Published in
December, 2010 in
News.
By William K. Harter
Cranston requires a Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) background check if you wish to be a volunteer at any of their schools. A criminal record and a ‘red flag’ goes up. Off the list you go!
Jessica Gianfrocco used heroin for about 5 years in her early 20s. She was convicted for felony drug possession. She sought help and still is in the 12-step program. This happened before her daughter was born in 2003.
Her daughter entered kindergarten over a year ago at Arlington Elementary School. Jessica wanted to volunteer to be active in school events. She offered many letters of recommendation, but was denied because of her record. She could not help at any school event where children participated. Continue reading ‘Cranston Schools in Court Again’
Published in
December, 2010 in
Profiles.
Interview by William K. Harter
Amy, tell me about yourself first.
– I’m 18, I live in Pawtucket with my boyfriend, and you know I am homeless so to say.
But you did not always live in Pawtucket. How did you get here?
– I lived in Florida most of my live. I have a learning disorder. I never got to high school. It’s just me & my mom. Because of my learning problems, I am on SSI. Mom is on welfare in Florida. We came to RI over a year ago to see how it was here & see if she could get better benefits here. Continue reading ‘Profile: Amy’
Published in
December, 2010 in
News.
By William K. Harter
This summer, R.I. lost a judge many feel was the most sensitive judge for people with mental issues and addictions. Judge Stephen Erickson, District Court judge retired after 20 years.
Daily, District Court judges see people with mental issues, homelessness and addictions. They see how defendants are in cycles, landing them in courts if they don’t get help and treatment.
Over the years, Judge Erickson has taken a special interest in people with these issues. He plans to remain involved in his retirement. His goal is have housing, substance abuse and mental health advocates in all courthouses in America. “Mental illness does not excuse a crime, it explains it,” he feels. Continue reading ‘RI Judge Sensitive to Mental Health Issues Retires’
Published in
December, 2010 in
Opinions.
By Cathy Aiello
You can be assured that from the moment you are born you are going to die. So what you do in between is so important. The choices we make and the way we treat our bodies are critical to our well being. I once heard it said, “Life is a test. Life is a trust and life is a temporary assignment.”
Saturday morning July 3rd at approximately 10 o’clock I was awakened by my cell phone ringing. I had heard it a little earlier in my sleep but didn’t wake up. As soon as I opened my eyes I had an eerie feeling that Rodney had died.
When I answered the phone, my mom cried out the words, “Rodney died.” No! No! No! It has to be a mistake! My brother can’t die! I won’t let him. I love him so much and I am not ready to let him go! Please God don’t let my brother be dead.
God’s will was not aligned with my will and I had to face reality. Continue reading ‘Death is Coming to Get You or Someone You Love’
By Melissa Howard
With the time bearing down on us,
What are we to do?
Where we go from here?
Why do we not matter to the outside world?
Always turning a blind eye
Never wanting to really see the problem
Never wanting to know the truth
Why do we not matter to you?
Why can’t you see us people?
People who feel and bleed just like you
People with families
People who fell on hard times
People who need help but never want to ask
Never wanting to bother anyone
Why do we not matter, still?
We are people just like you
We cry when we hurt
We love just like you
We need to feel special just like you
But we still don’t matter too! WHY?
Published in
December, 2010 in
Columns.
By Joseph Perry
Constituents get out of a shelter with little if any support on the outside, facing one dead end after another. They go back out and find themselves back in the same situation, in an abandoned house and eating out of a garbage can.
Many of them return to impoverished neighborhoods, and are trapped once again in a cycle of homelessness, incarceration, health and mental crises. More often then not, constituents find themselves back in prison or jail for parole violation and quality of life crimes. Continue reading ‘Nowhere to Go: Dead-Ends’
By Estelle Goulet
It was such a short time
Together, we two
Such a short time to share
We were young, with care
For our little ones, there
As we strolled through the
Out-back of time
We ran through sun-filled meadows
And chatted down
Soft summer lanes
We laughed and we cried
As we shared our lives
Together…still
Such a short time to remember
For a friendship that lasted
Forever….
A Serialized Novel
By Francisco Colber
Chapter Seven
The monthly interval of which my mother spoke lasted years. “Will you go to the Greenchance Utopia in the next cycle?” asked the headman. By then I had thought long and hard about the little bird on the hammock string, and knew that planets do not hate, and that surrogates return in a time of their best choosing. “You can have more time, as much as you need,” said the headman. Since there was agreement among them they all stood up, “but we would like for you to attend the next send-off as an observer.”
The candidates were young. It was their very first quest. This time their surrogates changed into recreations of favorite animals from their journeys. The sight made the children shriek with delight. After kisses and long hugs the surrogates ran off into the hills, their children watching from their seats within the ship. I followed one of the fleeing men into the forest. That fellow was the slowest of them—having taken the form of an Earth elephant. But I still had to run as hard as I could, several kilometers into the foothills. Continue reading ‘Into the Chrysalis’
By William K. Harter
Can you see how it must be
Living with no Christmas tree?
Christmas carols we don’t hear,
Sleigh bells ring beyond our ear.
Can’t go out into the yard—
Santa Claus is just a guard.
Silent night has this retort:
“Inmates listed must report!”
Christmas greetings don’t appear,
Coffee mugs supply our cheer.
Turkey, stuffing, peas and mashed—
Extra cookies can’t be stashed.
Oh, how happy I would be
Being home with family.
Windows lit with candles bright,
Folks all singing “Silent Night”,
Fireplace coals be all aglow,
Outside, yard that’s white with snow.
Children’s faces filled with glee,
Running, dancing ‘round the tree,
Smiling faces I would see,
Happy, being there with me,
Op’ning presents on the rug,
Being there to get a hug.
Oh, I miss those things above,
Most of all, the ones I love!
By Silent Lotus
She
Had heard
Of mornings that began
Like a dulled can opener
While sleeping under cardboard
In the aisle of the mezzanine of the boarded up opera house
From a life long friend whose mother left
While giving
Birth
She
Proposed marriage
He promised to scavenge around
For a ring
All
She wanted was
A family size post office box
And some junk
Mail
To
Make
It all feel like
The real
Thing
Published in
December, 2010 in
News.
By Irwin Becker
This article is the second in a multi-part series on looking for housing and renters’ rights. In Part Two of this series, we provide an overview of Rhode Island’s fair housing statute. Federal and state “fair housing” laws generally prohibit discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability or other similar characteristics.
In 1968, Congress passed Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which is known as the Fair Housing Act. Since that time, states have enacted their own fair housing laws that may provide greater protections. Rhode Island’s statute is entitled the “Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act” (“RIFHPA”). Continue reading ‘Fair Housing Laws Offer Protections Against Discrimination’
By James Taylor
(These lyrics could be used in the song Winter Wonderland)
People are you listening,
Homeless still existing,
Take a look at this sight,
Still no good nights,
We’re standing in a winter underground.
I see you laughing with your backs turned,
Now even thinking about
The lessons that you learned,
So have your Good Nights,
While we stand here with no rights,
Just walking in this Winter Underground.
Published in
December, 2010 in
News.
By William K. Harter
Got mental dis-ease? No Kidding? Me, too! (NKM2)
This started in 2008 with actor Joe Pantoliano (Joey Pants), actor in Matrix, Memento, the Fugitive and The Sopranos.
Joey’s depression caused him to consider suicide. He started telling others about his feelings and how it affected his life. Often, they would say, “No kidding? Me, too!” They would then share their personal thoughts and feelings with him. It made them feel less alone, more accepted. That’s how the group dedicated to eliminating the stigma of mental illness got started, which he calls NKM2. Continue reading ‘What is NKM2?’
Photos and Interviews by Erik Gould
Yolanda:
“Yes. Before I came to the Amos House I was in another program, it was only for 3 months and I felt I needed more, I needed more stability and more structure to continue in my recovery and so I called the Amos House. Two days after the first program I got in and it was a blessing because I had nowhere else to go. I have a four-year-old daughter and being in this program has helped me become connected to her. Now, my mother has her. This program has helped me put a roof over my head and when my daughter comes I have a room for her to stay.
Her name is Blessing, I’ve come a long way with that little girl. Through the transition program I’m able to work and save money so that when I do get my daughter I’ll be able to take care of her and myself. Working in the restaurant industry wasn’t the field that I first wanted to go into, but I’ve grown to like it. I think I’ll be very successful at it. I’m grateful for this place, I don’t know where I would be without it.” Continue reading ‘“Was there one point where you realized you had to turn things around for yourself?”’
Published in
December, 2010 in
Opinions.
Submitted by Cygnus
St. John’s holds annual coat exchange due to bad weather, which otherwise would have been held at the State House lawn, goes awry. Many unworthy people picked up coats… and not just one, but entire bags full of coats.
A certain few have made this a horrifying misery for people who really need a coat. I have witnessed people (and I won’t say whom), grabbing handfuls of coats, whether they fit or not, stuff them into a bag, take them out to their car, and go in and get more, which leaves very few for people who actually need them. Continue reading ‘Sarge’s Spin on St. John’s Coat Exchange’
By JoAnn Dyes
Where are we
going to go?
When the weather gets cold
and it starts to snow.
The world turns icy, as wind
pushes you down the street.
Where can we go?
Where can we meet?
There are no funds
to get more beds…
Where are the homeless
to lay their heads?
Men, women and children
are out in the cold;
We are all too young
to feel this old.
Tried to raise money;
tried grants to get funds.
Collected money at corners;
So much not yet done.
By JoAnn Dyes
Tammy M, is a 40-year-old women, who became addicted to drugs and alcohol at a young age. Her only job was getting money and buying stuff to feed her habit. Along the way she married and had children. It was a comfortable living arrangement. When the bottom fell out. Her children were removed from the house and then the house was gone.
Life on the streets went on for nearly a year. Then Tammy called Amos House and came in the next week. Entered the resident program for 90 days.
She has been sober 10 months now. Her reason for drinking has now come to light that she has a mental illness, that now is under control. Continue reading ‘Success Story: Tammy M.’
Published in
December, 2010 in
News.
By Louisa Smith
Despite the current nationwide economic crisis, communities around the country are recognizing that enacting and supporting programs to end homelessness should be a top priority, and many are finding strategies that are actually working, as well as saving money.
Just 40 miles from Providence, Worcester, MA has undertaken a transformation of the entire system that provides support and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness. Recognizing that the chronically homeless were consistently filling shelter beds, the state, the city, and an organization called Home Again all adopted the Housing First model as their joint mode of operation. Continue reading ‘Success in Combating Homelessness Across the Country’
By James Conroy
An angel walked on water
most people saw a sail.
An angel floated over downtown
the moneylenders called her a cloud.
An angel passed through brick
inspectors condemned the building.
An angel asked the mayor for a City key
His Honor said get elected first.
An angel visited County Hospital to work miracles
administrators said they weren’t covered.
An angel went to City Jail for pity’s sake
she lacked proper ID to see prisoners.
An angel roamed the inner city
police said she was out of bounds.
Finally the angel went to the media.
It was no story unless
she had fed the hungry
healed the sick
delivered the incarcerated
cleaned up corruption
or saved the economy
single-handed.
Or, they said,
she could walk on water.
By Melissa Howard
This month’s Humanitarian Award goes to RI Homeless Advocacy Project (RIHap). Based out of Providence and starting in 2009, RIHap was started with the beliefs that homeless individuals should take an active role in policy making among the shelters and other facilities throughout the state.
They believe that no one knows homelessness better than someone who has or is experiencing homelessness.
They’re mostly known for their peer-to-peer advocacy, as they walk the streets at night to find people who may be sleeping outside on a cold night. They find a way to get this person the help they need or a bed to sleep in for the night.
They have taken an active role in keeping NOP in the budget and helping with the passing of the hate crimes law.
They have weekly meetings on Fridays at 10am at the Matthewson Street Church.
