Transcript Slide 1

I’m not afraid to bend my back
I’m not afraid of dirt
Todd Rundgren, Honest Work
But how I fear the things I do
For lack of honest work
My family is lost to me
They could not bear the hurt
To see the state their boy is in
For lack of honest work
I hold no blame for anyone
twas I who did arrange
to pay my dues so I would
Not have to learn or change
And when I was replaced,
twas I
Who started down the hill
And drank away my savings ‘til
I couldn’t stop myself
The prophets of
a brave new world,
Captains of industry
Have visions grand and
great designs…
But none have room for me
They see a world where everyone
Is rich and smart and young
But if I live to see such things
Too late for me they come
Police allege dumping
Homeless by L.A. hospital
I know I’m not the only one
To fall beneath the wheel
Such company can not assuage
The loneliness I feel
So many are resigned to be
Society’s debris
But I will be remembered for
The life life took from me
Homeless Man Found Dead
Memorial for the 34 people known to have died
living on the streets
I’m not afraid to bend my back
I’m not afraid of dirt
But how I fear the things I do
For lack of honest work
Across American Cities
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30 percent of homeless adults experience
severe mental illness,
19 percent are employed,
17 percent have a physically disabling
condition,
16 percent are victims of domestic violence,
13 percent are veterans,
3 percent are HIV Positive.
Up to 50% experience substance abuse,
many use after becoming homeless to reduce
anxiety & pain. (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2013; SAMHSA, 2011)
SHELTERS
78% of responding cities had to make
major adjustments to accommodate
increased emergency shelter demands.
71% had to turn away families with
children because requests greatly
exceed shelter space.
(U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2013)
In a given year, up to 3.5 million Americans
will experience homelessness.
1.5 million of these are children.
(2014, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty;
2010, National Center on Family Homelessness; 2009, National Alliance to End Homelessness).
There are up to 2.8 million
“runaway/ thrown away” youths annually.
Up to a third stay out on the streets the first few days.
Family Problems cited as number one reason
including abuse and neglect.
(National Runaway Switchboard, 2014 www.nrscrisisline.org, Ambrosino, et al., 2005)
Violence Against People living on U.S. streets:
 85% committed by people under 30
 93% by males
 Approximately 1 in 4 attacks end in death to
the homeless person.
Some videos of exploits are known to be
distributed via the web.
In 2013, Florida had the 2nd most attacks in
the U.S.
One man was recently stabbed to
to death in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://nationalhomeless.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/06/Hate-Crimes-2013-FINAL.pdf&u=0
A Report to the UN Human Rights
Committee classified criminalization of
homelessness in America as a
human rights violation
( National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, National Coalition for the
Homeless, and Southern Legal Counsel, as the US Human Rights Network CAT
Homelessness Working Group, 2014)
40% of U.S. cities have anti camping bans
where people are sleeping.
American citywide bans have
increased by 60% from 2011 to 2014.
http://www.nlchp.org/documents/CAT_Criminalization_Shadow_Report_2014
110 people were known to be attacked while homeless
135 were survivors of Domestic Violence
Big Bend Homeless Coalition
Point in Time Survey, 1.26.14
and Leon County Agency
Reports
Hunger
50.2 million Americans
Including 17.2 million children
could not secure food for all
family members at times
during the year.
All cities reported food
kitchens reducing amount of
food offered.
Causes:
Unemployment, Housing costs, Low
Wages, Poverty, Lack of SNAP benefits,
Health costs
(2010, Nord, ColemanJensen, Andrews &
Carlson, USDA; 2013, U.S.
Conference of Mayors)
The U.S. Weight Loss
Market is a $60.5 billion
dollar yearly industry
91% of college women are
trying to lose weight.
(The U.S. Weight Loss Market: 2014 Status
Report & Forecast)
Across America,
21% of people
requesting emergency
food did not receive it.
(U.S. Conference of
Mayors, 2013)
“Two local pastors
and 90-year-old
Arnold Abbott were
cited for violating
the ordinance
Tuesday, and each
face up to 60 days
in prison and a
$500 fine.”
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/
11/90-year-old-man-charged-feedinghomeless-florida-video.html
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, 2014
Poverty Stats
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/
17/child-homelessless-us_n_6169994.html
Poverty Rate by Ethnicity
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Of the 46.5 million people in poverty:
9.7% White non-Hispanic
11.7% Asian
25.6% Hispanic
27.2% African American
(DeNavas- Walt, Proctor, Smith, 2013 of the
U.S. Census Bureau)
Five Theories of Poverty
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Poverty as Deprivation: Overall insufficient food,
housing, clothing, medical care, etc.
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Poverty as Inequality of distribution of
income: Population in fifths. Income gap is widening.
Poverty as a way of life:
Intergenerational lack of access and knowledge.
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Poverty as Exploitation by Ruling Class: Tax
deductions and services to middle class and above.
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Poverty as Structure: Institutional Shortcomings in
Schools (testing), Workplace restrictions (family leave) etc.
Your turn! Living Poverty challenge 2015...
International challenge: 2 days
LIVE BELOW THE LINE
According to UNICEF, 2014:
1.2 BILLION PEOPLE
LIVE BELOW THE EXTREME POVERTY LINE
“That’s four times the population of the United States
spending less than $1.50 per day on food and drink”
National challenge $4.58: + 3days
Eligible Food Items
Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:
•Foods for the household to eat, such as:
•breads and cereals;
•fruits and vegetables;
•meats, fish and poultry; and
•dairy products.
•Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.
In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from
qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost
meals.
Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
•Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
•Any nonfood items, such as:
•pet foods
•soaps, paper products
•household supplies
•Vitamins and medicines
•Food that will be eaten in the store
•Hot foods
(USDA, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Rules, 07/18/2014)
Personal Challenge: All Five Days
FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS
Give up at least one First World Luxury
Ideas:
 Give up driving by biking and walking
 Sleep on the floor or safely outside to
understand homelessness
 Give up cosmetics and warm showers
 Others?
Can you make choices
to survive?
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During your
challenge, take this
SURVIVAL QUIZ
As a mother living
in poverty, you will
make decisions
about medicine,
education, food and
shelter for yourself
and your children.
Ways to Raise Awareness
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Post pictures or journal entries on social
media
Donate your time or saved money to the
Homeless Shelter, a Food Bank, etc.
Others?
Food and Nutrition Resources
www.whyhunger.org
Ending Childhood Hunger
www.fns.usda.gov/fns/ech/default.htm
Snap Outreach tools
http://snap.ntis.gov/
Nutrition Research
www.fns.usda.gov/fns/data.htm
Nutrition Education
www.fns.usda.gov/fns/nutrition.htm