Our conversation with Mike Jones had me thinking more about regulations around homelessness. The ultimate question that puzzles me is why are we trying so hard to get rid of the homeless? I think the first thing that comes to mind is the desire for cities to look clean and desirable to live in. Mike Jones told us about the divide in wealth of the Redlands community. The wealthier people that live in the hills come down to get groceries and see homeless people and are moved to correct the stigma that comes with it. This community of Redlands locals might call for laws to be set in place to criminalize the homeless and push them out of the city. This obviously doesn’t solve the problem of cost to tax payers, chronic homelessness, and affordable housing. So then what is the job of law enforcement, policy makers, and housing authorities to ensure all people in the community are satisfied living there?

I came across a blog post about “The Ten Most Ridiculous Anti-Homeless Laws” and though I would share some examples of absurdity with you. Number ten on the list is homeless meters on the street that provide a solution to panhandling by giving to an organization. This is an interesting way of addressing the problem of homelessness in certain cities and I wonder what the effectiveness of this method presents. Another more direct blow from anti-homeless laws are water sprinklers and bench removal, removing the pleasure of being comfortable outside. We have heard some of the other bans on sleeping, food sharing and panhandling and see them enforced in the local Redlands community.

How can we educate others about alternatives to these rights being taken away from the homeless? I think we can be involved in understanding our local laws as well as homeless services and be active in educating others. A step further would be to volunteer or work with agencies and promote affordable housing. I hope that more cities adopt Housing First models and strengthen their understanding about homelessness through organizations that are helping these populations.

http://nationalhomeless.org/WordPress/2011/07/the-10-most-ridiculous-anti-homeless-laws-part-ii/

After our class session today, I was interested to see how recently in Los Angeles, money was being allocated to homeless services. I found that measures to increase services and housing are the main recipients adding onto what currently exists in L.A. county.

Interestingly, L.A. has the highest number of chronically homeless in the nation.

Some updates to the plan include new housing programs, citywide mobile restrooms and showers, and overnight parking sites. City councilman Jose Huizar said that the services should be not just in areas like Skid Row, Hollywood or Venice, but throughout the city.

Much of the draw back to helping the homeless in a city like L.A. are the costs to focus on proposed projects and services and also finding the money to maintain them.

Chronic homelessness is the most costly with long-term housing solutions and mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Our class also discussed the method used in the state of Utah with Housing First which reduces the cost of providing for the homeless by more than half of what it costs to be in and out of jail and hospitals.

The new county homeless initiative in L.A., headed by Phil Ansell, reiterates, “A real bed is much less expensive than a jail bed or a hospital bed”.

With these costs in mind, should other cities model their funds in a similar way to L.A.? Will costs being determined by public officials be effective in regulating homelessness in the future? Should there be federal regulation on behalf of cities with the highest population of homeless?

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-city-county-homeless-plans-20160208-story.html

Today is World Happiness Day, which makes me wonder about what this truly means on a global scale. I’m sure we’ve all pondered the question what it means to be happy and how we can strive for the ultimate happy life.

This question of happiness made me wonder about the type of homeless person I feel like we often don’t talk about. The person that wants to live on the street or not have a job because they are happier without being trapped in minimum wage work. They don’t want to be apart of the system that would make them unhappy and they find that there are enough services of food and shelter to survive.

Burundi was ranked as the saddest country in the world, although the Burundians themselves might disagree. Amongst rampant poverty and hunger, Burundians are grounded in community and family where there is space for socialization sharing laughter and ultimately happiness.

Culture in the United States is centered around the free market, where productivity levels are at an all time high although pay compensation is not met. Many work their asses off in order to survive. One could also say happiness is questioned often in this kind of society where there many be no time for community building and socializing.

This makes me think of those “radical” people that chose homelessness as a method of avoiding the American free market.

Is this group of homeless happier? Are they able to live communally and focus on the qualities that foster true happiness like the Burundi people? Are structural changes aimed at creating a more happy society?

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/03/20/471009996/-is-burundi-really-the-world-s-saddest-country-a-burundian-responds

Hunger is everywhere. We might not think about hunger in America. Do we pay attention to this social issue as much as we should?

SNAP is the universal food stamp program providing many hungry families with a system of purchasing your food.

According to “Food for Thought” on NPR, these SNAP benefits are enough to keep people fed. They highlight the statistic that one-third of families on SNAP still have to visit a food pantry.

It seems that there are many negative factors to a program like SNAP. The cultures of different eating styles, obesity, sugar addictions, lack of education about health eating and purchasing of food, and lack of healthy options.

Hunger and poverty go hand in hand, affecting the lives of many people who are not able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

One recommendation is for SNAP distribution to be given on a bi-weekly or weekly basis instead of monthly, therefore allowing for meal planning within a shorter time frame.

Another solution to hunger and bad health is a recommendation to lower the price of produce. Lowering the price of produce allows these healthier, non-processed foods to look more affordable and appealing to purchase.

Research shows that lowering the price of fruits and vegetables by 30% would save nearly 200,000 lives over 15 years.

A study was done that gave more money for SNAP but only to use it for fruits and vegetables and showed that the participants of this study did indeed consume more produce.

With these results and suggestions, it seems like there is a feasible solution to hunger. What are your thoughts on other methods to eliminate hunger and promote health eating?

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/03/468955099/the-snap-gap-benefits-arent-enough-to-keep-many-recipients-fed

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/02/468921290/slice-the-price-of-fruits-and-veggies-save-200-000-lives

We recently read a chapter from Heise about “Native Americans Who Are Poor”. I was moved by the facts that were presented about this group of people and desired for us all to have more knowledge about this particular group experiencing poverty.

So here is my attempt to provide us with some information and to see what others think about these findings.

HUD and the VA awarded $5.9 million to 26 tribes in 12 states for permanent housing for Native American Veterans experiencing homelessness in January 2016.

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2016/HUDNo_16-001

In 2012, 1-in-4 American Indians and Alaska Natives were living in poverty. This seems astonishing to me, but also similar rates of poverty occur in black and Hispanic communities.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/13/1-in-4-native-americans-and-alaska-natives-are-living-in-poverty/

Issues that are identified that perpetuate poverty are the lack of education, food, and health care. The Federal government has provided funds to Native American communities in recent years. According to a former adviser of the White House on welfare issues, “It’s extremely difficult. If people aren’t integrated into American society then it’s very difficult to reach them and create the basis for economic opportunity and affluence.”

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/27/native-americans-left-behind-in-the-economic-recovery

It seems to me that there is a historical problem with the segregation of native peoples that is still perpetuated on reservations. A disadvantage of living on a reservation is the lack of jobs and fostering of a local economy. Without the ability to work where one lives, you encounter such obstacles like the cost of transportation, accessing basic needs, and an overall unsustainable life.

I want to know, in moving forward with our assistance to vets especially with certain funds to Native Americans, what will the future look like for reservations? Are we paying enough attention to this issue? How can we incorporate this group of people into our class conversations?

When we tell people we are taking a course called “Hunger and Homelessness in America,” what do they think? Signing up to take this course, I thought about the very poor, the people that are invisible and cast out of society. I think our initial reactions to discussing poverty we think about people that are the most disadvantaged.

When do we talk about the working poor? This week we are reading about the working poor- people that may or may not qualify for social services, may or may not have a minimum wage job, may or may not feel stuck.

This weekend I read an article titled “Job Market Leaves Fed in Limbo” in the Wall Street Journal and investigated its contents to reveal some hidden truths about the United State’s recent job growth. Last month, there were 151,000 jobs added to the labor market with the unemployment rate at 4.9%, the lowest since 2008. Wal-Mart says they’re giving their hourly employees a raise in February. This sounds pretty good doesn’t it?

On the flip side, I think there are some factors we should consider and unpack as sociologists. The jobs that added in January are in the two lowest paying sectors- retail trade and leisure and hospitality. This creates potentially more part-time work and gaps in skill to be able to have a higher paying job.

So while there might be more availability with low paying jobs, the opportunity in the long run is not looking up for people closer to the bottom of society like the working poor.

How else do you think this effects our economy and the working poor?

http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-january-nonfarm-payrolls-up-by-151-000-jobless-rate-4-9-1454679110

I traveled to Washington last week to assist in my aunt’s post-surgery recovery. The night after her surgery the T.V. was on in her room showing “BREAKING NEWS: Two Dead in Shooting at Seattle Homeless Encampment”. I listened closely as the investigators were looking into the meaning behind the shooting. Amongst the broadcasters, another conversation emerged. They provided statistics that homelessness has become more of a problem in the City of Seattle in recent years. In response to the shooting, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, presented some solutions to the problem.

In a local NPR segment, the reporter highlights this information about homeless cleanups, “Last year, Seattle performed more than 500 of these cleanups, up from 350 the year before. It’s all adding to the sense of the crisis around homelessness and one reason Seattle’s mayor declared a state of emergency.” Ed Murray has “allocated an additional $5 million for shelters, and he’s about to announce a one-stop walk-in center where homeless people can find services.”

Similar to other efforts around the country to find solutions to homelessness, Seattle was on track to have a plan to end homelessness by this time. Statistics show that homelessness has increased by 19% over a year ago in Seattle.

I find it interesting that legislative action is being taken only after the problem is revealed through breaking news. I would be interested to see the trend in aid to the homeless in Seattle and if the heat around the topic will continue to inspire action. What do you think about Ed Murray’s response to the shooting?

Check out the NPR conversation here:

http://www.npr.org/2016/01/30/464961021/seattle-mayor-confronts-homelessness-crisis-with-services-shelter

“Lets escape to the outdoors!” Almost all of my weekends as a child growing up in Washington State started with this phrase. I grew up trekking thorough trails in Washington’s mountain ranges, camping during the summers, and learning from my family how to escape the suburban lifestyle. Giving back to my outdoor childhood, I now work seasonally at an outdoor recreation co-op called REI. It wasn’t until leaving Washington State and attending college that I began to think more critically about my enthusiasm for the outdoors. Re-locating to sunny southern California was my brilliant idea of a great recreational move. Until the financial strain of college depressed my bank account, I did not fully understand why I loved the outdoors so much, and also why I could afford it.

To escape from reality to a more natural and primitive way of life is my way of relaxing. I am allowed to forget the pressures of urban life and build for myself a “primitive” shelter in the woods. I began to think more about the customers I assist at REI and the people I encounter on the mountain. They’re primarily white, have enough gear to make their adventures safe and enjoyable, and have the time and energy to commit to the lifestyle. This revealed my privilege to be able to stay comfortably outdoors short term and return to my home afterward.

Poor and homeless people do not have this option. Many of them do not get to choose to live outside. They don’t have the money to purchase comfortable gear or the time to think about a relaxing escape.

When the outdoor enthusiast encounters the homeless, do they recognize the irony of outdoor living that is akin to their very own? Can privileged people imagine what its like to live outside unwillingly? Should we all be more critical of our costly outdoor adventures? What do homeless people think about the more fortunately housed outdoor enthusiast?