Words

Fence Hoppin'

2011-07-21T15:42:00.000-05:00

Here's a bit of irony for you. My Blog is titled, Words, but this post is only photos of my small adventure this morning:

Outsmarting with Outhouses.

2011-07-21T01:08:00.001-05:00

This may have been better posted on Facebook or Google+, more people would have probably read it. But if you do stumble across this, enjoy.

We all have that special aunt. The one you struggle to believe that she actually exists. The one who drives a '74 Panther De Ville or something like it. Her house is a museum, but full of things no one knew existed. Okay, maybe we don't all have this aunt, but I do. She always had the most absurd Christmas gifts. She really took the cake about ten years ago with a book, Alaskan Outhouses. But I wish I had paid more attention to the crappers, I'd love to be a part of these development teams:

Toilet of the Future

I love how I make connections sometimes. Toilets, Crazy Aunts, and Innovation. Makes perfect sense to me.

"Oh, That's Gonna Leave A Mark"

2011-07-20T17:30:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking on influence lately. Leaving a mark. And often, Tommy Boy comes to mind.

Being a person of influence is quite simple, each of us are capable, even the greatest couch potatoes have influence. The tiniest action has the capability of changing someone's life. I'm not really talking Butterfly Effect, but close.

I think back to what involved me with The Wesley Foundation. My and I were shooting pool underneath the bookstore at Tech. It was during new student orientation and campus ministries were meeting students. Evan and I wanted ice cream, so we managed to get past the ministry passing out What the hell is this? A Jesus Cube?'s and found two folks passing out Blue Bell ice cream. From thence, we became friends and later down the road involved with the Wesley Foundation, which would be the epicenter of some of the most formational events of my life.

There's not enough space in a blog to detail my experience with The Wesley Foundation. It was there I began to figure out my spirituality, found best friends, and fell in love. I learned to develop a contemplative attitude offering generosity and openness to those whose experience is far different from my own. And I don't know I would've had such a rich adventure had it not been for the ice cream and the Jesus Cube obstacle course.

That's a great example of positive influence. A simple action inviting someone into relationship and community in which you know they will benefit. On the obverse, I can think of countless times where I've been a negative influence. But there's also not enough space to fill you on that at all.

I digress. Influence. It's simple. Use it well.

Don't Carry It All

2011-06-20T19:52:00.000-05:00

I've listened to The Decemberists on and off over the years and think this has got to be one of their best songs. Great to be reminded we don't live alone and for ourselves. We are indeed connected to one another, so much to the extent that we are to live in such a way that bearing each others burdens is a great thing.

Here we come to a turning of the season
Witness to the arc towards the sun
A neighbor's blessed burden within reason
Becomes a burden borne of all in one

And nobody, nobody knows
Let the yoke fall from our shoulders,
Don't carry it all, don't carry it all
We are all our hands and holders
Beneath this bold and brilliant sun
And this I swear to all!

A monument to build beneath the arbors
Upon a plinth that towers t'wards the trees
Let every vessel pitching hard to starboard
Lay its head on summer's freckled knees

And nobody, nobody knows
Let the yoke fall from our shoulders,
Don't carry it all, don't carry it all
We are all our hands and holders
Beneath this bold and brilliant sun
And this I swear to all!

A there a wreath of trillium and ivy
Laid upon the body of a boy
Lazy will the loam come from its hiding
And return this quiet searcher to the soil

So raise a glass to turnings of the season
And watch it as it arcs towards the sun
And you must bear your neighbor's burden within reason
And your labors will be born when all is done

And nobody, nobody knows
Let the yoke fall from our shoulders,
Don't carry it all, don't carry it all
We are all our hands and holders
Beneath this bold and brilliant sun
And this I swear to all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG_RDy0Ybj4

Real quick...

2011-04-12T23:11:00.003-05:00

Here are more thoughts on homelessness, check it out, I'll be adding my own commentary tomorrow. From crisis.org.uk ---
Relationship Breakdown and Loneliness among Homeless

Crisis research[7] has found that, for many homeless people, social isolation preceded homelessness and the experience of homelessness then exacerbates that isolation.

Informal support, such as that provided by family members and friends, can be extremely valuable for all of us, but they can be especially key to a better future for someone with experiences of homelessness.

However, the main cause of homelessness is widely accepted as being relationship breakdown (such as disputes with parents, domestic abuse, marital breakdown or bereavement) and many homeless people do not have any contact with their families.

Alongside the lack of informal support networks, isolation and loneliness are common among people who are homeless. Less than a third of homeless people spend time with non-homeless people, and almost 38% of homeless people said they spent their entire day alone. A third of homeless men reported that their only daily contact was with service providers, and more than half of homeless people said they had no ‘family ties'[8].

Isolation of this kind erodes people's capability (e.g. employability, skills, knowledge, etc) as well as their resilience or ability to cope with life's adverse events, including having the ability to overcome life's difficulties[9].

It is important to emphasise that isolation and loneliness are also commonly experienced after people have been re-housed into permanent housing and are often linked to tenancy breakdown and repeated episodes of homelessness. One in four ex-homeless people find themselves unable to sustain a tenancy, with loneliness and isolation the main causes of this[10].

Building people's skills and confidence, engaging them with society, offering opportunities for volunteering and linking them to others, for example through mentoring, all help break isolation.

[7] Crisis (2008) Valuable Lives: capabilities and resilience amongst single homeless people [8] Crisis (2003) Homelessness Factfile [9] Smith, J. et al (2008) Valuable Lives: capabilities and resilience amongst single homeless people [10] Crisis, (2000) Homelessness and Loneliness

HPRP Success Story

2011-04-04T15:38:00.002-05:00

If you've ever worked with HUD's HPR Program, you know it is difficult. You may have even called it the HELL Program because of it's idiosyncrasies.

Anyways, here's a bit of a success story I've written up to encourage those working with this grant:

Longtime Monroe resident, 44 year-old Susanne Roberts had used up the last of her resources. Before coming to The Wellspring for assistance, she had been sleeping in her car in parks and parking lots for several weeks. Susanne lived with her then-husband for over two decades, however when that living arrangement became abusive she moved in with her eldest daughter. After a month’s time her daughter’s fiancé asked her to leave. She knew she could not return to her former husband and the rest of her family had moved to Texas, where she could only stay a couple of days without losing her job. Her only choice was to stay in town, continue saving her money, and to live in her car. All of this moving around made finding places to bathe and wash clothes, working her full-time job, and battling depression difficult.

With tears in her eyes Susanne described her situation to the staff at The Wellspring, finally, someone she could talk to. Soon she was a participant in the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, a Housing and Urban Development program providing short term rental assistance for those homeless or on the verge of being homelessness. Previously unable to afford the starting costs of renting an apartment on her own, she finally had support financially and emotionally to get on her feet. HPRP allowed The Wellspring to pledge to pay Susanne’s rent and helped her in finding an affordable living arrangement. During that time she voluntarily became involved in the life skills classes on healthy relationships and budgeting. Three month’s after entering the program she visited her case manager and informed her that she no longer needed assistance. She had worked enough overtime and saved enough money to pay her future month’s rent. To this day she is still working hard to support herself.

Why don't homeless people just get jobs?

2011-03-23T08:55:00.004-05:00

Starting to notice a trend with myself, re-posting instead of writing my own. Oh well, enjoy these insights on homelessness and employment:

There are many assumptions about homeless people. Perhaps the most common is that homeless people are too lazy to work. Having been homeless myself and having worked with many homeless people, I have to say that for the vast majority of homeless people the assumption that homeless people are all lazy is dead wrong.

Many homed people look at the horrible lives of homeless people and ask why on earth a person wouldn't do something to help themselves in that situation. They ask the question, "Why don't homeless people just get jobs?"

The rest of a great resource on serving the homeless: Why Don't Homeless People Just Get Jobs?

Making Room for Creativity - 3 Tips

2011-03-17T10:54:00.001-05:00

From Catalyst Space today...

"10% battery life remaining. 20 miles to empty. Running 15 minutes late. Sound familiar? This is the way many of us live our lives. On the edge, pushed to the limit, and running out of time. Do you ever find yourself praying the battery holds out for one more call, the tank lets you drive a few more miles, or trying to squeeze in one last appointment? If you're like me this happens more frequently than you even want to admit. The problem with living life without margin? You are left drained. Empty.

While, it is true that necessity is the mother of invention and innovation is often birthed in times of desperation- living stretched to the limit is not conducive to creative longevity. Creativity takes time and space. And in our society time and space are precious commodities. I don't have to tell you that more often than not, our schedules and pace of life are the biggest obstacles to living out of our creative mojo.

In fact God has hardwired us this way. Even a simple understanding of psychology teaches us that chronic stress kills brain cells. Without going into a deep discussion of our limbic system, you must know this: in stressful times, our brain kicks into "fight or flight" mode. We react to what is most needful and urgent. We are focused on our survival. Our life becomes a series of short-term emergencies. "If I can just get past today..."

Creativity dies in this environment.

I can't give you more hours in your day, but I can encourage you that we can restructure our lifestyle to make room.

Room to create. Room to breathe. Room to live.

Find 15. Whether it involves waking up a few minutes earlier, turning off the news in the morning, or stealing away during your lunch hour- take 15 minutes to hit the pause button at least once, but ideally 2-3 times per day. Use this time to quiet your mind through prayer, worship, or scripture. Don't try to squeeze in a whole chapter or run through your entire prayer list...try focus on one thought and let your mind zero in on that.

Filter your Thoughts. Take notice of the noise going on in your head throughout the day. Notice the overall tone and theme of the thoughts that run through your mind. Determine the destination you want and make sure your train of thought will get you there. Negativity, anger, bitterness is probably not going to take you to the land of peace, creativity, and ideas. Find out where your train of thought is taking you.

Factor in Fun. If time were infinite, what creative passions would you pursue? Painting, photography, writing, dancing? It may not be possible to sign up for the watercolor class you've been dreaming of taking, but it is possible to buy a cheap canvas and paint in the comfort of your home. So do it. Turn on some music and bust a move in your living room. Too often we think these extras are optional. When schedules are tight, they are the first things to go. We have no time or energy left in the tank to purse our creative passions. The truth is, that our creative passions are what fill our tank.

Stop making excuses. My wife Heather will take $2 and some junk she picked up from a garage sale and create an entire evening of fun for our family. Money is not your obstacle. Schedule fun into your life, and watch your creativity soar.

We are all born with the gift of creativity. Our environment and lifestyle eventually beat it out of us. Determine that you will make time and room for creativity and I guarantee that you will surprise even yourself with the ideas and innovation that begin to shape your life."

From Catalyst Space today.

Do you realize you have the most beautiful face...

2011-02-08T15:08:00.001-06:00

I love this.

Saute creativity and dreams. Stir in innovation and passion. Add competition to taste.

Garnish with a dash of The Flaming Lips at the end.

Float Documentary Trailer from Phil Kibbe on Vimeo.

Older News- Google Art Project- allowing us to tour great museums all over the world.

Gettin' Fresh (or, A Celebration of Making Groceries)

2011-02-07T14:59:00.000-06:00

For years, I have visited the grocer's produce section, determined to leave with a basket "of many colors" and succeeded. Really psyching myself up to eat healthy foods, cutting out crap, or at least if I keep on with terrible foods, make up for it one meal a week with some fruits or vegetables. However, I realized, actually buying the asparagus, mushrooms, bananas, tomatoes, et cetera, isn't the hard part. The hard part isn't even preparing or eating the vegetables (although my father would say otherwise). For me it's keeping them fresh long enough for me to eat them. That and buying the right quantities (something I'll never master).

So far, the battle of Food Versus Fridge has shown me a number of things. Apparently, you can't just leave your asparagus bagged in the fridge. It's not advisable to put mushrooms into a plastic bag. Potatoes don't do so hot in the fridge, at all. Greens don't go in baggies either, not for more than a day. It sucks, and it's not the same as throwing pop-tarts in the pantry, you actually have to learn about the food you eat and how to keep it. I've done this more or less by trial and error and error and error.

Important to keep in mind- fruits and vegetables are still somewhat alive, so they must breath, or respire. You know, that whole- air in, air out - thing... So here are some ways I've reduced my fridge fatalities:

Fruits and vegetables should they be stored in plastic bags, the bags should not be closed. Also, consider the source, tropical plants may not like being kept in a fridge and may not like to hang out with the eggplants and green beans.
Greens should be washed and wrapped up in paper towel before placed in an unclosed plastic bag.
Mushrooms prefer paper bags, I wrap 'em up in wax paper so they can breath and not drown.
Once onions (and the like) are cut, bag 'em.

The best way so far though to keep them from spoiling is to eat them before they get the chance. I suppose this blog was mostly for myself, just adjusting from the world of super-processed foods.

Also, in looking for a funny anecdote, I've come across this ridiculous clip (not sure what it is, I don't do much "anime"):

Peas out.

Land of Plenty, Land of Want.

2010-06-04T15:28:00.001-05:00

In this paper I will try examine the various attitudes and approaches towards addressing poverty. In the final analysis, I conclude that faith communities and government institutions are the best vehicles to addressing poverty in America.

Land of Plenty, Land of Want.

A Petition for Support

2010-05-10T21:37:00.001-05:00

As many of you know I have been an intern at the Wesley Foundation at LA Tech for the past year. I couldn't ask for a more amazing job and am blessed every day by the things I witness God doing. I love watching God move in the lives of college students. I have witnessed amazing and life transforming things though this ministry in my own life as well as the lives of students I meet.

One of those transforming ways is summer mission trips. The purpose of these trips is to expand the life perspective of college students so they can see outside of themselves and serve the needs of people in other places. We are called to love our neighbors and for us, that is anyone! This year we took on a lot and felt God was calling us to a large vision of the world by opening the doors for three international mission trips: Cambodia, Haiti, and China. Our teams leave in two weeks and we still have over $24,000 left to raise. I am asking you to consider donating $10-$20 towards these trips. I am also asking if you could email 10 of your friends, who may or may not know anything about the Wesley Foundation and asking them to consider partnering with us by donating $10-$20 as well. Thank you to those of you who have already contributed to my portion of the trip, if you would like to give more, GREAT! If not, please pass this on to friends.

Each one of our staff and team members are asking the same things of their friends and families. Each dollar is a dollar closer to 28 team members lives being transformed by serving, as well as the potential of the lives that we will come in contact with in China, Cambodia, and Haiti!

If you would like to give, please send a check to:

The Wesley Foundation
P.O. Box 3005
Ruston, LA 71270

or you can donate by using the PAYPAL option on our Facebook page. If you've got any questions, please, please, please call me anytime.

Much Love.

318.349.7110

Engage [v.]

2010-05-10T21:10:00.005-05:00

Over the past year you’ve received letters from me, reading my story as I’m living it as part of The Wesley Foundation at Louisiana Tech. You know as a community we’ve been engaging ourselves in the story of God, as His children, from The Garden beginning to now. Engaging with God, understanding our need of relationship with Him, His immense Love and desire for us. Engaging with one another by living this life, this story, together. Bearing one another’s burdens, sharing in the joys of life with one another. Engaging with those surrounding us.

What good is a story, how can it have a meaningful impact if not shared?

I have heard tons of stories, many explaining an intimate experience with God. In hearing those stories, I realize each time they are also a part of my own. My story, part of theirs. And Our story, Yours.

You have constantly been a part of this story. Yes, You.

You, for a long time, have been a part of my story. On July 15, 2009 you became an integral part of the stories of the students around me. They don’t know you personally, as I do; but many do know interns have a support team, and that team is engaging with all of us.

We’ve come to a point in our narrative where we are planning to take our story to the ends of the Earth. From May 23 to June 21 we will have three mission teams traveling to China, Cambodia, and Haiti. As you know from years past (my experiences in Ukraine, New Orleans, etc.), these team trips are invaluable. At the end of these month long ventures in being the hands and feet of Christ, engaging with people in a foreign nation, the individual now has a story of transformation to tell. This transformation occurs because the person has fully engaged with God, probably like never before.

In this chapter of our story, I have the role of leading a trip to Haiti. We will be working with YouthQuests to construct different agricultural buildings for the people and orphanages of Torbeck. Also in a nearby town, Les Cayes, we will have an opportunity to work in an orphanage. The cost of the trip for each individual $2,000. We have several large fundraisers we will be hosting to raise money. At the same time, I ask that you would please support us with your prayers and consider further engaging with us in our story by contributing financially through the PAYPAL link on our Facebook page or send a check to:

The Wesley Foundation
P.O. Box 3005
Ruston, LA 71270

If you do have any questions, feel free to call me. I would love to hear from you even if you don’t have questions.

Love.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

2010-04-29T15:55:00.003-05:00

It is hard to believe we are 5 weeks away from the end of the school year.

Although we’d like to, it’s not often one is able to look at their current situation and know they are being prepared for the future. Sure, while in school it’s quite obvious that tools and skills are being acquired for use in a future workplace. But afterwards, it can be somewhat hard to trust that you are being prepared even more for things to come.

Most “internships” are nothing more than opportunities for employers to get a cheap “go-fer.” But rest assured this internship is nothing close to being any type of lackey-job. I’d have to say that I have never worked harder, never been more challenged, and never grown more in such a short period of time. I’m being challenged to be intentional in everything- the way I lead people, the way I speak with those around me, and the way I use my time.

I've been thinking about how a while back at our weekly community-wide bible study and worship service, “The Well.” Recently we studied the well-known chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 also known as the chapter of Love. A pivotal chapter helping us further understand the character of God’s love: patience, kindness, humility, etc. It also gives us a glimpse of the type of love we are supposed to be for each other. So I challenge you to go read the chapter and let those verses become the metrics for how you measure your love for the people around you. Be reminded, it's not about you.

I have so much reading to do.

2010-04-28T23:20:00.002-05:00

Thanks to my brother Will Rolfe, I've come across Hoehn's Musings. Apparently, Charlie is all about helping Generation Y market themselves via professional blogging, and other web based sources. I can't tell you how excited I am to find the time to read/do some of this stuff. There might be hope for this liberal arts grad.

In other news:
Forget the aversion to risks. Nike is onto something when they say "Just do it." Pair it with a bit of Joshua 1. What if we were to take risks? and by doing so we lived life more fully? If its as simple as painting- when you never paint- and being more than okay with the end result. Or even if the risk is trusting beyond your own comprehension that what you are doing, or want to be doing, is pleasing to God.

Bonswa

Dust Bunnies.

2010-04-11T17:45:00.001-05:00

Spring cleaning comes with a new meaning this year. I don't normally do the whole spring cleaning thing and its not necessarily because I continually keep things clean. However, I’ve made it more of a theme for myself these past few weeks. It's been more than washing the dishes, vacuuming underneath all the furniture, and finally finding and pairing all the lost socks. Its been those things, which I'm sure would make my mother proud, but I've also been doing a little personal house keeping.

Usually when spotting a mess in our homes we stop immediately to pick it up. Seldom do we take the same urgent action in our own lives. Often we tend to let small problems with our integrity or character gather until we find things growing, or even worse -crawling. We've seen this in many of our cultures' leaders. We’ve seen this in the life of Israel’s King David, who continually tried to cover his own sins, and only made his mess bigger.

A few weeks ago, I began to look over the past year and doubt myself. Telling myself I had been doing a terrible job at…everything. But I caught myself, knowing good and well filling my head with doubts wouldn’t do anyone any good, especially myself. I realigned myself with questions , “Am I being an effective leader? Who am I not loving well? Where can I improve?” I didn’t just dwell in what I hadn’t done perfectly, but realize that because of God’s grace I’m able to move on and take action in these areas. This all comes at a perfect time of the year, Easter. At this time (and throughout the year, really) we celebrate the new life we have in the resurrected Christ, who washes away the old and makes all things new.

I hope you’re up for a challenge. Together, this week, let’s look at what we are doing. Are we being people of integrity? Does what we say and do line up with what we believe? Are we leading our families with the same values? Our friends? Coworkers? I’m not suggesting that we all take up a regular personal inventory like Benjamin Franklin. But take time this week to do some spring-cleaning and move forward.

When you walk into the room you know we can't resist
Every bottle of perfume always ends up on the floor in a mess

Sunshine

2010-04-05T16:25:00.000-05:00

Saturday, I took a walk.

Sunday, I played tennis.

Today, I played baseball.

I am getting active.

Hooray.

My attempt at a second post...

2010-03-25T00:12:00.001-05:00

failed. I tried entering it via e-mail from my phone.

It was perhaps the most inspiring post I could write.

When I hit SEND, I might as well had pressed DELETE. FOREVER.

Because that is what happened.

Gone. All of it.

No draft saved. Nothing.

I won't attempt to rewrite it. It just would not be the same.

Goodnight.

It's time for something new...

2010-03-16T02:00:00.000-05:00

What do we enjoy about a good blog?

The same thing we like about a good song, movie, novel, article, art, et cetera. It's not the actors, writers, or artists that captivate us. We're engaged by the character in the book and we relate, the emotion expressed through song. Be it tragedy, mundanity, or joy- we connect.

We find this with our relationships as well. Those relationships where we find ourselves lost in a moment of laughter or in that quick gasp of disbelief. Then, in the breath or sigh afterwards we engage even further and give thanks for that moment, to the One who gave us those moments.

As for the blog, yeah, I hope you and Text McReaderson are able interact with me on it. But above all that you would soon get offline and interact with people outside of your Chrome/Firefox/Safari UI.

Concerning the previous posts...

2009-05-01T12:50:00.002-05:00

These posts are from an essay written on poverty in the United States and my views on them. Context: It was written for a Social Welfare class this past fall, thus the emphasis on the history of SW in the U.S.

Part I: Land of Plenty, Land of Want

2009-05-01T12:41:00.001-05:00

Nothing more overwhelms the human spirit, or mocks our values and our dreams, than the desperate struggle for sustenance. – Henry Kissinger

Poverty- The quality or state of being poor or indigent; want or scarcity of means of subsistence – Webster’s Dictionary

For the past several years, my spiritual journey and faith development have lead me to an increasing awareness of the disparity of wealth in our nation. I have become increasingly aware of the various types of suffering of vast segments of our society. Because of this growing sensitivity within me I have become interested in topics such as injustice, poverty, and inequality in our local community, our nation and world. I’ve read several books about poverty in our nation including Urban Injustice by Dr. David Hilfiker, Bringing in the Sheaves: Transforming Poverty into Productivity by George Grant, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ron Sider and several other books including several texts from sociology classes. I have also listened to lectures (via Podcast) from a variety of people such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Robert Reich, Jonathan Kozol, and Ruby Payne. I became weary of reading about all of these problems so I became involved with several non-profit organizations dedicated to serving the poor, hungry, addicted, homeless, imprisoned, ex-convicts, and developmentally disabled. My experiences with those organizations has been beneficial and has motivated me to become not just knowledgeable, but involved. My participation has helped me put faces to certain social conditions, bringing them out of textbooks and making them a part of reality. For myself these are difficult subjects to actually study, to get my mind around, because of the differentiating definitions and concepts that seek to address these conditions. So far, my conscience (or value system) doesn’t seem to agree with any one view. In this paper I will try examine the various attitudes and approaches towards addressing poverty. In the final analysis, I conclude that faith communities and government institutions are the best vehicles to addressing poverty in America.
What is poverty?
The word “poverty” can be used in a variety of different ways. A person can be impoverished, or poor, in several different aspects of life- emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally, and several others. In this paper, poverty will be used in a sense in conjunction with material possessions, money and property. Around the world, approximately 1.1 billion people live on less than $1 per day and 2.7 billion live on less than $2 per day. Many of these people face numerous problems, ranging from the tangible, such as sanitation and drinking water to intangible problems such as social relationships and abusive governments. However, because of the enormity and scope of worldwide poverty, in this paper poverty will be restricted to the United States where poverty limits individuals access to things other Americans often take for granted, such as transportation, childcare, nutrition, quality education, adequate medicine, housing, and safe environments. This more restricted view of poverty is made easier to grapple with because of the stark contrast between America’s “haves” and “have-nots.”
Who are “the poor?”
Poverty is a very relative term, largely because of the differing conditions and resources between the developing nations and the so-called “third-world,” or undeveloped nations. Yet here in America the United States government determined a way to make an objective or absolute “official poverty level” in 1961. The Social Security Administration then determined that a individuals’ inability to purchase a standard diet would be considered poverty. So they (the SSA) multiplied the amount needed to afford a standard diet by three, because the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated the average person or family spends a third of its income on food. From there they multiplied the cost of a single person times the number of persons in a family for a threshold poverty level for families, an amount needed to stay out of poverty.
Below I illustrate two sets of statistics about poverty that often confuse and mislead people about the harsh inequalities poverty:

1. Altogether there are 37 million people are considered in poverty. Of those 16.2 million are white, 9.1 million are black, slightly more Hispanic and 1.4 million are Asian. Twenty million of the 37 million are adults age 18-64, and the elderly (65+) compose 3.6 million. By household, nearly 3 million families with married parents live in poverty, and families that are headed by a single mother make up 4 million.

2. The number of people below the official poverty thresholds numbered 37 million in 2005. That’s 12.6 percent of the total population. Of those 37 million 8.3 percent are White, 25 percent are Black, another quarter American Indian, Hispanics make up a fifth, and 11 percent are Asian. Single mother households make up 29 percent. Nearly 18 percent of the 37 million are children under the age of 18. By age, the United States has a number of children living in poverty that is two to three times higher than other industrialized nations.

Both of these statistics are true. By the first set of statistics one would be lead to think that economic inequality due to race doesn’t exist. The number of whites in poverty far exceeds the number of ethnic minorities. But in the second paragraph the reader can see the poor are disproportionately Black, American Indian, Asian and Hispanic. Children are also disproportionately impoverished. In fact, the United States has a number of children living in poverty that is two to three times higher than other industrialized nations. The first set of statistics would lead people to believe that poverty and racial inequality are not a problem and there would be no need to worry ameliorating such.
What causes poverty?
Why are “the poor”, poor? Are people born poor? Are they poor because they lack the “American work ethic” and thus unable to get out of poverty? Do they suffer from some kind of genetic, mental, or intellectual deficits? There are a couple of different views or explanations of what causes or creates poverty. Some view this societal condition as a personal problem of the impoverished and thus have a residual view. Others view it as a structural or institutional problem.
The explanation of residualism teaches poverty is created by an individual’s own faults or failings. This is the highly popular view that the current circumstances of a person reflects what they have failed to make out of the opportunities given to them. In other words, this perspective teaches that life gave them lemons and the poor threw their lemons away, when instead they should have added sugar and water for lemonade. Residualists see individual poverty as something that could have been controlled or avoided. Sadly, a residual approach to poverty leads to a weak sense of ownership over the condition by society. In this view ownership of the “poverty problem” belongs to the impoverished. This approach justifies statements such as “their inability to keep or get a job is their own fault; they could have prepared themselves; it was their choice to drop out of school, become addicted to drugs, or spend their money on useless things.” Persons holding a residual view would maintain that the poor still have the choice to climb out of their situation.
The institutional view argues that poverty is not a result of individual choices or inadequacies, but rather it is the product of larger social and cultural issues. This view holds that the circumstances an individual faces lie outside the control of the person. Forces within the structure of society, perhaps, including governmental institutions and policies, have created or contribute to society’s poverty. The institutional view recognizes that often times individuals find themselves in situations over which they have no control and have little to no resources to extricate themselves from their impoverished condition. In an institutional view, the economy and government have more control and influence in building strong communities or deprived ones.
The residual view often poses the idea that poor people either don’t or refuse to work and simply responds by posing the question, “Why don’t they just get jobs?” With this approach the poor are criticized for their lack of motivation. From my experience this summer working at the New Orleans Mission, a homeless shelter in the central city, I found that most of the people who lived in the area and in the shelter were hardworking people. Many of them sought to piece together an adequate living for themselves and families by working several minimum wage jobs, yet they still don’t make enough to pay for housing and other priority expenses.
I would agree that individual behaviors are an important factor in poverty. While in New Orleans I met a man who was certainly different than many of the other shelter residents. Kelwin didn’t mind being homeless because he could spend his monthly $600 Supplemental Security Income checks on prostitutes, fifths of vodka, and freebase cocaine. I wouldn’t see Kelwin during the first week of the month. Often people hear stories about or meet irresponsible characters such as Kelwin and let those experiences distort their perceptions of homelessness and poverty. When sharing Kelwin’s story with others, many times their responses include, “they need to cut out those checks.” For Kelwin, however, there is a deeper underlying problem. He is chronically poor; what money he receives will be spent on frivolous things instead of basic necessities. The deeper roots causing his homelessness go back to his family and education. Neither Kelwin, nor his education were valued. I didn’t meet many people like Kelwin, although we do know that drug abuse is frequent, especially in urban areas. But also without a doubt hopelessness and despair are even more endemic, causing an intense desire to escape through ubiquitous, easy and affordable drugs. I would cautiously suggest situations such as Kelwin’s are extreme and extraneous. I would also agree that institutional forces, such as negative economic and social structures came first. I saw many strong, working people, who are both independent and resourceful and they are swimming against an overpowering force of not ever make ends meet.
In sociology I have studied the importance of social networks. Often times, in the midst of natural disasters people in poverty are without transportation, money, local or cable television which provide news alerts, or social networks. These people are left stranded with few or no options for survival. From taking classes on social networks, I can recognize the importance of them in natural disasters, and the extreme lack of social networks. Before Katrina we were unaware of the lack of technology used in connecting people to their families. I found it interesting that the Red Cross, although providing excellent service administering food and water, did not, at least for a while set up a communications system, where separated families and friends across the nation could be united and jobs could be found. Perhaps such a network now exists after Katrina. Maybe the Red Cross, who was quick to respond (along with the U.S. Coast Guard), can help create more effective disaster plans. After seeing people with no social networks, having nowhere to go, I thought about the people I know and where they live. I know people all around the country, from Tallahassee to Philadelphia to California. That’s not even mentioning the contacts I have in states surrounding Louisiana. But then, to think of some of the poorer people that I know here in Ruston, they don’t know many people and have no support network. These poorer people don’t get to travel, visit family in Shreveport on the weekends, or take trips to Jackson or Dallas to see a concert. The things I easily take for granted, are some of the critical things that people in poverty need the most in desperate situations.

Part II: Response

2009-05-01T12:40:00.000-05:00

The Response to Poverty
Welfare is nothing new. It was first recognized when extended families and friends would help other family members and friends in times of need. When that assistance was insufficient, the church (if present) would help the poor. Yet eventually, because of the demand of need, friends, family, and even the church could not help. So societies began to depend and trust on the state or government to take care of the poor, hungry, and sick. I’ve read that official state welfare originated in England to provide economic assistance. From the colonization of North America on, Americans have always had some sort of support from state/institutional aid, support from private organizations, and voluntary assistance. Early on, poorhouses were created but soon they were deemed ineffective and too costly. The pension programs of welfare that we know now began after World War I. It was a pension program available to widowed wives of veterans.
Social welfare consists of many different programs that are specialized to help various groups of people in need. These social welfare programs help both all people and help specific groups of people. Various forms include: disability payments, medical assistance, cash aid to families, food stamps, housing vouchers, elderly assistance checks, health insurance, financial student aid and pensions.
But as far as I know social welfare is not only used to assist the needy, but for several other reasons as well. Government programs can create a hegemonic relationship between itself and the people, creating control and order. It can be used as a bulwark by the government to protect itself. Social welfare prevents future political unrest, such as the increasing of AFDC benefits during the inner-city riots in the 1960s. It can be used as an intimidating force as well, to punish unrest, forcing strikers and working people into accepting low wage jobs. It can also be used as a tool to gain public political support. If a candidate promises a favorable change of the welfare system, the recipients would be more likely to support the candidate.
In the 1980’s the Reagan Administration tried to stimulate the failing economy by cutting benefits for the poor. $140 billion dollars were cut from social welfare programs, yet at the same time taxes were lowered for corporations (a type of corporate welfare). During this time Social Security benefits were terminated for 350,000 people and unemployment grew substantially. With unemployment grew the number of people without insurance, and children went without lunch at school. A tremendous problem grew and people began to attack the current social insurance program Aid For Dependant Children (AFDC). Both sides of the partisan fence agreed in denouncing welfare programs, and no agreement was achieved until the Clinton administration in 1996.The foregoing reveals how contentious and complicated and costly social welfare programs have become. And the cost is not just in dollars; the quality of life for millions of Americans hangs in the balance of governmental policies.
There are several types of social welfare programs today. The first type of welfare is considered a social insurance program i.e. Social Security and Medicare. Everyone, despite their economic standing or background, has the opportunity to benefit from these programs. Corporate welfare is when governments give tax breaks, grants, or special treatment to large companies. Social Insurance programs are government funded and administered by the federal government as well. But what most people consider welfare when talking about poverty and similar issues are public assistance programs- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Food Stamp or Louisiana Purchase Program, and Medicaid.
Welfare as we know it today was redesigned in 1996 under the “Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996,” or popularly known as the Welfare Reform Act. Funding for welfare programs that were once financed and administered by the federal government, were bundled into “Temporary Assistance to Needy Family (TANF) block grants,” given to and to be administered by the State government. This allows the State to meet its own needs with only general provisions from the Federal Government as to how it is to be spent. When I visited the Office of Family Support I learned through this “reform act” more specific programs were created by the state, including: the Child Care Assistance Program, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), Kinship Care Subsidy Program, and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA).
The Child Care Assistance Program’s intent is to help needy families who are working, looking for work, or in school/vocational training. It gives them monthly allowances to pay for various kinds of childcare for children under 13 and disabled children under 18. FITAP provides cash assistance and promotes job preparation to decrease dependency on welfare. The Kinship Care Subsidy Program provides cash assistance to children living with a relative who is not their parent. Refugee Medical Assistance provides short-term assistance for asylees, refugees, victims of human trafficking and other “at risk” immigrants. It provides medical assistance for the first 8 months of them being within the United States and social services for the first five years. The RMA is the only benefit left for immigrants, who are not yet citizens.
Has this proven a successful change? Did the reform act reform anything? The number of people on welfare (TANF) has declined. People who received AFDC before were soon weaned, or dropped, off of welfare and placed into the workforce. More single mothers are being employed and child poverty hasn’t made a significant increase. Does this mean that people were taken out of poverty, or were people simply dropped off welfare? It is understandable that some may have obtained jobs after getting off of welfare, but it is questionable that those jobs help keep them out of poverty. Having a job does not ensure an adequate wage to lift one out of poverty. Forty percent of people who were dropped off the rolls wound up without a job or cash assistance. Furthermore, there was a three-city study that showed that most (93%) families forced off of welfare still remained in poverty, leaving them without an “economic safety net”. Regrettably, this is a disappointing net effect of welfare reform. We can only learn more about the effects of welfare reform with time as government continues to tweak social welfare programs.
Pushing individuals into low-wage jobs by removing them from welfare rolls has deep, negative consequences. In a previous class, Social Stratification, we read an article called Making Ends Meet by Katherine Edin. The article demonstrates how often mothers are forced to choose to work at low-wage jobs, despite the many disadvantages of low-wage work and the struggle to help their families and themselves. The study found that in keeping a low-wage job (and often receiving less money than when on welfare) many mothers end up having to spend more money in other places like childcare. In working at a full-time low-wage job, mothers would have no time to generate supplemental income. Also, many who have to rely on full-time work do not have time to spend with the children they are working for. The article further explains how working mothers spend most of their money on housing expenses, leaving little room for costs of transportation, childcare, medical care, clothing, and other necessary goods. Many and most struggle to make ends meet by supplementing their income with support from a parent, a significant other, friend, working overtime, a second job, or help from an agency or charities.

Part III: Views and Conclusion

2009-05-01T12:37:00.001-05:00

Views on Helping the Poor
The residual view that teaches us poverty is caused mostly by personal inadequacies and faults. Understandably it has its own view of how to alleviate poverty. The residual mindset tells us that aid, when given, should have certain conditions attached. Aid should be minimal, uncomfortable and temporary in order to deter dependence and push recipients to work, even menial labor to pay/make up for their aid.
While working at the homeless shelter in New Orleans I was able to experience how people operated under the residual view. In regards to the overnight guests, or clients, the attitude of the leadership was moderately stern. Everything from check-in, dinner, and the process of finding out where to sleep was often uncomfortable and inconvenient. They would serve a large hot meal at night, and a small bowl of oatmeal in the morning for breakfast if the client woke up early enough. No lunch was provided, so the homeless would not stick around the shelter because then people would become comfortable and not “get on their feet.” I learned soon that the goal of their “hospitality” was to make visitors or guests feel welcome but not comfortable. Most people would get tired of constantly being moved around the facility in groups, getting permission to get up to get something to drink or go to the bathroom. The client felt they had traded their individuality and freedoms to stay moderately safer than being on the streets. There was also a bit of intimidation used around the shelter; there was a drug dog, several armed security guards were present, and the staff (former homeless men) often times would needlessly go on a power trip here or there. Often times I would feel that the atmosphere was a bit rough. “Jeez, it’s a homeless shelter not a prison”, I would think to myself. But I would also remind myself that many people who are chronically homeless do not have much structure in their lives and the lack of structure may be the cause of it. The shelter also had “rehabilitation” programs that were also somewhat residual in ideology. The men could join once they were off of drugs for a month and once they were on the programs they would quit using if they were using, and begin to work for a small amount of money per week, which they could save or spend on approved weekly outings. They would do all the building maintenance, yard work, sweeping, painting, building, and fixing everything. They were also given the opportunity to take classes and get tutoring to help them get a GED if they needed it.
The institutional view tells us that poverty is caused by social factors beyond a single person’s control. As opposed to the individualist approach to society, the institutional view provides a stronger sense of public togetherness or collectiveness. The poor are entitled to receive our aid; just as we would help a family member in need so would we help any other person without setting terms or conditions. Instead of being unpleasant and temporary, aid would be pleasant, that is, not demeaning, and generously long term. The institutional view tells us we are to uplift the poor from where they are, help them find work they would enjoy, because they would prefer to.
Several years ago I visited two non-profit community organizations, The Simple Way located in East Philadelphia, PA and the Camden House in Camden, NJ. There they serve meals to countless numbers of people everyday, and supply them with blankets in the winter, clothing, school supplies at a thrift store where a bag of what they need would only cost a dollar. They also provided tutoring programs, after-school day care, a drama-production team and every couple of months they put on a circus for students and families in the community. All of these things for free, no requirements. By doing things with them they are doing more than throwing a rope for people to pull themselves out of poverty. They join with them in their circumstances, and work to change the environment around them. They bring people out of lives filled with hopelessness and despair and giving them hope.
I would like to think of the solution to poverty is much like an anecdote I once heard from a preacher-
“A group of Christians lived in a small village at the bottom of a mountain, and near this village was a road that went up and then back down the mountain. It was a treacherous road when slippery with all of its tight turns without guardrails. Accidents occurred frequently, often times the injuries were fatal. Saddened by all of the accidents the group of Christians decided to pitch and get an ambulance. That way when someone had an accident they could get them to a hospital quicker. They ended up saving many lives, but several people remained crippled for life. One day a young man came and asked, “Why don’t they close the road and build a tunnel?” The church people quickly responded that it was not realistic or advisable and the mayor would oppose the idea. The visitor was shocked that the Christians were more concerned with the mayor’s economic interests than human casualties. He suggested that they talk to the mayor or other area churches about making a collective effort. But they responded they don’t dabble in politics. The visitor left, angry, and thought, “What is more spiritual, picking up the bloody victims of destructive social structures or trying to change the structures themselves?”
After much thought and analysis, I conclude that I have an institutional view of poverty and approaches to address it. Besides being a corny sermon story, the anecdote I mentioned above provides great insight into how we try to fix or amend social problems. We look at the symptoms and not the causes of the problems. We worry too much about how much effort a true solution would require.
What is a true solution to poverty? In reality, there are a series of steps to the solution. First, we as communities or a nation must care about the poor and the homeless. Until we care about the least of these, little to no progress can be made. “Caring” for those in poverty will require a heightened awareness of the seriousness of poverty. As Katrina revealed a depth of poverty in one of the most adored cities in America, our political institutions must reveal to the remainder of our nation the depth of poverty in our communities and the societal costs of poverty. Every branch of government has a role in identifying and exposing the seriousness of poverty and how its presence reveals our nation to be a land of hypocrisy and not a land of opportunity. And before our political leaders will make this issue a priority, the voters must exercise their influence on those who make government policy. Voters must first be advocates. And to be advocates, we must be educated. And how are we to become educated? We must not neglect both the role and responsibility of faith communities. Faith communities in America are chiefly responsible for shaping our value systems. They are capable of uniting and accomplishing great things, from ending slavery and providing the right to vote for women, to pushing government to enact laws ending discrimination, to electing candidates who promise to end wars. Faith communities are a social network unto themselves, crossing all age and gender and race barriers. The war on poverty must be fought not from the top down, as LBJ sought to do, but from the bottom up. Faith communities have the capacity to be just as powerful an institutional force as the federal government. We need the financial resources and the will of both institutions to address poverty in this nation. We need leaders in both to shape the vision. Sadly, such leaders have not appeared simultaneously in both institutions. Yet some day, they will, and then we’ll see great inroads on our greatest national embarrassment.

Whatnot

2008-08-01T15:59:00.002-05:00

In the News.

2008-07-18T09:52:00.004-05:00

Violations ? at homeless shelter sends dozens to the streets

06:11 AM CDT on Thursday, July 17, 2008

Susan Edwards / Eyewitness News

The City Council is asking for answers why a New Orleans shelter was partially shut down, forcing out dozens of homeless, and what it can do to help get the New Orleans Mission in compliance with the state fire marshal's office.

"We've got dozens of people right now put on streets last night, many of them moved now to a new homeless camp under another interstate or highway," said Councilman Arnie Fielkow, during today's city council meeting.

The second floor of the shelter was boarded up and shut down Tuesday, closed for business, at least for now.

"All of those people we service during day are dumped back in streets of New Orleans," said Assistant Director George Scott.

Scott estimates that number to be at least 100 people. The shelter's second floor offered a number of daytime services, moving homeless from hotspots like the Claiborne Bridge.

"Services such has housing, mental health referrals, job leads and those kinds of services," he said.

Yesterday, the state fire marshal's office shut down the second floor because of safety concerns and code violations.

This is the second time since September the state has cited the mission. Scott said they thought they were taking the right steps to correct the problems. Now, they are left frustrated, trying to understand what went wrong.

"People from all across America came to help us with this buildng and to help us provide services desperately needed for such a large homeless population here in the city of New Orleans," said Scott.

Councilman Fielkow said the city will do what it can to help the New Orleans Mission, and the people who need it.

"We can't have another situation where another 50 to 100 people are put out on the street that were being sheltered before," he said.

Eyewitness News' calls to the state fire marshal's office have not been returned.

Fielkow told Eyewitness News tonight that the city delivered a check to the shelter to help them meet the requirements of the state fire marshal.

http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl071608mlshelther.61781a82.html

Words

Fence Hoppin'

Outsmarting with Outhouses.

"Oh, That's Gonna Leave A Mark"

Don't Carry It All

Real quick...

Here are more thoughts on homelessness, check it out, I'll be adding my own commentary tomorrow. From crisis.org.uk --- Relationship Breakdown and Loneliness among Homeless

HPRP Success Story

Why don't homeless people just get jobs?

Making Room for Creativity - 3 Tips

Do you realize you have the most beautiful face...

Gettin' Fresh (or, A Celebration of Making Groceries)

Land of Plenty, Land of Want.

A Petition for Support

Engage [v.]

Looking Back, Looking Forward

I have so much reading to do.

Dust Bunnies.

Sunshine

My attempt at a second post...

It's time for something new...

Concerning the previous posts...

Part I: Land of Plenty, Land of Want

Part II: Response

Part III: Views and Conclusion

Whatnot

In the News.

Here are more thoughts on homelessness, check it out, I'll be adding my own commentary tomorrow. From crisis.org.uk ---
Relationship Breakdown and Loneliness among Homeless