"Helping" The Homeless

I will edit this post from time to time but I want to get these thoughts down for now. Homeless individuals (not "folks" I'm sick of that word - it has become plastic).

Homeless individuals must be "categorized" in order to budget for the enormous costs that will be associated with "helping" them.

A few Categories to start are:

Youth - all under 16
all under 20
all under 30
all under 40
all under 55
all under 70
all under 80
all under 85
all under 90

every 3 to 6 months after 90 until passing on to next life occurs. ("death")
Mentally Ill

TYPE of Drug Addiction ie. crack, alcohol, meth
Domestic Abuse - female only

Domestic Abuse - males only

Categories that may need to be further separated:

homo/heter0

white/black/hispanic

existing family that is in contact with homeless individual

no existing family that is in contact with homeless individual

previous criminal record

no previous criminal record

No drug addiction - down on luck individual (not self imposed reason for being homeless - willing and able, clean record individual)

College Educated

High School Educated

The reason for all the age categories is because the needs are so different just from an age point of view. In other words, the younger an individual, the more intensive one-on-one care is needed so that this one individual's life as the best chance of being turned around. The elderly will need much more medical attention than a younger person generally speaking. So you have an intake center staffed 24/7 and when someone walks in for help you start with age and go from there.

We must find jobs for persons with a record of a non-violent crime such as drug possession. We must do something different in regards to their punishment and the aftercare of these individuals. Otherwise, we are spinning our wheels. If you do not attack and "help" the psychological part of "why" a person is involved in criminal activity, you are wasting tax dollars.

"Lack of Affordable Housing" being preached as root cause of homelessness. Puh-lease! (puh-lease stolen for Jennifer Engle's blogsite sports writer Star-Telegram)

Has educated America forgotten the definition of "root" cause? Root causes of homelessness are as follows:

1. lack of responsible, nurturing, caring parents through childhood

2. lack of ability to obtain job due to criminal record (even a non-violent record)

3. Persistent and severe mental illness

If we were to put our money towards reversing and dealing with these three categories, homelessness would be decreased in years to come. You ask how do we deal with numbers 1-3.

Well, we do following:

1. PARENTING - hold irresponsible parents accountable for their lack of parenting. Example, if you don't show up for parent-teacher conference, your held accountable. If your child comes to school in distress, homework not done, the parent is held accountable, etc.

2.CRIMINAL RECORDS - deal with non-violent crimes in a much different way than we are currently doing. Example, drug possession, you go to rehab confinement to serve sentence where you get caring, teaching, learning, self-esteem building classes, anger management, etc. When thru with sentence, you go to aftercare strict program.

3. MENTAL ILLNESS - Needs to be included in health program - save this topic until I know more from experts. I do know that the mentally ill need to be with others and supported which at the current time, they are not, there is no where for them to go. MHMR is a total disaster from what I understand.

On a different note, in "helping" the homeless, an employer needs to be "way" flexible in hiring and helping these individuals. It's much like a ladder. They will not show up for work from time to time (if they are doing drugs or have any type of drug/alcohol "addiction") so an employer needs (and HAS to be) to be forgiving, understanding, empathetic, and at the same time, be firm -- be able to practise "tuff" love, this is extremely important) and the homeless individual MUST pay a consequence of their action of not showing up for work!! (VERY IMPORTANT!) However, the consequence must be with talking (building a relationship with the individual so that they "get" that "someone" really "cares," AND some little other consequence like work for free for one hour.......something along those lines.

In other words, they have to be given many more "chances" than you and I would ever get. These individuals are so "fragile" emotionally and most are professional hustlers, very street smart and must be dealt with accordingly -- that is IF you are really serious about "erradication" (ending) of homelessness.

In a City, the cost to tackle this would be astronomical, but in years to come, it would dwindle because you would ACTUALLY being attacking the "roots" of homelessness instead of TALKING about it, EXPLOITING it, and using it as an EXCUSE to get more taxpayers monies.

more later. Thanks for reading.

Texas Railroad Commission in bed with Chesapeake Energy and making babies

Chesapeake Energy says it's not practical and too expensive to recycle the salty wastewater from the well sites and wants to contaminate Fort Worth's water because that's the easiest and cheapest. All the while they are promoting a billboard marketing campaign around town that reads, "Chesapeake -- doing a world of good for Ft. Worth."

read more digg story

Kicked Out By Intimidation.....well almost.

On a gorgeous night in downtown Ft. Worth, I think it was in October of 2007, I was invited by a dear friend of mine to attend a benefit for the Tarrant County Sickle Cell Association inwhich my City Council representative happens to be Executive Director. Since my friend had my ticket I could not get in without it as I was told at the check in desk (which happened to be my City Council representative's mother). I called my friend on my cell and met her at the entrance where she was waiting. It was a very nice event, lots of political office holders City & State, etc. After sitting down at our numbered table, a tall black man walked over to me, (one that had been called to the front desk when I arrived), and asked me to leave. I said, why I have a ticket. He replied, "because "they" don't want you here." He told me that if I didn't "get up," there would be a "Police escort" to get me out.

My first thought was to get up, so I proceeded to stand up....

My dear friend, basically said, "Over my dead body," she is my guest and I'll turn this MF out if you want to play that game. Go Ahead and call the Police.....she's my guest and she's gonna sit right here!" People sitting around us started to turn around to see what the ruckus was about. Then a female crony of my Council Rep's Moma came over to the intimitador and motioned for him to walk away ie. leave us alone now that the game was on.

Needless to say, I sat back down and had a lovely evening -- I knew my friend meant what she was saying and I surely didn't want the scene to escalate.

Interesting. ......Should I ask "why this happened?" ..........Huuummmm........I think not. Not right now at least. I just know it was "very odd." I felt like I knew exactly what it must have felt like back in the 60's when black people were asked to leave, or get off the bus, or you can't come in here, etc. I do at times wonder.... was it because I speak the truth when the truth hurts in regards to District politics? Is it because I'm a white girl who speaks the truth when the truth hurts in regards to District politics? Is it because I'm so outspoken in regards to District politics and what my City Council rep does and does not do? Is it because I DO NOT bow down to my City Council rep and act as if she were a "god?" Is it because I show respect to those who have earned it instead of giving it freely just because of a title? Why? Why was a "known community intimidator" sent over to kick me out of the benefit? Oh....and who is "they?" Would the definition of "they" be my Council Rep, her mother and their cronies? Lots of questions. Wonder if I'll ever know the answers...and do I really care?

Fort Worth, Texas

Such an awesome City. Beautiful. Full of green trees, old buildings, new buildings, lots of homies, small, growing, not typical, full of culture, old school, new school, a Mayor who I think really does have some care for people, is a people person, sort of old school, but ...good hearted. Got a City Council who's sort of strange. Has some anchors, but lacking on the edges. Not really a "people's council," especially with the loss of Wendy Davis. She is a true leader. She is not afraid to speak up, she uses her brain, she's attractive.....like Bobby Brown (Whitney's) said, "Beauty, Brains & Balls." I hope she goes far in her career if she keeps herself in check and remembers that's it's about the "people"......not necessarily, your "friends", but "the people."

That's what all politicians should remember, but I think some, alot, ....nevermind.

Fort Worth needs to step up on the "progressivness" of the City and the "greening" of the City and by the way, UNCHAIN the dogs from their isolation! We are above that, as a society. Education is desparately needed along with some sobering consequences.....to the percentage of Fort Worth citizens who are mistreating dogs in the most inhumane ways of the 21st Century.
Dogs are not happy on a chain. It's against a dog's nature to be kept in isolation and restricted in movement. Unchain Fort Worth.

Unattended Tethered Dogs

The question of the night is.....is it ok to tether (tie, chain) a dog?

Dogs need exercise, food, water, and attention on a daily basis. Right? Right. So....is it ok to tie a dog to a car, fence, pole, tire, hoola hoop 24 hours a day? No.

Is it ok to tie a dog while one is at work during the day? No. If you choose (choose) to own a dog, then you need to provide/have a secure and safe environment for which the dog to gets it's needs met much like the responsibility of mother or father of children.

Again, needs for a dog are: exercise, food, water and attention on a daily basis.

I think there is a culture difference in dog ownership...I don't know if it is a culture difference or ignorance but to make the choice of owning and serving as the caretaker of a dog, then I am of the opinion that one is responsible and should be held accountable for meeting the needs of the animal. If you do not care if the dog gets sufficient exercise or if the dog gets food, water, love or attention on a daily basis (sometimes hourly), to me, you are an irresponsible dog owner and you should be held accountable.

Yes, that means "government is coming more into your private affairs." So be it. We are supposedly a "civilized society" living in one of the most "livable cities" and dogs are way up there on the chain of companions. They are loving, smart, giving animals and to abuse them is a disgrace given we are in the age of 2007.

The City Councils and State legislators should be held accountable for making sure that dogs are protected from abuse. So far, they aren't doing such a good job as far as I can see...what to do other than speak up, take pictures, ask that something be done. And we won't even get into the enforcement of laws and City Ordinances...that's another area that needs exposed and talked about. Enforcement of laws and City Ordinances. Disgustingly lacking!

Imma Virgin & Inexperienced

I'm very new at blogging so please don't be too harsh on the dullness in appearance of the site. It will shape up with time. However, I feel a re-birth now with this whole blogging thing...thanks to the guys at westandclear.com and fortworthology.com who have helped open my eyes and exercise a few more of the brain cells that I have been ignoring but are now coming out of hibernation.

Favorite Blog Sites & Other places I frequent

http://www.fortworthology.com/ http://www.thecaravanofdreams.blogspot.com/ http://www.cowtownchronicles.com/ http://www.westandclear.com/ http://www.iheartfw.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
http://www.petegeniella.com/blog


And always send money here -- this should be legal just as the drug of "alcohol" is legal. Not to mention the many of our youngsters that the "illegalization of" sends to jail and/or prison. We taxpayers end up paying the tab when they can't get a job because of their "record" for possession of the natural weed, marijuana!!! Send money and please frequent this site: http://www.norml.org/

Why call yourself a public servant?

If you are not really concerned about things going wrong in your City or in Society, why run for public office and why call yourself a public servant. Why think you are better than others (your constituents) and that people "owe" you because you are in office and you are "somebody" now? This type of politician makes me sick at my stomach.

Vote Bernie For City Council Fort Worth, Texas

What a great thing for this great City of Fort Worth. Vote Bernie. http://www.iheartfw.com/