STREETVIBES 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202
Charlie’s 3/4 House ...784-1853 DIC Live In Program ...721-0643 Prospect House ...921-1613 Starting Over ...961-2256
Treatment: Men
First Step Home ...961-4663
Treatment: Women
Nonprofit Org. US POSTAGE Paid Cincinnati, Ohio Permit No. 1133
KEY MH = Mental Health WC = Women and Children F = Families Y = Youth S = Singles
Center for Respite Care ...621-1868 Cincinnati Health Network...961-0600 Crossroad Health Center...381-2247 Hamilton County Mental Health Board ...946-8600 Hamilton County TB Control...946-7628 Health Resource Center...357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van ...352-2902 McMicken Dental Clinic...352-6363 Mental Health Access Point...558-8888 Mercy Franciscan at St. John ...981-5800 NAMI of Hamilton County...458-6670 Oral Health Council ...621-0248 P.A.T.H Outreach (MH) ...977-4489
Health
Appalachian Identity Center...621-5991 Catholic Social Action ...421-3131 Community Action Agency...569-1840 Contact Center ...381-4242 Franciscan JPIC ...721-4700 GCCH ...421-7803 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center ...579-8547 Justice Watch ...241-0490 Legal Aid Society ...241-9400 OJPC ...421-1108 Peaslee Neighborhood Center...621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids... 363-3300 STOP AIDS...421-2437
Organizations and subscribers Please send updated info to: streetvibes@juno.com
St. Raphaels...8633184 Salvation Army...8631445 Serenity House Day Center...422-8555 Open Door Pantry...868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission...896-9800 Hope House(S,F)...423-4673 Booker T. Washington Community Center...785-2451
Hamilton/Middletown
Brighton Center ...859-491-8303 Fairhaven Rescue Mission(M)...859-4911027 NKY Homeless and Housing Coalition ...859-727-0926 Homeward Bound Youth(Y)...859-581-1111 Mathews House ...859-261-8009 NKY Family Health Center ...859-291-9321 Parish Kitchen ...859-581-7745 Welcome House(WC)...859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center...859-491-3335 Transitions, Inc ...859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary ...859-559-5011 VA Homeless ...859-572-6226
Northern Kentucky
Lord’s Pantry...621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Soup Kitchen & Pantry ...961-1983 Our Daily Bread ...621-6364 St. Francis Soup Kitchen...535-2719
Food
Catholic Social Services...241-7745 Center for Independent Living Options ...241-2600 Churches Active in Northside ...591-2246 Cincinnati Union Bethel...768-6922 Emanuel Community Center...241-2563 Freestore/Foodbank ...241-1064 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart ...3810111 Goodwill Industries ...771-4800 Healing Connections ...751-0600 Job & Family Services...946-1000 Madisonville Education & Assistance Center...271-5501 Mary Magdalen House ...721-4811 People Working Cooperatively...363-3300 Rape Crisis and Abuse Center...977-3541 St. Vincent DePaul ...562-8841 The Caring Place ...631-1114 United Way ...721-7900
Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline ...351-0422 C.C.A.T. ...381-6672 Joseph House (Veterans)...241-2965 Hamilton County ADAS Board ...946-4888 Narcotics Anonymous Hopeline...8202947 Recovery Health Access Center..281-7422 Talbert House ...684-7956
Advocacy
Resources
Treatment: Both
Thank you for reading!
CMHA ...721-4580 Excel Development(MH) ...632-7149 Miami Purchase ...241-0504 OTR Community Housing ...381-1171 Tender Mercies(MH) ...721-8666 Tom Geiger House(WC) ...961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc. ...751-0643 Volunteers of America...381-1954
Housing:
Anthony House (Y) ...357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) ...761-1480 Drop Inn Center ...721-0643 Interfaith Hospitality Network(F) ...4711100 Lighthouse Youth Center(Y)...961-4080 St. John’s Housing ...651-6446
Shelter: Both
City Gospel Mission ...241-5525 St. Francis/St. Joseph Catholic Worker House ...381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter ...661-4620
Shelter: Men
YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter ...872-9259 Bethany House...557-2873 Grace Place Catholic Worker House ...681-2365 Salvation Army...762-5660
Shelter: Women and Children
Also Call 211
Need Help or Want to Help? November 2007
Chef Knows the Daily Struggles Page 1
Page 6
One Dollar Donation to the Vendor
STREETVIBES
STREETVIBES Page 1
November2007
STREETVIBES Page 2
Chef Knows About the Daily Struggles of Those He Serves
Cincinnatian Compacted to Death
Streetvibes ll ar o D e n O
by Greg Olkhovsky Food is quite possibly the greatest invention of all time. Okay, although it may not qualify as an invention, it is still simply magnificent. Think about it, the variety, the flavors, the aromas that a meal entails. As with everything that appears flawless, downsides do exist. If you are like me, you are an ambitious self proclaimed cook who hates preparation, can truthfully only master four meals but will never publicly admit this, and you
Our day began at 7:45 a.m where we quickly got acquainted and began the first batch of salmon patties. The meal for the day was salmon pattie, a side house salad and an assortment of desserts. Maurice was quickly able to make me feel welcomed and at ease. During the morning Maurice informed me of his working experience at Our Daily Bread. When Maurice arrives at 7:45 a.m. he begins cooking the day’s meal. The food is served at 9:45 a.m. and stops being served at 11:45 a.m. All of the food served is donated. Volunteers are very important at Our Daily “Some days it is so “Some days it is so crowded in crowded in the kitchen Bread. the kitchen with volunteers and other with volunteers and days we have to ask the homeless to other days we have to come in the back and help serve,” Maurice shared. ask the homeless to When asked what his favorite meal come in the back and to prepare was Maurice proudly answered chicken and rice or chicken stir help serve.” fry. Maurice said that those two meals hate to clean up. Personally, I can’t stand are the most popular. “When people get it when it takes longer to prepare and back in line it is an amazing feeling. It clean up than it does to sit down and makes me feel good when I can serve enjoy the meal. 400-500 people a day.” He continues Cooking for yourself is one thing, but with, “This is not just a job to me, it’s cooking for others is a different story. real personal.” The energy invested in playing host can As the morning progresses and 9:45 be overwhelming. Can you imagine pre- approaches Maurice offers words of paring that Thanksgiving meal that is ap- wisdom before serving the homeless. He proaching? Can you imagine preparing begins, “Some people come in here with food for 25, 50, even 100 people? bad attitudes. Don’t take it personally. I had the opportunity to meet some- You can’t take it personally. I know what one who would say that preparing for it is like to be out there, fighting to sur100 people would be second nature to vive for the chance to live one more him. In fact, this person regularly pre- day.” Maurice shares with the other volpares 500 meals a day, Monday through unteers and myself, “Behind all the filth, Friday. stink, smoking, dirt, is someone with a Maurice Mason is the Head Chef good heart. A lot of people only judge at Our Daily Bread on Race Street in the homeless because of what they look Over the Rhine. I spent one morning and like.” afternoon shadowing him in the kitchen. Formerly homeless for fifteen years During our time together, I was able to Maurice shared with me his story of learn how Maurice serves as an inspira- battling homelessness and ultimately gettion and role model to his co-workers, ting his own apartment. the homeless and poverty stricken indiMaurice Mason grew up in Camp viduals whom he serves as well as the Dennison Ohio where he was the startOver the Rhine community. ing running back for all four years at In-
by Streetvibes Staff John Earls, 49, was killed in a Lockland recycling center trash compactor. Police identified Earls as a homeless man whose body was found by an employee at The Recycling Group, 630 Shepherd Drive around 1:50 p.m. Investigators believe he was in a dumpster that was picked up along a route driven by CSI Waste. It is believed no foul play was involved.
dian Hill High School. His mother was a Baptist Preacher and his father was a truck driver. Maurice grew up in a very wealthy household with his three other brothers and sister. His mom and dad were foster parents and always allowed children to stay in their house until someone adopted them. “At any given hour
“I know what it is like to be out there, fighting to survive for the chance to live one more day.” my parents would receive a phone call asking if kids could stay with them.” Maurice and his siblings enjoyed the extra company. By age eight Maurice was able to cook four course meals. Life was going well for Maurice until his mother got diagnosed with cancer. In 1989, when Maurice was 27 years old his mother passed away. “It all went down hill once she died” he said. Maurice’s marriage started collapsing. He eventually moved downtown and stayed with a friend who was experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Maurice began joining his friend to help cope with the loss of his mother. A fight with his friend caused Maurice to move out and he found himself at the Drop Inn Center. Continued on page 4
Inside this Issue Urban Mountain Men The chronically homeless are not always visible but Jimmy Heath reminds us they are there - page 4 Homeless Awareness Week Take the homeless awareness week quiz to learn
more about homelessness here in Cincinnati - page 5 Guest Writer Relive David Logan’s memorable address at the 2006 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Annual Dinner - page 10
Homeless Hate Crimes Teens now use the Internet to access hate filled videos page 9 Vendor Spotlight This month’s Vendor Spotlight is Anthony Williams Page 6
Shantytowns Raise Awareness for Students and Community by Andy Freeze This past month many area high schools and colleges held Shantytowns. Shantytowns are events put on by students to raise awareness around the issues of homelessness and poverty. In October Shantytown events were held at the following area high schools: Roger Bacon High School, Mother of Mercy held a Shantytown and hosted McAuley and LaSalle, Summit Country Day, Wyoming High School, Finneytown High School, Bishop Brossart, Xavier University, St. Henry High School and others will hold them this spring. These events usually have speakers who have been homeless who share their stories of what life is like to be homeless. They eat simple meals and learn about the issues surround homelessness here in Cincinnati. This is usually an over night event where students sleep outside in cardboard boxes. They do not pretend to be homeless but rather attempt to raise awareness for their fellow students and community about an issue that is often over looked. If you are interested in having a Shantytown at your school you can contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for help in planning. Pictures from this year’s Shantytown are on page 6.
STREETVIBES Page 3
STREETVIBES Greater Cincinnati’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice,and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other lowincome people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing.
GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director John Lavelle - Administrative Coordinator Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - Civil Rights Coordinator Greg Olkhovsky - Civil Rights Coordinator Kenneth Cheruiyot - AHA Coordinator Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Ardella Woolens - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer
Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design Photographers Andy Freeze, Jimmy Heath, Jennifer Money, Berta Lambert, Pat Clifford, Greg Olkhovsky
Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for one dollar ($1). I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Streetvibes by any other means. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, I am allowed to keep the donation. 2. I will only purchase papers from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Each paper can be purchased for a cost of 25 cents. I will always show my badge when buying papers and if I do not have my badge I cannot buy papers. 3. I will never buy papers from and/or sell papers to other vendors. 4. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, and other vendors – respectfully. I will not use abusive language or force someone to buy a paper. I will not give a “hard sell,” be aggressive, continue to ask after a person has verbally or non-verbally said no or make someone feel threatened. 5. I agree to stay off private property when selling Streetvibes. I will not sell Streetvibes door to door. 6. I understand that I am not an employee of Streetvibes or GCCH but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. 7. I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling Streetvibes. 8. I will not sell Streetvibes or purchase Streetvibes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 9. There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer. 10. I understand that my badge is the property of Streetvibes and I will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing papers and display my badge when selling papers. If I lose my badge I will
pay three dollars ($3) for a new one. If my badge becomes ruined because of weather or use, I will get a new badge for one dollar ($1). 11. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. 12. I will not deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a nonprofit charity or that I am collecting for the “homeless” in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes go to me. I will not use the word “donation.” 13. There are special rules for selling at Findlay Market. Only two vendors may sell at Findlay Market at a time. Other rules as established by Streetvibes and Findlay Market. 14. I will attend monthly meetings. Monthly meetings will occur on the first weekday of the month. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. Anyone who cannot make the meeting must meet with Andy, the Education Coordinator, before selling Streetvibes for that month. Ten papers will be given to those who attend the meeting. 15. It is the responsibility of each vendor to police fellow vendors or former vendors. I will report violators of the rules to GCCH. The value of the paper depends on keeping it credible. 16. I understand that any infraction of the above mentioned rules will result in suspension of my privilege to sell Streetvibes and possible termination from the program. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH and must be surrendered upon demand.
Where your Dollar Goes
Cover Maurice Mason, Chef at Our Daily Bread cooks salmon patties. McAuley High School students participate in a Shantytown event. Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or are vendors.Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: www.cincihomeless.org
Member of:
75 Cents Goes Directly to Your Vendor
Anthony reminds you to buy from badged vendors only
25 Cents Pays for Production
Streetvibes Vendor
Anthony International Network of Street Papers
North American Street Newspaper Association
STREETVIBES Page 4
Tennessee: Health Department cancels homeless dinner Over 300 of Nashville’s homeless go to the Jefferson Street Bridge on Tuesday evenings to receive a free dinner. The Bridge Ministry, founded by Candy and Kent Christmas, has 80 volunteers and provides this service for the homeless. The Tuesday night tradition came to a halt when a complaint was called in to the Health Department. Representatives said that because there is no mobile kitchen, the warm meals cannot be distributed. A meetings between the two parties was held a few days later and resulted in favor of the Bridge Ministry. At 6 p.m. on Tuesday the Bridge Ministry will resume its services thanks to the donation of a mobile kitchen (WKRN Nashville, 10/2).
California: Los Angeles County to Invest in Homeless Inmates For years the Sheriff has attempted to connect people with services before they are released from jail. Now the county will have money to do this. Before, inmates were released from jail into downtown Los Angeles with no place to go. Many would end up back in jail. It costs more money to house them in jail, then it does to get them connected to services. Garrison Smith, the county’s homeless coordinator added, “The fact that you have a criminal background prevents you from getting most apartments and jobs.” (Alison Hewitt, Whittier Daily News, 10/28)
Maine: Cheaper to house the homeless A Maine State Housing Authority study found that overall costs to house the homeless are significantly cheaper. Supportive housing programs provide their clients with the opportunity to become successful and independent citizens which typically results in fewer public costs. Savings are also found in reduced need for emergency services, police intervention, and incarceration. The study also shows that tenants who are housed experience a 60 percent decrease in ambulance transports, 52 percent fewer emergency room visits, and 68 percent fewer police contacts. The decrease in publish services should significantly illustrate the cost savings that supportive housing programs offer. The Maine State Housing Authority director Dale McCormick says, “Whether you are looking at it from a moral, social, or cost viewpoint, providing permanent supportive housing to people who are homeless is a winning strategy.” (Glenn Adams, AP, 10/3)
Hawaii: Lawsuit over homeless youth education rights The American Civl Liberties Union is suing the state on behalf of three homeless families because public schools denied five homeless children enrollment. The ACLU claims that the government is violating a 20 year old law that requires public
schools to accomadate homeless students. Over a year ago the state was warned by the government of its failure to comply with the federal law over homeless students. One family’s son was denied enrollment into the seventh grade at Dole Middle School because they were unable to provide the school with a permanent address. “That is a violation of the law,” says ACLU Hawaii Legal Director Lois Perrin. Statewide at least 900 school-aged children are homeless. Hawaii annually receives $200,000 from the federal government for helping to track and educate homeless children. (KITV, 10/2)
Florida: Advocate found not guilty for feeding homeless Eric Montanez, the first person charged with violating a city ban on mass feedings of the homeless was found not guilty despite video and police testimony suggesting otherwise. Police say that they will continue to enforce Orlando’s ordinance. Montanez has vowed to continue feeding the homeless. This time Montanez will abide by the boundaries within the ordinance. Montanez plans to accomplish this through collaborating with different groups and feed the homeless at the same time. The key to this is that each group will feed a small number of homeless individuals at a time. The ordinance says that a charity cannot feed more than 25 homeless people at a time. “This is not about me. This is not about an iconic figure. This is about hunger and the homeless. The people are hungry. That’s the honest-to-God truth” said Montanez. He told reporters that he does not regret his actions. (Local6, 10/9)
New York: Heartless hate crime: Burned homeless man dies
as he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Dotts pleaded guilty to facilitation of second-degree murder and was sent to prison for eight years. Investigators say that the men were drunk at the time of the attack and traveled to Nashville with the intent of harassing the homeless. Cole’s death influenced city outrage. A documentary film on Cole’s death was released in Nashville this month. (AP, Wave3, 10/22)
Washington DC: House passes Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bill The National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 10th. The Act would provide funding for the development of affordable housing, which is good news for low income individuals. Over the next 10 years, the plan is to develop 1.5 million units of housing. An estimated $1 billion per year of funding would come from the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and from receipts for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) programs. Extra funding will also be needed. Sheila Crowley, the president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition shares, “This is a great moment for the millions of American families and elderly or disabled people whose well-being are compromised every day because they cannot afford even modest safe and healthy homes.” (Alliance Online News, 10/16)
North Carolina: Homeless gather to vote Homeless Helping Homeless, a program of Charlotte’s Urban Ministry Center, has organized a drive encouraging the homeless of Mecklenburg County to vote. This registration drive has already registered 150 homeless which now brings the total to over 200 eligible voters for the November 6th, city council election. This is the highest total since the 2004 presidential election. Two years ago, around 300 of Mecklenburg County’s homeless were denied voting rights by the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. It is because the homeless registered under an agencies address in which they themselves did not reside that their registration to vote was nullified. Today things are different. Liz Clasen, associate executive director of the center, shares, “It’s always a challenge to get folks who are busy worrying about their survival to think about voting, but engaging people to vote is moving them one step closer to humanity. Their voice counts.” (Cherre, Charlotte Observer, 10/25)
Police arrested 29 year old Israel Torres for setting a homeless man on fire. Torres was charged with attempted murder and assault in the Oct. 5 attack, police said. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Oct. 8 and was held without bail. Shortly after midnight on the Oct. 5th, Felix Najera, 49, was sleeping outside of Bethany Christian Church in upper Manhattan’s East Harlem when the attack occurred. Torres doused Najera in a flammable liquid and ignited Najera in his sleep. Authorities did not reveal what the motive was. Pennsylvania: Philadelphia to Najera was pronounced dead on Oct. 9th. Deborah Calhoun, lifetime neighborhood close parks overnight resident says that people “see a man sitting on the ground and think he’s a bum, he’s worthless. He’s Officials in Philadelphia are feeling the pressure still a person. He still has feelings.” (AP, 10/14) from Downtown interest groups to get homeless people out of the parks at night. A recent survey found 621 people sleeping the streets in PhiladelTennessee: Homeless woman phia, a number that has almost tripled in the last drowned to death three years. Lawyers are looking at whether an existing camping law could be enforced in these In August 2006, two men threw Tara Cole into public areas. Advocates argue there is no place for the Cumberland River while she was sleeping. Cole homeless individuals to go, citing last winter that was sleeping on a dock in downtown Nashville while shelters operated at 115% of their capacity. A repthe attack occurred. Timothy Webber of Lebanon resentative from project HOME points out, “If we and Josh Dotts of Lafayette pleaded guilty on can afford to house all of this art on the parkway, Monday. we can afford to house all these people.” (AP, PhilaWebber will be sentenced to 17 years in prison delphia Inquirer, 10/28)
STREETVIBES Page 5
Urban Mountain Men by Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes Editor I am looking at the face of a man. His skin is a bit ragged and war-torn from years of living outside. His hair is long and neglected and he looks to me like a mad scientist. He reminds me of the heroic mountain man from decades ago too. This face is one of a person who has had too many fights and has drank too much. There is dullness in the eyes that covers the intellect. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless frequently performs a count of the folks who live outdoors. They are hard to count because they do not want to be found, but the Coalition has discovered well over 150 of these individuals living outdoors in Cincinnati. This is a dangerous lifestyle and it kills many of the folks who live outside, through cold nights, blistering hot days, and anticipation of the fruition of their dreams. The camp itself is a breeding ground for disease. However, they have chosen to live in these camps, sometimes alone or in small groups. While mostly men, there are sometimes women around to share the
by just plain old stress or mental illness. lifestyle along with numerous dogs and They will reluctantly welcome you cats. They are unable to afford the to their camp, but they do not want cost of housing in the county. They gifts or sympathy. They will talk to will “come in” for food at a shelter, to you and even let you take pictures, but panhandle, and “please, please don’t desperately seek tell anyone where we temporary shelter from are.” bad winter nights. Homeless However, mostly they campers are in poor are self-sufficient, eating health with common fresh food out of dental issues, and dumpsters and working aches and pains that day labor. they themselves do Who are these not understand. It is people and why do they not uncommon for choose to live this way? homeless people to Some are just sick of it be burned by their all; living under a bridge Jimmy Heath own campfires, or be is a better alternative. In a hidden injured in some other way by leading clump of bushes, their lifestyle this lifestyle. suggests a quiet anarchy. Away from There might be a dead comrade government, society or from waiting for you when you get up on themselves? any given morning. There is no fanfare Some may have warrants; the most when a fellow camper is lost this way. common I have seen is for child Just a trip to the coroner for the support. Some are hiding from their deceased man and maybe a small obit own mental illness. Others feel that in the press. This may be the first time this life is true freedom, without the anyone has seen his family, who claim worry and hustle of a regular life. the body for burial. Some are well educated and once had How do we deal with campers good jobs that were destroyed by who do not need or want assistance? alcoholism or by failure of family or They will not come in with you. If they
do, they do not stay long. We can only show them around some programs or toss them some blankets. Recently Cincinnati ended the need for panhandlers to get a license, which eases the burden ofl the homeless. Surprisingly, there are members of City Council who still support the licensing of panhandlers. A blatant misuse of a person’s constitutional rights. There is still the stereotype of the homeless on the streets of Cincinnati. In addition, it is even harder for folks who look like someone who lives in a camp. Ordinary citizens are scared to death of the outside homeless, such that it creates more isolation. These are the homeless that will always be. They are stubborn and smart, protecting the patch of dust they call home. They can be counted but it may be best to leave them alone and let them live their life. It almost seems like the right thing to do. Government and society need not step in. We may need to pray and remember they are there. However, we may need to leave them alone too. At least now, you know they exist. Jimmy Heath, editor of Streetvibes, welcomes your comments and suggestions. Please email him at jimmyheath@yahoo.com
We Have Been Fooled By Our Charity by Tim Harris, Director, federal McKinney-Vento funding for RealChange, Seattle programs serving the homeless grew I’ve made some people angry by $70 million between 2002 and 2006, belately by saying that charity and tween 2004 volunteerism have fooled us into thinking that we have done enough. As and 2006, we give and give and give while things HUD funding mostly stay the same, it’s easy to think decreased by $3.3 billion. that the poor themselves must someFurther cuts how be to blame. Superficial evidence of progress is are likely this year. regularly trumped by the growing chasm between rich and poor. While It’s hard
to see, really, how things could be otherwise. Given the increasingly lopsided distribution of wealth and power in this country, the math of poverty and homelessness becomes inevitable. Tax breaks, war, and legislative pork come at a price paid by the powerless. We have come to the point that, unless these issues are addressed, government simply does not have the capacity to adequately care for the poor.
Over the decades, we have lost our sense of responsibility to each other as a community. We have forgotten that to be human is to deserve dignity, and that we owe that to each other. Charity is a necessary act of mercy in response to an unacceptable now. But acts of charity divorced from work for justice eventually turns to bitter ash. When we burn for justice, we generate a light that makes our way clear.
Our Daily Bread - Food and Hospitality Ministry Continued from page 1 Before he knew it Maurice was an addict. He lost his job with a local construction company where he had been promoted on several occasions. Maurice found himself stealing excessively, “I was always hustling, stealing, doing anything to get drugs.” Over the course of his 15 years as a homeless addict he spent a total of five of those years in jail for various sentences. Maurice was greatly hurt that his family had shunned him. Not once did his family visit him while he was in jail. The decision to get help came at the lowest point in his life. Maurice recounts, “I had hit rock bottom. It was the first time that I felt pain when I looked at
“No matter how bad things may look there’s a way out. People gave up on me. Life does get better. Life can and will change.” myself. I ran out of excuses. I realized I couldn’t put the blame on anyone but myself. No one is feeling the pain but me. I was in it alone. The drugs got deeper and deeper, life got worse and worse, and the pain got more and more.” Maurice checked himself in at the Joseph House on October 5th 2006. They didn’t have any beds available for him, but the executive director, Calvin
Wootton, made extra room to accommodate Maurice. After 60 days of staying at the Joseph House he got hired at Our Daily Bread. Five months after his arrival at Joseph House, he graduated from their recovery program. Ms. Mary Beth is who Maurice would like to thank for his success today. He is appreciative of her patience with him and is forever thankful for helping him get an apartment and a place to grow. On his free time Maurice likes to exercise at the Lords Gym, visit the Drop Inn Center and talk to people, and cheer on the Bengals. Maurice’s words of advice, “No matter how bad things may look there’s a way out. People gave up on me. Life does get better. Life can and will change.”
Our Daily Bread is a food and hospitality ministry in Over-theRhine, Cincinnati. We serve a midday meal, and we serve more than 500 meals everyday, Monday through Friday. We provide warm meals in a comfortable place for all who come, a place where all are invited to be a part of a community that is caring, supportive and welcoming. We are always looking for volunteers, for food or nonperishable collections—please give Joan or Kathy a call at 621-6364 to find out more. Our Daily Bread is located at 1730 Race Street, Cincinnati OH, 45202.
Missed a copy of Streetvibes? Check out the Streetvibes archive on the website at http://www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html
STREETVIBES Page 6
Homeless Awareness Week Quiz yourself on your knowledge of homelessness. 1. How many people experience homelessness on any given night in the United States? a) b) c) d)
50,000 300,000 500,000 800,000
6. What does the average food stamp in Ohio get you per meal? a) $1.04 b) $1.25 c) $2.00 d) $2.50
2. What is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population? a) Single men b) Single women c) Women and children
7. In the past 8 years how many homeless individuals have been killed as a result of a hate crime? a) 53 b) 75 c) 124 d) 189
3. What percentage of the homeless population are children? a) 10% b) 20% c) 29% d) 43%
8. No where in the United States can a person afford a two bedroom apartment at fair market rent while working minimum wage job. a) True b) False
4. How many of America’s homeless children are under the age of 5? a) 50,000 b) 100,000 c) 500,000
9. The top two reasons people become homeless in Cincinnati are? a) Alcohol/Drug abuse b) Domestic violence c) Housing problems d) Loss of income e) Mental illness
5. What percentage of Americans are 1 paycheck away from being homeless? a) 10% b) 20% c) 40% d) 60%
10. What can I do to help end homeless in Cincinnati? a) Volunteer at one of the agencies on the back of Streetvibes b) Hear from a member of our Speaker’s Bureau c) Buy Streetvibes and educate yourself d) Vote
Answers to Homeless Awareness Week Quiz 1. The answer to question 1 is D. Over 800,000 men, women and children will have slept in a shelter or outside last night. With the recent wildfires in California leaving many homeless this number is well over 800,000. This number does not include people who are “doubled up.” A person is considered “doubled up” when they do not have their own place to live. This includes people that stay with friends or family until they get back on their feet. Here in Cincinnati, over 1,100 individuals are homeless every night, some sleeping in shelter and others on the street.
individuals and 30% are disabled non elderly individuals.
2. The answer to question 2 is C. National women and children make up 41% of the homeless population. As housing and rent prices continue to climb, housing that is affordable is diminishing for working class families, leaving many of them homeless.
8. The answer to question 8 is A. In no city or town in this country can you work a minimum wage job and afford a two bedroom apartment at fair market rent. Affordable housing is defined by the government as spending no more than 30% of ones income on rent payments and utility bills. In Ohio, a person needs to make $12.31 in order to afford a two bedroom apartment while working a minimum wage job.
3. The answer to question 3 is C. 29% of homeless individuals are children. In Cincinnati, 33% of homeless children are under the age of 5. The average homeless child moves seven times a year. 4. The answer to question 4 is C. Roughly 500,000 of America’s homeless children are under the age of 5. Many children are born into homelessness and struggle to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. 5. The answer to question 5 is C. 60% of Americans are 1 paycheck away from being homeless. With the rising costs of housing and wages that are still low many people scrap by each month. All it takes is for an extra expensive heating bill this winter, or an unexpected illness and money that was spent on rent is now spent on healthcare. 6. The answer to question 6 is A. The average food stamp per meal is $1.04 in Ohio. Over 977,000 individuals use food stamps to help eat every month. In Ohio 51% of those who receive food stamps are children. 15% are elderly
7. The answer to question 7 is D. 189 individuals who were homeless have been killed in the last 8 years. There have been 614 documented hate crimes committed against homeless individuals in the last 8 years. Here in Cincinnati we saw our first documented hate crime in 2 years when a lady shot and killed a homeless man over a quarter. 62% of the accused/convicted are between the age of 13-19.
9. The answer to question 9 is C and D. The lack of affordable housing is widely considered the number 1 reason men, women and children experience homelessness. Housing prices continue to rise while wages stay stagnant or change very little. 10. The answer to question 10 is A, B, C, D. You can help and you can make a difference. On the back of Streetvibes are many agencies that need volunteers everyday. People often do not pay attention to individuals who are homeless and having a volunteer talk with them can make their day. To learn more about homelessness, hear a story from a member of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Speaker’s Bureau. Contact Andy Freeze at 513.421.7803 x 14 to schedule a speaker to come to your class, school, or organization. Read Streetvibes every month to learn about issues in our city and across the country that are not covered by mainstream media. And finally vote.
Help Streetvibes continue to improve by taking the Reader Survey. Go to www.cincihomeless.org for the link.
STREETVIBES Page 7
Pictures from Shantytowns Across the City
Top Left: Xavier Student hammers together his Shanty for the week. Top Right: Mother of Mercy Students work on building their shanties for the evening. Middle Left: Xavier students spray paint facts onto their shanty to raise awareness. Middle Right: Xavier stduent puts together their shanty for the week long awareness event. Left: Roger Bacon students assemble their shanty for the evening and prepare for the cold.
STREETVIBES Page 8
Streetvibes Vendor Spotlight: Anthony Williams Interviewed by Andy Freeeze How did you become homeless? I was staying with my aunt in Los Angeles and I wore out my welcome. I was living on the street. I had some family in Cincinnati so I moved there. When I got to Cincinnati, I was still homeless and I found my way to the Drop Inn Center. I stayed at the Drop Inn Center on and off for three years. I would save up money get an apartment and then something would happen and I would be back at the Drop Inn Center. I was homeless for probably eight years. I also stayed at the City Gospel Mission and they helped me get my social security. Goodwill helped me get an apartment with the help of Donald Whitehead. How did you get started selling Streetvibes? I saw people with badges and I would ask them how to become a vendor. They would joke with me that there was a three-month wait. I decided to stop in on Elm Street and they set me up to become a vendor. I started selling the paper by the YMCA
on Elm and have been selling the paper for about 5 years. The thing I like the most is talking with people. What is your favorite part of selling Streetvibes? It’s not the money; it’s the opportunity to meet new people and to talk to people. I am very straight up with people and very polite and I have found that to be the most effective way to sell the paper. I really enjoy talking with people who I sell the paper too. What are some of your hobbies? I love to fish, draw, and watch movies. My favorite movies are by Jim Carrey and my favorite move is “The Mask.” I love to fish on the Ohio River and catch catfish. I also love watching the Bengals play. Is there anything you would like to say to your customers? I love talking with people and I thank everyone for buying the paper from me.
“Anthony Williams is one of my favorite people in Over the Rhine. He stops by the Learning Center weekly with a copy of Streetvibes, and I can always count on him for a friendly smile and a kind remark. I look forward to seeing Anthony every week. It has been my pleasure to get to know him” -Dana Ward (OTR Learning Center)
Anthony Williams, a long time Streetvibes vendor can often be found selling Streetvibes by the YMCA on Central Parkway and Elm St.
Life as a Streetvibes Vendor by Cleo Wombles I started selling Streetvibes when I was homeless. In the fall, winter, spring, and summer sometimes I felt like the mailman. Doing this, you get to meet a lot of people. I particularly like to greet people with a smile and a joke. I may say things like from the gutter to the utter and I didn’t stutter. The hardest time to sell Streetvibes is in the winter. I have to stand in the cold sometimes up to 10 hours a hour day. Sometimes I’ll sing a song like, “dip it de do da dip it ya come on and buy a Streetvibes today.” People really like that jingle. I thank everybody who has been kind to me. I have been able to buy a set of swings for my grand
kids on their birthday. I have also bough food, clothes, and presents for them and for myself on Christmas because of people like you. On the backside of the Streetvibes, it has a wealth of information about shelters, AA programs, housing, and even a place to help you obtain a copy of your birth certificate, state ID, or drivers’ license. Places like the FreeStore FoodBank and Salvation Army were able to help me obtain my birth certificate and state ID last year. I want to leave you with a joke by my grand daughter Amanda who is 5 years old. She said, “How do basketball players keep cool during a game.” I said I don’t know. She said, “they stand by their fans.”
If you have not had the opportunity there is still time to take our reader’s survey. Your help is greatly appreciated. It can be found at our webiste www.cincihomeless.org. Cleo Wombles shares a laugh with Fr. Paul Ruwe while selling Streetvibes after Mass at St. Mary’s Parish in Hyde Park.
STREETVIBES Page 9
Save the Date!
You are cordially invited to attend the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Annual Dinner
Word On The Street December 13th, 2007 6:00pm @ Xavier University Cintas Center Including Dinner, a Silent Auction, Raffle Prizes, Awards, and Entertainment For tickets, please send $30 to GCCH at 117 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Make checks payable to GCCH and write “ticket” in the memo. (If you are a service provider, please send $25 for your ticket. The discount is our way of saying Thank You!) FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL (513)421-7803 x16 Reserve a table for your church or organization for $250 (10 seats) Sponsor dinner for a homeless individual for $30 Donate an item for our silent auction
STREETVIBES Page 10
Jumbo Ball Abstract
by vendor Anthony Williams
Berta’s Art Corner
Internet Lends New Life to Violent Videos by Jason Corum “Grab it as hard … as you can and wrench,” says a homeless man miming a wrenching action. “It’s got to break it.” The black gloved hand of the man holding the camera reaches into the frame and clamps a pair of pliers onto one of the man’s teeth. The video begins to move in slow motion as the gloved hand tenses up and yanks the tooth from the man’s gums. Because the video is in slow motion, the man’s cries of pain sound deep, guttural, and utterly alien. He turns, stumbles a few steps away from the camera, and the shot centers on his bloody tooth clasped in the pliers. “We’re going for the next one,” says the cameraman. This video clip is from “Bumfights,” a series of popular DVDs in which homeless people perform degrading stunts for which they are paid a few dollars and alcohol. While a number of retail giants like Target and Wal-Mart have officially stopped selling the Bumfights video series due to pressure from homeless advocates, the series is gaining a whole new life on the Internet. The DVDs are being sold online, fans are uploading clips from the series to sites like YouTube, and some fans are even creating their own Bumfights-inspired videos to post online. The videos are now almost exclusively sold and shared over the Internet, said David Pirtle, an advocate for homeless people and a member of the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau. “It’s more anonymous, just like someone would rather buy porn over the Internet,” he said. YouTube, one of the most popular videosharing Web sites, has been fairly aggressive about removing any videos of homeless people being attacked or humiliated from its Web site.
Individuals fight each other for money and drugs.
Peace Roses, Over-the-Rhine 5th Annual St. Nick Day Sale Holiday gifts That Make A Difference Unique Sculpted Gifts, Scarves, dolls, wood carvings,woven bags, gift cards, calendars, and more. Fair Trade Holiday Refreshments Served December 1, 2007 10AM - 2PM IJPC Office Second floor of Peasleee Neighborhood Center
The company relies on its community to help control the content on the site, YouTube spokesman Brandon Boone said in an e-mail. YouTube users flag any content they feel is inappropriate. Once a video is flagged, YouTube staff reviews the material promptly and removes the video from the system if it shows someone getting, “hurt, attacked, or humiliated.” However, YouTube’s self-policing policy isn’t perfect. As of the writing of this article, a quick search of the site revealed clips from the Bumfights series that include the homeless man having two teeth removed, a homeless man having his hair lit on fire, and a homeless man running head first into a large metal waste container. When asked for comment, Boone wrote Continued on page 11
STREETVIBES Page 11
Guest Columnist - Use Our Imagination David Logan, director of Prospect House and a co-founder of Faces and Voices for Recovery, an advocacy group for treatment in Ohio, gave the keynote address to last year’s Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless annual dinner. Here are excerpts from his speech:
nothing human is alien to us, because we are free to enter into it, without fear, or shame, or judgment. . . . I don’t know how else we can ever learn anything that is of effective, motivating use to us without having made that imaginative entry, that trying-on of someone else’s cloak for a moment. If we could then, imagine even for a moment, Homelessness is literal, God knows. not having a place where we belong, a But homelessness is metaphorical too. place where we feel safe, then we have If you have awakened in a room and begun to help solve the problem. We will felt uncomfortable, felt out of place, felt not be silent. We will not assent to the disoriented, then you already know next round of University Hospital subsomething about homelessness — If you sidy cuts, the next round of City Clinic know you’re out of place, it’s because closings, the next round of “welfare rethere is somewhere you feel in place and form,” the next round of City Social Service budget cuts. . . . “If you have awakened In a recent public television docuin a room and felt unmentary on Robert F. Kennedy, I was comfortable, felt out of reminded of what we have lost in our political dialogue. With the loss of Buddy place, felt disoriented, Gray on our minds, with the 11th annithen you already know versary of his killing approaching soon, on November 15th — what we’ve lost something about over the years is not only these leaders homelessness” but the language, the imaginative power secure. Imagine not knowing that. Imag- to directly, simply, unsqueamishly name ine not having that. the problem. The ability to see through I believe the great problem of the surface differences to the human rehomelessness would be made smaller ality beneath the stubble and the layers and more likely to be solved if we used of old clothes, to imaginatively enter our imaginations more. But there is a another’s world, and return, intact, with kind of anti-imagination conspiracy — the message that a friend, a brother, a if we are daily manipulated with bought sister, is hurting, is hungry, is cold toand paid for commercially useful fanta- night . . . sies, if that part of our brain that is sup- “What we’ve lost over posed to be our own laboratory, instead becomes someone else’s billboard, we the years is not only get crowded out of, even evicted from these leaders but the our own personal experimental, experi- language, the imaginaential laboratory... If we could consciously resist the tive power to directly, dispossession, could reclaim our own simply, unsqueamishly imaginative sovereignty, we might be name the problem.” able to imagine that the homeless man or woman we see this night were not One of the most powerful portraysomeone to be afraid of, not alien to us. als in English literature of the death of a If our imaginations are switched on and homeless boy is in the story of “Jo” in operating as I believe they’re meant to, Charles Dickens’ Bleak House, written
in 1853, 154 years ago. In Jo’s story, Dickens gives us one death, presented in full Victorian melodramatic mode, but which still, if one’s imagination is switched on, can get to you. It gets to me. “…It’s turned very dark, sir. Is there any light a-comin?” “It is coming fast, Jo.” Fast. The cart is shaken all to pieces, and the rugged road is very near its end. “Jo, my poor fellow!” “I hear you, sir, in the dark, but I’m a-gropin – a-gropin – let me catch hold of your hand.” “Jo, can you say what I say?” “I’ll say anything as you say, sir, for I know it’s good.” “Our Father” “Our Father! Yes, that’s wery good, sir.” “Which art in heaven.” “Art in heaven – is the light acomin, sir?” “It is close at hand. Hallowed by thy name!” “Hallowed be – thy – “ The light is come upon the dark benighted way. Dead! Dead, your majesty, Dead, my lords and gentlemen. Dead, right reverends and wrong reverends of every order. Dead, men and women, born with heavenly compassion in your hearts. And dying thus around us every day. All the help that was ever given Jo was to be told to “move on,” by cops, by every authority figure. And he did. Right out of life. . . . Everywhere there are natural gates in the system, at the jail, at the E.R., at the shelters, we would spend the necessary money to have sensitively trained compassionate people assessing every one who passes through those gates to see what they actually need — they don’t have to take it, but — if they’re alcoholic or drug-addicted (or both) they would get effective treatment, as much
as was needed and the same for the mentally ill, and for the dually-diagnosed... So we would begin to take a look, a real look, at who amongst us gets into trouble and why. Of course this would take money but I believe it would ultimately save money and it would create a whole new city identity. We could become the first American city in the 21st century to actually effectively care about its citizens, who would become, I believe, more productive, more loving, more capable, and more loyal as a result. We would be living our own P.R. campaign. I’ll go way out on a limb here — I have three hopes: 1.) That someday people will be as valuable as aluminum cans, that is, that we will care about recycling them too. 2.) That someday it will be easy in Hamilton County to get into detox and treatment for alcohol and drug problems, or get into good treatment for mental health problems, as it is to get arrested, and boy is it easy to get arrested here! 3.) The last hope is so obvious, and so many other people have noticed it, that is might actually someday happen — that the three elements common to most American cities could get combined in a creative, imaginative recipe: I mean the empty beat-up houses, the unemployed youth, and the homeless — if you could figure out a way to teach trades to the unemployed so they could fix up the houses then the homeless could live there, by which time their major difficulties could have been dealt with so they’ve got meaningful jobs and meaningful lives, so they work at keeping their houses maintained. But wait — that all sounds like the OTR Housing Coalition, or at least what they could do more of, if only there were money to do it. To view Dave’s speech in its entirety, go to: www.cincihomeless.org/ content/streetvibes.html
It’s a Jungle Out There! Project Connect and Faces without Places Annual Benefit, November 9th, 2007 Every year, Project Connect’s non profit foundation called Faces without Places, throws a big party to raise money to help children experiencing homelessness. This year, the theme is “It’s a Jungle Out There,” and will be held at the Paul Brown Stadium on November 9th, 2007. The money raised at the benefit helps Project Connect clear obstacles to enrollment and attendance in school by: -Arranging transportation and immediate access to free lunch; -Distributing school supplies and backpacks -8 week summer academic and enrichment program -Encouraging parent involvement in their student’s education -Advocating and increasing of families educational rights For more information on the benefit or how you can help children experiencing homelessness, go to our website www.FaceswithoutPlaces.org or contact Project Connect at 363-3300.
STREETVIBES Page 12
OTR Community Joins Together to Address Neighborhood Needs by Greg Olkhovsky On Wednesday October 17th, over sixty community members attended the Over The Rhine Forum for Justice and Equitable Development. The audience consisted of numerous university students and faculty, representatives from multiple social service agencies, and residents from Over the Rhine. The audience set the tone of genuine concern and collaborated community building for the forum. The first panelist to speak at the forum was Mary Burke, director of Over the Rhine Community Housing who addressed affordable housing. Burke discussed the Over the Rhine Comprehensive Plan, which was developed with community input in 2000 and calls for a balanced housing stock in OTR. The plan, which looks 15-20 years into the future, calls for 25% unlimited housing, 25% at 61-100% of Area Median Income (AMI), 25% at 31-60% of AMI and 25% at up to 30% of AMI. This means that 50% of the housing would be market rate and 50% would be for people of lower incomes. Current development trends, with their exclusive focus on high-end and market rate development, do not adequately address the needs of a mixed income community.
Michael Howard spoke on the issue of community based agencies and activism. Howard regularly emphasized OTR unity. He said that the best thing anyone can do is to “do the right thing.” Howard stressed that as passionate OTR members it is our responsibility to be more humane and selfless. We need to harmonize with one another and in return our community will evolve into a credible haven where families and citizens of all classes will want to reside. The portion of the program on saving Rothenberg School was led by Bonnie Neumeier. After educating the audience on the historical significance of public schooling in OTR, Neumeier stressed Rothenburg’s need for survival. Rothenburg School must exist because it is the only public school in OTR. Schools such as Cincinnati School of Performing Arts have a magnet program. Although there is nothing wrong with having magnet schools in OTR, public schools, accessible to every student, need to remain. If there is no public school in Over the Rhine, then families, will not be able to reside in OTR. Sarah Allen presented on the need for neighborhood serving businesses in OTR. While there has been a recent boom in small businesses in OTR, these could best be described as serving an
upper class, niche market. Meanwhile, It was further proposed to incorpoOTR has a lack of quality grocery and rate a sound garden in the park which retail stores and no Laundromats. Allen would enable park users to express their presented on Over the Rhine Commu- creativity in a musical and artistic fashnity Housing’s plan to bring a laundromat ion. These additions and improvements into one of the empty storefronts in OTR. to Washington Park would enhance its Laundromats and other small businesses appearance and make it more attractive in OTR could begin to balance out the and user friendly. The upgraded Washcommunities needs. ington Park would be a place that people Miami University students presented of all ages could visit. their platform regarding Washington The forum then broke into small Park. The students began their presen- group discussions on each of these toptation by acknowledging that although ics. It was clear that the current residents the swimming pool at the park is slightly of OTR have many plans for their comoutdated, it would cost just as much munity. One can only hope that there is money to build a new pool as it would enough room in future development to to renovate it. Preserving the basketball include their visions as well. courts was also suggested. The deepwater pool and the basketball courts will offer recreational activities for the older youth. There was a huge concern in the community that if the basketball courts and pool were to be demolished, then the older youth would not have a desirable Forum members discuss topics in small place to go.
Creators Find New Ways to Get Video into Hands of Teens Continued from page 9
member of the “Bumfights, Get the his company does not comment on Damn Job Done!!” group, contribthe videos uploaded to its site. uted to one discussion. Videos that have been uploaded Michael O’Neill, director of the to online video-sharing sites but homeless speakers’ bureau for the have since been removed show National Coalition for the Homeless, people stealing hats or shoes from and other advocates, link the trend homeless people, kicking them, and of young, adolescent males making, throwing things at them from car watching, and sharing films about windows, Pirtle said. violence against homeless people Occasionally, these types of vid- with a much larger nationwide surge of violence against some of the “The kids see the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. “The kids see the videos and say, videos and say, ‘Hey, ‘Hey, I want to have some fun! Let’s I want to have some go attack some homeless people!’” fun! Let’s go attack O’Neill said. In a recent study, “Hate, Viosome homeless lence, and Death on Main Street people!’” USA,” NCH found 142 attacks last eos will appear for a few days be- year against homeless people, 20 of fore they get flagged and removed which resulted in death – a 65% infor violating guidelines. crease from 2005, when 86 were Fans of the Bumfights series are violently assaulted, including 13 hoalso forming groups on social net- micides. working Web sites to share clips Since 1999, the organization has and photos from the series and or- logged 614 violent acts against ganize discussions. On Facebook, a homeless individuals resulting in 189 major social networking Web site, deaths. An overwhelming number of the two largest groups dedicated to the attackers, 88%, were 25 or the Bumfights series are “Bumfights, younger, and 95% were male. Get the Damn Job Done!!” with 127 The National Coalition for the total members and “BFK FOR Homeless is trying to curb the growLIFE” with 80 members. ing numbers of copycat Bumfights The majority of the group dis- attacks by putting a human face on cussions are simply made up of the issue of homelessness through its members quoting lines from the se- homeless speakers’ bureau, O’Neill ries. said. “That’s two teeth; you guys owe The Faces of Homelessness me 50 bucks!” Dean Glanville, a Speakers’ Bureau comprises people
who are or have been homeless and works to educate the public about homelessness and ways to end it. The coalition is also working with the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) to pass the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Enforcement Act of 2007 and the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act of 2007. Collectively, these acts would add homeless people to the list of protected classes under federal hate crimes statutes and include attacks against homeless people in hate crime statistics collected by the FBI. To counter online fans, O’Neill moderates the “We Are Against Bumfights” group on Facebook. His group has more than 130 members. R e p r i n t e d f ro m St re e t S e n s e © St re e t News Service: www.street-papers.org
To have a member of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Speaker’s Bureau come and speak to your group contact Andy Freeze at 513.421.7803 x 14.
The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes wish to thank Panera Bread at Gilmore Square in Fairfield for their donations of bread, pastries, bagels and sweets. These are used throughout the week by our vendors and people who frequent the lobby to use the phone or get out of the heat.
STREETVIBES Page 13
River Commons: Delivering Opportunity to the Doorsteps of the Formerly Homeless by Jennifer Money In September of 2007, Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority (DMHA) and The Other Place joined in partnership to open a new permanent supportive housing project called River Commons. This new development is part of Dayton and Montgomery County’s 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and Reduce Overall Homelessness. It has received enthusiastic support from both the City and the County. The project was highly anticipated by both clients and staff of The Other Place, which was selected as the project’s supportive service provider. After a fast-tracked process of putting in applications, identifying new residents, making renovations, and hiring new staff, The Other Place and DMHA moved in 61 formerly home-
less residents to join the building’s existing tenants. River Commons, a 100-unit apartment building formerly called the Helena High Rise, had been slated for demolition. Instead, it was taken on as a project which could be seen as an inspiration for future supportive housing projects. River Commons offers on-site case management, 24hour security and front desk staffing, mental health referrals, useful classes, and the opportunity to seek employment with Goodwill/Easter Seals. Because of the employment services being provided, residents who had trouble locating employment now have the opportunity to pay rent and work toward independent living. The community has also played an important role, with local individuals and businesses providing support through
monetary donations as well as donations of furnishings, cleaning supplies, hygiene items and other things one would need when moving into a new apartment. These items have helped the residents make a smoother transition from homelessness to housing. Now, more than a month after River Commons’ opening, residents have traded a cot in a shelter or a tent on the cold ground for their own bed in their own safe and warm apartment. With winter approaching, these residents will be able to watch the snow from the win-
dows of their new apartments this year, thanks to this supportive housing program. River Commons represents an important step toward the goal of providing an adequate supply of affordable housing — and an end to homelessness — in Dayton and Montgomery County
The Effects of Poverty on the Body by Michael Henson This is part of a continuing StreetVibes series on poverty and addiction In a single neighborhood, within a few blocks, I know of people who have suffered: Diabetes (at least two cases) Heart disease (more than I can count, including a woman in her twenties) Obesity (again more than I can count) Seizures (totally unexplained, after multiple diagnostic efforts) Meningitis High blood pressure Hearing problems Urinary tract disorders Asthma (so many that the local school has a policy allowing kids to carry inhalers) Lead poisoning (at least three cases that I know of) Cancer (two cases of childhood cancer; who can count the adults?) Learning disabilities out of proportion to the norm Unexplained headaches A boy in this neighborhood had an operation to correct a severely distorted spine. A girl who is now studying to be a nurse had to be taught basic coordination as a result of childhood meningitis. A girl of twelve died a few years ago of cancer. Her cousin, a child of four, probably won’t see five. In this neighborhood, nearly every man and woman over the age of forty-five is disabled in one way or another. A few are still doing well, but the odds don’t give them long, given the dangers of the work they do —construction, auto mechanics,
roofing, factory work— jobs that break down and wear down the body. Then there are the psychic disorders —anxiety, depression— Who could be surprised? And beyond these, there are behaviors guaranteed to make people sick. People eat cheap food high on
But for modern poverty, stress is built in; it’s part of the program. For starters, there is the stress of making ends meet month to month and week to week, to get shelter and to feed each hungry mouth in the family. carbohydrates and they tend to eat too much of it. People smoke. If the statistics are correct, poor people smoke more than others. They tend to start as children and become confirmed smokers by the time they are adults. People drink and use drugs. I don’t know if low-income people drink more than others. I tried once to check out the statistics for income and substance abuse, but there isn’t much. But I can guarantee that low income neighborhoods have more than their share of bars and drug dealers and stores that, if they had to remove the addictive substances from the shelves (the alcohol, tobacco, caffeinated drinks, and candy —yes, candy), there would be little left to sell. Pick a corner in Over-the-Rhine or Lower Price Hill, What do we see but dealers of one
sort or another? kind of crack cocaine drive thru. Which brings us to another health issue for a poor community... Stress. Poverty, we have said before, complicates everything. Perhaps in an earlier day, poverty simplified things. At least, certain poets liked to think so and they liked to promote the idea of rulers burdened with care and the happy peasant, contented to live in the frame life built for him. This as a mystification, like that of the contented slave, that makes the guilt of wealth a little easier to bear. But for modern poverty, stress is built in; it’s part of the program. For starters, there is the stress of making ends meet month to month and week to week, to get shelter and to feed each hungry mouth in the family. There is the stress of getting from one place to another. Will that old car start? When do the buses run? Do I have to cross some dangerous tuft? The all-hour violence, noise, theft, and insecurity layer poor communities with stress. So what do you do to handle stress? First, we are told, take a deep breath. This is not so easily –or safely— done in a poor community. When you open your window for a breath of fresh air in Lower Price Hill, Winton Hills, or a thousand other communities, you could be making a big mistake. If, in Lower Price Hill, the Metropolitan Sewer Division is having a bad day, you could be inhaling a hydrogen sulfide cocktail into your innocent lungs. In Winton Place, it’s the wind off the ELDA landfill. In other places it’s the chemical plants, the hog farms, the burnoff, the diesel fumes. The con-
centration of polluting industries in low-income neighborhoods is a proven fact. Another great stress reliever is exercise, which is a wonderful thing if you can find space, which isn’t always available. Even the idea of a good walk is tough when the streets are dangerous and polluted. None of this is to say that poor people can’t –or shouldn’t—take steps to improve health. It’s only to say that there are impediments to healthy living that poor people face that others don’t. And the results are devastating. None of this is inevitable. As a society we make choices – where we site polluting industries, how we police for violence and crime, what populations get re-
We decide which populations get sick, who gets to live a full life, who dies early and in pain. sources. We decide which populations get sick, who gets to live a full life, who dies early and in pain. I don’t believe we consciously make such decisions. I don’t think anyone says, “Let’s make inner-city children ill.” I don’t believe anyone picks out a community for deliberate harm. But we do make decisions and we make them in a setting of willful ignorance. We choose to ignore the reality of poverty’s impact on the body.
STREETVIBES Page 14
Ohio Fights Against The Death Penalty youngsters from Purcell Marian. The day started in Trinity Episcopal, a historic church across the street from the capitol. In the lobby, free Tshirts were handed out saying “No Death Penalty,” and inside Sister Alice German greeted us from the pulpit. Some congregants remained in their seats for a service of prayer, music, and reflection, with many participants young and old and many faiths represented. Others walked a mile or so to a United Methodist church for what was termed a “teach-in.” It was led by Julie Przybysz, a graduate of Xavier University and the leader now of the death penalty project at IJPC. She had helped arrange for a panel from the Ohio Public Defenders’ Office to describe the legal issues in death penalty cases. One panelist reported on the Ohio lawsuit against lethal injections. The set of chemicals used does not always work. Sometimes the anesthesia does not anesthetize and a long and excruciating death is the result. It was a curious paradox that we could sit in the home of the United Methodists and study our opposition to executions while in the statehouse nearby are put to death by their government. our governor, also a Methodist and an Belgium, for instance, has not had an ex-minister, could announce that he exexecution since 1863, Norway since pected to preside over more and more 1875. Ireland abolished state killings in executions. He feels they are “fair and 1944; England was among the last in effective,” said his spokesman on September 24. 1955. I walked back to the statehouse with We Americans fear violence, yet we do violence, in our reckless and need- a young man from Purcell Marian, less wars and our reckless and needless Michael Arbagast, already a dedicated executions. By our actions, we show abolitionist at fifteen. He was especially young people that violence is the way to interested in a speaker named David resolve things. Why do we kill people Anthony. When Anthony was 18, his to show people that killing people is parents were shot to death in a dark wrong? say the buttons we abolitionists parking lot by another 18-year-old, yet wear, and our bumper stickers cry out, he opposes the death penalty. The killer was not executed, and Anthony has Don’t Kill for Me! On September 26, hundreds of citi- come to know him in prison. Michael zens from around the state gathered in Arbagast said, that forgiveness is as Columbus for an all-day meeting on the much for us as for the one we are fordeath penalty. A chartered bus left giving. Another speaker who caught IJPC, stopping first to pick up seven by Martha Stevens I write this report to complain of a deeply disturbing practice in the state of Ohio. What is disturbing to me, as to many others, is to live in a place where a perfectly healthy person, who may not have done anyone any harm in many years, can be walked down a hallway, strapped to a table, and poisoned to death. No matter what the nature of the killer’s deed, this should not happen. We, I believe, must not kill. There has been a long struggle in Cincinnati and around the state to bring executions to a halt and many feel they can never give up this fight. We are the only developed country where people
people’s attention was Gary Beeman, who was almost executed for a killing he did not commit or even know about. Beeman spent three years on death row. A prison inmate had named him as the killer, but in time, he received a new trial and was acquitted. He works hard now for other victims of our careless and executions — went to Columbus and dangerous courts. stood in a cold rain one dark afternoon outside the governor’s mansion. The Tragic Year of 1999 “Wilford Berry’s Life is Sacred Too” In 1999, we fought hard to keep the read one of our huge white signs. first Ohio execution from taking place Of course we did not succeed in that — the first state killing, that is, since ex- crusade, and since Wilford Berry’s death ecutions ceased in 1963. Some read- in 1999, 25 more Ohio executions have ers will remember pictures of a rather taken place. Only once did Governor shy-looking, gentle-seeming, spectacled Taft grant clemency. This was for young man named Wilford Berry. He Jerome Campbell, and it came about was the first to die, a “volunteer” for le- largely because Campbell’s story was thal injection. He had spent ten years brilliantly reconstituted by Margo Pierce on death row. Berry had not killed any- in CityBeat. one but had been part of a robbery where a man was shot to death. The Dead Man Walking killer himself was not given the death A few years ago, an opera called penalty, a case evincing the kind of dis- Dead Man Walking played in Music parity in sentencing that led, in part, to Hall. A group of protesters gave out flythe recent charges against Ohio execu- ers outside the hall, and the author of tions by the American Bar Association. the book by this title, Sister Helen The greatest unfairness is of course the Prejean, stood with us. The opera was grossly unequal treatment of blacks. reasonably true to the details of her story We learned back in 1999 that about a certain killer and the families of Wilford Berry had been a depressed his two victims, but its final scenes did person all his life. He suffered the cruel, not entirely satisfy the message of the abusive childhood of many offenders. book No one really cared about him. A few years later Sister Helen came Various people wrote to Berry and back to Cincinnati with the Journey of tried to visit him, hoping he would change Hope, a touring group of the Families of his mind and want to live. Murder Victims for Reconciliation. A group led by IJPC — the stal- Thirty-two family members convened wart leader of all our actions against here for three days. One evening they told their stories in a church in a local suburb. We need a bill in Ohio. Many good people in Cincinnati have stayed the long course of opposition and traveled again and again to those sorrowing vigils at Lucasville. Sister Alice says that at each and every execution a group from IJPC has been present outside the prison, faithful pilgrims to the altar of peace and justice, humanity and goodness.
Slum Lords In Over the Rhine - What People Don’t Know by Tonia Humphrey My landlord is a real life slum lord. He rents places that have been condemned and places that he hasn’t paid taxes on. I have a utility bill for over $1,000. I called the city buildings inspector on him because my house is literally falling apart. Mr. Jim Curry (city buildings inspector) said that my house doesn’t even exist. I live at 1702 Logan street. Mr. Curry said that everything involving 1702 Logan is really connected with 1704 Logan St. So I don’t know what’s really going on. Mr. Foy Doyle (my
landlord) denies this. Mr. Doyle doesn’t fix anything at all. Mr. Doyle hires his unprofessional family to try to fix things at 1704 Logan. Mr. Doyle just collects his rent and that’s it. I have paid people out of my pocket to fix some things but then Mr. Doyle said that they had to be the one to do it, but he never does. Mr. Doyle has entered my home without notice. Mr. Doyle has take some of things I had fixed apart and said he’ll do it. I am disabled and he has denied me permission to have my house
weatherized for free. Mr. Doyle said that the people were to noisy. Mr. Doyle pours all kinds of stuff down the outside water drawn such as paint, oil, and other kinds of pollutants. Mr. Doyle has cut my water off for no reason at all, I have been without water for a week before Mr. Doyle refuses to provide safety for me as far as security from people entering my yard and home. My front door and yard door locks are broken. My back door has no key to it. The kitchen ceiling is falling there’s mold in my bathroom, the furnace is hanging out of
the kitchen ceiling the hot water tank is right against the kitchen stove. The bottom of my kitchen stove is rusted out the electric box is rusted out due to water coming down my walls. my gas meter is in the basement of 1704 Logan and there’s a lot more things wrong. The city said that Mr. Doyle wasn’t supposed to rent this out any way, Someone please help me. God Bless Ms. Tonia Humphrey
Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.
STREETVIBES Page 15 Hello & Goodbye
Nevaeh
by Dirk A. Oglesby
by Amanda Powers
Hello Mr. Beer. I am glad we r meeting this way I am here to say good-bye I can’t stay
When the word Nevaeh comes to mind, I think of the Newborn Baby of mine. How precious and sweet. With such little feet. This little baby of mine, how I want to protect her from all of life’s harms, keep her held tight in her mommy’s arms. Oh how I kiss my little Nevaeh of mine through the long day. So she has sweet dreams at night of her out to play. Oh my little Nevaeh, how you mean so much to me. You’re mommy’s world, and I love you so much. There will never be a day that you’re not thought of so very much! So when the word Nevaeh comes along, I think of my Baby who’s treasured so much! The little baby Nevaeh of mine!
You have been apart of my life for so long It’s time to say good bye don’t cry be strong I was introduced to you at an early age You were the lead actor upon my stage I can name you all from a forty to a twelve oz. can What I found in you I thought I was the man
Cabin Fever by Virginia Conn
You were in control from the very first drink My life begin to spiral and began to sink
I’m freezing, so I tack flannel sheets under the blinds, discovering the frost has resurrected the finger oils of someone named Linda. Twice the precise lettering appears, well out of reach of a child’s hand.
I never liked your taste or smell This effect is what I needed now I can tell It has been a long and bumpy ride up and down we went Losing everything, I thought it was time well spent
The window overlooks the street. I’ve stood there, impatient for mail or visitors, yet this is the first I’ve heard from her. I scan my studio for other traces, blaming her for the erratic nails, especially one eye level screw, dead center, that no painting hangs from comfortably.
A new day is dawnin’ the sun will shine bright up from the ashes will I fight Know who you are Mr. Beer the grimreeper in a satanic ploy To rob me of my life and joy So Mr. Beer r u ready to rumble I have the tools to make you crumble I will remain humble feet firmly planted I won’t stumble So goodbye Mr. Beer I have a new life now your not invited invitation only So find someone else who’s sad and lonely So long Mr. Beer hip hip hooray you thought you had me I’ve gotten away so lets say good-bye once and for all with my head held up I stand tall.
I start to attribute other mischief to her; misplaced keys and night knocks, then fear she may be trapped, the bitter cold compelling her to contact me. ”I never got out. It never warmed up.” I keep checking the pane for further word. I remind myself: It is winter everywhere. Outside, Buffalo trudges past, layered in clothes like shuck on corn. Like that screw, an act of defiance, Linda versus concrete, in relief of the wide white wall
Mr. Homeless Downtowner
Ms. Homeless Downtowner
Name: Derrick Fisher Birthplace: Cincinnati, OH My favorite downtown spot is… nowhere My hobbies are… painting and remodeling houses I can’t resist… honey and apples I can’t stand it when…I’m not able to eat my apple! If I won the lottery I would…buy a truck, boat, and a Harley The one thing I would change about the world would be…to end homelessness If I could have done it all over again I would have…not wrecked my Harley Love to me is…a beautiful woman
Name: Terry Weimer Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio My favorite downtown spot is…the Lady of the Fountain statue at Fountain Square My hobbies are… gospel Music, watching television, staying clean, and helping others I can’t resist…staying clean from my addiction I can’t stand it when…people are hateful for no reason If I won the lottery I would…move to Germany with my daughter The one thing I would change about the world would be…to take away crack-cocaine and make it disappear If I could have done it all over again I would have…listened to my mother more Love to me is…children, if you’re able to raise them properly and to help the homeless
STREETVIBES Page 16 U Told Me by Dirk A. Oglesby Goodbye to the horror which is crack cocaine You’ve been a thorn in my side that made me insane Every time I use you destruction and turmoil was my destination You took me on a roller coaster ride throughout the nation You’ve robbed me of money and self worth Even to the point not seein’ my son’s birth You told me you were my best friend and that you would always be there But every time you left me with sorrow and despair You gave me so much grief and sorrow Man times I didn’t look for tomorrow You told me that you would take away the pain with only one hit You left me holding the bag feeling like shit You told me that you would take me to a high heights In reality you left me with many sleepless nights You told me to try you one more time I did spending every single dime You told me these things and many more Now I have the keys to lock the door So I am telling you that you are no longer needed dead or alive You may have heard this before its no jive So I am telling you crack cocaine go back to your bottomless put You know what I am talking about where the fire is well lit.
Untitled
by Gary Sloan Gray steel wind and tears of rain lash people and pigeons huddled on the steps. The gray morning floods us round. Grayness seeps into the cracks of concrete, into the shadowed clefts between the buildings, into the hair of old men wedded to the streets, and in the eyes and hearts of those silently awaiting an opening of doors. Gray drowns even the privacy of thought and the rainbow of memory. We clutch our collars against the morning’s teeth. Someone coughs and pigeons explode, gray into gray they abandon the vigil, vanish in a liquid sky. Yet the human figures stand wordless, unmoving, and gray as thoughtless rock. No meeting of the eyes or fingers. No spark of colored laughter. Only the grayness dares to touch such woeful stone. Such gray and weary words a friend once whispered to me; She said, “Some wounds never heal.” and though I hate her for it here in the grayness waiting, watching I see now what she meant.
So Long by Dirk A. Oglesby So long to the lifestyle that left me without a penny the lifestyle full of darkness and gloom never able to conquer that ultimate high that would take away all the pain inside I tried over and over again So long to the lifestyle that would lead me on a never ending hell ride toward destruction hiding from my true self I couldn’t escape the pain past or present it was visible every time I look in the mirror and saw my reflection void of light and life So long to the lifestyle that lead me into places not fit for man or beast dark places seeking light only leaving me in darkness with myself by myself curled up in ball wondering is this all want my life consists of to only exist chasing a ghost like the wind that I could never catch So long to the lifestyle that would have me forsake my love ones that would give them grief not knowing or caring for only just one more drink, snort, or smoke it didn’t matter because I felt I didn’t matter So long to the lifestyle that dictated to me where to go what to do like a puppet on a string constantly dangling from its control So long to the lifestyle that keep me in fear of myself not able to break the hold it had on me fear of success not being able to cope with success or failure a constant battle within my soul So long to the lifestyle I don’t need you any more I’m getting better and your not apart of my discovery I can take chances today not with my life but the life I choose to live not afraid anymore failure of success good or bad I choose to live not exist I am not fearful of the light you only tried to keep me in darkness today I choose to live in the light because my life will shine.
A Woman at Kroger’s Explains Her Tattoo by Mike Henson Long story short — her grandbaby didn’t live. A net of veins gone wild rare disease operations procedures runs to the hospital internal bleeding. Four years old and he drowned in his own blood. She turns her leg to show me: his perfect image inked into her calf.
Writers! Submit your Poetry to Streetvibes - email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Stories and Poetry Are Due The Second Friday of the month