1 10 10 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/30d65194afdbc55f8d6c9e643f6dd3fb.pdf 0c66b59b2507bdce22f29afa8df1a65f PDF Text Text December 2007 Thousands Gather to Protest the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) h.r BritJ11 OeR011i!.u L>urrng die thlrd 'vook of No,-etitbet, pl!1111?$,ltruns, bus­ ses and cars srreamed out of C1ncin11a.u, CovingLon, Daytnn, :tnd hundreds uf other citic.s across the cowu·ry heading for 1hega1esol"ft. Benning. \.eor­ g:ia and the annu:tl protest ag,ai1tSt the U $. J\ rrny Scl\001 of the .~m ori c:IS (SOA), Tho school renarnt?.d the Vlestem One pecson 1s ht on lire "hde.hesleep.' W)C)LherJS sliOI fo<panhandling.T.'woldecrnen :ire anack-~d by three 1 een ng~ c.: 1~ \\i)o -smnsh one in lh<: rac~ wuh acinderblock. rutd anoth1..>r person \v:lkes up ui a OOl'flllaf­ ter being beaten (also \\•hile sleeping) wi1h nbaseball bat llen\lsphere IJ1stiru1e tOr Secu­ riiy Cooperation (WHINSEC') 111 200 I A 2006 NaJioool Cosli~on repon on.VJolent., random, hlle-­ ts a l:Omhat ttaiuins school for l.J16o Amcricansol­ dIers Bfld IS 1he 1.arget Of lilled rut.aeks Of• hoo1eles$ peoplesho,vs a 65 percen1in· creo!>!from2005, mcludingfive mp<;s. si• people se1 on 6 re. :uid 20 murdeis. In oll, 142 .epon<d au:ic~. Everyone at tile fron1 linesofhomelessnessisscared shilfessofv.hal thenext set or oumbc:r-s isgoiogro sh6\v interrogation mcrics. Sleepi.ng_. enn·og, panhan· Despite its see.J~tingly !'ca* oonablc objective. tho. SOA/ dllo_g., lo11t.,l'1n_g ftf)d tfespa<>SU'lg WHINSEC quickly became a h:t\1e been the focus of local 1 >\J1'1f'rica slongei;1s1:ru)(fing.nC11l­ violent·ntaSS pRKes1 nK>vt'tnenl. Tuisycar, lbrLheoyhJee:ntt' rimC..&t•&...,,ts. c;clOOritics. poli­ uc1MS. \1e 1 erans~ cle.f_g}·, acu\•.. 1sis. aod Americans QJ' cort­ science from across the spec­ trum ~sed thc!al'VOIC.¢.';Ofdis ­ sent und call.odoncu aguin for lhe-closureot'd>esclx>0Iand the l'ruled fo reigo policy \vfl1C'b 1t helpsiosupport. thl! 70', so·s, und 901s., .•\ mcricM intervention in 0(tri o~ Congress Plays the Numbers Game as Homeless Folks Burn The ol~oc1Jvo oftl1• schonl l'tonl ELSaJ\fadol' and Ntcara· v.·as io helpprofes.sionalize1.he gua 10Chilc nndA1~1lns find ·ntilicruies ofLati11 /\n1erica by training. 1n thepe.r~1vedlhrearofC001nlu• providing n1S1n \VfJe the i1npl'IUS for Lh~ COlUl!eriosurgency roohniquese t1ain1ny.g1'0und lbr lhe death govemn1l!l11el,bns to elinUnatc tK>m\:JessntS.s'. nnd local p(CSS fraining nt th~ School of Lhe m1ljta1y 1n1ellih>e11t:t,co1n11l9ndo andpsychological w•Jrfure.ond Contfnoi::d on pitgc S havesbo91111the1rsuppo11 oflh.is 1\Jt1enc1tt lbcus\Wh ii:irol1,Jtely I10t11d<ft.: piet1ons o f \llhQ hon1eless poople are. As a result. loc-al ra11ulits\'11th chddten ate lllll()l'lg ensureeducnrion for children honreles!:are more likely toe,x~ :lnjmosity-n1rd louthingluwe sor­ the fusie;1 growmg populouons expet1eocul.g ho o1e l e..~snes~ penenoedeve!op1nen1::d delnys. Wl s:1eachly 010 1-e br.v.etl. racist ofthe ho1neless. \Ve are told throu!')'lolRGreater C1ociJ1nari. l'hey ra.""e.n1einadequatehe:llth aod, ul\r<)rtUl'l4tlely, !l.CGef>L"ilile. 1h111, n3l,onally. ~.-0.000 chil­ iVly Y..'Ock in\!olves.disrov· cam. resulting in hi~1tcrratt$of In the midsiof1hislocal cli· dren v.·ill experience erin_g uud connec11n!; heahh problems They lock mrueoffear.,.J1nte, brutn.biy and IK)n1ele~nc.'$S 1h1syear~ ar1d thn1 pr-esohoolers to resour\.'.:e-s. properou1l'inorl. h:lve lim1h:d focal lcgisJntivc elforts roper­ 352,800 of these children "'" 1detui f).•1ns b.-uriersnnd gaps 1n support systen1s. and endure l'orm econo111ic cle-ans1ng of under theageoffive. scrv1ccs. and spn.~ding mvarc­ high en1orionnJ stressnnd anx1· do....111ov.·o bLL~t1 ess d1s1t1CI$, \\'e kn<)\v 1hc facts litll do nesson these issues. Through c1y. ThC)' oxpcritinccn lossof bo1h 1he House and Sl.Ulate v.•c kno'v ,~flnt these lllcis ac· dtis \\fOrk, 1see tl1~ in1por1anee stn1cture., rotnine,Md stabiIiry branches ofourfede-31 g0vem· 1unlly mean lb1·1he s:1nall chil­ ofkoo,viJ1_g thestarisrics. n.i;nresul1 ord:teitlu!;hly tnobile .mcnr held h~ariogs on dren \~O rcptesen1 thestat1s· TheseSUllt$l iC-$ Ote so $1£:• h\:es. '111ey can have strnincd honlelessaess. ·rhe, hear1n~ tics. forJaoon? oav..eoonsider n1fican1bco111sc lhcyrcprosenl artacbmeots v.~ th their haV"e focus-ed oo ho\v 1be v.1ha1 i 1means to bl: ho1ncless the portion of tlt~ t.onie(ess ~.Jio care.g ivers They endure, in Ste\van B. McKiun~: .~ct. our for 1he1n and lh~i r families, or tmveno voice ruld absolu!dyno chiIdl'ood.situations th:n a mil· nnti0f1·spri n:wy hon-.elessfund· for their fu1ures·1 D<> \l/e kfW)\V choice:. JOril)' ofi\111eticruis rlt\~l'h::tvl! iogMd poli<y prul;roJTI.should v.•h_y dleSO facts :trc so impor­ 14onleles:>$1tt1nuoosareex· to c~Jcntmc.e. all of \vhich put l\Jncaon \I/hen it t!=:reaudlOnzed tri:mcl)· clelnmt.'fllAI io c:h1ldwn innt? PrQj~L C01ulec1V.'Ol'k.S to like Jasol\, ('bildren \vho nre Coutinueil 01111agc 4 Continued on (lrtg' 6 c:ivil,,..nrs tliiltlSS L.111nAmerica Giving Homeless Preschoolers a Chance h)· Rat:flt:I ll1u11111lln Mee1Jason. He-ls three ~ ytw'S-old. 1-le.tov~ IQ1~J~· \vi th his-rkd ball rn 1heshehe.r ,...nere he l1ve:'i. lie s111iles \\'hen he is happy und loves 10 ,give hu~ \Vhen he ls n1ad, hescrean1s. \\lheu be o~d~ tttte:i1uon. hi: j umps and v.ilines, 1-fe doesn•l use\\'t)rds-becaiSe he do~n •1 talk yet. lma,g;.inchim in sclio:ol IDJUSt t\VO yeru-s. We 111ay be v.·e:lt}' (ro1u henfi ng sta11stics about lh)n'IClt.-ssnes~ - We kno"1that th.e average ;tg~ Qf Rhom~lt$ 1ncbvidual in tlusoounrry isrune. \\le QJ'e 8\Yate of LhC, fnc.t that Inside This Issue G u e~~l Colu nl uist • Naonl1Johnson-Davis wrnner of the 2007 Tendre Scbplarsh1p fo r l·lon1eless '\'ou1h - f't1gc .'i A fricnn Boy Soldier· Chi ldhood soldier shares the terrors of being t'Qrced intf) the ntnl)' at age 13 • Page r, 'Ao111C'Jess J\ilc.·n1orinl Day - Corne to Honl'eless Memoria l Day and re­ rnetnl)er lhose \\lh<>have died Lhis your - l~CJgc 8 'fbe F ig hr Agai11si J\ifaty !\'l agdalr.u Rouse · RomeJes'mC""s·s • Learn \vhat is '''O(k1T1g and \vhat is not \Vorking fi·onl National Leaders lightmg hon1elessoess • /'age I J .Mary Magadalen House Gl" >nys in need of help and donations· f-'ag.t l 3 �STREETVIBES Page 2 StREETVIBES Greater C)ncfnnali'• alternative news source+iS'-'a n·ewspap.e fwritt'en by,ior. and about lh;e homeless and cQn~fns r~levant di sc;:ussions ~r social juS-lice-»:a n d , po_v~rtY is•u••. II ts,publish•d once a month bY the Greater Cincinn;;1.t'1 Co~lltlon for .the Homele5s. Becoming a Stt~etv/bes· Vendorls a 'gre,at way rOr hom~le.sS· and 'otherlo\v-. Jncom• peopl• g'et bacJ(<>n' (or •lay on) their lee\, StreetV;~s Vendors·are, glven an 'onenlatton•and sigrra•eode of conduct before beinggiven a Stroetvlbe-s Vendor badge, All ArofilS go dlraclly to the vendor. to The Greater Cinclnttati Coalition ror the Homeless is•a "9rQup Qf sheltet'&, agencies a11d'l ndividuals ·cotninitt~CI to endi~ h.omefess-ness in Cincinnati through 9001dlnalln9 service~. educa~ng.lh& pubUc ·and gressro6ts organl#ng, GCCH Staff 'Georgine Getty . ExecuUve Direotor And~ Freeze· Educ,ition·©oortlin~tor Lynne Ausman· dvir Righ~ Coortlinator Greg .Olkho11Sky - Civ~ Rig~(s Coordinator Tiffany Harmon . Civil Rights eoordlriator Kenneth Cherulyot - AHACoordinator MelVln Williams- F,je.9epUonist Linda Pittman · Receptionist Ai'deUa Woolens - RBC!!PJfOflTSt Susan Smith • Volunte·er Stmtvibes Jimmy Hel!th, Edi~or1 Layout·and lile5jgn P)zojogt11ohecs Berta Lainb&rt, Sleph.Saurber, LYrin Ausman, Greg Olkhovsk'y Vendor Code of Conduct I• sITOCIV!bes"''II be <hs1ribvied for 0!10<killftr (SI) I agreenot lO ask for •»Qre lhan n.dollaror solich donations.for Strectvibcs by any other means. Ifa customerdonates more than SI for a paper.I am allO\\'\!d to keep the dot1atioo. 2. I \i..ill only purclisscp:ipers from 1ho Greater Cin~lnnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), E;tch paper CM be purchased for a cost oF2S ce.nts._ Iwill al\vaYssho\\,.1nybadge v,flen buying paper.; ru1d ifl do not have 1ny h.'\dge 1 cannot l>uy pap.:!1'S. 3. l wrll never buy papers from andlorooll papers 10 other vendors. 4. ragree to tre:1t 311 othcrs-customors.staff. and other vendors-respectfully rv.oill not use abu.9ve lru1g'uageor tbcceso111eo1H~ to buy a paper. I ..:viii not give a ...hardsell,''bcaggJcss1vc. coritint•e t<>3.S\<. :itW.cape.f'SIOO has verbalJyor non~veiballysaid no or makc·SO•nronc ft."CI1hrostcncd. 5. I agree to st3}' offpri\.-ate property "Tien selling St~tvibes. I ,..111 not sell S1ceecvibc.>S dc,')c.)r 10 door. 6. Iundecstandthi::n I am not M emplO)•ccof Streetvibes or GCC.H but a conrrac.ted :1.vorker rcspo1islblc fOrnl)' O\\'ll \\'ell-beingand income 7. I ngree norto setl oddirioonl goods orproduces v.hl!nselIins St.reetvll'.leS.­ 8. 1\i..ill no1~I Strtet\oibusorpurc:ha...~Sircc.tvibcs unck>! lhe influaiceofdrugs or.alcohol. 9. There a.re no ICrritorics a1uong \ltndors. 1will reS)>ecl thespaceofother veado ~ parti cul atl}~ lhe spaceolt\.1endors\..·ho have bl!ei1 nra spot long.er. 10. I understind1ha1 mybadge rs the property of StreervibesandJ "'ill nol deface lt J "'ill prest;n1 n1y bodgc when purchasiogpaper.; and display my badge "ilen sellingpapers: Ift lose niy badge I "';II pay lhtee dollars ($3) for an.e wone. Ifmy badge becomcs nuncdbecause of\VC..->:t1heror use. I \viii ~~ot anewbadi:e forone dollar{$ I ) 11. I undcrstAnd that-StrectviiJCsstrives to bo n paper that covers homelessness and_po\!ffiy issues lulepro\l'iding a-source.ofincome fQr the horneless. 1v.ill try to help 1n thiscftOrtwic't spread the \"'Urd. 12. l \\llll 1101 dooeive lhe public by saying dl:tl .I ant collccting,fOranonprofit charity orthat 1am cotlectiqg fordJe "homeless" in ge00ral. 1";u be hoi1est io SU1.t.i11g that all 1heprofits fi'On1the sate.or Stroctvibes go to .mo. I \lflll notuse the \\'Qr~-t ··c1onatjon." 13. 111ere arespCcinl n 1lcs fQrsclling atFindlay Market. Only tv.u Vi."'lldors may sell at Findlay Marketat a liJ'oe. 0 1he< rules as established by 1 \\ Srreotvibcs ond Findlay Marko!, 14• .I \11iU anend 111011ddy n1ee1ings. tvfoiuhly mcC-'llngs \viii occuroo 1hu first \\\.'tlkd11y of lhe n1onth. The month•s paper \1;i ll be released at this n1ft!ting, J\nyone \\•ho cannot make tJ1e l'nOOting mu~d nwct \..1th . \ndy, tho ~dt»e11tion Coord1nat0r, befor~scllingSu-eetvlbes forthat n1ou1h. 1e11papers wi11 bu given to tilc)scwho ::itta,d tho mcl.:Ung. lS. ltistlia responsibility of each vendor to police fello\\•\rec1dotsot fOmtel'\.1et1dors I will rtpOit v1olal<>rsof thcruJos to GC'CH Thevalue of the paperdependsoo keepingitcredible. 16. 1undc-rstand that 11nyinfracti(ln ofthe above n1eatiooed rules \viJJ result in suspension ofmy prlvilC;b">e tosell S1ree1,•ibesMd po~i ble 1emtina1Jo1t fro1n·the progrnm. Badges and Strcetvibos ~lpcn> ai:e propeny ofGCC"H and must be surrendered upoo di:mand. Where your Dollar Goes • 1'.IYlil~l!l:Mll):f'@ill/1100,\lllfil!l Cover TopoThe ,erowsJ .at the.SOAIWHINSEC protest show":Ylh1tifresp!3Ct(or those wti·o hil've died. Bottom left· Prote·sters pla'ee symbols ofrememb.erenee on tf\e .gates. Bottom fll11tit: Crosses, carrying !Me narnes of victirns·of·SOA graduates. are plaeed on tf.ie fences blocking·the gate to FL Benning. St(eetvibes.aetjlp\s letters, poems, 'Stories, ~s.sa'ys, original graphics; and photos We will give iireferenee to tfiose whoore hOme:tess·or are vepdors.SubscriptiOns to Streetvibes, delivered to·your home eacl'I month, can be purohased for $25 per year. Addrotss majl to· Strootvi~s 117 EaBt 12th Striiet Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-1803 e-maU•·streetvibes@juno.com web: www.cincihomeless.org Member of': " BOS:Cllt 0 75 Cents Goes Directly to Your Vendor GRADY remi11ds you to buy fron1 bad.ged vendors only 25 Cents Pays for Production Streetvibes Vendor IN SP GRADY Nonh n.laricnn Infe"1•6011.U Net;.·ori< o£Stl'tCI PaptJ~S Strtt.t Newspapel· ;\:~so.C·iai ion �STREETVIBES Page 3 Texas: Teen charged in homeless man's death A l5-)ear-oldboyhasbcenchaged"'1thmurder in die bealingdeath I homeless man. and policeare seekinga seooud....,_. The boy, whosenan-.e "'!IS not released because of his age. \\13.S arrested Monday Md booked into JUvttiiledetention, police Sf.'1. John Reid said. The '-icrin1. Eric Raphael McMahon, 48, v.<as w1employed and had be..'llonthoAbileneruea for""""" years, Reid said. JvlcMalm \WSrctircd fro1n theTexas National Guard. policosaid. l>fe y.•as fo1J1d severely be~11 en early Saturday in an alley behind a homeless n1ini.stry center. Doctors removed him from life support die next cl:\)', police said Wi mcsscstold pol 1oc the "'<Iim"'"' assaulted by two males in their lace t(.'(.'l'ISor b'ly 20s, " II seems like asenseless, violent aa by people who ha'-e no mpea for ocher people," Sgt Tim Schmidt saacl. "Ifs JU>I a brural act, seemingly "1"0'-ol<od ­ Police did not release a11y information about a posstble lnobYC. or Idaho: New homeless shelteropens Washington D.C.: One out of every four homeless are veterans Over I 00 people gathered for the opening: day celebration orthelnl<.-•ffaith Snnci u~uy. Boisc·s mS)'Or . DaveBieter,v.'USoneof1.hen1nny people in attendance for the new sl1elter which will provide temporary housing to 140 people each night. Located on \\'est RiverStreetdO\•nlOwn, the lntenaith Sanctuary is the onlyshclterin Boi.setha1 will acceplentirefamiliesas oppcsed toexclUS1vely smale men andwomen. Ton1ght lS the first 1tme that the renovated warehouse will open Th<re... only-poid full!ime .,,.,ioyeesas the •heller rcl1csheavily en vdunteers. Theshchcr,"11 Men abooo $4,000\\0nhof"<cldy expenses and .-aylhu1c 1nthe""""°""" ooovened shelte< """donated. ~looiquolamos. KTV87, 1lfl) Kentucky: Emergency shelter in need of a location 1\ nevv report con1ing out on Thursday has discovered thnt vctcrons make up one in every four homeless people in the Uni1ed Sia1es despite only compiling 11pere<llll orthogoncral nduh populalioo. Yow1ger veterans from Iraq Md Afghanistan are alanni1'81Y inetta<inQ. The Vorer•nsAfTairs Deparunen1 has identified l.500hom<lcss,-.ns frcmthecurren1 wars. The Alliance IO End Homelessness, based the fincingsolus reportoo n<mbers from VermnsAffiWs and the Ce1SUS Biweau. In all of2006, theAlllllnce io End Homelessness CS11ma1cs that 336,627 \'eterans "erehon\dess al SlCN11t point dunng theyear. Data 10 2005 csrimaiod that 194,254 homeless peopleout of 744,313 on any given niah1 were veterans. ln co1nparisoc1, tJ1e VA says 1ha1 20 years ago, the estimated nunlber ofvetcrw'IS v.110 v.-erehomeless on any given night \WS2S0,000 Son1ething need.s to be doneabout lhis incrc.nsingnun1bc:r (Kimberly Hellin11. Yal100Al>, 11n) Just over the river, northern Kent\1cky's only e.merge11cy shelter 1s in dire need for a new location. Fonnorly located on C0"1ngD>. lheshellfl'doseddoon earlier this year as a result ofcomplaints from local officaals and netghbofhood resadent$. Hav1ng a noooriously bad reput..cn makes .....,.. hesitant of adopcirigtheshel•« u.r.....,..e1y,1fme-doesn'1 find a rclocatM>ft site soon 1n CoY1ngt0n and the program cl05eS. then a new program canno1 open in lhe same areA. Covin1.1011has11hYll)'S been the center ofsocial $Cl'YiU-SC11c1es, h isalmo5' a mustthat the shelter be relocated 1n nonhem Kenrucky due to tlte acccsgbtlity Umt uieshehers residenceshave "'th the various social Sl.'l'Viccagencies \\iith.in prox:intity. (AP, The Kentucky Poot, 11/4) Hawaii: Advocates convert tour buses into shelter for the homeless Utu Langi. ahomeless,....,,.,,,.,, f0'"1ded a m:illile bus..,,.._ shelter for the homeless. The lirsa or 18 remodeled buses" exp<Cl«l IO be lam<hed in die ...,.,aming weeb. llooolulu's new~ shelte< bus "'ill dnve to lllCaS "ticrehomelessness isvast and hostindividuals for theewnu1i:, Langi "'nphasizes Iha! the buses do not offer tran.spona1ion. They bring a solution to tho homelessproblen\ shelter. h COSIS about SI0,000 dollars to trMsform just one bus. The state hasall°"c<I halfa million dollarsso support this program for a year. Lruiyi is hoi;1eful to have five buses ru1u1ing by February. •11shouldn't be 1hnt way. But, we' re li\-ing in an ecorlOnucally intensive t1n1e." srud Mack Stahl. a homeless "Qncpaychedtawoyf'rom beingon the bus This is your safecy net.you know Youmay be \\i.th us next ~vedc. and not e"en know1t'' (Marvin Bucnconsejo. KHNL8, I 117) Washington D.C.: Mayor Fenty 1.J1veils housing plans for low-income ~13)-orAdnan 1.-l Fe"t\Y niomcedTuesday plans IO prO\;dc per1'"""'' housmg for the QI)''s chroniaily "'°""-e New York: Center helps homeless mothers and their children The cold \•1eather is stnning to sec in, Md n1any homeless she!""'are opet1irljl. includmgooe thathelps mothefS Olldlheirch1ldm1 ae• bock 00 their feet. Tba1 is the mission of lhe St. Paul's Center in Rcnoscfacr Volun.,.,.ano hopong IO 'P""<l the"'ord befO<e die ....................... The cold WCa1l1cr,. ""'1••s IO set on, and many homeless shellm .-e°"""na.indudirl!!ooo mi helps mothefSand lheirch1lclt<n i:e< bade oo !heir feel. Noc only docs SI Paul'sprovide a wann place to Slay. but it also helps moms"'"'uU3lly fold •job and a place to It ve. Exec~ve Direcaor David R~cri sajd."'We have a1so been able to offer nxuhcrs wi1h children a safe place versus n hotel or 111otcl wflere 1hcy Y.'Ould be staying if ourshel1er w11sn'1in existence." Noven1ber is National I lon1eless A\vareness Month. St. Paul's Cenrcr opened last October and has since welcon1e<I nlOre 1hon .SS n1onis and their homek= 10 afbdoblehousing by making it harder for landlords10 oomen buoldon&~ 1010 lugh­ pric:ed condos and 10 help r101d 500 10"'1houses affordable to low- and nl0dem1e-inco1ne wortters. This OOO'dates IO Fenty's 2006 mayoral Clllll>ai£11, so fund. build "'d preserve 14,000all'ordable housfog units over a four·yearperiod. In July, Fenty said that his administration \VOuld a1locn.1e$ I I 7 million yearly 10 protect ond crea1en1Tordablc ltousins, He alsocalled fora partnership bet"'Cl.'fl tho city and the.interfaith netwcl<k 10 build 5,000 hOm<.'$ as part ofa project to create housing for residents \l.lhO make $25,000 10 $60.000a Y•"' Plnnnil1jl '"1d construction forlhe first childn.n 500 such homes \11111beain nex1 year ill three sices in Southeast and one 1n Nonhcasc Fcnty's plan to eradicate homelessness begins with his Tuesday - (5ylyja Moo:no.\l'ash1ngion l'bsl, 11/14) Louisiana: Homeless camp outside of New Orleans City Hall 1\row1d 250 of lhe city's tM:>meles.s have erected pup-tents the only affordable housing they say they could find slnceI lu1TiCR11e Katnna and crerueda oolony ofdc$pairout11doCil)' Holl E""I)' d:I)' thecomp chants. -Hey, Ray! Howaboutahousetoday! " Mayor Ray N"l!ln saysthathe is \\Orlcing "'; lh lhe ci I)' and agencies 10 h<!lp the homeless find housin& NewOrleans has 12,000 homeless people, up from 6.,300 bcfu<e Kairina, ""'°"'~IO UNITY ofGr.....­ New0.t"""5. agroup th31 helps die homeless. (John Moreno Gon.<llez. ABCNe>1$, 11116) California: Homeless Face Eviction from Sacramento Camp Homelesspooplecampi11lloo a plotofUnioo Pacific land b10v.11 MTenl City \vete facu1s eviction. On any given niah1. n10re thM 100people have beoo staying on the land. \lihid11s loc~ued nearseverith a_nd D strccls 01 the north end of downtown Sacrarnenlo. Police were sec to b\."'Qiner1forcing n c11)! ordinance thatstntes lhnt such t<."flts connot be sot up within city linuts. Trespassers 111esct to receive citations and have lheirbeloosings removed Bdl W11Jiams., a resident of1he cnmp y,f'lo faces C"o'iction. said he docs nol "11'11 eo h'-c in theCllf11)but has ~nlechot<e. A_ .......,ofUn""1 Pw:ilicsmdthemilroad \lo'OUld \lo"Ofk \loilh k>cal authonties IO remove the homelessrrom the land. �STREETVIBES Page 4 The Broken Mirror bJi Jin1111)'' HeaJ/1 The n1an had folD1d a conlfortable and V.'atnl place co sleep in his sisters and brothcr-in-Ja,v·s bascmt:nt. On dte cot inthe basen1ent, he could hea1·Lhe cold \~1ndsof \'linter. It \WIS a soothing, sleepy sound. He fel t like a squi1rel or odler tiny an.intal snuggledup in their tiny hole This \\iartn and cozy spot \\<as the n1an 's con1f)• shelter and hon1e. Fron1thecot resting next 10 the furnace. he heard the v..hirl ofv.•armth arotutdhin\. There \\ICrc cob\\<t.-bS and dust C\'­ el)'"ilere. It was dUS1y anddark do"" dlere, even ~vith dle light<)on. The light­ ing 111ade the place even gloon1ier, re­ vealing the decrepit spirit The stairs from the middle ofthe ba.sc1ncnt \VCrc steep and hard to travel for a 'vobbly rnrut Thete v.-as a frunt ru1d peeling na­ ture to the v.ial lsexposin.g the stone in son1e places. and n1any layers of peel· ing paint, including kitcht."11 yellO\\•and an odd red color. And ntore d11st. There v.<ete old rniscellaneous i1en1s hanging front the dal'k rafters, odd \vi res to no­ v.11ere, nails that did nothing, cob\vebS. Evt."11 v.ith the lights on itv.'9S dark do\\11 there. and theglo\vonly ntade the space gloorniet. There '"as an old v.'OOd and must)•smell to this place. lUldemeath a bright and lively subu.rban honte. His happening. but did notknowv.ftat to do. sister hated tlh! sca1y, sn1elly, old base- except 101oletate ll11s annoying troll liv­ ntent. Her husband \v.tS not bothered, ing in the basentent. because this \V<tS pan ofhis don1ain. It lbe ntan \V3Sspi1iruallyobliviousto 'vas his \\{)rkshop. v.>ith . . . - - - - - - - - - - - , C\'\:.'l)'thing. Duringthe old benches and cans of day. his sister and painI and old tools scat­ broll1ec...n-lawv.'erll IO tered about. work. The drwtk had ·111en1an livinginthe the n1n ofthe house, basc1lll."11trcachcdtOrhis eating the food and bottle and took a good drinking their booze sv~1gofbocY.a;sontething and \V!ltch1ng d1ettTV At the end ofthe day that V.'35 a_ggravi1ting and of concern to his sister he cra,vled back u ~1ai rs. He hadno idea hometohisrefi.1£,c. the of the far-reaching ef­ basentent. fec1sthis,vashav1ngon Hetilli l·le v.•as a 1roll IUs family and himself He ''°iring <11dera bridge. did not see theinll)act ofhis alcoholisn1 l.,oppingout on occa<iiontoscare people and v.Tiatitv,.asdoing,to hi1nsclf and his and oollc.'Ctthe.,tax". S1nelly Md sickly thetrollntan kept up the boozing like it funill;~ Eve1y one else in his fru11ily had re­ v.•asa life n1iss100. At lea<;t he \v.tSOut­ jectedhim, \vith thebooz.ernothaving a of-sight. out-of-mind and that kept hint clue to '"hat v.·~ happening outside of safe for nO\\~ Butthe real curse lived in hi1nand his bottle Somc.'ti1nes the man the mind and body ofthis lonely man in the basentent sensed the lmeasiness v.tio had lost everyone and e"rel)'thing bul d\at did ootstop the driok1ng, brush­ 10 booze. ing those thoughts off like dog dander. The house pets, n.vo dogs. \VOUld "'lost of his f.'Uttily had already rejected bounddo\vitthe steps and greetd1etroll. him. and itv.·as notOlrtoftough love but ThC}• \Wre so pure. thc..~ dogs. and tht.')' annoyance. The man v.<as destroying provided Jo,rev.<ithout nta.lice. They did hi11l.Selfru1d it rnanered to evety011eex­ not careaod they looked at you \\lithout oept dtedrunk. Hisfantily sawv.hat V.'35 judgment. Thisprovided thetroll v.<i.th a ;;,,,,,,y sense ofhope and realiz..1tion; even the dogs \vere s1natte1·than the res1 of us. Yes. the dogis\<el)' snwtin general and \\/ere Einstei:n·like in theirgeniusthought thetroll They only bit the bad people, lltought the ttoll, soeveiything 111u.st be okay v.<ith hint. Evenn1ally, he '"°uld have to get out, because he kne\\' that that ,.,11S already the s the outcome. Eventually, the day carne and hi1 his head so hard that he put a hole in the drywall in the upstairs hall\V3)'. lluough his ~r hekne\V \\ia') finishedin thatplooeand hissister askc.-d hint to leave. So, on \viththebackpack and outdoor he \Vent Do\vrtlOv.'ll \\laS his destination and he sonteltO\Vv.<as eventually rescued by budd)1gray l· Drop lnn Cc:ntcr, He v.<as helped back to his feet and sho\ved hO\V to be sober. ~le got his lifeback. That was in 199S andhehas been sober since. Wl1at a \VOnderful thing, my lift: ha.sbc.'COme, NO\V, J a1n a productive mentberof sociery and life in Ovet-l11e-Rhine. Ji11t1ny H'1>11ld Jo,·c to J1c11r J'''"' 011 lhh·.''fltJFJ'- Ple11.1iie c1111u11e11J.~ '~·rite. to fti'11111 uh1h1 \. fil1111v•heatlr(jj~"'''oo.to111 Left Behind: Homeless Preschool Students Continued front page 1 d1ern 1nto d\e "at-risk.. cate&-01y. StlKlics have shov.11 that early edl»-­ c.arion can have a positive in1pacf on J ~n·sdevelop11lt.'S1L Itgivesh101 aplace to de,relop social skills and healthy at­ 1achn\etlts. 0 1ildrer1 v.110 participate in qua_lity preschool progra_ms shov.•im­ proved healdi. Preschoolattendance can aJlev1ate OOllle oflhe risk factol'S tl1ese children face. ln l'e<'J~ 10Ja~n ·s fan1ily life, hls access to preschool or childcare can greatly affecl his fan1ily'sabilitiesand hntitabons. FrequeittJy. l'IOtneless patents cannot afford childcare, or enroll thent 1n pul>lic preschool due to lackofspace. E"'(,."11 ifchiIde.are orpreschool arc feasible options, it is difficult to obtain reliable and consister1t trru1spo1·1a1jon. When these situations occur. it is tough for aparern 10 find and rnaintau\ernploy­ rtll."llt, JX>tt."lltially v.'Cakcning theirability to find pemment housing. Uodet lhe rvtcKirlr1e_)•-\!entoAct. the federal law that guarantees sel'\rices to the hon1eless, Jason has thesan1erights as his house.'(! counterparts. He has the right to a free, appropriate public edu­ cation. Unfortw1ately fo rCincinnati'snu­ nterous preschoolers experiencing homelessness. many c-01nmlmity agen­ cies and public preschools do not offer 1ransportat1on for all at tlte preschool level. and often do not ha\'e openings to accon1010datethoseyotutg children ''~10 need a place fOr supervision and learn­ ing. to enable their caregivers to go to \VOrk. \Vhileit is importantthatJason goes to preschool so his parents can '"°rk. it is absolutely vital that he goes to pre­ school to prepare for his education. In terms offuture educational outco1nes. povert)• can be extremely detrimental in early chilcl1ood,ar1d 1no<e develcs>men­ tal gains are made duringthis period than any other phase of life. 111e risk factors Jaoon is ex-Posed to make c..'Stablishing, routine and stability in preschool all the mote important Being e,xposed to language. peers. tacrilestin1ulation, and n~ ofleain· ingall helptheat-risl: child bcmorepn.'-­ pared for kindergarten. and thus more prepared to sucooed 111 scl1ool. Scl1ool readiness reducesd1eamou.nt ofchildren v.'ho require special education classes and the nu1nber ofs tudents that must repeat a grade, can increase rates of gtadu.:1tion ru1d college ar1endance. and can decrease juvenile crime and the nun1berofcl1ildren v.tioend upon v.-el· fare as adults. For all of these reasons and home- Words of Appreciation to Everyone at St. Mary's To Father Paul Ro\ve and all of the kind, generous, Christians at St Mary ·s. _I \vould Iike to express my deepest gratitude front nte and nty fan1ily to all ofyou. Back in July on Fathers Day v.+ien I \Vas there, your contributions enabled nte co buy a set of S'.ving,.s fo r my grandchildren. On all of their birthda)'S I had been able to buy then1 presents aod take thent out to Chucky Cheese. Nov.•. during the n1onth ofDecen1ber, I ,viii be using the n1one)' to bU)• Christn1as presen1s. Being a Street\•ibes \•ender has been hard at tin1es, especially trying 10 sell them during the \vinter, Jt has been people like all of you v.•ho s how ac1s of kindness f1·onl your hearts to help out people and nteet their needs. ·r hank you! J \vould like to leave you \vith a Iittle hun1or. There was a guy \Vho \Vent to the zoo to get a job. They gave hint a job and he had to d ress up like a ntonkey, eat bananas, and juntp around in a cage all day. One day he go1 so excited he jun1ped O\•er into the lion 's cage and loudly said, ··oh n1y God! .. 'rhen the lion said 10 the man . "Shhhh' Oe quie t or \Ve both \Viii lose our jobs! " Buy a Streetvibes from Cleo vvho usually sells up in Clifton. less children's access to preschool is parnntowtt to their success in both their present and tl1eir futute. Because they are huntan, they should be given the rights, rmsibiliti~ andexperiencesthat othc:rchildrcn receive, Since v.1csee the outcon1esand consequences of poveny andhoolelessr'k!SS, 11 is i11tpo1'1ant that \\e do v.+iat v.re can to ntake this happen, and see that the Ja,v that protects these chlldn:."n is in f'~dl L-ffect. The law is interpreted in different \Vll)'S. vruyingby state. Sornehavebeen able to take the r\.1cl(jnney-\tento Act to levels that provide abundantly for preschoolers Other areas. including Cincinnati, are still V.'Oric.ing at the state level to figureout \\'3)'Sto do lh1s. Until then. Project Connect v.<i.11 continue to do v.11at 've c.an to give Jason and our preschoolers a chance, �STREETVIBES Page 5 SOA/WHINSEC Protesters Remember Those Who Have died Continued fro nt page 1 squads and dtei:uorsofLaun1-\ menca. hilc the US Anny urgue;s that \\1 SOA/WlilNSEC has been osuocess, ii.flyycrus Oth1.U11ru1rights al)use,s acinss l....alin .America indi<:ate other\vise. GmduruesofSONWHINSECorches­ 1ra1l.!.d thcassassinution ofArchbishop Oscar RomeroofEl Salvador in 1980, the tna.~ac1'e ofsix Jt'Sutt p11c.c:ts. thcir housekeeper. and her daughter a1the U1t1\'ef'Sily ol'Ceuu-aLAtnenca io 1989, the abdu"iion 1111d mur<lcrof6 PC11Jvi311 Univer.sit}• srudents at La Canruta in 1992, ru1<l the 2005 niurde1· of ei£,h1 men1bers oft11e San Jose de 1\partndo J>eoce.Conu11un1ty u1 Utnba. Ovc:r 60,000 soldiers htt'"-' been 1rained.at the sc.hool and thee:<p~rtise \.\'htch 1hey ha..' e .!;i1'rne.1-ed a1 SON \VHINSEC hos allowed 1hem!o llUJl•I union otgrut11'.el'S, religtOUS\\OJkef$. szu. dentleaders. opposition JX>liricalparries, nnd ..:.o unLless oLhers \vho have ad\t()o­ o:ated for the rii;hts of1he lilndless poor in South ::ind Central1\n1erica. btAt1£ll$1 oftlus year ac.1'11nulal iu­ \-csaigntion 1n10 th~Th i rd Bngiulcof thc Colon1bian 1\rn1y result~d 1n 1he :trreS1 ofthJtte--.:>J1tugh rru1kirtg_Colo111hiai11nili­ i al)• officers. These officers \vere cl1al'ged ,vlth pl'o v1dlng.sect1r1t,y and m<.lbilizitlg·troops fQr Diego ~l on l O)'U.. d>e lead•rof die Norte del ValleCar1el nJ1d one.of 1..hc Far·s I0 1t~L-wru ttOO crimimls. Overhalfofd,e.lh1rteen, 0Clice.rsa11ondcd SOA/IVRTNSEC. Major Morn Daza and Colonel Quijano, l\\o'O nn1011g dte 1.hirteeo \Ve<eJnrutJCIO<Sa.tlh.e Wcst­ em 1-lemisphere Institute' for Securi-iy Coope.1·a1101l 1n '2003·1004, 1eacblng, cour5(.-.s on ..pl!::lcckccping" operations rutd ··<1en1ocra:ticsustainn1en1.·• LJpon gtodun1ing J"ron·1 SO.I\/ \VHINSEC. a school poid for by Amet1c.a11rax dollars. Latjn A 1nencrul soldiers have 1hc stamp of t\mericM approval and nre a llen able to operate v.ith itnpurtity ,.vhen 1ht!)' t'd.Um hcutte. This is \vhy lhe mO\'emenl \\lhich lk1111J1trtrut11r,~ 1'h t! letuf ti/t/1e .\'tJ/r.1,u1fi111erul pr1J,\'.!iit1t1 re111e11the.rir1g the l'icti11t\'. began v.i1h onec.ntholic pnest a11d ten o-flus fi1e1\d,~ 5t.'uldutS in viYJI M the Sates' ofJ7t Be1lning in 1990. nowinGludes 1eMol'd1ousand•ol'people_ During each o'fthepast threl' yc~tl1' 15,000· 20,000 peoplehovejoined dial pries~·(Fr. Roy ll<iur!>oois) l1l Coo1'g.ia during the third \~Wkend in Novem~t Those uJvQlved lo lhe tnoveru~ru \.\1·i1e lcncrs nnd visit thcir congrcss:1ncn and \VOmc:n nsking 1he·n1to close dov.'11 lhe ~chtlOI , they sp~tk 01 dleir churches. 'vri1e-lenm;o theed.i tor. and tell eveiy ~ Qf1e the)' k 110 \Vab()ul the school, rot OS so<>n as enough A n1cnC1tns are ll\Vnrc ofdieSONWHJNSEC'sexistenreand hisrQry, d v.~11 be closed. Over J 70 r\ ntencoos l13vescrv1.'<1 a total O( 1nore LhM 78 years 1n rederoJ priSOtl f-ol'c:.omrruttiognon-viol-cntci"vil dl.sobedienceot the Noveniber vigil in tltehopesof mis1ng B\V'~ness. and 1l1e moventl?nt1sge1ttng close lo ttsgoal cr1rryi11g 10111/JX t(1 t/1e g11tes l>/ Ft. lle1111ing. 'fl Ai>lll in 1ho U.S. House of Rl'fln>­ St<llt:ari\rescocuiofffundin_g fordJe.school (13R 1707) had 117 b1-ponisan co­ sponsors and lost by ooly nine votes in Juneo(thisyear \\11tiJe thescl100l '£sur~ vival for MOdlCf)'C:tr'\\'i~ a (liS3ppoinl­ n1en1for those gathered at 1his year·s Vtgtl, the l1\()VeOte1ll·COt1Unues lOgBUl momentum. \\'ith celebrities such as rvtaniu Sheennnd SUS:i11Sar.=1nckan. joining plU­ gressive PJlibcioos Iike DennisKucinidl.. laborru>d rehgiotlS·leaders, andordJJ131')' An-.ericnns-such as}'Oui:selfi•l spread­ uigthe.\\'Ord, 1he \~'esten1 He111ispben; lns1i1u1c.fur Security C00pcration·s: tl:iys are dr.i,ving'°an end. f o( nK>re 111(ol'mn11on oo SO.r\ I WE:ONSEC ond ho\Y)'OU can-gel in­ \'olvedin 1he1ooven1en1 toshuti1do\Vlt, plcnse visi 1V.'\V\V.~\v,org. Sl1ow yolrr su ppo.rt for Hlunan Service £m1ding by letting yot:Lr Cincinnati City Council members kt1ow th.at you st1pport tl1e city fw1d.ing htnnan . services. �STREETVIBES Page 6 Congress and the Numbers Co1ttinucd fron1 pn~e t by Congress. Sutely Lhese heatings ate Lhe time to call <..·vcryonc's attention to the divi­ sive and exnenteelententsthatha\•ebeen increasi ng since 1983 \\•hen hon1el~ness first reemerged across the \Vell, unfortunately, the answet is surely not! Congn..'SS is tOcusing its time and enetg)' on seo1anrics, on hO\\I H"VD cru1 redefine when a fao1dy is in fact hon--.eless andeligible to receive assis­ tance frorn a hoo1eless progtan1setvice provider. Their foe-us is to reduce the cowury. These studies purport to show that by reducing the numbers ofpeople who qualify for services and by leasing as many funky, already existing hotel rooms we can end close to coveting thehousiog needs of homelessness. Surely th<.'Sc h(..-arings v.'Ouldserve as a platfom1 to call out the fact of HUD's $.S2 billion a year reduction in affordoblehousing fundingoompored to 1979; to bring to lisht the904,000chil­ dren in ourpublicschools v.tio have no place to call hon1e; to shO\Y the vast amounts ofdocu1ncntationthatthefed­ eral n1inin1um v.•age is no v.•here near millions of peop l e~ o r to c1nph asi ~ the ('\ct that U.S. prisons have 110\V sur· nu1nl>erofhon1eless frun1hesb)' forcing pass.:.-d trcatmt."llt toc.iliticsas the primaiy them to move from place to place and residenriolweplacesfor mentallyill and docun1ent each n1ove before the)1 are addicted 1>oot people. Surely. these visceral and passion­ ate experiences \VOuld provide the framev.rork for cong.n."SSional represen­ tatives to hear front local cornntunities on v.11at is tequited ofour federal gov­ <.'fllJTicnt ro that \VCnla)' bring.backsome tesen1blanceofhun1anity to our health care. housing. education andim1nigra­ tion programs and policies. Surely. much discussion \VOuld folio,.,. regal'ding the correlation bet\voen federal prioril)• changes in these progran1s and their negative impact on the livL'SOf millions ofpeople. identified a~ hooleless. Another focus in these hearings is or1 how local con1n1ll'1ities can be forced totOIJO\V theasininepn."mi SC expound<.'() by ..theexpens" at the NationalAlliance to End l·lomelessness, Corporation for Suppcu1i're Housing,. and Bush's lnter­ A~1cy Councilon 14ornelessrk'SS. TI-.ey \Yant 30percc:nt ofthe ~1.l c.Kinnt.1• Act•s chuntp change hon1eless funding to be set aside forsupportive housing. \Vhat they should be doi.ng instead is calling fot 14UD IO refund iL~ housingprogl'arn'J. The t<..-dcral govi;.'tTl1Tlcnt oontintM:S to fund studies toshO\I/ hov.•a $52 billion redueb0f1 in housing fundingcan befilled ""ith a $ 1.2 billion allocation of homelessnessfWlding, Thesestudies pul'J)Ort to sllO\V that b}• reduci.ng the nlu11bers ofpeople \vlto qualify for setvices and by leasing as many fimky,alrelldy cx.isting hotel rooms (think robbing Peter to pay Paul), \VC ca.1 er1d ho1nelessness. Fo1·tw1ately, the domesticvioloooe, fan1ily,education, and youth groups 1esti fied as to how scrc\vcd up this perspective is. It Cl"(..._ ates a Byzantine process ofdocun1ent· 1ngpeople"sruffenngand otiseiy instead ofpro,<i.dingthent v.<ith help. l11e ltuly runazang a~ct ofthese hearings \\'3$ thecon&1ant refrain thatv.-c need data-driven planning. You \\'llltt to reduce the nuntb«sofhomelesspeople? Then change hov.• you define \~O is horneless ru1d data will sho,vyou that the numbers ofhomeless p<.'Ople have gone dov.'lt. Or lease currentafibrdable hotcl/apattmerll ll'UIS. displacetesidenlS v.tio are poor then1selves. and then pro­ cJrurn youlll'ehousing horneless people. \\'chavchad th.rec hearings i.nCongress on hon1elessness. but \l/C have had no seriousdiscussionofresaoring themas­ sive cuts to treatn1ent, housing,. educa­ honor increa~ng the n'tinunun1 '\laf;.>e to a Ji,<ablestandard. No discussion ofthe hate thal is increasing and isbeoon1ing moreapartofourdail)' discourse. No looking back at the Ne\VDeal as ape>­ 1ent.ial soluliort Why isjhisso? Oecauscfur lhc rrost part, the ··expe1ts" ''~10 aretesrif)ring are knov.'11 to our representatives and their You want to reduce the numbers of homeless people? Then change how you define who is homeless and data will show you that the num­ bers of homeless people have gone down. Slaffs. 1he)1 have been se1ected for '"hat they '"ill say. They arc safe. Thc.1• are deferential. Instead ofoperungtestin'IOny bysay­ i.ng. "'I than.k you for allov.<i.ng n1e to speak and for all you have don~" '"hat should be said is,"You \VOrk for us, \Ve are your bosses.You' re doing a spec­ taculatly lousy job. We v.•an1 the Ne'v Deal back. todoy." Paul Boden is the e.recutir-e dire<.:lor of the f1'es1er11 l?egiont1f .1f<l1-oc(1CJr Project. a CQQ/ition o.fs<x:ial-j1nitice /101'1elcs:i·ness orga11iza1ions alo11g l}'N! Jf'est Coast. r·<)r111er~v hrJ111eless. Boden isa ''(>:founderand.fo1111erdi­ rectr>ro,fthc San J•rr111cisco Ct1ali1io11 011 Ho111eless11e:;s. tg;I s·1rec1 Ne111s s·cr1·ice: ll'll'll'.Sfl"CC(­ papers.org From African Boy Soldier to American Success: andyour conu11unity,"saysBealt Ishmael Beah's Story Beah spent three years fighling in by / _,j·1 111eA11snw11 ln late Octobcr. lsh1nacl O<.-ah spoke atTheCollegeofMt. St. Joseph 1n Delhi. a suburbofCincinnati. Betit is a nati'reofSierra Leone.asnw.11 collltiy in Africa, and a strong advoc.ale for children·s rights \VOrldv.idc. Al first sight. he is the average l\ven1y-son\ethingyearold adult. You V.'Ould neverin1agine that at the ageof tv.•elve he had experienced ntore violence and death than most people experience ina lifetime. Youv.ouldne\<er unagi11ethat at theageoftl11rteen that he had been turned into a cold·blooded. You would never imagine that at the age of thirteen that he had been turned into a cold-blooded, drug­ addicted killer drug-addic.ted killer and that Ill the age ofsixteen that he \v.tS rescued fron1 the lifeofa child soldier. Bcah's book, A /.,<.)11g U~v G<111e: Me111oir:; ofa Bo);Soldie1: is a graphic and ra\vaccount of,vftat 11 is likebeing forced to fight i.n a v.wthat you do not w1derstand and knov.•nothing about. At the ag,eoft\l/'t':lvc.on his \V8)' ho1nc from atllentsl10,vin aneighboring to\wt, B~hv.a~d1rust intoacivil v.'at. l·lespent the next couple ofn1onths fleeing the goven111tent ru1d rebel arntieshopingto avoid being"recruited·· At thirteen. thegovernn1enl arn1y forced Beah in10 dle ranks. Beah could notsay no to joining. i fhc had, the anny \VOuJd have killed hint ..Being recruited 'vas a v.•ay to stay alive longer. They [lhe anny]mruupulatetheangeryou fool after' yout fanuly ,,1as killed, they dtug you, and the commanders become father figur~ thesoldiersbeconleyourfant.ily thewarbefore he \v.tS rescued by UN ICEF (United Nations Children's .Fund) and taken to a rehabilitation school to begin a new1oun1~·· Atsixteen. Beah \\'35 released by the arn1y and ''ias taken to a rchabilitationcenterv.-hich h<.~ pcd hin1to forgive, to heal, to learn, and IO restorehis faith in hunwury. It took ti.n1e and patienoe. but Beah finally opened up to the people running, the program, retulited \\llth his tutcleandcousins, ru1d soon after ,,1as adopted by a.1 An1erican family in New York City v.~1ere he finishedhigh school. "Being recruited was a way to stay alive longer. They [the aITTly] manipulate the anger you feel after your family was killed. they drug you. and the commanders become father figures. the soldiers become your family and your community," Beah later \Vent on to Oberlin College in Ohio and no'v \l/Orks for Homan Rjg.hts \\'atch. He has a good relationship v.<i.th his cousins (son1e of \vl-'IOll'I r'IOwhve in tl1e UnitedStates) and has traveled back to Sierra Leone. He says d1at '"here he feels rruJy at hon1e. I highly r<.'<Ommcndreading Bcah's n1ernoir. It pro,1ides a rare \<i.ew at the life ofa c11ild soldier. Beah says, "I began v.Tiring this book to gi,•e v.iar a face. I \l/l'Ote this book about hov1 I felt at the time it '"as occurring, not hO\\• I felt v.ihile writing." It tn 1ly is an extraordinarily vivid account of his expenenoes. �STREETVIBES Page 7 National Conference on the Education of Homeless Children and Youth The gro\\ing nu100erofchlldren ex­ pc.ricuclu,g l101uclessness is c.au.o;e iOr great concern around the coun~· as sho\\lll by the large anoodnnceofschooL s t:.ilC, and social se1,'lot: ''-'Orkl.'fS ~•t tl1ls year's.NariooaJ Cooferenceon tl1e Bdu­ cnt.ioll o(l lanteJess Childt-0:1 wd Y(>ulh Conference Three Projeer Con11ec1 staffers front Cincinnati \\•ere-lucky enough 10 .1:-:0 10 Portl.flnd 10 attend NAEHCYthisyear.This isd:ieonly na­ uonal OOllieta'lc~ nddressiug ll1et.oduca­ 1ionn'.Iissuesofchildren and youth ex~ periencing l1omelessness. \\la came 9\\'(I)' huv1ng learned pl<Jlly,uiughtplenly, and.havingdietJUe pti\lil~o.e orwitocssiu,g (>ll~ ot'our you1.h v.in 3 national ll\1.rtrd lbre.'=celle111 schol ~ nn;hip. Noon1i Jolu1son·Davis:. :i loca1 1'.ocn, ,,,.ho llA'> \.-"Xl>..-YJ-eoccd hon1~1..'SSTiess for the lasl five years. rewived $ 1.SOO 10 college s..:ll0lru'$h1p 1tio11I~!'l.~ \1,ot:IJ it1, on all expensos paid trip to Porthmd nlong \vi'tl1lheother·national winners. (PJt.o:-cse sec Nao1n1 's Q\vt1rd \\llnn.ing t-s­ s::cy attached) lt was truly inspiring 10 hc:i.r N"(>tni and 1he o-ther schotarshjp \"1nners fro n1across the oow1U)' offer b<>lh 1hc•rstrcngth :ind ",.;S(!on1a-1tho 3:\"wdsoaremony. N lreu F.essl ~-t~ \\!ho has u1t!l1tored Noonii for y~rs. and se" res 3.5 lhe·ado­ l~scenr n1anager for Projecl Connect. J>rUSQutcd i:t11ho confc.·r~1 c:c on stmte­ gies for.serving:oflll:'lccomprulledyouth. Ktire-o is aruttiQ:naUy known exp.erron unac.compJnicdyouth and can be seen. mosl recently, on 1he docun1enlal)'. / 1111i.)•ihle CJ1i/1lre11, (Tf> ohtaiu c1 ''{.>py q/' the 1·idco, contact p_,.,~/IJl.11 C(1llJl1.'CI UI 363-33110.) .411i1~rit•i1 '.\ Headstm "11l be re3ldhon""1 e:uly nox.t year. 3nd 1n tha rcaull.1-0ri7;ntion, 1here \\i ll be slots earmarked in pre­ schools for cluld1·cn ex1>t:ra1:oc.ing homele=ess. ~\·l c.IGnney \\>:11to ,v)lJ be up for re-­ authoo;i:t1ion after next yc.a r{Elec:don \''eat I) \Ve are V.'Orking hard to niake su11.: 101portan1 1)l'Ovisiorl~ n11.: 1oclud~d. like more mone.y for trnnS)>Ortation to give the la\Vson1e •ee1h. especially in St>e~'/Jt't'/i'ibcsne.xt nl011 tl1for 1nor~ arc::.s ''•1trc 1h1;.-reJS ooonelobby1ng, fQr derwls<>n theMcKinney \'ento authori­ the educational ri!')ltsofthesechildren. zadoo. ·n1p: N11 1111.1l ,,--. Joh11.~1J1,../R"i" "*~' h.u m.-11111r Son1e eren1 news can1e our al 1he conrercn-ct: Students y,·ho are olassitied as hon1eless or utttlCcor~pru) iM duru1gd1c yeJTth~<apply for college. nre l')O\Veli· giblefor a \Vaiverfron1reporting 1heir pA:rtints' 1ncon1e on tho1r 17:\.FS,J.. 1ht1s reducing 3 huge barrier to college.en· 1nlln\l!ltL Mos1hMteless studentS ,.,~11 borrO\V 1110aey to alte.nd college. and, in 1be past, havenot been able to reporl tJ1cir pa~nt'S1ncomc j f 1hcy urc 1.101 liv­ ing with the paren1 a1KI have no scoe55 LQd'le pcrtiJll.!llt firuulonl lnfc:11·11uuio1t /rt1r11 K11r.:'t.r Ff'.tJ/u. l.efl: ·t'hl' Cf11d111u11J di1t!Jtufi1J1t 1/1 tlur '!007 ('Wf~'Y!#Jlur1 a/ 1/1c .NutJ1u1i1l As1.·udfJ1j,u1/fir tlrl! EJ11t'dliM rif f/1J11n:.Jt'SJ.' CililJr'-'" u111/ )'j)"1/1: /.L.Tt!t1Jr<t Sr.·huliln'/1/p "'1"""'JV ttiH1J Joh11.~1J1,..JR"i" "*~' Prrlj«-1 Guest Columnist - Naomi Johnson-Davis Winner of the 2007 LeTendre Scholarship 11te f:,'11cn c<1/11111n1s1.f&t1/11's "'o"''' .. Is t1 Jrl;i/1 .vc/10 0/ s111clc n1. ;\ '11;11u/ Proj<ttt C.'tU1nl'c..'I, acn,;ties.like PPSE(1'ostp0nmgSexu.'ll l11\'0lv~1ne11t) FEA (Future Eclueai.or.;~f J(1hn,¥.<111-/')(1,,;,, N1u1111i is " "e ~f the 1"1.'Ci/J/Cn t l ' u,/' 1/1c 2007 LeJ(rr,dtr. Cuit1u•c·1 J.1 t/ffl!t:i A'url'IJ. Fis.\'/ u, .r1,~1.1~· 11'4-:n i;r. "IJd EU~w P"'Ntt<'. w1dspeak to otherhomelessyoud1. Let Lhc111 knc1w diet~ Is ho1ne1 Tht:y can make i1, can end up living happily ever afler but. 1h~· have 10 have an e<lucit­ ti61l Plcase. pleaseofterrnc this Schol­ 11rsh1p so I can go on ro a higher educa· uori llr1d be..:uni<! on~of I.ht: bes1 1e11ch­ ers and.social ,,urkersa chiJdc:m ha"e The \\.'Orld ueedS 111e and th~, aJ'e de· pendins 1HJt only o.n me butyou also. \\ljrh your help I can be so1ni!body. I t.lln go so111ev.•h1:re and ·r cur' nwki: a difference. J don'l \VMI toend up like n1y brothers- 1njnil because they did Jlot '11h.::cdu<:ati0ttorlil:c my sister ,,~10 had·a ~h1 ld a1a. youngage and does not llllt.'f1dSCh0<1L I \Wltl 10 ru.akcsometl:Ung of 111y rife and 1 need a little. from Le.Tendre 10 do so. Evco ifyo\1don'1 offcrmcd1cschol­ 11rsJ11p, I \viii oonnnue on 1·ov.·ards o highcr l!duClldQu ;u1tl nllikc my vo1~ heard. Educarion is important ood I"'nm tlte \..orld to k110,,1! Thank you so m\1ch f<>r giv1nsrnc the opporruniry10 share n1y story v.~th Americi01). Gea r~up and 1he l)iversify Club. ,")c.'h(1lr1r.rhl11. 1have alsolivodin mwl_Y homesttn.<f Es1ahlis/1ed111 1998in1nen1c>1'J'<!/ sh.olteis. Jus< 111 d1is pastyear Jhavehved ~~11drtJ E. Le1i!1u/rc., /,11sbantl 1lj!i4al'j· 1n l\\'tlvc <:1irl'l::i1:n1 ho1nes. l have lived J'1r111 /,,e1'endtt', .for1ucr /)i1r;c:tor <~{ '''ith classnmtes, teac:hers, friends :ind l '"t1111pcJJ j'f1IOfJ' Educa1lo11/01· tlte stran gc.1~ 1\nybody ,,110 '''Ould ateep1 ( f ;"), Oe1,artuut111 Q,/ ' 1;(/Ut'ittit1tt, ihe n1c 'vas better 1han th.c stn.:-(:t. I long.eel le_f(•n(/re E<luca11011 / •1111</ p1o )rtdi!J' tOr:successand freedo111and kne,vd1ru. . ·'":./1t1lc1r.,•h111 a .1•:11.\' l tJJlt'C! t o .v111d1:1'/~'f cducutton ttnd Cod \\'Cf'e Lhe only \\11.lys u·lto o,y: 1,,,,,,q/e~·\· or /lm•e c;..·pcri­ 1V ao111i ./11/t,1,f or;..JJf11·ls 1oget olrtor1hiscycle. Isttyedinschoof t•nci:il lto1t1tlt~·!J11cJS. and 111adegoodgmdes because I krlC\i/ /tlao1111 n:"·Ci1:etl hcr·au·un·1 011 child ' ''1'S llCVCrtold ".YOU(ll'C bcaotl­ \vitJ1an education rcould 1!,'0 fi1r. J have /\1r)'t.V!l11'1e r 10 i11 l'o,1lantl. o~go11 {If ful.'' or"l lowyou. +- 1l1oseab~t ~a1e- :tJ,,,;ays drean1ed.-0f'be1ng free. I v.·aat 1/1e /'-/(nio1u1J_,-fss1x·tatio11far1114! Ed11­ 1nents r&.Uy aA« t a pel'SQU '''hen they the 1re..-don1 to kno'v'vhi!1-e I ant~ing c:nllon a}' Hon11,:Je ,>1~ ('hildrc11 and gctoldor. to sleep. the freedom to know 'vhere fl..1y bigger is-sues 'incl ud1ng O\)' bo.lo1lglngs :lrl! ttlld the (reedonl to J'IJutli t ""o 1!fcrt'JUJf!. Bt:/(ln' J.,. Ju11-u·in11ln;{ es~·et)'.' homel~gp~ ~tart~d \Vllen I \\'35 sbou1 kno''' I \VOn ·1 be as.kcd 1,0 lott\<C in the thirt'l:en }~e:tl'!i old. I \VUS first sent ro th'3 Olomu1g or the end orrhe \\'e.ek Pree Ligbt11ouse S11t.ofter \vit11 ubttldhcatl My hkctt bird nnd bel11gw1 educa1or1s b'O­ [ (1 Yit:J>c 10 Sal <lo\\11 h~r~ a11U'~rlli! aboul all my problems Md eveiything I motherhad 1akai sc~ssors andcutall the ing.lo af10,vn1e to be free and to help haVebt.oen lhmul;l1it ,.,'Ould ro.ke a lo11g haiT off111y head E\1en though I \\i:tS 01.hel'S fi1ld that lfeedo1n as \\ ell time.l. Naomi·Johnro1,-0~:i.:i sl'ti"·coo...,, oompleu:ly bald. like·a man. I COtltinucd I think that 1\\•ill find v..'hat I need 10 lhe ''orld ot'honlelessness aud.ic has togo toschool because Ikne''' thJ.t my dirough 3 collegaeduefilioiL Lhove al­ rK>lhmt a11 easyjouruC:)i:. In1l.6lSay tl1a1 education \\Ouldbe tl11:! lhiug tl1111 \\l()t.lld \\•ays \V"JJUed 10 £,."O h) collt:ge. I \VOultl you. 1hrouglr i1 illl rhave n1an~~iged to stay fu. take mo O!lt Qf the place 1 kn"'"' 3$ like to n1ajor in special OO.uca1io11 and /\ 'coice for hon1eless you1h­ 1 cuse<l and posit1\•e, Titru is v.·h)• I feeJ hcll...home! have n1y 11lino1 ut s.ueial \\ 0rk. If Nac.)1tti Johrt<;an-Davis I have beeo tO so nlauy scJ1ools in l..cTendre 'vas tooffur rnoaschoJsu'Ship thatI \vould be dio perf1,.'Ct c:andidatefor the.Le'li!n.dre Educanon.Ftutd Scholar· IU)' life tha1 I can't keep count. or re­ diey would not be d1s"llpotnted. I will MLS$ed a copy ot' !llipl 1net11~et nJIthe nrutleS, but l pto1n1~ tf use tht! 1t1oney 10,vard my educ.au\)n S(ree/l'/bes'I Check o uuhe Ihave al\\'3.ys.hndfru11ily problems you l'ISk any ofmyteschcr,; rhcy v•Quld \o,.f)ich\\OOld31.so ;1llown1eroattain per­ ·Stree/1·ihct.r-arch'iye on the lCJI ~'OU that £·a lTI a detem1ined h ard since I ''iasayoW'.lggirL Ine..uhad toys S<lrllll freedom. Sp..>01fically. Iknow tliru Website at . i orpcoploto ploy " iih bo;;idos my broth­ \vork~r. I have 11tru1aged 10 keep edu­ ·a<JOmpUtcr (Ind moocy·furt¢;,.100oks.\\'jJJ htcp;//,V\v\vicfnah6mclcSS.org/ ersand sisters. lo.•ly n10ther and f'ather cation fim and beon lhe honor roll on n help llle-reaC'h 111y b'OO.ls \1tith fev,;er bar.. coj1tei\t/str-ee~., bes:btm1 l'Ci!,ult1rb1t~s. l also pattic:lpntcm n1 ruly huve ne,'er b l!L'l1 ato\Jnd. As a young rie.rs. I \VJIJ ulu111t11ely beable 10 £,."O 01.11 1 �STREETVIBES Page 8 fl<>"""~ J41e,-,wo'fM:;r,t v~~ Z{)(A, V7 d1"' ~on- We cordiall)r invite you to remember those in the homeless community who have passed away in 2007 Please join us for a Luncheon at Nast Trinity Church following the Memorial Service For a list of those being honored please see reverse side Deceased 2007 a;11 Hen~'"" MichaelAufrance Donald Francis Glt."11 Watson Scon Johnson John Eruls Jtdie Martin Catlton Davis Ralph Good";" Judson \\'ard John Watkins Michael Stan1per Stcpht."11 S ilvcmaf,rcl QuenrinScldater Stever1 Rice Michael \Veins, Crosby Knox John Bermen Darrell <)ray Michael Kelly WamerGaffi1ey O;r1eita 14all Maiy Jolmson De\\litt Banle Earl Mann Tooy Bamv.'ell Charlotte Moore Paula Wolfe f\·lagdaleoe Gra.<;er1reed Pat• Biyant f\·larttoSLi 1.h Ralph Hill Anthony Rodt;gues _Kcnnc.'th Stone Mmy Hughes Joe Dietsang �STREE7VIBES Page 9 • y l I Jumbo Ball Abstract by Anthony Williams Berta 's Art Corner Buy STREETVIBES From Badged Vendors Only �STREETVIBES Page 10 A Moment in History Peace Village h,v l>r. .S/e11e .')1111der/a111/ If you have ever been present for dle rnon1eo1 \vheo histo1y haPJX'1S. you will kno\v,vhat I mean ,vtJen l report th al histOI)' happened on the n1oming ofOctober 23, 2007 Alysa Stanton, ascended the shado'vy s tai rs to the second noor at the Freedon1 Center, hun1n1ing a song, looking like an old heaV)•·set slave, dressed in old rags, and presented herselfto an assc1nbly of 300 people, religjousad:n1inisomors frorn Jei.vish()(f;l'l'uzabons fron1all ove1· theoountl)•. sitting in front ofthe SJa,ie f>en. Ms, Stanton S]>Okc in a Southern dialect,partially intelligible, oflhesteps she had taker1, as her grandn101her, to walk front sJa,iery to freedom. Theold v.·on1an v.•as direct in her recounting "It was a fight, a prayer and a victory," ofher S fOI)' ofescape and of \11hat it took co start and keep a fan1ily alive at those tin1es. l·lel'eyesg.lis1ened \~1tJ1 tears of mentory and hope and she ren1inded us ofv.,hat that idea ofsla· very racily meant " It \vas a fight, a prayer and a ' 'ictory,.. she seen1ed to be saying. Suddenly, she v.ias steppingoutof her clothes, pullingson1eofthen1over her head. and revealing herself as a young \Von1an, a child in a lvticky Mouse 1-shil't, and \Ve heard stol'ies of what it \V8S like to grow up as a black child in a Denver neighborhood that had no use tOrAfricanA1nericans, Ms. Stancon's n1en1ories \Vere laced with pain as s he described being or­ dered outofher"'best friend's.. house by the parent and forb idden to play v.>ith thischild "Gctout!;'shcn:me1n­ bered hearing along \\ii th the accon1· panying shame, Her brutal \\lords hung over the g:roup and punched their \118)' through the shock ofher lifting offher shirtand standing before us in a 1a1lored suit, dark blue \\iith v1hitc pinstripes. and recow1ting the stOI)' ofbeing the first African American rabbinical student senttoasmall tov..n in northern lvlichi­ gan for a sun1n1er inte1nsh1p. She described in clear tones the filthy and bug infested roon1she and heryoung:daughter\"''Crcg.ivc.'fl and the open loathing of<:ertain n1e111bers of her cong1·egation. Suddenly. a differ­ ent voice c1nerg:ed from f'lits Sta_nton as she recounted hov.•an older rabbi, \vho had reti red to this tO\vn . be­ friended her and ad\•ised her not to quit. "You \viii team a lot aboul yout­ self. your faith, and your coorage. if youst3)1 and let ntehelp you,.. the \vise advisor told her, ~Is. Stanton continued on in her story and recoun1ed the reali1y ofto­ day. asshe approachc.'S the final years ofhersen1inal)•training.. Stanlingus again. she sang a song of her 0\\'11 ton1posing. "The Je\v." that began: "You a1·e a Je,v... I arn one too, Please don'tjudgc me by he color ofmy skin, please don' t judge nte by the \\IOn1b from \vhich J'vccome, please don't tall n1e Shiksa or other denteaning nan1es. for 1·rn a n1ernbel'ofyour fan1­ ily, J'1n a child ofAbraham,..·• Hersong finished to a tocal silence and then a rolrsingstandingovation that seemed 10 go on for sevel'al minutes. A great s1nile v.·ason her face, reveal­ ing reliefand joy at \Vhat she had ac· con1pl1shed. Bui it \vas l~1story 1hat V.'as sn1iling the broad grin ofjustice. a beaut1ful justice in v,-h1ch a barrier falls. a ne\11 insight is found. heans arc opened and the soul is lifted No one v.•ill forget this expetienceor kno\vd1e intplicarionsofv.,hat v.-e have seen and heard. Ms. Stanton·s song contained a stanui. that hinted at \\<hat \W.S both changed and <:hanging. She sang: ..\Vhen you look into nt)' eyes. knov,­ that thereare othersjust like me. some are lighter, son1e are datker too. son1e have slantc.-d i.1•es and others look like you. Yetyou can reject thent Still the)• chose 10 be Jev1s, like you and like me, \Vh)•? \llhy. can't you see?" What h91>pened at the Freedom. Center that lo,•ely day. \W.S the turn­ ing ofa pan ofa religion CO\vardjus· lice. \Vhy \Ve haven'1 seen J-\frican Dr. Sle~·e St1'1derla11d An1erican orAsian An1erican Je\vish leaders. Jev.•ish teachers. Je,vish rnin­ isters. is no secret to anyone v.<ho un­ del'stands the roleofprej udice 1n re­ lig.iollS history. Religions have beenoneofthe last bastions ofsegrega11on, even as Ja,vs have fallen in schools. public cranspor­ 1ation. and college ado11ssions. The stobbornncss of prejudi ce found scrong roots in religious tradition that has only begun to yield to the pres­ s ure ofyoung and brave people, hke !\ifs. Stanton. She, like Rosa Parks, refuses to give up her..seru.. in a rabbinical sen1i­ nary. She. like Harriet Tubman, kno,vs thai others \viii follo\vherpath once she has gotten through to gradu­ ation. Like Jackie Robinson, she has coo1e 10 den'lOnstrateher faitlt a-; a Je,v and as a force ofspiritual justice as she "shdes tO\l/31'd home.·· Others \vllo arc religious histori ans \\till come to Hebrev.•Union College to study her efforts to becoo1ea rabbi and \VOnder hov.•she was helped b)• herfellO\VStu· dents and facully to achieve her posi­ ti on. Being "fi rst» in socialjustice has carried a very heavy penalty fo1·01any ofthose v.tio have been brave enough to s1and at 1he head of the line. f\·ts. Stanton v.•i II have an interesti ng: and in1po11ru1t book to \mte about ho'vher fai1h b1·oug.l1t he1· 1hrough 1he day to day questioning of her purpose and career choice. J-\ nd. she \viii have an imponant story to live out \vi th her tongregations. Already, she has sha1·ed the beautiful tale ofa southern Alaban1a congregation that nurtured and \velcon1ed her for a yeal' ofgreat learning and faith, Her perforn1ance at the f'reedon1 Cen1er v.•as a kind ofn1id-teni1 repo1•t front the battleground. There have been achieveo1ents that c.anno1 be taken back, There have been unfor­ genable n1on1ents \vhen her vision and cou1·age be<:ao1e 1he e<:hoes of her fru1tily's vision andcourage. \\'henshe clio100 L'1 v.flruever rern.'1.irung steps ate left to grasp her degree, her grand­ lllOther, parent~ siblings, and the cont· 01unity ofJev1s and other love ba.<;.ed faith believers. v..iUstand v.>ith her. an11 in a1't'l'I, sn1iling. ctying. and ren1ernbet­ ing v.tiat it is like to step on the Prom­ ised Land as the first one. Shalon1, Alysa, and tlianks. Posters Bring Light to Our Daily Bread brother-Brother Abdul, one of our guests. Ifyouvisit Our Daily Bread,you ";n Last season one of our Joseph noricea vruiery ofposterson thev.•alls. House volw1teer~ a ~tichigan Struefru1. Rig.ht no\11, fOr instance. mostofthem picture autun1n leaves or anin1als "Aisha is a breath of dressed in l·lallo\veen costun1es(v.-e're fresh air- she lights up a justslirJ>tlybehindlherimeshere). These posters are the legacy ofBrother Jint, room with her personality one ofourk>ng-rimc·voluntC(,"JS v.hohas and smile," ntoved av.•3)1 to Dayton rutd thus can't behereall the tio1e like he used 10. s1ruck up conversruion \\11th Brother When he \v.tS volwtteeringhere. he Abdul afterspotting hint in a ~fichigan v.'Ould bring in ne\vposters all the rin1e sv.-eatshi11. ·runlS out BrotherAbdul is to help brighten up the place, We hang the fatherofAisha. a sopho1norcon the the ones he left us so that he can bev.-ith tean1at the tin1e. The u~an1 \Vas doing quite \Veil- they got as fat as the S'veet us1nspint You 111ight also see a v.<onten•s 16-and when Kathy found outshe""" basketball poster in the \Vindo'v of happy to cape up an lvtSU poster in her Kathy-0ur-Kitchc.'11-~1_1 anagcr•s ofticc, office \vindov.•tOrthev.holedining room What do the ~tichigan Staie Universit)• to see. Spartans have 10 do ,vi tJ1 a food and At the s1at1 of this school year BrotherAbdul hospitality ministry in Over-the-Rltine. cante v..ith a new poster you ask? ·t11e an.S\ver lies \vith ru1other ru1dgreat nev.'S-Aisha had beoo nan1ed by A11gela l'a11cella a captain! lllere \\1a5 a \Vriceup about her and her oo-cap1ains on the rvtSU v.-ebsite. ''Aisha is abreath offresh rur­ shelightsupa roon1 \vid1 herpersonalit)• and smile," the article quoted the Spanans' coacl1as S3)'ing, I don't think v.•e needed to tu1n the hghts on at Our Daily Bread forlhree days afterwwd­ BrothecAbdul's proudsntile \"as all the lightourdining:room needed! 111en, in ntid·Noven1ber Brother 1\bdul came in ,vith aglwnexpression and ne\vsheafof papers fron1 the MSU v.·ebsite. The headline on these ne\\'S stories; "Aisha Jeff·erson To Sit Oot 2007·08 Women's Basketball Season." She·d1on1 theACLinhet nghtknee during an exhibition gan1e. Brother Abdul istakingcon1fo11fton1the praise the coach continued to heap on his daughter in lhesearticles:"(Aisha)does a 101 fo r us, not only talent-v.•ise. but en10tionally, she's our leader...She is such a big personalityon the teant She really is anenergjz.erandagreatperson as 'veil as a great player.·· \Ve' re keeping up the Spartans posterat Our Daily Bread. No setbacks can kec.'P you do\lm forever Our L)ai~y B,.ead is n .food n1ul /10s1>itali1J' 111i11i:i·rry i11 °'-cr·tl1e·Rhi1w. Ci1rc;nnati. U~ se,.ve a t11id-cfa;y t11eal. a11<J 1t'e sel'\'e 111ore 1Jwn 500 1t1eal:i· e~·el)·tlay. 1\!lon<lay through Fritlt1}·. JYe J.1ro1iide J1•ar1u 111enls in n co111/or1able 1>face .forall ll'/10 co1t1e. tJ JJ/ace u ·hert all art i1uri1ecl 10 be a /)(If/ o.f a cott1ttt11ni1y that iscarin,f?. supporlil'c an</ '•·c/cott1i11g. r1~ are al11·a)1:; looking for ''o/1111tee1·s. .for /(}()(/or non·1>eri:i·lwble collectio11s­ 11lease gi1l! ./()(111 or KatltJ1a call at 621·636.J 1oji1KI011t1'1ore. Our Daily Brcatl is locate</at 1730 Race SJrcet. Cinci1111a1i OH. 4S202. �STREETVIBES Page 11 Poverty and Addiction: Big Din the ER by ft.fic/1ael He11so11 m . .e randlauoclrything'"ill likelyconte 1'/ris is a continuing series in son1e\litlereafterclear\needles,stealing, money, stealingson1ethingto tum into ntoney, staying a\vay front lhe la\I/ be· cause of all the stealing you•,,c been doing. getting high, con1ingdo,.,.n front g:euing:high,and g:eek1ng for yournexl liglt food anddi11gs are onthelist. Soop and sha1npoo are not A change of socks? You're lucl...-y just to bealive. So Big D sn1elled. Bad. I kne\v ii because I dro\'e hin1 therein Ol)' car. Es­ pecially his feet, \vhich like restofhint v.-erc large We gol through the intake process okay, thei1·~venl back to the exao1ina­ rion room v.•here they had hint sit at a table and take off hisshoes. Oigmistake. Nobody dies from body odor. It's not pleasant asa bouquet ofdaisies, bul ashan11ful odors go, this oneis n1inor. It beats dte he11out ofhydrogen sul fid~ a b)·-produ<.1 of9:.-"\"8!.~ treatment you can get snift~ any tin1e you drive out Gest Stteet past the rvt11lc1·eek T1·eatolent Plant. Hydrogensulfide is ootonly uuplea'l• ant, it has kno\m physical and ~)'Ch<r logical effect~ including increased risk ofsu1c.ide. As a d1teat to hu1nar1 healLh, B.O. is nothing compared to paint fun1es, carbon ntonoxide, gasoline (or any other·volati Ie organic compound). bunting plasric, burning alnlOStanylhing. Perhaps soo1eone has done son1e research toshov.•a correlation bet\li'eefl sn1elly feet and infection, but itseen1s like a stretch to me, Even those "air \\IMlt'tone of thent So \Ve decided to IJY an altetnate route. It had worked before. A hospi­ S1ree1~·ibes tal, even ifdetoxific.ation is not in their Oig D \vantcd tod(..10X. Hehad bet."11 scope of practice. ifanothercondition shooting heroin for \\leeks -he\\~ not is purring the person at risk, n1ight do nearly as big a Das he once v.•as. l·le shov.'ed n1e anold photo on1is full·bod­ But ifyou tell them it's ied trucker self; youcould see he had been more than 24 hours lost the c."<.1uivalcnt ofmy '"hole body v.-eight in ayearofshooting up. He had since you've used, they been 1elli11gus forv~eeksthat he '"11n1ed figure you're through the off. The police \.vereoo hiscase: he 'vas squaning in abandoned buildings. He worst of it and you're off v.·as selling blood andshoplifting to c:at the list. You're also off and shoot up, so he \Vantedoff. But to the list if you have no detox v.•i1.h no insurance is no eas)' Irick. At that tin1e. the Center for Cont· photo ID. prehensiveAddictions 'rream1ent. v.•as dte detox underdte pretenceoftreating tho only publicly funded detox facilily in that odi(..'£ condition. the 00t.1nty, theonly oneavailableford1e And Big 0 had plen1yofother COO• poor. Good people; they doasoodjob. cbtions. But there are only so many beds. Should I say v...h.ich hospital v.-e lb get intoone ofthose d etox bed~ you tried'? I supposenot ·11te)1' re all preny call and ask.The')''II usually t<~l you no. much the same in this regard and this but callback laier. So youcall back later story \l;l)uld have been preny n1uch the and, no. Lhete·s nothing open yet, bul sarne1n aoy hospi1al 10 the COWltty. call back later. So you call back later But I thought v.-e had a shot. After again,and n1ay~ thistinte, you'II c.on· all, this \V<tS a hospital v.<ilh a religious nect. Olrt ifyou tell th(.."m it's been more affiliation.Jt's theprcfCm.-d h~'))ital for than 24 hours since you've used, they people fron1Sig D's neighborhood. I figute you· red1tough the worst of 11 aod had sorne hope. you'reoffthe 1.ist. You're alsootTlhelist What killed the hope was Big D's if you have no photo [0 .You'reoff'their sn~O. ffyou ·re an addict livlngin a SQl&at list ifyou haven•tpaidyour bill from the last tin1e youtried. \vith no running \\later and your priori· Access to a phone./\ photo 1.0. /\ ties ate your nexl n1eal and yout next v.•ay to pay. How n1any hon1eless ad­ high (and not nec~arily in that order), dicts areorgru1ized v.-ell enough to pull ,vflat \\1e knO\I/ as personal hygiene is all this togcthcl'? Not many, and Big D notgoingto bCC\'(,.'11 a close third. That fresheners" \Whang fron1dten1irrorsin our C!ll'S seeti\ n'IOte dangerous tohealth to n1e. I lhink the real issue is chat body odor smells likepoverty. Herc issome­ one sosorry he can'teven afford soap and asl\O\~et. Povel'Ly sin ells. If\ve have the 11loney, \Wspend plenty ofit to elinti­ nate its sntell front our lives. if \W don't have it,v.-cstink.The ha!Jsofourhouscs stink. Our streetsstink. Lor1g:SL01y short: Onced~oseshoos \Wfe off. it \\<as all over. Icould hearthe nurses dithering in the hall. ·r he one \vhose job it \\'tlS to take blood pr<.'S­ surecouldn'l do il fastenough. Noses \vete ctinkledall around Finally a doc­ torarrived and \\'e \li'eredisntissed \\<i.th a referral toout·patienttrean11ent Out-patit."llt trcatinentl f ora home­ less heroin addict in need ofdetox. I ai-gued, thisdoesn't n\eet.A.n'k!11car1 So­ t ieryofAddictive ~ledicine standards. \Vhat about his hean condition? Nothing. The nurse. \\<ho \Va.$ the only oneto nteet ,vjlh nteon it, listened. She nodded her head and said son1eLhing I don't now remember. but her ntind was n1ade up and she had another priority than Oig 0 and his detox and me and Illy oontplaint. Slle had 10 sptay do\"n Big o ·s !lt'ea togetout lhesn1ell, ·rhat \Vas n10nlhs ago. I lost track ofBigD until Isawhim at thclibr:uy tho other day. He tells n1e he's sober, has ao apa1·tn1ent, has a gitlfr1end,goes to n1eetings. Th.i.ngs are goi.ng v.·ell. He looks healthy. He doesn"t smell bad at til The Fight Against Homelessness: What's Working and What's Not? Steve Ber""t Vice Pr~sidcnt for Progrnrus and Policy National Alliance 10 End Ho111e.lessness n~ete ·s good ne\vs ar1d bad ne\\'S. At the locaJ level, a lotofconu11unities arelooking at the issue[ofhomelessnessl as a problc1n VlCn(..'O((tosolve no\v,It's not just n1anagi.ng the problem. Ith.i.nk now there is n1ote awateness of the problen1.and n-..ore people tal.kingabout hon1elessness thrut fouryears ago. The bad ""~"' is thcaftordabilil)' of rental housi.ng has gotten a lot worse. ~l ote and rnote people a1·e paying a higherperoentageofd1eir ill(X)Ole in rent. foreclosures n1ake dtis \Vorsebecause p(..'Ople \vhO had houses arc no\11 back on the rental marlc:et. Altddunngthela~ four-yeatpetiod, v.·e got less and less help fron1 federal goveou11ent Hon1eless progrnntSare an exception. but aflOrdable housingsup­ pono,rerall is goingdO\Vlthill. Wl~at·s wo1·king is locaJ sttateg.ies are getti.ng n1uch ntore concrete about ho\vto getpeople inlo housing, Shelter isn't SOOd (..'fl0Ugh; \VC·ve SOI tO get people intoapartments.That involvesnot being afra.id 10 take on the har"destptob­ lenlS, likepeople \lifto ha\re been on the s treet a long rin1e or dealing v.<ith the ~lOY ~'))Onsc from oertain commu­ it to scale.We'vegot things that \\'Ork. but \ve need to see rnote co1no1ilolen1 from Congress ondie muchbroaderlevel aboutaffordablehousing, Wcn(..-cd to v.'Qft: tov,1lfd bigscrscr lutioosto nities. affordable housing, \vhich has \Vhatha<;n·1 been ,,io&:ingisdlere·s been ig:noted for the last fi ve yeats. still a longv.·ay to go in ternlSofgeneral public a\vareness. ·11tere are progrants 'Ibdd Cha1H11ru1 that arc ''<>rking. but th(,."Cc's not nearly Division Oireclor enotigjl ofthem.Atthelocal level, people C'ldiolic Cha1ities need 10 continue to gel serious about solving thisproblem. \\'eneedtobring In the p<tSt four years. there has been togedter all lhe differenl entities con· an increased focus on the challenges cemod v..i th this problc1n. like mental faced by people that arc chronic.ally homeless. That's really in1portant be­ en1etger1cy sl:leher sys1ern ha-; causedle 'We've got things that becon--.e a Jong-term hon1e for too n1any work, but we need to see people. Bigger shelters are not the an· S\vcr. _Fortunately. Ibelieve the tide is more commitment from turningand d1a1theernplU1Sis has shifted Congress on the much 1owardo;the cteation ofn1ucl1n\ore pet­ broader level about manenthousing. And that's a great stan. Ho,vever, affordable housing." si1nply a rcnev..l.'d interestin pennancnt health agencies. We need to reach housing. asoppooed to thebuilding-up J)"Opleconungout ofjail, fan1ilies \\lid1 of Lhe shelter S)•stern. is not enough. children. and \\'Ork on prevention of NO\V\li'e really n1ust \\'Ork together to ntakeasignific:w'ltincreasei:n the anlOlDtt hon1elessness. At the fcd(,.'fal h,....-el. \\'C noodto take ofpennanc."flt housinga realif)•- and a priori I)' \Vhen Lhe focus. for so long, has been onemergency shelter, maintaining a long·temt con1n1in1lentto the creation ofpcnnancnt housing is no small task. The causerequires steadf.1Sl leadership toert<;ute reliablefwtding st.rearns a.re 10 We need to collectively work together to make it unacceptable for people to be homeless in our area and in our country. place to build, sus1ain and suppot1 Lhe necessary housing stock.This is going tobe asrruggle: 'fhere ,vjlJ bepressur~ as v.-ell asobstacl<.'S, tosecure the fund­ ing,. therev.111 becon1n1uniries reluctant to welcorne fon-netl)' hooleless neigh­ bors, and there 1113}' be an inclinarion to declare victor)' and ntove on \vith the jobhalf-done \Ve need to collectively work to­ ge1her 10 n'take it unaccep1able for Conriuued on ,,age 12 �STREETVIBES Page 12 How Are We Doing in the Fight to End Homelessness? Continued front ,,age 11 people to be hon1eless in out area and in our country. Locally, it'sg.oing 10 rt.'­ quirealevel ofregional ooUabornrion that 1so·1 cutreotly 1n place. Nationally, it·s going totakea shift in flD1dingprioriries to place a highet valueon the long-term solurion ofhousing.over theshort-tcnn stop-gap ofshelcers. ~l aria Fosc.ari1tis Exetuli\'t Oirctror National l...:1''' Center on Hon1elessness and 1•overt)' ~rer the past four years, advocates teached out actoss a tange of issue ar­ C·a.5 to build coalitions to <.'fld and pf(.,"­ hon1elessness. Pem1anent affordable housing, adequate inoon1es, health and 1nc.'fllal health care. chiId care, educa­ tion -these are all part ofd1esolution. This pas1 year national advoca1es \VOrked closely together in an effort to crnftjointpriociplesandstrategies. Much 1norc collaboration and advocac..-y is needed at all levels 10 build !he political Sltengdl ·~ve need 10 rnake these solu­ tions real veot hon1elessness. Adiversecoalition ca.rne togethet to \~io er'taeto1eo1ofnew federal housing rights toprei.<entdon1es­ 1ic violence sutvivotS from becoming l\rlit·;h:tel Stoops homc.-lcss. aspartoftheVioh."llccAgainst Acting Exttuti\'e Dir·tctor helpi ng to address a National Coalition for the 1'1orutlcss rnajol' cause of hon1elessness fo r V.'OOlen. 1\dvoca1es also reached out 10 chiIdrcn'sandeducation gmupsto push successfully fot expanded educacion tights fot horneless kids, as well as to enforcetheirexisting rights, 1\dvocaC)•also focused 011access tootht.-r"mainstream,,progra1ns, includ-­ i ng public benefits like SSI and food SLanlps. t\ccess to this aidbecarneeve:n more challenging for nlany homeless people as atesull ofl.D. tequiren1ents i1n1:>0sedafterSept. 11 ,200 1.andad-­ vocacy focused on tightinginappropri· ate bal'riers. ln 01any cihes, newcrack­ do\vns cri ntinali zed not only ho1nelessnessbut also punishedgroups tr)ting tohelp. Groups around the councry can1e 1og.ether 10 leatn how to advocate for the human rightto housing in theirconr mun.ities. t\dvocates took the fight 10 1.h e international level,presc.'l'lting,the injus­ tice of U.S. hon1elessness 10 the UN huo\all Rights Cornn'lineeruld to Ille ln­ ter-An1erican Con1mission for Huntan Rights. What v.'Orks is buildingcoalitions across dte range ofisSt1es tha1drive and affect hon1elessness. \Vhat has no1 V.'Orked is fragn1entation, diluting our voices. and fighbngover tero utces tha1 are \vay too small. \Vhat v.rorks is ad­ voc.aces and governn1ent con1ing to· gethet to \\'O&: forsolution.s. \Vha1does not work is enacting lav.'S to"sv.·eep" ho1neless peopleout of sight. We knO\'' ho\'' to end and prevenl l'vebeen involved in dten1oveil1ent for over three decades. but in the last four or five years \Ve havepeople 1alk· ins eloquenlly, 1alk1ng passionately OOout ending homelessnessin America I think that's a \\Onderful thing, \Vhat's also changed is that cities around the counn)•tha1 have longbeen absent pa1·tnets in this 1noveo1er11 ate now pulling up a seat at the table and developing I0-year plans to end ho1nelc..'Ssncss. ,mich \\IC Sec as a JX>Si­ tive deve1opn1eot lfthey con1e up ,vJth a 10-yeat plan, we ·~viii hold then1ac­ countable to it. I v.1sh it oould besooner 1han I0 year~ bu! these things aren't going togo a'vay overnight. ln the ·sos \Ve focused on right to shelter, in the '90s ·~ve focused on the right to housi.ng. Nov.•v.·hat's changed is there is really strong support for pro.. viding peoplev.ith housing \\<ith Sl" port­ ive social services. Our n1oven1eothas becon\e n\01'e professional 1n a good \V3)'. andv.eare doing n1och ntuch 1110re than three hot n1eals and a cot \Ve knO\'' people need housing and dtey needcounseling, 'lltereareso n13ny horneless folks out there, we'te no1 able to provide it to all v.tto \vrutt itor need it, bu!'ve're doing it fora lin1itednun1· ber of folks toshov.•that housing 'vith supportive se1v ices does help end a per90f1·s honlelessness. We're lookingcloselyalthe upoom­ ing presidential c.an1paign as a \Yay to focus attention on poverty We need to elec1 leaders in all races front all poliri· Won1en Act - cal parties \vho ,I/ill ntake ending pov· are located in f.'lC tlw1gpans ofdte ciry making coordination \\<ith otheressc.'fl­ tial services nearly in1possible, and are fat too latge to ensure appl'o priate at­ tention to the needsofi.ndividuals. \\'e also still face significant chal· lenses in ensuring,that people \\<ith dis­ abi.liries haveequal access to progrnnlS Scott ~1cNeilly andsetv1ces and in break1ngdo\\'l'I bar­ Staff:\ttoniey riers to securingorretainingentployntent \\'ashing ion Leg.al Clinic for· the for people who rely onemergency shel­ ter, Homeless Although v.-e're beginning to see Locally.1>assageof1he l>lomeless changes. the delivety ofcase n'lal\age­ Services Refon11 Act of 2005 has pro-­ nlentandothersef'\rices has l>eert far too duceclsignificant changes. HSRA has focused on con1pliru1ce and obedience brought some clarif)•to the rights and and hasn't bc.'<.'n ofthe quality necessary responsibilitiesofpm\iideJSandconsunr to help clients acoon1plish theirobjec­ ers ofservices. l·ISRA also cteated the tives. D.C. lnteragency Council on LookingdO\VTI the road, our hope is 10 see significantprogressonthe Feniy Hon1elessoess"'hich holds oonsiderable promise for addressing the lack ofsuffi­ adminjstration's cornm.itmcntto transi­ ciootconunmityinput in1he planning m tion the District'shomelessservices sys­ administtati0t1ofprogtru\\S and the lack ten1fton\or1e tha1 is tooted inshehet to of coordination an1ong govem111ent one that en1phasizes - and pro\.Jdes ­ agencies ru1dservice providers. pern1anen1housing as quickly as pos· The in\•Ol\•ement of the City siblc, v.<ith adequate suppcrtservices if Administrator's office in developing the and \vhen neoessar)'. Th.is isa huge chal­ Jn1e~ Council ..-1dcootdinatingthe lenge in the District becauseof Ille high CX>St of housing in the private ntarket ·robe successful in such trrutSition, We need to elect leaders there mus t be a s,roatcr investmc.'11t in in all races from all politi­ affordable housing.through both an ex­ cal parties who will make J)<'U'IS1on ofthe Local Rent Suppleolent Prograi11as \\'el.Iastax, zoningand other ending poverty in this private ntarket incentives 10 develop country a priority. hard unj15, On the homelessness preven­ tion side, \\'e are advocating for addi­ effortsofthe variouo;agencies involved tional protec.tions for tes1denL<;ofptot>· in delivering services to hon1elessorat erties v.ttose landlords areopring out of risk residents is \\arking very effectively. the federal Section 8 progran1, so tha1 Although \ VC still have a 'vays to so. they,orthe.District &•ovcm.mcnt, v.ill have v.•e're beginning to see that progra111s an opportWl.iry to purchase theirprop­ 1hat have been subject to the ICJ.J "s er(y and preserve it as affordable. \Ve community input procedures are better also are hopeful that the District's NeM• designed to avoid potential problen1s Con\ntunities h1iriarive,...111 befuithfulto and acco1nplishobjccriv(..'$. its pro1niscoflifting upncighboriioods Tile local conunimxmttoproduction for those v.•ho presently call the neigh­ ofaffordable housing tlU'Ough tl>e Hous­ bol'hood hoo1e, rather than displacing ing Production Tn1st f lmd and Local then1 in fuv'Or ofltigher-inconteresidents. Ren! Supplen1en1 l)rogran1 has been On the federal level, there n1ust be critical to moving people Old ofshelters a re-invcstmcnl i.n the traditional hous­ andoffthestreetsand intohousing. The ing assistance progranlS(publ.ichousing Emergency RentalAssistance Prog.tan'I and the 14ou.o;ing. Oioice Vbucher Pto­ hasbeen imponant in preventingpeople gm111). as,vell as the useofinno\rative front becont.inghon1eless, although 've 1ools such as a National Housing"f'111st need to rcvi(..-v.' \\lflethc."theapplication f 1md. procedures oodeligibilitycriteria are fuir ru1d consisten1 aolOng. the vanous pto­ /?eprinte<l,fi'01tt S'treet S'ense videis. As far as v.~1 at's not v.'Orking, the © S'trect Ne•f'SScn'ice: ••'l1'l1•.s1rocf· facilities \\<here v.1cprovideemer£,t."lll.)' J1tlfxtrs.<)tg shelterare often in deplorable ooodition, Permanent affordable crt)• in this country a priority \Vesimply need leadership in th.is count!)' ... It's housing, adequate in­ comes. health and mental clear to all of us thai 've do have the resouroesto end poverty in thisootmny health care, child care, if \Ve v.•ru11to, but right no"1there'snot education - these are all <'OO•ish political will to do so part of the solution, l\1r. Hon1eless Downtowner: l\1rs. Hon1eless Downtowner: Nan1e-: Chru·IC)• Birlh1,Jace: Rapid City, South Dakota ~ly ra\•orite Downtown S1>0t is... theOld Square ~1y lfobbies nre... softball ru1d traveling I can't resist. Korean Cuisine I cru1 ' t s.tand...hacecrin1es If Iwon the Jotrery 1,,,ould.. .buy a btaJ1d ne\vhorne The one thi1i~ I u·ouJd rhan2e about the world u·ouJd be: WAR If I could have done it all o,·er ngfiiu I \vould nol have...n1ade son1e rc£,on.1ti.ll decisions Lo,·e to 111e is...a CV.'O•\ltay screet Name:Mruy 0 Bi11h11lnc:e: Day!Or\,Ohio f:t,·orite dO\\'ntolvn spot is.,. the ne,vsquare, especially the flatscrc.'<.'fl TV ~ly hobbies a1-e... readingru1d crocheting I can't resist.,.the opportunity totravel I r.a n'I stand it whe11... n1en 1.ie If I \VOn the Jorre1-,' I would...pay offall n1y bills and buy a ne\Vll0n1e 1n ~fy H am,~u 'I'he one thing ' '''ould change about the'''ortd \VOuld be . . . \VAR. 1.f I could ha,·e done it nll over again ''''ould h:t\·e,. neverS,OftC.'fl marric.-d! Lo,·e to 1ne is...oonu11im1ent �STREETVIBES Page 13 (Jr<1l/1er (iit111 c:.nr/11 glt•e.ir a gc11tlc r11n11 lt1ilelrie:~ 111 t11kc n ,t/111Ji1er al lltt! ~ft1rJ11•111gdalcr1 Ht111.se lot;a l e1/ 1111 Mulu .'\/. 111 Q 1.Y!r tlte Rh.i11c. Experiencing the Mary Magdalen House First Hand On ·ruesday Novenlber2011\ I vol· untccr~ at tJ\~ Mary t\.lagdr.Jcn I lou.~ on I'22 1and 1223 Main Streei here in Cincinnati I arrived 31 eight in ~lenlOm­ ing '.1v. horc I \veavt.'<I in be~\•Ccn the honl eless \Vho \\'ere bne-0 up oulS1de ea,getf)•'A'ilitu\g JOrLhi:ck)(>rs10affic& ally open atS: 15 o.rn As I go1 10 the front ofthe line to ootcr the buildi.ng fur ::a brief trnini_ns, a chorusof homeless vo1cesjo1ntl)' yells. '"o lher door....'\s l 1ut.gr.11e 10 lhe odler "We know you're embarrassed, it is okay, thanks for coming to volunteer." door r !\gain embarra5$cdly hear the crowd yell m rne··om•r-Ooot" 1laugh oul IO'Ud- adirUtJJng c1ere-.at and s1upidit)' on myend. 'l'he cro\vd respoJldsin laugh1er as "l'he Lesser" as he proclaimed. Unbe· kno\vnSt to Ol¢ at the time I '.\"'ilS truth­ fully muoduoe(I IO Broiher John Mruun as Lh~te are t \\\) Brother Jc.>hn ·.s tha1 work 01 the Maiy Magdalen House I spt.'flln>OStofn1ytinle\~id 1 Brothet Giancarlo Bonutti, aka thco1her "Br. John... at the frontdesk helping ou1 in ru1y \vay p<lSSible. Br. Giancarlo h·as been employed since April 1 990. Bo~l Br. Jolu1J\fartin wid .ICJT)' S1.'d,b'Wick,currmt cmp.loyce:; ·a t the A·1ary MagdaJen House, have bel!n cniployed :;inc~ 1be bf:£.11111iug io 1988 Before continuing alxlunny experi· er1ci.; itls imPQn~inl co infurm 1hoscaboot \vhat exacl social services tJ1e ~·l ary l\·1~dales1 provide~ for the pt>or ttud homoless. '[be.Mary'l\.fagdalen Housetsanon· p:roti t itgqnt..-y·thatoffersa perso.nal care fucil ily. 111ehomeless CM Sho\11,~r. sbsve, ha,'c d.eir c.lodus lau1 1U~~d.wlcl use.die t-elephOOeall fraeofsen-•iCe. Theho~u:s of operation are fro111 8:00 a.ill until noon t•nd 1:00 p;m, uniii 4 00 p.m., Mondoy through Fndoy. On Salurday's if to $:a)'. "1We \:no \v y ou, rc embar­ rassed.. ir1s okay, thwiks for conung to voluute>.!r ,. Ot1c~ I fLnalJy 1:1trivc :ti th~ they ate OJktU fro111 8~00 a.nLunlll n<)<Jn :ippropriate door on n1y 1hird uy, the and spend 1ha affen1oons closed10 1he public.. bu1devore this rinte to<:le:ming c.rov.'<l responds \ o,tjth ;) big cheer.. r·mg.l11d 10 knQ\V that I brought lhe bllilding. nmuse111cor to others at thee:\-:pense of ·rhere are curroody four full-tinw, Ill)' clumslnl'SS.The firs1 I~11 Ilean1LS f'<;tur pal't-hrne aJld 25 volunll!e.t'S tht1.1 that\'Olun~gexists in various tbn11S, co1npilo 1.ha staff. Over I00 pe.ople :1re including self001b:massn1e11L served doily. J ,vas fi'rst greeted b}· BrotherJohn My-timospootmthoITT>11t dcsl< wilh Jk Giwmulo "'' "'truly "l"'Cial. ·auoojlb­ out lhe morning I \\iitncsscc,i hon1clc:;s 1n..d1v1duals greef and depart Br. Giaocatlo v. ilh huhoesmlles. I1\V.1$ ol>­ ,;005 thm lhO)• """' beyood lhankful for theservices they \vere about to/just re­ c;civccl E''Cl)•bot.ly '''ason a fl I'S{ numc bas1..~ \Vl~t 011e rul0dlet ,~tiicJ.1 herlpedcre· filea ftit:1KUy IS'ld V1elCOln1ng llln•)')pltei-e For the firstcoupleof hour:; \\'e"\\'ere bombarded \Vith guests \vbo- \v.uJied to .:ithcrpic.\: up thei rla~1n.dry or use the shO\\'ers. Jt v.;'3Stl 't w11il ihlngs calnted dQ,\+n 1ha1 I \Vf\£ :1ble 10 g,et St a ancarlo·s undivided attention rutd le-~lfJl about me policies ruKl proceduresof the Maiy Mll!ldalon House Br. Giauc::irlo shares thateveryone is invited io ttse 1.he ~1c1li1jcs ,vid1 th~ exc-d(Jtio11ofuna·cco111panied minorsfur safety reasons. Nobody is tun:ied tl\vay unless Ot¢)•i'rcnbusivc l o 01h:ergucsLS orstatfor ifdley are caught ~1-ealing, 111~re lireslx$ht>v.·crs ror l lldl ou1d 1here isonehandiCapped.sbo,..'er :l' 'flil­ ab)e for ''-'<Utlen. The reason fo r1his is thatO'ICO1m~ko up asigiific;Onl majorit)• of the guests. rn reg3rds {0 hov.• the Mruy Mn.gdali:n rlou~ rec.e1vef;llt!m$, alul(lsrevery it-em is donated. ·rhe on1y itenlSthat the)• purchase:ue ,,irutesoc~ c;lcun under\11,:ear and <leodor311t spqiy soe\'Cl)'one in dte lobby can sl-\are \ \1hen gu~ts cht!C.k 1n a.t the froru desk 1he.ir nan1es are raciorded in a log, as 'vell as \vhru items a.re given l6 ~1ent. 11""1S given out to individuals l\rere­ 1 corded to pre":~nc an inctivi'duaJ from abusing theirpri,•ilC1JCS.. ff.wmcbody coines.in Lhree tnl1esjn oue V.'eek asJ.:.. il'lg f()f tt..ile\\+IOOthbru5h ea.di tiLnt', tJ1~ it is Safe to say that an individual isabus-­ ing tl1eirpriviteges Vibich resullS in de.. 11iaJof ihc item requc$tt.xl Records of­:gueS6v.ithin tl1elaS1 tV•\1 n.c>nd1s are al\.\':lYS kepL As far :t.'i laun­ dry isconcemed~ an individuals' !nun· cby \Viii be kept for up 10 t\VO ''-eeks. Rcroo,•al oflaundl)· pJi,..;lcgescl\n oc­ cur ifguestsf'aiI to en1piyout dt~ r pock· ~iseuireJy.Son1';.'bn1~gla~ is 1~11 i11ti~ poc:ke1of n guest's olothing. 13r0kan glais ctt11encbugerthe volto1reei'S•sifeiy. 1'-1}•coot:ribntions thismorning '.I.Vere app<ec1ared. Helping Br.Gtancadoru1d ~11:.res1 Qfd~Strtffte11iove liiwldty ftl.)111 the baseo1eru, gJOei gue.sis " 'ith smiles. COJl''erse \'iith guests, uss:ist tJ1e handi.. capped to lhoshov.>trs. sitti1™\vjlh Or John ~l anin and learnulgabourdwJ11s· rory of1ht.orga1uzati¢11 In addition to even helpingonelndividunl replace his oldsl1oos v.·i1h Jle\vones were all beau ~ tiful nli!m.oriC5 th..:~ t I\\'i.ll tAk.Ca\\';'o/ v.ith n1e fronJmy t1n1e volunteering at lhe 1 !\.f~uy Magdaltt1 l~Quse. Oh yes, andeven pmvidingoomi­ caJ reliefto chose·tiredguests e:.trl)•in thc OlOming ,.,;1ralsobc-reinembcr<..."Cf' If youare interes1ed 1n volunteering at the Mmy Mugdalen Houso call 5 13·72 1­ •8 II . �STREETVIBES Page 14 Standing with Dignity Untitled by A1ic l1ael G ~f;loa11 _Frightenedsouls out v.inding v.ii.ld Scattlcstret.'15 Like maddened monkson our wa)' to early ~lass, The unbelievingfaithful freezing in feat ar1dbeauty. Softly we tread lestthe fuiy ofinvisiblepolice St.111c j udgemcnt upon our poverty. Slo\\1)• 've steal sidelong glances into the grey pain Of a ne,vday's \VOes. ful'tive and redolent of original Sin. praying fOrour0\\111 invisibilit)•and the Forgett\1lnessof v.-ine. \Vine. d1eCon1n1w1ion ofthe D11m11cd. Theforty-ow1ceSacrnn1entofCain ... Mea Culpa. Mea Culpo, MeaMaximaCulpa. Untouchablcopulc:nce.envelopes us like mystic miasma And the iron-knucklecop isubiqttitousreminder There is no roorl'I ror 1-\ngel-sinners to dtag our rags Through thehallsof Xanadu. One more day is upon us and c-urses and prayers Areg.vbled, indistinguishable in theearsofa Distant Ood. Thctil'l)' nicheof earth fate has lent IJl)•calloused Fee( seen1ssuddenly to tum into son1eoneelse's gold. My lot is to somehow n:i.agjcaJJy vanish like The fugitive hopes and hours ofnte1ting life ..... b,y Pa11l iv111 Ke11rpj; JR S"'lltdinghere withdignity waiting through aUkinds ofweatherselling Real Change Newspaper Waiting for those smjJingcyes hopeful v.'Mting to be helpful to say paper please Can you see thar your generosiry is appreciated? Standing here with dignity I see another kind ofeyes Cold crucl and full of contempt Walkjng past me \vithoutoocing ·1at.:ing the long way around Can yousoe my pain? Do I jerk you out ofyour coccoon.,\vhen Isay hello? do J jerk you back to reality? Standing here \\<ith dignity 1have.rime to retlect on v.i:ly I run selling Real Change Nev.•paper ln ru1olhert.ime and ru1otherplace I have had several jobs J have lost them to accick."Tlt. illness.disease or my big.shot ideas Society deals harshly ";th people "l10 have bigshot ideas ""1erc is the forgiv(..oness? today I am s1andinghere with dignity selling Real Change Newspaper Waiting for those smiling C)•es to say paper please I hope you can see nty gratitude foryourgenerosity. Amen Cabin Fever by Virg/11/11 C111111 Beds by Pa11la there was snoring by nty head, sornoone sneezing it1 Mother bed someone was sobbingoffto the right andson1eoneelsen1oai1ing all tltrough the night son1eone v.•ll'S choking holding back tears v.hileolTto the tell, were the whispersof fears andseveral v.-ere talking out loud in their drea1ns would l get aity sleep? n1aybe son1e so it seen1s Ant I con\pfain.ing'? No Ithink not. As I am grateful forall that I've got \\'ere it not fortl1is roon1 with its forty beds someofthese v..umen by n10n1ing. found dead r m freezi ng. so I tack flannel sheets un<k..'1' the.blinds, disoovcring, the frost has resurrected lite fi nger oils ofsomeone named Litida Twice the precise lettering appears, v.-ell out ofreach of achild"s hand. llie "1ndowoverlooks d1e stteet. I·ve stood the<e, impatient fot mail or visitors, yet this is the first I·ve heatd frorn her. I scan my studio tOrothcr traces, blan:Ung her forthe erratic nails,especially one eye level sctew, dead ce:nter, that no painting hangs from contfortably. 1startto attribute other m.isohicf All ls A Circle Within Me by N a11cy J-YW<I All is acircle within 1ne. I Bill ten thousand winters old. I ant as young as a ne\\•-bom fto\\<er. I an1 a buffalo in its grave. Jam a tree in bloom. All isac:irclev.;thin me. I have seen the v..-orfd through an eagle 'seyes. Ihave seen i( through a gopher·s hole. J have.seen the v.'()rldon fire and the sky \\1thout a moon. All isacirtlewithin 1ne. Ihave gone into the world and out again. J have gone to the edge.of the sky, No\\•all is at peace within 1ne. NO\Vall has a place 10 come home. to her, nUsplaced keysand nigh( knocks, then fearshe may be trapped, the bi ttet cold con1pelling her to contact nte. " I never f;.'Ot out. It nevet wanned up." 1 keep chocking,the pane for furthc..'1' \\'()rd Irem.ind nl)'Self: Itis \~nter eveay..vhere. Outside, Buffalo tnidges past, layered in clothes likeshuckon com. Llkethat scre\v. an actofdefiance, Linda versusconcrete, in reliefofthe v.-ide v.tlite v.•all �STREETVIBES Page 15 To Be, to Become by Kris ~~·c11011 To be, to becon1e 10 believe io yourself the iru1er "roicetJ1at propels youfor.."ard a v.11.tc.·rfall of \\<isdom oflife fears ai1d rejec.ti0t1s triw11phs and tragedies laughterand hope belly botton stuff the n1ainoourse ru bfe'sbanquet forthose v.ishing to attend. grateful arethe n1any v.Tiostandtinn in a brisk breeze head up, eye to eye v.1th the dragon. J-+1ickering stars cancllc..'Slit fron1 yourstrength yourcoumge yoirrhope yourfuith,bu1ningon. Under The Ice hJ' Re11ee11e R1>berls.t>11 Five Dollars Closer to Freedom by Ri11 Stn>11g In Fitzroy Streeteach evening paintedgirls ioskin·Ligin clothes stood \vaiting in thedoor.vays forn1en to ,vnJk by. f'Thirt)•bucks a quickieand no full strip") In Luplon Street. day in, day out. a haJf'..gro\V11 chjld v.ith ancientt.')'CS lookedhopefully for chances tosell all shchad. (Five dollars bought -.hateverwas WMted.) Thc..-y climbed into the battcn..-d ford theirsilentsubtexts underscood, transaction madeand scaled "ith eightyears ofblood (A roundofi;olf, then back to business.) Her practiced hands n1oved robot-like \\•hilcdoing v.tiat he ask(..'() her to. then ashecan1ebenveen her legs she Jay therenu1t1bly. (fhe fear never left her; shej ust stlrffod it do"n.) In thewardrobe. hoddled right. pink rabbit clutched \ViLhin her am'IS, thegirlhid from the raging. c111n1pled notes inhand. ThePoverty line is Like the ice on alarge lake.The first fev.•tin1es you fal.l throu.gh you can useyourbelongings 10 getyourselfa 1e1npotaty lifcline. But year b).•grindingyear ofpoverty can leaveyou living lDtderthe ice forever, seateh1ng io vain fot a v.•ay b.1ck into the lifeofplenty youcan see 111 forn'IS and shadov.'Sthrough the ice abo\'eyou. Alife relived in briefsurreal mentories. Evt."lltually you gi\'C up thcho1:>eofi.·ver being,able to createa \\"fly Old from und(..'f"thc ice. Depression, Despair, Apathy, becon1e yourcontpanions andyour anchors. Freedon1 ofspiri1 ru1d body beco1neeh.JS1ve fOl"60Ueti goals. You v.•andet froo1one air bubble to lhe ne,.,,i. barel)• surviving. ~fany ofthe people v.tio have lived theirentire lives above the ice tty to pret(..'fld that the fon11sand shado\'<'S they see underthe ice are not real people. Real people like Lhe1t1sel\res wi1.h dreantS, talen1s aodaspirations. Because if tl1ey accept a.-; equals the people underthe ice. they are faced v.ith the re.1lity that they. too, could fall under the ice.This idea is 100 threruening for 1nany people. To avoid thed1ough1 Lhat they, too, couldget caught beneath the ice. thcd(,.'l'lY the hu1nanity of those aln..-ady trapped there, Escape fron1 dte ice \VOtld often requires Lhe help ofothetS. rvty o'"" slO\V extricruior1 has been helped by many people from both sides of the ice bonier. butespecially from Lhose beneath. My association \\~th the people at Street L·ifeAn Gallery, Street\\'rites, and Real Chru1ge have not only helped n'k! to \VOtk oty 'vay out frorn under the ice n\yself, but to help to build a roadout from under the ice that others Illa)' also use. Rc1nember to reach Old a hand to help yourfellov.•humans. \\1henever one person looks dov.11on anotheras being less \VOrthy oflife, a little piece of hun1anity is lo.stby tliembotl1. I Shall Ole h)' Elir.ubet/1 R11111ero Tiie 'von1ao con\ing IO\'<ardyou is trying to hang on. You can see it in her eyes, her \vary sick.'1ong,gtance. Tiie 'von1ao con\ing 1ov.ardyou is trying to hang on. Herclothes flap loose!)•in dle \\ind Her red sho<..'S c;.Jash. Tiie 'von1ao con\ing 1ov.ardyou carries the patient rage of her 1110ther and her n10ther beforethat like thrucrackedplasrichandbag. \ ¥riters! Submit yo ur P oetry to Streetvibes - en1ail your ~vriting to Streetvibes@juno.coin Stories and Poetry Are Due The Second Friday ofthe month � 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 2007 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 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Thousands Gather to Protest the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) Giving Homeless Preschoolers a Chance Pg 2: Vendors Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: The Broken Mirror Left Behind: Homeless Preschool Students Pg 5: SOA/WHINSEC Protesters Remember Those Who Have Died Pg 6: Congress and the Numbers Pg 7: National Conference on the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Pg 8: Homeless Memorial Day Pg 9: Jumbo Ball Abstract Pg 10: A Moment in History Pg 11: Poverty and Addiction Pg 12: How Are We Doing in the Fight to End Homelessness Pg 13: Experiencing the Mary Magdalen House First Hand 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 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Greg Olkhovsky Tiffany Harmon Kenneth Cheruiyot Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Ardella Woolens Susan Smith Jimmy Heath Steph Saurber Berta Lambert Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Ardella Woolens Berta Lambert Congress education Georgine Getty Greg Olkhovsky Guest Columnist Homeless News Digest Ishmael Beah Jimmy Heath Kenneth Cheruiyot Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Mary Magdalen House Melvin Williams Naomi Johnson-Davis National Conference Poverty and Addiction Protests SOA Soldier Steph Saurber Students Susan Smith Tiffany Harmon WHINSEC https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/748a91001d7a5140f8e846afdcab244b.pdf ae13cac155c9d30e785f1801a7e20294 PDF Text Text STREETVIBES 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 Charlie’s 3/4 House ...784-1853 DIC Live In Program ...721-0643 Prospect House ...921-1613 Starting Over ...961-2256 Treatment: Men First Step Home ...961-4663 Treatment: Women Nonprofit Org. US POSTAGE Paid Cincinnati, Ohio Permit No. 1133 KEY MH = Mental Health WC = Women and Children F = Families Y = Youth S = Singles Center for Respite Care ...621-1868 Cincinnati Health Network...961-0600 Crossroad Health Center...381-2247 Hamilton County Mental Health Board ...946-8600 Hamilton County TB Control...946-7628 Health Resource Center...357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van ...352-2902 McMicken Dental Clinic...352-6363 Mental Health Access Point...558-8888 Mercy Franciscan at St. John ...981-5800 NAMI of Hamilton County...458-6670 Oral Health Council ...621-0248 P.A.T.H Outreach (MH) ...977-4489 Health Appalachian Identity Center...621-5991 Catholic Social Action ...421-3131 Community Action Agency...569-1840 Contact Center ...381-4242 Franciscan JPIC ...721-4700 GCCH ...421-7803 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center ...579-8547 Justice Watch ...241-0490 Legal Aid Society ...241-9400 OJPC ...421-1108 Peaslee Neighborhood Center...621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids... 363-3300 STOP AIDS...421-2437 Organizations and subscribers Please send updated info to: streetvibes@juno.com St. Raphaels...8633184 Salvation Army...8631445 Serenity House Day Center...422-8555 Open Door Pantry...868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission...896-9800 Hope House(S,F)...423-4673 Booker T. Washington Community Center...785-2451 Hamilton/Middletown Brighton Center ...859-491-8303 Fairhaven Rescue Mission(M)...859-4911027 NKY Homeless and Housing Coalition ...859-727-0926 Homeward Bound Youth(Y)...859-581-1111 Mathews House ...859-261-8009 NKY Family Health Center ...859-291-9321 Parish Kitchen ...859-581-7745 Welcome House(WC)...859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center...859-491-3335 Transitions, Inc ...859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary ...859-559-5011 VA Homeless ...859-572-6226 Northern Kentucky Lord’s Pantry...621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Soup Kitchen & Pantry ...961-1983 Our Daily Bread ...621-6364 St. Francis Soup Kitchen...535-2719 Food Catholic Social Services...241-7745 Center for Independent Living Options ...241-2600 Churches Active in Northside ...591-2246 Cincinnati Union Bethel...768-6922 Emanuel Community Center...241-2563 Freestore/Foodbank ...241-1064 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart ...3810111 Goodwill Industries ...771-4800 Healing Connections ...751-0600 Job & Family Services...946-1000 Madisonville Education & Assistance Center...271-5501 Mary Magdalen House ...721-4811 People Working Cooperatively...363-3300 Rape Crisis and Abuse Center...977-3541 St. Vincent DePaul ...562-8841 The Caring Place ...631-1114 United Way ...721-7900 Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline ...351-0422 C.C.A.T. ...381-6672 Joseph House (Veterans)...241-2965 Hamilton County ADAS Board ...946-4888 Narcotics Anonymous Hopeline...8202947 Recovery Health Access Center..281-7422 Talbert House ...684-7956 Advocacy Resources Treatment: Both Thank you for reading! CMHA ...721-4580 Excel Development(MH) ...632-7149 Miami Purchase ...241-0504 OTR Community Housing ...381-1171 Tender Mercies(MH) ...721-8666 Tom Geiger House(WC) ...961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc. ...751-0643 Volunteers of America...381-1954 Housing: Anthony House (Y) ...357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) ...761-1480 Drop Inn Center ...721-0643 Interfaith Hospitality Network(F) ...4711100 Lighthouse Youth Center(Y)...961-4080 St. John’s Housing ...651-6446 Shelter: Both City Gospel Mission ...241-5525 St. Francis/St. Joseph Catholic Worker House ...381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter ...661-4620 Shelter: Men YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter ...872-9259 Bethany House...557-2873 Grace Place Catholic Worker House ...681-2365 Salvation Army...762-5660 Shelter: Women and Children Also Call 211 Need Help or Want to Help? November 2007 Chef Knows the Daily Struggles Page 1 Page 6 One Dollar Donation to the Vendor STREETVIBES STREETVIBES Page 1 �November2007 Streetvibes ll ar o D e n O Chef Knows About the Daily Struggles of Those He Serves by Greg Olkhovsky Food is quite possibly the greatest invention of all time. Okay, although it may not qualify as an invention, it is still simply magnificent. Think about it, the variety, the flavors, the aromas that a meal entails. As with everything that appears flawless, downsides do exist. If you are like me, you are an ambitious self proclaimed cook who hates preparation, can truthfully only master four meals but will never publicly admit this, and you Our day began at 7:45 a.m where we quickly got acquainted and began the first batch of salmon patties. The meal for the day was salmon pattie, a side house salad and an assortment of desserts. Maurice was quickly able to make me feel welcomed and at ease. During the morning Maurice informed me of his working experience at Our Daily Bread. When Maurice arrives at 7:45 a.m. he begins cooking the day’s meal. The food is served at 9:45 a.m. and stops being served at 11:45 a.m. All of the food served is donated. Volunteers are very important at Our Daily “Some days it is so “Some days it is so crowded in crowded in the kitchen Bread. the kitchen with volunteers and other with volunteers and days we have to ask the homeless to other days we have to come in the back and help serve,” Maurice shared. ask the homeless to When asked what his favorite meal come in the back and to prepare was Maurice proudly answered chicken and rice or chicken stir help serve.” fry. Maurice said that those two meals hate to clean up. Personally, I can’t stand are the most popular. “When people get it when it takes longer to prepare and back in line it is an amazing feeling. It clean up than it does to sit down and makes me feel good when I can serve enjoy the meal. 400-500 people a day.” He continues Cooking for yourself is one thing, but with, “This is not just a job to me, it’s cooking for others is a different story. real personal.” The energy invested in playing host can As the morning progresses and 9:45 be overwhelming. Can you imagine pre- approaches Maurice offers words of paring that Thanksgiving meal that is ap- wisdom before serving the homeless. He proaching? Can you imagine preparing begins, “Some people come in here with food for 25, 50, even 100 people? bad attitudes. Don’t take it personally. I had the opportunity to meet some- You can’t take it personally. I know what one who would say that preparing for it is like to be out there, fighting to sur100 people would be second nature to vive for the chance to live one more him. In fact, this person regularly pre- day.” Maurice shares with the other volpares 500 meals a day, Monday through unteers and myself, “Behind all the filth, Friday. stink, smoking, dirt, is someone with a Maurice Mason is the Head Chef good heart. A lot of people only judge at Our Daily Bread on Race Street in the homeless because of what they look Over the Rhine. I spent one morning and like.” afternoon shadowing him in the kitchen. Formerly homeless for fifteen years During our time together, I was able to Maurice shared with me his story of learn how Maurice serves as an inspira- battling homelessness and ultimately gettion and role model to his co-workers, ting his own apartment. the homeless and poverty stricken indiMaurice Mason grew up in Camp viduals whom he serves as well as the Dennison Ohio where he was the startOver the Rhine community. ing running back for all four years at In- Homeless Awareness Week Take the homeless awareness week quiz to learn more about homelessness here in Cincinnati - page 5 Guest Writer Relive David Logan’s memorable address at the 2006 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Annual Dinner - page 10 Cincinnatian Compacted to Death by Streetvibes Staff John Earls, 49, was killed in a Lockland recycling center trash compactor. Police identified Earls as a homeless man whose body was found by an employee at The Recycling Group, 630 Shepherd Drive around 1:50 p.m. Investigators believe he was in a dumpster that was picked up along a route driven by CSI Waste. It is believed no foul play was involved. dian Hill High School. His mother was a Baptist Preacher and his father was a truck driver. Maurice grew up in a very wealthy household with his three other brothers and sister. His mom and dad were foster parents and always allowed children to stay in their house until someone adopted them. “At any given hour “I know what it is like to be out there, fighting to survive for the chance to live one more day.” my parents would receive a phone call asking if kids could stay with them.” Maurice and his siblings enjoyed the extra company. By age eight Maurice was able to cook four course meals. Life was going well for Maurice until his mother got diagnosed with cancer. In 1989, when Maurice was 27 years old his mother passed away. “It all went down hill once she died” he said. Maurice’s marriage started collapsing. He eventually moved downtown and stayed with a friend who was experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Maurice began joining his friend to help cope with the loss of his mother. A fight with his friend caused Maurice to move out and he found himself at the Drop Inn Center. Continued on page 4 Inside this Issue Urban Mountain Men The chronically homeless are not always visible but Jimmy Heath reminds us they are there - page 4 STREETVIBES Page 2 Homeless Hate Crimes Teens now use the Internet to access hate filled videos page 9 Vendor Spotlight This month’s Vendor Spotlight is Anthony Williams Page 6 Shantytowns Raise Awareness for Students and Community by Andy Freeze This past month many area high schools and colleges held Shantytowns. Shantytowns are events put on by students to raise awareness around the issues of homelessness and poverty. In October Shantytown events were held at the following area high schools: Roger Bacon High School, Mother of Mercy held a Shantytown and hosted McAuley and LaSalle, Summit Country Day, Wyoming High School, Finneytown High School, Bishop Brossart, Xavier University, St. Henry High School and others will hold them this spring. These events usually have speakers who have been homeless who share their stories of what life is like to be homeless. They eat simple meals and learn about the issues surround homelessness here in Cincinnati. This is usually an over night event where students sleep outside in cardboard boxes. They do not pretend to be homeless but rather attempt to raise awareness for their fellow students and community about an issue that is often over looked. If you are interested in having a Shantytown at your school you can contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for help in planning. Pictures from this year’s Shantytown are on page 6. �STREETVIBES Page 3 STREETVIBES Greater Cincinnati’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 lowincome 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. 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 Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - Civil Rights Coordinator Greg Olkhovsky - Civil Rights Coordinator Kenneth Cheruiyot - AHA Coordinator Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Ardella Woolens - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design Photographers Andy Freeze, Jimmy Heath, Jennifer Money, Berta Lambert, Pat Clifford, Greg Olkhovsky Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for one dollar ($1). I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Streetvibes by any other means. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, I am allowed to keep the donation. 2. I will only purchase papers from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Each paper can be purchased for a cost of 25 cents. I will always show my badge when buying papers and if I do not have my badge I cannot buy papers. 3. I will never buy papers from and/or sell papers to other vendors. 4. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, and other vendors – respectfully. I will not use abusive language or force someone to buy a paper. I will not give a “hard sell,” be aggressive, continue to ask after a person has verbally or non-verbally said no or make someone feel threatened. 5. I agree to stay off private property when selling Streetvibes. I will not sell Streetvibes door to door. 6. I understand that I am not an employee of Streetvibes or GCCH but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. 7. I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling Streetvibes. 8. I will not sell Streetvibes or purchase Streetvibes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 9. There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer. 10. I understand that my badge is the property of Streetvibes and I will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing papers and display my badge when selling papers. If I lose my badge I will pay three dollars ($3) for a new one. If my badge becomes ruined because of weather or use, I will get a new badge for one dollar ($1). 11. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. 12. I will not deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a nonprofit charity or that I am collecting for the “homeless” in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes go to me. I will not use the word “donation.” 13. There are special rules for selling at Findlay Market. Only two vendors may sell at Findlay Market at a time. Other rules as established by Streetvibes and Findlay Market. 14. I will attend monthly meetings. Monthly meetings will occur on the first weekday of the month. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. Anyone who cannot make the meeting must meet with Andy, the Education Coordinator, before selling Streetvibes for that month. Ten papers will be given to those who attend the meeting. 15. It is the responsibility of each vendor to police fellow vendors or former vendors. I will report violators of the rules to GCCH. The value of the paper depends on keeping it credible. 16. I understand that any infraction of the above mentioned rules will result in suspension of my privilege to sell Streetvibes and possible termination from the program. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH and must be surrendered upon demand. Where your Dollar Goes Cover Maurice Mason, Chef at Our Daily Bread cooks salmon patties. McAuley High School students participate in a Shantytown event. Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or are vendors.Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: www.cincihomeless.org Member of: 75 Cents Goes Directly to Your Vendor Anthony reminds you to buy from badged vendors only 25 Cents Pays for Production Streetvibes Vendor Anthony International Network of Street Papers North American Street Newspaper Association �STREETVIBES Page 4 Tennessee: Health Department cancels homeless dinner Over 300 of Nashville’s homeless go to the Jefferson Street Bridge on Tuesday evenings to receive a free dinner. The Bridge Ministry, founded by Candy and Kent Christmas, has 80 volunteers and provides this service for the homeless. The Tuesday night tradition came to a halt when a complaint was called in to the Health Department. Representatives said that because there is no mobile kitchen, the warm meals cannot be distributed. A meetings between the two parties was held a few days later and resulted in favor of the Bridge Ministry. At 6 p.m. on Tuesday the Bridge Ministry will resume its services thanks to the donation of a mobile kitchen (WKRN Nashville, 10/2). California: Los Angeles County to Invest in Homeless Inmates For years the Sheriff has attempted to connect people with services before they are released from jail. Now the county will have money to do this. Before, inmates were released from jail into downtown Los Angeles with no place to go. Many would end up back in jail. It costs more money to house them in jail, then it does to get them connected to services. Garrison Smith, the county’s homeless coordinator added, “The fact that you have a criminal background prevents you from getting most apartments and jobs.” (Alison Hewitt, Whittier Daily News, 10/28) Maine: Cheaper to house the homeless A Maine State Housing Authority study found that overall costs to house the homeless are significantly cheaper. Supportive housing programs provide their clients with the opportunity to become successful and independent citizens which typically results in fewer public costs. Savings are also found in reduced need for emergency services, police intervention, and incarceration. The study also shows that tenants who are housed experience a 60 percent decrease in ambulance transports, 52 percent fewer emergency room visits, and 68 percent fewer police contacts. The decrease in publish services should significantly illustrate the cost savings that supportive housing programs offer. The Maine State Housing Authority director Dale McCormick says, “Whether you are looking at it from a moral, social, or cost viewpoint, providing permanent supportive housing to people who are homeless is a winning strategy.” (Glenn Adams, AP, 10/3) Hawaii: Lawsuit over homeless youth education rights The American Civl Liberties Union is suing the state on behalf of three homeless families because public schools denied five homeless children enrollment. The ACLU claims that the government is violating a 20 year old law that requires public schools to accomadate homeless students. Over a year ago the state was warned by the government of its failure to comply with the federal law over homeless students. One family’s son was denied enrollment into the seventh grade at Dole Middle School because they were unable to provide the school with a permanent address. “That is a violation of the law,” says ACLU Hawaii Legal Director Lois Perrin. Statewide at least 900 school-aged children are homeless. Hawaii annually receives $200,000 from the federal government for helping to track and educate homeless children. (KITV, 10/2) Florida: Advocate found not guilty for feeding homeless Eric Montanez, the first person charged with violating a city ban on mass feedings of the homeless was found not guilty despite video and police testimony suggesting otherwise. Police say that they will continue to enforce Orlando’s ordinance. Montanez has vowed to continue feeding the homeless. This time Montanez will abide by the boundaries within the ordinance. Montanez plans to accomplish this through collaborating with different groups and feed the homeless at the same time. The key to this is that each group will feed a small number of homeless individuals at a time. The ordinance says that a charity cannot feed more than 25 homeless people at a time. “This is not about me. This is not about an iconic figure. This is about hunger and the homeless. The people are hungry. That’s the honest-to-God truth” said Montanez. He told reporters that he does not regret his actions. (Local6, 10/9) New York: Heartless hate crime: Burned homeless man dies as he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Dotts pleaded guilty to facilitation of second-degree murder and was sent to prison for eight years. Investigators say that the men were drunk at the time of the attack and traveled to Nashville with the intent of harassing the homeless. Cole’s death influenced city outrage. A documentary film on Cole’s death was released in Nashville this month. (AP, Wave3, 10/22) Washington DC: House passes Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bill The National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 10th. The Act would provide funding for the development of affordable housing, which is good news for low income individuals. Over the next 10 years, the plan is to develop 1.5 million units of housing. An estimated $1 billion per year of funding would come from the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and from receipts for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) programs. Extra funding will also be needed. Sheila Crowley, the president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition shares, “This is a great moment for the millions of American families and elderly or disabled people whose well-being are compromised every day because they cannot afford even modest safe and healthy homes.” (Alliance Online News, 10/16) North Carolina: Homeless gather to vote Homeless Helping Homeless, a program of Charlotte’s Urban Ministry Center, has organized a drive encouraging the homeless of Mecklenburg County to vote. This registration drive has already registered 150 homeless which now brings the total to over 200 eligible voters for the November 6th, city council election. This is the highest total since the 2004 presidential election. Two years ago, around 300 of Mecklenburg County’s homeless were denied voting rights by the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. It is because the homeless registered under an agencies address in which they themselves did not reside that their registration to vote was nullified. Today things are different. Liz Clasen, associate executive director of the center, shares, “It’s always a challenge to get folks who are busy worrying about their survival to think about voting, but engaging people to vote is moving them one step closer to humanity. Their voice counts.” (Cherre, Charlotte Observer, 10/25) Police arrested 29 year old Israel Torres for setting a homeless man on fire. Torres was charged with attempted murder and assault in the Oct. 5 attack, police said. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Oct. 8 and was held without bail. Shortly after midnight on the Oct. 5th, Felix Najera, 49, was sleeping outside of Bethany Christian Church in upper Manhattan’s East Harlem when the attack occurred. Torres doused Najera in a flammable liquid and ignited Najera in his sleep. Authorities did not reveal what the motive was. Pennsylvania: Philadelphia to Najera was pronounced dead on Oct. 9th. Deborah Calhoun, lifetime neighborhood close parks overnight resident says that people “see a man sitting on the ground and think he’s a bum, he’s worthless. He’s Officials in Philadelphia are feeling the pressure still a person. He still has feelings.” (AP, 10/14) from Downtown interest groups to get homeless people out of the parks at night. A recent survey found 621 people sleeping the streets in PhiladelTennessee: Homeless woman phia, a number that has almost tripled in the last drowned to death three years. Lawyers are looking at whether an existing camping law could be enforced in these In August 2006, two men threw Tara Cole into public areas. Advocates argue there is no place for the Cumberland River while she was sleeping. Cole homeless individuals to go, citing last winter that was sleeping on a dock in downtown Nashville while shelters operated at 115% of their capacity. A repthe attack occurred. Timothy Webber of Lebanon resentative from project HOME points out, “If we and Josh Dotts of Lafayette pleaded guilty on can afford to house all of this art on the parkway, Monday. we can afford to house all these people.” (AP, PhilaWebber will be sentenced to 17 years in prison delphia Inquirer, 10/28) �STREETVIBES Page 5 Urban Mountain Men by Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes Editor I am looking at the face of a man. His skin is a bit ragged and war-torn from years of living outside. His hair is long and neglected and he looks to me like a mad scientist. He reminds me of the heroic mountain man from decades ago too. This face is one of a person who has had too many fights and has drank too much. There is dullness in the eyes that covers the intellect. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless frequently performs a count of the folks who live outdoors. They are hard to count because they do not want to be found, but the Coalition has discovered well over 150 of these individuals living outdoors in Cincinnati. This is a dangerous lifestyle and it kills many of the folks who live outside, through cold nights, blistering hot days, and anticipation of the fruition of their dreams. The camp itself is a breeding ground for disease. However, they have chosen to live in these camps, sometimes alone or in small groups. While mostly men, there are sometimes women around to share the by just plain old stress or mental illness. lifestyle along with numerous dogs and They will reluctantly welcome you cats. They are unable to afford the to their camp, but they do not want cost of housing in the county. They gifts or sympathy. They will talk to will “come in” for food at a shelter, to you and even let you take pictures, but panhandle, and “please, please don’t desperately seek tell anyone where we temporary shelter from are.” bad winter nights. Homeless However, mostly they campers are in poor are self-sufficient, eating health with common fresh food out of dental issues, and dumpsters and working aches and pains that day labor. they themselves do Who are these not understand. It is people and why do they not uncommon for choose to live this way? homeless people to Some are just sick of it be burned by their all; living under a bridge Jimmy Heath own campfires, or be is a better alternative. In a hidden injured in some other way by leading clump of bushes, their lifestyle this lifestyle. suggests a quiet anarchy. Away from There might be a dead comrade government, society or from waiting for you when you get up on themselves? any given morning. There is no fanfare Some may have warrants; the most when a fellow camper is lost this way. common I have seen is for child Just a trip to the coroner for the support. Some are hiding from their deceased man and maybe a small obit own mental illness. Others feel that in the press. This may be the first time this life is true freedom, without the anyone has seen his family, who claim worry and hustle of a regular life. the body for burial. Some are well educated and once had How do we deal with campers good jobs that were destroyed by who do not need or want assistance? alcoholism or by failure of family or They will not come in with you. If they do, they do not stay long. We can only show them around some programs or toss them some blankets. Recently Cincinnati ended the need for panhandlers to get a license, which eases the burden ofl the homeless. Surprisingly, there are members of City Council who still support the licensing of panhandlers. A blatant misuse of a person’s constitutional rights. There is still the stereotype of the homeless on the streets of Cincinnati. In addition, it is even harder for folks who look like someone who lives in a camp. Ordinary citizens are scared to death of the outside homeless, such that it creates more isolation. These are the homeless that will always be. They are stubborn and smart, protecting the patch of dust they call home. They can be counted but it may be best to leave them alone and let them live their life. It almost seems like the right thing to do. Government and society need not step in. We may need to pray and remember they are there. However, we may need to leave them alone too. At least now, you know they exist. Jimmy Heath, editor of Streetvibes, welcomes your comments and suggestions. Please email him at jimmyheath@yahoo.com We Have Been Fooled By Our Charity by Tim Harris, Director, federal McKinney-Vento funding for RealChange, Seattle programs serving the homeless grew I’ve made some people angry by $70 million between 2002 and 2006, belately by saying that charity and tween 2004 volunteerism have fooled us into and 2006, thinking that we have done enough. As we give and give and give while things HUD funding mostly stay the same, it’s easy to think decreased by $3.3 billion. that the poor themselves must someFurther cuts how be to blame. Superficial evidence of progress is are likely this year. regularly trumped by the growing chasm between rich and poor. While It’s hard to see, really, how things could be otherwise. Given the increasingly lopsided distribution of wealth and power in this country, the math of poverty and homelessness becomes inevitable. Tax breaks, war, and legislative pork come at a price paid by the powerless. We have come to the point that, unless these issues are addressed, government simply does not have the capacity to adequately care for the poor. Over the decades, we have lost our sense of responsibility to each other as a community. We have forgotten that to be human is to deserve dignity, and that we owe that to each other. Charity is a necessary act of mercy in response to an unacceptable now. But acts of charity divorced from work for justice eventually turns to bitter ash. When we burn for justice, we generate a light that makes our way clear. Our Daily Bread - Food and Hospitality Ministry Continued from page 1 Before he knew it Maurice was an addict. He lost his job with a local construction company where he had been promoted on several occasions. Maurice found himself stealing excessively, “I was always hustling, stealing, doing anything to get drugs.” Over the course of his 15 years as a homeless addict he spent a total of five of those years in jail for various sentences. Maurice was greatly hurt that his family had shunned him. Not once did his family visit him while he was in jail. The decision to get help came at the lowest point in his life. Maurice recounts, “I had hit rock bottom. It was the first time that I felt pain when I looked at “No matter how bad things may look there’s a way out. People gave up on me. Life does get better. Life can and will change.” myself. I ran out of excuses. I realized I couldn’t put the blame on anyone but myself. No one is feeling the pain but me. I was in it alone. The drugs got deeper and deeper, life got worse and worse, and the pain got more and more.” Maurice checked himself in at the Joseph House on October 5th 2006. They didn’t have any beds available for him, but the executive director, Calvin Wootton, made extra room to accommodate Maurice. After 60 days of staying at the Joseph House he got hired at Our Daily Bread. Five months after his arrival at Joseph House, he graduated from their recovery program. Ms. Mary Beth is who Maurice would like to thank for his success today. He is appreciative of her patience with him and is forever thankful for helping him get an apartment and a place to grow. On his free time Maurice likes to exercise at the Lords Gym, visit the Drop Inn Center and talk to people, and cheer on the Bengals. Maurice’s words of advice, “No matter how bad things may look there’s a way out. People gave up on me. Life does get better. Life can and will change.” Our Daily Bread is a food and hospitality ministry in Over-theRhine, Cincinnati. We serve a midday meal, and we serve more than 500 meals everyday, Monday through Friday. We provide warm meals in a comfortable place for all who come, a place where all are invited to be a part of a community that is caring, supportive and welcoming. We are always looking for volunteers, for food or nonperishable collections—please give Joan or Kathy a call at 621-6364 to find out more. Our Daily Bread is located at 1730 Race Street, Cincinnati OH, 45202. Missed a copy of Streetvibes? Check out the Streetvibes archive on the website at http://www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html �STREETVIBES Page 6 Homeless Awareness Week Quiz yourself on your knowledge of homelessness. 1. How many people experience homelessness on any given night in the United States? a) b) c) d) 50,000 300,000 500,000 800,000 6. What does the average food stamp in Ohio get you per meal? a) $1.04 b) $1.25 c) $2.00 d) $2.50 2. What is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population? a) Single men b) Single women c) Women and children 7. In the past 8 years how many homeless individuals have been killed as a result of a hate crime? a) 53 b) 75 c) 124 d) 189 3. What percentage of the homeless population are children? a) 10% b) 20% c) 29% d) 43% 8. No where in the United States can a person afford a two bedroom apartment at fair market rent while working minimum wage job. a) True b) False 4. How many of America’s homeless children are under the age of 5? a) 50,000 b) 100,000 c) 500,000 9. The top two reasons people become homeless in Cincinnati are? a) Alcohol/Drug abuse b) Domestic violence c) Housing problems d) Loss of income e) Mental illness 5. What percentage of Americans are 1 paycheck away from being homeless? a) 10% b) 20% c) 40% d) 60% 10. What can I do to help end homeless in Cincinnati? a) Volunteer at one of the agencies on the back of Streetvibes b) Hear from a member of our Speaker’s Bureau c) Buy Streetvibes and educate yourself d) Vote Answers to Homeless Awareness Week Quiz 1. The answer to question 1 is D. Over 800,000 men, women and children will have slept in a shelter or outside last night. With the recent wildfires in California leaving many homeless this number is well over 800,000. This number does not include people who are “doubled up.” A person is considered “doubled up” when they do not have their own place to live. This includes people that stay with friends or family until they get back on their feet. Here in Cincinnati, over 1,100 individuals are homeless every night, some sleeping in shelter and others on the street. individuals and 30% are disabled non elderly individuals. 2. The answer to question 2 is C. National women and children make up 41% of the homeless population. As housing and rent prices continue to climb, housing that is affordable is diminishing for working class families, leaving many of them homeless. 8. The answer to question 8 is A. In no city or town in this country can you work a minimum wage job and afford a two bedroom apartment at fair market rent. Affordable housing is defined by the government as spending no more than 30% of ones income on rent payments and utility bills. In Ohio, a person needs to make $12.31 in order to afford a two bedroom apartment while working a minimum wage job. 3. The answer to question 3 is C. 29% of homeless individuals are children. In Cincinnati, 33% of homeless children are under the age of 5. The average homeless child moves seven times a year. 4. The answer to question 4 is C. Roughly 500,000 of America’s homeless children are under the age of 5. Many children are born into homelessness and struggle to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. 5. The answer to question 5 is C. 60% of Americans are 1 paycheck away from being homeless. With the rising costs of housing and wages that are still low many people scrap by each month. All it takes is for an extra expensive heating bill this winter, or an unexpected illness and money that was spent on rent is now spent on healthcare. 6. The answer to question 6 is A. The average food stamp per meal is $1.04 in Ohio. Over 977,000 individuals use food stamps to help eat every month. In Ohio 51% of those who receive food stamps are children. 15% are elderly 7. The answer to question 7 is D. 189 individuals who were homeless have been killed in the last 8 years. There have been 614 documented hate crimes committed against homeless individuals in the last 8 years. Here in Cincinnati we saw our first documented hate crime in 2 years when a lady shot and killed a homeless man over a quarter. 62% of the accused/convicted are between the age of 13-19. 9. The answer to question 9 is C and D. The lack of affordable housing is widely considered the number 1 reason men, women and children experience homelessness. Housing prices continue to rise while wages stay stagnant or change very little. 10. The answer to question 10 is A, B, C, D. You can help and you can make a difference. On the back of Streetvibes are many agencies that need volunteers everyday. People often do not pay attention to individuals who are homeless and having a volunteer talk with them can make their day. To learn more about homelessness, hear a story from a member of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Speaker’s Bureau. Contact Andy Freeze at 513.421.7803 x 14 to schedule a speaker to come to your class, school, or organization. Read Streetvibes every month to learn about issues in our city and across the country that are not covered by mainstream media. And finally vote. Help Streetvibes continue to improve by taking the Reader Survey. Go to www.cincihomeless.org for the link. �STREETVIBES Page 7 Pictures from Shantytowns Across the City Top Left: Xavier Student hammers together his Shanty for the week. Top Right: Mother of Mercy Students work on building their shanties for the evening. Middle Left: Xavier students spray paint facts onto their shanty to raise awareness. Middle Right: Xavier stduent puts together their shanty for the week long awareness event. Left: Roger Bacon students assemble their shanty for the evening and prepare for the cold. �STREETVIBES Page 8 Streetvibes Vendor Spotlight: Anthony Williams Interviewed by Andy Freeeze How did you become homeless? I was staying with my aunt in Los Angeles and I wore out my welcome. I was living on the street. I had some family in Cincinnati so I moved there. When I got to Cincinnati, I was still homeless and I found my way to the Drop Inn Center. I stayed at the Drop Inn Center on and off for three years. I would save up money get an apartment and then something would happen and I would be back at the Drop Inn Center. I was homeless for probably eight years. I also stayed at the City Gospel Mission and they helped me get my social security. Goodwill helped me get an apartment with the help of Donald Whitehead. How did you get started selling Streetvibes? I saw people with badges and I would ask them how to become a vendor. They would joke with me that there was a three-month wait. I decided to stop in on Elm Street and they set me up to become a vendor. I started selling the paper by the YMCA on Elm and have been selling the paper for about 5 years. The thing I like the most is talking with people. What is your favorite part of selling Streetvibes? It’s not the money; it’s the opportunity to meet new people and to talk to people. I am very straight up with people and very polite and I have found that to be the most effective way to sell the paper. I really enjoy talking with people who I sell the paper too. What are some of your hobbies? I love to fish, draw, and watch movies. My favorite movies are by Jim Carrey and my favorite move is “The Mask.” I love to fish on the Ohio River and catch catfish. I also love watching the Bengals play. Is there anything you would like to say to your customers? I love talking with people and I thank everyone for buying the paper from me. “Anthony Williams is one of my favorite people in Over the Rhine. He stops by the Learning Center weekly with a copy of Streetvibes, and I can always count on him for a friendly smile and a kind remark. I look forward to seeing Anthony every week. It has been my pleasure to get to know him” -Dana Ward (OTR Learning Center) Anthony Williams, a long time Streetvibes vendor can often be found selling Streetvibes by the YMCA on Central Parkway and Elm St. Life as a Streetvibes Vendor by Cleo Wombles I started selling Streetvibes when I was homeless. In the fall, winter, spring, and summer sometimes I felt like the mailman. Doing this, you get to meet a lot of people. I particularly like to greet people with a smile and a joke. I may say things like from the gutter to the utter and I didn’t stutter. The hardest time to sell Streetvibes is in the winter. I have to stand in the cold sometimes up to 10 hours a hour day. Sometimes I’ll sing a song like, “dip it de do da dip it ya come on and buy a Streetvibes today.” People really like that jingle. I thank everybody who has been kind to me. I have been able to buy a set of swings for my grand kids on their birthday. I have also bough food, clothes, and presents for them and for myself on Christmas because of people like you. On the backside of the Streetvibes, it has a wealth of information about shelters, AA programs, housing, and even a place to help you obtain a copy of your birth certificate, state ID, or drivers’ license. Places like the FreeStore FoodBank and Salvation Army were able to help me obtain my birth certificate and state ID last year. I want to leave you with a joke by my grand daughter Amanda who is 5 years old. She said, “How do basketball players keep cool during a game.” I said I don’t know. She said, “they stand by their fans.” If you have not had the opportunity there is still time to take our reader’s survey. Your help is greatly appreciated. It can be found at our webiste www.cincihomeless.org. Cleo Wombles shares a laugh with Fr. Paul Ruwe while selling Streetvibes after Mass at St. Mary’s Parish in Hyde Park. �STREETVIBES Page 9 Save the Date! You are cordially invited to attend the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Annual Dinner Word On The Street December 13th, 2007 6:00pm @ Xavier University Cintas Center Including Dinner, a Silent Auction, Auction, Raffle Prizes, Awards, and Entertainment Entertainment For tickets, please send $30 to GCCH at 117 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Make checks payable to GCCH and write “ticket” in the memo. (If you are a service provider, please send $25 for your ticket. The discount is our way of saying Thank You!) FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL (513)421-7803 x16 Reserve a table for your church or organization for $250 (10 seats) Sponsor dinner for a homeless individual for $30 Donate an item for our silent auction �STREETVIBES Page 10 Jumbo Ball Abstract by vendor Anthony Williams Berta’s Art Corner Internet Lends New Life to Violent Videos by Jason Corum “Grab it as hard … as you can and wrench,” says a homeless man miming a wrenching action. “It’s got to break it.” The black gloved hand of the man holding the camera reaches into the frame and clamps a pair of pliers onto one of the man’s teeth. The video begins to move in slow motion as the gloved hand tenses up and yanks the tooth from the man’s gums. Because the video is in slow motion, the man’s cries of pain sound deep, guttural, and utterly alien. He turns, stumbles a few steps away from the camera, and the shot centers on his bloody tooth clasped in the pliers. “We’re going for the next one,” says the cameraman. This video clip is from “Bumfights,” a series of popular DVDs in which homeless people perform degrading stunts for which they are paid a few dollars and alcohol. While a number of retail giants like Target and Wal-Mart have officially stopped selling the Bumfights video series due to pressure from homeless advocates, the series is gaining a whole new life on the Internet. The DVDs are being sold online, fans are uploading clips from the series to sites like YouTube, and some fans are even creating their own Bumfights-inspired videos to post online. The videos are now almost exclusively sold and shared over the Internet, said David Pirtle, an advocate for homeless people and a member of the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau. “It’s more anonymous, just like someone would rather buy porn over the Internet,” he said. YouTube, one of the most popular videosharing Web sites, has been fairly aggressive about removing any videos of homeless people being attacked or humiliated from its Web site. Individuals fight each other for money and drugs. Peace Roses, Over-the-Rhine 5th Annual St. Nick Day Sale Holiday gifts That Make A Difference Unique Sculpted Gifts, Scarves, dolls, wood carvings,woven bags, gift cards, calendars, and more. Fair Trade Holiday Refreshments Served December 1, 2007 10AM - 2PM IJPC Office Second floor of Peasleee Neighborhood Center The company relies on its community to help control the content on the site, YouTube spokesman Brandon Boone said in an e-mail. YouTube users flag any content they feel is inappropriate. Once a video is flagged, YouTube staff reviews the material promptly and removes the video from the system if it shows someone getting, “hurt, attacked, or humiliated.” However, YouTube’s self-policing policy isn’t perfect. As of the writing of this article, a quick search of the site revealed clips from the Bumfights series that include the homeless man having two teeth removed, a homeless man having his hair lit on fire, and a homeless man running head first into a large metal waste container. When asked for comment, Boone wrote Continued on page 11 �STREETVIBES Page 11 Guest Columnist - Use Our Imagination David Logan, director of Prospect House and a co-founder of Faces and Voices for Recovery, an advocacy group for treatment in Ohio, gave the keynote address to last year’s Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless annual dinner. Here are excerpts from his speech: nothing human is alien to us, because we are free to enter into it, without fear, or shame, or judgment. . . . I don’t know how else we can ever learn anything that is of effective, motivating use to us without having made that imaginative entry, that trying-on of someone else’s cloak for a moment. If we could then, imagine even for a moment, Homelessness is literal, God knows. not having a place where we belong, a But homelessness is metaphorical too. place where we feel safe, then we have If you have awakened in a room and begun to help solve the problem. We will felt uncomfortable, felt out of place, felt not be silent. We will not assent to the disoriented, then you already know next round of University Hospital subsomething about homelessness — If you sidy cuts, the next round of City Clinic know you’re out of place, it’s because closings, the next round of “welfare rethere is somewhere you feel in place and form,” the next round of City Social Service budget cuts. . . . “If you have awakened In a recent public television docuin a room and felt unmentary on Robert F. Kennedy, I was comfortable, felt out of reminded of what we have lost in our political dialogue. With the loss of Buddy place, felt disoriented, Gray on our minds, with the 11th annithen you already know versary of his killing approaching soon, on November 15th — what we’ve lost something about over the years is not only these leaders homelessness” but the language, the imaginative power secure. Imagine not knowing that. Imag- to directly, simply, unsqueamishly name ine not having that. the problem. The ability to see through I believe the great problem of the surface differences to the human rehomelessness would be made smaller ality beneath the stubble and the layers and more likely to be solved if we used of old clothes, to imaginatively enter our imaginations more. But there is a another’s world, and return, intact, with kind of anti-imagination conspiracy — the message that a friend, a brother, a if we are daily manipulated with bought sister, is hurting, is hungry, is cold toand paid for commercially useful fanta- night . . . sies, if that part of our brain that is sup- “What we’ve lost over posed to be our own laboratory, instead becomes someone else’s billboard, we the years is not only get crowded out of, even evicted from these leaders but the our own personal experimental, experi- language, the imaginaential laboratory... If we could consciously resist the tive power to directly, dispossession, could reclaim our own simply, unsqueamishly imaginative sovereignty, we might be name the problem.” able to imagine that the homeless man or woman we see this night were not One of the most powerful portraysomeone to be afraid of, not alien to us. als in English literature of the death of a If our imaginations are switched on and homeless boy is in the story of “Jo” in operating as I believe they’re meant to, Charles Dickens’ Bleak House, written in 1853, 154 years ago. In Jo’s story, Dickens gives us one death, presented in full Victorian melodramatic mode, but which still, if one’s imagination is switched on, can get to you. It gets to me. “…It’s turned very dark, sir. Is there any light a-comin?” “It is coming fast, Jo.” Fast. The cart is shaken all to pieces, and the rugged road is very near its end. “Jo, my poor fellow!” “I hear you, sir, in the dark, but I’m a-gropin – a-gropin – let me catch hold of your hand.” “Jo, can you say what I say?” “I’ll say anything as you say, sir, for I know it’s good.” “Our Father” “Our Father! Yes, that’s wery good, sir.” “Which art in heaven.” “Art in heaven – is the light acomin, sir?” “It is close at hand. Hallowed by thy name!” “Hallowed be – thy – “ The light is come upon the dark benighted way. Dead! Dead, your majesty, Dead, my lords and gentlemen. Dead, right reverends and wrong reverends of every order. Dead, men and women, born with heavenly compassion in your hearts. And dying thus around us every day. All the help that was ever given Jo was to be told to “move on,” by cops, by every authority figure. And he did. Right out of life. . . . Everywhere there are natural gates in the system, at the jail, at the E.R., at the shelters, we would spend the necessary money to have sensitively trained compassionate people assessing every one who passes through those gates to see what they actually need — they don’t have to take it, but — if they’re alcoholic or drug-addicted (or both) they would get effective treatment, as much as was needed and the same for the mentally ill, and for the dually-diagnosed... So we would begin to take a look, a real look, at who amongst us gets into trouble and why. Of course this would take money but I believe it would ultimately save money and it would create a whole new city identity. We could become the first American city in the 21st century to actually effectively care about its citizens, who would become, I believe, more productive, more loving, more capable, and more loyal as a result. We would be living our own P.R. campaign. I’ll go way out on a limb here — I have three hopes: 1.) That someday people will be as valuable as aluminum cans, that is, that we will care about recycling them too. 2.) That someday it will be easy in Hamilton County to get into detox and treatment for alcohol and drug problems, or get into good treatment for mental health problems, as it is to get arrested, and boy is it easy to get arrested here! 3.) The last hope is so obvious, and so many other people have noticed it, that is might actually someday happen — that the three elements common to most American cities could get combined in a creative, imaginative recipe: I mean the empty beat-up houses, the unemployed youth, and the homeless — if you could figure out a way to teach trades to the unemployed so they could fix up the houses then the homeless could live there, by which time their major difficulties could have been dealt with so they’ve got meaningful jobs and meaningful lives, so they work at keeping their houses maintained. But wait — that all sounds like the OTR Housing Coalition, or at least what they could do more of, if only there were money to do it. To view Dave’s speech in its entirety, go to: www.cincihomeless.org/ content/streetvibes.html It’s a Jungle Out There! Project Connect and Faces without Places Annual Benefit, November 9th, 2007 Every year, Project Connect’s non profit foundation called Faces without Places, throws a big party to raise money to help children experiencing homelessness. This year, the theme is “It’s a Jungle Out There,” and will be held at the Paul Brown Stadium on November 9th, 2007. The money raised at the benefit helps Project Connect clear obstacles to enrollment and attendance in school by: -Arranging transportation and immediate access to free lunch; -Distributing school supplies and backpacks -8 week summer academic and enrichment program -Encouraging parent involvement in their student’s education -Advocating and increasing of families educational rights For more information on the benefit or how you can help children experiencing homelessness, go to our website www.FaceswithoutPlaces.org or contact Project Connect at 363-3300. �STREETVIBES Page 12 OTR Community Joins Together to Address Neighborhood Needs by Greg Olkhovsky On Wednesday October 17th, over sixty community members attended the Over The Rhine Forum for Justice and Equitable Development. The audience consisted of numerous university students and faculty, representatives from multiple social service agencies, and residents from Over the Rhine. The audience set the tone of genuine concern and collaborated community building for the forum. The first panelist to speak at the forum was Mary Burke, director of Over the Rhine Community Housing who addressed affordable housing. Burke discussed the Over the Rhine Comprehensive Plan, which was developed with community input in 2000 and calls for a balanced housing stock in OTR. The plan, which looks 15-20 years into the future, calls for 25% unlimited housing, 25% at 61-100% of Area Median Income (AMI), 25% at 31-60% of AMI and 25% at up to 30% of AMI. This means that 50% of the housing would be market rate and 50% would be for people of lower incomes. Current development trends, with their exclusive focus on high-end and market rate development, do not adequately address the needs of a mixed income community. Michael Howard spoke on the issue of community based agencies and activism. Howard regularly emphasized OTR unity. He said that the best thing anyone can do is to “do the right thing.” Howard stressed that as passionate OTR members it is our responsibility to be more humane and selfless. We need to harmonize with one another and in return our community will evolve into a credible haven where families and citizens of all classes will want to reside. The portion of the program on saving Rothenberg School was led by Bonnie Neumeier. After educating the audience on the historical significance of public schooling in OTR, Neumeier stressed Rothenburg’s need for survival. Rothenburg School must exist because it is the only public school in OTR. Schools such as Cincinnati School of Performing Arts have a magnet program. Although there is nothing wrong with having magnet schools in OTR, public schools, accessible to every student, need to remain. If there is no public school in Over the Rhine, then families, will not be able to reside in OTR. Sarah Allen presented on the need for neighborhood serving businesses in OTR. While there has been a recent boom in small businesses in OTR, these could best be described as serving an It was further proposed to incorpoupper class, niche market. Meanwhile, OTR has a lack of quality grocery and rate a sound garden in the park which retail stores and no Laundromats. Allen would enable park users to express their presented on Over the Rhine Commu- creativity in a musical and artistic fashnity Housing’s plan to bring a laundromat ion. These additions and improvements into one of the empty storefronts in OTR. to Washington Park would enhance its Laundromats and other small businesses appearance and make it more attractive in OTR could begin to balance out the and user friendly. The upgraded Washington Park would be a place that people communities needs. Miami University students presented of all ages could visit. The forum then broke into small their platform regarding Washington Park. The students began their presen- group discussions on each of these toptation by acknowledging that although ics. It was clear that the current residents the swimming pool at the park is slightly of OTR have many plans for their comoutdated, it would cost just as much munity. One can only hope that there is money to build a new pool as it would enough room in future development to to renovate it. Preserving the basketball include their visions as well. courts was also suggested. The deepwater pool and the basketball courts will offer recreational activities for the older youth. There was a huge concern in the community that if the basketball courts and pool were to be demolished, then the older youth would not have a desirable Forum members discuss topics in small place to go. Creators Find New Ways to Get Video into Hands of Teens Continued from page 9 member of the “Bumfights, Get the his company does not comment on Damn Job Done!!” group, contribthe videos uploaded to its site. uted to one discussion. Videos that have been uploaded Michael O’Neill, director of the to online video-sharing sites but homeless speakers’ bureau for the have since been removed show National Coalition for the Homeless, people stealing hats or shoes from and other advocates, link the trend homeless people, kicking them, and of young, adolescent males making, throwing things at them from car watching, and sharing films about windows, Pirtle said. violence against homeless people Occasionally, these types of vid- with a much larger nationwide surge of violence against some of the “The kids see the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. “The kids see the videos and say, videos and say, ‘Hey, ‘Hey, I want to have some fun! Let’s I want to have some go attack some homeless people!’” fun! Let’s go attack O’Neill said. In a recent study, “Hate, Viosome homeless lence, and Death on Main Street people!’” USA,” NCH found 142 attacks last eos will appear for a few days be- year against homeless people, 20 of fore they get flagged and removed which resulted in death – a 65% infor violating guidelines. crease from 2005, when 86 were Fans of the Bumfights series are violently assaulted, including 13 hoalso forming groups on social net- micides. working Web sites to share clips Since 1999, the organization has and photos from the series and or- logged 614 violent acts against ganize discussions. On Facebook, a homeless individuals resulting in 189 major social networking Web site, deaths. An overwhelming number of the two largest groups dedicated to the attackers, 88%, were 25 or the Bumfights series are “Bumfights, younger, and 95% were male. Get the Damn Job Done!!” with 127 The National Coalition for the total members and “BFK FOR Homeless is trying to curb the growLIFE” with 80 members. ing numbers of copycat Bumfights The majority of the group dis- attacks by putting a human face on cussions are simply made up of the issue of homelessness through its members quoting lines from the se- homeless speakers’ bureau, O’Neill ries. said. “That’s two teeth; you guys owe The Faces of Homelessness me 50 bucks!” Dean Glanville, a Speakers’ Bureau comprises people who are or have been homeless and works to educate the public about homelessness and ways to end it. The coalition is also working with the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) to pass the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Enforcement Act of 2007 and the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act of 2007. Collectively, these acts would add homeless people to the list of protected classes under federal hate crimes statutes and include attacks against homeless people in hate crime statistics collected by the FBI. To counter online fans, O’Neill moderates the “We Are Against Bumfights” group on Facebook. His group has more than 130 members. R e p r i n t e d f ro m St re e t S e n s e © St re e t News Service: www.street-papers.org To have a member of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Speaker’s Bureau come and speak to your group contact Andy Freeze at 513.421.7803 x 14. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes wish to thank Panera Bread at Gilmore Square in Fairfield for their donations of bread, pastries, bagels and sweets. These are used throughout the week by our vendors and people who frequent the lobby to use the phone or get out of the heat. �STREETVIBES Page 13 River Commons: Delivering Opportunity to the Doorsteps of the Formerly Homeless by Jennifer Money In September of 2007, Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority (DMHA) and The Other Place joined in partnership to open a new permanent supportive housing project called River Commons. This new development is part of Dayton and Montgomery County’s 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and Reduce Overall Homelessness. It has received enthusiastic support from both the City and the County. The project was highly anticipated by both clients and staff of The Other Place, which was selected as the project’s supportive service provider. After a fast-tracked process of putting in applications, identifying new residents, making renovations, and hiring new staff, The Other Place and DMHA moved in 61 formerly home- less residents to join the building’s existing tenants. River Commons, a 100-unit apartment building formerly called the Helena High Rise, had been slated for demolition. Instead, it was taken on as a project which could be seen as an inspiration for future supportive housing projects. River Commons offers on-site case management, 24hour security and front desk staffing, mental health referrals, useful classes, and the opportunity to seek employment with Goodwill/Easter Seals. Because of the employment services being provided, residents who had trouble locating employment now have the opportunity to pay rent and work toward independent living. The community has also played an important role, with local individuals and businesses providing support through monetary donations as well as donations of furnishings, cleaning supplies, hygiene items and other things one would need when moving into a new apartment. These items have helped the residents make a smoother transition from homelessness to housing. Now, more than a month after River Commons’ opening, residents have traded a cot in a shelter or a tent on the cold ground for their own bed in their own safe and warm apartment. With winter approaching, these residents will be able to watch the snow from the win- dows of their new apartments this year, thanks to this supportive housing program. River Commons represents an important step toward the goal of providing an adequate supply of affordable housing — and an end to homelessness — in Dayton and Montgomery County The Effects of Poverty on the Body by Michael Henson This is part of a continuing StreetVibes series on poverty and addiction In a single neighborhood, within a few blocks, I know of people who have suffered: ƒ Diabetes (at least two cases) ƒ Heart disease (more than I can count, including a woman in her twenties) ƒ Obesity (again more than I can count) ƒ Seizures (totally unexplained, after multiple diagnostic efforts) ƒ Meningitis ƒ High blood pressure ƒ Hearing problems ƒ Urinary tract disorders ƒ Asthma (so many that the local school has a policy allowing kids to carry inhalers) ƒ Lead poisoning (at least three cases that I know of) ƒ Cancer (two cases of childhood cancer; who can count the adults?) ƒ Learning disabilities out of proportion to the norm ƒ Unexplained headaches A boy in this neighborhood had an operation to correct a severely distorted spine. A girl who is now studying to be a nurse had to be taught basic coordination as a result of childhood meningitis. A girl of twelve died a few years ago of cancer. Her cousin, a child of four, probably won’t see five. In this neighborhood, nearly every man and woman over the age of forty-five is disabled in one way or another. A few are still doing well, but the odds don’t give them long, given the dangers of the work they do —construction, auto mechanics, roofing, factory work— jobs that break down and wear down the body. Then there are the psychic disorders —anxiety, depression— Who could be surprised? And beyond these, there are behaviors guaranteed to make people sick. People eat cheap food high on But for modern poverty, stress is built in; it’s part of the program. For starters, there is the stress of making ends meet month to month and week to week, to get shelter and to feed each hungry mouth in the family. carbohydrates and they tend to eat too much of it. People smoke. If the statistics are correct, poor people smoke more than others. They tend to start as children and become confirmed smokers by the time they are adults. People drink and use drugs. I don’t know if low-income people drink more than others. I tried once to check out the statistics for income and substance abuse, but there isn’t much. But I can guarantee that low income neighborhoods have more than their share of bars and drug dealers and stores that, if they had to remove the addictive substances from the shelves (the alcohol, tobacco, caffeinated drinks, and candy —yes, candy), there would be little left to sell. Pick a corner in Over-the-Rhine or Lower Price Hill, What do we see but dealers of one sort or another? kind of crack cocaine drive thru. Which brings us to another health issue for a poor community... Stress. Poverty, we have said before, complicates everything. Perhaps in an earlier day, poverty simplified things. At least, certain poets liked to think so and they liked to promote the idea of rulers burdened with care and the happy peasant, contented to live in the frame life built for him. This as a mystification, like that of the contented slave, that makes the guilt of wealth a little easier to bear. But for modern poverty, stress is built in; it’s part of the program. For starters, there is the stress of making ends meet month to month and week to week, to get shelter and to feed each hungry mouth in the family. There is the stress of getting from one place to another. Will that old car start? When do the buses run? Do I have to cross some dangerous tuft? The all-hour violence, noise, theft, and insecurity layer poor communities with stress. So what do you do to handle stress? First, we are told, take a deep breath. This is not so easily –or safely— done in a poor community. When you open your window for a breath of fresh air in Lower Price Hill, Winton Hills, or a thousand other communities, you could be making a big mistake. If, in Lower Price Hill, the Metropolitan Sewer Division is having a bad day, you could be inhaling a hydrogen sulfide cocktail into your innocent lungs. In Winton Place, it’s the wind off the ELDA landfill. In other places it’s the chemical plants, the hog farms, the burnoff, the diesel fumes. The con- centration of polluting industries in low-income neighborhoods is a proven fact. Another great stress reliever is exercise, which is a wonderful thing if you can find space, which isn’t always available. Even the idea of a good walk is tough when the streets are dangerous and polluted. None of this is to say that poor people can’t –or shouldn’t—take steps to improve health. It’s only to say that there are impediments to healthy living that poor people face that others don’t. And the results are devastating. None of this is inevitable. As a society we make choices – where we site polluting industries, how we police for violence and crime, what populations get re- We decide which populations get sick, who gets to live a full life, who dies early and in pain. sources. We decide which populations get sick, who gets to live a full life, who dies early and in pain. I don’t believe we consciously make such decisions. I don’t think anyone says, “Let’s make inner-city children ill.” I don’t believe anyone picks out a community for deliberate harm. But we do make decisions and we make them in a setting of willful ignorance. We choose to ignore the reality of poverty’s impact on the body. �STREETVIBES Page 14 Ohio Fights Against The Death Penalty youngsters from Purcell Marian. The day started in Trinity Episcopal, a historic church across the street from the capitol. In the lobby, free Tshirts were handed out saying “No Death Penalty,” and inside Sister Alice German greeted us from the pulpit. Some congregants remained in their seats for a service of prayer, music, and reflection, with many participants young and old and many faiths represented. Others walked a mile or so to a United Methodist church for what was termed a “teach-in.” It was led by Julie Przybysz, a graduate of Xavier University and the leader now of the death penalty project at IJPC. She had helped arrange for a panel from the Ohio Public Defenders’ Office to describe the legal issues in death penalty cases. One panelist reported on the Ohio lawsuit against lethal injections. The set of chemicals used does not always work. Sometimes the anesthesia does not anesthetize and a long and excruciating death is the result. It was a curious paradox that we could sit in the home of the United Methodists and study our opposition to executions while in the statehouse nearby are put to death by their government. our governor, also a Methodist and an Belgium, for instance, has not had an ex-minister, could announce that he exexecution since 1863, Norway since pected to preside over more and more 1875. Ireland abolished state killings in executions. He feels they are “fair and 1944; England was among the last in effective,” said his spokesman on September 24. 1955. I walked back to the statehouse with WeAmericans fear violence, yet we do violence, in our reckless and need- a young man from Purcell Marian, less wars and our reckless and needless Michael Arbagast, already a dedicated executions. By our actions, we show abolitionist at fifteen. He was especially young people that violence is the way to interested in a speaker named David resolve things. Why do we kill people Anthony. When Anthony was 18, his to show people that killing people is parents were shot to death in a dark wrong? say the buttons we abolitionists parking lot by another 18-year-old, yet wear, and our bumper stickers cry out, he opposes the death penalty. The killer was not executed, and Anthony has Don’t Kill for Me! On September 26, hundreds of citi- come to know him in prison. Michael zens from around the state gathered in Arbagast said, that forgiveness is as Columbus for an all-day meeting on the much for us as for the one we are fordeath penalty. A chartered bus left giving. Another speaker who caught IJPC, stopping first to pick up seven by Martha Stevens I write this report to complain of a deeply disturbing practice in the state of Ohio. What is disturbing to me, as to many others, is to live in a place where a perfectly healthy person, who may not have done anyone any harm in many years, can be walked down a hallway, strapped to a table, and poisoned to death. No matter what the nature of the killer’s deed, this should not happen. We, I believe, must not kill. There has been a long struggle in Cincinnati and around the state to bring executions to a halt and many feel they can never give up this fight. We are the only developed country where people people’s attention was Gary Beeman, who was almost executed for a killing he did not commit or even know about. Beeman spent three years on death row. A prison inmate had named him as the killer, but in time, he received a new trial and was acquitted. He works hard now for other victims of our careless and executions — went to Columbus and dangerous courts. stood in a cold rain one dark afternoon outside the governor’s mansion. The Tragic Year of 1999 “Wilford Berry’s Life is Sacred Too” In 1999, we fought hard to keep the read one of our huge white signs. first Ohio execution from taking place Of course we did not succeed in that — the first state killing, that is, since ex- crusade, and since Wilford Berry’s death ecutions ceased in 1963. Some read- in 1999, 25 more Ohio executions have ers will remember pictures of a rather taken place. Only once did Governor shy-looking, gentle-seeming, spectacled Taft grant clemency. This was for young man named Wilford Berry. He Jerome Campbell, and it came about was the first to die, a “volunteer” for le- largely because Campbell’s story was thal injection. He had spent ten years brilliantly reconstituted by Margo Pierce on death row. Berry had not killed any- in CityBeat. one but had been part of a robbery where a man was shot to death. The Dead Man Walking killer himself was not given the death A few years ago, an opera called penalty, a case evincing the kind of dis- Dead Man Walking played in Music parity in sentencing that led, in part, to Hall. A group of protesters gave out flythe recent charges against Ohio execu- ers outside the hall, and the author of tions by the American Bar Association. the book by this title, Sister Helen The greatest unfairness is of course the Prejean, stood with us. The opera was grossly unequal treatment of blacks. reasonably true to the details of her story We learned back in 1999 that about a certain killer and the families of Wilford Berry had been a depressed his two victims, but its final scenes did person all his life. He suffered the cruel, not entirely satisfy the message of the abusive childhood of many offenders. book No one really cared about him. A few years later Sister Helen came Various people wrote to Berry and back to Cincinnati with the Journey of tried to visit him, hoping he would change Hope, a touring group of the Families of his mind and want to live. Murder Victims for Reconciliation. A group led by IJPC — the stal- Thirty-two family members convened wart leader of all our actions against here for three days. One evening they told their stories in a church in a local suburb. We need a bill in Ohio. Many good people in Cincinnati have stayed the long course of opposition and traveled again and again to those sorrowing vigils at Lucasville. Sister Alice says that at each and every execution a group from IJPC has been present outside the prison, faithful pilgrims to the altar of peace and justice, humanity and goodness. Slum Lords In Over the Rhine - What People Don’t Know by Tonia Humphrey My landlord is a real life slum lord. He rents places that have been condemned and places that he hasn’t paid taxes on. I have a utility bill for over $1,000. I called the city buildings inspector on him because my house is literally falling apart. Mr. Jim Curry (city buildings inspector) said that my house doesn’t even exist. I live at 1702 Logan street. Mr. Curry said that everything involving 1702 Logan is really connected with 1704 Logan St. So I don’t know what’s really going on. Mr. Foy Doyle (my landlord) denies this. Mr. Doyle doesn’t fix anything at all. Mr. Doyle hires his unprofessional family to try to fix things at 1704 Logan. Mr. Doyle just collects his rent and that’s it. I have paid people out of my pocket to fix some things but then Mr. Doyle said that they had to be the one to do it, but he never does. Mr. Doyle has entered my home without notice. Mr. Doyle has take some of things I had fixed apart and said he’ll do it. I am disabled and he has denied me permission to have my house weatherized for free. Mr. Doyle said that the people were to noisy. Mr. Doyle pours all kinds of stuff down the outside water drawn such as paint, oil, and other kinds of pollutants. Mr. Doyle has cut my water off for no reason at all, I have been without water for a week before Mr. Doyle refuses to provide safety for me as far as security from people entering my yard and home. My front door and yard door locks are broken. My back door has no key to it. The kitchen ceiling is falling there’s mold in my bathroom, the furnace is hanging out of the kitchen ceiling the hot water tank is right against the kitchen stove. The bottom of my kitchen stove is rusted out the electric box is rusted out due to water coming down my walls. my gas meter is in the basement of 1704 Logan and there’s a lot more things wrong. The city said that Mr. Doyle wasn’t supposed to rent this out any way, Someone please help me. God Bless Ms. Tonia Humphrey 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 Hello & Goodbye Nevaeh by Dirk A. Oglesby by Amanda Powers Hello Mr. Beer. I am glad we r meeting this way I am here to say good-bye I can’t stay When the word Nevaeh comes to mind, I think of the Newborn Baby of mine. How precious and sweet. With such little feet. This little baby of mine, how I want to protect her from all of life’s harms, keep her held tight in her mommy’s arms. Oh how I kiss my little Nevaeh of mine through the long day. So she has sweet dreams at night of her out to play. Oh my little Nevaeh, how you mean so much to me. You’re mommy’s world, and I love you so much. There will never be a day that you’re not thought of so very much! So when the word Nevaeh comes along, I think of my Baby who’s treasured so much! The little baby Nevaeh of mine! You have been apart of my life for so long It’s time to say good bye don’t cry be strong I was introduced to you at an early age You were the lead actor upon my stage I can name you all from a forty to a twelve oz. can What I found in you I thought I was the man Cabin Fever by Virginia Conn You were in control from the very first drink My life begin to spiral and began to sink I’m freezing, so I tack flannel sheets under the blinds, discovering the frost has resurrected the finger oils of someone named Linda. Twice the precise lettering appears, well out of reach of a child’s hand. I never liked your taste or smell This effect is what I needed now I can tell It has been a long and bumpy ride up and down we went Losing everything, I thought it was time well spent The window overlooks the street. I’ve stood there, impatient for mail or visitors, yet this is the first I’ve heard from her. I scan my studio for other traces, blaming her for the erratic nails, especially one eye level screw, dead center, that no painting hangs from comfortably. A new day is dawnin’ the sun will shine bright up from the ashes will I fight Know who you are Mr. Beer the grimreeper in a satanic ploy To rob me of my life and joy So Mr. Beer r u ready to rumble I have the tools to make you crumble I will remain humble feet firmly planted I won’t stumble So goodbye Mr. Beer I have a new life now your not invited invitation only So find someone else who’s sad and lonely So long Mr. Beer hip hip hooray you thought you had me I’ve gotten away so lets say good-bye once and for all with my head held up I stand tall. I start to attribute other mischief to her; misplaced keys and night knocks, then fear she may be trapped, the bitter cold compelling her to contact me. ”I never got out. It never warmed up.” I keep checking the pane for further word. I remind myself: It is winter everywhere. Outside, Buffalo trudges past, layered in clothes like shuck on corn. Like that screw, an act of defiance, Linda versus concrete, in relief of the wide white wall Mr. Homeless Downtowner Ms. Homeless Downtowner Name: Derrick Fisher Birthplace: Cincinnati, OH My favorite downtown spot is… nowhere My hobbies are… painting and remodeling houses I can’t resist… honey and apples I can’t stand it when…I’m not able to eat my apple! If I won the lottery I would…buy a truck, boat, and a Harley The one thing I would change about the world would be…to end homelessness If I could have done it all over again I would have…not wrecked my Harley Love to me is…a beautiful woman Name: Terry Weimer Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio My favorite downtown spot is…the Lady of the Fountain statue at Fountain Square My hobbies are… gospel Music, watching television, staying clean, and helping others I can’t resist…staying clean from my addiction I can’t stand it when…people are hateful for no reason If I won the lottery I would…move to Germany with my daughter The one thing I would change about the world would be…to take away crack-cocaine and make it disappear If I could have done it all over again I would have…listened to my mother more Love to me is…children, if you’re able to raise them properly and to help the homeless �STREETVIBES Page 16 U Told Me by Dirk A. Oglesby Goodbye to the horror which is crack cocaine You’ve been a thorn in my side that made me insane Every time I use you destruction and turmoil was my destination You took me on a roller coaster ride throughout the nation You’ve robbed me of money and self worth Even to the point not seein’ my son’s birth You told me you were my best friend and that you would always be there But every time you left me with sorrow and despair You gave me so much grief and sorrow Man times I didn’t look for tomorrow You told me that you would take away the pain with only one hit You left me holding the bag feeling like shit You told me that you would take me to a high heights In reality you left me with many sleepless nights You told me to try you one more time I did spending every single dime You told me these things and many more Now I have the keys to lock the door So I am telling you that you are no longer needed dead or alive You may have heard this before its no jive So I am telling you crack cocaine go back to your bottomless put You know what I am talking about where the fire is well lit. Untitled by Gary Sloan Gray steel wind and tears of rain lash people and pigeons huddled on the steps. The gray morning floods us round. Grayness seeps into the cracks of concrete, into the shadowed clefts between the buildings, into the hair of old men wedded to the streets, and in the eyes and hearts of those silently awaiting an opening of doors. Gray drowns even the privacy of thought and the rainbow of memory. We clutch our collars against the morning’s teeth. Someone coughs and pigeons explode, gray into gray they abandon the vigil, vanish in a liquid sky. Yet the human figures stand wordless, unmoving, and gray as thoughtless rock. No meeting of the eyes or fingers. No spark of colored laughter. Only the grayness dares to touch such woeful stone. Such gray and weary words a friend once whispered to me; She said, “Some wounds never heal.” and though I hate her for it here in the grayness waiting, watching I see now what she meant. So Long by Dirk A. Oglesby So long to the lifestyle that left me without a penny the lifestyle full of darkness and gloom never able to conquer that ultimate high that would take away all the pain inside I tried over and over again So long to the lifestyle that would lead me on a never ending hell ride toward destruction hiding from my true self I couldn’t escape the pain past or present it was visible every time I look in the mirror and saw my reflection void of light and life So long to the lifestyle that lead me into places not fit for man or beast dark places seeking light only leaving me in darkness with myself by myself curled up in ball wondering is this all want my life consists of to only exist chasing a ghost like the wind that I could never catch So long to the lifestyle that would have me forsake my love ones that would give them grief not knowing or caring for only just one more drink, snort, or smoke it didn’t matter because I felt I didn’t matter So long to the lifestyle that dictated to me where to go what to do like a puppet on a string constantly dangling from its control So long to the lifestyle that keep me in fear of myself not able to break the hold it had on me fear of success not being able to cope with success or failure a constant battle within my soul So long to the lifestyle I don’t need you any more I’m getting better and your not apart of my discovery I can take chances today not with my life but the life I choose to live not afraid anymore failure of success good or bad I choose to live not exist I am not fearful of the light you only tried to keep me in darkness today I choose to live in the light because my life will shine. A Woman at Kroger’s Explains Her Tattoo by Mike Henson Long story short — her grandbaby didn’t live. A net of veins gone wild rare disease operations procedures runs to the hospital internal bleeding. Four years old and he drowned in his own blood. She turns her leg to show me: his perfect image inked into her calf. Writers! Submit your Poetry to Streetvibes - email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Stories and Poetry Are Due The Second Friday of the month � 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 2007 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 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Chef Knows About the Daily Struggles of Those He Serves Pg 2: Vendors Pg 3: Vendors Pg 4: Homeless News Digest Pg 5: Urban Mountain Men We Have Been Fooled by Our Charity Pg 6: Homeless Awareness Week Pg 7: Pictures from Shantytowns Across the City Pg 8: Streetvibes Vendor Spotlight Pg 9: Word on The Street Pg 10: Internet Lends New Life to Violent Videos Pg 11: Guest Columnist Pg 12: OTR Community Joins Together to Address Neighborhood Needs Pg 13: River Commons The Effects of Poverty on the Body Pg 14: Ohio Fights Against the Death Penalty Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Pg 16: 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 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Greg Olkhovsky Kenneth Cheruiyot Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Ardella Woolens Susan Smith Jimmy Heath Jennifer Money Pat Clifford Berta Lambert Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Ardella Woolens Awareness Week Berta Lambert Cincinnati Columnists Death Penalty Georgine Getty Greg Olkhovsky Homeless News Digest Internet Jennifer Money Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kenneth Cheruiyot Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Melvin Williams Ohio Over-the-Rhine Pat Clifford Photographs poverty Shantytown Susan Smith Teens https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/3dff7c184aa17ef4b9a2001125f2c421.pdf c6a85b153324744c1bc0e410e71fc1cf PDF Text Text October 2007 Streetvibes ll ar o D e n O Cincinnati Residents Show Overwhelming Support for Human Service Funding by Georgine Getty On September 18, 2007 a group of community leaders gathered on the steps of City Hall to release the results from a study that demonstrated the citizens of Cincinnati’s overwhelming support for the continued funding of human services. The study was conducted by the University of Cincinnati’s Institute for Policy Research and compiled by Applied Information Resources, Inc. Also present at the press conference were the presidents of Women’s City Club, League of Women Voters, Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition (MARC), the Faith Community Alliance and Citizens for Civic Renewal. The study revealed that 94% of the residents that took part in a recent telephone survey said that they found it important that the City provide funding for human services. In addition, 87% of participants favor the practice of spending a portion of the City’s general revenue on human services. This comes on the heels of three years of cuts to these dollars, which fund over 40 agencies providing after school programs, mental health treatment, services to the homeless, prevention of abuse, food pantries and literacy programs. For over 20 years, 1.5% of the City’s general fund (about $5.5 million) has gone to these programs. In 2006, the so-called “fiscal five” on Council attempted to cut these dollars down to less than $500,000. After a spirited debate, resulting in hundreds of supporters testifying at budget hearings, the budget was restored to 7/10 of 1% of the general fund, or $2.6 million. The release of the study also came in the week the newest census was released, revealing that Cincinnati now has a 27% poverty rate, putting it as the third most poverty stricken city in the country. Proponents of human services argue that the steady erosion of funds to agencies that promote selfsufficiency, both on a federal and City level, may have helped cause this recent rise in poverty levels. Bill Woods, AIR, Inc. spokesperson said of the study, “we figure this is important information that the general public really supports this whole policy of funding human services (and) that they are partners with others and the City in having a strong safety net.” Ed Burdell, also of AIR, Inc. added, “There is overwhelming support for public dollars going to support human services.” Ed Burdell and Bill Woods present study findings on steps of City Hall STREETVIBES Page 1 City Council Candidates Answer Questions from Streetvibes by Lynne Ausman This year’s City Council Election is measuring up to be quite an exciting race. With twenty-five Cincinnatian’s running for only nine seats, this year’s election is sure to be filled with landslide victories, disappointing losses, and maybe even a dark-horse win. To make things more interesting, and complicated, there are twelve incumbents – candidates who have been or are currently in office. Oftentimes, the issues which are important to Streetvibes and other independent media sources are overlooked and rarely make a candidate’s platform. This year, we decided to ask all of the candidates how they felt about Human Services being funded by the city, the availability of affordable housing, and the panhandling ordinance. We asked these four questions: 1. If elected, what are your top three (3) priorities for Cincinnati? 2. Do you support the continuation of City funding for human services? Why or Why not? 3. What is your opinion on the status of affordable housing in Cincinnati? What policy change, if any, would you implement if elected? 4. Do you support the continuation of the panhandling ordinance? Why or Why not? We have included the candidates’ answers exactly as we have received them. Take their responses into account when you vote on November 6, 2007. Fourteen of the twenty-five candidates responded to our survey. Those who did not respond: Jeff Berding, Chris Bortz, Minette Cooper, John Eby, Pat Fischer, Leslie Ghiz, Andre Harper, Mitch Painter, Cecil Thomas, and George Zamary. Streetvibes’ Reader Survey: We Need Your Help As Streetvibes strives to continue to improve as an alternative newspaper, we are conducting our first reader’s survey. Please take two minutes to complete the ten question survey. The link can be found at our website www.cincihomeless.org. We will continue to provide local articles about homelessness and relevant discussions of social justice and poverty issues. Thank you for your continued support of our Streetvibes Vendors and our paper. �STREETVIBES Page 2 STREETVIBES Greater Cincinnati’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 lowincome 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. 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 Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - Civil Rights Coordinator Greg Olkhovsky - Civil Rights Coordinator Kenneth Cheruiyot - AHA Coordinator Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Ardella Woolens - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design Photographers Andy Freeze, Jimmy Heath, John Lavelle, Berta Lambert [Pictures of Candidates were provided by candidates.] Cover Press conference in front of city hall revealing a study done by AIR Inc that shows an overwhleming 94% of Cincinnati residents support Human Services. Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or are vendors.Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $35 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: www.cincihomeless.org Member of: Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for one dollar ($1). I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Streetvibes by any other means. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, I am allowed to keep the donation. 2. I will only purchase papers from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Each paper can be purchased for a cost of 25 cents. I will always show my badge when buying papers and if I do not have my badge I cannot buy papers. 3. I will never buy papers from and/or sell papers to other vendors. 4. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, and other vendors – respectfully. I will not use abusive language or force someone to buy a paper. I will not give a “hard sell,” be aggressive, continue to ask after a person has verbally or non-verbally said no or make someone feel threatened. 5. I agree to stay off private property when selling Streetvibes. I will not sell Streetvibes door to door. 6. I understand that I am not an employee of Streetvibes or GCCH but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. 7. I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling Streetvibes. 8. I will not sell Streetvibes or purchase Streetvibes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 9. There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer. 10. I understand that my badge is the property of Streetvibes and I will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing papers and display my badge when selling papers. If I lose my badge I will pay three dollars ($3) for a new one. If my badge becomes ruined because of weather or use, I will get a new badge for one dollar ($1). 11. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. 12. I will not deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a nonprofit charity or that I am collecting for the “homeless” in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes go to me. I will not use the word “donation.” 13. There are special rules for selling at Findlay Market. Only two vendors may sell at Findlay Market at a time. Other rules as established by Streetvibes and Findlay Market. 14. I will attend monthly meetings. Monthly meetings will occur on the first weekday of the month. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. Anyone who cannot make the meeting must meet with Andy, the Education Coordinator, before selling Streetvibes for that month. Ten papers will be given to those who attend the meeting. 15. It is the responsibility of each vendor to police fellow vendors or former vendors. I will report violators of the rules to GCCH. The value of the paper depends on keeping it credible. 16. I understand that any infraction of the above mentioned rules will result in suspension of my privilege to sell Streetvibes and possible termination from the program. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH and must be surrendered upon demand. Where your Dollar Goes 75 Cents Goes Directly to Your Vendor Josephine reminds you to buy from badged vendors only 25 Cents Pays for Production Streetvibes Vendor Josephine International Network of Street Papers North American Street Newspaper Assn. �STREETVIBES Page 3 needed to be done and the ordinance was passed (Dianne Cahn, South Florida Sun Sentinel, 9/25). New Hampshire: Homeless man beaten A homeless man is recovering in a Manchester hospital after being beating by half a dozen teenagers. The 38 year old homeless man suffered head, face, and back injuries when he was attacked at his camp site (AP/ Boston Globe, 9/8) Hawaii: Community members fight to get navy ship Retired Navy ships are often used for training, turned into museums, or used for scraps. However a group in Honolulu is trying to obtain the Acadia, a 650 foot destroyer that was retired in 1994, to be used as a floating homeless shelter. The project would cost an estimated $2 million dollars to get air conditioning and bedrooms fixed up. Homelessness is on the rise in Hawaii because of the high living expenses. Some groups says that the number of homeless people is up 28% since last year alone (AP/KHNL, 9/11). Tennessee: Homeless Sleeping Above Interstate A passerby of I40 in Memphis thought they saw someone sleeping above the interstate and called a news station. To the surprise of the news station they found much more than a pillow and a sleeping bag. Someone had brought up a dresser and a bed and carpeting. After the attention was brought to the situation, TDOT and the police got involved and kicked the person out from their home. TDOT says that it is constant battle to keep the homeless away from bridges and underpasses and it’s an eyesore (Melissa Moon, WREG, 9/20). Minnesota: Homeless walk in Pope’s shoes Recent visits to Minneapolis by members of the Vatican convinced them that Sharing and Caring Hands need more shoes for the homeless. When the representatives from the Vatican had returned home they sent two large boxes of shoes from the Pope. The handmade Italian shoes were to be distributed to the poor at the request of the person who made them. The result was many happy homeless individuals who now have nice new shoes (AP,KSTP, 9/25). Toronto: Homeless woman set on fire A man and a woman have been charged with aggravated assault after they set a homeless woman on fire. Emergency workers found the woman around 7:30 on Monday night with significant burns on about 12% of her body. She is expected to survive. Police say two women got into an argument and moments later a man and woman attacked and poured flammable liquid on the lady and set her on fire (CBC News, 9/11). eet vib es Mayor Greg Nickels announced that he was including $3.5 million for permanent supportive housing in his proposed 2008 budget. The money would go towards 84 studio apartments for chronically homeless people. Permanent supportive housing is part of a “Housing First” model which combines housing with the necessary services such as medical and mental health services. By providing the chronically homeless with housing, other services are freed up to help those who can achieve stability with less intensive interventions. (Ballard News Tribune, 9/12) The homeless population in Reno is on alert after the recent beating death of a homeless man by two teenagers and other reported attacks. The teens watched as a homeless man was kicked and stomped on his head and torso. Shelters have noticed a rise in individuals seeking shelter due to the violence towards homeless individuals in recent weeks. Often times incidents are not reported because advocates and homeless individuals do not trust the police (AP, Reno-Gazette Journal, 9/25). California: Every day, the homeless march on Those fighting homelessness know there is nothing you can do but keep moving. It’s what the homeless themselves do from park to river bank to underpass. And it is the way those trying to help them keep their own flicker of hope alive. Keep moving forward. A few homeless people and many of their advocates were doing that Monday evening 175 marching forward through downtown San Jose with signs and chants, drawing a few supportive honks and as many angry ones from motorists delayed by the somber parade. But this is a crowd that takes what it can get. “Let this today be a beginning for San Jose and the nation,” the Rev. Scott Wagers of the Community Homeless Alliance Ministry. St r Washington: Seattle Mayor Announces Money for Homeless Housing Nevada: Homeless on alert after recent attacks New Mexico: Homeless Shelter Criticized For Casino Fundraiser Joy Junction plans to hold its annual banquet at Casino Hollywood. That decision led to complaints that it is a conflict of interest. Some donors have said that a casino is not an appropriate place to host the event because gambling does not mix with the faith-based shelter’s message. Jeremy Reynalds, Joy Junction’s CEO, said the casino offered up a banquet hall at no charge for the fundraiser. He said that organizers hope it will bring in more financial support for the shelter without compromising its values. “We are not having an about face and saying, ‘Folks we endorse gambling,’ folks we don’t endorse gambling,” Reynalds said. Reynalds said that he, too, would have had a problem holding the event at a casino a few years ago. But, he said he has changed his views because the shelter needs to reach beyond its usual donor base. Florida: West Palm Beach votes to ban feeding of homeless Dozens of West Palm Beach residents marched to city hall in protest to not ban homeless feeding programs from two downtown parks. Residents are urging city commissioners to not hide the homeless but to help. The ordinance passed 3-2 to bar programs to feed the homeless at a local fountain by the library and the square directly behind it. The Mayor said that the homeless population was hurting downtown and that it was not helping with reviving it. Many took the opportunity to speak before the commissioners and mayor urging them to not pass the ordinance and to not blame homeless individuals for downtown’s problems. In the end, the commissioners and mayor decided that something Buy STREETVIBES From Badged Vendors Only �STREETVIBES Page 4 City Council Candidates Survey Melanie Bates http://www.melaniebates.com Question 1: (1) I am determined to make Cincinnati safer. (2) Promote economic growth, neighborhood development, home ownership, and job creation. (3) Educational reform. Question 2: Many of the services funded by the City of Cincinnati are necessary in providing for the health and well- being of our city residents. I support the continued funding of Human Services programs to the fullest extent possible in the budget. Question 3: Affordable housing must be available to our residents in a safe environment. It is important that City Council update and enforce strict guidelines so that affordable housing is made available in a safe and adequate fashion. Y. Laketa Cole Democrat http://www.laketacole.com Question 1: My top 3 priorities are (1) increasing neighborhood/economic development, (2) youth development and opportunities, and (3) access to City Hall. I have kept my promise. I have kept my promise to increase neighborhood development by creating the Neighborhood Business District Support Fund, work for our youth by fighting for $1.5 million for youth job development, and increase John Cranley Democrat http://www.johncranley.com Question 1: (1) Improving Public Safety – Need to hire 100 cops, continue neighborhood walking patrols, and promote community-oriented policing. (2) Promoting Economic Development - Need to use tax abatements and TIF funding to encourage businesses to create jobs in Cincinnati. (3) Building Strong Neighborhoods - Need to continue to invest in neighborhoods. In order to move Cincinnati forward, Council must continue to act in a Brian Garry Democrat http://www.briangarry.com Question 1: My top three priorities for Cincinnati are Question 4: The First District Court of Appeals found that portions of the panhandling law were unconstitutional. City Council needs to be focusing its time and energy reducing violent crime. We cannot afford to spend time and money on feel good political games, we need real action, now! access to City Hall by continuing my Neighborhood in the Neighborhoods Program where I bring the neighborhoods committee to meet once a month in various communities. Question 2: Yes, I support a continuation of funding for human services when the programs are effective and the City has the resources to do so. Question 3: I fully support affordable housing and our city residents owning their homes. We must educate our citizens at large that affordable fiscally responsible manner, forge the right public-private partnerships to spur economic development, and work with neighborhood leaders to tailor improvements to the needs of each neighborhood. On Council, I have done this. I passed six straight balanced budgets, while hiring 135 new cops. I have led the efforts to revitalize downtown and bring new nightlife to the area. And, I have led the efforts to improve our neighborhoods by bringing millions of dollars to enhance neighborhood business districts. I have done all of this while showing compassion for those in need. Question 2: Yes. I will continue to support funding for human services as the Chair of the Finance Committee. Question 3: I support fully funding rental rehab to increase the city’s stock of affordable housing. A lot of older units were built for singles and need to be updated. Units need to be larger and walls need to be knocked down to accommodate families, which are increasingly impoverished. Question 4: No. I have consistently voted against requiring registration to ask for money. (1) Opportunities, (2) Neighborhoods, and (3) Equality. ONE Cincinnati is my campaign message, and ONE Cincinnati is my priority. We must be able to offer equality of Opportunity of education, healthcare, and safe environment for all Cincinnatians. I advocate strong vibrant micro-economies in all of Cincinnati’s Neighborhoods so that they may all enjoy the safety, comforts, and stability of a Hyde Park Neighborhood. And Finally, I advocate Equality to all Cincinnatians no matter what their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or ability. By promoting these three priorities we will be able to lower crime, increase economic development, and raise Cincinnati out of poverty and into a beacon of hope for other cities to follow. Question 2: I not only support a permanent human service fund but I promote an expansion of these programs. I believe that not all people are able “to pull themselves up from the bootstraps”, and I understand that people need help that can be offered through the city and non-profit organizations. I believe that services such as clinics, community programs, educational programs, and economic relief should be a vital part of Cincinnati’s ability to build a strong, knowledgeable, skilled, and healthy workforce. Question 3: I believe that the rate of foreclosures in Cincinnati says enough of how I feel of the affordable housing in Cincinnati. It is saddening to see the high rates of foreclosures. I promote programs that raise financial literacy. I advocate for pro- housing is not a negative term, but everyone should have an opportunity to live in a home they can afford, because when that does not happen we have foreclosures. Homeownership has always been a key issue for me, and my campaign. If we can increase homeownership we can turn our neighborhoods around. Question 4: No, I do not support the continuation and did not support the ordinance from the beginning. The ordinance does not get at the root cause, but rather politicizes the issue. grams that advocate employer assisted housing and encourage fair lease-to-purchase programs that increase homeownerships. Given the high rates and costs of home foreclosures; I advocate working with banks and financial institutions to get these foreclosed homes back on the market. Also, with the high rates of foreclosures; I advocate passing on some of these homes on to non-profit organizations. By creating a formal program that asks banks and mortgage holders to pass on these donated homes to HURC and local community development programs. Question 4: Absolutely not. I will never support anything that limits fundamental rights, such as “Freedom of Speech”, people are allowed to ask for money. Actually, politicians ask for money all the time. �STREETVIBES Page 5 City Council Candidates Survey David Crowley Democrat http://www.crowleyforcouncil.org Greg Harris Democrat http://www.votegregharris.com Question 1: (1) Neighborhood Development: Cincinnati has not had a strategic plan since 1948. The time has come to empower Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods to prioritize and leverage their cultural, architectural and environmental assets as part of a long-term comprehensive economic development and neighborhood revitalization strategy for Cincinnati. (2) Invest in People: As a public policy officer for KnowledgeWorks Foundation, Ohio’s largest education charity, and as a member of Governor Strickland’s Workforce Policy Board, I work on a daily basis advocating for policies to connect at-risk youth, low-wage or dislocated workers to education and training opportunities. As Councilman, I will likewise strive to connect the working poor to educational Question 1: (1) A clean and safe city. A City safe from crime, blight and also maintaining a clean environment including land, water and air. (2) Encourage economic development opportunities for all segments of the community. This includes incentives to bring new businesses to the City, maintaining the businesses we have and ensuring that major development projects such as the Banks include strong workforce development opportunities for all segments of the community. (3) Continue the population gain. Cincinnati has gained population in each of the last two years after many consecutive years of losing population. Question 2: Yes. In my time on Council I have and will continue to advocate for this critical funding. I was pleased to lead a coalition of Council Members to achieve an increase of $200,000 in Human Services funding in 2007. This is the first time the funding has been increased for many years. These funds are used to assist those most in need and include organizations such as the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Freestore Foodbank and the Boys and Girls Club. If re-elected I will continue to fight to preserve this essential funding which Cincinnati has a long and proud history of providing. Question 3: Any thriving City needs to provide quality affordable housing. Unfortunately there are many negative stereotypes about affordable housing, which in my opinion are simply not true. Not every hard working citizen can afford high-end housing but they should be given the opportunity to live in a clean and safe environment. A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of co-chairing the Housing Advisory Council which evaluated our housing needs in the County and City. One of the recommendations opportunities, including tapping significant TANF reserves that can be applied towards funding vocational and certification opportunities for recipients of public assistance. (3) Education: I believe that education is the best economic development policy, a primary tool for achieving social and economic equity, and the best anti-crime policy. As Councilman, I will work to broker innovative partnerships between vocational educational providers, community and economic justice organizations that serve as conduits to at-risk youth and the working poor, and unions in order to equip Cincinnatians with the skills needed to remain gainfully employed. Question 2: Yes. The costs of not serving and/or not treating populations in need are far greater. I prefer the more humane, proactive approach. Question 3: I think we need to do more to convert Cincinnati’s majority renter population into home owners. Congress has authorized a homeownership option under the Housing Choice Voucher Program. As a member of Council, I pledge to work with Hamilton County to bolster capacity in this area so that the CHMA can become a conduit for transforming renters into owners, including resources for authorities to provide more home buying counseling to recipients. I will also work to more effectively targeting our vastly underutilized community development block grant funds to subsidize home ownership for low- and moderate-income households. Question 4: Yes. As long as the city maintains support for an outreach coordinator, I believe this ordinance will enhance outreach to homeless residents with addiction and mental-health problems. Our ability to approach homeless to see if they have a Joan Kaup Charterite http://www.kaupforcouncil.com Question 2: Human Services are critical for many Cincinnati residents. There is room for improvement in the quality of services provided and the number of people served. The city can collaborate with other service providers to assess providers and programs, foster cooperation and decrease overhead costs so a higher percentage of the funds invested are allocated to programs and results instead of overhead. Question 1: (1) Incorporate Cincinnati’s diversity and creativity in the continuation of the renaissance of our city and its neighborhoods. (2) Position and promote Cincinnati as desirable city to live, work, and play to increase the city’s populations and revenues. (3) Empower people to participate, make informed decisions, and take responsibility. Question 3: Living on Prospect Hill, I witness and adopted by Council, states that affordable housing should be a priority. I believe it is our job as elected leaders to pursue a healthy mix of housing options throughout the City. Question 4: In my first term on Council I worked with the social service community and the downtown community to develop the law. I believe it represents a good balance because it allows for solicitation to occur but it provides the tools to ensure that it is being done in a safe manner. Even more important is the emphasis on connecting individuals who need assistance with the appropriate service agencies via the street worker who helps to administer the law. This was a critical piece in terms of my support for the proposal. Since its inception I believe we have seen an improvement in the downtown area and more importantly a lot of people in need of assistance have received it. panhandling license also allows us to leverage the ordinance to learn their identities and connect them with places where they can receive various services, including a meal, housing, and addiction and mental-health treatment. appreciate the value of mixed socioeconomic neighborhoods and support the concept of affordable housing mixed with market-rate housing. Question 4: An extended helping hand benefits the person receiving the help for the longterm. A handout is a very short term ‘band aid.’ Most people gain self-esteem and self-assurance through learning to be self sufficient through programs and facilities and help them improve their situation for the long-term. Panhandling is not a solution, but it is a fact of life that should be practiced with safety and respect. Help Streetvibes continue to improve by taking the Reader Survey. Go to www.cincihomeless.org for the link. �STREETVIBES Page 6 City Council Candidates Survey Justin Jeffre Green Party http://www.justinjeffre.com Question 1: (1) We must put people first. Public servants have a fiduciary responsibility to all the people they serve, not just large campaign contributors. Being fiscally responsible means reforming corporate welfare to ensure living wages, environmental protection and a good return on investment for the entire community. We need to re-evaluate our inverted priorities. Bus-stop benches and curb appeal cannot come before health clinics and the basic needs of our people. City Council’s Draconian marijuana ordinance is too expensive, racially biased, and Commissioner Portune and several judges have said it is a major source of overcrowding in our jails. We should not be giving people permanent criminal records that will deny access to scholarships, housing, and employment opportunities for this non-violent offense. This is a bad public policy and I intend to work with the Vice-mayor to repeal this ordinance. (2) Economic develop- ment should be open and transparent. Public funding of projects behind closed doors must stop. All transactions involving public funds should be open to the people and progress should be communicated to the taxpayers. Inclusive economic development should focus on the common benefit and involve all stakeholders in our community. Traditionally, minorities have not been invited to the table from day one and in 2007 this is unacceptable. (3) Planned progress for a sustainable future. I believe good environmental policy is good economic policy 100% of the time. In Cincinnati, the only thing we manage to recycle is politicians and that is not good for our environment or our economy. I plan to introduce tougher environmental justice legislation with real teeth that will take a bite out of crimes against our greatest resources, our environment and our people. With bold vision and good leadership Cincinnati can become what it once was, a destination location that attracts outside dollars and creates a wealth of opportunities. Question 2: I supported the full funding for the Hu- man Services Budget and will continue to do so. If any action is to be taken, I advocate an increase for this budget. Question 3: The heart of economic development is growing our economy. I will be releasing a comprehensive neighborhood rescue plan soon. This plan is based on what we have in abundance (vacant buildings and unemployed people). Abandoned buildings and job training are dealt with as a part of this package. In includes Renters Equity programs and creates a path to home ownership for those currently denied that give them a stake in their community. In looking toward any future policy development, I think decisions should be guided by discussion centered around some essential questions like: Does this policy treat people with respect? Does it provide quality service to those who need it? And, were these decisions made in collaboration with the communities involved? Question 4: The panhandling ordinance is another example of the City doing what is best for the favored few. 3CDC’s vision of OTR Chris Monzel source for human services. With the city’s current budget problems, I do not think it is wise or fair to continually fluctuate how much funding should go to human services. In the end, the politics need to be taken out of this discussion. Republican http://www.monzel.com Question 1: (1) Crime, (2) Fiscal Responsibility, and (3) Improving the quality & efficiency Question 3: of delivered city services. I believe that the city has plenty of affordable housing opportunities. Question 2: I believe that the city needs to partner Question 4: with the United Way and the business Yes. community to find a dedicated revenue Michael Earl Patton Independent (endorsed by the Libertarian Party) Michaelearlpatton.com Question 1: My top priorities are (1) reversing the population decline, (2) giving everyone a fair deal and (3) stopping the current practice of corporate favoritism where a select few receive large subsidies and tax breaks, and changing the perception that Council is ineffective at best and that there is no hope for a general turnaround. People generally give 4 reasons why they leave – taxes, crime, lousy schools, and the belief that nothing will change. We must stop giving special hand-outs to a favored few, like a $30 million free parking garage to Corporex for which the rest of us will pay be an increase in property taxes Crime is reduced by having the community and police work together, not by arresting thousands of pot smok- ers in only a few inner city neighborhoods. Council must listen to those in the neighborhoods, and not just those with money or connections. Council must respond based on facts. The proposed new jail would be a monument to failed policies. Most people in jail are there because they cannot afford bail and have not yet been convicted. A bigger jail would only warehouse more low-income people. Question 2: Yes. Of course there must be due diligence so the money is spent wisely, and state or federal money should be used where available, but the idea of local assistance in Cincinnati is many decades old – the old General Hospital and the University of Cincinnati both received city funding in the past, funding that is not replaced by other sources. The city’s first obligation is to its residents. Cincinnati owns three golf courses in the suburbs. Sell them, getting the most money as possible, and put the money in a fund to support pools and recreation in the city. Sell only for top dollar – not give them away as we did for the Blue Ash airport land. Question 3: We need industry and jobs at livable wages, and housing for those workers. We do not need to subsidize luxury condos as we do now. We need more housing for those with disabilities, especially housing for disabled parents or guardians with children. All projects that are built in whole or in part with city money must be make visitable, that is, made so that people with disabilities can at least visit (get in the front door and have access to a bathroom). Question 4: No. A panhandler should not need a license with a photo no more than someone circulating a petition. The panhandling ordinance seems designed only to [Over-the-Rhine] is a place devoid of the poor, filled with creative class young professionals catching a streetcar to their corporate cubicles. Though we have overcrowded jails, making panhandling illegal is just a strategy to send a message to the poor, a message that tells them to get out. We need to put people first. I do not support this ordinance because it does not address the root causes of poverty in our community, and it just tries to hid poverty from the rest of us. Remember to Vote on November 6, 2007. harass a certain subgroup. Ironically enough, the rationale for the ordinance was that some found some panhandlers annoying. So the response to annoyance is harassment? Missed a copy of Streetvibes? Check out the Streetvibes archive on the website at http://www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html �STREETVIBES Page 7 City Council Candidates Survey Independent http://www.pavelish.com board of education and focus on learning of the very young. (3) Remove the barriers that have forced many investors out of the city. Question 1: (1) Remove the collaborative agreement and that will remove the hurdles that now hamper the police administration Rank — File. (2) Partner with Question 2: Yes - but every service must be reexamined, efficient operation of agency must be demanded. People are leaving the city due to high taxes Steve Pavelish Roxanne Qualls Charter Committee http://www.quallsforcouncil.com Charlie Winburn Endorsed Republican http://www.charliewinburn.com Question 1: (1) Safer Neighborhoods: -work to reduce violent crime by 50% by the end of December 2008 –Empower citizens and police partnerships to combat crime. – Hold landlords accountable who provide sanctuary for drug dealers. (2) Schools: - work with school board leadership to increase graduation rates. I will collaborate and partner with school board leadership to promote school board accountability. (3) Economic Opportunity: -Encourage the private sector to fund more neighborhood development projects in all 52 city neighborhoods problems with those who fail to maintain safe, sanitary and quality conditions relative to some. All housing must be affordable – no one should be purchasing or renting a house or apartment they cannot afford. Better jobs make housing more affordable. Question 2: Yes, I support the continuation of city funding for Human Services. I am working on a plan which calls for more participation of private sector funding. Question 3: I support affordable housing on a limited basis. However, I have Question 1: My top three priorities are to (1) reduce crime, (2) protect our environment and infrastructure, and (3) the preservation/improvement of our neighborhoods and downtown, including our downtown business district. Question 1 My top 3 priorities for Cincinnati’s City Council are; 1) Safety; It is germane that the citizens of Cincinnati live in a safe environment. One that is attractive to raising families in the inner city. 2) Economic Development; it is also germane to note that through economic development, I believe we can continue to grow our economy which is also attractive for families and businesses as Question 2: Yes, many of the services fill a critical gap in the continuum of care available to some of Cincinnati’s citizens. Question 3: It is important for the city to insure that affordable housing is available. I have always supported establishing a policy that for city supported residential Endorsed Democrat No Website Website: www.sammalone.net Question 3: Affordable housing is lacking. We have many, many vacant buildings. The major reason for that is a poorly run building department. That is one of the reasons people don’t want to rehab in the city. The city is antibusiness. Question 1: (1) Safety. (2) Infrastructure issues, including I-75, MSD, and transit. (3) Economic development that includes instituting form-based codes, and high performance, green development practices. Wendell Young Sam A. Malone and agencies must be aware of that. Question 4: I have no opinion. Panhandling does not bother me and many times I give even though I know that the money goes to booze and dope. I realize these people have problems - probably always will. I have a soft spot for the disadvantaged. My son is autistic. development, 10% is set aside as affordable. Question 4: Yes, the City of Cincinnati, church organizations, and agencies provide a wide range of services, including shelter. Question 4: I support the continuation of the panhandling ordinance as long as it does not violate the constitutional rights of citizens. sense. In my opinion, it is a poor excuse for government that isn’t willing to care for those who cannot care for themselves. Question 2: I support continued funding for human services. Doing so is just common Question 3: Cincinnati needs to create and maintain an acceptable level of affordable housing. We aren’t there yet. I would ensure that all new housing development included provisions for affordable housing and that existing housing be maintained and/or brought up to standard. I will support all efforts, public and private, to place eligible people who want it, to gain entry into affordable housing. well. 3) Poverty; I believe that we need to become more combative and proactive against the war on poverty. Addressing the issues that cause and maintain poverty is a top priority, especially as it relates to poverty that is systemic and perpetual. We certainly need to extract the maladies that continue to cause poverty in our communities. Question 2 I do support the funding of the City’s Human Services Policy. However, the service providers should use these monies to leverage it for corporate and private sector support as well. With a combination of support, the City’s Human Services Policy can be an effective tool to better our city in many areas. Question 3 My opinion is that everyone should be afforded the opportunity to have decent [and safe] housing. I would work with other members of Council and community organizations to see what policies and programs need to be implemented to address these pivotal issues. Being pragmatic, I think there are housing programs in place that address the issue of affordable housing. You have Question 4: I wouldn’t have voted to enact the ordinance. I think it is an unnecessary infringement upon a civil right. I believe we have sufficient laws to deal with aggressive panhandlers. I recognize that I can be wrong about this. Before I decide this issue, I want to know whether aggressive panhandling is still an issue. If the ordinance has had the desired effect, I would continue it. If the ordinance has simply placed an additional burden upon indigent people, I would vote to repeal it. to be pragmatic when addressing this issue. Because of the wide range of income within our region, what is affordable to some may not be affordable to others. Question 4 I support the continuation of the panhandling ordinance because it provides structure to the panhandlers and structure to the citizenry. The panhandlers know what they can and can not do under the law and the citizenry know as well. This will reduce aggressive panhandling which many times could be construed as robbery. �STREETVIBES Page 8 Remembering Julie Martin Many affordable housing units are being sold to developers in Over the Rhine and turned into expensive lofts and condos for $90,000 and up, yet 56% of the Greater Cincinnati population cant afford the housing they are living in. Affordable Housing Lacking in the Greater Cincinnati Area by Georgine Getty The lack of affordable housing is considered one of the two leading causes of homelessness nationwide as well as here in Cincinnati, competing only with lack of employment and underemployment. In our 2000 study, Homeless in Cincinnati, housing problems were listed as the number one reason women, and their children, became homeless. Loss of income was listed as the number one reason for men, followed closely by housing problems. This remains true today as prices for houses and rental units continue to climb and federal housing subsidies fail to keep pace with the increasing population. There are fewer affordable very low-income rental units on the market than there are very low-income rental households. Thus, while there are 64,460 very low-income households in Hamilton County, there are only 30,935 rental units that are affordable to such households.1 Affordable housing is defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of monthly family income for a one or two bedroom apartment plus utilities. In Cincinnati, a minimum wage worker has to work 72 hours per week in order to afford a twobedroom apartment at 30% of their income. 2 Whereas in the 1970’s, minimum wage workers could afford to support themselves and their families in safe, affordable occur. housing, the minimum wage has In addition, lack of housing failed to keep up with the cost of creates a “traffic jam” in homeless living, putting many hard working s h e l t e r s , i n c r e a s i n g t h e s t a y, particularly for families, because “Affordable housing…is there is no safe, affordable housing to move them into. This increased so central in terms of stay in the shelter disrupts normal unlocking so many of family life, including the America’s toughest educational path of school aged children, and can increase the social problems [from] difficulty for families transitioning education, to crime, to back to self sufficiency. Further, homelessness, to the increased stay decreases the welfare…the key to the number of beds available and can lead to families literally staying on puzzle, time and again, the street, in their cars, or with is housing.” acquaintances, thus jeopardizing their safety. -Juan Williams, National As Juan Williams, national Broadcast Journalist broadcast journalist succinctly people at risk for substandard stated at the National Low Income housing and homelessness. Housing Conference in 2006, In the counties that comprise “Affordable housing…is so central the Greater Cincinnati and Northern in terms of unlocking so many of Kentucky Region, more than half – America’s toughest social problems 56% of 158,858 households were [from] education, to crime, to spending 35% or more of their homelessness, to welfare…the key income on housing in 2006. This to the puzzle, time and again, is disproportionate amount of income housing.” going to housing leads families to Footnotes become “house poor” and leaves 1 Steven R. Howe and Associates, few extra dollars for their other LLC Report: Impediments to Fair basic needs, such as nutrition, H o u s i n g C h o i c e i n H a m i l t o n daycare and healthcare, or saving County, Ohio. for the future. In addition, it puts 2 National Low Income Housing them at risk of homelessness should Coalition’s 2006- Out of Reach a n e m e r g e n c y s u c h a s a n Report. unexpected health crisis, increase in utilities, car repair or loss of job by Georgine Getty On September 14, 2007, Cincinnati lost a great friend to the homeless community. Julie Martin, Case Management Coordinator at the YWCA Battered Women Shelter was tragically killed in a car accident outside of Indianapolis. She was only 37 years old. Those of us lucky enough to know Julie knew that she was a fierce advocate for the families that she served and was intolerant of any system that attempted to revictimize them. Julie was the kind of case manager who wouldn’t take no for an answer if it came to one of her clients. According to her supervisor and good friend Theresa Singleton, “Julie was so dedicated - she always went the extra mile making sure that women had every opportunity to gain independence and live abuse free. Julie’s car overflowed with household items that she gave to women moving out of the shelter helping them to start a new life.” Julie achieved the balance that all great service providers strive to achieve; the balance between infinite compassion and patience with the clients that she served and infinite advocacy and impatience against the cruel realities of the system that we have to change. Last December, Julie was honored as the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Service Provider of the Year because of her exemplary work in the homeless community.After a unanimous vote of her peers at GCCH, the award will be re-named in her honor so that Julie will remain the gold standard of service provision in Cincinnati. Julie is survived by her family; daughter Gabrielle (Gabby) Greathouse and son Max Chasteen, parents Barry and Carole Martin, brother, John Martin and sister, Jennifer Martin and grandfather Richard Patty. Julie is also survived by a community of service providers who will miss her dearly. Finally, Julie is survived by her legacy of service to the families of Cincinnati, families that continue to thrive in homes free from abuse thanks to her tireless efforts. If you wish to contribute to the Julie Martin Memorial Fund, please visit www.ywca.org or send donations to Julie Martin Memorial Fund, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati, 898 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 �STREETVIBES Page 9 A Trip to the Market by Bill R. Sanders The bus ride downtown. Rain drips from the trolley lines. Occasional sparks catch my interest. Neon stretches as far as I can see. Always a little frightened. With tense excitement. Familiar with each bar. Drank cokes with parents in each. My stop. The drugstore. Granny’s just upstairs. Through the gate, down a dark tunnel to a small courtyard. Found teeth once, one with gold in it, in a pool of blood. Two floors up, a dimly lit hallway. Stairs too narrow for more than one person. Always the same smell. Urine and musty dirt. No amount of cleaning will make it go away. Top of the stairs. The door of dark brown paint. All the woodwork is dark brown. Grandma opens the door. Always happy to see me. Hugs from the frail woman. She insists I eat straight away. My small sister Jackie hides behind her skirt. So the night at grandma’s begins. My parents split up years earlier. Somehow dad kept my brother, my two other sisters and, of course, me. Jackie was the baby, mom took her when she left. My sister Jackie has lived with grandma since mom died a few years ago. I’m standing in the kitchen. One of two rooms. The bathroom floor is elevated about two feet up from the kitchen floor. This seems strange to me. A long chain runs to the light bulb hung from the ceiling. Grandma looks down at her feet. Takes a step away from me. She seems unsure of herself. Jackie tags along behind. The bedroom is the same as always. Rocking chairs, treadle sewing machine, Chiffarobe, TV tuned to an Evangelist. We sit. It’s quiet for a while. It’s still raining. Looking out into the night. Shapes of roofs going this way and that. Bill Sanders is an electrician. He is writing a series of poems on growing up in Over-the-Rhine, Clifton, and the East End. We are startled by knocking at the door. I eat cotton candy, hot dogs, and stuff until I’m full. I am relieved. We walk back. Company, I love company. A lot harder than the walk to. It is a friend of grandma’s. Grandma got a great deal on some eggs From church. but I like listening to their I have broken some in transit. conversation. She doesn’t seem to care. I like what I hear. Says the man downstairs’ dog will like Tomorrow she will watch them. Jackie Grandma’s neighbors drift in, one or while grandma and I go to two at a time. market. “Been to market ?” they’d ask. She doesn’t stay long. Her reply: “with my grandson Billy”. Soon grandma’s fixing me a She asks them to sit down. pallet on the floor. They talk and she’d offer them some of her market finds, Grandma and Jackie always sleep together. Especially the eggs. Market, I love market. I think she bought ten dozen eggs that trip. We wake early. I look out the window. Grandma fixes breakfast. I see Mr. Muthers. Oatmeal and toast. He seems to have some mental difficulty. That’s okay with me. I never knew what it was. She lets me use as much brown sugar as I want. He has three children, Bonnie, I get to pull the cart. and her two brothers whose names always escape Two wheels and it folds open me. into a basket. My grandma was just about the poorest person Grandma’s dress is long and I ever knew. loose. She has a head scarf on today. She shared what she had with all she knew. My dad is on the phone. Large flowers on it. Sounds like he will be picking me up. She carries her purse over her I’d rather ride the bus. shoulder. We end up in some bar. Clutching it under her arm Him with too many beers with her other hand on it also. I saw her counting her money and me with too many cokes. this morning. Twenty seven dollars. No one is getting that money. We walk from Twelfth Street to Findlay. Along the way we pass Pappy’s Bar, Roh’s Hardware, the Redhorse Saloon, used furniture stores, more saloons, the Empire Theater. We walk across the parkway and past the Catholic Church.. Just a few more blocks. We turn left, down a narrow street, almost an alley. There was the usual: some men, the bums standing here and there. Yellow eyes, dirty Home I Browse I Search I Invite I Mail I Blog I Events clothes. Past all that. Streetvibes The street opens up. Fruits, people, vegetable “Got the Vibe?” stands, candy, fish, meat. I’ve never seen so many Male foreign people until 99 Years Old grandma took me to CINCINNATI, Ohio Findlay Market. United States So many crowded together, narrow Last Login: 10/1/2007 corridors, many languages. View My: Pics I Videos All of us are equal at Findlay Market. CHECK OUT THE Grandma looks for bargains. She finds them. We shop until the cart is full. MYSPACE PAGE STREETVIBES http://www.myspace.com/cincistreetvibes �STREETVIBES Page 10 The New Age Good Samaritan: According to the Gospel of the Justice System by Greg Olkhovsky witnessed (not committed) a crime. Guantanamo Bay comes to Medford Oregon.” Another atrocious example occurred on July 6 th in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Randy Barr, 41, witnessed the murder of James R. Leepier whose throat was sliced Imagine yourself as a witness to a crime. You have absolutely no association with those involved or the crime itself, you are simply a bystander. Appropriately you contact the police, wait for their arrival at the scene, “It should alarm everyone in offer them your statement, then you this country, regardless of how become jailed and you see the issue of eventually placed under house arrest. homelessness, that our courts All of this occurs are locking people up simply because the police based on the fact that they question your witnessed (not committed) a credibility to show up on time for the crime. Guantanamo Bay trial. Welcome to the comes to Medford Oregon.” -Paul Boden, world of unjust Western Regional Advocacy treatment towards Project, Executive Director the homeless, where homeless witnesses are being by Harvey Hoover. Barr is being tossed into jail because held under a Pennsylvania criminal prosecutors want to have access procedure rule that jails witnesses to them for their own convenience. if a judge suspects that the witness This hideous act is a growing trend will not show up when subpoenaed in the United States. Recently on for court and cannot make bail. rd June 3 , three homeless people in Since the middle of August, Barr Medford, Oregon were jailed for has been under house arrest. He witnessing an altercation in what was jailed the previous four weeks before this transition occurred. would eventually result into a Some may make the absurd death and a manslaughter charge. The Executive Director of the argument, “Well at least now Barr Western Regional Advocacy has housing.” Currently, Barr is Project in San Francisco, Paul limited to two hours per day outside. He is banned from using Boden, comments, “It should drugs and alcohol and is subject to alarm everyone in this country, regardless of how you see the random drug testing. Furthermore, an electronic monitoring bracelet issue of homelessness, that our courts are locking people up has been placed on Barr, he has to simply based on the fact that they check in once a week to house Lackawanna County Prison where, “I sat there for two weeks without hearing anything about what was happening.” After testifying at the preliminary hearing Barr was told he would be released from jail, but instead he was placed under house arrest. Barr said that he is frustrated with his treatment because he doesn’t know how long the monitoring device will be attached to him. “I’m being treated like a criminal. As far as I know, I could be on this until the trial.” At what point did we evolve into a society that punishes instead of rewarding those that report a crime? When did we start to lock up and rob individuals of their freedom when reporting a criminal activity in which they are not a part of, but merely an observer who is at the wrong place at the wrong time? Where does it go from here? Today’s Good Samaritan is treated with unlawfulness instead of honor. Today’s Good Samaritan is homeless. “If you have money, you’ve got rights. Since when do you have to arrest officials and has to pay $10 a day for the program. Yes, you read correctly, Barr, a homeless man, has to pay $10 a day for this involuntary program for reporting a murder. Sounds like a terrific housing program now doesn’t it? Deputy District Attorney Maryann Grippo had Barr incarcerated because of the possibility that prosecutors may or may not be able to find him when the trial begins. Grippo says, “You have to look at it from the (prosecutor’s) perspective. Here’s someone who can literally make or break this case.” Mary Catherine Roper, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, believes that Barr was jailed because of his longevity of being homeless. She says, “They wouldn’t have done this if he weren’t homeless. He’s indigent. He can’t make bail. Jail should always be a last resort.” Complementing Ms. Roper’s addressing of Barr’s wrongful “If you have money, you’ve arrest purely got rights. Since when do because he is without a home is you have to buy due Israel Bayer, the process and human rights in Director of Street this country?” Roots newspaper -Rachel Myers, Seattle’s Real Change in Portland, News Oregon. Israel says, “Just because an individual is without a buy due process and human rights home, shouldn’t mean you are in this country?” says Rachael stripped of your rights as a citizen Myers, Advocacy Director with of the United States.” Real Change newspaper in Seattle, More importantly, Barr says Washington. that he was initially thrown into The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes wish to thank Panera Bread at Gilmore Square in Fairfield for their donations of bread, pastries, bagels and sweets. These are used throughout the week by our vendors and people who frequent the lobby to use the phone or get out of the heat. �STREETVIBES Page 11 The Peace Village The Peace in Iraq Means Peace in Vietnam by Dr. Steve Sunderland insight and understanding. About 8 years ago, non-vets were The war in Iraq continues on and invited to join in. (I was a war protester we as a nation are just getting a first in the 1960’s and made it a point not to glimpse of what is happening to our sol- treat any U.S. soldier of that era with diers who have survived the war and respect or compassion. I am not proud have returned to the U.S. of my ignorance or disrespect and these The stories conferences about brain injuries have been genercaused by roadside ous with me and explosions have other protestbeen added to the ers.) “standard” ways in We meet which soldiers have once or twice a returned with one day for 1-3 kind of injury or anhours of the most other. intense converYet, this war is sations. Many of really nestled in anthe vets and their other war and the Dr. Steve Sunderland family members, two are becoming write reflections merged in the minds of many soldiers, on the war as well as memories of the their families and the nation that is wak- soldiers. ing up to the repeat of another lost adventure. I am sitting for a week with Viet- Stories Are Shared nam vets, Vietnamese monks that lived Many who participate say this is the through the war, family members of Viet- first time they have felt safe to reveal their nam vets who have died, and those who experiences as soldiers, medics, or famcall themselves “war protesters.” ily members. I have been coming to a version of Very quickly, one story by one perthis conference for the last 6 years, lis- son links to another story, with the contening to vets and their loved ones de- versation pausing because of the need scribing the long lasting effects of the to meditate on what has been said. The Vietnam war on their bodies and minds. writings aid the discussions and the disThat war continues to shatter, wound, and cause suffering and pain, for many soldiers and their families. Thich Nhat Hanh We gather for a week of discussions and meditation at a peace conference led by the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. Hanh was expelled from Vietnam in the 1966 for seeking peace from the North Vietnamese, South Vietnamese and from the Americans. Hahn relocated to France, set up his now famous, “Plum Village,” for refugees and others seeking peace and reconciliation. About 18 years ago, Hanh started welcoming American vets to the conference to meet with each other and others from Vietnam and to see if his methods of mindful non-violence could help people heal and transform their pain into namese people. still see them dying in my nightly dreams,” Hahn has reone tough and turned to Vietnam loving vet reThe work of this for the first time in counted. conference is to 2005, bringing with “I had to kill promote peace, a him a large group of the soldier I was people, including a trying to save or peace that delegation of my whole plaacknowledges suffering American vets. The toon would have stories about these and seeks to transform been discovvisits are just now ered. He was it into gentle emerging as a part screaming in understanding. of the healing propain so loudly cess for the vets. that I had to stop What is new in these groups this him,” recounts a former medic with tears year is the difficulties many vets are feel- and deep sadness. ing in protesting the Iraqi war while ofAnd, the stories go on and on. And fering support to the grieving families of now they are colored by similarities with soldiers killed in the last few years. the Iraqi war. The work of this conference is to promote peace, a peace that acknowlWhat To Do About Iraq Many in our group are caught in a edges suffering and seeks to transform trap of wanting to protest the war while it into gentle understanding. Pain, fear, not sending out a disrespectful message and horror are difficult experiences to to the parents and family members who dwell on in public. Yet, the work of the group, following Hanh’s instructions, ofhave died or returned with wounds. “I am a grief counselor,” one group fers us a caring path of discussion, a safe member started his story, “and I am a place to give words to the indescribable leader in our local Vets For Peace. I am acts of killing, and a refuge for every soul in pain about modifying my views in or- to find meaning. der to not seem cold to the parents.” We all nodded in affirmation for his desire to reduce pain while living in pain. Other vets and their family members are having flashbacks to the Vietnamese war based on stories by other vets and “[Thich Nhat Hanh] his news about the Iraqi war. presence, his teachings, and The time of now seems to have warped with the his courage continue to inspire us to go back to one l960’s, as people report hearing and feeling many of more group, to tell one more the identical feelings of the story, and to seek one more earlier time. Each group meeting is act of thoughtful insight.” another step in understand-Dr. Steve Sunderland ing the impact of war on the human soul. Very brave cussions deepen the writings, almost to young men all felt ready for war; now, an unbearable point. none of these survivors know how they Some vets have had no mental health made it so far. treatment until this year and are just now Most live with serious regrets about finding their strength to enjoy life. Other who died in Vietnam and how the news vets are still caught in the many worlds of their deaths were received by sociof killing and assisting in the failed res- ety. All regret some important aspect of cuing of fellow soldiers as well as re- their wartime experience: “I killed as ducing some of the burden for the Viet- many as I could, hundreds, and I can Moving On The work to find understanding is difficult. Each person in the group realizes that our time in the group is short and that this group offers another chance to heal, reconcile and understand. The group members realize that Hanh’s methods have grown out of his own struggle with his experience in Vietnam and with the killing of Buddhist priests, killings of students at his school of social work and his flawed efforts to provide medical assistance to people injured during the war. While he does not sit in our group, his presence, his teachings, and his courage continue to inspire us to go back to one more group, to tell one more story and to seek one more act of thoughtful insight. The war in Iraq continues, and continues to leave unseen and visible damage. The vets group, a small but strong boat, floats out toward the reality of both wars, believing that we are all in the same boat of war and peace. Don’t ignore our call for help. Provide your input to improve Streetvibes by taking our reader’s survey. Go to www.cincihomeless.org for the link. �STREETVIBES Page 12 The Effects of Poverty on the Body Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing, and Crow Call. This column is part of a monthly series on poverty and addiction. A friend —I won’t say his name and I’ll not give you everything I know about him— is a disabled diesel mechanic with a wild sense of humor and a bone-deep knowledge of Appalachian culture. He used to make good money as a mechanic, but that was before he tore his rotator cuff and before the eight operations that never fixed it. So he makes a little side money doing odd jobs, mostly advising his son who does the muscle part of it, but he’ll probably never work a full-time job again. To further complicate things, he is overweight by a couple hundred pounds and suffers from diabetes, congestive obstructive pulmonary disorder, and sleep apnea so bad that he had to have a hole cut into his esophagus to insert a breathing tube. When he coughs, he holds a handkerchief to his throat. He has a shelf of medications and a life organized around visits to various doctors. Not all the doctor visits are his own. His wife suffers from unexplained and undiagnosed seizures. I forget the seven or so other diseases she copes with. Their youngest daughter was lead poisoned when she was small. As a result, she has a learning disability and a speech defect. My friend’s fear is that, when she some day conceives a child, her bones will release the stored lead into the blood of her unborn child. His oldest daughter appears generally healthy which would be a great relief if she had a better gift for choosing men. Her first child may be learning disabled, but it’s too early to tell for sure. He has one other daughter who is obese, but otherwise healthy. His son has had multiple surgeries for a deformity of his urinary tract. He also suffers from a learning disability — he can absorb information, but he cannot read it or write it. He passed his GED through a verbal test. Husband and wife tease, fight, complain, and fuss with one another, but when she has one of her seizures —when her eyes roll up, her lids flutter, her body stiffens like a board— my friend talks her down very patiently, lovingly. His face radiates sweetness and compassion, like a biker Bodhisattva. It is a beautiful thing to watch. It is a terrible thing to watch. It must be a terrible thing to live with, for my friend talks regularly of driving whatever patched-up car he has this month into a wall to end the stress. He says he is too loyal to wife and family to ever do it —and I hope that’s true. Instead, about once a month, he buys a fifth of liquor and gets apocalyptically drunk. It changes nothing, of course, and he wakes up with a hangover on top of the same old pain, the same old round of pills, the same old wait for the next seizure, the same difficulties with children and grandchildren. Something has gone terribly wrong with this family, who do not seem to have deserved it at all. Something has struck them like a Biblical curse and it is a miracle —a sweet miracle— that they maintain any scrap or shred of dignity. But they do have dignity. Not the dignity some would call dignity, for their clothes and cars and furniture are all pretty shabby by Martha Stewart standards. But they have something within —my friend would not want to talk about special gifts and such, so perhaps I should leave it alone— but they have a gift for dignity not all families manage. * Should my friend skip the monthly binge? Of course, you say. Of course, I say. But how do we sell him such a notion? I think we have a pretty tough job ahead of us. You can only sell this sobriety business where you can sell it, and I don’t think he’s going to buy. You can call it denial or you can call it resistance, but from where he sits, sobriety is the least of his needs and drinking is the least of his worries. From where he sits, in a patched-up folding chair on the sidewalk of an inner-city neighborhood with the pollution and the dope boys and the noise and the prostitutes all around him and the pain in his feet and the needs of his wife and children and grandchildren ever before him, sobriety doesn’t offer much. If he never drank again, that would be a good thing —from my point of view. But from his point of view, little would change. The jobs with the good, diesel mechanic pay were gone seven surgeries ago. He’ll still have the diabetes, his feet will still be slowly dying, and he’ll still have a plug in his throat. And so on, with the rest of his list. And so on, with the needs of his family. From my point of view, the drinking just complicates all these conditions. From his point of view, the drinking —his once-a-month allout blowout— keeps him from driving that patched-up car into a wall. It’s cheaper than therapy, and quicker than the twelve steps. Something could happen, I suppose. Something could make him realize the harm his drinking does him. But for now, from his point of view, poverty and disease are as much harm as he can face. Bertas Art Corner Thank you to Xavier University’s Department of Athletics for their generous donation of soap, shampoo, and hair products. Erector Set, Cincinnati, Ohio �STREETVIBES Page 13 Our War on Racism by Charles Evegan I once read a book called “How to Lie with Statistics” and that book validated in my mind what I already knew in reality. The news media in Cincinnati misrepresents, manipulates, and out right fabricates its information when it comes to the blacks and the poor citizens of Cincinnati. They say that there is freedom of the press? Freedom to do what? Freedom to slander and disregard the rights of the poor and downtrodden? The press are those rich and powerful predominantly Caucasian power structures that have a direct financial and social interest in keeping the public afraid of the black and poor peoples of this city. They target and occupy our neighborhoods like the united states in Iraq. Now they can show a pseudo need to raise taxes for more police and jails. Locking people up is a lucrative business in this city and it is also a big part of the economy. Prison is big business. It is a known fact how the power structure and the Cincinnati Police in the Queen City feel about the poor and minority citizens that reside here. They will let the KKK march directly through our neighborhood and then protect them. Double standards, racial profiling, police executions, and the systematic passing of laws that keep these tools of racism in tact are maintained with an iron fist. Most Caucasian people in this city either think that this is not true or they just choose to overlook and ignore the stats. Have you ever noticed that every time the news in this city puts black folks or Spanish people on the news is when they are in trouble or getting arrested? Is there any good Spanish or black folks in this city that is worthy of positive news coverage at least 1 day out of the month? Listening to them on an everyday basis you w o u l d think not. Then they put them on Charles Evegan TV in the worse possible forms. Simon Leis comes on TV talking about how he needs more jails and police. I do admit at one time Over The Rhine was pretty bad. However, there is barely any activity going on down there. And now, with nothing to do the police just simply ride around mean mugging people and harassing them for petty things that they would not dare do a white neighborhood like that. I know because I’m there everyday. Here’s an example of double standard racism. A black lady was jailed and denied bond because her nephew left a pit bull in the back yard without here knowledge and the dog died. But just recently a white lady left here infant in the car on one of the hottest days in the summer and the baby died a horrible death yet she walks free. Another example I always make it down town when a Bengal’s game is in the city. I have seen people getting drunk on the lawns around the stadium. Before and during and after the game they are drinking everything from beer to liquor but the police do not bother them. Try drinking a beer outside about 4 football fields down the street and you will be pounced on. They want to set up a sobriety checkpoint at a Black bar called ANNIES where the Bengal’s were that night. But what about all of those rich white folks that’s leaving the game in there cars drunk and under the influence of alcohol. What about down on main street when people step out on the sidewalk with a margarita in there hands? The police drive right by them. What about up in Clifton on the weekends? Those students get drunk on the sidewalks and in public, fight, ar- gue and raise havoc in Clifton and walk down the street with beers in their hands. Why don’t they say anything to them. We already know there answers. I’m just sick of being harassed and asked many dumb questions because I’m a Black man. And the racism goes on all kinds of levels. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired and so are my peoples. Now I know why there are so many soup kitchens in Cincinnati. Because they know that if they don’t at least feed the people. The people will rebel and be right on their very doorsteps. Remember the riots in 2001. If politicians want to do something good for the poor peoples of this city they should raise the cities minimum wage to at least 8 dollar and hour. Different cities in this country have their own minimum wage because they don’t want the poor people to make them a target of their thirst. This city simply does not care. That have the bring it on attitude because the whole system is designed to keep their foot on our necks and they have the police to back them up. I am a soldier for change and an advocate for the poor and downtrodden If anyone has any comments feel free to contact me at chuckevegan@yahoo.com or stop by THE LORDS GYM on 12th and Race St. GCCH Welcomes New Receptionist by Ardella Woolens I grew up in the Laurel Homes on West Liberty St. I attended Washburn Elementary School, Bloom Jr. High School, and completed Robert A. Taft High School. I have years of customer service experience under my belt. I am thrilled to be apart of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. I love working at a job where I am helping people. I will be filling in for Linda while she has surgery on her knee. Please stop by and visit me and the Coalition, 117 E.12th Street, Overthe-Rhine. 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 14 Poverty Lays its Head on a Lumpy Pillow No Wonder It Has So Many Bad Dreams by Jennifer Money Paulette Greer My First Born! 8-22-07 by Joyce G To Maurice and Ellie I know it’s been a rocky road, For this is what I’ve always been told. I’ve lied to you, cheated on you Called you names, and put you to shame. Part 1 Arms of shadows Shackled into Societal decay Rape to the opportunity Of lower class urbanization Single mother Far from receiving Support For heavy eyelids You are still with me, holding my hand. Giving me love and a smile. I guess because we have walked the miles. Our rocky road is smoothing out. So now you won’t have any more doubts. We will be together for many more – Just can’t wait to see what life has in store. Happiness and joy – For this will be our fairy tale story. Instability is the Empty spot in her sunken in bed Comfort a child’s fairytale When bills are juggled with food I hate to sit in the government’s office Feel like a child in detention She hopes the street Doesn’t strip her child Of clothes and morals That he isn’t found in an alley In a few years Shot Or shot up full of heroin Like a lover she once had His heart stopped working A few months after his body She is still trying to repair The damage of his cold fingertips Part 2 I can’t sleep in the middle of all these bodies She stares at her son’s Small fingers squeezing her cotton nightgown She looks at her chest Waiting for it to restart To catch up with her overworked brain The lights flicker on 7am She gathers her and her sons Small trash bag of clothes Heads to the church hoping for a meal He walks towards the school Small body disappears through the double doors She walks towards day labor and underpaid wages She walks away from denied employment positions 7pm quickly fades into 7am each repeating day She hopes to soon wake up from poverty’s bad dream “Scared” You told me through the years That you would never have me a little one. With eyes like diamonds, A smile like the burst of sunrise, Cheeks that glow like a spring rose. Whose warmth that could warm up the coldest heart. A Chicago wind would feel like July. I love you both so much, Thank you for sharing you all’s Love with me. Ellie thanks for allowing the vessel for my grandchild. This will be my favorite gift of Life. The Woman Coming Toward You by Elizabeth Romero by Elbert Holcombe Jr. When you’re cold and you’re hungry and you’re all by yourself, you have no where to go what do you do when you don’t have a clue and feelin’ blue and you’re out of hope? Don’t know how to cope the dope is not a joke I don’t know how to stop. When is it going to end? I thought you was my friend. When you find yourself in a mess feeling stressed don’t know how to get out, you all alone and you have no one to care, nobody to listen, nobody to help you keep going back to the dope you keep telling yourself you’re alright you know something is wrong , know you don’t belong, but it keeps telling you you’re fine you don’t have to go hide I am going to make sure you don’t never get better. When you fall on the floor and you can’t get up when you holler for help and nobody comes you know man you don’t have to do it and today I know I do not want to go back when I can keep going forward. I am scared to death I don’t want to die anymore I am going to fight for my life. The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. You can see it in her eyes, her wary sidelong glance. The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. Her clothes flap loosely in the wind. Her red shoes clash. The woman coming toward you carries the patient rage of her mother and her mother before that like that cracked plastic handbag. A Song by B.D. Schuh You cannot save the world ‘till you save yourself. Books need to be in the head ‘n not on the shelf. You are no man of God. ‘Till you’ve stood in the sod Yet good intent is the quickest road to hell. Alms do no good if given to a pimp. Too many people running the streets run with a limp. Everyone knows That where the ‘possum goes Is to a broken down, well-dressed imp. You give your soul away ‘n wonder why it’s gone. You give your heart away ‘n wonder why you have no song I made my enemies into businessmen, And pushed my friends into oblivion Yet I still wonder why I am all alone. They sell bread to make cash ‘n then call it “dough” They sell their women to make hash ‘m then call her a “hoe” Trading true worth By Losing their son’s birth ‘N then wonder why their heart is so low. �STREETVIBES Page 15 Without Blues by Lonnie Nelson For all those who have seen drugs, alcoholism and abuse, tear their families apart. Without the stub of crocus, the breeze through cedar and hills to climb in the soft light of January I would be lost. Without the picket lines’ ”How you doing?”— friends sitting around at the table while November rains, I would wash away in tears. “Do unto Others” by Elbert Holcombe Jr. When you’re travelin’ throw out your day. Be kind to all creatures and they will return it back. Just remember that he’s watchin’ and he finds what lies ahead. As we go to work or go to play just remember that he cares, he is here beside us, to guide us along the way. Without my pencil, the work that must be done, the brothers and sisters in the strong August sun, I would go over the edge. Writers! Submit your Poetry to Streetvibes - email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Stories and Poetry Are Due The Second Friday of the month Name by Lynda Dean My bith name is Lynda While growing up I felt like Trial & Error. “Cocaine” (open mic) by Elbert Holcombe Jr. Cocaine, cocaine you was messing with my brain was driving me insane left me broke to take all the blame had me crawling on the floor left me stuck begging for more made me go and rob the store had to go get one more. Cocaine, cocaine made me run out the door had to go and get more. When you used me I did not want to lose you, you were my life, my world, my everything, so I thought. But now I know none of that was funny you made me spend all my money you made me tell the landlord lies then he told me I had to move. You can’t pay so I could not stay you made me have to go away but today I do not need you I found a way to live without out you one day at a time. I am not and will not forget when you use me I lose me remind myself and rewind myself before I give you that control again I remind myself and go back to where it all began just for today I am not and will not never go through that again. During competitive soccer it was Aggressive – Go-Getter. While married it was definitely Trial & Tribulations. On the streets Much-Pain-Long-Suffering. Incarcerated lots of Guilty Shame. However… Today it is Hopeful. Tomorrow it will be Grateful. And let’s not forget when I am home with my son and my baby It will be Mommy! Ms. Homeless Downtowner Mr. Homeless Downtowner Name: Wilma Turner Birthplace: Dayton, Ohio My favorite downtown spot is…Fountain Square My hobbies are… crocheting and reading I can’t resist…Pepsi I can’t stand it when…people get on my nerves If I won the lottery I would…give it to the Drop Inn Center The one thing I would change about the world would be…to have Wonder Woman exist If I could have done it all over again I would have…stayed in Dayton Love to me is…nothing. Love doesn’t exist, it is full of lies Name: Edward L. Hill Birthplace: Pittsburg, PA My favorite downtown spot is… the library My hobbies are… drawing, painting, reading, and poetry I can’t resist… chocolate I can’t stand it when…the city government doesn’t monitor or find out anything about how it really is downtown and what is going on If I won the lottery I would…help out the homeless The one thing I would change about the world would be…to have people be open minded with spiritual and Christian values If I could have done it all over again I would have…not gotten involved with drugs or alcohol. Love to me is…concern and caring for ones self and others. It is also a very spiritual nature. � 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 2007 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 October 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cincinnati Residents Show Overwhelming Support for Human Service Funding Pg 2: Vendors Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: City Council Candidates Survey Pg 5: City Council Candidates Survey Pg 6: City Council Candidates Survey Pg 7: City Council Candidates Survey Pg 8: Affordable Housing Lacking in the Greater Cincinnati Area Pg 9: A Trip to the Market Pg 10: The New Age Good Samaritan Pg 11: The Peace in Iraq Means Peace in Vietnam Pg 12: The Effects of Poverty on the Body Pg 13: Our War on Racism 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 October 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Greg Olkhovsky Kenneth Cheruiyot Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Ardella Woolens Jimmy Heath Berta Lambert Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Ardella Woolens Berta Lambert Cincinnati city council Funding Georgine Getty Greg Olkhovsky Homeless News Digest Human Service Iraq Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Julie Martin Justice System Kenneth Cheruiyot Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Market Melvin Williams Peace Village poverty Racism Survey Vietnam War https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/18eaf78adda3c00e7a710c5cc9946a6b.pdf 5c560c1e9ce19870f88a9e0efcfe7bc3 PDF Text Text Streetvibes STREETVIBES Page 1 Cincinnati Homeless Man Shot to Death for Panhandling by Streetvibes Staff On monday night August 7, Donald Francis was shot for asking for a quarter, resulting in Cincinnati’s first documented homeless hate crime in two years. According to District One Police, Donald Francis was asking for money outside the Marathon station at Eight and Linn Streets on that Monday night. Geraldine Beasley became so annoyed when hate crimes against homeless people, with 189 of those resulting in death. This year has again shown that homeless people continue to be the victims of hate crimes. Homeless individuals and advocates point out how dangerous it is to live on the streets. In addition to facing hate crimes and the threat of violence, many homeless individuals must do their living out in the open, exposed to society and the weather. Another “This crime is a tragedy h o m e l e s s and absolutely appalling” individual, Glen Watson, died last -Georgine Getty, Executive month as a result Director of the Greater Cincinnati of heat exposure. Coalition for the Homeless In an effort to asked for a quarter that she prevent another weather allegedly shot and killed him. related death, the Greater “This crime is a tragedy Cincinnati Coalition for the and absolutely appalling,” says Homeless is collecting bottles Georgine Getty, Executive of water and sports drinks so Director of the Greater that outreach workers, Cincinnati Coalition for the shelters, and the police can Homeless. “Unfortunately, it’s distribute them to those all too common that homeless people who need them the people are the victims of most; people without homes. Those interested in crime.” According to the National donating are welcome to drop Coalition for the Homeless’ off water bottles to the report, “Hate, Violence, and Greater Cincinnati Coalition Death on Main Street USA,” for the Homeless, 117 E. 12th there were 142 reported Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, attacks on the homeless 45202 (9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday) or to nationwide in 2006. This included 5 rapes, 6 the Cincinnati Police people set on fire, and 20 Department, District One, murders. The amount of 310 Ezzard Charles Drive, attacks in 2006 was up 65% Cincinnati, Ohio 45214. from those reported in 2005. Thanks to all those who From 1999 through 2006, already donated water. there were 614 documented A Clean Victory for Cincinnati Janitors by Greg Olkhovsky smiling. appointed to a four hour Justice for Janitors, a The first issue evening shift will soon obtain a nationwide campaign started by addressed was an increase in seven hour shift in the first two the Service Employees higher wages. Currently, and a half years. Over the next International Union, unites to janitorial wages are set at $6.85 five years most janitors will end poverty wages and the lack an hour, equivalent to the Ohio acquire an estimated 129 of healthcare that is affordable. state minimum wage. Over the percent increase in their income SEIU works to create jobs for next five years, six raises have as a result of these three extra the working class the hours per shift. Overall, provide dignified living “Cincinnati won big today. workers currently and healthcare for receiving the minimum They said we couldn’t do themselves and their $6.85 an hour will families. They also work it but we stood strong with ultimately see a 150 towards better wages and percent income increase. our families, our more hours. Janitors will supporters, and our On July 28th, now be able to afford Cincinnati’s janitors were neighborhoods. I’m proud health insurance as a result successful in winning of the new contract. At to say we won a better higher wages, more work $20 a month janitors may future for hard-working hours, and health opt for individual health th people in our city.”- Linda insurance. In the 11 hour insurance. A family representatives for nearly Watson, Cincinnati janitor in Price Hill insurance is also available 1,200 Greater Cincinnati at a cost of $198 a month. janitors and the city’s eight been implemented. The first These affordable health largest cleaning companies one occurring on October 1, insurance benefits will become (ABM, Jancoa, Professional 2007 as workers will receive CONT. ON PAGE 5 Maintenance of Cincinnati, $7.05 an hour. next Aetna Building Maintenance, The Scioto Corp, NSG, One increases are Source, and GSF) agreed to set for $7.55 on terms with area cleaning firms January 1, for the very first city-wide union 2008, $8.15 on January 1, contract. This monumental 2009, $8.35, achievement prevented a January 1, metropolitan area strike. Linda 2010, $8.85 Watson, Cincinnati janitor in January 1, Price Hill said, “Cincinnati won 2011, and lastly big today. They said we couldn’t $9.80 an hour do it but we stood strong with on January 1, our families, our supporters, and 2012. Increased our neighborhoods. I’m proud to say we won a better future hours are the for hard-working people in our second benefit city.” Four critical focal points that janitors will were addressed in the union r e c e i v e . contract leaving local janitors W o r k e r s Drop Inn Center Secures New Transitional Housing Location by Pat Clifford Three years ago, August of 2004, Cincinnati Public Schools expressed interest in acquiring our four transitional buildings at 12th and Elm Streets for the relocated SCPA. Since then, the Drop Inn Center has been looking for creative ways to both accommodate the needs of the new school and at the same time to find ways to use the occasion to preserve and improve services for our homeless residents. As a result, the Drop Inn Center is partnering with the City of Cincinnati and OTR Community Housing to relocate our Transitional Housing Program to a new site on McMicken St. in Over-theRhine. Why are we doing this? In order to preserve and improve services for our residents in recovery. In addition, this relocation will accommodate the SCPA’s interest in using that corner as part of their new campus. How will this project benefit the neighborhood? It will renovate a run-down, vacated property with no on-site support into a newly renovated, attractive facility with full-time counseling staff. The new site will feature: 12 newly renovated apartments, a single secure point of entry in rear of building, an on-site counseling office, a laundry facility, security cameras and courtyard/garden access. We would like to thank the Model Group for all their assistance in this effort. The Drop Inn Center and our supporters feel that this cooperative step can be an example of neighborhood collaboration — where injustice and miscommunication has often been the practice. We also believe that those who experience homelessness should be welcomed back into the community and supportive services are often an essential component. We also acknowledge that there are current and future lowincome and middle-class residents who need development that is affordable to them and further encourage City and private funds being used to help residents maintain and obtain housing not only new ownership options which are out of their reach. Published by The Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless For more information contact the Drop Inn Center at 721.0643. �STREETVIBES Page 2 STREETVIBES, Greater Cincinnati’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 lowincome 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. 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 Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - Civil Rights Coordinator Greg Olkhovsky - Civil Rights Coordinator Kenneth Cheruiyot - AHA Coordinator Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Leigh Tami - Intern Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for one dollar ($1). I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Streetvibes by any other means. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, I am allowed to keep the donation. 2. I will only purchase papers from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Each paper can be purchased for a cost of 25 cents. I will always show my badge when buying papers and if I do not have my badge I cannot buy papers. 3. I will never buy papers from and/or sell papers to other vendors. 4. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, and other vendors – respectfully. I will not use abusive language or force someone to buy a paper. I will not give a “hard sell,” be aggressive, continue to ask after a person has verbally or non-verbally said no or make someone feel threatened. 5. I agree to stay off private property when selling Streetvibes. I will not sell Streetvibes door to door. 6. I understand that I am not an employee of Streetvibes or GCCH but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. 7. I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling Streetvibes. 8. I will not sell Streetvibes or purchase Streetvibes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 9. There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer. 10. I understand that my badge is the property of Streetvibes and I will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing papers and display my badge when selling papers. If I lose my badge I will pay three dollars ($3) for a new one. If my badge becomes ruined because of weather or use, I will get a new badge for one dollar ($1). 11. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. 12. I will not deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a nonprofit charity or that I am collecting for the “homeless” in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes go to me. I will not use the word “donation.” 13. There are special rules for selling at Findlay Market. Only two vendors may sell at Findlay Market at a time. Other rules as established by Streetvibes and Findlay Market. 14. I will attend monthly meetings. Monthly meetings will occur on the first weekday of the month. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. Anyone who cannot make the meeting must meet with Andy, the Education Coordinator, before selling Streetvibes for that month. Ten papers will be given to those who attend the meeting. 15. It is the responsibility of each vendor to police fellow vendors or former vendors. I will report violators of the rules to GCCH. The value of the paper depends on keeping it credible. 16. I understand that any infraction of the above mentioned rules will result in suspension of my privilege to sell Streetvibes and possible termination from the program. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH and must be surrendered upon demand. Where your Dollar Goes Photographers Andy Freeze, Jimmy Heath, John Lavelle, Lynne Ausman, Cat Shim, Rafiquar Rahman Cover Marchers show support for local Janitors who are fighting for better wages, more hours, and health care benefits. Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or are vendors.Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $35 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: www.cincihomeless.org Member of: International Network of Street Papers North American Street Newspaper Assn. 75 Cents Goes Directly to Your Vendor Streetvibes is a program of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. 25 Cents Pays for Production Streetvibes Vendor Phone: (513) 421-7803 Streetvibes vendors purchase their papers for 25 cents per copy, then sell them for a $1.00 donation, keeping the 75 cent profit. The money used to purchase the paper goes to the individual vendor. GCCH does not profit from the sale of Streetvibes. Vendors are not fundraising for the Coalition for the Homeless. ANDY Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors ONLY �STREETVIBES Page 3 Orlando, FL – Mayor Dyer is handling this all wrong, says a group of homeless activists. Instead of arresting do-gooders who are chanting about the homeless feeding laws, the mayor could begin both a private and a public dialogue with the activists and come out smelling like a rose. Instead, he has the people arrested and even orders police to take away a big cauldron of stew. They say the Mayor has botched this public discourse and looks like a fat cat politician. The activists say they’ll continue to beat the drums on this one — except, of course, that their drums are at the police station. Copenhagen, Denmark - Some 500 footballers from 48 nations set out on a great adventure last month when the UEFA-backed Homeless World Cup began in Copenhagen. The competition takes place in Copenhagen’s City Hall Square until August 4th. Players who are currently homeless are being given a wonderful opportunity to represent their country and change their lives, in a perfect example of football’s power to act as a unifying social force. The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeles. It also supports and inspires grassroots football projects around the world, working with homeless and excluded people throughout the year. HRH the Crown Prince of Denmark will be watching the tournament as an extremely interested fan, and will attend the Homeless World Cup final on 4 August. Bradenton, FL - The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into claims that two Bradenton Police officers beat up a homeless man and dumped him in a ditch. Jose del Angel says the officers warned him to stay out of the city. The man flagged down a Manatee County deputy after the alleged beating and told his story. The deputy brought the accusations to the Bradenton Police and they promised an internal investigation. But two weeks later, one hasn’t been launched. Authorities there say they plan to begin investigating the claims next week. Bradenton has taken steps to remove the homeless from its streets, including passing an ordinance to ban public sleeping. Miami, FL - The Umoja Village activists came one step closer last month to persuading the city of Miami to give them the land where their Liberty City shantytown once stood so they can develop it with a nonprofit partner as housing for the homeless. But the no-bid deal — which would shut out all other nonprofits from submitting proposals for the land — is opposed by the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. That could delay or derail the project when it’s expected to come up for a vote before the Miami City Commission. A preliminary proposal calls for a mixed-use development with supportive housing for the homeless. The ground floor would include some commercial space for small community-owned businesses and for social service agencies. Anchorage, AK. - Judith Lewis has delivered food to Anchorage’s homeless for years, but it wasn’t until a black bear smashed into her soup van to munch on pilot bread and Capri Sun pouches that her mobile ministry was shut down. “The bear had a old big party,” said Lewis, who spent Monday cleaning urine-sopped carpets, cracker smears and juice packets from the teal minivan from which the downtown destitute load up on free soup or sandwiches on Friday nights. The Hillside ransacking more than a week ago came while Lewis was out of state. She had parked the Ford Wind Star outside her home near Goldenview Drive, and the bear ripped off the big vent window she’d left ajar to prevent overheating. The bear clawed open 80 Capri Suns, some ramen noodles and many boxes of Sailor Boy pilot bread, the bland cracker wheels many Alaskans love. “He’s a real Alaskan bear,” Lewis said. Newspaper delivery man Bill Ohlmacher saw the bear July 20, just after he dropped Lewis’ newspaper into its tube. The bear popped its head out the car window, just feet away. Cedar Rapids, IA - They can barely afford food and clothing, let alone glue sticks or binders. But the school year is fast approaching and hundreds of homeless children can’t afford to go back. A program in Cedar Rapids provides school supplies to needy children but time is running out and there aren’t enough supplies to go around. Right now, the Homeless Liaison for the Cedar Rapids School District, Slayton Thompson, has enough school supplies for about 150 underprivileged children but it’s hardly enough. “This year we have identified 702 children that are in need,” says Thompson. “We have children in this school district that go home to Jeffersonville, IN -A Southern Indiana homeless nothing. They sleep on floors.” shelter is scrambling to pay a $400,000 tax bill to remain That’s where Thompson comes in. He provides homeless students with school supplies. He says, “They open. The non-profit Haven House owes to the money may not get the $200 shoes but they’ll get shoes that to the Internal Revenue Service for payroll taxes. work for school.” Shelter officials may have to sell some property to keep it open in Jeffersonville. Haven House shelters about 60 homeless people Madison, WI - The death of a homeless man a day from Clark, Floyd, Harrison and other counties, earlier last month in Brittingham Park is focusing neighbors’ attention on a stone shelter overlooking as well as some from Louisville. Monona Bay, which they say is a focus for alcohol and drug abuse by those who hang out there. Although park regulars say they are making peaceful use of a public place, the man’s death on a summer evening has alarmed many in the neighborhood. They are calling for the city to take action — perhaps fencing the shelter, increasing the enforcement of the alcohol ban or encouraging other users to take control of the park. Arthur Smith, 55, was discovered without a pulse under a tree on July 18, according to Madison police. “It appears he died from natural causes. Nothing suspicious,” said Lt. Melissa Schiferl. Emerson, who lives across from the park on Brittingham Place, said Smith’s death could be due to alcohol consumption, given that she saw him drinking “high octane” beer at 8:40 a.m. the day he died. She called police to report it, in fact, because alcohol is not allowed in the park. That evening, at about 6:45 p.m., Emerson and a friend were walking by the shelter when they saw a large group of people huddled around someone on the ground. It was Smith. Her friend made the 911 call. Enforcement is inconsistent at best, a resident said. “The people who receive citations either ignore them or discard them and then return to drinking, often the very same day.” Hempstead, NY - The body of a homeless man was found last month in the rear yard of a Hempstead, Long Island auto repair shop. Hempstead Village Police got the call about an unconscious man at the Village Auto Repair Clinic on Henry Street. Officers say they found 45-year-old Ireneusz Moraida dead. His body was taken to the county medical examiner’s office for autopsy. Nassau County homicide detectives and the Hempstead Village police are investigating. Phoenix, AZ - An event to assist the homeless and determine how many homeless people are in Muskogee will be held 8 to 11 a.m. Sept. 8 at the Phoenix Plaza at Second and Court streets. The Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness finalized plans for the event at its meeting Thursday. Under the plan, the Homeless Connection will offer blankets, winter clothing, new undergarments and socks and food for the homeless of Muskogee. A number of social service agencies will be set up at the event to offer assistance to those participating. Mayor Wren Stratton said she hopes civic groups and individuals will help with donation of goods needed for distribution. Volunteers also are needed to help at the event, she said. Scranton, PA - A homeless man who witnessed a murder was put in the Lackawanna County jail for just over four weeks and now is in a house arrest program. Randy Barr didn’t commit any crime. Officials said they’re trying to ensure his safety and participation in court proceedings. Barr is the only witness to the July 6th murder of James Leepier. He said he called 911 after LEepier’s throat was slashed during an argument with another homeless man, Harvey Hoover. Barr is being held under a little-used Pennsylvanai criminal procedure rule that allows witnesses to be jailed if a judge believes they will not show up when subpoenaed for court and cannot make bail. Barr was fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet. He is allowed outside in the yard two hours per day. He’s banned from using alcohol or durgs, must check in with house arrest officials once a week, submit to random drug tests and pay $10 a day for the program. �STREETVIBES Page 4 Ashamed For Us neighborhoods. A prominent city by Jimmy Heath The Cincinnati neighborhood of councilman, who claims to be OTR’s Over-the-Rhine, with its turn of the ambassador said that there are more century three and four story Italianate than sixty social service agencies and he believes that poor style buildings, proximity to people need to be downtown and easy access eyed with suspicion. to the suburbs and They just waste their universities has created a money buying lottery discord between lowtickets, beer, and income residents, city hall, cigarettes. A majority new outside developers and are criminals. They upscale urbanites. need to get out. The City sees the future This kindhearted of OTR, with an improved councilman owns tax base through the property in OTR. development of million There are a lot of dollar condo’s and street Jimmy Heath empty storefronts level entertainment, helping and buildings in OTR, ready and waiting to fuel the coffers. For many years, the focus has been for developers to purchase cheaply at development of an entertainment district auctions. But racism and fear slow the focused on Main Street. But current process of creating any kind of lowplans may now include the whole income housing. From an editorial response written neighborhood with our old buildings to the Enquirer on the death of Nathaniel being converted to upscale condos. The low-income residents in OTR Jones’s struggle with six Cincinnati police do not create enough tax money. And officers in a White Castle parking lot; local politicians claim that residents use “Cincinnati Police, keep up the good a lot of public services. The Hamilton work. It is only the “squeaky wheel” County Sheriff made a claim that there African-Americans that are turning this are over 100 social service agencies in city into the urinal of the state of Ohio.” “How many times in the past few OTR. In reality there are less than years have we heard the same outcry twenty, unless you count the churches, YMCA’s and senior services ­ over a person of color losing his life institutions that are included in all during the commission of a crime? The black community has lost all credibility forced to pack up and leave their home when it supports these lawbreakers.” that has been hers for years. Imagine The racism, hidden behind a shroud of the child who counts on grandma taking fear, of a statement like this reflects the care of her while the parents work. standing attitude of suburban whites Imagine the underpaid men and women toward poor inner city blacks. who struggle with menial jobs in order And the wackiness continues. A to support their family in the sort of “housing debacle” began here in the late environment that scares the willies out 1960s with the lure of money from a of most white people. You can’t be federal Housing and Urban naïve either, but city policies have let the Development grant, the city councilman neighborhood decline with a purpose. says. It became more lucrative for For decades the neighborhood has property owners to create low-income, been home to thousands of low-income project-based Section 8 housing than to families who have been, or will be continue hosting commercial or retail moved out by rising rents and restless tenants. The new housing attracted landlords waiting to remodel the waves of lowbuildings for i n c o m e upscale rental Imagine the underpaid men p e o p l e and condo’s. dependent on and women who struggle with Recently a welfare. At menial jobs in order to support homeless man one time the was asking for a their family in the sort of vast majority quarter from a environment that scares the were white. woman in a parking lot. People from willies out of most white the hills down She shot him to south were people. death. And no coming to the one makes the industrial city of Cincinnati and OTR for race distinction when crimes involve jobs and security. white people. Why is that? Decades Nowadays, Over-the-Rhine of racism live on. I’m so sick of it and residents, the vast majority of whom are embarrassed that as a smart and black and live on less than $10,000 a sophisticated species we hold on to a year, are eager for opportunity, jobs, notion that should never have been there security and safe places to raise their in the first place. Contact Jimmy families. Heath at jimmyheath@yahoo.com Imagine a low-income senior citizen First Amendment Abridged at Fountain Square by Michael Earl Patton The Cincinnati Beacon While the recent petition for putting the sales tax increase to a public referendum was being circulated, the No Jail Tax PAC heard reports that some petitioners were prevented by the police from gathering signatures on Fountain Square. Some others, including myself, had been left alone. Then in the last few days of the campaign a petitioner came forward with full details, including the name of the police officer who had stopped her. I called Bill Donabedian of 3CDC, who is responsible for the management of the square. He explained that gathering signatures on the square while a scheduled event was in progress was considered interference with that event and the petitioner should move to the sidewalk. To my specific question as to whether I could gather signatures on one corner of the square while a permitted event was going on in the far corner, Mr. Donabedian repeated that the petitioning should be on the sidewalk. He noted that not interfering with a permitted event is one of the rules listed at the Fountain Square website. True, such a rule is there, but it doesn’t state that asking someone for a signature on a petition is considered to be interference. And this has a striking parallel to a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court case involving First Amendment rights in Cincinnati, Coates v. City of Cincinnati. In that case a student, Coates, was arrested in a demonstration for the crime of “annoying” behavior. As the Supreme Court ruled: “We are thus relegated, at best, to the words of the ordinance itself. If three or more people meet together on a sidewalk or street corner, they must conduct themselves so as not to annoy any police officer or other person who should happen to pass by. In our opinion this ordinance is unconstitutionally vague because it subjects the exercise of the right of assembly to an unascertainable standard, and unconstitutionally broad because it authorizes the punishment of constitutionally protected conduct. “Conduct that annoys some people does not annoy others. Thus, the ordinance is vague, not in the sense that it requires a person to conform his conduct to an imprecise but comprehensible normative standard, but rather in the sense that no standard of conduct is specified at all.” Both the right of assembly and the right to petition the government are First Amendment rights. “Interfere” is not the same as “annoy,” but in some ways it is even more vague. Does asking someone for the time or for directions “interfere?” What about asking someone to move so you can Do you have rights on Fountain Square? Petitioners are often pushed off the square in leiu of their first amendemnt rights. pass by? What about criticizing karaoke? Can the police ask you to leave if you boo a scheduled political speech? (I presume that they won’t ask you to leave if you applaud.) Keep in mind that none of these examples rise to the level of actually trying to drown out or shut down the event itself. Petitioners know that if someone is indeed paying rapt attention to an event that it’s more productive to ask someone who is not paying attention. But according to Mr. Donabedian’s interpretation, asking anyone on the square is considered interference. I called the Cincinnati Police Department for their policy on petitioning activities on Fountain Square and was told to call something called “Downtown Services.” Repeated phone calls were not returned. �STREETVIBES Page 5 “Victory” Cont. From Page 1 available on January 1, 2010. The fourth benefit incorporated in the new contract includes paid holidays and vacation time. For individuals in the working world, paid holidays and vacation time is often viewed as an automatic given perk. Hopefully the news of this janitorial success story will remind those in the working world to be thankful and humble for their paid holidays and vacation time because nothing in this life is a “given.” Six paid holidays per year for janitors have been granted in the new contract. The janitors’ victory is still being felt in the Greater Cincinnati area. In fact both the cleaning firms and the representatives for the janitors and the city’s eight largest cleaning companies realize the true significance of the contract. The two parties cordially agreed to continue working together in hopes that this agreement may serve as a model for improving worker and corporate leader relations elsewhere and in the near future. Already, the impact of this agreement has found its way to Columbus and Indianapolis where janitors in these cities are seeking an improvement in employee benefits, specifically with wage increase and affordable healthcare. Jimmy’s Motorcycle Adventures Sister Jean “Only Hoodlums Drive Motorcycles....” From a historical perspective, this new union contract is the largest income increase ever won in the Justice for Janitors Campaign on a national level. The lives of 1,200 Cincinnati janitors and their families will forever be changed. This agreement has the capability to lift families out of poverty and lead them into the direction of a more secured lifestyle. Cincinnati janitors have every reason to rave in victory. Cincinnati janitor Lauressie “Dee Dee” Tillman joyously stated “This is a huge victory for our families and for our neighborhoods. I’m proud of what we have accomplished, not just for us and our families, but for all of the workers in this city who are paid so little. We showed what can be donewhat must be done-to make Cincinnati a better city to live in.” Project Connect Collaborates With Feed The Children by Andy Freeze This fall as kids go back to school, children and parents find themselves spending money to prepare for school. Every child loves going to the store to pick out new crayons and markers, new folders, and to check out the latest and greatest pens and pencils. Yet, some children do not have the opportunity to get new school supplies. Homeless children already feel different when they are in school. When their family can’t afford new school supplies and hygiene items, the begin to lose confidence. In 2004, the Cincinnati School District had 16,875 children between the ages of 5 and 17 living in poverty. That is a staggering thirty percent of students living in poverty. Children living in poverty do not get the opportunity to go shopping for new school Volunteers help unload backpacks donated by Feed The Children supplies. Children in poverty do not get the Project connect in collaboration with Feed the from local schools collect the backpacks their opportunity to get new clothes for the school year. students need. Children, a national organization that delivers Children in poverty worry about where their next Children in poverty need the food, clothing, and meal is coming from and where they are going to other necessities to This year kids with a new education. It might be the only thing that sleep. get them out of the poverty cycle. children and backpack, new supplies, can Education is needed to keep kids safe. families living in and hygiene items will go Education is needed to teach kids to poverty was able to provide 1700 to school more prepared, read. Being unprepared only sets kids Cincinnati children more excited, and ready to farther back. This year kids with a new backpack, new supplies, and hygiene with new back learn items will go to school more prepared, packs this year. more excited, and ready to learn. On August 14, representatives from various schools where close to 100% of the students are on free lunch, were Project Connect Homeless able to pick up back packs filled with school Children’s Fund keeps children supplies, hygiene items, and food. The back experiencing homelessness packs were filled with Mac and Cheese, folders, connected to their education by notebooks, coloring books, pencils, highlighters, providing supplies, transportation, erasers, toothpaste, comb, ruler, crayons, uniforms, and enrichment oppor­ toothbrush, shampoo, pencil sharpener, pencil tunities in summer, after-school, bag, scissors and glue. Supplies and hygiene and shelter tutoring programs. items that children living in poverty need to be For more information call able to learn at school. 513.363.1060 “This is a real community effort,” Elissa Pogue from Project Connect says as she helps teachers �STREETVIBES Page 6 Peace Bowl Comes to Halt at the Sound of Gun Shots by Brian Garry saw no struggle, no fighting, no On Sunday, August 12 I went to pushing. No one seemed angry. Rev. Mingo’s church for worship. Without knowing, I would M y f r i e n d D e r o n S m i t h w a s venture to say that money had speaking. Afterwards we went to the something to do with it. Peace Bowl. Without knowing, I would As I was standing outside, venture to say that, for this young waiting to go in, man, Earnest, I heard what If we are serious about the the American Dream was not sounded like issue of crime then we within his fireworks. No reach. one screamed. must become serious Without No one ran about addressing the issue knowing, I away, except a of poverty. few guys who would venture to say that slowly jogged by. I walked over to see a young neither he nor his killers had a real man laying dead, half on the opportunity to go to college. Further I would venture that sidewalk, his torso in the street. His eyes were open. A trail of blood was Earnest’s parents had not had a real streaming down the street from his opportunity, a real shot at the head. American Dream. No, I would venture that they all It seemed like forever before the police and fire squad came. They suffer from poverty, a lack of higher tried futilely to revive him by doing learning, and a lack of opportunity CPR. His eyes were wide open but to escape from the cycle that he was he was gone. His pants halfway born into. We all have the ability to rise down around his yellow boxers. I above, but being born into a life of poverty can be an extreme disadvantage. I can’t help but to believe that were Earnest white, were he affluent he would still be alive. If we are serious about the issue of crime then we must become serious about addressing the issue of poverty. If we solve the poverty issue, we will certainly have far less drug dealing, robberies, prostitution and theft. Our City dollars need to spent on prevention, treatment and focusing on raising up the lowest rung on the economic ladder. The drug dealing and violence are not the problem, they are a symptom of a disease called poverty. These young people need our support. A nurturing community of people around them I think we can come up with some answers. I also think we can give some people some hope. Some ways out. Someway the American dream can be brought within their grasp. We have to pick up some of the slack a s a c o m m u n i t y. Finding it within ourselves to delegate it to the community, not the police or social service programs but to the community. Some way to have deep relationships. I didn’t want to see a dead man named Earnest laying in our streets. I didn’t want to see honesty, sincerity and determination shot on our street. Brazen and it could possibly be. It was an act of murder. No one yelled. No struggle. It was premeditated. We have to go to the place where we prevent it. How many more young people need to die? Atlanta’s Only Public Hospital Might Close its Doors homelessness, instead of looking at the by Leigh Tami Atlanta, Georgia is a city notorious roots of the problem and trying to treat for mistreating the poor and marginalizing the infection. Although it has seemed for a its homeless population. Through gentrification of downtown and other long time like conditions for the poor formerly racially/economically diverse could not get too much worse in Atlanta, areas, Atlanta is not-so-slowly, but recent circumstances have proved definitely surely, making an attempt to otherwise. The historic Grady Hospital has recently hide, ignore, announced that and push its it is running out poor out of of funding, sight and out which may of mind. force it to close A lack of its doors or p u b l i c drastically restrooms change the way makes it easy that it does for police to business. a r r e s t Grady Memorial Hospital G r a d y homeless individuals on charges of “public Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma indecency,” simply because their bodies center in Atlanta, and the city’s only need to perform the same functions that public hospital. Being the city’s only ours do, with or without access to a toilet. public hospital, “Grady,” as it is often Implementation of various “Quality called, has been able to treat a large of Life” ordinances has effectively proportion of low-income patients. Poor criminalized any form of begging, asking or uninsured patients can receive free for help, or panhandling and solicitation care, and it is more likely to offer of the homeless in the majority of the relatively unprofitable medical services than its private, non-profit counterparts. downtown area. Grady has time and time again been The threat of jail time for homeless people charged for these decidedly petty the medical savior of the poor. crimes reveals a not-so-subtle truth: Unfortunately, because it is receiving Atlanta, like many other major cities in inadequate government funding, this the United States including Cincinnati, historic institution has been losing roughly is trying to put a band-aid over the $8 million per month. festering wound of poverty and If no urgent action is taken, this place of refuge will be shut down before buildings are being built up and homeless the end of the year. If Grady is shut people are being swept and pushed out down, one of two things will happen. to increase the aesthetic appeal of the city. Is this beginning Either the to sound familiar? estimated “It seems that local Similar actions 90,000 lowlegislators are more have been taken in income patients concerned with covering Cincinnati. Bench will flood other h o s p i t a l removal has taken up the problems of precedence emergency poverty and homelessness financial over desperately rooms (causing needed funding for urgent care than actually dealing with human services. The across the board them at their source” highly unpopular to decline because there will be too many people term “affordable housing” is associated to treat and too little money and with crime, and any kind of low-income resources to do it), or lack of medical housing is quickly being replaced with care will turn into a death sentence for gentrified apartments and luxury lofts. the poor. The conditions of Day Labor pools Meanwhile, like in Cincinnati, are despicable, and it seems that local Atlanta seems to have other spending legislators are more concerned with priorities. In the area of Buckhead, for covering up the problems of poverty and example, an entire police force has been homelessness than actually dealing with added to “increase foot patrol” around them at their source. These patterns of spending parks and shops- in the history of police action, this usually entails removing the across the nation reveal a horrifying truth homeless so that no one has to leave the about our state of compassion toward comfortable world of Louis Vuitton our fellow human beings, and sense of purses and Tiffany jewelry to come face justice. It is a sad world we live in, where to face with the real issues of poverty in buildings, benches, and boutiques are this city. repeatedly taking financial priority over Section 8 and affordable housing are the conditions of our fellow human becoming scarce- people are being given beings. It is high time that we bring back pieces of paper instead of houses so that values of truth and justice instead of the city can build luxury housing that is letting greed and corporate interest now not selling, because literally no one dictate the policy making of our nation. can afford it. Fancy parks and new �STREETVIBES Page 7 Cincinnati Middle School Student Collects Socks for the Homeless by Catherine Shim Did you know that over the course of a year 25,000 people will experience homelessness here in Cincinnati? This means that about 1300 people go homeless each night. I am a 13 year old 8th grader at Queen of Angels Montessori School (QAMS). I decided to get my school involved in helping the homeless population in Cincinnati for my trimester Change Project. The goal of the project was to make a positive change in Cincinnati. I decided to have a donation drive where I collect something for the local homeless population. I also wanted to change young people’s often false and stereotypical views about homelessness in hopes of decreasing homelessness in the future. After researching and visiting the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), I found that socks are one of the most needed articles of clothing by the homeless. This is something that most people don’t think of donating because to us it is something we don’t think about needing. I held a QAMS sock drive, where over 180 pairs of socks were collected! I also surveyed 4th - 8th graders asking them why they thought people were homeless. What I found was that many of the students had false and stereotypical views about the homeless. Answers included that the homeless are too lazy to get a job, or that they will only use donated money for the wrong things such as drugs and alcohol. To help change their views, I researched the real reasons for homelessness, and put together a presentation that I presented to this same group of students. I informed them that the real reasons for homelessness are the loss of employment, and therefore income, and the lack of affordable housing. Another reason is the high cost of medical care and other living expenses. Most homeless people want jobs, but because they have no address, and because only 5% of them have a college education, it makes it very hard for them to find employment and stay employed. I also learned that rather than giving homeless people money, offering to buy them food, or talking to them can Catherine Shim collected over 180 paids of socks for the homeless as brighten someone’s day. part of a class project. I learned about homelessness, but also that YOU can make a difference. make a difference to help make many views about homelessness and has Our school is very small with a little over someone’s life better and more inspired them to get involved to help 175 students. Imagine if my project was enjoyable. My project has changed improve the lives of the less fortunate. continued at a bigger school. You can Social Enterprises Aim to Make a Difference in Community by Elizabeth Whitton It’s easy to talk about the problems of poverty and homelessness, and why they exist. But viable solutions are not so easy to come by, to gain political support for, or to implement on a large scale. The idea of social enterprise is one viable option for addressing some of the root causes of poverty and allowing people to learn skills that will propel them toward greater selfsufficiency. While the idea of social enterprise has been used in various forms for a long time, it is only recently that it is gaining in popularity, viability, and mainstream recognition. A social enterprise is essentially a business venture undertaken by a nonprofit organization in order to better assist the people it serves. What a win/ win, since the “business” provides a product or service that people want or need, and the individuals who work for the venture usually receive valuable life and job training as well as a fair wage for their work. In Cincinnati, there are a number of social enterprises now in existence. Venice on Vine, for example, is a pizza place that comes out of the West End Employment program of Power Inspires Progress. This eatery offers good Italian fair, while providing its employees with on-the-job training and experience that will qualify them for full-time employment at other businesses when they leave the program. Clovernook Center for the Blind has provides meaningful employment for manufacturing plants both here in individuals who might otherwise have Cincinnati, and in Memphis Tenn., where trouble finding jobs, while manufacturing high quality products for customers across the country. Building Value provides hands-on job t r a i n i n g opportunities for individuals with disadvantages and disabilities s e e k i n g employment in construction and retail, so that they can achieve a higher quality of life through self-sufficiency. Plus, Building Value offers an excellent service to our community with i t s Venice on Vine provides paid on the job training to deconstruction people that might otherwise be considered unemployable. s e r v i c e s , reusable building they employ more than 140 people who materials center, and product are visually impaired in printing, reconstruction from recycled materials. producing paper products, and contract They have saved literally tons of usable manufacturing. In this way, Clovernook building materials from landfills, while benefiting individuals in need. Sarah Center’s mission is “Helping Women Help Themselves.” Their services promote the development of skills that enhance the lives of the women they serve, and their families, while also meeting their immediate needs. They offer jewelry and quilting programs, card making, painting, and business classes that encourage women to take on entrepreneurial endeavors. The jewelry and crafts that the women make are sold at consignment or art shows, as well as their annual Christmas sale. Cincinnati consumers can add to the success of our local social enterprises by seeking out their products and services, and asking local retailers to offer their products. Buying Fair Trade is another way of supporting social enterprises from other countries. Not all Fair Trade merchandise is a social enterprise, in the strictest sense, but a lot of it is. The Fair Trade label does mean that farmers and workers are treated and paid fairly for their work. A lot of Fair Trade organizations also seek to offer further benefits to their workers. Elizabeth Whitton is passionate about natural, conscious, and compassionate living. She resides with her family in Price Hill, and works downtown at local retailer Park + Vine. �STREETVIBES Page 8 by Lynne Ausman The next big movement among advocates for homeless and impoverished individuals is to end predatory lending. We all know them – the payday lenders we see on every corner of every low income neighborhood in Ohio. In fact, there are more payday lenders than there are McDonalds, Wendy’s and Burger King’s in Ohio, COMBINED! They are strategically placed near day labor halls and other low-income employers and it seems like every other commercial on television is saying you can get a $200 payday advance and only pay $203 in return. Sounds like a great deal, until it is time to pay back that loan. A $300 loan can take two years to pay off! But what if there was a responsible lender that refused to take advantage of people in poverty? What if there was a lender that did not require collateral? Good news – There is! In 1974, Muhammad Yunus’ native Bangladesh suffered a terrible famine, causing thousands to starve to death. The Vanderbilt University educated doctor of economics felt inspired instead of defeated. Yunus started small, with $27 (American dollars) loans to 42 families and a firm belief that this would be a cost effective and empowering way to fight poverty in rural Bangladesh. The only requirement: that the family REUTERS/Rafiquar Rahman The Grameen Bank: Combating Poverty through Microfinance WOMAN WAITS TO RETURN BANK LOAN INSTALMENT IN VILLAGE OF BASTA. Banesa Khatun (L), a user of Grameen Bank’s microcredit scheme, says the microcredit scheme Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus introduced in Bangladesh 30 years ago lifted her from the poorest of the poor to a respectable, self-dependent woman. repays the loan when they can and it is used for self-employment. And with this small amount of money, the Grameen Bank was born, based on the idea of microfinance lending. Yunus went even further than giving loans with no collateral – he gave loans to women, an unheard of concept in Bangladesh even in the 21st century. 97% of loans are to women, and even PROFESSOR MOHAMMAD YUNUS speaks to Reuters in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka January 19, 2004. Yunus, 63, is the founder of Grameen Bank, which has made more than $4 billion in tiny loans to poor Bangladeshis, providing a lifeline for millions and a banking model that has been copied in more than 100 nations from the United States to Uganda. more impressive, 98% of loans are repaid. More than half of borrowers have risen from poverty. The Grameen Bank measures this by a set of standards including: having education for all school-aged children, three meals a day for each household member, a sanitary toilet, a rainproof house, clean drinking water, and the ability to repay 300 taka (Bangladesh currency) a week – roughly $8 US dollars. The Grameen Bank started in Bangladesh, a small country in South Asia, but its program has reached to the far corners of the earth. The Grameen Bank has programs in China, East Timor, India, Cameroon, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, El Salvador, Mexico, Haiti, and the United States. In the United States, the Partner microfinance institutions are Project Enterprise in New York City and The PLAN Fund in Dallas, Texas. In October 2006, the Grameen Bank and founder Muhammad Yunus were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts to create economic and social development from below.” For more information go to: http://www.grameenfoundation.org http://www.grameen-info.org REUTERS/Rafiquar Rahman From the Front Desk by Linda Pittman Wow! Did we ever have Dog Days of Summer or what? Thank goodness for air conditioning at the Coalition and our clients were grateful for a place to cool off and get some good ice cold water – and coffee; yes, the coffee consumption has not dwindled that much with the heat. I guess we true coffeeholics will drink it under any conditions. And thanks to a couple of donations (please keep them coming, we always need coffee supplies), we have been able to accommodate everyone. I just do not tolerate the heat well, and it seemed as though it was much hotter in Over the Rhine than the suburbs. The heat has been nasty to the homeless and those outside this summer. Many people are feeling the effects the hot days and high humidity. This summer has proved to me that the summer is just as hard as the winter to be homeless. I would also like to thank our volunteer, Susan Smith, for bringing in materials, including ice, to make iced tea when it was so hot. Everyone enjoyed her hospitality. Just to let you know, I will be on a medical leave beginning in September. I’m having a total knee replacement done and I am not looking forward to it, but hopefully the end result will be worth it. I will be at home recuperating with the Coalition’s mascot, Sparky, for about 6­ 8 weeks. I will have a temporary replacement so the front lobby will be open. �STREETVIBES Page 9 NASNA Sparks Reader Survey by Andy Freeze I had the opportunity to attend the North American Street Newspaper Association from July 26 – July 29. The conference was held in Portland, Oregon and saw over 17 street newspapers in attendance. The goal of the conference was to network, get feedback, and provide technical assistance to papers. I had the opportunity to sit in various workshops covering layout and design, fundraising strategies, guerilla journalism, and various reporting techniques. One thing that I took away from the conference was some amazing contacts with people who have been working with street newspapers for decades. Their advice and guidance is invaluable. We, Streetvibes, hope that we can continue to improve our paper and continue to report on the often overlooked stories of homelessness and poverty here in our community. But we need your continued support to bring you these stories. That is why we are doing a reader survey to better understand who is reading Streetvibes and how we can report on activities that you want to read. Please take our reader survey by visiting our website and following the link. Our website is www.cincihomeless.org. Thank you for taking our survey and for your continued support of the vendors and the Streetvibes Program. Please Take Our Readers Survey @ cincihomeless.org More Information About the Drop Inn Center’s Move by Jessie Rose Berne Downtown Cincinnati is proving more and more to be a positive example of how working together can create the best kind of environment; one where everybody thrives. In a recent decision between the School for Creative and Performing Arts and the Drop Inn Center, two organizations show an earnest determination to help not only each other, but the community as a whole. The SCPA has offered the Drop Inn Center a chance to create their ideal space for a new transitional housing facility in exchange for their buildings at 12th and Elm Streets, in order that the school can remain in one location. This collaboration is especially appropriate as both music and homeless awareness are endangered topics within school programs and diminishing in importance to the public consciousness. This convergence will spark new potential for both institutions and ultimately help to preserve and improve the quality services for the homeless that the Drop Inn Center has been well-known for providing, such as; three daily meals, sleeping quarters, laundry, rehabilitation counseling, and an overall welcoming environment for anyone in need. The new site will be located on McMicken Street in Over-the-Rhine and will be a complete renovation of a vacated property, with a full-time counseling staff, laundry facility, security cameras, and courtyard access to the community garden. This union brings a win win excitement for a new start towards a society where injustice and miscommunication will be overthrown by an artistic Renaissance and a prevailing human compassion that will continue to demand that the basic needs of all are equally important and provided for in this land of plenty. �STREETVIBES Page 10 Housing Ex-Offenders: Identifying Barriers & Proposing Solutions Friday, October 12, 2007 10am-4pm YWCA of Columbus’ Huntington Hall 65 S. Fourth Street Columbus, Ohio A conference to discuss the barriers ex-offenders face when trying to find housing, the tools necessary to overcome these barriers and strategies for getting clients out of the shelter system and into permanent housing. Keynote Speakers: • ODRC Reentry Administrator Angi Lee • University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Assistant Professor Stephen Metraux For more information contact Lynne at 513/421-7803 x11. Registration available at http://www.columbushomeless.org/ The Ohio Coalition of Homeless Advocates’ (OCHA) mission is to eradicate homelessness by promoting collaboration and advocacy within the State of Ohio among local coalitions. The group represents five regions in Ohio to coordinate statewide advocacy, exchange information and idas and develop statewide projects that benefit homeless individuals. Current OCHA members include: the Appalachian Rural Coalition for the Homeless in Ohio, Inc (Southeast Ohio)., the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, the Northeast Ohio Coaliton for the Homeless, the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, and The Other Place (Dayton). �STREETVIBES Page 11 The Difficulty of Living the Story Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing, and Crow Call. This column is part of a monthly series on poverty and addiction Tell someone you are a substance abuse counselor, and you are likely to hear something on the order of, “Oh, that must be so hard.” Or, “That must be so stressful.” But I get paid to listen to people tell me their stories. How hard is that? Sometimes, I have to tease some of the story out and it takes some skill and a few tricks that you learn over the years. But the fact is, this is not a hard job: I sit at a desk in a comfortable office and people tell me their stories. I have some paperwork and some meetings, but I have a nice comfortable office with a nice desk and a nice comfortable chair. It beats the hell out of the seat of a forklift. I’ve had that job too, and I was nearly cut in half one shift by another forklift whose driver wasn’t paying attention. I made it out of that one by jumping ship. I haven’t had to jump out of my office chair once. So this is an easy job; I listen to stories. Three Little Pigs What’s hard is living the stories. But that is for the person on the other side of the desk. Some of the stories I hear are humorous. A young man just told me his version of the Three Little Pigs, —ghetto style— in which the pigs are crack heads and the wolf is a dealer with a Cadillac and gold teeth who —as in the fairy tale— comes to a bad end. But the man’s own tormented story, which he tells me in a jokey rapid-fire clip, involves a constant hustle to stay one step ahead of the police and his own demons. It appears he’s not ready to stop living that story, but living it must be very hard. Small wonder that he seeks to dull the pain with alcohol or whatever else is available. But he has survived in part because he is a good entertainer. He makes it easy to hear his story. Other stories will simply break your heart. Courts I hope I will break no one’s anonymity in telling this story, but it was a long time ago and most of it was in the papers and on the news. A man was living in a garage in Over-the-Rhine with his five children. Someone had let him stay in the garage because he had nowhere else to go. I forget given all that was stacked against him. The court could the ages, but I believe the oldest of the children was order any number of things, but the court could not only ten or twelve. It was night-time and he left them order a change in how we treat addicts and their alone to go for something for them all to eat. It seemed families in poverty. like the right thing to do. They were all in their makeshift If you sentence a man or woman to prison, you beds, so he went out to sentence their families as well. Kroger’s and swore he would man or woman who goes to If you sentence a man or The be right back. prison suffers —I hear their I forget exactly how it woman to prison, you stories every working day— but happened or what season it does the family back at home. sentence their families so was. It might have been winter Two years without a mother, and he was heating the garage as well three years without a father, what with a kerosene stove. Or it happens to a child left behind? might have been summer and the wiring was faulty. I What happens to the wife or husband left behind? only remember that the garage was the only place he There is a whole social apparatus for the rehabilitation could go with the children and that he had to go get of the person who is convicted. That system is groceries and that he was alone with the children notoriously inefficient, ineffective, discriminatory, and because his wife was in court-ordered treatment. destructive of its own goals, but it does sometimes Somehow, while he was fetching those groceries work the way it is supposed to work and the convicted for those children, the garage caught fire and went up one has at least a place to live, health care (more or in flames. It went up quickly and burned so thoroughly less), a chance to go to school (sometimes), therapy that there was no hope of saving the children. The for what brought them there, and some guidance on people who came to watch had to hold him back to how to avoid crime in the future. keep him from going into the flames, No one could But the family gets nothing of the sort and the save them and all five died. children are left without a parent and the spouses are A week or so later, I saw the mother in a meeting. left to battle for themselves a way to survive. She had other women in support around her, and she Please pardon my rant. spoke briefly, with a calm voice, about her feelings. Hope for Hope I was glad to see her there, and I was glad she This is a story from ten or fifteen years ago. I was still in recovery. But I can only imagine what she know nothing more of the man or the woman. I can must have felt that day. I can only imagine what she only hope they are doing well. But could such a wound feels now. ever heal? Who would blame her if the pain becomes What I feel, though, is anger. too great and she relapses? Who is going to fault the The court could order the woman away into man if the guilt and pain become too much and he treatment, but the court could not order the man a weakens when the dope boy says, “I got something decent place to live with his children. The court could for you?” order the woman to stay thirty or sixty days in a facility, I hope they haven’t taken that path. I pray they but the court could not order some help for the man don’t. with his five children. The court could consider child But I do not know how I would live with such a endangerment charges for the man (though I believe story. the charges were considered but never filed). But the court need not consider how the man was to manage UN Deploys Peacekeeping Troops by Lynne Ausman In the July issue of Streetvibes, we covered the increasing turmoil in the Darfur region of the Sudan; highlighting the conflict and the lack of international cooperation and collaboration. Until recently, the United Nations (UN) have not been able to determine if the conflict is truly a genocide because the fighting is so severe that crossing the border is too risky for humanitarian aide volunteers and peace keepers. In addition, the Sudanese government has prohibited the UN from entering the country. The result was that the only peace keeping force allowed to enter was the African Union (AU). The AU force is small and inexperienced and – along with the rest of the international community – is begging for the UN to become more involved. However, the UN has found a way to enter the region. The Security Council voted unanimously to establish a hybrid force of both UN and AU troops. The hybrid force will be under AU command. The Sudanese government agreed to a larger peacekeeping force due to international pressure. In addition to a new, larger, hybrid peacekeeping force, the Security Council will also allow the use of force to defend troops, civilians and aid workers. The new hybrid force is expected to be deployed within sixty days. This mission will add 26,000 new UN peacekeepers to the previous 7,000 AU peacekeepers. There is hope for this new force; however, cooperation from the Sudanese government is not likely. Aid agencies feel that the government is impeding their efforts by allowing the Janjaweed (a government-allied militia) to attack aid workers and food convoys. Iraq War Realities Mental Illness As many as 1 out of every 10 soldiers from the war on terror has been evacuated to the Army’s biggest hospital in Europe for mental problems. Between 8 and 10 percent of nearly 12,000 soldiers from the war on terror, mostly from Iraq, have been treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany had “psychiatric or behavioral health issues,” according to the commander of the hospital, Col. Rhonda Cornum. That means about 1,000 soldiers were evacuated for mental problems. The hospital has treated 11,754 soldiers from the war on terror, with 9,651 from Iraq and the rest from Afghanistan, according to data released by the hospital. The Cost of War In Iraq $449,721,800,182 as of August, 07 7,793,721 - Public school teacheres could have been hired for one year 4,049,317 Additional housing unites could have been built 59,565,741 - Children could have attended Head Start for a year 269,294,277 - Children could have been insured for a year 21,801,510 - Students who could have received four year scholarships at public universities �STREETVIBES Page 12 Street Soccer World Cup Kicks Off in Denmark by Laura Thompson Osuri, Street News Service Five hundred homeless and formerly homeless individuals from 48 countries ascended on Copenhagen, Denmark, in early August for the Fifth Annual Homeless World Cup. Players competed to become the world’s champion team in street soccer. For many of them, the tournament will also represent a huge step toward improving their lives. “The Homeless World Cup is an event that can change the life of anyone, not simply to help them become a professional footballer,” said Didier Drogba, a supporter of the tournament who plays professional soccer with England’s Chelsea Football Club. After last year’s Homeless World Cup, a survey showed that nearly three-quarters of the 368 players said their lives changed for the better. More than a third secured regular employment and nearly half the players improved their housing situation. Many of the national teams this year already have inspiring stories to tell. The Liberian team helped give war-torn orphans a reason to live. The Indian team used football to move young people away from drugs and the slums. England’s team trained with the legendary Manchester United soccer club. Street soccer has also started changing the lives of U.S. players. Most notably, seven out of the eight players have found housing over the last year. One example is Pop Miller, 24, who was homeless for 18 months before joining the street soccer program. Miller just moved into a place of his own. He credits soccer as the positive outlet that has kept him away from selling drugs and other activities that got him in trouble in the past. The U.S. national street soccer team has been practicing all year in Charlotte, N.C., under the guidance of the Urban Ministries Center. The players and coaches were confident they can beat their 46th out of 48 ranking from last year’s Homeless World Cup. “Our results in Copenhagen are not as important as the positive changes that have occurred in the players’ lives,” said Lawrence Cann, who coaches the U.S. national street soccer team. “But I am excited about the leadership on the team and I definitely expect us to do better than previous years.” The Homeless World Cup concept evolved out of a 2001 bet between Harald Schmied, editor of the Austrian street paper, Megaphon, and Mel Young, co-founder of The Big Issue Scotland. The first Homeless World Cup was held in Graz, Austria, in 2003, with annual tournaments ever since. Participation has grown every year. The tournament consists of a series of 4-on-4 soccer matches played on a walled field the size of a tennis court. This year, the Crown Prince of Denmark attended the final match. As of this writing the games were in progress so there are no scores to report. Reprinted from Street Sense © Street News Service www.streetnewsserivce.org The US Team at the Homeless World Cup. Missed a copy of Streetvibes? Check out the Streetvibes archive on the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ website at http://www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html Stupid Iraq Quotes “My answer is bring ‘em on.” ­ President George W. Bush “I think they’re in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.” - Vice President Dick Cheney. Freedom’s untidy and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things.” – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. “We found the weapons of mass destruction.” - President Bush, in an interview with Polish television, May 29, 2003. “Oh, no, we’re not going to have any casualties.” - President Bush, discussing the Iraq war with Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson. “It’s a slam-dunk case!” - CIA Director George Tenet, discussing WMD and the case for war. �STREETVIBES Page 13 How the President Ended Poverty: A True Story of the Future by Michael Stoops On Inauguration Day, I, President (fill in the blank), hereby proclaim that I will no longer accept homelessness and poverty in this rich country. I, like Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson before me, declare poverty to be one of the biggest issues facing America. One in eight Americans lives in poverty and the numbers are rising. Let’s call it an adjustment of American priorities that will take place not in 10 years, but in my first term in office. We will end our legacy of imperialism and use the money to address our new priority of eliminating poverty at home. The First 24 Hours of My Presidency After finishing my rather long Inaugural speech, I will return to the White House lawn where I will pitch a tent and live outside until we achieve the goal of ending poverty in America. I’ll take along my cell phone and a laptop, so I can conduct the country’s business. The First Spouse will join me as well. The First 100 Days of My Presidency I will forego my $400,000 annual salary and instead will work as your president at minimum wage. In other words, I will be making $7 an hour, as per the established federal minimum wage regulations. If I work at least 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, I will earn about $379,616 less than my predecessor. I will not move back inside until every American is permanently housed. I will then start to pay rent like any other American, 30% of my minimum-wage salary. I will invite my closest neighbors, the homeless people living across the street in Lafayette Park, to stay in the various unused bedrooms in the White House in what can only be called the “best public housing in the country.” Emergency Measures I will order every government building to stay open at night so it can function as an emergency night shelter. I will ask churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques to do the same. Homeless emergency shelters will function like the emergency rooms of hospitals where you can stay as long as you need. Children, who make up 25% of the total h o m e l e s s population, will be the first ones to get help so they do not become the homeless adults of the future. All local, state and federal elected officials will be required to spend a week living on the streets in the largest city of their respective home states until every American is housed. They will receive food stamps and the same health care benefits as the poorest among us. We will ask Congress to reduce the salary of every federal elected official and every executive branch official to the same monthly amount received by those on Social Security disability. This will keep the officeholders in touch with the almost 40 million Americans who live below the poverty line. I will ask Congress to pass legislation making it illegal for cities to adopt laws targeting homeless people for acts such as sleeping, camping, sitting or panhandling. All homeless persons who so desire will receive a donated laptop computer so they can connect with the rest of the world and use the Internet to help them get out of their homelessness and low-income status. Long-Term Solutions I will restore the federal lowincome housing budget to what it was back in 1979 – $83 billion compared to $33.6 billion today. I will work with the mayors of American cities to create a federal housing policy. The countless abandoned buildings that plague our inner cities will be turned over to nonprofits or municipalities, which will provide resources and training for homeless or lowincome people to repair these homes. This will be a 21st-century version of the Homestead Act of 1860. People released from prison or mental health and alcohol treatment centers will be guaranteed admission to halfway houses with employment, case management and counseling services. This will end the established practice of releasing them to the streets without support, setting them up for failure. I will come up with a 21st-century version of President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps programs. My inspiration for this approach comes from the late President Ronald Reagan, who said, “I think the best possible social program is a job.” The minimum wage will henceforth be replaced by a universal living wage. At that time, I will make my salary the living wage. Health insurance will be free or lowcost if you are homeless or low-income and expensive if you happen to be rich. For homeless and low-income people with disabilities, I declare these citizens are entitled to treatment on demand for mental health and substance abuse issues. State and federal voting laws will be liberalized, making it easier for homeless and low-income people to vote. No photo ID or mailing address may be required. As commander in chief, I make a commitment that no persons who serve their country in our armed forces shall be allowed to become homeless. Victims of domestic violence, a leading cause of homelessness among women, will no longer be forced to flee their homes and wind up on the streets or in shelters. Rather, the victims will stay put and the batterers will be sent to jail or to shelters designed for them. Eliminating Root Causes I will ask Congress to adopt the right to housing and health care for all our citizens, even if they cannot afford it, like in many other countries around the world. I will make two- or four-year college education free to young people in exchange for national service. An education is the best way to break out of poverty. I will build a “Museum on Poverty” on the Mall in the nations capital to remind Americans how poverty remained unchecked in the last century and for the first 10 years of this new one. Poverty will be something of our past, not of the present, or our future. The inspiration for this pledge to end poverty in 21st-century America comes from Upton Sinclair’s “I, Governor of California and How I Ended Poverty, A True Story of the Future, 1934.” Part I of this story was published in June 2007. Michael Stoops is the acting executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Coalition for the Homeless. Reprinted from Street Sense © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org New Civil Rights Advocate Begins Work at Coalition by Greg Olkhovsky After graduating from Xavier University in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degraee in English and Organizational Communication, I am the new Civil Rights advocate at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. For the next year, I will participate in the ongoing mission of eradicating homelessness while serving as an Americorps VISTA. This is a new phase in my life in which I am very excited about. Born and raised in the District of Columbia metropolitan area, I moved to Cincinnati in pursuit of a college education. Being born the son of two teachers and the brother of another, education, dedication, and commitment have been instilled in my upbringing. It is my sister ’s selflessness and compassion towards others that have influenced my desire and enhanced my moral obligation to give back to communities in need. During my years in D.C., I was active in my church’s youth group. I participated in numerous acts of service to the homeless such as serving in soup kitchens, volunteering at homeless shelters and organizing various food drives. I continued this interest in service work throughout my time at Xavier. My most memorable experience with volunteering occurred in March 2007. With twelve other people, I traveled to New Orleans to assist in cleaning up the unimaginable debris that Hurricane Katrina left behind. For a week straight we worked at gutting and cleaning houses that were at the mercy of Katrina. We successfully gutted four houses during this week. Although “only” four houses may seem like a minimal achievement to some, we knew that our work meant the world to the owners of the houses and also meant the world to ourselves. It was this service trip to New Orleans earlier this year that solidified my calling in providing service work to society. I have grown fond of helping those in need in anyway possible. I am excited at the opportunity of working to improve Over-The-Rhine. Even though we may be faced with some challenges along the way, it is my ambition and desire to see improvement in this community that gives me the strength to succeed in this fabulous journey. I am privileged to serve as the new Civil Rights advocate for the Homeless Coalition. �STREETVIBES Page 14 Mercy A poem for voices by Stan Burriss less than you know ... when I was a child, I knew less around and around, I was happy and laughed. Day followed day, when my mother would feed me, and raise me and tell me the stories of Jesus, or home — He had no home! where He lived with the goats and the children. With others. With the other children in your mother’s arms, you learned the stories. You ate the soup, the breakfast food. You learned the stories you were being told at home, and at church, and now, you’re old enough to know to each, his own! Her own. You eat food, draw more thoughts with the words you’ve learned- make money, if money is around - or shorn or square! Anywhere in-between with your name in-between ... ... and choose your own church. Sunday is the day, if you work, you know. God! You eat well enough. You know well enough, that you are a child of the church. You eat well enough. You work for your money (that hourly wage and the Word, God’s Word, are enough, bye-and-bye!) Enough, given help from your brother, hungry or less ... ALL: MERCY! MERCY! MERCY! (Money...) - MERCY!! MERCY! MERCY! MERCY! (Money...) - MERCY!! Patriotic Duty Cabin Fever by Virginia Conn I’m freezing, so I tack flannel sheets under the blinds, discovering the frost has resurrected the finger oils of someone named Linda. Twice the precise lettering appears, well out of reach of a child’s hand. The window overlooks the street. I’ve stood there, impatient for mail or visitors, yet this is the first I’ve heard from her. I scan my studio for other traces, blaming her for the erratic nails, especially one eye level screw, dead center, that no painting hangs from comfortably. I start to attribute other mischief to her; misplaced keys and night knocks, then fear she may be trapped, the bitter cold compelling her to contact me. ”I never got out. It never warmed up.” I keep checking the pane for further word. by Reneene Robertson “This is my patriotic duty for today” read the simple handmade sign on his chest. He looked of an age to have served in ‘Nam. Without the sign you would not have looked twice at him. May have even tried to avoid looking once at him. Even though he looked clean, he appeared to have been living on the streets for a while. He had an air of selfsufficiency that had been cultivated for a long time. When the police vehicles began moving toward the peaceful group assembled in front of the King County Jail, he stepped to the front of the crowd to line up with the others who chose positions on the outer flank. Volunteering for the front line. Again. “This is my patriotic duty for today” his sign stated. And he performed his duty with shoulders back, head high, and a fierce glow of pride on his face. Perhaps society had thrown him away, but he was still willing to put his body on the line to protect the Constitution of this fair country. To guarantee other peaceful citizens the right to express their views, regardless of violent, repressive moves by the police, he would once again fight the good fight by not fighting at all. His presence was enough. “This is my patriotic duty for today” Your duty was well done, friend. Thank you. I remind myself: It is winter everywhere. Outside, Buffalo trudges past, layered in clothes like shuck on corn. Like that screw, an act of defiance, Linda versus concrete, in relief of the wide white wall. Deception by Jessie Rose The light of deception Blinds the soul from sympathy For it knows not how to change What it does not see That There are so many Desperate and trying Is no matter to deceit Or the minds drugged with its treat For all that they give to eat is adreadful defeat Hallucinated daydreams by Sara Lynne Tucker The line between fantasy and reality fades as I dance upon it. I am a dancer A dreamer. A hoper. A clinger. To false hope and hallucinated daydreams. Fantasies and fairy tales are brought on by the imaginations of beautiful minds. Just a mere fabrication of what could happen If playing pretend was brought to life. Box forts become war zones. Regions of the backyard become kingdoms. Ragged old playclothes turned to icons of elegance. Why not leave it at pretend? Let the imagination work And create wondrous fairy tales and fantasies for dreamers. La Isla Giving Her the Eye by Barney Egan A beauty stood on a balcony high, Sneezed and lost her blue glass eye. A young man walking down The Strand Caught the flashing eye-ball one hand. Invited up to receive her thanks He drooled on her features, figure, flanks. While dining on champagne and chicken These strangers felt their heart beats quicken, Gazed into each others eyes, imperfections indiscernible, Including the eye-ball that proved to be returnable. Over croissants and coffee in the morning The young man felt suspicion dawning, Said, “Would you do this for just any passerby?” “Oh no!” she said, “He’d have to catch my eye”. by Jose Ornelas He would run barefoot down Paisano St. toward La Isla where the grey cinderblock houses didn’t have running water but alma y corazon were plentiful. The river surrounded his neighborhood on three sides, just like a big American hug, welcoming and promising. There, mama would be making tortillas by the glare of a bare lightbulb. The side to side slap of the dough would continue to be a welcome rhythm of childhood memory. A few years later the new projects in the second barrio seemed like a dream, residents could borrow the lawn mower once a week! Here the sidewalks were not broken, there was a real lawn and street lights. The best part of course was that Marcelino, his best friend, lived down the hall. Time and again a new roof would signal a new start. Until the American dream became a reality in the suburbs; his very own lawnmower now occupied the other spot in the two car garage. But no matter where he ever was, the barrio, in the barracks, or on Main Street, it was never home until the tortillas came off the flame, hot, crispy and familiar. �STREETVIBES Page 15 Spaghetti by Wendy Nakashima First we make the dough for the noodles. Then we run it through the pasta cutter; it makes long noodles. Then the sauce: Sauce bubbles singing sauce, sauce... Peppers settle in for a long hot bath. Mushrooms simmer and begin to float... Onion cries Too hot! Too hot! Garlic says more of me... Meat and cheese begin to fight NO me! No me! Newsies by Paul von Kempf, JR. Can you hear our call Echo Down through the corridors of time. ”EXTRA, EXTRA, read all about it; Stock market crashes, thousands out of work”. Society how can we buy your products now? mom in a store your child is a small shopper. What does your small shopper buy. Writers! Submit your Poetry to Streetvibes - email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Stories and Poetry Are Due The Second Friday Of The Month Sitting by Wendy Nakashima We set around the table talking with people we know... We watch the creativity flow... We are aware that one person refuses to ask for help for fear of not being accepted We become aware that one person has the feeling of despair Why Because cash money is much better than welfare... When you don’t know me it might be hard to see I am not interested in keeping up with the Joneses That’s just not me... Sotally Tober by David Hudgins Starkle starkle little twink who the heck you are I think I’m not under what you call the alcofluence of incohol I’m just a little slort of sheep I’m not drunk like tinkle peep I don’t know who is me yet but the drunker I stand here the longer I get Just give me one more drink to fill me cup ‘cuz I got all day sober to Sunday up. The Sonata of the Lucky Homeless by Susan Osterman man standing catatonic lace and barbarism shopping bag man no longer tried to be charming the emphasis is on survival not looks or charm who can charm rich tourists he says or rich new yorkers the street is my home not my mating ground first dates are a luxury went right by me i didn’t even notice it let alone regret or miss it my family didn’t bother to put me in an institution or was i deinstitutionalized is that like depersonalized all these big words i’m entirely dependent on the kindness of strangers Violent Eye by Jimmy Heath The curb has an edge, an angry, filthy boundry, that begs for your head. “Would you like a good stompin’?” Where face and soul meet stone? Or would you rather beg to die another way? Knees bent on dirty asphalt. The avenue bends in sorrow, baking in the sun. Making the children cry, and drag their tiny feet through broken glass. And trash, and cans, and urine, and blood. Sent What is poetry to me? by Wes Browning Your head, an orange, a pencil up my nose. A lost weekend, found in my pants. Chocolate cake, vanilla snake. The passing fancy, the staying plain. X marks the spot. Anybody got an eraser? by Heather Gearhardten sing a song of violation equivocation demarcation supplication tribulation and truncation sing a song of subterfuge a deadly ruse loving abuse and splitting in twos and no way to choose sing a song of fighting free a warrior’s creed survival fees ptsd and healing mes. by Kenneth Churchill Snoring...on the city steps, boots used as a pillow, arms folded... Dream a Homeless man, fifties-like never to be young again, sedated by sleep... Rest, in freedom from smoke and noise Safe, unless some sets him on fire. Oblivion. Head, yet empty of bullets, but composed for machete-hack job, waiting... Or, nose tickled by feather of child, orphan from parent. Body members still intact... Oblivious...Oblivious dreams of kingdom, warmth, love, safety. Mind, soulfully soaring about the Planet, touches, wonderful flowers, in ever changing fields of vision, and permissible escape from humans, thunder, and rain. Held up, by the bricks, walked on by me ants, skin, burned by the Sun. Glanced at, by the strangers of the city. Long, from the place of cornfield and bean. Sold out, by family and Nation to me place of no Home. Unknown. He spins, on a PLANET IN SPACE, WITH ENORMOUS TRIBES AND UNIVERSE. Cold, from the deepest heat, warm from the fall of snow, out of place above water, unwanted in view. Left, by me womb of escape and addiction, in a nasty world...a very nasty world... With plenty of time eternal. Creation... Exist by death, unto the place of Spirit and Peace. Lost, from the folds of industry... Tried, by the Judgment of Life. Run down, by the horses of fear. Lost, by the measure of man. Loved, by the Man of me Cross.... Hides not, the Homeless being.... Walks not, the tired man. Beats on...the pulse of life, waiting for the dreamer, Inside the dreamer near. Boots used as a pillow sleep. Doorway... Building... Homeless man. � 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 2007 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 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cincinnati Homeless Man Shot to Death for Panhandling A Clean Victory for Cincinnati Janitors Pg 2: Vendors Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Ashamed for Us First Amendment Abridged at Fountain Square Pg 5: Project Connect Collaborates with Feed the Children Pg 6: Peace Bowl Comes to Halt at the Sound of Gun Shots Atlanta’s Only Public Hospital Might Close its Doors Pg 7: Cincinnati Middle School Student Collects Socks for the Homeless Social Enterprises Aim to Make a Difference in Community Pg 8: The Grameen Bank: Combating Poverty Through Microfinance Pg 9: NASNA Sparks Reader Survey Pg 10: Ohio Coalition of Homeless Advocates Pg 11: The Difficulty of Living the Story Pg 12: Street Soccer World Cup Kicks Off in Denmark Pg 13: How the President Ended Poverty 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 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Greg Olkhovsky Kenneth Cheruiyot Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Susan Smith Leigh Tami Cat Shim Rafiquar Rahman Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF addiction Andy Freeze Atlanta Cat Shim Cincinnati civil rights Denmark Drop Inn Center education First Amendment Fountain Square Georgine Getty Grameen Bank Greg Olkhovsky Homeless News Digest Iraq Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kenneth Cheruiyot Leigh Tami Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Melvin Williams NASNA panhandling Peace Bowl President Rafiquar Rahman Soccer Students Susan Smith United Nations World Cup https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/2266c3c061c2f7d95b7d70dd4f63ff15.pdf 3575aabe61588ec3b051cd28eaa1f062 PDF Text Text August, 2007 lar l o D e n O STREETVIBES Page 1 Streetvibes “I Am So Sick of ‘Out’ Food” Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other…Blessing of the Apaches by Elissa Pogue Children experiencing homelessness, a phrase, a concept, so unbelievable in this day and age in our society, it never really strikes home, settles in on that level of believability …. denial, any kind of protection from the truth, pops up after you come face to face with their reality. And their reality is not always one we expect. Homelessness, which conjures up images of shelters, overcrowded, maybe, but shelters, nonetheless, can mean many things to children and families experiencing it. Michelle, a young teenager, is attending school in the east end of Cincinnati. We spent time together on the school’s playground steps every time I was at her school. Today, she was more talkative than usual. “I am so sick of ‘out food,’ Ms. Pogue,” she said. She sat hunched over herself, head low, hair in her face. “I’ve never ever been this heavy! My dad gets me a hamburger and fries every night from Wendy’s. We don’t have a way to cook or keep things cold. So we eat ‘out food’ every day. The thing I really miss about having a home is a place to cook.” Michelle’s family is a somewhat rare one: two parents living together with their three children, Michelle and her two younger brothers. They have been homeless for three years, living in and out of their van, sometimes in motels, sometimes with family until they wear out their welcome. “We had a nice house. Then my dad lost his job. We are going back to that house, when we get the money.” We both knew the house she had been living in was condemned and her family could not move back there anytime soon. Michelle has never lived in a shelter. It was weeks after attending school that she opened up to a supportive teacher about her living situation. Parents and children experiencing homelessness are understandably unwilling to report their homelessness to schools, agencies and community organizations out of fear, shame, and a sense of frustration at having to tell the story over and over to Published by Jimmy Heath photos new people in new situations on a daily or weekly basis. Families Who Are Doubled Up Often Don’t See Themselves as Homeless Children and families experiencing homelessness are often invisible. They move in with friends or relatives for periods of time, depending on the situation. This is called doubling up and children in this situation are considered homeless and are, therefore, eligible for services under the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act. In the school year, 2006-07, Project Connect identified and worked with 1036 children living in homeless shelters. A surprising 810 students lived in motels or a doubled up situation and received our services. The number of doubled up families served by us locally increased by 33%. Nationally, the numbers of doubled up children and families is growing so fast that there are new initiatives to help parents and professionals understand that children who are doubled up with family members, friends, or living in motels, trailers, are considered homeless and qualify for services. The following statements are true: Under The Federal Definition of Homeless under the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act of 2001: · Being doubled up with friends/ relatives is homelessness; · The right to choose to go to the school of origin (where the student attended prior to experiencing homelessness or school last attended) or to the school where the student is now staying is up to the parent/guardian/family/youth; ·Students experiencing homelessness have the right to remain in their school of choice for the length of homelessness and may finish the school year at that school EVEN IF they become permanently housed before the end of the school year; · Transportation to the school of origin must be provided if needed. Cross district transportation costs and arrangements are to be made by the school districts involved; ·Students experiencing homelessness must be immediately enrolled. Schools are responsible for acquiring school records, and cannot deny enrollment due to the lack of medical or residency records. result in losing what feels like everything to children like Michelle. Her story is one of family loyalty, love, and failed resources. Michelle is overburdened and fiercely committed to keeping the family together. Her story has roots in job loss, and all the upheavals this creates in the precious balance today’s families work hard to maintain 24/7. Her story is one of skewed economics, in which there is not enough decent and affordable housing for our children, jobs that pay less than what people need to support their families, and precious little support for all the things that families and workers need for their day to day living– affordable transportation, daycare services, loan assistance. Michelle will attend school next year at her school of origin, where her teachers know her. Finding her voice made this possible. How many children in Michelle’s situation do we miss because we put the burden on them to ask for help? And we wonder why so many of our children act like they are grown? Elissa Pogue is a potter, a teacher of mindfulness meditation, and a social worker with the Cincinnati Public Schools who has worked with children in neighborhoods all across the city. She is coordinator of Project Connect, a Cincinnati Public Schools program that works with families who are experiencing homelessness to help keep children connected with their schools. For more information, There are many other truths to please call 363-1060. address on the issue of children experiencing homelessness: unaccompanied youth, children not in physical custody of their parents; preschoolers; and recent immigrants. Michelle’s family is one of thousands of families that are taking the slow slide from self-sufficiency into homelessness. Many more live on the brink, where some combination of elements, can come together to The Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless �STREETVIBES Page 2 STREETVIBES, Greater Cincinnati’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 lowincome 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. (See this page, right, for more.) 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 Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Kenneth Cheruiyot - AHA Coordinator Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Leigh Tami - Intern Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for one dollar ($1). I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Streetvibes by any other means. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, I am allowed to keep the donation. 2. I will only purchase papers from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Each paper can be purchased for a cost of 25 cents. I will always show my badge when buying papers and if I do not have my badge I cannot buy papers. 3. I will never buy papers from and/or sell papers to other vendors. 4. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, and other vendors – respectfully. I will not use abusive language or force someone to buy a paper. I will not give a “hard sell,” be aggressive, continue to ask after a person has verbally or non-verbally said no or make someone feel threatened. 5. I agree to stay off private property when selling Streetvibes. I will not sell Streetvibes door to door. 6. I understand that I am not an employee of Streetvibes or GCCH but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. 7. I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling Streetvibes. 8. I will not sell Streetvibes or purchase Streetvibes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 9. There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer. 10. I understand that my badge is the property of Streetvibes and I will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing papers and display my badge when selling papers. If I lose my badge I will pay three dollars ($3) for a new one. If my badge becomes ruined because of weather or use, I will get a new badge for one dollar ($1). 11. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. 12. I will not deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a nonprofit charity or that I am collecting for the “homeless” in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes go to me. I will not use the word “donation.” 13. There are special rules for selling at Findlay Market. Only two vendors may sell at Findlay Market at a time. Other rules as established by Streetvibes and Findlay Market. 14. I will attend monthly meetings. Monthly meetings will occur on the first weekday of the month. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. Anyone who cannot make the meeting must meet with Andy, the Education Coordinator, before selling Streetvibes for that month. Ten papers will be given to those who attend the meeting. 15. It is the responsibility of each vendor to police fellow vendors or former vendors. I will report violators of the rules to GCCH. The value of the paper depends on keeping it credible. 16. I understand that any infraction of the above mentioned rules will result in suspension of my privilege to sell Streetvibes and possible termination from the program. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH and must be surrendered upon demand. Where your Dollar Goes Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design Photographers Jimmy Heath, Linda Pittman, Andy Freeze, John Lavelle Cover Kids on Sidewalk, Over-the-Rhine Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or are vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $35 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 Member of: International Network of Street Papers North American Street Newspaper Assn. 75 Cents Goes Directly to Your Vendor Streetvibes is a program of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. 25 Cents Pays for Production Streetvibes Vendor Phone: (513) 421-7803 Streetvibes vendors purchase their papers for 25 cents per copy, then sell them for a $1.00 donation, keeping the 75 cent profit. The money used to purchase the paper goes to the individual vendor. GCCH does not profit from the sale of Streetvibes. Vendors are not fundraising for the Coalition for the Homeless. ANDY Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors ONLY �STREETVIBES Page 3 Bloomington, IN - A homeless man returned the missing wallet of a YMCA of Bloomington-Normal assistant swim coach and was rewarded with a free Y membership for one year. Derrick Clark found the wallet of swim coach Mandy Burge in the YMCA’s overflow parking lot near Home Sweet Home Ministries, said Jeff Boaz, Y membership services coordinator. Clark, who later told Burge that he was a resident of the mission, returned the wallet and its contents to the YMCA. Zandt was so moved by Clark’s action that she offered him the free Y membership. Burge said she got a telephone call from her grandmother on June 14th that Burge’s insurance company called to say that someone had found her wallet. Burge hadn’t realized her wallet was missing. I lost my wallet and didn’t even know,’” Burge recalled this week. She figured that she dropped her wallet earlier in the afternoon when she returned to the Y from lunch. Clark returned the wallet with its contents — debit cards, driver’s license, insurance cards, receipts and pictures — and Burge gave him a thank-you card with $10 and a pamphlet to her church. “I just thank God for putting it on his (Clark’s) heart to return it.” Ramirez, who is being held on $25,000 bail, had possibly been drinking, police said. Palm Springs, CA - A Palm Springs man was arrested last month after allegedly trying to rob a homeless man, according to the Palm Springs Police Department. Dion Clark, 41, approached the driver of a Chevrolet Cavalier parked outside Ralph’s Supermarket and asked if he could wash the windshield for money. The driver, German Reyes Ramirez, 37, took out a gun - which turned out to be a plastic replica revolver - and demanded money from Clark, who ran away and called police, police said. Responding officers found the vehicle, recovered the plastic gun and Clark positively identified Ramirez and the vehicle. Nashville, TN - Nashville police are searching for the driver of a vehicle that ran over a homeless man who ultimately died from his injuries. 69 year-old Wilbur Lee Helms was found shortly before midnight on June 18th by a police officer. Investigators said Helms appeared to be extremely intoxicated and may have been lying in the road when he was struck. Helms died from injuries that doctors said were consistent with injuries from being run over by a vehicle. Authorities do not have any clues about the driver’s identity, but said the hit & run incident happened in downtown Nashville, a few blocks north of Bicentennial Park. Salt Lake City, UT - A Utah woman believes she has found an answer for the world’s homeless: domes. Rebecca South works with the Domes for the World Foundation. In 2006, South and her husband worked with the non-profit organization to erect dome homes for those who survived the 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia. “You can’t even imagine how the people were living,” she told KUTV. Instead of volunteers, each home is built by people native to stricken areas at a cost of less than $5,000 per domicile - money which goes directly into the affected community. The domes, built with rebar and cement, are able to withstand natural disasters - giving both shelter and security to families. Joliet, IL - The Plan to End Homelessness Committee of the Will County Continuum of Care called its recent Open Door Day a success. This event serves as a specialized outreach to people who are chronically homeless. The day is a collaboration of several continuum agencies, including the city of Joliet and Will County, which provide the services these individuals need. On June 18, Morningstar Mission hosted more than 20 agencies and providers of homeless services. Attendees accessed free services such as lunch; showers; laundry facilities; haircuts; health and HIV screenings; and assistance to procure a state ID, Mainstream Benefits information, veterans’ benefits, and employment training information. In addition, new clothing, shoes, phone cards, duffels, personal hygiene kits and bus passes were provided. St r Charlotte, NC - A 49-year-old homeless man was found dead last month in a wooded area in Gastonia, police said. Royce Mathis was stabbed several times, Gastonia police Sgt. Jimmy West said. West said Mathis and other homeless men occasionally stayed in the wooded area off South York Road. Police are trying to determine who made the 911 call around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, West said. Police do not have a suspect at this point, he said. This marks the second homicide in Gastonia this month. On June 9, Elma Ausrella “Jackie” Beard, 49, was fatally stabbed inside her apartment, Gastonia police said. Her boyfriend, Theodore Jordan Jr., was charged with murder, but he has not been located, police said. Daytona Beach, FL - A 10-year-old boy apologized last month for beating and stoning a homeless Army veteran, and a judge ordered him kept in custody until psychiatric evaluations show he is not a threat to others. “I’m sorry for what I did,” the boy said at his juvenile court sentencing, while shackled and wearing an oversized white jumpsuit. “I’m sorry for the names I called John D’Amico. I wish I could go back to that day.” Authorities say two 10-year-olds and a teenager beat D’Amico as he and a friend walked through a crime-ridden neighborhood. One of the younger boys threw a concrete block at D’Amico’s face. Investigators never determined which boy threw the block. D’Amico underwent reconstructive surgery, and he testified that injuries from the attack in March still linger. “He did a lot of damage,” D’Amico, 58, told the judge. “I can’t hear. I can’t see well. I just hope the kid gets some help. You don’t want him to turn out to be a little gangster.” The state Juvenile Justice Department will oversee the boy’s psychiatric evaluations and determine when he is released, said Linda Pruitt, a spokeswoman for state prosecutors. The boy was convicted last month of aggravated battery and has been held in a juvenile detention center. Defense attorney Tonya Cromartie argued he should be released on probation and ordered to receive counseling. “The help he needs can’t be accomplished in a detention facility,” Cromartie said. “It should be done under the direction of a doctor in a hospital.” “I want to do something with my life. I want go to college,” he said. His mother declined to comment outside court. The other young boy pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery in April and was scheduled to be sentenced July 13. He faces up to a year in juvenile detention and now is living with an aunt in Michigan. Cleveland. OH - An agency known for helping the homeless is in need of help. The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless is $70,000 in debt and could close at the end of July. In addition to the services it offers to the homeless, the agency holds candlelight vigils to raise awareness about the problem. The executive director said the situation is the most serious crisis the group has faced in its 18 years. To help, please send donations to: NEOCH, 3631 Perkins Ave., #3A-3, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 eet vib es Buy STREETVIBES From Badged Vendors Only �STREETVIBES Page 4 Mourning in my Own Way OSHA by Elizabeth Byrd and Curt Braman On June 6, 2007, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, cited Rumpke’s Tire Shredders Division with seven safety violations, as a result of its investigation into Scott Johnson’s injury and subsequent death. All violations were classified as “Serious” and included; 1) Open sided floors and platforms not guarded by standard railings, exposing workers to falls of 4-10 feet 2) A lack of standard railings and toeboards adjacent to or above dangerous equipment 3) Exposure to falling into or being caught by feeder rollers of a tire shredder 4) A lack of stairs to areas needed for inspection and maintenance. Employees were observed climbing the guardrails of the shredder to perform these functions 5) Lack of machine guards and exposure to an amputation hazard around the drum drive 6) An amputation hazard from pulleys less than 7 feet from the work area that lacked safety guards 7) An amputation hazard from a belt guard that was not secured and was falling off 8) An amputation hazard from a missing guard around the sprocket wheels and chains on the drum drive. For these violations Rumpke agreed to pay $17,000. Scott Johnson paid with his life. International Network of Street Papers Anti-Poverty Statement of 2007 Street papers make a difference in the battle to alleviate and end poverty and homelessness. We are pioneers in the field of practical and effective intervention to making a positive change in people’s lives. As a global movement, the International Network of Street Papers has proven this model can be replicated around the world, on all continents, to major impact. The street paper model of empowerment and enterprise can be applied beyond the street paper movement. Today, despite decades of efforts by governments and social initiatives, homelessness and poverty continue to increase and erode our society. Therefore, we call on governments of the world to listen to the voice of poverty and create and implement new anti-poverty strategies based on the principles of empowerment and enterprise vested in street papers. We call on corporations to implement corporate social responsibility policies aimed at poverty in their communities and recognize the effectiveness of street papers to support that effort. We call on an informed society to stop viewing people experiencing poverty and homelessness as a threat and part of the problem, and see them as a part of the solution. Nobody should live in poverty in this world, and together we have the obligation and the power to change this. It costs us all more to perpetuate poverty than to end it. We call on all sectors of society to come together in ending the injustice of poverty and to engage street papers as part of that solution. A Tribute to Scottie Johnson by Cleo Wombles My name is Cleo Wombles. I first met Scottie when I was 10 years old. We played basketball, baseball, and football in our younger days. I knew him for over forty years and we became the best of friends. We would at times go to the movies with our friends. Over the years as Scottie and I grew older we used to drink a lot of beer together. We both worked together at various Day Labor jobs. It hurts one’s heart now to know that I will never see him again. He will forever be in my memories Scottie Johnson, from an old photo and in my heart as a friend and like a close brother. To his family, my prayers and condolences go to them. May God bless his family. by Georgine Getty On July 5, I headed to a memorial in honor of Scott Johnson, a day labor worker who died on June 18 from injuries he sustained on the job. Scott was loved by many in Over the Rhine, including Cleo, one of our Streetvibes vendors who knew him for over 30 years. Nast Trinity Church offered their facilities for the memorial and Church of Our Savior provided the food. John Morawetz was there to present on worker safety because Scott died as a result of faulty safety procedures at Rumpke’s Tire Recycling, a job he acquired through TLC temporary labor hall. But I never made it to the memorial. Instead I was detained by a young man and woman, both age 20, and their baby girl, just over a year old. The woman was crying because she had no place for her and the baby to go for the evening. It turns out that this young woman, who is pregnant with her second child, and her boyfriend are both day labor workers. They were homeless that night because they did not earn enough to pay for the hotel room they were staying in. Pastor Gale from Nast Trinity, the receptionist of Emmanuel Community Center and I pooled our mental resources and called around. I was overwhelmed by the kindness of these two extraordinary women as well as the compassion of the agencies we called. Lighthouse Youth Services set an appointment for the next morning to get the young woman into permanent supportive housing. Salvation Army agreed to provide them with emergency shelter for the evening. The Emmanuel Center, seeing how smart and curious the baby was, had the young woman fill out an enrollment form on the spot, even though the baby was two months shy of the age limit. Elizabeth and Thomas from the Day Labor Organizing Project sat outside and talked to the young man, telling him about DLOP’s regular meetings. All in all, it went as well as it could. As I handed back the sleeping baby on the steps of the Salvation Army, I sincerely wished this young couple all of the luck in the world. And then I got angry. I’m angry that Scott Johnson died. I’m angry that his employers couldn’t, no, wouldn’t provide him with the safe workplace he needed to survive. I’m angry that his death was so gruesome, his friends and family so bereaved. I’m always angry when a life is wasted, especially when it’s wasted for something so vile as the greed of the labor halls and the companies that use them to save money. And I’m angry that these two young people, and their beautiful baby, are homeless tonight. I’m angry that they work hard, every day that they can, so that they can support themselves and that today, they just didn’t make it. I’m angry that the young man had to gently lecture the woman on swallowing her pride tonight and going to a shelter, for the good of her babies; the one in her arms and the one on the way. I’m angry that she did have to swallow her pride, which seems to be one of the few things she’d ever been able to depend on. And why? Because the work day labor workers produce is not valued. Because to places like TLC and Labor Ready and Minutemen these two are just warm bodies to stick in terrible jobs and then underpay. It is time for this country to wake up and demand justice for the day labor workers who work every single day only to rest their heads at night in our shelters. It is time for us to stop blaming people for being homeless and look behind their stories to find the men and women who profit from their misery. So I didn’t make it to Scott’s memorial, not today. But I did participate in a wake for a young woman’s pride. And I hope I also witnessed the start of the re-birth of a young family into some sort of better life. Scott Johnson Memorial by Elizabeth Byrd & Curt Braman Forty Day Labor Workers and their supporters from the Clergy, Labor and Community Organizations gathered to remember Scott Johnson at a Memorial Service, called by the Day Labor Organizing Project (DLOP). It was held at Nast Trinity United Methodist Church on July 5, 2007. Following prayer and recollection from those who knew Mr. Johnson, the group reached a consensus that a fitting memorial would be to identify and work to improve the many unsafe working situations Day Labors encounter almost daily. A colleague of Mr. Johnson, who had worked with him at the Rumpke Facility that was the site of his life ending injuries, pointed out that neither she or any other temporary workers received safety training before or during their assignments at Rumpke. Other workers were quick to relate dozens of other hazards they have faced at workplaces across the Cincinnati area. They found common threads of lack of training, safety equipment, properly functioning equipment and oversight in many of these situations. The hour long discussion closed with workers recognizing the need for further discussion and activity that would address workplace safety for Day Laborers. Several workers volunteered to form a Safety Committee with the support of DLOP. Anyone interested in participating should contact Don Sherman at the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center located at 1415 Walnut; 621-5991. �STREETVIBES Page 5 AGENCY SPOTLIGHT Madisonville Education and Assistance Center (MEAC) The Madisonville Education and Assistance Center by Linda Pittman This newest member of our agencies has been in operation since 1986 when 12 community churches and the Madisonville Community Council pooled the community’s resources to better serve individuals and families who reside in the 45227 zip code area (Fairfax, Madison Place, Madisonville, and Mariemont) with critical needs such as food, clothing, rent and utility assistance. In 2003 the neighboring communities of the East End, Hyde Park and Oakley were added to its service area. Today, MEAC is a non-profit organization with the expanded support of 19 community churches and collaboration from the City of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency and the Freestore Foodbank. MEAC food and clothes pantries are located in the Eastminster Presbyterian Church on 4600 Erie Avenue and financial assistance applications are taken in the adjacent building. On-site applications are accepted for Food Stamps, medical benefits (Healthy Start, Healthy Families, and Medicaid) WIC, cash assistance (TANF), lowincome home e n e r g y assistance program (HEAP), child care subsidy, and federal and state taxes. In the month of June, 2007, MEAC was able to service 400 individuals, or about 150 families. The services include a food pantry and clothes closet, open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and is closed for lunch from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday nights is the Feed and Seed program, a dinner served between 5:007:00 p.m. Assistance is given with personal hygiene products, haircut/ haircare vouchers, bus tokens and case management. Financial help (as long as funds allow) includes rent (no mortgages), gas and electric, birth certificates, State ID’s and Lifeline phone service. You can call 271-5501 for assistance. Disenfranchised Peoples of God by Charles Evegan Although I do not have a college degree, I have a GED, some college, and a life time of experiences and talents that are usable in the world of employment. I can type 70 words per minute and my data entry keystrokes are between 8 and 10 thousand an hour. I am 44 years old and my people skills and talents seasoned with Grace and Salt makes me an ideal candidate for a good employee, wherever I may chose to be employed. I went to prison for robbery in 1991 and every time I go up for a job interview I am denied meaningful employment and fair pay. Even the temp services take advantage of the poor and homeless by denying them fair pay. Taking 7 to 10 dollars out of our checks for gas although the job may be at the stadium and is walking distance, most temporary agencies, refusieto let us walk or catch the bus. face. They say one thing but mean The constitution states in the 5th another. We create and perpetuate the amendment, “Nor shall any person be same injustices that the letter of the law subjected to be twice put in jeopardy was intended to protect. of life or limb.” The 14th amendment, Law makers interpret away the “Nor any person rights of the people by denied the equal making excuses for protection of the law.” doing so under the cloak A person with a of another law. Thus record is subjected to denying us the equal double and triple protection under the law jeopardy by being which is intended to denied meaningful guarantee that we will employment. We have not be punished twice already been convicted for the same offense. and paid for it. Now Cincinnati seems to be we are convicted again a testing ground for the socially, by being breaking of peoples’ denied positions in this Charles Evegan rights for monetary or world that limits chances of pursuing material gain. A few years ago the happiness. They do this by enforcing justice center was charging 30 dollars laws that discriminate against felons . to incarcerate any one arrested. Later These laws are contradictory on its the ordinance was ruled City Wasting Money Again by Leigh Tami On any given night, between 1,300 and 1,500 people are homeless in Cincinnati. Twenty-nine percent of those experiencing homelessness are children, and thirty-three percent of those children are under the age of five years old. Accessibility to affordable housing is at a low, and hate crimes against the homeless are at a high. Day Laborers are dying from limb amputations and other serious injuries resulting from unsafe conditions while being paid a laughably small and aptly named minimum wage. After reviewing statistics like these, it would seem that the financial priorities of the city of Cincinnati would drastically shift toward funding human services and resolving the ever-worsening problems of homelessness and poverty. Unfortunately, as far as spending is concerned, City Council has other things in mind. As of this June, new rules regarding sidewalk benches were approved by council in order to “improve the curb appeal” of Cincinnati. As if this were not ridiculous enough by itself, the city admits that the extra staff and money necessary to immediately fund this endeavor are really not there, so it aims to complete this project by the end of the year. Despite this apparent setback, City Council is very serious about said bench removal: the goal is removal of roughly one thousand benches on Cincinnati sidewalks. Oh, and incase any law-abiding citizens spot and want to report an “illegal bench”, the city has conveniently provided a phone number for you to call so that we unconstitutional and was repealed and then they were forced to pay back the people. But the city still profited an undisclosed amount of dollars because they may have only paid back 1/100th of the money they took in that time period. Although a public notice was made known, some people died, some left town, some were incarcerated and some people simply didn’t care. So the city profited millions. This is my first piece on disenfranchised people. I am a member of the LORDS GYM on 12th and Race Street, downtown across from Washington Park. If anyone has comments or suggestions or positive feedback on my first article or even a not so positive one please come and visit the Lords Gym or chuckevegan@yahoo.com Sincerely and Still unemployed can make sure that our time and energy is properly used in the removal of aesthetically displeasing benches. To summarize the situation, we have very real and very serious problems of poverty, homelessness, and social/ economic injustice plaguing the streets of our city, but are instead spending money we don’t have and staff that is not available on a ludicrous endeavor to remove sidewalk benches. It seems that instead of addressing the deep rooted problems that already exist in our city, we are instead wasting time and resources to create and then “solve” new ones. �STREETVIBES Page 6 “Bum Fights” Continues to Influence Teens by Andy Freeze One way in which I stay up to date on information regarding the homeless population is subscribing to Yahoo News Alerts. Each day Yahoo sends out a news feed with different articles that contain the word “homeless.” Some days the articles are about good things going on in different cities. I recently read that in Denver, they are using old parking meters to collect money for organizations that work with the homeless. In Fresno, the Fresno airport is taking all of the confiscated toiletries and donating them to homeless organizations so that they can be used instead of thrown away. It is always good to see these stories and to learn what we here in Cincinnati can do to continue helping those who are homeless. However, those articles have been far too few in recent weeks because I can’t seem to open a news feed without seeing an article about a homeless person being attacked. On Monday, July 9, I looked at the news feed and found two stories about teens attacking the homeless. One story was from the Orlando area, where six to eight teens were being sought after two men that were sleeping in an abandoned house were attacked, stabbed, and beaten with baseball bats. The teens they are looking for are between the ages of 16 and 22. Fortunately the injuries were not life threatening, but there is something wrong with this picture. What are teenagers being taught that they think it is okay or fun to go and beat the crap out of others because they are less fortunate? That same day, another story surfaced from Chicago where a homeless man apparently bumped into a group of men as they were leaving a nearby bar on a Sunday night. They beat the man with some sort of object, possible a sign, metal cable, or both. “They beat this homeless guy pretty good,” said a Central district Police captain. And a week later on Tuesday July 17, I got word of another group of teens that attacked a group of homeless people. This one occurred in Los Angeles where four teens were arrested for a series of attacks that they video taped on their cell phones with the intent of posting it on the internet. These teens threw bikes on top of homeless peoples tents, set smoke bombs off while people where sleeping, set blankets on fire, and opened tents up and shot people with an airsoft pistol. The teens in Los Angeles said they were influence by a movie series called “Bum Fights,” a video series that deliberately disregards the humanity of homeless people. If you have never seen the DVD series, it can only be described as barbaric and cruel. In some of the more graphic scenes a homeless man is convinced to drink his own urine because he thinks its beer, a homeless man is paid to pull his tooth out with pliers, and one homeless man breaking another homeless man’s ankle. These videos 20 - Total number of deaths as a result of homeless are the main reason behind hate crimes in 2006 the recent spike in crimes committed against the homeless. 189 - Total number of deaths as a result of But what is worse homeless hate crimes in the past 8 years is that many of the United State’s top retailers continue to sell these 122 - Total number of non-lethal attacks against the videos. These retailers homeless in 2006 include Tower Records, Borders Books, Best Buy, 425 - Total number of non-lethal attacks against the Amazon.com, Virgin Mega Stores, Yahoo Shopping, homeless in the past 8 years and Circuit City. Campaigns run from the 614 - total number of attacks against the homeless National Coalition and Go Figure GCCH work to eliminate the sales of these DVD’s; however, they only disappear for a few months. After the National Coalition’s latest campaign, Amazon and Circuit City have pulled them from their shelves. Our society allows the homeless population to be exploited and directly markets this exploitation as entertainment towards our youth. If this were occurring with any other group of people these DVDs would never be sold. But there continues to be no public outcry against this. Some will say that they have never heard of it or haven’t seen it. But these videos are marketed toward our youth and our youth are watching it and then going out on the streets and doing similar inhumane and cruel things. We need you to stand up against this awful injustice that is occurring. NO store should be carrying these DVDs and they should not be making it into the hands of our youth. Below, we have listed the names and addresses of the CEOs of the retailers that still continue to sell these videos. We have temporarily succeeded in the past, but we still need to fight. Nothing will change if they do not hear from the public and realize how injust and inhumane these videos are. If we don’t advocate for our homeless friends, who will? STOP the retailers who still sell the “Bum Fights” movies.... Borders Books George Jones, CEO 100 Phoenix Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Tower Records Joe D’AMico, CEO 2500 Del Monte St. West Sacramento, CA 95691 Best Buy Brad Anderson P.O. Box 9312 Minneapolis, MN 55440 Yahoo Inc. Terry Semel 701 First Avenue Sunnyvale, CA94089 in the past 8 years 68 - Percentage of accused/convicted who are between the age of 13 and 19 37 - Percentage of accused/convicted who are under the age of 17 88 - Percentage of accused/convicted who are under the age of 25 11 to 75 - Age range of accused 4 Months to 74 - Age range of homeless victims Dear Readers! Send us your Vendor Stories Do you have a favorite Streetvibes Vendor that you would like to tell us about? Send your stories or comments to: Streetvibes@juno.com or Streetvibes 117 E 12th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 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 7 American people are Peace Village committed2. The to some form of good by Dr. Steve Sunderland The Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5 to 4 to throw out school board plans by Seattle and Louisville because of the use of race to balance schools. 4 Justices were agreed that race could not be used. One Justice said he agreed with the majority but race could sometimes be used. 4 other Justices said that the majority was wrong based on precedents of previous cases over the past 50 years. Dear Chief Justice Roberts: The recent decision of the majority of the Supreme Court to change systems of school discrimination from those that are race based to “colorblind” ones, ignores some of the important themes of the past 60 years: 1. The American people have tried to move from segregated frames of reference to integrated ones even though many states, local and federal practitioners along with religious and political leaders have fought almost every attempt. The good will of the American people stretches back a long way in the area of civil rights: early in our Revolutionary years, Benjamin Franklin, a former slave owner, led an abolitionist movement that had a deep impression on Washington and Jefferson. The failure to abolish slavery before the Civil War, as Britain did, has led to halting steps for justice in the minds of many Americans. We are caught, again, with confusion about whether our Constitution is a document of justice or injustice. Americans, taking the principles of this Court’s latest decision, can now avoid the good conscience effort to seek to break down segregated schooling and housing patterns, economic discriminatory rules, and religious bigotry. Traditionally, many citizens of this country know what is right; yet, our Supreme Court has chosen to act as if racial prejudice against children is a past experience and need not be corrected by plans for inclusion. “I fear the consequences... for the law, for the schools, for the democratic process, and for American’s efforts to create, out of its diversity, one Nation.” Dissent by Justice Bryer in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 et al. education for their children even though segregated systems of education, created as part of a private and parochial system, have too often sent a counter message: “We need to be separate if we are to have “good” education.” This Court’s decision makes it difficult to raise the standard of justice in education for all of our children and plays into the fears and biases of our public that “racially balanced” schools may lower educational standards. The American public knows that prejudice, hatred, and unfairness are not correct attitudes in terms of defining educational systems for children and neighborhoods. The legacy of racism has created a mind-set that says that re-segregation is “the best we can do.” The school systems of Louisville, Seattle, Cincinnati and other major cities reflects a stubborn racism only partially relieved by prior Supreme Court rulings. Rather than focus on the tremendous breakthroughs to improve diversity in teacher training, neighborhood involvement, and the political action of school boards since the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown, your Court’s decision reinforces the attitude of consigning children to poor schools, poor employment and deteriorating cities. “And what of law’s concern to diminish and peacefully settle conflict among the Nation’s people? Instead of accommodating different goodfaith visions of our country and our Constitution, today’s holding upsets settled expectation, creates legal uncertainty, and threatens to produce considerable further litigation, aggravating race-related conflict.” Justice Bryer for the minority in the dissent. 3. The American people are committed to education that sees the gifts of every child and builds on these gifts through creative, compassionate, and integrated education. The American experience of segregation fosters a negative and faulty perspective on what it takes to build good schools and educate healthy children. Children who are hated for their skin color, or, treated rudely because of their use of a language different from English, or, singled out to receive “labels” that hide their human potential, are citizens that will have to fight against your decision to make justice the central value of our schools. The Court’s decision goes against research in education that reveals the many gifts of children pervious excluded from integrated systems of education. These gifts cannot easily be seen without methods that respect the culture of each child and methods that can look past skin color, language skills and surface “disabilities.””...the plurality’s approach risks serious harm to the law and for the Nation. Its view of the law rests either upon a denial of the distinction between exclusionary and inclusive use of race-conscious criteria in the context of the Equal Protection Clause, or upon such a rigid application of its “test” that the distinction loses practical significance. Consequently, the Court’s decision today slows down and sets back the work of local school boards to bring about racially diverse schools.” Justice Bryer for the four dissenting Justices. 4. The efforts to build a strong America have never been easy. The questions surrounding prejudice have been very deep elements in our national character. Perhaps slavery has so frightened the average majority American that only very limited progress can be sustained in our schools. Perhaps our majority fears of difference will continue to construct temporary barriers to those students and their families, also Americans, who seek an America that is fundamentally welcoming of difference, . The ruling of your Court is a setback for parents and children in our schools. But are only a temporary slowing down of what is a stronger and more compassionate force in our society. Racial harmony can be obtained. Inclusion of students based on conscious and planned choices will occur. The Supreme Court, prior to 1954, walked backward on American justice. The last 60 years have taught us that the journey to change our society is rarely easy, frequently filled with conflict, and inextricably bound up with historical ignorance. Yet, the Supreme Court changed for the better and improved our country. Your decision threatens all of this progress. Yet, we see that we must raise our voices in protest of your ideas. The songs we sing shall inspire us until that day when, “We shall overcome.” �STREETVIBES Page 8 Streetvibes Float Saves the Day by Streetvibes Staff Vendors and the Streetvibes staff of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless joined with the Cincinnati Beacon and marched in the Northside 4th of July Day Parade. Streetvibes borrowed and then decorated a van from the Drop Inn Center. Streetvibes and the Cincinnati Beacon joined to form an independent media float. Streetvibes vendors passed out old copies of Streetvibes with information on what Streetvibes is. The Beacon also passed out copies of their July issue. The Streetvibes and parade walkers also carried signs showing their support for freedom of speech and the Northside Community. The signs included, “Truth, Justice: it’s the Streetvibes Way,” “Mom, Apple Pie, and Streetvibes,” “Happy Birthday America! Love, Streetvibes,” “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Streetvibes,” and “Free Speech is Patriotic.” As the Streetvibes float neared the end of the parade route, it was quickly pulled aside to be used to cut down a falling limb that was overhanging the parade route. Streetvibes saved the parade and everyone who participated had a great time. Thanks to Northside for coming out and supporting Streetvibes and the Cincinnati Beacon and thanks to all those who walked the parade route with us. The Streetvibes float (borrowed van from Drop Inn Center) and volunteers Marchers in Northside Parade for IJPC (Inter-Community Justice and Peace Center) What if the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless had a penny for every time you searched the Internet? Iraq War Realities by Jimmy Heath U.S.Monthly Spending in Iraq - $12 billion, in 2007 Lost & unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers’ money and $549.7 million in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors Lost & unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers’ money and $549.7 million in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors Search the web with www.goodsearch.com and money from Yahoo advertisers will go to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless without you spending a dime! Journalists killed - 112, 74 by murder and 38 by acts of war US Troops Wounded - 26,806, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries (total excludes psychological injuries) Iraqis Displaced Inside Iraq, by Iraq War, as of May 2007 - 2,085,000 3,628 US Soldiers Killed, 26,806 Seriously Wounded Iraqis “strongly opposed to presence of coalition troops - 82% Iraqis who believe Coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security - less than 1% 90% of Iraqis say Iraq better under Saddam tyranny 59% of Americans say Iraq war “a mistake” �STREETVIBES Page 9 25,000 people will experience homelessness at some point in Cincinnati this year • 29% of the homeless in Cincinnati are children • In the last fif- Cincinnati Urban Experience College, High School, and Youth Group students will come to Cincinnati, Ohio to learn about issues of homelessness and poverty through service, educational experiences, and reflection. Participants will come to a greater understanding of and empathy for the complexities of poverty in an urban environment through experiential learning and guided reflection. Program Components: Service: Groups perform service at agencies and organizations in Urban Cincinnati that deal with poverty and homelessness issues directly. Through service work, participants have personal experiences with issues and gain knowledge. Education: Participants will take part in activities that teach them about poverty issues. Examples include speakers, education activities, experiential/simulation exercises, and videos. Reflection: Discussion of service, education, experiences, and observations among peers. Focus on drawing connections and learning. Living: Participants live together in a simple community setting. Ideally, they stay in the community in which they are serving and learning. For more information contact: Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Andy Freeze 117 East 12th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: (513) 421-7803 x 14 Email: andytfreeze@yahoo.com www.cincihomeless.org homelessness in Cincinnati are lack of affordable housing and the loss of income • A person on food stamps in Ohio receives on average $1.04 per meal teen years the homeless population has risen 150% in Cincinnati • The leading causes of �STREETVIBES Page 10 National News.... Workers Lose As Senate Legislation Fails Human Needs Report - Legislation that would have boosted access to higher wages and better fringe benefits through unionization will not be going anywhere - for now. The Senate blocked a vote that would have ended the delaying tactic of further debate on the Employee Free Choice Act (S.1041). The motion failed 51-48, nine votes short of the 60 votes needed to invoke closure, effectively stalling the legislation. All Democrats (except for Sen. Johnson, D-SD, who is still recovering from a major health issue) voted in favor of ending debate, along with Sen. Specter (R-PA). All other Republicans voted against closure, which can be interpreted as opposition to S. 1041. H.R. 800, the House counterpart bill, passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 241185 in March. However, that vote was well short of the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override a veto promised by President Bush. The bill would have leveled the playing field in the workplace by allowing workers to join a union without employer interference, requiring mediation and arbitration between the union and employer if a timely agreement is not reached during bargaining on the first contract, and creating penalties for employers who intimidate employees. Currently, employers have the right to demand a secret ballot election before a union can be certified. In the proposed legislation, union organizers could bypass elections when a majority of employees sign cards in favor of establishing union representation, known as “card check.” Too many employers have carried out unjust practices against union employees. Currently, 92 percent of employers force employees to attend mandatory closed-door meetings against the union. One in four employers illegally fire at least one worker for union activity during organizing campaigns. EFCA would greatly reduce such illegal and intimidating tactics by increasing penalties on employers for violations against employees’ rights. Reports confirm clear advantages for union workers. For example, union workers’ median weekly earnings amount to around $833 while nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings only amount to $642 – a 30 percent difference. While 15 percent of nonunion workers are without health care coverage, only 2.5 percent of union workers are without health insurance. Other fringe benefits such as guaranteed pensions, short-term disability benefits and paid vacation days are improved for workers affiliated with a union. In addition, women, African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans disproportionately receive better wages when they are able to associate with a union. According to a Peter D. Hart survey, 60 million Americans who are currently nonunion workers say they want to have a union in their workplace. Employment Issues for the Homeless by Charles Blachford Currently the Ohio job market is extremely competitive. With the unemployment rate above the national average hundreds of thousands of people are finding it very difficult to land a job that pays a livable wage. For homeless people throughout the state finding a job can be even more difficult. Dealing with the instability of not having a permanent residence and adding the rigorous process of finding employment can be overbearing for people. Sometimes the only opportunity for employment for the homeless is day labor jobs. Currently there are very few laws that prohibit unfair treatment on these types of jobs. Homeless people are sometimes brought to work sites and forced to wait for hours before they can work. For instance someone may be picked up at 8am to start a job and dropped off at 6pm but only get paid for 4 hours worth of work because they were forced to sit around idle for 6 hours. Some of the other obstacles that many homeless people have to overcome to obtain employment is; not having a phone number for employers to call them back at, lack of transportation in rural areas, the uncertainty of daily location, the absence of personal security, the desperation to fill immediate needs (food, clothing, etc), and little or no access to bathing facilities. If a homeless person is able to secure a job their troubles are far from over. To sustain a job and save money while living in such dire circumstances is extremely difficult because the same issues of uncertainty, insecurity, and cleanliness are still present. Also it can be a couple of months before enough money is saved to pay for a security deposit, first month’s rent, and utility deposits. Imagine juggling a full-time job along with the stress and difficulties of being homeless, it can be overwhelming to say the least. Often it is so overbearing dealing with homelessness and employment at the same time that people prematurely move into situations in unstable environments or move in with unstable people. This premature move can sometimes lead to the recurrence of homelessness and the need to start at square one. In America we are taught to believe that if we get a job and work hard everything will be alright. Unfortunately, in America this is not always the case. There needs to be more programs and public dollars available to help people get over the hump and stabilize when they are working but still struggling with poverty and homelessness. Hungry in Louisiana Almost 22 months after Hurricane Katrina, tens of thousands of Louisianans still need help providing food for themselves and their families. Charitable food services are no longer seeing the massive lines that existed in the storm’s aftermath but demand remains at twice pre-storm levels. That has food banks across the state pleading for help. Federal and state officials need to make sure existing food and nutrition programs are working as intended. But all of us can help fellow Louisianans by donating to food banks. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, which serves 23 South Louisiana parishes, estimates it will need 25 million pounds of food over the next 12 months. The organization handled 14 million pounds annually preKatrina. Demand remains high in part because of recent reductions in federal funding for nutrition programs, which state and food bank officials said dropped 35 percent this fiscal year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the money, said the cuts owe to the end of one-time emergency programs after Katrina. But federal funding for some non-emergency food and nutrition programs also was reduced due to population losses. The region’s recovery, however, is far from over. Federal officials need to examine the current need to evaluate whether additional measures are warranted. Other programs, such as food stamps, get federal funding based on enrollment. Thus Louisianans in need who are not enrolled should check their eligibility by contacting the state Social Services Department at (888) 524-3578. Groups serving meals also should pass along enrollment information. Money is not the only problem, though. Families can’t have more than $3,000 in assets, including bank savings, to qualify for food stamps. But charities report that some families are being denied because they have higher bank balances due to insurance proceeds or Road Home grants to rebuild their homes. Federal and state officials need to make sure that efforts to rebuild are not counted against people who need help purchasing food. In the meantime, all of us can help. To donate money or food to the greater New Orleans food bank, call (504) 734-1322. The group has a well-established reputation, and less than 3 cents per dollar go for administrative and fundraising costs, according to private services that rate charities. More importantly, the food bank is now part of the state’s emergency response plan, yet officials estimate it could face a deficit of 10 million pounds of food if disaster strikes. So what you give now could end up helping you during another storm. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes wish to thank Panera Bread at Gilmore Square in Fairfield for their donations of bread, pastries, bagels and sweets. The Breads, Pastries and Bagels are used throughout the week by our vendors and people who visit the Homeless Coalition lobby to use the phone or get out of the heat �STREETVIBES Page 11 Looming Crisis: Housing for the Elderly by Brandon Lichtinger (Street Sense, USA) It’s 9:30 a.m. on the Friday before Memorial Day, and John Monte is busy ladling homemade mushroom soup for diners at the Dinner Program for Homeless Women, or as the servers casually call it, “The 9:30 Club.” Monte, 68, has worked as a cook for most of his adult life and has worked in this kitchen for eight months. He is also homeless, and is staying with one of his sons until he can find affordable housing in the D.C. area. “It’s difficult,” Monte said. “We can’t pay [D.C. rent], especially on a fixed income. The rent is too high.” Monte’s younger brother, George Eskridge, volunteers at the Lutheran Church when he is needed there. Eskridge, 58, has worked in construction, retail, and the food industry in the past. He is also homeless. He takes temporary work when he can get it, and mostly works construction and janitorial jobs. “The cost of living keeps going up, while our salary is not,” Eskridge said. “If you’re not a professional, with a professional career and a job, you can’t make it.” “Terrifying” is how Eskridge describes being homeless and facing his 60s in the District. And Eskridge is not alone in his fears. With the cost of housing increasing much faster than the minimum wage and Social Security income, and with two of the District’s largest elder-care facilities slated to close, many senior citizens – both homeless and housed – are worried about future housing. One diner over 60, who wished to remain anonymous, said getting housing in D.C. as an elderly homeless person is extremely difficult. “A majority of people directly associated with certain programs like Section 8 have problems,” he said. “The list is either backed up or the housing is unaffordable.” Section 8 is one of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s housing assistance voucher programs for low-income families and individuals. Under Section 8, tenants pay a portion of their rent, typically around 30 per cent of their income, and the local housing authority covers the remainder. HUD determines a cap on housing costs, called the “Free Market Rate” or FMR. For D.C., the FMR for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,134. In order to afford this rental price, a D.C. resident would have to make an annual income of $45,360; at D.C.’s minimum wage of $7, a full-time employee would only make $14,560 yearly. “I’m just trying to get a boost any way that I can,” Eskridge said. “I’m just working for minimum wage, and if you don’t have a professional career, you can’t do it. And companies are subcontracting their own employment, but if you don’t have references, you can’t get it. You have to know somebody to [get work].” Monte receives Supplemental Security Income of $603 each month, the amount established for individuals in D.C. “An affordable one-bedroom apartment for me would be $400 [per month],” Monte said. “At least that way there’s some leeway so I can feed myself. If I get a place to stay, I can maintain it. In a way, the older population can take care of themselves, at least the ones that [are physically able]. But those that can’t take care of themselves, they should be taken care of.” However, D.C.’s assisted living population faces increasing difficulty in getting that care. For many of the area’s elderly who can’t take care of themselves, a potential housing crisis looms on the horizon, as two of the area’s 20 assisted living homes are scheduled to close in the near future. Nine weeks ago, citing a decrease in Medicaid funding, the Beverly Living Center in the Northwest announced its plans to close. As recently as April, the assisted living home had 335 patients; now those patients are looking for housing alternatives. Grant Park Care Center, another area assisted living home, announced its discharge model plan last Friday. While the center has not specified whether it will permanently close its doors, there’s a definite possibility that its 280 patients will be seeking housing in the near future. Unfortunately, few viable options exist in the D.C. area. The city’s full-care facilities are currently running at 98 per cent capacity, and Beverly Living Center residents have been forced to move to nursing homes in Maryland and Virginia. Available spaces in those states are also filling up. As more and more former D.C. residents take up beds in the states’ 32 nursing homes, care centers are starting to create waiting lists for patients. Assisted-living patients also have to reapply for Medicaid when they move out of the District, which proves to be a huge roadblock for many. Patients cannot move until they get Medicaid coverage, and D.C. nursing homes could close before patients successfully maneuver past all of the red tape. “It’s a logistical nightmare,” said Gerald Kasunic, an ombudsman for the Office of D.C. Long Term Care Program. “My worst fear would be that places start closing their doors and leave no place for patients to go.” Kasunic, sponsored and supported by the Legal Counsel for the Elderly, AARP, and the D.C. Office on Aging, said that if places closed their doors, many of the city’s elderly would be in need of full-time care on the streets. “Housing providers need to understand that elderly and disabled people need low-income housing,” Kasunic said. For Monte and Eskridge, the need for cheaper housing in the D.C. area remains. “I’m just trying to make it to Social Security and retirement, living day by day,” Eskridge said. “Housing is my biggest worry. That’s it. Don’t ever get to my age and think you’re going to make it without some kind of help,” Barriers to Finding Work When Homeless by Jessica P. Morrell and Genny Nelson (Gray Sunshine Publishing) One of the biggest myths is that homeless people don’t want to work. I can name on one hand those who have fit that line during the last thirty years. Everyone else just wants the opportunity to earn their own meals. That’s why our customers said to Sandy and me when we founded Sisters, “Don’t be about free food: do this with dignity; either make it cheap enough that I can pay for it on my income, or give me the chance to work for my meal.” Over and over, people have come to us years later to say, “Thank you for not robbing me of my dignity.” Your humanity doesn’t go away just because society doesn’t see it. It angers me that we don’t have enough places that afford people opportunities after they get their lives together. While people have done some pretty inappropriate things in their lives, all they’re saying is, “I’m not proud of what I’ve done, but I’ve done my time.” This is not about feeling sorry for people or being a bleeding-heart liberal. It’s about justice and human rights. When talking about obstacles to finding work, all our narrators described that keeping up grooming was essential to obtaining work. Some also talked about how landing a job was impossible when you have bad or missing teeth, or other physical manifestations of homelessness. Logan: Keep your appearance up, and then people have to be motivated to want to go to work. I am a motivated kind of person. I want to work. Dale: Did you ever go look for a job with a backpack on your back? Boss says, ‘What’s your address?’ [When he discovers he has none]: ‘Well, we’ll call and let you know.’ You are not getting the job when they see you are homeless; you got no telephone, you got a week bed [in a shelter]. If you got an address and someplace to leave your stuff, you can actually wear your best clothes and go there without a backpack on your back and make your best presentation to the person. Like Dale, Steve believed that there was work available, but it required practical solutions and incentive to find it. Steve: Do not tell me that there are no jobs. And if there are not, it is because they are going to those who have an education or have the money or have connections or what have you. But it is impossible to find a job when you do not have an address. If you have an address downtown, especially in Old Town, any job you are looking for, you would hear, ‘Oh, okay, sure, we’ll take an application,’ and then it goes in the garbage can. And yes, I have worked in a number of jobs, odd jobs, under-the-table … but when they find out that you are from that class of people, well, then either they assume that you cannot do it and they let you go, or some convenient excuse comes along. Sisters: So, if you were looking at solutions to ending individual homelessness and ending homelessness in general, what would make a real difference? Steve: [For] those who are homeless now, I would suggest laundry services, clothing services, and I do not mean clothing from the 1920s, I mean, clothing that is appropriate for a job. Mack explained if there are jobs available, they are for low wages, which makes ending their cycle of homelessness impossible. Mack: I don’t want to spend the rest of my life at six dollars an hour. I can’t do nothing with my life. I’d rather walk around on the streets, eat out here and there and have some time to myself and work a day a week than to get out there and kill myself and have nothing. Worry about losing your job, trying to maintain a roof over your head, from that kind of money? I don’t even know how people pay rent for that kind of money. Do you? Unless you live at home with your folks. Trevor explained that some days he chose to miss work in order to get clean. Trevor: The shower times are horrible. I mean you can take a shower at 7:30 in the morning, but you know what? If you are not at day labor at 5:30 in the morning you are not going to go out. I would suggest an evening shower, like 7 or something like that, or something bright and early in the morning, four o’clock, or 4:30. If I had a roof over my head and a place I could shower, I think I could become a productive member of society. It is a matter of just having a place to lie down at the end of the day. �STREETVIBES Page 12 Going and growing organic: Consumers turning to home“People are looking for local food,” Uncles days,” Fernando said. “But they wanted corn for four grown produce to five months.” said. “That’s where these trends are going.” by Anthony DeAngelis North Andover, MA - Clutching an overstuffed plastic bag of snap peas, Bob Maclean emerges from J&F farmstand in Derry with a smile. He and his wife, Betty, have ditched the produce aisle at their local supermarket for their weekly visit to the farmstand. “It makes a big, big difference,” Bob Maclean says. “It’s not like the junk you buy in the store.” The Macleans are regulars at the farmstand. Whether it’s making a special trip to a local farmstand or looking for the organic label in the supermarket, more people are looking for fresh food and locally produced food. Finding it isn’t always easy. Much of the produce in local supermarkets has been shipped across the country, sometimes even from another country. That means more people are looking to local farms for food. “I won’t eat any imported fruit or vegetable,” said Gert Gagnon, 67, of Raymond, a regular at both Kingston and Exeter’s farmer’s markets. Gagnon buys almost all her fruits and vegetables from local farmstands, rarely from a supermarket. “When you go to the supermarket, you know it’s been sitting there a while,” she said. “I very seldom go into one.” Richard Uncles, director of regulatory services for the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, said he has seen substantial growth in the popularity of farmer’s markets over the last few years. Local supermarkets have tried to cash in on the trend and look for local produce suppliers. A Shaw’s Supermarkets spokesman said the company has found customers prefer locally grown produce to that trucked in from out of state. “It’s becoming a larger and larger category,” said Mark Hardy, produce manager at Shaw’s in Derry. “And we’re trying to keep up with the demands.” Shaw’s isn’t the only major supermarket chain thinking and acting locally. Hannaford Supermarkets has become a major supplier of locally grown and organic produce. The company’s strategy has been to identify all local growers in each store’s area and supply customers with as broad a selection as possible. “We will go out of our way to get it locally,” said Caren Epstein, Hannaford corporate spokeswoman. “We have one of the more aggressive locally grown programs you will find.” Hannaford looks to 24 growers in the southern part of the state alone, Epstein said, but even that’s not always enough. She said the company constantly tries to identify more local food producers to supply its stores. Phil Fernando, owner of J&F farm in Derry, supplied Shaw’s Supermarkets with fresh produce for more than 10 years, but when the demands became too great, he had to back down. “I could supply them with corn for 45 to 60 Know Theatre Presents: THRILL ME Cincinnati’s home for unique theatre mounts Stephen Dolginhoff’s taut, raw two-man musical, based on the Leopold and Loeb story. Know Theatre, Cincinnati’s home for fresh, provocative entertainment is proud to add Stephen Dolginhoff’s THRILL ME to its 10th anniversary season. This regional premiere musical will show Cincinnati audiences why relationships can be murder. The two-man musical, which premiered at New York’s Midtown International Theatre Festival in 2003, is told from the point of view of Nathan Leopold. Leopold and his childhood friend Richard Loeb were convicted of the Chicagoland murder of Bobby Franks in 1924. Franks’ murder was billed as the “Crime of the Century” and immortalized the two would-be lawyers as the “Thrill Killers.” Though, there have been many more “crimes of the century,” the Leopold and Loeb story remains one of the most interesting stories of psychological manipulation in American history. Dolginhoff focuses on the relationship between the two young Chicagoans, against the backdrop of the crimes they committed. The dynamics of their relationship with its twists, turns, manipulations and shifts of power takes center stage throughout the taught and unencumbered musical performance; right up to the surprise conclusion. Large cast Broadway productions often miss the mark in creating the same dramatic tension that Dolginhoff creates with two actors on a minimalist set. THRILL ME has been produced in cities all over the world, including Seoul, South Korea (Korean Best Musical Award nom.); Melbourne, Australia; (Green Room Award nom.), Seattle; Philadelphia; Buffalo; Chicago (Jeff Award rec.); Los Angeles; Dallas (Column Award winner); Orlando; Tampa; Boston (IRNE Award nom.); Richmond; San Francisco & Sioux City and was featured on the PBS national broadcast of the Drama Desk Awards. This premier engagement, directed by Jason Bruffy features the acting talents of Mikhail Roberts and Steve Copps, under the musical direction of Michael Flohr. THRILL ME is an extra for the 2007/ 8 season which includes John Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo’s pop musical, Bare, Martin McDonough’s Pillowman, Red Light Winter and the Pulitzer Prize winning Topdog/Underdog by Suzan Lori Parks. “We’re continually searching for the freshest Off-Broadway programming for Cincinnati audiences, and nothing could be more Know Theatre then this hot seductive and unsettling musical,” says Artistic Director Jason Bruffy. “Cincinnati is one of the country’s top markets for Reality TV viewership so this is a natural fit. It’s a beautiful score woven through a seductive tale of two individuals chasing the trill of a lifetime.” It’s not just locally grown food that supermarkets want, but organic products, too. Hardy, the Derry Shaw’s produce manager, has been with the company for 10 years. He said he has noticed a dramatic increase in the number of organic products on the supermarket’s shelves. Nationally, the organic industry is experiencing a 20 percent growth rate in consumers a year, according to Ronni Cummins, the national director of organic consumers associations. That’s a trend he expects to continue and grow. “People are concerned about their health,” Cummins said. “That’s a big trend across the country.” Still, organic products make up just 3 percent of total food sales, according to a 2006 survey done by the Organic Trade Association. One of the primary reasons for that less impressive bigger picture might be cost. Plain and simple, organic produce costs consumers more and not everyone is willing to pay the price. “I think there will be a market for organic products if more people buy them, because then the prices should come down,” said Carol Simone, owner of Natural Marketplace in Salem. “Right now, I think people are looking for the farms. They know it’s fresh and picked that day. I’d go out of my way for that.” The movement by consumers to farmer’s markets and farmstands is reminiscent of the past, according to Cummins of the national organic association. Back in the 1940s, most people got their food from their own farms or from local farmers. Cummins said he thinks consumers are headed back in that direction. “Sixty years ago, everything people bought came from a 100-mile radius,” Cummins said. “That’s probably going to happen again. People are getting back to the natural ways of food.” Quick Facts About Thrill Me: The Story: THRILL ME explores the manipulations and power struggles between two thrill seeking Chicago law students. The Leopold and Loeb story remains one of the most intriguing tales of psychological manipulation, set against the backdrop of 1924’s “Crime of the Century.” This taut, raw musical proves that relationships can be murder! If You Like: THRILL ME appeals to individuals who gravitate to crime dramas and film noir detective stories. One could say it’s “Chicago meets L.A. Confidential.” Dates/Times: August 9 – August 26, 2007. August 9 – 11, 16 – 18 & 23 – 25 @ 8 p.m. Sunday(s) August 12, 19, 26 @ 4 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased by calling 513.621.ARTS (2787) or online at knowtheatre.com . Tickets range from $12-$22, with student/ senior discounts available. Missed a copy of Streetvibes? Check out the Streetvibes archive on the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ website at http://www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html �STREETVIBES Page 13 Poverty Complicates Everything by Michael Henson This is part of a continuing Streetvibes series on poverty and addiction. Let’s start an argument. It’s an old argument, one that was settled long ago. But people argue all the time over things that were settled long ago, so we can do it too. We won’t argue long, since the thing is settled, but we can start by asking one question: Does poverty cause addiction? You’ll say, of course not. Addiction is a disease; it said so in Time Magazine just last month. Addiction is a physical ailment that afflicts all sorts of people —perhaps even Paris Hilton— at all sorts of economic and social levels. The science proves it. But a few years ago, it was common to blame addiction on social conditions. The social stressors of poverty, it was said, led people to seek relief in ways that were self-destructive but understandable and if only we won a war on poverty we could eliminate or reduce addiction, which we knew from the movies, was concentrated in the slums, and alcoholism, which we knew from a different set of movies, was concentrated in the same slums, but also in trailer parks and small towns, each of which had its own drunk. The first complication with this notion was that addiction, in one form or another, kept frustrating any and all attempts to win the underfunded and half-fought war on poverty. But that’s a story we’ll save for another time. The bigger complication with the notion was that there was never any real evidence to back it up. And there was plenty of contrary evidence that alcohol and other drug dependence spreads up and down the socio-economic ladder. And there was a very stubborn recovery community that insisted that this is a disease, not a political statement. Recovery belongs to therapy, not sociology. They were right, and they won that argument hands down. Alcohol and other drug dependence is a disease. It has a specific set of symptoms; if left untreated, the results are predictable and inevitable. As with other diseases, we can trace it to certain physiological causes and there are treatment regimens which will work in most cases if applied with some discipline. Why discipline? Because alcohol and other drug dependence is a chronic disease. And when a disease Mike Henson is a chronic disease, you can apply pharmaceutical solutions or surgery or therapy, but little of none of it works unless there is also life-style change. That sucks, because the person with a chronic disease may have done little more to deserve the disease than inheriting bad genes, but that person just can’t live like other people. But we’re straying from the point of this essay, which is something about the relation IJPC Calender of Events August 4 Over-the-Rhine Community Festival Noon - 6pm Washington Park Designed for Social Service agencies and churches to be a fun event for OTR children and families. For info contact Cassandra Barham 513-381-4242. August 6 Hiroshima-Nagasaki Remembrance 8pm at Friendship Park For more information call 513-579-8547 August 8 & 9 Creating Compassionate Classrooms (Nonviolent Communication) $150 Confluence Park Restaurant in Columbus For more infomration call 614-558-1141 or check the website www.nvcohio.org August 10,11 Communication That Works for Parents (Nonviolent Communication) $150 Confluence Park Restaurant in Columbus For more infomration call 614-558-1141 or check the website www.nvcohio.org August 11 Students Together Against Racism - Town Hall Think Tank 6-7:30pm Essex Place 7610 Reading Road For more information contact star@nku.edu or revol-radio@hotmail.com August 14 Ohioans to stop Execution:Cincinnati Chapter Meeting 7pm Peaslee Neighborhood Center 214 E 14th St. For more information call 513-579-8547 August 15 Before You Enlist Campaign 6-7pm Peasleee Neighborhood Center 214 E 14th St. For more information call 513-579-8547 August 15 IJPC Peace Committee Meeting 7pm Peaslee Neighborhood Center 214 E 14t St For more information call 513-579-8547 August 18-24 Holistic Directed Retreat Marydale Retreat Center This retreat provides a space to gather with women and men in a circle of faith, silence, and prayer. Come for two or more days. The retreat center is located in Northern Kentucky. For more information contact 513-751-3358 or 513-6818881 or www.centerwithin.org August 25 Day of Dialogue Faciliatator Training 9am-12:30pm Peaslee Neighborhood Center 214 E 14th St For more information contact 513-579-8547 between poverty and addiction. To do so, I wanted to kill off, quickly and decisively, the notion that poverty causes addiction. It doesn’t. It can’t. What poverty can do is complicate addiction. Why wouldn’t it? Poverty complicates everything. In particular, poverty complicates health. But here, we’re getting ahead of ourselves again, because, before I come back and talk about how poverty complicates disease in general and addiction in particular, I want to explore this notion that poverty complicates everything. Poverty even complicates things which ought to be simple. Take, for example, shopping. Let’s leave aside those who shop to relax –that’s not even an option here. We’re talking about basic, get-what-youneed-to-survive sort of shopping. For most people in this country, shopping is a remarkably convenient experience. The world is laid out for us in every Wal-Mart and Kroger’s. We pull up in our car, glide down brightly lit aisles, pick out what we want, pay our money when we’re done, load up the car, and take it all home. Or we can do it on-line or by phone. But in the other world of shoppers, there are many for whom shopping is an immensely complicated operation, one that involves a great deal of planning and calculation to be successful. Let’s say a woman in Lower Price Hill, on a fixed income, gets her check and decides to shop for food. She’s not likely to have a car, so all those convenient parking lots mean nothing to her. She could roll her collapsible wheeled grocery cart down the street to the Parkview Market. The people there are friendly, but the selection is small. Not as small as you might think, for there are a lot of odds and ends packed into those two aisles. But the selection is still pretty small and the prices are higher and, besides, it’s hard to get the loaded cart over those curbs and up her steps. Stocking up on staples, flour, rice, and so on, is out of the question. So she’ll probably go up to Kroger’s on the hill. It’s not one of those super-Kroger’s with a bank and a coffee bar, but it’ll do if she can get a way there. Maybe her sister, if she’s not working. Or she could take a bus up the hill and catch a bootleg cab back. That will cost her six or eight dollars, but her sister always wants a couple bucks for gas and she’s always in such a hurry. So it’s probably the bus and the bootleg cab. Then, there’s the problem of how to get her groceries upstairs. The cabbie might help, but then he wants an extra tip. So she’ll probably give a dollar or two to one of the neighborhood boys. She has the same sort of struggle if she needs to go to the pharmacy, or buy a pair of shoes, or see her ailing aunt, Anything she does is complicated by her poverty. Because poverty complicates everything. To be continued. �STREETVIBES Page 14 Our Selves Alone by Wendy Nakashima by Michael G. Sloan Frightened souls out winding wild Seattle streets Like maddened monks on our way to early Mass, The unbelieving faithful freezing in fear and beauty. From looking at my past, you can’t get a view; thru the window that comes up in front of you... to hear my story, you wouldn’t have a clue, that one could have a past so blue... Softly we tread lest the fury of invisible police Settle judgment upon our poverty. Slowly we steal sidelong glances into the grey pain Of a new day’s woes. Furtive and redolent of original Sin, praying for our own invisibility and the Forgetfulness of wine. Wine, the Communion of the Damned, The forty-ounce Sacrament of Cain ... Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa. Untouchable opulence envelopes us like mystic miasma And the iron-knuckle cop is ubiquitous reminder There is no room for Angel-sinners to drag our rags Through the halls of Xanadu. One more day is upon us and curses and prayers Are garbled, indistinguishable in the ears of a Distant God. The tiny niche of earth fate has lent my calloused Feet seem suddenly to turn into someone else’s gold. My lot is to somehow magically vanish like The fugitive hopes and hours of melting life..... Amen. To Be, to Become Life can be a vicious circle that no one understands, the only one to break is in the one that can withstand... Life can be a vicious circle and you’re the only one that can truly take command... Anyone can want for you and everyone can care but; no one can direct you, cause you’re the only one that’s there.... Outrage by Paula Nordstrom-Benaroya Come join me in my outrage in a city with a bus tunnel that belongs in the world of the rich and famous A sports stadium to be envied We have homeless people living and dying on our streets Am I the only one who is so hurt that my anger permeates my every word? Do I alone know that beautifying our buildings while citizens are sleeping in doorways is like putting on make-up without washing your face-or putting on your suit without taking a shower? Since a chain is only as strong as its weakest link A city is only as rich as its poorest citizens. Couples Only by Kris Schon We still have people dying in our streets. by Stan Burriss To be, to become to believe in yourself the inner voice that propels you forward a waterfall of wisdom of life fears and rejections triumphs and tragedies laughter and hope belly button stuff the main course at life’s banquet for those wishing to attend. grateful are the many who stand firm in a brisk breeze head up, eye to eye with the dragon. Flickering stars candles lit from your strength your courage your hope your faith, burning on. How rich a home can our city be? Enough time. A sense of belonging. Psalm of the Stranger by Michael Henson A man at the side of the road is red with the heat and he wipes the sweat of the road from his face with a limp bandana. He has a pack on his back the size of a small bear and I suppose he has camped the night in the willows near the river. But now, he has stopped just short of the Interstate, burdened by the heat and by his bear of a pack and it seems he has stopped here to ponder, or pray, for he is a stranger here, perhaps a pilgrim. Perhaps he is lost, or ahungered, or beset with the sort of grief that sets a man to seek the loneliness of roads. This thing of coming to meals, of finding enough. A place, and enough to be left with friends behind you, and where friends should have been inside through housing that City forgets to share, while you make a place. Then, you share it. Given enough time, you share it. The Golf Game by Cleo Wombles Father of the stranger, Protector of the pilgrim, Lord of the outcast, Shelter of the unsheltered, Guide of the misguided, Rock of the unstable, Haven of the lost, help me in my wandering. For where can I turn if not to you? Whom can I call on if not for you? What refuge do I have but for you? What rest do I have if not in you? There was Moses, Jesus and an old man playing golf. Moses knocked the golf ball a hundred feet in the air but it missed the hole. Jesus said, “Good job Moses but not good enough.” Jesus knocks the golf ball 10,000 feet in the air and it falls straight in the hole. The old man knocked the golf ball into a tree. A squirrel spots the ball and takes off running. An eagles sports the squirrel and picks it up and starts flying with it. A lightning bolt hits the eagle. The eagles drops the squirrel. The squirrel drops the ball and it falls into the hole. Jesus says, “Good job Dad.” �STREETVIBES Page 15 All Is A Circle Within Me Impure by Nancy Wood by Galaxie All is a circle within me. I am ten thousand winters old. I am as young as a new-born flower. I am a buffalo in its grave. I am a tree in bloom. Succumbing to the rape again There lies harm in your eyes You need me in order to escape Brutally, you take what you think is yours All is a circle within me. I have seen the world through an eagle’s eyes. I have seen it through a gopher’s hole. I have seen the world on fire and the sky without a moon. Leaves scatter and dance Birds sing and play Children laugh and run As I cry and struggle There are blind shadows That I throw myself into Whenever I must escape The disguise of everything ugly All is a circle within me. I have gone into the world and out again. I have gone to the edge of the sky. Now all is at peace within me. Now all has a place to come home. I Shall Die by Elizabeth Romero The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. You can see it in her eyes, her wary sidelong glance. Reclamation by Wes Browning Denied a face she hides beneath an ocean of uncried tears Cry the tears : now the ocean dries. A plain appears : Eden, in dying pains. Then sings a soft thunder yet living: It tells, “All time begins within.” “All worlds begin within.” Here IS the blood of the suffering of all Mankind. A coiling stream about the tree stains the soil. And though long dead the tree so fed shows: a light, a star, a fruit of her first-born. No faceless serpent, now she returns. Here SHE comes to dance if allowed to be. Just cry the tears and the ocean dries. So souls will drown the Lord of Lies. And joy will dance as jealousy dies. Timeline by Wendy Nakashima The Sun rises to touch the mountain peaks it touches the dew an turns it to a simple rainbow. It warms the sand that touches the toes. And as it sets it winks on the great day it created. The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. Her clothes flap loosely in the wind. Her red shoes clash. Writers! Submit your Poetry to Streetvibes email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Circle of Friends by Galaxie Somewhere I am afraid The fear makes me exist The existence reviles me Hunger, pain, love My explanations will only frighten you We peddle moral hypocrisy Excused by our beliefs, we are blind Perfection is not easily attained My secret slivers and pieces Make me what I am Standing in the center I imagine myself running Circle of friends Reality kicks in The existence ends It was all a dream. The woman coming toward you carries the patient rage of her mother and her mother before that like that cracked plastic handbag. by Cleo Wombles Some do Some don’t Some will Some won’t Some like it cold Some like it hot Somebody is always wanting Something they won’t get. Jimmy’s Motorcycle Adventures by Michael G. Sloan The hollow streets shake like fear and echo with a granite noise. Buildings rumble back in anger; They, lead grey legs for a cobalt sky. Somewhere amid the million inhuman squeals, a new-born question screams its way into the world. Happy Birthday. Here on those boney rocks by the sea. Happy Birthday. You, born blind and infected, hungry for a gun. Sometimes in a welter of seasons, when the sickness in your soul is full blossom, you will lay your hand to the task of manhood, While all of heaven groans. Haiku by Reneene Robertson Are you threatened by the thoughts of others? Arm yourself Think your own thoughts HOGS are going to the Dogs Thanks “Sparky” photo submitted by owner, Linda Pittman Happy Birthday. You, unloved, uncertain and benumbed. Happy Birthday, Scion of the City You will visit your curse upon the hour when it comes. For now, hear the menace in the music. The dance has just begun. Happy Birthday. � 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 2007 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 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: “I Am So Sick of ‘Out’ Food” Pg 2: Vendors Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: OSHA Morning in My Own Way Pg 5: Disenfranchised Peoples of God Pg 6: “Bum Fights” Continues to Influence Teens Pg 7: Peace village Pg 8: Streetvibes Float Saves the Day Pg 9: Cincinnati Urban Experience Pg 10: Workers Lose as Senate Legislation Fails Employment Issues for the Homeless Hungry in Louisiana Pg 11: Looming Crisis: Housing for the Elderly Barriers to Finding Work When Homeless Pg 12: Going and Growing Organic Pg 13: Poverty Complicates Everything 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 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Kenneth Cheruiyot Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Susan Smith Leigh Tami Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Elderly Employment Georgine Getty Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kenneth Cheruiyot Leigh Tami Linda Pittman Louisiana Lynne Ausman Melvin Williams Organic Foods OSHA Peace Village poverty Scott Johnson Senate Susan Smith Teenagers Theatre https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/b6814d5e23447b64873b10f0ad2b4221.pdf c61da77857398451b8ad4c0d4178ef00 PDF Text Text July, 2007 lar l o D e n O Streetvibes Streetvibes Month July is Streetvibes Month! As part of the celebration, Streetvibes will be participating in the Northside Fourth of July parade. The parade begins at noon and is sure to provide fun and entertainment for the whole family. We will be walking the parade route with a float and passing out information about the Streetvibes program. Come out to show your support for Streetvibes, and remember to pick up the latest issue of our award-winning paper from on-hand vendors. Also, remember that Streetvibes has posters and T-shirts that can be purchased for $15. Thank you for your continued support of Streetvibes - we look forward to seeing you at the parade! Homeless Exposed to Tuberculosis by Lynn Kilbane, RN, BSN Clinic coordinator Hamilton County Tuberculosis Control During the fall of 2006, a homeless man with tuberculosis (TB) disease in his lungs (also called pulmonary tuberculosis) spent time in Over-the-Rhine. This individual stayed at the Drop Inn Center for 17 nights. He did not realize he had tuberculosis and was not taking any medication for TB at the time. When this person talked, coughed, or laughed germs flew into the air and other people breathed in those germs. Since that time seven other individuals, who were homeless also, contracted active TB disease. Hamilton County TB Control estimates that there were 800 residents plus staff at the Drop Inn Center who received significant exposures to the 7 individuals with active pulmonary TB disease. The staff has been screened; but only approximately 250 residents AHA (Affordable Housing Advocates) Welcomes New Staff Person Having moved recently to the United States and to Cincinnati, I am currently a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati. I have training in urban and human settlements. My interest in housing lies in addressing development issues geared towards prosperity for all. In the past, I have researched and gained experience with central and local governments in issues ranging from preparation of development plans, guiding and advising on urban development issues and assessing alternative ways of financing urban services. I believe that my experiences fit very well with the mission of the Affordable Housing Advocates. I am excited to join a group that is motivated to influence policy making in housing Published by of the Drop Inn Center were located for testing. The seven pulmonary TB cases stayed at the Drop Inn Center between October 12, 2006 and February 7, 2007. If you stayed at the Drop Inn Center during this time period you were exposed to contagious tuberculosis and need TB testing. We know, from the TB skin testing we performed, that many people breathed in the TB germs and now have a positive skin test. That is why we are recommending that all persons staying or working in shelters or frequenting social service agencies and soup kitchens in Over-the-Rhine be screened for TB at least yearly. You can be screened with a TB skin test. A skin test will tell you whether or not you have TB germs in your body. If you have a positive skin test (TB germs in your body) then you need aimed at changing living conditions of the disadvantaged in society. I am married and have a daughter who is four and a half. In my free time I enjoy watching comedy movies and reading books. If you have any questions about AHA or myself please contact me at 513.421.7803 x 19. Kenneth Cheruiyot a chest x-ray to make sure your body has “walled off” the germs and made the germs go to sleep. If the germs are not “walled off” then they multiply and cause disease in your body. A chest x-ray determines whether or not the germs are growing in your lungs. Screening is available free of charge, if you are unemployed, at Hamilton County Tuberculosis Control or through the Homeless Med Van of the Cincinnati Health Department. If your TB skin test was positive in the past, it will always be positive and you will need a chest x-ray to make sure your lungs are clear. All other persons, who have never been tested, do not know whether they are positive or negative, or have a history of a negative skin test should be skin tested at least yearly. There is medication you can take if your TB skin test is positive to prevent you from getting active TB disease. Hamilton County TB Control provides this medication free of charge. If you are HIV positive or have certain other chronic health problems you have a higher risk of developing active TB disease once you are exposed to persons with active TB disease and are strongly urged to receive TB screening. Taking medication for TB germs is the best way to prevent you from getting active TB disease if you have a positive skin test. If you have had health problems lasting for more than 3 weeks with either cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, fever, chills, night sweats, tiredness, losing weight or a poor appetite, please make sure you get tested. For questions about TB, please call Hamilton County TB Control: 946–7614 or 946–7618. Hamilton County TB Control is located in the Job and Family Services building on the corner of McMillan and Highland on the McMillan side of the building. There is a large green “Tuberculosis Clinic” sign above our door. Please get tested and be sure to call us for any concerns. STREETVIBES Page 1 The Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless �STREETVIBES, Greater Cincinnati’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. 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 Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Kenneth Cheruiyot - AHA Coordinator Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Leigh Tami - Intern Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for one dollar ($1). I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Streetvibes by any other means. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, I am allowed to keep the donation. 2. I will only purchase papers from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Each paper can be purchased for a cost of 25 cents. I will always show my badge when buying papers and if I do not have my badge I cannot buy papers. 3. I will never buy papers from and/or sell papers to other vendors. 4. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, and other vendors – respectfully. I will not use abusive language or force someone to buy a paper. I will not give a “hard sell,” be aggressive, continue to ask after a person has verbally or non-verbally said no or make someone feel threatened. 5. I agree to stay off private property when selling Streetvibes. I will not sell Streetvibes door to door. 6. I understand that I am not an employee of Streetvibes or GCCH but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. 7. I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling Streetvibes. 8. I will not sell Streetvibes or purchase Streetvibes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 9. There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer. 10. I understand that my badge is the property of Streetvibes and I will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing papers and display my badge when selling papers. If I lose my badge I will pay three dollars ($3) for a new one. If my badge becomes ruined because of weather or use, I will get a new badge for one dollar ($1). 11. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. 12. I will not deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a nonprofit charity or that I am collecting for the “homeless” in general. I will be in honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes go to me. I will not use the word “donation.” 13. There are special rules for selling at Findlay Market. Only two vendors may sell at Findlay Market at a time. Other rules as established by Streetvibes and Findlay Market. 14. I will attend monthly meetings. Monthly meetings will occur on the first weekday of the month. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. Anyone who cannot make the meeting must meet with Andy, the Education Coordinator, before selling Streetvibes for that month. Ten papers will be given to those who attend the meeting. 15. It is the responsibility of each vendor to police fellow vendors or former vendors. I will report violators of the rules to GCCH. The value of the paper depends on keeping it credible. 16. I understand that any infraction of the above mentioned rules will result in suspension of my privilege to sell Streetvibes and possible termination from the program. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH and must be surrendered upon demand. Where your Dollar Goes Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design Photographers Andy Freeze, Jimmy Heath, John Lavelle, Leigh Tami 75 Cents Goes Directly to Your Vendor Cover Mary Ann Lederer, detail of poster for Streetvibes Streetvibes accepts letters, poems,stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or are 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 STREETVIBES Page 2 Streetvibes is a program of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. 25 Cents Pays for Production Streetvibes Vendor Phone: (513) 421-7803 Streetvibes vendors purchase their papers for 25 cents per copy, then sell them for a $1.00 donation, keeping the 75 cent profit. The money used to purchase the paper goes to the individual vendor. GCCH does not profit from the sale of Streetvibes. Vendors are not fundraising for the Coalition for the Homeless. ANDY Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors ONLY �Louisville, KY - The number of homeless people sleeping in Louisville shelters and using other services dropped from 2005, according to a study released last month. There were 10,933 homeless last year, down from 11,251 the year before — and the lowest number since 2002, according to an annual report issued by the Coalition for the Homeless. Marlene Gordon, the coalition’s executive director, said the decline is due partly to 74 new units of federally-funded housing for the city’s chronically homeless. That population includes people who have been homeless for more than a year or at least four times in three years. “When we have the resources, we can make it work,” Gordon said. “We can reduce it.” The Lunas have a specially made flag they’re getting homeless veterans to sign along the way. It was displayed at the Vietnam War Memorial, where cyclists will pay tribute to those killed or wounded in that war. While they wish to honor all veterans, of specific interest to the Lunas are homeless veterans. Through their work, they’ve encountered numerous veterans suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome and addiction. “So many of our Vietnam vets are here because of mental illness, and cutting through the red tape of getting VA benefits is so frustrating,” Cecilia Luna said. “Sometimes they just give up. “It breaks my heart to think that the way they were treated by our country after they came back from war contributed to them being in this situation. They weren’t told ‘thank you.’ They were spit on and told they were baby killers. It is time we make amends.” The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimates that about a quarter of the country’s homeless have served in the military. On any given night, about 200,000 veterans are in shelters or on the street. Over the course of a year, 400,000 veterans will be without a home, and nearly onethird of them served in a war zone, according to coalition statistics. British Columbia - Bylaw enforcement officers dismantled two homeless camps in downtown Maple Ridge in last month. One was located in overgrown brush behind the Salvation Army’s Caring Place. The second was in a boat house. Three more have been identified by district staff, not including the one Bill Evans has been complaining about for the past month and a half. Evans has filed three complaints with the RCMP about a campsite near the bypass. Bylaw officials confirm that more campsites are popping up around Maple Ridge as the weather warms. RCMP visit the sites first, move the campers on and ensure the area is safe. Private property owners are told to clean up camps on their land or they will be billed by the District of Maple Ridge if the municipality intervenes. “We are trying to tackle the problem collectively,” he added. Constables assigned to the downtown core of Maple Ridge are also checking the sites. “It is part of the downtown constable mandate to get in touch with the homeless,” said Cst. Gary Slater, who admits that camps are often reestablished and are being rooted out. McDonald hopes the collective approach to dealing with the problem will help. Staff is often accompanied by a street outreach worker, who helps camp residents find accommodation or a bed at the shelter. “The ultimate goal is to get them help and offer them healthy alternatives,” McDonald said. Chattanooga, TN - For several years ministries and organizations have set up at Miller Park to help people who are homeless. Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield wants to be known as the mayor who helps those in need, but a move by city hall last month has some people questioning that. Churches and social organizations have been meeting the homeless and poor at Miller Park several days a week to feed them, offer help and spiritual guidance. They were told to leave The city now says church leaders who want to help the homeless must apply for a permit through the department of Parks and Recreation. Pastor Barry Kidwell, of the Forrest Avenue United Methodist Church, said “it’s just gonna move it (the homeless) somewhere else. Kidwell and others question whether this move is aimed toward getting homeless people out of downtown for the Riverbend Festival. Kidwell said churches will still meet at Miller Park on Sundays and Wednesdays and take the homeless somewhere else to eat if they have to, but will not give up on their efforts to help. Birmingham, AL - To show homeless veterans that their service to country is appreciated, two local advocates rode their Harley-Davidson to the Vietnam War Memorial. Cecilia and Mike Luna, who work at the Sapp Shelter and Downtown Rescue Mission, went to Washington with hundreds of other motorcycle riders for the Run for the Wall, which aims to promote healing in veterans and their families. Tucson, AZ - A Tucson man has been sentenced to five years in prison in the beating death of a homeless military veteran. Judge Edgar Acuna of Pima County Superior Court could have placed Tranquillino Hernandez on probation or sent him to prison for up to 12.5 years. Hernandez entered a guilty plea last month to manslaughter in the May 2006 death of Jerry Wayne Walding, 54. Walding struck Hernandez on the head with a beer bottle on May 9, 2006, prompting Hernandez to beat Walding with a rock, defense attorney John Sando said. Hernandez continued to beat Walding after he fell to the ground. Walding was found dead behind a Tucson hardware store. Hernandez was found nearby in a wash. Acuna sentenced Hernandez to a concurrent prison sentence of 1.5 years in that case. Hernandez was given credit for the 378 days he’s already served in custody. Albuquerque, NM - Ever wonder if handing change to a homeless person harms rather than helps? The city and the Downtown Action Team hope an initiative will take the guilt out of giving. Under the program, old mechanical parking meters will serve as donation boxes for agencies that serve the homeless. They’ll be an alternative to giving panhandlers money directly, said Brian Morris, executive director for the Downtown Action Team. The mechanical meters are slowly being phased out in their curbside role, replaced by kiosks that accept paper money, credit cards or coins and print a receipt to put on your dashboard. Morris said it’s not clear how many donation meters there will be or where they’ll sit, but they will most likely be in heavily traveled areas such as Downtown, where panhandling is most likely to occur. “Our goal is to curb panhandling,” Morris said. “When you give to a panhandler, you don’t know if you’re truly helping the homeless.” Debbie Ortega, executive director of Denver’s Road Home, said the program was launched in March. “It is still early to say if it’s been successful,” she said. “But there is a lot of interest in people to get involved and spread the word.” Ortega said that within the first month, Road Home generated $38,000 from 36 donation meters installed throughout Denver’s Downtown. Morris said, when all the Albuquerque donation meters are set up, the Downtown Action Team plans to partner with United Way of Central New Mexico to distribute the money to homeless shelters. Seattle, WA - A brush-cutter clearing blackberry bushes for a highway project accidentally killed a homeless man in a sleeping bag, authorities said. Police had warned transients to leave the area, and a special subcontracting crew had also worked to remove human waste, needles and other drug paraphenalia from a mile long section under the freeway. The Transportation Department said the tractor, with an 18-foot rotary arm, had been operating for about a half hour one Saturday morning when the man was hit. Isaac Palmer, 62, died of skull fractures and brain lacerations caused by sharp and bluntforce head trauma, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office said. STREETVIBES Page 3 �A Few Words of Thanks A Tribute to Roy Kaiser by Cleo Wombles My name is Cleo Wombles and I have been selling Streetvibes for about three and a half years. I was homeless and lived in shelters and ate at soup kitchens. I want to thank everybody at Streetvibes and the kind people who have contributed to me for Streetvibes. I have moved up from homelessness to my own apartment. When I’m not selling Streetvibes, Cleo Wombles I have been working part-time painting, landscaping, and doing janitorial work. Because of people like you, I have been able to get ahead. There is a short story I would like to share with you. One time I was asking a man getting into a car if he wanted to buy Streetvibes. He said no. For some reason, I lingered for a moment. I came to find out that this man was stealing the car. The real owner of the car came back to the car because he forgot that he had left his keys in the vehicler. He yelled and told the man to get out of his car. The man took off and ran away. The owner of the car looked at me and said thanks for staying a little while longer, his car might have been stolen. The man gave me a kind donation for the paper. I told him thanks and God bless. That was a rare situation. I’m just glad the man’s car wasn’t stolen. It is people like that man that keep me selling the paper. Thanks to all who buy Streetvibes from me and the other vendors. Darfur in Turmoil by Lynne Ausman In early 2003, the conflict in the Darfur region of the Sudan became international news when rebel groups began attacking government targets because they felt that their villages and communities were being ignored by the Sudanese Government. There are three main ethnic groups who claim the Darfur region: the mostly nomadic Arabs, and two African ethnic groups: the Massaleet and the Zagawa. To complicate matters further, the two African ethnic groups feel that the Sudanese government is favoring the Arabs and are linked to the Janjaweed, an Arab militia accused of trying to cleanse the region of black Africans. The government denies their link to the Janjaweed. However, refugees report that following government air raids, the Janjaweed attack villages on the ground, stealing anything of value and killing the men and raping and killing the women. In the US, human rights groups believe that genocide is taking place as the attacks are targeting the black Darfurians; however, the United Nations (UN) is reluctant to agree. The UN has stopped short of calling it genocide but admit that war crimes have been committed. It is difficult for the UN to properly determine if genocide is taking place as fighting is so severe that humanitarian aide and peace keepers are having trouble crossing the border. In addition, the Sudanese government has prohibited the UN from entering the country. Currently, the African Union (AU) is the only peacekeeping force allowed to enter Sudan. However, this force is small and inexperienced and has not had much success. The international community is calling for an increased UN presence and the AU is happy to join forces, but the Sudanese Government refuses to cooperate. The fighting has caused more than 2 million civilians to be forced from their homes and more than 400,000 have been killed. These 2 million refugees are fleeing to the neighboring countries of Chad and the Central African Republic. These refugee camps, however, are anything but a safe refuge from the fighting and are causing turmoil in the host countries. There are many refugee camps along the borders, with some of the larger camps housing between 10 and 30 thousand refugees. Refugees battle heat, lack of fresh water, food and medical supplies, and the imminent threat of violence. Many of the refugees are impoverished farmers and herders who cannot grow crops in the rocky desert. Getting humanitarian aide, fresh food and STREETVIBES Page 4 by Mark Baker On May 2, 2007 a good friend of mine and long time advocate of housing for the indigent passed away. I met Roy more than 30 years ago when we both worked at the old 12th Street Clinic providing health care for residents of the Over-The-Rhine and West End of Cincinnati. He went on to help plan and become district health officer at the new Elm St. Clinic. He retired from the Cincinnati Health Dept. in 1991. From 1988 to 1992 he worked on the Spring St. Project on Saturdays and Wednesday evenings. Roy’s passion was housing for the poor and for the next 16 years he worked with the OTR Housing Network, Preserving Affordable Housing, Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, as well as working with the Mt. Healthy Clinic. Roy served on many boards over the years: Neighborhood Health Care, Inc., Oral Health Council, Bethany House, and several years ago joined me in serving on Epic’s board providing shared housing for the elderly in the West End. Roy’s final project was to organize the development of an empty building at 13th and Vine into Venice on Vine, an excellent pizza parlor water is difficult because the Janjaweed and other militias linger just a few miles away. The camps in Chad have reported attacks by Chadian nationals. Women and girls are favored targets by the Janjaweed, who are kidnapping and raping fleeing refugees. Some women have reported being kidnapped, turned into sex slaves, and then released weeks later by the Janjaweed. Recently, the US government has turned its attention to the conflict in Darfur calling it genocide and demanding increased UN Security Council sanctions. However, these UN sanctions are unlikely since China – Sudan’s largest supporter, has a permanent veto in the Security Council and will not agree to increased economic sanctions. The US, however, has imposed its own economic sanctions on Sudanese businesses that are believed to be involved in the violence – they are barred from trading and banking in the US. These American sanctions are prompting the European Union to consider adopting similar sanctions. Lack of international cooperation and collaboration is Roy Kaiser at work and also home to PIP (Power Inspires Progress) whose purpose is to train inner city men and women and help them develop good work skills. Roy left behind a wonderful, supportive wife, Marian, 5 sons and many grandchildren who will miss him greatly. As my good friend, I will also miss him. Roy cared passionately about making this community a better place by wanting all its residents to have decent housing and better lives. worsening the conflict. While individual countries and the UN acknowledge that there is a conflict and that thousands of civilians are being killed, pro active steps to end the conflict are not occurring. When fighting does cease, we are likely to find that the problem was much worse than initially expected due to the hesitation of the international community to become involved. This happened in the small African country of Rwanda in 1994. The international community ignored the problem and when they finally took notice it was too late - thousands of innocent civilians had been killed. Various community groups are calling on congress to enact legislation including the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, the Civilian Protection Act and the No-fly Zone, among others. In Ohio, Senator Sherrod Brown (Democrat) and Senator George Voinovich (Republican) have been supportive and have voted in favor of legislation to stop the genocide. The House Representatives, however, have not been so supportive. Representative Steve Chabot (Republican, Ohio District 1) and Representative Jean Schmidt (Republican, Ohio District 2) voted for the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Bridging Force and a Presidential Special Envoy but fell short in allocating funds towards protection and humanitarian aid. Contact your representatives and ask for continued and increased support to stop the genocide in Darfur. �Go Figure 2,500,000 + 22,500 Darfurians who have lost their homes since the outbreak of the conflict. UN Troops authorized by Security Council Resolution 1706 for Darfur (August 2006) 1,000,000 + 1706 Postcards delivered to President George W. Bush by the Save Darfur Coalition The number assigned to the UN Security Council Resolution that authorized a UN force for Darfur 714,570 41 Emails sent to George W. Bush protesting genocide in Darfur Number of countries in which events took place on the Global Day for Darfur (September 17) 400,000 + The estimated Death Toll, as estimated by experts and organizations on the ground 50,000 + Rally participants at the National Mall Washington, DC (April 30) 2+ Number of years since the crisis in Darfur was labeled a genocide by US President George W. Bush (September 9, 2004) 0 Number of UN-led Peacekeeping Troops Deployed to Darfur Minimum Wage Increased by Leigh Tami For the past ten years, the federal minimum wage in the United States has been stuck at $5.15 per hour. $5.15 per hour, for one full-time minimum wage worker, means roughly $206 per week. $206 per week for 52 weeks, or one year, comes out to $10,712 per year. For a family of two (which, keep in mind, does not include children), this yearly income is still $3,000 below the federal poverty line. While this kind of hourly wage may have been adequate ten years ago, a rise in the cost of living and other effects of inflation make this kind of pay significantly less than a living wage. For $5.15 per hour, full-time hardworking Americans are hardly able to support themselves. Additionally, such a low wage does not take into account expenses of children, medical emergencies, or any other unforeseen charges for an individual living paycheck to paycheck, as many low wage workers in America do. For a nation such as the United States which boasts enormous economic prosperity, this aptly named “minimum wage” surpasses inadequate and crosses over into the realm of absurd on the scale of economic injustice. There has been absolutely no reason to institutionalize poverty through such low wages in a wealthy nation such as ours. On November 7, 2006, 56.65% of Ohioans agreed that a change was in order and passed Issue 2 for the implementation of the Ohio Fair Minimum Wage Amendment. Following in the footsteps of 22 other states, Ohio raised its minimum wage above federal level to accommodate today’s economy. As of January 2007, the minimum wage in Ohio was raised from $5.15 to $6.85 per hour- a significant The State of Affordable Housing by Matt Cohen I came to the Homeless Coalition last September to assume the position of Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) Coordinator. Knowing little about the housing environment in Cincinnati, I had few expectations for the coming year. Now, as my tenure with AHA is coming to an end, I find myself reflecting back on the previous nine months, and am glad I had no expectations. The state of affordable housing in Cincinnati is a sad affair and conditions in the city Matt Cohen are discouraging. Ours is a city that privatized its planning function, granting too much power to development groups such as 3CDC. Ours is a city of the Nuisance Ordinance, giving lowincome households disincentives to seek help from authorities. Ours is the city that can’t get the Banks off the ground (or out of the flood plain). And if they do ever break ground, the Banks may or may not include affordable housing units for the ignored socioeconomic groups that may or may not be included in the development process. We live in a community that hosts political campaigns with candidates that slander each other by accusing their opponents of supporting affordable housing. In Southwest Ohio, candidates threaten that votes for their opponents will bring minorities and poor people into their neighborhoods. AHA tried to get political candidates to sign a pledge denouncing such negative campaign tactics in the future, but none of the parties supported it. This is a community that must take housing issues more seriously. Good, safe, accessible, affordable housing is a necessity to all. Shelter is one of the defining contributors to a stable, productive life and shares the same importance as access to food and nourishment. The problem in our community is that a significant population lacks the good, safe, accessible affordable housing it needs to lead positive, productive lives. The foreclosure rate in the region should be enough to convince anyone of that. But there is still some reason to hope. It is reassuring to know that a coalition of passionate individuals is working tirelessly to make a change. I am encouraged that the Affordable Housing Advocates will continue to watchdog the region and advocate for changes in policy and perspective. I wish them luck. I wish the city of Cincinnati luck as well, because I know it needs it. Congratulations to Venice Pizza For Being Recognized As Best Organization by OTR Chamber of Commerce increase in hourly pay. As part of this Amendment, on September 30 of every year (beginning in 2007), this state minimum wage will be increased (effective the following January) according to the rate of inflation and cost of living for the previous year. This amendment raises the wage for more than 700,000 Ohio workers who on average provide for one half of their families’ weekly earnings. Shortly following, as of May 2007, Congress voted 348 to 73 for the first time in a decade to increase the federal minimum wage over a period of two years by $2.10, raising it from $5.15 to $7.25. This is the first federal increase in the minimum wage since September 1997 when it was raised from $4.75 to $5.15 under former President Clinton. The raise in wage is gradual over the prescribed two year period, beginning two months after President Bush signs the Bill, when the wage increases to $5.85 per hour. One year following, federal minimum wage will be at $6.55- two years later, it will be at $7.25. The motion to increase the minimum wage is part of the Iraq war spending Bill, and will affect an estimated 5.6 million workers currently earning less than $7.25/hour, who constitute roughly four percent of the workforce. As previously mentioned, a $5.15/hour wage for a full time worker comes out to about $10,712 per year. With the increased wage, a low-wage worker’s income increases to about $15,000 per year- a significant difference, especially for families supporting children. This long overdue wage increase has been a huge victory for the American lower middle class, and is certainly a gigantic step in the right direction for the restoration of the value of minimum wage and a hard day’s work. STREETVIBES Page 5 �Is Something Great Happening In Cincinnati? by Sam McKinley “I definitely feel like there are some really cool things happening in Cincinnati,” said Dan Korman, owner of recently-opened Park + Vine “Green General Store” in Over The Rhine. This was in response to my grousing about economic and political conditions in Cincinnati and Ohio, and how they seemed to reinforce each other in a vicious circle. Before he said he was moving back to Cincinnati and opening a store, I had even declared that I should really move my family out to the Bay Area of California. Except this was a year and a half ago, and Park + Vine didn’t exist. In fact, Dan was still living in Chicago, back in Cincinnati visiting family and scoping things out for his planned store. I hadn’t seen Dan in at least 10 years, since college, but ran into him at Findlay Market. He was talking to a woman he had also run into there, whom he hadn’t seen since high school. I found out she was moving her business to Price Hill to be part of Imago, “a nonprofit ecological organization that creates tangible ways to live in harmony with the Earth,” according to their website. I was at Findlay Market with my family. I had proposed to my wife that we try shopping there, because I thought we should try to supply our family needs from local businesses, especially from organic producers. I got her to try it out as a fun thing to do one weekend, but she got hooked on the fun of marketing that way and then saw the importance of buying from local producers and organic producers. There was enough Serendipity, Kismet, or Coincidence flying around for me to suspend my discouragement with Cincinnati and at least try on Dan’s point of view. I capitalize Coincidence because I think it’s not really random when it piles up like that. When more than one Coincidence comes together, I think it’s a strong indication that you’re where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to be doing. I did some research on the internet that night and found that there were some pretty cool things happening in Cincinnati. Imago was certainly applying its pressure in the right direction. From Findlay Market, I was familiar with quite a few businesses who were doing their bit. The Streetvibes I bought at Findlay Market was a voice for caring what becomes of actual people while giant economic forces play their games. I began to look for “cool” things happening in Cincinnati, instead of seeing everything through the lens of “too conservative” and “economically depressed.” About two months ago, I brought up Dan’s point about “some really cool things happening in Cincinnati” to a friend. I added my take on it, that things were bubbling up from the grassroots level, namely small, locally-owned businesses with economic, social, and ecological consciousness, in all combinations. My friend came up with the idea of compiling a directory of all of them. Patronize a business from the directory and you know that your money stays local and you’re furthering economic justice, social improvement, or good ecological management. Not long after that, while reading my Streetvibes, it occurred to me that maybe such a directory could start with advertisers in Streetvibes. They don’t run many (often any) ads now, so they’re obviously not dependent on the revenue. They could actually make advertising decisions from an editorial standpoint: these businesses and institutions say, stand for, and do things we support. I very soon found myself in a job interview at GCCH/AHA. I suggested my idea of Streetvibes’ selling ads for businesses that were locally-owned and conscious. Exec. Director Georgine Getty suggested I write an article about this idea and here we are. So what about that, locally-owned businesses? Are you just interested in making money, or are you interested in the health of your city and area? Since you’re not sending your Jimmy’s Motorcycle Adventures How’s My Driving? 555-1313 profits all over the world (no publicly-held corporations need apply), you’re already contributing extra to the general welfare of the area. Once upon a time, the people who made money here got involved and did what they could to make their city as much a source of pride as their businesses. The ones who are remembered as truly great didn’t just build big institutions, like museums, libraries, and universities, but also contributed to making life better for everyone. I think we have a burgeoning movement of small businesses who aren’t just in it for the money. There are actual non-profits. Then there are many businesses who try for profit, but only within the context of their values, whether they’re economic, ecological, or social. Wouldn’t it be great to see them all advertising in one place? Wouldn’t their potential customers like to have one place to look, where they could know a business has been vetted as being in line with their own values? You’re reading an article about this idea, but the producers of Streetvibes haven’t said they’d go for it as I write this. I haven’t asked a second time, but we’ll see how it goes. Reader response would be helpful here. Sam McKinley, of Madeira, is a former computer guy, turned small-time activist. He’ll be starting on a Master of Community Planning degree in the Fall. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes wish to thank Panera Bread at Gilmore Square in Fairfield for their donations of bread, pastries bagels and sweets. These are used throughout the week by our vendors people who frequent the lobby to use the phone or get out of the heat. “The helmet saved me!” STREETVIBES Page 6 �Jaywalkers by Michael Henson This is the fifth in a series on poverty and addiction. Some more notes on dignity, poverty, addiction: In twelve step recovery meetings, people tell their stories of “what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now.” Again and again, the story is of dignity lost and dignity restored. You won’t hear the word “dignity” used much, but I believe that when an alcoholic tells “what it was like,” dignity is what is battered by the drink. When an addict tells “what it’s like now,” she is telling the story of a newfound dignity. “What happened” is in part that a vision of true dignity somehow emerged from the chaos and the addict/ alcoholic could no longer tolerate the assault on the dignity that drinking and using entail. The false fronts that are part of the active addiction and that undermine true dignity began to fall away, so that something like a real dignity, one that is built from the inside out, can develop. Poverty complicates this process. Poverty complicates everything. Not everyone agrees with that. There are people who will tell you that the disease of addiction affects everyone in exactly the same way, no matter what their socio-economic level. I understand the motive behind this insistence. We do not want to go back to the days when very few people understood the disease of alcoholism and addiction and there were a lot of failed attempts to explain the behavior of the substance abuser in moral, psychological, psychiatric, social, sociological, theological and many other –logical terms, none of which matched the available science and none of which were successful in helping solve the problem of the addict. So poverty does not explain addiction. But poverty complicates addiction. Because poverty complicates everything. One day, on Main Street, I tried to pull into a parking space. On the sidewalk nearby, a young woman was pushing her baby in a stroller. She had it in mind, apparently, to cross the street. The empty space where I wanted to park my car gave her just the gap she needed. I had already started to back into the space, but she looked me dead in the eye, pushed the stroller off the curb, and waited in my parking space for the traffic to clear. I have an innate solidarity with jaywalkers. I lived in Chicago for a year and, in Chicago, jaywalking is something like a civic duty. But I suppose this was one of my lowsolidarity days. I wanted to get into that parking space and onto my errand. Stupid, I thought, for that young woman to endanger herself and her child. But she did not seem to care much for what I thought, for once she had stopped me with that dead-in-theeye glare, she did not look at me again. Perhaps she had been to Chicago too. Without a backward glance toward me, she waited for the last of the cars to pass and she headed on across Main Street toward an errand of her own, Her head was erect and her shoulders square. Stupid, I still wanted to think once I finally pulled in to the space she had finally left me. But there was something in her stance and in her walk and in her rigidly southward gaze that told me something else was at work besides stubbornness and irresponsibility. I believe now she was standing on her dignity. She was doing it the best way she knew how at that moment. For dignity is a relational thing, a stance one person takes toward another, a stance which says, I will take your insult if I must, but I will not allow it to alter my conception of myself, nor will I alter my action if I can help it. To anyone who has experienced indignity, that is, humiliation, insult, or disrespect — anyone who has been imprisoned, abused, cheated, shamed— to anyone like this, dignity has a meaning which is quite clear. It needs no lengthy explanation, nor even words. To put it into words anyway, dignity is the refusal to be demeaned in spite of demeaning circumstances. Dignity provides insulation against insult and humiliation. Dignity has the added dimension of preservation of the sense of self. If a person lives in dignity, then he or she lives free of insult, not because there is no insult, but because her dignity is proof against the pressure, threat, and damage of the world. This is true even when the insult is from within. A person insults the self by choices that sell out the self, the true self, not the “self” we talk about when we are self-centered or self-absorbed, not the self we pray to be free from in the Third Step Prayer, but the true self that we speak of when we say, ‘to thine own self be true.” The self that lie, cheats, or betrays, sells out the true self and destroys the dignity of the person. Therefore, to have dignity is to be free of the necessity to bargain away pieces of the self for survival But there are certain situations and conditions that tend to diminish the self and put dignity at risk. An extreme case is slavery, where indignity attacks the self like a shark. The modern workplace can feel very undignified at times; indignity attacks us there mostly in nibbles. Abusive relationships, schools, playgrounds, the streets —all can be situations which demand more of the self than the self should have to give. To be in the position where one has to beg, to accept insult for the sake of survival, chips away at the self. It demeans; it destroys dignity; it creates indignity. We know it is indignity when the situation leaves us feeling rankled, cheapened, shamed, and embarrassed. And this is what poverty, classic poverty in which one class of persons is placed subservient to another, forces on the individual, a constant daily choice between surrender of selfhood and survival. .For the alcoholic in poverty, the problem of dignity is doubled, for the insult of the world around is compounded with the insult the individual inflicts on the self through his or her use and the behavior that results. And then, in recovery, he or she has to accept something like a loss of dignity if they ever expect to get help. Maybe it is not dignity that is being lost at that point, but the false front of it, the illusion of it. But at the time, it often feels as if all dignity has been stripped away. The protective ego must be put in check. He or she must come to a place where the only way out is through the sort of supplication which seems to destroy dignity. The sense of self becomes a burden. Right at that moment, if the addict or alcoholic has a vision of true dignity, he or she might “come to believe” there is hope. But again, poverty complicates things. There is so much to assault the self in the daily grind of poverty, that it can be monstrously complicated to sort out what is a stand on dignity from what is a false front. So what about this young woman with the stroller? I have no idea if she is alcoholic or addict; she comes up here because of that erect head and square shoulders, marks of a person who will not be bowed by circumstance. I can only imagine what assaults on her dignity she must endure, so I no longer think of her as stupid or irresponsible. She simply was not in a mood to beg or bargain. She did not intend to ask permission to use what was more her street than mine. She was standing on her dignity. I can complain that it was the wrong way to do it, but dignity on Main Street can be in short supply. So, if I ever cross her again, she can have my parking space for as long as she needs it. Not that she cares. Which is as it should be. Giving Back to the Community I recently met a longtime resident of OTR who remembers the action and how the repercussions drew national attention. The The Contact Center controversy caused such a stir that understands that stories about poverty don’t sell. That stories about CBS news magazine and “60 class and race don’t sell. That stories minutes” decided to do a story. Former CBS news anchor and “60 about inequality don’t sell. And yet our Over-the-Rhine organization – an minutes” reporter Ed Bradley, organization that has been in existence according to longtime resident Jackie Roley, visited the Contact Center. for over thirty years, has been The story was called “People instrumental in helping to fight poverty Against Displacement.” as it relates to class, race and The publicity that followed inequality. helped mobilize low and moderateDuring this span of time income people to organize and hold we’ve witnessed situations where elected officials accountable. residents were basically uprooted Unfortunately, that was then from their homes and property as a result of “project development.” This and this is now. Voter turnout during elections has declined in OTR over process is commonly referred to as the years. We need to re-energize gentrification. by William Wallace, Voter Project Coordinator, Contact Center the residents and encourage people to get involved in the political process. Communities that vote receive increased attention from, and better access to their elected officials. Which in turn, leads to more effective representation. Plus, it’s ludicrous to complain if you don’t vote! Fast-forward twenty five years later and we are once again experiencing “project development” and as a result more OTR residents are being forced to relocate and move elsewhere. The Contact center, interestingly, is smack dab in the middle. We remind our critics that there are decent, hardworking people in this part of town and not just prostitutes and drug-dealers with guns. We are still a non-profit, community based organization that works to advocate for low and moderate-income people. The Contact Center does not spend a lot of time talking about what needs to be done. In partnering with the Ohio Empowerment Coalition and Benefits Rights Advocacy Group (BRAG), we’ve attended several hearings at the statehouse already this year regarding the Health Care in State Budge Bill (HB 119). The Contact Centers’ mission is clear. We see the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, and the dwindling middle class getting squeezed. As we see it, the Contact Center’s role in advocacy is more important than ever. Our organization has a rich history: a history that should be told. STREETVIBES Page 7 �Homeless Youth: Often Overlooked and Pushed Aside by Linda Pittman Cincinnati - It is a common misconception that the average homeless person is an older adult living in a shelter or on the streets. In reality, 30% of the homeless population in Cincinnati are children, where the average age is nine. Since most shelters do not accept children, they are “displaced” (i.e., living with other family members and friends). How then can they receive help? There are several excellent agencies in the Greater Cincinnati area who are committed to helping young people: Lighthouse Youth Services Lighthouse has three programs for unaccompanied runaway and homeless kids. The Youth Crisis Center is for minors up to the age 18 (if still a full-time student) and is a 20-bed facility located on Jefferson Avenue in Clifton across from Burnett Woods. There is also a Transitional Living Program (short term, 18 to 24 months) affiliated with Shelter Plus Care consisting of permanent supported housing which requires the individual to be involved in 30 hours of productive activity a week (working, going to school or volunteering) and also provides life skill classes. Bethany House The Anthony House in Coryville is a Day Center. The youth outreach program focuses on teens to young adults and takes place three afternoons a week. It provides survival supplies to live on the streets or in a squat. It was started in 1972 as a runaway shelter but now provides runaways and displaced youth with a safe place to come during the day. A nurse is available during the day to help with youth who need assistance. Bethany House Bethany House collaborates with others to provide a full range of housing, education and assistance programs to homeless and disadvantaged women and children. It began in 1984 and provides case management for approximately 400 women and children annually. They only accept minors accompanied by their mothers, and in rare cases, fathers. Boys over 12 years old are not accepted at the facility but are placed off site. Programs provided include a Child/Parent Program focusing on the special, emotional, physical and relational needs of homeless children in crisis The Life Skills Literacy Program, transportation assistance, meals, laundry and supervised child care are also available at Bethany House. Also available is access to physical and mental health care professionals, referral services and relocation assistance. Post Shelter Support includes follow-up home visits and post shelter assistance to former guests who have successfully completed the shelter program and are designed to maintain stable housing, income and family life. Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati Interfaith began in 1991 and is an affiliate of Family Promise. It provides hospitality in the form of shelter, meals and caring fellowship. Local churches host homeless families at night and then the families are taken to the Day Center during the day. The Day Center is located in Lower Price Hill on St. Michael Street and serves as a home base by providing adult education classes, a kitchen, laundry facilities, showers, free telephones, a mailing address, computer facilities and a children’s playroom. Host congregations are area churches that provide three meals a day, private sleeping space, and volunteer to create a “home away from home” for the families. Case managers help families find and maintain permanent housing while vans transport families to appointments, interviews and day care. A bus transports families back and forth between the Interfaith Hospitality Network congregations and the Day Center. School-age children attend school and receive after-school tutoring through Project Connect. Project Connect Project Connect serves Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren Counties and is designed to remove barriers to education exclusively to homeless youth. Since 1996, when the federal government mandated that homeless children be given the same educational opportunities, Project Connect has been providing supplies and transportation to and from school for homeless youth. The age limit is 18 years old unless the individual has special needs or access to a GED alternative. Project Connect is located in the Hayes Porter Elementary School on Poplar Street. Statistics have shown that students who do not attend Project Connect’s summer camp (see June article “OTR, Kids, and Summer”) fall way behind their grade level during the summer. However it has been shown that students who go through one of Project Connects summer activities stay at or exceed their grade level when returning to school in the Fall. A new division, Faces Without Places, helps children to succeed in their education by providing special needs education, summer reading programs, school supplies, uniforms, books and transportation to and from school. City creating office to help homeless by John Futty Reprinted with permission from the Columbus Dispatch Some of Columbus’ most significant homeless camps have disappeared in the past 10 months. In a coordinated effort involving city departments and homeless-advocacy groups, eight camps were cleaned up and most of the residents were relocated to permanent housing. City officials hope to continue the momentum by creating an Office of Homeless Advocacy within the mayor’s administration, Mayor Michael B. Coleman and City Council President Michael C. Mentel announced yesterday. “We need consistency in addressing this issue,” Coleman said after speaking to more than 700 people at the Greater Columbus Convention Center during the Mel Schottenstein Birthday Celebration, an annual luncheon benefiting the Community Shelter Board. Mentel said the City Council is committed to creating and funding the office, though the cost STREETVIBES Page 8 of the program and the size of the staff haven’t been determined. The mayor’s administration will oversee the office, Coleman said, because it does so with so many of the city departments and has “the necessary clout” to mobilize their efforts. Virtually every city department, from Public Health to Public Safety, plays a role in addressing homelessness, he said. The city also is developing a formal protocol for responding to the health and safety problems associated with homeless camps and other incidents of street homelessness, Coleman and Mentel said. “We’re doing it with dignity and we’re doing it with respect,” said Erika Clark Jones, the mayor’s policy director. The office and the protocol are further steps in the city’s partnership with the Community Shelter Board and social-service agencies that assist the homeless. The protocol requires that those living in a homeless camp be told when the camp will be cleaned up and be assisted in finding permanent housing. That approach was used in the cleanups of eight homeless camps since August, said Barbara Poppe, executive director of the Community Shelter Board. The four largest camps that were cleaned up were at Neil Avenue and Vine Street near the Arena District; N. High Street and Arcadia Avenue in Clintonville; west of Moler Street near the Whittier Peninsula; and along the Scioto River bike path between Veterans Memorial and Souder Avenue. Of the 107 people who lived in the eight camps, 66 were relocated to permanent housing, Poppe said. On any given day, 200 to 300 homeless people are on the streets of Columbus, she said. Since starting its Rebuilding Lives program nine years ago, the shelter board has nearly reached its goal of creating 800 units of permanent rental housing for homeless people. The city plans to seek voters’ approval next year on a bond package that will include funding for more affordable housing, Coleman said. �25,000 people will experience homelessness at some point in Cincinnati this year • 29% of the homeless in Cincinnati are children • In the last fif- Cincinnati Urban Experience College, High School, and Youth Group students will come to Cincinnati, Ohio to learn about issues of homelessness and poverty through service, educational experiences, and reflection. Participants will come to a greater understanding of and empathy for the complexities of poverty in an urban environment through experiential learning and guided reflection. Program Components: Service: Groups perform service at agencies and organizations in Urban Cincinnati that deal with poverty and homelessness issues directly. Through service work, participants have personal experiences with issues and gain knowledge. Education: Participants will take part in activities that teach them about poverty issues. Examples include speakers, education activities, experiential/simulation exercises, and videos. Reflection: Discussion of service, education, experiences, and observations among peers. Focus on drawing connections and learning. Living: Participants live together in a simple community setting. Ideally, they stay in the community in which they are serving and learning. For more information contact: Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Andy Freeze 117 East 12th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: (513) 421-7803 x 14 Email: andytfreeze@yahoo.com www.cincihomeless.org homelessness in Cincinnati are lack of affordable housing and the loss of income • A person on food stamps in Ohio receives on average $1.04 per meal teen years the homeless population has risen 150% in Cincinnati • The leading causes of STREETVIBES Page 9 �Riot by Richard Hague This month’s guest columnist, Richard Hague, teaches at Purcell Marion High School and heads an award-winning creative writing program. He is an award winner himself, many times, for his poems, essays, and stories. “Riot” will appear in Public Hearings, forthcoming from Word Press in 2008. Over-The-Rhine, Cincinnati, April 2001 “Hurt or scorned people are places where real enemies hide. - William Stafford, “Report To Crazy Horse” Who can wonder that the laws of society at times be forgotten by those whom the eyes of society habitually overlook, and whom the heart of society often seems to discard? - Dr John Simon, City Medical Report, London, 1849 “Even the best of men err in judging the conduct of one with the recesses of whose condition he is not acquainted.- Melville, “Benito Cereno” crowd with niggers, wetbacks, spics and hillbillies, queers and dykes and honkies and rag-heads, all Creatures from the Black Lagoon that goes stagnant and rank within your own fear and intolerance, poorly hidden but as surely there as your unfinished, abandoned subway.) Nor think you will escape into your suburbs, city, for there is the subtlest, most poisonous Fear, the money-colored walls you build around yourselves, your treeless deserts of abundance, your chronic diseases of traffic, your field and grove-blasting plagues of commerce, your sprawling unplanned lack of beauty and decent sewage, your malled whited sepulcher bankrupt treasuries of success. For Riot knows your name—it is scrawled on a piece of paper in Riot’s left pocket, paper wet with rain that has leaked through the roof of Riot’s broken classrooms in Evanston, scrawled in angry lipstick on the West End Marathon’s restroom’s mirror, it is scratched invisibly into the bricks of Yeatman’s Cove next to the names of the others, it wanders the history of Tall Stacks, looking for black men to carry its loads. It hangs like a bloody sword from the hand of Cincinnatus. Do not think Riot always speaks harshly. Riot whispers in your ear, City, Riot curls up like a dog of small fire under your Hyde Park bed at night, City, Riot rides the metro past the Stowe House Fear builds its battalions of your inner city trash and and remembers all its haunted rooms, its tight- junk, lipped mute displays. Fear erects its barricades of obfuscation and Riot silently scales the monument at North Bend, gobbledygook, waving its bloody sweatshirt. then displaces endlessly the poor and the illiterate. Riot rides shotgun, wary, wordless, with the Chief Fear feeds on failed school levies and self- of Police. segregation (you, city, among the most segregated in America). Despite all of your haranguing and all of your Fear haunts Findlay Market, diminishing the testing April, early, and the city locked down, crowds, and all of your mandating and sacking of your blood bright on the stones of the alley emptying the streets, smothering the musicians, faculties, where Timothy Thomas was shot, Fear hides in the baklava and the bagels, despite your callowness and cruelty, city, bright on his Dollar Store t-shirt, in the short ribs and chitterlings and sausage. Riot can’t spell. Riot can’t count. Riots sits in a bright on the clenched knuckles of the police. Fear blights the flowers of the vendor, schoolroom The treasury of Fear is filling. stalks the honey-gatherer, rapes the paper-maker where the students appear to be dying, where the and the cooks. walls Fear is the greatest capitalist, Fear sits legless on the steps of City Hall, begging are hung with peels of paint like the skin of flogged gathering unto itself and unto its vast corporation for change, slaves, the partners Frenzy, Panic, Terror, Rage. and you, O city, outlaw begging for change. where brown stains the size of secret massacres Now Fear has made you, city, darken the corridors, where classmates named its latest catalogue, its vivid marketing of itself— Riot has slept for years under Denesha Saturday Night specials, the steel basement doors of Main Street. and D’Juan disappear over Christmas, never to fully loaded high-caliber deals, corpses of young Riot has hung out at Vine & Elder, return, black men in alleys, sprinted glass-breakingly crazy through Mohawk where teachers lose sleep over spelling errors grim-faced denying and stonewalling cops, and Madville, and multiple-choice tests on Citizenship. red-lined neighborhoods of poverty and woe, sputtering councilmen, shrieking backstreet martyrs smoked reefer and crack at 14th and Clay, shot heroin in the parking lot of the Boudinot Failure in the Proficiencies— and agitators, LaRosa’s how obvious on your streets, how clear children up and down Vine Street chewing their while Petie Rose bunted dull one-liners in the in your downtown gunshot alleys, how perfectly fingers kitchen. accomplished and weeping. Why have you not seen Riot in your mostly-white powers and your black in his red shirt, the tattered schoolbook defendants, how And on the catalogue’s cover a sheet of brightest freshly thrown from his hand? expressed admirably in your school statistics, metallic paper You have ogled Riot in her tight white dress, and your self-indicting demographics— mirrors your face, city: cut low over her tattooed chest. how completely and successfully, city, you fail your in Fear’s catalogue, we are this month’s Why have you been surprised own citizenship proficiencies. cover girls and cover guys, the main attractions. to find Riot at your door, hawking blood, (Self is always the greatest fear, facing Self the stealing the keys of your car, (What is it you are testing, most spray-painting the columns of your new temple personal and intimate fear, stadium? projected so that your dreams, city, STREETVIBES Page 10 �what facts ignoring, what truths turning your backs on, you who make the tests, you who think bullying with percentiles is less offensive than bullying with fists? Legislators, testers: heal thy selves.) and squats under every freeway overpass, loading and pointing its guns. Universities, you have mostly failed, the city is little better for you, the citizens no more peaceable, civil, tolerant, understanding, the environment no more protected, the wealth no better distributed, Riot lives where most mayors, hotshots, high the coalitions no healthier nor abundant nor muckamucks effective, have never lived or would dare to live; the citizenry little the wiser for all your departments Riot lives where the governor and programs and degrees. would never send his own children to kindergarten; Riot demands a Patience and Forbearance exam, Riot limps to its job Riot requires a major in Self-Examination, in the inner city school cafeteria where it hawks a Chancellor of the Study of Studies, french fries and cholesterol to its own nieces and an Ombudsman of Decency and Retribution, nephews, a Dean of orderly discourse. and eats its own dignity and sickens itself; Still, Riot continues to live in the black and Riot refuses to be patronized or even to demand Appalachian what it is entitled to, being denied so many times; and Cambodian and Latino pointed fingers, Riot requires immediate gratification after centuries in the wake of the bailed-out CEO motoring off in of being put off, lives poorly, eats poorly, drinks his sleek yacht of too much, money smokes too much, can’t imagine a better life, while the shareholders’ futures flatten like slashed breaks every bottle city tires. it sees on the street, tears the branches off planted Riot has stood with its heart on its sleeve, trees, with its hand out in peace, and has waited for walks as an infant with bloody feet in front of its centuries in line own trashed house in the interminably opaque uninhabited answering- and sets fire to its own garage; machine bureaucracies of passing the buck and hoarding. Riot lives in another universe from the Garden Show Riot wanted to move, but couldn’t. and the Hyde Park Gold Coast mansion tours and Riot wanted to learn to read, the Cardinal Pacelli School but the building was cold and the rain came in. Best-Dressed and Most Likely to Succeed. Riot stood before the Music Hall and asked to Riot eats flowers and burns mansions and takes up listen, the phone book and the answer was No Panhandling. and chooses addresses at random. Riot wakes you Riot wanted a better place to live, up, city, but the landlord was in Florida, counting the gelt. from the sleep of your spirit and your heart, Riot wanted equality it cries out in the wilderness, and you are either but the scales were tipped by privilege and custom Moses, and fear. city, or you are Pharaoh. Riot wanted quiet nights but the sirens of the police stabbed it in the side Riot makes these demands, even without and the blue flashing lights speaking— strobed it into nightmare. a Mayoral Proficiency exam, Riot wanted protection a corporate CEO Mercy and Justice accountability and was given assault. exam, City, will God help you if you continue your evil fixing the athletic teams’ bungling and shredding of ways? millions of tax Will God be satisfied with mostly white schools and dollars. mostly black City planners, you have failed, schools? traffic clogging all the orange-barrelled ignored Will God be satisfied with the BMW gated infrastructural community Haves highways and byways, and the locked-down abandoned-to-the-Metro so that Road Rage, Riot’s cousin, moves to town Have Nots? Will God be satisfied with shrieking and cursing in the place of singing and healing? Will God sit down at your tables and negotiate justice? Is justice negotiable? Is liberty negotiable? Is poverty a crime? Is hunger a vice? Is ignorance to be upheld? Is callousness to be rewarded? City, draw a line around yourself, and beyond that line, say No More. Freeways, subdivisions—no more enervating sprawl. Reinhabit yourself, city, your busted blocks, your wasted vacancies, your beautiful cast-iron downtown storefronts and brownstones and walk-ups, reinhabit them all with well-meaning people, people abandoning the isolation and privilege of the segregated suburbs, abandoning the temples of Mammon off the freeways, abandoning the mall parking lots, returning them to trees and crops and birds; people rebuilding their own downtown, repairing the infrastructures of spirit, building bridges of talk and story-sharing and glee. Do not spread yourself thin, do not continue to flee yourself, but concentrate your efforts and your wealth and your justice where they are needed most, City, make Vine Street paradise, Main a haven of delight, the West End a jazzy fellowship, downtown a crowded dance of sidewalk ballets and chess games and street rap and thriving vendors. Otherwise, city, Riot will become your next mayor, seizing a lifetime term, and you will continue to empty, to fold up, to die, and there will be no there, city, and without a center there can be no direction from which to venture forth toward the future, or to gather in to celebrate the past. You will be lost inside yourself, O city, you will be a fallen temple, ruin, your people a tribe of wanderers in the desert of yourself: Shall you overcome, city, or be overcome? STREETVIBES Page 11 �Preparing foster kids for life on their own by Margo Pierce Excerpt reprinted with permission from CityBeat. Turning on the oven and popping in a frozen pizza for about 20 minutes doesn’t seem difficult. The directions on the box are explicit. Some boxes even have a picture of a dial on the stove turned to 350 degrees. So what is there to screw up? “We walked into this place: ‘Something’s burning in here,’” says Mark Kroner, describing a visit to a teenager’s apartment. “He goes, ‘Yeah, I’m making a pizza.’ He opened up the oven, and he had a pile of sticks in the oven and this pizza sitting on top of it. “He grew up in an Appalachian family with no money — the utilities had been shut off. That’s how they cooked, gathering wood in the city. You would never think that you would have to teach someone not to do that.” The boy with the pizza is one of the approximately 25,000 kids in some form of child protective services in the United States who will “age out” of the system at 18. The goal of independent living programs is to teach the soonto-be-adults how to be self-sufficient. In conjunction with Hamilton County Job and Family Services and Juvenile Court, which has legal custody of kids removed from their parents’ care, Lighthouse puts teens who are working or going to school into their own furnished apartment and pays all of their bills — rent, utilities and an allowance for food and clothes — as a hands-on method for teaching them how to survive. “A big part of our job is to help kids understand what they don’t know,” Kroner says. “We put them out there and we assume they know a lot of things they don’t know. Or we’ll assume they don’t know a lot of things that they do know. “They come to us at 17 1/2 with no knowledge of the bus system or even money. They’ve been infantilized by the system, which is made up of lots of good people. But they’re not thinking about the reality of these kids being gone at 17 1/2 and 18.” Cooperation works The child welfare system is designed to take care of and protect children who have been abandoned, neglected, abused and removed from their families. The intention is good, but when you have a county system responsible for caring for children — in Hamilton County, that number fluctuates daily but hovers around 700 — the already difficult job of parenting is complicated by the fact that social workers, caseworkers and judges all have to decide and agree upon what’s in a child’s best interest. When it became apparent that abruptly cutting off support to these kids at age 18 was causing serious problems — homelessness being STREETVIBES Page 12 the most immediate — Hamilton County created a program that is now a best-practices model emulated all over the country. From the beginning, Lighthouse Youth Services (lys.org) proposed an approach based on practical knowledge gained from providing youth homeless shelters, at-risk-youth emergency service programs, group homes and foster care families. However, getting three different agencies to agree about the best way to facilitate and support growth while providing a safety net that wouldn’t undermine the goal of self-sufficiency was a huge challenge. “There was a lot of tension between the courts and the county,” Kroner says. “There’s still a lot of tension about how long these kids can stay ... that’s based on deficit realities. But at this point in time you have all three parties sitting down together on a regular basis saying, ‘Given the realities, what’s the best thing we can do? What do we need to do?’ “We’ve had to work out a lot of these things ... and have this trust amongst all the systems.” ‘This is how’ A collaborative relationship between the county, courts and a private agency such as Lighthouse is what it takes to make sure the kids get what they need, according to Kroner. Cincinnati’s program has been around for 25 years. “It could very easily be a blame game when something does go wrong,” he says. “We got kids that will do some outrageous things. They’ll commit crimes. Nobody’s going to point the finger and say, ‘It’s your fault that this happened.’ Everybody goes, ‘It’s really unfortunate that this kid took this opportunity and chose to do that.’ These kids are just like every other teenager — anxious about leaving school, unsure about their future and hormonal — but they have the added issues of mental health problems stemming from their childhood, no parents to offer guidance or serve as a safety-net and limited life skills. The Independent Living Program appears simple, but its concepts are difficult for kids to grasp. The kids are given a budget and they have to live within it; if they run out of food and money, they have to figure out how to handle the situation. Over the course of the six- to 12-month period, the kids gradually begin to take over paying their bills. “American kids are super-sophisticated in this area but they don’t know anything about this area; they will know how to use a computer and every electronic gismo and not understand that the apartment they’re moving into belongs to somebody who’s trying to make money off them,” Kroner says. “When they break something, they have to pay for it. “A lot of them grew up in families that were always dependent upon public aid. The thing is, that system has been dismantled.” Foster home-ec Emancipated in August 2006, Canon Hopey took over the lease on the apartment Lighthouse gave him the year before. He’s grateful for the practical training he received at the end of his nine years in the foster-care system. “Budgeting,” Hopey laughs. “Oh my God, that’s got to be the biggest one. They actually had a thing that helped you with the budget. There was a budget book to keep up. You have an expense book, and you write down everything that you got to pay and how much will you have at the end of your activity. Go over your grocery list, go over your bills, put all that in and see what you have left. Being the person I am, if I don’t have anything else to do, I’ll sit there and write up an agenda. I go over my agenda every day.” When Hopey first moved to Clifton, his agenda included finding a grocery store and coin-laundry on the bus line — he doesn’t have a car — and a place to get quarters on Sunday, when he can do his wash. It’s been difficult, but Hopey says he’s OK with that. “You get used to being on your own, carrying on your own business, making your own appointments, doing things when you’re supposed to do it,” he says. The key to achieving a success story like Hopey’s is up the kids, according to Kroner, but the kids need the support of a solid, consistent infrastructure. “We’ve probably had more failures than successes, but you have to look at that over the long term,” he says. “If there are no self-sufficient 18-year-olds in America (and) if our kids aren’t self-sufficient at 18, is that a failure — or just normal?” ‘A fighting chance’ To date approximately 1,600 teens have gone through the Lighthouse Independent Living Program, and there are a lot of successes. Kroner believes this is because the approach is realistic and supportive. Like all public programs, it could use more money, more caseworkers and more time with the kids, but Kroner also makes it clear that Cincinnati has the best of the best in place already. Even though everyone agrees selfsufficiency training is essential for all kids in the system, independent living isn’t a one-size-fits-all way to deliver those skills. Watson, Arnold and Kroner express frustration over the stereotypical view of kids who are in the custody of the state. That is exactly why they’re involved is supporting and promoting independent living. “I think people have a picture in their head of foster kids; they put them somewhere along with delinquents and the scum of the earth without realizing that foster kids got here not on their own choosing,” Arnold says. “Somebody else did to them or didn’t do for them, and that’s why they’re here. “What I’m fighting for is to give them a fighting chance, because up to this point in their lives most of them have not had anything near a fighting chance.” �Homeless Outreach Group (HOG) conducts quarterly survey by John Lavelle It was four o’clock in the morning on May 30th, and people were filing into the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless office as if it was four in the afternoon. However, the lobby wasn’t open yet for normal, daily operations. Homeless outreach workers were gathering to conduct a survey and count of individuals sleeping on Cincinnati’s streets. The workers are part of the Homeless Outreach Group (HOG), a workgroup formed in 2003 to bring together street outreach workers to share information and develop common goals. They conducted their first street survey on a cold night in February 2004, when they discovered 24 individuals sleeping outdoors, despite freezing temperatures and five inches of snow. Since then, the outreach workers have conducted three to four street surveys throughout each year. Armed with clipboards, cups, coffee, and donated goods, they break into teams to cover as much of the city as possible. They climb under bridges, through wooded areas, along the river, and down alleys. The purpose is not only to document how many individuals are sleeping on the streets instead of in shelters or their own homes, but also to ask questions as to why they are on the streets, what special needs they have, and what types of income they earn. The mornings are also a good time to do coordinated outreach and potentially meet people who haven’t had contact with an outreach worker yet. Workers share information afterward and often do follow-up outreach. This past May, the Homeless Outreach Group encountered 55 individuals sleeping on the streets in central Cincinnati. There were large concentrations of people under several underpasses and around the Courthouse. Some outreach workers were able to reconnect with clients who had been displaced from their camps by police just days before the survey. Down’s Syndrome Will Not Slow College-Bound Kids by Dr. Steve Sunderland Watching young people giving testimony of how they survived the first steps into college programs kept an audience of 150 parents, youth and academics in thrall. We saw the future on the brink of being and becoming the present. Young people, 3 with Downs Syndrome, gave panel presentations, luncheon talks and power point presentations that were filled with their love of their colleges. They spoke about going to classes, taking tests, living in residence halls, eating on their own, and living life outside the expectations of a society that had “institutionalized” them. Katie Beresford, a young woman in her twenties, gave her talk using a PowerPoint to show her history, her family, and her joy at being a college student. “I am going to be a chemist,” she said with confidence, clarity and determination. Many of us gasped at her dream, catching ourselves in the hopes she and her panelists were sharing, and we wondered if we were seeing the liberation of people previously trapped. Katie not only spoke with confidence but threw in humor, music, and a dance. “Wow!”, was the reaction. T h i s conference was a part of a major movement to redefine who was a college student, what a college experience should be, and what kinds of supports, intellectual, psychological and instructional, were needed by those who have intellectual and emotional challenges. “As soon as a student is admitted,” Scott Lissner, Ohio State University’s ADA Coordinator,” the university or college is committed by federal law to providing whatever support will make each student a success.” Scott’s definition of a student is most inclusive and based on years of experience both helping students and counseling faculty on how to implement the spirit and letter of the federal law. A college was not only a place for a student, a certain kind of student, to come and take notes, hear lectures, and struggle with exams on their own. A college, thanks to the Americans Disability Act, was now a place where advocacy for supports, a change in attitudes of students and faculty, and creative use of technology, could be just the right ingredients for opening doors, professions, and hearts. This is a historic change in the definition of a student and the purposes of a college. Now, with strong parental support, positive and creative admissions directors, sympathetic faculty, able lawyers, and experienced counselors and students, a whole new group of students can enter colleges and universities with an expectation of success. “Success” can mean coming to a college like Strive U in Portland, Maine, for two years of continuing education programs aimed at heightening life skills of people, preparing for new occupations, and helping students succeed with great enthusiasm for a life of meaning. Or, students can go to Mercer Community College in New Jersey and attend classes similar to Strive U and also enroll in traditional academic classes. Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, is preparing a similar kind of program. Mt. St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio, has a program, “Project Exel,” with over 80% success in assisting students, largely through mentoring, to both overcome their intellectual and emotional difficulties while becoming effective degree seeking college students. This summer, the Ohio Mental Retardation/ Developmental Disability department, in alliance with the Peace Village, will offer 6 days of a “College Camp.” The goal of the educational experience is to bring together students selected by MRDD with students and faculty of the Peace Village, based at the University of Cincinnati, for a conference centered in classroom, cultural, and living and learning experiences. A parent, Candee Basford, of Winchester, Ohio, a slim, feisty, funny and determined mother who had beaten her head against year after year of rejection, confusion, and skepticism about her daughter’s vast ability and wonderful personality, spoke for many parents in the group. “We don’t have to change our children to make them ready for college,” she said in her opening talk. “Our job is to change the system from one that labels us and our kids as invisible, irrelevant and beneath seriousness. We need to change these systems into human ones that can create relationships of caring with and for our children so that all students, with support if needed, can succeed. Her remarks, tinged from time to time by tiredness from the long battle to just get to the starting line, inspired many who heard her. Candee is not someone to take lightly. She has and reveals a kind of toughness toward intolerance and tenderness toward people and institutions that welcome her daughter and any person seeking an education. Candee watched her daughter, Katie, dance and speak with a comfort and ease that opened the hearts of the audience. Katie made it clear that she loved her mother and that she, Katie, had her own independent mind. Candee’s smile, attempts to interrupt Katie, and to add her own view, were neatly integrated into Katie’s solo performance. It became clearer that Katie’s success in being an independent woman also depended upon being able to bounce ideas off of Candee. And, how the ideas bounce! At times, they were a complete team; at times, they were two high flying acrobats, amazing us with their swings and spins. At bottom, though, we were watching two leaders that had built their strengths on being in the presence of each other so as to spark deeper capacities for love and power, while also swinging out into an air that encouraged individuality. I spoke with Candee over dinner and learned of her struggle to find a way through the thicket of regulations and ignorant attitudes, in order to gain the glimpses of success that she had accomplished. Candee is slim, medium size, with short brown hair on top of a head that keeps moving as she communicates her enthusiasm and/or tiredness. As a change agent, she has learned how to capture learning from each major event, whether failure or success, and construct a lot of paths to success. Yes, Katie was a teacher who happened to have Downs syndrome. Perhaps some of the comments the teacher and the class could have made about her art were kept silent out of alleged respect for how much she has accomplished. I could not tell if she was being accepted as a full member of the class at all times. I saw a fine teacher at work, creating the space to share her own story and making inviting room for the entire class. The conference ended with a strong sense of hope and impatience. Many parents of children with Down syndrome and other problems had seen just the beginning of an effort to create an open door for their children. Many parents met people just like themselves who refuse to give up their children to labels and the attitudes that keep them in place. Young people saw many adults willing to join them in the efforts to provide serious alternatives for adult learning. We ended with conference co-chair, Janet Gara, executive director of the Down Syndrome Society of Cincinnati, promising to bring us together for even more stories about those youth and their families as they enter post secondary education. I left to the words of one set of parents: “It is a new day.” STREETVIBES Page 13 �Don’t Forget by Elbert M. Holcomb, Jr. When you’re out there in the streets, And you’re feeling all alone, And you find this place that you started calling home. When you come in through the door, You see this person’s sitting at the desk, You ask him a question, Take time out to listen, And give him an answer if you can, It might be important. When you see a guy on the corner, Begging for some change, And you walk by, And he says “Hi,” Say “Hi,” Back. Don’t just walk on by, Like you never even see him, When you see yourself getting better, and you start treating people different remember, A lot of us were in that same situation once, The only thing is we are doing something about our problem. Don’t forget, Where you come from, Because you never know when, You might have to come back. For an exercise in the InkTank writing group at the DropInn Center, the participants were asked to describe the worst place they ever tried to sleep. Here is one composition. by Scott B. Insanity is how I describe my life and situations I have put myself in. How crazy is it to work for a company for two years and the majority of that time be homeless. In 2002, I would get off work at 11:30 PM and catch the last bus. I would look at the people’s faces with a look of assurance of having a place to go. I would rest as much as I could on the ride towards town. Then there was my stop. I would go to the apartment building where just a year before I lived with my mom before she passed. People there knew me, so I would wait for someone coming in or leaving. Once inside, I would take the elevator to the seventh floor then take the stairs to the roof door landing. The rug was dirty where the maintenance guys’ dirty shoes had tracked black debris either from the roof or the elevator shaft, yet at the time I couldn’t wait to lay on it. I would lay my coat down and would sit there listening to people on the other floors going in and out of other stairwell doors. I got to the point where I could tell by the sound of their feet how close they were to me. If I should jump up and put my shoes back on or do I even care anymore. I would lay there smelling the dust and the mixture of different kinds of food from all the floors mixing together. Boy I wished I had something to eat. I would lay there staring at the ceiling thinking of good times I had in this building but those days are gone. The hum from the elevator shaft became soothing as I tried to figure out why am I here? I better go to sleep because 7:00 AM comes quick when the maintenance guys come on duty. I take my empty wallet out of my back pocket to be more comfortable. I open it and glance at my ID which still has this address on it. In my mind I still live here. At the Drop-In Center... Home by Ria Strong My home is fragments of a dream. My home is a safe place to hide. My home is a sleeping bag, radio and clothes. My home is a stuffed toy wombat. My home is in the library. My home is electrons through cyberspace. My home is a coffee shop. My home is an office. My home is a soccer court, chair wheels spinning. My home is the beat of my djembe. My home is a song in the chaos. My home is cutting through water. My home is the links between people. My home is the four directions. My home is the breath of the planet. by Ria Strong “How are you?” you ask me. How am I? I think I’m cracking up again. Do you really want to know? I don’t trust myself in the art room. Craft knives can cut flesh, too. Or are you just being polite, I won’t sit outside with you today. When I see the cigarette butts, still-smouldering in the ashtray, I want to pick one up and burn myself with it. making conversation? You look forward to holidays; I look forward to death. I lie in bed at night, dreaming about it. “How are you?” you ask me. “Okay,” I answer. La Isla by Jose Ornelas He would run barefoot down Paisano St. toward La Isla where the grey cinderblock houses didn’t have running water but alma y corazon were plentiful. The river surrounded his neighborhood on three sides, just like a big American hug, welcoming and promising. There, mama would be making tortillas by the glare of a bare lightbulb. The side to side slap of the dough would continue to be a welcome rhythm of childhood memory. A few years later the new projects in the second barrio seemed like a dream, residents could borrow the lawn mower once a week! Here the sidewalks were not broken, there was a real lawn and street lights. The best part of course was that Marcelino, his best friend, lived down the hall. Time and again a new roof would signal a new start. Until the American dream became a reality in the suburbs; his very own lawnmower now occupied the other spot in the two car garage. But no matter where he ever was, the barrio, in the barracks, or on Main Street, it was never home until the tortillas came off the flame, hot, crispy and familiar. STREETVIBES Page 14 Interrupted Journey by Earle Thompson Coyote pauses arching his head, surveying the blue meadow Grey paws pad among morning glories, finding a fallen doe. He halts his journey, cleaning himself as best as he can, finding the small deer had recently died, wounded by man. Coyote sets aside a rib, cleaning it on the starry grass; Makes a valuable gift, polishes it, and hears magpie pass. He invites the long-tailed one to share this good fortune Eating and gossiping, the polished rib absorbs the sun. Are you thirsty, he asks, did he have anything to barter? Magpie explains that the Frog people govern all the water. At the dam, they learn he has a valuable gift to trade They discuss the amount and price, an agreement is made. Coyote proceeds to drink the water putting one hand in ready to scoop the earth aside, when he finishes drinkin’. Coyote destroys the dam and water rushes by. To be fair, he announces with a smile that water shall be everywhere. �Eve’s Afterglow Untitled by E. O. Anthony Announcing egypt-bronze skin your invitational fuschia lips surround gleaming teeth more precious than pearls. I would swim in your smiling lake eyes to that forever milk and honey land where the pure river of life eternally proceeds out of the throne of God and of the lamb; but you are endorphin afflicted to sin again removing you from Abba our heavenly Daddy especially now that your purple blinking semaphore eyelids flutter and your mascara dribbles across your cheeks differentially eclipsing all delusions of control: this ontic pretense of sep/a/ra/tion ego boundedness as opposed to the opening upward heart leaping I-Thee-Thou More than love, grace beyond Yule-tide is Christ cleansing the conscience so much more than our thalamic exchange of electrons: bodies of many kinds and different species thermodynamically dancing in the field around the tree with twelve fruits each fruit healing our separate nations singing hallelujah. by Melissa Mosby I sat and watched chaos As the chaos settled in In your silence I heard you scream Your mouth did not open I sat and watched As the caution became fear In your laughter I heard you cry Your eyes did not tear I heard the ache in your gaiety I saw the isolation in your friendships I felt the hunger in your fullness So I sat and watched As you pulled away and As you pushed toward Your perfect balance beam Mount and floor exercise and The dance which to you is So very necessary Yet so very difficult to maintain Again I sat and watched As the loneliness lay down And even in the spotlight Center stage You played your part Fierce, bold, witty, outgoing And we both knew It was just a role you were playing So I sat and watched And I saw you forget your lines And ad-lib Those things you thought You were supposed to say Those things you thought They wanted to hear I called to you And I sat and watched As you turned away From me as well as yourself For your glance in the mirror Sees me Dragonfly Pond by Paul von Kempf, JR As I lay in the cool, moist sand, mesmerized Watching the chain of events unfold around me. Water skeeter is skating across the water while the honeybees go about their days work pollinating the blackberry blossoms. As I lay in the cool, moist sand, watching The pesky mosquitoes take twice their weight in blood each time they strike while trout hides quietly in the shadows and frog hops onto a rock to say hello. As I lay in the cool, moist sand, watching The stifling heat brings with it the fragrance of blossoms and the sweet smell of uncut hay. As I lay in the cool, moist sand, watching A pair of dragonflys arrive to perform a ballet Flitting to and fro, pirouting like two ballerinas landing gently on the water, wings slowly pulsating in the sun. As I lay in the cool, moist sand, watching a sow bug come plodding along with its hard shell and many legs but, my stomach growls hungrily unwilling, I say goodbye to my friends Memorial Day 1999 by MJ Shaw I walk to the edge of the water. I have a handful of flowers, red and blue. One is for my daughter, Phaedra, who I know is in God’s arms. One is for my Dad’s Mom who showed me love. One is for my Mom’s Mom who shared my room when she was sick. One is for Anita Williams who shared her Indian spirit with me. And one is for Jesse James Spears, who showed his love for my sons and for Naomi, my neighbor who had the same name as my Mom, Naomi who showed me the beauty within her. One for Peter Guadalupe, who gave me my first son. God Love Them The Short Attention Span Gospel by Michael Henson A man was born in a barn. They say she was a virgin. Wonderful things happened – Stars, angels, kings! Terrible thingds happened – Massacres, beheadings, exile. He lived awhile, he died on a cross. They say he rose back up. He traveled and he preached. And what he preached was love. Love God, he said, and love one another. Love your neighbor. Love your enemy. Yes, even your enemy. Love one another, Love the sinner and the prostitute. Love the poor and even the rich. Even the stuck-in-the-eye-of-aneedle rich. Don’t worry about tomorrow, Just love one another. Love your neighbor. Love yourself. Love the improbable. Love the unloveable. He went to a wedding and turned water into wine. He did things no one could explain. He preached from a mountain and he made loaves and fishes and he told us to love one another. He said, yoiur siins are forgiven. So take up your pallet and walk in the love of one another. Couples Only by Stan Burriss Enough time. A sense of belonging. This thing of coming to meals, of finding enough. A place, and enough to be left with friends behind you, and where friends should have been in- side through housing that City forgets to share, while you make a place. Then, you share it. Given enough time, you share it STREETVIBES Page 15 � 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 2007 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 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Homeless Exposed to Tuberculosis Pg 2: Vendor Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Darfur in Turmoil Pg 5: The State of Affordable Housing Minimum Wage Increased Pg 6: Is Something Great Happening in Cincinnati? Pg 7: Jaywalkers Giving Back to the Community Pg 8: Homeless Youth: Often Overlooked and Pushed Aside City Creating Office to Help Homeless Pg 9: Cincinnati Urban Experience Pg 10: Riot Pg 11: Riot Continued Pg 12: Preparing Foster Kids for Life on Their Own Pg 13: Homeless Outreach Group (HOG) Conducts Quarterly Survey 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 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Kenneth Cheruiyot Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Susan Smith Leigh Tami Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF affordable housing Andy Freeze Cincinnati College Darfur education Foster Children Georgine Getty HOG Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kenneth Cheruiyot Leigh Tami Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Melvin Williams Minimum Wage Roy Kaiser Sudan Susan Smith https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/9a37c83d3e90419cf13816e01a586168.pdf b82783532847289fa8a49d06f1d9ab2c PDF Text Text June 2007 STREETVIBES Cover Story - OTR, KIDS, AND SUMMER by Linda Pittman Cincinnati - Almost all schools are out by now or will be out by the second week of June. With no more classes, parents have to find something for their kids to do. Every summer provides the same dilemma, but there are organizations and programs out there to help everyone enjoy the warmer months. There are parks for kids and adults alike to hang out and enjoy themselves. There are summer programs or camps for kids to enjoy. There is something for everyone even if they are homeless or poor. One place that kids can go is to Peaslee Neighborhood Center. Peaslee used to be a CPS school, but it was closed down. Neighborhood residents rallied together and raised enough money to save the school and turned it into a neighborhood center. This summer Peaslee Neighborhood Center offers a 12 week summer program running from June 11th – August 24. The program is geared towards kids between the ages of 5 and 12. These kids will take field trips, go swimming, and work on academics. Some of the special ideas already planned are creating a “passport”, cooking ethnic food, visiting a farm, making a travel box, and creating art and music. This summer camp will also include two weeks of Peace Camp in conjunction with the Center for Peace Education. If you are interested in more information contact Telisha at 521-5514 ext. 11. Also available to kids this summer are programs at Project Connect. Project Connect keeps children experiencing homelessness connected to their education by providing supplies, transportation, uniforms, and enrichment opportunities in summer, afterschool, and shelter tutoring programs. They have an allday program from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks. The goal is to teach academics, enrichment, and coping skills. This is an 8-week program for children ages 5-12. A permission slip must be filled out by the parents and the child must have attended kindergarten. The Center is located at Hayes Elementary School, 940 Poplar. You may call Rhonda Lewis at 363-1060 for further information. Another summer camp takes place at the Emmanuel Community Center, located on Race St. across from Washington Park School. The center has the Destiny Summer Enrichment Program from June 7 to August 17 for children from kindergarten to 8th Grade and early childhood children ages 18 months to 5 years. Destiny is a quality, fun-filled 10-week summer enrichment program for learning and adventure. Activities include: fine arts enrichment activities; academic adventures; arts and crafts and field trips to expand the experiences. If you are interested in more information please contact Carol or Janet at 241-2563. The Center for Peace Education is holding four two week long free day camps. CPE was founded in 1979 to produce systemic change in Cincinnati neighborhoods. It does this by providing training for youth and adults in areas of conflict management, effective communication, and appreciating differences in others. The camp will be led by trained staff in activities focused on conflict management, diversity appreciation, cooperation and effective communication. The program is designed for children ages 6-12. Peace Camp will be held at the following centers on the following dates: The first camp is from June 11th to June 22 and will be held at Peaslee Neighborhood Center. The second camp is from June 25 to July 6 and is being held at the Avondale Boys and Girls Club. The third peace camp will be held from July 9 to July 20 and will be held at the McKie Center in Northside. The last camp will take place from July 23 to August 3 and is being held at the New Thought Unity Center. If you need more information or would like to register your child please call 221-4863. No matter what you decide to do this summer we should all take time to enjoy the warm weather and the time we spend with family and friends at home or on vacation. Ziegler Park GCCH welcomes new intern – Leigh Tami Protestant Catholic Worker House dedicated to serving homeless individuals and eliminating systemic social injustice. ee tvib es Atlanta while in college, I have discovered within myself an urgent and unyielding passion for advocating social justice and serving those who are generally treated as the dregs of society- the homeless. I am excited to be an intern at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, and hope that my experience here will educate and equip me so that I am more prepared to fight systemic poverty and homelessness. My hope is that after working here, I will be more prepared to achieve my long term goal: to open up and run a Str As a graduate of Walnut Hills looking forward to working in the High School, I am currently working historic Over-the-Rhine community. After volunteering in various on my bachelor’s in Religious Studies and Social Justice at Agnes Scott homeless shelters and communities in College in Atlanta, Georgia, while pursuing a minor in Human Rights. I have worked on issues of homelessness in Atlanta, and participate in the living wage campaign and the fair trade movement on my college campus. I love Cincinnati, and having grown up here, I feel dedicated to working toward systemic change and transformation of the city that I Leigh Tami proudly call home. I am particularly Support Your Vendor Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Criminalization of Homeless Individuals Streetvibes An Important Issue for Cincinnati Taxpayers 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. 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 Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Matt Cohen - AHA Staff Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Leigh Tami - Intern Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design Photographers Andy Freeze, Jimmy Heath, Berta Lambert, by Lynne Ausman Cincinnati - On May 15, 2007, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless released its study on the Criminalization of Homeless Individuals in Cincinnati. This study proved what social service providers have long known and understood that about 10% of homeless individuals get caught in a vicious cycle of streets, jail, shelter, streets, jail, shelter. The study showed that in some cases, homeless individuals had been arrested once a week or more! These homeless individuals fuel ideas that the homeless are criminals who deserve to live in poverty and on the streets. However, when one looks at the types of crimes that homeless individuals are charged with, it is clear that homeless individuals are not often violent criminals. The study proved that about 80% of the crimes committed by homeless individuals are misdemeanors. In fact, 44% of the charges were for “homeless crimes” – crimes which are only committed by homeless individuals or crimes for which no one else is arrested but homeless individuals. Examples of these crimes are: possession of open containers, public indecency due to public urination, loitering, littering, disorderly conduct, sitting on the sidewalk, spitting in a public place, dumpster diving, solicitation charges, and trespassing charges. These crimes are rarely menacing to society. However, homeless individuals are simply not able to survive without committing these crimes. When shelter beds are full, loitering and trespassing are the only options. When living wage employment is not available, “improper solicitation” or panhandling is the only source of income. Overall, the study found that 53 individuals could have cost Hamilton County $4.2 million dollars in one year! $4.2 million could have been spent to provide homeless individuals with permanent supportive housing. Housing would end this vicious cycle. With bathrooms available, homeless individuals would not be forced to relieve themselves in public. With housing, homeless individuals would have a place to go and they would not be forced to loiter: combined with supportive services, homeless individuals would not be forced to panhandle to purchase food. Recently, this study has caught quite a bit of publicity. To release the report, a press conference was held in which Channel 5, Channel 19, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Cincinnati Post and CityBeat attended. Following this press conference, Channel 12 invited the Homeless Coalition to present the study on Newsmakers. The report has stretched across the United States – the Columbus Dispatch printed a story and the Associated Press has expressed interest in developing this story nationally. In addition, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the New York Office of the Corporation for Supportive Housing asked for copies of the report. Hopefully, all of this publicity will help politicians, businesses, and the national community to support permanent supportive housing as part of the solution to an overcrowded justice system. Go Figure.... May 16, 2007: Homeless woman arrested for public urination 30 - The number of days in jail that a homeless woman received for public urination. $1,950 - The amount of money it cost the city to house this lady in jail. $87 - The amount it costs to rent a portable toliet from Rumpke per month. 22 - The number of months the city could place a Portable toilet so that homeless people are not arrested for public urination. April 30, 2007: Homeless woman arrested for possession of an open flask 30 - The number of days in jail that a homeless woman received for carrying an open flask. $1,950 - The amount of money it cost the city to house this lady in jail. 4 - The number of months this lady could have been housed in a Fair Market Rent apartment instead of jail. Firecats Review Cover OTR Playground soon to be populated by neighborhood kids - Photo by Andy Freeze 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 Summer, Vacations New Firecat: What’s my color going to be? Is Opal a color? Firecat Silver: Yes. Firecat Opal: Good. Anti-Cat: I have no vacation days left. Firecat Chameleon: You squandered them all already. Silver: I’m going camping. Anti-Cat: You know what’s “intents?” Silver & Anti-Cat: CAMPING! Opal: I hate the beach. Chameleon: Why? Opal: I get sunburnt. Anti-Cat: I wish I had vacation days left. Silver: There’s weird things in the ocean, like jellyfish. It would suck to get stung by one. Chameleon: Yeah, then you’d have to pee on yourself. Anti-Cat: There’s weird things on the west side. Opal: Like people hanging out on dumpsters watching people. Silver: Whatever. There’s weird things on the east side… like people… playing softball… Anti-Cat: I know westsiders who are going on vacation… to MILFORD. Opal: I think I’m still sunburnt. Chameleon: Did you go to the beach recently? I thought you hated it. Anti-Cat: How was the weath? (weather) I’m good at “abreves.” (abbreviations) Chameleon: I hate you. Anti-Cat: Was there a Starbs (Starbucks) at the beach? Chameleon: I hate you. Silver: What are you doing this summer, Chameleon? Chameleon: I’m heading to Montreal and doing a delightful tour of Canada. Streetvibes Anti-Cat: Do you know how Canada got its name? Opal: C, eh? N, eh? D, eh? HA! Chameleon: That’s lovely. What about you, Opal? Opal: Going to Atlanta. Anti-Cat: I wish I had vacation days. Opal: My birthday is this summer. Chameleon: That means we get pie! Silver: Pie is good. Anti-Cat: Tell the pie story. Chameleon: One time we got an apple pie from Big Boy and they accidentally put a bunch of garlic powder in it. It was disgusting. It ruined the pie. Opal: I don’t think you can ruin pie. Anti-Cat: I wish I had vacation days left. �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath Des Moines, IA - One homeless man hit another homeless man in the head with an ax, Des Moines police reported. Kenneth Raymond Roy, 56, was taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center by fire department medics. Officers said Roy was in serious but stable condition. Michael Fox, 48, was arrested on a charge of willful injury following the assault in a wooded area near the 1300 block of Vermont Street. Police said Roy and Fox apparently became involved in a heated argument and Fox allegedly took a double-bladed ax and struck Roy in the head with the “back” of it. The men had been “hanging out drinking a little beer,” according to a police report. Glen Burnie, MD - Anne Arundel County police have arrested a man in connection with the death of a homeless man found in Glen Burnie earlier this month. Michael Walter Evans Sr., 54, was found by police lying on an air conditioning unit at 514 Crain Highway N. on April 5, officials said. An autopsy showed he died from blunt force trauma. Police arrested Allan Jake Clark, 22, another homeless man. He was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and robbery in connection with Evans’ death. Police said they believe the two got into a fight that caused Evans’ death. Clark then stole money from Evans and fled the scene, police said. Miami, FL - The Miami-Dade public school system along with the Homeless Trust have set up a program to humanize homelessness by teaching it in the classroom. This has all been prompted by the recent rise in violence against homeless people. The school superintendent Rudy Crew unveiled the campaign at a Miami middle school with the head of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust. Nationwide, attacks against the homeless have risen, nearly doubling from 1999 to 2003. In the past six years, at least 156 homeless people have been murdered, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Most of the assailants are young men in their teens to early 20s. On the campus of Florida Atlantic University, about a year ago, people watched as three homeless men were attacked with baseball bats; one died. The education plan, which has already been set in motion, includes the following: A homeless awareness video called “It Could Happen To You”, introduced by Alonzo Mourning. It’s shown in elementary, middle, and high schools regarding who homeless people are: families, people in poverty, people with mental illness, statistics related to violence against the homeless. A poster and essay contest from each school, winners will receive an allexpense paid 3-day, 2-night vacation to Disney World. “It is important for students to have an understanding of homelessness and show compassion,” said Superintendent Crew. Granite City, IL - Local authorities in Granite City have closed down a homeless shelter called Jesus’ Place, which has been operating in a local church for the past ten years. Granite City Mayor Ed Hagnauer, accompanied by the police and fire chiefs, building inspectors and police officers entered Jesus’ Place last week and condemned it for building and safety violations. Pastor Larry Gibson says he feels civic officials are trying to drive him out because his shelter doesn’t fit their idea of what downtown should look like. But Hagnauer says the top two floors of the building are covered with pigeon droppings. He also says he warned Gibson four months ago that homeless men could not be allowed to sleep overnight in the church because it had improper door locks that couldn’t be opened from the inside and no sprinkler system. Los Angeles, CA - Bakersfield police are investigating a homicide last month, and witnesses said the victim and suspect are homeless men. Police said one man stabbed another man just after noon. It happened inside a fenced yard on Sumner Street in East Bakersfield. “The victim was down with a wound to the neck bleeding badly, the suspect was also on scene and we took him into custody without incident,” said Sgt. Greg Jehle, Bakersfield police. Police said the suspect is 51year-old Calvin Jones. The name of the victim has not been released, he died shortly after arriving at Kern Medical Center. Tarpon Springs, FL - Police in Pinellas County have charged two men with killing a homeless man. Tarpon Springs police say the body of the man was found on a vacant plot of land on U.S. Highway 19. The property is owned by Wal-Mart, and a transient in the area reportedly discovered the man’s body. Detectives believe the victim, who is a white man, lived in the area near the Anclote River. Investigators detained and questioned five homeless people in connection with the crime before arresting two of them. A third man was charged with battery and trespassing. So far, police haven’t released the name of the victim, or the names of those who were charged with the crime. They also have not given details of the crime, or any possible motive. Miami Beach, FL - Thousands laced up their running shoes for a good cause on a recent Sunday morning. They took part in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida’s Celebrity 5K to benefit the Community Partnership for the Homeless. The run, which started near the beautiful blue waters of Biscayne Bay and wound its way through South Beach, is one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. Celebrities up early for the race included CBS4’s Jill Martin, Emilio Estefan, artist Romero Britto, and Indy car champ Emerson Fittipaldi. Tampa, FL - Although volunteer census takers found 1,491 fewer homeless people this year than two years ago - the last official count - they reported about 660 more women and girls. The total count this year was 9,532. Rayme L. Nuckles, chief executive officer for the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County, said Hillsborough ranks near the top in the number of homeless compared with other counties in Florida. “Whether there are 11,000 or 100 homeless in our community, it is too many,” said Lesa Weikel, a Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County spokeswoman. “No one should be homeless in our community.” Nuckles said that agencies providing services to the homeless haven’t seen a drop in demand. Another blip in this year’s data showed that fewer people reported having a source of income. Weikel said the coalition doesn’t know why. The numbers came from counting people found living on the street or in shelters, figures from the Department of Children and Families, the school district and people in jail who said they have no home when they get out. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires agencies that receive federal funds for homeless programs to do a census every two years. The Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County expects $3.8-million from HUD this year. “Son, I Think We Need to Have a Talk About STREETVIBES...” BUY STREETVIBES, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE 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 3 �TARGET: Global Warming by Paul Rogat Loeb denial activist Frederick Seitz also had strong tobacco industry ties, With over 1400 local events, drawing $585,000 from RJ Reynolds the April 14 National Day of Climate Action, www.StepItUp07.org, between 1979 and 1987 before going on to the George Marshall offered a national wakeup call, with Institute. Exxon jumped in to support citizens in every state raising their voice. But even as we build on this these efforts early on, as part of a more general assault on government powerful day to move forward, we regulation and action. As the scientific need to talk about why it’s been so consensus around global warming hard for Americans to recognize the climate issue’s urgency. began to solidify, they began funding a series of studies and spokespeople As recently as July 2006, the to insist that mainstream scientific acknowledgement of the crisis by ordinary Americans lagged behind not opinion was sharply divided. only our counterparts in Great Britain, Between 1998 and 2005 the company has invested over $16 Germany and Japan, but also behind million in challenging the those polled in China, India, overwhelming consensus among Argentina, Nigeria and Indonesia. U.S. citizen awareness has increased climatologists, spreading the resources among significantly in the wake of this past at least 43 winter’s massive storms (even before different the latest East Coast disaster) and institutions to give coverage of the international scientific the appearance of reports. But though between 77% a broad chorus of and 83% of Americans now dissent. Whether acknowledge that global warming poses a serious problem, only 55% in the Heartland Institute, Alliance a January Pew poll say the issue for Climate requires immediate government Strategies, Center action, and only 47% in the same for the Study of Pew poll say that they believe it’s human caused. This means there’s still Carbon Dioxide and Global serious denial. And to dismantle its Change, or the architecture means taking on the key Competitive role of ExxonMobil. Enterprise Institute Those who dismiss global and George warming’s threat have embraced a Marshall Institute, series of arguments, retreating from they all got major Paul Loeb one to the next as they’re trumped by Exxon support for their role in arguing reality. The planet isn’t really that no global warming crisis existed. warming, they say. If it is, it’s due to Until recently, the efforts to sow random fluctuations or sunspots, not doubt have worked, with the help of human-created greenhouse gases. a compliant media and the Bush And even if global warming is real, it presidency. And though a number of will bring more benefits than other energy companies also problems. Wherever I go, people participated, ExxonMobil was the offer up the same rationales. Some critical initiator, and remained firmly even rattle off the names of dissenting denying the crisis even as other oil scientists, websites, or journal articles. They dismiss the 99% companies, like BPAmoco and Shell, unanimity of international climate acknowledged the gravity of the scientists and scientific associations threat. by saying those sounding the warning Solving global warming will are all on the be hard take and enough, even probably also without “Solving global personal orchestrated hypocrites. opposition. warming will be hard As And off course part of creating we need to enough even without that doubt, focus on APCO’s where we orchestrated Steven Milloy need to go, founded Junk like StepItUp’s opposition.” Science.com, call for an which would 80% reduction later become a key website for global in CO2 emissions by 2050. But if we warming denial. Milloy also became only do that and ignore the associated with other key climate counterattacks, our efforts will change denial organizations, like the continue to get Swift Boated, and it Competitive Enterprise Institute will be far harder to build the (which has called the Kyoto accords necessary political will for them to “a power grab based on deception succeed. Targeting Exxon pressures and fear”), and later become a them and other corporations to stop columnist for Fox. Major climate Page 4 trying to undermine the scientific consensus and to stop blocking attempts to rein in greenhouse gas emissions—as in a recent Competitive Enterprise Institute ad that proclaimed about CO2, “they call it pollution, we call it life.” It also highlights the roots of why so many Americans have resisted the reality of the crisis—how what many of us think this is just our personal skepticism is product of a deliberate disinformation campaign. Some questionable companies are hard to boycott—where do you start with Halliburton? But ExxonMobil has a presence in every city in this country. Their gas stations are accessible for rallies and picketing. Every dollar that their stations lose and every bit of adverse press coverage will create further pressure. Imagine if enough organized effort was focused so that Exxon had to sell or close some of their stations. Or if enough Americans understood their manipulative role so that both the company and the groups they’d supported lost all media and political credibility. Think about how INFACT (now the Corporate Accountability Campaign) ran their largely successful campaigns against Nestle and GE. Or how the United Farm Workers conducted their grape boycotts. Or the successful recent campaign of Florida’s Coalition of Immokalee Workers to get Taco Bell and McDonalds to require their subcontractors to pay higher wages to tomato pickers. These efforts didn’t just call on individuals not to buy specific products from the problematic companies. They actively organized, in communities, in congregations, and on campuses. They convinced their fellow citizens to withhold their dollars in a way that created the maximum public attention. Global warming solutions exist, and we need to forge the political will to enact them, building on existing programs like California’s “million solar roof” legislation and the climate change initiatives of the European nations. But even as public attitudes begin to shift, and major corporations like GE, Dupont and BPAmoco are at least talking about taking the issue seriously, Exxon continues to impede political progress. To prevent a future of endless climate-driven disasters, we’re going to have to keep talking about their role. 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. See www.paulloeb.org Crimes Against Homeless Upgraded To Hate Crimes Tallahassee, FL - House lawmakers unanimously passed a bill Friday that would add the homeless to other hate-crimes categories currently enshrined in law, such as crimes based on the victim’s race and religion. An identical Senate bill (SB 1458) is in its last committee stop, but the chamber will likely take up the House bill. The bill (HB 11) is a response to a rash of assaults in the state against the homeless. If a crime contains the evidence of prejudice, it could be bumped up to the next most stringent charge. For example, a third-degree felony on a homeless Streetvibes person, with evidence the crime was committed because the victim was homeless, would be charged as a second-degree felony. South Florida has been the setting for several brutal attacks on the homeless, several of them caught on camera. In 2006, Florida ranked the most dangerous state in the nation with 48 attacks against the homeless. It was the second year Florida ranked first in the nation, partly because of the beatings of three Fort Lauderdale homeless men by three teens using baseball bats and a golf club. One man died, and the teens have been charged with his murder. �Former Drug Addict Helps Others Through Poetry by Andy Freeze Cincinnati - After nearly two years of serving time in jail, Daryl Jackson is out and ready to help others overcome their addictions. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Daryl attended Hughes High School. He starting drinking and using marijuana in the 9th grade and his drug of choice eventually turned to crack in the early 90s. In 1998 his drinking and drug use caught up to him when he was incarcerated for robbery. Since 2000 Daryl has been out of jail and fighting his addiction. While in jail from 1998 – 2000, Daryl joined a recovery program and began to write poetry. For him it was a way to cope with his disease. It was like he was beginning a new life. Recently Daryl has compiled his poetry from the last six years and put it into a book entitled “Enlightening Spiritual Recovery Poems.” “My writings provide spiritual awareness for those thinking about using drugs for the first time, letting them know that soulless grave that awaits them,” Jackson says. “I break drug addiction’s barricade and build a loving foundation.” His goal is to use his poetry to help others with the disease of addiction. He has been to most of the social service agencies here in Cincinnati to see if there are people he can help. His dream is for his book to be in all schools, clubs, and libraries. He seems to be on his “My writings provide spiritual awareness for those thinking about using drugs for the first time, letting them know that soulless grave that awaits them.” Daryl Jackson “The Window” by Daryl Jackson Man! What a feeling – I have one year clean I’m riding my “Pink Cloud,” you know what I mean As I phone my best friend, I’ve got so much to tell And let him know that all is well. Hello partner it’s me, at the meeting I shared “Let me open up the Window,” to let in some air Oh! Look there’s Joe dressed nice wearing his brim As he goes down the alley to shoot his heroin. Oh! Look there’s Billy staggering, taking his time As he goes into the corner store, to buy him some wine. Oh! Look there’s Debbie, she’s just left her trick As she runs down the dope boys, looking for a crack hit. The more I looked, the more I was dazed And in the pit of my stomach, I started to crave. My heart was pounding right up to my ear But that wasn’t the only thing that I had to fear. My body was hot and felt very wet A whole pint of fluid I started to sweat. My legs were trembling and my hands began to shake My whole world around me, felt like an Earthquake. Andy Freeze shows his support for Daryl Jackson’s book way. His book is in 41 local libraries and used to help clients in countless agencies. If you are interested in Daryl’s book go to a local library or email mr_daryl_jackson2006@yahoo.com to purchase a copy. I felt I was drowning, yet there was no lake “Oh, God, Please help me,” for goodness sake “Oh Buddy,” I feel so much confusion Because deep in my soul, I’m think about using. And what he told me, I’ll never forget Just simple advice that was heavenly sent. Living spiritually ain’t simple, and complicated are we The next thing he said set my whole soul free. “Listen my son to a meeting you go” And just stop looking out “That Damned Window!” “Soulless Grave” by Daryl Jackson Virgins of dope pull up a chair active abusers lend me your ear those currently in recovery gather around this poem speaks of dopes hell bound An addict shares from beyond the grave sentenced here, my remaining days my chosen lifestyle full of dope everlasting torture hasn’t hope Indescribable grave, I feel within torments my soul without end the comfort of death is a coffin bed I walk around, I’m addicted dead. A living corpse lacking pride moral standards, long ago died drug addiction is careless about my name shattering my fortune – maiming my fame Reaching out with a calloused hand help arrives weakly from mortal man my only exit from my grave is through God’s love, that constantly saves The cover of Daryl’s book Streetvibes Page 5 �Agency Spotlight: Ohio Justice and Policy Center by John Lavelle This month, Streetvibes focuses on one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ newest members, the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. Cincinnati - The Ohio Justice and Policy Center (OJPC) was founded in 1997 under the name of the Prison Reform Advocacy Center (PRAC). The organization officially changed its name in 2005 to reflect that they were serving both prisoners and exoffenders. The name change was also intended to pave the way for future projects on broader scales. Their mission focuses on representing people in the justice system, reintegrating individuals into society, and eliminating racism. OJPC is perhaps best known for its “Second Change Community Legal Clinic,” which frequents Our Daily Bread in Over the Rhine and other locations throughout Cincinnati. Staff attorneys and advocates at the clinics provide free legal services to formerly incarcerated women and men. Major issues that they address at the clinics include: record expungement for “first time” offenders, child support, unfair parole conditions, and termination of employment because of a criminal record. Other programs work to ensure voting rights for ex-felons and human rights in prison. Their case, Fussell v. Wilkinson, was settled in 2005, resulting in greatly improved health care in Ohio prisons. Their newest effort is the “Race and Justice Project,” which focuses on racial disparity in sentencing, the composition of juries, and in the justice system in general. They are also looking at the lack of African American males graduating from Cincinnati Public Schools, a phenomenon that directly impacts the justice system and the community. Executive Director David Singleton points out that significant improvement is also needed in indigent criminal defense. Shortcomings in the pubic defender system affect minorities and lowincome individuals. OJPC’s work is also education-based. They offer a clinic for Northern Kentucky University and University of Cincinnati law students that teaches students about civil rights and prison advocacy. The mission is to fill the need for attorneys that will work with the disenfranchised and often despised members of society. While OJPC has many, varying programs, Singleton sees them as “many parts working together toward systemic change.” On many of their publications is a quote from Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, famous for Notes From the Underground and The Brothers Karamazov: “The degree of civilization in a society is revealed by entering its prisons.” Dostoevsky was an ex-offender himself, being exiled to Siberia for being part of an intellectual political group that challenged the ruling authority. The Second Chance Community Legal Clinic takes place most Tuesdays from 10am to noon at Our Daily Bread in Over the Rhine. More information about OJPC, their programs, and cases can be found at www.ohiojpc.org Drop Inn Center: Partnering Against TB by Pat Clifford , General Coordinator, Drop Inn Center Cincinnati - The Drop Inn Center and Hamilton County TB Control are long-standing partners in the fight against Tuberculosis. We have been fully cooperative with TB control efforts, including sharing our resident and volunteer data freely. They have, with our help, taken the responsibility to contact both residents and volunteers. We are both encouraging and providing opportunities for people to get tested and are educating people about TB. Among the actions the Drop Inn Center has already taken; · Contacting all residents and urging them to get tested either at Hamilton County TB Control or the City of Cincinnati Homeless Medical Van · Utilizing our Client Database (HMIS) to target those most at risk and placing messages urging them to get tested in their client files. · All at-risk clients still staying at the shelter were individually contacted and given a deadline to get tested To make the testing process more efficient in the future,staff at the Drop Inn Center are scheduled to be trainedby the Cincinnati Health Department to administer and read TB Skin Tests. The Drop Inn Center is on the front lines of the fight for a healthier community. We work tirelessly to feed, clothe and shelter those who fall Mr. and Ms. Homeless Downtowner Mr. Homeless Downtowner Ms. Homeless Downtowner Name: Michael Lee Hometown: Detroit, MI Neighborhood: Over-the-Rhine I can’t stand it when: people get annoyed by seeing you homeless, and get an attitude I can’t resist: chocolate Place I’d most like to visit: Mexico Person I would most like to meet: President Bush What I like most about Cincinnati: the library If I won the Lottery, I would: buy a house and a car My Life Philosophy: the Bible Happiness is: being self-secure financially Name: Joyce Ramsey Hometown: Middletown Neighborhood: Over-the-Rhine I can’t stand it when: when you speak to someone and they don’t speak back- also, when people don’t take action I can’t avoid: feeling the pain homelessness Place I’d most like to Visit: hometown (Middletown) Person I would most like to meet: Denzel Washington What I like most about Cincinnati: the historic buildings and hills If I won the Lottery, I would: buy a house and give back to the community My Life Philosophy: Whatever you ask God for, in His Son’s name, you will receive Happiness is: unconditional love Page 6 Streetvibes though the cracks. Without our efforts, the community would be defenseless against the spread of a myriad of health problems, including TB. Thanks to our coordination with TB Control, we were able to handle this outbreak in an organized and responsible manner. The good news is that few who contracted TB, are taking medication and are no longer infectious. �Homeless Couple Beaten, LETTERS From Readers It was refreshing to see so The Coalition has tracked a Dog Stolen many local news articles and editorials series of attacks against homeless by Sarah Valek, NEOCH Cleveland, OH – Six men beat a homeless couple with baseball bats and then stole their dog the night of May 11th at a campsite near the Flats where the couple were staying. The two victims, “Bonnie” and “Gene,” described the men as white, young and clean-cut. The men were driving a black 2002 or 2003 Pontiac Trans Am. According to the victims, the men initially asked to buy their dog. The couple refused, but suspected a problem. Later that night, the men returned. First, one of the men attacked Gene, beating him with a baseball bat. Gene suffered many bruises on his head. Next, one of the men started beating Bonnie with a baseball bat, breaking her collarbone. He also pulled a knife on her. The attackers stole their dog, a fourmonth-old pit bull terrier and boxer mix named Train. The dog is a brown female with a brindel pattern. The couple desperately wants her back. Two nights later, the same group of criminals returned with twenty people this time. The mob surrounded the campsite and threatened to burn their camp down. The couple has since relocated, but are available for an interview through NEOCH. people over the last few weeks. All incidents have occurred on the Near West Side. In one case, two men beat a homeless man with a 2x4. In a separate incident, four young, white men punched and kicked a homeless man. Each victim suffered injuries—one was hospitalized. Attacks against homeless people are on the rise throughout the nation. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, attacks increased 65 percent from 2005, and more than 170 percent since five years ago. The National Coalition’s report, Hate, Violence and Death on Main Street USA, documents all hate crimes occurring across the nation in 2006. “The causes and solutions to these hate crimes is too complicated to sum up in a single sentence,” said Joshua Kanary, who works with civil rights at NEOCH. “For the moment, it is important we first focus on ensuring everyone’s safety.” North East Ohio Coalition for the Homeless Peace Village by Dr. Steve Sunderland Cincinnati - The weather of Winter melted away and beautiful Spring arrived with light breezes, brilliant sunshine, and over 120 participants for our second annual conference on “Peace or Hunger?” We met on Sigma Sigma Commons with the 100 college students from UC and Wilmington College and the 22 faculty and students of Shroder Paieda High School. Conference director, Keara Mullen, welcomed everyone. Keara is a graduate student in Educational Studies, UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services. Then Jonathan Price, junior, CCM, and president of the Peace Village chapter, offered his thoughts on the meaning of the conference. Steve Sunderland, faculty advisor, Peace Village, commented on the Virginia Tech tragedy and we had a moment of silent reflection. Our goal was to take part of the conference to provide service and learning to every participant. The way we chose to do this was by sending a large group to the FreeStore Food Bank’s warehouse for a discussion of hunger and for the experience of sorting food. Over 600 boxes were organized. Another group, led by Jeanne Smith, Wesley Foundation, UC, went to Lower Price Hill to meet with religious and civic leaders engaged in providing services to a community devastated by years of poverty and neglect. The group heard from Dr. Kay Clifton, Mt. St. Joseph College, Rev. Santiago Samms, State Avenue United Methodist Church, Mike Howard, Greg Beauchamp, and Fred Stuckey with Justice Watch walked the neighborhood, and worked to clear some land for a future park. The third group led by Mark Nicolas, graduate Dr. Steve Sunderland student, educational studies, UC, went to the Freedom Center and met with Rev. Doug Ervin, Freedom Center interpreter, and began to see the clear ties between slavery, hunger, poverty and the problems of inequality on a world wide scale. The groups returned in the late afternoon to build the Peace Village Shanty Town on Sigma Sigma Commons. With giant size cardboard boxes provided by Roecker and Berger stores, the conference participants built amazing structures. Some people built horizontal homes, others built two story creations, and some people connected their homes to other structures. Jailing Homeless Wastes Time/Money So our cash-strapped county is spending $4.2 million to jail homeless people for “Crimes” seldom charges against non-homeless people. What a waste of money and police time. People too poor to pay for housing can’t possibly pay even small fines, so they clog our jails and get an arrest record that makes finding a decent job even harder. Why don’t we take the cheap route of providing safe, affordable housing and unburden our jails of these non-violent offenders? Then they can join the rest of us who are not arrested for standing in one place (loitering), littering or having an open flask. Can you imagine that last one being enforced at Bengal’s tailgate parties? Kathy Helmbock Oakley Following was a dinner of rice, beans and water provided as a gift from Aramark and water from the FreeStore Foodbank. After dinner, we gathered to reflect on the experiences in the city and to hear the stories of what had most impressed each team. Everyone had a story of interest, of a major point of learning, and of some aspect that really surprised them. The staffs of the FreeStore and the Freedom Center made deep impressions. Lower Price Hill’s welcoming for the participants made a lasting impact as well. The evening program involved a three hour set of workshops to see the connections between hunger in Cincinnati and around the world. Our evening ended with a brief concert and then we retired to our Peace Village Shanty Town. Sunday started with breakfast at 8, Posters 4 Peace sessions highlighting the next steps to be taken by members of teams, an evaluation Streetvibes in the May issue of Streetvibes. I very much enjoyed Lynn Ausman’s and Jason Haap’s in-depth critical pieces that scrutinized Cincinnati politics and how they directly affect the lives of our citizens that experience homelessness and poverty. These are stories that need to be shared with the Greater Cincinnati population and that are hard to find in the traditional media sources of our city. The research and reporting—though not performed by folks with journalism degrees or political pedigrees were professional and thought-provoking - a rare find in a community paper. I also enjoy reading Georgine’s editorials. Her words often express the thoughts and emotions that I can’t find a way to voice, and her commentary on the Reds Day Parade was right on once again. I know it is tough work to keep a paper running and looking good, and I want to commend the staff and volunteers at GCCH for a job well done. Keep it up; Cinci needs you! Jessica Becher Norwood of the conference, another moment of reflection on Virginia Tech; and those who were victims of slavery, and we ended with a large and happy circle of peacemakers. The team from Shroder high school, led by Craig Rush, teacher, presented an unexpected gift of several hundred dollars in contributions to an Indonesian foundation helping with the education of children affected by the tsunami. Shroder’s gift touched me very deeply. Shroder is the first high school to participate in our conference and they have created a standard of involvement, and compassion that is most beautiful. Overall, we learned how to create a Peace Village community capable of linking learning about hunger and peace to the service of helping promote justice. We shared with Nobel prize winner, Eli Weisel, the belief that “... (a)s long as one child is hungry, our life will be filled with anguish and shame. What all these victims need above all is to know that they are not alone; that we are not forgetting them, that when their voices are stifled we shall lend them ours; that while their freedom depends on ours, the quality of our freedom depends on theirs.” Page 7 �Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Day a Huge Success VIB ES Support Your Vendor Berta’s Art Corner Arch and light, Race Street near Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine SUDOKU Puzzle Fill in numbers so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes contains the digits 1 to 9. There is only one solution! The ANSWER is on Page 15 Crowd watches as the band plays. Page 8 ET was a huge success and the Cincinnati YEP looks forwarding to organizing its next big event! Youth also are planning to work in the adult shelters in Cincinnati in hopes of circumventing the adult system. RE Band plays for YEP celebration. in Burnett Woods Group of youth watch as the band plays ST by Lynne Ausman Cincinnati - The Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) was still forming when the youth initiated a meeting with Mayor Mark Mallory about homeless kids in Cincinnati. Impressed with the presentation, Mayor Mallory proclaimed April 20, 2007, as Youth Empowerment Day in Cincinnati! A celebration in Burnett Park featuring two local bands followed. The event was no small feat, given the challenges of organizing the entire event, including finding a location, securing the bands, promoting the event, and finding refreshments. Burnett Woods, a park in the Clifton area of Cincinnati was secured. It was the perfect spot due to its location – near the Youth Crisis Center and Anthony House (a youth day shelter) – unfortunately, there was no electricity for the event. The youth pulled together and secured a donated generator for the event. Anthony House provided refreshments. To finish off the event, youth raffled off for $25 Target gift certificates which were donated by the Coalition for Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO). Raffle participants were asked to complete a short survey describing their individual situations and priority issues. The most frequently mentioned issue was drug and substance abuse, followed closely by food and shelter, and education and employment. Other issues included homelessness awareness, interaction with housed youth, mental illness, lack of adult caring and support, police stereotyping, and general safety. Overall, the experience Streetvibes �Poverty and Addiction by Mike Henson the first test. He knows this is the This is the fourth is a series on procedure but something in him rankles at the notion and he refuses poverty and addiction. the backup test. He stands at his full Cincinnati - A tall man comes to the height. “I blew a point-one five.” He duty office of a halfway house for men shrugs. “Why I got to blow again?” The woman explains that this released from jail or prison. He is returning from work or from is the rule. He argues. He probably searching for work or from an knows he already has a sanction that appointment with a doctor or case could send him back to jail or prison, manager. He knows the procedure but still he balks. A second staff and the woman at the desk knows the person gets involved and still he procedure. He signs in and he tests argues. I step in at this point and pull for alcohol. On occasion he must him aside. He reeks of alcohol and he weaves above me –I am short so he peers down at me through his swollen eyes. I ask, “What’s up?” He explains that he has blown a .15 and that’s all he needs to do. “What’s the problem with blowing again?” “It’s demeaning.” Here is a man who faces serious consequences for drinking, yet Michael Henson he is willing to put himself at further drop urines, but that test is expensive risk because he sees a process and the results take several days. The designed to protect him from false alcohol test is cheap and the results accusation as demeaning. To my mind, his whole life in this halfway house is are immediate. He is a good-looking man, demeaning. He is a grown man who neatly dressed. To my eye he must ask permission to leave the resembles a Cincinnati Reds house, who must do his chores when ballplayer I remember from my youth. staff tells him and he must follow rules He is tall, as I say, so he must lean he has no say in making. Yet he finds down to reach the device the woman this particular procedure demeaning. holds up. He places his elbows on the It could make me crazy if I thought sill of the duty office window and he about it long enough, but I don’t have blows into the plastic tube fixed to the the time. Instead, I ask, “Did you top of the device. The woman checks drink?” “Yes, I did.” the screen — .015. He has blown “And are you drunk right now?” numbers; he is positive for alcohol. “Yes sir.” He knows what’s next and so He does not mind calling me does the woman at the duty office window. If you blow numbers, then sir and he does not mind sitting in the you blow two more times to confirm chair where I ask him to sit, for I tell the duty office staff they can skip the backup test and he is satisfied I let him keep that little scrap of dignity he has chosen to claim. This man can pack all his worldly possessions into a pair of plastic garbage bags. He is mentally ill, chemically dependent, and a convicted criminal. Outside his family, no one waits for him to be released. He lives in an over-crowded dormitory with others just like him. Yet he strives for dignity and he rejects what he sees as demeaning. It may not be the line in the sand that you or I might draw and it may not be the line this man might draw if he were sober, but he has set this border from which he defends what he sees as his dignity. It is a fractured dignity, impaired by alcohol and rendered almost comical and certainly injurious to himself. But in spite of all the injuries his dignity has sustained, he must have felt he still had something left to defend. So he stood in the lobby and refused the second test... Men and women will die for what they perceive as dignity. Dope boys and saints will go down for the juice. We cannot live comfortably without some measure of it. What is dignity to the human person? What does it mean to the poor? To the addict? Michael Harrington, in The New American Poverty, says, “To be poor in American is to be unable to afford your pride.” By this, I assume he means that poverty keeps a person from ever catching up with the Joneses. It means to be constantly demeaned. Your clothes are shabby, so you get mocked at school. Your car is a hooptie. Everything you own is cheap, is “ghetto.” You’re a bum, a redneck, a whatever else they call people who are less than everyone else. Everything about you is deficient in some way. . But you can, I believe, have some dignity. For pride and dignity are not the same. A person can still hold onto some dignity even when the elements of pride have been stripped away. For dignity, in this context, means the refusal to be demeaned in demeaning circumstances. You hold your head a little higher, your back a little straighter. You remain on your path in spite of the petty –and not so petty- impediments that poverty puts in your way. There is an internal element and an external element to dignity. Internally, within the person, there is this refusal to allow the demeaning world outside to invade the soul. The person will not let the world define him or set her standard. Externally, it shows in that uplifted head, that unbent back, that clear eye. You can beat down that head, that back. You can make a person avert his or her eye. But as long as the demeaning does not enter within, then dignity lives. What happens when we add alcohol into the mix? Or heroin or crack cocaine? I think that under this weight, dignity comes close to shattering. The lies, the manipulation, the shame all conspire to break down the barrier between the demeaning world and the soul. The addict begins to demean the self. And in this process, the poor are particularly vulnerable. Why? Because the assaults on dignity are so much more frequent and intense and the poor have so few defenses. Their wounds are greater and the world offers little in the way of healing. So does my man in the halfway house have dignity? He has, I think, a scrap of it. Maybe no more than a scrap, but let him keep it. If he hopes to recover, he will need it. Our STREETVIBES Staff Hard at Work STRE Streetvibes ETVI BES Page 9 �Day Laborer Critically Injured at Rumpke Recycling safety equipment at the time of the accident.” Cincinnati - In late April, day “We are concerned with the laborer, Scott Johnson, 56, was health and safety training that day critically injured while shredding tires labor workers receive,” said Don at Rumpke Recycling. Johnson is Sherman, executive director of the officially employed by TLC Industrial Interfaith Workers Center in OverTemporary, a day labor hall which is the-Rhine, “safety should be of known among homeless advocates upmost concern to both the and those who work with lowemployers who have day labor income workers for its questionable workers and [to] the day labor practices. halls.” Johnson had been sent to the This terrible Rumpke Tire incident was the Recycling location “We are concerned first at Rumpke routinely for about Tire Recycling and two months when with the health and it is probably one he fell into a tire safety training that of the worst injuries shredder. As a sustained by a day day labor workers result, Johnson has laborer while on a suffered serious receive” job. However, injuries including -Don Sherman injuries are not losing his left arm. uncommon in the It is unclear how day labor industry. Johnson fell into the tire shredder, Day labor workers are routinely however, Detective Monte Mayer, subject to questionable practices, spokesman for the Butler County unsafe conditions and discrimination. Sheriff’s Office explained that The Day Labor Organizing Johnson had been standing next to Project (DLOP) has heard about the tire shredder when it jammed. many day labor practices at their Amanda Pratt, Rumpke weekly meetings. “They drive us to spokeswoman, said “Johnson took work on those rickety old buses and part in all necessary training sessions they always break down. The to operate the shredder and drivers are unsafe too, speeding and appeared to have been wearing his cutting others off” says one worker, “they are always late picking us up too, and sometimes they don’t even show up.” DLOP operates, in part, as a forum for workers to address their grievances with day labor halls. While DLOP has no official relationship with the day labor halls, they do document by Lynne Ausman these grievances with the hopes of Other common grievances one day being able to address them are the lack of clean bathrooms, with the day labor water breaks, and not being paid fully. halls. In the “Safety should be “They told me I meantime, these of the upmost grievances have couldn’t go to the been used to bathroom or take a concern to both water break. It’s develop legislation the employers which would hot and they have who have day regulate the day me doing hard labor halls to ensure labor workers and labor. Then I got proper safety and back to the hall to [to] the day labor non-discrimination. get my check and it halls.” This day labor was only $30 for a sixteen hour day. legislation is -Don Sherman currently working It’s just not right.” its way through said another worker Cincinnati City Council and DLOP who wished to remain anonymous. hopes that it will come to a full city The workers asked to council vote and become an official remain anonymous for fear of city ordinance. retribution from the day labor halls. New Complex for Homeless Opens in Salt Lake by Angie Welling, Desert Morning News Salt Lake City, UT - On the eve of his 53rd birthday, Rodger Duvall is headed home — back to the neighborhood in west Salt Lake where he was born and reared, before he became a husband and father, before he became a drug addict and long before he became homeless. “I’m back home,” Duvall said from his new studio apartment. “I’m going to start my life over.” Sunrise, which officially opened its doors with great fanfare, is offering a similar opportunity to 99 other people in similar situations. The Page 10 complex is the first of its kind in Utah and will provide permanent, supportive housing to individuals who have lived on the streets for years. “I don’t care what your religion or your beliefs are, this is a miracle,” said a tearful Rosemary Kappes, executive director of the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City. Kappes is credited as the heart and soul of the Sunrise project. The facility will follow the “housing first” approach that has proven effective in other parts of the nation. On-site case management will be available, but not mandatory, for residents. Two of the building’s four floors will be designated as “dry,” meaning no drugs or alcohol allowed, but the other floors have no alcohol restrictions. Residents will be allowed to come and go as they please, although there will be security on site. “This is going to be remembered in history as a real turning point for how we work with those who are chronically homeless,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. Duvall’s new home, with its twin bed, small dining room table and limited cookware, isn’t anything fancy. But it is much better than anywhere he’s been lately, especially jail, where he spent seven months on a drug charge, he said. Duvall will pay 30 percent of his income — about $370 from his monthly Social Security check — for rent and utilities. Duvall is grateful and surprised at the work that has gone into getting Streetvibes Sunrise off the ground, particularly the heartfelt dedication to people in the homeless community. “It’s overwhelming,” he said. “Just overwhelming.” The multimillion-dollar project started with two $600,000 donations from the George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Foundation and the Crusade for the Homeless, headed by local philanthropist Jack Gallivan. Additional private donations followed, as well as federal, state and local funds. Sunrise represents a major step forward in the state’s 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness. A second permanent housing facility is already under way in South Salt Lake, where officials broke ground on that 84-unit apartment complex in October. �TOMATO TOMAHTO—A prose poem in three voices and ability to get through college. good slicer. Best if used right makin’ Kool Aid—how big is your by Steven Paul Lansky Steve Lansky, this month’s guest columnist: poet, film-maker, novelist, performance artist former Poet Laureate of Overthe-Rhine. I’m forty-nine and teach Creative Writing at Miami University. I spent a few hours at a homeless youth outreach center. I listened and took notes in Times New Roman. My own privileged life is italicized and Heirloom tomato varieties are bold and italics: Abraham Lincoln: An heirloom variety known for its dark red fruits that are free from cracks— Two computers with Internet— garden plots—a man pees in the yard his back to the alley—pants hang low—smoking roll-ups—I don’t know what I’m going to do with this dog—I live well. I grew up with privilege. My parents both worked, both were professionals, both had Ph.D.’s and valued education. Because of my schizophrenia I suffered from a disrupted late adolescence—Akers West Virginia: A good producer of nicely shaped red globes that bear up until a hard frost. Not as tasty as some, but great for sauces and salsas—right now I’m sleepin’ in the car with (a yellow pit bull) him—I was going to give him to Dave and Michelle—right now I’m sleepin’ in the car with him— sandwich fixin’s, cheese, lunch meat, bread, fruit punch, Kool Aid—pants hung low—watch a kid roll a cigarette, the tuck—when he gets out he’ll be on paper still—cappin’ on his BLEEP—When my family and I were estranged, something that had elements of mutuality, my anger and angst, their frustration and feelings of helplessness against a disease that truly affects understanding combined to force me to seek treatment. I’m one of the lucky ones. A small dose of medication taken daily as prescribed by a psychiatrist was enough to give me a chance— Amana Orange: Large orange colored fruits originally from the Amana Colonies in Iowa— concrete porch, three green plastic chairs—red scrapes on her nose, under eyes, around her thin pale fingers—I’m sick from that schwag—I think that the transition from lying, drunk, mentally ill, college dropout, to poet and artist, to non-traditional student made my twenties full of loss and loneliness. But, from the earliest times in treatment, I saw others give up and commit suicide, or succumb to alcohol, drugs, and insanity, while I learned to build on each failure—Amish Paste: A great heirloom variety for canning. 8 oz. fruits are very meaty and great for sauce making—my hands are stained from caseload? Fifty—we’re training a new guy today—As I went from welfare to volunteer work, to work-training, to sheltered work, to competitive work, I became willing to help others and in doing so helped myself—Andrew Rahart’s Jumbo Red: Good flavor from medium sized bright red fruits—I haven’t had a shower in five days—staying in a squat— outreach under the bridges, by the railroad tracks— There is something validating about having had nothing. My family could have rescued me. They tried to for awhile. Then I began to find help by asking others. It came slowly— Anna Russian: Large one pound pink and red heart shaped fruits. The seed was said to originate from a Russian immigrant in Oregon several generations ago—don’t wanna’ kick in the CCAT House—they got a place for crazy people, not addicts—I’d a stayed with him two days right by his side. As soon as he got it he split. I ain’t seen him. I’d a sat with him—It took me thirteen years and three different universities to get my B.A. in Creative Writing. Now, there’s a degree full of marketing potential. Having asked for a lend, I’m now able and sometimes willing to give one. Arkansas Traveler: 6 oz. fruits have a creamy mild flavor. This variety was discovered in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Missouri—My experience tells me that with a positive narrative replacing the deluded story of a victim, I can gain strength, and hope—good shoes— socks—need socks?—I hear you got a plan—got a smoke?—wow that feels good—I haven’t had a shower in five days—Aunt Ginny’s: This German beefsteak has plenty of flavor. Yields are average but this variety makes up for it in its superb flavor—I watch others struggle to find a foothold. I put out a hand here and there where I can. My current situation is based on accepting my disability, working less than fulltime, and accepting family help— she’ll give us a home. Probably a vehicle—San Bernadino—she makes ten pounds of crystal meth a week—Aunt Ruby’s German Green: A sweet delicious flavor with a hint of spice. 12-16 oz. fruits have a light green skin with a dark green interior when fully ripe…these look great sliced on a plate with some of the darker red varieties—It is true that not everyone has the patience Money helps, too. My experience tells me that self-discipline, a willingness to listen and make judgments about how to do things that help me, and others, and a commitment to honoring each individual’s dignity is necessary. Government grants and loans help—Hell’s Angel—when I get to jail I’ll have a warm place to sleep and a roof over my head— Aurora: 6-8 oz. Great tasting fruits. Vines are loaded with fruit—When I lived on a park bench for a few weeks in 1982 before signing myself into a State Hospital for treatment, only a handful of people took interest enough to visit with me. Now, I make an effort to visit some of the benches, and people who are staying on them—birds walk little steps peck peck at white bread tossed from a wandering spring sandwich—shower—ain’t had one in five days—break into a place that helps people—gives free food—to steal free food—Banana Legs: A unique yellow paste tomato. Plants produce wispy leaves but bear a good quantity of mild flavored fruit—I tell these individuals what helped me, and that I’ve been there, too. I try to get to know them in the moments that might help. Sometimes I give a handout of a little cash. I don’t know if this helps. Social Security helps me. Father Time—don’t disrespect— don’t wanna’ be with crazy people— I’m an addict—So how do you grow tomatoes?—Can tomatoes evolve into an organizing principle?—Beauty Blanc: A medium sized white tomato, whiter than White Wonder and somewhat smaller. Flavor is mild with little acid—concrete pillars— the swoosh—cars overhead—motor sounds—rubbish tires—rusty concrete chunks, half empty dirty bottles, the smell of crack halfway up a fenced off concrete stairway— galvanized chainlink—Besser Cherry: A very old German Cherry tomato that produces clusters of 8-12 tomatoes on large sprawling vines—An elderly German Jew told me one fine day that I knew why I was there—he sat next to me on that lonely bench and said you know why you are here—a not so old sleepingbag—rusty rust—swoosh sounds—a streetcorner by a small greenspace—Black Brandywine: A brandywine style tomato that was crossed at some point with an unknown “black” variety possible Cherokee Purple or Black Krim. Great flavor and a Streetvibes after picking as it doesn’t keep well—a woman—her face pocked—caked with make-up— taking, talking—they’re gonna’ give me pamphlets—hands take plastic wrapped objects—a green light pole—traffic—lights switching yellow red—Black Cherry: A new variety for us. Plants produce a good quantity of purple/black cherry tomatoes that have a flavor that resembles Black Krim. Plants beared up through October here in Ohio—green yellow—a little gathering of smoking grey faces—no one’s on fire with hope—a man talks about cocaine—a Dr.—a medical Dr. in Army Reserves—a scared Dr.—ER doctor who wants to help—taking a hand—accepting a handout— afraid of foodstamps—afraid of foodstamps—afraid social services will deplete the military—a criminal—swoosh sounds— soothing to put someone to sleep by the raised, under the raised roadway—concrete pillars—swoosh sounds—soothing to put someone asleep by the raised, under the raised roadway—concrete pillars— Black Krim: Another black variety…fruits are a super dark red with greenish tops. Sweet and tasty flavor. You’re not dead, kid. You fell asleep. You can wake up and take care. You have a job to do. It’s not done yet, kid. Get out of that sleepy, dopey haze, work a little each day; watch your dream come true. Once you show you care, you can help yourself. Get out of yourself and give to your fellow. Not sharing a smoke. Giving a hand up. Not a hand out. A hand up, a real time, real love, real blessing, real miracle; each one of you is a human being. ALMOST 30 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 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 $3 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for $1, 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. Ten 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 lowincome people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 cents Printing and Production: 25 cents Page 12 About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... 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 self-sufficiency 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 earned. This program has helped 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 Buy STREETVIBES! (Check for Vendors Badge) Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! �State tries to regain federal funds to help the homeless by Ken Kusmer Indianapolis, IN - With great fanfare, Gov. Mitch Daniels held a press conference to accept a ceremonial check that included $12.7 million in federal grants for programs serving homeless people around the state. That was 2005. But when Indiana received its latest federal homeless funding, it had little to celebrate. Funding plummeted to $3.57 million, or just 28 cents on the dollar compared with 2005, to feed and house homeless Hoosiers, train them for jobs and provide other services. As state officials and advocates prepare their request for the next round of funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, some say the state needs to start putting money into affordable housing in order to get a greater share of the federal grants. “It should be a call to action for all of us, but especially the state of Indiana, to make an investment in people who are most vulnerable and most at risk,” said Michael Reinke, executive director of the nonprofit Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues. He said at least 60,000 Indiana residents are homeless at some point in a year’s time. Others see it differently. Rodney Stockment, who has a key role in preparing the state’s request for the limited HUD homeless funds, said homeless programs seeking federal grants need to find other money — not only from the state but from their home communities, foundations and other sources — so Indiana’s application scores better. “When it’s a limited pot of money, it’s very competitive,” said Stockment, community services manager at the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority. HUD announced Feb. 20 that it was distributing more than $1.2 billion in Continuum of Care grants to thousands of local programs across the nation. Besides the $3.57 million received for programs across Indiana, Indianapolis collected $4.28 million after submitting a separate application. Emergency shelters received an additional $3.05 million. But none of eight new projects proposed for Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Gary, Kokomo, South Bend and other communities received HUD approval, and 37 existing programs that had come up for renewal received only a single year of funding rather than the normal multiple years. “It’s been really very disappointing to us,” said Linda Baechle, executive director of the YWCA of St. Joseph County, which was seeking $393,750 over three years to add six apartments to the eight it now has for women with chronic mental illness, developmental delays or physical disabilities. Stockment, Reinke and program heads like Baechle say Indiana’s funding dropped for a number of reasons: Many of Indiana’s homeless are families, but HUD places more priority on those considered “chronically homeless,” single individuals with disabilities such as mental health problems who have been homeless for at least a year. They account for 10 percent to 20 percent of the homeless population but use half of all services. Indiana does not score well when it comes to leveraging other sources of funding to complement HUD funds. Indiana was prepared to match 92 cents for every $1 of HUD funding, but HUD required $2. Indiana needs more affordable housing for low-income families and individuals. Reinke’s coalition, which helps prepare the state’s application to HUD, reported last week that many people resort to homeless programs because the state does not have enough affordable housing. In the first three months of the year, more than 3,200 heads of households entered programs across Indiana. Of those, 30 percent had stayed the night before with friends or family, 19 percent had been in their own or rented homes, and 11 percent had come from a jail, hospital or substance abuse treatment center. “While many people think of homelessness as a personal crisis, there is a statewide lack of affordable housing with dire consequences,” Reinke said. Unlike its four neighboring states, Indiana does not put any money toward affordable housing, he said. Legislation that would have generated millions of dollars in such funds each year cleared the Indiana House 62-36 this session but did not receive a committee hearing in the Senate, and it appears dead. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jeb Bardon, DIndianapolis, said it died in the Senate because builders and real estate agents objected to a provision that would increase county recording fees for mortgages and deeds to raise the housing funds. So now it’s back to the drawing board. Stockment said he has enlisted the Chicago-based nonprofit Corporation for Supportive Housing to help Indiana on its new application, which is expected to include more than 60 projects seeking funding. But Baechle and other program chiefs know that getting all the funds Indiana needs won’t be easy. Christian Center Rescue Ministries in Anderson doesn’t take HUD funds because it bars them from proselytizing, Executive Director Scott Richards said, but if other HUD-funded programs shut down he’ll feel the impact. His agency houses 54 men, women and children and will serve an estimated 60,000 meals this year. “We didn’t get hit by the torpedo, but we’re standing on the same boat,” Richards said. Homeless Student Graduates High School Orlando, FL - Many Central Florida High School students graduated this week. But graduation took on an extra special meaning for a homeless graduate at Edgewater High School, WESH 2 News reported. Daniel Lazzatti lives in a shed behind a woman’s home in Winter Park, and works at Burger King to pay for his necessities, he said. Despite his hardships, Lazzatti worked his way out of special education classes, earned a regular diploma and a scholarship. Project Book from Mercy High Shool about Homelessness and Poverty, available at the GCCH office - Call 421-7803 “I don’t want to say it’s hard, but it also wasn’t easy. But I’m surprised myself that I even made it here in the first place,” Lazzatti said. Lazzatti’s family lost their home and his mother disappeared. He’s lived on his own for about two years, he said. After hearing his story, hundreds of people have offered to help and give him money. He said he’ll use only what he needs, and will give the rest to a scholarship fund for other Orange County teens living in poverty. Hey, College and High School Students! Interested in Serving Others? Want to Change the World? —Alternative Breaks —Homeless Curriculum —Arrange an Awareness Event on Campus —Visit from our Speaker’s Bureau Contact Andy Freeze, Education Coordinator, Homeless Coalition, to learn more 421-7803. ext. 14 Streetvibes Page 13 �Standing with Dignity Battle Plan by Paul von Kempf, JR. Standing with DignityStanding here with dignity waiting through all kinds of weather selling Real Change Newspaper Waiting for those smiling eyes hopeful wanting to be helpful to say paper please Can you see that your generosity is appreciated? by Jose Ornelas I am Indigenous. I am a conquered peoples, one of many. What next? Will I be bitter? Who will I try to conquer? My women, or child? You? No, brothers and sisters, I will surrender so that I may rise. Surrender to my hunger. Accept my humanity. Embrace...us. My nation became a gang, now it will be a nation again. Heart to heart Love to love one two three nations under a groove. We will marry each other and see all the children as our own. I am lucky because I am not the inheritor of the legacy of the overseer. I don’t hold the whip, I never did. When it is finished we will bury the past; weep for it and then sing for the future. Standing here with dignity I see another kind of eyes Cold cruel and full of contempt Walking past me without seeing Taking the long way around Can you see my pain? Do I jerk you out of your coccoon,when I say hello? do I jerk you back to reality? Standing here with dignity I have time to reflect on why I am selling Real Change Newspaper In another time and another place I have had several jobs I have lost them to accident, illness, disease or my bigshot ideas Society deals harshly with people who have bigshot ideas where is the forgiveness? To Be, to Become by Kris Schon To be, to become to believe in yourself the inner voice that propels you forward a waterfall of wisdom of life fears and rejections triumphs and tragedies laughter and hope belly button stuff the main course at life’s banquet for those wishing to attend. grateful are the many who stand firm in a brisk breeze head up, eye to eye with the dragon. Flickering stars candles lit from your strength your courage your hope your faith, burning on. Today I am standing here with dignity selling Real Change Newspaper Waiting for those smiling eyes to say paper please I hope you can see my gratitude for your generosity. Without Blues Beds by Lonnie Nelson by Paula For all those who have seen drugs, alcoholism and abuse tear their families apart. there was snoring by my head, someone sneezing in another bed someone was sobbing off to the right and someone else moaning all through the night. Without the stub of crocus, the breeze through cedar and hills to climb in the soft light of January I would be lost. Without the picket lines’ ”How you doing?”— friends sitting around at the table while November rains, I would wash away in tears. Injun Blues In a mission doorway a in-num puts a green bottle up to his lips. He begins to sing: ”Gimme 5 minutes only five minutes more; let me stay ah-yah-aye...” He pounds his fist on the wall. Without my pencil, the work that must be done, the brothers and sisters in the strong August sun, I would go over the edge. A couple passes and he smiles at them. Earle Thompson, Sept. 20, 1984 First published in Northwest Indian News someone was choking holding back tears while off to the left, were the whispers of fears and several were talking out loud in their dreams would I get any sleep? maybe some so it seems Am I complaining? No I think not. As I am grateful for all that I’ve got Were it not for this room with its forty beds some of these women by morning, found dead. 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 Program. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the rules, she/he may be removed from the Program. See Page 12 for details on the program. To report a Vendor, call 421-7803. ext. 16 �Interrupted Journey Being Poor by Earle Thompson by Elizabeth Romero Coyote pauses arching his head, surveying the blue meadow Grey paws pad among morning glories, finding a fallen doe. He halts his journey, cleaning himself as best as he can, finding the small deer had recently died, wounded by man. It can be a kid as white as you, a kid with an old face. And it is hope, hope that the sheriff doesn’t come to serve the eviction papers when you happen to be home. Hope that you don’t have to put anything back at the checkout counter. Coyote sets aside a rib, cleaning it on the starry grass; Makes a valuable gift, polishes it, and hears magpie pass. He invites the long-tailed one to share this good fortune Eating and gossiping, the polished rib absorbs the sun. Are you thirsty, he asks, did he have anything to barter? Magpie explains that the Frog people govern all the water. At the dam, they learn he has a valuable gift to trade They discuss the amount and price, an agreement is made. Being poor is waiting, and telling your children to wait, wait their whole childhoods away. It is knowing they blame you. Coyote proceeds to drink the water putting one hand in ready to scoop the earth aside, when he finishes drinkin’. Coyote destroys the dam and water rushes by. To be fair, he announces with a smile that water shall be everywhere. It is wondering if there isn’t a better way. Being poor is trying not to envy almost everyone you see. Buffalo Dreams/Survivors by Cynthia Ozimek WRITTEN FOR THE THREE HOMELESS WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO A SERIAL KILLER IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON We come today contrite yet compelled, confused yet confident, alone and in pain. In this the process of healing we are the puzzles whose pieces have vanished, we are the Jesters whose antics mask pain. We are the ghostly stampede of dying Buffalos across the arid plains mammoth and unruly, furied and bold, majestic and free. We do not die easily but bellow out in rage the names of slain ancestors who speak from darkened dreams of more glory-full days. We are not dead but merely unseen. On shadowy mountains, along desolate rivers, amongst fleeting consciousness and the kindness of strangers these ghost-like spirits run free. It’s not getting enough and getting mad. MOON by Catherine Gainey If, in a moment frantic my mad beauty, I, tiny moan could see you then, when it felt honeyful live, ache, drunk still after love. My delirious goddess we worship a moon lake rain and blue; The summer gift. A woman some enormous power less part delicate sleep. Sudoku - Answer from page 8 Being poor is bones and hearts and marrows and gray street dirt. If there is a God, and if there is a God anywhere, we haven’t heard the half of it. Psalm at Break of Day by Mike Henson Father of the Morning, I wake in the dark. I stumble to my shoes. The fog of sleep clots my brain. Dilemma is my steadfast companion; he fumbles alongside me through the half-light of morning. I know only the half-light. I know only doubt and the stumbling of the half-light. The geese rise from the river – Gawonk! they cry. Gawonk! They know their northbound track. In the distance, semis rumble down an open highway; their maps are laid out before them. The deceitful mouth’s of the radio Press against the ears of the unwary. They have the clear channels. Their path is unencumbered. But I barely see what lies underfoot. Mine is a path of confusion. I know no more than the next step before me. Lord of the dawn, You know the turns of this clouded path. You know the end. Father of the morning, where will this day take me? � 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 2007 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 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: OTR, Kids, and Summer Pg 2: Criminalization of Homeless Individuals Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Target: Global Warming Pg 5: Former Drug Addict Helps Others Through Poetry Pg 6: Agency Spotlight: Ohio Justice and Policy Center Drop Inn Center: Partnering Against TB Pg 7: Homeless Couple Beaten, Dog Stolen Letters Peace Village Pg 8: Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Day a Huge Success Pg 9: Poverty and Addiction Pg 10: Day Laborer Critically Injured at Rumpke Recycling New Complex for Homeless Opens in Salt Lake Pg 11: Tomato Tomahto- A Prose Poem in Three Voices Pg 12: About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes Pg 13: State Tries to Regain federal Funds to Help the Homeless 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 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Matt Cohen Susan Smith Leigh Tami Berta Lambert Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF addiction Andy Freeze Berta Lambert Cincinnati Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program Drop Inn Center Federal Funds GCCH Georgine Getty Global Warming Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Leigh Tami Letters Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Matt Cohen Melvin Williams Ohio Over-the-Rhine Peace Village Rumpke Recycling Salt Lake Susan Smith https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/42f675f174bef0a932d330a920af275a.pdf f2c165457ae2b90a6fa3bdd1755ca056 PDF Text Text May 2007 STREETVIBES Cover Story - Homeless Individuals and the Justice System by Lynne Ausman The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless conducted research regarding homeless individuals, the crimes they are charged with, and the severity of the offenses. All public records for October 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006 were obtained and cross referenced with prior public records. The results were shocking. The Hamilton County Jails have a revolving door for homeless individuals. They enter homeless, they exit homeless. This constant cycle creates barriers for homeless individuals in obtaining housing, entering substance abuse treatment, treatment for physical illness or mental illness, finding permanent employment, and accessing other services. Our focus group is comprised of 53 individuals who had given a “homeless address” and had been arrested five or more times between October 1, 2005 and October 31, 2006. A “homeless address” is any address which was provided as a home address during the time of arrest and is the address of a social service agency which provides services to homeless individuals. We determined that these 53 individuals were more likely to be chronically homeless than other individuals who gave a “homeless address.” There were 792 charges against the focus group. Chronic homelessness is defined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as “an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition that has been homeless for more than a year or has had more than four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.” The average number of times each individual in the focus group had Graph 1: Percentage of Time a Homeless Address Was Given Graph : 2 Classification of Charges of Homeless individuals MM = Minor Misdemeanor M = Misdemeanor F = Felony Numbers indicate degree been arrested is 12. The number of times arrested ranges from 6 to 43 times in the thirteen month time frame. Those who did not give a homeless address every time they were arrested may not have been homeless at the time of that arrest or they may have provided the address of a friend or relative. However, the fact that almost 60% of these individuals gave a homeless address 80% of the time. This more clearly implies that these individuals are most likely to be homeless, formerly homeless, or at a high risk of becoming homeless. 34% of those in the focus group provided a homeless address every time they were arrested or 100% of the time. Please see Graph 1. Homeless individuals commit a large range of crimes. While sometimes these are serious crimes, the vast majority of the crimes committed are low level, non-violent crimes. Over 75% of all of the charges against the 53 individuals in our focus group were between a minor misdemeanor and a fourth degree misdemeanor. Less than 2% of the charges were felonies. Many of these crimes are quality of life crimes and are only committed as a result of being homeless. These crimes include public indecency or public urination, being in a park after hours, having alcohol in a park, open containers, loitering, spitting in a public place, sitting on the sidewalk, and improper solicitation. This is sometimes called the criminalization of the homeless. Please see Graph 2. Many homeless individuals are arrested during the warmer summer months, when they are most likely outside and therefore more likely to be caught by police. Also, JUSTICE Cont. on page 2 So-called “urban pioneers” reinvent the face of Cincinnati by Jason Haap, Guest Columnist Most of Cincinnati knows nothing about the silent campaign mounted by our City’s power brokers — the media moguls, real estate hawks, Blue Chip VIPs, and the politicians their money buys. And because most people don’t know, certain facts remain marginalized — like how Margaret Buchanan (Executive Editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer) sits on the board of 3CDC (a private corporation that has replaced the City’s planning department with for-profit gentrification). So the lap-dog media drools at the ringing of their own bells, marketing a new vision of Cincinnati that happens to include no place for the poor, the homeless, the downtrodden — anything that might shake the consumer dream-world of a suburbanized target audience. The Corporate Landscape Consider the new jumbotron at Fountain Square. On most days, it plays cable — complete with commercial advertisements and audio accompaniment blasting through the plaza. Television is America’s quintessential escape from reality. Visitors to the renovated Square — surrounded by new paint, new plaza stones, and even a new facade to the 5/3 building — can now find escape right on Fountain Square’s jumbotron, watching advertisements for Crest White Strips, tight jeans at The GAP, and vanity packages for The Tanning Hut. This is the new center-city style, without having to pay attention to the plight of urban life. 3CDC has slowly purchased all roads to Cincinnati — at least the main thoroughfares through OTR. Systematically, buildings get new paint and new windows. Many are still empty — just think of those near Findlay Market — but they look fresh and new. This is all part of the unreality campaign brought to us by the City’s power brokers. Last year, for example, $2.6 million got channeled to 3CDC from a fund that would otherwise be used to pave the streets. If you feel annoyed by potholes this spring, thank 3CDC. And if you have wondered about the City’s budget priorities, you probably just thought about whether the City could afford to subsidize human services. No one talked about whether we should continue subsidizing corporate welfare. When 3CDC buys occupied buildings under the condition that owners evict residents before the sale, the displacement happens mostly under cover. There are no news reports. Throw some paint on a building, and make a carpet of flowers at Fountain Square — suddenly Margaret Buchanan’s Enquirer has the exclusive story, and the politicians stump speech during re-election campaigns about how much progress the City has made. But progress, in this context, means doing whatever possible to make sure the target audience (and their suburban spending dollars) does not have to experience the discomfort of seeing poverty. Pioneers Cont. on page 3 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. 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 Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Matt Cohen - AHA Staff Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design, with Andy Freeze and Georgine Getty Photographers Jimmy Heath, John Lavelle, Georgine Getty Cover Homeless person being arrested by Cincinnati Police 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 JUSTICE Cont. from page 1 when homeless individuals are more visible, the public is more likely to complain to police. Please see Graph 3. Constantly arresting homeless individuals for quality of life crimes is a huge cost burden for the county to bear. This is especially true when there are other more cost effective, proven successful alternatives available within the community. It costs $65 per bed per day in the jail. The Lewin Group conducted their own study titled “Costs of Serving Homeless Individuals in Nine Cities.” Columbus, Ohio, was one of those cities. In Columbus, Ohio, it costs $70 per bed per day in jail and just over $30 a day for supportive housing. Supportive housing is not transitional and is not emergency shelter. It is permanent and the residents are eligible to continue working with case workers and for various services including substance abuse and mental health treatment. If Hamilton County had housed each of the individuals in our A Place to Call Home? by Lynne Ausman Ask the average American how many nights they spent in jail in the last year. Chances are that they will say that they have never been arrested. Ask a homeless individual how many days they spent in jail in the last year and you are likely to get a completely different answer. For some, the number of nights that they spent in jail during a year could top 200 days. The average American would consider this to mean that homeless individuals are some of the worst offenders in the country – that they commit crimes so heinous and terrible that they warrant days or months of incarceration at a time. That homeless individuals are violent, unstable, and a threat to society – they are the strangers that parents warn their children about. Most crimes committed by homeless individuals are minor misdemeanors or fourth degree misdemeanors, punishable by maximum of a $100 fine or thirty days in jail, respectively. These crimes include: possession of an open container, public urination, loitering, disorderly conduct, improper solicitation, and sitting on the sidewalk – yes, SITTING on the sidewalk. Another absurd crime found in the records request: Spitting in a public place. Now, spitting might be a gross habit, but seriously, does it warrant a $100 fine? $100 might be a small amount to some. To the solid middle class, it’s a night out to dinner with the family, or maybe a trip to an amusement park. The average American would say, “Just pay the fine; I can live without the trip to the amusement park. Just pay the fine, and the case is settled.” But to a homeless individual, $100 is a fortune. $100 means a good meal, a new pair of pants, clean socks, bus fair to see family, and a hair cut, or in the winter – a coat. $100 to a homeless family means a night off the streets in a hotel room or maybe the rest of a deposit on an apartment. Last time I checked, any person over the age of 21 was allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Housed individuals enjoy their beverage on their front porch or in their living room. Homeless individuals enjoy their beverage on their front porch too – except their front porch is the park bench in Washington Park. They enjoy their beverage in their living room – except their living room is the tent by the river. It is my first amendment right to ask another person a question or to voice my opinion in public. What difference does it make if I am asking for a dollar or for a cigarette, or asking what time it is or making small talk about the weather at the bus stop? Streetvibes focus group to the maximum extent of the law, they easily could have spent over $4.2 million alone. The average cost per person in our focus group is $35,100. The range of cost is between $1,950 and $538,850. The individual who potentially cost the county $538,850 had 42 charges against him – all but nine were misdemeanors and the nine felony counts were non-violent. Another individual could have cost the county over forty thousand dollars in thirteen months. He had thirty-eight charges against him, gave a homeless address one hundred percent of the time, and his most severe charges were public indecency and improper solicitation – both fourth degree misdemeanors. His other charges included possession of an open flask, and disorderly conduct. For more information about this research please contact Lynne at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless via e-mail at lynneausman@yahoo.com or phone at 513-421-7803 x11. No wonder people use the justice center as their address when being arrested and cited. Some days, for a homeless individual, the justice center is home. Not by choice, but by necessity. No, they do not commit crimes to get the famous “three hots and a cot.” They commit crimes because they have no choice. It’s a crime for an adult to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with friends. It’s a crime to camp by the river. It’s a crime to ask for assistance on the street. It’s a crime to sit on the sidewalk. It’s a crime to not have a toilet to pee in. It’s a crime to be poor. It’s a crime to be homeless. Maybe we shouldn’t spend money on a new jail. Maybe we should provide homeless individuals with continued supportive services and housing. Maybe we should stop arresting them and start dealing with their addictions and mental illness. Maybe we should let them enjoy their front porch, aka Washington Park, with their friends. Maybe we should let them enjoy the same first amendment rights we enjoy. Maybe we should put port-a­ potties on the street corners and in the ally – there are port-a-potties on street corners during the Bengals’ and the Reds’ seasons for the drunken fans stumbling back to their cars to drive back to their homes. Maybe we should designate public space (like Fountain Square for example) where it is okay to loiter. Too bad you need $1 million in liability insurance to enjoy Fountain Square. �Pioneers Cont. from page 1 Panhandling is not always aggressive; sometimes, it is just too frustrating to rationalize a four dollar Starbucks cappuccino when someone is shaking a styrofoam cup for quarters. But who wants to sacrifice a caffeine fix to help the poor? It is easier to blame the victims of a system corrupted. The Politics When The Charter Party was founded, it was designed to prevent undue corporate influence on the City’s political process. But take a look at their emerging face. In 2005, creative class candidate and Charterite Nick Spencer said that, if elected, he would use eminent domain to close the Mary Magdalene House because it promoted aggressive panhandling. In reality, the place offers showers, a washing machine, and maybe a sandwich while waiting to get cleaned up. Spencer was not elected, but fellow Charterite Chris Bortz was. Chris Bortz’s father sits on the board for 3CDC, and his family owns Towne Properties. After emerging as part of the so-called “Fiscal Five” (known as “The Fascist Five” by critics), Bortz pushed to slash human service funding from the budget. More recently, he mounted a campaign to improve the City’s “curb appeal” by getting rid of bench advertisements and replacing all busstop benches with nicer permanent seating that has no advertising. Whether you agree with an enhanced curb appeal for the City is irrelevant. Somehow, our politicians continually threaten the funding of health clinics, and swimming pools, and anything that exists for the benefit of the poor. This is done under the banner of fiscal responsibility. But when it comes to channeling $2.6 million of street paving funds to a private real estate development corporation, or when it comes to spending thousands of dollars on benches to increase curb appeal, one must wonder at the real motives. It seems the burden of “fiscal responsibility” gets whipped squarely on the backs of the poor. Prediction: Watch which neighborhoods get enhanced and improved benches first. My money says they’ll appear near the homes, businesses, and real estate interests of campaign contributors before they show up anywhere else. (After all, the proverbial fat-cat needs someplace to plant his proverbial fat backside.) Business as Usual In the emerging new face of a corporatized (read “sanitized”) OTR and downtown, 3CDC’s real estate development is designed to maximize profits for their business partners. 5/3rd has representation on the 3CDC board, for example. 3CDC holds traditional mortgages on their development through 5/3 Bank (funded through diverted revenue streams that used to belong to the City). So the new Fountain Square — which has placed the Genius of Water right in front of a 5/3 building — is a real estate investment sponsored, in part, by 5/3 interests on the 3CDC board. 5/3 gets interest off the deal, and the redeveloped Square benefits its corporate headquarters. Over-the-Rhine These kinds of power brokers are the big money contributors to the campaigns of politicians like Jeff Berding and Chris Bortz — leaders of the Fascist Five, against services for the poor but in support of big corporate pay-outs to gentrify the City for the sake of their friends. Try to criticize, and they will use the rhetoric of reform to marginalize you — saying we need to think “out of the box,” otherwise we just support the “status quo.” What they forget (or more likely, what they want you not to realize) is that there are several options when thinking about change — and that change, in and of itself, is not always an improvement over the status quo. If we let them continue, unchecked, in their radical approach to changing our City according to the corporate agenda, what will happen? Mostly white people will inhabit the City, bringing night-life, entertainment, and employment for mostly white people. Perhaps the City will gain rehabbed buildings, upscale housing, and expensive restaurants around every corner. (Why is Jean Roberts focusing on OTR anyway? Did 3CDC line his pockets with some cash?) As these so-called “urban pioneers” reinvent the face of the City, we must remember how the pioneers before them reinvented the face of America. Now that it is too late, many people recognize how our ethnic cleansing of Native Americans was immoral and unjust. We might not be killing the poor and the black per se, but Cincinnati’s modern trail of tears follows everyone on their own personal journey to someplace else. Cincinnati wants the poor to become someone else’s problem. Jason Haap is a media activist, and the publisher of The Cincinnati Beacon (www.cincinnatibeacon.com). He writes under the name “The Dean of Cincinnati.” 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 Firecats Review Chameleon: I like their commercials. They’re good for a chortle or two. Blue: I don’t boycott – just make individual choices. I have no set Firecat Blue: Let’s review boycotts. boycotts, just the way I live my life Firecat Chameleon: I’m boycotting and avoid that which doesn’t appeal boycotts. to me. Blue: I boycott Walmart. Chameleon: In that case, I’m Firecat Beige: I boycott it, too. boycotting SteinMart. Chameleon: If you boycott Walmart, Silver: I boycott all chocolate that’s where will you buy cheap crap while not fair trade. eating McDonalds? Blue: You do not! Blue: Target. Silver: Yes, I do. Beige: I boycott it because of the Blue: So you don’t eat Hershey? giant sea of asphalt. Silver: Oh, I was kidding. Silver: I like Meijer. Beige: Well, you should. You’re Blue: They’re good – they’re union. doing a good thing and the chocolate’s better. Hershey is going gourmet now. Firecat Review: Boycotts Blue: What do you boycott, Anti- Cat? Anti-Cat: Firecat reviews. Blue: I boycott Bob Evans. Chameleon: Why? Silver: As of Friday, my father can get a Golden Buckeye card. Blue: Bob Evans supports WLW. I hate WLW. Chameleon: I boycott Cracker Barrel – they were really bad on gay issues. Blue: Wendy’s, too. Beige: You should boycott Wendy’s because they’re terrible. Silver: Target won’t support any military charities. (awkward silence) Beige: Does that make them a corporate sponsor of terror? Blue: I boycott all-you-can-eat buffets – they’re just a salute to waste. They’re just wrong. Beige and Chameleon: Gluttony! Streetvibes Blue: Except CC’s Pizza. Sometimes I eat there. (another awkward silence) Blue: I boycott 1-800-FLOWERS. They support promise keepers. It’s like you abuse your wife and then give her flowers. Chameleon: Chick-Fil-A and Hobby Lobby are uber-Christian. I boycott them on Sundays… ‘cause they’re not open… Silver: Walmart was closed on Easter. Beige: I feel bad for the people who have to work on Christmas. Blue: At Waffle House they’re mandated a 12 hour shift on Christmas. Beige: I feel like Waffle House kills any hope for small local diners. Silver: Crap! We have a meeting in 5 minutes and I haven’t eaten lunch yet? Beige: Are you boycotting lunch? Page 3 �Cincinnati Shelter helps homeless vets find hope by Dan Yount ­ Reprinted with permission from The Cincinnati Herald It is difficult to sense from the smiling faces and the levity of conversation among the men at Joseph House in Over-the-Rhine that these men recently led devastated lives. Joseph House is a campus of seven buildings in downtown Cincinnati where 76 homeless veterans reside in a safe, supportive, abstinence-based recovery environment. “This is the first time I’ve felt real hope in my life,’’said James, who started drinking at age 4 and battled alcoholism throughout his life. He’s been sober for 22 months. “Alcohol and drugs deaden your feelings,’’ he continued. “But these people here put you in touch with your feelings again. Some of us even cry at the movies as we discover our real feelings again.’’ Joseph House operates two programs to meet its resident’s needs: The Captain Robert S. Marx Veterans Recovery Center, which is certified by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, and the Ready & Forward program, which provides permanent housing and services for veterans with a need for long-term support. “We are very proud of our success rate,’’ said William Malone, the executive director who retired after a career in the U.S. Navy. “We started 2006 with 75 residents, and 29 of those men are still on board. Of the 46 who left our program, 42 of them completed 90 days or more of staying clean and sober. Eight of these men had stayed with us more than two years, 10 more than a year, and 15 more than six months.’’ Of the four men who left before completing 90 days, two went to impatient care at the VA Hospital, and two were discharged due to relapses, he said. Since April 2002, Joseph House has accepted about 450 homeless veterans into its programs. About 70 percent of those men stayed clean and sober for more than 90 days, reaching a point where they can continue to rid themselves of substance abuse, Malone said. (The standard for many treatment facilities is just 28 days, he noted.) ‘Sick and tired of being high’ One resident - Harvey - said he was on the streets for three years before he decided to walk into the shelter. “I was sick and tired of being high,’’ he said. “They gave me immediate help. Now, even my family is proud of me.’’ The average length of stay for those who have reached the 90-day sobriety mark has been 10 months. More than 90 percent of those who stay for more than a year begin to Page 4 achieve economic stability through regular employment and leave to reside in permanent housing, well on their way to leading responsible and productive lives again, Malone said. Some residents remain in the agency’s housing for more than a year, and one man has been there almost seven years. “Residents may stay in the transitional housing as long as they need to become economically stable and solid in their recovery,’’ Malone said. The men leave on their own terms, he said. Another resident - Glennie ­ called the treatment he has received “reality therapy.’’ He said, “We’ve been in a state of denial, and we needed someone to tell us in a pointed way what we have been dealing with. The staff does not pull any punches. They get in your face.’’ Joseph House has met Better Business Bureau, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and state inspection and certification standards, Malone said. The agency operates with a $1 million budget, with 70 percent of the financial support from VA and HUD. Residents contribute about 10 percent, and 20 percent comes from the George B. Riley Trust, the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust, the Vietnam Veterans Buckeye Foundations, AMVETS Post 12, V.F.W. Posts 9094 and 1079, and more than 50 other veterans service organizations. The clinical staff includes five full-time and two part-time licensed counselors, and three full-time and one part-time staff members who support the clinical program’s 24­ hour operations. Four full-time staff members handle administrative and maintenance work. Ret. U.S. Army Gen. Colin Powell visited the shelter in May 2005 and praised the work that is being done there to help homeless veterans. Shelters in Over-the-Rhine The clinical offices and Half Way House are at 1522-26 Republic St. Transitional and permanent residents reside at 1530 Republic, 1207 Elm St., 1519 Vine St., and 1440 Pleasant St., all in Over-The- Rhine. The buildings are named after local military heroes, including 1st Sgt. Powhattan Beaty, a Black Civil War hero; Capt. Robert S. Marx, a World War I officer; Sgt. Maj. Thomas Hawkins, a Black Civil War hero, and 1st Sgt. Thomas Shaw, a Black Civil War hero who served 20 years with the famed Black Buffalo Soldiers. Joseph House was started in 1994 by offering counseling to veterans living on the streets. The agency began offering housing to five homeless veterans in 1995. Today, Joseph House operates a 30-bed Halfway House Program and an Outpatient Program. In addition, 46 beds of transitional and permanent housing are offered. “Veterans can reside on our campus for as long as they need,’’ Malone said. “We require only that they comply with out rules, seek economic stability through employment, and make progress in their recovery.’’ Calvin Wooten, associate director and treatment coordinator at Joseph House, said, “We focus solely on recovery issues in the Halfway House, using the standard 12 step addiction recovery program. We begin dealing with whatever issues the new resident has, be it medical care, mental heath care, or other problems.’’ Once progress has been made, the resident then moves to one of the transitional homes where he begins seeking employment or enrolls in a trade school or college program, he said. Eventually, the men are able to function on their own and rent an apartment or go back with their Streetvibes families, he said. “About 15 percent of those who leave Joseph House return for a ‘tune up’ because substance addiction is a very powerful disease,’’he said. “They have also experienced the lasting trauma resulting from being homeless, and, although alcohol and drug addictions are treatable, they are not curable.’’ Some of the men continue to stay on at the shelter after they have recovered due to the comfortable relationships they have formed there, Wooten said. “These guys become their family, and they stay on to help the new guys coming through the door,’’he said. “It helps to give away what you have received in order to nurture it.’’ Wooten, a former retail sales manager, also went through a similar program and decided to become a counselor and help the new men coming into it. About one-third of the residents of Joseph House are Vietnam veterans. For veterans from the war in Iraq it usually takes from 10 to 12 years before addictions resulting from wartime or other trauma begin destroying lives, Malone said. Wartime trauma is an important cause of homelessness, Malone said. About one-third of all men who are homeless are veterans, but only 14 percent of the adult population is veterans, he said. Some of the residents have trauma from their childhoods that pop up to haunt them in later years, he added. Some of the men deal with a combination of issues, including childhood abuse and abandonment, combat trauma, a bi-polar mental condition, and depression, he said. Joseph House Cont. on page 7 �and women in jails, homeless handle. And what good could she shelters, in ghettos, barrios, have done him? Little or none, as reservations, trailer parks, up I later found out. When there is mountain hollows, or down nothing you can do, you do the shards of broken glass. narrow, silent alleys? nothing. To attempt to do more But at least today there is They have their dignity than that might only to make it light along the alley. What I too. It is one of the great worse. remember of it is darkness, even mysteries, and one of the great And this distressed me in the blazing summer day. The replenishing truths, that it is even more: this apparent moral alley was narrow; the buildings nearly impossible to extinguish were three and four stories tall so numbness of the woman (and of entirely the human drive for myself) What of the children who that, with the looming balconies dignity. Its terms may be twisted, see such a thing? What if he dies and the overhanging eaves and its preservation obscure; it may right now? The more I thought, cupolas and the narrow slot left lay long dormant; you may drive for daylight to fall through, Yukon the harder it was to move. it far down. But it is virtually The woman in the alley was dark as a narrow mountain impossible to utterly stamp it out. broke me from my enchantment. hollow, if a mountain hollow But it seems to me that, I went on to my errand, and over baked with the heat of asphalt when poverty joins addiction, we the years, to many other errands. and smelled of urine and diesel have something which puts I went on to meet many people in fume. I remember that it was dignity particularly at risk, that community and other silent once I entered the alley. something which assaults the communities No sound of buses, human spirit with an intensity afflicted with no voices, no which neither poverty nor poverty. Of these, rumble of cars. No addiction can muster alone. A many, indeed the threats. No music. majority, have been man lays in a gutter for the world No banter. The to see him in his shame. Would it people who faced darkness, the happen in a more prosperous hardship with narrowness, and community? Would the world responsibility, the silence around him be so powerless? humor, and faith, oppressed me, but We all know the answers who presented to I do not know that me models for how to these questions. But the other I hesitated as I question, for which I have no a person might live entered. I have answer, is this: Did the deadly a meaningful life in never had much cocktail of poverty and addiction spite of multiple fear in the inner Michael Henson destroy this man’s dignity difficulties. They city, mostly altogether? Perhaps not. But I’m faced their poverty with dignity. because I am small and do not also guessing that his dignity But what of my man in the pose a threat to anyone so no one either died in that gutter or it was gutter? Can I say the same thing feels a need to threaten me. so wounded that it might never of him? Or of the beggar who Besides, by that time I was have recovered. I hope it did. It’s seemed to single me out from known in the neighborhood; no been nearly forty years now, so I anyone else who might be on the one had ever bothered me. I felt hope the man has, by now, street to ask, in a voice that confident on the streets. something of dignity, something always reminded me of that of But I know I stopped of peace. Doc Watson, “Do you think you short after a few steps down the This is the fourth in a series might have a couple quarters for alley, for then I saw the man in by Michael Henson on poverty a sandwich and a cup of coffee?” the gutter. He wore jeans and a and addiction. Or of the prostitutes on Vine? short-sleeved plaid shirt and he lay half in the gutter, half on curb; And what of the countless men his arm shaded his eyes, the sidewalk served him for a pillow. Writers and Artists! He breathed peacefully, heavily Donate your Writing, Poetry as if asleep at home in his bed. I stood stock still, And Art to STREETVIBES ­ immobilized by indecision. What Streetvibes@juno.com should I do? I knew of nothing I could do, but it seemed such a shame to see a man so degraded and to do nothing al all. All the SUDOKU questions of dignity I had been Puzzle asking myself now faced me in a Fill in blunt, incomprehensible way. numbers so A woman passed; she also that each stared - not at him, but at me. column, each For her, I was the odd one, the row, and each college boy from the Bible Center of the nine with his jaw hanging loose. She 3x3 boxes did not give more than a contains the moment’s glance to the man in the digits 1 to 9. gutter. What good would it do There is only her to contemplate such a thing? one solution! Probably none at all. To stop and The ponder someone too sorry to ANSWER is pick himself up off the street on Page 13 would probably complicate her life beyond what she could The Man in The Gutter liquor and children play among by Michael Henson When I was young and very inexperienced, I entered the world where poverty intersects with addiction. By that, I mean, I took a summer job as a youth worker Qoute By (more Michael youth than worker myself) with a Catholic social service agency called the Main Street Bible Center and came to live in Over-the-Rhine, at that time a dense, multi-ethnic concentration of some fifty thousand people, nearly all of them poor. The buildings, now valued as historic, were closebuilt, thickly-tenanted, crumbling affairs. But the neighborhood was lively; every storefront was filled. The streets rocked at night with bluegrass and gospel music. It was heady stuff for a smalltown, middle-class boy. I became witness to some of the early skirmishes in the War on Poverty. It was the summer of 1968 and the world was changing. There were things I wanted to know, about the fragility and strength of human dignity and the operation of freedom under adversity. I wanted to know how humans maintained dignity under the assault of poverty. I had a notion that they could, somehow. I had been inspired by the Kennedys, by the Civil Rights marchers, by my reading of Michael Harrington and Harry Caudill, by my visits to a mission in Eastern Kentucky, and by a charismatic social worker named Ernie Mynatt who worked among the urban Appalachians of Cincinnati. I wanted to see what all these people had seen. And I wanted to understand that issue of dignity above all. The experience was fundamental to me and many images remain with me from that summer. But one in particular was painful to me then and remains painful to me still. I walked down Yukon Alley on some errand and saw a man passed out in the gutter. Yukon Alley is only one block long, and runs parallel to Main, just around the corner from the Bible Center. It was a hot, humid day in a river-city mid­ summer, in a basin which held heat like a steam table. Today, Yukon Alley has been ripped open, its eastern side torn down and replaced with a park where men and women sit at picnic tables to talk and drink malt Streetvibes Page 5 �DLOP Takes On Labor Works Cincinnati - Attorneys from Manley Burke, LPA are filing a lawsuit in Federal court alleging various wage and hour violations against Labor Works, an employer of day labor workers, located at 2236 Gilbert Avenue, Walnut Hills and Schwans™ Global Supply Chain, aka Schwans™ that is located at 7605 Empire Drive, Florence, Kentucky. Schwans™ is a corporation that manufactures and distributes frozen foods. The United Food and Commercial Workers, local 1099, and the Day Labor Organizing Project (DLOP) has been working to improve the wages and working conditions of the estimated three hundred (300) to five hundred (500) day labor workers in the Over the Rhine and Avondale areas of Cincinnati. These workers are employed by seven day labor halls in Cincinnati and are subject to abusive conditions at work and substandard and inadequate wages. The federal law suit alleges that Labor Works and Schwans™ are joint employers who do not pay their day labor workers for their entire workday. The workers Ghetto Rats by Lynda Crane Ink Tank Writer Cincinnati - The drug problems on our block are real, but they are far from the only challenge. Right up there with the drugs are the rats. Once winter set in Ms. Arley downstairs began to complain that they “were comin right on into her apartment.” “They’s no ordinary rats” she told me, “they’s big as a cat. They’s ghetto rats; they’s tough, and they ain’t scared of nothin. They just stand right there and look at me.” And so started our campaign, our war if truth be known, against those ghetto rats. We bought every poison made and they just ate it up and came right back. We put down sticky paper and they hopped over it. We set rat traps, and baited them with peanut butter, cheese, and fried beef in gravy. They loved all of it. “They’s smart” Arley said, “They ain’t gonna get caught.” We bought special plugs to stick in the outlets that made noise only rodents could hear—guaranteed to run them off. Our rats danced through Arley’s kitchen to the tune. Nothing worked. Page 6 spend up to fourteen hours under the direction of either Labor Works or Schwans™. In addition, these workers are mandated to take transportation from Labor Works to the Schwans™ facility in Florence, Kentucky. They pay $7.00 for this transportation, even though public transportation or use of their vehicles would cost a fraction of that amount. These day labor workers are trying to support themselves, and often their families as well. Some of these day labor workers have families to support. A take home pay of $35 for a fourteen hour day is not only unjust, it is also illegal. DLOP and UFCW are joined by many Labor, Community and Religious organizations in calling for an end to these practices and for proper redress in federal court. Again and again we looked for their entrance, and finally found a tiny hole behind the toilet, so Mona (who saves my skin time after time) covered it over and that was the end of them. They were inside our house no more. Our neighborhood, though, is still overrun with rats. On a warm evening, about dusk, if you happen to be sitting outside on our porch, you can watch them cross the street from the market. One such evening, not so long ago, we watched an especially big rat come ambling across, brazen and bold as you please, and head straight for the lotto and beer store next to the Neighborhood Center. Just as he approached the step, a big old tom cat came from one of the doorways and spotted the rat. The rat was as big as the cat, and all eyes were on the pair, no one sure who would take the day. The cat made a move toward the rat, and the rat turned on the cat. That cat spun around and took off running, and all of us on the porch nearly fell off laughing. “They’s no ordinary rats” Ms. Arley repeated, “They’s ghetto rats. They’s tough.” Streetvibes ALMOST 30 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 �Celebrate Mother’s Day for Homeless Children and Their Moms by Alice Skirtz, PhD/LISW Cincinnati - Mother’s Day is celebrated in the United States this year on May 13. As we consider ways to honor mothers on that special holiday, let us pause to remember mothers and their children who have experienced homelessness since Mother’s Day a year ago. Information recently released by our Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless* reports that in 2006, there were 9,448 individuals who experienced homelessness during the year. Of this unduplicated count of homeless persons, an astonishing 29% or 2,724 were children under age 18. All of these children came to shelters in 732 families with their parents, in 90% of the situations the parent was their mother by herself struggling to maintain housing, employment or job training, school or day care for the children, as well as loving mothering and essential nurturance for her children. This grim picture of a nearly invisible community problem is especially poignant when we know that more than nine hundred (903) of our homeless children in 2006 were under age six. Under age six means newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who were homeless…their older brothers and sisters ages six to twelve were 652 in number, along with their 1,169 older siblings who are ages 13 – 17. 2,724 children experienced homelessness in Cincinnati and Hamilton County in 2006 – that Joseph House Cont. from page 4 Tears of joy Some of these men had never had a birthday party or experienced the joy of Christmas, Malone said. At the monthly birthday party at Joseph House, one of the men whose birthday was being recognized broke down and cried, he said. He had never had a cake for his birthday. At Christmas, the Paul Vail V.F.W. Post 4369 in Sharonville treats the guys to a party and gifts. “The men on the streets have to be willing undergo our treatment programs,’’Malone said. “That time comes when they begin saying, ‘I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.’ However, some of them have lost 10 or 15 years of their lives in the streets before that moment of clarity hits them. They finally begin looking for some hope, and we help them become hopeful.’’ astonishing number of children could easily fill nine elementary schools. It is easy to be blind-sided by the popular press and talk show hosts who portray those who are homeless as adult men perpetuating all the stereotypes of living on the riverbank or holding up signs for food at highway exits. The reality is, one third are children whose mothers struggle for the economic means to maintain housing, food, and nurturing for their children. Sustaining adequate, safe, livable housing is the linchpin to maintaining income, sufficient food, and the basics of care for children, and for preventing the disruptive, emotional upheavals of homelessness. In 1990, voters in the State of Ohio considered a state-wide ballot issue making housing a “public purpose.” (At the time Ohio was one of but three states forbidding use of public funds for housing purposes.) In a statewide co-ordinated effort advocates for housing and homelessness prevention came together to promote the issue. Locally Cincinnatians for Affordable Housing (now convened as Affordable Housing Advocates), the Woman’s City Club, the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, and joined others to promote the issue. We sponsored a call-in television program produced by Channel 64. I was privileged to participate in that program and had permission to take 8 month old Lenny (not his real name) with me as he and his Mom were in one of our family shelters. Lenny represented homeless Ohioans on the program, captivating the hearts of voters as an especially creative Whenever possible, it is important that the ties to the men’s families be repaired, he said. “Those family ties are usually destroyed by the time they get here,’’ he noted. “Often they have stolen from their family members to feed their addiction, or they have become an embarrassment to their family. “One fellow shut down about 12 years ago,’’ he said. “He moved in with his mom and lived in a storage area of the apartment. Finally, he walked in here, and he is now doing fine.’’ One resident, Bob Mattes, was a former restaurateur who has gained some fame after walking around the country since his wife, son and daughter were killed in a car crash in Chicago in 1984. During his travels, Mattes has raised money selling products to make wishes come true for children with illnesses or disabilities. A study by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 704,000 people cameraman made close-up shots of blond haired, blue-eyed Lenny as he tried to eat the microphone affixed to my lapel with an alligator clip. When that failed, Lenny reached for my ear and flashed a big toothless smile and giggled with delight that he snagged my earring. Lenny and his Mom were homeless, and the voters of Ohio resoundingly affirmed the vote that led to the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. Lenny and his Mom eventually were able to leave the shelter for their own housing, regaining sufficient economic equilibrium for Mom to finish her job training and move to an hourly wage job. I saw Lenny not long ago, now himself finishing school, proud to tell me he was also getting his driver’s license. He and his Mom had been homeless one time since our television show, and it was due to Mom’s lay- off from her job when the company she worked for closed. However, it has been 17 years since Ohio passed the legislation to establish the Housing Trust Fund. Hamilton County, as all other counties, contributes to the Fund, but Hamilton County does not receive its full share of the Fund. Advocates are working with the Board of County Commissioners to explore ways to fully utilize these resources to increase affordable housing options. What better way to honor mothers year-round than provide sufficient housing options for all income levels so that moms (and dads) can provide housing for their children, year-round… for Mother’s Day and for our children. nationwide sought shelter in the threemonth period between February and April 2005. One-third of those seeking shelter were from families with children. The rest were individual, mostly adult men. Nearly half were Black. Nine of 10 homeless mothers have been victims of violence, largely domestic abuse. Streetvibes Alice Skirtz, PhD/LISW is a Casework Supervisor for the Family Shelter Partnership, a Program for the Continuum of Care. Page 7 �Mother’s Day is May 13th. Whether she is a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a wife, or a sister, Mother’s Day is our chance to show that special woman in our life how much she means to us. Mother’s Day is also a chance to honor the spirit of mothering. Mothers are there to make sure we are clothed, clean, fed, safe, and warm. They are there to tuck us in and kiss away the tears. They are there to read to us, to listen, and to steer us down the right path. The picture above was drawn by 9 year old Asherah, one of many participants in a statewide Mother’s Day card contest for young people. Asherah won the contest because of her touching ability to capture the sprit of support, love and family. Asherah was a resident of a local shelter at the time she drew this picture of her family. Her family is one of 5,000 in Cincinnati who will experience homelessness this year. Nationally, 3.5 million people experience homelessness over the course of a year. Homeless families make up over 40% of that population. This year in Cincinnati alone, over 8,000 children will experience homelessness with their mothers. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless has been working for 23 years to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. We firmly believe that by coming together as a community, we can reach this goal. We need your help to erase homelessness from childhood memories. This year, truly honor the mothers in your life by making a special donation in their honor. We will send Asherah’s Mother’s Day card to the honoree before Mother’s Day, along with a notification that a donation has been made in their name. What better way to appreciate the woman who raised you than by helping other women raise themselves and their children out of homelessness? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------By sending this completed form along with your minimum donation of $10, Asherah’s Mother’s Day card will be sent to the person you designate below. The card will inform the recipient that a donation has been made in her name to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Your name, address, and phone number ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name and address of the person to whom we should send the card ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Who should the donation be placed in honor of/in memory of? Who should we say the card is from? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like the card sent to an additional person, please indicate on another sheet of paper the same information as above. Send this form along with your donation in the enclosed envelope to: The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 This Mother’s Day, how will you show your mother that you really care? Page 8 Streetvibes �Venice on Vine: Pizzas and Hoagies 1301 Vine Street Open 11-7 Monday - Friday. West End Catering: lunch and dinner catering services for local organizations and businesses. 221-7020. COUPON Venice on Vine 1301 Vine Street Buy one, get one free. Buy any hoagie, small or medium pizza or salad, get a second of same or lower value free. One coupon/customer. Offer good through May 30, 2007. Power… Inspiration… Progress... Meaningful Employment... A Living Wage I Love A Parade by Georgine Getty The Homeless Coalition took 2 hours off work on April 2, 2007, to walk down to Washington Park to watch the Red’s opening day parade go by. It was nice to see all types of people in Washington Park on that beautiful spring day, especially the families with children. Homeless people, who call Washington Park their home, sat back, cautious of the additional police, also enjoying the parade. There were several highlights of the parade and the general atmosphere of celebration. I was delighted to see the Kid’s Cafe float (a program of Our Daily Bread soup kitchen), the kids on the Cincinnati Public Schools float and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission’s banner. It was also great to see the people of Over-the-Rhine cheering for the police officers on motorcycles, riding in careful precision. Findlay Market had several floats and has always been very kind to Streetvibes vendors. There were dancing pigs and CityBeat’s float, featuring freestyle rap. The marching bands were wonderful. As a former band geek myself, I always cheer for them, even if they are just marching, red-faced and hot in their terrible uniforms to a drum cadence. I loved seeing all of the animal rescue societies walk by with their dogs, pausing to let crowd participants pet and admire them. David Pepper marched with the bucket boys and girls, who are all grown up, and more talented every time I see them. The kids of Junior Achievement got a rousing cheer from the crowd, complete with shouts of “be smart!” and “good for you!” The veterans and color guards were politely cheered, and the fire trucks were also shown respect. Also wildly cheered, was the Over-the-Rhine Senior Center bus and the brave client who marched the whole parade route, in heels. One group of young men in white t-shirts picked up their friend and insisted that a group of passing clowns hug him. To their Kelly Carr serves food to the residents of Tender Mercies for Opening Day delight and his mortification, a clown complied. There were also some lowlights of the parade, one of the hazards of living and working in Over-the-Rhine and seeing its dark side as well as its beauty. It was difficult to watch some of the politicians walk by, in full campaign mode, with their big, toothy smiles. Many of these same politicians voted to cut funding to the Rec Centers, the OTR Senior Center and Our Daily Bread, agencies that they shared the parade with. I also watched two suburban youth happily stomping on two shrubs while their oblivious parents unloaded the mini-van. Greenspace is too precious in OTR to be willfully destroyed, something that these two children, undoubtedly with their full yards at home, cannot possibly understand. I found the person in the Eric Kunzel costume difficult as well, remembering the “Kunzel plan” to remove the Drop Inn Center. And I wished that some of the hundreds of homeless people who clean the Red’s stadiums after the game could have gotten some recognition, or maybe even a little float. Such are the hazards of being alert in this City. I can’t even enjoy a parade as I might once have. But on the other hand, I enjoyed it on a level much deeper than many other people because OTR is MY neighborhood, and it was almost magical to see so many people, if only just for two hours, loving it as much as I do. Children of Over-the-Rhine neighborhood enjoy curbside view of Parade Streetvibes Page 9 �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath SACRAMENTO, CA - The Loaves and Fishes program called a community meeting to discuss a plan to improve and rebuild its facilities, despite opposition from the neighborhood. Many residents said they are worried about the impact of an even larger homeless population concentrated downtown, even though the meeting was a briefing about all homeless social services. “They attract so many people daily and then they leave and go through the neighborhoods,” resident Ken Lauszus said. Police said they estimated the Sacramento homeless population at 1,000. About 500 of them are fed and helped daily at Loaves and Fishes. Sister Libby of Loaves and Fishes said the ministry is being victimized by exaggerations. “Loaves and Fishes has been here 25 years,” Libby said. “Our bathrooms need renovating. Our Mustard Seed School needs renovating.” Loaves and Fishes served a hot meal to 450 people a day, but officials said that in 1995 they served about 900 people a day with newer facilities. Libby said her short-term plans are about renovating and replacing what is falling apart. Some residents, like business owner Laura Parker, said problems like vandalism and illegal camping are not improving. “I don’t think they will just re-message what they have,” Parker said. “I think they will somehow expand it. It just feels like it’s not going to stay contained.” At the end of the meeting, city officials said they realized there is such intense interest they need a special meeting solely about the renovation project. CLARKSVILLE, TN - Legislation that would keep track of the number of homeless children who enrolled in public schools without immunization is on its way to the governor for his consideration. The measure sponsored by Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, passed the House 93-2. The companion bill unanimously passed the Senate last month. Besides tracking those children without immunization, the legislation would also require the commissioner of education to annually report “the average length of time required for these children to be immunized or to obtain their immunization records.” “This bill would let us know what children in our school systems are without immunization,” Hensley said. “We want to make sure children are protected from the diseases that are out there,” added Rep. Donna Rowland, RMurfreesboro. Gov. Phil Bredesen could not be reached for comment about whether he will sign the bill. The bill is HB1866. ORLANDO, FL - A homeless man who said he was stabbed repeatedly in the hand by a group of teen-agers made the whole thing up, police said today. Jon Johnson was drunk the night of his supposed attack, he told Daytona Beach investigators. “He can barely even remember where he was, let alone what he was doing,” Lt. George Colon of the criminal investigations division said today. Johnson’s admission came when investigators called him in to get more information about his alleged assailants. He said three young men attacked him with a box cutter on his way to his “hole” near a creek. He told police that the boys kept yelling, “Hey homeless boy!” and called him a “homeless piece of trash.” The stabbing stopped after he threw oysters at the youths and they ran away, he told police. Johnson was treated at Halifax Medical Center for lacerations in his hand and required 15 stitches. But his description of his assailants was vague. And his story became even less credible when detectives tried to find out more about the alleged attack. “He became more and more agitated, leading us to believe there was something wrong with the story that he was giving us,” Colon said. Johnson, 49, refused to take a lie-detector test after investigators became suspicious. The test measures stress levels in a person’s voice, said Daytona Beach police spokesman Jimmie Flynt. The cuts on his hand looked more like they were made from oysters than they did a box cutter, police Chief Mike Chitwood said today. There’s a chance Johnson may have stumbled back to where he was staying that night and cut his hand on oysters in the nearby creek, Colon said. After fielding detectives’ questions about the attack for about an hour, Johnson called the investigation off, Chitwood said. “How about if we just forget about it?” he reportedly told detectives. “I was so drunk I don’t know what anybody said.” Johnson was not arrested for making false claims. Chitwood said Johnson has enough problems as it is. DELRAY BEACH, FL - A homeless man in Delray Beach was at the right place, and right time to pull two men from the wreckage of an airplane crash. Witnesses said the experimental plane spiraled into an open field from about a thousand feet just west of I-95 at Congress Avenue around 3 p.m. last month. 57 year old Milton Pendelton, a local homeless man, was peddling by on his bicycle when he found the wreckage site and pulled two men from it. One was the pilot, 61-year old Charles Scherer, a resident of Antiquers Aerodrome west of Delray Beach. The aerodrome is a small community of homeowners who park small planes in their garages and share a mile-long, grass airstrip. The other man, who was in his 50’s, has not been identified. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The crash in Delray Beach was the second of the day. In Fort Lauderdale, a pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a field shortly after takeoff. The pilot had just taken off from Executive Airport in the afternoon when he discovered the Cessna 205 was suffering from engine trouble. After contacting the tower, the pilot decided to return to the airport, but was forced to crash land in a nearby field. A witness at the scene said the plane appeared to lose power during the final approach and made a sharp nose dive, flipping once hitting the ground. Emergency officials rushed to the scene and the pilot was transported to Holy Cross Hospital with minor injuries. The FAA is investigating the plane to determine the exact cause of the crash. DAYTONA, FL - Egged on by a 17-year-old, two 10-year-old boys joined in the attack of a Florida homeless man, leaving him bruised and bloody, police said. The incident highlights an upswing in violent crime across the U.S. against the homeless. In 2006, there were 142 attacks and 20 murders, several involving teenagers seeking a vicious thrill, according to the Washington, D.C.- based National Coalition for the Homeless. Lat month’s incident, which took place in Daytona Beach, Florida, may make history, said the nonprofit’s acting executive director Michael Stoops. “If we’re talking about 10­ year-olds, that means we’ve hit an all-time low,” said Stoops. “The youngest person to have ever been arrested for a crime like this is 13.” Daytona Police Sgt. Billy Walden said the teen and two boys were walking in their neighborhood around 9 p.m. when they saw 58­ year-old John D’Amico. They began throwing rocks at the homeless man. The 17-year-old, Jeremy Woods, punched D’Amico who then fell over a concrete wall. As he lay on the ground, one of the 10-year-olds — whose names are not being released — used parts of the concrete to bash D’Amico in the head, a police report shows. D’Amico’s eye was severely damaged in the attack. Woods and the two boys were charged with felony aggravated battery and are being held without bond at a juvenile detention center in Daytona Beach, Walden said. The Volusia County State Attorneys Office received paperwork on the case and will make a decision about whether or not to pursue charges, said spokeswoman Linda Pruitt. The three boys made their first court appearance wearing ankle shackles and handcuffs, and white jail jumpsuits too big for the two tiny 10­ year-old frames. Judge Peter Marshall assigned them public defenders. 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 10 Streetvibes �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 $3 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for $1, 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 Printing and Production: 25 cents About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... 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 earned. This program has helped 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... Buy STREETVIBES! (Check Vendors Badge) Don’t be Squirrelly! 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. Buy Streetvibes! Page 12 Streetvibes �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 $3 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for $1, 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 Printing and Production: 25 cents About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... 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 earned. This program has helped 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... Buy STREETVIBES! (Check Vendors Badge) Don’t be Squirrelly! 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. Buy Streetvibes! Page 12 Streetvibes �Iraq’s homeless poor crushed by war’s aftermath by Patrick Fort BAGHDAD - An old man slumbers on a rotten and stinking sofa as a malnourished scruffy child in rags bats around a ball in the dust and flies buzz through the decay. In Baghdad the homeless live hand to mouth. Left with no income after her son was killed in the war, and with her husband old and helpless, Salwa Lifan Salman had to leave her working-class home and move into a squat at the bombed-out Iraqi air force headquarters in the center of the capital. Her family of 13 — 10 of them children — is today crammed into the small room she rents for 50,000 dinars (40 dollars, 30 euros) a month from an alleged landlord who probably has no legal right over the public building. “He told us he was the owner, that he had bought the ground. We’re frightened, he’ll kick us out if we don’t pay,” said Salman, enveloped in the black abaya. She is 43, but already she looks like an old woman. Surrounded by other families in a similar predicament, Salman picks a living amid the ruins left when US warplanes bombed the base in 2003. There is no electricity and only a single tap outside on the pavement for water. Frightened about being turfed out by the council, she prefers not to make problems. “If we don’t live here, there’s no where else to go,” she said. Her family is so poor that none of her children go to school. Four of the children had a rudimentary education when they lived in the Shiite slum district of Sadr City. Tuition may be free, but Salman cannot afford to clothe her children or buy the necessary books and pencils for their schooling. So they run wild. “We looked for work but there isn’t any,” she said. In Iraq, where war and insecurity are the primary concerns, reconstruction is limited and funds are short. It goes without saying that her family receives no help from the authorities. “We sell on a little rice or flour from food packages that are handed out” by charities or social services, she said. Some of her fellow squatters sell oil on the black market to customers too impatient to queue at petrol stations. “We are trying to live on 10,000 dinars (eight dollars, six euros) a day for the whole family. There are days when we don’t even manage that,” said Salman. The United Nations sets the poverty line in Iraq at living on less than a dollar per day per person. Former builder Faik Hasun, who through illness lost part of his sight in one eye and also now needs crutches to get around, is someone else who survives hand to mouth, camping out in a workman’s hut in the bombed compound. Originally from Jadida in northeast Baghdad, he says he left his family in order not to be a burden to them. Today he exists in near total destitution. From time to time, restaurant or cafeteria workers give him things such as crackers to sell on the street. Hasun has access to neither running water nor electricity — just a little stove for winter. But temperatures are already rising, and before long the squatters will be hit by the merciless Baghdad summer and 50-degree Celsius (122-degree Fahrenheit) heat. “The situation is going from bad to worse. We have never been so badly off,” he said. “Our only chance is if the violence stops and the country recovers some stability. Then there will be a little work. “Economically things will get better and people like me will have a chance to live a bit better.” Crashing from a thriving economy in the 1970s and 1980s, a third of Iraq’s population of 27 million now lives in poverty, according to a recent study by Iraq’s planning ministry and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). For Salman, Hasun and the rest of Baghdad’s poverty-stricken homeless, hand-outs are the key to their survival. They are the living statistics whose only hope is that one day things will improve in the aftermath of war. worth $5,000,000. We can expect that altogether approximately 50 homeless or on-the-edge-of­ homeless people will get luxury digs from Kawamoto, most of them children of single mothers. That’s the bright side. Thank you, Genshiro K! The dark side is that the sort of real estate speculation that made Genshiro Kawamoto rich enough to do all this lies precisely at the root of nearly all the homelessness Hawaii and the rest of America have to bear. Kawamoto is infamous in Hawaii for evicting renters at short notice to make a quick profit, as well as buying properties and neglecting to rent them at all. In short, he’s a slumlord to the rich. He may not create homelessness in the demographic he serves, but his practices reduce their housing options, which reduce the options of the next lower class, and the next. It’s the real trickle-down. The end result is homelessness for a lot more than 50 people. So, thank you also, Genshiro K, for being a prime example of how the rich and powerful screw us all and then do some token rescues to make up for it. Just like the government and the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, which is really only a plan to reduce a fraction of it. Reprinted from Real Change News, Seattle The Rich Act Different Seattle - Everyone has their own way of relating how rich Bill Gates is. Bill Gates is so rich; he has half the money in Seattle. Bill Gates is so rich, that he sleeps in a different room of his house every night of every decade. Bill Gates is so rich, when he wants something from the grocery store, he has it delivered. I mean the store. Bill Gates is so rich he could buy most countries. Bill Gates is so rich he won’t buy a used country, preferring a new custom country built from scratch, somewhere between Lake Washington and Lanai. And, finally, Bill Gates is so rich that just his money alone would be all you’d need to end homelessness in America for what’s left of the 10 years before the great US Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness is finished and solves everything. What would it look like if Bill Gates actually did use his wealth to relieve some homelessness around here, just in Seattle? We have fewer than 10,000 homeless people. Gates could get 10,000 cheap prefab homes. At wholesale prices, they’d all put together cost him less than a billion. Another billion to buy the land to put them on, and Bill’s ranking among the world’s billionaires wouldn’t slip by more than 1. But all that assumes Bill would go about relieving homelessness the way ordinary humans would. It doesn’t take into account the fact that, like all billionaires, Bill Gates is an alien from the Horsehead Nebula. To understand how Bill would try to relieve Seattle’s homelessness, consider another billionaire, Genshiro Kawamoto, who is trying to relieve homelessness in Oahu. Kawamoto, like Gates, likes to spend a lot of time in the Hawaiian Islands. In the ’80s Kawamoto mixed business with pleasure and bought up a lot of property in Hawaii as investments, including a lot of mansions. Recently he got bit by the altruism bug and announced he was going to rent eight of his pricey Kahala Avenue luxury homes to poor struggling Hawaiian native families, preferably homeless families, for $150 to $200 per month, utilities paid, for up to 10 years. Now that he’s moving people in, he’s saying he won’t charge some of them rent at all. He’s partially furnishing the places. To help you visualize the deal, we’re talking about homes in the $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 range that either sit directly on a gorgeous tropical ocean beach or are at most a couple of hundred feet removed. One of the recipients is a women with five children who has been staying in a homeless shelter for the last four or five months. Her new home for the next 10 years is Sudoku answer from page 5 Streetvibes Page 13 �I Shall Die by Jose Ornelas I am Indigenous. I am a conquered peoples, one of many. What next? Will I be bitter? Who will I try to conquer? My women, or child? You? No, brothers and sisters, I will surrender so that I may rise. Surrender to my hunger. Accept my humanity. Embrace...us. My nation became a gang, now it will be a nation again. Heart to heart, Love to love, one two three nations under a groove. We will marry each other and see all the children as our own. I am lucky because I am not the inheritor of the legacy of the overseer. I don’t hold the whip, I never did. When it is finished we will bury the past; weep for it and then sing for the future. by Elizabeth Romero The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. You can see it in her eyes, her wary sidelong glance. The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. Her clothes flap loosely in the wind. Her red shoes clash. The woman coming toward you carries the patient rage of her mother and her mother before that like that cracked plastic handbag. Tagger by Jose Ornelas The carports had these spaces in between them that were big enough to walk through and since they were behind the apartments nobody could see you. So there I am shaking the can and putting the finishing touches on a bomb aguila when along comes this long hair dude with a bottle of something. “Heey, man.” “What’s up holmes.” “Doing some paintin?” I nodded and continued working. He weaved in place. “Heey, wanna drink?” “No thanks, I don’t drink.” “Good for you, man.” He took a swig and stepped closer. Then he grabbed my wrist. “Motherfu... “I could get 600 hundred bucks for turning you in.” “Shyeet. If you could find the phone I bet it would take you all night to dial the numbers.” I easily shook loose and looked him over. “Sabes que, este, graffitti is something you can grow out of, but drunken losers... “ Wolf by Galaxie You could call me a night owl, or you could think of me as the wolf. You won’t see me much during the day, but alas, when you are asleep, I’ll be there in your dreams, sometimes to comfort, sometimes to torment you, for I am your nightmares. I am your dreamscapes, I am the things that you fear and fail to understand. I am the night, I am the darkness. I come and I take away the pain, though I can also make it worsen. Do not cross the night. Because the night, like the wolf, has no fear of the dark. Second Home by heather gearhardten sing a song of violation equivocation demarcation supplication tribulation and truncation sing a song of subterfuge a deadly ruse loving abuse and splitting in twos and no way to choose sing a song of fighting free a warrior’s creed survival fees ptsd and healing mes. Page 14 by Stan Buriss You could stand. Then you would stand alone! Not with out friends, you understand—with this circle beneath your eyes,far from a real center. Broken from the ends! Sharp, where the best ends are broken for the last time (if you call it the last). Only then, if you use your real name. Cabin Fever by Virginia Conn I’m freezing, so I tack flannel sheets under the blinds, discovering the frost has resurrected the finger oils of someone named Linda. Twice the precise lettering appears, well out of reach of a child’s hand. by Kris Schon To Be, to Become To be, to become to believe in yourself the inner voice that propels you forward a waterfall of wisdom of life fears and rejections triumphs and tragedies laughter and hope belly button stuff the main course at life’s banquet for those wishing to attend. grateful are the many who stand firm in a brisk breeze head up, eye to eye with the dragon. Flickering stars candles lit from your strength your courage your hope your faith, burning on. The window overlooks the street. I’ve stood there, impatient for mail or visitors, yet this is the first I’ve heard from her. I scan my studio for other traces, blaming her for the erratic nails, especially one eye level screw, dead center, that no painting hangs from comfortably. I start to attribute other mischief to her; misplaced keys and night knocks, then fear she may be trapped, the bitter cold compelling her to contact me. ”I never got out. It never warmed up.” I keep checking the pane for further word. I remind myself: It is winter everywhere. Outside, Buffalo trudges past, layered in clothes like shuck on corn. Like that screw, an act of defiance, Linda versus concrete, in relief of the wide white wall. Streetvibes �Valentine’s Day by Wendy Nakashima Valentine’s Day is for moochers. It might even be for smoochers Please excuse me for not being concerned; I would rather hang out with my Teddy Bear. Cause Fuzzy Wuzzy Really Cares by Michael Sloan Gray steel wind and tears of rain lash people and pigeons huddled on the steps. The gray morning floods us round. Grayness seeps into the cracks of concrete, into the shadowed clefts between the buildings, into the hair of old men wedded to the streets, and in the eyes and hearts of those silently awaiting an opening of doors. Standing with Dignity by Paul von Kempf, JR. Gray drowns even the privacy of thought and the rainbow of memory. We clutch our collars against the morning’s teeth. Someone coughs and pigeons explode, gray into gray they abandon the vigil, vanish in a liquid sky. Yet the human figures stand wordless, inmoving, gray as thoughtless rock. No meeting of the eyes or fingers. No spark of colored laughter. Only the grayness dares to touch such woeful stone. Such gray and weary words a friend once whispered to me; She said, “Some wounds never heal.” and though I hate her for it here in the grayness waiting, watching I see now what she meant. Standing here with dignity waiting through all kinds of weather selling Real Change Newspaper. Waiting for those smiling eyes hopeful, wanting to be helpful to say paper please, can you see that your generosity is appreciated? Standing here with dignity I see another kind of eye scold, cruel and full of contempt walking past me without seeing, taking the long way around. Can you see my pain? Do I jerk you out of your cocoon, when I say hello? Do I jerk you back to reality? Standing here with dignity I have time to reflect on why I am selling Real Change Newspaper. In another time and another place I have had several jobs I have lost them to accident, illness, disease or my big shot ideas Society deals harshly with people who have big shot ideas where is the forgiveness? Today I am standing here with dignity selling Real Change Newspaper. Waiting for those smiling eyes to say paper please. I hope you can see my gratitude for your generosity . Abraham and Isaac Without Blues For all those who have seen drugs, alcoholism and abuse tear their families apart. Without the stub of crocus, the breeze through cedar and hills to climb in the soft light of January I would be lost. by Michael Henson Again, the climb into the mountain. Again, the boy with his bundle of faggots and his question. Again, the old man with his knife and his answer. Ravens course the ridges. Marmots whistle and dive. In the valley below, smoke rises from a village. Tanks crawl through the fields. They mangle the corn. A line of soldiers snakes along the road. Again, the boy has his question. Again, the old man answers. He answers with a curse. He looks at the boy. He looks at the sky. He looks at the valley. He curses. He feels that his answer is no answer, so he curses and turns to stagger up the stony mountain path. Without the picket lines’ ”How you doing?”— friends sitting around at the table while November rains, I would wash away in tears. Without my pencil, the work that must be done, the brothers and sisters in the strong August sun, I would go over the edge. 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 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 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 May 2007 The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Cruel and Unusual Punishment - How The Justice System Wastes Your Tax-dollars 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 2007 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 May 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Homeless Individuals and the Justice System So-Called “Urban Pioneers” Reinvent the Face of Cincinnati Pg 2: Justice Continued A Place to Call Home? Pg 3: Pioneers Pg 4: Cincinnati Shelter Helps Homeless Vets Find Hope Pg 5: The Man in the Gutter Pg 6: DLOP Takes on Labor Works Ghetto Rats Pg 7: Celebrate Mother’s Day for Homeless Children and Their Moms Pg 8: Mother’s Day Pg 9: I Love a Parade Pg 10: Homeless News Digest Pg 12: About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes Pg 13: Iraq’s Homeless Poor Crushed by War’s Aftermath The Rich Act Different 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 May 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Matt Cohen Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Cincinnati DLOP Georgine Getty Homeless News Digest Iraq Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Justice System Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Matt Cohen Melvin Williams Mother’s Day Parade veterans War https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/65539c96124a361c1f640e93cab5ae03.pdf 6fe40478c3d53ff2ec2588bc00a949c0 PDF Text Text April, 2007 STREETVIBES Poor Little Rich Me By Kathy Y. Wilson - Guest Columnist “I just wanna pay my rent. Trying hard to maintain this stasis But I’ve got so many friends Always talkin’ ‘bout I’m gonna make it” —”Demise,” Georgia Anne Muldrow I am right now the poorest I have ever been as an adult. There are two $1 bills on my kitchen table; a faux African, fishshaped dish with about $3 is on my bedroom dresser. My USBank checking account has less than $50 in it and if I do not hand $180 over to Duke in five days my utilities will be disconnected. There are months when there are more bills in my mailbox than there are checks. When I say I am as broke as the Ten Commandments, that’s what I mean; “broke” does not mean cash poor. There are no retirement funds to raid, no secret rainy-day accounts, nothing under the mattress or tucked in a rusted Folger’s can buried in the sideyard. I am 42 years old and sometimes when I am tricked by consumerism into surveying and judging the quality of my life according to my money I grow depressed, fooled into thinking I’ll die in obscurity and abject poverty. Why not me? Other great black women like Zora Neale Hurston and my mother, Gladine Rosetta Hill, died that way: worked to death, exhausted and spent from spending everything on other people. A funny thing is happening on the way to my not-as-poor-as-I-think-I­ am-self. I have community. Comprised mostly of other women, it transcends race. There are non-family folks committed to my well being who understand that for me to thrive they must reach out to me in real ways that count. And in America, that means with money. Let’s be real, cash is sustenance. Sharing it is humane. We refuse to share it as we should in America and this stinginess is how we’re most inhumane. A few weeks ago I borrowed money from two friends. I knew they would lovingly help. Ahoo slid me a $100 check, $70 of which I used to pay half my Verizon bill. Dean loaned me $20 to pay for my insulin prescription. Since last April when I was fired from CityBeat after nearly a dozen years Michelle has diligently paid my monthly $285 COBRA payment for my health insurance. Not 48 hours before this sentence Richard wrote a check for my rent which was two months late. See, community. The existence of community is what sets the stereotypical poor apart from the working, visible and “functioning” poor people like me. The insanely wealthy and those aspiring to them have allowed—engineered, even—the obliteration of the American middle class. There’s rich. There’s poor. And the strangely beautiful aspect of poverty for folks like me is it’s hidden in plain sight. We clean-cut, walking-about, acceptably poor folks don’t pretend to be something we aren’t. We’re unhassled/unjudged because we’re benign. We’re the “good ones.” Still, we’re separate. My outrageously wealthy landlord who owns one entire side of the block he lives on and much of the block where I live will never know that I use rent money to pay Duke Electric, Verizon Wireless, car insurance and to put five to seven dollars gas in my dead mother’s 13-year-old Mercury Sable because he doesn’t even know what StreetVibes is, let alone that poor and homeless people read or have a publication. He doesn’t have access to the realm he knows nothing about; yet, the trappings of my landlord’s world constantly bombard the poor. The very act of panhandling is self- subjugation and self-flagellation no less dehumanizing than prostitution itself. My landlord and I have an unspoken and dysfunctional relationship. He only knows that my rent is always late and yet, he does not evict me. I say this not to gloat but to illustrate just how close to the curb I am. My poverty, my desperation, feels vindicated—no, eased—by this don’t ask/don’t tell tango. I like the way one side does and does not have any idea what the other’s doing; it feels subversive and secret. Strangely, I also like the dichotomy of appearing to have wealth because of my comportment and pride, but still being poor enough to sometimes happily eat Ramen noodles and drink grape Kool-Aid for dinner. Why happily? Because I know that because of my community tomorrow Vinnie will cook a gourmet-caliber meal she’ll share with me and that if, the next day, I’m still hungry I can sit at Linder’s table at 6:00 when she serves her family dinner. I may be jeered from the poverty bleachers by saying that I have a key to turn in a lock that opens a door to my own possessions or that I have a cellular phone plan and utilities. But I am one of the working poor—an unevenly educated black woman with a proven skill set whose unemployment ran out just before Christmas. So now I hustle. Just like the single mothers selling their Ohio Welfare Cards for cash; just like the bootleg cabbies posted in front of every Kroger in poor black and white neighborhoods in this city; just like the couch-surfing dope boys with packs to move. I sling sentences like crack rocks/I keep verbs stuffed in my socks/I got similes two for five: “like” and “as,” nigga/I call on my regulars and peddle my wares/I make my way through Main Street galleries while rich white people stop to stare/editors throw me work like Wilson.... cont. on page 2 The effects of Hurricane Katrina still being felt by Andy Freeze HUD estimates that there are three quarters of a million people homeless every night. But we know that is not true. What HUD does not take into account is that 19 months ago hurricane Katrina forced over one million people into homelessness. I had the opportunity to spend a week down in New Orleans in the beginning of March. If you only spent your time in downtown or the French Quarter you would never know that one of the biggest natural disasters to hit this country occurred just under two years ago. The French Quarter is once again bustling with tourists. The street performers have returned. But if you venture outside of downtown you would have thought you were in a third world country. There are no words to describe what I saw. The best that I can do is to describe it as utter destruction. I remind you that I visited New Orleans nineteen months after the hurricane hit, yet you would have thought it was a month ago. “But if you venture outside of downtown you would have thought you were in a third world country.” While in New Orleans I spent the week with ten other college students learning about the effects the hurricane has had on the Gulf Coast as well as removing furniture and gutting the inside of homes. It was an eye opening experience to say the least. I consider myself to be fairly well informed about the events going on in our country. However, the media has failed to report on the devastation still being felt in New Orleans. Because no one reports on this issue, I assumed that things were getting back Katrina.... cont. on page 6 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. 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 Johm Lavelle - Administrative Coordinator Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Matt Cohen - AHA Staff Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design, with Andy Freeze and Georgine Getty Wilson.... cont. from page one addicts hand over crumpled singles/on the 31st I stalk the mailman from my kitchen windows/checking his hand for my check. I have been poor before. I was once 23 summers ago temporarily homeless in Denver with my mother, sister and stepfather. Even then, we knew we had a way out, that there were jobs and an apartment. Still, after the money ran out we moved from a cramped hotel room to a dirty and shabby house owned by Traveler’sAid until that first payday. I’ve yet to go all the way there: tattered-clothes-soup-kitchen-sleeping­ in-a-doorway-panhandling-selling-sex­ for-a-hotel-room-by-the-day-there. I know how poverty and homelessness can sneak up when a job gets yanked away or housing falls through and bills run away with your sanity. I watch my pennies by depriving myself of the luxuries of my former self: books, magazines, CD’s, movies, eating out, new clothes and shoes when the ones I have suit me fine. In short, I’m over unnecessary consumption and I’m weaning myself off excess. Surprisingly, I walk around with the same folded-over $20 bill for weeks without breaking it and when I finally do, that last $10 lasts equally as long. I buy what I need and not to satisfy manic lusts. I eschew the diet of the poor— fast food, soda, candy. Why kill yourself with toxins when the very stress of poverty alone is enough? I’m revealing my solo poverty to show that the postmodern face of the poor isn’t the monolithic one America shows us. I also offer hope. To declare that we do not have to go the way of so many poor people in America; to reassure those living on the verge of emotional and spiritual disintegration that hope and redemption are free and to urge those same people to start right now building community. It’s not easy. Surrounding ourselves with hope and not despair, love and not bitterness, responsibility and not fingerpointing and choosing help instead of dwelling among a barrel of crabs requires the same focus, strength and energy it takes to find and keep a job or to pay bills. It’s hard getting off the streets, I know. We must choose hope and humanity. I do not write this brand-new. I write this having emerged from the depths of isolation, despair, depression and self-doubt, all fuelled by poverty and by being on the brink of disconnection and eviction. That was the winter, though. Now spring replenishes. I can beat poverty back like my mother because, like her, I am resourceful and I am blessed. This spring I’ll be having a sidewalk sale to trim away a lifetime of acquisitions—all the crap I thought I had to have but that now feels like weighty clutter collecting dust. There’s wanderlust, an unromanticized notion of freedom to this type of poverty. The restrictions of it—of knowing precisely how much money how much food, how much work—make life easier because having too much makes me drunk with too many choices. I do not begrudge the wealthy their wealth; neither do I envy it. I really have a great life. I do not dislike myself because I cannot bask in excess. Photographers Jimmy Heath, Berta Lambert, Andy Freeze, Georgine Getty Cover Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans by Andy Freeze 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://homeless.cinci.com Page 2 Are legs “calves” spelled like Firecats Review Blue: baby cows? Firecats Review: Springtime for Firecats Firecat Blue: What should we review? Firecat Silver: Warm weather. Firecats Blue and Chameleon: Spring! Silver: Yeah, fun outside activities. Blue: Outside? I don’t understand. Silver: We put chairs – outside – on our balcony. We sit outside. On chairs. On our balcony. Chameleon: That’s an activity? Sitting outside on the West Side? Anti-Cat: Outside activities? It works well with our many windows (referring to our windowless lair). Chameleon: I like springtime because I can wear shorts and show off my sexy calves. Chameleon: Yes. Firecat Beige: I like your baby cows. They’re hairy. Chameleon: Eww. Beige: I like that there’s more daylight so the days are longer and you have more time to fight homelessness. Chameleon: Are you any good holidays in April? Silver: April Fools! Anti-Cat: Anzac Day (Australia & New Zealand). Silver: Youth Empowerment Day in Cincinnati! (April 20th) Beige: Earth Day? Chameleon: Administrative Professionals Day! Who’s excited about Administrative Professionals day? Beige: I want a present. Streetvibes We need to reverse our priorities. Materialism is like sugar. It’s hype at first but it makes you tired when it wears off. I am determined and committed to living poor well. I am surrounded by people who look out for me. Community is the new currency and freedom is the new bling. Spend it. Wear it. I’ll admit sometimes even in this fragile peace I still wake up in the middle of the night to walk the floor, panicked by outstanding money and the outstanding bills outnumbering it; I obsess over whether I’ll be out standing on the sidewalk, my beautiful things acquired during a wildly creative life stacked on the curb waiting for Rumpke and picked over by salvagers. Then, I lull myself back to sleep comforted that panic and anxiety are coconspirators against my progress. I now have a new regard for work; I do it at my own pace according to the ebb and flow of my survival instead of the dictates of a boss who doesn’t see the textures in my talent, only the exploits of my skill and truthtelling. I hold more hope than I have ever had. That’s right. Being poor gives me hope. I am not my things/I am not the double digits of my bank account/I am not my bills/I am not my creditors. I am poor but not a statistic because those government guidelines neither account for my spirit nor align with my possibilities. I am right now the wealthiest I have ever been in my adult life. copyright Kathy Y. Wilson March 12 and 18, 2007. All rights reserved. Ownership reverts back to the author after first publication in Streetvibes. Chameleon: I’m an Administrative Coordinator. Blue: No one is getting a present. Silver: I think we should have pie that day. Blue: That’s a given any day. Chameleon: I like wearing skorts. That’s my favorite springtime activity, NOT. Blue? Blue: The HBO spring series line starts. Big Love! Anti-Cat: I went around with a group of plungers this weekend. Blue: Plungers? Beige: Wait, I’m confused. Oh, they weren’t actual toilet plungers. I’m thoroughly confused. I’ve been confused since I got here. Anti-Cat: (walking out door) Can you put in the last line from Anti-Cat as “I hate Valentine’s Day?” (editor: see February Firecat Review) Beige: After he leaves, put that he hates Valentine’s Day because he’s lonely. Anti-Cat: I hate Valentine’s Day. Beige: (in hushed tone) He’s lonely. �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath Foundation Reminds Residents, Not All Homeless Are Adults Greenville, SC - -When most people think about the homeless, adults probably come to mind. But, for Lisa Hall, with Anderson District Five, she thinks about students. “As far as being serious it’s very serious. And we have 111 identified this year so far, that’s what we know of,” Hall told WYFF News 4’s Kisha Foster. The district recently received a $10,000 dollar grant from the Abney Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to aid organizations that are operated exclusively for educational, religious, charitable, scientific and literary purposes. The money will be used to continue work with homeless students. Hall added, “My goal is to remove all barriers for children to receive an education. If it’s for them to dress like other students or have school supplies they need.” Students defined as homeless are those living in shelters, hotels, motels, cars, streets, campgrounds, substandard conditions or abandoned. “We are blessed to be back into a home and we thank God and the district,” said Dianne Schultz. In December, Schultz, her daughter and granddaughter were homeless. A fire destroyed their apartment just days after Christmas and they had to stay in hotel for a week. Schults biggest concern was for her granddaughter Heaven McMullen. “We wanted to try to keep Heaven on a normal schedule as possible. Heaven was able to stay in school. She didn’t have to miss a day had clothing and the school district has been a blessing.” DENVER - Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Public Works director Bill Vidal this morning unveiled a retired parking meter that will be used to collect coins for the homeless. The Donation Meter Project will collect money for Denver’s Road Home, the 10-year Plan to end homelessness. By dropping a coin in the slot, you don’t get a parking space, but can feel that you’ve contributed to the effort to give help to homeless people. “The Donation Meter demonstrates yet another innovative way in which this community is responding to Denver’s Road Home and our commitment to ending homelessness,” Hickenlooper said. “We are fortunate to live in a city where public officials, including Bill Vidal at the Department of Public Works, are willing to work on a project that will substantially increase public awareness and resources for the homeless in Denver.” “The Donation Meters provide a creative way for everyone, even if they only have a nickel, to help.” There will be 35 refurbished and redesigned parking meters placed at various areas throughout downtown so people can easily donate spare change in the effort to end homelessness. “Denver’s Public Works is delighted to be part of this growing community wide effort to end homelessness in Denver,” Vidal said. “Starting today with 36 meters, citizens will have a new way to donate to an important cause. Recycling our older meters as donation collection sites is an innovative use of retired equipment.” The donation meter program is part of a widespread effort to redirect the money that people use to give to panhandlers, most of whom are not homeless, into efforts that provide meals, job training, substance abuse counseling, housing and other programs for those in need. Businesses and individuals around the metro area “sponsored” all 36 meters for $1,000 each. said that its “snapshot” study based on a three-month period in 2005 showed that two-thirds of the homeless population are men, 16 percent are women, 59 percent are ethnic minorities, 41 percent are in the 31-50 age range and 21 percent are children. It also said that nearly one in five of the adult homeless are military veterans. However, Philip Mangano, executive director of the United States Interagency Council of Homelessness, said that the snapshot survey does not represent the full extent of homelessness across the country, as measured throughout the year. “There is a divergence of opinion among researchers about the number of people who are experiencing homelessness in the course of a year,” Mangano said. “Some say it might be as high as one percent of the US population (three million people); others say it might be as high as two million. NASHVILLE - Charges were dropped against 16 homeless advocates last month. Organizers of the Nashville Homeless Power Project had more than a dozen people gather outside the Metro Courthouse to raise awareness about the struggles of homeless Nashvillians. Demonstrators were arrested when they refused to leave. The Power Project is asking Mayor Bill Purcell to provide money to build 200 units for the homeless. SAN JUAN - Homeless advocates on Monday condemned a video posted on the Internet that showed homeless people in Puerto Rico engaging in degrading acts, such as eating cat food or wearing a G-string, in exchange for money. The 45-minute video depicts 18 different homeless people performing acts for money, but those filming the video and handing over the money are not shown, several nonprofit groups said. One of those filmed vomits off screen after eating a hot pepper. Another is shown running around in a G-string and grabbing his buttocks while music plays in the background. ”Independent of what may be the condition of a homeless person, that does not give anyone the right to violate their rights. ... This brings me a lot of pain and sadness,” said Luz Davila, a former homeless woman who now works in a nonprofit group helping those on the street. It is not clear who made the video. A phone call and e-mail to Teflon Studios, which is listed in the credits of the film, went unanswered. Homeless advocates said the video had been posted on the studio’s Web site, but it did not appear there later Monday. Puerto Rico’s Family Department also denounced the display. ”We repudiate the content, the connotations and the concept of using the homeless for this type of practice,” said Felix Matos, department secretary. In recent years, the Internet site Bumfights.com has shown homeless people fighting one another and engaging in dangerous stunts. The site says its creators are trying to call attention to problems such as poverty and violence. A man in Los Angeles was convicted in July 2006 for beating two homeless men with a baseball bat in August 2005 after watching a “Bumfights” video. WASHINGTON - On any given night 754,000 people across the United States are homeless, according to a new government study on the problem released Wednesday. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, in its first study of the scope of the national homelessness problem in 23 years, Streetvibes Page 3 �This is the second in a Streetvibes series on; Rich or poor, there is only at risk for physical survival; plenty of wounding to go around. he or she has been pushed to the But to add poverty into the mix is margins of a society. to layer another tissue of wounds identify what is the normal Poverty, then, is a wound onto the child. For not only must standard in a particular place at a to the psyche. the child cope with the failures particular time. We It is not the and wounds of her own parents, can calculate the only possible but in poverty, she must cope minimal costs for wound, nor even with a whole new source of maintaining those the most deprivations and exclusions standards and devastating. But it which, in an unconscious design, assign a number to is a wound. This is seem guaranteed to teach her she it and find where a not news, is not to be nurtured, comforted, person stands in particularly to or granted affection to the same relation to that anyone who has extent as others. She looks number. We can been poor. But around, he looks around, and sees therefore identify what this a world full of barriers and practical terms for definition gives us difficulties that are not present measuring poverty is the source of for others and, at the extreme, in time and place the wound. appear to threaten their very Michael Henson and across time A child is existence. and place. born expecting to be accepted, Cast over whatever For poverty is relative in nurtured, and bathed in affection. genetic assets or liabilities this two directions. One is poor in He expects that his cry will be child may have inherited, and relation to those who are heard; she expects that she will over whatever strengths or prosperous and who is not. be fed, warmed, surrounded by failures of the parents he has Therefore, we talk about rich admiration at any time she selected, poverty, which is a (including super-rich and just demands it. In the best of socially constructed force, plain rich), middle-class (upper situations, this is an irrational strikes the child with yet another and lower), working poor, urban expectation, for no one can meet impediment to becoming whole, and rural poor, flat-out poor, and the exorbitant demands of the complicates her life with nearly destitute. All these measure child. But the child is born with insoluble tasks, and confronts the themselves one against another. It these demands anyway and so, child with an insult with which he is possible for an individual to even in the best of situations, the will struggle for the rest of his look up and down the social child is disappointed again and life. scale, with or without such a again. Psychic wounding is a This is a monstrous thing. definition, and say, I am not as primary experience. And we should end it. well off as this one with his It is primarily the task of But even our best efforts mansion (or condo or penthouse the parents or whoever may be in will not end it soon. And we are or hacienda), but I am much the role of a parent to see that far, very far, from making even a better off than this person down this child’s wounds are minimal half-hearted effort as a society. the road in his tenement (or and that they are transformed into But say, just to dream, that, by shack or patchwork tent). It is strengths. How else do we grow some miracle, we were to abolish also possible, by these measures, but by transforming pain into poverty with the next presidential for a sociologist or economist to livable wisdom? term (not that anyone is even look up and down the social scale Parents are either well suggesting we try), the wounds of and place people in their prepared for these tasks, or they poverty would not leave. Many millions, thousands, and hundreds are not. And in the preparation people have had the necessary on a scale of poverty, prosperity, for this task, wealth, prosperity, combination of luck, opportunity, or wealth. or poverty seems to make little and resilience to emerge from But they can also help us difference. I have known many poverty. But that does not mean understand something of the parents who came out of or they were not wounded by their particular pains and individual remained in poverty who had a poverty. And these wounds will struggles of a person in poverty. wonderful earthiness and not leave even though we have What speaks to that concern in humanity and who grow not found a way to list them in these definitions is not just a wonderfully resourceful and the Diagnostic and Statistical totaling of the material assets humane children. And of course, I Manual. Is it any wonder that the available to a person, but how have seen many cases of spoiled person wounded by poverty looks well (or how poorly) the assets and confused suburbanites raising to something to ease the pain? (or lack of assets) of that spoiled and confused children. To be continued. individual human person allow We all know this story. him or her to participate in the Research on Prescribtion Opiate Dependence “the normal patterns and Are you an adult activities” of a particular society. and concerned with your use of prescribtion opiates? Do One is poor, not simply because you want treatment for prescribtion opiate dependence? she does not have enough to eat East Indiana Treatment Center is conducting a research study of or has trouble paying the rent, but because she is excluded from full medication and behavioral interventions to treat prescribtion opiate dependence. Eligible participants will receive free buprenorphine, participation in society. Poverty nalozone (Suboxone) treatment. All information will be kept means an inability to meet the confidential. Compensation will be expectations of one’s provided for time and travel. community, to do all the things The research clinic is coonveniently located at that are understood to be a EITC in Lawrenceburg, IN. For more information normal part of life in a particular please contact 812-537-1668. society. The poor person is not Poverty and Addiction by Michael Henson No one disputes that the victims of absolute poverty are poor. When we see the homeless man on a heat grate or a displaced child in a documentary and know that these people have nothing to keep them from starvation or exposure from one day to the next, we can be sure these people are poor by any definition. Some may dispute the numbers or deny that they exist in our particular place. Or they may dispute who is to blame. They may wish to see them better hidden. They may wish them jailed. They may even wish them dead. (Think of the murdered children of Rio). They may institute policies that move them on, to become someone else’s problem. But no one disputes their poverty or wonders whether they meet a federal guideline for poverty. But above that level, there is a great deal of confusion as to what constitutes poverty. For, beyond the level of minimal survival, poverty is a matter of the relationship of an individual, a family, or a caste within a broader society. Poverty is only partly defined by what person does or does not own. It is only partly defined by a person’s distance from the desperation of minimal survival, although these concerns are important. Poverty is also primarily defined by how a person is able to function within a particular society. The late Michael Harrington’s book, The New American Poverty, quotes from a United Nations document, “Those individuals and families can be considered poor whose resources are so small that they find themselves excluded from the mode of life, the normal patterns and activities of the countries in which they live.” There are other definitions around, but they say, I think, virtually the same thing. Such definitions are the basis for the federal poverty guidelines in the united States, for such a line is set by a determination of how much in cash or assets a person requires to meet these needs for living something like the “normal patterns and activities” of life in one’s particular place. They tell us the minimal standards not only for physical survival, but social needs as well. These definitions have the merit of being concrete. We can Page 4 Streetvibes �prohibited from ticketing people who sleep on the city’s public sidewalks and doorways at night as part of the settlement of a lawsuit brought by homeless advocates. Under a new regulation, people are free to sleep on city property from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless they are committing a crime, such as being drunk or a public nuisance. The change does not cover sleeping on private property (Steele, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2/21). California: Senator to Introduce Bill in Response to ‘Homeless Dumping’ State Sen. Gil Cedillo (D) is expected to introduce legislation that would make it a misdemeanor for any hospital facility or worker to transport patients anywhere other than their residences without their informed consent. Those who disobey the regulation would face up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The legislation coincides with investigations homeless patients by hospitals on L.A.’s Skid Row (Blood, AP/ Contra Costa Times, 2/22). Optimus Health Care, which serves the homeless, poor and immigrant populations in Stamford, Conn., is hiring a Stamford Health Department HIV prevention specialist on its Homeless Outreach Team to provide HIV testing at area homeless shelters and soup kitchens. The arrangement was funded by a $45,000 Optimus Health grant that will pay for the HIV specialist to work with the outreach team 30 hours each week (Pinto, Stamford Times, 2/26). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded several agencies in Lee County, Fla., $2 million over the next year to provide housing and supportive services to homeless families and individuals. County officials said the grants will go to help homeless individuals and families find emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent homes (Southwest Florida News-Press, 2/21). The federal government has renewed more than $1.5 million in funding for 16 programs for the homeless in Acadiana, La. The grant recipients said the money will go to fund such services as job training, health care, substance abuse treatment and housing (KATC3 News, 2/26). Homeless advocates, who spent the night camped in tents and cardboard boxes outside the Nevada Legislature, recently testified before a House committee in support of legislation that would dispense $20 million in state funds for homeless services. The amount is more than double the $9 million that was appropriated in 2005 (Mullin, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 2/19). The 1,001-bed Camp LaGuardia, New York City’s largest homeless shelter, is about to close after 73 years. City officials said the facility, s California: Advocates Win ‘Homeless t Free Zones’ Lawsui San Diego officials are into alleged dumping of be and Australia. Almost 500 homeless individuals were able to travel and compete in the Homeless World Cup. Teams are made up of eight players (all male, all female or mixed): four players on the field at one time and four substitutes. Russia won the 2006 Homeless World Cup: past winners include Italy and Austria. The 2006 American team was selected from a three day tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina. Players came from all over the USA including New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Virginia, Washington D.C., North Carolina, and Texas. In 2003, the American team ranked ninth – their highest rank in the Homeless World Cup. In 2005, the American team was awarded the Fair Play Award. The 2007 Homeless World Cup will be July 29 ­ August 4, 2007 in Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information about the Homeless World Cup visit: www.homelessworldcup.org tvi Following the 2005 Edinburgh Homeless World Cup, research revealed that 94% of the players had gained a renewed motivation for life. In addition, 77% of the participants believe that the event had changed their lives. Players are able to regain some control over their lives while having fun. Participating on a team creates a sense of belonging and players are able to build self-esteem with the support of coaches and teammates. Players reported that following the Homeless World Cup that they were able to end their drug or alcohol addictions and access employment, housing, and educational opportunities. Overall, the Homeless World Cup is not only a fun event in which homeless individuals participate, but it is an inspiring and empowering tool. In the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup, fortyeight teams from all across the globe participated, including teams from North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, ee by Lynne Ausman The World Cup is probably the most popular sporting event in the world. Every four years, millions of people tune in to watch their national soccer teams compete to be the best team in the world. Thousands flock to the games and pay hundreds of dollars to see their favorite teams and players. However, there is another World Cup. It is smaller and the games do not draw in millions of fans, but the Homeless World Cup is a life changing and inspiring event for some. The idea for the Homeless World Cup started in 2001 following the International Network of Street Papers Conference. The first Homeless World Cup was in Graz, Austria, in 2003, followed by Gothenburg, Sweden in 2004. Edinburgh, Scotland, hosted the 2005 cup and Cape Town, South Africa hosted the 2006 cup. This year (2007), the Cup will be in Copenhagen, Denmark, followed by Melbourne, Australia in 2008. Str Homeless World Cup Support Your Vendor ALMOST 30 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 surrounded by farms and trees on a 300-acre parcel 70 miles away in Chester, N.Y., is too far from jobs and medical and other services in the city. They also said the city wants to move away from temporary shelters to subsidized housing with services for the city’s 35,000 homeless men and women. The shelter opened in 1934 on the site of a women’s prison and was expanded greatly in the 1980s with the growth of New York’s homeless population (Hill, Redding Record Searchlight, 2/27). The federal government has awarded 23 Portland, Ore.­ area homeless programs nearly $5.7 million in renewal funding. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also has earmarked more than $538,000 for a new Transition Projects program to provide permanent housing with services for disabled, chronically homeless adults and youths (Green, Oregonian, 2/21). 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 5 �Katrina from page one...... to “normal” and that people had begun to return to their homes. I thought we would be working on building homes, not tearing them down. I thought we would be painting, or laying tile, or finishing walls. Nope. There are so many homes down there that have not been touched in the past 19 months. It is a tragedy that we are still removing personal items form people’s homes. At first the volunteers and donations flew into the Gulf Coast. But the hurricane is no longer on the forefront of our minds. Nor is it on the mind of our government. Our government has decided that rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan are more important than rebuilding parts of our own country. Our government and many of our American companies are pouring billions and billions of “He told stories of searching homes after the waters had receded to look for bodies.” dollars into rebuilding the Middle East, yet many Americans can not get help from their own government. While my group was gutting the inside of a house in the Lower Ninth Ward, a gentleman pulled up and got out to speak with us. He worked for the government and had responded to Katrina three days after the hurricane made landfall. For the next eight months we worked as a logistics organizer for the government Volunteers remove rug from house in Lower 9th Ward to oversee the coordination of the many different operations. He told us that when he first got to New Orleans he did helicopter rescues. He explained that it was a scary experience because people would get so upset that they were not being rescued that they began to shoot at the helicopters. He told stories of searching homes after the waters had receded to look for bodies. He described that as the waters rose, people moved to their attics to take cover. It was devastating to see so many bodies stuck in the attics because people could not get out. We had the opportunity to hear from a home owner. His house was the only one still on its foundation. Houses from two streets down landed behind his. Everything around him was gone. Tombs and graves from more than 50 miles away were now in the town. His house had nothing removed from it and he was Writers and Artists! Donate your Writing, Poetry And Art to STREETVIBES ­ Streetvibes@juno.com Page 6 still going through the items he had and cataloging it. Each person we encountered had a different story. Each person had hopes and dreams to move back to their “home.” Yet it has becoming increasingly harder to get help. In St. Bernard Parish alone less than a quarter of the population has been able to return. Only 50% of Orleans Parish has returned. People want to return because it’s their home, but are unable to because there is not enough help. During the first week of March while we were in New Orleans, we ran into many other college students down along the gulf coast offering their help. If the government put the resources its putting into rebuilding the Middle East into rebuilding the Gulf Coast region, the people of our nation that need help would be getting it. Instead we choose to overlook those who have been affected by the hurricane because they are poor and are now homeless. Let’s hope that the people of our country realize that there is a lot of work to be done and continue to pay attention to one of the worst natural disasters this country has seen. Markings left by search and rescue workers, weeks after Katrina hit. SODUKO Puzzle Fill in numbers so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes contains the digits 1 to 9. There is only one solution! The ANSWER is on Page 10 Streetvibes �My experiences in Baltimore by Jacki Sprinkle Since my arrival at Xavier, I have had service opportunities galore, either through a club, as part of a class requirement, or some other extracurricular program offered here. The multitude of service programs offered at Xavier has become my favorite aspect of this school, and one which I feel truly separates it from many other universities. Therefore, when I learned about the Alternative Breaks program I was especially excited to get involved. Alternative Breaks is a service learning organization dedicated to giving students hands-on opportunities with service work during their Spring and Summer breaks. This year, the group in which I participated traveled to Baltimore, where we learned about homelessness and hunger, and were able to work directly with people affected by this issue in their daily lives. We began our service on the morning of Monday, March 5th, at a soup kitchen in downtown Baltimore called Our Daily Bread. ODB is open every day of the year, and serves lunch from 10:30-12:30 to anywhere from 500-900 guests daily. One characteristic of this kitchen which distinguished it from many others is that when guests come in, they sit down and are served instead of standing in a line. It is as if they are at a restaurant; I would venture to say, though, that the service at Our Daily Bread is much better than that of most restaurants. Our group members occupied a myriad of positions during our service there: serving tea, carrying a basket of assorted bread to distribute, cleaning tables, running meals from the kitchen to the server, and washing pots and pans. After we finished cleaning up after the meal, we traveled back to our place of residency for the week, Sarah’s House. This group of buildings functions as a homeless shelter and transitional housing unit for families and individuals who are struggling financially. However, much more than housing is afforded to the residents at Sarah’s House. A daycare is offered for working parents, as well as after-school program where kids are assisted with homework. There is a tutoring program offered every night, and even a yoga class once a week. In talking with several of the mothers living there, I learned that even though the rules at Sarah’s House were strict, they felt that the services provided were invaluable to the families’ quality of life. We continued our service at Our Daily Bread and Sarah’s House on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On Thursday, however, we changed our routine by spending a day at Gallagher Services, a facility for people with developmental disabilities. I participated in an art therapy class with a few of these individuals, and discovered, to my dismay, that I apparently held some stereotypes about people with developmental disabilities. After working with some of the residents I realized just how similar we all are to one another, no matter what disability we may have. Later that night we ventured to the Hispanic Apostolate of Baltimore, where we helped to tutor several individuals in their English speaking skills. This ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip! The service opportunities during this trip were phenomenal; I met so many interesting people and was able to break a lot of stereotypes that I did not even know I held. However, just as important as the service, for me, were the conversations that I shared with other members of the group, as well as the nightly reflections that we had together. I had a fantastic time getting to know all of these wonderful people, but more importantly, I learned something from each and every one of them. This trip has been truly eye-opening in so many ways. I have become even more aware of the severity of homelessness and hunger in the United States, but I also learned more about so many wonderful organizations that fight to solve this issue. As a social work major, this trip was priceless in that it reassured me that I am studying something about which I am truly passionate. It is strange to think how much one week can change your life. However, in my short time in Baltimore, I gained an even greater appreciation of the opportunities I have been afforded, and a stronger drive to help others who have not had these opportunities. FROM THE FRONT DESK Hello. I guess our longawaited Spring has arrived. That means more people are out and coming into the Coalition for their morning coffee break. We are trying to recruit donations for coffee supplies which we desperately need. Our poor old coffee pot is on its last legs because it is used so much. A new 12-cup coffee pot would be nice. We always have a need for cans of coffee, sugar (packs or regular), creamer (packs or regular) and medium Styrofoam cups. Any inexpensive brand will do. The individuals I serve are not Starbucks people. We have to totally rely on the kindness and goodness of people like you to provide this coffee service, since we are a non-profit organization and do not have the funding for this extra service. The volunteer who brings donated goodies from Panera Bread to us every week, Susan Smith, and I try to donate supplies whenever we can. But we sure can use some help. You may either donate the products themselves or drop them off Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p;.m. at 117 East 12th Street, or send a check to GCCH and mark it for coffee supplies. Thank you very much. Linda Pittman, GCCH Receptionist Hey, College and High School Students! Interested in Serving Others? Want to Change the World? —Alternative Breaks —Homeless Curriculum —Arrange an Awareness Event on Campus —Visit from our Speaker’s Bureau Contact Andy Freeze, Education Coordinator, Homeless Coalition, to learn more 421-7803. ext. 14 Streetvibes Page 7 �Mother’s Day is May 13th. Whether she is a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a wife, or a sister, Mother’s Day is our chance to show that special woman in our life how much she means to us. Mother’s Day is also a chance to honor the spirit of mothering. Mothers are there to make sure we are clothed, clean, fed, safe, and warm. They are there to tuck us in and kiss away the tears. They are there to read to us, to listen, and to steer us down the right path. The picture above was drawn by 9 year old Asherah, one of many participants in a statewide Mother’s Day card contest for young people. Asherah won the contest because of her touching ability to capture the sprit of support, love and family. Asherah was a resident of a local shelter at the time she drew this picture of her family. Her family is one of 5,000 in Cincinnati who will experience homelessness this year. Nationally, 3.5 million people experience homelessness over the course of a year. Homeless families make up over 40% of that population. This year in Cincinnati alone, over 8,000 children will experience homelessness with their mothers. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless has been working for 23 years to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. We firmly believe that by coming together as a community, we can reach this goal. We need your help to erase homelessness from childhood memories. This year, truly honor the mothers in your life by making a special donation in their honor. We will send Asherah’s Mother’s Day card to the honoree before Mother’s Day, along with a notification that a donation has been made in their name. What better way to appreciate the woman who raised you than by helping other women raise themselves and their children out of homelessness? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------By sending this completed form along with your minimum donation of $10, Asherah’s Mother’s Day card will be sent to the person you designate below. The card will inform the recipient that a donation has been made in her name to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Your name, address, and phone number ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name and address of the person to whom we should send the card ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Who should the donation be placed in honor of/in memory of? Who should we say the card is from? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like the card sent to an additional person, please indicate on another sheet of paper the same information as above. Send this form along with your donation in the enclosed envelope to: The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 This Mother’s Day, how will you show your mother that you really care? Page 8 Streetvibes �Venice on Vine: Pizzas and Hoagies 1301 Vine Street Open 11-7 Monday- Friday. West End Catering: lunch and dinner catering services for local organizations and businesses. 221-7020. COUPON Venice on Vine 1301 Vine Street Buy one get one free. Buy any hoagie, small or medium pizza or salad, get a second of same or lower value free. One coupon/customer. Offer good through April 30, 2007. Power… Inspiration… Progress... Meaningful Employment... A Living Wage Brenda Green’s “French Villa” Room New Cincinnati Health Van Visits Shelters by Georgine Getty On March 20, at a special reception hosted by Impact 100 at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center, the board and staff of the Cincinnati Health Network got their first glimpse of the brand new Mobile Medical Van. The Mobile Medical Van of the Cincinnati Healthcare for the Homeless program is staffed by three physicians, Dr. Susan Montauk, Dr. Bob Donovan and Dr. Nancy Elder, one family nurse practitioner, Brenda Greene, and a variety of medical students and residents who use the training they receive on the van to hone their skills and learn the importance of providing care to all people. Currently, the van visits a number of local shelters; the Drop Inn Center, Mr. Airy Shelter, Tender Mercies, Anna Louise Inn, Volunteers of America, First Step Home, the YWCA, and Interfaith Hospitality Network. Care is provided for men, women and children, with adult men making up the largest portion of patients. Acute care is provided for short-term problems (like infections, pain, and injuries) chronic care for long-term problems (like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease) and some mental health care (depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse). In addition, there is a focus on preventive care, including immunizations, pap smears, blood pressure and cholesterol screening, TB testing, HIV testing, infectious disease testing, and referrals for mammography screenings. The mobility of the van is what makes it unique. Often, homeless individuals are left without healthcare, forced to wait until problem becomes life-threatening enough to justify a visit to the emergency room. The Mobile Medical Van parks outside of the shelters and offers door-to-door no wait services to the clients inside. In addition, clients praise the warm and understanding staff who serve them capably without passing judgment. The van has been in operation since 1992, but the old van had seen better days, spending more days in the shop in 2006, than it did on the streets due to an aging engine, generator and a host of mechanical problems. But all that has changed. In October, 2006, Impact 100 a local non profit organization, made a donation of $110,000 towards the purchase of a new Medical Van. Impact 100 is a group comprised of women who each donate $1,000 a year, pooling their money so that they can make donations on a large scale to better the community. Impact 100 gives two grants each year and this year’s gifts went to the Cincinnati Health Network for the purchase of the new van and to the Wyoming Fine Arts Center’s Touchstone Project which provides stringed instruments to at risk elementary students. Armor was then contracted to construct the van. Armor is the company that created the McMicken Dental Van and the Jewish Hospital Mammography van. The van was designed by the health professionals who will use it and contains several features added for the comfort of the clients and the easy flow of movement throughout the small space. These details range from the nice, such as the radio and ornate doorknobs, to the necessities like the two exam tables, the refrigerator for storing medications, the easy to clean vinyl floors and the filing space for client records. Brenda Green, Bob Donovan and Nancy Elder who will staff the van, eagerly rushed from room to room in the new van, talking about what would go where. “This is my room, the French villa!” proclaimed Green, laughing as she walked into the exam room decorated with flowered wallpaper. “I can’t believe this. This is really great,” Green concluded. “It is so wonderful. It is of the quality that our patients deserve. We can store more things and it’s so much easier for our patients to get in and out of,” added Dr. Elder. Kate Bennett, director of the Cincinnati Health Network is excited to see the van up and running. “It’s so rare that homeless people get something that is new, not a hand-me-down from somewhere else,” she said. After the completion of the van’s exterior paint and the ironing out of a few details, the van should be up and running on the streets of Cincinnati in early April, treating nearly 2000 patients at over 8000 visits each year. The doctors, nurses and staff of the van are eager to get back to work on their new van. Said Dr. Donovan, “It is exactly what taking care of them (homeless clients) should be. It’s what the people we serve deserve.” Goodbye, Cicadas! Dr.’s Donovan and Elder and CHN board member Kay Atkins enjoy the new van. Streetvibes Page 9 �72 Hours (Real Change News, USA) by Rosette Royale SEATLE - Usually, Michael Brooks would have taken the bus home. But on the evening of Feb. 5, he decided to walk. After all, the 62 year old reasoned, the exercise would do him good. Stepping out of Seattle Central Community College (SCCC), where he’d just finished up in the Computer Center, he took a gander at his watch. 9:35 p.m. And under a nighttime sky blanketed by clouds, he began his journey to Madison Valley. Brooks headed north on Broadway. When he got to Denny, he turned right, traveling east. As he ventured homeward, he passed Cal Anderson Park “As I proceeded to walk,” says Brooks, “[a] police officer shined his flashlight on me, and he asked me stop.” He says the officer requested identification; Brooks handed it over. Then, he says, the officer spoke into the microphone attached to his shoulder strap, saying something to the effect of, “I think we have a suspect here.” Asked by a number of officers where he was coming from, Brooks says he told them SCCC. Then he says he heard one officer say they wanted to bring the victim by. That’s when Brooks, a Black man who’s called Seattle home since 1980, says he began to get worried. Soon afterwards, a squad car pulled up. Brooks says he couldn’t see through the glass, but heard a female voice say, “Affirmative.” Brooks says after that he was handcuffed. When he asked what the crime was, he says he was shocked to hear the officer’s response: “Attempted rape and assault.” He was read his rights, he says. Then he was placed in the back of a squad car and driven to the East Precinct, where he was held for an hour and a half. From there, he was taken to King County Jail. Given scrubs to wear, Brooks says he visited a nurse, and after having his blood pressure taken and responding to a few of her questions, he was placed - for no reason he can determine - on suicide watch. The next afternoon, in court at a first appearance, a judge, upon examining a police report determines whether there’s probable cause in an alleged charge - bond was set for $25,000. Unable to raise the funds (Brooks works as a dishwasher at Elysian Fields in SoDo, bringing home $9 an hour), he was left to share a cell with close to 20 others, where he remained, until he was eventually released on Feb. 8. No charges were filed at the time. All told, from the moment Brooks was picked up to the moment he was set free, he’d been held for just shy of 72 hours. That was over a month ago. But for Brooks, the humiliation and confusion surrounding those three days remains fresh. He says he’s got questions for the police. “I want to know why I was arrested, and why I had to stay in there so long,” says Brooks. “And why I was just dropped off in the system.” To help ferret out answers, Brooks has obtained pro bono legal assistance from Sunil Abraham, staff attorney at the Racial Disparity Project, which sits within the Defender Association. Abraham says that they’ve tried to obtain a copy of the incident report from the police in order to view their perspective. But they were informed, says Abraham, with the case still being open, that the only way to release the report is for Brooks’ legal counsel to initiate a discovery process. But such an undertaking, counters Abraham, represents a Catch-22 as Brooks would have to be charged with a crime in order for the discovery process to be set in motion. “It’s not clear what it’s going to take [to obtain the report],” says Abraham, who adds that Brooks has written to the police specifically requesting parts of the report that pertain directly to him. A media relations officer for the SPD says police investigators have sent the case across the street, to the prosecutor’s office. Senior deputy prosecuting attorney Dan Donohoe acknowledges his office has received the case and that it’s under review. As there’s still some follow-up investigation going on, Donohoe says, as of March 20th, that no decision has been made as to whether charges will be filed. Abraham says that even though Brooks was told he was not being charged at the time, he wonders what will happen if Brooks, at any time in the future, is arrested again. Will the arrest be expunged from his record, or, asks Abraham, “Is this incident going to come back to haunt him?” Haunting Brooks now are his feelings over how he was treated during those three days from arrest to The Verdict is in. Streetvibes ROCKS! s ibe v t ee Str Page 10 Streetvibes Answers To Soduko Puzzle on Page 6 release. He says that when he was being driven to the East Precinct ­ during which time Brooks says an officer commented that he had a “squeaky clean record” - he suggested to the officers they take him to SCCC, to have someone in the computer center verify he’d just been there. “But that never happened,” says Brooks. Even with all his concerns, including the monetary strain produced by two days’ lost wages, Brooks says he wants people to know about what happened to him, so that people are aware how race played a part in his arrest. “I want people to know,” says Brooks, “that innocent Black men and AfricanAmerican men in the community are being stopped for nothing and just being taken off to jail.” Seattle police picked up but never charged Michael Brooks, 62, who spent three days in the King County Jail on the basis, he says, of his race. Quotes Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience... therefore [individuals] have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring.” - Nürnberg International Military Tribunal “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” - Plato “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.” - Ben Franklin “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” - Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) �Federal Minimum Wage Increase Gains Momentum by David Lohr The November elections were a resounding success for advocates of increasing the minimum wage nationwide, with six states passing ballot measures for a wage hike and Democrats taking control of Congress. Citizens in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Ohio voted to raise their states’ wages above the federal minimum of $5.15 per hour set in 1997, with annual increases tied to inflation. Established by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the federal minimum wage has not been raised in nearly a decade, the longest period without an increase since its inception. Adjusted for inflation, the rate is at its lowest since 1955, and its purchasing power has decreased 20% in the last 10 years, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). In fact, an employee working 40 hours per week year-round would earn just $10,712 at the current rate; the federal poverty threshold for a family of four is $19,157. Still, only 28 states plus the District of Columbia will have minimum wages over the federal level in 2007. With voter opinion surging in favor of the changes, Congressional Democrats want to raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour over the next two years. Congressman-elect Keith Ellison (DMinn.) told the Minnesota Daily in November that a wage increase should not even be a debate because it goes to the core of our values. “In America, there is a sort of social contract that says if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead,” Ellison said. “Raising the minimum wage makes sense.” According to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C., a raise to $7.25 would have a tremendous impact on “disadvantaged” workers, the segment of the population who needs it the most. The institute’s research shows that the benefits of the increase help the poorest segment of the working class the most. While the households in the bottom one-fifth of wage earnings only make up 5% of national income, 38% of the minimum wage increase benefits would go to these workers. Supporters of the increase argue that, while it is a step in the right direction, much more needs to be done to bolster the low-income American worker. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program Gets Proclamation conversation with a request From Mayor minute that Mayor Mallory proclaim April by Lynne Ausman Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) has been meeting on a regular basis. At the last Mayor’s Night In, homeless youth and advocates spoke with Mayor Mallory about youth homelessness in Cincinnati. The youth ended the five 20, 2007 as “Youth Empowerment Day.” Mayor Mallory gladly accepted this request. The proclamation states: Be It Proclaimed: Whereas, between 30 and 35 percent of all homeless Now (ACORN), the nation’s largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, organizes campaigns nationwide lobbying for higher minimum and living wages. “On November 7th, we did the job that Congress refused to do by taking a pay raise to the people,” ACORN President Maude Hurd said. “We want elected officials at all levels to pay attention to the mandate that voters laid down: hard working families deserve a better deal—that should be the first order of business.” Small business owners, however, are not happy with the changes. According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), raising the minimum wage will result in job losses as small businesses, responsible for two-thirds of the new jobs created nationwide, struggle to absorb the increased labor costs. Randel K. Johnson, U.S. Chamber of Commerce vice president for labor, immigration and employee benefits agrees. “Small businesses cannot simply wave a magic wand to create more revenue when lawmakers pass these types of bills,” Johnson said. “It is these businesses, the backbone of our economy, which will be hurt the most by this proposal.” According to David Neumark, senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, an increased minimum wage would act as a tax of sorts on the use of unskilled workers, so employers who do not want to pay unskilled workers more than current wages would simply replace them with more qualified individuals. “Policies that encourage employers to hire low-skilled workers, that encourage work and most importantly that raise skill levels, need to be considered as essential components of the policy mix,” he said. While being forced to pay a higher wage may cause employers to be more selective in their hiring, other leading scholar’s dispute arguments that increased wages will lead to a decrease in jobs. In October, 650 leading economists, including five Nobel Prize winners, released a statement through the Economic Policy Institute in support of the proposed federal increase. “[T]he minimum wage helps to equalize the imbalance in bargaining power that low-wage workers face in the labor market …,” they wrote. “While controversy about the precise employment effects of the minimum wage continues, research has shown that most of the beneficiaries are adults, most are female, and the vast majority is members of low-income families.” Though there is research to support both sides of the minimum wage debate, if November’s election is any indication, wages will likely continue to rise nationwide as the movement gains public support. individuals in Cincinnati are youth between the ages of zero and twenty-four; and, Whereas, Cincinnati’s youth who experience homelessness are among the most vulnerable of becoming homeless adults and empowering these youth will greatly reduce this vulnerability; and, Whereas, Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program will enable homeless youth to be their own self-advocates and develop leadership and teamwork skills; and, Whereas, the City has an enhanced image because of their acknowledgement, understanding, and concern of the barriers which homeless youth face and the City has given its support for the Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program; and, Whereas, the youth involved with the Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program have demonstrated a passion and a desire to help each other overcome homelessness through advocacy and community service; and, Whereas, the Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program members also have a desire to make Cincinnati a safer, better community for all its citizens, but especially youth citizens; and, Whereas, today April 20, 2007, the Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program will be hosting a peaceful rally to inform the public about youth who experience homelessness and poverty. Now, Therefore, I, Mark Mallory, Mayor of the City of Cincinnati do hereby proclaim April, 20, 2007 as “Youth Empowerment Day” in Cincinnati. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused this seal of the City of Cincinnati to be affixed this fourteenth day of March in the year Two Thousand and Seven. Streetvibes Cincinnati YEP meeting is every other Thursday at 5:30pm at Elementz. Elementz is on the corner of Liberty and Central Parkway. All youth are welcome to attend our next meeting on April 12, 2007. Check out the Cincinnati YEP Myspace page at: www.myspace.com/ youth_empowerment_program, 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 $5.00 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 Printing and Production: 25 cents About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... 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 earned. This program has helped 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... Buy STREETVIBES! Check Vendors Badge Don’t be Squirrelly! 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. Buy Streetvibes! Page 12 Streetvibes �Gordon Maham – A Man of Peaceful Intent by Mary Ann Lederer Gordon Maham is an organic farmer; a retired civil engineer; an inventor; a collector of junk which he rebuilds and recycles; an animal lover and protector; a vegetarian; an environmentalist; a widower; a father of 4 and grandfather of 2. He is one of the kindest, most gentle people I have ever known. And he is the only person I know personally who really knows how to live in peace and harmony with nature, how to live directly from the land. He knows how to survive there, and he treats insects and buzzards with the same love and respect he shows all people. He has a disposition that never ceases to amaze. He spends almost no money on himself, gives to anyone in need and then gives more. At age 89 (90 in January, 2007) he continues to work actively for a peaceful planet and a kinder distribution of resources. It’s over 45 years since Gordon Maham choose to spend 3 years in Ashland Federal Prison by refusing to report for induction into the military. He had registered for the draft as a conscientious objector, but the draft board refused to grant him C.O. status. He took several military jobs that he hoped would be of peaceful intent, one building the Panama Canal, another with the Manhattan Project. He did this to avoid the draft board. When he realized the Manhattan Project in Oakridge, Tennessee was actually a nuclear bomb production plant, he quit. He made the decision that a jail sentence was preferable. Now he returns frequently to Oakridge to continue his protest against nuclear weapons. Since that time he has lived a wonderful life in sync with his heart and his conscience. Gordon is the most helpful person I’ve ever known. He has long lists of people he helps with all kinds of problems. For a number of years he built me a vegetable garden every summer to help me with health problems. Brian Garry describes Gordon as “a person who has taught me how to live correctly… a measuring stick…almost perfection. Buy nothing. Stop the bomb. Who cares what others think. Kindness. Gentlest. Utterly peaceful. Anti war, anti racist, anti-war on the poor. Anti roots of homelessness, anti-poverty. Peaceful Planet Person…child friendly. Mac’s right hand man.” Gordon helped me home school my son. He teaches me how to laugh, how to get along with people. I’ve traveled with him around the country to DC, New York, Tennessee and Georgia spreading the message of peace and non-violence. Gordon is a true example of a life well lived for others. An inspiration, a shining beacon for us all. Gordon believes in helping others. He helps people with: food for the hungry, (he grows it himself (organically!) friendship to the friendless, love for the loveless, homes for the homeless (literally) has bought people homes and kept many from becoming homeless, including me! Clothes for the naked. Helps the violent with non-violence, the penniless with money from his small monthly social security checks – he spends the entire amount each month on people in need, he offers joy to the depressed, visits to those locked up, shut-in, in the hospital or in nursing homes. If he has a fault it’s in helping others too much. Gordon also recruits others in his mission to help and serve. In the past I’ve described him as “a person who has taught me how to live correctly… a measuring stick…almost perfection. Buy nothing. Stop the bomb. Who cares what others think? Gordon has meant the world to me. Edging me to do the right thing when I’m being tested or tempted to do something not so right. Like an Angel he calls at the opportune moment to step in, as if from God. He calls this serendipity, although lately he has been calling it Psychic. He has a supernatural relationship with animals, buzzards, horses, cats, birds, Great Horned Owls, and Coyotes all of which he feeds, Gordon is sent from God. We’ve built squirrel habitats, healed horses, and attended funerals, he testified at my trial. He has had me help him in his mission of serving those he cares for, driving all over the country-side for their sake. He especially enjoys the company of people coming to weed the Garden, Garden Gordon. In a sense that’s what Gordon does, he weeds out that which is bad or unnecessary in us and in the world and all that is left are beautiful helpful productive things to grow in our hearts and in the world So if you want to do something for him or spend time in his company then stop by and weed the Garden figuratively or literally. ‘Black Widows’ to stand trial for murder of homeless men LOS ANGELES - Helen Golay, 76 and Olga Rutterschmidt, 74, have been dubbed the “Black Widows” for the scheme, which allegedly saw them befriend two homeless men and take out life Insurance policies on them before having them killed. Los Angeles Superior Court judge David Wesley said after a four-day preliminary hearing there was enough evidence for the two pensioners to stand trial on murder and conspiracy charges. The women are alleged to have killed Kenneth McDavid, 50, in June 2005 and Paul Vados, 73, in November 1999, according to prosecutors. Both men died in hitand-run crashes. Prosecutors told the court Golay and Rutterschmidt paid rent on behalf of the two men along with life insurance premiums for two years in order to create the impression of close ties to their victims. The women lied to insurance investigators about their relationship with the dead men, claiming to be a fiancé or a cousin in several cases, in order to secure multiple insurance policies, prosecutor Shellie Samuels said. Lawyers for the women had called for the case to be dismissed, claiming that the evidence of “inappropriate insurance practices” did not prove involvement in the victim’s deaths. The women are alleged to have killed Kenneth McDavid, 50, in June 2005 and Paul Vados, 73, in November 1999, according to prosecutors. Both men died in hitand-run crashes. Prosecutors told the court Golay and Rutterschmidt paid rent on behalf of the two men along with life insurance premiums for two years in order to create the impression of close ties to their victims. The women lied to insurance investigators about their relationship with the dead men, claiming to be a fiancé or a cousin in several cases, in order to secure multiple insurance policies, prosecutor Shellie Samuels said. Lawyers for the women had called for the case to be dismissed, claiming that the evidence of practices” did not prove involvement in the victim’s deaths. Program helps homeless cope GASTONIA, N.C. — Project Connect began in San Francisco and quickly spread to cities across the nation. On Friday, Gastonia held its own version, giving the area’s homeless one place to find services they need to get back on their feet. From haircuts to services, food, clothes and just a person to talk to, Project Connect had it all under one roof at First United Methodist Church. “We’re trying to help the homeless find jobs, get back on their feet, find housing and get them back in the mainstream of life,” said Gastonia Mayor Jennie Stultz. From haircuts to services, food, clothes and just a person to talk to, Project Connect had it all under one roof at First United Methodist Church. Stultz says the city has a 10-year plan to end homelessness and Project Connect is just part of the agenda. It has proven successful in other cities across the country. National statistics show that 1 percent of any community can be calculated as homeless. Stulz says right now many people she encounters are working poor who can’t afford rent, and that needs to change. Wanda Stevens says although she has a home, she still Streetvibes struggles, but events like this give her hope. “Everything is just so high, it’s hard for people to make it,” she said. Gastonia plans to put together another event like this in October. Asheville held Project Connect in December. Project Connect also works hard in Cincinnati to provide services to homeless youth. Page 13 �Without Blues WRITTEN FOR THE THREE HOMELESS WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO A SERIAL KILLER IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON We come today contrite yet compelled, confused yet confident, alone and in pain. In this the process of healing we are the puzzles whose pieces have vanished, we are the Jesters whose antics mask pain. We are the ghostly stampede of dying Buffalos across the arid plains mammoth and unruly, furied and bold, majestic and free. Cabin Fever Virginia Conn I’m freezing, so I tack flannel sheets under the blinds, discovering the frost has resurrected the finger oils of someone named Linda. Twice the precise lettering appears, well out of reach of a child’s hand. The window overlooks the street. I’ve stood there, impatient for mail or visitors, yet this is the first I’ve heard from her. I scan my studio for other traces, blaming her for the erratic nails, especially one eye level screw, dead center, that no painting hangs from comfortably. I start to attribute other mischief We do not die easily to her; misplaced keys and night knocks, but bellow out in rage the names of slain ancestors then fear she may be trapped, the bitter who speak from darkened dreams of more glory-full days. cold compelling her to contact me. ”I never got out. It never warmed up.” We I keep checking the pane for further word. are not dead but merely unseen. I remind myself: It is winter everywhere. On shadowy mountains, along desolate rivers, Outside, Buffalo trudges past, layered in amongst fleeting consciousness and the kindness of clothes like shuck on corn. Like that screw, strangers an act of defiance, Linda versus concrete, these ghost-like spirits run free. in relief of the wide white wall. Lonnie Nelson For all those who have seen drugs, alcoholism and abuse tear their families apart. Without the stub of crocus, the breeze through cedar and hills to climb in the soft light of January I would be lost. Without the picket lines’ “How you doing?”— friends sitting around at the table while November rains, I would wash away in tears. Without my pencil, the work that must be done, the brothers and sisters in the strong August sun, I would go over the edge. Wolf The Soup Song A depression era song, to the tune of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”. Words updated by Ruth A. Fox I’m spending my nights in the shelter, I’m spending my days on the street, I’m looking for work and I find none, I wish I had something to eat. Soo-oop, soo-oop, they give me a bowl of soo-oo­ oop. Soo-oop, soo-oop, they give me a bowl of soup! I spent twenty years in the fact’ry, I stayed home and raised up the kids. My man beat me one time to often; I left him and then hit the skids. Galaxie You could call me a night owl, or you could think of me as the wolf. You won’t see me much during the day, but alas, when you are asleep, I’ll be there in your dreams, sometimes to comfort, sometimes to torment you, for I am your nightmares. I am your dreamscapes, I am the things that you fear and fail to understand. I am the night, I am the darkness. I come and I take away the pain, though I can also make it worsen. Do not cross the night. Because the night, like the wolf, has no fear of the dark. by Kris Schon To Be, to Become To be, to become to believe in yourself the inner voice that propels you forward Soo-oop, soo-oop, they give me a bowl of soo-oo­ a waterfall of wisdom of life oop. fears and rejections Soo-oop, soo-oop, they give me a bowl of soup! triumphs and tragedies I fought in the war for my country, laughter and hope I went out to bleed and to die; belly button stuff I thought that my country would help me, the main course But this is my country’s reply: at life’s banquet for those wishing to attend. Soo-oop, soo-oop, they give me a bowl of soo-oo­ grateful are the many who stand firm oop. in a brisk breeze Soo-oop, soo-oop, they give me a bowl of soup! head up, eye to eye I fell on my knees down at Welfare; with the dragon. I swore to be honest and good; Flickering stars I begged them to renew my benefits; candles lit And now I’ve received my award. from your strength your courage Soo-oop, soo-oop, they give me a bowl of soo-oo­ your hope your faith, burning on. oop. MOON art by Darcie Day If, in a moment frantic my mad beauty, I, tiny moan could see you then, when it felt honeyful live, ache, drunk still after love. My delirious goddess we worship a moon lake rain and blue; The summer gift. A woman some enormous power less part delicate sleep. Soo-oop, soo-oop, they give me a bowl of soup! Page 14 Streetvibes Sycamore on the Ohio Gaunt and precarious, a sycamore leans out over the winter Ohio. In the flood season, when the waters tear at the banks, the black reptilian bodies of oak, cottonwood, catalpa float downstream, half-submerged. But this sycamore holds fast, for now, its place in the earth. The roots on the eroded river side reach out, dig their mottled heels in the sand, and brace themselves among the beds of the mussels and the gravelly nests where catfish spawn. Stripped bare by the floods, these roots are like the granite buttresses of cathedrals or, like great vegetal pythons, or, like the knees of gods at rest. Behind them, the bank side roots, curtained in silt, set out to explore the interstitial corridors of the subsoil. They cast their nets wide in the darkness. They pass along the stations of the mole and follow the paths of the worm and the nematode. They sift with their white fingers through the mineral amalgam of sand, leafmeal, shell, fish scale, rusted hook, and chips of mica. They penetrate the caskets of clay and tell no secrets. They press into the crevices of the layered limestone and trace the flutes of the scalloped fossil. They pore over shards of the Adena, splinters of brick, and fragments of broken glass polished like discarded jewels. They pry among the bones of the hanged man and touch, as if it were a relic, the pierced heart of someone’s drowned daughter, �This is where it begins... Second Home Madeline Lewis When you call me YELLOW, WIMP, FINK (this feels like abuse) I will forgive you When you call me SNAKE, SLIME, WORM (this feels like abuse) I will forg i v e Stan Buriss (Thanksgiving Day ’97) to: Planet Hollywood Folks & Restaurant You could stand. Then you would stand alone! Not without friends, you understand—with When you call me CLOD, CLOWN, C#$% (this feels like abuse) I will turn When you call me PIG, SLOB, SLUT (this feels like abuse) I will turn away When you call me WHORE (this feels like (IS) abuse) I will turn away from you this circle beneath your eyes, far from a real center. Broken from the ends! Sharp, where the best ends are broken for the last time (if you call it the last). Only then, if you use your real name. Is this how you treat your women, children, people surely I’m not the first, nor will I be the last will the next issue become physical or perhaps someone will die I can not change the world do I even want to try maybe someday we can stop the lie sing a song of violation equivocation demarcation supplication tribulation and truncation sing a song of subterfuge a deadly ruse loving abuse and splitting in twos and no way to choose sing a song of fighting free a warrior’s creed survival fees ptsd and healing mes. Standing with Dignity Paul von Kempf, JR. Standing here with dignity waiting through all kinds of weather selling Real Change Newspaper Waiting for those smiling eyes hopeful wanting to be helpful to say paper please Can you see that your generosity is appreciated? Standing here with dignity I see another kind of eyes Cold cruel and full of contempt Walking past me without seeing Taking the long way around Can you see my pain? Change will come when that is your CHOICE I only have a VOICE Remember to look in the mirror and see the images of yourself in the labels you put on others Do I jerk you out of your coccoon,when I say hello? do I jerk you back to reality? When your words are used in haste you take the warm loving feelings I had and turned them cold you wonder why there is no response I turn in disbelief for it is of no use I did not deserve your ABUSE Standing here with dignity I have time to reflect on why I am selling Real Change Newspaper In another time and another place I have had several jobs I have lost them to accident, illness, disease or my bigshot ideas Society deals harshly with people who have bigshot ideas where is the forgiveness? It has nothing to do with forgiveness but of ABUSE Battle Plan I Shall Die Heather’s Page Jose Ornelas I am Indigenous. I am a conquered peoples, one of many. What next? Will I be bitter? Who will I try to conquer? My women, or child? You? No, brothers and sisters, I will surrender so that I may rise. Surrender to my hunger. Accept my humanity. Embrace...us. My nation became a gang, now it will be a nation again. Heart to heart Love to love one two three nations under a groove. We will marry each other and see all the children as our own. I am lucky because I am not the inheritor of the legacy of the overseer. I don’t hold the whip, I never did. When it is finished we will bury the past; weep for it and then sing for the future. today I am standing here with dignity selling Real Change Newspaper Waiting for those smiling eyes to say paper please I hope you can see my gratitude for your generosity. Berta’s Art Corner Uncovered Ceiling, Carew Tower, Cincinnati Elizabeth Romero The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. You can see it in her eyes, her wary sidelong glance. The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. Her clothes flap loosely in the wind. Her red shoes clash. The woman coming toward you carries the patient rage of her mother and her mother before that like that cracked plastic handbag. 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 357-5720 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 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Kathy Y. Wilson ‘Poor Little Rich Me’ Guest Columnist T April 2007 Katrina Clean-up Continues 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 2007 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 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Poor Little Rich Me The Effects of Hurricane Katrina Still Being Felt Pg 2: Wilson Continued Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: This is the Second in a Streetvibes Series on; Poverty and Addiction Pg 5: Homeless World Cup California: Advocates Win ‘Homeless FreeZones’ Lawsuit Pg 6: Katrina Continued Pg 7: My Experiences in Baltimore Pg 8: Mother’s Day Pg 9: New Cincinnati Health Van Visits Shelters Pg 10: 72 Hours Pg 11: Federal Minimum Wage Increase Gains Momentum Pg 12: About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes Pg 13: Gordon Maham- A Man of Peaceful Intent 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 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Matt Cohen Jimmy Heath Berta Lambert Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF addiction Andy Freeze Baltimore Berta Lambert California Cincinnati Cincinnati Youth Empowerment Program Free Zones GCCH Georgine Getty Gordon Maham Health Van Homeless News Digest Hurricane Katrina Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Matt Cohen Mayor Melvin Williams Minimum Wage poverty https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/bf0a940c638f272d6a18fe86c3b15f8a.pdf 81af792610a5aad9dab6434c831d6a4b PDF Text Text January 2007 STREETVIBES Homeless Memorial remembers the Homeless and those who have died Cover Story Cincinnati, OH – The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless remembered those homeless individuals who have passed away this year with the Annual Homeless Memorial Day, in an effort to shine a spotlight on the continuing tragedy of homelessness in our community. This year’s Memorial was held in Cincinnati’s Washington Park. The event, which featured a burning barrel to commemorate the suffering of homeless individuals who often struggle to stay warm, was held on the shortest day of the year, December 21st, 2006. “Many times, homeless individuals pass away with no one to remember them or mourn their passing. This event celebrates the lives of these often forgotten individuals,” stated Georgine Getty, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, the sponsor of this event. Getty added that the memorial takes on added importance this year due to the recent and tragic increase in “hate crimes” that target the homeless population. 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. Dozens of people listened as the names of the deceased were read aloud. 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. For over 20 years, concerned citizens, religious persons, students, homeless advocates and people experiencing homelessness have gathered on the Winter Solstice in December for the Homeless Memorial Day Every year over 30 homeless or recently homeless individuals die in Cincinnati. Often these deaths are the result of years of harsh living, lack of medical care and exposure to the elements. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a unified, social action group, fully committed to the eradication of homelessness with respect for the dignity and diversity of its membership, the homeless and the community. The coalition performs three areas of work: coordinating services, educating the public, and grassroots organizing and advocacy. To learn more about The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and this year’sAnnual Memorial Day contact Georgine Getty at (513) 421­ 7803*13, or (513) 295-8969. An Over-the-Rhine Christmas Story by Michael Flood One exceedingly cold morning in early December, with the temperature just above a single digit, I left home for work. My normal commute is a walk of two short blocks. This particular morning took a few extra minutes because I needed to remove a few items from the trunk of my car. As I rounded the corner to approach the car, I walked past the usual crew of entrepreneurs with whom I have a relationship that amounts to no more than exchanging an occasional pleasantry. These young men are always on the corner; rain, snow or sunshine, blazing heat or bitter cold, no matter the weather conditions, they are on the job, ready to sell their pharmaceutical products to their customers from all over the tri-state region. This particular morning a customer was waiting, cash in hand, to buy whatever it was he felt he needed to make it through the day, or at least the next few hours. This sorrowful, droopy eyed, slack jawed individual was standing on the corner with no shoes. The only things on his feet were some summery sandals with open toes. He was shivering uncontrollably from the cold with only a light jacket and no hat. This sad scene was brightened by the fact that as the drug dealers not only refused to take his money for their product, they admonished him to use whatever money he had to buy a pair of real shoes. Normally, I would have missed this entire exchange because I would have walked past them and gone directly to work. My delay, caused by taking a couple of trips between the car and the house, enabled me to witness not only the honorable act of the dope boys refusing the sale, but that one of them walked around the corner to a store on Vine Street and bought this gentleman two pairs of new socks. They instructed him to put them on his feet before he left the corner. He proceeded to put on one pair, throwing the other in a garbage can. This last act did not escape the attention of the drug dealers, who retrieved the socks from the garbage and promptly told him to put them on over the first pair. I have often thought about and marveled at the way of life of the drug dealers. Though much maligned, they have an amazing work ethic. They show up every day of the week, without regard for the weather conditions. They have developed a devoted clientele, who, judging from the license plates that flow by each and every day, come from far and wide. I have noticed customers from the teen years, to people who appear to be well into their seventies. The drug dealers are there because there are people in need. Something in their lives needs attention, so, just as some people attempt to resolve a medical condition with a prescribed drug from their family doctor, some others need to fix what ails them with a self-prescribed drug. The people who come are from every walk of life. Some appear to be homeless; others appear to be working class, driving up in every imaginable type of work vehicle. Others seem to be quite well off financially, arriving in late model cars, well dressed, on their way to work downtown. Just like a drive- up coffee establishment offering the latest latte, the drug consumers can drive up and leave with their drug of choice and be sent on their way with a friendly smile. I was heartened to see that these young men, manning their posts under brutal circumstances, had the good and common sense to care about their customers more immediate need rather than his next fix and their bottom line. His life was in danger and they did something to help him, they clothed him against the bitter cold. How many of us would have even noticed this poor person’s feet, let alone do something about 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 Cover Homeless Memorial in Washington Park 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 Breaking the Barriers by Jimmy Heath somewhat naive, especially for As time goes by, nothing someone who actually lives in Over­ changes. Wars are played out. People the-Rhine. suffer gut-wrenching poverty. There At the turn of the century are hungry children in Over-the-Rhine Vine Street had theaters, concert halls and everywhere else. Homeless and more cafes per square foot than people are buried so deep in the cycle any other street in the United States. that they can’t seem to dig their way Because of Vine Street, Cincinnati out. (and I’m still sitting at the was called ”The Paris of America”. Streetvibes desk after ten years.) Bad example! The French Revolution As the world closes in on us, of 1789 is recognized as one of the thanks to technology, we can see what most significant and violent events in is happening in the world and in our world history. There was an upsurge own backyard without leaving the TV in Anti-Semitism. Paris was a room. Just the same, it’s shocking dangerous place. what some people don’t War staged the know about their city. different classes against Crime, race, poverty and one another - pitting the homelessness are clergy and the lumped into the same commoners against the assortment, signaling out nobles. There was the depravity from the poverty everywhere well-heeled, well among citizens of Paris. intentioned soccer moms Social mobility and Jimmy Heath living in the suburbs. equality was desired and In this city, was one of the primary children are hungry and lack the causes of the revolution. Massive proper health care. Good, safe peasant uprisings against nobles also housing is hard to find at a decent broke out in the countryside. price. The homeless struggle to Meanwhile Over-the-Rhine survive. Many say that poverty is a remains a 21st century pocket of criminal third class self-imposed poverty. The citizens of the suburbs condition. remain isolated from the realities of United Way’s State of the the grinding destitution. The depth of Region reports that the percent of thinking isolates people outside the people living in poverty in Cincinnati inner-city to hear only the bits and was 25% in 2005, a figure that pieces of truth that might leak out into continues to rise. their communities. So they go with According to a recent TV what they know. news story, what Over-the-Rhine We continue to try to educate needs is “a better mix of residents”. the middle-class about what is going Jim Tarbell, City Councilman on in this and other poor said, “This ought to be bars and neighborhoods around the city. We restaurants and music and dancing as take presentations to schools and civic it was 100 years ago.” I think this is organizations. We protest important Firecats Review Firecat Review: Cookies Firecats know that they can’t end homelessness on an empty stomach, so when their tummies start purring, they reach for their favorite Firecat food: cookies. With the holidays now behind them, this group of super homeless advocates sat down to discuss this purrrrrfect tasty treat. Firecat Chameleon: So what are we going to review? Anti-Cat and Firecat Silver: Cookies! Chameleon: It needs to be said that cookies are delicious. Firecat Blue: That goes without saying. Chameleon: No, I’ve met people who don’t like cookies. Blue: That’s a lie! Chameleon: Health nuts. Blue: They still like cookies. They just can’t have them. Anti-Cat: Homemade are best. issues at City Hall. We tell our stories. We try to close the gap so that eventually everyone will have their needs met. Inch by inch, we touch the hearts of strangers who want to do something about the current state of our society, the richest country on the planet, so that this peace will spread throughout the world. For 30 years the Over-theRhine Peoples Movement, a confederation of neighborhood development and support institutions, has been a consistent voice in advancing plans for low- and moderate-income people, and in distinguishing between gentrification and development. Decades of disinvestment on the one hand, and recent gentrification and displacement on the other, have taken their toll on the Peoples Movement’s ability to recruit members, articulate its critical voice, and sustain leadership But it doesn’t take large organizations, just a small group of people who care, rich or poor. Each individual wants to fulfill their full potential. Men and women innately desire to realize the blessing of love that is fulfilled through the ideal of the true family and being together in good health and security. People desire to live in a peaceful and harmonious society in which they can enjoy the fruits of their labor and provide a comfortable life for their families and those less fortunate. These are not only the basic goals of humanity; they are expressions of the Spirit’s purpose for mankind to be sensitive, spirited and aware of the struggles of all of those who we think are less than us. Anti-Cat: I don’t like cookies with frosting. Blue: I’m a snickerdoodle fan. Anti-Cat: What about buckeyes? All: Not Cookies! Anti-Cat: With Greasy Piecies? Chameleon: Reece’s Pieces? Many Silver: Yeah. people incorrectly say “Riecies Anti-Cat: Price Club [in Arizona] has Piecies.” very good oatmeal cookies. I enjoy Blue: Anti-Cat just said “Greasy eating them. Piecies.” All this time I thought he Silver: My family’s having a cookie- was just giving things cute nicknames, but he’s just been saying things off. I’m in a challenge. wrong. Chameleon: What’s your favorite Firecats’ Top 5 Cookies cookie? Anti-Cat: Oatmeal raisin. 1. Firecat Silver’s chocolate chip cookies Chameleon: That’s like the pseudo 2. Anti-Cat’s mom’s chocolate chip health cookie. Silver: I don’t like the ones in the cookies plastic tray at Kroger. They always 3. Snickerdoodles have sugar, sometimes oatmeal. 4. Any Girl Scout cookies Anti-Cat: Those are my favorite! 5. Free cookies Chameleon: Those are okay. Firecats’ Top 5 Not-Cookies 1. Greasy Piecies Blue: Wait…those ones from the 2. Buckeyes bakery? Silver: Yeah, they have a funny taste. 3. Green Beans (Anti-Cat’s Blue: They do! They look delicious, suggestion) 4. Boy Scout popcorn but they do have a funny taste. 5. Pie Silver: And they’re all perfectly the Best Out of Context Firecat same size. Chameleon: They should be! Review Quote Blue: No! Cookies are imperfect… Firecat Chameleon: “You’re a hot that’s why they’re perfect. little Mr. Goodbar.” Streetvibes �Homeless News Digest exception resulted in nationwide ridicule. Compiled by Jimmy Heath LONG BEACH, CA. - The motorcycle-riding host of “Monster Garage” says he will help homeless people out by offering jobs at his Long Beach, Calif., custom bike shop. People magazine reports that Jesse James, husband of actress Sandra Bullock, has found a new passion in helping out the homeless with solid paying positions at his motorcycle shop, West Coast Choppers. People says he hired his first new employee, Richard Sihock, a former warehouse worker who fell on hard times and had been homeless for about a year. He’s earning $8.50 an hour, $1.75 over California’s minimum wage level, but has the prospect of a raise. He is now able to afford a one-bedroom apartment for himself and his wife, the report said. James, 37, says he decided to reach out to help the homeless when he became aware of Project Achieve, an overnight emergency shelter, opened up across the street from his business. He’s looking for his next hire. THOUSAND OAKS - An elaborate Ventura County display of Nativity scenes from around the world has attracted thousands of visitors for more than a decade and raised more than $130,000 to care for homeless people in the area. Karen Phipps, one of the organizers, said there will be hundreds of sets on display at the 14th annual exhibit this year, but she couldn’t say exactly how many because potential exhibitors are still applying. “It’s amazing to see the types of materials people have used,” she said. “ ... Some are exquisite.” Some of the scenes depicting the birth of Jesus are made of porcelain and china, cut crystal, carved olive wood and clay. One is even made from office supplies, including light bulbs and phone cords. The display has a particular emotional significance to Nora Howells, whose late husband, Huw, came up with the idea of calling it No Room at the Inn because Jesus was homeless at his birth. Huw Howells and another collector, Judy Crenshaw, conceived the idea 17 years ago of displaying their nativity scenes for charity and using the money from visitors to help the homeless. But before he could setup the display, Huw died of cancer in 1993. MANSFIELD — This is the time of year Harmony House receives most of its donations, Vicki Kane, executive director of the 124 W. Third St. homeless shelter, said last month.. Some people reach out for help, while others pitch in to make Christmas a season of giving. As donations come in, the staff divide them into bags for each of the 60 or so clients. “Men at the shelter need socks and underwear, gloves, hats and little treats, Kane said. “Women always also need socks and underwear and appreciate little gift items.” The bags are distributed to mothers on Christmas Eve. They decide when to have Christmas with their kids. “Many (kids) have never experienced Christmas,” Kane said. Harmony House staff and clients work together to make the holidays joyful. “We encourage them to prepare a Christmas meal together, and we play carols and try to do the traditional things that make Christmas a special day. A lot of them don’t have families to visit and they get somewhat depressed,” the director said. “We try to create our own little family.” Donations of food are also welcome, with some people bringing in food, a ham or some treat not normally on the menu, Kane said. Someone called the shelter and said she would drop off an artificial Christmas tree. Kane said everyone will enjoy decorating it. WASHINGTON - The head of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County, Va., is halting an attempt to prohibit churches from donating food to homeless shelters. Chairman Gerald E. Connolly says church suppers and feeding the homeless are not going to be banned in Fairfax County, The Washington Post reported last month. Connolly blames overzealous county employees for trying to force churches to comply with a Virginia law requiring that all food served to the public must be cooked in certified kitchens. The law exempts “occasional” dinners hosted by school and church groups as well as bake sales by PTAs and sports teams. Attempts by county employees to apply the law without COLUMBIA, S.C. - Police are checking the names of homeless people at the city’s shelters to weed out those with outstanding warrants, a move angering homeless advocates. “It will keep a lot of people, even those who are not wanted by the law, from using the shelter,” said Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. So far, the checks have netted 21 arrests, all for people failing to appear in court on what city officials say are misdemeanor charges like panhandling and public intoxication. City officials say they are trying to assure the safety of the people in the shelter. “We’re going to take the extra steps to make sure we’re providing a safe atmosphere for everyone,” said Harold Reaves, the city’s deputy director of homeland security. The checks at the city’s two winter shelters surprised Victor Williams, a homeless man at one of the facilities. “What they’re doing, it’s just wrong,” he said. In past years, police sometimes showed up with a warrant for someone at a shelter, but didn’t check the sign-in sheet regularly, said Mike Lee, who now directs the city’s shelters. “This is a homeless shelter, not a safe haven for people who have violated our laws,” City Councilman Kirkman Finlay said. “We cannot in good conscience provide cover for people who are on the lam.” NEW MEXICO - It’s a story nothing short of amazing. A handful of homeless men lifted a 2 ton Cadillac off a little girl who was pinned beneath it. One of the heroes is a New Mexico man who credits his tribal heritage for saving the girl’s life. The man who helped save 9­ year-old Robyn Rubio’s life is not only tearful, but humble when he talks about his recent act of bravery. “I don’t want to be called a hero,” said Stanford Washburn. Washburn, a person who has nothing, gave everything last month to rescue Robyn. He even credits his Navajo heritage with saving her life. “I chanted for her, ‘Please don’t leave us, be with us, be well, be well.’That’s my chant,” said Washburn. Washburn calls Shiprock, N.M., his home, but right now he’s homeless. Last weekend he was drinking in an alley near the Las Vegas strip in Nevada when he saw a Cadillac hit Robyn head-on. Washburn and several other Streetvibes transients jumped up and ran to help, miraculously lifting the 5,000 pound car off of Robin’s tiny body. “I know she was scared, I know she was scared,” said Tina Rubio, Robyn’s mother. Rubio has been unable to see her daughter in intensive care. But her daughter’s small frame is being held together by pins and rods. Both of her arms were broken, her pelvis was shattered, and her leg broken. “She doesn’t know what she looks like. I don’t even think she knows what is going on,” said Rubio. What Robyn will know one day is that a homeless man from New Mexico likely saved her life. But it’s likely he won’t be the one to tell her. He’s much too humble. “I’m just one of you guys, a red-blooded human being,” said Washburn. A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Police Department said he doubts the men could have picked up the car if a child had not been underneath it. They also said it shows how humans regardless of their circumstances react to saving a life. LAS VEGAS - Calling it a safety hazard, a city official has closed a neighborhood park at the center of the city’s struggle to deal with the homeless. City manager Doug Selby ordered Huntridge Circle Park closed last month, just days after a homeless man was stabbed to death in a fight there. The three acres in a median southeast of downtown has been a daytime base for dozens of homeless. Critics have blamed Good Samaritans who hand out free meals in the park. The meal program led the City Council to pass an ordinance banning giving food to indigents. A federal judge rejected the ban. Selby said the closure had “nothing to do with the homeless” but was a safety issue. Homeless advocate Linda Lera Randle-El said she can understand the city’s desire to tackle what it considers a high-crime area, but wondered if Selby was taking extraordinary action. “Are they going to close down the Strip when someone shoots somebody?” Randle-El said. Selby said the park will remain closed until authorities find a solution to prevent crime there. Buy Streetvibes Page 3 �Think Globally, Protect The Vote Locally voted, ignoring that many were naturalized by Paul Rogat Loeb citizens. In Tucson, the Mexican American Legal Just as local cities have adopted Defense and Educational Fund photographed environmental and wage laws that exceed armed men attempting to prevent Hispanic federal standards, maybe it’s time for local voters from entering polling places. In Texas, a initiatives protecting the sanctity of the vote. federal judged stopped Republican Attorney We’ve been seeing electoral abuses and manipulations since the Bush administration took General Greg Abbott from prosecuting 13 largely elderly Democrats who took sealed power. So we need to ensure the Democrats make national electoral protection a priority. But absentee ballots from their friends to place in mail boxes. we can also act on a local level. The abuses probably weren’t on the level Though the Democratic surge took back of 2000 or 2004, in part because of major the Senate and House, some ugly actions quite likely shifted several close Congressional races. The poster race for this election’s abuses, appropriately, is Katherine Harris’s old Congressional district in Sarasota, FL. Harris’s district saw more than just voting machine problems. In the Jennings/ Buchanan election as in over 50 key races throughout the country, Republicans called voters again and again with automated robocall that led with the name of the Democratic candidate, and then followed with scurrilous attacks. Because voters tend to hang up on these harassing calls as soon as they begin, or delete them from answering systems, many assumed they were coming from the Democrats, so switched their votes in anger As a Venice, Florida, man wrote to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, “So Christine Paul Loeb Jennings lost by 368 votes. I think I can tell her why. She should sit at home and have the coordinated voter protection efforts where telephone ring twice a day, at lunch and dinner citizens monitored the polls and had lawyers on time, for two or three weeks, and then decide if call for instant intervention. But they were she should vote for the person doing the calling.” substantial enough to have probably diminished In Maryland, the Democrats won, but the margin of their victory. To prevent similar Republicans bused in homeless men from future abuses, Barack Obama’s Deceptive Philadelphia to hand out fliers in black Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act neighborhoods featuring photographsof former would make it a felony to give deliberately Congressman Kweisi Mfume and Prince misleading information on the time, date or Georges County executive Jack Johnson. location of elections, or about voter eligibility. “Ehrlich-Steele Democrats,” proclaimed the flier, In the process, they can hold visible and announced: “These are OUR Choices,” as if hearings on the entire Republican legacy of Mfume and Johnson had endorsed Republican purged voters, tossed provisional ballots, and gubernatorial and senatorial candidates, Robert voting machines culled from key Democratic Ehrlich and Michael Steele. Since both Mfume districts (perhaps building on the unofficial and Johnson unequivocally supported their hearings convened by incoming House Judiciary fellow Democrats, it was a blatant lie, as were Committee chair John Conyers about pervasive the accompanying fliers headlined “Democratic Republican-linked abuses in Ohio, during the Sample Ballot” with boxes checked in red 2004 election). If the Republicans filibuster or promoting Ehrlich and Steele. These weren’t the Bush vetoes these laws, citizens need to ensure only abuses. Republican-linked calls in various the Democrats keep pressing the issue. states gave misleading information on polling But just as local minimum wage and locations or told legitimate voters that they were enviromental ordinances often surpass federal registered in other states so would be arrested if standards, we don’t have to rely entirely on they voted. national efforts to protect the vote. Because A letter to Latino voters in Orange most of the areas targeted by voter suppression County, CA threatened jail to all immigrants who attempts are urban and minority communities, Democratic mayors, county executives and Judging Streetvibes? Buy it Now! governors already control many of the key jurisdictions. They just need to act on the potential power that they have. Former Bush-Cheney New England coordinator James Tobin has already been convicted for an illegal phone-jamming operation during the 2002 New Hampshire Senate campaign. Other states may be able to sue the NRCC and their allies as well. es b i v Perhaps former Congressman Mfume et Stre and County Executive Johnson could even sue the Republican creators of the leaflets that featured their picture-arguing that this reckless disregard for the truth defames their good name Page 4 Streetvibes by implying they endorse politicians they diametrically oppose. Whether or not these suits entirely succeed, they’d keep these profoundly antidemocratic actions in the public eye. Passing tough new local laws to protect the vote could create an immediate check against voter suppression in a situation where the Bush administration is un0likely to prosecute its own political allies. California, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin already have laws with strong penalties. Since the election, elected officials in Missouri, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have introduced bills to protect citizens from automated robocalls. Michigan already had a robocall bill on the agenda, and some Connecticut legislators are reportedly interested in addressing this as well. Statewide same-day registration laws, like those in Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota can also counter the possibility of politically driven voter purges or refusals to accept people’s registrations, not to mention encouraging voter participation in general. If state and local voter protection laws were enacted before 2008, they could prove a major deterrent against the kinds of abuses we’ve seen in the past several elections, ensuring their perpetrators could be prosecuted no matter who won at the national level. We still need strong national laws to safeguard elections in Republican controlled states-Florida, for instance, has continued its voter purges, and instituted draconian procedures and penalties that have made it virtually impossible for groups like the League of Women Voters to even begin major registration drives. But even in these situations, local initiatives can mitigate disenfranchisement. In the most recent election, California’s since-defeated Republican Secretary of State Bruce McPherson tried to reject 40% of new registrants, primarily Democratic-leaning Hispanics, by claiming they didn’t match state databases. In response, the office of Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villagarosa contacted those purged, verified their information, and got almost all of them back on the rolls. Local officials in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando could have done the same to challenge Jeb Bush and Catherine Harris when they gave Bush his 2000 victory by knocking out 94,000 largely Democratic and minority voters for supposedly being disenfranchised felons-a BBC follow-up found that 90 percent of those scrubbed were legitimate voters. Officials in Cleveland and Columbus might have countered Ken Blackwell’s purging of 300,000 largely Democratic voters in 2004, his pulling of voting machines from key urban neighborhoods, and his refusal to count ballots cast in the wrong precincts. . 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. See www.paulloeb.org To receive his monthly articles email sympa@lists.onenw.org with the subject line: subscribe paulloeb-articles �94 deaths of homeless people highlight lack of care by Warren King If you’re homeless in King County, you’ll likely live about 30 fewer years than other people in the country. You’re also about eight times more likely to commit suicide, compared with U.S. averages. You’re about twice as likely to die in an accident. And you have 13 times the chance of being murdered. That’s based on a report on homeless deaths released last month by Public Health — Seattle & King County, which studied nearly 100 King County residents who died without a home last year. “It’s very disturbing,” said Janna Wilson, director of the county’s Healthcare for the Homeless Network. “These people have a lot of barriers to early and preventive health care.” In 2005, 94 homeless people died, up 15 percent from 2004 and 22 percent from 2003. And with an average age of 47, they were relatively young compared with the current U.S. life expectancy of 77-½ years. The numbers are derived only from cases that came before the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Wilson said there are no clear explanations for the increases in deaths, from 82 deaths in 2004 and 77 deaths in 2003. But drug and alcohol deaths were a concern. Thirty died of acute intoxication in 2005, compared to 20 in 2004. “Like previous studies of homeless deaths, the causes ... continue to reflect the harsh realities and risks faced by those who live on the streets and in shelters — chronic health conditions, traumas and the troubling role of alcohol and drugs,” the report said. King County has about 8,000 homeless people. Public Health nurses and substance-abuse experts seek them out in shelters and on the streets to try to steer them toward care at community health clinics and at Harborview Medical Center. But other factors get in the way, including mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction and a lack of transportation to the clinics, Wilson said. “They all cause delays in care,” she said. “It can be very challenging.” Only about one-third of the King County homeless people who died in 2005 had seen a health-care provider during the year, the report said. Wilson notes that recent state legislation has been designed to help communities end homelessness. And Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has proposed $3 million in the 2007 city budget for a new initiative against homelessness. “We hope these new measures will help get the numbers [of deaths] going in the other direction,” Wilson said. Report: One In Six New Yorkers Goes Hungry The New York City Coalition Against Hunger released a survey last month showing a jump in the number of New Yorkers going to bed hungry. The recent report found more than 1.2 million New Yorkers, or one in six people, can’t afford adequate food, despite the fact that the unemployment rate is falling and the economy is good. Despite the cold, the line outside the Benedict Avenue food pantry in the Parkchester section of the Bronx winds around the block. “If I do not come Tuesday, I come Thursday and whatever I get I’m thankful for,” said food recipient Velma Hoyte. “Sometimes I get something; sometimes I don’t.” The study showed that between 2003 and 2005, one in six New Yorkers lived in households that did not have enough food.. “According to the New York City Coalition’s survey of pantries and kitchens there was an 11 percent rise in people going to pantries and kitchens over the last year,” said NYCCAH President Joel Berg. “New York State was the only state in the entire United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau where both poverty increased and income increased in 2005, making us the poster child for inequality,” said Berg. “The Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program has been cut. So to some level, the city, in terms of food, has seen some reduction,” said Food Bank executive director Nurah Amat’ullah. “The bottom line of this survey is that you can look around this city and be thankful for so many things, but you cannot be thankful for the fact that the number of hungry people is growing and you cannot be thankful for the fact that we are failing to meet the needs of those New Yorkers,” said City Council Speaker Cristine Quinn. Streetvibes Page 5 �Washington D.C: Woman Accused of Housing Locator Scam (Street Sense, USA) by Daniel Horner In February 2006, Alexis Twyman, looking for help in finding a place to live, went to the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, the District’s central intake office for families requesting emergency shelter assistance. From a flyer at the center, she learned about a woman named Jasmine Worthy who claimed she could find housing for homeless families. Twyman met with an associate of Worthy’s and soon turned over $600 plus a $25 application fee with the promise that the company would find an apartment for her in about two to four weeks. After that Twyman said Worthy “gave me the runaround.” She said Worthy showed her a number of apartments, but it turned out that all of them were occupied or someone else was ready to move in. “I kept asking her what she was going to do,” but Worthy didn’t give an explanation, Twyman said. “Then I got tired of it,” she said. Around the beginning of April, she asked for the money back. After Worthy did not return the money, Twyman said she eventually sought help from the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, a nonprofit that provides free legal services to homeless individuals. According to documents from the Legal Clinic and the D.C. government Worthy has taken thousands of dollars from homeless people such as Twyman and failed to deliver on her promises. Worthy denies doing anything wrong. A February 2006 report from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), said that Worthy “targets her services to persons with HIV/AIDS, exoffenders and shelter populations.” “Unfortunately, for her clients, Ms. Worthy did not find them an apartment and kept their money,” the report said. Worthy was “unresponsive” when they asked for their money back, according to the DCRA. However, the recorded message at Worthy’s office number says, “We’ve been fighting the war on homelessness, and I think we’ve been winning.” In an interview, Worthy said she was “serving the community” by finding affordable housing for people who needed it, and keeps the money is escrow while they are waiting for housing. The DCRA prepared its report in response to complaints of neglect and mismanagement about Worthy from the owner of a property in Southeast. On the basis of its investigation the DCRA issued a February 28 order fining Worthy $2,000 for engaging in “property management” without a license. While there were no other charges, the DCRA recommended that the D.C. Office of the Attorney General (OAG) pursue criminal prosecution of Worthy for activities described in the report. But the OAG is not pursuing charges against Worthy, spokeswoman Traci Hughes said in early November. The office began an investigation but dropped it once the DCRA imposed its fine on Worthy. The DCRA “has first crack at” cases like Worthy’s, Hughes said. If the fines are not paid, the OAG could get involved, she said. When asked why the fine for a property-management violation precluded charges for other activities, Hughes said the case “wasn’t parceled between charges.” The Legal Clinic started receiving complaints about Worthy one and a half years ago, according Ann Marie Staudenmaier, a staff attorney for the clinic. Before that, there was a time “when we were on friendlier terms with her,” Staudenmaier said. The clinic wanted to get more information on how her business operates, and Worthy saw it as an opportunity to promote her business, Staudenmaier said. However Worthy was “very cagey” and proved to be “an incredibly elaborate liar,” Staudenmaier said. Worthy would agree to meetings and then break the agreements, Staudenmaier said. Once, Worthy said she had just gotten married; another time, she claimed to have a high-risk pregnancy, Staudenmaier recalled. Cornell Chappelle, the chief of program operations for the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, said he was concerned by the complaints about Worthy. But he said the partnership, which oversees District homeless shelters for the D.C. government, had more positive experiences with her in the past. While Worthy sometimes was late in finding apartments for clients, she eventually did find them, he said. About six months ago, the partnership started hearing about problems with her “here and there,” and the Family Resource Center stopped dealing with her, Chappelle said. Still, Worthy continues to attract customers, Staudenmaier said. Sarah Bennett and her boyfriend, Bennie Freeman, also came to the Legal Clinic after their experiences with Worthy. Bennett said they were referred to Worthy in May, and they gave her $1,000. At one point, Worthy said she had found them an apartment but claimed it needed electrical work before the couple could move in, Bennett recalled. After a while she and Freeman got frustrated, Bennett said, and Freeman called Worthy to get the money back. But Worthy was “always giving him some false hope because she knew how bad we wanted an apartment,” Bennett said. She and Freeman are now living with Freeman’s mother, having been told multiply times by Worthy that the “check is in the mail.” As for Twyman, she is now going to school and working a temporary job while living at D.C. Village. In a brief follow-up interview Nov. 11, Twyman said Worthy had called “out of the blue” and left a message. Twyman said that when she called back and left a message but has not heard back. Worthy said she had “just lost contact” with Twyman but was “supposed to be” meeting her soon. However, service providers are not convinced. “If [Worthy is] found to have taken folks’ money illegally, she should be prosecuted,” Chappelle said. Burrito Shop Employs Homeless by Ivy Chen New York, NY - Local Flavor Burrito Shop, which opened for business last month at Broadway Presbyterian Church, offers a quick lunch and jobs for the local homeless population. The shop, which is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., operates under Broadway Community Inc., a local homeless services organization that is run in the basement of the church. It is staffed by a combination of church volunteers and the homeless. The idea came from John Martin, a sophomore at Union Theological Seminary. “We have a lot of people with food-service training and experience and people who want jobs,” Martin said. “So we’re hoping to use the strengths we have, the industrial kitchen downstairs, and the space up here.” Many of the volunteers come from the Food and Nutrition Training Awareness Program run by Broadway Community Inc. Inside the church, the serving area is to the left, and on the right, there are three tables with chairs for those who decide to dine in. The next three weeks are a trial run, but as church volunteer Will Brown expressed, there are “definitely high hopes.” If the trial is successful, the staff hopes to make the restaurant a year-long program. There are seven or eight other volunteers like Brown working in Local Flavor, including the chef, Andre A. Smith. “John said he needed help, and I was his man. I like helping people,” Smith said. He is also the chef for the local soup kitchen run by Broadway Community Inc. Some of Martin’s classmates from the seminary dropped by to try out the burritos. 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 “I’ve known about the project for five months, and I was excited about the burritos,” Jeremy Kirk, a first-year master’s student at the seminary, said. “This is awesome for $4.” “I want to put out the word for people to come,” Sarah Ward, a UTS first year, said. Although some of the very first customers were Martin’s classmates, passers-by soon trickled in as the sign caught their eyes. “This is the difference between talking about employing people and actually employing them,” Kirk said. “It was an innocent and revolutionary way to figure out this low-skill requirement and high-profit way to employ people.” �Onslaught of retiring baby boomers could crush current systems The struggle to brace the Medicare and Social Security programs from the oncoming onslaught of retiring baby boomers has played out very publicly from the White House to Capitol Hill. The boomers also are expected to flood a slew of benefits programs in addition to those, and soon. In response, City Halls and state governments have been creating Web sites and computerized applications so people can apply for benefits online rather than having to wait in long lines. “If we don’t change those systems now we’re going to be hurting when the crush comes,” said Paul Taylor, chief strategy officer for the Center for Digital Government. Boomers will significantly increase the demand for food stamps, housing assistance, Medicaid and dozens of other programs. Because of the sheer volume of retiring boomers, “there has to be a greater demand for all of these things,” said Frank Burns, deputy assistant secretary of the federal Administration on Aging. To hold off that flood, government agencies are increasingly turning to the Internet and new technologies that they hope will make it easier for users to navigate and cheaper for government agencies to run. In most states people trying to figure out what benefits they qualify for have to hustle from office to office, wait in long lines and fill out application after application. “Any one program may not be hard to access. But oftentimes, people need multiple programs that are most often administered by separate agencies, having different forms, different procedures you have to follow, different places you need to go,” New York City Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs said. “It can feel like you have to travel all over the city just to collect the information.” Enter such programs as ACCESS NYC, which launched in September and allows people to use one Web site to determine their eligibility for 21 different benefits programs. Rather than fill out several applications that often require the same information, users input their household information one time and get a report of all the benefits they’re entitled to. New York City is following similar programs already under way in Utah and Louisiana. Agencies in at least 30 other states are considering similar proposals. In Utah, which started Utah Cares in 2001, officials said it frees up state employees from spending their days filling out redundant paperwork. “Some of these people really need a lot of hands-on counseling,” said Curt Stewart, a spokesman with the Utah Department of Workforce Development. “The more time that can be spent seeing a customer rather than filling out government-required paperwork is a better way for us to serve our customers.” The National Council of Aging has a similar site for senior citizens that checks nearly 1,500 government and private programs for possible benefits. And the Administration on Aging has created centers in 43 states, known as Aging and Disability Resource Centers, that serve as “one-stop shops” for people seeking benefits. Taylor said all these programs are heading in the right direction after decades of flawed planning from health and human services agencies. “Everybody bought or built something that served their specific needs without consideration of it linking up with other agencies or third parties that do similar things,” Taylor said. With departments now being forced to adopt similar software and work under one umbrella, some agencies may be able to cut down their staffs. Wyoming hunger grows along with economy very low food security, according to As Thanksgiving dinner digests and the Christmas party season commences, consider this: In 2005, more than one in 10 Wyoming households had trouble getting enough food for an active, healthy life, according to an annual report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “It’s not what people want to hear right now,” said Rodger McDaniel, director of the Wyoming Department of Family Services. “It reflects everything in the national economy between those who have and those who don’t, and Wyoming is a microcosm of that,” McDaniel said. If anything, the information probably errs on the side of caution, he said. Wyoming had 11.1 percent of its households reporting “low or very low food security,” compared with the national average of 11.4 percent, according to “Household Food Security in the United States, 2005” published recently by the USDA’s Economic Research Service. For about a third of those groups, the situation gets serious. Of the households in Wyoming, 4.1 percent had “very low food security,” compared with the national average of 3.8 percent. McDaniel who faults the welfare reform act signed by President Clinton in 1996 — and Wyoming’s slashing welfare rolls by 90 percent — for much of the ongoing problems with hunger. While the changes removed people from the Aid To Families With Dependent Children program, it did not change the food stamp program and other support systems, he said. Many of those AFDC recipients went to work in entry-level jobs and stayed there, McDaniel said. Wyoming ranks fifth in its workers working more than one job, and many employees are among the 11.1 percent of households reporting “food insecurity,” he said. “What is going on is that people work multiple jobs and cannot make enough to put food on the table for children,” McDaniel said. Besides the problems with welfare reform, Wyoming does not recognize poverty and hunger when it sees them, he said. “The face of poverty is the person who cleaned up your room in the (hotel), the person who tended bar or served you that fast food meal,” McDaniel said. “These are hard-working folks.” That means “at times the food intake of some household members is reduced and their normal eating patterns are disrupted because of the lack of money and other resources,” according to the survey. The state’s current percentages are not that far off the national percentages. However, the percentages of “food insecure” — a controversial technical term for “hunger” — households in Wyoming have increased over the past decade even though the state’s economy has grown, according to the survey. Between 1996 and 1998, food insecurity was 9.9 percent of households surveyed. Food insecurity increased to 10.7 percent of households surveyed between 2000 and 2002, and to the 11.1 percent average between 2003 and 2005. Nationwide, food insecurity stood at a 11.3 percent average in 1996-98, 10.8 percent average in 2000-02, and 11.4 in 2003-05. There’s no question that Wyoming’s economy has improved, but it hasn’t improved equitably, McDaniel said. “There’s no question in the past couple of years that skyrocketing utility costs and fuel costs for transportation have put a huge pinch on low-income families,” he said. “Still about one-third of the jobs in the state pay a wage that won’t lift a family out of poverty.” The energy boom has created good jobs, but the service industry — the state’s largest economic sector — has not kept pace, McDaniel said. Market forces have pushed up retail prices in communities affected by the boom, leaving many families behind, he said. From what he and his department see, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s figures are conservative, especially when the data focus is on households headed by single mothers. “Fifty-three percent of those homes (headed by single mothers in Wyoming) are below the poverty level,” McDaniel said. The federal poverty level threshold in the 2000 Census was $16,895 for a family of four with two children under 18. The poverty threshold for an individual under 65 was $8,667. The USDA’s report does not break down the data by state. Nationally, however, 22.9 percent of households with children headed by females with no spouse fall in the category of low food security, and 8.6 percent fall in the category of Lawmakers to deny minimum-wage rights Tell your State Representative to Vote NO on HB 690. Two months ago, over 2 million voters approved Issue 2 to raise Ohio’s minimum wage. Now, lawmakers are trying to rewrite the voter-approved amendment, deny low-wage workers their rights, and undermie the will of the voters. Call your state representative today and tell him or her to vote NO on Substitute House Bill 690. This bill attempts to rewrite the Ohio Fair Minimum Wage Amendment and deny groups—such as home healthcare workers—their newly entitled minimum wage. HB 690 also strips out some of the worker protections in the voterapproved amendment. We cannot let this happen. The new wage rate will begin on January 1, 2007, even if HB 690 Streetvibes doesn’t pass. We cannot allow those who have vehemently opposed raising the minimum wage to undercut our success on November 7 and deny low-wage workers their rights. Call your state representative today and tell him or her to respect the will of the people. Tell him or her to Vote NO on HB 690. Page 7 �Letters If you really want to feel better about the world, I can recommend one great place to go: the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ annual dinner! The banquet hall at Xavier’s Cintas Center was packed with people on a cold December evening: homeless people, a big contingent of Drop Inn Center staff, hard working folk from all the other agencies who work with the currently homeless, the nearly homeless, those at risk of homelessness, and those who have been homeless. Housing agencies are there, as are the families of those who will be receiving awards, lots of faithbased folk, everybody is there - the place is truly packed. There’s just enough room for the silent auction items, a table to sell buddy gray’s poetry and Michael Hanson’s, plus handpainted Christmas ornaments, enough room for the buffet line (yummy mashed potatoes and spicy green beans, says this vegetarian) - the rest of the huge room is packed with tables of people celebrating their hard work, their victories, pondering their losses, pondering homelessness in the richest country in the world. Everyone in the room is a poet, judging by the introductions of the award winners, the acceptances by those who won, Georgine Getty’s State of the Coalition poem, which is destined to live well beyond its premier performance. David Logan, who’s traveled along a lot of roads himself, took us from Dickens’ 1850’s Bleak House to today’s Over-the-Rhine, with grizzled perceptions and much wry humor during his keynote. The beauty of all those words, the realities and truth and resonance of them. With people like this alive and working to create the world I want to live in - there is no room for despair. And plenty of space for love and hope. My deepest thanks to all those who worked so hard to make this wonderful evening happen! Patricia Garry DIC Update Congratulations, Fannie! Fannie Johnson, our Emergency Shelter Coordinator at the DIC was featured in a recent story in the Life section of the Enquirer. We are very proud of Fannie, and appreciative; for her hard work every day, helping our residents improve their lives. Congratulations from all! Page 8 Send your letters, edi­ torials or comments to Streetvibes, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202, or email to Streetvibes@juno.com Students Renovate Housing and Learn Life Lessons On Saturday December 9 at 4 p.m., the Miami University Design/Build Studio celebrated the completion of their semester in the first ever Miami University/Over-the-Rhine residency program with an Open House at 530 East 13th Street. Students have been working at the historic 4-story building for several semesters, but this is the first time students lived in the community and worked at the site on a daily basis. The residency program is administered through the Miami University Center for Community Engagement in Over-the-Rhine. Students met with prospective residents and advocates to get input on the redesign as they worked to create a unique and affordable living space. “The students have transformed this building into a high quality livable work of art” said Mary Burke, executive director of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing — owner of the building and sponsor of the residency program. “It has been so rewarding working with the students this semester. They are very smart, caring and committed young people. They help to restore hope for a kinder gentler future world.” Students redesigned the apartments and added amenities. Redesign work included replacing the building plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems as well as gutting the unit down to the studs and creating new floor plans. Students paid attention to energy efficiency issues and the needs of the families moving into the units. “Its nice to not only learn design and building skills but it is good to give back to the community that we have learned from and engaged with this semester.” Jeff Kruth, senior urban planning student. “The design/build aspect has been challenging. As architects this project really developed our appreciation for what happens on a construction site and the problems that arise. We now have an understanding of how our designs translate into the actual build,” Said Britni Rex, senior architecture student. The renovated units will provide housing for two families in the successful Renter Equity program developed and operated by Cornerstone Community Loan Fund. Renter Equity provides a system where residents can earn equity by helping to maintain their units and by participating in community building activities. As Over-the-Rhine continues to redevelop, it is important to pay attention to the hard work and relationships that don’t grab the headlines. Please help us to shine a spot light on this beautiful program that builds on what is good about our world. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing is a non-profit organization that works to build and sustain a diverse neighborhood that values and benefits low-income residents. We focus on developing and managing resident-centered affordable housing in an effort to promote inclusive community. www.otrch.org Streetvibes Some homeless resist shelters despite the cold by Angie Welling Salt Lake City, UT - Frigid nights have sent hundreds of Utah homeless into area shelters, but not everyone is willing to move inside. The Road Home served 791 clients on a Sunday night, which included 19 families and 39 children. One week, when temperatures dropped into the single digits, the nightly totals reached more than 800 people and at one point included 121 children, according to shelter officials. Executive director Matt Minkevitch suspects the heavy shelter use is just beginning. “That probably won’t be the highest number we see this winter,” Minkevitch said. “We’re on track to see nights over 900, there’s no doubt about it.” Continued cold weather will eventually drive most homeless Utahns to the shelters, even many of those generally resistant to seeking help, Minkevitch said. Still, homeless advocates are aware of one young couple who refuses to go to the shelter and has spent the record-breaking cold nights squatting in a home with no heat. And since advocates can’t force anyone to move to shelters, they simply keep them stocked with things such as warm blankets and hand warmers, said Nicole Campolucci, director of outreach services for the Volunteers of America. “We just make sure that they have what they need to be able to stay safe throughout the night,” Campolucci said. Often, homeless youths are hesitant to go to the shelter for safety reasons or, as Campolucci suspects in this case, because unmarried couples are not allowed to stay together. Last year, Volunteers of America was aware of a young boy who slept outside all season because he had grown up in shelters and refused to go back. “I don’t have any idea how he survived,” Campolucci said of the boy, who suffered serious frostbite over the course of the winter. Volunteers of America runs two street outreach programs, one for homeless youths and another for adults. They stock their vans with warm winter clothing and blankets and encourage people to move inside. “We work extra hard when it’s cold like this to make sure that there aren’t kids who are outside and if they are we try to get them into the shelter,” Campolucci said. The Road Home partners with Volunteers of America to make sure everyone in need has access to warm winter gear, such as blankets and sleeping bags. Clothing of all sizes and gloves are especially valuable, Minkevitch said. “Anyone who asks for a pair of gloves is going to get one,” he said. “In weather like this, we just want to make sure that people are protected from the cold.” Between its downtown shelter space and an overflow shelter in Midvale, The Road Home can safely accommodate about 900 people, Minkevitch said. Above that, advocates open up meeting rooms and offices for sleeping space. However, he said, things start to get dangerous when numbers climb to 950. Still, Minkevitch stressed, advocates will find space for anyone in need of a safe place to sleep. “If you’re in need of shelter, do not hesitate to come down. We’ll fit you in.” �How Did it Happen? Renewing the Vision.... Excerpts from you wonder why you didn’t listen to your mother their MySpace accounts to encourage their friends Georgines and major in something practical, like accounting. to vote. Getty’s speech But walking in buddy’s footsteps also means there 2006 marked the year when the Day at Homeless are days when you couldn’t wipe that stupid grin Labor Organizing Project, or DLOP, really took Coalition off your face for all the money in the world. The off, thanks to the workers, volunteers and our Annual Dinner friends at the Cincinnati Interfaith Worker’s Center. days when someone comes in brandishing the keys We to their For over a year we’ve been meeting every chose this theme new Wednesday morning at Our Daily Bread. The for our annual apartment. workers have chronicled their mistreatment, dinner (How Did Georgine Getty, Director of The days handed out flyers, met with lawyers, the Mayor the Greater Cincinnati It Happen). you hear and City Council and started a speaker’s bureau to Coalition for the Homeless because this year the magic educate the community about the abuses of day marks the 10th anniversary of our founder, buddy words “1 labor. And it’s all paid off. Coming soon, we are gray’s death. If you’re like me, you have the “How promised citywide legislation that will make it illegal year did it happen” poem taped to your wall or pasted sober” or for day labor halls to charge for transportation or Dave Logan, keynote speaker up somewhere. It’s a moving poem and in that I “1 month safety equipment, to make people wait in holding mean it’s emotionally stirring, but I also mean it gets pens, without pay, for their shift to start, or to sober” or you moving. “1 day sober”. The days when 600 people fill city discriminate on the basis of race, sex or for any At the Homeless Coalition, we keep hall to demand the money that is rightfully theirs. other reason. There’s also been a record buddy’s vision alive in the work we do. It’s only The days when day labor workers come to a Standdown, with over 600 attendees. There were been 10 years, and it’s DLOP meeting with a pocket notebook of dates 11 general body amazing to me both how meetings with guest and times they have been wronged and the much things have changed righteous anger to do something about it. The days speakers. There and how much they someone votes for the first time or talks to the were Affordable remain rooted in the Mayor and he listens. Housing Advocate foundations buddy and Those are the days you make everyone meetings leading to other advocates laid for around you give you high fives. The days when progress on the us. The agencies that there’s a warm knot in your stomach, and for once development and make up our general it doesn’t feel like an ulcer. The days you strut. inclusion of body membership have These are the days when, suddenly, all the money Affordable grown and grown, yet we in the world doesn’t mean a damn thing and Housing. There remain a community, a accounting just seems so colorless. was Streetvibes, family. Gentrifying forces Walking in buddy’s footsteps is not for the Speaker’s change their names and wimps. There are no wimps in this room. It’s the Bureau, and the their strategies, yet the hardest work you can do. You do know there are Education packet. Affordable Housing people out there with lakehouses and timeshares. There’s the Advocates still rally to People who leave their work behind them at 5p.m. statewide Raynard Jones,Vendor of the year. demand that poor people People who wander through life, content. advocacy group get their share. Some advocates may have grayer And then there are those who walk in the Ohio Coalition of Homeless Advocates which hair, or less hair in general, but they still have a fire buddy’s footsteps. The crazy, underpaid, grows stronger every year – this year we added in them that brings them out on rainy nights, cold Youngstown and Athens County, next year, Toledo. overworked, bleeding hearts who do battle for a nights, miserable nights to stand in the rain with a living. The people who take that ‘brother’s keeper’ There was progress on the lawsuit to overturn the sign or sit in a meeting hall with 600 other people. thing to heart. The people who cry when it’s cold panhandling registration, the acquisition of a new And young people still come to the Coalition, outside and curse out political ads on TV. The medical van, the buddy gray memorial, and talking about revolution and change and justice and countless other day to day victories, big and small. people who care through the hurt, who mend the wanting to move it forward. broken, who clean up where society has made a But we’ve also had our share of tragedy. This year was a hard year for homeless In February, we lost our good friend Mark Merilla, mess. The people who laugh at the Emperor with people to vote. Yet vote they did. There was a no clothes, even when no one else will listen. a homeless man who used to drink his morning loophole in the voter i.d. requirement that left one Walking in buddy’s footsteps means you’re coffee in the alley behind our office. This week open where homeless people could register awake in a way that most people don’t get to be. September, we lost Louis Donnamaria, another to vote and vote absentee without a photo i.d. The homeless friend who also hung out in the alley. It means you’re connected with the people around Homeless Coalition, with help from the statewide you in a way most people fear. It means you feel They were the victims of violence and bad luck. group COHHIO, rented a van and got as many sorrow much deeper, but joy oh so much stronger. More than that, they were the victims of people to the polls as were interested in voting. It means you’re needed in a way that makes homelessness. In 2007, we pledge to do all we My favorite day was when we took a vanload of people jealous and you’re loved in a way that most can to work with the SHARC committee to youth from Anthony House to vote. About 10 kids develop permanent supportive housing so that this people will never know. crammed into the van and voted for the very first And so we walk in buddy’s footsteps, but sort of senseless tragedy never occurs in Cincinnati time. They were so excited to be a part of the buddy only laid the path. They are buddy’s again. process that they posed for pictures at the board of footsteps, but we will leave ours too. And we will So back to walking in buddy’s footsteps. elections and promised to put the pictures up on walk, arm in arm, for as long as it takes. Walking in buddy’s footsteps means that there are days when your job SUCKS and it rips your heart right out of your chest. The days when you have to bury people. The days when you have to hold their daughter, or sister or friend in your arms while they ask you why did this happen, and you have no answer. The days of evictions, sweeps and idiotic laws. The days when the people you love lose their battle with addiction and you see that light has gone out in their eyes. The days you want to curl Jimmy’s Jimmy’s hair, hair after after getting up in a ball or beat the living hell getting out ready for the out of every politician and of bed... day... developer you see. These days Even the kids enjoy the Annual Dinner celebration Couture Jimmy’s Couture Streetvibes Page 9 �Shocked out of Childhood by Amanda Morley It all began for me about eight years ago. Having a mostly undiagnosed mental illness, I was an inpatient at McLean’s Hospital in Belmont. Three times a week I would go for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT is a treatment that causes electric current to flow through the brain and induces a seizure that lasts up to 60 seconds. Introduced in the 1930s and common until the late 20th century, ECT was used to treat acute psychosis, mania, mood disorders and clinical depression in people who’s illnesses were not responding to other forms of therapy. Although better drug therapies have become more available and effective, ECT is still a common form of treatment, and many doctors currently believe that shock therapy can be beneficial in some circumstances. It was decided that I would receive this form of treatment. During the procedure, an IV was placed into my arm for the anesthesia to pass through my blood – a quite unpleasant experience. In the beginning, my veins were not very pronounced and so once, after eight tries to insert the needle into my arm, the doctors finally put the IV into my foot, where it was finally secured, but hurt more than if it was in the proper place. I don’t remember much of my stay at that hospital, or the ECT treatments themselves. Finally, after a long hospitalization, I was released into my mother’s loving arms, and then was transferred into residential housing funded by the Department of Mental Health. Was it the ECT that helped me, or was it time that began to heal me? I don’t know, and am not sure I want to know. Cambridge Hospital was the next step. From three times weekly, then to two, then once a week, I would awaken at the ripe hour of 5:30 a.m., when I would get up, get dressed, get in the car with my mother and drive to the Hospital’s third floor pre-op. After filling out the form, which eventually became routine to me, I entered into a small room, where I would remove all metal objects from my body, my rings and my watch. After midnight I was not allowed to have any food, water or even cough drops. The nurse would ask me when I last urinated – I became so obsessed with this that I began to time it. “6:03,” I would respond. Laughing, she wrote it down, and proceeded to ask me more questions, which I could answer with my eyes closed. The nurses and doctors got to know me, and would come to me with warm blankets, stories of their week and pictures of their cats. I made friends with them and my mother and I would bet on which anesthesiologist would word with me that week – we played favorites: The one with the blue shirt, or the one with the suspenders? Slowly, I began to be indifferent to the idea of needles being stuck into my arms, and oftentimes looked straight at them. After a wonderful hug, and a loving goodbye, I passed my glasses to my mother and was wheeled to the operating room where the unpleasant adventure began. A big machine stood by the bed. I was transferred to the operating table and heart monitors were placed on my chest and a blood pressure cuff went on around my ankle. An oxygen mask went over my mouth; the anesthesia would enter into my blood through the IV, burning and uncomfortable. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of you,” the doctors would say. “You’ll be alright.” I took a couple of short, indescribable breaths while reciting the Hail Mary or the Our Father and fell asleep, to awaken 20 minutes later in the post-op, tired and confused. Painfully, my IV was removed, the tape ripping against my skin, and I was given Tylenol for my often-pounding headaches. After about 30 minutes of sleeping, waking, sleeping and waking again, I would get up, remove my hospital johnnies, get dressed and go to meet my mother out in the waiting room, to be welcomed by yet another wonderful hug. Returning to the crisp morning air was pleasant, I suppose, but the ride home was scary. My memory was shot. I couldn’t remember much. Not where work was, nor home, nor my plans for the day. My mother would review this information with me, and repeated back anything else I had told her to remember on the ride to the hospital. Arriving back home, I fell into a deep and lengthy sleep, to awaken to the unwelcome noise of my alarm clock, which alerted me that it was 2 p.m., and I must get up and go to work at the library where I volunteered. I would grudgingly pull myself out of bed and go to shower, removing the heart monitor buttons from my chest and try hard to wash out the gel that was placed on my temples during the procedure. Believe it or not, I came to savor those experiences – the time spent with my mother at my bedside, her loving eyes and her comforting and often funny voice. I began to take for granted those Wednesdays where I would have loving, social interactions with my mother. The doctors said the treatments helped – I don’t know. They finally told me, and I started to believe, that the ECT was not a quick fix like medicine for a headache, but a sustaining and stabilizing form of treatment. Due to regulations that would only allow ECT to be performed on inpatients, I could not receive treatments at Cambridge Hospital. I returned once again to McLean Hospital. After I woke up and was waiting to muster up strength for the ride home, the nurses would offer my mother and I English muffins to eat. “Jelly?” “Sure.” Then I would return to the car, and go back home. Those rides were longer and more special because I got to spend time with my mother – loving and caring moments that I hope I never forget. After years of confusion about and dependence to the therapy, I was once again in the inpatient psychiatric unit at the Cambridge Hospital. I continued to receive the ECT, but one morning after the treatment I returned to the unit tired and anxious. Later that day I broke into a panic, and had to be restrained and given an injection to calm me down. It was that day that the doctors and nurses finally questioned the effectiveness of the ECT. They decided it wasn’t working and that I should be weaned off of shock treatment. Once a week turned into every other week, then finally to once monthly. But ECT was not only an experience unto itself. My memory was severely and permanently damaged. I forgot most of my childhood years and have only brief remembrances of days gone by – I still struggle when someone asks me about those times. “What was it like in Japan when you were there?” they asked. I didn’t know. “I don’t remember,” I had to say. “I don’t remember.” Since age 13, I have been to and fro in the mental health system. I am now 26: 13 years of life gone down the drain and countless memories lost. Amanda Morley is assistant to the editor of Spare Change News. “Holiday Loans?” - Stay away! Now you can borrow against your own money even earlier. Two nationwide tax preparers are offering new loan products in time for the holidays, backed by future tax returns. To issue a loan, tax preparers use pay stubs to estimate a customer’s tax refund. A local research group thinks this kind of Refund Anticipation Loan is a terrible idea. The Woodstock Institute said the holiday loans, combined with other refund anticipation loans taken at tax time, will eat away hundreds of dollars from individual returns. “From the looks of this product, tax preparers are moving into the payday loan business,” said Marva Williams, senior vice president of Woodstock. “We strongly urge consumers to stay away from these expensive loans this holiday season, just as they would avoid a payday loan.” The loans are being offered by Jackson Hewitt and H&R Block. Liberty Tax Services’ CEO John Hewitt called the holiday loans “a kind of predatory lending” and said tax preparers at his chain won’t do them. Page 10 The holiday loans are a variation of a tax refund anticipation loan or RAL. An RAL is a short-term loan that’s backed by a tax refund. The average cost of a rapid refund loan is $100, paid by taxpayers to receive their refund money a couple of weeks early. Annual interest rates on RALs range from 40 to more than 700 percent, according to the National Consumer Law Center. The new holiday loans act as RALs on top of RALs. Jackson Hewitt’s “Holiday Express Loan Program” or “H.E.L.P.” will offer a $600 loan. If the loan is approved, the bank fee is $65. The loan is due to be paid back in March, and while another RAL isn’t necessary, a customer can use another RAL to pay it off at tax time. H&R Block also offers an “early season” loan product, which started this month, though a company representative declined to comment about it. CEO Mark Ernst said at a financial conference in November that loans would be priced 40 percent lower this year. Streetvibes Woodstock Institute spokesman Tom Feltner said that RALs are mostly used by the working poor, who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. That federal tax credit is available to families with two or more children that in 2006 earned around $37,000, with one child around $32,000 and with no children around $12,500. Feltner said of people claiming the EITC in predominantly minority Chicago area communities, 54 percent took RALs. Of those not claiming EITC, only 17 percent used RALs. Mark McCarthy, a DePaul University professor of accounting, said he believes these kinds of financial products are on the rise. “It’s another case of consumers going farther and farther out on a limb,” McCarthy said. “Anybody with any means won’t take advantage of this.” The Center for Economic Progress offers free preparation of tax returns for low-income families. Last year, the Chicago-based group helped families claim more than $39 million in refunds. �Housing Crisis by Joanne Zuhl USA - A new report charts the decline of housing for the poor and the perpetuation of homelessness The United States doesn’t want to end homelessness. It’s just that clear to Paul Boden, coordinator for the Western Regional Advocacy Project, or WRAP. Boden’s assessment is spelled out in a new report by the homeless advocacy organization that follows the money behind federal affordable housing programs during the past 25 years. The conclusion is that even as the Bush administration pushes its “housing first” model on local homeless agendas, ending homelessness is the last thing on the feds’ priority list. “It is unadulterated bullshit for the federal government to be saying we support housing first if they are going to continue to eliminate housing programs, and then take this housing first concept and try to fund it with the homeless programs,” said Boden, speaking from San Francisco. “They have absolutely no intention of doing housing first. “If they did, they would fund it through Section 8, Community Development Block Grants, public housing... They would use their housing programs to do it. They wouldn’t use their homeless programs. Their homeless programs were created because their housing programs were cut.” If it sounds personal to Boden, it is. He was homeless in the 1980s in San Francisco, at a time when the housing market there was being launched into the stratosphere. He began organizing, and with a group of civil-rights advocates on the homeless front formed the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness. Fifteen years later, the coalition remains an outspoken and influential voice in the city’s political landscape. WRAP takes that movement to a regional level in a campaign involving individuals and member organizations along the West Coast, including Sisters of the Road Café in Portland and Real Change, Street Roots’ sister paper in Seattle. WRAP seeks to create a national advocacy agenda rooted in the experiences of homeless people. To do that, it is creating an information clearinghouse of budget analysis, documented funding trends and engaging charts to help educate the public and policymakers on the underlying causes of homelessness. The report, “Without Housing: 25 years of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness and Policy Failures,” was more than three years in the making and will be made public this month through local agencies at WRAP’s Web site.. Drawing on information provided by the federal budget, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the White House and the Census Bureau, the report chronicles a course of funding cuts and lip service to the goal of ending homelessness. The conclusion isn’t revolutionary; that to truly end homelessness, the federal government must make a massive recommitment to create, subsidize and maintain affordable housing. But it does what individually, the sources fail to do: chart the fiscal history of how the world’s wealthiest nation created — and sustains — contemporary homelessness. The irony of WRAP’s report is that the federal government hasn’t actually reduced its spending on subsidized housing over the past 25 years, but rather reshuffled the money to benefit higher-income homebuyers. Funding for programs to build, maintain and subsidize affordable housing for the poorest populations have been slashed, while homeownership tax deductions have grown. From 1976 to 2002, the number of HUDsubsidized housing units declined from nearly 214,000 to less than 26,000, according to congressional records. Since 1996, HUD funding for new public housing has been zero, while more than 100,000 units of existing public housing have been lost to demolition, sale or other removal from the program’s rolls. Since the early 1980s, HUD subsidy priorities have increasingly focused on continued funding of existing housing over the addition of new units at the nation’s affordable housing stock. In 1983, HUD’s budget was $18 billion, almost 80 percent less than it was at its recent history peak in 1978. Meanwhile, assistance to upper- and moderate-income homeowners increased. HUD’s budget authority dropped from nearly $83 billion to $29 billion between 1978 and 2005. During that period, tax expenditures on homeowners’ subsidies grew from less than $40 billion to more than $120 billion per year. Every year since 1981, tax benefits for homeownership have been greater than HUD’s entire budget. By 1983, the federal government was opening general public emergency shelters to house the homeless. By 1987, homeless-specific federal assistance was launched, today known as the McKinney Vento Act. “The WRAP report illuminates the failed philosophy of the trickle-down theory,” said Michael Anderson with Affordable Housing NOW! “We have spent two and half decades focusing federal housing assistance to homeowners, many very rich homeowners, in the form of mortgage interest tax breaks, while simultaneously cutting the housing assistance that goes to hard-working families earning crappy wages, and seniors and people with disabilities scraping by on fixed incomes. And what has this trickle down theory brought us? The greatest housing crisis since the Depression. These failed economic policies of the conservatives are destroying our nation, and tossing its peoples into the financial meat grinder of unbridled capitalism.” Boden offers an equally harsh assessment. “At a time when mortgage interest and the programs that benefit the predominately wealthy housed folks has risen astronomically, they have continued to dismantle the housing programs for poor people,” Boden said. “The only thing I can attribute it to is the massive level of elitism, classism and racism that exists in our federal bureaucracy.” The money exists to correct the problem, says Genny Nelson, the co-founder of Sisters Of The Road Café and a member of WRAP. It’s just being spent on other things. “It’s never been an issue of no money,” Nelson says. “It’s an issue of political will to put the money there into affordable housing and address it. To illustrate the priorities in spending, the WRAP report cites the price of individual military instruments listed in the president’s 2007 budget proposal. A single state-of-the-art destroyer, for example, sets the federal government back $3.3 billion. One F-22 Raptor jet costs $3 billion; a new submarine, $2.56 billion. By comparison, all public housing capital expenses for 2005 was $2.58 billion. McKinney homeless assistance was less, at $1.24 billion. Streetvibes Meanwhile, HUD’s budget has remained constant for years. There has been no money for new Section 8 public housing since 1996, and the public housing operating expense fund has been cut by $1 billion since 2001. “Homelessness is a direct result of the decisions and funding priorities of our federal government,” the reports states. “If the federal government had chosen to support affordable housing, health care, anti-poverty programs, workers’ protections, and quality education – rather than prioritizing war, tax breaks for the wealthy and corporate welfare – contemporary homelessness would not exist in our nation.” Housing First is the catch phrase used today for securing a stable home for someone first and then providing supportive care and services as needed. It’s one of the tenets of the network of 10­ year plans to end homelessness around the country, including Portland’s. It’s also a shift, at least in the dialogue, from nearly three decades of framing homelessness as a personal problem, backfilling the system with social workers and charity programs that addressed the symptoms of homelessness rather than creating systemic change. “Homelessness didn’t come about due to a lack of life skills training, or a lack of master leasing, lack of case management,” Boden says. “Homelessness came about when the federal government made a conscious decision to eliminate funding for housing poor people. After 25 years or so, it seems that putting that message out is causing people to go, ‘Wait a second...” The report suggests that public portrayals of the homeless as deviants and nuisances may have inhibited any real progress in ending the cycle. And the emphasis on fixing broken individuals has distracted lawmakers from fixing broken policies. “Homelessness is not a personal shame issue,” Nelson said. “It’s not an issue of some person’s disability. It’s a housing issue. All you have to do is build a relationship with one person who is homeless and you get it,” Nelson said. “That it isn’t an individual, personal fault that’s doing this. It’s what’s not available to them: what opportunities don’t exist for them. And when you get to the root of that, what’s not available, you go right to your state and federal and local government.” The WRAP report documents the shift in housing priorities over several administrations, Republican and Democrat, beginning with Jimmy Carter, into the massive cuts of the Reagan administration, and continuing today. WRAP hopes to change to alter that course in time for the next administration. “At this point in time, it doesn’t look like either the Democrat party or the Republican party, for the presidential election two years from now, even has homelessness on either of their agendas. That’s appalling,” Nelson said. “One of the things that WRAP is trying to do is to get that on both of their platforms with this document.” “What we’re hearing is at the federal level, government wants to change the definition of who is homeless so that a families who live in their cars would not be in the category of homelessness,” Nelson said. “What’s wrong with that picture?” Locally, Nelson intends to have the report disseminated not only to local and state policymakers, but also among people experiencing homelessness and poverty. The report will be available on the WRAP Web site, www.wraphome.org, and posters of the charts will be available for posting and distribution. It’s an opportunity, says Nelson, to “learn what homeless people have discovered after almost three decades without housing.” Page 11 �California ‘green tuners’ clamor for plug-in cars by Kevin Krolicki LOS ANGELES - Russell Long already owns a pair of fuel-efficient hybrid cars — a Toyota Prius and a Honda Civic — but his dream car is not on the market yet: a zippy number he could plug in to recharge at night that would get over 100 miles per gallon. Long, who founded of the San Francisco-based Bluewater Network to reduce water pollution, is one of a growing number of environmentalists pushing auto companies to produce plug-in hybrids to reduce U.S. oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from auto traffic. This push is especially strong in California, whose tough regulations have encouraged the big automakers to test a range of alternatives to traditional gas engines, from hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to cars that run on natural gas. But the most active grass­ roots environmental campaign favors plug-in hybrids, which store power in rechargeable batteries and can run only on battery-power for short trips in congested cities like Los Angeles. “It has the potential to reduce oil consumption by millions of barrels per day,” said Long, who has lobbied General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. to get behind the technology. “If the question is what we can do in the short-term, there is only one answer, and that’s plug-in hybrids.” The auto industry, which has a history of resisting environmental regulations, is now looking to court both activists and the growing number of U.S. drivers who say they are willing to pay more for an alternative to a traditional gas-powered vehicle. The Los Angeles Auto Show, which opens to the public on Friday, is becoming a major showcase for major automakers to display upcoming green vehicles in a market where they are likely to find the fastest and greatest acceptance. This year, GM is using the LA Auto Show to draw attention to a pair of current-generation hybrids: the Saturn Aura and the Yukon sportutility vehicle. GM, BMW AG, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. will also show off hydrogen-powered vehicles. But environmental activists like Long will be watching most closely for what the companies signal about their interest in plug-ins. No automaker has yet committed to build a plug-in car, not even Toyota Motor Corp., whose Prius leads the market for currentgeneration hybrids. PIMP MY PRIUS Looking to jump start broader commercial interest, one San Francisco-area nonprofit group, CalCars ( http://www.calcars.org/ ), has helped build about 20 plug-ins since 2004 by hacking and tricking out the Prius. The cars are outfitted with new lithium-ion battery packs, which hold a charge longer than more common nickel metal hydride batteries. In a parallel effort, a small California company, EnergyCS ( http://www.energycs.com/ ), is planning to convert new Prius models beginning next year at a cost of an additional $12,000 to consumers. CalCars founder Felix Kramer said the goal would be to persuade big carmakers to switch to plug-in technology quickly. “I’m kind of looking at this like Pearl Harbor, where the auto industry went from making cars and trucks to planes and tanks in just a year.” He said part of the appeal of the plug-in technology is its potential to reduce the U.S. reliance on oil shocks, since the cars would draw power partly from the electric grid. But critics argue that, depending on how cleanly the electricity is generated, plug-in technology would just shift the source of pollution from the car to the power generator, which in some cases is fueled by coal. Sherry Boschert, a member of the advocacy group Plug In America and author of a new book on plug-ins called “The Cars that Will Recharge America,” said she worried development efforts could also be slowed by arguments about the technical limits of current batteries. Some automakers have signaled that they would prefer to wait for the emerging class of lithiumion car batteries to develop before pressing ahead with plug-ins, she said. “These cars are doable today,” she said. “At what point do you have to say that good is good enough.” For his part, Kramer said he was confident his effort was tapping into two divergent interest groups that have helped define popular culture in California — environmentalists and hot-rodders. “All sorts of trends begin in California and certainly that’s true for pollution controls” said Kramer. “But we also have a car culture here of tuners, which you know if you’ve seen ‘The Fast and the Furious.’ We’re green tuners.” Where Your Streetvibes Dollar Goes Streetvibes Production 25 cents Vendor Profit 75 cents 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. 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. To Suscribe, send $25 to the GCCH at 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio, 45202, or call 421-7803 Page 12 Streetvibes �Hospital Patients Routinely Discharged into Homelessness by Peter Cohn In Washington, D.C., approximately 18 people per day end up in shelters or on the street after leaving hospitals, according to a D.C. government-sponsored report. Thus, between 10% and 20% of people in District-funded emergency shelters have arrived after leaving a health institution. Many of these individuals arrive with bad legs, a sore back, gaping wounds, or other aliments that shelters are not equipped to deal with, according to shelter staff and advocates. At one DC shelter, a man with a broken leg arrived, according to a senior staff member. “He had the iron rods on the outside [of his leg], and I said ‘you shouldn’t be here like that’ because you could see where the screw went into his leg and everything, and he said he was just ‘gonna be here overnight.’” The shelter employee added that the man was put in the front of the facility, where he could be watched, although he should not have been at the shelter in such poor condition. “One guy had just had surgery, I think on his appendix or something,” said the senior staffer, “and he was bent over. He was still bleeding from the operation, and he said the hospital put him out.” Sometimes the hospital calls in advance to make arrangements and give a heads-up to the shelter, but “other times the hospital will have them dropped off in taxicabs—any kind of ride they can get—leave them at the shelter and keep going,” said the shelter staff member. “We’ve had some come here with colostomy bags, or various open wounds that need to be cleaned on a daily basis,” the staffer said. “They still need medical attention, and this is not a medical shelter, this is an emergency shelter.” Due to liability concerns, shelter personnel are not allowed to assist residents who are unable to care for themselves. But individuals arriving from hospitals have nowhere else to go. “We’re not going to let anybody stay out on the street— that’s not what we do,” said Abdul Nuradeen, acting executive director at the CCNV shelter. A committee of advocates and government officials is trying to come up with answers to alleviate the problem facing shelters struggling to help individuals needing medical care. The group has created a plan and developed best practices for discharging patients from public hospitals. This committee, called the Discharge Planning Task Force, was established after Mayor Williams’ January 2005 release of Homelessness No More, the District’s 10-year plan to end homelessness. The Task Force developed a document, A Comprehensive Public Sector Discharge Planning Policy to Prevent Homelessness in the District of Columbia, which proposes a hospital discharge plan. The document applies only to public institutions, not private hospitals. The recommended process calls for hospitals to fully analyze patients’ situations to ensure that they have stable housing and proper planning for employment and post-hospital care after discharge. It requires a follow-up evaluation no more than 30 days after release and again six months later. Referring a patient to the local homeless coalition for placement in a shelter must be only a last resort. The Task Force is also recommending that another facility similar to Christ House, be created, recognizing that hospitals cannot be expected to hold homeless individuals for an extended period of time when there are no available facilities for placement, according to Steve Cleghorn, chief policy analyst for Community Partnership. Christ House is a 33-bed healthcare facility for the homeless where many men are often discharged to, as a step-down placement for homeless people too sick to go to a shelter after hospital release “There’s nothing wrong with the report, it’s just a matter of implementing it,” added Cleghorn, who was also a convener of the Discharge Planning Task Force. The regulations have been mapped out, and the next step is having the Interagency Council on Homelessness (IACH) adopt the policy and find a way to pull together information and resources to be shared by all involved agencies, according to Cleghorn. A similar discharge policy (the Model Resident Transfer and Discharge Policy for Nursing Homes and Community Residence Facilities) is already in effect in Washington for individuals under care of nursing homes and community residence facilities. That plan was legally mandated under the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law. There is no similar law governing hospital discharge. The nursing home discharge policy requires a full assessment of the resident’s physical, mental and psychological status before the resident’s release from the facility, in addition to aiding in locating alternative placements and facilitating the move. Although the nursing home law does not specifically state that homeless shelters are not acceptable placement, it requires a safe and orderly transfer upon discharge, and that would preclude shelters, according to Jerry Kasunic, director of DC Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. “Homeless shelters are not safe and orderly transfers,” Kasunic said. After the proposed discharge planning policy is presented to IACH and approved, implementation documents will need to be created and followed by all District publicfunded institutions. For now, shelters are forced to deal with whatever injuries individuals may arrive with. “Ambulances bring by people who have been referred on a stretcher or in a wheel chair,” said Nuradeen. But discharged patients continue to arrive on a regular basis, forcing Nuradeen and other DC shelter staff to accommodate them. “[I do] whatever I can possibly do,” said Nuradeen. The Homeless Man It was a cold winter’s day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked in the church. As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church. We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened. In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down. People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank. There stood our preacher...he was the “homeless man.” No one said a word. The preacher took his Bible and laid it on his stand. “Folks, I don’t think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today.” Makes you think, doesn’t it. Streetvibes Page 13 �Putting Down Roots by Terrance O. Edgar Sr. Let us rejoice at this breaking of the earth to build upon this ground that will house many. May all that will live here when complete live in peace and fellowship as one community. May the children that will play children’s games be safe from all negative vices that plagues so many of America’s town and cities. Putting down roots that will be a home to the homeless once housed. Housed for it is a right of all upon this earth to have a roof over their bodies. The cold, the rain, the heat the streets should not be conditions for one to be placed in without a home. Putting down roots so that memories can be made so that they may be remembered, of all the ones that will live here when the time arrives. Putting down roots, the roots that will bring forth branches and leaves. And as we are all that tree, it’s limbs, its leaves, its roots. Putting down roots. 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. Black by Veronica B. Black is quiet and sad In that moment, I saw love amidst struggle, hope come from despair and Loyalty bred of trust. Sitting by himself Sitting the dark 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.’ Crying Silently into his hands Bringing baths to hose Who live in darkness 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.’ Brooding in the shadows, sticking to himself Black is raven, cawing ‘Maybe my sister ? No. ‘ ‘My aunt ? How would we get them there ‘ ‘My mother ? She is too old.’ ‘Baby, I just don’t know.’ Over people, landing on a Shoulder Tense with stress ‘Something has to happen, has to change, they deserve better than this. Baby , I know, we’ll figure something out tomorrow.’ Black swallows light within us, taking happiness As he watches the others laughing As he frowns, sitting, HOMELESS & HOPELESS 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. by Ryan Stephen Chandler knees drawn to his chest Out down with crack and coke, Out in the alleys where there is no hope, One wishes to survive the horrors, And prepare for tomorrow. Crying for a friend Black bows through treetops, silent Like the wind, bringing a smell of sadness Out down in the streets, With nothing to eat, But scraps of meat, Which are suitable for cats and sheep. Out down where, Nobody cares, Out down where people are scared to go, Out down where you’re hopeless and cold, Out down where you have no bed, Out down where you wish you where dead. Under that, a slight chance of hope that Someone will help him Take his hand and say “Lets be friends.” 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 �Day Walk by James Morrow Daylight holds less mystery than nights beneath the moon but the sun holds inspiration and openers and light that ends too soon. The light of the sun is always now, the moon’s always secondhand it seems nighttime mysteries grow large like a retelling of a retelling. A new song is possible everyday although the night is not Evil as all things are neutral even unto the human will. Much to grow into to seek the sun when one has been one with the night to turn away from closeted secrets and walk once more in the light I never before found daylight to be so great and profound wonderful to be beneath the sun after so very long underground. Untitled by P. Bishop HOMELESS & HOPELESS by Ryan Stephen Chandler Have you ever loved someone So much you’d kill for them Or go to prison for them? You love everything about Them, but they don’t even know. You try to tell them In so many words But it never comes out The way you mean I love everything about her A POLLUTED SOUL by Ryan Stephen Chandler A faded shadow, Projects through a broken window, Everyone protests it must be a young fellow, But it turns out to be brown not yellow. Many people stop to watch, A rotting door and a rusted lock, Some sees pleasure some sees pain, Knowing that this dirty house takes cocaine, With a hidden secret, it seeks to find, A better structure and a higher mind. But she doesn’t even Out down with crack and coke, Out in the alleys where there is no hope, One wishes to survive the horrors, And prepare for tomorrow. Out down in the streets, With nothing to eat, But scraps of meat, Which are suitable for cats and sheep. Out down where, Nobody cares, Out down where people are scared to go, Out down where you’re hopeless and cold, Out down where you have no bed, Out down where you wish you where dead. Know I exist Homeless Homeless Poem 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. 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. Blue Willow by Charles Hice by Elizabeth Romero 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 ewe can not help him and aid him then at least ewe can leave him alone. Please don’t hurt him. Someday soon he will die and go home. Cooking was something I learned to do well- this was a chicken roasted golden perfect- I was carving the leg and thigh huddled like a plump comma-the fork slipped-the chicken fell on the oakfloor while he held a plate- he liked things to go smoothlyfrightened I picked it up- I’ll take that one I said and hurried to carve some more- No you won’t he said- I don’t mind I said- I never knew the answer to these things whether my obvious fear infuriated him or something elsesuddenly he slammed the whole plate of food down on the floor- chicken rice peas- bits of plate everywhere- I don’t remember the sound- how about this he said- the dishes were Blue Willow- a gift from my aunt- I loved them- now there is one less I thought- I don’t remember what happened then- not the children’s eyes nor the frozen silence of dinneronly that bits of plate kept appearing in the sweeping in the dusting- bits of plate for weeks afterwards 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” Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com 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 557-2873 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 639-7042 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 January 2007 Yea r s in Pu blic atio n! Deceased Homeless Persons Remembered in Memorial Cover Story Page 1 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 2007 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 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Homeless Memorial Remembers the Homeless and Those Who Have Died An Over-the-Rhine Christmas Story Pg 2: Breaking the Barriers Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Think Globally, Protect the Vote Locally Pg 5: 94 Deaths of Homeless People Highlight Lack of Care Pg 6: Washington D.C.: Woman Accused of Housing Locator Scam Pg 7: Onslaught of Retiring Baby Boomers Could Crush Current Systems Wyoming Hunger Grows Along with Economy Pg 8: Letters Pg 9: How Did it Happen? Renewing the Vision… Pg 10: Shocked Out of Childhood Pg 11: Housing Crisis Pg 12: California ‘Green Turners’ Clamor for Plug-In Cars Pg 13: Hospital Patients Routinely Discharged into Homelessness 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 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Matt Cohen Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze California Georgine Getty Holiday Homeless News Digest Hospital Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Letters Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Matt Cohen Melvin Williams memorial Minimum Wage Over-the-Rhine Retiring Students Washing D.C. Wyoming