Life Issues / Family Ethics Political Action Committee of Southwest Washington 

Homelessness

HomelessRights.com Dignity Village Website
Seattle Real Change Homeless Newspaper Melville Trust Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO)  
 

Metro-area churches, elected officials will launch 'Season of Service'
The Columbian
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
 

Vancouver city officials will join with representatives of the metropolitan area's church community today to announce a collaboration of civic, business and religious entities to bring a "Season of Service" and a world-class music festival to the Vancouver-Portland area.

The event is sponsored by the Luis Palau Association, a Christian evangelical organization with offices in Beaverton, Ore.

The launch of the project will be at 12:30 p.m. today at Cedar Mill Bible Church, 12208 N.W. Cornell Road in Portland, said Craig Chastain, director of public relations and media for the Palau association.

Vancouver's Neighborhood Coordinator Judi Bailey will join more than 600 pastors and church leaders, Camas Mayor Paul Dennis, Portland City Commissioners Erik Sten and Sam Adams, Gresham, Ore., Mayor Shane Bemis and Beaverton Mayor Rob Drake to hear an outline of the program designed by Palau and other partners, Chastain said in a press release.

Full article at: http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02122008_Metro-area-churches-elected-officials-will-launch-Season-of-Service.cfm

 

Council to study fund to help homeless families
by Alice Perry Linker
The Reflector staff reporter
Sept 5, 2007

A Woodland agency that works with low-income families and people who need help finding homes has asked for a portion of city document recording fees.
The Community Services Center, 736 Davidson, Woodland, has asked the city council to sign an agreement that would allow the non-profit organization to tap into fees designed to help those who are homeless.
A state law requires counties and cities to set aside a total of $18 from each document recording fee to fund programs that help low-income and homeless people, said Melissa Taylor of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG).
Sixty percent of the designated funds is awarded to cities. Most of the money must be used for housing, although one fund allows money for services to help homeless people, she said.

Full story at: http://www.thereflector.com/PAGES/STORIES/Old%20Stories/2007/09-05-07.html


Dignity Village
From Wikipedia

Dignity Village is a city-recognized encampment of homeless people in Portland, Oregon, United States.

In the days before Christmas of 2000, a group of homeless people in Portland succeeded in establishing a shanty town which garnered a great deal of both opposition and support, and quickly evolved from a group of self-described "outsiders" who practiced civil disobedience, to a self-regulating, city-recognized "campground" as defined by Portland city code.

Full Article at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignity_Village

 

Bill Passed to Protect Homeless
Citing Attacks, Senators Vote to Add Group to Hate Crimes Law

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 7, 2007; Page B04
 
The Senate approved a bill yesterday that would make Maryland the second state to add homeless people to the groups protected under hate crimes laws.

The legislation was approved 38 to 9 after a brief but pointed debate over whether ample evidence existed that homeless people are being targeted for crimes. Some critics also said the measure watered down the original hate crimes law by adding another group.

Under current law, violators are subject to additional penalties if their crime is motivated by another person's race, color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or national origin.

Sen. Alex X. Mooney (R-Frederick) said he thought homeless people should be included under the law, based on numerous attacks reported across the country. Maine passed a similar measure last year.

The bill goes to the House of Delegates for approval.

"Maryland has made it clear they are going to have the policy of hate crimes [laws]. Going right along with that, it's only fair to include vulnerable groups in our society," Mooney said.

Nationally, attacks on homeless people have been on the rise. The National Coalition for the Homeless recorded 142 incidents last year, up from 86 in 2005 and the most since the survey began in 1999. The group has recorded two attacks in Maryland in the past three years; one resulted in a death.

Full story at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/06/AR2007030600942.html