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Volume XIII, Issue 2
Runners are you ready???
The racers line up and get in some last minute stretching
Race to End Homelessness
media coordinators (Mark Lavallee) (Kim In September of 2010, we had a Goedde,) sponsor coordinators (Lon Kolscrazy idea to organize a 5k run to tad) (Ginny Scott) (Sean Cononie,) race guide benefit the homeless, and more spe(Chad Scanlon,) graphic designer (Sara Tarcifically homeless secretary (Heather UcA strong wind was gett,) families. Our first orcellini,) and then many more coming up from the people once we got closer to der of business was assembling a team. ocean and freezing all our event. Our team consisted Our meetings were reguthe volunteers of people from NJ larly held twice a month in and FL, so phone conferencing was the beginning and then more frequent as we our main way of communicating. We approached February 12th. We had permits to get approved, registration to put together, had a race director (Mark Targett,) Staff Writer
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Homeless connecting with family, friends through social networking
* Cassandra Wilson * Charlene Duarte * Rusty Columbo * Devon Bailey & Family * Maria Dragon * Vemonda Lane & Family * Charlie * Mr. Mike * Tiffany * Dvora * Ed Giampietro * Kristan David Perez * Tommy & Joe * Geralyn * Little Ryan * Earnest Bowens & Family * Ed & Ruth * Rudy * Lisa * John McLean * Darren * Jan Cerrito
Cathy’s Prayer List To add a name please call 954-410-6275, no monetary donations needed
By Andrew Adams They don’t have jobs. They don’t have homes. Yet the homeless are becoming just as adept at social networking — connecting with distant friends and family, even reuniting with lost loved ones. The Road Home in Salt Lake City says homeless people tweeting and updating Facebook statuses is fairly common now. The trend was first highlighted by a homeless New York man that has gained national attention. Daniel Morales, 58, hadn’t seen his daughter, Sarah, in 11 years. In his search, he sent out a tweet and a picture of her at age 16. Ultimately, the post led him to his daughter, Sarah Rivera — now a 27-year-old mother of two. “This is a great moment for myself,” Morales told reporters over the weekend. “I feel rejoiced — getting, touching my daughter again after 11 years.” In Salt Lake City, Facebook hasn’t helped
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My Calling from God Justin Long
Growing up, I was raised in a house hold where God and church were the first priority. However, when I was enrolled in public school in the fifth grade, things slowly began to change for me. Throughout my years in a public middle school I was introduced to many ungodly situations and experiences. As time passed, house parties, fighting, drinking, fowl language, drugs and sex became the norm. When I turned eighteen I told my parents that I was old enough to make my own decisions and refused to go to church with them. Deep down, I knew that my separation from God was not only devastating to my spiritual health, but it was also creating problems within my own family. From eighteen to twenty years old I was as far away from God as ever. Problem after problem came my way. A few weeks after my twenty first birthday, so many trials and tribulations had accumulated in my life; I did not know where to turn. One day it hit me like the force of a semi truck going full speed. I was all alone. No one could get me out of the situations I was in except for God. Immediately, I opened the Bible and began reading the story about the prodigal son, and how he had taken his birth right, left his father’s house and decided to party, drink, and fill his bed with many women. After a while, all of the money that his father had given to him was depleted, and he found himself alone, hungry, and sleeping in a barn with the pigs. He began to think about home and how his father’s servants were even better kept than himself. Eventually, he worked up
Fire Safety FireSafety.gov
More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 20,000 are injured. An overwhelming number of fires occur in the home. There are time-tested ways to prevent and survive a fire. It’s not a question of luck. It’s a matter of practicing and planning ahead. Kids and Fire: A Bad Match Children are one of the highest risk groups for deaths in residential fires. At home, children usually play with fire - lighters, matches and other ignitables - in bedrooms, in closets, and under beds. These are “secret” places where there are a lot of things that catch fire easily. * Children of all ages set over 35,000 fires annually. * Every year over 400 children nine years and younger die in home fires. * Keep matches and lighters locked up and away from children. Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches, evidence your child may be playing with matches. * Teach your child that fire is a tool, not a toy. Appliances Need Special Attention Bedrooms are the most common room in the home where electrical fires start. Electrical fires are a special concern during winter months which call for more indoor activities and increases in lighting, heating, and appliance use. * Do not trap electric cords against
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Cancer prevention: 7 tips to reduce your risk
Concerned about cancer prevention? Take charge by making small changes in your daily life, from eating a healthy diet to scheduling regular cancer screenings. By Mayo Clinic staff You’ve probably heard conflicting reports about cancer prevention. Sometimes the specific cancer-prevention tip recommended in one study or news report is advised against in another. If you’re concerned about cancer prevention, take comfort in the fact that small changes in your daily life can make a big difference. Consider seven real-life cancer prevention tips. your diet on fruits, vegetables and 1. Don’t use tobacco other foods from plant sources — Using any type of tobacco puts you on a colsuch as whole grains and beans. lision course with cancer. Smoking has been * Limit fat. Eat lighter and leaner linked to various types of cancer — including by choosing fewer high-fat foods, cancer of the lung, bladder, cervix and kidney particularly those from animal sourc— and chewing tobacco has been linked to es. High-fat diets tend to be higher cancer of the oral cavity and pancreas. Even in calories and if you don’t use tobacco, may increase exposure to secondhand take comfort in the fact that the risk of oversmoke may increase your risk of lung cancer. small changes in your daily life weight or obesi— which can, Avoiding tobacco — or can make a big difference ty in turn, increase deciding to stop using cancer risk. it — is one of the most * If you important health decisions you can make. It’s choose to drink alcohol, do so only also an important part of cancer prevention. in moderation. The risk of various If you need help quitting tobacco, ask your types of cancer — including cancer doctor about stop-smoking products and other of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and strategies for quitting. liver — increases with the amount of 2. Eat a healthy diet alcohol you drink and the length of Although making healthy selections at the time you’ve been drinking regularly. grocery store and at mealtime can’t guarantee 3. Maintain a healthy weight and cancer prevention, it may help reduce your include physical activity in your dairisk. Consider these guidelines: ly routine * Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Base
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Our Purpose: To Help the Homeless Learn How to Help Themselves
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The Voice of the Homeless
Page 2
Friends of the Homeless For just $15 a month you can keep a homeless family off the streets for a day
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In Loving Memory of Angela J. Fante “Mimi” June 4, 1917 June 12, 2010
Volume XIII, Issue 2
Page 3
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W
vendors. None of the money that is made in e are doing a massive monththe streets goes to any staff member or for an ly partner campaign. It is so administrative cost such as insurance, emvitally important for us to secure as ployee benefits, or payroll taxes. Money that many monthly members as we can. is used to pay for staff or for other administraAs you know the streets are getting tive cost comes from us creating income on harder for us to do. However, it is our low income but affordable housing for not as bad as we thought it would poor people. Also administrative costs also be. Some cities have made it against come from the money the hospitals pay us to the law to sell the paper in their city house complex cases for their homeless populimits and some of the cities that we lation. When we house one of their clients it thought we would be in court with saves them and tax payers hundreds of thoudid not change the law. So with some sands of taxes that we would all have to pay. bad news we got some good news. So when we buy a new file cabinet in the ofHaving monthly supporters helps fice or a lap top the money comes from themus keep our budget in control bemoney the staff receives, not from those buckcause we have a greater understandets in the streets or when the checks come in ing of what is coming our way as far from our monthly partners. as donations. There is another good We are asking for all our supporters to try reason for the monthly supporters, it to get as many people as they can to come is because of me. I must admit I am and visit us at the shelter to see where all the really tired. It has still been seven money goes. We are asking for our supportdays a week almost 18 to 20 hours a ers to also send in a check per month so we day nonstop for too, too many years. have a better understanding of what we can I need a break. It is just nonstop day do to make us bigger and after day and better so we can continue It is not so much the size there is so much help those who are more we have of the donation but the to forgotten about. Every to do to make number of people who amount helps. us even bigger Last month we sold than we are now donate to us. over 125,000 newsso we can help papers and cards in the streets. That meant with the so many new faces of homethat over 125,000 people put in money in to less people coming our way daily. those buckets. If we would have just half that These are the “first timers.” These amount sent in at $2.00 per month that would are the people that for the first time mean that I would know that we can expect to in their life became homeless due to receive about $125,000 in checks per month. loss of job or loss of home due to a This means we can expand and keep on growforeclosure. ing so this place is here when I am dead and It is so important to help these peoburied. This place needs to be here for the ple and to never say we don’t have many years to come. Not only we can expand, a bed for you. If we have to turn a but I will get some well deserved rest. Come “first timer” away there is a chance by and visit me and visit this place. I am here that person may become a long term usually 27 days a month 24 hours a day unless homeless person. So we must keep I am trying to lose some weight by walking on buying more property while it is outside or at the YMCA. I have been living cheap. This will allow us to almost here a very long time and I do want to get double our bed space. We are still in home more and more considering I only live a the process of remodeling the main few miles from the shelter. complex as well. With all this we have to raise more funds and try to COSAC HOMELESS get some idea of what we expect to ASSISTANCE CENTER get in donations in the future. HavP.O. Box 292 Davie, FL 33329 ing monthly partners really helps out more than what most people think. It is not so much the size of the donaHelping tion but the number of people who + = More donate to us. People! The money that is given to the vendors goes directly to the operational 1203 N. Federal Highway cost of the shelter and the homeless Hollywood, FL 33020 themselves, the vendors who sell the paper as their job. Exactly like the Setup networks of people to help out! Sun-Sentinel and the Herald Street
COSAC’S CHURCH Come to the church that is a Church of Service and Charity Learn of Jesus & How to put God‛s words into action.
Sunday 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm 1203 N. Federal Highway Hollywood, FL 33020 954-924-3571 x316 * Free Weddings * Free Memorial Services * Alternatives to Abortion * Healing Services
Homeless Voice Newspaper Staff Publisher Sean Cononie
Editor in Chief
Executive Editor
Mark Targett
Sara Targett
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Cut & Remove all Trees * All Flooring Work * Finish Carpentry * Crown Moulding Baseboards, Cabinetry * Facia Board Replacement * Installation of Windows Landscaping * Fencing, Sprinkler Systems * House Painting (Interior & Exterior) Pressure Cleaning * Seal/Rebuild Driveways * All Concrete Work * Roof Cleaning & Painting * Sheet Rock/Knockdown * Popcorn Ceilings
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The Voice of the Homeless
Page 4
Homeless connecting with family, friends through social networking
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homeless Elisa Melo find estranged loved ones. It does aid her, however, in keeping her family up to date with her struggles. She fled an abusive husband a year ago. She has been in The Road Home for nine months, trying to care for her 17-year-old special needs son while getting her life in order. While Melo has a cell phone, she uses Facebook to contact her family in Brazil twice per week. “That helps a lot — reading the stuff they’re writing me, telling me to go on and to keep myself healthy,” they can come here and connect with their Melo said Wednesday. friends and family through social networkCase workers at The Road Home ing,” library spokesman Andrew Shaw said. say many homeless people do have Some are trying to spread the stories of the cell phones, but rules require they homeless online. In Morales’ case, he was one have to go to public libraries and of four homeless people handed a cell phone other places to conby “Unheard in New York.” nect online for social In all reality it holds Created just weeks ago, the networking. group aims to give the homea purpose, and that It’s something ema voice. ployees at the Salt purpose is you can less The organization created Lake City Library instantly find anybody Twitter accounts for the peodowntown acknowlple as well, which ultimately edge probably hapled Morales to his daughter. She was staying pens — the homeless coming to the at a domestic violence shelter in Brooklyn. library to tap social media — though “It’s amazing like … the social network, it they try to stay out of visitors’ perhas some negative aspects behind it,” Rivera sonal affairs. told reporters in New York. “But in all reality “It’s a great place for people who it holds a purpose, and that purpose is you can don’t necessarily have the Internet instantly find anybody.” at home — or even a home base —
13-year-old Pasadena boy cooking for a cause By Janette Williams
Like most 13-year-old boys, Patrick Minassians likes his food. He’s even developed an interest - bordering on obsession, his mom says - in nutrition and cooking in the family kitchen when his homework and chores are done. So when Patrick was challenged to put together a school project with community impact, he decided to parlay his passion for food into helping the homeless. His ambitious plan: cook dinner for the homeless parents and children living at Union Station’s 50-bed Family Center in Pasadena, while involving his classmates by collecting their family recipes for a fundraising cookbook. The result is “Just Cook for a Just Cause,” an 80-page book of 50 home-style recipes he published himself through an online program, the proceeds of which will all go to Pasadena’s Union Station Homeless Services. “I just started to like food, and decided I wanted to make it myself,” said Patrick, an eighth-grader at Flintridge Preparatory School in La Ca ada Flintridge. Then, while doing research for his project, he found Union Station Homeless Services and said he was struck by the numbers and by the families affected. “I didn’t really know about Union Sta-
tion until I looked them up online,” Patrick said. So he decided to combine his interests and help them out. His mom, Mary Minassians, said she warned him he was taking on a lot. “But I told him `do what you love,”’ she said. Patrick spent most of his winter break “completely focused” on the cookbook, she said. He used some of the proceeds - he’s raised $600 so far - to buy food, and on Feb.26 he prepared dinner for Family Center residents, with the help of about a dozen classmates and family members. “We cooked barbecued steak and chicken and made a salad, and made grilled veggies and cookies,” Patrick said. “We gave a survey afterward and they all said they really liked it there were no leftovers.” Sandy Potter, Union Station’s director of volunteer and community programs said she was amazed when “the extent and magnitude” of Patrick’s enterprise unfolded. “I think the reality is people’s needs are shelter and food, and part of what we’re striving for all the time is to ensure the food we’re preparing is tasty and the people eating it are getting nutrition, not relying on fast food,” Potter said. “Hopefully, people who move on out of homelessness are learning that while they’re here.” Patrick said he likes to make desserts - “Either my mom’s (triple chocolate chip) cookies or rice pudding. Also fudge.” He hasn’t tried out most recipes he collected for the book, except for some desserts and French onion soup, but he said they are all tried and tested family favorites. “Some are very simple and easy, but there are some that are a little more difficult,” said Patrick. “There’s a souffle...”
Smartphone picture uploads can reveal the location of your children’s home, school, and play areas Russ Ptacek KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Pictures you’ve e-mailed or uploaded from your smartphone could be leaking location information threatening your safety or that of your children. “Perfect, just like that,” cooed NBC Action News staffer Susanne McDonald to her fouryear-old daughter Laine as she took a series of smartphone pictures. “Ready? One, two, internet crime experts, like Chudik, three! Good Girl.” who said he’d never seen private inWe loaned McDonald and Laine a smartformation shared so quickly in such phone to see just how threatening a seemingly an unknown manner. innocent snapshot could be once loaded onHe calls the hidden smartphone line. data today’s biggest risk online. Police are concerned “It’s probably go“It’s frightening,” said ing to be number one Leawood School Resource The fact that they for a while,” Chudik Police Officer Mark Chudik when we showed him what we found the bedroom is said. Technique involves had uncovered. terrifying, free, easily available We combed Twitter and sites software like Facebook , Craig’s List, and Photobucket. Chudik used a free browser add-on We searched by entering the names of area citto click on pictures of four-year-old ies. We easily identified the home addresses Laine. and play areas of children whose pictures He not only found her home when were posted by their parents. he clicked on a picture of her bed“That is legitimately terrifying,” said Mcroom, but located her day care, faDonald when we showed her information we vorite fast food shop, and the specific obtained from pictures she posted of daughter part of the park where she plays. Laine. “The fact that they found the bedIt’s a new and frightening threat to parents. room is terrifying,” McDonald said. The full risk is even an unknown to many
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Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship Mayo Clinic
Resilience means being able to adapt to life’s misfortunes and setbacks. Test your resilience level and get tips to build your own resilience. By Mayo Clinic staff When something goes wrong, do you tend to bounce back or fall apart? When you have resilience, you harness inner strengths and rebound more quickly from a setback or challenge, whether it’s a job loss, an illness, a disaster or the death of a loved one. In contrast, if you lack resilience, you tend to dwell on problems, feel victimized, become overwhelmed and turn to unhealthy coping being resilient. mechanisms, such as substance abuse. You Resilience and mental health may even be more inclined to develop mental Resilience helps protect you against health problems. mental health problems, such as deResilience won’t make your problems go pression and anxiety. It can also help away. But resilience can give you the ability offset factors that put you at risk of to see past them, find enjoyment in life and mental illness, such as lack of sohandle stress better. If you aren’t as resilient cial support, being bullied or previas you’d like to be, you can develop skills to ous trauma. And being resilient can become more resilient. help you cope better with an existing Resilience means adapting to adversity mental illness. Resilience is the ability to roll with the Tips to improve your resilience punches. It means that although you encounWorking on your ter stress, adversity, trauma Resilience won’t make mental well-being or tragedy, you keep functioning, both psychological- your problems go away. But is just as imporresilience can give you the tant as working ly and physically. Resilience isn’t about ability to see past them, find on your physical toughing it out or living by enjoyment in life and handle health. If you want to strengthen your old cliches, such as “grin and stress better. resilience, try these bear it.” It doesn’t mean you tips: ignore your feelings. When adversity strikes, * Get connected. Build strong, you still experience anger, grief and pain, but positive relationships with family you’re able to go on with daily tasks, remain and friends, who provide support and generally optimistic and go on with your life. acceptance. Volunteer, get involved Being resilient also doesn’t mean being stoic in your community, or join a faith or or going it alone. In fact, being able to reach spiritual community. out to others for support is a key component of
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Volume XIII, Issue 2
Recession Costs Miss Colorado USA Her Home By Lyneka Little The smile, the walk, the poise and the Miss Colorado USA crown would make you believe Blair Griffith has it all. But, since being chosen to represent her state in the Miss USA pageant, Griffith has lost her permanent shelter. “I am currently homeless,” Griffith told a classroom of students during an interview with KUSA-TV. “I do not have a house to go home to.” Griffith and her mother are among a growing cadre of homeless families across the United States. The number of homeless families rose from 131,000 in 2007 to 170,000 in 2009 due to the recession, acBlair Griffith cording to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress pital the past two nights w/my mom. They The 23-year-old who won the sure like to wake you up all through the crown of Miss Teen USA back in night right when you finally fall asleep,” 2006 has been struggling with fiwrote Griffith on her unofficial Twitter nancial hardships since winning page in September 2010. her Colorado title. Her job at a reThe state winner began her pursuit of tail store is expected to end soon beauty queen at the suggestion of her father, and her mother has been unable to who died from proswork after tate cancer when she suffering a “I meet people that give me was 14. She has balheart attack three years strength... I feel like there are so anced familial health and pageantry since ago. many people going through the she was young and “I wanted exact same situation.” doesn’t regret her to be there choice. When she for her,” was crowned Miss Griffith told Teen USA in 2006 the TV station about her mother. Griffith said, “I cried because I wished he’d Now, Griffith and her mother don’t been there to see it.” have a place to call home. She will continue her work on the pagA long road of strength and supeantry circuit when she vies for the title of port has been required of the Miss USA in June. Griffith told the TV sta20something, who in between tion that a friend has stepped in temporarily tweets about pageant requirements to keep mother and daughter off the street. has written about her mother’s varAnd, the beauty queen says she is at home ious stays at the hospital. in her cramped room in her temporary resi“Well hello again twitter: Quick dence with only a few belongings, includupdate- Mom was in hospital, but ing her crown, at the house. is getting out today, it’s snowy in “It’s almost a test to see if you can handle the CO, & I need to find a swim it, and what will you make out of your situsuit,” she wrote on the social meation,” Griffith said. dia Web site back in October 2009. How is she keeping on? In the weeks leading up to the “I meet people that give me strength... I Miss Colorado USA competition, feel like there are so many people going Griffith found herself again in a through the exact same situation.” hospital room. “Slept at the hos-
Page 5
On Spirituality Ash Wednesday produces different memories and emotions for all of us. For some we recall how we fasted or abstained from certain foods and activities during the day of Ash Wednesday as well as for the season of Lent itself. Lent is those forty days before Easter where we prepare ourselves for the great feast of the resurrection of Jesus. If we are one of the billions of Christians in the world then we are accustomed to doing penance during this time of year. In more recent years however the focus seems to have shifted toward doing more than giving up more. Praying more, doing acts of charity, being more attentive to those in our lives. All very worthwhile, yet there is something uniquely holy about fasting. There is no greater way to identify with the hungry than through fasting. Mother Theresa identified with the poor by becoming poor. St. Francis of Assisi gave up his wealth in order to minister to the poor. When we fast, we remove ourselves from the world as we know it for just a day or two and feel what it is like to do without, then our prayer has power. It brings a certain sincerity to our pleading to God
to help the less fortunate, and of course gives us a disposition to do more. Lent is here 2011, however your feelings of Lent in the past I wish you a truly holy and meaningful time of preparation for the great feast of Easter. Peace and all good. Deacon Bob
Don’t Cut the Food Stamp Program Joe Desmire
In the last few years the state of Florida has allowed providers such as COSAC and the Homeless Voice to have the general public apply for food stamps at their shelters and food pantries. This was done to make it easier for the poor people of the community to get to locations all over the county instead of just one or two offices and of course for the state to save money. When the state did this, they were able to close locations and down size staff where the state was able to control the cost of food stamps. It also gave a more personal touch to the poor where they could be helped more than what the food stamps office has done in the past. COSAC and The Homeless Voice did very well and got many applicants approved for food stamps. Below are the figures for the year 2010. COSAC is very proud to be able to say, “ as a smaller agency, our numbers looked as if we had many case managers helping but we only had one person who worked on this and we are very proud” said Sean Cononie, Director to the COSAC Shelter System. The following are the Numbers for the County on shelters and Food Assistance Programs.
BOC Broward Outreach Hollywood..............................66 BOC Broward Outreach Pompano.................................31 Faith Farm............................238 Salvation Army.....................278 Broward Partnership...............60 Cooperative Feeding Program.............................3,015 COSAC/Homeless Voice......622 The City of Miramar................60 Hope Outreach....................1173 House of Hope.......................293 Most advocates for the poor are very concerned with all the proposed budget cuts that the food stamps programs will not be touched. Families need assistance and it just make sense that food should be a guaranteed process if you can’t afford to eat.
The Voice of the Homeless
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Volume XIII, Issue 2
Race to End Homelessness (Continued from pg 1)
secure sponsors, organize our volunteers, promote and advertise! Our race director remained calm and collected through the planning process and we felt like we were ready. The only thing we couldn’t control was the weather! Saturday morning of February 12th started out dark and cold. A strong wind was coming up from the ocean and freezing all the volunteers that had gathered on Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. The band shell provided some relief and as the sun started to come up- the runners started to arrive. Some had their usual FL running attire on of shorts and sleeveless tees or sports bras. Others took a cue from mother nature and showed up with sweats and parkas with hoods pulled tightly around their faces. There was an excitement in the air as the morning drew on. The runners broke into groups, some stretching, some grabbing a quick drink and piece of fruit. At 7:15 a.m. the runners were lined up, and at the sound of GO! they were off! 17 minutes and 52 seconds later, Alex Rogers crossed the finish line as our overall 1st place winner! Split Second Timing had the race results constantly updated for all the participants to see as they came in. Our volunteers from St. Boniface Church in Pembroke Pines and from International School of Broward assisted with registration, passing out water, fruit that was donated from Gordon Food Services, and Chickfil- A sandwiches that were also donated. Before our 1 mile fun run/walk could get started, the rain started to come down and the wind really picked up. Most of our walking participants hung in though and even laughed about the weather as they made their trek out and back. Our runners thinned out, but some people decided to stay and wait to find out the results of our 50/50! Our winner was Michelle Yeates who walked away with over $175! Our morning came to an end after bringing in over $10,000 for The Race to End Homelessness! Our sponsors were incredibly generous as was our community members who came out and supported us! Thank you to all of our volunteers who I didn’t name and to all the participants! We are looking forward to our 2nd annual run and to ending homelessness!
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Page 7
Fire Safety (Continued from pg 1)
walls where heat can build up. * Take extra care when using portable heaters. Keep bedding, clothes, curtains and other combustible items at least three feet away from space heaters. * Only use lab-approved electric blankets and warmers. Check to make sure the cords are not frayed. Tuck Yourself in for a Safe Sleep * Never smoke in bed. * Replace mattresses made before the 2007 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard. Mattresses made since then are required by law to be safer. Finally, having working smoke alarms dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. Place at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home and in halls outside bedrooms. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family. To Prevent a Cooking Fire in Your Kitchen * Keep an eye on your cooking and stay in the kitchen. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires. * Wear short or close-fitting sleeves. Loose clothing can catch fire. * Watch children closely. When old enough, teach children to cook safely. * Clean cooking surfaces to prevent food and grease build-up. * Keep curtains, towels and pot holders away from hot surfaces and store solvents and flammable cleaners away from heat sources. Never keep gasoline in the house. * Turn pan handles inward to prevent food spills. To Put Out a Cooking Fire in Your Kitchen * Call the fire department immediately. In many cases, dialing 911 will give you Emergency Services. * Slide a pan lid over flames to smother a grease or oil fire, then turn off the heat and leave the lid in place until the pan cools. Never carry the pan outside. * Extinguish other food fires with baking soda. Never use water or flour on cooking fires. * Keep the oven door shut and turn off the heat to smother an oven or broiler fire. * Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Make sure you have the right type and training. * Keep a working smoke alarm in your home and test in monthly. Cigarettes are the number one cause of fatal home fires in the United States, averaging 900 deaths per year over the past ten years. Cigarette fires also kill people who do not smoke. Fire safety experts recommend the following steps for smokers to reduce their risk of fire: * If you smoke, smoke outside. * Choose fire-safe cigarettes. They are less likely to cause fires. * Close a matchbook before striking and hold it away from your body. Set your cigarette lighter on “low” flame. * Use deep, sturdy ashtrays placed on something sturdy and hard to ignite, like an end table. * Don’t leave cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended. Put out all smoking materials before you walk away. * Before you throw out butts and ashes, (Continued on pg 8)
ACCIDENT, CRASH, SLIP OR FALL? One Call, That’s All!
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 8
What I learned pretending to be homeless
Fire Safety (Continued from pg 8)
make sure they are out by dowsing in water or sand. * If smokers have visited, check under furniture and cushions for cigarette butts that may have fallen out of sight. * Don’t smoke if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or taken medicine or other drugs. * Never smoke in bed. Replace mattresses made prior to the 2007 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard. * Don’t smoke in a home where oxygen is used. * Develop and practice a fire escape plan. In case of a fire, crawl or stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and use the escape plan you have worked out. Get out and stay out. * Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a year. Consider installing a 10-year lithium batterypowered smoke alarm, which is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or opened. Ask your child if they know what fire hazards are and if they can name things in the home that might be considered a fire hazard. They will probably identify some of the following: * frayed cords on electrical appliances * electrical cords run underneath carpets or furniture * matches and lighters placed where kids can reach them * fireplaces without mesh screens * paper, fabric, trash, or other combustible materials left too close to heat sources such as furnaces, hot water heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, etc.. * material draped over lamps * curtains located too close to the bulbs in torch-style halogen lamps * pot holders or kitchen towels stored too close to stoves * electrical equipment left on with no one is in the room * smoking in bed Explain that these are dangerous things that could be in anyone’s home. * Ask if they know why it is important to identify and correct fire hazards in the home. They will probably conclude it is important in order to prevent a fire in the home and to prevent their families from being hurt in a fire. Stress that some hazards may not seem dangerous, such as overloaded extension cords, but that they could cause a fire when they least expect it. Fire hazards are
trical equipment, etc. especially dangerous at night, when no one is * In the event of a fire, remember - time is awake to notice that a fire has started. the biggest enemy and every second counts! * Review the three rooms in the drawEscape plans help you get out of your home ings on pg 7. Identify the fire hazards that are quickly. In less than 30 seconds a small flame found in these rooms. can get completely out of control and turn into In the kitchen: a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house * towel too close to the stove top to fill with thick black smoke and become en * child cooking alone gulfed in flames. * pot handle turned in the wrong diPractice Escaping from Every Room in the rection - it should be turned Home to the center of the stove to Practice escape plans every month. The prevent burns best plans have two ways to get out of each * smoke alarm batroom. If the primary way is blocked by fire tery missing in hallway or smoke, you will need a second way out. A In the living room: secondary route might be a window onto an * overloaded elecadjacent roof or using an Underwriter’s Labotrical outlet ratory (UL) approved collapsible ladder for * candle too close escape from upper story windows. Make sure to upholstered materials that windows are not stuck, screens can be and left unattended taken out quickly and that security bars can be * T.V. left on and unattended properly opened. Also, practice feeling your * mesh screen missing from in front way out of the house in the dark or with your of the fireplace eyes closed. * newspapers left too close to the fireSecurity Bars Require Special Precautions place where a spark could ignite them Security bars may help to keep your family * smoke alarm battery missing safe from intruders, but they can also trap you In the bedroom: in a deadly fire! Windows and doors with se * clothing draped over lamp where it curity bars must have quick release devices to could start to burn allow them to be opened immediately in an * an object (duck) placed on a space emergency. Make sure everyone in the famheater where it could start to burn ily understands and practices how to properly * space heater left on when no one is operate and open locked or in the room doors and windows. * clothing left too Children of all ages barred Immediately Leave the close to the space heater set over 35,000 fires Home where it could catch fire * smoke alarm batannually. Every year When a fire occurs, do not any time saving proptery missing over 400 children nine waste erty. Take the safest exit Instruct your child to draw a home floor plan and in- years and younger die in route, but if you must escape through smoke, remember to spect their home with you. home fires. crawl low, under the smoke * Accompany your child and keep your mouth covered. The smoke from room to room in your home, looking for contains toxic gases which can disorient you possible safety hazards. When the child idenor, at worst, overcome you. tifies one, talk about why it could be a hazard, Never Open Doors that Are Hot to the Touch and what can be done to correct it. Emphasize When you come to a closed door, use the with your child that if they see fire hazards, back of your hand to feel the top of the door, they should tell you - children should not try the doorknob, and the crack between the door to correct them themselves. Electricity and fire and door frame to make sure that fire is not on can be dangerous things, and children should the other side. If it feels hot, use your secondask adults to manipulate electrical cords, elecary escape route. Even if the door feels cool, open it carefully. Brace your shoulder against the door and open it slowly. If heat and smoke come in, slam the door and make sure it is securely closed, then use your alternate escape route. Designate a Meeting Place Outside and Take Attendance Designate a meeting location away from the home, but not necessarily across the street. For example, meet under a specific tree or at the end of the driveway or front sidewalk to make sure everyone has gotten out safely and no one will be hurt looking for someone who is already safe. Designate one person to go to a neighbor’s home to phone the fire department. Once Out, Stay Out Remember to escape first and then notify the fire department using the 911 system or proper local emergency number in your area. Never go back into a burning building for any reason. Teach children not to hide from firefighters. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. They are equipped to perform rescues safely.
More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 20,000 are injured.
I took part in a study hoping to understand my brother, who lives on the streets. All I found were more questions Ashley Womble Just after midnight as a historic nor’easter was blowing into town, I found myself sitting on a snowy street corner in Staten Island, waiting for someone to ask me if I had a place to stay the night. That someone was a volunteer for New York City’s annual homeless count, and I was one of the hundred or so decoys hired to camp out in forgotten corners of the city. We were essentially playing hide-andgo-seek by manning an assigned street, subway corner or train station while volunteers counted the city’s homeless residents. In this Shadow Count, which is modeled after plantcapture methodology originally used in wildlife research, the number of decoys not counted represents the percentage of the actual homeless people the counters missed. The nomadic nature of homelessness makes it notoriously difficult to get an accurate tally and this strange method is practiced in Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta, among other big cities. It’s considered the gold standard and has been detailed in several scientific journals and the New Yorker, which is where it caught my eye. That’s because, 3,000 miles away in Southern California, my brother Jay is actually homeless. He prefers the streets to living at home, which he ditched a year and a half ago after paranoid schizophrenia hijacked his mind. When you tell someone your brother has schizophrenia, they say they are sorry. If you explain that he’s homeless, you open a Pandora’s box of questions: Where is he? How did this happen? Can’t you just go and get him? There is a stigma attached to mental illness, but with homelessness, there’s just plain shame. As I wrote about for Salon, when Jay first became homeless I imagined the worst. I envisioned my then 20-year-old brother sleeping behind a dumpster in an alley, alternately being offered vials of heroin and being beat up by gang members. In reality, he was hitchhiking across the country, sleeping in school playgrounds in Manhattan and under bridges in Boston. His life had changed dramatically, but he was still the same kid who loved indie rock, politics and me. Gradually I began to understand that homeless means just that: without a home. It’s no easier to classify “homeless people” than “all people who live in apartments.” Normally, I spend the night in my one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. My idea of roughing it is schlepping my laundry a block down the street and washing it myself. I’m rarely able to eat the produce in my refrigerator before it goes bad. The Shadow Count was a way for me to find out, if only in a small way, how my brother lived. A few days before the count, my friend Claire and I attend a two-hour training session led by the Hunter College School of Social Work. We were told to dress in old clothes, doubling up on well-worn coats, hats and gloves. They suggested we bring “props” like cardboard, newspapers and blankets, for warmth and seating. “Is it OK to wear glasses?” someone asked. My brother does, I didn’t say. He also has a tent, a sleeping bag, an emergency blanket for when it gets very cold at night, a camper(Continued on pg 10)
Volume XIII, Issue 2
Cancer prevention: 7 tips to reduce your risk (Continued from pg 1)
Maintaining a healthy weight may lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney. Physical activity counts, too. In addition to helping you control your weight, physical activity on its own may lower the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer. As a general goal, include at least ally monogamous relationship, men who have 30 minutes of physical activity in sex with men, and health care or public safety your daily routine — and if you can workers who might be exposed to infected do more, even better. Try a fitness blood or body fluids. class, rediscover a favorite sport or * Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a meet a friend for daily brisk walks. sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cer4. Protect yourself from the sun vical cancer. The HPV vaccine is available to Skin cancer is one of the most comboth men and women age 26 or younger who mon kinds of cancer — and one of didn’t have the vaccine as an adolescent. the most preventable. Try these tips: 6. Avoid risky behaviors * Avoid midday sun. Stay out of Another effective cancer prevention tactic is the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to inwhen the sun’s rays are strongest. fections that, in turn, may increase the risk of * Stay in the shade. When you’re cancer. For example: outdoors, stay in the shade as much * Practice safe sex. Limit your number of as possible. Sunglasses and a broadsexual partners, and use a rimmed hat help, In addition to helping you condom when you do have too. * Cover exposed control your weight, physical sex. The more sexual partareas. Wear tightly activity on its own may lower ners you have in your lifewoven, loosefitting the risk of breast cancer and time, the more likely you are to contract a sexually transcolon cancer. clothing that covers mitted infection — such as as much of your skin HIV or HPV. People who have HIV or AIDS as possible. Opt for bright or dark have a higher risk of cancer of the anus, cercolors, which reflect more ultraviovix, lung and immune system. HPV is most let radiation than pastels or bleached often associated with cervical cancer, but it cotton. may also increase the risk of cancer of the * Don’t skimp on sunscreen. Use anus, penis, throat, vulva and vagina. generous amounts of sunscreen when * Don’t share needles. Sharing needles with you’re outdoors, and reapply often. an infected drug user can lead to HIV, as well * Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. as hepatitis B and hepatitis C — which can These are just as damaging as natural increase the risk of liver cancer. If you’re consunlight. cerned about drug abuse or addiction, seek 5. Get immunized professional help. Cancer prevention includes protec7. Take early detection seriously tion from certain viral infections. Regular self-exams and professional screenTalk to your doctor about immunizaing for various types of cancers — such as tion against: cancer of the skin, colon, prostate, cervix and * Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can inbreast — can increase your chances of discrease the risk of developing liver covering cancer early, when treatment is most cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is likely to be successful. Ask your doctor about routinely given to infants. It’s also the best cancer screening schedule for you. recommended for certain high-risk Take cancer prevention into your own hands, adults — such as adults who are starting today. The rewards will last a lifetime. sexually active but not in a mutu-
Page 9
Smartphone picture uploads can reveal the location of your children’s home, school, and play areas (Continued from pg 4)
“Scary, like terrifying. Especially as a parent because of the fact that you can see the exact place of it.” We searched online servers by local cities creating a menu of nearby children and their locations. With one online bedroom picture, we were able to find the home of two Olathe brothers. When we went to their home to warn their parents, they declined to comment, but did change the settings on their Photobucket account to private. How it works At UMKC, computer science Professor Deep Medhi says smartphones leave a hightech invisible trail using the same geotracking technology that enables the social website Foursquare and handheld map apps. “Exactly like in your GPS device in your car,” Medhi said. “When you do it, it can tell you exactly where it is.” Medhi showed how the easily-obtained software can translate geotagged photos, uploaded or linked from popular websites, into maps. “Exactly that spot where that picture was taken,” Medhi said. How to deactivate your geotagging The site icanstalku.com reposts pictures from unwitting Twitter users in real time, translating their photos into actual addresses and maps. The site also lists a how to deactivate geotagging on the iPhone, Blackberry with GPS, Google Android, and Palm WebOS. The site recommends restricting which applications can access GPS marking, or turning off location services altogether, in your smartphone settings. “You want to be able to do it almost on a picture basis,” Medhi said. “I don›t think you can think of anything worse than a stranger knowing all that information,” said Officer Chudik. Experts say you can still be perfectly safe by turning off GPS settings before taking pictures you plan to post online and by keeping your online photo servers restricted to private.
My Calling from God
(Continued from pg 1)
enough courage and journeyed back to his father’s house where his father embraced, kissed and welcomed him home. After reading this passage, I decided that I was indeed just like the prodigal son, and wanted nothing more than to go back home to my father’s house where He would embrace me saying, “My son was lost but now he is found.” The following Sunday, I began attending church again for the first time in a few years. It felt so good to finally be home. Over a few weeks I felt my spiritual connection with God growing stronger and stronger. Growing up, I always thought that my mother was crazy when she told me that God spoke to her, mainly because He never spoke to me. Things began to change since I started going back to church and praying again. God began speaking to me. I wasn’t sure what he was trying to tell me at first because I was kind of new to the whole thing, but for two weeks, every time I would drive by this particular homeless man I would feel indescribable compassion for him. Every time I saw him tears would come to my eyes and my heart would feel heavy. I began to become frustrated because I knew that God wanted to use me to reach out to this man; I just didn’t know how. I suddenly decided that I was going to stop thinking so hard about what God was trying to tell me and just let God work through me as his heavenly instrument. The feelings that I felt were different than any feeling I had ever felt before. They were out of this world. That night I took my school backpack and filled it with a variety of items. Some of the items that were included were Burger King gift cards, socks, shoes. Underwear, shirts, shorts, personal hygiene products, different types of foods, and a travel size Bible. That night, as I put the back pack into the trunk of my car I began to wonder what thoughts would be going through this man’s head when I approached him, or how he would (Continued on pg 10)
The Voice of the Homeless
Page 10
My Calling from God
What I learned pretending to be homeless
(Continued from pg 9)
(Continued from pg 8)
style backpack, a debit card and, as of recently, a pay-as-you-go cellphone. Some people might argue this puts him above the fray. But who are we to decide what homelessness looks like? I cringed when someone asked if they could make a sign. Cardboard signs, I wanted to point out, are for panhandling. Not all homeless people panhandle, and not all panhandlers are necessarily homeless. I didn’t want to “out” myself, even in a roomful of impersonators. The count was held on the last Monday night in January. It was the kind of cold that keeps you indoors even when you’d rather go out. Claire and I wore our expensive running gear made of supernatural fabrics, down coats, wool socks and snow boots. We had hand warmers, blankets and energy drinks. We looked less like homeless people, and more like we got lost returning from a ski trip. Luckily, blankets are a great equalizer. Wrapped in them, no one knew we were wearing hundreds of dollars of clothing. Our first stop was back at Hunter on the Upper East Side. There were more willing decoys than seating assignments on Park Avenue. The real need was in Staten Island, so off we went. A driver deposited us at the corner of Forest and Havenwood. We were told to sit on the sidewalk in front of a chain link fence that surrounded a suburban house. It was directly across the street from Silver Lake Park -- a massive area we were instructed not to enter. That corner was about the last place I would try to spend the night if I were a homeless person. Snow was falling at a threatening pace. I tied my blanket to the fence
to act as a bit of a tarp, but it continued to fall down. I rubbed my gloves together to activate my hand warmers, thinking they would make a great gift for Jay. Mostly, I just sat and stared. There was a small red brick building in the park not far from me, and I imagined I would sit there, maybe on the inside, if I were not trying to be found. Cars whizzed by splashing me with slush from the street. I had hoped this would bring me to some interaction with strangers. I wanted to look into their eyes and try to see what they saw when they looked at me: a homeless person. Was it a look of pity or pain? Would in Staten Island. Perhaps counters were just they even look at me at all? A cab driver really good, but I feared we had been placed rolled down his window and asked, “Are in spots that were too obvious -- and failed you all right?” “Yes,” I said. It wouldn’t have at our job to hold the Department of Homemade sense to tell him I was just pretending. less Services accountable. Back in the van we A woman in an SUV was taking a curiously exchanged stories of how long we sat in the long time at a stop sign near my corner. She snow before being found. Apparently, if you was looking at me and pointing. I thought want to get counted early, she might get out and ask what the hell I was doing I wanted to look into their Staten Island was the place sitting on someone’s side- eyes and try to see what they to be. For our trouble we walk in the snow. Instead, saw when they looked at me: earned $75 and a seemingly she parked, and approached a homeless person. Was it a endless supply of Dunkin’ me with another woman who look of pity or pain? Would Donuts. The experience left me was holding a clipboard. they even look at me at all? with a hollow feeling. Of “Can I ask you a question?” course my stint was comical I nodded. compared to the real experience of homeless“Tonight, do you have someplace you conness. But I also couldn’t shake the feeling sider to be your home or where you live?” she that it wasn’t as effective as it could be. I’m read from a sheet of paper she had pulled out not a statistician, granted. But the final tally of her coat pocket. (still unavailable) becomes a metric to answer “I’m a decoy,” I said. I knew she had to ask an important question: How many homeless the question that bizarre people are too many? way, but had I not been preThat’s tough to answer. The more I learn tending I’m not sure I would about homelessness, the more I realize that have known how to answer. most questions are. Do we need more beds “Oh, God bless you,” she in shelters or more counseling services? Does said. We exchanged pagiving panhandlers a few dollars buy them perwork the Department lunch or keep them on the streets? Is the of Homeless Services had money better served in the hands of private given us and made small talk. Her team had and faith-based shelters or the government’s? only spotted one other person out tonight, Can I help my brother -- or simply love him and he wasn’t homeless, just someone walkfrom afar? ing home. For now, all I know is, if my brother is going She sped off. I looked at the building in the to be homeless: I want him to be counted. park. What if someone was behind there? By 1:30 a.m., 75 minutes into the count, all but two of the 10 decoys had been counted
Not all homeless people panhandle, and not all panhandlers are necessarily homeless.
even react to a total stranger doing something like this for him. Even though I had my doubts, nothing was going to stop me because I was not on a mission for myself; I was on a mission for God. The next day at about five thirty p.m., while I was driving home from work I saw this same man walking down the side of the street. He had been wearing the same clothes for about two months, since I had seen him for the first time. Without hesitation, I pulled over, rolled down my window and asked him if he needed a ride. He looked at me in a confused manner, then said no and started walking again. I didn’t know what to do, and just when I was about to drive off God said, “Son, just try one more time.” I pulled up to him again and called to him. He turned around and looked at me. I said, “Sir, I have something for you in my car.” I got out, went into my trunk and gave him the backpack. He looked at me with tears in his eyes, shrugged his shoulders and walked away. I will never forget the look on that man’s face when I gave him the backpack. As he walked away I felt a sense of relief and spiritual growth in my own heart. I know that a simple Jansport backpack filled with a few everyday necessities doesn’t seem like much, but in reality it is not the quantity that matters it is the quality. I know that God wanted me to reach out to this man and just show him a little bit of the heavenly love that we Christians experience and take for granted on a regular basis, but I also think that God was testing me, too. This whole experience made me realize that God works in mysterious ways. All you have to do is open your heart and let God work through you, and the blessings that He will bestow upon you will be countless.
Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship (Continued from pg 4)
* Find meaning. Develop a sense of purpose ture. for your life. Having something meaningful to * Take action. Don’t just wish your focus on can help you share emotions, feel problems would go away or try to iggratitude and experience an enhanced sense nore them. Instead, figure out what of well-being. needs to be done, make a plan and * Start laughing. Finding humor in stresstake action. ful situations doesn’t mean you’re in denial. * Maintain perspective. Look at Humor is a helpful coping mechanism. If your situation in the larger context of you can’t find any humor in a situation, turn your own life and of the world. Keep to other sources for a laugh, such as a funny a long-term perspective and know book or movie. that your situation can improve if * Learn from experience. Think back on you actively work at it. how you’ve coped with hardships in the past. * Practice stress management Build on skills and strategies that helped you and relaxation techniques. Restore through the rough times, and don’t repeat an inner sense of peace and calm by those that didn’t help. practicing such stress-management * Remain hopeful. You and relaxation can’t change what’s haptechniques as yoga, pened in the past, but you can Resilience can help you meditation, deep endure loss, chronic breathing, visualalways look toward the future. Find something in each stress, traumatic events ization, imagery, day that signals a change for prayer or muscle and other challenges. relaxation. the better. Expect good results. When to seek pro* Take care of yourself. Tend to your own fessional advice needs and feelings, both physically and emoBecoming more resilient takes time tionally. This includes participating in activiand practice. If you don’t feel you’re ties and hobbies you enjoy, exercising regumaking progress — or you just don’t larly, getting plenty of sleep and eating well. know where to start — consider * Keep a journal. Write about your experitalking to a mental health profesences, thoughts and feelings. Journaling can sional. With their guidance, you can help you experience strong emotions you may improve your resiliency and mental otherwise be afraid to unleash. It also can help well-being. you see situations in a new way and help you Resilience helps you thrive identify patterns in your behavior and reacResilience can help you endure tions. loss, chronic stress, traumatic events * Accept and anticipate change. Expecting and other challenges. It’ll enable you changes to occur makes it easier to adapt to to develop a reservoir of internal rethem, tolerate them and even welcome them. sources that you can draw on, and it With practice, you can learn to be more fleximay protect you against developing ble and not view change with as much anxiety. some mental illnesses or help you * Work toward a goal. Do something every cope better with an existing mental day that gives you a sense of accomplishment. illness. Resilience will help you surEven small, everyday goals are important. vive challenges and even thrive in Having goals helps you look toward the futhe midst of hardship.
Volume XIII, Issue 2
Page 11
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