HOMELESS
Homeless schoolkids to learn in safe school When
construction of a school for homeless children in Tempe is completed next year, architect Jeffrey G. Landtiser knows the students spending time inside the walls he designed will be safe. There was one thing on Landtiser's mind when he began sketching the new Thomas J. Pappas campus for transient youths: security. Under his state-of-the-art design, no one trying to harm the children can get inside, and teachers will be able to monitor every inch of the campus through special windows. "The safest eight hours of their day is when they're in school," said Landtiser, project manager for ART Architects Inc. "This school is designed as a secure campus to protect the children from the outside world, a world in which they live in the streets." The campus, 1934 E. Apache Blvd., will serve 250 kindergartners through sixth-graders. The existing Tempe campus fits 80 children, administrators said. Design work will be finished in October, and the school is expected to open next summer. It will be the first of the Valley's Pappas campuses built from scratch, Landtiser said. Along with the security benefits, school administrators are excited (Continued on page 5)
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omeless people in San Francisco are dying at a rate of nearly one every other day, according to figures released by the city's medical examiner. The report counted 169 homeless deaths during the fiscal year that ended July 2003, matching the record annual high since the city first started compiling the data in 1987. Though the report provided no causes of death, past studies by the Department of Public Health have attributed more than 60 percent to drug and alcohol abuse. Supervisor Gavin Newsom, who requested the report and has largely built his campaign for mayor on a package of changes in homeless policy, seized on the figures as an indictment of the status quo. "It's time for change," he said Thursday at a Financial District fund-raiser for his antipanhandling measure on the Nov. 4 ballot. "How can we de-
fend what's going on on our streets? How can we defend what's going on in our emergency rooms?" But homeless advocates who consider Newsom's proposals mean-spirited and two competitors in the mayor's race, City Treasurer Susan Leal and Supervisor Tom Ammiano, accused Newsom of exploiting human tragedy for political gain. Leal called Newsom's use of the medical examiner's report shameful grandstanding. "This calls for hands-on leadership and not making this issue and the very tragic deaths of these people a political football," she said. Though the city's methodology has varied, each time the city has attempted more than a cursory count of homeless deaths the annual number has exceeded 100 since 1988 and reached 169 for the first time in calendar year 1999. NO UNIFORM SYSTEM
SONORA, Calif. Northern California student is proving that perfection is possible after taking the tough SAT exam and recording two perfect scores. Trevor Loflin should feel good. The 17-year-old scored a perfect 800 on the verbal section and 800 on the math section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test. The task is even more amazing considering that Loflin's family was homeless. "We went back and forth. Sometimes we were homeless. Sometimes we had an apartment. And then basically we just lived wherever we could find," Loflin said. Loflin not only got the
score without the benefit of a home, he got it without a school, because he is home-schooled. He said that his mom has been a great teacher. "I'm a lot more motivated now and more capable. The challenge of it has strengthened me," Loflin said. The family thanks their Baptist faith for seeing them through the tough times. They just moved in to their first real house in Sonora a few weeks ago. Loflin's next Let us not be satisfied with just giving challenge will be finding a college money. Money is not enough, money can and a way to pay for be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere it. -Wyoming Winds you go.
A
(Continued on page 6)
Homeless Deaths in San Francisco '87 69 '88 116 '89 110 '90 102 '91 118 '92 138 '93 112 '94 117 '95 157 '96 154 '97 110 '98 157 '99 169 '00 138 '01(x) 77 '02(y) No survey conducted '03(z) 169
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Voice
HOMELESS VOICE
Hurricane season is here. Please remember if a Hurricane approaches us here in South Florida we may need additional help looking for the homeless who may not know a storm is near. If a storm approaches our Homeless Emergency Management Team is out on the streets looking for the homeless who may not know a storm is approaching. We stay out until one hour before the storm hits our area. If you are interested please call our office. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR -Mark Targett SEND TO: P.O. BOX 292-577 DAVIE, FLORIDA 33329 FAX TO: 954-926-2022 EMAIL: info@homelessvoice.com
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October, 2003
NEW LIFESTYLES
S
hannon had met Tom her senior year of high school. They became serious very quickly, like most of her relationships. Her mother had always taken care of her but was often occupied by her own problems to really take an interest in Shannon's social life. Her father was in and out of her life with a different girlfriend every time she saw him. Since she had been thirteen, she had been very sexually active. Curious with both men and women, she had viewed her sexuality with much comfort, not really caring what people said about her behind her back. By the time Shannon had met Tom, she had been engaged twice already. Tom was attracted to Shannon by the air of confidence she projected and by her very voluptuous chest. They connected on their first date and they were inseparable after that. Tom had just come out of a two-year relationship with a woman who carried his baby. She had started doing drugs; and Tom left her. Shannon was still in high school with the only responsibility of doing her homework, not raising a child. The switch made Tom feel younger and he enjoyed her carefree attitude. Tom picked Shannon up after school everyday and they spent their afternoons hanging
out at her mom's house and going to the diner with friends. Graduation came quickly and Tom took her out for drinks after the ceremony. They went to the beach where Tom proposed to her. Shannon accepted and they made plans to marry as soon as they found a place to live. Borrowing money from his parents, Tom found a small one-bedroom apartment about twenty minutes from home. Shannon fixed the place up while Tom was at work and soon had her friends over every day. She started partying almost every night spending Tom's money on clothes, jewelry, alcohol, and weed. When Tom would bring up the fact that they didn't have a lot of money, Shannon would laugh it off and bring him to the bedroom to forget. He would come home exhausted and couldn't find a place to sit with all of Shannon's friends around. One night they got into their first real fight about it. Shannon left and didn't return until the next night. They talked and everything seemed to be getting better. A week later though Tom received a letter from their landlord telling them that if their last two months of rent weren't
paid within fifteen days, they would be evicted. Tom immediately confronted Shannon about where the rent had gone. She told him that the landlord had been given the money. Tom knew that she was lying but couldn't figure out what she could have spent $2,400.00 on without him knowing. Later, that evening, while Shannon was out, Tom went through her drawers. In the back of her nightstand was a small mirror, razor, and white powder. She had been doing cocaine all that time without him noticing. That was enough for Tom and when Shannon came home that night she found herself locked out of the apartment. She spent an hour futilely banging on the door for Tom to let her in. Tom's car was unlocked so Shannon spent the night there, figuring she would be let in the next morning. When she awoke though, Tom was nowhere in sight and the house was still locked. She needed a fix and was furious at herself for leaving her drugs at home. She tried to pick the front door lock with a bobby pin for an hour. Then she tried all of the windows. When
Unless she wanted to be homeless and in withdrawal, she had to go to rehab
that didn't work Shannon broke one of the windows. As she climbed through, she cut her hands and knees. She crawled to the bedroom, but before she could get up Tom was standing over her. He had called the cops and was having her put into rehabilitation. When she refused, Tom told her that she was no longer welcome there or at her mom's house. Unless she wanted to be homeless and in withdrawal, she had to go to rehab. Through tears, Shannon gave in and decided to go. Shannon is still in rehab, but has been making very good progress. The doctor's say that she should be out within a couple of months. Tom has since convinced his ex-girlfriend to go to rehab and he now has full custody of his son. He still works very hard and now hangs out with people who also have kids and bills. They talk about their responsibilities together and how much they've grown since they were stupid kids. -Sara Cunningham Homeless Voice of Ohio scunningham@homelessvoice.org
Do not value the things you have in your life. But value who you have in your life!
A
story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE. They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE. The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?" The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write it
down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it." LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
To: Our Supporters Stop by our shelter anytime and check out what we do. From:
Voice
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NEW LIFESTYLES
L
a s t month, Debra Powell told her life story - including the time she spent homeless on Houston streets -- to the staff at the downtown Salvation Army. The northeast Houston resident had been asked to tell her account of hitting rock bottom to the indigent women at the Salvation Army's transitional living and emergency shelter program as a way of helping them get back on their feet. Her story illustrates the result of setting goals and how a bad decision can get one into trouble fast. A native of Louisiana, Powell grew up in a speck of a town where opportunities were few. She managed to build a career as a beautician. Throughout her life she dreamed of moving to Houston, prompted by tales her uncle, a truck driver whose routes often took him through Houston, told her of the opportunities available in the largest city in Texas. She also had a dream of marketing a beauticians' workstation that she invented. Powell moved to Houston with her twin, 4-year-old sons,
leaving the older three children in Louisiana with relatives until she got settled. Powell quickly landed a job while living with her Houston relatives, and saved enough money to get her own place. She took in a roommate, who didn't pay his share of the expenses. Destitute, she was too embarrassed to return to her Houston relatives and ask them for help. Instead, she ended up on the doorsteps of the Salvation Army. For about a month, counselors helped Powell work through her problems. Soon she gathered her energy and resources, and was ready to move on. She found her uncle again, who offered her a small apartment. "From that point on, I felt like I could try it again," said Powell, 31. Powell found a job in a hair salon, where her braiding skills earned her notoriety. She was even featured in Evolution Magazine, she said.
"From that point on, I felt like I could try it again," said Powell
T
he G. Wynn Golf Invitation, on the Memorial Day Weekend, raised money for student scholarships at South Atlanta High. It's the story of the tournament's sponsor, however, that is richer than any scholarship. Evelyn Wynn Dixon is one of the many white-coated employees at Grady Memorial Hospital, but few have lived the life that she has as a single mother of four who went from being homeless to earning her PhD. "My four kids and I were displaced, we ended up sleeping on my sister's floor on a mattress," Dixon said. She currently works in the Neurology Department, but at one time, Dixon had no job, no husband and no degree. She found herself on welfare, moving first into a rat-infested apartment then into Section 8 Housing in south Atlanta. "I lived with the rats and it was hideous, but I moved up and it's been uphill ever since," she said. At 35, Dixon went back to school and she was not alone. "All of my kids and I were in college at the same time," she remembered. She worked two jobs, raised four kids, studied in-
While working at the new shop, she shared the workstation she had invented with her coworkers. They encouraged her to have a prototype built, which she did. Her fairy tale story came alive when Powell met Houston publicity agent Bruce Johnson, a man who saw promise in her invention. "Debra has spent about nine years developing her product," said Johnson from his offices near Arena Tower. He said the multipurpose board promotes hygienic conditions for cosmeticians who utilize synthetic hair. Powell now is looking forward to meeting with a major manufacturing company in El Paso about the workstation, which she has patented. And she is working on an autobiography that she eventually wants to market on video so that other women can hear her story. She wants them to know there is hope, no matter how bleak things may seem. Resident manager Won
Her determination now hangs on her office wall. between and faced a lot of discouragement. "I had one person -- a doctor -- once tell me, "I betcha all your sons will be drug dealers and your daughter a hooker," she said. "It motivated me even more." Her determination now hangs on her office wall. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees, then her doctorate degree in Public Health Administration at the age of 50. By then, her daughter was on her way to becoming an assistant school principal, one of her sons is a lawyer, the other son is a supervisor at the Department of Family and Children Services.
• • • • • • • •
"She's awesome, she's a great mom, she's always been a great mom, just the things she's instilled in us are priceless, not only does she say it, but she showed us," said son William Wynn. Dixon beat the odds and she is now giving back. Her golf tournament will raise money for seniors at South Atlanta High School. It is not for the "A" students, but for the "B" and "C" students. They are the ones, she says, who are often overlooked. "That's my message with this golf tournament. [It] is to let them know that no matter what the obstacles, if you have the
remembers Powell as someone who never complained about the shelter's rules -- nothing next to some of the experiences the mother of five had gone through. "She had a goal and worked toward that goal," Won said. "You have to have a dream and be able to stick to it. She had to hit rock bottom, but being here at the shelter gave her a chance to look at her dreams." In reflection, Powell is grateful for what the shelter has given her. "It's the `rich' homeless who are blessed enough to have an opportunity to start over at a shelter that provides meals, clothes, services and a roof over your head," she said. -Carole Vaughn
faith to persevere, and understand that nobody owes you nothing, that if you're willing to work and to sacrifice, that in the end it'll work." She said. As most things in life, not all things ended up perfect. One of Dixon's sons is a crack addict, though she remains hopeful about his recovery. Meanwhile, this year's tournament will be the 8th G. Wynn Golf Invitational and it is named after her oldest son. -Brenda Wood Wyoming Winds
HELP TO END HOMELESSNESS Become more informed about the causes of homelessness and be willing to share what you learn. Find out what local agencies are working with the homeless and donate your items and time. Tutor a homeless child. Help build or repair shelters, day centers and low cost housing Find out how your elected officials voted on homelessness issues and ask them to support funding to end homelessness and create more affordable housing. Learn what your local government is doing to end homelessness and encourage them to do more. Take an inventory of what it takes to keep you and your family housed. Donate money to programs you believe in.
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October, 2003
NATIONAL NEWS
P
ress statement of the Revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg Club of the Peace and Freedom Party (RRLC – PFP). Steve Argue and Matt Hartogh were arrested on Sunday July 6th for distributing literature on Pacific Avenue. Both had their literature tables, signs, and literature confiscated by the police and taken in as evidence of their supposed crime. Steve Argue was also arrested on June 23rd under the same law. One of the flyers they were distributing can be read at the end of this statement. The law they were arrested under is a new law passed by the supposedly “progressive” Santa Cruz City Council. It is a law that makes it illegal to keep a political table up for more than an hour without moving along (5.43.020 SC). This law is only selectively enforced against activists that are particularly disliked by the Santa Cruz City Council, while those organizations that do not expose the fake leftists on the City Council have so far been generally left alone. The political tables targeted by the police were joint tables of the Revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg Club of the Peace and Freedom Party (RRLC – PFP) and Homeless United for Peace and Freedom (HUFF). Both organizations have been outspoken in our opposition to the anti-poor and anti-working class policies and laws of the Santa Cruz City Council as well as in opposing this new law that
violates the basic free speech rights of the people of Santa Cruz. Other new laws that both organizations have opposed include one that makes juggling illegal. Performer Tom Noddy was recently arrested and held for twelve hours under this new law. While being filmed by fellow activists, both Steve Argue and Matt Hartogh refused to move their political table and refused to sign a ticket when asked to do so. Steve Argue instead cited the right to free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution and pointed out that the Santa Cruz City Council and the arresting officers were the ones who were actually in violation of the law. As a large supportive crowd gathered they told the many cops who were also gathering that they would not stop distributing literature and that they would not take the table down. They said they would not back down voluntarily and pointed out that the only way they would be temporarily stopped would be if the police arrested them and took the table down themselves. After officers waited for Sgt. Butchy Baker to arrive, the police then arrested the two and took the table and flyers into evidence. Sgt. Baker is a cop that is assigned to deal with political cases. On Monday, June 30th, Sgt. Baker closed down a video showing of Steve Argue’s earlier
“Steve Argue has vowed to continue violating this city law until free speech rights are restored in Santa Cruz”
arrest and cited activists Robert Norse and Jim Ross for “audio amplification without a permit”. This is the first time such a charge has been used against a video display by activists. Baker also cited another man for “sitting on the planter railing” after that man had helped in carrying video equipment for the showing. It was also Sgt. Baker who arrested Steve Argue on Labor Day last year for jaywalking and Baker has cited Robert Norse for this same “offense”. The Labor Day arrest of Argue prevented him from making it to a Labor Day picnic where he was scheduled to promote his campaign to be elected to City Council. In addition, Baker was accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault by 9 different women that he held in custody a few years back. Soon after these accusations had blown up and had been absolved by the police department, Baker was named officer of the year and was promoted. As bad as Sgt. Butchy Baker is, his activities are not those of some rogue cop. They represent the laws, policies, and intentions of his fake leftist bosses that comprise the entire Santa Cruz City Council. This is why the Citizen’s Police Review Board, appointed by the City Council, was almost entirely useless. And after the Board took an independent stand opposing the selective enforcement of the Santa Cruz Police the City Council abolished the body. Steve Argue is no stranger to being arrested for free speech. In 1998 he was arrested by the Santa Cruz Police for selling a non-corporate newspaper. During that arrest, and while he was being held in custody, he was brutalized by the police and deputies and held for four days. That arrest, another violation of
the First Amendment to the constitution, backfired for the police with the publicity the case received and the outrage it provoked. After that arrest the Santa Cruz Police became very timid about violating freedom of press, although they did issue a couple citations again last year. In addition to the publicity Argue’s 1998 arrest received, he also won a ruling in the court of Federal District Judge Ware stating that not only do the Santa Cruz Police violate constitutional rights, but the way city lawyers were trying to defend the police proves that it is city policy to violate those rights. Today, it is essential that the people stand up for the rights of those who are standing up for their rights. Steve Argue, Matt Hartogh, Robert Norse, Jim Ross, and Tom Noddy all deserve your support. As Steve Argue has stated, “In the traditions of the IWW who successfully defended free speech rights at the turn of the last century, Steve Argue has vowed to continue violating this city law until free speech rights are restored in Santa Cruz and I urge others in Santa Cruz to join me.” Liberation News
(Continued from page 1)
about several features at the school, including a gymnasium and a medical clinic. "We're just really blessed to know that down the road our school is going to be larger," Pappas spokeswoman Ernalee Phelps said. "We understand the need for these children," she said. Pappas officials plan a groundbreaking event and also are raising funds to support the new campus and its students. David J. Cieslak The Arizona Republic
Voice
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NATIONAL NEWS Motel vouchers used to house homeless campers
A
group of homeless advocates has decided to offer motel vouchers to transients displaced by the U.S. Forest Service's ban on camping outside developed campgrounds. The Northern Arizona Homeless Network and other advocates had considered allowing displaced transients to camp in the Salvation Army thrift store parking lot. But because it is late in the fire season and the Forest Service may soon lift the dispersed camping restrictions, the advocates and local officials decided Thursday to offer motel vouchers through the weekend. It is unclear exactly how many homeless people are camping in the forests near Flagstaff, but officials generally agree it appears the numbers are declining. "The feeling is we're seeing numbers going down," said Lt. Chuck Martens of the Flagstaff Police Department. "We're just not seeing the issues we had last year." Last year, the forests were closed for the summer in May as fear of the fire danger grew. The Salvation Army created a temporary emergency camp for displaced transients. The camp, which housed up to 50 people a night for six weeks, was forced to close eventually from insufficient staffing and funding. Rebecca Bartholomew, spokeswoman for the Salvation Army in Flagstaff, said that with some funding help, the organization could open its lot again this year to provide temporary shelter. The Salvation Army has not made a formal request for funds. "If it came to an emergency situation ... then we would do it for lack of a better space," she said. Councilman Al White said such a measure should be a last resort. A city fund of $25,000 and funding from other agencies could be leveraged to help provide shelter, White said. Meanwhile, the county and other service organizations have motel vouchers for the next several days. City officials and advocates plan to meet again Tuesday to reassess what services should be provided. Associated Press
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Nationally, there is no uniform system for tracking homeless deaths. Some information is compiled by government authorities, some by homeless advocates. Last year, 37 homeless deaths were reported in Boston, 26 in Indianapolis, about 43 in Broward County, Fla., and about 100 in all of Minnesota. In Denver in 2001, 67 homeless deaths were reported. Herb Hawley, the medical examiner's office administrator, said that, if anything, the 169 deaths cited for San Francisco in fiscal year 2003 understate the actual number. "The 169 deaths are only the ones we know about. It's not exact, though I'm sure it's low. It might be five low, it might be 50 low. I don't know." Hawley noted that his agency handles only about half of all San Francisco's 8,000plus deaths a year, so the picture of those who died homeless is incomplete. Official estimates of the number of homeless people in San Francisco range from 8,000 to 15,000. 'HOMELESS SITUATION' For his report, he said he counted people who died in a "homeless situation, " -- on the street or in a shelter -- or who died in an institution where they listed themselves as homeless. It did not count people who died in residential hotels or those whose deaths wouldn't be reported to his office. A past Health Department report for 1998 showed the homeless dying in San Francisco are disproportionately African American, and the 157 recorded deaths that year were clustered in the Mission, Tenderloin and South of Market, among the city's poorest neighborhoods. The new medical examiner's report is short on de-
Faith Riolo 954-334-3450 x210
tail. Unlike more comprehensive studies prepared by the Public Health Department until 2000, it doesn't note the cause of death, the place of death or the ages and races of the deceased. Instead, it is little more than a grim roster of names, such as Caesar Cruz, Willie Lowe, Timothy Sullivan, James Johnson, Carlos Rodriguez, Roberta Smith, Wah Cheng, Barry Belinsky, Polly Potter, Jimmie Luke. Death certificates of a handful of the homeless people listed among the dead in the new report shed a some light on their lives -- and deaths. Only four of the 169 death certificates were available Thursday. Joan Busey, a 71-yearold white woman, died at 7:50 p.m. May 11, 2002, at Laguna Honda Hospital, the city's long -term care hospital at the foot of Twin Peaks. Complications from pneumonia killed her. Michael Johnson, a 43year-old African American, died at 6:25 a.m. June 5, 2002. He, too, lived his last days at Laguna Honda Hospital until AIDS-related complications took his life. Merlin Martin, a white man, was 59 when his life ended at Laguna Honda at 2: 55 a.m. April 30, 2002. The cause of death was pneumonia, though he had a long list of health problems, including chronic lung disease and hepatitis C. Craig Pierce, a selfemployed appliance repairman, died at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital on Nob Hill, adjacent to the Tenderloin, on July 2, 2002, at 1:32 p.m. No cause of death was listed. Randy Reiter, a public health epidemiologist who worked on the Health Department's 2000 report, said that simply being homeless can make someone sicker. "Clearly, they have more exposure, they have less opportunity for hygiene, poorer nutrition, medication (management)," he said. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL Dr. Mitch Katz, the city's public health director, however, estimates that substance abuse is involved in nearly two-thirds of the homeless deaths in the city. That point isn't lost on Newsom as he stumps for Proposition M, his antipanhandling measure. As he spoke at the fund-raiser for the ballot measure Thursday, a
black-and-white slide show ran on a screen right next to him. It showed images of street people injecting drugs. He wanted to get across the idea that panhandlers use the money they get from people passing by to feed their addictions. WHAT PROP. M WOULD DO Prop. M clarifies the anti-begging laws already on the books and would outlaw aggressive panhandling citywide and all forms of begging from median strips, in parking lots, near freeway ramps and around check-cashing businesses and ATMs. Violators could pay fines up to $100 or be diverted from the criminal justice system to a yet-to-be created screening-and-assessment program that would identify those who need substance abuse and mental health services. The proposed law provides no guarantee that those services would be provided, though Newsom said that if he were elected he would make sure the services exist. After slamming Newsom's motives for requesting the medical examiner's report, Leal said she would put the homeless problem at the top of her priority list. She would meet once a week with city agencies and leading nonprofits involved in the issue. She said she would hold the players accountable to make sure services are coordinated and effective. Like others in the race, Leal said drug treatment and housing are essential ingredients to aiding the homeless. But she said she wouldn't make any specific promises about providing what's needed because the money's not available to back it up. Alice Gleghorn, a public Health Department researcher, said not enough treatment is available to meet the immediate demand. In June, she said, 476 people were waiting for an opening in one of 15 publicly funded residential treatment programs. Rachel Gordon, Chronicle Staff Writer
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October, 2003
THOUGHTS
A Grandmothers Love
There's nothing sweeter than a grandmothers love. To hold their grandchild to tell them you love them. And to be there when they get hurt. A grandmother's love is there whenever they need a hug. Or just to say I love you.
By Gayle Smith
Wouldn't it be a better world… If we believed that learning is a lifelong adventure? If we believed in facing each day with minds open to knowledge and hearts open to love… If we believed in the freedom to wonder, to ask, to explore, to imagine, to create… If we believed that success means doing our best, being our best, and feeling proud of our effort… If we believed that every one of us has special talents, and that the talents of each of us help all of us… If we believed in ourselves, in each other, In This World.
T
his is what life is all about. This little new baby is the most special baby in the world. Why? Because she is my almost my granddaughter, but she will be my granddaughter anyway. This little angle named Lilly Paul came to us on August 16th and she is...an angel. This cutie came to us from two of our staff people who do the paper. Mark , the guy behind the paper and Sara, the mother and writer of many stories. We have known Mark for years and we just met Sara about 18 months ago. To watch Mark become so responsible and to give so much love to this little baby brings tears to our eyes. The day he told me that I was going to be a granddad I will never forget. I immediately hung up the phone and began to make announcements over the intercom that we all were getting a new baby. Babies have always been my weakness. Babies have always been the weakness of our staff. Every time one is born we have a good time buying gifts, cribs, diapers and the rest. Then after the baby develops their own little unique Lillian Paul Targett personality we get to buy extra things to make them happy. This is when the D.O.B. 8-16-03 fun starts. When I look at the way Mark handles her I know that he has accomplished the best thing in the world. Tonight when we were looking a the final proof of the paper, Mark said we have room for one more story. Then we broke the news to him. We told him we were going to have him give us the final paper and then go behind his back and redo the cover story with baby Lilly on the cover and surprise him and Sara. However, time wouldn't let us do it. So I told him then we need to put baby Lilly in the paper. After all, myself and Lois are also the extra set of grandparents. Why, is the birth of a baby in this paper? Is it because we are selfish? Is it because we are bragging? Or is it because we are proud? Well, it is more than just all that. Here at the shelter there are times when we look at young kids who are homeless or even the real old clients. We say to ourselves "How could this person be homeless?” On the same day Lilly was born, we got this real young girl just 18 years old who had not once ounce of discipline problems. We could see no surface of any type of problem. We asked her, "Why are you homeless?” She stated that her parents said she was now 18 and on her own. I called the parents and the parents told me the same thing. I said to myself, how could any parent just throw their child to the streets to be exposed to the elements of mean streets. There are many reasons why someone becomes homeless and this happens almost daily in America. Lets not forget about those parents who have a baby and three days later throw the baby in a dumpster. Education, Education is what we have to teach our public. In Florida a mother can drop a baby off at any Fire Department or Hospital Emergency room and just state "I don't want this baby." No questions asks, drop off the baby to a safe place and the mom does not go to jail. THERE IS NO NEED TO THROW THE BABY IN THE DUMPSTER, teachers teach this, churches teach this, and in empowerment agencies please teach this to our low income families. So many babies are just thrown away, and this way the mom can drop the baby off at and established safe drop off point, no questions ask and the baby will have a safe place and there is no paper work on who the mom is. After seeing and holding Lilly the Angel, I really saw such beauty in a child, to think of how any person could take a baby and harm them is beyond my thinking ability. It must take the worst type person do such an act. My thought on the whole baby Lilly thing: That in this world I have received lots of nice things. When I was younger and got hurt I was paid off well and able to live the rest of my life without ever having to work. I have traveled, I have met many famous people, I have met important political people and some former presidents. I have done it all. What I have never done was to be so proud of somebody and that somebody is Mark and Sara. They have made my life even better then before. They gave me something so beautiful to love, to hold, to care for. This little Lilly the Angel, the nickname I gave her, will always be so special in my heart. Where they are living it is set up so nice and it was a pleasure to see how nice they fixed everything up for Lilly. A few of our Homeless clients • Talk to your Human Resource Manager wanted to participate in the giving of a gift, so some of them put their money about how you can donate money to help together and we are buying a savings bond for her. It was so nice to see peothe homeless thru a payroll deduction for ple that don't have any money want to help someone who does have their life the COSAC Foundation together. In some of the articles I have written, I refer to the Homeless as American Express Will Match Any Homeless heroes for reasons just like this. When we went to visit them at their new little home I said to them, Donation Their Employee Makes "There are two extra bedrooms, you know what that means?” They looked at me and I said "Lets get busy filling those bedrooms." Mark, Sara, and Lilly, you mean the world to us, we love you, we want to watch your family grow and we want to always be a part of you. Thank you for giving us something so nice and we will baby-sit Lilly any day of the week. We love you all. -Sean, Lois, Ginny and the rest of the gang at the shelter
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Call Aaron @ 954-925-6466x103
P le a se H e lp … T h e R a in is D ro w n in g U s D O N AT E O N L IN E … @ b y u s in g
w w w.H o m e le s s Vo ic e .o rg HELP PAY OFF OUR MORTGAGE We need just 42,200 people to send in a check for $20.00, Or 16,880 people to send in a check for $50.00, Or 8,440 people to send in a check for $100.00, Or 844 people to send in a check for $1,000, Or Just one wonderful person or business to send a check for the entire $844,000.00 Remember the donation is tax deductible!! Please send your checks to:
The COSAC Building Fund P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, Florida 33329 We do thank you
Do not buy a paper from him. This man was arrested. He is not authorized to ask for donations for the Homeless Voice or Helping People In America. If you see this man wearing one of our shirts please call our Loss Pre-
vention Department at 954-9201277. If for some reason you cannot get a hold of us you may call the Police. He sometimes wears a black stocking on his head. He uses these intersections but may use more than what is listed: Commercial -411 Commercial and 31 St. Commercial and Powerline Oakland and 441 Oakland and 31st McNab and University Drive Commercial and University Commercial and Rock Island McNab and Rock Island Cypress and Powerline McNab and 31st
Keep in mind that he may even try to go to Dade in the future.
This Issue, Vendors should be wearing either a WHITE shirt with ‘HOMELESS VOICE’ on front in blue and ‘HELPING PEOPLE IN AMERICA’ on back in blue; or a WHITE shirt with ‘HOMELESS VOICE’ in black on front and back. No other shirt colors should be used. If you see any other color shirts with this issue, please call LOSS PREVENTION at 954-920-1277