Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts

"The Houseless" aren't wanted along White Rock Creek Trail, Dallas, Texas - www.Houseless.org


"The Houseless" aren't wanted along White Rock Creek Trail, Dallas, Texas


The really sad part of the story found below is that even with all of the technology in place these days, society is digressing.

Sure we have laws to protect and keep some sort of order, put what about those who find themselves in situations that society - "Haves" & "Have-more" - DICTATE their existence.

More people have met with harm by the "Haves" &/or "Have-more", than by those living rough on the streets, under bridges, in wooden areas and/or anywhere they can.

To Jay Casey, please get out of your so called "safe zone" for more than charity benefits, for a "feel good" feeling for ones self and/or for organizations that have seem to find ways to make profitable businesses out of those of us who find ourselves as being "The Houseless". Then maybe, yes just maybe, your misguided fears would meet reality!

You can only shove humans out of existence so far before one day what society has created will need ALL of those who actually seek a more amicable existence, to become real and be about it.

"The Houseless"



by TERESA WOODARD
WFAA 
Posted on August 6, 2013 at 9:48 PM 
Updated yesterday at 10:34 PM


DALLAS — Over the last few months, homeless camps had almost become a fixture along the stretch of White Rock Creek Trail that passes under Skillman Street, north of White Rock Lake.

Click map for large view of White Rock Creek Trail

Men were sleeping within just a few feet of one of the city's most popular jogging and biking trails.

The campers included 43-year-old Michael Eubanks and a buddy of his named Charlie. Eubanks said a City of Dallas employee came through on Tuesday morning and told them to leave.

"Man, a dude drove by in a Parks and Recreation truck and said, 'Hey, if y'all don't move, the police are gonna come and make y'all move.'"

So they moved. And they weren't alone.

Pictures snapped along the trail Tuesday morning showed another homeless camp under another bridge just a little further north.

Homeless on the trail      Credit: WFAA
Some homeless people in Dallas have found a place to camp out along White Rock Creek Trail.

Homeless on the trail      Credit: WFAA
Some homeless people in Dallas have found a place to camp out along White Rock Creek Trail.

"There's kids out here, and if you're trying to run early in the morning, I have concern for my wife and other people out here," said Jay Casey, as he jogged on the trail training for an Ironman Triathlon. "But I know they need a place to stay, and we've gotta do something to help them."

Some homeless are hard to help, and Michael Eubanks may be one of them.

He's been in and out of prison, struggles with his temper, and he likes to drink.

He and Charlie lost their apartment, then chose to live on the trail, under the Skillman bridge for the last couple of months, saying shelters aren't for them.

"I know how it feels to be institutionalized, and for me — in shelters — I feel like I'm closed in, boxed in," Eubanks said. "I like being free and open."

Shelters in Dallas are reporting increased demand over the last few months, mostly from veterans and women with children. One shelter reports an 18 percent increase over demand from two years ago.

Mike Faenza, President and CEO of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, said the city has made great strides, reducing chronic homelessness by 66 percent since 2004. He said there is still room to grow, but concedes it's a struggle to deal with people like Eubanks.

"There are people choosing to live outside, and, for the most part, those people would not be there if it weren't for issues of alcoholism and addiction," Faenza said.

Eubanks showed us around the camp he cleaned up after the city asked him to move, showing where he stashed his blankets and where he and Charlie slept.

"I like being open and free," he reiterated. He also wondered what prompted the order from the parks department.

"Ain't nobody bother me, and we don't bother nobody," Eubanks said. "We eat our food, we drink our beer. You know what I'm saying? What are we harming? I don't understand that."

"We're gonna find us another spot," he pledged,saying it won't be in a shelter. He was thinking they may try the other side of the same bridge.

"I ain't bothering you," Eubanks said. "Leave me alone; let me eat my food and drink my beer. I just wanna go to sleep."




Lest we not forget!

15th St. and M St. in DC, "The Houseless" at http://Houseless.net

Number of people living on Toronto streets increases: Survey - www.Houseless.org


 So many in the United States of America often state that those in Canada have it better than at home, but are they actually speaking with truth?

Canada has many problems of its own, not the least being, Houselessness.

"The Houseless"



Via

Military veterans make up 16%

By ,City Hall Bureau Chief 
First posted: | Updated:
 
(TORONTO SUN FILES)
TORONTO - More people are sleeping on Toronto’s streets and around 16% of them say they’ve served in the Canadian military.

The City of Toronto released an interim report of its 2013 Street Needs Assessment on Wednesday.

While the April 17 survey found the homeless population has stayed almost the same — only increasing 1% — it also found a 24% increase in the number of people living outdoors.

To gather the data city staff and volunteers administered a 13-question survey to people outdoors and in emergency shelters, hospitals and correctional facilities. It’s the third time the city has conducted a citywide count of the homeless.

In all, city officials estimate around 447 people live outdoors in Toronto — that’s up by 24% from the 2009 survey but down 39.1% from the 2006 survey.

Almost 40% of all those surveyed on April 17 said they had spent at least one night sleeping on the street in the last six months.

Among those sleeping rough, the study found they have been homeless for an average of 7.5 years, around a third said they were aboriginal and 16% said they had served in the Canadian military.

The study also found around 20% of the homeless youth surveyed said they were part of the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and two-spirited (LGBQT) community.

Mayor Rob Ford said he hadn’t had a chance to read the report yet.

“What I quickly got briefed on this morning, I understand it has gone up,” Ford said.

“It’s unfortunate (that more people are sleeping on the streets). We have to get these people off the streets and get them the help they need be it if it is drugs, alcohol, mental illness — we have to get them the help they need so we have to do this.”

A full report on Toronto’s homeless survey will come to the community development and recreation committee in September.


More Coverage




Lest we not forget!

15th St. and M St. in DC, "The Houseless" at http://Houseless.net

Homeless Task Force hopes to eliminate homelessness in Columbus - www.Houseless.org



Via

Homeless Task Force hopes to eliminate homelessness in Columbus

Posted: Jul 22, 2013 10:41 PM EST Updated: Jul 22, 2013 10:41 PM EST
By Jessi Mitchell - bio | email



"The Houseless" in Columbus, Georgia

COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Homeless Task Force is fighting a rising population in Columbus. 1500 people sleep somewhere besides their own bed each night, but the city has plans to eradicate homelessness within ten years.

16% of Georgia residents live in poverty. In Muscogee County that number jumps to 18%, with 19% lacking access to nutritious food. The city of Columbus is working to change that with the Homeless Task Force.

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson describes the ten-year plan as a way to lower the number of homeless and increase preventative programs. "What we're looking at now is using existing resources," she says, "but also creating new housing options through a new program our Housing Authority has been approved for by the federal government that's very exciting, that will increase the number of housing units available to those who struggle with homelessness."

Valley Interfaith Promise provides similar services to area homeless on a much smaller scale.

Executive Director Victor Feliciano says it's important to help the homeless by showing them the satisfaction of independence. He says, "The key thing is that we don't do it for them. They have to make that initiative to go and do it themselves, but be able to have a system in place that they can get the resources to accomplish those goals."

He and the mayor agree that the number of homeless will probably never be zero, but taking the right measures can help lower the statistics.

"If you just keep ministering to the homeless without actually placement as your purpose, then you never reduce the numbers," says Mayor Tomlinson. "In fact, the numbers will simply grow."

Feliciano adds, "Triage it and make it to be a short-term situation because that's the key thing. You've got to understand that the homeless person is not who they are. It's just a situation, and all we're trying to do is cut down the amount of time that they're in that situation."

One of the challenges the task force faces is disabilities. 47% of Columbus' homeless have a disability, and 37% of homeless report that they use drugs.

This report is part of a two-part story about the Homeless Task Force and its plans. Tune in to News 3 Nightwatch Tuesday for an in-depth look at a one-stop-shop center that will provide counseling, healthcare and housing services for area homeless.


Lest we not forget!

15th St. and M St. in DC, "The Houseless" at http://Houseless.net

Seattle Interim police chief Jim Pugel apologizes for taxpayer video mocking homeless (Pics/Video's) - www.Houseless.org

Seattle Interim police chief Jim Pugel apologizes for taxpayer video mocking homeless (Pics/Video's)

The video which is available below doesn't exactly represent ALL of those who are "To Protect and Serve", but is a problem that these same sworn public servants DO abuse, on duty and off, citizens.

More will be written here related to others such as: William "Bill" Tarr & employees of Tarr Chevrolet; Jefferson County, TN "Rule of Law" and/or "Protect and Serve" public servants; Catholic and religious business organizations in the East TN area; the Rice's, individuals, religious and business organizations  ... all who abuse "The Houseless",  but due to the shocking nature of Seattle Police defaming, demeaning and/or demoralizing "The Houseless" with the covering up and if finally coming to surface, the important actions was to get it posted ASAP so others would at least know that those who "APPEAR" to be forthright, aren't necessarily so.

Are those responsible for harming those who fall victim to a social/economic system any less human? Why then are these humans treated as "Last Class" citizens?
WHY?

If remorseful, regretful and/or repentant, are those who have brought harm unto others such as, yet not limited to, "The Houseless" just about venting empty words of remorse, regret and/or repent?
You sure?
Make sure!

More will be forthcoming!





Via


Interim police chief apologizes for video mocking homeless

By KOMO Staff Published: Apr 25, 2013 at 6:23 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 at 11:46 AM PDT


SEATTLE -- The Seattle Police Department's soon-to-be police chief apologized Thursday for his role in a decades old department training video that appears to mock the city's homeless population.

The video, which was produced in 1986 and released Thursday night, begins with a message saying it was a "skit created in a misguided attempt at humor."

In it, assistant police chief Jim Pugel and other officers sing a parody song to the tune of "Under the Boardwalk," by the Drifters.

The song includes lyrics about homeless people sleeping on the dirt and drinking all day, including the line, "Under the viaduct down by the bay, we'll be drinking our T-Bird all through the day."

The video also shows homeless people fighting with police and using drugs.

The department claims the video was supposed to be a joke to go along with an internal training video.

In a Thursday night press conference to address the video, Pugel said then-police chief Patrick Fitzsimons saw the skit and reprimanded the officers involved. He also ordered all copies of the video destroyed, but one copy remained in the department.

"I regret my participation and have professionally apologized for my role in it. I do so now publicly. I am truly sorry. Even by 1980s standards, the Seattle Police Department considered the video to be insensitive and inappropriate," Pugel said in a written statement.

Pugel said he was not asked to release the video, but did so to "show where this department has been and where it is going."

He said he released a department-wide statement Thursday afternoon to apologize to his fellow officers, and he had already spoken with the leaders of several organizations that work with the homeless to express remorse about the video.

Pugel is a Seattle native and an officer for more than 30 years. He was named interim chief earlier this month when chief John Diaz announced his retirement from the department.

"Under the Viaduct" 
made by the Seattle, Washington Police Department with taxpayer money



Via

Seattle's interim police chief sorry for video mocking homeless

Seattle police officers perform a skit that mocks the homeless in this still image from a portion of a 1986 training video released by the Seattle Police Department.
Credit: Reuters/Seattle Police Department/Handout
Seattle police officers perform a skit that mocks the homeless in this still image from a portion of a 1986 training video released by the Seattle Police Department.
Credit: Reuters/Seattle Police Department/Handout
By Elaine Porterfield
SEATTLE | Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:32pm EDT
 
(Reuters) - Seattle's interim police chief has apologized for appearing in a 1986 video that showed him and other officers mocking the homeless in what the city's police department this week called an "ugly piece" of its history.

Interim Chief Jim Pugel, who is implementing sweeping reforms in the wake of a 2012 U.S. Department of Justice report that found the city's police routinely used excessive force, appeared in the video when he was a 26-year-old officer.

In the roughly five-minute clip, which officials say was part of a training video and which they released this week, Pugel and a few colleagues are seen wearing fake beards, dancing with bottles of alcohol under a freeway overpass and singing parody lyrics to the 1964 song "Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters.

Some of the officers sport blacked-out teeth as they croon lyrics such as, "We'll be drinking Thunderbird (wine) all through the day, under the viaduct. Who could ask for anything more?"

"Even by 1980s standards, the Seattle Police Department considered the video to be insensitive and inappropriate," Pugel, who was appointed to his position earlier this month, said in a statement late on Thursday. "I regret my participation and have professionally apologized for my role in it. I do so now publicly. I am truly sorry."

He takes over a department that has at times experienced a troubled history with minority communities and is in the first year of a reform plan overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice to revise the use of force by officers.

The Seattle Times reported in a story posted on its website on Friday that the newspaper and other media outlets had received several tips about the video's existence before it was made public late on Thursday by police.

Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said Pugel, who has not said whether he will seek to lead the department on a permanent basis, disclosed the existence of the video to other city officials and homeless groups when he was appointed interim chief.

"It's not a problem but an opportunity to showcase who Chief Pugel is," Whitcomb said. "For him it was a leadership moment."

Police say all existing copies of the video have been destroyed, except for a single copy retained for their records.

Pugel said in his statement that he had the video released because he felt it was "important to show where this department has been and where it is going" and that he discussed it with Mayor Mike McGinn and several Seattle-based homeless groups.

(Writing by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Paul Simao)


Lest we not forget!

15th St. and M St. in DC, "The Houseless" at http://Houseless.net
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