“Give Homelessness a Holiday” Challenge – November 17 – 24

Update: We now have more sponsors than we know what to do with! The generosity of our community and the response to our Challenge have enabled us to stop the Challenge early. If you are already participating, please email your completed form to coalition@cflhomeless.org. If not, please email coalition@cflhomeless.org (subject line: “Help for the Holidays”) to see what else you can do for your neighbors in need during this season. We are so thankful to the community and will keep you informed of the results of the Challenge!

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As part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, the Coalition would like to launch yet another Challenge to our supporters. In the past, we’ve asked you to donate blankets during a cold spell, to live on $15 a day, and also to show that you “can” care by donating food items, such as canned fruits and veggies. This time, our Challenge is even more urgent.

We have over 30 single men and women who will not receive the hope or longed-for gifts that come with a holiday sponsorship. You can help!

Each year, the Coalition offers a holiday sponsorship program that presents families, social groups, religious organizations, and companies in our community with the unique opportunity to make the holidays special for a neighbor in need. As a participant in this exciting opportunity, they have the chance to “adopt” a family or single adult in one of the Coalition’s residential programs. These clients are working hard in their case-managed programs to progress into independence. Our sponsorship program helps ensure they enjoy the holidays in their temporary home.

But this year, we don’t have enough sponsors for all of our single adults. Though we are fortunate to have sponsors lined up for our families, we have over 30 single men and women who will not receive the hope or longed-for gifts that come with a holiday sponsorship. You can help!

How, you ask? That’s where the “Give Homelessness a Holiday” Challenge comes in:

1)    Sign up: To participate in the Challenge and sponsor a client, email coalition@cflhomeless.org with “Give Homelessness a Holiday” in the subject line. You will receive a sponsorship form and gift-giving guidelines, as well as answers to any questions you may have.
2)    Receive your match: You will be paired with a single man or woman (we will attempt to match your preferences) as soon as possible. We will provide you the name, age, gender and suggested wish list for each of the individuals you are sponsoring.
3)    Shop: You will shop for and wrap the gifts for your “adopted” individual and deliver them to the Coalition by December 17 (address, directions and times will be emailed to you). These personalized, needed, and wished-for presents will mean the world to clients who would not receive gifts without your generosity!
4)   Share: You will share your experience in any way you can: Twitter, Facebook, blogs, phone calls to family and friends, or even an old-fashioned letter. We would love to spread the news of homeless men and women who are moving towards self-sufficiency; this will remind so many that the stereotypes often associated with homelessness are quite far from reality and will help make National Hunger and Homelessness Week a true success.

Your ultimate reward will be to remind your “adopted” client that you care about them and want them to succeed.  You will make their holiday in this temporary home truly memorable. But just in case that’s not enough, we are willing to throw in a little reward:

To give a shout-out to those generous community members participating in the Challenge, we will be granting a guest-blogging opportunity to three participants who turn in a completed sponsorship form. The winners will be chosen randomly, and each sponsorship offers one opportunity to win (which makes the idea of winning even more exciting). This will be a perfect opportunity to share why your company, social organization, religious group, or family believes in giving back to the community, or what personal insights you have gained from reaching out to others even in the midst of tough times. (The Coalition reserves the right to review blog posts before posting to ensure they are appropriate and accurate.) We at the Coalition are looking forward to hearing what you have to say and seeing any pictures and videos you take of your gift-gathering experience!

This rewarding Challenge will run from Tuesday, November 17 through Tuesday, November 24. We hope you will help us make our client’s holidays jolly!

Veterans Day for homeless vets

Veterans, like the Coalition clients above, make up 26% of the homeless population even though they only constitute 11% of the entire civilian population.

As the nation celebrates Veterans Day with memorials and words of appreciation for those who have fought and sacrificed for our freedom, we must not forget one segment of the veteran population: the homeless. According to a report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, veterans make up 26% of the homeless population even though they only constitute 11% of the entire population.

There are several main contributors to homelessness which can affect anyone, including former service men and women. These encompass such factors as low wages, loss of income, and unemployment.  In addition to these common issues, the Alliance has identified several other contributors specific to veteran homelessness, including separation from the support of loved ones, lower self-esteem or stunted communication skills because of the strain of service, and trouble readjusting to civilian life. We should also remember that many veterans have suffered permanent injuries during their service; adjusting to life with a handicap is emotionally, mentally and physically exhausting and can even hinder someone’s ability to earn a living in their accustomed manner. In addition, the Alliance reminds us that the drooping economy, skyrocketing unemployment rates, and shortage of job openings are difficult on everyone, but particularly for those just returning to the states or readjusting to life here.

With these contributors to veteran homelessness in mind, we ask that you consider what you can do today to assist former service men and women in returning to self-sufficiency and stability. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make a difference:

•    Teach your family to remember. By sharing with your children and loved ones the history and importance of Veterans Day, you are ensuring that the meaning and intent of this important day is not lost. You can find a wonderful synopsis of what the holiday means at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
•   Get to know one veteran who is struggling. Perhaps the individual has been homeless for years, or possibly they have just returned from the front lines and are struggling financially. In either case, your friendship and support will make a world of difference in the life of someone who has already sacrificed so much.
•    Share your voice. The Alliance provides a listing of several initiatives related to homeless vets that require congressional action. The more informed you are about these issues, the greater your ability to make a difference in the policies affecting homeless veterans.
•    Volunteer or donate. The Coalition provides shelter services to a number of homeless veterans each night. By donating your time or resources to the Coalition, you are enabling us to continue offering the homeless programs and services that will enable them to return to independence.

We hope remembrance and action are a part of your Veterans Day. They certainly are a part of ours.

Wednesday lunch plans? How about 4Rivers Smokehouse?

On November 11, 2009 4Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Park, FL will host a grand opening. This celebration promises to be extra-special, with 50% of the day’s proceeds benefiting Coalition for the Homeless. These funds will help us provide food, shelter and supportive services to our approximately 600 clients each day.

Just in case you haven’t heard about this exciting new restaurant, 4Rivers is a delightful new business that features premium Texas-style barbecue in a rustic smokehouse setting. We are especially excited about this new area business because John and Monica Rivers have been great friends of the Coalition in the past. Even in these tough economic times, they are giving of themselves to support us in addressing the needs of the homeless men, women and children in our community and returning them to independence. With their commitment to the local community in mind, we hope you will patronize 4Rivers Smokehouse for a long time to come.

Want to make sure you don’t miss out on the grand opening festivities this Wednesday? Go ahead and copy down the hours and address:

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
10:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
2103 West Fairbanks Avenue
Orlando, FL
407-474-8377 (407-4RIVERS)

Not sure yet if you will be able to make it? Remember that local owner and resident John Rivers has spent 20 years perfecting his recipes. He takes pride in using the highest quality products for his mouth-watering menu featuring his award-winning 4Rivers Smokehouse Sauce with items such as Angus brisket, St. Louis style ribs and southern pulled pork.  The Texas Destroyer and the Messy Pig are just a few of 4Rivers Smokehouse Signature Stacker sandwiches and the menu’s featured side items include 4Rivers BBQ beans, baked cheese grits and smoked jalapenos. If these tantalizing menu items don’t convince you to join us for the grand opening, perhaps 4Rivers dedication to donating 50% of Wednesday’s proceeds to the Coalition will be enough to nudge you towards delectable dining!

We hope to see you at 4Rivers!

Report on public perceptions of the homeless in Central Florida

Just this week, researchers from the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences released a study that gauged the region’s ideas about the local homeless population. Titled “Public Perceptions of the Homeless and the Agencies that Serve Them,” this study provides invaluable insight into how our community views the issue of homelessness in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

We decided to share the conclusions in the words of the researchers themselves, as well as point out some particularly interesting discoveries.

Some points we found particularly intriguing:

• Most respondents (55%) described homelessness as a “major problem” in Central Florida.
• Public perceptions of the homeless are generally positive.
• About one in three (35%) says that their opinion of homeless people changed in the past year.  Of those whose opinions have changed, 95% say they have become more sympathetic.
• One survey question asked if respondents felt enough is being done to address the issue of homelessness in Central Florida. A substantial majority (73%) said no.
• The study also questioned whether Central Florida’s municipal and county governments should do more to fund programs that address homelessness. The resounding majority of respondents (83%) said yes.

We are rarely able to share results from a study that is strictly local and because of this the UCF study is priceless to us. Based on the results of this study, we gather that the Central Florida community is changing its perceptions of the homeless population and that they are beginning to consider ways this issue can be addressed. Our goal is to continue offering the community proof that the face of homelessness has changed and to remind them of how they can get involved in addressing this increasingly imperative issue. Visit our website to find out more.

Stay tuned for more results from this study: we will be sharing the statistics on the community’s perceptions of the Coalition sometime very soon.

What do the holidays mean to a homeless family?

Is your family, religious organization or social group looking for a unique opportunity to make the holidays special for a neighbor in need? If so, please consider sponsoring a family or individual at the Coalition. Your generosity can make their season one of hope and joy!

Don’t believe us? Read on…

Al Patrick, who has previously written two letters featured on our blog (we encourage you to read both the first and the second) shared another note he wrote just after the 2008 holiday season. This letter was written in appreciation for the family that sponsored holiday gifts for Al and his two children, Sean and Chloe.

Dear family,

Sean, Chloe, and myself, want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your unselfish giving so that we could have a really great and blessed Christmas, despite being homeless…

First, let me say, that even though we are [only temporarily] residing at Coalition for the Homeless…, like Sean told me back in August, the Coalition [is] our home until we are able to get on our feet and move on.

The three of us are definitely grateful for the Coalition taking us in and keeping us together…

I am a retired Houston fire fighter, and before that, the best job I’ve ever had, I worked in positions where I was always helping others. Having to ask for help was totally different and foreign to me. If it weren’t for my children, I don’t even have a clue where I would be right now…

People like you keep the dreams and hope alive in these children. And many times they help their parents’ dreams and hopes rekindle.
Sean loved the army play set that you bought him. He loves to play with army men.

Chloe loved the outfits, the dolls, and especially the art kit. Chloe cried tears of joy about the art kit. Chloe is really into arts and crafts.

As for me, I like the 2 outfits that you got me. Both Sean and Chloe told me how good I looked in them.

This year was a great and special Christmas for us, just because of you and the Coalition.

We wish you and your family a really great and prosperous new year. We also hope and pray that you continue your tradition helping those who are less fortunate, each and every Christmas as God allows. In fact, this was the purpose of our letter; to let you know that what you did, [have] done, and will do doesn’t go unappreciated.

Sincerely,

Al, Sean and Chloe Patrick

PS – We will be moving into our own place at the end of this month. And with God’s will, once we are on our feet, we pray that we can start your tradition.

Al’s touching letter proves that this program has the potential to make a lasting impact on a family striving to return to self-sufficiency. As a participant in this exceptional opportunity, you will have the opportunity to “adopt” a family or single adult in one of the Coalition’s residential programs. These clients are working hard to progress into independence and you can help us ensure they enjoy the holidays in their temporary home.

When you sign up to participate in this program, you will be matched with a family or single adult (we will attempt to match your preferences). We will provide you the name, age, gender and suggested wish list for each of the individuals you are sponsoring.

To find out how you can be involved in this rewarding opportunity, please email coalition@cflhomeless.org by November 27, 2009.

Fair Market Rent in Central Florida – can you afford housing?

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is committed to achieving public policy that guarantees even people with the lowest incomes in the United States have access to affordable and decent homes. Their dream, however, is far from a present reality. According to the 2009 “Out of Reach” report, affordable housing is just not available for much of the workforce.

Perhaps not surprisingly for those who live here, the Sunshine State ranked number 8 in the most expensive jurisdictions.

To localize this issue further, the report states that in the Orlando-Kissimmee MSA, the Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is now $985. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that a household should spend no more than 30% of income on housing; therefore, in order to afford an average two-bedroom apartment in this area, families must earn $18.94 per hour. This equates to 2.6 minimum wage jobs at the present $7.21 per hour.

What this statistic means is that both parents could be working full-time and still be unable to provide basic shelter for their children. We find that heartbreaking.

To find out more information, you can see the statistics for each state and particular region in the “Out of Reach” report. Tell us: how many jobs would you have to work at minimum wage in order to afford a two-bedroom apartment in your area?

Order your 2009 Holiday Cards today!

Want to spread some real holiday cheer? Purchase your holiday cards through Coalition for the Homeless and spread an inspirational message while providing vital support for the Coalition’s programs.

This year’s cards tell a powerful story of unity and diversity!  The cover art is complemented on the inside with the powerful message: “The homeless… as diverse as the colors of a rainbow.” A note will also be included letting your family, friends, colleagues, and customers know that you are giving back to the local community during this special season: “As a concerned citizen of the Central Florida community, this holiday card represents my donation to Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida to help improve the lives and ease the burdens of our neighbors in need.  This support will directly benefit the nearly 600 men, women and children who rely on the agency for food, shelter and supportive services daily — a startling 200 of whom are children.”

This is a perfect way for individuals, families, groups, and businesses to spread holiday cheer and give back to the community. As always, all bulk card orders will be personalized with your company logo printed as the signature on the inside.  For more information or a closer look at the cards, check out the preview and order form or contact Tami Karaba at 407.426.1259 or tami.karaba@cflhomeless.org.  We will accept orders up until December 4th, and please allow approximately 7-10 days to receive the cards.

Happy Holidays and thank you for supporting the Coalition throughout this season!

Working poor and low education go hand-in-hand

Earlier this week we shared some very surprising news about the homeless population we serve: we told you that many are working and yet are unable to obtain economic security. They are part of a larger population across the United States: the working poor, those who are employed but are still suffering from inability to pay for basic necessities such as shelter, food, health care, child care, taxes, and transportation. We used our discussion to share some myths and facts about the working poor, and today want to continue our topic by discussing the link between the working poor and low education.

The Working Poor Families Project released a study titled “Still Working Hard, Still Falling Short” that details many of the little-known trends and facts about the working poor. The report notes that one of the greatest contributors to low-income working families’ economic success is the level of education they have received. Tied closely to this is how well that education actually prepared the participants to obtain and excel in a job requiring skilled work.

On the report website, The Working Poor Families Project aptly summarizes some of the education-related difficulties faced by the working poor:

• Almost one-half of all job openings require more than a high school education, yet as noted in the Report of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, 88 million adult workers are not prepared for these positions.
• Furthermore, 25 million of these workers do not have a high school degree or its equivalent.
• At the same time, combined federal and state government resources for adult education programs serve approximately 2.5 million participants annually, only one-tenth of the need.

If education and job training are as imperative as this study implies, there is no doubt that we must improve opportunities to receive skilled training and an education. At Coalition for the Homeless, we are fortunate to be able to provide opportunities for both. You can learn more about the on-site Orange County Public Schools LifeStrides Program (an adult education classroom) and Goodwill Industries job training program by visiting our website’s Partners page.

We know these two programs will not eliminate the difficulties faced by the millions of working poor not involved in our programs, but we are certainly addressing the issue through the hundreds of adults that take advantage of these programs each year. Our goal is to produce educated, competent adults with the necessary skills to create a new life for their families. Perhaps someday, through our efforts and those of other agencies across the nation, the idea of a population that works hard and is still unable to achieve self-sufficiency will be a fading memory.

Myth v. Fact: The Working Poor

When giving tours of our facilities and presentations about what we do at Coalition for the Homeless, we are frequently asked questions about the population we serve. One of the most shocking pieces of information we share with our visitors and audiences is that many of our clients are actually working, and yet are unable to earn wages that meet their basic needs. For many who have perceived the homeless as either lazy or lacking motivation to better their circumstances, this is an eye-opener into the reality of poverty in America.

The population we are discussing has been termed “the working poor,” meaning that despite how hard individuals and families may work, many still lack the income needed to afford housing, child care, health care, food, transportation, and taxes, let alone such “luxuries” as education and retirement. Even though many community members may sympathize with their plight, the working poor and their difficulties remain a mystery to much of America. That is precisely why we were delighted to discover the “Myths and Facts about Low-Income Working Families” document.

A report by The Working Poor Families Project titled “Still Working Hard, Still Falling Short” includes a variety of information on this population and is certainly worth looking into. For today, however, we want to share the popular myths and corresponding facts the study revealed. We hope this brief look at some of the misconceptions surrounding the working poor, and therefore many of the clients we serve, will open your eyes and hearts to the difficulties met by many of the neighbors in your community.

We would love to hear your opinion on what you read below, which has been taken directly from the report “Still Working Hard, Still Falling Short.” Be honest: what myths have you believed?

Florida ranks among lowest in government aid for needy

A disturbing study released by the New York Times used 2008 statistics to reveal that, in some states, the eligible needy receive far less government assistance than those in other states. Jackie Dowd (author of ‘the 13th juror’ blog) compiled a Florida-focused synopsis of the results, all of which point to the issue that needy neighbors in the state of Florida may be lacking in benefits just because of their Sunshine State residency:

• Only 7% of poor children and parents in Florida receive cash welfare. In Vermont, the top-ranking state, 49% do. The national average is 21%.
• Only 23% of eligible Florida households receive housing benefits. The national average is 30%.
• Only 30% of uninsured poor adults in Florida are covered by government programs. Maine, the highest-ranking state provides health-care coverage for 69% of its poor adults. The national average is 41%.
• Only 56% of uninsured low-income children in Florida are covered by government programs. No state covers fewer than half of its low-income uninsured children. The national average is 73%.

Jackie points out that Florida was not among the lowest sources of support in all areas, however. For example, Florida provides food stamps to 62% of eligible citizens. Even still, this is below the national norm of 67%. In addition, Florida provides unemployment benefits to 38% of the unemployed workforce, which is still below the national average of 44%.

After reading these troubling rankings, you may wonder why some states fair better than others. The study provides mini-explanations, which we have localized specifically for the state of Florida:

• Welfare: Individual states must pay for welfare costs; therefore “poor Southern states” have a tendency to deny benefits to eligible recipients. We question whether Florida can be considered a “poor state” and wonder if this is a valid excuse for our low ranking.
• Unemployment: Southern states are again specifically mentioned, this time for typically maintaining weak unions and low wages. In terms of low wages, Florida’s service economy with low-paying jobs certainly fits this bill. According to the study, this tendency correlates with how many workers receive unemployment benefits.
• Housing assistance: Florida’s recent population growth, in the midst of a peak in construction, means that our state (and others with growing populations, like Arizona) are out of luck for subsidized housing.
• Food stamps: Florida ranks almost-average in this area, possibly because the federal government (and not the state) is responsible for funding the food stamp program.
• Health insurance for poor adults: This program is noted for having particularly high costs, with individual states paying a high portion of the price. Since Florida coming in below the national average for adult health insurance coverage, this seems to be a low priority for the Sunshine State.
• Health insurance for poor children: Providing health insurance for children is cheaper than providing the same coverage for adults, and thankfully, the federal government bears a bigger share of the burden. Perhaps this is why 56% of eligible children in Florida are covered in this program, whereas only 30% of uninsured adults (who cost more) are covered.

At a time when more and more neighbors are struggling to make ends meet, we can only hope 2009 statistics will reveal more available help for Florida’s needy.