Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By William Harter
“He’s the reason for the season”, some church folks say about Jesus, the Christ Child. But even Christians don’t think of the problems and life He lived and how He lived the same life as many of our poor and homeless of today.
He was born away from His homeland because his father had to return to his fatherland for the census taking. Were you counted in 2010? Where was your home? Are you still at that address? Were you homeless too, when the census was taken?
He was a fugitive from the law. King Herod wanted Him killed. His crime? He was to become a king, maybe dethroning King Herod. So Herod had all boys less than 2 years old killed. Jesus escaped to Egypt, a fugitive, with parents, on a donkey.
He was born in a manager in a stable, not in a home, of a pregnant teenager traveling with a man not his real father.
His family technically was homeless. Continue reading ‘Christmas, Christ, Poverty, Homelessness’
By Amy Kim
Take the waves then put in your hand
Or try to get a heap of sand
The thing left is the rightful one
Then true friendship from there has begun.
Buy some new things and modern stuff
Sometimes you get the genuine or just bluff.
In the journey of life, it’s really tough
But remembering a friend will make you laugh.
In a foreign land where great things you can find
You often go out and unwind
The glitters of the world can make us blind
We sometimes forget the ones we left behind.
Days may pass and time will fly
We always say hi and sometimes goodbye.
But I am sure that you can’t lie
When you miss a friend you sometimes cry.
By Dave Eisenberger
In pursuit of a dream
Now’s your golden opportunity
Placed in a world that changes
Each day comes with adventure
Right now…you have this dream
So it’s time to go forward
Understanding what’s ahead
It’s your chance to go forward
That to succeed…stay in pursuit!
Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By Melissa Howard
You’re on your way to work. As you go down the road you see that the fire department has set up the boot drive at the next stop light. Not thinking too much about it, besides hoping the light doesn’t turn red before you get there, you keep on driving.
As you turn the corner you see that the high school cheerleaders and football team are out with signs that read, ‘Car Wash $5.00.’ Looking around your car to see if it needs to be cleaned, you continue to drive. But right before you get to work you see a homeless person holding a sign that says ‘Will work for food.’ You turn and park your car and go to work.
Noticing these things, which of these people do you think were panhandling? And why?
All three of these people were doing the same thing, asking for money to help better themselves, either to buy uniforms, to help pay for the fireman’s ball or to buy food. Continue reading ‘What is Panhandling? Is is Legal?’
Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By Melissa Howard
On December 6, a new center opened up on 249 North Main Street, called The Anchor Recovery Community Center. The center is for people in recovery from substance abuse.
Within the last 5 years, centers like this one have been opening up across the US.
Jim Gillen, the director of recovery services at the Providence Center, has been working on the opening of this center for the past 2 years, making this his personal project.
Knowing that Rhode Island is the highest for substance abuse in the country, there was a great need for a center like this in Rhode Island. Continue reading ‘Recovery Community Center Opens’
Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By Cassandra Tribe
On Wednesday, December 15, faith leaders from across the state held a press conference at the RI State Council of Churches office to issue a call for action and to announce the opening of the former Carter Day Center as an
emergency shelter.
“What you see here is a representation of the faith communities in Rhode Island and our shared concern for the homeless in this state,” stated Reverend Don Anderson, Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches. “Our state is blessed to have leadership in the faith communities that looks beyond provincialism to the concerns of all Rhode Islanders.”
“Sentimentality is a great thing,” said Jim Jahnz, “but we are not here because we are sentimental, we are here because we are faithful and believe in solidarity with all God’s children.” Continue reading ‘Radical Hospitality: Faith Communities Unite to Address Emergency Winter Shelter Need’
Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By William K. Harter
The Olive Branch Mission is the oldest Rescue Shelter in Chicago. It opened its doors in 1867 to teach prostitutes to sew and to feed emancipated slaves. Recently its shift has changed from mostly male panhandlers to entire homeless families.
The Mission was founded by the Free Methodist Church. The mission is on the south side of Chicago. It previously was a monastery. It provides meals, beds, addiction treatment, housing assistance and employment help.
Chief Officer David Bates says this season is their busiest. Sometimes mattresses are placed on the dining room floor when it gets crowded, he claims. Previous donors are becoming clients. “But we will carry on, even if they need to water down the soup,” he said. The recession has harmed some donations, which has been 3/4 of the $2 million budget. Continue reading ‘Chicago’s Oldest Shelter’
By Stan Kapelewski
Sister Eileen Murphy, a Catholic Nun along with the Sisters of Mercy, and members of a Social Action Conference of Mercy, saw the social needs in Providence and started two soup kitchen’s Amos House and McAuley House in the mid ‘70’s that began to serve free meals to the homeless community.
Amos House was created from her small soup kitchen at 56 Somerset Street, gathering free food from the city’s farmer’s market and a restaurant on Federal Hill.
Named after the Old Testament prophet who stood for social justice, Amos House provides free lunches to many hungry people a day. After a while, Amos House added breakfast to its menu. Continue reading ‘Who Was Sister Eileen Murphy?’
By David Eisenberger
Praise Tabernacle is a non-denominational church in Cranston that has been one of the most active churches helping the homeless. There are so many things going on in this church that I asked Pastor Allen Pangburn for an update.
“Right now, we’re growing too big for the community, so we are looking for a larger church. We have four services on Sundays. We are exploring a couple of possibilities. We’ll keep you informed of any changes. Parking is scarce, even with busses.
“Pastor Levi is in Los Angeles and is nine months through a one year commitment that has taken him there. There’s a place called the Dream Center, which is actually a hospital serving 30,000 people a week, giving food, assisting with the stop of human trafficking with which the FBI’s been involved. They have various outreaches such as ‘adopt-a-block’ where they go into the community and help out different broken down neighborhoods. Since the center’s been open, crime in that Los Angeles area has dropped 70%. We have visions of having our own Dream Center, which will be like a half way house, providing needed recovery assistance.” Continue reading ‘Praise Tabernacle — Fulfilling a Dream’
Published in
January, 2011 in
Columns.
By Kristen Sherman
This article is the third in a multipart series on looking for housing and renters’ rights. In Part Three of this series, we provide an overview of tenants’ legal rights and responsibilities.
Tenant Rights
All renters are entitled to and should expect certain basic amenities from their landlord. These amenities include access to utilities, working heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, and lighted common areas.
In addition, tenants are entitled to safe, unobstructed access to their property, clean, adequate trash storage, and exterior locking doors. Landlords must provide tenants with adequate ventilation and must ensure that their properties are free from infestation. Continue reading ‘Legal: Tenant Rights and Responsibilities’
Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By Cassandra Tribe
Beginning in 2002, there was a federal push to formulate plans to end homelessness on national, state and local levels within the next decade. These “10 Year Plans” outlined interagency collaborative efforts to address chronic homelessness and to develop intervention initiatives.
Plan names such as: Home Again, Home First, and The Road Home were used to reflect the emphasis on providing affordable or subsidized housing specifically targeting the chronically homeless.
Between 2002 and 2007, statistics were gathered to evaluate the success rate of these plans. The data became available between 2007 and 2009.
Cities and states that chose to adopt a “hands-on-approach” showed the greatest gains in reducing their chronic homeless population. Portland, Trenton, San Diego and the State of Ohio were among those that reduced their chronic populations by
up to 38%. Continue reading ‘When 10-Year Plans Time Out’
By Stacey Marie
I woke these mornings
with the sea before my very eyes
just to see the rose of sunrise…
I blink dreamily
of the coming day.
And kept awake so not to miss
the ball of fire, of energy,
coming to charge all of me.
Once the orb makes it day,
I sleep in dreams again.
By Cassandra Tribe
The new “point and click” school of social justice allows people to do the minimum for justice while reaping the maximum social benefit. Social media allows users to take the concept of presenting ourselves as commodities “for sale” in our relationships and to create actual product packages.
The currency exchanged is acceptance of the online persona we have created that represents who we want to be; the profit is a validation of a false sense of self. Our “self-packaging” has gone beyond offering a list of potential common likes in music, books and movies to now include a superficial labeling of advocacy and social awareness. Continue reading ‘Careless Living’
Heads Up, Inc., a non-profit social service agency located at Mathewson Street United methodist Church in downtown Providence, was recently honored two long-time volunteers familiar to many in our community.
Barbara Geary and Paul C. Medici were presented with the 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award.
Paul and Barbara help staff the facility throughout the year helping people obtain essentials such as clothing, personal care items, housewares and even a hot cup of coffee.
Both Barbara and Paul give freely of their time so that others may live a little bit better in these difficult economic times. Please join us in congratulating these two hardworking volunteers.
If you have any questions regarding Heads Up and its services, please call 401-331-1069 or visit www.headsupri.org.
Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By Healthy Living
A new study has shown that a once a day pill can protect against contracting HIV. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is being hailed as a breakthrough proving that HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis or “PrEP,” works. PrEP could now become a significant new HIV prevention tool against the HIV pandemic.
The study, called “iPrEx”, enrolled 2500 gay men from 6 countries. The men were considered at high risk of becoming HIV infected. The study used a drug known as Truvada. Those assigned to take Truvada were 44% less likely to contract HIV than those on a placebo. More importantly, blood tests showed that those in the study subgroup that did diligently take Truvada were 92% less likely to be infected by HIV. Researchers believe that PrEP will also be effective in preventing heterosexual HIV transmission. Studies are ongoing to prove that. Continue reading ‘New Drug Blocks HIV Virus’
Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By William Harter
The Providence External Review Authority (PERA) was set up in 2002. It is a system of civilians that review complaints against the Providence Police Department. Its mission and authority is “to investigate and conduct hearings concerning allegations of misconduct on the part of sworn officers of the Providence Police Department.” They make findings and recommendations of possible discipline to the Chief of Police.
EXAMPLES OF BEING STOPPED:
There are times you may think you are picked on but it is in the line of duty.
Your vehicle can be pulled over for not using directional signals, lights not working, or while texting. There is a fine for not wearing a seat belt. The driver and passengers both get fined if the passenger is not using a belt. If a vehicle matches the description of a wanted vehicle, you can be stopped. Throwing trash out the window, including cigarettes, or someone’s feet hanging out the window are also reasons you can be stopped. Continue reading ‘What To Do If Stopped By Police’
By Nathan Bastien
The energy in me
I absorb through my leaves
but the shadow I cast
is not fading as fast
please cut me down
and take what you need
In the peace of the crowd
I stand alone
and as I’m falling I see a vision
of a home
The air which you breath
is a gesture from me
and when you breath
you are no longer alone
we are here
and you are already home
Now when the rivers fall down from the sky
they will never slip through
the leaks in my roof
and the water will stop short of your eyes
By Christ Lewis
Divine consort, this exquisite conclave,
Betwixt pure Juno and fair Jupiter.
Terra and Luna in amour’s embrace,
While, forever young, this diurnal stir.
Passionate desires and animal lusts,
Fueling the flames of their eternal dance.
Swirling on velvet eddies, Psyche trusts,
Writhing in lover’s erotic romance.
Triton’s tranquil seas lap the sun-kiss’d shore,
This ebb and flow charmed their nocturnal tide.
Engaged, these love-swept souls with rhythmic lure,
Yet, their voluptuous ecstasy died.
Allow not, your desires to slip away,
For everyone, Enjoy this Passion Play!
Published in
January, 2011 in
News.
By Erik Gould
On a recent trip to Montreal, Canada I encountered an unusual parking meter. It was unusual because it was placed at a corner well away from the curb, right in the center of the sidewalk. It also had a painting on it.
It was near an Art Museum, was it art? When I got close, I saw this message on top: “un don pour les sans-abri”— a donation for the homeless. This meter was there to collect spare change. In Canada where the 1 dollar and 2 dollar coins are in wide use this seems like a novel idea.
According to the Canadian website springwise.com Montreal has converted 70 or so ParcoDons, the mechanical parking meters that are being retired citywide.
The ParcoDon site: “The project was launched in 2007 by Stationnement de Montréal—the city’s parking authority—along with the Ville-Marie borough and the L’Itinéraire newspaper. Continue reading ‘Should We Try It Here?’
A Serialized Novel
By Francisco Colber
Chapter Eight
For a while we flew across our world of seas, but as we neared the edge (where the day turns to night) the dusk turned to stars. Later the wisps of a familiar emission nebula painted the darkness with its vibrant colors. I imagined clearly the soothing sounds of flutes, with a chorus of Zzolan voices singing hymns.
At the center of the nebulosity was a cradle of newborn stars: bright and bursting with hope. I had a shell of light around me: an Arcanian invention which provided steady pressure on my body, as well as provide all the necessary conditions of life. The shell became more visible as we got nearer to the nebula of radioactive center. It is oxygen—a catalyst, Father explained. The elders taught us that ancient plants gave us oxygen, I stated. Continue reading ‘Into the Chrysalis’
