Click the Pic Thank you, JoeProBono
Follow the Exciting Adventures of Gary the Snail!
Abolish FReepathons
Go Monthly
Planning to donate at least $10? You can sponsor
one or more New Monthly Donors for no additional cost
FReepmail TheOldLady
Posted on 10/10/2011 1:10:47 PM PDT by mdittmar
SEATTLE -- Spending cuts are forcing a Seattle organization to close 15 indoor shelters Monday, putting about 300 homeless people on the streets, the group said.
SHARE/WHEEL, the organization that runs the shelters, said it has run out of money. The homeless-run shelters rely heavily on government spending, but this year they lost a giant chunk of federal money, which came through a FEMA grant.
"We really need a stable source of funding," said Jarvis Capucion, who is homeless and serves on SHARE/WHEEL's board of directors.
A large amount of the money goes to bus tickets, which allow those who use the shelter to travel to other parts of the city during the day. The tickets are necessary to keep homeless people from lingering in neighborhoods near the shelters, something many sites require in exchange for using their space.
Capucion said many people are afraid to sleep on the streets. They are hearing reports that six homeless people have died in the past two months.
"Being on the streets, you don't have that safety," he said. "You can't sleep and you're always on the lookout."
Anna Hammitt, who moved into a shelter in the University District last month, is angry about the closures. Shortly after moving to Seattle, she learned even motel rent was too expensive, so she moved into the shelter.
"They welcomed us with open arms," she said. "These guys are my family."
Her goal is to help find funding to reopen the shelters as soon as possible.
"I know my purpose is here to help those that really need help," Hammitt said.
SHARE/WHEEL is hosting a sleep-out to raise awareness Monday night, which happens to be World Homeless Action Day. The sleep-out begins at 7 p.m. in an alley off Stewart, between Second and Third avenues.
Are they being released in time to join the Occupy Seattle protest?
Occupy Seattle just grew by 300 people.
Give Buffet a call. He says he doesn't pay enough taxes and you need the OPM. So . . . oh yeah. Even Buffet wants to spend OPM like all Demis. So sorry. That Fema money was supposed to be spend on disaster aid for towns, areas and cities. Not general homeless population. What a bunch of pigs and deceivers these Democrats are.
If that woman has time and skills to ‘serve on the board of director for SHARE?WHEEL (whatever the heck dumb organization that is),she has time and skill to get a real job that pays real money that could put her in a position to have a home even if it is a very small rented room with a shared bathroom. OPM. OPM! Pigs all of them.
This points out two tragedies of government spending. First, government spending crowds out private charitable spending so all the church and other private shelters closed down or got addicted to the public teat. Second, I’m sure money is available for these shelters if they cut back on some of the bureacracy and government drone pay. But we know that ain’t happening. Cut programs like this, or police, to inflice maximum pain on the public or for maximum publicity value. “The homeless are freezing in the streets” is the headline, not “overpaid government worker has to take a pay cut like the rest of us.”
“They are hearing reports that six homeless people have died in the past two months”
...that’s why I always sleep where there’s a door and a lock. Then I set my alarm and GO TO WORK to pay for the door and the lock!!!
In other news, the Obama Administration responded to it's loss of $535 million in loans to Solyndra by extending $737 million in loans to a company run by Nancy Pelosi's brother-in-law.
They are houseless, not homeless.
There is an important difference, and we have been trained to say homeless. We also say ‘credit card’ instead of debt card.
Media manipulation.
excellent points
‘putting about 300 homeless people on the streets’
Gawd I hate the media.
They’re advertising on Craig’s List for protesters. The pay is $350-$650 per week. That should pay for motel rooms for a while.
$350-$650 per week barely covers illegal drug expenses for any self-respecting bum.
Every issue you mention is in place in Dallas. Charities/churches run all but one shelter. Staffing is paid by private vlounteer groups and charity fund raising. They even contract with medical groups for some types of care.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.