7.31.2007

Destruction Of Homeless Personal Property Brings Class Action Lawsuit

Fresno's class action lawsuit should act as a wakeup call to all agencies who work to "control" the Homeless with cruel and illegal policies without considering the potential ramifications. While the Homeless may be poor as a group and therefore unable to fight back as effectively, occasionally other groups will step in to assist when behavior towards the Homeless becomes too outrageous and egregious. In this case, the ACLU filed the class action suit, and once again the ACLU has proven its dedication to Constitutional rights....

Homeless can bring class-action suit against Fresno

The Associated Press

Article Launched: 07/30/2007 01:38:15 PM PDT

FRESNO, Calif.—Homeless people who had their personal property taken and destroyed by Fresno officials can join a class-action lawsuit against the city, a federal judge said Monday.

Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights sued the city the behalf of six homeless plaintiffs, claiming police and sanitation workers violated their rights by defining their property as trash and bulldozing their makeshift encampments.

"People who are homeless, without residence, whose property has been taken and immediately destroyed," may file a class-action civil rights suit against Fresno, U.S. District Court Judge Oliver W. Wanger said.

Last November, Wanger granted plaintiffs a preliminary injunction blocking the city from raiding the tent towns and destroying homeless people's belongings until the case was resolved. Workers took people's belongings without notice and didn't give them an opportunity to claim their things, he said.

Fresno city officials opposed granting class-action status, saying they conformed with the terms of the injunction and they were crafting a policy to store homeless people's belongings.

Estimates of the number of homeless living on Fresno's streets vary, with advocates saying the numbers top 8,000. According to the plaintiffs, three primary homeless shelters in Fresno have room for about 225 people.

Bad Canned Meat Poses Threat To The Homeless

Because we're close to the first of another month and aid checks will be coming in the next couple of days, I decided to place this info here, since many of my clients eat this stuff on a regular basis, as it's cheap and easy to fix or eat cold. There are a number of brands that are affected and there may be some cans on store shelves around Nashville. [July 30, 2007, 4:59 pm] "Metro Health Dept. Looks For Recalled Meat At Local Stores" The Food and Drug Administration is urging consumers to check their cabinets as some grocers are still selling recalled food that could be tainted with botulism . The recall involves cans of chili, hot dog chili sauces, stew and nearly 90 other canned food products from Castleberry Food Company . At least five people have gotten sick . Monday, Metro Health officials popped into Nashville-area retailers to make sure the cans of recalled meat have been pulled from store shelves. Inspectors combed the isles of dozens of convenience stores and family groceries. “Mainly, I’m looking for Castleberry products,” said Elizabeth Lusk with the Metro Health Department. Spot checks Friday found recalled chili still on the shelves at one north Nashville store. “So that's the reason we're going back out today to search these stores,” said Lusk. Inspectors are pleased. So far, nothing else has turned up. “This isn't on there and the VanCamps isn't. I'm not really seeing any chili. That's the only chili they have and it's not on the recall. Looks likethey've already pulled everything that could have been on here. That's all the canned goods they have in here so they're doing good,” Lusk said. Not every grocer did so well. Inspectors found recalled products still on shelves at Grand Slam Market on Old Hickory Boulevard and Apple Market on West End Avenue. The cans were pulled. The massive recall was announced on July 18 and covers over 80 products made at the Castleberry Food Company's processing plant in Georgia over the past two years. The recall includes products such as chili, chili with beans, hash and canned stew. For a complete list of the recalled products, visit www.castleberrys.com . Castelberry's Information Page On July 21, 2007, Castleberry’s Food Company expanded its voluntary recall of products. If you had previously determined your Castleberry’s products were not included in the recall announced on July 18th, you should check them again using the updated information by clicking here on July 21st Expanded Recall. Please be sure to note the specific product description and can size. We have shut down our plant and are working with federal health agencies to get all the answers and remove all suspect products from stores and warehouses. During this investigation, we are taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of the families that use our products every day.

Product Recall Handling Safety Instructions

If you have purchased any of the recalled products, do not open or consume them. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that you double bag them in plastic bags that are tightly closed before being placed in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside of the home. If you notice that any of these cans are swollen, bulging or leaking, please put on gloves and eye protection before double-bagging and disposing of the cans. Slowly remove gloves and dispose after use. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes. Additional instructions for safe disposal can be found at www.cdc.gov/botulism/botulism_faq.htm. From the CDC Clostridium botulinum

Botulism > Botulism Associated with Canned Chili Sauce, July 2007 > Questions and Answers

Preamble

Foodborne botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by consuming foods that are contaminated with a nerve toxin called botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin is produced by the germ Clostridium botulinum. This toxin affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis and death. Any food that may be contaminated with botulinum toxin should be discarded using extreme care. Even a tiny amount of toxin that is eaten or absorbed through a break in the skin or the eye can cause serious illness.

Do not open or puncture any unopened can of the recalled product.
Dispose of food that may be contaminated by placing in a sealable bag, wrapping another plastic bag around the sealable bag, and then taping tightly. Place bags in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside the home and out of reach of humans and pets. Do not discard the food in a sink, garbage disposal, or toilet. Avoid splashing and contact with the skin. Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling open containers of food that you think may be contaminated. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes after handling food or containers that may be contaminated.
Wipe up spills using a bleach solution (use ¼ cup bleach for each 2 cups of water). Completely cover the spill with the bleach solution. Place a layer of paper towels, 5 to 10 towels thick, on top of the bleach. Let the towels sit for at least 15 minutes, then put the paper towels in the trash. Wipe up any remaining liquid with new paper towels. Clean the area with liquid soap and water to remove the bleach. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes. Sponges, cloths, rags and gloves that may have come into contact with contaminated food or containers should be discarded with the food.

Questions and Answers

Related to the Outbreak of Botulism Associated with Canned Chili Sauce, July 2007

Did people get botulism from eating chili sauce?

Yes. As of July 22, 2007, four cases of botulism have been reported to CDC. All four persons (2 cases in Indiana and 2 cases in Texas) consumed Castleberry's brand Hot Dog Chili Sauce the day before the illness began. Botulinum toxin was identified in leftover chili sauce collected from a patient's home. Botulinum toxin was also identified in unopened cans of chili sauce.

Which brands of chili sauce have been linked to illness?

Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000101)
Castleberry's Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030099533)

Which brands have been recalled?

A listing of the recalled products can be found at the following websites:

http://www.castleberrys.com/news_productrecall.asp (for all products)
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html (for FDA-regulated products)
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/index.asp (for UDSA-regulated products)

Why are brands other than Castleberry being recalled?

All the recalled brands were canned in the same plant. There is concern that other products manufactured at this plant could be contaminated. None of the recalled products should be consumed.

How did botulinum toxin get into chili sauce?

FDA and USDA-FSIS identified a problem with the canning process. The problem means it is possible that spores of the germ Clostridium botulinum were not killed during canning, so could grow and produced toxin.

Does botulinum toxin make foods taste or look different?

Many products contaminated with botulinum toxin do not taste or look any different than normal. Some taste bad because they contain other contaminants.

Isn't botulism usually associated with home-canned foods?

Yes, most cases of botulism are caused by improperly prepared home-canned foods or traditional Alaskan Native foods. Commercially canned foods are generally extremely safe.

What are the signs or symptoms of botulism?

Signs and symptoms of botulism include new onset of double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or muscle weakness. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Botulism can result in death.

I ate a recalled product. What should I do?

If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. These include new onset of double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress from head to toe, with paralysis of the face, arms, breathing muscles, trunk, and legs. Symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days. If your physician suspects botulism, he or she should contact local or state health officials, who may collect any leftover product and cans.

If you ate a recalled product in the past 10 days, no intervention is available to prevent botulism. Treatment is only given to persons who show signs or symptoms of botulism. If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. You do not need to make yourself vomit or take any other action. Watch for signs or symptoms of botulism for 10 days after you ate the recalled product.

If you ate a recalled product more than 10 days ago and you have no signs or symptoms of botulism, you are very unlikely to develop botulism.

I ate a type of product that was recalled, but I don't know the brand. What should I do?

The types of recalled products include canned chili sauce, chili, beef stew, hash, corned beef hash, barbecue pork, barbecue beef, chip beef, Brunswick stew, and sausage gravy. Canned dog food was also recalled.

If you ate the product in the past 10 days, no intervention is available to prevent botulism. Treatment is only given to persons who show signs or symptoms of botulism. If you develop signs or symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately. You do not need to make yourself vomit or take any other action. Watch for signs or symptoms of botulism for 10 days after you ate the product.

If you ate the product more than 10 days ago and you have no signs or symptoms of botulism, you are very unlikely to develop botulism.

I have an unopened can of one the recalled products. What should I do?

Do not open or puncture the can. Place the unopened can in a sealable bag, wrap another plastic bag around it, and tape it tightly. Dispose the taped bags in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside the home and out of reach of humans and pets. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes.

I have an open can, leaking can, or food prepared from of one of the recalled products. What should I do?

Any food that may be contaminated with botulinum toxin should be discarded using extreme care. Even a tiny amount of toxin that is eaten or absorbed through a break in the skin or the eye can cause serious illness. Avoid splashing and contact with the skin. Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling an open can, leaking can, or food prepared from one of the recalled products.. Do not discard the food in a sink, garbage disposal, or toilet.

If the food is in a disposable container, leave it in the container. Put the container in a sealable bag, wrap another plastic bag around the sealable bag, and then tape tightly. If the food is in a non-disposable container, put the food from the container into a sealable bag, wrap another plastic bag around the sealable bag, and then tape tightly. Dispose the taped bags in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside the home and out of reach of humans and pets. Fill the non-disposable container with a dilute bleach solution (use ¼ cup bleach for every 2 cups of water), and allow to soak for at least 15 minutes. Discard the liquid and wash the container thoroughly with soap and running water.

Sponges, cloths, rags and gloves that may have come into contact with contaminated food or containers should be discarded with the food in a non-recyclable trash receptacle.

After disposing of the product, slowly remove gloves and dispose in a non-recyclable trash receptacle after use. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes.

I spilled the recalled product or a food made with the recalled product on my kitchen counter, floor, carpet, or furniture. How do I clean it up safely?

Make a dilute bleach solution (use ¼ cup bleach for every 2 cups of water). Wear rubber or latex gloves and avoid contact with the skin. Completely cover the spill with the bleach solution. Place a layer of paper towels, 5 to 10 towels thick, on top of the bleach. Let the towels sit for at least 15 minutes, then put the paper towels in the trash. Wipe up any remaining liquid with new paper towels. Clean the area with liquid soap and water to remove the bleach. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 2 minutes. Be aware that bleach can damage surfaces. Cleaning a surface with soap or any other detergent and water without prior bleach treatment may not remove botulinum toxin.

I fed recalled product to my pet. What should I do?

If your pet develops signs of botulism, seek veterinary attention immediately. Signs of botulism in pets are similar to those in people. In addition, your pet may have difficulty holding its head up or its tongue may hang out of the mouth. There is no specific treatment for botulism in animals, but supportive medical care may be helpful.

Watch your pet for signs of botulism for 10 days after it ate the recalled product. If your pet develops signs of botulism, seek veterinary attention immediately.

If your pet ate a recalled product more than 10 days ago and your pet has no signs or symptoms of botulism, they are very unlikely to develop botulism.

I fed my pet canned dog food or a type of product that was recalled, but I don't know the brand. What should I do?

Watch your pet for signs of botulism for 10 days after it ate the product. If your pet develops signs of botulism, seek veterinary attention immediately.

If your pet ate the product more than 10 days ago and your pet has no signs or symptoms of botulism, they are very unlikely to develop botulism.

7.29.2007

RealID Appears To Be Dead In The Water

I spend a lot of money and time getting folks IDs. Sometimes it's a real pain in the arse to do, too, especially if the person in question is not a Tennessee resident or has never had a Tennessee ID previously. While Tennessee is actually quite "user-friendly" when it comes to getting a resident ID replaced, starting from scratch or transferring in from another state can be tedious and difficult, not to mention occasionally expensive. I know this sounds a bit dramatic, but without a valid state ID (with photo) you don't really exist. If you don't exist, you're excluded from participating in a large part of society's fun and games. You also become quite a person of interest for law enforcement when you cannot show them ID when asked. If you don't believe me, try putting your ID in a nice, safe drawer for a week or two and see how often you are required to show it. Jobs, government services, store purchases - they all often require the presentation of ID to conduct your business and without it, why, you're just SOL. Many of us have never really had to hassle with getting an ID, since Mom or Dad has kept important family papers in a safe place and obtaining ID has been a rather natural and painless progression of renewals since that first driver's license and social security card was issued. As such, many of us have no real understanding of the effort involved when one must replace official ID and one has nothing to prove who he/she is in order to get the state ID. The real problem revolves around what is needed to satisfy the requirements to prove who you say you are, and it is here that I believe the RealID Act would have caused states and their citizens the most grief. Consider for a moment what it would be like if you hadn't had any official ID in the past decade, knew only that you were born somewhere in Oregon, and, to add insult to injury, were both computer illiterate and broke, to boot. How would you even begin to figure out how to obtain the necessary papers to prove your identity? If you can't use a computer, you can't look up the Oregon vital statistics office (providing its even called that!) to see about getting a birth certificate. Even if you could, chances are you don't have a credit card to pay for it with. And without ID, you can't really rent a place to live (at least "officially") and even if you could, you wouldn't be able to turn on utilities, since without ID, you can't access utility services. So, you cannot prove that you even have a local address or present a utility bill in your name- some of the things usually needed if you are applying for ID without ID. To be sure, there is a fairly long list of items that one can use to obtain ID without ID and the folks who must verify those supporting documents have really tried to be as lenient as possible. Unfortunately. with all the ID theft and abuse occurring in the world today, not to mention the more sinister aspects of falsifying one's identity, you can't blame them for being rigorous in their demands for appropriate documentation. But for the typical Homeless person, you might as well be asking them to travel to Mars on their own dime and bring back some Martian caca ... So adding yet another required and hard to get document to the already large pile of hard to get (and hard to keep) documents that many of the Homeless will probably never have is an exercise in futility, which often leads to desperation, despair and ultimately, a black market for some enterprising crook with a computer and a good printer. And there's something else about this RealID deal that bothers me deep down on a gut level, too. Here in America, we are all supposed to be entitled to at least some privacy and the idea of having yet another national database in which to discover everything about me is more than a little disturbing. Now don't misunderstand me here - I recognize the need for proper identification, but I think there is a point in which one moves from reasonable requests for ID to a "show me zee papahs" mentality and I'm not quite ready to take that step, terrorists be damned. Perhaps my reaction is a just a smidge over the top regarding the overall seriousness of this issue, but in light of the post 9/11 loss of individual rights and freedoms, coupled with the ever tighter restrictions that continue to inconvenience me and my family whenever I step foot out of my house, I keep going back to that famous quote by Ben Franklin:

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

(A word about the ACLU as a citing source: While I don't always like what the ACLU must - MUST - defend, I clearly understand that the agency is not as a general rule so much concerned with the issue or deed in and of itself but instead is seeking to enforce portions of the Constitution and Bill of Rights that may protect it. Many people lose sight of this when they think about the ACLU's often controversial intervention into usually emotionally volatile issues. These individuals subsequently allow their own emotional like or dislike of that issue to govern their response and/or feelings towards the ACLU. I reiterate - the ACLU defends civil liberties regardless of whether they, you or I like the deed being defended or not. . Simply put, their creed can be summed up thusly: "I might not like what you are saying but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.") ACLU Cheers Failure of Real ID Sucker Money Proposal (7/26/2007) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: media@dcaclu.org

Washington, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the failure of an amendment offered to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that would have authorized $300 million of federal funding for states to implement the Real ID driver’s license program, which has been estimated by DHS to cost $23.1 billion. The ACLU deemed the proposal "sucker money" because it aimed to entice states to accept a paltry amount of funding for a flawed program that would ultimately cost millions more in state taxes and licensing fees.

The amendment was killed when a motion to table it passed 49 to 45, after both the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senators Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Thad Cochran (R-MS), respectively, spoke passionately against the funding proposal. The death of this amendment means the states will receive no additional federal funding to implement Real ID, dealing a crushing blow to the viability of the unworkable program.

"Real ID is dead in the water, and it is clear that no amount of money can save it," said ACLU Legislative Counsel Tim Sparapani. "The only solution to Real ID is to scrap and replace it, and Congress has caught on. With seventeen states opposed to this program and the U.S. Senate standing behind them, this is the beginning of the end of Real ID. $300 million does not even come close to covering the costs of the program, and it is not enough to lure Americans to give up their privacy."

Real ID poses serious privacy threats. The federally mandated IDs would hold machine-readable data of every American. That information would be stored in a national database available to government employees at all levels, putting every American at risk of identity theft and security breaches.

Ultimately, Real ID could pave the way for a society that tracks Americans’ movements and warehouses personal information in centralized databases that are rife with errors and highly enticing to identity thieves. Because Real ID promises to be such an integral part of our lives, from boarding a plane to opening a bank account to verifying your eligibility to work, a small glitch could have disastrous consequences.

Seventeen state legislatures have passed laws rejecting the program, with seven of those states passing binding legislation refusing to implement it. Never before in modern history has a federal mandate been so vehemently rejected by the states.

"The American people are not suckers and they won’t be duped by attempts to dress up a bad proposal with a little federal funding," said Director of the ACLU Technology and Liberty Program Barry Steinhardt. "Throwing money at Real ID will not fix anything because the program is fundamentally flawed and fundamentally unworkable. There are only two options: Scrap Real ID altogether, or replace it with something that works. Americans don’t want a national ID, and they shouldn’t be forced to pay for one."

For more information about Real ID, visit: www.realnightmare.org

7.28.2007

Soccer's Homeless World Cup Kicks Off

Asst. Programmes: Social responsibility

Action from a previous Homeless World Cup (©INSP )

Great adventure for homeless players

Saturday 28 July 2007

Some 500 footballers from 48 nations set out on a great adventure on Sunday when the UEFA-backed Homeless World Cup begins in Copenhagen.

Changing lives The competition takes place in Copenhagen's City Hall Square until 4 August. Players who are currently homeless are being given a wonderful opportunity to represent their country and change their lives, in a perfect example of football's power to act as a unifying social force.

Uniting people The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded from around the world. It also supports and inspires grassroots football projects around the world, working with homeless and excluded people throughout the year.

Moving on in life It is estimated that 77% of players change their lives for the better after participating in a Homeless World Cup, coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into homes, jobs, training, education, repairing relationships with families, and even becoming coaches and players for semi-professional and professional football clubs. An estimated 25,000 players have been trying out for a place in national teams for the event.

Crown Prince and Milton Nielsen HRH the Crown Prince of Denmark will be watching the tournament as an extremely interested fan, and will attend the Homeless World Cup final on 4 August. Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen - who has taken charge of some of football's top matches at European and world level - will referee games at the event on Tuesday.

UEFA backing UEFA has backed the Homeless World Cup for several years as part of its social programme. "European football's governing body is supporting the belief that football should be used as a force for broader benefit within society, using its potential to influence attitudes and behaviour beyond the confines of the stadium," says UEFA..

Football fosters inclusion Since 1999, UEFA has been reinvesting fines imposed in UEFA competitions for specific purposes such as humanitarian aid, social and educational projects. "The Homeless World Cup receives UEFA support because it has a strong link with football, has a set of clearly defined goals and successfully develops the use of football as a tool for fostering inclusion," UEFA explains.

Click here for more details of the Homeless World Cup

"Reauthorizing McKinney-Vento is critical to getting more money to cities like ours to provide more housing."

Philadelphia Daily News (Pennsylvania)

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News July 26, 2007 Thursday LET THEM EAT CAKE?: FEDS SHOULD REAUTHORIZE HOMELESS FUNDING Philadelphia Daily News Jul. 26--IT'S HARD TO KNOW just how celebratory we should be about the 20th birthday of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Emergency Assistance Act. After all, two decades after this act, which provides federal funding to help the homeless, we are far from declaring a victory over the problem. In fact, the city is reporting disturbing increases in the homeless population, the first increases in a decade. So the presence of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah and a group of homeless children blowing out candles on a birthday cake earlier this week in Philadelphia sent a mixed message at best. To be sure, reauthorizing McKinney-Vento is critical to getting more money to cities like ours to provide more housing. Last year, for example, Philadelphia got about half of what it asked for from the Department of Housing and Development for homeless services. It's unclear whether there's a connection between this shortfall and the current situation on the streets, but more money could certainly help. McKinney-Vento funds five programs to help the homeless ($1.5 billion this year) and is administered by HUD. H.R. 840, also known as the HEARTH Act, reauthorizes McKinney-Vento. But it also adds a little icing to the cake: It would make more poor families, such as those living in motels or hotels, eligible for HUD help. It would earmark more money for support services, and give local authorities more control over how the money is spent. It also protects victims of domestic violence by prohibiting housing or social-service agencies from releasing information that could identify them, and lets those in immediate danger to be quickly moved to a safer location. Families with children are the fastest-growing homeless population, according to Catholic Charities USA. The proposed act seeks upward of $2.5 billion be available for 2008. The HEARTH Act, introduced in the House in February by Julia Carson, D-Ind., is still in the House subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. But a confident Fattah, one of the bill's 70 co-sponsors, said that "with the new [Democratic] majority in Congress, [it] will pass." Well, we'll see. That "new majority" has failed to impress us this session. And with a president poised to veto any expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program, this isn't exactly an administration that shows its compassion by spending. Poverty is the major cause of homelessness. In Philadelphia, the HEARTH Act would allow Philadelphia officials to provide more housing and opportunities to poor families, many of them headed by women. Also the extra money could go to enhanced programs for the addicted and mentally ill, usually the "the visible homeless." Last year, the city requested $24 million from HUD for homelessness and got only $13 million. HUD made the cut, the city says, because too much of the money was going to services, not housing. Local homeless officials say the local flexibility HEARTH offers is key. With the city's Office of Supportive Housing as the money's dispenser, the city and other organizations can bring greater focus on priorities -- such as programs to help families move from poverty -- that are agreed upon, and distribute the money to nonprofit groups that work with the homeless. When the HEARTH act comes out of committee and up for a vote, we urge all of our representatives to vote "yes." Or things will get worse.

Lack of $$$ Hampers Homeless Helpers

I'm thinking most folks in my line of work recognize this as the classic "no brainer" but it still shocks me to realize that so many others don't seem to get it - and this includes folks who work every day assisting the Homeless in some fashion. There ain't no money, kiddies. Wait, I take that back. There actually is money, just not for the Homeless. I'm talking of course about the recent sculpture that was erected using $330,000 of Metro Building Fund money - money that could have provided some pretty substantial services for the city, and to our local Homeless population. For example, with $330,000, we could have housed 550 Homeless folks for a full year. How, you might ask? Well, there are a number of existing units in and around Nashville that provide low income housing and the lowest rent in these places is $50 a month. So, it would cost a mere $600 a year to put someone into a home, which would then allow that person to focus on things that assist him/her with re-integrating into "normal" society - like employment, healthcare, hygiene and perhaps drug and/or alcohol recovery. With a residence, the individual could then begin to fully concentrate on those oh-so-important necessities, like finding a job. I wonder - have you ever tried to find a job without an address or a phone? It's a damned big barrier, let me tell you. Of course, I'm assuming much here and by far the biggest assumption is that we have enough available units to put 550 people into. I'm not sure we do at this point, but wouldn't it be grand to fill the ones we do have available with those who need it the most? Alas, we have decided instead to use our almost half a million dollars to buy what appears to me to be an unfinished loop of a roller coaster to nowhere. Now please don't get me wrong here, I think Nashville's sculptures and eye candy are awesome and give the city its own unique flair. I'm all for enhancing the beauty and "hipness" of Nashville, and I also know good art is in the eye of the beholder. But I am also of the opinion that we probably ought to be taking care of our citizens - especially those who desperately need our help to recover from some very bad circumstances - before we spend what I feel to be tons of public money on "beautification" projects that benefit....ummmm, well, ....hmmmm. I can't stress enough that I'm not upset or railing against the sculpture or artists or beautification of our fine city. I'm just thinking out loud here that when we use public dollars, shouldn't we be thinking about "the greater good" before we spend them? It just seems to me that real beautification would be the housing of folks currently lining our sidewalks and inhabiting our parks. Now that is truly a beautiful thing. St. Petersburg Times (Florida) July 27, 2007 Friday FUNDING IS TOP CHALLENGE IN BATTLING HOMELESSNESS LISA KANE DEVITTO If they had housing, they would not be homeless ... While I strongly support community beautification,

it breaks my heart to read that the state Department of Transportation spent $1.3-million on fountains under the new Ybor City I-4 overpasses, in part to keep from "attracting homeless" as detailed in a recent City Times story ("With pond and eight fountains, land near I-4 won't go to waste," July 13). Not too far from Ybor City, in downtown Tampa, some 20 to 40 people per night sleep on the steps of a local church. They are a small number of the estimated 8,500 homeless people in our county. During the day, people with no place else to go may turn to our highway overpasses for protection from blistering sun, rain, wind and lightning. I am profoundly saddened that more than $1-million can be spent to "shoo away" people in need, as if we were talking about pigeons. Large, shallow fountains do not solve the problem for our souls, our community appearance, or our economy. These tired people will simply go somewhere else in the public domain. They will still be here, and in need. And the need is great. Florida's overall state dollars for services and housing for the disabled are at a very low point, and the state is talking about reductions. Our state housing trust fund dollars are capped each year. For people with disabilities, or in a health or financial crisis, there is frequently "no room at the inn." Florida ranks low in spending on mental health care - about 48th. Unlike other states, Florida provides little housing assistance for people with special needs. Many people without services or housing assistance frequently wind up on our streets as homeless or in our jails, where the burden falls on the local taxpayer and care is the most expensive. Hillsborough organizations and individuals work hard to reduce homelessness - Metropolitan Ministries, Salvation Army, Mental Health Inc., the Public Defender, Alpha House, DACCO, the School District, the city of Tampa and the county, to name a few. They work separately and as part of the Hillsborough Coalition for the Homeless to form the local continuum of care. Funding is the major challenge. The State Homeless Housing Assistance Grant is only $750,000 per year; the Challenge Grant for homeless services is typically $150,000 per county, per grant. There is a local plan to end homelessness, but important components, such as the intake, shelter and recuperative care center are not in any budget at present. I know the DOT has its job to do and meant well for Ybor City. I hope in the future we can do a better job as stewards of our tax dollars and spend where it will alleviate human suffering, as well as promote health and economic well-being. In perspective, $1-million could provide housing and case management for 50 people for a year, or build perhaps 10 units. If you would like more information on this subject, I encourage you to contact the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County at (813) 223-6115 or visit www.homelessofhc.org. Lisa Kane DeVitto is an attorney who lives near downtown Tampa. She serves on the board of the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County and chairs the Florida Bar Public Interest Law Section. She is a past chair of the State Council on Homelessness, appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

"In the rush for economic development, they've totally forgotten the poor people,"

Money talks.... At least there is some chance for a "compromise," although it remains to be seen whether the conciliatory mood is "for real" or simply a facade to appease squeaky wheels. One thing is for sure; nothing is really safe when it comes to services and/or facilities that assist the poor, the Homeless and the drug-addicted. Agency for the Homeless Faces Homelessness

By Jenna Johnson Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, July 28, 2007; B02

For 17 years, the Old Naval Hospital carriage house has been the command center for an organization that reaches out to homeless men and women with drug addictions. But a plan for a new community center could transform the little brick building into a "family-friendly cafe" with indoor and outdoor seating and WiFi.

But Hal Gordon, founder and president of the Community Action Group, doesn't want to give up the two-story Civil War-era building, which the nonprofit rents from the city and has fixed up using its own money.

"In the rush for economic development, they've totally forgotten the poor people," said Gordon, who described the carriage house as a "historic beacon for the homeless and drug addicts serious about their recovery."

The D.C. Office of Property Management announced in February that it would pay $6 million to restore the 140-year-old vacant hospital and the carriage house, on Pennsylvania Avenue SE just east of the Capitol, into a facility that serves the community. The agency put out a call for proposals and assembled a panel to review the admissions.

The panel selected a proposal from the Old Naval Hospital Foundation, a coalition of Capitol Hill neighbors who have raised $2.5 million. Their plan is to create the Hill Center -- a cultural destination that would provide classes taught by groups such as the Smithsonian Associates and space for events such as lectures, recitals, meetings and art shows. The carriage house would become a cafe that could also cater receptions, dinners and other events at the hospital.

"This is the financial piece to support the center," said the Rev. Paul R. Abernathy, a member of the foundation's board and rector at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill. "This is how we're going to make this center work."

Abernathy said the foundation's plan was based on years of research into the needs of Capitol Hill residents along with surveys and assessments.

The Community Action Group, which is affiliated with Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Catholic Church on East Capitol Street, also submitted a proposal, but it was rejected -- so the group could be booted out of the carriage house as soon as construction begins. The organization has several properties, including a family treatment center in Anacostia and a community center on 15th Street SE.

Last week, when the city held a public meeting to get feedback on the proposals, about 200 supporters of the Community Action Group showed up, many holding framed photos of some of the 1,500 people who have graduated from the program, Gordon said.

"We collected our people last Thursday night with the express purpose of letting the D.C. community know that the madness needs to stop," he said. "They need to consider conditions affecting the poor, not push us out."

At the end of the meeting, advisory neighborhood commissioners for the area voiced support for the foundation's plan but asked the property management office to delay its final decision until late August so that a compromise can be worked out. D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) said that those discussions have begun and that a meeting is planned next week.

"I really value [the Community Action Group] as a very important part of the community," Wells said.

Abernathy said that the foundation is not trying to pick "lunches over lives" and that its board members are open to a resolution that can accommodate both sides.

"Conversations are going on," he said. "We can find a resolution."

7.26.2007

PADDED BENCH AWARD: South Nashville ThriftSmart

Of all the Homeless I try to assist on a daily basis, the kids are by far the most heartwrenching to come across. Almost always victims of circumstances beyond their control, they leave you pained at their condition, ticked off at those who placed them in such a terrible situation, and frustrated that you cannot do more to assist them. It just pains my heart to see these kids have to sweat who will get them their next meal or where they'll lay their heads tonight, especially when their biggest worries at this point in their life should be revolving around what movies they'll see this weekend, who might go steady with who (do kids even use this term anymore???), and how much money they will earn from their lawn mowing and babysitting jobs this summer. As such, whenever I see organizations trying to help the homeless children among us, I like to publicly acknowledge their effort. So, without further ado, let me say: "THANK YOU" to South Nashville's Thriftsmart ...for their generosity and kindness in clothing homeless children! (Directions to the store can be found right here) "Local Thrift Shop Works To Dress Metro's Homeless Students" There is a special community effort underway to make sure Nashville’s homeless children have the right clothes to wear when school starts this year in Metro . Wednesday, in the backroom at Thriftsmart in south Nashville, employees worked to identify the clothes that fit Metro’s new dress policy to go into effect August 13 when classes begin. Tres Scheibe said, "When we heard that there may be students in Metro that wouldn't be able to afford the Standard School Attire we met with Metro and offered to assist kids that couldn't afford anything." While you don't normally think of children as being homeless, hundreds are. To help, beginning next month, Thriftsmart will be giving them three sets of brand new clothes for school. The store will also be selling five days worth of Standard School Attire for $20, total. Metro Schools’ Woody McMillin said, "We want every child that comes to our school to have exactly what they need on the first day of school." Since it's a non-profit agency, Thriftsmart counts on donations and volunteers to operate, even more so now that they're expecting an August rush for the proper clothes for school. Thriftsmart is located on Nolensville Road. Metro School officials said if necessary, they will provide one day MTA bus passes for families to get there. The sale will begin August 1. For more education headlines, visit www.tnclassroom.com .

7.25.2007

Ever Wonder What A Day In The Life Of An Outreach Worker Might Be Like?

The other day I was meeting with some of my fine colleagues, trying to find some creative ways to raise funds. One of them mentioned that we could auction off a "date with Steve"...... and then we laughed and laughed. Who in their right mind would want to do a "ride-along" with me, especially if the day we had was anything like Tuesday's. At 8am I pulled into my "office" parking lot and was approached by approximately 40 people, all of whom had some need of my services. This in and of itself isn't abnormal, in fact, it was actually a smaller crowd than usual, but in the crowd was an older couple, just in from Memphis, who had 6 children waiting for them down the street. I got most of my "regulars" taken care of within the hour, then set about trying to assist these new to town folks, who have been split apart for the previous couple of days as a result of the Rescue Mission's policies on men and women's lodging. After much angst and discussion, they set off towards the Salvation Army with a trusted client leading the way, and I imagine they will be at my office daily for the next week or so as we've got lots to do with them, including getting them to some much needed healthcare and finding them some housing. They should be fairly easy to take care of, since the husband is a veteran with an honorable discharge and his DD214, a journeyman welder with a solid employment history, and is clean and sober. The woman is also employable but will probably be staying home for a while, since they had some young children with them - and an infant. The most difficult part of assisting them will definitely be the housing, since until he begins working, we are forced to rely on the charity and good will of those who have such resources - and while Nashville is filled with compassionate folks, housing is scarce and hard to access, especially for the poor and/or cash-strapped individuals. While this was occurring, my car began filling up with folks who needed rides to the various agencies downtown that handle identification disbursement. Since I am out of bus passes at the moment, I usually take as many people as possible with me when I head "across the bridge" and drop them in front of their respective destinations. On this particular morning I had six guys who all needed some assistance with IDs, bus tickets, or had difficulty walking and couldn't get across town without some help. Two of these gentlemen going to see pastor Ken at the Downtown Prez for help with IDs (I pay for some IDs, but I receive only $150 a month to provide such things and my "ID list" fills up within minutes whenever I post it. I've always got far more clients needing ID than the cash to provide them, so when I run out, I begin sending them elsewhere). I cannot express enough my gratitude to Pastor Ken for his help here and I thank him profusely for providing this service. But let me be clear here, Pastor Ken doesn't fart around - he will do one ID for an individual every three years. He requires the individual to get the application, fill it out and bring it to him completed. He then cuts a check for the ID, written out to the DMV, and sends the person back to finish the effort. My clients tell me he doesn't have much of a sense of humor, either, so if you're considering visiting Pastor Ken, my suggestion to you is to get in, state your business as respectfully as possible, thank him for anything he can do for you and then get on with your bad self to somewhere else. Before we were able to leave my office however, I had a few referrals that needed to be completed, so I grabbed those clients and took them back to my office to begin the process. As I was filling out the necessary documents, I received a frantic call from a client who was sobbing uncontrollably. She is desperately trying to find living arrangements while staying in a domestic violence shelter and had just been informed that because she makes more money than TennCare allows, she was ineligible for some services. This just devastated her, and then she hit me with my own Achilles heel - her pets. She began crying harder as she told me she would have to get rid of her cats, and while I'm probably more of a dog-lover, I still have a huge soft spot in my heart for cats, and just about any critter that depends upon us for their survival and well-being. I managed to calm the woman down by telling her that we weren't going to let some small barrier wreck our plans and we plotted out a plan of attack that, I discovered last night around 730, appeared to have worked, so it looks like although she isn't eligible for some services, she is indeed eligible for housing assistance, which is what she wanted more than anything else anyway. Disaster averted and so far, it looks like we're going to be able to save the cats, too! As I was leaving the office, two more folks caught me, both starting jobs the following day but with no way to get to them and in desperate need of bus passes. I went back to a colleague who I knew might still have a couple from the last batch I gave her and whined hard enough to wrestle two from her. I got my soon to be working clients on their way and then ran to the car to get us moving, since I was now far behind schedule. I "burned rubber" to the Snodgrass building, got the guys their ID apps for Pastor Ken, then took them down to the DTP for the completion of their tasks. Two guys down, four more to go. I then had to take a gentleman to the Office of Vital Statistics to obtain his birth certificate. He was trying to renew his ID the other day and normally, if you're a Tennessee resident who has had some form of state ID here previously, all you need to do is to show your face and your cash, fill out a form and they will look you up in their computer, double-check your pic with the real you, and then cut you an ID. AWESOME! Except..... My client in question discovered that if you have received an ID after 2001, to renew it you must provide proof of citizenship. So, he struck out on Monday and we went after the birth Tuesday yesterday, which, thank the stars, he was able to obtain without having to show any ID (and yes, he has since gotten his ID from Pastor Ken). Great. Three down, three to go. Let me mention here that every time I do these things downtown while in a car, I have to find a place to park. Anyone who has ever driven downtown will know what a nightmare that can be, not to mention the time and expense involved. So off we we went to take client number four to Meharry Hospital for some treatment on a leg that was badly injured during an altercation with a dope pusher who ran the man into a wall with his car. I got client four to the hospital with a promise to get him by 3:30p in order to get him to the another appointment at 4p. As I was pulling away from Meharry, I received another frantic phone call, this time from a man whom I had visited with the day before. This particular gentleman is caring for a wife with a serious seizure disorder and a crack cocaine addiction. He also cares for another man with a mental illness and an alcohol and crack cocaine habit. He works full-time as well, and over the previous week has had his hands more than full as his wife has had an inordinate number of seizures and has had a couple of emergency room visits as a result. It seems that C's wife had begun seizing in the downtown area just before lunchtime and was transported via ambulance to a local ER. C and J followed the ambulance on foot, running to the ER, and attempted to see his wife as they took her back into the treatment area. C got more than a little agitated when he was stopped by the security guard and proceeded to "get up in the faces" of the fine staff at this particular institution. Now let me tell you, having served in a couple of ERs and on the back of an ambulance for some years, I have a lot of empathy and understanding for what these folks must do, often in the face of incredible pressure. I know - as do most people - that if you want something from people who are extremely busy, honey works far better than vinegar. Unfortunately, C was fresh out of honey but loaded with vinegar, and that he "soured" his budding relationships with the staff is quite an understatement, indeed. They were kind enough not to toss him completely out on his arse, but did relegate him to the dreaded "waiting area," and since he'd pissed just about everyone who could tell him anything off, he was suffering from the unfortunate malady known as "havingus nothing-comingus." I got to the ER and spoke with the poor woman who was handling the counter. Before I could even speak with her however, an older man was berating her for the length of time he and a young man with his arm in a sling had been waiting to see a doctor. When I did get up to her, I knew that she was in no mode for hassles. I managed to quietly and calmly tell her what I was hoping to accomplish and she contacted a security guard, who arrived about 5 minutes later. The guard was also in no mood to be toyed with and I again respectfully, calmly and quietly told him a brief bit of background as to why C might have been a bit on the argumentative side. He softened towards me as I talked, and after hearing my plea, he stated he would check with the Dr to see if he would come talk with me. I filled C in on what was occurring and presently the guard returned and stated that the staff would allow C to come in to visit with his wife if I would accompany him and make certain he kept his cool. We did just that and I was able to exit the situation at that point, knowing that C had realized just how close he'd come to being banned from seeing his wife. I ran back to my car and discovered that client #5 had bailed to finish his needs on foot, since we were fairly close to where he needed to go in the first place. I then raced back to Meharry to take my client to his next appointment. No client. I had to park in the garage and try to hunt the guy down on foot, but never did find him, nor did I receive a call from him telling me what was going on. I still haven't heard from him, but trust me, this kind of thing happens all the time with a portion of my clientèle; some disappear for days on end, then turn up when you least expect it. Some will even hassle you for not following through on your promise to help them on that particular day, even though they wen AWOL on you in the first place! Oh, it is great fun, and I say that with utmost sincerity and joy in my heart! I then took my final client with me and went to visit a client who had recently been placed in temporary housing. "Happily-Housed" was doing great but as we chatted, it began pouring rain and it appeared that my sixth client was apparently going to have to spend the night in the rain. W has stomach cancer and is pretty sick, so I drove him to where his blankets were and discovered they had been soaked through during the downpour. I had to find a dry place for W to stay and the Salvation Army was out, since we were by now way beyond the 4:30pm fill-up point (usually, if you aren't at the SA lodge by 4:20, you won't get a bunk as they are typically full by then). So, I had to find a place to put W until the following morning. I managed to do just that and while I won't tell you where, I can tell you that it was free, dry, and he probably had the best night's rest he's had in a long time. And no - it wasn't at my house. I have a rule that no clients come to my house, for any reason. If anything ever happens at my home, I don't want to think it was because of someone I helped. Suffice it to say, Tuesday was one filled with spur of the moment demands and pragmatic solutions - the things that make my job challenging, exciting and fulfilling. But I think it's safe to say that after a day like this, very few folks in their right mind would want to ride along for a day!

7.24.2007

Park Center Gets A Well-Deserved Pat On The Back

When one spends every day wading through the trenches of "social" work, one quickly realizes that the recognition typically comes not on any grand scale but from the multitudes of tiny "thank yous" and praise that workers and clients give to each other for jobs well done. These little but often unbelievably special acknowledgments are usually all we need to keep us going for years on end and for many of us, this is more than enough attention. So when we actually get public praise for a job well done, sometimes, well, gorsch, it's kinda sorta embarrassing, in a really neat kind of way, dontchaknow! *blushing* So, many thanks to Gail Kerr here, and Tom Turner as well, for not only noticing our efforts, but for taking the time to tell someone else about it. While we can and often do do our jobs without ever thinking about whats in it for us, it's really nice to see that others who are usually far removed from our day to day efforts not only notice it but are impressed enough to tell us "thanks" for our efforts. Well, "Thanks" to both of you for the kind words. And I'd like to add a personal "Thanks" to Tom Turner for both recognizing and elaborating on the difficulties facing many of the Homeless, who have absolutely no involvement in illegal activities or drug abuse and find themselves homeless as a direct result of circumstances beyond their control. While Tom takes plenty of heat for the policies that the Downtown Partnership present and occasionally enact, there is little doubt that he "gets it" when it comes to the plight of many of the Homeless. Tom's in a very difficult position of trying to appease all sides of an unusually complex problem but at the end of the day, must still answer to his primary constituency. I wonder how many of us would be able to stand up to the pressure he must face on a daily basis, pressure that comes from what some might consider "diametrically opposed" groups, as each vies for the enactment of their own ideas and policies on how to address a particular problem. It's got to be tough and while I understand that this is the job he signed on to do, I've also got to give credit where credit is due. You've got some broad shoulders, Tom and I hope they hold up. One thing he mentioned in Kerr's piece that I think deserves a closer look is the idea of centralized services for the Homeless and the poor. (By the way, like my boss, I don't much care for the word "indigent" when discussing those with less money than others and so won't use it. Seems far too impersonal, almost "alien-like", and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that the first step in dehumanizing some group is to assign them to a category that removes their "human" identity from them). I had this discussion with my boss when I first signed on to this job, as it was clearly obvious that the lack of centralized services was doing much to exacerbate the problems of the Homeless in the downtown area. I wrote about this issue previously and won't beat a dead horse here, but it is good to see that some of the most important movers and shakers in this city have a representative who recognizes the importance of this approach. There are a couple of great options available for centralizing services in Nashville and I know some of the great and compassionate caregivers have repeatedly offered their own facilities to do exactly that. While by itself it would not solve all our problems, it sure seems like it would be a step in the right direction.

Tuesday, 07/24/07

Homeless fix goes beyond police work

By GAIL KERR

The Metro police department has been cracking down on the most frightening and offensive panhandlers downtown. That's a good thing: Nobody wants to be threatened for not turning over a quarter.

But just dealing with that segment of the homeless population is like treating pneumonia with cough medicine. Dressed as tourists or workers, undercover patrol officers started hitting the streets in June to deal with aggressive street people. They arrested 100 people for a variety of offenses, including public intoxication, indecent exposure and threatening people who wouldn't give them money.

Police spokesman Don Aaron said Monday the enforcement will continue.

"I don't see how we cannot keep the enforcement going," Aaron said. "Based on what we're seeing, and in an effort to keep families and visitors from seeing it, the enforcement is going to continue."

Uniformed officers and those "blending in" will be used, he said.

At the same time, new bars and barriers are about to go in the planters and fountain in Church Street Park (known as Homeless Park) across from the downtown library. The street population claims it for its own, using the fountain to bathe in and the planters for storage. People are intimidated away from using the park.

All of that is good, according to Tom Turner, president and CEO of the Nashville Downtown Partnership. But the deeper problem, he said, is still with us. These are human beings, and you can't just hide, arrest or ignore them.

"The behavior is obviously what the police department can address," Turner said. "Public urination, assault, open containers in public — those are all illegal. But there are people who are homeless for reasons far beyond their control. And I think a centralized system that addresses that is certainly needed."

Do we have that now in Nashville?

Turner hesitated.

"No," he said.

There is hope. Turner gave a nod to the Park Center, a not-for-profit that won a grant from the mayor's homeless commission to run a pilot project. After its first year, the success is remarkable.

Each homeless person is assigned a caseworker, who collects their medical records, does an extensive interview and then works through the red tape to get disability and Social Security checks, and health care.

"We kept seeing homeless folks who were not able to work, basically because they had serious mental health issues or physical health issues, but they weren't receiving the benefits that Social Security offers," said Will Connelly, the program's coordinator.

The project is based on one Baltimore started in the 1990s. The results here are stunning: Of the 56 homeless people Park Center has helped apply for benefits, 98 percent have been approved.

Even better: "About half our folks have gotten into transitional housing since they've gotten these benefits," Connelly said. "It's pretty amazing how these benefits can transform someone's life."

Kudos to the police for weeding the overgrown surface. Kudos to the Park Center for showing Nashville how to dig deeper and fix the roots.

7.23.2007

The "Crackdown" On The Homeless Heats Up - WAY Up

I've written previously on how tough this crackdown has been and word on the street is that it's been one of the worst many "oldtimers" have been through. I was writing a draft post regarding Atlanta's treatment of the Homeless this morning but didn't finish it in time and had to get to work. I think it's actually more pertinent here, and the reason I say this is because although we view the recent crackdown as a tough one, Atlanta puts Nashville to shame in their tough, often mean and occasionally brutish treatment of the Homeless. Make no mistake, Atlanta doesn't screw around with the needs and wants of the Homeless. They are ranked as one of the top 20 meanest cities towards the Homeless in the US and the clients I have who have passed through - or been kicked out of - Atlanta unanimously state that when compared to that city, Nashville is Paradise. One of the reasons I suspect Atlanta has taken such a hard line with their Homeless population is because they can. Please let me explain. Atlanta is one of the cities that the National Coalition For the Homeless (NCFH) places in their top 5 of the meanest cities, and they earned this additional distinction with the NCFH because, "Over the past year, the practices in the following top 5 meanest cities stand out as some of the worst examples of inhumane city treatment of homeless and poor people." I've presented the entire top five list here for comparison (you can check out the top 20 right here):

#1 Sarasota, FL. After two successive Sarasota anti-lodging laws were overturned as unconstitutional by state courts, Sarasota passed a third law banning lodging outdoors. This latest version appears to be explicitly aimed at homeless persons. One of the elements necessary for arrest under the law is that the person “has no other place to live.”

#2 Lawrence, KS. After a group of downtown Lawrence business leaders urged the city to cut social services and pass ordinances to target homeless persons, the city passed three “civility” ordinances, including an aggressive panhandling law, a law prohibiting trespass on rooftops, and a law limiting sleeping or sitting on city sidewalks.

#3 Little Rock, AR. Homeless persons have reported being kicked out of bus stations in Little Rock, even when they had valid bus tickets. Two homeless men reported that officers of the Little Rock Police Department, in separate incidents, had kicked them out of the Little Rock Bus Station, even after showing the police their tickets. In other instances, homeless persons have been told that they could not wait at the bus station "because you are homeless."

#4 Atlanta, GA. Amid waves of public protest and testimony opposing the Mayor’s proposed comprehensive ban on panhandling, the City Council passed the anti-panhandling ordinance in August 2005. In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Atlanta stood firm in its resolve to criminalize panhandlers. A Katrina evacuee who was sleeping in his car with his family after seeking refuge in Atlanta was arrested for panhandling at a mall in the affluent Buckhead neighborhood, even after he showed the police his Louisiana driver’s license, car tag, and registration as proof that he was a Katrina evacuee. In addition, during the first week in December, the Atlanta Zoning Review Board approved a ban on supportive housing inside the city limits.

#5 Las Vegas, NV. Even as the city shelters are overcrowded and the city’s Crisis Intervention Center recently closed due to lack of funding, the city continues to target homeless persons living outside. The police conduct habitual sweeps of encampments which lead to extended jail time for repeat misdemeanor offenders. In order to keep homeless individuals out of future parks, the city considered privatizing the parks, enabling owners to kick out unwanted people. Mayor Oscar Goodman fervently supported the idea, saying, “I don’t want them there. They’re not going to be there. I’m not going to let it happen. They think I’m mean now; wait until the homeless try to go over there.”

Now, I'm not sure what the economic status of the first three cities currently is, but I do seem to recall that both Atlanta and Las Vegas are booming beyond anything imaginable, in both business and "bricks and mortar" projects, in their downtown districts. The money flowing into these cities boggles the mind and you can rest assured that developers and investors are going to be applying political and community pressure wherever and whenever it might be needed to ensure their huge investments get all the care and attention necessary to pay off. This is not in and of itself always a bad thing, but it is often a fact of life that must be considered when one plans various strategies for assisting their constituency. Add to this scenario the desire for up and coming businesses and those serving them a need to conform to local perspectives in order to be included in the "club" and you can quickly see how easy it is for those who want to get their way to be able to do so. Finally, add to this potentially repressive mix the fact that the Homeless don't garner much positive interest in the general scheme of things when the general public thinks about issues that matter to them related to their fair cities (See affordable housing/housing for the Homeless info re Nashville Mayoral Candidates), and you begin to understand just where the Homeless rank when it comes to concerns about what to do with them. Now I realize I'm using some very shaky, anecdotal and somewhat biased information to buttress my point here, but I think one can extrapolate enough from this informal discussion to realize that the Homeless - in just about any major city - rarely enjoy a majority of support from those who make the decisions on how to help address their problems. Obviously, this has great potential to be a very bad thing for them, even in the best of circumstances, since if you cannot exert political or economic pressure, you're left with only one option -the law - and that is often questionable in its ability to assist, as well as always being costly to initiate. To add insult to injury, when a small number of those same Homeless folks make life miserable for others (including their Homeless brothers and sisters), whether through aggressive panhandling, public urination/defecation, drunkenness, crack crime, etc., the desire to help among those of us who do care has the potential to plummet still further. Oh sure, there will be some folks who will come out against the inhumane treatment of their less fortunate citizens, and occasionally there will even be a small victory or two for those of us who complain loudly and long enough - the squeaky wheel gets the grease and all. But in the end, most of those who make the big decisions will not be listening to the small minority who stand up for the Homeless. Nosiree folks, they will almost certainly be advocating for those who can fill their coffers, cash registers and bank accounts, and since the Homeless aren't able to do any of the above with any strength or consistency at all, it seems pretty easy to guess where the majority of support will be going. And by the way, there isn't a thing wrong with wanting to make some money or a businessperson wanting the best environment possible in which to ply their trade or hawk their wares. Earning a living is damned important and it should be protected to the fullest extent we are capable. The point here is that since the Homeless aren't very powerful in these areas, it behooves them to find alternative ways to interact positively with the folks who can help them, in both the short-term (a sandwich for sweeping the walkway, free coffee on a cold day, etc) and in the long-run (business partnerships and donations for shelters, housing, employment, healthcare. etc). Meanwhile, those of us who do stand up and make some noise just might find ourselves out of a job, alienating friends, and going broke in the process. In a war of attrition with some of these groups, we are horribly outnumbered, outspent and outmatched. For those who must choose between the self-preservation of a current lifestyle versus the possibility of losing it all -and perhaps even joining those they are advocating for - simply because of standing on principles for someone they don't even know - the choice isn't difficult at all, especially when a few bad apples spoils the whole bunch - and we're always made aware of the deeds of those bad apples, aren't we? I've said this to friends when I first moved here and I suspect it's truer now than when I mentioned it previously; Nashville's business community is on the cusp of becoming large enough and wealthy enough to simply walk over the Homeless with impunity (check out how Atlanta's did just that "amid waves of protest"), and anyone else who might get in the way, should they so desire. That they haven't so far is a testament to the wonderfully compassionate nature of folks in this town. But there's plenty of new blood moving in, and much of it hasn't been inculcated with the sense of community care and concern that many long-term Nashvillians have spread amongst their less fortunate brothers and sisters in the city. Now this is not to say that those coming into Nashville and helping to bring the city greater wealth and prosperity aren't compassionate, but it certainly behooves us...in fact, it is is absolutely essential, that the advocates for the Homeless and the less fortunate find ways in which to reach out to the powers in the towers and begin working together, before we awaken one morning to discover that Nashville has joined the ranks of America's meanest cities towards the Homeless. The writing's on the wall, folks, and you don't have to go very far to see that wall..... 7/22/2007

Dwight Seay, who is homeless, sits in the shade in Church Street Park across from the Nashville Public Library Saturday. Metro police have stepped up enforcement of vagrancy laws and have ticketed many homeless people in recent weeks. (JEFF ADKINS / FOR THE TENNESSEAN)

Metro police Sgt. David Rueff, left, and Commander Andy Garrett pose with a sign encouraging people not to give to panhandlers outside Central Precinct in Nashville Thursday. (ALAN POIZNER / FOR THE TENNESSEAN)

Crackdown on homeless brings results

Police arrest 100 in 5 weeks; troublemakers are targeted By TIM GHIANNI Staff Writer

Detective Steve Ray cringes when describing the morning he got his up-close and too-personal demonstration of why Nashville needs a downtown housekeeping project targeting vagrants.

It was about 8:30 in the morning and the detective was confronting a guy who was aggressively panhandling at a parking meter between Sixth and Church."A guy walks up, faces us in the alley, and urinates," Ray said. "He was within six feet of trash cans, so he could have hidden himself. But out in the clear, that's indecent, and there were people watching."

Cracking down on vagrancy is the purpose of the so-called "quality of life initiative" being carried out by undercover officers in Nashville's downtown and West End corridor.

Metro police Sgt. Tony Blackburn defined aggressive panhandling this way: "They intimidate people and won't take 'no' for an answer."

In five weeks, Central Precinct officers have made 51 arrests, issued 31 citations and identified 76 Metro ordinance violations. In the West Precinct, which covers Broadway and West End west of Interstate 40, primarily in the Vanderbilt/Centennial Park area, there have been 49 arrests, two citations and three Metro ordinance violations reported.

But not everyone thinks the operation is necessary — or fair.

Matt Leber, organizer of the Homeless Power Project, says the program is a short-sighted approach that avoids addressing the causes of homelessness.

"Tourists, businesses, homeless advocates have all agreed that a good solution to not having a place to go to the bathroom is to have more public bathrooms," he said. "And the aggressive panhandling is a product of over-development. … Once you find over-density of businesses, tourism and high-scale restaurants, you pit those who have lots of resources in the same places as those who don't have resources."

Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas said "pleas from the community" fueled his decision to launch the project. Planning started in May and the initiative began in mid-June. Cries for action have grown louder with the proliferation of high-priced condominiums and the influx of affluent residents.

'We had enough'

"We recognized the obnoxious behavior of people who are making lives uncomfortable," Serpas said. "We had enough."

He said the department "scraped together" money to pay overtime for the officers, who dress as tourists or as business people.

The officers say they aren't targeting all homeless, just the troublemakers.

"People who are homeless for reasons beyond their control deserve every bit of help that society can give to them," Serpas said. "It's one thing for a person to say 'can you give me some change?' and another to berate people because they won't."

The Downtown Nashville Partnership has gotten involved as well, urging people to support the charities that help the homeless rather than giving money to panhandlers. The aggressive ones can scare off tourists and downtown business, they say.

Officers are also focusing on public drunkenness, trespassing and clerks who sell alcohol to already drunken individuals.

Many business owners have signed prosecution waivers that give police the right to arrest trespassers without merchants having to go to court.

James Benton, who lives on the streets of downtown Nashville, said he actually welcomes the new police initiative. He said it makes him feel safer.

"I can stay at the mission, but I like to stay out here," said Benton, 59, from a bench across from the Nashville Public Library. "Sometimes guys on the street get messed up. And it's good that the police are trying to take care of that. It's all good."

Street musician likes it

When he's not on the road, truck driver Neil Love said he's often on Lower Broadway, playing guitar and singing for tips.

"You get an old drunk who comes up while I'm playing for people, one who is just stinking and he just leers over you and the tourists, well, he's running off my business," he said.

Because of that, Love, 42, likes the effort.

"I've noticed the improvement," he said, nodding at his guitar case that invites tips. "As long as they let the musicians keep playing, I'm OK."