dinner Faces Challenge Mother Nature Pg 10: The Peace Village Pg 11: A Rain to Remember You By Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes Pg 13: The Heart of War Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 2006 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Alison Leeuw Monique Little Kelly Carr Andy Lawrence John Lavelle Mary Gaffney Melvin Williams Susan Smith Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alison Leeuw Andy Lawrence Bagel Dude DC Elections Farrah Gray GCCH Georgine Getty Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kelly Carr Mary Gaffney Melvin Williams Monique Little National Coalition for the Homeless Ohio Peace Village poverty Susan Smith Violence Voters War Winter Solstice