The Word of the Streets http://daily.homelessinjax.com Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:47:33 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://daily.homelessinjax.com/images/M_images/mambo_rss.png http://daily.homelessinjax.com The Word of the Streets http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=175&Itemid=76 5 found dead near the 405 in Long Beach (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-homeless3-2008nov03,0,2050258.story)"We don't know who did this, not yet at least," said Long Beach Deputy Police Chief Robert Luna. "They were residents of Long Beach, at least last night". From what's been released this appears, to myself, to be was either hate crime or drug related.This marks the second homeless murder scene coastline residents have witnessed in less than a month demonstrating the extreme dangers of inadequate safe places for the basest of survival.Before camping can be outlawed and enforced, communities across the country will need to begin accepting tent cities and day centers that provide safe opportunities for their residents experiencing homelessness.Until then I see a trend developing that could realistically show us homeless residents taking measures to protect themselves in lieu of turning over dead.If faced with life threatening situations, people either take flight, or fight...and that's not a place I want to get caught in the crossfire.Don't like the imagery painted? Contact your local Homeless Coalition and ask how you can help create places that are safe for everyone in your community. http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=174&Itemid=79 Wendy Koch reports from USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-10-21-homeless_N.htm): "Everywhere I go, I hear there is an increase" in the need for housing aid, especially for families, says Philip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, which coordinates federal programs. He says the main causes are job losses and foreclosures.Read the full story here (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-10-21-homeless_N.htm). http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=173&Itemid=76 100 residents maximum in only a single camp in the entire city per Spokane City Council ruling adopted October 20th, 2008. Location is banned from being within 750 feet of a library, park, day care center, and must be sponsored by a group with a business license. According to the other sources the camp will also have a 6 foot fence, portable toilet for every 20 residents, and banning of drugs, guns, and sex offenders. No information found in reference to potable water requirements for drinking or bathing. If you have information regarding this feel free to use our contact link and let us know. We'll update the info and credit you. Source: The Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008292629_apwaspokanehomeless.html) http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=172&Itemid=1 The following was sent from the below mentioned sender(s) at the Florida Department of Children and Family. It is here for reference and archival resource for residents and those having an interest in it's impact. M E M O R A N D U M October 20, 2008 To: Referral Agencies Homeless Coalitions/Continuums of Care From: Tom Pierce, Director, Office on Homelessness Mary Anne Hoffman, EFAHP Coordinator Re: Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program Effective close of business Friday, October 17, the Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program (EFAHP) stopped accepting new applications. Given the cases approved from July 1 to October 17, there are no funds available to assist new applicants. (The program was only able to address those applications received by September 17, 2008.) Our reviewers are now only processing cases where additional information has already been requested from the applicant. After these last cases are completed, the reviewers will be denying the remaining cases. Each applicant will be called by a reviewer and we will refer applicants to the local homeless coalitions and agencies for possible aid within the communities. Please share this information with all of your local provider agencies, to inform them that no new applications are being accepted, and that the limited funds remaining will be used to complete applications already reviewed for which additional information was needed. We are sorry for any inconvenience that this situation may cause, but we look forward to serving your clients in the future. If you have questions, please call Mary Anne Hoffman at 850-922-7639. Thank you. 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700Mission: Protect the Vulnerable, Promote Strong and Economically Self-Sufficient Families, and Advance Personal and Family Recovery and Resiliency http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=171&Itemid=1 http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1 Below is a list begun on October 19th, 2008, of blog entries I've come across showing what's going on with the increase of tent cities throughout the United States and internationally. If you come across one one not mentioned, feel free to contact me and I'll include it with a link to your blog or site. October 19th, 2008 British Columbia, Canada: Police break up tent city in park; five arrested (http://jackiedowd.blogspot.com/2008/10/police-break-up-tent-city-in-park-five.html) United States abroad: ECONOMY-US: No Joy in Hooverville (http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=44322). Tent cities reported in Reno, Los Angeles, Chattanooga, Columbus, St. Petersburg, Seattle and Portland. http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=168&Itemid=1 Diane Gilbert of the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition put the word out to all hands in an email that the PSG Review Council will be meeting for the third time on MONDAY, AUGUST 25, from 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM, on the first floor of City Hall in the Linwood Roberts Conference Room (formerly the Renaissance Room). The current schedule is for the Review Comittee to make the determinations as to PSG funding for FY 2009 to recommend to the City Council shortly thereafter. The meeting is open to the public. Apparently, the requests exceed the budgeted amount by @$2.3 million. Please attend if at all possible to demonstrate the importance of these grants to our work, and our clients. http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=1 The Florida Coalition for the Homeless (FCH) is pleased to issue a call for nominations for the 2008 Outstanding Service to Homeless People in Florida Award. http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=166&Itemid=1 The Supportive Housing Program (SHP) Desk Guide has been updated and is available on the What's New section of the HUDHRE web site. http://daily.homelessinjax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=165&Itemid=1 The Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida is conducting a brief survey over the next month to help determine its effectiveness in reaching the Jacksonville community regarding the issue of hunger.Would you please consider taking just a moment to help provide the Food Bank with some valuable feedback?