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LAPD and the Homeless

03/14/2017 Nativegrl77

I’m Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times.

LAPD’s New Homeless Policy: Compassion
The LAPD has long struggled with how to interact with homeless people while enforcing the laws. Last year, two of its most prominent use-of-force cases involved homeless men who were fatally shot by officers. Now, the department is telling officers to practice “compassion and empathy” when dealing with the homeless. Read on to see why some homeless advocates say it will take more than a policy to improve relations.

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Homeless and in College ~~ reminder

03/14/2017 Nativegrl77

I know firsthand how hard it is to be a homeless college student. Please sign my petition calling on Congress to pass landmark legislation that would make it easier for homeless kids like me to go to college

by Jessie McCormick

.As a formerly homeless young person, I’m so proud to be in my final year attending college. It is estimated that only one out of four homeless youth graduates from high school, so achieving a post-secondary education is quite an accomplishment. However, the journey has not been easy.

I fought through my circumstances to go to college, because I knew that was my best chance for a road out of poverty. Now I’m fighting to make it easier for other young people like me to go to college, too.

The thousands of students who are homeless or foster youth in college often have to worry about where they will live during breaks when campus housing shuts down, often right before midterms or finals. I’ve heard about how some must jump through hoops to “prove” they are homeless every year or risk losing financial aid. And sometimes they cannot qualify for in-state tuition because they have no address. The list of barriers goes on and on, on top of the obvious: it’s really hard to get to college in the first place when you don’t even have a home.

Luckily, there is a new bill in Congress, the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act, that would make it much easier for students like me to go to college. Will you sign the Change.org petition I started with two other homeless students urging Congress to pass this landmark legislation?

Being homeless in college hasn’t been easy. Other students go home to their families for Christmas, but I would need to spend weeks trying to find a housing plan for the coldest time of year. Sometimes, offers to go home with friends would fall through last minute. Several years, I spent parts or all of school breaks outside or wandering around my city of Grand Rapids.

Finally, I started a successful campaign on Change.org to change my school’s policies about break housing — and I am proud to say that my college, Aquinas College, is now a leader in taking the initiative to develop safe and effective solutions for students like me.

I have seen firsthand how powerful collective action can be, but I have friends who continue to spend their breaks wandering the streets, and I have seen dozens of my fellow homeless students drop out of their studies after encountering traumatic situations. We need to harness that power of collective action now that this crucial legislation has its first real chance of passing Congress.

Will you sign our petition calling on Congress to pass the bill that would make it much easier for homeless and foster kids to go to college?

I am just one student, and there are thousands of young people in your own community who are waiting for their chance to shine. On behalf of all of us, please consider giving us our opportunity to rise above.

Thank you,

Jessie McCormick
Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Homelessness or lead poisoning: which would you choose?

03/14/2017 Nativegrl77

We have to the tools and the knowledge to end the lead poisoning epidemic. Now we just need the resources.

Tell Congress to pass the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016.

Every family deserves a safe and healthy home. Across the country children are in peril, especially the 4 million living in federally assisted housing. They are being lead poisoned and faulty, inefficient, and antiquated policies don’t trigger action until it’s too late. The Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016 will give the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the long overdue authority it needs to update their standards to ensure that all HUD-assisted, taxpayer-funded housing is free of lead, while also supporting low-income families who have been harmed.¹

That’s why ColorOfChange is partnering with the Health Justice Project, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative and other groups across the country to hold decision-makers accountable. Thanks to your support, HUD has proposed a rule that will finally bring their definition of lead poisoning in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standard. But it’s not enough to prevent more lead poisoning in the future. Yet HUD’s hands are tied until Congress takes action, despite their best efforts so far.

Tell Congress to pass the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016

Without the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016, more children will be exposed to lead poisoning and families will have to decide between protecting their health or losing their housing. The current lead contaminant standards are set so high that studies show 85% of homes resulted in lead poisoning despite passing inspection. The Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act will identify lead hazards before a child moves in, make sure that the definitions are aligned with the prevailing science, and allow families living in toxic homes to move if they so choose.² Sponsored by Senators Durbin (IL) and Menendez (NJ) and Representatives Ellison (MN), Quigley (IL), Lawrence (PA), and Kildee (MI), the bill promises to hold HUD and other federal agencies to comprehensive lead poisoning prevention standards while protecting the most vulnerable families from lead poisoning.³ Predominantly poor and Black communities remain disproportionately at risk for lead poisoning in cities around the country.⁴ This bill represents the long overdue solution to a widespread problem that has endangered far too many lives.

Black communities can’t wait on protection from lead poisoning.

Unfortunately, the current Congress is one of the most ineffective in U.S. history.⁵ Families and children living in public or federally assisted housing are in peril, and with every moment the risk of lifelong harm grows. Black communities cannot wait on piecemeal policy to address issues like lead poisoning, which cause irrevocable damage and diminish potential to live full, healthy lives. HUD, the primary agency for overseeing the safety and quality of the housing funded with federal dollars, done their best to address the lead poisoning epidemic. We need decisive policy like the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016 to bridge the gaps and close the loopholes in current policy. When we spoke out on HUD’s inaction, they listened. Now we need to do the same and demand that Congress do their jobs in protecting the health and safety of the most vulnerable and marginalized families.

Will you stand with us to ensure that decision-makers hear the voices of those most at risk of lead poisoning?

Until justice is real,

–Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Bernard, Evan, and the rest of the ColorOfChange team

References:

1. “H.R.4694 – Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016.” Congress.gov, 03-04-2016.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/6240?t=7&akid=5738.1174326.sat8HF

2. “Durbin, Quigley target lead hazards in Section 8 housing with new bill.” The Chicago Tribune, 03-03-2016. http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6241?t=9&akid=5738.1174326.sat8HF

3. “Reps. Ellison and Quigley Introduce Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act.” Press release, office of Representative Keith Ellison, 03-08-2016. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/6242?t=11&akid=5738.1174326.sat8HF

4. “Chicago lead poisoning rates vary by location, time.” The Chicago Tribune, 05-01-2015. http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6243?t=13&akid=5738.1174326.sat8HF

5. “The 113th Congress is historically good at not passing bills.” The Washington Post, 07-09-2014. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/6244?t=15&akid=5738.1174326.sat8HF

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I’m in college, and I’m homeless ~~ reminder

03/14/2017 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

*PETITION UPDATE*

Thanks so much for your support for my campaign! Since I started this petition, there has been some exciting progress; college administrators agreed to help find a hotel where foster and homeless students were able to stay warm and safe during winter break . But even more importantly, Aquinas’ administration agreed to establish a dialogue with experts and other universities to work toward a formal policy and solution on this issue– both at Aquinas College and other small colleges whose students face similar challenges. I’m looking forward to working with Aquinas to secure safe and stable housing for those who are in need in the long term. For now, I’ve closed the petition while we work together on a solution. I hope you keep you updated about our progress!

Aquinas College: Provide safe housing for foster and homeless students during break periods, especially during the cold winter months

As an unaccompanied homeless youth, there were many barriers to getting into (and staying in!) college. Now that I’m lucky enough to be in my senior year at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I’m about to face another challenge this winter break: I’ll have nowhere to go when campus housing shuts down for winter break.Because I was a homeless youth when I was finishing high school, college was a goal that I was not sure I would ever reach. Sure, I had thought about it, and knew that continuing my education post high school was one of the greatest keys to building a future for myself. I was excited when I was able to apply for and was accepted to a small college in my city, Aquinas College. While there were many challenges, with the help of a great organization in my community, Arbor Circle, I was able to secure on-campus housing and started at Aquinas College in the fall of 2010.

Since then, there have been numerous obstacles faced and countless challenges overcome. But one of the main barriers remains: housing. One of the most tricky situations for foster and homeless students in college is what to do for break periods. Conceded, this is also a difficult situation for schools. Aquinas College provides opportunities to rent on-campus apartments during the summer months, and allows international students and in-season athletes to maintain their housing over fall and spring breaks. However, homeless and foster students are not included in the spring and fall allowances, and are left without options for the two-to-three week period during Michigan‘s cold winters.

Colleges across the country have combatted the issue of break housing in multiple ways. Some have chosen to keep one housing unit open for the break to provide shelter to these students. This cuts down on the utility use for the college, and is one of many ways that the college could ensure safe and stable housing for a very vulnerable group of students throughout the year. Last year, I spent part of my winter break sleeping outside on campus and I know that I don’t want to face the same experience again this year — and I’m sure there are other students who also fear the same.

As a senior, I am anticipating to graduate this upcoming May with a double major in Sociology and Community Leadership. I have overcome many challenges, and cannot wait to dance across the stage in celebration of the work that I have done. However, it is my greatest hope that students who are in situations similar to mine, including several freshman with whom I share a dorm currently, are alleviated of this one major barrier during their college years. Plus, there are thousands of other students — some who are homeless, some who were in foster care, others who have lost their parents or guardians — who are also affected by this issue across the country. I am so proud to be an Aquinas College Saint, will be even more proud to be an Aquinas College Alum, and would be so beyond grateful if my Saints would put forth the effort to show that they are proud and supportive of students like me, as well.

Thanks for signing my petition, and as always– GO SAINTS!
~Jessie McCormick