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Orlando Florida declares feeding the homeless a crime, arrests advocates Glenn Wright
Orlando, Florida recently passed a law limiting the number of times charitable groups will be allowed to feed the homeless in popular city parks contained within what is known as the Greater Downtown Park District. Food Not Bombs, an international political action group, which has fed the homeless for years in Lake Eola Park, described by Orlando as its “crown jewel” park, lost a legal challenge to the feeding law in April. A federal district court found the law did not unconstitutionally restrict the group’s ability to express its political opinion by feeding hungry people. Food Not Bombs members have subsequently declared their intention to disobey the law and continue to feed the homeless as they have in the past. In the last week, several of the group’s members have been arrested by Orlando police. One group organizer, Benjamin Markeson, pointed out: “We’re out there week after week sharing food with poor and hungry people to send a political message about our opposition to poverty and inequality in our community…and I think it’s time for the administration of Mayor Buddy Dyer (D) got serious about doing something about poverty in our community.” Mayor Dyer recently applauded the implementation of the Orlando’s new “donation station” meters in downtown Orlando, which were provided, Dyer was quoted as saying, to give “people an alternative opportunity to contribute”. The “alternative” Dyer mentions is to contributing money to panhandlers downtown. The money collected in the homeless meters will not go directly to homeless people, however, but will be given to The Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, a group established almost ten years ago, whose mission is to “end homelessness in Central Florida in a decade”. The website for the group says “The Central Florida Commission on Homelessness has established committees and workgroups.”
Court-ordered charity principles fundamentals at COSAC He’s not just using his time constructively to work and put Community service which serves Johnny McCorhis life back together with a job in a homeless shelter, but he’s mick Homeless Shelter gives David Goldberg, who helping to put other lives back together, too. had a domestic violence problem, a chance to rebuild. “I’d never raise my hand to anyone again,” said David. Using Doing his community service in a way that gives honsuch reflection to see others’ future in a homeless shelter, he our to his Jewish roots, cafeteria worker David Goldsaid, “There, but for the grace of God, go I,” He says courtberg laughs when asked the age- old punch-line, “and ordered community service has taught him. what’s a nice Jewish boy like you doing in a place like The shelter is housed in a former “flophouse,” turned from a this?” In a shelter known for its Catholic origin. neighborhood eyesore into a place from which the otherwise University of Florida grad, otherwise-employed 31 unemployable can be productive. The entire block was a lot year old Goldberg, put his time and effort now into less to the city and the county over a dozen years ago. something constructive. But just like the changes in community servants such as Da80-100 hours in 2-hour allotments by Judge Geoffrey vid Goldberg, the shelter has given some showing to the comCohen gave David a chance to munity. redeem his being sorry for a The decrease of empty storefronts on domestic violence charge. In- Using such reflection to see others’ Federal Highway and new construcstead of losing time from his future in a homeless shelter, he tion taking place could be metaphors life, in a cell, Goldberg says, both the David Goldbergs persaid, “There, but for the grace of for “I (here) feel a sense of ‘mitzforming mitzvahs and the homeless. God, go I,” vot.’” A difficult word to limit Just as the legal system was once alfrom the Hebrew, it’s literally lowed to ignore the David Goldbergs, “commandment,” but used also to mean: the blessing the homeless and what Gentile scripture calls “the least of of doing a right thing which pleases our Creator. these, my brethren,” today there’s a very much different apGoldberg continues, “I’m sorry for what I did; anger proach. management counseling and doing this service for the The trial of O.J. Simpson showed that domestic violence can’t community help.” be ignored, but the O.J. Simpson trial also showed that affirmaAlthough “faith” is a popular Gentile word, “Emutive action was the least that the legal system must do. Not just nah” is the Hebrew from which it comes. Goldberg’s for the women who often were the targets of such violence, emunah came in part from the rabbi who prepared but for the men who had to learn to live in a society without him for Bar Mitzvah (a Jewish 13 year olds “confirviolence at home. For families to live in safety. Instead of remation.”) He goes to the Jewish community center turning the David Goldbergs to society as convicted felons, the for the celebration of the 10 high holy days. community service mode gives an opportunity for the offender Contributed by James Batic (Israpost)
to use community service as a way to return to the community, as much so as for the sheltered homeless. This is at least one more large reason for the community to see the shelters and their residents as much an asset as the David Goldbergs become when they return to their business/professional occupations. “If I successfully complete this, I won’t be adjudicated, so I might want to go to medical school,” he says. He’d certainly be a more responsive member of society. The mistakes which got him to the Johnny McCormick Shelter are different ones, but not that unimaginable to see amongst the homeless. The major differences between the David Goldbergs and the persons to whom he serves food seems to be just in the difference of the mistakes they make. David Goldberg’s mistakes could’ve seriously hurt someone else; the average homeless can seriously hurt themselves. But society doesn’t benefit by either loss, does it?
Our Purpose: To Help the Homeless Learn How to Help Themselves
The Homeless Voice July 2011
2
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In Loving Memory of Angela J. Fante “Mimi” June 4, 1917 June 12, 2010
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Our Dedicated Readers,
Over the years I have written stories on just how much help we need. It is that time once again for me to ask each and every one of you to help us in several ways. Recently I have had so many personal issues involving my own health, the loss of my best friend Johnny, now my loving dad who has just been diagnosed with two forms of deadly cancer. Last month after being told over and over my dad was cancer free of the liver and pancreas we soon found out that the doctors made a mistake. Before I get any further I ask each and every one of you to pray for my dad that he receives a loving miracle. I will now say Amen to your prayers. Also please pray for Dennis James as well he is our client and friend he has lung cancer. Better yet why don’t we all just stop doing what we are doing and pray for a cure for all cancers? Cancer affects every one of us and it is about time there is a cure. With all this happening it has caused a major strain on this shelter system. Many of you know that Johnny passed away a few months back but what many of you do not know is that I got hurt trying to get Johhny out of the building when we had one emergency caused by Florida Power and Light. Basically FPL caused an outage in the building and when we told them Johnny was on oxygen and we had a backup system running his oxygen and for them not to shut the remaining power off until they spoke to me, they shut it down and we had to hand carry Johnny out of the building. When this happened we had to carry him down three flights of stairs and I got pretty banged up. Then about a week later we kept on telling FPL we had issues with our AC and other electrical items that they broke- a small fire/smoke incident took place and I had to carry Johnny out of the building again who would not leave because he wanted the .32 cents in his shoe he kept on dropping his shoe in the fire exit and was not allowing others to evacuate the building. I felt really bad after I screamed at him to let the shoe go so I could carry him out. Johnny had one leg missing and he did not have his prosthetics’ on so he was trying to walk down the stairs with just one leg. I kept on getting banged against the wall and missing steps and having short little falls that ripped some of my tendons in half. Smoke was coming in through the AC that was damaged by the first FPL incident and we did not know exactly what was on fire, but what we did know was that smoke is what causes most deaths in a fire so getting everyone out of the building was very important. From all of this I have to have six surgeries. My left foot, my left knee, my right knee, and both shoulders and a hernia surgery. I also reinjured my back and neck which was pretty good in the last seven years. Then I must have tore up my hips or my hips now hurt and burn so bad maybe because of the way I am limping from my other injuries. I have been in and out of a wheel chair for about the last six months and only doing my board responsibilities. The old Sean Cononie is not able to perform running the shelter like I use to. As soon as I lose some weight they are willing to do the surgeries to get me back to being somewhat normal , I hope. However, losing the weight has been hard so I am kind of in a standstill presently. The shelter has lost me from my every day work at the shelter. From this, we had to hire more people to fill in for me. Plus with me not doing my normal work trying to get funds in to the shelter system it has caused some setbacks. For those of you that knew Johnny or knew of him you knew he gave me personal strength for this whole agency was started because of him. Anytime I wanted to quit because of the hours I put in and the personal stress I would run into Johnny who just being in his presence made this man know in his heart that I needed to be here helping people like him. There was something so beautiful about this homeless man who had a heart bigger than anyone I ever knew. His smiles, his comments and his warmth was what I needed. Losing Johnny was like losing a child of special needs. I really miss him and so do all the clients who live here. Johnny was the backbone of COSAC for he was the King of COSAC. His bed was outside my office door because he did not like to be closed up in a room. So as I made my way in and out of my office many times thought out the day Johnny and I had always time to talk. If John was eating something he was quick to offer it to me. Johnny had nothing but was always willing to share whatever he had in his hands. If he was holding something in his hands he always offered to share it with me or many others. Still to this day his bed is still there in the hallway saved for special people who will come to us in the future. I know he is smiling from heaven knowing that his little area he lived in * Carmen Cononie for so many years is now used for others who * Mary Summers are special and need more assistance than other * Cassandra Wilson clients. * Charlene Duarte My loving dad who still coached till the age of * Rusty Columbo 70 has been stricken with cancer. My poor mom * Devon Bailey & Family who has been married for well over 50 years to * Maria Dragon him is sad but amazingly enough is holding on. * Vemonda Lane & Family My mom was always a worry wart but God has * Charlie given her so much strength so she can repeat* Mr. Mike edly say to my dad positive things and for him * Tiffany not to worry about her. When my dad found out * Dvora he was terminal his first words out of his mouth * Ed Giampietro was who was going to take care of mom. I reas* Kristan David Perez sured him that we, his children who he raised * Tommy & Joe with the morals they both gave us meant that * Geralyn * Little Ryan no way would mom be forgotten about and that * Earnest Bowens & Family mom would have everything she needed, but my * Ed & Ruth dad meant more than ever who was going fill in * Rudy for him. My mom and dad were always together * Lisa and the best times they had were at the ball park * John McLean watching the grandkids play ball. They would * Darren go to at least five games a week and then would Cathy’s Prayer List go to the school my sister was the athletic director of and go to all the games and watch the To add a name please students play ball as well. Yes my dad played call 954-410-6275, no monetary professional baseball for the Washington Senadonations needed tors in the late 50’s and my mom also married the word sports.
Homeless Voice Newspaper Staff Publisher Sean Cononie Editor in Chief Mark Targett Executive Editor Sara Targett Photos Lois Cross Contributing Editors Margo Poulson Jamie Kisner www.HomelessVoice.org/contact Even though I love the shelter and I spend every minute of my life there my dad and family will come first. I will be traveling back and forth to Jacksonville for now it is five days there and five days at the shelter. In my van sits six piles of past due paper work that has been due for moths. With me being in and out of the hospitals and working so many hours I am behind in everything. Mark has set up video conferencing for any emergencies and Lois and the gang is holding up the fort just like when I had bacterial meningitis and almost died about five years ago. As most of you know we do not get any funding and we the homeless create every dollar that comes in to a shelter that serves the population that does not qualify for the main stream shelters. We take the ones that are severely mentally ill, chronic and severely disabled. At the main stream shelters they only get in if they can complete and graduate a program. This newspaper you are reading operates about 14 different agencies as well as getting one of the first jets in to Haiti with 70 doctors on board and thousands and thousands dollars worth of antibiotics needed from all the amputations taking place during the earthquake last year, (Podcast Episode #6 on HomelessVoice.org) The homeless themselves raised the funds, packed supplies into trucks and carried it from one truck to the next. It was a repeat of all the hurricanes our disaster agency responded to about five years ago when Florida was struck with one hurricane after another. With all this happening to us and me, it has affected our funds and we need you now more than ever. We need to raise about $500,000 dollars and we need to do it fast. Remember those days about 10 years ago when we needed to raise a little over a million to buy the shelter. Well that happened and the shelter is paid in full. Not only the shelter but a few smaller shelters are now paid off. All because you the people buy our paper. We need each of you to please buy a raffle ticket by following the directions on the back cover and then we also need each of you who buy our paper to send in a check for ten dollars. If each of you did this, this would put us through our crisis period allowing me to do what I need to do and allowing the shelter system and the 14 other smaller agencies to still run without interference. Agencies like our outreach agency who takes our make shift ambulance out on the streets with our nurses and doctors getting medical assistance to those who do not seek shelter. It is so important for this to be done. Please come by and see your shelter and our shelter, I say yours and ours because it is not the governments shelter it belongs to the people who made this happen.
The Homeless Voice July 2011
Our Homeless Voice readers:
The Homeless Voice July 2011
4
Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words. ~ Robert Frost Genavieve Boué Emotions of Love When we are together holding our hands, I feel my emotions and fears come too. Feels like rocks and pearls falling in the sand, Not to think of it, it’s very hard to do. Our life is very strange and confusing too. But when I’m alone with you at the beach, My life feels straight with warm feelings for you. Try not to get emotionally beat. The wind and waves crash into our bare feet, Like love for you, pounding in my heart beat. Sun shines in our eyes and it’s hard to see. At the end should you stay, or should you leave? Everything is not what it seems to be. Emotions of love for you, set me free.
Caitlin Losa
Okay, sonnet for homework.
Surrounded by stacks of books, here I sit.
My notebook thick pen poised to write on it.
A constant motor’s hum and bit by bit
I’m in the library ready to write.
Slight noises of people, paper and books.
My mind open, ready to get it right.
I write this poem, concerned with how it looks.
My view? The sky, and billowing white clouds,
Does it make sense, read well, and does it scan?
Tips of tress languidly blowing in the breeze I cherish the quiet, the lack of crowds
Or instead, perhaps, some trash for the can?
But the outdoor view is merely a tease.
2011 Grand Raffle
COSAC HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENTER INC. Don’t miss your chance to win $2,500!!!
$15/Per Chance
Drawing will be held 8-1-11 Winner need not be present
To purchase your chance to win send check to: The Cosac Homeless Assistance Center P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, Florida 33329 #954-924-3571
Winner must claim prize within 30 days
Unfortunately nearly one-fourth of kids’ daily energy intake comes from nibbling between meals. Much of this nibbling With school starting back up soon, it’s sometimes is on prepackaged snack foods, which are high in calories overwhelming getting kids back on a good schedule and low in nutrients. But snacking itself isn’t necessarily for the daily grind. With some planning and preparabad. Young children actually need snacks. Their stomachs are tion though, you can help your student get right back small, so they often can’t get all the nutrients they need in a into the swing of things and have a great start to a day through meals alone. It’s not always easy to persuade your new school year. kids to eat healthy snacks and their snacking habits aren’t goCheck-Ups and Immunizations ing to change overnight, but here are a few snack-time tips: Routine exams and screenings help you and your * Offer similar choices. Instead of ice cream or pretzels, ofkids prevent, identify, and treat health problems when fer your child frozen yogurt or soda crackers. they arise. Vaccines greatly reduce your child’s risk * Provide variety. Be sure to select snacks from a variety of serious illness (particularly when more and more of food groups so your kids won’t be bored with their snack people use them) and give diseases fewer chances choice. to take hold in a population. Unfortunately, misin* Be creative. Dress up fruits and vegetables – offer celery formation about vaccines could make some parents with peanut butter, or carrots with a low-fat dip. decide not to immunize their children, putting them Food Allergies and others at a greater risk for illness. According to the Food and Drug Administration, up to 6% Evaluate information on immunizations, talk to of children in the U.S. under age 3 have food allergies. They your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or are less common in adults but, overall, food allergies affect questions, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if nearly 4 million people. Along with milk, eggs, wheat, soy, your child has health problems or allergies to mediand shellfish, peanuts are among the most common foods that cations or food, and be sure to discuss what specific cause allergies. For some kids, food allergies can cause only vaccine schedules are recommended for your child. minor discomfort, like a little tingling in the mouth. But for Note: Failure to keep immunizations up to date others they can be severe, causing difficulty breathing, for could result in your child not being able to attend example. Try to work with your child’s school to find ways school. Each state has different vaccination requireyour child can be supervised to prevent contact with allerments. genic foods. Find out who would give your child treatment Healthy Sleep and discuss your child’s allergies with that person, making Children’s health and behavior take a nose dive sure that they have any necessary medications and medical when their sleep habits are out of whack. Adequate information. sleep will boost your child’s energy and enthusiasm. Fruit Juice - Friend or Foe? Good-quality sleep also can help your child learn Although juice does contain some healthy nutrients, it’s high more easily and reduce many behavioral problems. in calories and it may contribute to weight gain and tooth deHow Much Is Enough? cay if consumed in excess. Some juice drinks, even those with Generally, between the ages of 6 and 9, most chil100% juice, have more calories than dren need about 10 hours of sugary carbonated beverages do. sleep a night, while preteens Juice also lacks the healthy fiber need a little over 9 hours. Your child may require Children’s health and behavior take that whole fruit has. more sleep if he or she: a nose dive when their sleep habits Note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children * Has a short attention are out of whack. drink no more than two 6-ounce span, or is irritable or restservings of fruit juice a day. less Travel to and from School * Has unusually low enIt’s estimated that 24 million stuergy dents nationwide start their school day with a trip on the * Is more tearful, anxious, defensive or impatient school bus. Whether they walk, ride the bus or travel by car, than usual teach your kids these few tips to ensure they get to and from Sleep Tips for Your Children school safely. * Set a regular time for bed each night and stick to it Tips for School Bus Riders * Avoid feeding children big meals close to bedtime * Do not play in the street while waiting for the bus * Avoid giving anything with caffeine less than six * Carry all loose belongings in a bag or backpack and never hours before bedtime reach under the school bus to get anything that has rolled or * Make after-dinner playtime a relaxing time fallen beneath it. * Establish a calming bedtime routine * Line up facing the bus, not alongside it. Note: Each child is different and has his or her own * Move immediately onto the sidewalk and out of traffic afway of approaching sleep. Some take extra time to ter getting off the bus. fall asleep, while others wake more often during the * Wait for a signal from the bus driver before crossing the night. You know your child’s personal habits best, street and walk at least 10 steps away from the front of the bus so with a little trial and error, you should succeed in so the driver can see you. finding a routine that suits your family. Tips for Pedestrians or Bike Riders Nutrition Points * Never walk alone – always travel with a buddy. Try and Eating right will help provide the nutrients needed find a friend, or make a new friend in the neighborhood to to have energy, build strong bones, and fight diseases walk to school or ride the bus with. and other conditions. Pay attention to what and how * Wear reflective or bright color clothing to increase visibilmuch your kids eat. A change in eating habits may be ity. an early warning signal for other problems. * Respect traffic lights and street signs. Snacks - Plan Them, Don’t Ban Them! Pueblo.gsa.gov
* Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. * Avoid loose fitting clothing that could get caught in spokes or pedals. Tips for Car Drivers and Passengers * Make sure young children are in safety seats at all times, and that the seats have been properly installed. * All children under 13 years should ride in the rear seat of vehicles. * Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You may want to limit the number of teen passengers to prevent driver distraction. Do not allow your teen to drive while eating, drinking, or talking on a cell phone. Backpack Safety * Pack light – a backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student’s body weight. * Organize the pack to make use of all compartments and pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. * Choose a pack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back. *Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles and may increase curvature of the spine.
The Homeless Voice July 2011
Back to School: What You Need to Know Before They Go
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Writer’s Cornerstone
Some days are fun, some are hard, some are happy and some are sad.
Writer’s Cornerstone was created for the public as an interactive hub for creative writers, poets, artists, photographers, charity organizations and an advertising spot for local businesses and upcoming events. Written by CC "Carrie Controversy".
Written By Richard Carlish
We lost a very dear friend a few weeks ago here at the shelter. After a long bout with cancer Dennis James passed away. How would I describe Dennis? That’s a hard thing to do since I’m limited in the length of this story and there are simply way too many words I could use to describe him. Unselfish, caring, brave, non-problematic, enjoyable, and peaceful best summarize the other hundred compliments I could give to this man and his demeanor. Dennis had chemo every week. We all know how miserable and sick it can make a person, but yet Dennis never complained or whined or felt self pity. When we drove him to his therapy, he simply sat quietly in the car, saying his thank you for the ride and then picking him up as he peacefully ate the sandwich given to him by the nurses. Not once did Dennis ever ramble on about his cancer and dying. “CHICKEN AGAIN!!?” are words you’ll hear from our clients mouths every now and then. A protest and complaint about having chicken too many days in a row. OMG. HOW TRAGIC. Isn’t it? I don’t think I ever heard Dennis complain. “CHEMO AGAIN!!? Dennis will never get to taste any food ever again and could have cared less if he ate chicken until he grew a beak. He was just thankful for all he had. He became monikered by our Director Sean as “King James” (See copy of Sean’s email below) and we certainly did our best to treat him as royalty. We hadn’t had any red velvet thrones donated to us lately so Dennis quietly sat in a folding chair outside the patio gate talking to a few friends. It was almost like watching those old movies where the “good old boys” would gather in a barber shop or play checkers and just talk amongst themselves. I can’t imagine knowing what it like to be told you’re dying and you start to do the math of what month it will be. Knowing your life that you’ve experienced for all those years will soon be over. To never enjoy another steak dinner, to never watch another football game, to never feel the kiss of the man or woman you adore, to everything you’ve ever encountered in life. All gone. I can’t imagine how someone could be so brave, so calm and handling it with every bit of grace that can be expected from any human being considering the circumstance as Dennis did. It would be so unfair to judge Dennis based on homelessness. He should be judged and remembered for his kindness and character. That’s what makes a man. Not his possessions. The day we found out we debated whether we should let Dennis know his prognosis and his soon to be meeting with God. The bottom line is it was Dennis’s life and it should be his choice and his choice only how he chooses to live it out. We didn’t just like Dennis, we loved him. He was a better man than I’ll ever be. It takes a soldier to face death and not flinch. As Dennis grew weaker Sean had met with Dennis and fully explained that he was dying and the Chemo was not working. Sean went over his beliefs and Sean and Lois got a local priest to come and give Dennis Last Rights. Hospice came in and Dennis wanted no special treatment but to be in his room or at the shelter where he could die with his friends. He had lots of visitors who sat with him for his final hours. We miss him but we carry his strength and his courage around with us in our hearts every day. Dennis James was the perfect spokesman for the cliché “You can’t change the weather so why worry about it.” Another thing that Sean does not allow to change is that every person deserves a decent funeral and a final resting place for their remains. When Johnny died Sean decided to not let the county throw the ashes away at sea as unwanted. If the county disposed of them with cremation no one could ever get the ashes. So Sean had started to say we will pay for their ashes for now on and we will give them a final resting place. Sean is putting together a John McCormick Memorial Gardens where each client’s ashes will now be for good and Dennis will be number one after Johnny. At his funeral there were about 50 people and Dennis’s picture stood tall on the Alter. Love for eternity from everyone here at the shelter.
7 The Homeless Voice July 2011
The Homeless Voice July 2011
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We were contacted by Carrie who offered to host a poetry contest to raise awareness for the Homeless Voice. Below are the top two poems- thank you Carrie!
The Homeless Voice In Community Partnership We can all learn, and help one I walk so far with nowhere to go another nowhere to call home, no bed to A father, a mother, a sister a rest my head brother If you walked with me you would Our world would be a better know place in turn this painful road, how it feels in Where we care about men and rain soaked clothes women, and Stand Up for I once was well and had a home, a Kids job, a car and girl to hold many who don’t have a choice Now my days are spent alone, Let me be heard, Let me be I’m tired, I’m hungry, I’m cold The Homeless Voice You don’t seem to care, because I’ve learned from my I’m Homeless misfortune It seems so unfair, If only we could and because of this, I’ll come together become a better person and show our love for each other So if I had one wish, I’d wish What would it take to be noticed for Love to shine through to receive a helping hand to be a light of hope for those a kind gesture, a meal, a Shelter in need If you could open your heart what would you wish for if I might have the chance, at a new you were me? start CC
“ Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.
Poor and Rich Matt
~ Eskimo Legend
”
I lost it all Will I find it again? My faith is still here but for how long? What else do I have I have my heart I have wealth in love I have so much you cannot see For the best things are free, the sky, the sea My spirit, my intellectual deeds I have the consideration of others; charity Those who see the best in me I feel deprived, but the opposite is my reality Thank you angels for your protection I am me The world does care For they know I am here Charity Come and share with me
The Homeless Voice July 2011
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On Spirituality How wonderful our lives could be if we didn’t have expectations. When I was first married, I expected dinner to be on the table when I came home from work- I expected her to take care of the house and later the children. My wife had a different set of expectations, and because of these we had many arguments. She had an entire list in her mind of what a husband was and should be. It was only years later that we ever discussed these things and began to figure out that so much of these expectations we both had were mostly from what we saw in our childhood. In some areas in our life however, we can expect things to be a certain way and they usually are. When we approach a green light, for example, we expect the cars with the red light to stop. We expect the sun will rise in the morning and set in the evening, that life will be today much like it was yesterday. And it usually is. In fact, it is so often we start to expand our list of expectations. We expect there to be a job for us when we graduate college, we expect to live in a nice neighborhood, and have a better life than our parents. We don’t expect rejection, unemployment, homelessness and despair. We don’t expect to be abused, especially by those closest to us. But why not? Where did we get the idea that we would have a charmed life?
The window through which we look Contributed by Lois Cross
What is so special about us that makes us immune to the evil that is present in our world? Is it fate, luck, a random series of circumstances that has one individual living in deep poverty, while right across the street great wealth? Questions with no answers. Jesus is the answer. In Christ and with Christ we can have real expectations and never be disappointed. He will always care for us and always love us. He will guide us to peace, a peace that comes from understanding life in a deep and meaningful way from His will and not ours. If it is our intention to do good for our fellow human being today, what expectations would we have? Wishing you peace and joy always. Deacon Bob
A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. “That laundry is not very clean”, she said. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.” Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this.” The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.” And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.
Families not immune to homelessness potential and ease of getting into the music business. He started playing in clubs and found some gigs. But they This is the Hill family. Father Nick and mother Lydia didn’t pay well enough and after a short time, the Hills lost are 30, sons Isaac and Jacob are 8 and 4, and daughter their home to foreclosure. Novaylee is 2. They moved in with Nick’s parents. He continued to play muOriginally from Birmingham, Ala., the Hills are livsic, trying to earn money. He needed to reach out farther to ing at Roy’s Desert Resource Center in Palm Springs work more, which took him away from his family, sometimes because they are homeless. for weeks at a time. Volunteer Hap Blaisdell, who has been working This was a stressful time for the Hills, especially for Lydia. with homeless people for four years, says these bright They moved to Lydia’s sister’s home in Vacaville, where they young faces are the new faces of the homeless. felt Nick would have a better chance at pursuing a career, unIn Birmingham, the Hills owned their home and enfortunately, it never materialized. joyed a good life. Nick worked at Nick and Lydia have learned a lot since a lime plant for seven years. Lydia Maybe we need to start they left Alabama. They now see that Nick was able to stay home and be a his job may not have been the best mother. thinking differently about quitting decision. He says he is determined to do After realizing he had worked homeless people overall whatever it takes to provide for his family his way up in the company as far now. as he could and thinking he had a Nick is able. He says he’s about half way good chance at making it in the to a degree in business management/marketing, maintaining a music business, Nick decided to quit his job and pur3.6 GPA. He has experience in construction and heavy equipsue his passion. Lydia supported his decision. ment operation. He is well-spoken and quick with a smile. Apparently, Nick has talent. He said he was on Since they’ve been in Palm Springs, Nick has submitted more American Idol. Although he didn’t make it on TV, this than 100 resumes but has heard nothing back. got his hopes up and maybe gave him a false sense of Chris Rockwell
Nick and Lydia want nothing more than to be thriving on their own. With a job, combined with low income assistance for rent and utilities (if necessary), they could pull themselves out of homelessness and become selfsufficient again. It’s hard to see anyone be homeless, but especially these beautiful young faces full of life and promise. Maybe we need to start thinking differently about homeless people overall, but specifically about people like the Hills and do what we can individually and as a society to help make sure that the family unit, the backbone of this country, does not become the new face of homelessness.
Text FAMILY to 85944 to Donate $10 to a Family in Need
2011 Grand Raffle
COSAC HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENTER INC. Don’t miss your chance to win $2,500!!!
$15/Per Chance
Drawing will be held 8-1-11 Winner need not be present
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Winner must claim prize within 30 days
Pets of the Homeless Find Shelter, Care She said that Felines, a no-kill shelter, would always accept a cat that had been adopted from Felines, but that it was often filled to capacity and could not accept every animal that came along. “It’s an unfortunate situation,” she said. “The animals are the ones losing their families and their homes.” PAWS Chicago temporarily houses pets when owners are forced to leave their homes. “You want people to be able to keep their pets,” said Rochelle Michalek, executive director of PAWS Chicago, because pets can be reassuring in stressful situations. When Kiomary Carreno was evicted from her home, she moved in with a relative who did not allow her two cats to join her. “I went two years without a job, and then unemployment ran out,” she said. Ms. Carreno took her pets to the PAWS Crisis Care Program. “I was even allowed to have visitation with them,” she said. Now employed at a meat-packing company, she is back in a home of her own, with her cats. Karen Parker also lost her job and her home. After living in a shelter and then being hospitalized, she used the PAWS program for her three cats. The shelter encouraged her to put the cats up for adoption, she said, but she balked. PAWS kept the cats for five months, well beyond the 30 days that is the standard length of time. “There were just so many extenuating circumstances,” said
The Homeless Voice July 2011
Bridget O’Shea People are not the only victims of the dismal economy. Pets are also being forced to cope. Several Chicago-area animal shelters report a sharp uptick in the number of abandoned dogs and cats in the last four years. “We certainly have seen an increase in dogs surrendered,” said Dr. Robyn Barbiers, executive director of the Anti-Cruelty Society. In its last fiscal year, ended June 2010, the shelter received 854 dogs. This year, the number jumped to nearly 1,000. Abby Smith, executive director of Felines Inc., a cat shelter on the North Side, said the number of cats she was getting had risen by around 25 percent since 2007. That was the year the number of foreclosures and evictions began to accelerate, increasing a subset of displaced pet owners facing the wrenching decision of what to do with their pets when they were not allowed in temporary housing. “People are scrambling, trying to learn where they’re going to go next,” she said. Dr. Barbiers said she urged homeowners who were told to leave not to abandon animals. Ms. Smith said more homeowners and renters were calling the shelter to ask about giving up their cats.
Ms. Parker, who has found a pet-friendly place to live. “I simply cannot thank them enough.” The Anti-Cruelty Society also houses pets for 30 days. But Dr. Barbiers said it often bent the rules. “It does give you a fallback when bad things happen to good people,” she said.
2011 Grand Raffle
Thank you to all of our supporters and readers who over the years have helped us tremendously. With your assistance we have clothed, fed, and sheltered thousands of people in need, we have sent medicine and relief to Haiti, and provided outreach and hurricane relief to our own communities here in South Florida. We continue to add new programs and new facilities to respond to the growing need of individuals and families in need of extra help. We have many ways you can help and continue to make a difference in so many peoples’ lives. Our Texting Campaign is a quick and easy way to give. Just text GIVELOVE to 85944. Reply yes and $10 will be deducted from your phone bill. (This option does not work though with Metro PCS.) You can send in a check to The Cosac Homeless Assistance Center P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, Florida 33329 #954-924-3571 Visit our Website www.HomelessVoice.org where you can donate right online or Our most exciting new campaign, 2011 Grand Raffle where we are giving away $9,000.00 in cash prizes!! For $15 a chance, you can be entered into our Grand Raffle where the top prize is $2,500.00! Their will be 10 cash prizes awarded altogether2nd prize is $2,000.00, 3rd & 4th prizes are $1,000.00 each, 5th prize is $750.00, 6th & 7th prizes are $500.00 each, 8th & 9th are $250.00 each, and the 10th prize is $100.00! You must hurry though because our drawing will be held August 1, 2011! Winner does not have to be present, but must claim their prize within 30 days of the drawing date. To get your chance simply fill out the entry and along with your check for $15 send it to The Cosac Homeless Center P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, Florida 33329 Entry must be received by July 25, 2011
COSAC HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENTER INC.
2011 Grand Raffle
Name:_____________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Phone#:____________________________________________________________________ Email (Optional):____________________________________________________________
Make $15 check payable to: Cosac Homeless Center
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NOTE: Mail in entire entry, the stub below will be mailed back and will be your receipt
The Homeless Voice July 2011
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The Homeless Voice July 2011
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