Opening the Flood Gates

[Jake]

So this is Jake. I'm the one that started the blog 7,000.

www.spokanehomelessness.blogspot.com

I've been writing about my experiences at the shelter I work at for a few months now, and have found it to be satisfying on so many levels. Getting some time to reflect. Getting the word out a bit. Letting people see what I see.

All good stuff.

But now I'm wondering what other people have to say. In fact, I'm wondering what questions people have. I'm wondering what kind of things people are thinking when they think homelessness.

When they think homelessness in Spokane, especially.

So here's the plan. If you have any thoughts, questions, opinions related to poverty & homelessness in Spokane or in general, you should share.

Here's my promise. All thoughts are valuable, and I'm going to treat them that way. This means that A. you do not have to worry about sounding uneducated/insensitive/uninformed (and if you're really worried, use a pseudonym) and B. If you're just releasing frustration in a torrent of typing, I'll still do my best to respond, but please attempt to be constructive.

That being said, I'm committing to responding to what you have to say--not like I have all the answers. Or any answers.

But let's open the discussion, and get a conversation started.

[jonp]

There is an article on violence against the homeless in today's Inlander, specifically on the death of Gary Hanson.

www.inlander.com/content/newscommentary_solving_mystery_homeless_veteran_gary_hansons_death_spokane

[jayr]

It's especially interesting to think about this in light of a recent stabbing here in Spokane. There was an altercation between some homeless teens and a policeman out of uniform - the policeman was stabbed in the chin by an unidentified homeless teen and there has been an huge police effort to track down suspects.

The homeless lead dangerous lives, at threat from others and each other. Yet few stabbings would receive such attention by the police force, and that speaks volumes about the plight many homeless are in.

[Jake House of Charity]

I agree. It's an unfortunate situation, especially compared to the recent death of a local homeless man.

Milbourn Samuels died after being struck by a van near the Shell Station on the 23rd.

www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?s=9723588

The scary part is, the driver didn't even receive a citation.

My driver's Ed teacher in high school used to joke that because pedestrians have the right-of-way, there was no "open season" on pedestrians.

Also, the horrors of being the driver of the vehicle I can't imagine.

Simply put, the busy streets of Browne and Division in the first few blocks south of Sprague are a horrible hazard to pedestrians. One was struck as he was crossing Browne on the Pacific crosswalk. He's still limping. One was struck as he was walking across Division on the same cross street, and broke both his legs, collarbones, and is still in long-term care at a facility near Spokane.

And those are just a few examples. Milbourn's memorial service will be held at the House of Charity on Weds. Feb 4th, at 1pm.

[jonp]

There is a good article on homelessness nationwide in this weeks The Nation that covers both some of the historic/economic reasons for the increasing number of people who are homeless and advocates for ways in which the Obama administration could help:

www.thenation.com/doc/20090209/markee_ratner

[jonp]

Possible Washington State law barring any city in the state "from imposing regulations that unreasonably interfere with how a church houses the homeless on property it owns."

seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/398921_homeless06.html

[Jake]

The separation of church and state I feel is really a boon for us this time.

Jon, what do you think is driving Spokane's downtown gentrification or otherwise distaste for the poor?

I shouldn't just ask Jon. That's an open question.

I mean, according to our City Council, panhandler's are keeping people away from shopping downtown. I disagree. I feel like other urban centers have similar homeless populations, and lack such ordinances, but I think you and Malcom especially (although I'd like everyone's view) could have some useful things to say on this.

[Bill]

Hey I appreciate the blog you've put together. I worked at the HoC for two years. I knew John Beavan and Gary Hanson. I actually took Gary's picture that was used in the inlander. Not sure what happend to Gary? I think the possibility that he dies from a fall is very real. He would be good for weeks and sometimes months and then be so drunk that he would fall hard. I remember his face being really swollen once from a bad fall. Not to say that it couldn't have been murder??? nobody was there. John Beavan was quite the character. When I heard he passed away from exposure I wasn't surprised. I had to call the ambulance twice in 07 because he was hypothermic from being outside. He had the most amazing blue eyes--penetrating.

I need to come by the hoc and say hello. I don't live in Spokane anymore, but I think of the place often. Keep up the good work and stay safe.

[lavera]

WASHINGTON BUDGET CUTS

50% cut Housing trust Fund
GAU cut
Housing & health health care for foster kids eliminated
Quality child care eliminated
home visiting & parent. Family, caregiver support eliminated
DSHS state funds reduced 11.5%
secure crisis centers eliminated
cut mental health & drug treatment $53. million
Increase co pay child care $10. over 82% poverty
decrease work first $68. million
decrease direct service to children $8. million
cut adoption funding $3. million
cut home care training $10. million
care provider reduction $129. million
Transitional housing Cut $2.5 to $1.million
Offender reentry program ending
non Medicaid funding mental health cut 7.4%
Medicaid rates cut 3.2%
early Learning career ladder, child care referral, neighbor family friend program ending
K-12 cuts Safety, early learning, math Corp, reading corps, after school, levy equalization & pay raises
reduce universities 13% ,community colleges 6, stop pay raises
Basic health cut 42%, child health cut families off 250-300% poverty level, gau medical cut $251.M
15 years ago the Voters of Ohio voted to raise corporate and personal income taxes to fund K-12 and higher education. We can do this too!
What can we do?
- - Lobby to have a progressive income tax because research has shown that sales tax decreases much faster than income tax because people slow spending long before they lose their job. In Washington State low income pay 17.6% in state and local taxes and the highest incomes only pay 3.4% (ctj.org) "who pays". Washington faces $5.6 billion cut, Massachusetts $1 billion. Massachusetts has corporate and personal income tax
I want to see a progressive income tax so as my income rises I can support social service more
Call (1-800-562-6000) or write to your Representative and Senator and tell them to implement progressive income tax SB5104 to fund social services.
Bonnie, Karen B and I leafleted our precincts for a state income tax a few years ago. The people voted down an income tax in 1973. The many legislators are for a corporate and personal income tax. We must campaign to get people of Spokane county, Stevens county, King county and other counties to vote for fair taxes. The team talked has the churches and unions in the alliance. Now we have 9 Kiwanis clubs to speak to on taxes. The Seattle PI headlines: "Classes Cut" and " Tax Reform Means Income Tax" on the same page laying it out for students. The Young Democrat said: "Fund Education with Income Tax rather Cutting Vital Social Services"
Tax Structure Study Final Report by, WA State Tax Structure Study Committee
For more information or questions, please write to [e-mail]: member Spokane Alliance Tax Team, VOICES 3rd Thursday 304 S Spruce 5-730pm 326 4135
One other way save GAU and few other is to lobby for a temporary voter approved sales tax increase. It is lesser of two evils I would vote for sales tax increase to save GAU 1800 562 6000
SB8205 income tax constitutional amendment
SB5050 Indexing small business Business & Occupation tax exemption for inflation. A corporate profit tax would be much better!
SB5270 eight day voter registration

[Stephanie]

First, watch this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7ZQUzr0yo

A week of presentations and panels will be held in the Teleconference Room of the Foley Library at Gonzaga University (see schedule below), in conjunction with a photography exhibit in the rare book room of Foley Library, 3rd Floor. Photographs taken by women at the Women's Hearth, a drop-in center for homeless and low-income women in downtown Spokane, are part of this exhibit. Monday's presentation will be a repeat of this afternoon's and will include the above clip. If you go to no other talks, please see this one. If you are interested in social justice issues, or if you work with homeless men and women, you really should hear Gerry speak and see some of his videos.

More about Gerry Straub can be found here
(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week837/profile.html)
and here
(http://gerrystraub.wordpress.com/about/)

Presentation/Panel Schedule:

Sunday, March 22, 4-6 pm: Poverty and Prayer with Gerard Straub

Monday, March 23, 7-9 pm: Poverty and Prayer with Gerard Straub

Tuesday March 24, 7-9 pm: Poverty in Spokane - Hearing the Voices of Poverty (with Mary Rathert and a woman from the Women's Hearth)

Wednesday, March 25, 7-9 pm: Poverty-Global Issues - Differing Perspectives

Thursday, March 26, 7-9 pm: Poverty-Local Issues - Differing Perspectives

Friday, March 27, 7-9 pm: Personalizing Poverty: An Individual Responsibility

[Joan Chantler]

Came across your post in conjunction with "Down and Out in Paris and London," by George Orwell. Conditions were horrible, but at least England in the Great Depression was trying to house the homeless. I have a house I am renting as an Oxford house, which helps people get on their feet after being in jail or in recovery. More of these? Good program. Orwell suggests hostels with gardens and the people can work to earn their keep, provide the food. They were feeding people back then on bread and margarine - that's it! He also said individual cells were better than bunk rooms - hard to sleep with the coughing. A bed and a chair. Thank you for doing this blog. I like your attitude so much about not worrying if our comments are quite politically correct.