San Francisco Public Library is the first. Read more here.
Author: Lisa Gieskes
Nick Coleman: An argument on behalf of the homeless
Star Tribune writer Nick Coleman responds to the belief that homelessness is due to people’s poor choices.
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
“The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) has founded a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline to ensure that homeless Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. The hotline is intended to assist homeless Veterans and their families, VA Medical Centers, federal, state and local partners, community agencies, service providers and others in the community. To be connected with a trained VA staff member call 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838)…
What will happen when I call?
* You will be connected to a trained VA staff member. * Hotline staff will conduct a brief screen to assess your needs. * Homeless Veterans will be connected with the Homeless Point of Contact at the nearest VA facility. * Family members and non-VA providers calling on behalf of a homeless Veteran will be provided with information regarding the homeless programs and services available. * Contact information will be requested so staff may follow-up.”
Welfare Recipients Forced to Sell Food Stamps to Buy Basic Necessities
Seth Wessler, senior research associate at the Applied Research Center, discusses his latest article, “Selling Food Stamps for Kid’s Shoes” on Democracy Now!
History is made by everyman
“There’s no such thing as a whole story; every story is incomplete,” Howard Zinn once said. Sadly, Zinn passed away today. His legacy shaped a new kind of history- one shaped by everyday people. He believed that history is never finished and that each of us plays a crucial part in it.
History is always in the making.
Helping Patrons Through Hard Times
Washington State Library sees library patrons suffering and they are offering assistance. Their partnership with the Washington State Employment Security Department/WorkSource (ESD) provides information/training; online resources; face-to-face training for library staff with employment services staff; online training on topics of interest; and programs for volunteers to help neighbors in the library all in an effort to get communities through these hard times. See Hard Times online.
Students suffering from holiday hunger
Schools are more than just a place for learning- for many students school is the one place they can rely on to receive food.
SafeLink Wireless
SafeLink Wireless (www.safelink.com) is a government supported program that provides a free celll phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers.
D.C.'s 2010 Homeless Services Budget cut of 20M
“D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) said Friday that the $11 million cut in local funding and $9 million cut in federal funding for homeless services was revealed to him Thursday as he prepared for an oversight hearing.
‘Obviously, I was taken by surprise and furious because we have a tenuous relationship with the community as it is,” said Wells, chairman of the Human Services Committee, which oversees the city agency responsible for serving the homeless. “You have to have honesty and transparency in actions, and this undercuts the relationship we’ve developed with the community.’”
For the full article click here.
Is It Now a Crime to Be Poor?
Barbara Ehrenreich seems to think so. Read her article here.