I was incredibly moved by Toni Flynn’s book, “Finding My Way: A Journey Along the Rim of the Catholic Worker Movement.” Near the end of the book, she describes a moment she had in which she had to question her morals because she chose not to act when she should have. The anecdote she shares is about what she witnessed while eating an ice cream cone outside of a restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier. As she was sitting there, a homeless man approached the restaurant and began looking in the rubbish bin for something to eat. Instead of trying to assist the hungry man, one of the bartenders approached the homeless man and cruelly screamed at him to get away. The man elucidated that he was hungry and continued to look through the trash. In response, the bartender slammed the lid of the can onto the other man’s fingers. Instead of speaking out against the bartender’s actions, Toni sat there silently, stunned.

After the incident, Toni was troubled by her inability to act in the face of such blatant inhumanity. She asked herself, “what dark side of myself did I encounter? Why, witnessing an injustice, did I not act in some way to prevent such a violent, degrading incident? How can I forgive myself for committing such a gross withholding of love?” (p.53).

This quote was particularly significant to me, because it is a moment that I’m sure all of us can relate to, where we saw something wrong and did nothing to stop it. This quote reminds me of how I felt the other day. Last weekend, I was headed into a restaurant with my friend to get some lunch when we were approached by a homeless man holding window washing tools. He asked if he could clean her car windows in exchange for a few dollars. She declined his offer. He then asked us if we had any food we were willing to spare. Both of us said we did not. Once inside of the restaurant, I was overwhelmed by guilt. How dare I be so selfish as to deny another human being something as easy to accommodate as a meal? Horrified with my moral character, I quickly asked the hostess if she could expedite a to-go order so that I could provide the man with dinner. She obliged and I jogged outside to find the man so that I could offer him some food.

As I walked up to him, I witnessed him ask two other people for some spare change. Both individuals brushed him off. I greeted the man and asked if he’d be interested in some Mexican food. He seemed shocked by my offer and it took him a moment before he accepted. The two of us talked as we walked back over to the restaurant. Once there, I retrieved his dinner and he gratefully took it. As he was departing, the two men that had denied helping him earlier walked back up to him and both of them handed him a $20 bill. It just goes to show that even the smallest of gestures such as buying a hungry man some dinner can inspire others to do the right thing. I know that if I had gone on to eat my dinner without helping this man, I would’ve felt like Toni and hated myself for my inability to extend compassion to someone who needs it.

I was incredibly moved by Toni Flynn’s book, “Finding My Way: A Journey Along the Rim of the Catholic Worker Movement.” Near the end of the book, she describes a moment she had in which she had o question her morals because she chose not to act when she should have. The anecdote she shares is about what she witnessed while eating an ice cream cone outside of a restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier. As she was sitting there, a homeless man approached the restaurant and began looking in the rubbish bin for something to eat. Instead of trying to assist the hungry man, one of the bartenders approached the homeless man and cruelly screamed at him to get away. The man elucidated that he was hungry and continued to look through the trash. In response, the bartender slammed the lid of the can onto the other man’s fingers. Instead of speaking out against the bartender’s actions, Toni sat there silently, stunned.

After the incident, Toni was troubled by her inability to act in the face of such blatant inhumanity. She asks herself, “what dark side of myself did I encounter? Why, witnessing an injustice, did I not act in some way to prevent such a violent, degrading incident? How can I forgive myself for committing such a gross withholding of love?” (p.53).

This quote was particularly significant to me, because it is a moment that I’m sure all of us can relate to, where we saw something wrong and did nothing to stop it. This quote reminds me of how I felt the other day. Last weekend, I was headed into a restaurant with my friend to get some lunch when we were approached by a homeless man holding window washing tools. He asked if he could clean her car windows in exchange for a few dollars. She declined his offer. He then asked us if we had any food we were willing to spare. Both of us said we did not. Once inside of the restaurant, I was overwhelmed by guilt. How dare I be so selfish as to deny another human being something as easy to accommodate as a meal? Horrified with my moral character, I quickly asked the hostess if she could expedite a to-go order so that I could provide the man with dinner. She obliged and I jogged outside to find the man so that I could offer him some food.

As I walked up to him, I witnessed him ask two other people for some spare change. Both individuals brushed him off. I greeted the man and asked if he’d be interested in some Mexican food. He seemed shocked by my offer and it took him a moment before he accepted. The two of us talked as we walked back over to the restaurant. Once there, I retrieved his dinner and he gratefully took it. As he was departing, the two men that had denied helping him earlier walked back up to him and both of them handed him a $20 bill. It just goes to show that even the smallest of gestures such as buying a hungry man some dinner can inspire others to do the right thing. I know that if I had gone on to eat my dinner without helping this man, I would’ve felt like Toni and hated myself for my inability to extend compassion to someone who needs it.

Since my last progress report, my internship organization has undergone several positive changes. The first that I observed was their inclusion of healthier items to put in the food boxes. Before this month, the majority of what was donated was high-calorie, fat, and sugar products that were not conducive to a well balanced diet. This was particularly concerning for me as the majority of the clients we were serving were families that had young children. A nutritious diet is essential for children to grow and develop normally and it would be tragic for the children’s health to be comprised due to financial instability. Along with an increase in fruits, vegetables, and healthier items, another food box program has been established to cater to diabetic and gluten-free clients so that they too can benefit from this organization’s food distribution program.
Staff members are also making more of an effort to guide volunteers about how they should interact with clients. One of the core values of this Christian nonprofit organization is that every person, regardless of their race, religion, background, gender, and socioeconomic status is deserving of respect, care, and love. The head of the organization reminded all of us that, “it’s not just about an armful of clothes or a food box, it is the spirit in which it is given.” This message speaks volumes about the organization’s attitude towards those in need. They really endeavor to ensure that each client who walks through the doors is made to feel special and important, instead of degraded or shamed for having to accept a “handout.” This organization does not blame the people it serves for their situations and need for assistance.
My internship makes a massive difference in the lives of the local community whom it serves. However, on a macro level, this organization is not doing much to end hunger and homeless. This is because their efforts are targeted towards providing resources to individuals instead of focusing on challenging the system that creates these types of issues. The Blessing Center’s mission is not to change the structural causes of hunger, but to do what they can to help the individuals whose wellbeing is compromised by it. They do not focus on amending government policies or lobbying for political change relating to such issue. While this does not ultimately work towards eliminating hunger in the United States, the Blessing Center is still a significant organization because of the difference they make in the lives of the community members they feed and clothe.

This past Tuesday, we were lucky to have Tammy, the founder of “ABCs and Rice,” (a nonprofit organization based in Cambodia) come speak to our class. Her passion for the cause began after a vacation to Cambodia led her to a local orphanage. The great need that she witnessed there motivated her to return to home in Canada, quit her job, and sell all of her belongings. With the money she made, she built a hut in Siam Reap and began a school. Out of this one hut has evolved an entire school that offers educational opportunities to over 150 students. ABCs and Rice also provides a “Breakfast Club” that ensures that each student receives at least one filling and nourishing meal a day. Tammy’s organization tackles each issue affecting the wellbeing and success of their students one at a time.

ABCs and Rice has three main areas of focus: education, food, and special projects that promote community building. One of the most recently launched food projects is the “Full Belly Farm.” The farm grows fruits, vegetables, and houses livestock animals that support the Breakfast club as well as creates extra food that can be given to the student’s families. Any surplus food is sold to help support the numerous programs implemented by ABCs and Rice.

I was incredibly inspired by Tammy and her commitment to making a difference. Just because a child is born into poverty does not mean that they are any less deserving of an education or a chance at being successful in life. These children are just as capable, they are just lacking the resources necessary to equip themselves to be successful Tammy’s organization enables these children to learn, eat, and expand their horizons. By doing so, the children are less likely to become malnourished, die young from disease, get married at a young age, and bring children into the world who will also live below the poverty line. Tammy is truly creating hope for people who would otherwise not have any.

Check out her website!
http://abcsandrice.webs.com/apps/videos/videos/show/16631090-abcs-rice-be-the-change-you-want-to-see-in-the-world

Several of the books that we have read thus far discuss in great detail what life on the streets is truly like for the homeless. One of the issues with living on the streets that is most frequently discussed is that of harassment and brutality from the police. A recent incident regarding this topic that has received international attention is the horrific murder of James Boyd, a homeless camper in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The notion of a homeless person being harmed by the police is a not a new one, but this particular case has caused so much controversy because the entire thing was caught on tape.

James Boyd had been illegally camping in the city’s mountains and had received numerous warnings to vacate the area. The interactions between the Albuquerque Police Force and Boyd show that he was expressing his dissatisfaction with having to be forcibly removed from what had become the only home he knew. He had a small knife on him, but the footage proves that he never used it to the threaten the police or presented them with any indication that he was going to harm them. After refusing to get on the ground, the police fired six shots, instantly killing James Boyd. This cruel and unnecessary bloodshed is an indication of how homeless people can be regarded as second class citizens by law enforcement members. If he was living in a home with a family, would they have hesitated to shoot him or was it an easier decision to make because he was not a “productive member of society?”

This tragedy has been met with outrage from people all over the world. An infamous activist group of Internet hackers, “Annoymous” threatened to hack the Albuquerque Police Department website to publicly express their anger about the unfair death of James Boyd. Last Saturday, the group was successful in causing the APD website to crash. What they did was illegal, but I cannot criticize the hacker group for standing up for what they believe is right and lending a voice to a member of society that was completely ignored until he was brutally murdered by the very people we look to to keep us safe. Was this part of the APD’s job description ignored because James Boyd was homeless?

This is all particularly troubling to me, because after watching the video footage, it was clear to me that Boyd was posing no legitimate threat to the policemen and therefore, his death was completely uncalled for. Just because someone is lacking a home it does not mean that their rights as a citizen are forfeited. Boyd did not deserve to die just for camping in the foothills of a New Mexico city. I am comforted, however, that so much action has been taken to hold the APD accountability for committing a crime and taking an innocent life.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/03/29/Feds-looking-into-deadly-shooting-of-homeless-camper-by-Albuquerque-police/3771396125996/?spt=mps&or=5
*Warning: This video is incredibly graphic as it is the actual footage of Boyd’s death

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/30/anonymous-takes-down-albuquerque-police-website-to-protest-shooting-of-homeless-man/

For our book presentation, my group read “At Home on the Street: People, Poverty, and a Hidden Culture of Homelessness” by Wasserman and Clair. This book is the result of four years of ethnographic research about homelessness in Alabama. The purpose of their studies was to understand what life is like for homeless individuals and why it is that they choose to not live in shelters. By doing so, they endeavored to determine whether or not policies and programs targeted towards this issue are effective or not. In order to gather this information, the two men stayed in shelters, slept on the street, and did all that they could to get to know the homeless communities in Birmingham on a personal level. That is because Clair and Wasserman wanted to collect data in a way that avoided the typical “insufficient and elitist” approach that most researchers have. They believe that power does not belong solely to the person conducting the research. That is why they decided to live amongst their subjects instead of just interviewing them.

Near the end of the book the two are describing what they believe are solutions for the issue of homelessness. They elucidate that “we cannot ‘fix’ homelessness if we do not know those who are homelessness.” (p.217). This was one of the wisest suggestions for rectifying homelessness that I have heard thus far. I agree with Wasserman and Clair in that homelessness in not a “what” issue, it is a “who” issue. It is impossible to determine what is best for someone if you do not know that person. Homelessness is not a generalized or linear subject. It is one that is conditional and impacts each individual very differently. Therefore, there is no simple answer for how to fix this problem. I definitely think that their research was a step in the right direction for determining more effective strategies for aiding those who are homeless in America.

Ever since I began this course, I have become far more aware of homelessness around me. Prior to taking this class, I had grown accustomed to seeing people holding signs and asking for money at the end of freeway exits and because of this had become rather desensitized to the notion. I didn’t actually think about the sign bearer as an individual or take the time to wonder what life must be like for them. It is natural not to dwell upon things that we find troubling and much easier to ignore the problems around us. Now that I am learning so much about hunger and homelessness in America, it is impossible for me to just look past the people I encounter on the streets or hand them some change and forget about it. Every time I see someone asking for money or pushing a shopping cart, I cannot help but wonder what their life is like or what happened to them that they are now in that situation or if they chose to be homelessness?

Today, I was walking along State Street with my friend and cousin and we were approached by an older woman. She politely elucidated that she was new to Redlands and was unemployed and that in order to clothe and to feed herself she sells teddy bears.She asked us if we would be willing to/interested in purchasing one of the stuffed animals she had for sale. Without hesitation, we each gave her some money. She thanked us profusely and was incredibly grateful for even just the few dollars. She tried to give us a bear in exchange for the money, but we declined as we would prefer for her to keep her wares so that she has more products to sell.

After we walked away, two affluent looking women who had witnessed our interaction with the woman turned to us and said in a friendly way, “that probably does more good for you than her.” While I understand that they were trying to make conversation, I was offended by how quick they were to assume that the woman would misuse our money. I loathe the stereotype that every person who appears homeless is a drug addict and thus, you should refrain from giving them money because they will “just use it for drugs.” I found it incredibly respectable that instead of just asking for money, she was trying to sell bears. It really bothered me how those women judged her without even speaking to her.

My internship for the past month has been with a small non-profit Christian organization that operates solely off of the generosity of donors. The mission of my agency is to fulfill the scripture, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you clothed me…” (Matthew 25). This non-profit offers anyone in need a weekly food box as well as a access to medical care and discounted/free clothing.

An observation that I have made about this organization is how diverse the people who volunteer there are. Everyone from homeless community members to college students is there donating their time and service to this facility. I believe that this is because unlike other charity organizations, this one does not require any prior training or a background check to volunteer. The agency is happy for any and all help, whether or not you are offering this just once or every Saturday for a year. This is particularly helpful for individuals in need of the organization’s services who who would rather work for what they receive instead of getting what they might consider to be a “hand-out.” This charity does not discriminate in any way, shape, or form and is willing to help every person who walks through the door regardless of their race, religious affiliation, age, gender, or lifestyle choices.

One of the major questions that I had after my first day of interning there was where was all of this food coming from? The amounts of bread, meat, sweets, and dairy products were so vast that I could not imagine that this was the result of families cleaning out their pantries. I was able to speak to one of the heads of the organization and he elucidated that the food available to fill the food boxes is donated by local grocery stores that instead of throwing out surplus items or products that aren’t profitable give the food to the agency to help the hungry. Without these businesses donating their unwanted food, the agency wouldn’t be able to distribute food boxes to local people in need every Saturday.
I did notice, however, that because all of the food is donated, the organization cannot always ensure that there will be enough of each different food group to put in the boxes. For example, near the end of one of the shifts, the only items I had left in abundance were bread and sweet products. There were still three families patiently awaiting a box and all I had left to give them were cupcakes, cookies, rolls, eggs, and several loaves of white bread. Tragically, while these food boxes offer people something to eat when they would otherwise have to go without, the boxes are not always healthy or nourishing. This is particularly concerning when the families have children whose diets are more demanding of proper nutrition in order to grow properly. While the agency tries its best to provide its clients with a well-balanced box, due to a lack of resources they can’t always do this. This is representative of one of the many challenges that non-profit organizations face.

While exploring Jenck’s theories regarding what the causes of homelessness are and discussing how relevant or accurate his claims are today, I came across several statistics relating to domestic violence.

A report from 2009 comprised by the National Coalition for the Homeless elucidates that one out every four women will experience domestic violence at some point in her life. This shocking statistic directly correlates with homelessness rates, because many women are forced to flee their homes to avoid further violence from partners. Often these women make the decision to be homeless in order to remove their children from the perilous and volatile home situations. In fact, in 2008, 28% of families reported that they were homeless as a result of domestic violence (U.S Conference of Mayors, 2008) and 39% of cities of cities cited domestic abuse as being the primary reason for homelessness in their area (U.S Conference of Mayors, 2007).

These numbers have only increased since the reports were made. Sadly, funds allotted to aid homelessness have not increased and so many women are faced with the horrible decision as to whether they are better off risking more violence by remaining at home with an abusive husband or boyfriend or relinquishing their homes and taking to the streets. The women who choose to leave their homes are often left with almost no resources and as a result are incapable of helping themselves out of their dire situations. This becomes even more difficult when children are present. As we have studied in class, attending school and being a successful student and learner is nearly impossible when your family and home life is unstable and inconsistent.

Despite all of this blatant evidence that homeless victims of domestic violence desperately need help, on any given day, approximately 1,800 people can not be provided with emergency shelter and 1,500 people could not be given any transitional shelter either (National Network to End Domestic Violence.) It is obvious that more needs to be done to offer relief to the courageous women who have left violent situations and need a hand getting back on their feet and rebuilding their lives.

Interview With a Homeless Woman and Victim of Domestic Violence

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/14/portland-homelessness-illegal_n_4790205.html

I was reading the news and came across an article about a group of activists in Portland, Oregon, who held a demonstration protesting the mistreatment of homeless people in their state. Their action was in direct response to the mayor’s recent action to bring back a bill that would permit the police force to awaken slumbering homeless people on the streets and force them to move elsewhere. In the eyes of the Portland activists, this act makes being homeless a crime – something they deem to be inhumane and unfair.

I completely agree with this group of people. I think it is abominable to criminalize homelessness. How can any person with a heart seek to punish someone because they don’t have somewhere secure to lay their heads at night? If the mayor wants people off the streets then he needs to stop talking about investing more money in shelters and actually do it. This article reminds me of the film, “Taylors Campaign,” that we watched in class several weeks ago. In the documentary, one of the primary issues that the street people who were interviewed mentioned was mistreatment and both physical and verbal abuse suffered at the hands of the very people paid to protect citizens and their rights. Being homeless does not mean that you have to relinquish your rights or your dignity and so I find it infuriating that these people are treated so poorly. The way homeless people are forcibly removed reminds me of the way farm animals are rounded up and shipped elsewhere. That is why I found the work being done by the Portland activists to be admirable. I am so glad that so many people in the United States are working to improve conditions for our fellow citizens who have fallen upon hard times and could use a hand in getting back on their feet.