A Penny For Your Thoughts

Dreams Do Come True at Shelters

2009-05-07T13:02:00.007-06:00

Have you ever thought of having your wedding anywhere besides a beautiful church or in the great outdoors? How about a homeless shelter?

In Springfield, Illinois two homeless shelter volunteers tied the knot at the Washington Street Mission where they first met. Interestingly, Joyce (bride) said that when she first laid eyes on Joe Reynolds, she thought he was a homeless resident...but he was actually a fellow volunteer who leads the Bible studies of the shelter. See the whole story here.

Although Pennies for the Homeless is not a shelter, maybe one day we, too, will see a happy ending like this one at one of our functions.

Dreams come true for everyone and can happen anywhere!

Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless

2009-04-26T21:04:00.002-06:00

Albuquerque is doing something to help our homeless citizens get healthy and back on track. For over 20 years, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH) is the ONLY organization in the area to provide health services to the homeless. Each year they provide health services to over 7,500 men, women and kids...that's over 150,000 people so far! Their mission is "to provide caring and comprehensive health & supportive services, linking people experiencing homelessness to individual and collective solutions, and to be a leader in creating service delivery models and solutions to homelessness."

They are doing their part to end homelessness and we can too.

To volunteer with AHCH, click here.

(Picture courtesy of Google)

Heath Care for the Homeless

2009-04-18T09:23:00.004-06:00

Health care is a nationwide problem in this country, and even more so for the homeless. Many people become homeless due to poor health, lack on income to obtain health care plans, or life-long illnesses that force them into extreme situations-like homelessness. Each community faces similar health issues such as tuberculosis, AIDS and domestic violence, but these are amplified within the homeless community and contribute to the growing homelessness crisis. According to a Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities given by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the homeless population consists of:

23% are considered mentally ill
46% are substance abusers
8% have AIDS or HIV-related illness
21% are employed
22% are veterans

Like 45 million other Americans, homeless people typically do not have health insurance; 73% of Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) clients nationally have no health care resources. The federal Medicaid program has provided coverage for many homeless women and children and some disabled men, but Medicaid policy changes are causing loss of health coverage for many people without homes. Homeless people also have all the same health problems as people with homes, but at rates three to six times greater than housed people. Without a home, there is no place to recuperate from an illness or to treat an injury, and health problems tend to get far worse before they get better.

My question to all of you-should we give health care to the homeless? Why or why not? (I don't mean huge plans that allow them to be treated for everything, we can't even do that for middle class citizens, but something to help them out and possibly help them get back on the right track.)

(There is so much more information that I could not put here due to its length so please visit http://www.amsa.org/programs/gpit/homeless.cfm to get more information)

Hope for Homeless Women

2009-04-13T15:38:00.006-06:00

Most homeless shelters are geared towards men and their needs, but one has finally been made just for women. 25% of Albuquerque's homeless are women and, finally, help is coming to them. A ten bed and full house-like facility called "The Women's Center of Hope" is being organized for the Albuquerque area.

I didn't know that shelter's accommodate men more than women until I saw this video. Most women become homeless due to domestic violence...same goes for kids. This is a whole other topic that I might explore one day. I also can't find an update or any other information on the progress of the shelter, but I WILL keep looking!

Shelter business cards and maps

2009-04-05T17:29:00.007-06:00

Criticise me all you want, but I generally do not give to the homeless that are on the streets. This is why I asked the question in my last post for honesty about your own giving habits. I can't expect you all to be honest without throwing out my own two cents!

I honestly don't have a the best reason not to give money other than that I know of the many great shelters they can go to for help here in Albuquerque, and having a roof, blankets, and food each night would be of more value, in my opinion, than spare change. I'm not saying I NEVER give, or that being a "spanger" as Wendy calls it is bad or not helping the homeless problem, I would just rather give a business card and a map to a shelter. I want to leave these cards and maps in my car so at any moment, anywhere in town, I can rummage through my stack and give them that little piece of help rather than money. I have yet to do this, for fear that those on the corners will be angry and I do not want to make them feel worse and not sure it is a good idea. What do you think?

$4 Million from the United Way is doing its part to help

2009-03-30T19:46:00.009-06:00

United Way, who is fortunate to get grants and community finding from 96 agencies in New Mexico from the Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance & Valencia counties, was awarded over $4 million in 2008. Part of the money they receive goes towards "Community Building Initiatives" which are each designed to create system improvements in our community. The monetary break-down includes:
-Community Impact and Community Services $777,840
-WIP and YLS Major Gift Initiatives $124,691
-Center for Nonprofit Excellence $140,000
-Technology Assistance Fund $50,000
-Community Building Initiatives $100,000

(The pie graph demonstrates how the funds are divided when a donation is given to the United Way.)

Have you ever given to the United Way to help them gets these numbers even better? Do you donate to any charities or give to those less fortunate than we are who live on the streets, literally? Or are you in the crowd of the many among us who don't give because you feel someone else is, so why should you? Be honest..it will only help my blog and future post ideas!!!

Top 10 Reasons to Give

2009-03-19T16:47:00.006-06:00

1. Giving makes life better!
2. It makes you feel good from head to toe.
3. Helping others is pretty much the coolest thing you could ever do!
4. 100% of your giving goes to help people who need it, and not to pay our bills.
5. There's a money back guarantee if you give to the Community Fund.
6. You can give in a variety of ways, including payroll deduction, check, credit card or even stocks!
7. Giving makes our community a better and brighter place to live.
8. It's better than Not Giving.
9. Giving alleviates tax discomfort.
10. Young or old, Giving is for everyone!

(Courtesy of United Way: http://uwcnm.org )

Homeless Kids

2009-03-18T20:53:00.003-06:00

Did you know that 1 in 50 children in the United States is homeless? Or that 1.5 MILLION children experience homeless each year?

An article on kob.com discusses a report taken in 2005-2006 that measured child homelessness per capita, child well-being, risk for child homelessness, and state policy and planning. According to the research, the top five states who are helping their homeless citizens were Connecticut, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island and North Dakota and at the bottom were Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana. New Mexico is 4th from the bottom for homeless kids. An article in the Albuquerque Journal on March 10, 2009, stated that there are currently 4,300 students in the APS system that are homeless, while there were only 2,000 this time last year. Lisa LaBrecque, policy and advocacy director for the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness said "it's less expensive to help pay for housing the homeless than to let them remain homeless. It's an important investment and one that will save the state money in the long run."

You, too, can help with just a little effort! Click on the following links for more information on how to help in Albuquerque:
United Way, Joy Junction, Salvation Army

Funding for Albuquerque Shelters

2009-03-10T18:34:00.010-06:00

Some of us have been wondering how Pennies for the Homeless allocates where the money they raise is distributed to the many shelters they are involved with. I found the best answer I'm going to get! According to the former Treasurer for Pennies for the Homeless, it is based on a "first come, first serve" basis -for the most part. Every year, Pennies for the Homeless sends out notices to shelters, such as Joy Junction, Salvation Army, Good Shepherd, and First United Methodist Church, to provide information about the check distribution Pennies for the Homeless has planned. Depending on which shelters respond to the notices AND attend the distribution determines how much money each organization is given. Pennies for the Homeless tries to give $1,000 to each shelter who attends, but has donated up to $1,500 before. Last year 14 shelters attended and were given checks in the amount of $1,000.

We hope that more money will be raised this year and more shelters attend the distribution ceremony.

APS and Homeless Students

2009-03-05T18:50:00.003-07:00

Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) has an ongoing project called "APS Title 1", which is their efforts to help homeless students. I interviewed a former teacher of mine, T. Montoya, and asked her what APS is doing to help homeless children fit in at school and be successful. She said "There can be anywhere from 900 to 2700 homeless children in APS, ages 5-18 years of age. There are two divisions that can help them, Student Support Services and Homeless Project Office. They will provide an educational plan for each child, which means helps them with their health needs, clothing, there is a clothing bank, school supplies at registration, transportation to school, tutoring at night at the shelters, provide academic and recreational activities for them during the summer. Teachers are asked to let administration know of special needs of these children and make sure they are treated with dignity and respect." She also mentioned that APS is in conjunction with UNM Homelessness Awareness & Advisory Group.

APS is making an effort to help the homeless children lead "normal" lives and be successful in the future. Between APS efforts and Pennies for the Homeless, Albuquerque is making a difference for homeless people and trying to get them back on track.

Pennies for the Homeless Funds, to-date

2009-02-19T14:52:00.005-07:00

Based on my last post, which provided the heart wrenching statistics about homelessness in our country and some comments posted, I have some unanswered questions that my readers bring up. The High Tea and Fashion show is every November, usually the first Sunday of the month and lasts 3-4 hours. Pennies for the Homeless does not have an office or a headquarters, but it does have a Board of Directors who meet every now and then to discuss issues and ideas of what to do next. I am not completely sure how they decide which shelter gets more money than others or if they equally divide it up among the 21 shelters they are involved with, but I will do my best to find this answer.

However, I do know that to date, through the combined efforts of the Pennies Drive and the High Tea and Fashion Show, we have raised over $300,000 to benefit Albuquerque’s homeless citizens.

"Being homeless is not a matter of losing possessions or the roof over one’s head; it’s the demoralizing loss of self-esteem and dignity for the victims, and the emotional trauma suffered by their children…trauma that is likely to result in a new cycle of poverty, violence, and despair” -anonymous

Statistics and Facts

2009-02-16T21:40:00.009-07:00

Homeless in the United States

About 600,000 families and 2.35 million children experience homelessness in the U.S.
National average age of a homeless person is 6 years old
50-60% of homeless population suffers from some form of diagnosable mental illness

Homeless in Albuquerque, NM

Estimated homeless population in Albuquerque: 12,000-15,000
About 1,600 families are homeless in Albuquerque on any given night
40% of homeless are families with young children

What I do with Pennies for the Homeless

2009-02-06T08:29:00.014-07:00

For the past 9 years with this organization, I have had the privilege to meet some amazing people, including people who attend the show just to "do something good for their neighborhood" as well as designers from around the world. The designers we have brought in have included Mark Montano, Fedor, Bill Blass and many others.

Every year that I have been involved, I have helped put the final pieces of the annual fashion show and tea event together. This means that I get up at the crack of dawn, go to Hotel Albuquerque, and set up 60+ tables with flower arrangements, pamphlets in which the featured designer's background and style is mentioned along with the board members for Pennies for the Homeless background and usually small gifts that the designer brings in. These gifts have been small bottles of perfume or chocolates. I have also been called upon to help dress the models...that's a chore! When you're three feet shorter than some of these women trying to help button their dress up to their neck or help put a hat on, the job gets challenging but there is always a step-stool nearby. Other years I have helped sell accessories the designer crates in, such as jewelry, scarfs, purses, etc. At the end of each show, I have been asked to go to each table and collect any money for donations or money that was bid on a particular piece.

As you can see, being a volunteer means you are there to do anything and everything. Although I tend to volunteer my time only once a year, I know that I am still making a difference and love being a part of it! I was asked to participate by my neighbor, who, until recently, was a board member, but you too can get involved in many ways. To help with the fashion show or find out how to make a donation, call Joseph Saavedra at JS 11th Street Salon at 244-1518. For any other questions, please post them here and I'll do my best to find your answer.

Mark Montano (top)
Bill Blass designs (bottom)

About Pennies for the Homeless

2009-02-03T19:15:00.007-07:00

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Pennies for the Homeless, I'd like to provide you some background information about this rewarding organization. In 1993, retired Judge Diane Dal Santo and salon owner and stylist Joseph Saavedra founded Pennies for the Homeless, a 501-(c) 3 organization. They were discussing how people often think that pennies are a "pain", but "when you put them all together they can do a lot of good work". Through this conversation, the organization began. They began raising money through the Albuquerque Public School (APS) Penny Drive where milk cartons are used throughout Albuquerque Public Schools classrooms to collect pennies, inform students about the rising problem of homelessness, and encouraged them to bring spare change to donate. The funds from the milk cartons arre then distributed to various shelters around the city.

In 1998, Pennies for the Homeless expanded through a high tea and fashion show, where designers and models from around the world come to what is now Hotel Albuquerque to put on a fashion show, then auction the clothing to guests to raise funds for the homeless. In order to attend this function, people initially pay $75 per ticket in which 86% of the money goes directly to shelters (the other 14% cover administration costs) and can bid on silent auction items or on the featured clothing.

Finally, their mission statement which says it all...
"Our mission is to educate students, professionals and the general public about the reality of homelessness while directly funding shelters, meal centers, day cares and other efforts to improve the quality of life for homeless people."