Homeless not Nameless

With this......

2011-11-21T15:24:00.000-05:00

With breath, hands can be warmed
With a blanket, sleep can override
With a smile, a heart can hope
With a sunrise, a day can begin
With a sunset, another chance appears
With a meal, life can continue
With a blessing, a tear can clear

On any given night, nearly 700,000 people are homeless. Veterans represent one-fifth of the homeless population; chronically homeless individuals represent 18 percent. Hundreds of thousands are families with children and unaccompanied youth.

Walking in the other shoes will give you sore feet

2011-06-16T18:40:00.001-04:00

When I was a little girl, the man in my life was strong, funny and protected me from all my fears. When I grew up that same man become one of my fears. Torn between love and hate, the teen years were a spiral of finding yourself and hiding from the rest of the world. Relief and extreme sadness entered when the man left to find another life far away. Then the confusion of comfort and longing made many thoughts tiresome as you would wonder where he was. Was he OK?

Everyone has a story that no one will actually understand. There is no truth to "I know how you feel". Even when situations are the same, no two people will know exactly how the other one really feels. We judge other feelings and we sometimes judge harshly things we do not understand.

Are you hungry?

2011-05-03T10:47:00.000-04:00

Have you ever skipped a meal? What was the reason? Most likely you were too busy to stop to eat, but ended up very hungry and had a large meal to fill you up later.

You hurried out the door without breakfast, had meetings all morning or maybe school. You have to wait til lunch hour for the opportunity to eat. You try to hold your stomach in to stop it from grumbling; only 10 minutes to go til you can eat. People will hear your stomach; it will disturb the meeting or the class. How embarrassing it will be, and it is starting to hurt but only 5 more minutes and then relief, a nice relaxing lunch.

What if the hunger was not within you control?

Join our team and give a child lunch

Just because I already ate and they didn't

2011-04-26T15:39:00.001-04:00

1.5 million New Yorkers currently live in poverty, struggling to afford basic necessities such as rent and medical care and put food on their tables.

City Harvest helps feed over 300,000 people each week.

■We rescue nearly 77,000 pounds of food each day.

■We regularly give food to nearly 600 community programs.

■It costs City Harvest 23 cents to rescue a pound of food.

In our first month, City Harvest served 55 community food programs in New York City. Today we help feed people at nearly 600 programs. Our goal is to grow our operations to address the demand for emergency food.

Help us by joining our team and help feed people who really need it.

Not meant to

2011-02-08T13:17:00.000-05:00

There sits a warm wool cap, sitting there lightly covered in snow. On the bench, homeless, no one to call its own. Forgotten, cold with no where to go.

Once productively providing a head warmth in the cold winter wind, now disappearing into the scene of unknown distinations.

Poverty Causes: Poverty Statistics & Facts | Feeding America

2011-01-04T11:31:00.000-05:00

Poverty Causes: Poverty Statistics & Facts Feeding America

Working in nutrition, most of my clients are looking to lose weight. As we are surrounded by obesity and climbing health conditions, we forget that there are people who do not eat. We have both sides of the scale.

Even overweight people are in the category of malnutrition. Yes, you can be overweight and live in poverty. You can be working and hungry. We sometimes close our eyes and not see what is really there. Who are the hungry? Who really lives in poverty?

Personally I would hide from the facts myself, I would not want people to know I could not feed my family a good meal. There is so much behind the scenes that we only have the numbers but no faces to make it a reality to us.

Fredericksburg.com - Ministry helps end homelessness for 50 - page 1 FLS

2010-10-25T14:12:00.000-04:00

Fredericksburg.com - Ministry helps end homelessness for 50 - page 1 FLS

Shelter or street?

2010-10-07T16:40:00.000-04:00

If the weather is right, could you curl up in the park and sleep? Could you search a garbage can for food? Would you stand in line at a soup kitchen or shelter? Would you be able to push all your belongings in a shopping cart?

I bet your answers are the same as the homeless man about two years ago or so

From up here

2010-09-09T17:02:00.000-04:00

From up here, I can see clearly
I understand so much more
I can see the uneven and unseen
From up here, I let it all go

From up here, I can feel it
I know why it all happens
I hear the cries like the wind
From up here, I take it in

From up here, I can be OK
I get it like I should
I feel the fear like a blanket
From up here, I am safe

Where to find my faith again

2010-09-02T15:53:00.000-04:00

There are times when my mind wanders looking for something. In a desperate attempt to recognize why I feel lost, I turn to a bottle in which I have convinced myself contains answers.

Deep within there is a hole that I must fill. My hands seem empty when they should be full. My eyes search for the focus of my day to be complete. In a constant journey to nowhere I feel as though the alcohol is my path to really seeing my route to be complete.

Now I continue, not succeeding, but diving into an endless loop of drunken attempts to be fulfilled.

I lost my faith and will not know what I looking for until I find it sober.

Homeless and still have a name

2010-06-08T12:03:00.000-04:00

I saw the eyes of hell and still stand to tell about it
I walked the path to nowhere and still know where I am
I spoke my peace and still have more to say
I lived another life and still find one here
I cried for peace and still weep for more
I sleep exposed to the elements and still wake in the streets
I beg so I will eat and still will not be full
I dress to be warm and still feel the cold
I hide from stares and still am judged
I am homeless and still I have a name

It is starting to warm up

2010-06-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

In the summer heat, we appreciate the fact that we throw our blankets off and sleep with a fan on us. We feel the heat and go inside to cool down. We find it hot and we work with air conditioners so we don't sweat all day.

At night that same heat allow someone not to freeze all night. That heat allows someone to enjoy a night.

Summer is here, look around you, do you have any idea who is not going to a home tonight?

Who the heck is HANK??

2010-04-29T16:59:00.001-04:00

This is the hardest post I have ever had to write. When I say 'had' to write, it is almost just that. This is me bowing to the suffering, knowing that everything happens just the way it does, for a reason. With a toast and a tear, I bow to HANK.

HANK is the homeless man that represents all homeless people and families, those who live in poverty, who see no way out, who live in fear they may not eat today or find a safe place to sleep. The people on the streets and in the shelters. Also, the people who have a home, but the type of homes you and I would not wish to even enter. Those who live in poverty, in sickness, in helplessness. And those who live in harsh judgement of others, and those who have given up.

This is what and who HANK represents (H-homeless A-awareness N-needs K-knowledge)

Why HANK came to be.....

When you think of the homeless, you may see in your mind, a man, dirty, layered in tattered clothes, long hair and beard. The man in the garbage can, avoiding your stare. You may come to think from this, a trail of judgment. "How could you get that far?" "How could you get like that?" "Why doesn't he clean himself up?"
The man on the street with the cup and the sign. "I wouldn't give him money, he will just use it for alcohol"
The little girl sleeping behind her mother under the bridge to shelter herself from the cold wind.......wait a minute......

So here is the really hard part of this post I was talking about.
If you had ever seen my father, on some days you could have thought of him as that stereotypical homeless man. Long hair and beard, sometimes not so clean and smelled of alcohol.

Presenting HANK to the world came after this....

I could not believe that he lived in this. Not wanting to touch anything, the smell grabbed me in a choke hold. The peace I felt was out of place. You could not feel life or death; it was as if your senses went numb.

His children; myself, my sister and bother started to sort through his belongings, things to keep, things to give away and things to throw in the trash. Wanting it to go quickly but yet not wanting to leave. This is where he lived, a small room with a small bathroom, little fridge, table, chair and bed with dresser. Covered in things he had gathered, most of it just things you use daily, not much collected from the past, no photo frames or trinkets. The walls were dirty, well everything seemed dirty. This is where his life had ended.

Time had stopped for him, his grown children cleaning up the mess, sorting his stuff. Had not seen him in years, just knowing he was in the city trying to get by.

Three children, now with children of their own, taking care of their father’s life now that it was gone.

This is poverty, down and out, he had shelter, friends and a job, but no one should live like that.

Just before his sixty second birthday, frail and sick, he died alone in his small room in a hotel where he worked and lived. His liver had failed him, some might say, he failed his liver.

This small hotel was filled with 'those' people, you couldn't help but judge. Not that I understand but I get it...the 'how do you get here?' Surrounded with his friends, we were able to listen to their stories, they were a part of his family too.....in this place they called home.

So it came from this, my father had been on the streets, he had lived in worse than this, he ended up here.
Although HANK did not come entirely from a building full of drunks that had nothing <--to our standards--but the realization there is so much more to homelessness and poverty.

The obvious is just the surface.

Just because

2010-04-15T19:40:00.000-04:00

She walked in front of me, with three young children clinging to her side. She looked as though in a hurry, the little ones keeping up with every step.

All of sudden she stopped. I kept walking about to pass by her and the children. She had stopped to ask a man sitting against the building, if he needed any help.

This woman with three children was walking along the sidewalk of New York City. Many people had passed by and were still passing by, myself now included. As I started to walk pass them, I heard her ask this older blind man in a wheel chair, if he needed any help.

He kindly told her that he was fine and continued to bless her and her little ones. "Bless you and your little ones" he said with so much meaning. "I am OK, bless you"

She nodded and hurried on her way.

What did he think about the homeless?

2010-03-31T11:57:00.001-04:00

What judgement did he have about the homeless before he became homeless himself? Working, living in a home of his own, educated....now homeless.
When he passed the homeless guy at the corner, did he stop to give some coins? Did rush on by and pretend not to notice? Did he judge and question "How could they get like that?"

Was he one that cast fear "Don't look at them, they might attack"

Does he remember his thoughts about people on the streets before he became one?

Just another day in the park

2010-03-29T11:48:00.000-04:00

The beauty of a spring day, the appreciation of the weather bringing out the sun. On a rock in Central park, wrapped in a blanket. All his belongings in a cart parked near by. A man sleep soundly while the people walk the park and enjoy the weather.

Would you notice the young woman's face as you walked by?

2010-03-22T14:26:00.001-04:00

Thousands of people everyday pass by, the streets are full. The sky loses it vastness and contains the people in the streets. You have to see what is around you, your focus is on where you are going.

She sits against the wall, backpack beside her. Layers of clothing are keeping her warm. The sun has made its way behind the buildings. Subways are pouring parades of people into the streets. Her hair is messy but she looks clean. She holds a sign, her face exposes a look of disgust.

The sign says.

HUNGRY please help me today.

A young woman between 18 or 25 years of age. Numbness in her expression reveals that the city has tainted her innocence. Never would there have been a time that in her childhood where this future would have been revealed.

People hurry past, some putting change in the cup she holds out. She does not look at them. She stares out at the cars going by. She seems to have removed herself from the scene.

She grabs her stomach, looks into the cup and gets up quickly.

Throwing her pack on her back, holding the sign and cup she walks away. Quickly going from that spot in life where she sat needing change from strangers for food.

National Alliance to End Homelessness: Data + Research: Interactive Tools: Highest CoC Homeless Population and Rates

2010-03-22T14:03:00.000-04:00

National Alliance to End Homelessness: Data + Research: Interactive Tools: Highest CoC Homeless Population and Rates

A little goes a long way to help people get off the streets

2010-03-13T08:47:00.002-05:00

A new way to get the message out and to express on how little it takes to actually getting people off the streets.

When does it stop hurting?

2010-03-11T15:49:00.000-05:00

When do you become ready?

Ready to face things that are too easy to set aside.

How do you recognize the tears are gone but not memory?

When does the memory stop bringing on the tears?

Where do we find sun in the storm and passing clouds?

I have a few questions on why it happens

2010-03-09T08:58:00.000-05:00

Where does life lose its balance?
If I hang on tight enough will I not fall?
Is it all choice or will it happen anyway?

Where were my mistakes and why am I punished?

The hidden problem

2010-03-04T09:28:00.000-05:00

So many homeless are hidden from view, we know numbers but we do not know faces. These are the families, children, women and men that we do not see. The children that still get to school but do not go to a home afterwards. The hidden society of homeless people. People working, attending classes, walking around like everyone else, but when some people go home others do not. Their day ends in a shelter, in a tent or a box. Their day ends with the stereotypical homelessness.

We see the man with the tattered coat digging through garbage, pan handling, or asking for smoke but what if we saw more?

If we could see it all, it would be much harder to ignore!

Could you be homeless?

2010-03-03T11:43:00.000-05:00

Ask this question to someone who is homeless....the answer would be no, no matter of what situation they came from, they would have never imagined themselves on the streets.

Big reason people are homeless, economy! Can't afford housing, lose of job, sickness, divorce, abuse.

What would have to happen for you to become homeless?

Could it happen?

What is your ticket to a life on the streets?

Women homeless

2010-03-02T09:24:00.000-05:00

"Not so long ago, women and children were rare at rescue missions and shelters. How times have changed! Today, homeless women with children are more common than ever. According to some estimates, between 70% and 90% of homeless families in America are headed by women. Even more significant, the population of homeless families has increased by 35% since 1989."

Homeless Women

Don't lose hope. When it gets darkest the stars come out.
-- Unknown.

The main reason women become homeless is domestic violence.

The homeless children, what do we do?

2010-03-01T12:42:00.000-05:00

One forth of homeless are children

Could you imagine the lost of faith, the loss of child hood dreams as innocent as they once were.

http://www.hcnkids.org/

Even the mighty fall some day

2010-02-25T11:28:00.000-05:00

On a cold autumn day, I walked alone along the country road. The air, the distance and the peace I absorbed allowing myself to take advantage of being me. For moments, I had nothing to do but walk out in the country air.

I came across a hawk; laying along side the road with an apparent broken neck. I choked back my disbelief. I did not expect to react as I did. My simple life had come face to face with the mighty and the mighty had fallen.

In disbelief, I came face to face with the parallels in my life and all the space that surrounded me. This was reality, the hard stuff.

Even the mighty fall, there is no power that can take on fate and situation.

It is what it is and this is where it all ends up.

He lay there dead.
He lay there weak
He lay there alone

The universe from which he came and the universe in which he flew over did not matter anymore. It made no difference how he reigned or how he stood proud. In the end, he was like any other…dead and gone.

A cold chill flowed like an ocean through my entire body. This was it, the true essence of life. Nothing matters in the end, we meet at the cross roads on even ground with the same fate. We all meet up somewhere.

It wasn’t just death that threw me into a spin, it was standing there realizing “the mighty fall” Once strong and happy, can end up weak and scared. Once on top, can end up on the bottom. It is not as if I did not know this, of my surroundings and of the world situations. It is not as I was not aware of the homeless, poverty stricken, the ill, and the disasters that come. Being faced with such, a small part of the fallen mighty and powerful, takes you to bounds and flowing feelings of the natural process we call life. Just like the hawk whether it be death, poverty, addiction, sorrow and pain, the mighty fall, some slowly and some quickly. We all fall.

Gathering my thoughts, I continued to walk. I looked up and there was a hawk, in all its glory, beautiful and powerful. I wished him well.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Homelessness

2010-02-10T11:57:00.000-05:00

Author: RB Wiseman

Take a look around you each and every day, you have seen the person on the street that obviously does not fit into the picture. This person will most likely be male, further will be disheveled, and will most likely carry some baggage. You have seen this person most likely today.
Did you ever think that this may happen to you? Today the economy in the United States is adding to the homeless population at an alarming rate. Situational homelessness from the economy is the same as the person who is homeless stemming from an addiction from any substance that impairs.
Homelessness is homelessness! The person that works with you that is dressed well, smells good, may have just lost his or her home due to a bad variable mortgage that exceeds what his or her income could sustain. They may have spent every last dollar from savings, pensions, and investments to try and make it work, but simply could not. The end result...Homelessness. These folks may have some family, friends etc that will take them in for their current situation merits it, however...just as it is with the people on the streets that are disheveled, dirty and foul of mood, how long will it take for the person that lost his or her home to wear out the welcome with the myriad of friends that he or she may have?
It has long been said, that guests that are staying for the holidays usually start getting moody after three days. Fish is the same way, if its not taken care of it will start to smell, and to get that smell away is a chore of the ultimate challenge.
Your best friend of 15 years, lost everything, and is staying with you, but after day three, he or she you find out is not a clean freak as perhaps you are, you find out that he or she, loves to watch cartoons, and you are the news channel junkie, and guess what...there is only one TV. Eventually there will be a significant problem, and your guest will be either asked to leave or volunteer to, but none the less both parties will have a permanent mark on that friendship.
Here is where it gets interesting. In this authors opinion, every single homeless person has a story, in most of the individuals I have spoken to, they started their homeless career after a death of loved one, loss of job, or medical issue, and only as of recently, a very bad variable rate adjusted mortgage.
Friends play a large part of the homeless cause and effects. Eventually each and every one of us will know someone, perhaps immediate family, co-worker, friend of friend, it does not matter, you will know of at least one person that went homeless. What you do as friend or family, will forever impact the person that is fresh from losing everything, whether at-first you help them, and you later give them the boot, it will forever affect them. Interestingly enough, it will be the very last action that effected the new homeless person, that they will remember!
A homeless person has a substantial challenge ahead of them, they have to learn to negotiate social services, which at this point in their lives, they most likely have no idea where the office to start is located, and more importantly, the mental condition of this new homeless person is not entirely to stable.
This is the element that seems to start the most damage in the fastest time. The new homeless individual is going to be looking for "crutches" such as whatever they liked when they were solid with employment and housing, I would have to say the immediate crutch is going to be alcohol. Its still by far the easiest item to obtain, and you will find some high potency alcohol for little money, however the new homeless person has to figure this out.
Over the course of one month, the new homeless has not maintained hygiene, has lost weight, shows significant physical signs of stress and exhaustion etc, perhaps been sleeping in his or her car, at a shelter, or the worst of all, outside, in the unprotected.
The new homeless tragedy through the "underground" homeless network in every major city, is at least eating, he or she knows that there are multiple places to get food, and recently was told that he or she could go the Social Services office and participate in a welfare program, that would generate to them personally a couple hundred dollars a month! After a month on the street with nothing, this is a huge accomplishment. Almost instantly the person does what he or she needs to do to be half way presentable to do what is required, to gain the $200.00 to sustain their life. Its at this point that the mental position of this person if noticed, can be manipulated to into a variety of areas.
This new homeless person is battling several issues that is promoting the "on-the street" mentality. This very person that you once knew as a powerhouse thinker or perhaps an all-around nice person, is stuck in a mode of thinking that is strictly survival at best. No matter WHAT! This is the time that will start generating law enforcement interaction. Perhaps this person has already picked up a open container citation, or urinating in public charge, or this authors personal favorite, improper use of a shopping cart. Its these extremely minor charges that cause some serious issues that I will cover in one of the next articles.
This General Relief as it is known in California, is an all purpose safety net, or at least that is what it was designed to do. This GR was meant to be used very short term, for items such as acquiring a birth certificate, for those that lost their identification, paying for state identification costs, perhaps buying a prepaid cellular phone, so one could at least make calls, basically and myriad of issues that would significantly help to get one on their feet. However, this is not what happens. Come the first of the month through the first couple of weeks of that same month, the payouts for the "GR" are issued.
Its at this time, that positive action could be initiated, however its the new homeless, or perhaps better stated, the seasoned homeless, can buy liquor, or with the help of the underground network, start purchasing items that are a tad more expensive than liquor, but...do the numbing job of liquor much faster, and as far as the bang for the buck...this would be it. Now, you have a person that is drinking, and followed the gateway drug alcohol into the realm of controlled substances and uncontrolled substances.
I would imagine being that your reading this letter from a loved one, educator, or social worker point of view, I would bet that your asking what happened at the place that this person was able to get the "GR" assistance, was there no interaction with the "client" at that point, was there no interviewing, or direct contact with this person? The answer is yes, there was indeed "through the glass" contact!
Pride is a huge factor still in the new homeless person even after some time in the streets. The intelligent case worker or screener should indeed know this as part of their training, or at least listen to some of their Intuitive ESP. Think about it, the person meets every single visual criteria for being homeless, they show the signs of chemical abuse, wouldn't a very good case manager be able to take some decisive action, and point their "fellow brother or sister" in the right direction, and help them significantly at this first point of contact?
The answer is an overwhelming NO! Department of Social Services in California is simply at best a cattle line, people come in and they go out, most of them if they chose to eliminate pride are taken care of fairly, they are given vouchers for single room occupancy hotels, General Relief, and food stamps. In the streets this is the "Grand-Slam". However the hotel expires in 30 days. "GR" and the food stamp program are limited as well, there must be some paperwork filed, and evidence of job searching. California does have a program that is mandatory to attend, which teaches folks how to look for, interview for, and appear for a job. This program goes as far as helping each graduate with the clothing for the interview process.
Again...the evil PRIDE presents itself in an incredible manor. This person who perhaps 6 months ago was working, drove a car, had a home, and wore considerably better clothing, finds him or herself presented with people that are his or her equal, and yet pride holds out yet again. This is a major contributing factor to the chronic homelessness problem. PRIDE!
The overall accomplishment of finally getting some cash, food stamps, and a small place to stay, is a huge accomplishment. This person is going to celebrate this accomplishment! Fresh off the simple feeling of accomplishment, this person is going to start spending money negatively, this person will buy more expensive alcohol, and will purchase a bit bigger quantity of the escaping drug that he or she was introduced to very recently. This formerly very responsible person will manage to rip through the "GR" money, and will find out through the "homeless underground" how to now sell their food stamps for cash, to earn a few more dollars.
In the next article, We will discuss the second and subsequent cycles of homelessness and addiction, and will start to reveal some techniques that are just now beginning to show promise when approaching the homeless population for getting them off the streets and into services!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/alcohol-and-drug-abuse-and-homelessness-843931.html

About the Author

"RB" Wiseman is the Founder of the Policy Institute on Homelessness and Addiction Studies in Los Angeles California, he currently is completing his masters degree is Metaphysical Science with the emphasis on Metaphysical psychology.

Mr. Wiseman is a paramount force in the fields of homelessness and addictions study. RB currently works with rehabilitation centers and specialists developing new curriculum for overcoming addiction based behavior, as well as working with Drug and Alcohol educators in teaching positive and creative thinking, motivational self thinking, and action based momentum for the addict personality.

RB is currently working on his first book dedicated to the advancement of spiritual guidance, mediatation and total understanding for the addict.

Hank's home

2010-02-09T13:30:00.002-05:00

A smile for hope

2010-02-05T09:35:00.000-05:00

A read an article written by a woman that found herself homeless, she has since found her way off the streets. I can't find it, I have tried.

What she talked about was, she was cold and hungry while living on the streets but that is not what bothered her the most. The thing that really the worst was that no one turned their head to even recognize she existed. People did not acknowledge here, look her way and she never received a smile.

Humans need each other, we live in cities and communities for a reason, we don't like to be alone. When she described this she made it a point that it was all people, on the streets or the ones living in warm homes.

Without a home, warmth, food and human contact, acknowledgement. She walked among the living feeling like she was not there.

Without a smile of hope, a smile to bring recognition of existence your mind starts to turn off. A smile can bring strength, awareness and a small step for hope

You Walk Past | Authspot

2010-02-04T09:30:00.001-05:00

You Walk Past | Authspot

Posted using ShareThis

Happy Birthday Hank

2010-02-04T08:29:00.003-05:00

On his birthday, he walked the same street he had for the past year. He gave himself a moment on this day, to remember, to hold the memories. This was his gift to himself. His birthday gift was to cherish the memory of a home, of where he came from and where he hoped to be.

HANK is everywhere, you will see him if you look

2010-01-28T12:18:00.000-05:00

Homeless Hank is a character that represents...

A single mother making min wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation and food

A family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and is unable to work

A man who suffers from mental illness without the resources for treatment

A child who ages out of the foster care system at age 18

A family with children living paycheck to paycheck when the someone is laid off

A young man caught in a web of drug and alcohol addictions

A woman escaping an abusive relationship with nothing but the clothes on her back

A man who because he is homeless without an address, phone number, clean clothes, a place to shower and food can’t not secure gainful employment despite having needed skills

A elderly couple living on a fixed income facing rising rents, insurance, and medication costs

A family living in their car because the apartment they struggled to afford has been converted to condos; the parents terrified they will lose their children

This is what you get

2010-01-26T11:58:00.003-05:00

Walking circles gets you the beginning again.
Answering yourself gets you no more insight
No mirrors gets you no reality

A smile gets you hope
A hand gets a path
A sigh gets you a moment

It makes no difference in judgement if you acknowledge or just pass on by...not to you maybe...but it does to someone

My guardian angel smokes a pipe

2010-01-11T13:59:00.005-05:00

It makes me smile when I think of an angel smoking a pipe, others would most likely think of it as odd. It is one of life’s ironic gifts that has been bestowed upon me. I will look to my angel for guidance for this is the only one I have.

No other angel will compare and I was destined for this one, no matter if the advice is laced with wisdom or truths you wish not to hear.

You wouldn't expect to find wings on a scruffy man, with full beard, long hair, glasses and a pipe. He could pass for the stereotypical homeless man; a man that does not shave, seldom clean, and starts his day with a dose of alcohol of his choice. Not so much the angel type but the peace of having any angel brings such comfort when life just does not make much sense.

He always has a sense of humor even when he is sad. Will always give when he has nothing for himself. He is always true to who he is, even if that happens not to fit into a society to well.

So, my guardian angel smokes a pipe, wears blue jeans, drinks too much and does not smell all that great either; but I am happy he is mine.

It sums up how my life goes, gives me more of an understanding of where I am and where I have been. It resembles the holes I have dug, jumped into and had to climb out of, on my own.

One of those moments of clarity, the advice of my angel “You can do anything you put your mind to” rings true inside of me and allows me to go on with a little more strength each day.

We encourage you to copy and post this into your blog or site. We want you to use it and pass it around. Please link to http://nohomeforhank.blogspot.com

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Walmart and H &M New York Destroy Unsold Clothing

2010-01-09T11:09:00.001-05:00

Walmart and H &M New York Destroy Unsold Clothing

Sometimes you just don't know what to say. It is hard to imagine all the things that are wrong these days, when your mind starts to pile on the thoughts, just take one thing at a time, one day at a time...and tell people about things like this.

Mystical poetry, prose, and political viewpoints

2009-12-28T17:40:00.001-05:00

Mystical poetry, prose, and political viewpoints

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The holiday season is here

2009-12-28T17:31:00.005-05:00

Two thirds of the shelter were those that were affected by the economy. I try very hard to imagine a homeless shelter during the holidays. I will not even pretend that I know how it feels. I could not if I tried.

Happy Holidays

We are the homeless people

2009-12-17T09:32:00.001-05:00

It has been a simple truth for me, the realization that even I, the secure, take all I own for granted, wanting more, person can end up with nothing. The push of debt, struggling pay check to pay check, cutting back in times of hardship. The truth lies in front of us, we are the homeless people, we are the ones living in poverty, we are the ones that search for the next meal, in an instant of circumstances we are the homeless. People no different then ourselves, families no different than our own. The faces that we turn ours from, those faces are the reflections of the reminder that we could be there to.

Without putting pictures here, take a look around you, really look with all you are.

Join our cause on facebook

Web address without a home address

2009-12-15T08:51:00.003-05:00

I read an article a while ago about the homeless people who were online. People with nothing else but a computer. Some used the local libraries to go online and surf the net. Some had old laptops that they cherished and carried around with them.

We live in such a large world with thousands of people, but we feel disconnected with most of the world until we get online. More so for people on the streets, the people we pass by without a second thought. One man stated in the article that he felt more involved and connected with the world around him by being online. Online in the massive world wide web we all feel closer to the world that surrounds us.

As you sit today on the computer, surfing the net, buying gifts, paying bills, remember that some where else but yet not so far away and online are the people who are just like you, but are online without a home.

There is only peace left

2009-12-12T16:51:00.000-05:00

This is the time that we walk in peace.
Daddy, take my hand and my heart.
The pain has gone; the hurt and anger are gone.
It is God’s time to wash it all away.

All regrets and plans not executed,
placed in a bag of tears.
We walk in shadows of our past,
And we will always walk together.

It is a new time to remember,
To remember all that made our hearts warm,
And the smiles that we cherish for life.
No sainthood for you, just our memory.

Good or bad, a new time has come.
Peace with you in a heaven just for you.
Always with us, always Daddy.
Hand in hand we walk in peace.

Dedicated to the man that was my "Hank" Rest in Peace 1946-2009

Our button

2009-12-10T16:44:00.002-05:00

We have added a button on our blog, feel free to add it to your site, we would love for you to share us.

It has been a little hard to write here lately. The whole homeless situation hits so close to my heart, I cannot see past my tears some days. I am sure after this time of year it will be easier. Please keep a warm place in your hearts for the homeless people this holiday.

If tears turned into gold

2009-12-08T15:01:00.002-05:00

If I could cry tears of gold, I would have a home.
If I could cry tears of gold, I would eat every day
If I could cry tears of gold, I would help that other guy
If I could cry tears of gold, I would not waste any of them
If I could cry tears of gold, I would share my tears

If only I could cry tears of gold

Hope leads to...

2009-11-28T09:09:00.001-05:00

The sun shines when wait for it

The birds sing when you stop to listen

The flowers bloom when you nurture them

The children laugh when you smile too

Success comes when you work for it

Questions are answered when you ask

Food is plenty when seeds are sown

Shelter is available when they built

Why homeless?

2009-11-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Several individual factors may increase a person's risk for becoming homeless and remaining homeless for a longer period of time:

Untreated mental illness can cause individuals to become paranoid, anxious, or depressed, making it difficult or impossible to maintain employment, pay bills, or keep supportive social relationships.

Substance abuse can drain financial resources, erode supportive social relationships, and make exiting from homelessness extremely difficult.

Co-occurring disorders. Individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are among the most difficult groups to put in stable housing and treat. This is due to the limited availability of integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment in most locations.

Other circumstances. People may become homeless for a variety of other reasons, including divorce or separation, domestic violence, chronic or unexpected health care expenses, release from incarceration, or release from foster care.

With care and prevention, treatment is possible, but those people have to want it or seek it out. How do you tell a person to get help if they think it is the world against them?

Mental illness is should never be ignored and it may not be easy to help some people, but having the services always available is one way to increase the chances for change.

Some people on the streets may have ended up there with different circumstances than mental illness. When faced with this, depression and other mental disorders might be a result of being homeless instead of the cause it may have been the product.

Judgement

2009-11-24T08:37:00.003-05:00

"Are you ashamed of him?"

"Do you know where he is?"

"Is he on the streets?"

"Why don't you help him?"

"Why does he not just call you and come home?"

"Is he a drunk?"

"Is he sick in the head or something?"

"Why haven't you tried to get him off the streets?"

"Why don't you help him?"

"Is that your dad?"

Not all people living in poverty or on the streets, are without people who love them. We could try to understand situations and we could easily judge an others situation.

Who is homeless?
In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year.
35% of the homeless population are families with children, which is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
25% are U.S. military veterans.
25% are children under the age of 18 years.
30% have experienced domestic violence.
20-25% suffer from mental illness.
In urban communities, people experience homelessness for an average of eight months.

As we try not to judge and stereotype the hopeless, they would have to do the same. Shame, depression and loss of hope can be factors in people not looking to family for help.

Raising the Roof

2009-11-23T09:55:00.000-05:00

Raising the Roof is Canada's only national charity dedicated to long-term solutions to homelessness.

"We: build awareness about homelessness and what can be done, raise funds for community groups working on homelessness, give corporations, organizations and people from all walks of life ways to develop and join in strategies to address and prevent homelessness nationally and in their own communities." Learn about homelessness and solutions in Canada. You can download fact sheets about homelessness and learn how to volunteer or donate online. -SNS Realize the hidden aspects of homelessness in reference to those families who live unseen in barren basements and abandoned buildings. -KMR

Where to go?

2009-11-20T10:07:00.000-05:00

All of a sudden, homeless...where do you go?
Some believe that homeless people only stay in big cities, but there are people who have no homes in every state, every country, regardless of size. Homeless shelters are often found in bigger cities simply because the population in big cities is higher.

It may not have been a palace
It may not have been large
It may not have been pretty
It was what I called home

About Homeless Shelters | eHow.com

2009-11-19T10:14:00.001-05:00

About Homeless Shelters eHow.com

Two hat Henry

2009-11-19T09:33:00.003-05:00

How lucky am I, I have two hats
Orange knit to keep my ears warm
Cool Baseball cap, keeps the sun out of my eyes
I am a lucky man

How lucky am I, a whole half bagel
A little burnt around the edges
But fresh, just dropped in the can
I am a lucky man

How lucky am I, a quarter on the curb
Always have enough change to jingle
Cannot be totally broke that way
I am a lucky man

How lucky am I, they opened early
The weather has turned colder
This place will get me warm for the night
I am a lucky man

Foreclosures Force Ex-Homeowners to Turn to Shelters

2009-11-18T09:44:00.000-05:00

Over the last year, an average of 10 percent of homeless people became so through foreclosure, which was rarely a factor even three years ago.

Full article

This is something you should look at

Who is homeless?

2009-11-17T09:39:00.001-05:00

The US Conference of Mayors’ 2006 Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness found that in the United States:

30 percent of the homeless population is families with children

51 percent are single men

17 percent are single women

2 percent are unaccompanied minors

71 percent of homeless families are headed by a single parent

13 percent are employed

9 percent are veterans

26 percent have drug and alcohol addictions

16 percent suffer from mental illness

37 percent of adults requesting emergency food assistance are employed

People remain homeless an average of 8 months

Requests for assisted housing by low-income families and individuals increased by 86 percent in 1 year.

More

How to give

2009-11-16T16:57:00.002-05:00

We walked the streets in Montreal, sight seeing, enjoying the crisp fall/winter air. The buildings hold such history. We don't speak the language, we can make out some though. But the one thing we could definitely understand was the cup. No matter what the language, an out reached hand with a cup, asking for spare change is understood.

Does not matter what it represents or how it is judged, the point is all the same. There are people who live on the streets, people who are hungry and people who have no home of their own.

Makes absolutely no sense, and it is easier to ignore than to acknowledge.

We stood at the light waiting to cross the street, a man in many clothes, sweater, two hats, big boots and mitts rummaged through the trash. He did not look around, he just dove in. We hustled along, shopping, sight seeing and enjoying the city while a man ate trash.

National Alliance to End Homelessness: Data + Research: Interactive Tools: Veterans Map & Lookup Table

2009-11-12T16:25:00.001-05:00

There does not need to be a reason on why, it just is...now what?
I have no reason for you to give me a dime...now what?
Reaching a point of no return...now what?
There are no smiles left, just memories....now what?

Far too many veterans are homeless in America. Homeless veterans can be found in every state and live in rural, suburban and urban communities. In 2008, it is estimated that 131,230 veterans were homeless on a given night.

National Alliance to End Homelessness: Data + Research: Interactive Tools: Veterans Map & Lookup Table

Who the heck is Hank?

2009-11-11T07:52:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess it comes a time, where you need to tell your story, let everyone know what you have going on.

Who is Hank, you might have noticed him, his words and the name of the site. Hank is the name of the homeless, he represents all men, women, children, families living in poverty and/or on the streets, what we call the homeless.

H = Homeless
A = Awareness
N = Need
K = Knowledge

It is his name and stories, that bring awareness to the homeless problems and situations. Also we add in knowledge of resources, stories and more. So we wrapped it all up to give you Hank.

Although Hank is a fictional Character, his stories and feelings come from real situations and stories.

On a personal note: This site and all that I try to do is dedicated to my father, who passed away Jan 2009

The story will continue, and we all try to keep up......Thanks for your support

HearMyStory.org | Homeless Poems and Poetry | Homelessness, by Elaine Patrick

2009-11-10T07:40:00.000-05:00

HearMyStory.org Homeless Poems and Poetry Homelessness, by Elaine Patrick

Four penny coffin

2009-11-10T07:12:00.003-05:00

Four penny coffin (or coffin house) is the term they used for the first shelters in London. It was run by the Salvation Army in the late 1800, early 1900. These shelters charged their clients.

For a penny you got a meal and was allowed to sit on a bench all night, but not permitted to sleep. For another penny, you would get a rope put across the bench, you were allowed to sleep hanging over the rope. You were not permitted to lay down and the rope was cut at daybreak.

For four pennies, you received food and shelter, you had a wooden box that you could lie down in. You were covered with a tarp.

Compared to modern shelters this is considered inadequate, but in its time it was viewed at a charitable attempt to help the homeless. Homelessness was a new problem and the shelters helped get people out of the cold London winters.

It can happen

2009-11-09T14:50:00.002-05:00

It takes courage to be me
It takes me places I would not want to go
It takes me far inside of my mind
It takes me to where darkness flows

Not all homeless people are drunks, sick or insane.....

Actions of homeless self awareness

2009-11-03T09:51:00.003-05:00

Thrown into a new world
Hurled into hunger of many types
Cursed with poverty
Choked with tears of emptiness

Craved belonging to somewhere
Painful loneliness without hope
Pulsing fear of no change
Crushed dreams of yesterday

Crashing realization of homelessness
Rushing pain of hunger
Numbing memories fading away
Lost time and mistakes etched in stone

Across the United States, 675,000 people are homeless on any given night.

Homeless Happens

2009-10-31T11:03:00.000-04:00

We can try to ignore it, turn our heads, or deny it will ever happen to you. It could, just like anything else. We try to prevent illness and we try to prevent poverty, but it can happen and happen without warning. Poverty and homelessness is not a choice, it happens as a result of some choices that are made but it can also happen by other circumstances beyond your control.

Judgement on those that find themselves homeless, living on the streets or in a shelter is harsh. We stereotype the homeless as older men, unshaven, dirty clothes and a paper bag with booze in it. We see the shopping cart full of odd belonging and cardboard boxes. We turn our heads when we see the signs that read "Hungry please give" or the paper cup stuck out from the curb.

For all that is visible there are thousands, both genders, all ages, many untold stories that we do not see.

Homelessness happens whether we want it to or not, it just happens, no one opt into.

For families living a paycheck away from the streets, expenses such as emergency medical care can precipitate homelessness. Other factors might be mental illness or chemical dependency. www.change.net

Taking Care

2009-10-30T08:35:00.000-04:00

Cold, wet and hungry
Dirty, sick and thirsty
Sad, weak and thin
Homeless with no name

One voice, one hand
Two voices, Two hands
Many hearts, many souls
Homeless with a name

Been there

2009-10-29T09:46:00.000-04:00

Poverty is everyone's problem. It cuts across any line you can name: age, race, social, geographic or religious. Whether you are black or white; rich, middle-class or poor, we are ALL touched by poverty. - Governor Kathleen Blanco

Mankind's Prayer© 1980 by Gary Hyink

So close in thought I wish to be
With someone who can hear
My heart's sad cry, its silent weep,
Caused from despair, I fear.
For life is often so hard to take,
It deals such a painful blow,
Then no one is there with whom to share,
No one who wants to know.
For everyone has their problems too,
Enough gloom and despair of their own.
They have no time for me to share
My thoughts I so want known.
I pray the day will quickly come,
The day when I will see
The person who will always listen,
And with all their heart love me.

Read more about Gary

Business & Technology | 6 loans in 6 years: How one woman lost her home | Seattle Times Newspaper

2009-10-28T09:44:00.000-04:00

Business & Technology 6 loans in 6 years: How one woman lost her home Seattle Times Newspaper

Depressed?

2009-10-28T09:13:00.000-04:00

Depression Statistics
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Everyone, will at some time in their life be affected by depression -- their own or someone else's, according to Australian Government statistics. (Depression statistics in Australia are comparable to those of the US and UK.)

Pre-schoolers are the fastest-growing market for antidepressants. At least four percent of preschoolers -- over a million -- are clinically depressed.

The rate of increase of depression among children is an astounding 23%

15% of the population of most developed countries suffers severe depression.

30% of women are depressed. Men's figures were previously thought to be half that of women, but new estimates are higher.

54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness.

41% of depressed women are too embarrassed to seek help.

80% of depressed people are not currently having any treatment.

92% of depressed African-American males do not seek treatment.

15% of depressed people will commit suicide.

Depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020 -- and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease.

Depression results in more absenteeism than almost any other physical disorder and costs employers more than US$51 billion per year in absenteeism and lost productivity, not including high medical and pharmaceutical bills.
Source: http://www.upliftprogram.com/depression_stats.html

http://heartsandminds.org/self/depressiondan.htm

A perception of life

2009-10-27T12:18:00.000-04:00

I could not believe that he lived in this. Not wanting to touch anything, the smell grabbed me in a choke hold. The peace I felt was out of place. You could not feel life or death; it was as if your senses went numb.
We started to sort through his belongings, things to keep, things to give away and things to throw in the trash. Wanting it to go quickly but yet not wanting to leave. This is where he lived, a small room with a small bathroom, little fridge, table, chair and bed with dresser. Covered in things he had gathered, most of it just things you use daily, not much collected from the past, no photo frames or trinkets. The walls were dirty, well everything seemed dirty. This is where his life had ended.
Time had stopped for him, his grown children cleaning up the mess, sorting his stuff. Had not seen him in years, just knowing he was in the city trying to get by.
Three children, now with children of their own, taking care of their father’s life now that it is gone.
This is poverty, down and out, he had shelter, friends and a job, but no one should live like that.

Money in the bank

2009-10-26T11:24:00.000-04:00

There is money in the bank, not much and it is from my disability check. I have options here but first I think I will hit the liquor store, buy a bottle and call the guys. We do not have much to do today, and it is not like there is money there often. We could play cards and have a few drinks. Really not much else to do, I might even buy some bread and cheese, the fridge is small but I think I have room.

The cost of hunger

2009-10-23T12:51:00.000-04:00

8 million people die from lack of food and nutrition every year – about 24,000 deaths each day. Source: FAO Hunger Report 2008

Every year, 5.8 million children die from hunger related-causes. Every day, that’s 16,000 young lives lost.Source: FAO Hunger Report 2008

For the first time in history, over 1.02 billion people do not have enough to eat. That’s one sixth of humanity - more than the population of the United States, Canada and the European Union combined.Source: FAO Hunger Report 2008

907 million of the 1.02 billion are from developing countries.Source: FAO Hunger Report 2008

Source: www.change.net

Maybe no one will see

2009-10-22T11:42:00.000-04:00

The pains are not as painful as they once were, I do eat. Just not as much as my stomach would like to I am sure. The young lady in the red coat, about 100 yards away, just put one quarter of her bagel in the trash can. She wrapped it back in the paper it was bought in, she is the only one who touched it.

The sun is shining and the fall breeze has brought people outside on their lunch hour, the park has too many people passing through. It is now or never really, just grab it right off the top. It is what people would expect anyway, it is not like I am disguised as a banker or something.

Maybe no one will see...

Inside part 1

2009-06-12T14:57:00.000-04:00

I make it a point to circle around that block at least twice a week. It is about fifteen minutes added to my route, but it is something my heart drives me to do. I have convinced myself that I am doing it for a greater good, not just to remind myself of the pain in my life and emptiness that I want to fill. I could be punishing myself for some deep seeded guilt that needs a reminder to keep to the surface. Honestly though, I don’t think it is quite difficult at all, he is my dad and I need to feel that connection, and on a larger plain we are one no matter where we are. So I keep him in view, sometimes I spot him leaning or sitting against a building, surrounded by his things, sometimes I see him in the food line at the shelter. If I don’t happen to see him at all; I keep my disappointment in check and will enter this ritual once again to catch a glimpse of him on a different day.
I cannot cry any more or lie awake at night worried, angry or in despair, not that I am numb but in acceptance mode to keep myself sane and to cherish all that is good now and all that was good then. I keep my memories pure that way without tainting them with pain that demolishes me slowly.
Often my children are with me as I drive around the area, it is definitely out of the way, that is obvious. My story is that I like to check out the prices at the grocery store in the area, on the ad sign out front. They are still young enough to take what I say at face value, but I am sure there will come a day they will ask why I never stop to shop at that store.

Just facts

2009-06-11T19:03:00.000-04:00

In 1996, an estimated 637,000 adults were homeless in any given week. In the same year, an estimated 2.1 million adults were homeless over the course of a year. These numbers increase dramatically when children are included, to 842,000 and 3.5 million, respectively. Over a 5-year period, about 2 to 3 percent of the U.S. population (5 to 8 million people) will experience at least one night of homelessness. For the great majority of these people, the experience is short and often caused by a natural disaster, house fire, or community evacuation. A much smaller group, perhaps as many as 500,000 people, has greater difficulty ending homelessness. One researcher who examined a sample of homeless persons over a 2-year period found:Most, or about 80 percent, exit from homelessness within 2 or 3 weeks. They often have more personal, social, and economic resources to draw from than people who are homeless for longer periods of time. About 10 percent are homeless for up to 2 months, with housing availability and affordability adding to the time they are homeless. Another 10 percent are homeless on a chronic, protracted basis, for as long as 7 or 8 months in a 2-year period. Disabilities associated with mental illnesses and substance use are common. On any given night, this group of homeless persons can account for up to 50 percent of those seeking emergency shelter. ThanksImagine how this has changed over years, imagine the count world wide. It is more than we can even imagine and most of us just don't want to think about it!