invisible homeless kids

Diane, I can always count on you to make my alread...

2012-05-04T12:35:36.333-07:00

Diane, I can always count on you to make my already dropped jaw...drop even more! Thank you for all that you do...You continue to inspire me in more ways than I have words. Thank you.

One love
Kelly Hunter

Mayors who typically know little about homelessnes...

2012-05-02T04:20:24.845-07:00

Mayors who typically know little about homelessness (actually fear the issue) tend to claim the "everyone will come to our community if we have services." It's in their mayoral textbook.

Kathryn, I passed on the info to the family about Housing Choice. My recollection is the waiting list is closed...we'll see. Thanks for your kind words!

Very familiar with DuPage, I live in Kane county.t...

2012-04-30T15:35:08.694-07:00

Very familiar with DuPage, I live in Kane county.the shelters are in different cities each time. Many PADS programs are run by politically appointed managers, who intentionally make it hard. Hoping to force the homeless to leave town/county. Often shutting down during the "warm weather" months. They intentionally making it difficult for families and the kids to stay in one school year round.
Our mayor claims the free meals at churches is what attracts the homeless, ignoring the fact that state DHS (foodstamps), Soc. Sec., and State DMV are in his town. All agencies that homeless have to depend on...dah. If they want to chase out the homeless, kick out all state and federal agencies!

You always have such poignant stories, Diane. And ...

2012-04-29T10:03:09.394-07:00

You always have such poignant stories, Diane. And you analyze them so well. I do, however, want to point out that the current legal definition of "homeless" that HUD must use doesn't affect the family's eligibility for subsidized housing. The family should be eligible for public housing or a Housing Choice voucher. The latter sounds more suitable. As with homeless assistance grants, the problem is inadequate funding. The way things are going now, we'll be lucky if Congress appropriates enough to keep all assisted families housed.

This is an amazing website. I love that we are all...

2012-04-15T20:39:32.960-07:00

This is an amazing website. I love that we are all spreading awareness. I encourage all of teenagers out there who are helping keep other kids off the street to enter the same contest I did. Afterschoolawards.com. Many teens who donate their time to helping others can submit a few videos of their community service to this online contest. They could win up to $10,000 in scholarship money.
I just entered and am encouraging others to follow my lead:)God Bless

Thanks, my friends! I really enjoyed my time at yo...

2012-03-30T16:21:25.532-07:00

Thanks, my friends! I really enjoyed my time at your place...and everyone was so very nice!! I'm glad we can be united in this effort to Make Homeless Kids Count! Carry on!!

I got my stick in hand. I am ready for the war!!!!...

2012-03-30T15:57:53.423-07:00

I got my stick in hand. I am ready for the war!!!!! Keep up the good work!

Diane...I have not the words to describe how you h...

2012-03-30T08:30:04.794-07:00

Diane...I have not the words to describe how you have further inspired my already ever-present destiny. Thanks again for all that you do...and will do.

One day...children will read about you in their history books...much like they do Rosa Parks...and the countless others that have come before us.

I love you...and am blessed to now be able to call you friend...Thank you for crossing my path.

One Love
Kelly Hunter

Thank you for fighting Diane!!

2012-02-16T10:05:30.017-08:00

Thank you for fighting Diane!!

Thanks for this post. We didn't realize unti...

2012-02-13T07:45:39.298-08:00

Thanks for this post.

We didn't realize until the NAEH conference this past weekend how rare it was that our organization (SPY) was entirely volunteer run––we have a phenomenal group, all 100% volunteers, from the Executive Director and Board on down, and we're focusing on helping homeless youth in Venice.

Let's definitely keep in touch – I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to collaborate in the future.

Feel free to follow us on Facebook.com/SafePlaceforYouth or Twitter @SafePlace4Youth – obviously we'd love to connect with you! (website= safeplaceforyouth.org)

Thanks again.

Hi Diane, I wanted to begin by telling you what ...

2012-02-07T12:30:06.758-08:00

Hi Diane,

I wanted to begin by telling you what pulled me towards following your blog is your blatant honesty and recognition of the real issues. You make it clear that at this point the issue us much bigger than homelessness, but instead we need to look at how it is being handled. We must consider the standards set for determining, "how homeless you are." At this point, to me, we have too big a focus on identifying who is homeless as opposed to identifying out course of action for decreasing this ridiculous number. Towards the end of your post, I think you hit the nail right on the head when you comment on the supposed "advocates." The issue at hand is simple: those "working" to bring change and essentially end the issue of homelessness do not know what they are working for anymore. They have lost sight of what is important: the families. I just started a community service blog and you put a lot in perspective and because of your blog, I want to work harder to really address the issues. Love your blog and I look forward to seeing what you tackle next.

Thank you for this post. I met Mitch Snyder the s...

2011-12-30T15:36:32.459-08:00

Thank you for this post. I met Mitch Snyder the same year you did, and was also in Washington with a busload of poor and homeless people from Arise. Hope we'll be able to afford a bus for the One Class One Cause March on June 30. We're all even pooer than we were in 1987.

Too bad the Alliance is so far off-base. Given the new stats that say that half of all Americans are low-income, that means half of us are homeless or at risk of homelessness. What a world!

Very cool Blog... I have a website called, “Califo...

2011-12-18T01:09:11.297-08:00

Very cool Blog... I have a website called, “California Homeless Resources”.
http://www.homelessresourcesca.org/index.html and a blog dedicated to the homeless as well: http://homelessresourcesca.blogspot.com/

I'd be interested in similar situations where ...

2011-11-03T14:40:43.849-07:00

I'd be interested in similar situations where an otherwise qualified family is denied housing because of a past due debt to either a PHA or utility. Anyone interested in sharing either on this blog or to me directly at (diane@hearus.us) feel free! It might be one small but essential way to ease some families' situations. Thanks, felden!

I think you put it very well by calling it 'st...

2011-11-03T10:13:37.518-07:00

I think you put it very well by calling it 'stupid'. I do hope you will be able to get Hud to do no harm.
Something similar has happened with PIPP Plus in Lorain County. The old PIPP balance with Columbia gas has to be paid off even if it is from years ago and they didn't know they owed it, before they can get on it!
The reason this doesn't make sense to me is that all the other uncollected balances were forgiven when this new program started. So why not these?

Thank you for what you do.

Thanks, Diane, for speaking out for all of our inv...

2011-08-21T19:08:20.032-07:00

Thanks, Diane, for speaking out for all of our invisible homeless kids in Michigan! Keep telling it like it is! We need you as our champion and advocate! (Wait until you see our homeless student counts in the 2010-11 report!)

how many low income families have had trouble with...

2011-07-19T20:44:43.937-07:00

how many low income families have had trouble with Greg Scalia

Homelessness is often airbrushed out of the tradit...

2011-06-03T19:01:10.345-07:00

Homelessness is often airbrushed out of the traditional media and living in a tent should be by choice.

Exploring social issues through photography at SeeingAmerica.org

Would love to! Let's set something up.

2010-10-18T10:25:11.267-07:00

Would love to! Let's set something up.

This looks like an amazing film Diane! We posted ...

2010-10-18T09:44:16.880-07:00

This looks like an amazing film Diane! We posted to our networks last week. Any chance of a screening in DC?

hi

2010-08-26T12:25:00.255-07:00

Funny you should mention the scholarships. Mary Lo...

2010-07-09T09:21:09.518-07:00

Funny you should mention the scholarships. Mary Lou had begun to work on this at North Central College in Naperville about 6-7 years ago. Don't think it happened yet...but someone could see to it!

Diane: What an amazing woman of strength Mary Lou...

2010-07-09T07:42:24.580-07:00

Diane: What an amazing woman of strength Mary Lou was and every day you are 'on the road' is a tribute to her launching this endless battle against homelessness. Perhaps, when talking about young adults going to College: it occurred to me that a scholarship program could be set up at a College in MaryLou's name with the criteria being...a homesless background. To encourage a young person to post-secondary education! I know how it works in Canada, not so sure about USA; but maybe someone there could take up that cross? What a tribute to an amazing lady...oh and so are you, Diane!

Hey Diane! Thanks for the story of Mary Lou, a re...

2010-06-30T06:48:02.556-07:00

Hey Diane!

Thanks for the story of Mary Lou, a real pioneer in the world of homeless education. Mary Lou's life must be an inspiration to us all--especially to those of us who doubt the existence of caring legislators. May Mary Lou's spirit live on in everyone who advocates on behalf of kids and families in homeless situations!

This is heartbreaking. I agree, how could a motel...

2010-06-29T08:12:40.818-07:00

This is heartbreaking. I agree, how could a motel possibly be a good solution to homelessness?