The images of Hurricane Harvey in Texas have shown how extreme weather can rob people of their homes. But what about those who have no home to begin with, or whose living situation is already precarious? Almost one-third of people who have been homeless have suffered extra trauma because of extreme weather, according to our…
Evacuated Homeless Campers Return to Houston Overpass After Hurricane Harvey
Residents living in the homeless encampment under Houston’s 59 overpass got some good news recently when they received a temporary restraining order preventing the city from enforcing its anti-camping ban. The reprieve did not last long. Within 48 hours, the residents were forced to leave anyway, as Hurricane Harvey slammed into the region. The hurricane…
Sufi Service Committee celebrates clothes and food drive
The Sufi Service Committee held their biggest event of the year on Friday, September 22, the annual Clothes and Food Drive. The celebration included featured speakers like Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons and Executive Director of Somerville Homeless Coalition Mark Alston-Follansbee. Many other representatives from local organizations were also in attendance. Mo Nooraee lives by two…
On Homelessness and Humanity
A couple of weeks ago, the executive director of the Homeless Empowerment Project, which publishes Spare Change News, read my column, “Homeless People Don’t Matter,” and it stayed with her for some time. “How did we get here?” she posted regarding the story, which was about the lenient sentencing of a security guard who assaulted…
Boston seeks consultant in push to end youth homelessness
Mayor Walsh attends the opening of a new transitional shelter run by Bridge Over Troubled Water, an organization that helps homeless youth. On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the City of Boston announced it is searching for a consultant to assist its efforts to end youth homelessness. The new consultant will be responsible for gathering data, assessing…
Bridge Over Troubled Water Opens New Transitional Home for Homeless Youth
Photo by Alejandro Ramirez On Friday Sept. 22, Bridge Over Troubled Water opened a new expansion for a transitional home in Brighton in an effort to double the amount of housing it can offer to homeless young adults in Boston. The new house offers meals, in-house counseling and employment assistance among other services. “We don’t…
Drop in food insecurity ‘not statistically significant’
Recently published Census data shows a modest dip in the overall household poverty rate in 2016, yet the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) said that progress has been “too little and too slow.” “While progress is good, it merely underscores that poverty in this country remains too high, particularly harming children,” FRAC President Jim…
Mass. Lawmakers Consider $15 Minimum Wage
Cheers and jeers filled the State House on Tuesday, Sept. 19 as supporters and opponents alike packed the Garner Auditorium to voice their opinions on a bill proposing a $15 hourly minimum wage at a hearing held by the Joint Force Committee of Labor and Development. The current minimum wage in Massachusetts is $11 an…
There is No Place Like Home
Janelle has been a guest at Rosie’s Place for almost a decade. She is a single mom with five children, ages seven through 22. She worked with Rosie’s Place’s public policy department recently to feel more confident speaking out for her rights. She gave testimony at the State House about her struggle to find a…
Homelessness is not Contagious
On face value, the photo accompanying this article is very funny. Unfortunately, many people are under the impression that homeless people are dangerous, mentally disabled, alcoholic or drug addicted. Yes, that can happen over time, but it doesn’t always happen at the onset of homelessness. Let’s get this issue of homelessness straight. First, homelessness is…