HAPPY...REALLY HAPPY NEWS....

By Debbie Bulloch




Sometimes there is not much good news to report.

Today, however, is a different day. Bessie, the 97-year old homeless woman has found a home!!!

Hooray for Bessie...hooray for the good guys!

From today's edition of the Los Angeles Times:

A 97-year-old homeless woman who was living with her two sons in a battered 1973 Chevrolet Suburban in Venice has received a temporary home, compliments of a nonprofit Los Angeles housing group.

Bessie Mae Berger and sons Larry Wilkerson, 60, and Charlie Wilkerson, 62, had parked nightly on Venice Boulevard after losing their home in Palm Springs and failing to find a place to stay in Northern California.

But a Times story Friday that detailed her plight prompted authorities from the city, the county and the state to step up efforts to assist the trio and led the Integrated Recovery Network to offer them immediate shelter.

For the full story, click here: Ninety-seven Year Old Woman Gets Home



For Bessie...

NINETY-SEVEN YEAR OLD HOMELESS WOMAN

By Debbie Bulloch



Those of you who know me well, know that I am patriotic almost to the point (but not quite) of being jingoist. I consider myself one of this country’s biggest and most enthusiastic cheerleaders.

Occasionally, however, I come across a story that makes me wonder why, if the USA is such a great country, we are still faced by seemingly intractable problems such as homelessness. The story of Bessie Mae Berger, a 97-year-old homeless woman is one of those stories.

Bessie’s story appeared on today’s L.A. Times. As I read about the plight of this sweet 97-year-old woman, forced to live out of her vehicle, I became angrier and angrier. I became angry at the bureaucratic labyrinth that keeps this woman out on the streets. I became angry at a society that turns a cold shoulder to its most vulnerable citizens. Finally, I became angry with a government that spends billions of MINE and YOUR tax dollars to bail out banks and prop up useless ruthless dictators while Bessie and millions of people like her are forced to go hungry and sleep out on the streets.

That something like this happens everyday in Third World nations is unforgiveable – that it should also happen daily in the richest country in the world is downright criminal.

For a full account of Bessie’s story, please go to: Homeless in Los Angeles – Bessie Mae Berger’s Story

Click here for a photo (video and audio) essay about Bessie and her two sons. (WARNING: Some of the images will break your heart): Bessie’s Story – Photo Slide Show


For previous stories about the plight of the homeless, click on the links below:

Los Angeles – Meanest City to The Homeless

The Homeless and their Pets

The Homeless Among Us

Homeless in the News

I hope that you will become as angry as I became while reading about Bessie. More importantly, however, I hope that Bessie's story moves you to take action. I have previously described some of the things that even ordinary citizens like you and I can do to help the homeless. There is no excuse for sitting on our hands and doing nothing.

The time to take action is NOW.

Tomorrow may be too late for Bessie and for our homeless brothers and sisters.

LOS ANGELES, MEANEST CITY TO THE HOMELESS

By Debbie Bulloch



In the past few weeks this blog has turned its focus to subjects such as the Tour de France, Michael Jackson’s music, the charms of California’s Pacific Coast Highway, photography and the birthdays of Canada, the USA and France. In the process, however, we have somewhat strayed from the principal mission of Between Homes and the focus of this blog: advocacy on behalf of the homeless.

I must admit that the temptation of writing about fun subjects, like bike riding and posting photographs of my much beloved Pacific Ocean coast is like a siren call (no pun intended) that beckons to me. But while enjoying all of that Providence has given to us we cannot forget, indeed we must not forget the plight of those who are less fortunate.

The issue of homelessness in the USA and especially in California, the Golden State, was brought back to the forefront by a recent report, jointly published by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and the National Coalition for the Homeless. In that report, these two advocacy groups ranked Los Angeles as the "meanest" city in the United States. The groups cited a Skid Row police crackdown that has criminalized poverty and homelessness there as one of the principal reasons for L.A.’s bad marks.

(Click on images for a larger view.)



L.A.'s so-called Safer City Initiative was singled out in the groups' report as the most egregious example of policies and practices nationwide that essentially punish people for failing to have a roof over their heads. Other measures that unfairly target the homeless include, making it illegal to sleep, sit or store personal belongings on sidewalks and other public spaces; prohibitions against panhandling or begging; and selective enforcement of petty offenses like jaywalking and loitering.

Such measures are widespread in the face of a deep economic recession and a foreclosure crisis that have increased homelessness over the past two years. The report examined laws and practices in 273 cities across the country. Los Angeles topped the list of the 10 "meanest cities" for what the study called inhumane treatment of the homeless. A previous report, issued in early 2006 before the crackdown began, ranked L.A. as the 18th meanest.

Under the Safer City effort, thousands of L.A.'s most destitute residents have been targeted for harsh police enforcement, routinely receiving tickets for minor infractions such as the failure to obey crossing signals. As a result, the study says, many homeless persons are jailed and end up with a criminal record that makes it more difficult for them to find a job or gain access to housing.

Los Angeles officials have touted their Safer City effort for sharply curbing serious crime in Skid Row, a 50-block downtown area inhabited by the biggest concentration of homeless people in the country. "The city's first priority is to protect our most vulnerable residents from violent crime," said a spokesperson for L.A.’s Mayor. By the way, L.A.’s Mayor has just come back from a vacation trip to Africa where he went to kill innocent animals (I mean big game hunting) and to receive a prize for his “humanitarian efforts” - indeed!



Homeless advocates in Los Angeles, however, say that a promised strategy to ease homelessness there, including new housing and services to go with the Skid Row cleanup, have largely failed to materialize. An estimated 40,000 people live on the streets, in abandoned buildings or in temporary shelters throughout Los Angeles; more than 5,000 of them live in Skid Row. Another 8,000 homeless make their home in that area's short-term residential hotels, or flop houses as they were once called.

Tuesday's report cited a 2007 University of California study that found that L.A. was spending $6 million a year to pay for the 50 extra police officers who patrol Skid Row while budgeting just $5.7 million for homeless services.

By comparison, New York City has a "right to shelter" policy and invests about $200 million a year in housing and other services for the needy, resulting in a homeless population half that of Los Angeles.

The question that comes to mind is: why is the City of Los Angeles, the “City of Angels,” using such harsh measures against the homeless?

The answer is simple; all you have to do is to follow the “money trail.”

Los Angeles’ Skid Row area is the largest “skid row” in the nation. (A “skid row” usually refers to a portion of town where the poor and the homeless concentrate.)



Skid Row has been 100 years in the making, but things are changing and the change is not necessarily good for the homeless. With housing scarce and rents high, there is an effort to “revitalize” the bleak Skid row district bound by Main, Alameda, Third and Seventh Streets.



Even in the current recession, real estate in Downtown L.A. remains hot. Investors and speculators know that the recession will not last forever and they are trying to grab as much land as possible, while prices are still “reasonable.” Every one wants a piece of the action: government agencies are moving in; the Roman Catholic Church recently consecrated a $189 million cathedral; and developers have plans to convert fleabag hotels like the El Dorado and the Frontier into lofts and condominiums where yuppies, and the newly minted gentry, can live and play close to the city’s center. Five thousand yuppie-housing units are in the works. By way of contrast, there are no new housing projects earmarked for the homeless.

Of course, Skid Row and its population remains the biggest obstacle to the developers’ and speculators’ big money dreams. The homeless not only take up valuable real estate, but their very presence “scares away” the yuppies now descending upon Downtown L.A. How utterly “inconvenient” for the homeless to live exactly where developers want to put up their multi-million dollar condominiums?

In order to “clean up” skid row, Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton has instituted sweeps against the so-called quality-of-life criminals who, as the theory goes, will graduate to bigger crimes if left unchecked.

But evicting people from the city’s sidewalks, without giving them beds or other alternatives, is immoral and heartless and mean. Chief Bratton defends the crackdown by stating that, ''Many there (Skid Row) don't want help.'' Then the Chief added, ''They'll take food and free clothes, but they want to live on the streets. While I have compassion, my job is to do something about it.'' One has to wonder whether Chief Bratton has ever slept on a cold, hard sidewalk, or whether he has ever used a broken down shopping cart to push his meager possession from one location to the next, or whether he has slept in the back of a station wagon, holding a young child next to him, hoping and praying that when the morning comes both he and the child are still alive and unharmed.

I am willing to bet you that after only one night on the streets, the Chief would not continue to state that. “…they (the homeless) want to live on the streets.”

As a society we cannot go on turning a blind eye to the less fortunate amongst us. I strongly encourage those of you reading this blog to take action to help ease the suffering of the homeless. I have previously outlined steps that any of us can take to make life a little easier for those who do not have a roof over their heads. Those are steps that we can all safely take. Or, if you are not sure what you can do, please contact your local homeless shelter and ask them how you can help. Don’t let the growing magnitude of the problem paralyze you into inaction.

Here is a list of the top ten “meanest” cities in the USA.

1. Los Angeles, California
2. St. Petersburg, Florida
3. Orlando, Florida
4. Atlanta, Georgia
5. Gainesville, Florida
6. Kalamazoo, Michigan
7. San Francisco, California
8. Honolulu, Hawaii
9. Bradenton, Florida
10. Berkeley, California

(I am surprised to find San Francisco and Berkeley on the list. I had always assumed these two Northern California cities to be very progressive. I guess that shows that when it comes to helping the homeless, many people, including so-called progressive liberals, don’t give a rat’s ass.)

The National Homeless Coalition is a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., that lobbies and advocates for homeless issues across the nation. The list is included in the coalition’s annual report Homes Not Handcuffs that highlights laws in America that criminalize homelessness.

To see the full report, go here: Homes Not Handcuffs



All the images posted in today's article are owned by the various copyright owners who fully reserve all rights to their images.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON MUSINGS

By Debbie Bulloch



Today I want to share two recent stories from my local newspaper. One story deals with the increasing local homeless population; the other story deals with the “healing” power of bike riding.

NUMBER OF HOMELESS FAMILIES CONTINUES TO INCREASE

Ventura County is one of the most affluent counties in all of California and it consistently ranks among the top 100 most affluent counties in the entire nation. It is thus shocking to read that the homeless population Ventura County has grown by over 10% over the last year. This is proof that not even the wealthiest areas of the country have been spared the adverse consequences of the economic downturn.

The increase number of homeless people is also a call to action; as I have written here on several occasions the homeless are not lazy, shiftless, crazy, drug-addicted people – the homeless are US and we are THEM. We must be willing to take all necessary action to help the homeless; if we fail to help them we fail to help our own brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughter then we fail as a society. The homeless situation is not a “homeless problem,” it is a problem of our entire society.

TANDEM RIDERS HELP FIND A CURE FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE

As you all know, I am a big fan of bike riding. I fully believe in the restorative power of bike riding; so it is not surprising that this second story is about the good work done by two local bike riders. At the recent Los Angeles Marathon (Monday, May 25, 2009) two local women rode a tandem bike to raise money to combat Parkinson’s disease The two women have been training for months on a tandem bike to ride on the pre L.A. Marathon bike ride. Although the ride is perhaps a relatively short ride by Monsieur Odriscoll’s standards (only 26.2 miles) riding a tandem bike presents problems of its own. Climbing hills and maneuvering around tight turns is difficult on a tandem bike and coordinating a common cadence takes practice. On the other hand, riding downhill on a tandem is a lot of fun because the added weight of the second rider makes tandem bikes extremely fast on the downhill part of any climb.

In addition to training hard, the two women, Jessica Chadbourn and Debbie Jew (ages 48 and 42 respectively) have also been busy gathering sponsors to raise funds for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease And while training and finding sponsors, the women have also been raising the public’s awareness of this debilitating disease that afflicts millions of people throughout the world.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one single step. Maybe we will not be able to completely eradicate homelessness during our lifetime, and maybe a cure for PD is not yet around the corner. But with all of us taking small “baby steps” we can work together to solve these, and similar, problems.

MEMORIAL DAY BIKE RIDE

For Memorial Day I had originally planned to ride my bike out by the beach. But when I stepped out my front door the morning was cool, overcast and slightly foggy – ideal conditions for a little hill climbing. So instead of putting my bike on the back of the car and heading for the coast, I decided to just ride out.

The ride was very nice; I covered about 25 miles (about the same distance as in a marathon) in just under 2 hours. There were long hills to climb, which were then followed by fast descents. Lowest speed was about 7.5 mph (during a long, steady climb against a headwind) while the fastest speed was about 29.0 mph. I was using my mountain bike and because of the fat tires and “taller” sitting position speeds of 30 mph or higher are hard to achieve.

Along the way I paused to take a few pictures. As you can see, this ride took me through some of the “back” country around my home. Most of the roads where I rode are back, country roads that carry less traffic than the main roads. Riding in traffic can be hazardous (see Ghost Bikes) and so I prefer to take to the back roads, where the traffic is lighter and the view are nicer.

Now please join me in my Memorial Day bike ride.

(Please remember to click on each individual image for a larger view. Thank you.)

As you can see in this photo, there is a lot of empty country where I ride.



Here you can see where the road begins to climb. It is not a steep climb, but after a while it begins to add up.



Here is one of the back roads that I traveled on Monday – notice the lack of motor vehicle traffic. I like these shots in black and white.





The sign, spray-painted on the pavement points to a bike path that leads back to Thousand Oaks, California. One photo is a close-up of the sign while the other shot shows where the signs is pointing to.





The road that I ride on takes me within eye shot of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library The Reagan Library is located in the city of Simi Valley, California It was a foggy, hazy morning when I took these photographs so the library compound is hard to see on the pictures. On a clear day, however, it is possible to see the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands from the Reagan Library.

(The Ronald Reagan Library compound can be seen on top of the ridge, on the upper right hand side of the picture. The big square building to the left houses the former Air Force One used by President Reagan. The only other place in the US housing former Presidential airplanes is the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.)



(The Ronald Reagan Library compound can be seen on top of the ridge, on the upper left hand side of the picture. The big square building to the left houses the former Air Force One used by President Reagan. The only other place in the US that houses former Presidential airplanes is the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.)



Ventura County has often been referred to as “horse country.” Some of the finest horses in the entire country (and possibly the world) are raised and trained in Ventura County. Will Simpson a rider from Thousand Oaks medaled during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.







I hope that you have enjoyed riding along with me on this bike ride. Thanks for coming along!

All photographs are original work. © Copyright 2009, DB. All Rights Reserved.

THE HOMELESS AMONG US

By Debbie Bulloch



35 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was homeless and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you homeless and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25:35-40 (New International Version – NIV)

Over the past few weeks the focus of this blog has shifted slightly. Posts about music, poetry, prose and photography are all well and good – and a lot of fun for me to write and (I hope) for you to read. We should not, however, let fun and games distract our attention away from our mission at Between Homes: to provide a place for homeless SL avis AND in doing so bring into focus the problem of homelessness in RL.

Normally, I do not like to push religion on anyone. I will respect and defend your right to believe in what you wish to believe in, as long as you respect and defend my own rights. That seems fair to me.

There is, however, a simple beauty to the message contained in the Biblical passage from the Gospel of Matthew that I wanted to share it with you. That message rings especially true in these difficult times.

It is very easy for many of us to look at the poor and the homeless and then turn the other way. We can rationalize them away by making statements such as, “Well, I can’t fix it all,” “It is the government’s responsibility,” “It must be their fault, they must have done something ‘wrong’ in order to end up homeless,” or “That could never happen to me or my family.” The last two comments are representative of a dangerous mindset that marginalizes the poor and the homeless making it easier to ignore their plight.



The beauty in the words attributed to Jesus by Matthew is that they reflect the simple fact that the homeless and the poor are us and we are them. In these hard economic times there is only a very thin line separating “them” from “us.” A recent article from the Ventura County Star describes how many of us are one or two paychecks away from falling into a situation that will lead to being homeless. It does not even have to be a matter of losing one’s job (and income). A major illness, a traumatic injury even a divorce can send families, including young children into the streets. The problem is not limited to any particular social or educational group; even middle class professional people can end up on the streets. It is not just the USA that is affected by these issues, even countries with reputedly good social safety nets have seen a recent spike in the number of the homeless in their midst.

In Los Angeles County, for example, the homeless population seems to grow every year. An article by the Los Angeles Times reveals the large number of people who do not have a place to call home. The county where I live - a very affluent county where many wealthy people, including show business stars, make their home - has also seen a rise in the number of the poor and homeless. Compared to Los Angeles County, where poverty and homelessness are endemic, even right under the watchful eyes of the big HOLLYWOOD sign, the number of homeless in Ventura County is miniscule. Of course, that is small consolation to the family who calls home a drafty tent by the river’s bed. Even one homeless person, in what has been billed as the richest country in world history is one too many.



So what can we do to lessen the problem? I do not have answers, but I can offer many suggestions. There many things that you can do to a difference in the lives of the homeless.

1. Never give cash to a homeless person.

Sometimes even well intended gifts are converted to drugs or alcohol - even when the "hard luck" stories they tell are true. If the person is hungry, buy them a sandwich and a cup of coffee. (See my two-part story about meeting Jenny.)

2. Talk to the person with respect.

Taking time to talk to a homeless person in a friendly, respectful manner can give them a wonderful sense of civility and dignity. And besides being just neighborly, it gives the person a weapon to fight the isolation, depression and paranoia that many homeless people face.

3. Recognize that homeless people (and their problems) are not all the same.

The homeless are as diverse as the colors of a rainbow. The person you meet may be a battered woman, an abused young person, an addicted veteran, someone who is lacking job skills...the list goes on.

4. Take precautions for your own safety.

Some living on the streets are criminals and fugitives running from the law. Always be prudent while talking with street people. Stay in areas where other people can see you. Don't take unnecessary chances – protect yourself and your family.

5. Encourage the homeless to get help through local shelters and food banks.

Shelters offer food and shelter to the homelessness. Nothing is scarier than sleeping out on the streets, or inside your car, not knowing what will happen to you. Shelters, even if crowded, provide a place to sleep in relative safety. Many shelters also offer long-term rehabilitation programs that deal with the root causes of homeless. Other shelters may also offer "tickets" or “vouchers” that the homeless can exchange for a nutritious meal at a local restaurant, safe overnight lodging at nearby motels even the option of participating in a rehabilitation program. Become familiar with what your local shelters offer and then pass the information along.



6. Support your local shelter.

Most shelters receive little or no government funding. They are supported by caring individuals, churches, businesses, and civic groups who see the value of sharing their resources with the less fortunate. Donations of food, books, clothing and money are welcomed. But even if all you have to donate is your time, do it please. Shelters rely on volunteer labor to make up for funding shortages. Go spend time in a soup kitchen serving food - if you have a skill, like cutting hair, go and volunteer – sometimes a fresh haircut can mean the difference between getting a job and being rejected. Lawyers and doctors are especially needed. Lawyers can help with the many legal issues that often affect the homeless. Doctors and nurses, obviously, can help the homeless with health issues. Remember that volunteering your time at a shelter is a mutually rewarding experience – the homeless person gets the benefit of your assistance but YOU receive the joy that comes only from helping our brothers and sisters. To paraphrase those ubiquitous Nike commercial: JUST DO IT!

7. Help a homeless person find a job.

If you own your own business you may be in a position to hire the homeless. Take a chance on the homeless and hire them. Even a part-time, low wage (do not exploit the homeless) job can make a huge difference. If you are not in a position to hire, then maybe you know someone who is hiring, get them to commit to hiring the homeless.

8. “Adopt” a homeless family.

You do not have to bring a homeless family to live with your family – especially if you are concerned for your safety. But you can sponsor a homeless family by agreeing to pay for a week (or longer if you are able to) at a local motel. It does not have to be a fancy place, just a place with a soft bed and a hot shower. Pre-pay for meals at a local restaurant. If you cannot afford to do it all yourself (I know, money is tight) get family members to contribute, get your employer to help out, heck, even make it a neighborhood project. Get your local motel or family restaurant to help out by giving you a break on their costs to house and feed a homeles family. Tell the business about all the goodwill publicity their business will receive – a quid pro quo that may convince many to help! If you can sponsor a family, especially during the holidays when things seem rougher for those without a place to stay, you will be blessing them with a memory they will never forget.

9. “Adopt” a homeless pet.

The large number of job lay-offs and home foreclosures has resulted in a large number of homeless pets. Some people, unable to care for their pets, leave them behind in a foreclosed home or, worse, have them put down. If you have a house with a large yard (or even a modest yard) offer to “babysit” someone’s pet. If you don’t have a place of your own, offer to help pay for vet’s bills

10. Open up your heart and make the commitment to help.

Remember that any kindness, however small, has the potential for changing a life. Also remember that what you do for the less fortunate members of our society you are also doing it for yourself. To paraphrase the Gospel of Matthew: 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for you.'



Thank you for reading. Tomorrow we will go back to our other features. Maybe Spanish phrases of the week (or French or French and Spanish.)

Phil Collins - "Another Day In Paradise"



Peace out!

(Photographs and other images are the sole property of the individual copyright holders.)

LOOKING INTO A MIRROR - PART ONE

By Debbie Bulloch



It is already the 11th day of the New Year. Christmas decorations have been put away, the Christmas tree is down, and all the New Year’s Day champagne is gone. I already miss the Christmas holidays: the bright lights, the pretty decorations and all those wonderful smells.

Anyway, a whole full 11 days have passed since the beginning of 2009 and I have not written a new blog post. I feel like such a lazy bum!

In my own defense, I have been very busy both at home and at work. As a further excuse, I am suffering from a bad (OK, maybe just a mild) case of sinus infection. My head feels as if it is about to explode and the pressure above my eyes makes me feel like my head is being squeezed by a big old wooden vise – you know, like the kind the Spanish Inquisition used in order to persuade people to “confess.” Alright, maybe I am exaggerating just a tad, but I do feel crummy (isn’t it nice, I am hosting my own sympathy party).

Before I go on, however, I wish to thank everyone who made my birthday such a nice, memorable day. It is not always easy being a New Year’s Day baby – everyone is too tired or too busy to remember your birthday. But this year I was overwhelmed with all the good wishes from SL and RL friends. Thank you all for making my birthday such a memorable one. Also, a belated thank you goes to my beloved USC Trojans for yet another victory at the Rose Bowl. When will all those other teams finally realize that the Rose Bowl is USC’s home? GO TROJANS!

Well, back to the business at hand – to finally write the first blog post of the year. On Tuesday I finally broke down and decided to go and see my doctor. After listening to my lungs and heart (gad I hate that cold stethoscope) my doctor confirmed what I already knew: I am suffering from a sinus infection. So the doctor wrote out a prescription for antibiotics and sent me off on my merry way.

As I walked out on the parking lot I noticed a young woman standing about 10 meters away from my car. Something about the way she looked and the way she dressed told me that did not belong there. Instantly, my radar went on overdrive and I could hear all sorts of alarm bells going off.

The parking lot was deserted, except for the young woman and me. Although she did not look like the type who would try to harm me common sense and experience warned me to be prepared, just in case the young woman was planning to do “something.” As I walked towards my car, she began to walk directly towards me – clearly intending to intercept my path. Great, I thought to myself, now I am going to have to deal with this person. I am not an unfriendly person but I have learned, from painful personal experience, that casual street encounters with strangers, even one as young and harmless as she appeared to be, always have the potential for ending badly.

As she walked closer to me I did what experience and my friends at the police department have taught me to do, I made direct eye contact with the young woman. My gaze seemed to have caught her by surprise, as if she did not expect me to look straight at her. She stopped and looked down on the floor.

That is when something odd happened. I looked into her eyes I noticed that she seemed to be as wary of me as I was of her. Then I noticed something even more surprising – looking into the girl’s soft green eyes was like staring into a mirror and seeing a reflection of me twenty years ago. Slowly I let down my guard and half-smiled at the girl. Then I spoke to her:

“Good morning,” I said to her, “may I help you?”

My words took her by surprise. She shook her head, turned on her heels and began to walk away from me.

“Wait, please stop” I pled with her. “I was just wondering if I could help you with something.”

She turned around and I could see that her clothing, while clean, were old and out of fashion. It was a fairly chilly morning (for Southern California standards) and the girl was wearing just a simple cotton dress which obviously did not manage to keep her warm.

“Come on, I can tell that you were about to ask me something, don’t stop, I won’t bite” I said to her trying my level best to appear friendly and open.

“OK,” she replied, “can I have a couple of bucks?”

Great, I guess my instincts were wrong and the girl was probably just another druggie trying to score some money for her next drug buy. Now I was upset with myself for letting my guard down.

“What do you want the money for, to buy drugs?” I asked her in a harsh tone.

She looked up from the floor and her green eyes locked on mine. Her answer struck straight at my heart.

“I am not a user, I am just very hungry.”

I was still not convinced, so I cross-examined her further.

“Are you really hungry, or are you just giving me some BS?” I said to her. “I have heard just about every line of BS and I am not a fool.”

The girl looked at me and in her eyes I could see a mixture of sadness and anger.

“Look lady, if you don’t want to help me, fine, keep your money. Just don’t accuse of me being a liar. I am really hungry.”

It is a sad commentary that in the USA, the richest country in the history of the world and in California, one of the richest states in the entire country, there should still be people who are hungry. I have previously posted here regarding the number of homeless and hungry people living in Southern California - the world’s Entertainment Capital. As the worldwide economy worsens, the number of homeless and hungry people will continue to increase. Which leaves us with this question: what are we going to do, as a society and as individuals, to end the suffering of the hungry and the homeless?

Think about it and then do something about it...please.

I looked at her and I said. “Look, if you are really hungry let’s go and get some breakfast, I just came out of the doctor and have not had breakfast and I am…”

I was about to say that I was starved, but that would have been cruelly ironic. So Instead I told her that I too could use a bite to eat.

“Do you have a car to follow me?” I asked her.

“Lady, I don’t have enough money to feed myself, how could I afford a car?”

“Well, there is a little breakfast place not too far from here, we could drive in together and we can get a bite to eat.” She looked like she did not trust me, as if she was afraid that if she got in my car I was going to take her to the nearest police station. I could read the doubt on her eyes. I opened my purse, took out my wallet and showed her pictures of my daughter.

“Look, I have a daughter about your age. I am a mom; I am not going to hurt you.” Then I added. “Plus I know what you are going through.”

She looked at me in disbelief.

“You know what is like to be like me, hungry?”

“As a matter of fact, I do, but we can talk about that later.” Smiling, I then added. “I could give you the money if you want it, and you can get your own food, but I could really use someone to talk to. So how about it, will you come with me?”

She finally seemed convinced and sop she followed me to my car. We both got in and then drove off to the restaurant. During the five minute drive from my doctor’s office to the restaurant the young woman did not speak a word. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her staring out the window, like a little kid going on her first car trip.

When we got to the restaurant she smiled, for the first time since we first met, and said to me, “Hey, I know this place, my parents used to bring me here.”

“So you are a local girl?” I asked.

“Well, I was born in this area,” she answered, “…then my parents got divorced and mom and my brother and I went to live in Florida. But I like it better here, so I moved back a while ago.”

The girl’s tale of divorcing parents and family displacement sounded all too familiar to me.


Next: Part Two - A Girl Just Like Me

Just Another Day In Paradise

By Debbie Bulloch



She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"

He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there

Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise

She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
Can't walk but she's trying

Oh think twice...

Oh lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh lord, there must be something you can say

You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
'Cos she didn't fit in there

Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise

Oh think twice….

“Another Day in Paradise” is the title of a 1989 song written by singer / songwriter Phil Collins to bring attention to the problem of homelessness. Almost twenty years later the problem of homelessness continues unabated.

Worldwide, homelessness is the Number One human rights issue facing us. No other issue is as important or as far reaching as the problem of homelessness. Global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer do not matter a damn to a child living out on the streets, with no roof over his head, no pillow under is head and no food in his belly. In the United States, the richest and most powerful country in the world, as many as 3.5 million people experience homelessness in a given year (that is 1% of the entire U.S. population or 10% of its poor).

Worldwide, North – South from Canada to Argentina and East – West from Australia to Russia millions of people, including women, the elderly and children do not have a place to call home, have no shelter from the cold and rain, and have no food to eat. It is the single, biggest shame of our era that at a time when we can communicate at the speed of light thanks to the miracle of our Internet-wired world we still have not figured out a way to shelter and feed all of our brothers and sisters.

One of the reasons why homelessness is such a pervasive, hard-to-fix problem is because many of us, just like the man in the song, wish to pretend that the problem does not exist.

He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there.

We would like to pretend that the homeless are different from the rest of us and that somehow they brought the situation unto themselves. The reality of the situation, however, is that the homeless represent a cross-section of the population at large. In fact, the homeless are very much just like you and me.

According to recent statistics:

Familial composition:
• 40% are families with children—the fastest growing segment.
• 41% are single males.
• 14% are single females.
• 5% are minors unaccompanied by adults.
1.37 million (or 39%) of the total homeless population are children under the age of 18.

Ethnicity:
• 49% are African American.
• 35% are Caucasian.
• 13% are Hispanic.
• 2% are Native-American.
• 1% is Asian-American.

Health-concerns:
• 22% are considered to have serious mental illnesses or are disabled.
• 30% have substance abuse problems.
• 26% report acute health problems such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, or sexually transmitted infections.
• 46% report chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer.
• 55% report having no health insurance (compared to 16% of general population).
• 58% report having trouble getting enough food to eat.

Backgrounds:
• 23% are veterans (compared to 13% of general population).
• 25% were physically or sexually abused as children.
• 27% were in foster care or similar institutions as children.
• 21% were homeless at some point during their childhood.

Location:
• 71% reside in central cities.
• 21% are in suburbs.
• 9% are in rural areas.

In the United States, the Los Angeles region is thought to have the largest concentration of homeless persons in the country. In its biannual census of 2005, Los Angeles counted nearly 90,000 homeless persons living in the County at any given night. A quarter of a million are expected to be homeless at any time of the year. A 50-block area in downtown Los Angeles called Skid Row has a homeless population as large as the homeless population of all of San Francisco.

The numbers above are not unique to the USA. In other industrialized countries, the percentages above are very similar to the US percentages.

In other words, we are the homeless and the homeless are us. The next person that you meet may be a homeless person or may have been a homeless person at some point in his or her life. Think about that the next time that you are tempted to complain about the presence of homeless people in your community, or want to blame them for their situation, or feel that their requests for money or support are unjustified
With the worldwide economic downturn, the problem will get bigger not smaller. The rank of homeless men, women and children will grow.

So what should we do? Should we look the other way, like the man in the song, and pretend that the problem does not exist? Or should we use the power that we have, the power of a million ideas, and resolve to one day reach the goal of eliminating homelessness from the face of our planet.

We created Between Homes © to provide homeless SL avis, with a place to call their own; a place to hang out, relax and have a good time. But SL is a “just a game,” after all technically there is really no such thing as a homeless avis. So what is the real reason for creating BH?

We, of course, want our residents to have fun and enjoy a good time while in-world. But we also want you to think about the homeless in your town, in your country in the world. We want you to think about possible solutions to the problem and then we want you to act upon those solutions. What it means to take action will depend on each one of you.

Action could mean something like donating time as a volunteer at your local homeless shelter. Action could mean something like donating money to your shelter or pushing your local politicians to do something about the problem. Or, action could mean something as simple, and powerful, as stopping treating the homeless as if they are invisible people who do not exist; smile at a homeless person give her a few words of encouragement and reassure her that the world does care.

I can tell you that those few words of hope and encouragement could make all the difference in the life of a homeless person.

Thank you for reading this; I hope that you will take this call to action seriously. We are each individual agents for change.

As Mother Teresa once said:

In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.

Go do small things with lots of love!