Matt 6: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ..NKJV"
News Commentary by, Peter Ripley
Editorial Comment: Is this an example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing in spending the night in the shelter, possibly having the shelter turning away people who really need to use it? I hope that Miller, and Younger considered that when going out on this outing to see how it feels to be homeless. I thought about these questions when pondering what to say about the entire affair. They might have had the best intentions, but good intentions means nothing when taking up needed bed space just for an learning experience, about what it's like to be homeless.
Related stories:
Read PDN Story: PDN: Nothing easy about it: Two try out being homeless in Port Angeles.
Quote: " Amy Miller, who heads the REdisCOVERY Program of Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics (VIMO), and Shenna Younger, VIMO’s director of Development and Operations, experienced this first-hand when they spent Wednesday night at Serenity House of Clallam County’s night-by-night shelter and attempted to stay warm after the shelter closed at 5 the next morning as the temperature dipped to 27 degrees."
What got me feeling negative vibes was the challenge that Miller and Younger made to city officials that was a little disconcerting.
Read PDN Article: PDN: Port Angeles officials to spend night on the streets.
Quote: " West said the best way to work toward solutions is by experiencing what people in Port Angeles face every day.
He called the challenge intimidating, especially as temperatures have dropped below freezing in recent days, but considers it an important step for city officials to take.
“It’s important to have compassion for those already out there facing those challenges,” he said. “That perspective makes it so worthwhile. Even if it is a difficult evening it will be worth the learning experience.”
French, who is also a downtown business owner, said he is excited and nervous to spend a night at the night-by-night shelter.
“I’m excited that Shenna and Amy had this idea,” said French, who is also a VIMO board member. “They clearly have a passion for working with homeless people and all sorts of people who have fallen through the cracks.”
Editorial Comment: Why was having city officials posing as homeless, to find out what it would be like to be homeless, disconcerting to me you might ask? The shelter may have to turn people away because French, and West are taking up beds that some people may truly need the beds.
I can't be too critical of Miller, and Younger's bring awareness because I know how my efforts of bring awareness about the disabled was citized by a former County Commissioner.
About ten years ago when I was a member of the Clallam Developmental Advisory board. I held a little disability awareness during disability awareness month. I too challenged area elected officials to try out sitting in wheelchairs, to see how the disabled try and manage to get around.
That was back when State. Rep. Mike Chapman was County Commissioner. Two of the other commissioners agreed to try out a wheelchair to see how they fair with limited accessibility in some places in an around the courthouse, Chapman declined to participate, criticizing what I was doing was disrespectful to the disabled.
Which by the way I am disabled. He was entitled to his opinion of course, but the two commissioners who did participate came away knowing how it was, having to manage using a wheelchair. and because of that some improvements in and out of the courthouse happened. Like installing electronic door openers to the old county courthouse entrance. Among other things.
Many people end up being homeless for various of reasons: Lost job, lost governmental benefits if you are living on low income to start with. Not being able to pay the rent, or house payments because of lost benefits and be just as bad losing a job, and end up in the streets because you can't pay the rent, or house payments. Other reasons of homelessness include: Running away from an abusive home by either parents, or spouse, or just being thrown out of your home by the family, running from the law, and a host of reasons people become homeless. Some choose to be homeless because they are on the run, or hiding, so they don't seek assistance in some cases. Nevertheless, we shouldn't just be think of doing good to the needy on the holidays, we should strive to assist those charitable organizations and churches who can help, year round.
THEN THE BIG WIND STORM!
Power outages reported across Clallam County.
PDN Article: HIGH WINDS ACROSS the North Olympic Peninsula caused a countywide power outage in Clallam County, Public Utility District officials said.
Editorial comment: If ever, an ironic event occured to have people experience a little taste what it feels to be homeless was Friday, and no one needed to pretend. Just imagine having the feeling of being virtually homeless, in your own house, or apartment when you have no other source of heating other than electric power. Alone in the pitch black dark trying to keep warm using blankets, and warm cloths for eight hours. Not being able to cook anything because the power is out, or hoping the items in your refrigerator won't go bad. It's time time worse for the homeless because they have no shelter to speak of in the first place, they are at the mercy of the dark cold night. I realize some are without power still, that only increases the feeling of isolation. If anything the blackout was a wake up call to invest in emergency kits, and backup power generators.
The city needs to fund the shelter, and provide sound policies regarding the homeless, not taking up bed space, for those who need it, just to feel what it is like being homeless. So while we gather around the Christmas dinner table, and sit around the tree to open presents, let those who can open their wallets and donate, and count your blessings, because homelessness can happen to even you.
( donate to the shelter all year)
The following are some stories regarding the homeless...
HUD AND VA ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_18_143
HOMELESS VETERANS FIND PERMANENT HOMES
Second Round of HUD-VASH vouchers to provide housing for veterans and their families
WASHINGTON – In a continuing effort to help end veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announce a second round of funding to help provide permanent homes to veterans and their families experiencing homelessness in six states and the District of Columbia.
The funding provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program gives an additional 424 vouchers to local public housing agencies across the country. In October, HUD awarded another $35 million to help more than 4,000 homeless veterans find permanent homes.
Recently, HUD, VA and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) announced the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States has been cut nearly in half since 2010. The data revealed a 5.4 percent decrease in veteran homelessness between January 2017 and January 2018.
“As a nation, it’s our duty to serve the men and women in uniform who sacrificed so much for our country,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “The additional HUD-VASH vouchers awarded today will continue to support the important work of communities across the country that ensures our veterans have a safe and stable place to call home.”
“VA, HUD, and our federal, state and local partners are proud of the significant decline in Veteran homelessness achieved in recent years; however, important work remains,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “The housing choice vouchers and wraparound supportive service announced today will improve the lives of many Veterans who are currently homeless by helping them find a place to call home and reintegrate back into their families and communities.”
The HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance vouchers from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA. Since 2008, more than 93,000 vouchers have been awarded and approximately 150,000 homeless veterans have been served through the HUD-VASH program. More than 600 public housing authorities (PHAs) administer the HUD-VASH program, and this most recent award includes 25 additional PHAs, increasing HUD-VASH coverage to more communities.
In the HUD-VASH program, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) assess veterans experiencing homelessness before referring them to local housing agencies for these vouchers. Decisions are based on a variety of factors, most importantly the duration of homelessness and the need for long-term, intensive support in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff offers.
Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Read more about the HUD-VASH program.
In October, HUD and VA awarded $35 million to help more than 4,000 homeless veterans find homes. The funding ensured communities could provide the critically needed housing assistance and case management services to veterans and their families experiencing homelessness. The agencies also announced an additional $7.4 million through the Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot (VHRMP) Program to assist disabled veterans with modifying or rehabilitating their homes, making them more accessible.
The 2017 Homeless Report from the Washington State Commerce Dept:
http://www.commerce.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Commerce-Homelessness-in-Washington-2017.pdf
Quote: " Despite the statewide low vacancy rates, the Point-in-Time (PIT) count conducted in January
2017 indicates that the number of people living outside dropped in the majority of counties.
However, counties with fast growing economies and rents continued to see increases in homelessness.
In Calendar Year 2016, over 122,000 people experiencing homelessness or housing instability in our state were provided housing assistance, other services, or both. These individuals encountered their county homeless crisis response systems that identify and prioritize people with the greatest need so they are quickly “screened in” for housing.
The goal of a highly performing system is to reach the balance between need and capacity, so that when a person becomes unsheltered there is an immediate response that quickly moves that person back into housing.
The statewide homeless crisis response system housed 99,729 people experiencing homeless or housing instability last year. Twenty-six percent of people who exited a homeless program went into permanent housing. Further improvements to this level of performance, combined with lower rental inflation, adequate rental vacancy rates, and resources matched to need, could lead to Washington state achieving the vision of “leaving no person left living outside.”
Note: The 2018 report on homelessness as yet to be reported.
See more info on the Commerce webpage
https://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/homelessness/
Bellingham Herald: Homeless man who returned $17K he found at food bank hopes to get a home with donations.
https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/article222968005.html
Washington State Wire: Senate Dems create two new committees to address homelessness and mental health in 2019.
Lawmakers have repeatedly indicated that addressing homelessness and improving Washington’s mental health system will be top priorities during the upcoming legislative session. On Wednesday, Senate Democrats reinforced the importance of these issues by announcing the creation of two new legislative committees that will specifically focus on behavioral health and housing.
https://washingtonstatewire.com/senate-dems-create-two-new-committees-to-address-homelessness-and-mental-health-in-2019/
WP: Meet Lily, the first homeless Muppet on ‘Sesame Street’
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational group behind the show, cited statistics from the Office of Head Start indicating a 100 percent increase in children experiencing homelessness in Head Start and Early Head Start over the past decade. Of the more than 2.5 million homeless children across the United States, nearly half are under 6, according to the group.
🌎WORLD NEWS HEADLINES FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER & OTHER SOURCES.
UN pushes for universal health care on International Day
Universal health care for all, leaving no one behind, by 2030: that’s the call going out on International Universal Health Coverage Day, which this year falls on Wednesday. Why 2030? Because that’s the target date for completion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of which (SDG3), calls for the promotion of healthy lives and well-being for all.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1028331
Failing to agree climate action would ‘not only be immoral’ but ‘suicidal’, UN chief tells COP24
With roadblocks continuing at the COP24 climate change conference over how to implement the historic 2015 Paris Agreement, United Nations chief António Guterres returned to Poland on Wednesday, to challenge the more than 100 Government leaders gathered in Katowice to find consensus and “finish the job.”
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1028311
Easing US-China trade tensions could save millions of jobs: Asia-Pacific UN report.
Millions of jobs in the Asia and Pacific region have been put at risk by conflicts over trade, despite a recent agreement not to escalate tit-for-tat tariffs by the United States and China, according to a new regional UN report.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1028341
Governments urged to put first ever UN global migration pact in motion, post-Marrakech.
The adoption by more than 160 governments of the first-ever global migration pact is a triumph of multilateralism and highlights the importance of dispelling “myths” and fear-mongering over the issue, said the UN’s senior migration official on Tuesday, bringing the key two-day Marrakech conference to a close.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1028251
Progress made in UN talks to end Yemen war, Envoy lauds ‘positive and serious spirit’
United Nations-sponsored political consultations in Sweden, involving the warring parties in the Yemen war, have led to progress “on a number of issues,” said Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy for Yemen, at a press conference on Monday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1028161
🌍IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION:
PAGE 2: Remarks by President Trump at Signing of an Executive Order Establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.
PAGE 3: Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker-Designate Nancy Pelosi.
PAGE 4: Government Intervenes in False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Sutter Health and Palo Alto Medical Foundation for Mischarging the Medicare Advantage Program.
PAGE 5: BUSINESS & FINANCE
US TREASURY DEPT: Treasury, USTR Finalize Bilateral Agreement With the UK on Prudential Measures Regarding Insurance and Reinsurance.
PAGE 6: NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO D. C.
Reps. Rice, Gallagher & Kilmer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Accountability and Transparency of Political Spending.
PAGE 7: STATE HEADLINE NEWS & LOCAL MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS.
Clean electricity, clean buildings and clean transportation: Inslee plan would launch comprehensive clean energy transition and significantly drive down emissions.
(Don't be fooled it's just another incarnation of the carbon tax he tried to impose on us)
Editorial note: As you might have gather I decided to make separate pages again, hopefully this won't make paper look too messy.
