Archive for the 'News' Category

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Stepping Out

Published in May, 2011 in News.

By Cassandra Tribe

For 33 years, Sister Mary Riley has been a part of the annual Good Friday Walk to End Hunger and Homelessness. For many, she is the face of the walk, a tireless organizer and source of energy for this effort. Originally started as a Roman Catholic effort to raise money and awareness, the Good Friday Walk has grown to be an ecumenical endeavor that embraces many faiths. Gathering at nine different churches across Providence (and even in Coventry) participants walk to the State House for a rally.

The walkers were sponsored and they raise between 25 and 40 thousand dollars a year. The organizers state that not one penny of the money raised goes anywhere but directly to help programs like meal sites, food pantries, clothing closets and other outreach programs. All of the organizers, bus services, refreshments, speakers and everything else involved in making the walk happen are provided through donations of time, services and supplies. This year, recipients of funds include: Amos House, AIDS Care Ocean State, River United Methodist Church food pantry, meal site and clothing closet in Woonsocket, a high school in Haiti and several other programs. Continue reading ‘Stepping Out’

DCYF Cutting Funds

Published in May, 2011 in News.

By Melissa Howard

Teacher layoffs, programs being cut, people are finding new ways of cutting cost. The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) said that they could save cost through home- base services. The plan is to move many of the children out of shelters, group homes and residential treatment programs.

DCYF’s new ‘system- of- care’ model is a philosophy emphasizing family preservation using home based services. With the budget crisis as it is and protesters going to the state house to protest Chafee’s spending cuts, the state’s child-welfare officials are embracing a plan they say will cut $25 million from the DCYF’s budget starting July 1. Continue reading ‘DCYF Cutting Funds’

The End is Near

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By Melissa Howard

Starting on March 15th, there was action taking place on the steps of the State House, letting people know that the winter homeless shelters will be closing. From April 15th to May 31st.

There will be a number of people looking for a safe and warm place to sleep at night. Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project wanted to let our State lawmakers beaware of
this issue.

RIHap wants to make people aware that there will be 136 people out on the street once these shelters close and they will not have a place to go. With the shelter systems full already, there will be no room for anyone else. Continue reading ‘The End is Near’

Libya’s Civil Unrest and U.S. Gas Prices

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By Dennis Boisvert

As thousands of foreigners struggle to flee a war torn Libya and as fighting escalates in that country, the price of gas in the US is going up even though Libya’s oil out-put is less than 2% of the world’s daily supply.

OPEC, The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is ready to make up that shortage and on March 8, agreed to do so. So supply and demand are met but gas prices keep going up. It is fear and the turmoil in the Middle East that is sending the price of oil up. What had started off as a popular uprising sweeping across the Arab world has turned into a Civil War in Libya and this has increased political instability and uncertainty in the Middle East?

Protests against Gaddafi’s rule started on February 15 with two hundred demonstrators in front of police headquarters in Benghazi with arrest of Fathi Teabil, a rights activist. That sparked widespread protest. Continue reading ‘Libya’s Civil Unrest and U.S. Gas Prices’

Where the Elite Meet to Treat the Homeless

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By William K. Harter

Before and during the 20th century, Harvard University in Cambridge, MA has been considered one of the top five universities in the USA. It also is one of the most expensive to attend. It is located in Harvard Square, an area of one-way streets, mix of small stores, bookshops, restaurants and such, geared to the wealthy and college students. Because of heavy foot traffic, the subway entrance to the square is also the gathering place for the homeless and panhandlers.

Daily from November 15 to April 15 there is a shelter called Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. The shelter brings together students of one of the world’s wealthiest and most prestigious university with its neighbors, who struggle to survive.

The shelter is at University Lutheran Church. The church is not affiliated with Harvard, but is surrounded by the university. The shelter was started in 1983. Continue reading ‘Where the Elite Meet to Treat the Homeless’

Hope for the Homeless in Newport

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By William K. Harter

What does Newport have in common with New York City, Denver and New Orleans? It is learning to resolve the homeless problem through a non-traditional “Housing First” program.

“This has been my collaboration. It’s been one of the most exciting, spontaneous efforts I have seen in my career,” said Don Boucher, Program Director of Housing First Rhode Island.

James Winters of the Newport police made a 48-minute documentary on homelessness. As winter approached in early November, the film was shown at Channing Memorial Church’s Action Committee on Housing and Homelessness. Sally Hanchett and Betsy Dees co-chair the committee. Betsy said, “The film inspired me to pursue a solution to find a safe, warm place for some of Newport’s 12 to 16 identified homeless individuals.” Checking around, a fund was found for “helping the poor and needy in Newport.” They applied and got a $5,500 grant. Continue reading ‘Hope for the Homeless in Newport’

School for Shelter: The Problem with Women

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By Cassandra Tribe

It seems fitting that the last installment of this series comes at the end of the International Month of the Woman. The homeless population in the past few years has undergone a period of rapid growth and a demographic change from primarily men, to mostly women and women with children. This change is not addressed on local, national or international levels.

“The main reason for homelessness among women and their dependent children is poverty,” says Dr. N’Dow, who is also Assistant Secretary General and head of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), based in Nairobi, Kenya. “Women are doubly disadvantaged by their need to earn a living while providing care for family members and running households.”

Of the estimated 1.3 billion people living in poverty around the world, 70 percent are women and girls. Women and girls are also the fastest increasing group of impoverished, a process called “the global feminization of poverty.” Continue reading ‘School for Shelter: The Problem with Women’

Updates from Crossroads

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By JoAnn Dyes

Dental is available for pregnant women and children under the age of nineteen by appointment only on Fridays. If you miss an appointment you will have to wait six months for another appointment.

New at the health center: there is psychiatrist 4 hours a week. There are hopes to expand services for the homeless who have substance and/or underlying mental health issues.
This makes the health center at Crossroads an integrated primary care clinic to serve the homeless community. Providence Health Center at Crossroads is a primary health center service for adults experiencing homeless.

A homeless person is defined as an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets, staying in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facility, abandoned building or vehicle.

The goal is to manage the health needs and chronic illnesses for homeless patients including referrals to specialist when necessary with 50 hours of operation per week and devoted staff.

RICH Annual Luncheon

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By Melissa Howard

On March 28, at the Crown Plaza in Warwick, advocates, state represents, including Governor Lincoln Chafee and other organizations, gathered for Rhode Island Coalition’s annual luncheon.

The ceremony was hosted by Mario Hilario, of NBC 10. There were greetings from the Mayor of Warwick, Scott Advedisian and also from Governor Chafee.

The key speaker was Laura Green Zeilinger, of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, Lead Regional Coordinator. She spoke of how beneficial the program ‘Open Doors’ would be, in the fight to ending homelessness in the state of Rhode Island. Open Doors, was part of the President Obama’s 10 year plan to ending homelessness that he introduced last year. Ms. Zeilinger congratulated Governor Chafee for restarting the Interagency Council on Homelessness, which fell by the wayside in 2009. Continue reading ‘RICH Annual Luncheon’

Rally in Rhode Island

Published in April, 2011 in News.

Photos by Erik Gould

RI unions and others rally in solidarity with Wisconsin public workers at the RI State House Tuesday, February 22.

About 500 people gathered to show support for public employees in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana who are protesting moves in their states to strip collective bargaining rights from union workers.

The main message was one of solidarity with workers in Wisconsin. Union leaders emphasized that the rally was not a protest against Rhode Island politicians, who are largely friendly toward organized labor.

The speeches were greeted with shouts and chants of “hey, hey, ho, ho – union busting got to go.” Continue reading ‘Rally in Rhode Island’

Will This Be The Second Great Depression?

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By Melissa Howard

What is the difference between our time now and the Great Depression of the 1930’s?

A few key points:

1. In 1933, unemployment was up 25% and there were 14 million American’s out of work. In Rhode Island now, unemployment is at 11.2%.

2. In 1933, there was an abundance of foreclosures. In some areas, a sum of 200 farms was foreclosed on in a week. Now it is said that there were 4,738 homes foreclosed on in Rhode Island last year. Continue reading ‘Will This Be The Second Great Depression?’

Hospice for the Homeless

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By Cassandra Tribe

Hospice specializes in providing palliative care at the end of a person’s life. Simply put, they help the person to be comfortable and to manage any pain so they can maintain their dignity in their passing.

Hospice also provides numerous services to help the patient and their loved ones get through the anticipatory grief of death and the grief that comes after their loved one has died.

End-of-life care is something that is only beginning to make its way into the realm of socially acceptable discussions. Hospice programs are becoming more of the norm in our healthcare system as our population ages.

The concept of having the right to die at home and with dignity is something that mainstream society has begun to address with the presence of living wills and care-directives. Continue reading ‘Hospice for the Homeless’

In Celebration of Women

Published in April, 2011 in News.

By Cassandra Tribe

March brought us the small prize of International Women’s Month. March 8th was International Women’s day, a celebration of women’s history and present influence that in many countries was a national holiday. It also served to underscore the deep imbalance in the industrialized world, particularly in the USA, between equality of genders.

As of September 2010, women in the US earned 82 cents to every dollar a man made in the same job. Most of these women also hold the second unpaid position of being the primary care giver for over 90 percent of the families in the US. This “second job” while valued at $45,000 a year, is unpaid, unrecognized and lacking cultural respect as a profession.

Instead of striving for equality in pay and benefits in paid positions, women are told to celebrate the closeness of pay but that it is “not time” for equality. As for benefits for women who work as primary caregivers for their families, there is not even equality when it comes to property ownership and legal rights in the event of a divorce. Continue reading ‘In Celebration of Women’

Poverty, Hunger and Joblessness Provoke Protests Throughout the Arab World

Published in March, 2011 in News.

By Louisa Smith

On December 17, 2010, a Tunisian street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire, helping fuel the protests that have spread across the Arab world over the past few months and have pushed two of the region’s presidents out of office.

Bouzazi lived in a rural town in Tunisia called Sidi Bouzid, where unemployment is estimated to be over 30%. The 26-year-old was working as a street vendor, selling enough fruit to provide for himself and the seven family members he lived with. Continue reading ‘Poverty, Hunger and Joblessness Provoke Protests Throughout the Arab World’

From the Heart

Published in March, 2011 in News.

By JoAnn Dyes

On a cold February night in Providence, at the McAuley House, on Elmwood Ave., where the lights were on, the people were streaming in to see the art works from the artist of McAuley House.

The art was displayed among the walls, on cards and on postcards. Which were all for sale. I spoke to Meagan R., an artist and a volunteer at the McAuley House. She has been working hard on her artwork for about a year.
Ronald ‘Ron’, was another artist, whose art was of landscapes. He discovered art while he was in the hospital and stuck with it as well as teaching Origami. He hopes to develop his talents in both areas now that he has moved from being homeless to his own apartment.

All of the art was beautiful and interesting. Aileen Hayes, Ann Nolan, Kyle MacDonald, Jim Gillen, Were some of the notable patrons to take part in the “From The Heart” art show.

A thank you goes out to all the artists with all of their beautiful works and to the volunteers for all their help with the event.

Poetry Slam

Published in March, 2011 in News.

By David Eisenberger

On the first Friday of each month, at Mathewson St. Methodist Church, downtown Providence, there is a poetry slam that’s been going on for many years. This needs dearly to be attended. It’s at the point that Erin, one of the helpers and readers at the slam and myself… will read to those who attend.

How many aspiring poets are out there who want to do a live mic? You could go to the AS220, where it will cost you $4.00 to get up and give a live reading. At the Mathewson Street Church it will cost you nothing and you can get free refreshments with people who shares your same interests.

So let’s make this something everyone wants to do and some place people want to show of their off talents through poetry.

This is a diamond in the rough, where someone can find fame and fortune by being a poet of note. This is for you, if you don’t fear a microphone and are not afraid to vent and express.

The next scheduled poetry slam’s Mar 4th at 3pm.

Fresh blood welcome.

School for Shelter: Foreign Languages

Published in March, 2011 in News.

By Cassandra Tribe

In the last part of this series, I had mentioned that the initiatives which target housing the chronically homeless as the primary priority have an arc of success that peaks early and then declines as the numbers of the chronically homeless housed is exceeded by new persons entering the homeless population.

In this part, we are going to examine initiatives from the European Union that have proven successful in containing the growth of the population and begun to make inroads to permanently reducing the number of homeless. Continue reading ‘School for Shelter: Foreign Languages’

Where Can Someone Go to Talk?

Published in March, 2011 in News.

By Melissa Howard

If you are feeling down, is there anywhere you can go to find someone to talk to? If your world seems to be crushing down on you, is there someone whom you feel safe enough with, to confide in?

Winter can be one of the hardest times for many people—the weather can be unbearably cold and some may spend holidays without friends or family. For some, winter is a time when everything seems to be spinning out of control.

Within the homeless community there is a growing concern about the suicides of close friends and others who maybe thinking of taking this road. Continue reading ‘Where Can Someone Go to Talk?’

Waiting for an Apology

Published in March, 2011 in News.

By Melissa Howard

Once again on February 8th, advocates gathered at the State House for Senator Tassoni’s third hearing on homelessness.

There have been some changes since the last hearing. For one, Governor Chafee said that he would help the state’s homeless by improving Harrington Hall. Chaffee has also reviving the Interagency Council on homelessness. The Council was designed to start in 2009 but nothing came of it. Continue reading ‘Waiting for an Apology’

Suicide Prevention: Immediate Infrastructure Needed as Providence Place

Published in March, 2011 in News.

By Francisco Gonzalez

Let’s face it, nobody wants to think about the issue of suicide, specially around the holidays. But the Providence Place Mall has become the City’s Mecca for suicides, the place of choice for many distraught people. There have been approximately 7 completed suicides there (not counting the unsuccessful attempts).

You may not be aware of this because federal and state law requires a news ban & notification of kin when suicide is involved: there is a time lapse between the event and its news. We have estimated these numbers from news reports and person-to-person interviews—a son of one of our writers, who worked in one of the mall stores told of an individual who leaped inside the vast atrium—that jumper survived. Continue reading ‘Suicide Prevention: Immediate Infrastructure Needed as Providence Place’

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.