Tag Archives: homelessness

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Home At Last: Homes for the Homeless

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Following up on the idea that: What the Homeless need is a home, there is a great video over at PBS that you should really check out.

The synopsis of Home At Last from PBS:

What will most help homeless people reenter the fabric of society? Some say the answer is right there in the question: a home. This week, NOW investigates a program that secures apartments for the long-term homeless, even if they haven’t kicked their bad habits. If you think that sounds crazy, think again. Advocates say this approach reduces costs, encourages self-help and counseling participation, and restores self-esteem.

It’s an interesting take, especially when you consider how much even the government spends on caring for the emergencies for people without a home (see Million-Dollar Murray).

I’ve spoken about this before, actually podcasted about basic rights in the world. I didn’t reference it but a source worth noting is the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Article 25:

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services,

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What I’ve been up to… Homelessness Awareness

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It’s been a busy week, really busy.
Mostly it had to do with my job, which I can’t really blab about here (I’m not in the FBI or anything, but it’s still confidential). It’s been stressful and tiring. So tiring in fact that when I had a day off on Friday I slept for 12 hours.
Mindy also just left town to go and be with her family in Minnesota. Her sister will be having a baby any day now.

I’ve been keeping myself busy with things since Mindy left also.

  • posted and sold some books on Amazon
  • Cleaned up around the house
  • Saw a film entitled The Invisible America about Nashville Homeless
  • Helped prepare food for the Homeless Memorial with Food Not Bombs
  • Attended the Homeless Memorial
  • Went Hiking and caving in a couple state parks.
  • Went to see the play Shelter at TSU, extremely moving show about Homelessness.

    • And today, I’m going to go to a church, play some soccer, and maybe find something else fun to do in the evening.

    More writing to come too, I promise.

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Memorial for Tara Cole: mourning an unjust death

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1:00PM, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2006

St Ann’s Episcopal Church, 419 Woodland Street, 5th & Woodland – East Nashville

While part of Tara Cole’s family will be celebrating her life in Elgin, Illinois, the family has asked the Nashville Homeless Power Project to organize a memorial on the same day at the place of her death in Nashville, Tennessee. Family and friends will be there to celebrate her life and grieve her loss. Community members are also invited to attend to recognize her life and remind us that we are all responsible for ensuring that our brothers and sisters have safe places for shelter and housing.

Tara Denise Cole, died at the age of 32 on August 11, 2006. Tara was born on November 25, 1973 in Humboldt, Tennessee. At 7 months old she moved to Elgin, Illinois and attended Larkin High School in Elgin.

Tara loved music and writing. She wanted to write plays and poetry. She was a very special person, loved all people and hated discrimination. In a letter to her mother Tara described herself: “I am a strong willed, extremely warm and open hearted, intelligent human being. Unfortunately, I’m a victim of this unchanging world”. So, I have to struggle just to be myself”.

Tara’s mother, Pearl Cole shares: “Tara always wanted to change the world. She cared so much about people and the injustices of life. She wanted so much to make a difference.”

Tara was survived by her parents, Dewitt and Pearl Cole of Elgin and Darryl Boyd (Carole) of Indianapolis, Indiana; her brothers, Rahman Cole of Elgin and Eric Boyd of Indianapolis, Indiana; And a host of Aunts, Uncles, Family and friends from Elgin Ilgin, Illinois, Humboldt, Tennessee and Indianapolis. Tara was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Ruthie Pearson of Humboldt Tennessee.