Spare Change News

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Evicted with Six Months to Live

    On Thanksgiving Day weekend, Fanchon Fetters came home from the hospital, having been just diagnosed with breast cancer. She found a warning on her bed for missing a meeting with her case manager, Verna Johnson. On December 18, she received a notice of termination from the program that provided her with housing at Heading Home,…

  • The Fairy Queen and The Troll, Part Two

    [Editor’s note: Read part one here.] “My dearest Mother,” said the Troll, “I have been watching my river in your service. One year ago, to this very date, despite my great hunger, I gave up eating of the flesh and I mourned my life’s activities. I wish only to serve you, but I do not…

  • A Reason to Hope

    Every now and then in this seemly unending battle against homelessness, I come to a crossroads. I ask myself if I should keep fighting or if I should just fold up my tent and call it a day. I could call it a day; I have served on the board of directors of Spare Change…

  • Vendor Profile: Keith, Part One

    [Editor’s note: Read part two here.] I’m not a poet, but I have poet in me, and I’m not going to sugarcoat anything or pretty anything up to get your acceptance. The bottom line of the story is getting my name back and getting my self back. I’ve experienced homelessness nearly all of my life,…

  • A Sheltered Life No. 13

  • Candidate Proposes Office of Recovery

    BOSTON, Mass.—Democratic candidate Joe Avellone announced in February that he would establish an Office of Recovery focused on substance abuse treatment if elected governor. According to a statement released by the Avellone Campaign, the Office of Recovery would operate under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.The Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse would be…

  • Patrick Calls for Criminal Reform for Substance Abuse and Mental Illness

    BOSTON, Mass.—Gov. Deval Patrick has announced a plan to reduce recidivism by 50 percent in the next five years by implementing a step-down program, substance abuse rehabilitation and proper care for mentally ill offenders. To reduce recidivism, Patrick plans to introduce a step-down program that will allow inmates to finish their sentences at county-based houses…

  • Cookie Day Brings Sweets, Demands for Housing Funds to the State House

    BOSTON, Mass.—On February 24, Homes for Families, a Boston-based housing advocacy group, and its supporters again filled the grand stairway of the State House with cries of “Housing” during its ninth annual Cookie Day event. The event brought attention to cuts in state housing funds and honored local legislators who have worked to help homeless…

  • Homeless Advocates Concerned Over Homeless Bill of Rights

    BOSTON, Mass.—A Bill of Rights for the Homeless might seem like the kind of law Mark Alston-Follansbee, executive director of the Somerville Homeless Coalition, would be excited about, but it isn’t. Follansbee worries that the bill, which would echo four others passed by states since 2012, will assuage concerns about the homeless population without creating…

  • Gubernatorial Candidates Weigh in on Environmental Tax Reform

    The race for governor is heating up as candidates begin to announce their platforms on issues important to Massachusetts voters. Environmental issues—particularly fossil fuel divestment and Boston’s carbon reduction, both of which SPARE CHANGE NEWS has previously reported on—have dominated part of the conversation as caucuses have begun across the state. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe…

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