Monthly Archive for June, 2010

Court Ruling Favors Banks over Providence Foreclosure Law

Published in June, 2010 in News.

By Kristen Sherman, Esq.

As the tide of foreclosures continues to swell in Rhode Island, cities and towns have turned to using local ordinances as a means to mitigate the harsh effects of foreclosures on struggling borrowers.

According to Realty Trac, Inc., a real estate tracking firm, the number of foreclosure notices in April rose 55% over April of last year. Rhode Island’s foreclosure rate positioned the State in 19th place out of the 50 states. In the midst of this foreclosure crisis, cities and towns such as Providence, Warwick and Cranston have passed ordinances designed to prevent or slow the foreclosure process and its devastating impacts to borrowers. Continue reading ‘Court Ruling Favors Banks over Providence Foreclosure Law’

World War

Published in June, 2010 in Creative Works.

By Daniel Herard

Thoughts of world war,
hates, and fears…
To look at the world
and never show tears.
To change a man’s mind,
his works, and his deeds;
Now you tell me,
Will this world succeed?
To conquer one nation,
for our indignation…
To cause man’s death;
Now what’s left?

My Opinion of the Mathewson Street Closing

Published in June, 2010 in Opinions.

By Kooma Vieira

The Mathewson Street Church Shelter closed on May 15th, due to funding issues.

I have taken the initiative to go a little deeper in this article to get the truth.

As an advocate for the formally or currently homeless and a writer for Street Sights, I understand that funding may be an issue. But overall, I see that Amos House and the Mathewson Street Church are not really fighting for the homeless to have a place to sleep at night. Continue reading ‘My Opinion of the Mathewson Street Closing’

Mother

Published in June, 2010 in Creative Works.

By Alicia Wilcox

I apologize for the pain I brought into your heart
My disease of addiction brought us apart
When I wasn’t using we were so close
And one thing you should know I love you the most
I wish I was there with you each and everyday
To help you out and make sure you’re okay
We been going through this for a couple of years
And I know you love me because I’ve seen you shed tears
Tears because I knew I was killing myself…
But my disease of addiction I knew nothing else
I’m real sorry about putting my children through this
Why should they suffer for my sickness?
They should be home asleep in their beds…
This could be a reality, but I choose drugs instead
I want my children in my life which means custody too
One day I’ll be willing to do what I have to
So please be there for me
I won’t let myself or you down again
I love you my mother and I need you to be my friend

A Knish Tale

Published in June, 2010 in Columns.

By Jim Gillen
The Providence Center

Do you know what a knish is? Well it sort of a potato pie, but with an attitude!! Just how I like them!

There is a little place on the Lower East Side of Manhattan called Yonah Schimel and it’s a knishery… They speak and live and breathe Knishes. I’ve been going there since my youth when my Dad, who drove a taxi back then, would bring me and its been a life long love affair.

I went to High School in Brooklyn and more often then not, we would cut class and jump the turnstiles on the subway for a joy ride into NYC. Usually downtown, the Village, the Lower East Side, Times Square when it was …lets say, lively!! Continue reading ‘A Knish Tale’

Rabbi Flam’s “Call to Action”

Published in June, 2010 in News.

By Louise Horton

At the second annual Interfaith One Voice to Reduce Poverty Conference, held on Tuesday, May 11 at Roger Williams Park Casino, Rabbi Alan Flam issued said that Psalm 145 is one of his favorite prayers. It includes the words, “You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

Then he issued a “Call to Action”: “Our hands can be used in rescue and acts of kindness, such as serving meals. Hands give and receive and acts of kindness, such as serving, are religious acts, but they must not stand alone.” Continue reading ‘Rabbi Flam’s “Call to Action”’

Flood Closes Central Falls Soup Kitchen

Published in June, 2010 in News.

By William Harter

In George Bernard Shaw’s play My Fair Lady, Prof. Henry Higgins said, “The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain.” But here in RI the rain flooded basements and first floors of thousands of buildings.

One such place was St. George’s Episcopal Church, Clinton St., Central Falls, where the soup kitchen was closed for a week. Continue reading ‘Flood Closes Central Falls Soup Kitchen’

Horizons for Homeless Children to Hold Conference in June

Published in June, 2010 in Columns.

Horizons for Homeless Children is excited to announce our 5th Young Children Without Homes National Conference to be held June 15th, at the Hogan Center at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. The conference, which will once again focus on the needs of young homeless children and their families, is a unique opportunity to raise national awareness about family homelessness and share local and national strategies for serving young children and families experiencing homelessness. Continue reading ‘Horizons for Homeless Children to Hold Conference in June’

Never Alone

Published in June, 2010 in Creative Works.

By Carolyn Schwartz

My parents are dead
My child has grown
I miss all the friends
I’ve loved and I’ve known

I’m getting old now
Life’s passing me by
Yet all those old memories
Can still make me cry

But God in His Wisdom
Protects you ‘till the end
You can’t choose your family
But still choose your friends

Help

Published in June, 2010 in Creative Works.

By Sean Trott
Operation Supervisor-Harrington Hall

We have to listen to ourselves
Hear what our hearts say
Focus on that inner voice
Bow our heads and pray
Keep faith in the Lord
Or whomever you may choose
Refuse to quit
Refuse to lose
Set a new goal
That’s possible to reach
Maybe along the way you will gain
A life lesson to teach
Show yourself you are able
Do it for you
Get up get out
See what you can do
You have to put yourself first
If you want to make it today
This all starts in the belief
You hold in the words you say
So think hard before you speak
Focus on the new road
Think of what you could earn
Instead of what you are owed
As the snow fades away
And the sun starts to appear
Wake up and be strong
Forget what you may fear
Do not stop moving forward
Never give up on yourself
Be aware of who you friends are
And ask someone for help

Namaste Angels

Published in June, 2010 in Creative Works.

By Deborah Shepard

For believing in the soul, each thought becomes one pattern
I am yours forever, we enter healing abilities, ‘tis our destiny
For believing in Mother Earth’s Light
Waking cosmic, soft face, poured, etched with a crystal Mandela

My sacred pattern is shared with another, pristine form
Bringing me the souls, consciousness
I am the highest sphere, energize, calm
Awaken, moving through me like light

I am clairvoyant, thought’s dreams
Feel the transcendent past life journey we will make together
Rain-washed visionary spectrum aligned with angels
Higher vessel of gemstones revealed, my feeling of each persons well -being

Our Illegal Foreclosures

Published in June, 2010 in Opinions.

To the Editor:

Under the United States Constitution, Amendment XIV, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of the law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

In times in which homelessness is on the rise, no one wants to hear that their homes are being foreclosed upon or that they are being evicted. But imagine your home being foreclosed on or being evicted from your apartment without any form of notice and to make things even worse, you have to move on the same day. During the move, a person may lose some or all of their personal possessions. Continue reading ‘Our Illegal Foreclosures’

Friendship Cafe Opens

Published in June, 2010 in News.

On May 1st, Amos House celebrated the opening of the Friendship Cafe located at 500 Broad Street, Providence. The cafe will be used as a training site for workers in the food industry. Doug Spikes, pictured, is the Head Chef.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Wins Rainbow Award

Published in June, 2010 in Rainbow Award.

By David Eisenberger

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) was founded in 2005 by a corps of dedicated volunteers from a local Trout Unlimited and Federation of Fly Fishers chapters.

PHWFF is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty personnel and vets through fly-fishing and fly-tying education and outings. Continue reading ‘Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Wins Rainbow Award’

Many Displaced as Three Shelters Close

Published in June, 2010 in News.

By Catherine Rhodes

Around January, three winter emergency shelters were opened at the Saint Martin de Porres Center, at Mathewson Street Church in Providence and Harvest Community Church Shelter in Woonsocket. The shelters were opened through the Emergency Shelter Task Force, a division of the Housing Resources Commission. The shelter located at Saint Martin de Porres Center served thirty to forty single woman and couples. The Mathewson Street Church provided winter shelter for twenty-three single men.

The shelters served the hard-to-reach homeless during the winter months, those living on the streets, and others who could not use traditional shelters. In order to reside at the shelter, residents needed to obtain a ticket from Crossroads or a shelter outreach worker. The ticket could then be given to the worker from Amos House at one of the two shelters for an overnight stay. For many people this was the shelter of last resort; when every other shelter was full, there were the winter emergency shelters. Continue reading ‘Many Displaced as Three Shelters Close’

The Doctor is In…

Published in June, 2010 in Editorials.

By Irwin Becker

One of the unheralded doctors working on health reform in Rhode Island is the diminutive Nick Tsiongas, or Doctor Nick, as he was known to the advocates who worked with him when the battles started to adopt lead poisoning prevention laws in Rhode Island. He happened onto that issue in the late 1980′s because he was then the only doctor in the Legislature. Continue reading ‘The Doctor is In…’

And You Shall Know the Truth

Published in June, 2010 in Humanitarian Award.

By David Eisenberger

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Providence is a multi-faceted place of worship. Because of the energy of Pastor Paul Lawrence, you’ll find things going on each and every day.

Pastor Lawrence came to Rhode Island from India and got his Doctorate of Divinity in 2007. He and his wife Janet have been affiliated with Mt. Pleasant Baptist since November of 2004. Continue reading ‘And You Shall Know the Truth’

Special Memoriam for a Homeless Hero

Published in June, 2010 in Opinions.

Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax, a homeless man residing in New York City, died on Sunday, April 25th after he came to the aid of a woman being attacked at 5:40am on 144th Street at 88th Road in Jamaica, Queens. Mr. Tale-Yax was stabbed several times in the chest and collapsed as he chased his assailant. He was 31 years old.

Over twenty people saw Mr. Tale-Yax collapsed and bleeding on the sidewalk and either decided to ignore him or did not call for help. Fire and Rescue did not arrive to assist for an hour and twenty minutes.

Street Sights staff member David Eisenberger wrote a poem reflecting on this sad event. Continue reading ‘Special Memoriam for a Homeless Hero’

Remember

Published in June, 2010 in Creative Works.

By Thavanda Khoun

She will remember.
He will always be there for her.
Someone to share the good times
as well as the bad.
He makes no judgments by what she says.
He just listens with his heart and hopes to be of help
in anyway he can.
She will remember.
He will be there for her now and forever and always
please remember.
He’s my boy and that is true
but the gift was given from me to you.
We went through some moments
there were good and bad.
She will remember.
He supported her when she was in tears.
They stuck together when we were in fears.
It’s really sad that it had to be this way,
but it has reached its very last day.
Miles away can’t keep us apart,
because you’ll always be in my heart.

Testimony in Support of NOP

Published in June, 2010 in News.

On May 12th, a Hearing was held before the House Finance Committee of the RI General Assembly regarding a bill to re-instate the funding for the Neighborhood Opportunities Program in the 2011 budget (H 7730). Here are some of the statements by housing advocates:

Nicole Patterson: Homeless person seeking affordable housing

…last night, my husband and I, we slept in a tent, because there are no couples shelters in Rhode Island. Because we have no home, it is very difficult for us to get a job, and because we have no job, it is very difficult for us to get a home. If you take away the NOP funding, you take away our opportunity to get affordable housing. Continue reading ‘Testimony in Support of NOP’

Our Mission

Street Sights serves as a forum for advocates, homeless and formerly homeless people, students, state officials, and the general public to share accurate and honest information about issues relating to homelessness. Our goal is to shed light on a subject not often addressed and, to some degree, ignored. We aim to provoke discussion and give a voice to voiceless people in our community. We provide a space free of judgment in which we recognize the dignity and worth of each person and in doing so empower the group as a whole.