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Certainly some businesses do have a heart and isn't involved in driving homeless away from downtown, but actually trying to help the homeless. Like AT&T that handed the Daily Planet a $10,000 Thursday Jan. 23, 1997 at 12:30 p.m. after learning about the financial burden that the Daily Planet has been carrying.

ACCESS director Dale Johnson Rainy met with ASWAN leaders and indicated that she is working with Dr. Price for ACCESS assistance in saving the Rainbow (a program that is taking homeless off the streets by training and employing them) she also expressed that she was unaware of the financial stress Daily Planet's programs, until recently.

ASWAN would like to give a special thanks to all the friends of the homeless for such a well organized efforts in lobbying, publication of flyers and newscuts, bus transportation for the homeless, and for meals next to the City Hall's Mon. City Council meeting by FOOD NOT BOMBS, and to Rev. Jarrard with the Baptist Conference of Richmond copies of ASWAN newscuts by hand and ends each of our meetings with a prayer. Please come stand with us and let the common good prevail"

One of ASWAN members had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks at the Good Samaritan Inn (an organization participating in sheltering the homeless). Food there is really good, but to stay there, homeless are under strict guidelines. To name one, resident must attend church services seven days a week, as happen to one of our members, who experienced the "You must profess to be a Christian or hunger technics." He was taken out of the supper line add told the orders were from Reese George, he was forbidden to eat with everyone else that night and the next morning because he wouldn't ask Jesus to forgive him of his sins.

Our ASWAN member had to go hungry for 24 hours before he finally ate at the Daily Planet. ASWAN would like remind the Good Samaritan Inn that when Jesus fed 5,000 he didn't hold out the bread and when that person reach for it was asked "Are you a Christian?".

The good Samaritan Inn claims they don't have a "Be a Christian or snatching food plate policy" but they sure did with our member, with many witnesses. Reese George did give a verbal apology, but refused to do so in writing to ASWAN. For all of those homeless who can ACT like you're saved, maybe this is the place for you, (I wouldn't want you to go hungry!)

The last time that I used the word "Cast" other than in this phase, is on the Tennessee river. While I threw a bait on the hook and cast my line out for a really dumb fish. Anyone that can add two plus two and can read the "Proposed Text" under consideration by the Downtown Advisory Committee can catch my drift.

ASWAN is working to prepare their own downtown plan in hope to accomplish a goal of reducing homelessness. ASWAN will work with the city to produce a plan with such craftsmanship that will benefit both the upper and lower classes good citizens of Richmond. First and foremost ASWAN will not compromise with prejudice. Some prejudice zoning laws will have to be changed (like the R-6 feeding restrictions).

From the 80's until 1992 Richie Rich(monders) increased their average salary by $7,000, while disenfranchise's average salary fell. This, among other factors like the increased drug problem has increase the homeless population that includes children. The key to dwindling the gap between the upper and lower class is for them to work together with a central vision and without self interest. Together, we can reduce homelessness.

A Society Without A Name, For People Without A Home

Vol.1 No.8 1/2 ASWAN Newscut Jan. 19,1997

ASWAN

{Entity or End-ity}

There are a few cities in the United States that have developed "Entities" (coordination bodies). These Entities are much like the one that some service providers and city government officials are trying to generate. The Richmond model would be designed to offer systems integration to homeless providers and the homeless, making it easier for homeless to receive assistance more efficiently and to deter duplication of services. It also would be an increase in funding? Sounds good if everyone was a perfect person with no faults or prejudices. ASWAN opposes centralized control of federal funding through the proposed Entity. ASWAN's opposition to that is not opposition to the benefits of systems integration. This issue of ASWAN's Newscut will show some examples of prejudice patterns and the negative consequences imposed on the homeless.

1. Love Thy neighbor:

An article written by Rev. Timothy Whitaker in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on December 14, 1996 "Love Thy Neighbor, and thy Neighborhoods: How to Serve the Poor Wisely" he has been misinformed concerning the "Entity" and the city government performances towards the homeless. Rev. Whitaker, a senior minister of Centenary United Methodist Church and Chairman of downtown community ministry, means well, churches and service providers alike have done an exceptional job in aiding homeless under circumstances of dwindling grants, harsh restrictions, and public prejudices.

He has obtained information about the city government and the Homeless Task Force on the wrong side of the coin. As a member of the Homeless Task Force, I can honestly reveal differently. A 1994 survey based from Washington, D.C. indicated that Richmond city government has adopted a policy of not increasing shelters bed spaces, but homeless people were turned away from shelters over 5,000 times, there were near as many shelter bed spaces in the 1970's as there are today!

A R-6 zoning ordinance by the city government would allow churches in that zone to feed the poor only seven times out of the year, churches were also restricted to feed not over thirty homeless (until the federal government intervened). A motion by a church (First English Lutheran Church at Stuart Circle) that the city had stopped from feeding the poor requested that they be allowed to feed the poor for 10 days. The city refused to agree on the matter, but the judge indicated that the city possibly may have violated the First Constitution Amendment and he agreed to allow the church to feed again not for 10 days, but starting that week and all during the trial the starts in February.

The federal judge asked Zoning Commissioner Mr. Benbow if there were any restriction on feeding, if those being fed weren't homeless, the response was "No". Rev. Whitaker seemed to be praising the city government on the great job they are doing in helping the homeless. The city government with their present zoning law went as far as to stop a church from feeding hungry men, women, and children. The American Constitution is based on protection of fundamental rights of the people.

2.The Real Truth:

ASWAN's symbol of a cat at the top of this issue looks as if he was swatted by a thick newspaper. On October 19, 1996 one of the Times Dispatch editorial editor wrote this in an article:

"Consider Richmond's problem with Monroe Park, it will continue being a gathering place for the homeless as long as do-gooders bring meals and prizes. The homeless will stay on the streets of any city if that is where they are made most comfortable"

This is pure prejudice at its finest. Seems that this Times Dispatch editor found it offensive and a problem if people helped the poor. As far as prizes, didn't know that a given blanket to a homeless who is sleeping out in the cold, is a prize by his standards. I don't think people sleeping in the streets are feeling comfortable with that, especially a homeless child.

The city government and the Homeless Task Force has acted in disfavored of the homeless on some issues, including seeking for the Entity $138,000 of HUD funding, which was supposed to proceed in helping homeless in Richmond, but actually went to another city. Why? Because of miscalculation that the Homeless Task Force and the city made, when they thought HUD funding could be used in jump starting the Entity, even though not one red cent of the Entity's money would be spent in direct services of helping the homeless off the streets.

The Entity's purpose is to upgrade service providers technology, research homelessness, and to form a body to coordinate and distribute federal funds among the service providers. There is no proof to date that the Entity would increase funding unless you consider private donations like the two million dollars influential offer to move the Daily Planet to 17th and O Streets. Since the Entity's application was rejected, the homeless in Richmond were the ones that got short changed. That money could have been used for direct shelter or transition of homeless to be self sufficient.

3. Ranking gets Spanking by Homeless Task Force:

On March 15, 1996 HUD issued a report that federal funds were to be awarded for service providers that help homeless in Supportive housing, Shelter PlusCare, and "SECTION 8 SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY." A Ranking Committee was set up as a result of a 5-13-96 meeting at the United Way to rank area service providers for these federal grants. The top service providers voted by the Ranking Committee would be able to obtain grants through this Act, (Wrong).

The Homeless Task Force didn't like the way the Ranking Committee voted, especially concerning the Entity. So they changed the ranking so the Entity could get funding, (Wrong again). Had the Ranking committee consisted of more prominent people, the rankings would had never been changed. Out of ten members, four of them were homeless or formerly homeless, which was a historical event of permitting homeless to be part of the process concerning funding (or maybe the rear-end process).

At a September 27, 1997 Homeless Task Force meeting, ASWAN's members were informed that the rankings were changed back. Many members of the Homeless Task Force are with service providers and are people, who, in fact, make genuine efforts in attempt to improve conditions of the homeless.

During a April 24, 1996 meeting to discuss NOFA (federal funding for the homeless) the issue about the "Entity" was introduced on the agenda, Bob Wynne (director of SRO) mentioned that it wasn't right to the homeless (in reference to using those HUD funds to financially support the Entity). Later, the Homeless Task Force asked SRO (who was voted third in the ranking) if they would step down to fifth.

On June 10, 1996 Bob Wynne faxed a letter saying that he would be willing to step down to fourth but not fifth (SRO wouldn't be able to receive funding at the fifth slot). On the same day, City Manager Robert Bobb sent a negative 213 letter which prevented SRO from obtaining any of those HUD funds which would have taken 50-some homeless off the streets with a new SRO site. ASWAN feels that there is good ground to speculate that the reason for SRO being stripped from receiving part of that federal funds, is the city's response to Bob Wynne's behavior for sticking up for the homeless.

This ASWAN Newscut prepared by John M. Felts

For tons of free resources & just plain good reading, visit John Felts personal page that includes his latest web site, pages, published articles, and essays.
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