Freezing to death in a parking garage

Karen Batts (that’s her on the right of the photo), 52, of Portland, Ore., was evicted from subsidized housing for not paying her rent (she owed $338). She moved into a parking garage, where she froze to death on Saturday, becoming Portland’s fourth person who is homeless to die on the streets just this year. Ms. Batts …

Homelessness is not a crime

I wrote this for the New England News Collaborative, with funding from the Melville Charitable Trust. It may read a little wonky (I have that habit) but honestly, read the story at the beginning and the end. It’s good for what ails ye.

I saw Jesus under a bridge

So yesterday, I went out with the Hartford homeless outreach team, which included my old friend Dave “Big Dave Vega” Duverger, and my new 82nd Airborne Ranger friend, Carlos Martinez, who served in Vietnam about the same time as did my father. Things were unusually busy, but in addition to climbing beneath bridges, we were …

Want to be a part of CT’s annual Point In Time Count?

Every year, states that receive federal aid conduct a census of people who are homeless in their state. Connecticut’s census — a Point In Time count — is scheduled for Jan. 24, and volunteers are needed. This is an awesome way to learn more about homelessness, and you’ll be conducting an important task in the …

How are we doing on getting to zero on homelessness in CT?

Australia’s prime minister dropped a bill in a poor man’s cup…

…and all hell broke loose. Last week, a photo was circulated of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull placed the U.S. equivalent of $3.80 into the cup of a man who is homeless in Melbourne. Was he being stingy? Should he not have given that money? Was it just a simple, humane gesture? Some of the commentary …

To end homelessness, focus on women

From Amy Sawyer, of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness: At its core, Opening Doors, the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, is powered by an understanding of people’s strengths and experiences, and the need to provide them with the right housing and services opportunities at the right time. This nuanced approach …

How are we doing, nationwide, in ending homelessness?

The map from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness  uses 2015 data. To find out how Connecticut is doing, see the most recent Point In Time count, here.

Could $100 million end homelessness?

The MacArthur Foundation announced it would award $100 million for a solution that ends a global social problem. So Jac, who sent the link, wondered: Could we end homelessness for that amount of money? Why the hell not? Just look at what Connecticut has done.

Shutting down the U.S. war machine would buy a $1 million home for every person who is homeless

That’s using 2015 figures — 564,708 people who are homeless in the U.S., as of Jan. 2015. You can read more here, from Jay Syrmopoulos at Activist Post.