2009 Proposed Budget Slashes Homeless Funding

[pamela]

I posted this in GD but I thought it was something the Edwards supporters group might be interested in. Here's the link to the GD thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2861317&mesg_id=2861317

There is info at the link about what Bush's 2009 budget would mean in terms of cuts for funding for programs for the homeless and also info on contacting our congress critters to ask them to:

* Oppose proposed cuts to the McKinney-Vento Emergency Food and Shelter Program
* Oppose cuts to the Violence Against Women Act programs and Victims of Crime Act Fund
* Oppose cuts to public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and the Section 202 and Section 811 programs
* Request $75 million for the McKinney-Vento PATH program
* Support the request for $75 million for the HUD-VASH program


If you want to skip the GD thread there is more info at these links.
http://www.nlchp.org/news.cfm?id=1
http://www.nlchp.org/action_alerts.cfm

[saracat]

1. Wow. Just wow! the Edwards campaign would have been all over this. Now, nothing.

[bobbolink]

6. It's up to US. Always has been. Can't blame this on the lack of Edwards.

Even if he were president, it would STILL be UP TO US!

It's OUR CHOICE whether we take action.... or let it drop because Edwards isn't there.

[balantz]

2. Thanks!

Done and emailed to family.

[bobbolink]

3. Took about 24 hours before there was a response from the Edwardians, I see.

No surprise there....

:cry:

[pamela]

8. Hey Bobbie,

Do you know anything about the organization I linked to in the OP? I just came across them this week and they seem like they are doing good work but I've learned that that isn't always the case. I'm wondering if you are familiar with them and, if so, what do you think of them?

Also, I remember from a previous thread that you like Jim Wallis. I saw on Sojourners the other day that he is going to be in Colorado soon on his new book tour. I'm not sure what area you are in, or if it's feasible for you to go, but I thought I'd just give you a heads up.

[bobbolink]

11. No, I don't know anything about NLCHP, but I KNOW we need lawyers involved!

And, I mean HEAVILY involved!

I just finished reading John Grisham's "Street Lawyer", and it because quite clear that the ONLY way to fight some of the injustice and prejudice is to have easy and full access to lawyers! As one DUer put it, "Legal Care ought to be the same as Health Care..... available to ALL!"

I don't have $$ to donate to organizations, so I haven't really looked into them. I just post the alerts. :)

Thanks for the alert on Jim Wallis. I doubt I'll be able to go. Do you have any details on it? Most require $$$, so that let's me out. :( Yes, it's always that way....

And, while I definitely like what Wallis says and does about poverty, (his book, Faith Works has a whole chapter called "Listen To Those Closest To The Problem" that is EXCELLENT about listening to US rather than the damned experts!), some of his views sometimes have me scratchin' me 'ead.

I *did* go to a gathering a few weeks ago (free!) put on by an organization called Network For Spiritual Progressives, which I was impressed by. Among other things, they call for a Global Marshall Plan to wipe out poverty. Sounds good!

I don't know why I didn't see your response earlier....hope you see this

Thanks for posting this!

:hug:

Bobbie

[pamela]

12. Here is more info on the Colorado Wallis events.

These events are part of the book tour for his new book, The Great Awakening. I don't know if the events are free but book tour events usually are. If you see one that you might want to go to, I can call or email the contact person for that event and find out more. Here is the Colorado schedule for the tour:

Mar. 02, 2008 Denver CO
The Great Awakening
Pathways Church (7:30 p.m.)
1595 Pearl Street
Contact: Dave Neuhausel
Tel: [phone] ext. 300

Mar. 03, 2008 Denver CO
The Great Awakening
Denver Press Club (12 p.m.)
1330 Glenarm Place
Contact: John Ensslin
Tel: [phone]

Mar. 03, 2008 Denver CO
The Great Awakening
Tattered Cover (7:30 p.m.)
Lo Do Store
1628 16th Street
Contact: Main Reception
Tel: [phone]

Mar. 04, 2008 Denver CO
The Great Awakening "Coffee and Chat"
Iliff Seminary (8:30 a.m.)
The Great Hall
2201 S. University Blvd.
Contact: Justice & Peace Dept.
[e-mail]

Mar. 04, 2008 Boulder CO
The Great Awakening
Boulder Bookstore (12 p.m.)
1107 Pearl Street
Contact: Mandy King
Tel: [phone]


I know what you mean about Wallis. I hear him speak and think "Yes, yes, yes, HUH?" I agree with a lot of what he says but he loses me occasionally. Still, I know enough about him to know that he at least "walks the walk" and that makes him ok in my book.

I'm going to follow up more on NLCHP. I came across them the other day and have been reading through their website. It looks like they are doing good work and are addressing homelessness from a legal standpoint. They seem to be at the forefront on fighting laws that effect the homeless.

Here is a report from them on fighting laws that are "criminalizing homelessness." (edited to add that I just noticed this is an older article, but it is still an eye opener. This is something we can all be on the look out for in our own communities. The laws restricting serving food to poor and homeless persons in public spaces are particularly mindblowing.)
http://www.nlchp.org/view_release.cfm?PRID=59

Hugs to you, too, Bobbie.:hug:

[bobbolink]

13. Thank you for the schedule!

:hug:

I've emailed that to others here, and hope that some will take it upon themselves to get there and HEAR! Again, poverty isn't a priority, so... I saw him the last two times he was in Denvoid, and strongly suggested he put a page on his website to discuss projects happening across the country, to give others ideas of what they could do, and to share notes of what works and what doesn't. (he thanked me, but I'm willing to be his thought was, "right, with what time?!)

"Here is a report from them on fighting laws that are "criminalizing homelessness."

That's exactly what happened to *me* at the time that everyone left for their own secret forum. It was crushing, and I just wanted to die.

[bobbolink]

14. Could you please continue looking into NLCHP? I just can't do more research

with the time I have here, but it's something that I"d very much like to know more about. It's possible they are even doing things that can serve as things to emulate or join for DUers, or springboards for other ideas that can be carried out here.

And, another GREAT thing I went to in Denvoid about a month ago was put on by a group called Network For Spiritual Progressives. (Among other things, they are proposing a Global Marshall Plan.) I was quite impressed, and hope to be able to connect more. This particular event was hurriedly planned by the local Muslims, and the main speaker was a rabbi, who with Cornel West and Sr. Joan Chittister formed the NSP. They are open to everyone, including agnostics and even atheists who don't proclaim "God", but have the sense of some sort of spirituality. They are the only progressive group I really hear saying much about poverty. :(

[pamela]

18. Definitely.

I think I'm going to join so I can get their email alerts. It looks like they are doing good work.

I've been meaning to tell you, I think I found NLCHP through a link you posted. I don't even remember the thread now but I know you posted a link to something and I clicked on it and started exploring. Clicked on another link and then another and found NLCHP. So don't get discouraged, Bobbie. I don't respond to every post but it doesn't mean I don't read them or follow up. I'm sure that's true of most of the folks here, too.

[bobbolink]

16. Here's another one someone sent me, if you could find someone who could "adopt" this site, too.

It looks like it has some articles that need to be posted and commented on, and maybe some good ideas.

http://www.irp.wisc.edu/initiatives/outreach/dispatch.htm#4

If a couple of people, maybe, could "adopt" a site, and keep things posted, maybe it would help, overtime, with some awareness.

[pamela]

17. Holy shit, that's a treasure trove.

I just clicked on it and already found four really good articles. I'll follow up on this. I have a few more ideas I want to get together and then I'll start another thread with some of these resources.

I like the idea of adopting a site. I've started bookmarking a lot of these sites so I can check them regularly for updates. I started with Sojourners about a year ago and now NLCHP and the one you just gave me.

Thanks for that link.

[bobbolink]

20. Cool! In a glance, it looked like a gem to me, too.

That's an awful lot for you to "babysit". Really, I think it would be good if someone would take on a site or two.... spread it around a bit.

I get updates from that one site, so that I can post alerts from it.

This one looks quite...involved...

I'm really glad you liked it, and hope more comes of this!

Thanks, pamela! :toast:

[bobbolink]

21. Looking forward to your treasure trove thread!

REally, that is great that you're doing this!

Feeling some encouragement for the first time in quite a while.

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[Catchawave]

4. I'd love to see Edwards get all over this like

white on snow. Maybe crossposting to the Hillary and Obama supporters groups will help too.

Poverty and Action Activist forums too.

Somebody do a diary for Daily Kos, because Obamanation diaries just don't address this subject :)

Good luck all.

[balantz]

5. Aha!

I was trying to remember where I had gotten this. Well, it doesn't hurt to do it more than once, I guess.

[pamela]

7. I was glad you posted it again, balantz.

Threads have a short shelf life on DU so it never hurts to repeat the important stuff.

[bobbolink]

9. The lack of attention to this thread among Edwardians says it all to me.

:(

[dajoki]

10. As usual...

those who can least afford it get hit the hardest. What is wrong with this country? Why do we continue to kick those who are down? There is something awfully perverted about all this!!

[MissDeeds]

15. I just saw it

Don't worry, Bobbie. Edwards people are good folks. Maybe they didn't post a response, but that's no guarantee they haven't spread the word and taken up the cause.

We're with you! :hug:

[pamela]

19. Hi MissDeeds

"Edwards people are good folks. Maybe they didn't post a response, but that's no guarantee they haven't spread the word and taken up the cause."

I agree with you completely. I see lots of Edwards folks in the threads about poverty and homelessness. I really believe we are all fighting the same fight in our own ways. We wouldn't have been attracted to Edwards' message if we didn't care about this stuff.

[bobbolink]

22. that's what's always said on DU... "it doesn't matter that your post sinks"

When you see post after post on poverty sink, you KNOW something is going on.

NOBODY wants to think of themselves as not caring about poor folk, so they trot out all the usual cliches that are used.

I guess they think we poor folk are so dumb we can't see that silly, superficial posts DO get a lot of responses, and even make the greatest page.

[MissDeeds]

23. Wow! Where did that come from?

I was trying to be honest, kind, and supportive. Geez, Bobbie.

[bobbolink]

24. "where did it come from?" Experience at DU with posting over and over and over

about poverty, and watching others do the same.

Maybe if you got some of the discouraged PMs that I do, from people who are hurting because we can SEE that we don't count, maybe you would understand what I'm saying.

And, maybe you see all the shit about me? You think that's "honest, kind and supportive"? There's a class war here, and it's now to the point where it can't be ignored, people are choosing sides, and either people will choose to see what's REALLY going on and have some empathy, or they will escalate the class war.

Some of the most hurtful stuff has been right here, and in the secret club.

So, dismiss me if you want. I'm not the only one seeing it, and I'm not the only one saying it hurts.