Project Home Is All About Homelessness

Housing: It's a Wonderful Right

This is usually one of my favorite times of the year - the holidays are approaching, the aromas of cinnamon, orange and cranberry are in the air and it's time to rest and watch old movies on TV. One of those old movies invariably on at this time of year still resonates today - It's a Wonderful Life. In this 1946 Jimmy Stewart film, a small town in crisis comes together to prevent George Bailey, the benevolent loan man, from being imprisoned at the behest of the millionaire slum landlord Mr. Potter.

In the last few days, the U.S. government census figures have revealed that 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty or are struggling to live on low incomes. And we know that the financial hardships faced by our neighbors, colleagues, and others in our communities will be all the more acutely felt over the holiday season.

Along with poverty and low incomes, the foreclosure rate has created its own crisis situation as the number of families removed from their homes has skyrocketed.

Continue Reading About Housing: It's A Wonderful Right

Photo 3.5 million Homeless In U.S.

What Food Banks Need The Most

Most of the Food Banks needs are pretty similar, so if you have extra of these items, would you consider dropping them off at your local Food Bank.

FOOD PRODUCTS

Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Boxed meals - (Hamburger Helper, Pasta Roni)
Canned Meat/Tuna
Peanut Butter
Canned Soup
Dry Soup Mix
Cereal - hot and cold

Of course, if you have a garden with extra vegetables
or fruits, why not donate them to the food banks.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Soap
Deodorant
Shampoo
Toilet Paper
Laundry Detergent

And Thank You so much for your kindness.

Poutine

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Lily, New Sesame Street Muppet, Is 'Food Insecure'

The upcoming season of "Sesame Street" is packed with cameos from the biggest names in glitzy Hollywood, but it is a 7-year old, food insecure girl that will perhaps make the biggest impact for the show.

Did we mention that she's a Muppet?

Sesame Street Workshop unveiled that Lily, a pink Muppet in a blue dress, will appear in PBS's upcoming special that addresses food insecurity, or the lack of a reliable access to food.

Read More About Sesame Street Lily

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Lingering joblessness taxes nation's food banks

By Eve Tahmincioglu

The face of hunger in America is changing. It's a little more ex-middle class, a little more desperate and there are a lot more mouths to feed, people who run the nation's food banks say.

"We're seeing a lot more families, many who are running out of money and benefits because of long-term unemployment," said Bill Clark, executive director of food bank Philabundance. "Since 2007, the changing face of hunger has been influenced a lot by unemployment."

Read Story About Food Banks

Homeless women veterans find hope, shelter in new facility

When Shalini Madaras pushed the polished handle and opened the door of the Pfc. Nicholas A. Madaras Home, she opened a new door for homeless women veterans.

The facility honors Ms. Madaras's oldest son, killed by a roadside bomb in 2006 in Iraq.

Yet, for Madaras, the home bears more than her son's name: It celebrates his spirit. As Connecticut's first female-only housing for women veterans, the neat three-story house in Bridgeport is a haven for veterans recovering from physical or emotional combat scars, Madaras says.

Fifteen female veterans from the greater New England region call the house home. Each must have been honorably or generally discharged from the military. They may stay a maximum of two years

Read More of homeless women veterans

Free Click To Help The Homeless Veterans

Your Actions Here Fund Meals For Homeless And Hungry Veterans.

Click To Help The Homeless Veterans

The Hunger rises, but not the donations

With just a week left until Thanksgiving, Mecklenburg County's network of food pantries is facing a crisis of too many hungry people and not enough food.

Empty shelves abound at Loaves & Fishes, with the food stock down by 50 percent compared to last year. Meanwhile, the agency saw a 24 percent jump in clients last month, feeding 2,000 people more than it fed in October 2010.

Read More About the "Hunger rises, but not donations" story

Jericho Project: Off The Street On With Life

Jericho Project slogan is Off The Street On With Life. Project

Jericho Project Supportive Housing Residences
Founded in 1983, the Jericho Project currently provides housing and a wide range of services to nearly 300 formerly homeless men and women throughout the Bronx and Harlem each year. Our safe, clean housing units provide homes where real recovery - of sobriety, self-esteem, family, and hope - can begin.

Over the past 26 years the homeless individuals who have come to Jericho have made remarkable educational and employment achievements, have successfully reunited with their families, and moved on to independent lives. In fact, 95% of Jericho graduates maintain their housing stability and sobriety

Project Night Night

Superb Idea

Donate Stuffed Animals, Baby Blankets, and Children's Books.

Project Night Night donates over 25,000 Night Night Packages each year, free of charge, to
homeless children who need our childhood essentials to feel secure, cozy, ready to learn, and
significant. Each Night Night Package contains a new security blanket, an age-appropriate
children's book, and a stuffed animal -- all nestled inside of a new canvas tote bag. By providing
objects of reliable comfort, Project Night Night reduces trauma and advances the emotional and
cognitive well-being of the children we serve.

Every child who receives one of our Night Night Packages leaves the shelter owning a book which
encourages reading and family bonding, a security blanket which can be cuddled, and a stuffed
animal which can become a cherished friend. We have one objective - to deliver our Night Night
Packages to every homeless child in the country who needs one.

Read More About Project Night Night

A Few Quotes On Homelessness

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?
-Mohandas Gandhi -

Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction. Homelessness is a weapon of mass destruction. Unemployment is a weapon of mass destruction.
-- Dennis Kucinich

Seven out of 10 Americans are one paycheck away from being homeless.
-Pras Michel-

"People who are homeless are not social inadequates. They are people without homes."
-Sheila McKechnie-

"It's a good time of year to raise awareness, when it's real cold out. More Americans are thinking about poverty and homelessness this time of year."

~ Michael Stoops-

Picture Courtesy

homeless female veterans

By Drew Brooks
Staff writer

For a week in July, Mariel Marrero and her two children visited the Cumberland County Headquarters Library every day.

Between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Marrero, 30, and her children - ages 10 and 12 - sought out the library not for its books, but for its air conditioning. Their only alternative, Marrero said, was to stay in parks in nearly 100-degree heat.

Read More Of This Story

Homelessness Is Rising Fast In The U.S.

Food banks and homeless shelters are being swarmed by more and more people who have lost their homes or their jobs.
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There was a story at Reuters describing the situation becoming more and more painful. And this was in 2008. Now we are at the end of 2010 and the situation is a lot worse.
Read Story

And it's even worse now in 2011. Read More Here

Here is another good article about homelessness writtten by Christine Schanes and entitled "Homelessness by the numbers".

And another one worth reading Homeless School Children Growing

How To Really Help The Homeless Veterans

Here are a few things that you can do to help the homeless people, provided by the National Coalition For Homeless Veterans.

How You Can Help

There are limitless opportunities to improve and expand the services available to help homeless veterans, either as an individual or as a member of a group or organization. The most effective assistance is provided by community-based organizations that work within local networks offering a range of services from housing to continuing case management and counseling as the veteran proceeds through a detailed plan leading to self-sufficiency.

Focus your efforts on supporting the homeless veteran service providers in your community, or become an active advocate to make sure veterans receive an appropriate share of the resources that are available to address and prevent homelessness in your area. For a list of homeless veteran service providers in each state, click here.

Support emergency shelters - Donate personal care items, clothing (new underwear, socks and T-shirts are always needed) and food, or make cash contributions.
Volunteer as mentors, counselors or legal aides - Homeless veterans in transitional or supportive permanent housing often need help with learning basic life and social skills, employment training and placement, mental health or substance abuse counseling, and help with legal problems.

Read More Here About How To Help The Homeless Veterans

Union Rescue Mission

Los Angeles.

Union Rescue Mission (URM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving men, women and children experiencing homelessness. Established in 1891, URM is one of the largest rescue missions of its kind in the United States and the oldest in Los Angeles.

We provide a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term services to our guests, including: food, shelter, clothing, medical and dental care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling, and job training to needy men, women, children, and families.

Union Rescue Mission

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Thanks-In-Giving

A Beautiful Poem By (c) J. Ellen Fedder

Thanks-in-Giving
Inspirational Thanksgiving Poem by J. Ellen Fedder
Thanksgiving Day American resembles this vignette:
A family carving turkey at a table richly set,
While every hunger pang awaits a banquet for a king,
And every dinner guest relates the same old thank you thing.

But on a street in Anytown, a grown man huddles low,
Within his cloak he wraps himself and braces from the snow,
While every hunger pang awaits another of the same,
For holidays like this one are but holidays in name.

Another man remembers how the hunger hurts inside,
Remembers how the winter bites with no place warm to hide,
Remembers how a holiday is one more weight to bear,
When no one seems to notice you and no one seems to care.

His winter coat all buttoned up, a wool hat on his ears,
His lunch box full, he hurries to the job he's had for years,
But on his way he comes upon the huddled man alone
And greets him with the kindness of a friend he's always known.

Now grateful for the help he got one hungry day back when,
He shows his "thanks-in-giving" up a lunch that could have been,
And shows his "thanks-in-giving" up his coat to winter chills,
Then smiles at the knowledge of its pocket full of bills.

(c) J. Ellen Fedder
To Read More From J.Ellen Fedder

Homelessness Photo

Rosie's Place

A Sanctuary For Poor And Homeless Women

Since 1974 poor and homeless women have found an oasis of hope and nourishment at Rosie's Place. The mission of Rosie's Place is to help women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives.

Many of the women we assist are working and in housing but simply can't make ends meet. Some are newly homeless, while others women have been living on the streets for years. We serve women as young as 18 and as old as 80. Approximately one-third of our guests have children. Rosie's Place serves guests from a wide variety of ethnic groups, with the majority being African American, Hispanic, Haitian, or White. Some of our guests are living with HIV/AIDS or have hidden disabilities such as addiction or mental illnesses that prevent them from effectively integrating into society.
More Here

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Quotes About Poverty

"An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics."

-Plutarch- ancient Greek biographer (c. 46 - 120 CE)

"Poverty is the parent of revolution"
-Aristotle-
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Food pantries feeling the pinch

Oct 16, 2011 (The Sun Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When the food pantry at Grace Lutheran Church in Long Beach opened Thursday, it was the first time in three weeks because the pantry had run out of food.

Church officials have had to cut back the number of days the pantry is open from two days a week to once a month.

Many food pantries throughout South Mississippi are suffering because of the bad economy -- their donations are down and the requests for help are up.

"This has been a problem for about six months to a year," said the Rev. Barbara Hunter, pastor at Grace Lutheran. "We've had to limit who we can serve because we don't have enough food. Much of our food pantry has been supported by our members, and their incomes have gone down." Hunter said the church used to give food to people from west Gulfport and Long Beach, but now they can serve only people who live in Long Beach.

Continue Reading About Food Pantries Feeling The Pinch

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Back On My Feet

Back On My Feet is a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.

Back on My Feet does not provide food nor does it provide shelter, but instead provides a community that embraces equality, respect, discipline, teamwork and leadership. Back on My Feet is much more than just running.

It is a comprehensive program that offers connections to job training, employment and housing, but these benefits are not free. Members earn the opportunity to move forward in the six month to nine month program by maintaining a 90 percent attendance rate at the morning runs three days a week.

Back on My Feet has chapters in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Boston, and will be expanding to Chicago in fall 2010.

Meet Two Very Exceptional Women

Helping The Homeless For Over 20 Years

BREAKING NEWS
"TIME Magazine Names S. Mary to 100 Most Influential
APRIL 30, 2009" read all about it on the website

Let me introduce you to Sister Mary Scullion and Joan McConnon.Two great devotees to the homelessness cause.

On this picture we can see "President Bill Clinton joins Jon Bon Jovi, and Project H.O.M.E. co-founders Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson McConnon on stage."

"I think volunteerism should be fashionable. That's my goal: To make volunteering the new black."
-Quoted By Bon Jovi-
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Project Home
News About
Honours


Nun a champion for the homeless

Sisters Of The Road

A Radical Organization

Many of you may have heard about Sisters Of The Road, but what is it that is so special that is happening down there? Sisters is innately about building community. Yes, we serve hot, nutritious food and offer job training opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. But Sisters is also about radical, get to the root change - change of heart and understanding that we believe leads to individual and community efforts and solutions to end the calamities of homelessness and poverty. At least helps us to end our acceptance of these calamities as a given in our community.
How does Sisters do this?

The short answer is, through
Community Organizing.

Sisters Of The Road

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Association to Benefit Children (ABC)

ABC is dedicated to bringing joy and warmth to disadvantaged children and their families through compassionate, sustainable, comprehensive and integrated services, designed to permanently break the cycles of abuse, neglect, sickness and homelessness.

ABC's humane and innovative programs today include early childhood education for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, educational advocacy, housing assistance, mental health services, family support and preservation, crisis intervention, therapeutic out-of-school and summer day camp programs, youth leadership development and mentoring.

ABC

Everyone Deserves A Roof

According to EDAR's Website

"EDAR (Everyone Deserves A Roof) is a 501(c)(3) charity that provides unique mobile shelters to those living on the streets all around us. Each EDAR is a four-wheeled mobile unit which carries belongings and facilitates recycling during the day and which unfolds into a special, framed tent-like sleeping enclosure with a bed at night.

While respecting permanent and temporary housing for the homeless in group settings which use buildings to provide shelter, EDAR addresses the unrepresented hundreds of thousands of homeless people amongst us for whom no beds are available or who are unable or unwilling to participate in those solutions."

The hidden face of homelessness

Juan Amezcua is homeless.

But you wouldn't know it by looking at him.

He doesn't push a shopping cart, nor does he hold up a sign asking for change on the street corner.

In fact, Juan, his wife Melissa, and their three children used to be proud homeowners until the economy went south and left them without a place to call their own.

After living with Melissa's mother for several months, the family found a temporary home, where they can all be together, at the Tacoma Rescue Mission's St. Adams Family Campus. They have been living there since the Rescue Mission's newest shelter opened in January of this year.

read More Of the Hidden face Of Homelessness

Good Sites To Visit

Inequality org
Mother Jones
Other 98
Local Circles

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Miriam's Kitchen In Washington

From the website of "Miriam's Kitchen was founded in 1983 by a collaboration of The George Washington University Hillel Student Association, Western Presbyterian Church and United Church in response to an urgent need for services for the homeless in Washington, DC.

Our mission is to provide individualized services that address the causes and consequences of homelessness in an atmosphere of dignity and respect, both directly and through facilitating connections in Washington, DC.

We provide free, high-quality meals and support services to the homeless in our Nation's Capital every weekday morning through our core programs Breakfast Program, Case Management Program and After-Breakfast Program. Additionally, we will be adding an Evening Program in 2010 to provide our guests with a healthy dinner and critical support services."

A Super Angel In Queens, New York

Please meet Jorge Munoz and his family from New York city.

Since 2004 ,they have provided more than 70,000 meals to the hungry in the evening so they won't go to bed starving.

They do it all on their own with a little help from some decent folks who give a few dollars and clothes.

Jorge has been selected in the 10 finalists of CNN Heroes and I gave him my vote with all my heart.
Excellent Video to see Jorge in action

Feel Good Stories

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The Carpenters Shelter

Since 1988, the goal of Carpenter's Shelter has been to meet the needs of homeless people and offer each resident the resources to improve their conditions, and become contributing members of the society.
Carpenter's Shelter

"The Washingtonian Magazine" selected Carpenter's Shelter as one of the 20 Homegrown Charities That Are Changing Lives and worth donating to!

The Salvation Army Is One Of The Oldest Homeless Shelters

Always There To Help

The Salvation Army with its vast experience in helping in disasters area ia well placed to help the homeless. It has helped thousands of men and women find the right path and continue to do so with the help of their officers and money raised from people like you and I.

When you see a red kettle at Christmas time, please think of all the good that The Salvation Army does and be generous.

Thank you!

Here are a few things we should know

The Mission Of Lena Hope Home

The mission of Lena Pope Home is to help create hope, happiness, and success for children and families. When it started in 1930, Lena Pope Home was a home for orphans and children in need in the Fort Worth area. Lena Pope Home has evolved to meet the changing needs of our community. Our focus is on empowering families to stay together. We do this by focusing in two major program areas.
Read More About The Lena Pope Home