It's NATIONAL HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK

[OneGrassRoot]

November 10-18 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. According to the US Census Bureau's analysis of U.S. poverty in 2011, the official poverty rate held at 15 percent: 46.2 million people live below the poverty line. 1 of every 5 children struggle with hunger on a regular basis.


UNACCEPTABLE!! We can do better -- we MUST do better.


TWO EXCELLENT RESOURCES:

[link:http://www.nationalhomeless.org/|
THE NATIONAL COALIATION for the HOMELESS] is an excellent resource. Please peruse their site for information and other resources. CLICK THIS LINK to find events in your area taking place during this awareness-raising week.

SHARE OUR STRENGTH'S NO KID HUNGRY CAMPAIGN


TWO THOUGHT-PROVOKING ARTICLES about poverty in American in 2012:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-Issues/2012/...

http://sustainabletraditions.com/2012/10/the-line-...


Please share organizations within your local community (including outside the US) which are dedicated to eradicating poverty, hunger and homelessness, and which work with those currently living in poverty. I'll add it to a humungous project waiting in the wings: a national, comprehensive FIND HELP DIRECTORY.

See original blog post at Wishadoo! HERE.

[riderinthestorm]

1. K&R back to the top! nt

[quinnox]

2. interesting timing

I didn't know about this, and a short time ago an older woman came up to me on the street and said she was homeless and hungry and so I gave her some change I had in my bag. I encourage to give what money you can to help out these folks during this awareness week.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. KnR

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Mid-afternoon kick

[OneGrassRoot]

4. lunchtime kick n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Evening kick n/t

[a la izquierda]

7. Kick

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Late evening kick

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Come on, DU. Please notice this very important topic!

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Tuesday morning kick! n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Another kick.

[RepublicansRZombies]

12. well they are just going to have to suck it

The elites are hoarding trillions in the Cayman Islands and they aren't giving it back.

Consequently, we will have to cut off programs available to the poor, because they really need to feel the pain for what they have done to the economy.

(sorry I'm pissed off at the sadistic GOP- thanks for the post!)


Why ARE so many people homeless? Why did we let these criminals off the hook?

What happened to this financial crimes unit?

The new financial crimes unit announced by President Barack Obama during Tuesday's State of the Union address will have the power to investigate mortgage fraud going back at least 10 years, according to senior officials at the Department of Justice.

The new unit, however, could jeopardize the negotiations now taking place between five of the country's largest banks, the states' attorneys general and the Obama administration over mortgage fraud and wrongful foreclosures, some observers say.

In a conference call with reporters on Thursday afternoon, senior officials at the Department of Justice fleshed out details of the new unit. The new unit will focus on both the origination and securitization (or packaging) of mortgage loans. The unit will also investigate loans that were sold to, and insured by, government agencies, said Justice Department officials.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021806220

[OneGrassRoot]

13. PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS

[link:http://www.wishadoo.org/blog/127/preconceived-notions/|Original blog post
]
The following is a letter I received from an acquaintance, detailing her path for anyone so blessed as to not have a clue about such struggles. It's National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and this story is shared in the hope of opening hearts and minds.

We can't fix problems if we don't recognize they exist on a societal level -- that poverty is an institutional problem, not the result of individual failures and weaknesses and "poor decisions."

To see more stories, please visit these excellent websites:

[link:http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/|INVISIBLE PEOPLE
]
PATHWAYS TO HOUSING - OUR STORIES



When my husband got injured on his construction job, the back pain was debilitating. He hated applying for disability or any assistance, and especially hated the way people looked at him when he was at the store and used food stamps. He tried not to show he was in pain but knew people looked at him and judged him, thinking he was sitting on his butt all day and that nothing was wrong with him. He looked fine to them, so he must be a lazy "taker," living off other people. He was over 50 and getting any type of work became impossible.

His depression about everything took over. He killed himself a year ago.

I don't have a car; if I had enough money to get a used car, I could at least live in it. I'm grateful there is public transportation where I live but low-income housing is rare. Families are given priority, and I understand that. Libraries aren't open 24/7 where I am, so having a smart phone is my only link to learn about shelter openings and jobs. It's not a luxury, it's a lifeline. It's necessary in today's world to have any hope of finding opportunities to change my situation.

I work as many temp jobs as I can find. I'm almost 50; it's hard for anyone to find a job these days but it's especially hard as you get older.

My purse is a knock-off, from Goodwill. All of my clothes are from Goodwill or from the program Dress for Success, which gives low-income women like myself nice clothing in order to find and keep a job.

When I use food stamps at the store, I'm judged the same way my husband was, as some "welfare queen" because of my phone and my clothes.

The saying about walking a mile in another person's shoes is so true. We really don't know what other people have been through just by looking at them or watching them for two minutes somewhere. Maybe they're in physical pain when they seem rude or cranky or demanding. Maybe they're trying not to seem weak even though their spirit is broken.

Sorry those of us struggling don't always fit your preconceived notions of what poverty looks like. That's okay though. I look at many people and assume they have a heart, but I'm often wrong, too. I figure they're much worse off than I am. They're disabled and don't even know it.