Annual Homelessness Marathon blog: New & Improved Annual Homelessness Marathon blog

Old Annual Homelessness Marathon blog: New & Improved Annual Homelessness Marathon blog

The 60's taught us that a peaceable demonstration will work, re-enforced (if you recall) when CA Gov. Arnold S. was barnstormed by health care workers, schoolteachers, and fire dept. workers and the prompt reversal it created. Since its legal (and socially acceptable)consider a political force that we can compel being reckoned with. Public awareness needs raising that doing something about the homeless is not the same as doing something for the homeless!!

Either EXERCISE your Rights or they will be EXORCISED!!
You are not alone!

I am ...A. John Doe Homeless

and these are  my Viewpoints
of those "progressive" developments
of the  Growth that has been
so -  "Good for the Economy"!!?

The Increase of Homelessness - U.$.$.A.

Here's the sequence of events... that becomes an unpleasant surprise...?...

You struggle to accumulate enough down payment to acquire affordable payments... and, if you are fortunate enough that job security, lack of wage increase, personal problems with family like medical or credit doesn't disrupt financial plans such as rent and other expense increases that keep you struggling, you try to down size. You start by moving (temporarily of course) to a smaller location, and maybe putting some "stuff" in a min-storage. It's a common method, which is the first step in losing your stuff... (of course the upside is - you have less stuff to worry about). Next, you cut back on other "unnecessary" expenses like recreational equipment, vacations, household appliances - either reduced or eliminated, and often when either getting a second job or putting in overtime for a few months, stress levels are enhanced (especially if everyone is pushing the envelope), which adds to frustration and all the other wholesome ingredients effecting the harmony in relationships - just to make it all worth while!(?) - The national figures show the record breaking results of those ingredients. Then you begin to realize that you are no longer trying to get ahead, but it's become necessary to do all this - just to stay afloat... and somehow it isn't quite enough. And if your job downsizes and/or there is a reduction of need for your field of expertise altogether- and just "any-kind-of-job" won't maintain rent payments, after which even those jobs aren't easily available when you don't live anywhere! Sound familiar?

Of course, not everyone is that unfortunate - there are those who have it worse - some actually get into a place (finally)- fix up some customized preferences after which things happen like unexpected closing costs, repairs, balloon payments and/or rise in interest rates THEN if other surprise misfortunes like job down sizing, illness or babies, accidents, more unanticipated repairs on the house, vehicles etc., don’t occur (hah!), the increasing costs of gas, food, clothing household items etc. (and recent years indicate what’s coming) and just after spending more than expected to make improvements or rehabs... you may think of (or even remember) some others that have been what has caused the increases in the foreclosures that we are all aware of.

After the next step (down) for many, (like the over 3 million in the last few years), resort to living in a vehicle (which doesn't do much for job appearance or performance), ends with a repo., if break-down, registration & insurance doesn't overwhelm the lack of budget first. After that, having the shopping cart being taken away is easier to accept. Oh yes! You can only keep stuff you can carry with you while looking for that "any-kind-of-job" (you resorted to) or you'll lose that when the cops raid your camp. Then the benefits of making it a crime for just being homeless show just how constructive it is!!?!..... and no one will listen to you because now you are one of them

Oh , (and of course... you believe)... you it would never happen to you... and besides, screw all those "derelicts" it does happen to anyway!! - Yes... That's what over 2 million in the U.S. used to say! But, then... many of you... (that don't yet know who you are) will show up at centers like so many of the new faces (and typically) with the same look on the face. When you do, I'll be there to let you know who you are - especially those of you who have been kicking homeless people to the curb - and those of you - do know who you are!! ...(and we will remember who you are. That is... what it is... that goes around... and then comes right back a - flying-around!!

I am... A. John Doe Homeless
...and still - On Strike against unfair Housing Costs!

FIRE, FLOOD, EARTHQUAKES... ECONOMY..... Equal Opportunity!?

Fire in Malibu..... Flood in New Orleans..... Drought in Georgia...... Volcanoes in Hawaii...... Earthquakes......

What is with the complaints of services to help these victims of each tragedy? In the first place... what happened to... "Preparedness" !!?? The over 1 million recent fire victims have obviously been VERY quickly located in shelters - while thousands of Katrina victims (many still scattered throughout the country) are still displaced! Provisions and facilities were apparently available all along, and meanwhile the Katrina victims have been just waiting in line for.........(!???) The "current disaster victims" can expect assistance, with promises of cutting corners with insurance companies, FEMA, etc., to expedite their aid. WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE SO MUCH
MORE PRIVILEGED THAN ANY OTHER CITIZEN SURVIVING HOMELESSNESS!!??

The REALITY of "EQUALITY" shows up when a homeless citizen dies at night from the elements, is beaten, or set on fire, etc..... the news may mention it, briefly, then a quick closure! Compare the equality to folks in Malibu with Katrina survivors who are still buying into familiar false promises as thousands of homeless citizens have for years... the waiting in lines, the persecutions, discriminations, and even hate crimes!! Homeless or just houseless, with or without the drama, it all results in identical stress, distress and depression... It Doesn't take a Disaster, to be a Catastrophe in anyone's life! Thousands have been striving to live within their means, hopeful for a change, with promised assistance that never happens - except that which is skipped over to more current (selected) "crisis victims" !? When was a meager existence during a failing economy not a crisis!!?? Being displaced from housing, losing life's worth, property, enduring an array of tragedies cause hardship to one's life, with often neglected medical needs that perpetuates problems. Regardless of the individual circumstance - the results are still devastation, degradation, and then the depression. Losing property economically is not a "made for t.v. drama", like a fire with drama, which becomes "newsworthy" more than when just quietly passing that point of being "one-paycheck-away" from losing your place, your savings..... your "stuff" (often life's worth). When it's your "stuff", the loss and will cause as much trauma, the preceding months have a simmering build-up with a slow burn that embeds the depression and will put one's survival ability beyond just a pressure test!? While former citizens of New Orleans have had to fend for themselves (after being spurned), are now an addition to the already existing over 3 million citizens who have been homeless for YEARS!

After the Dust Settles, and the drama dissipates, the only attention towards a homeless citizen is negative, a typical result from the subsequent increase of homeless traffic. This inevitability always results in an increase of "anonymous" complaints to police using "just don't want them here" (as though that area is somehow exclusive and that magically they can disappear). This all diverts attention from the cause of the problem, and all those previous discussions of compassionately helping others in need during a crisis are moot. The seeming expectation is that if I don't see, then it doesn't exist...(??) - WRONG !!?!... Nothing justifies abusing the use of authorities to harass someone, so if the accumulating volumes are tiring, then help solve that problem!! Only while linked to a current disaster... are there any concerns expressed for the homeless. Those able to recuperate, have no clue what has happened to some of their "friends" and neighbors who couldn't. While striving to recover from a series of accumulating misfortunes, with obstacles unnecessarily added to the experience, many have learned to exist with resourceful means - and with the closest experience to compassion is when a cop gives a warning instead of being charged (with a crime)!?

There is a difference between doing something about the homeless and doing something for the homeless. While already striving to recover from a series of accumulating misfortunes, with unnecessary obstacles added to the experience, many have learned to exist with resourceful means. Economic imbalances between housing costs and lack of jobs with affordable wages previously perpetuated accumulative hardships affording housing. Now, finding non-existing housing with less income than that becomes irrelevant. The new laws that skirt around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws have been so counterproductive, with no positive accomplishments, and are violating Civil Rights!! (Despite the U.S. 9th District Court ruling, some communities still believe they are above the Federal Law.) This has only resulted in an illusion of (very brief) absence during attempts to keep a low profile until the increasing volume can no longer stay hidden. This ... "game" of Musical Chairs has been played" while the number of "players" have increased, and the "chairs" removed!? Sooo..... Malibu, San Diego, New Orleans, Georgia..... (and of course all those facing the housing "bubble")... WELCOME TO THE PARTY!!?!

It (the party) started without you... (or your help).
If you have been doing, what you thought was of "help"... 
 - enjoy it's "adequacy"..... (!??)
     Drop in centers, shelters and food banks have become
     a thriving business all over the country, whose goals
     are NOT to solve the growing problem and are NOT even
     trying to end the need!?  They do provide assistance
     and referrals to sources for clothes, blankets, foods
     (and "stuff").   Of course, that's more "stuff" that
     you'll have to carry around with you (shopping carts
     have become illegal).  It's fortunate when you can
     actually USE most of it - before it's stolen,
     vandalized, or taken in the next police raid!?  There
     is usually a waiting list for space at most shelters,
     so if you want to be warehoused, risk losing your
     "stuff", etc., whenever space becomes available), and
     you'll have a limited length of time to try to acquire
     that "any-kind-of-job".

There has been nothing that even begins to address the
problems that continue to cause the growth of the
homeless populations!!?

Coming soon, you can count on this new game (if you don't like the one played so far) !! It's already begun, with many veteran players who have been in training!!? The rules are: In a democracy, (even in this hypocrisy), the majority will rule !! This holiday season (2007) most of the 25 million that went to the food banks were NOT homeless... but a likely probable up & coming!? Recent estimates are that 25% of the homeless populations are military veterans - and counting. Our players have been increasing, and the war's end will increase a ("surge") volume of "re-enforcements" who if not already resentful, will express more anger and the rules will again change along with the scoring. Either the majority will rule..... or the mobs will. Soooo... we're not playing chess... but, it's your move... or do nothing and someone else will (but who knows what!!??

What are being grossly overlooked are the over 3 million citizens who have been homeless, for YEARS, with no consideration to the gravity of their circumstances. 2 million of those - were not homeless 5 years ago... so who are they, where did they come from, and moreover ... who will the next 2 million be!!?? There are many of you - who will show up at centers like so many of the new faces... (and all with the same typical look on your face). I see them all when they show up), and many of you don't yet know who you are. I'll be there to let you know who you are, and how you could have done something before becoming - just another one of "them" (!!?! ) ... And those of you , who have been kicking homeless people to the curb... we all will remember who you are !!

I am A. John Doe Homeless

and these have been my Viewpoints
of those "progressive" developments
of the  Growth that has been
so -  "Good for the Economy"!!?

Houseless is NOT Homeless!?

California seems to set the pace for cities in many ways. Throughout the country, many areas are skirting around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws and making homelessness a crime! This is a violation of Civil Rights!!!

In 1951 Santa Rosa’s population was 17,000. By 2005 had grown to 170,000 (a 10 times increase in over 50 years). By comparison, in 1994 the homeless population here (after tripling in 2 years) was estimated at about 150. By 2005 a census showed that homeless folks had increased to 1,700 (that they knew of) a 10 times increase in about 10 years). That disproportionate figure was not representative of the influx of new arrivals, but a residual affect of new arrivals that was the "growth-being-good-for-the-economy".

Comparing those notes, (they have never actually been able to count completely acurate all) the estimated current homeless population (as of-July 2007) - being over 2,200, the available space in the shelter in 1994 of 280 beds has been replaced by a facility with only 80 beds!?... and that's the progress to show for 13 years!??

It seems that some areas have more concern to facilitate folks more appropriately. There are many who do not want to be "warehoused" due to the conflicts that often occur there. It typifies the difference in attitudes between people just like the difference of behavior between people in general. The cost of housing has increased over 20 times while during the same period that the wage earnings increased less than 20%! This is typical the economic imbalance nationally which, by the way, the homeless population was last reported at 3 MILLION!!

Typically, governing agencies come up with the wrong solution to a given problem. Good examples are inappropriate law changes, "band-aids" for problems instead of an attempt to fix-it. It's the same efficiency of amendments to an amendment of an amendment etc. There wouldn’t be more need for more food at the kitchens and food banks, more shelters (the kitchens and food banks are growing in abundance), if the client population was reduced, instead of growing. The contribution to the problem is that some of the former donators are now clients!!!

A more current (attempted) “solution” not only fails to solve problems (IE: complaints regarding the homeless) but creates new problems, and doesn’t even ease the original problem (just moves it to additional areas). The complaints that are not limited to just homeless (including urination, littering, panhandling, drug & alcohol abuse, etc.) are obviously behaviors by all echelons in society. Those, with "inappropriate behavior", behaved inappropriately before becoming homeless... and likewise, responsible conduct is not exclusive to those having a residence!!?

Consider, after being refused the privilege (or should it be a right?) the use of a public restroom then walking maybe 6 blocks or more to another facility only to be refused (even shunned again), and then again.... Sooner or later common sense will dictate that nature will run it's course. Eventually, one will just skip to the last part - (go figure?). Litter violators, trash dumping are especially not exclusive to the homeless, but significant by each and every ill-mannered, uncaring and unthinking social group!!! Alcoholism starts in the home, and the last I heard, proficient drug dealers can afford a residence!

Until attention is paid to the Real facts since the 1980's... connect the dots to the reality of it all... then, more will experience the rude awakening of testing their survival skills (or the lack of!).

California seems to set the pace for cities in many ways. Throughout the country, many areas are skirting around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws and making homelessness a crime! This is a violation of Civil Rights!!!

In 1951 Santa Rosa’s population was 17,000. By 2005 had grown to 170,000 (a 10 times increase in over 50 years). By comparison, in 1994 the homeless population here (after tripling in 2 years) was estimated at about 150. By 2005 a census showed that homeless folks had increased to 1,700 (that they knew of) a 10 times increase in about 10 years). That disproportionate figure was not representative of the influx of new arrivals, but a residual affect of new arrivals that was the "growth-being-good-for-the-economy".

Comparing those notes, (they have never actually been able to count completely acurate all) the estimated current homeless population (as of-July 2007) - being over 2,200, the available space in the shelter in 1994 of 280 beds has been replaced by a facility with only 80 beds!?... and that's the progress to show for 13 years!??

It seems that some areas have more concern to facilitate folks more appropriately. There are many who do not want to be "warehoused" due to the conflicts that often occur there. It typifies the difference in attitudes between people just like the difference of behavior between people in general. The cost of housing has increased over 20 times while during the same period that the wage earnings increased less than 20%! This is typical the economic imbalance nationally which, by the way, the homeless population was last reported at 3 MILLION!!

Typically, governing agencies come up with the wrong solution to a given problem. Good examples are inappropriate law changes, "band-aids" for problems instead of an attempt to fix-it. It's the same efficiency of amendments to an amendment of an amendment etc. There wouldn’t be more need for more food at the kitchens and food banks, more shelters (the kitchens and food banks are growing in abundance), if the client population was reduced, instead of growing. The contribution to the problem is that some of the former donators are now clients!!!

A more current (attempted) “solution” not only fails to solve problems (IE: complaints regarding the homeless) but creates new problems, and doesn’t even ease the original problem (just moves it to additional areas). The complaints that are not limited to just homeless (including urination, littering, panhandling, drug & alcohol abuse, etc.) are obviously behaviors by all echelons in society. Those with inappropriate behavior, behaved inappropriately before becoming homeless... likewise responsible conduct is not exclusive to having a residence!!?

Consider, after being refused the privilege (or should it be a right?) the use of a public restroom then walking maybe 6 blocks or more to another facility only to be refused (even shunned again), and then again.... Sooner or later common sense will dictate that nature will run it's course. Eventually, one will just skip to the last part - (go figure?). Litter violators, trash dumping are especially not exclusive to the homeless, but significant by each and every ill-mannered, uncaring and unthinking social group!!! Alcoholism starts in the home, and the last I heard, proficient drug dealers can afford a residence!
Until attention is paid to the Real facts since the 1980's... connect the dots to the reality of it all... then, more will experience the rude awakening of testing their survival skills (or the lack of!).

If you think these are problems so far... wait until you get a load of WORSE!!?!

I am John Doe Houseless...... not homeless

JohnDoeHouseless@Yahoo.COM

Edited by John Doe Homeless on Sep 29, 2005 at 6:07 PM

It Doesn't take a Disaster..... to be a Catastrophe in Anyone's Life!!

Homeless folks have all had something tragic… to compel changing a lifestyle to such desperate measures of living homelessly. The looting and crimes committed in New Orleans typifies one type of reaction… out of desperation. Survival mode will cause a different sense of values, and different people react in different ways, just as people who try to help do.
Folks that behaved inappropriately... were behaving inappropriately before becoming homeless. It is not appropriate to blame all the homeless for a specific behavior of a few. The tragedies that befell the victims of Katrina are traumatic obviously. But… not so obvious, is how equally traumatic becoming homeless is whatever the cause… losing life, property, life’s worth in general is devastating and is equally disconcerting. The despair accumulates and becomes overwhelming. When depression sets in, it enhances the decision making process. The complaints exemplify the results of these scenarios. Over three million homeless folks who have been trying to live within their means best they can with obstacles most people hopefully will never have to find out how to deal with. Many never find a way to cope at all!

Typically the government will come up with the wrong solution for a given problem. A new law being put into place all over the country, skirts around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws making it a crime to be homeless and violates Civil Rights!! How will this play out with Katrina’s victims being scattered throughout the country. With so much devastation, even FEMA will have to cut corners with funds short, and in communities like mine they’ll get up to $500 fine and/or 6 months in jail… (?)

*** And Barbara Bush, our presidente's mother... (no not a typo) remarked regarding the victims of Katrina that "Those people are all underprivileged anyway & ARE BETTER OFF"!!!?! An obvious Freudian slip............
*Read my lips.....NO NEW BUSH'S!!!!
Reality Checks - U.S.A.>>> Incite More Insight!?

I am John Doe Homeless...

Edited by John Doe Homeless on Sep 29, 2005 at 1:52 PM

I Urge Support for BoycottHousing.com

I Encourage...(URGE) Support for...
"BOYCOTTHOUSING.COM"
During the past few years, an increasing number of folks are (finally) realizing the effect from the causes, fed up and think they are beginning a trend to encourage others to "boycott housing"... I agree, and I definitely support their attempts, but it is not a new idea. These folks are not homeless (yet)... their issue is still at the level of how hard it is to buy a home in the bay area, but support and promotion is certainly deserving.
Boycotting the purchase of housing has contributed to "rate corrections", but paying rent IE:(“land owner support”), you are defeating your intentions!!?! Just because you aren’t BUYING, you are still paying into the system and someone ELSE is benefitting!!?!

To emphasize, I support Boycotthousing.com , and wish them well with hopes they can accomplish their goal (reducing housing costs). This will lend assistance to the same goal I've pursued by being "On Strike against unfair Housing Costs" since 1990, and thousands having conflict over housing costs & affordable wages also for ... the many of you who are not just traditional "street people". They only ask to sign on refusing to buy real estate in the bay area...(?) These folks who have still not yet fallen to the streets, vehicles and/or bushes are needed to speak up while they may still be listened to!!!

I am John Doe Homeless...
JohnDoeHomeless@Yahoo.com

Homelessness is NOT Illegal!!?!

The U.S. 9th
District Court
Court Rules!!! **************************
What were the local governing agencies expecting to accomplish by punishing and persecuting the unfortunate folks who are merely attempting to survive by living within their means?! That is to reference the inappropriately created ordinances by cities and counties throughout the country making it a crime for camping in public as termed by Sonoma County amongst others. However it is worded, it merely skirts around the formerly abolished vagrancy laws and literally violates Civil Liberties as I have advocated since these laws began to be put into place.
In April, 2006 the U.S. 9th District Appeals Court ruled that "making it a crime to be homeless by charging them with a crime is in violation of the 8th Amendment." The previous link provides the complete transcript. Excerpts of that transcript in the following:

L.A., Cal., Mun. Code ss 41.18(d) (2005).
A violation of section 41.18(d) is punishable by
a fine of up to $1000 and/or imprisonment of up
to six months.
Id. ss 11.00(m).

The City could not expressly criminalize the status of homelessness by making it a crime to be homeless without violating the Eighth Amendment, nor can it criminalize acts that are an integral aspect of that status. Because there is substantial and undisputed evidence that the number of homeless persons in Los Angeles far exceeds the number of available shelter beds at all times, including on the nights of their arrest or citation, Los Angeles has encroached upon Appellants' Eighth Amendment protections by criminalizing the unavoidable act of sitting, lying or sleeping at night while being involuntarily homeless.

Jones argues that LAMC ss 41.18(d) makes criminal what biology and circumstance make necessary, that is, sitting, lying, and sleeping on the streets. He maintains that the gap between the number of homeless persons in Los Angeles, and the number of available shelter beds, leaves thousands without shelter every night. Jones claims that some 42,000 people are homeless each night in the City of Los Angeles, with approximately 11,000 living in the Skid Row area. The number of homeless persons exceeds the number of available shelter beds. Of the 11,000 on Skid Row, approximately 7,000 sleep in a single room occupancy facility and 2,000 stay in emergency shelter facilities.

[14]We do not suggest that Los Angeles adopt any particular social policy, plan, or law to care for the homeless. See Johnson v. City of Dallas, 860 F. Supp. 344, 350-51 (N.D. Tex.1994), rev'd on standing grounds, 61 F.3d 442 (5th Cir. 1995). We do not desire to encroach on the legislative and executive functions reserved to the City Council and the Mayor of Los Angeles. There is obviously a "homeless problem" in the City of Los Angeles, which the City is free to address in any way that it sees fit, consistent with the constitutional principles we have articulated.
(See id.)

id. at 568 n.31
(Fortas, J., dissenting); the Eighth Amendment
prohibits the City from punishing involuntary sitting,
lying, or sleeping on public sidewalks that is an
unavoidable consequence of being human and homeless
without shelter in the City of Los Angeles

That being an impossibility, by criminalizing sitting, lying, and sleeping, the City is in fact criminalizing Appellants' status as homeless individuals. Similarly, applying Robinson and Powell, courts have found statutes criminalizing the status of vagrancy to be unconstitutional. For example, Goldman v. Knecht declared unconstitutional a Colorado statute making it a crime for "'[a]ny person able to work and support himself'" to "'be found loitering or strolling about, frequenting public places,...begging or leading an idle, immoral or profligate course of life, or not having any visible means of support.'" 295 F. Supp. 897, 899 n.2, 908 (D. Colo. 1969) (three-judge court); see also Wheeler v. Goodman, 306 F. Supp. 58, 59 n.1, 62, 66 (W.D.N.C. 1969) (three judge court) (striking down as unconstitutional under Robinson a statute making it a crime to, inter alia, be able to work but have no property or "'visible and known means'" of earning a livelihood), vacated on other grounds, 401 U.S. 987 (1971).

Protection against deprivations of life, liberty and property without due process is, of course, the role of the Fourteenth Amendment, not the Eighth. The majority's analysis of the substantive component of the Eighth Amendment blurs the two. However, the Eighth Amendment does not afford due process protection when a Fourteenth Amendment claim proves unavailing.

The defense encompasses the very difficulties that Jones posits here: sleeping on the streets because alternatives were inadequate and economic forces were primarily to blame for his predicament. Id. at 390. Jones argues that he and other homeless people are not willing or able to pursue such a defense because the costs of pleading guilty are so low and the risks and challenges of pleading innocent are substantial.

By our decision, we in no way dictate to the City that it must provide sufficient shelter for the homeless, or allow anyone who wishes to sit, lie, or sleep on the streets of Los Angeles at any time and at any place within the City. All we hold is that, so long as there is a greater number of homeless individuals in Los Angeles than the number of available beds, the City may not enforce section 41.18(d) at all times and places throughout the City against homeless individuals for involuntarily sitting, lying, and sleeping in public.

The complete official court transcript can be found here >>> The 9th District Federal Court of Appeals includes the opinions of the judges.

HOWEVER - . . . some areas in California (Sonoma County, L.A., and San Francisco) if not stupid stupid, then they are being soooo . . . arrogant as to continue to violate Civil Rights in this manner!!
. . . and now the "Homeland Security" mentality is protecting WHOSE homeland while pissing off the rest of the world enough to cause such a wonderful life we have now realized!!!!!?????!!

Awareness... not - ABOUT homelessness, but of the injustice to these many folks who had no clue (until personally impacted)! It's a rude awakening finding out the hard way, but then it's useless to complain then. Encouraging a focus on reducing the causes of the increase of folks resorting to attempt living within inadequate means after passing the point of the proverbial "one pay check away". Perpetuating a criminal element (and many expand that when there is nothing else to lose), is not only counterproductive but everyone pays! As the differences between wage earnings and housing costs continues to widen, so also does the ability to recover. The volumes affected already will not recover long after wages become affordable in relationship with the approaching costs of living!

The Watch Dogs are Watching
the Watch Dogs!!

... the doors

are WIDE OPEN!

>>Audio Presentation<<

PLEASE******************Observe what the hardships of a meager existence does to folks in ..............
A HOMELESS INSIGHT in * M-anytown-S- * U.$.$.A.

I am John Doe Homeless...and these are my Viewpoints!
JohnDoeHomeless@homelessreality.org

Posted June 30,2006 at 7:59 PM