The Prison System

Throughout this blog, I have spent a great deal of time pondering the nature of homelessness and poverty in Las Vegas and other American cities. With this in mind, I decided to take a look at our neighbors across the pond and see how they coping with poverty and homelessness.  According to this report, England’s prison system seems to be creating homelessness and desperation among recently released prisoners. I am normally opposed to statistics, but the original report provides some interesting figures. 

More than 78,000 prisoners in the last four years have been freed without a home to go to,

 Even more shocking are the numbers provided for 2005 and 2006.

A report by shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said 12,000 prisoners in England and Wales were released on to the street in 2005/06. The figure included 1,122 from high-security prisons.

The story goes on to acknowledge the cyclic nature of poverty and crime.  

Failing to resolve this issue ultimately costs the taxpayer and local communities a fortune as everyone is forced to bear the consequences of increased ‘bed and breakfast crime’ where ex-prisoners re-offend in order to get a roof over their heads.

After reading this story, I am eager to learn how America’s prison system relates to homelessness and poverty. Hopefully, I can get in contact with some local officials or some national statistics. I will be sure to look into this and report back in future blog posts.

 

An Extra Week of Lent?

 The UNLV Table of Plenty Food Drive, an event designed to provide assistance to victims of HIV/AIDS, was originally scheduled to end on Good Friday. I gave the UNLV St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Newman Community a call last week to learn of their final donation numbers. To my surprise, Associate Director David Zeamer told me that the food drive will be running a bit longer than expected.

Since the people at Newman Center expect an overwhelming amount of late donations, the food drive may run (somewhat unofficially) until the end of March.

With this in mind, members of the UNLV community can use this opportunity to donate nonperishable canned goods throughout the week.

I feel a little weird relentlessly plugging this charity event, but it seems necessary to note the food drive’s newly expanded timeframe. So, if you have a couple of cans lying around, or you feel like stopping at the grocery store before class, you can bring your donations to the Newman Center. If you have any questions about the Table of Plenty Food Drive, you can reach the Newman Center at (702) 736-0887 or visit their website for additional contact information.

When the final numbers are revealed, I plan to sit down with the event’s coordinators and see what they have to say about the UNLV community’s contribution to their food drive.

 

Google’s Innovative Approach

 Google certainly has a novel approach to helping the homeless. According to this local NBC story, the billion-dollar corporation is offering free voicemail service for San Francisco’s homeless.

How would free voicemail help the homeless? The report provides a couple of answers, both of which initially escaped my feeble brain. 

“The move by the city and the company would allow someone to be able to fill out a job application, which asks for a call back number. It will allow clinics to share test results.”

I have no idea why my mind failed promptly recognizethese two benefits when initiallyconfronted with the story. Perhaps my disjointed thought process is a testament to the divide between the perception and reality of homelessness. When pompously imagining solutions to the omnipresence of poverty, I tend to focus on the essentials: food, shelter, and safety. In a way, Google’s voicemail program may allow the homeless to procure these necessities in a more self-sufficient manner.

 Putting aside my apparent obsession with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it seems as though Google’s innovative new program could have a profound and positive impact on San Francisco’s homeless population. On the other hand, it could also prove to be an epic failure. I will be sure to keep my eye on the program and relay any relevant information.

 

Cynicism: It Just Feels Right

After desperately searching my local bookstores to no avail, I have finally been able to snag a copy of Adam Shepard’s “Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25,and the Search for the American Dream” on Amazon.com. Apparently, the book has become quite popular in the past couple of days. It went from “out of stock” to no. 143 in books on Amazon in only three days. Perhaps the “Today Show” appearance paid off for Shepard.

I mentioned in a previous post that the book chronicles Shepard’s experience as he abandoned his current possessions and social status for one year in order to prove the reality of the fabled American dream. Essentially, he became a homeless man.  Throughout his 365-day journey, Shepard strove to abandon his newfound homelessness by acquiring a job and, subsequently, regenerating his position in life from square one.

I remain skeptical of Shepard’s work (as I should). Most notably, I am curious to know if he had any sort of safety net. I assume he did. If things got too rough, what – other than an affinity to authenticity – would stop him from somehow contacting a friend or relative? With this safety net in place, Shepard may have created an artificial sense of desperation for his readers.

Maybe I am being too hard on the guy. I haven’t even read his book yet, but I cannot help questioning his social experiment (It is pretty much what I do). I will figure it out when I receive my copy of the book sometime next week. I hope to relay my interpretation of the text as soon as possible.

 

A Table of Plenty

Last week, I wrote a post about the St. Therese Center and its work in providing assistance to HIV/AIDS victims.

In order to bring in donations for the St. Therese Center, the UNLV St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Newman Community is currently sponsoring the biannual Table of Plenty Food Drive.

Members of the UNLV community can participate in this campus-wide event by donating nonperishable canned goods to the Catholic Newman Center or the various donation drop boxes across campus. According to Maggie Killgore, the event’s coordinator, all cans are then taken directly to the St. Therese Center’s food bank.

The Table of Plenty Food Drive runs until March 31.

I was recently given the opportunity to sit down with the event’s coordinators and ask them about their philanthropic goals. Initially, I spoke with David Zeamer, the associate director of the Catholic Newman Center. He underscored the dire situation many HIV/AIDS victims regularly face.

There is a big need for food. Because of the outrageous cost of medicine needed for their survival, [HIV/AIDS sufferers] really have next to nothing left in order to support themselves. We chose this charity based on their overwhelming need

While he conveyed the tremendous need for donations, Zeamer remained thoroughly optimistic about the food drive as a whole.

Our goal is 2,000 items and this semester we’ve gotten the most response. It’s a great way for the university to get involved with our social justice events.

In their effort to collect 2,000 cans, the event’s organizers add a competitive aspect to the food drive by honoring the UNLV department or organization donating the largest number of items. According to Zeamer, this approach has proven successful in past food drives and helps to “give as much as possible to the St. Therese Center.”

Social Justice Peer Minister Maggie Killgore conveyed a similar, optimistic view, but she hesitantly acknowledged the apathy of certain campus organizations.

The fraternities and sororities didn’t participate at all last semester. They said they would, but they didn’t. Hopefully, they will this time.

The Catholic Newman Center can be reached at (702) 736-0887. Donation drop boxes can be delivered to any UNLV department or organization on campus, according to Killgore.

Individuals wishing to donate can find the Newman Center near the dorms on Brussels Road. It is, to my knowledge, the only bright yellow building on campus.

 

Road Kill for the Hungry

KXLY, an ABC affiliate in Idaho, reported a fascinating, and somewhat shocking, story on Feb. 26. According to the broadcast, the region has seen a dramatic spike in automobile-related moose fatalities.  The moose near Idaho’s northern border are reportedly venturing closer to the  roadways in an attempt to evade the area’s increasingly cold weather.

In what has apparently been “leading to a record year for road kill in North Idaho,” one might begin to wonder what officials are doing with the abundance moose carcasses littering Idaho’s highways. I envisioned a pile of unfortunate moose occupying a local landfill. I was wrong (and morbid). A written account of the broadcast offered an answer this mystifying question.

When they can Fish and Game officials call on volunteers to salvage the animal and donate the meat to local food banks

Stop gagging. This might be a good thing (I think). According to the report, this unorthodox practice provides a great deal of assistance to the impoverished.

The freezer at Post Falls Food Bank is packed with wild game road kill that will soon make it’s [Note: This is KLXY's rogue apostrophe, not mine] way to someone’s dinner table. Food bank manager Kathy Larson says they can’t afford to buy meat on their own.

The report went on to cite the large quantity of meat that can be recovered from moose road kill.

Depending on how badly injured the animal is you could salvage anywhere from four to 400 pounds of meat.

The additional food could prove valuable for the Post Falls Food Bank. According to their website, the Post Falls Food Bank provided food baskets to 4,378 families in 2006. This is an impressive effort considering the community’s relatively small size.

The number of individuals served in 2006 represents 41% of the population of Post Falls, an increase of 7% from 2005.

Road kill may not be appearing on the menu at Nobu anytime soon, but the once-majestic moose seems to be providing a tremendous amount of support for the needy in Port Falls, Idaho.

I have imbedded a video of the original KXLY broadcast below.
 

 

Thompson-esque?

 I was sitting in front of my TV, eating my Cheerios this morning when something piqued my interest. A young author by the name of Adam Shepard was plugging his book, “Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream” on NBC’s “Today Show“ The book chronicles an experiment in which the author, in an act that would make Hunter S. Thompson blush, assumed the identity of a homeless man. Shepard explains his daring social experiment in his book’s introduction.

I am going to start almost literally from scratch with one 8′ x 10′ tarp, a sleeping bag, an empty gym bag, $25, and the clothes on my back. Via train, I will be dropped at a random place somewhere in the southeastern United States that is not in my home state of North Carolina. I have 365 days to become free of the realities of homelessness and become a “regular” member of society. After one year, for my project to be considered successful, I have to possess an operable automobile, live in a furnished apartment (alone or with a roommate), have $2,500 in cash, and, most importantly, I have to be in a position in which I can continue to improve my circumstances by either going to school or starting my own business. 

After reading this, I was initially skeptical of the book’s validity. According to the Today Show website, Shepard is a college-educated man; a far cry from the education background of most homeless citizens. “This is yet another example of shoddy gonzo journalism.” I thought. Before I could fully exclaim my unabashed disapproval, Shepard’s credibility surmounted as his introduction continued.

On paper, my previous life doesn’t exist for this one year. I cannot use any of my previous contacts, my college education, or my credit history. For the sake of this project, I have a high school diploma, and I will have recently moved to my new town. Additionally, I cannot beg for money or use services that others are not at liberty to use.

He seems legit. I plan to read Shepard’s tale and relay any interesting information. This task may prove difficult as the book is independently published. In addition, Amazon is listing the book as out of stock. Hopefully my local Borders will carry it. If anybody knows where I can snag a copy, please send me an email or leave a comment.

 

50 More Homeless Nevadans

A slogan found on the official city of Wells, Nev. Website reads: “Come to Wells and BUILD AN EMPIRE!” The people of Wells will certainly be witness to a fair amount of building in the coming months as a 6.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the small northern community last Thursday.

In addition to the initial earthquake, a Friday Associated Press report claimed

Thirty-five aftershocks of 3.0 or larger, including one of magnitude 4.8, have rattled the Wells area since Thursday morning.

According to the initial AP article, there were no serious injuries or deaths as a result of the massive quake. The city’s homes and businesses, however, were not so fortunate. The Wells Telegraph, a local news website, has been relaying information about the earthquake. According to the website, many Wells residents are left without shelter.

Currently there are about 50 families who are homeless and if these quakes continue there could be more. That may not seem to be a lot to those who live in larger communities, but, in Wells it is. Within the township proper there lives about 800 people and about 500 to 700 homes have been damaged.

Like many residents of Las Vegas, I’ve never been anywhere near earthquake of this magnitude. When someone tells me “Wells was hit by a 6.0 earthquake,” I really have no point of reference with which to compare the perplexing digits. I read the numerous accounts of destruction, but I remained thoroughly ignorant to the quake’s force until I visited Youtube. The user-submitted videos of the quake are harrowing to say the least. One, in particular, urges me to curl up under my desk whenever a loud truck vibrates my house’s walls.  The video, which I have embedded below, appears to be security camera footage of a Wells truck stop during the earthquake.

With such a large portion of the community in need of assistance, The Wells Telegraph is instructing city residents to place a white cloth on the dashboard of their cars in order to attract the assistance of disaster relief workers.

According to The Wells Telegraph, donations can be made by contacting the City of Wells at (775) 752-3355 or the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS.

 

The St. Therese Center

Last week, I wrote an article about a campus-wide canned food drive at UNLV. The “Table of Plenty” food drive is held biannually here on campus. All donations are given to the food bank at the St. Therese Center, a Catholic community outreach group dedicated to providing assistance to those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Throughout the course of my interviews, I eventually spoke with Frederick Narberes, a case manager at the St. Therese Center. While most of my questions were concerned with the food drive itself, I managed to wedge in a few questions about the nature poverty and homelessness in relation to HIV/AIDS victims.

According to Narberes, the St. Therese Center serves approximately 3,200 local clients. He could not tell me exactly how many of these clients are homeless or were homeless at one time, but he underscored the organization’s principal goal in providing shelter for the valley’s destitute HIV/AIDS sufferers.

When these people are homeless, we try and get them off the streets as soon as possible. With the HIV infection, life on the streets can be very stressful.

Narberes went on to point out the necessity of the organization’s food bank.

Part of our outreach is the food pantry. This is important because many of our clients cannot work full time.

In addition to canned food donations, Narberes said that his organization accepts donations of all kinds. This includes (but is not limited to) clothing, furniture, and monetary donations.

If you want to donate to the St. Therese Center, you can visit their website for information or contact them at (702) 564-4224.

 

This Blog Has Been Free of Statistics for Zero Days!

Q:What is Clark County’s total homeless population?

According to a 2007 National Alliance to End Homelessness research report, there are an estimated 12,198 homeless living in Clark County.

 

Q:How many of the 12,198 homeless Clark County inhabitants are sheltered?

The aforementioned research report also estimates the number of Clark County’s sheltered homeless. Only an approximated 2,774 of Clark County’s homeless population occupy local shelters. In contrast, an estimated 9,424 homeless remain unsheltered.

 

Q:What is the city government doing to help?

Many of the most notable programs enacted by the city are aimed at the prevention homelessness through affordable housing. The City of Las Vegas Neighborhood Service Department’s 2006 document entitled “Homes for Homeless Nevadans 10 Year Plan to Reduce Homelessness” highlights many of the city’s housing programs. I’ve included a brief portion of this document.

From 2002 to present, more than 200,000 homeless and non-homeless persons with special needs were assisted through the following programs funded by the city of Las Vegas. In addition, 1,569 units of new construction and 705 existing homes/units receiving benefits from the grant funds/private activity bonds allocations.

1. Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA) – Housing rehabilitation, new construction, rental assistance, and supportive services.

2. Home Investment Partnership (HOME) – Housing rehabilitation, acquisition, tenant based rental assistance, homebuyer assistance.

3. 18 % Redevelopment Set Aside for Affordable Housing: to increase, improve and preserve the number of dwelling units throughout the community for low-income households.

4. Private Activity Bond Volume Cap: multi-family and single family housing development.

5. Low Income Housing Trust Fund: Down payment assistance, homeowner rehabilitation, and emergency assistance for households at risk of being homeless.

 

Q:How many homeless veterans live in the Nevada?

According to a 2005 National Alliance to End Homelessness study, approximately 4,600 of Nevada’s veterans are homeless. This represents nearly 2 percent of Nevada’s veteran population. In this study, Nevada ranks fifth among states with the highest percentage of homeless veterans in respect to the particular state’s total veteran population.

 

Q:Where can I learn more about the various homeless shelters in Nevada?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a list of shelters throughout the state. While certain shelters are omitted, this is the most comprehensive and trusted resource I have found so far. In addition to contact information, this list provides a brief description of the care offered at each of these facilities.