Spare Change News

Author: Beatrice Bell

  • Housing, Homelessness Prevention and Emergency Services

    Kelly Turley of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless spoke at Rosie’s Place on March 21 about housing issues, and some of the problems that we deal with every day. The main issue was how we ladies deal with our financial problems while we’re homeless or before we become homeless. Many ladies pointed out to…

  • 2 takes on legislative day on homelessness

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News On February 29, 2012, I went to the Massachusetts State House for The Coalition for the Homeless’ Legislation Action Day. After my experience, I have a renewed hope in our state leaders. The event took place in the Great Hall where the Hall of Flags is located. The schedule of…

  • Cookies get the word out on housing need

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News I went to the Massachusetts State House Feb. 15 for the third annual Cookie Day. I thought it would be similar to a bake sale for the State House in order to support funding for housing, or there would be a march or rally of some sort to support funding…

  • MBTA railroading public on fare hikes, service cuts

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News On January 23,. I went to a public meeting at the state Transportation Building in Boston and I, along with the hundreds of other people who had attended, was shocked to see how cold and callous some MBTA representatives sounded when they were speaking about fare hikes and service cutbacks…

  • T Riders Union Speaks at Rosie’s Place

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News On Jan. 18 at Rosie’s Place, Lee Matsueda of the T Riders Union came to talk about MBTA proposed fare hikes. The MBTA wants to reduce service to most bus routes, increase the RIDE base fares, increase the CharlieCard fixed route base price, and institute a $5 premium fare for…

  • If You Don't Demand Change then It Never Will Be

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News Many people today don’t stand up for human rights or civil rights because they don’t feel that they will be heard. The truth of the matter is that if you don’t vote for a candidate or a particular issue and if you don’t demand change, then it never will be,…

  • A staff made up of the homeless

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News Though they offer services from cleaning to asbestos inspections, what really sets Morning Starrs Cleaning Technicians apart from other housekeeping companies is their staff, most of whom are or have been homeless.The company is run by R C McCall, who first came up with the idea at Rosie’s Place.) Most…

  • Diane Patrick: Face Up to Domestic Violence

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News First Lady Diane Patrick was at the Tip O’Neill Federal Building in Boston recently to discuss her experiences living in an abusive first marriage for seven years. She managed to move on and today is married to Gov. Deval Patrick. This is her talk as recorded and transcribed by Beatrice…

  • Candidates for Council-at-Large Speak at Rosie's Place Forum

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News On October 6th, 2011 the ladies at Rosie’s Place met the candidates for city council. Will Dorcena is running to be a Council-at-Large member and he hopes to work at Boston City Hall to help people in the different Boston communities. He wants his daughter to have a better life…

  • The Campaign for Fair Foods comes to Boston

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News Recently I went to a protest outside of Trader Joe’s on Boylston Street across from the Hynes Convention Center. I didn’t know what to expect. What I learned was very interesting. Immokalee Farms, which is located in Florida, grows tomatoes for Trader Joes, Stop & Shop, McDonald’s, Subway and Whole…