Homeless Centre for Los Angeles ~ Prado Day Centre

Also reading about the fanstastic work by Hardly Normal highlighting the work of the Prado Day Centre Los Angeles

Every day, between 90 to 120 people seek refuge and assistance at the Center. Over 30 percent of the Center’s participants are now women and children. One of the many services the shelter provides is laundry. Clean clothes are so very important to a persons self esteem

Nathaniel Ayers & Steve Lopez

Jamie Fox And Robert Downey jr in The movie "The Soloist"

Nathaniel Ayers, a mentally ill musical virtuoso, was discovered living on the streets by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez. Morley Safer reports on the unbreakable bond between them. On 60 minutes

Down but Not Out

Once a successful business man & real estate agent Ron Craven presents his own personal video of the slippery life as a homeless person on the streets of Toronto. Down but not Out

"I won't say that most people feel that homeless people deserve to die on the streets because they are substandard human beings, not better than vermin, but far too many Torontonians feel that way."

View Ron's own Blog @ downbutnotout

Oh Mother

Up to 50% of all homeless mothers and children are fleeing from domestic violence


25% of pregnant women have been subject to domestic assault.

One of the likeliest cause of death for women in the age range 18 to 40 is at the hands of a partner who is violent

Violence against women is primarily intimate partner violence

Oh Mother

~ a moving song written by Christina Agilera who witnessed dometsic abuse as a child and now dedicates time and resources to supporting victims of Domestic Violence via the 1736 family crisis centre


Christina Agilera

"She was so young with such innocent eyes
She always dreamt of a fairytale life
And all the things your money can't buy
She thought he was a wonderful guy
Then suddenly, things seemed to change
It was the moment she took on his name
He took his anger out on her face
She kept all of her pain locked away

Oh mother, we're stronger
From all of the tears you have shed
Oh mother, don't look back..."

Piñatas for the Homeless

Chicago artists released hundreds of paper mache piñatas stuffed with space blankets, created by a local Piñata factory. The display of functional public art created huge attention and awareness to the issue of homelessness and the spaces (in this case highway underpasses) that act as shelters.

Over 100 Chicago area youth and more than 40 community members participated.

View imges of Piñata making here. Picasa album

Homelessness

These last few days I have been thinking about homelessness ~ reasons for it and those who try and bring about change for this. I have been very much inspired by the amazing House of Cards advert created by Leo Burnett featuring Radiohead for the charity ~ Shelter


Online I have been moved by numerous stories of how virtual communities are coming together to help the homeless.

Here’s one example of how a “FlashMob” was organised in Vancouver, after just one Tweet in December 08, to provide blankets for those sleeping rough. (Twitter helps Homeless)

Sometimes it takes more than that ~ its recognising that those on the streets are the most invisbile and disregarded by society and its hearing their stories that brings us closer to undertsanding their needs.They come from all walks of life but often have simply lost faith in their abilities to face the world.The greatest things you can do is befriend.

I also discovered a new video blog called Invisible TV that gives a voice and face to the homeless documenting their stories across the web.

“To have the confidence to actually do something about where you are is especially hard because you have to build up that confidence. By the end of the time you come on the streets you've lost all confidence in yourself and you think I cant do it even if I try I'm not going to be able to do it.”

~ Rebecca, a once homeless woman, who set up the charity in Australia Rebecca’s Community


This week I gave several pairs of socks to the homeless person who made this photograph.

This photo was taken the day they went homeless.

October 31st 2008.

I know them personally and try to help where I can. This person is my friend and someone I respect a lot. It’s a situation that can face anyone, regardless of stereotypes.

I too was homeless for a short time when in between jobs in Asia. I slept in a hovel, with several others, men and women, toilet and shower were shared with strangers, no privacy whatsoever. It was frightening and it reduces your dignity. No air conditioning, windows were open and my body was covered in mosquito bites after sleeping on the not so clean sheets. I felt incapable but at the same time my pride made me feel I couldn't ask for help. One wonders how people can end up in such a vulnerable situation, but it happens. Fortunately for me, some friends intervened, offered a temporary place to stay, until I found a job. I was grateful to have had the benefit of an education that secured me employment within a short space of time. To this day I won't forget the stench, of sweating bodies, lonely for a resting place in the sticky tropical humidity.

This is the bathroom I shared with about 15 others.

"When we bear witness, when we become the situation — homelessness, poverty, illness, violence, death — the right action arises by itself. We don’t have to worry about what to do. We don't have to figure out solutions ahead of time. Peacemaking is the functioning of bearing witness. Once we listen with our entire body and mind, loving action arises.

-- Bernie Glassman