Category: Uncategorized
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Building a Bridge Between the Haves and Have-Nots
When I accepted the position of Executive Director for the Homelessness Empowerment Project (Publisher of Spare Change News) last September, my hope was to serve as a careful steward of a dream that began back in 1992. Spare Change News is the product of a vision generated by a group of homeless visionaries. Co-founder James…
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Last Word: Chris Mesfin
February is Black History Month, and Spare Change News vendor and writer Chris Mesfin took some time out of his day to explain to me the importance of the month, not only for him and his community but for the whole of the United States. For Chris, black history involves understanding the past and taking…
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Young and Homeless: My Experience
My name is Andrew, I am 23 years old. When I was 21 years old, I was living in a DCF group home in the South End of Boston. I had been living there for a few years, and had been growing more and more frustrated with my situation. I didn’t have a lot of…
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Elected Officials Declare Homelessness an Emergency
First it was Los Angeles, then it was Portland, and now it’s the state of Hawaii. All three places have declared a state of emergency to address homelessness. On September 22nd, the Los Angeles city council declared a state of emergency to address homelessness. The city council appropriated $100 million to fund initiatives such as…
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AIRPORT REFORM: Workers at Logan demand union rights, fair conditions
As of June 17, over 100 airport workers are on strike protesting the working conditions of two of Logan Airport’s biggest contractors, G2 Secure Staff and ReadyJet. Protesters began picketing at East Boston Memorial Park as early as early as 5 a.m., holding a press conference at 7:30 a.m., just steps away from the Logan…
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Ten Questions with Boston's New Mayor
BOSTON, Mass.—On January 6, Martin J. “Marty” Walsh was sworn in as the 54th mayor of Boston after serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2007. SPARE CHANGE NEWS was able to catch up with Walsh before his inauguration for a quick phone conversation about homelessness, housing and gun violence in the city. …
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Shackled at Birth: Massachusetts’ Mistreatment of Pregnant Prisoners
A month after Governor Patrick signed a 90-day ban prohibiting the practice of shackling pregnant inmates in jails and prisons, the Massachusetts House and Senate have moved forward in passing S.2012, the Anti-Shackling bill. It still awaited the governor’s approval and signature as of press time. Corrections officials are already banned from shackling pregnant inmates…