| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

March 20 - Homelessness

Page history last edited by Emily Chudy 15 years ago

 

Bonner Congress Weekly, March 16-20: Homelessness

1. Facts about Homelessness 

2. National Organizations Helping the Homeless 

3. The Bonner Connection 

4. Video Hotspot 

5. Bonner Announcements 

6. Internships, Jobs and More!


1. Facts about Homelessness

The US Federal Government defines homelessness as

an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is —

  • a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill);
  • an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or
  • a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

The National Law Center on Homeless and Poverty estimates that 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness in a given year. 1.35 million of them are children. Based on statistics in 2007, this translates to 1% of the US population as experiencing homelessness each year, 39% of them being children.

 

*These numbers often underestimate the homeless population as people who do not receive government assistance or use community shelters are often not represented in the count.

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/How_Many.html

 

Reasons attributing to homelessness: (Facts from the National Coalition for the Homeless Website: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/why.html)

 

-Poverty: Poverty is the leading cause of homelessness in the US. For a family living paycheck to paycheck, the high cost of housing often comes second to food and health care. Eroding work opportunities (falling income, job stability, and lack of benefits) and the decline in public assistance directly contribute to homelessness. In every state, the price of a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment at Fair Market Price is above minimum wage.

-Lack of housing: expensive private housing, and not enough public assistant housing leaves many people homeless

 -Lack of affordable health care: extraordinary health costs force many to use money allotted for housing to cover medical bills

-Domestic Violence: in 2001, approximately half of all homeless women and children were fleeing domestic violence

-Mental Illness: it is estimated that 16% of homeless single adults suffer from severe, persistent mental illness 

-Addiction Disorders: While homelessness is not attributed to addiction disorders, many homeless suffer from addiction. When this happens, it leaves them unable to receive much of the government assistance for homeless--only perpetuating the cycle.

 

The Bonner Foundation is working with our campuses to create issue brief teams on many of the topics addressed in the weeklies. The Bonner Network Wiki has issue brief pages set up where these teams compile resources on the issues. "The Hunger and Homelessness Working Group" Wiki Page can be found at http://bonnernetwork.pbwiki.com/Working+Group+%3E+Homelessness+and+Hunger If Homelessness is an issue your campus cares about, create a campus issue profile today!! ww.bonnernetworkwiki.com. For questions or concerns, contact Becky Grinstead at rgrinstead@bonner.org.
 

2. National Organizations Helping the Homeless

   The Bonner Foundation is working with our campuses to create issue brief teams on many of the topics addressed in the weeklies. The Bonner Network Wiki has issue brief pages set up where these teams compile resources on the issues. "The Hunger and Homelessness Working Group" Wiki Page can be found at http://bonnernetwork.pbwiki.com/Working+Group+%3E+Homelessness+and+Hunger

Here are the organizations identified by the Bonner Network Working Group that deal directly with homelessness...


National Coalition for the Homeless
: "The National Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1982, is a national network of people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to a single mission. That mission, our common bond, is to end homelessness. We are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. At the same time, we work to meet the immediate needs of people who are currently experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of doing so. We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work." http://www.nationalhomeless.org/index.html

Delancey Street: "Delancey Street is the country's leading residential self-help organization for former substance abusers, ex-convicts, homeless and others who have hit bottom. Started in 1971 with 4 people in a San Francisco apartment, Delancey Street has served many thousands of residents, in 5 locations throughout the United States. Residents at Delancey Street range from teenagers to senior citizens, and include men and women and all races and ethnicities. The average resident has been a hard-core drug and alcohol abuser, has been in prison, is unskilled, functionally illiterate, and has a personal history of violence and generations of poverty.

The minimum stay at Delancey Street is 2 years while the average resident remains for almost 4 years – drug, alcohol and crime-free. During their time at Delancey Street, residents receive a high school equivalency degree (GED) and are trained in 3 different marketable skills. Beyond academic and vocational training, residents learn important values, and the social and interpersonal skills that allow them to live successfully in the mainstream of society." http://www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/index.php

 

HUD: Homeless Assistance from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Includes assistance programs, counseling, food stamps, food banks, heath care resources and programs for homeless veterans. http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/index.cfm

 

National Alliance to End Homelessness: "The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a leading voice on the issue of homelessness. The Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions. We work collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity, leading to stronger programs and policies that help homeless individuals and families make positive changes in their lives. We provide data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide." http://www.endhomelessness.org/


3. The Bonner Connection
The Bonner Connection this weeks comes from Bonner Foundation Staff member, Rebecca Grinstead...

    Nature gave man two ends one to sit on and one to think with. Ever since then man's success or failure has been dependent on the one he used most.

                                            -- George R. Kirkpatrick

Hi my name is Rebecca Grinstead, and I studied political science in college.

Today, people sleep on the streets, and most of us don’t even think twice about this when we pass a sign that says, “Hungry, please help.”  We accept this as “just the way things are.”  We can feed these people at a soup kitchen, and this might make us feel good about ourselves, but soup kitchens aren’t solving hunger.  Shelters aren’t solving homelessness.  Our services to this population are merely helping people survive, and we’re not even doing a great job at that.

So what is the solution?  Can we see homelessness abolished??  YES!  Of course we can!  Two hundred years from now, we will look back at 2009 and think, “Can you believe we used to think it was ok to let people sleep on the streets?” 

We need to stop “helping the homeless” and start “ending homelessness.”  Let’s get creative thinkers (you), experts of policy (you), of society (you), of community (YOU!) to come to the table and examine the structures currently in place that allow homelessness to persist.  Let’s reorganize, re-prioritize, and pitch new ideas to the people who make decisions (this could be you too, get on the boat!). 

If you are like me, you love solving problems and creating strategies.  I am a practical idealist, and I know that my strength is my ability to analyze.  What is your strength?  How are you leveraging your privilege, your education, and your passion to make real, practical change in your community?  How are you ending homelessness where you are?

Want a place to start?  Read this article by Malcolm Gladwell and then read about the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

“Million Dollar Murray” by Malcolm Gladwell

National Alliance to End Homelessness


4. Video Hotspot

 

"Skid-Row" is an incredible documentary about homelessness in Los Angeles. To find out more: http://www.skidrowthemovie.com/index2.html

 

"The Coalition for the Homeless" has some fantastic videos on issues related to homelessness. From looking at statistics to a video on a Summer Camp for homeless children, there are lots of topics here that may be of interest to you. Check them out! 

 

http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/coalitionvideos.html


5. Bonner Announcements

 

 

Bonner Issues Focus:

 

At the the Impact Conference, Bonner staff presented their new Issue-based Initiative to over 200 Bonner students from around the country. This issue focus will challenge individual Bonners and their campuses to step beyond service. While community service, is an incredible activity, the service itself does not solve hunger or homelessness. We have to go to the root cause of the issue to make an impact!! Therefore, now is a good time to start thinking about your issue area. What is your issue area of passion? What issues are the most prevalent in your community. In the next few weeks, we will continue to help you prepare for this initiative as we get ready to really explore it in greater depth at the Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida in June. 

 

You can begin now by joining issue based dialogue on the Bonner Ning Forums. Find out more below:

 
Bonner Ning!!
 
Bonner Ning is the next big thing in the arena of dialoguing on social justice issues. Similar to a Facebook group or a mini blog, Ning brings the "meat" and allows for members to have a great conversation about an issue of their passion. Connect nationally, share resources or ask questions!
 
We will be emailing you this week to invite you to join an issue forum of your passion.
 
So get ready....
 
LET THE DIALOGUE BEGIN!!

 

6. Internships, Jobs, and More

 

ATTENTION ALL BONNER SCHOLARS!!! TAKE YOUR PASSION GLOBAL! INTERN THIS SUMMER WITH THE PULITZER CENTER ON CRISIS REPORTING!! DEADLINE EXTENDED!

Opportunities at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

SUMMER BONNER SCHOLAR INTERNSHIP DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL FRIDAY, APRIL 3

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, an innovator in international journalism focusing on under-reported issues, seeks a summer Bonner Scholar Intern in its Washington, D.C., office to connect the general public and students with our international reporting projects – online, on college campuses and in person. The next available Pulitzer Center Bonner Scholar internship begins this May for summer 2009. Applications are due by Friday, April 3, 2009

With the aim of increasing awareness of our reporting projects and expanding the debate around these international issues, the intern will:

·      assist in development of college campus liaison outreach materials,

·      assist in development of international perspective opportunities for Bonner-engagement nationwide,

·      assist in efforts to increase website traffic, including online and campus outreach,

·      assist with event coordination and newsletter compilation,

·      assist with maintenance of Pulitzer Center website and online profiles (including YouTube and Facebook)

 

The Pulitzer Center is an eligible site for Bonner Scholars to use their summer stipend for service hours.

To apply, send the following information to Ann Peters, director of development and outreach, at apeters@pulitzercenter.org, with subject line: BONNER SCHOLAR INTERN

n      cover letter, telling us where your interests lie and what talents you can bring to the Pulitzer Center,

n      resume,

n      brief writing sample of no more than three pages, and

n      names of three references including their phone numbers or email addresses.

More information on the Pulitzer Center available at www.pulitzercenter.org

***************

 

ProWorld Service Corps: Education Interns
 

“While in Belize, I had the opportunity to work at a small village school.  It was very reminiscent of a one-room school house.  Not only did I get to teach, but was also a witness to quality teaching.  I was always told that a good teacher could teach with a stick in the dirt.  I came to believe that while in Belize. The experience really opened my eyes to the disparity in education in other countries. 

 

Of course, it wasn't all work!  On the weekends, I enjoyed the many beautiful beaches and Mayan ruins.  It was an awesome experience for me!”

Deb Combs was a ProWorld education intern in summer 2008.  ProWorld offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to provide much needed education to our host communiites in Peru, Belize, Mexico, India, Thailand, Brazil and Ghana.  Want to learn more about how you can get involved?  Visit www.myproworld.org or contact Erin McIntee at erin@myproworld.org

 

CARE National Conference and Celebration: May 5 & 6, 2009 Washington D.C.

***************

 

Demand a world without poverty.

The CARE National Conference & Celebration will take place in Washington, D.C. on May 5-6, 2009. You will be inspired by speakers including Wolf Blitzer, Gwen Ifill and Richard Gere. You'll be empowered by learning more about issues affecting global development and how you can make a difference. And you'll be in the forefront of policymaking when you help educate your elected official about CARE’s poverty fighting programs and initiatives and how we can all make a difference.

This two-day event is a unique opportunity for you help keep American policymakers focused on issues of poverty, women’s empowerment, equity and social justice.

The CARE National Conference & Celebration is a collective of many voices coming together to form a movement that’s bringing hope to millions of poor women, families and communities around the world.

Click on the following link to learn more about this conference, ways that you can get involved, and how to register.  The early registration discount price goes until March 20th, and afterwards there is an additional fee for late registration. http://www.careconference.org/index.asp

*****************

Play On Conference 2009

The Sports4Kids’ debut Play On 2009 Conference is a high-energy, hands-on debut focusing on issues and implementation strategies around bringing play to schools and communities.
The two-day event is designed to provide groups and individuals who advocate or provide play and physical activity to their schools or community with smart, thoughtful strategies and approaches to supporting a successful program. Breakout sessions include information on play for physically challenged children, promoting physical activity to girls, violence prevention, music as play, hands-on games and strategies to engage children on the playground and many other sessions.
This action-packed conference will take place May 19 and 20, and will feature powerful, inspirational keynote speakers, informative hands-on breakout sessions, and lots of great games and strategies that attendees can take back to their communities and use in their day-to-day roles.
 
Sports4Kids expects more than 250 attendees for the event, representing organizations that fund, advocate, implement and design play and physical activity programs in their community.
 
The conference will be kicked of Tuesday morning, by keynote speaker Kevin Carroll, author of Rules of the Red Rubber Ball: Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work. David Bornstein, renowned social entrepreneur and author of How to Save the World is the dinner speaker. Breakout presenters include the Positive Coaching Alliance, America Scores, Team Up for Youth, Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative and many others.
 
Cost for the two-day conference is $250 and includes luncheons, keynotes and dinner. To learn more about the Play On conference, check out the web site at www.sports4kids.org.

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.