“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.”

This powerful quote by Margaret Mead directly applies to Social Work Lobby Day. April 6, 2010, was a day full of exposure, experience and excellence. I have never been more proud of my profession as I was this day. More than 630 social workers and social work students gathered in the Florida state capitol in Tallahassee to advocate for social justice; to speak for those with no voice. The School of Social Work gathered outside the capital and sang a song for the rest of the Social Work Lobby Day attendees. Amanda Evans, NASW-FL President, stood on the steps and presented us with empowering message: We are the change, we are the future.

During the training provided by NASW-FL, we learned more about the bills being advocated for by the agency and the impact the budget cuts will have on the services. The high-profile bills focused on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (HB 107/SB 214), Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment and Crime Reduction (HB 1189/SB 1140), Crimes against Homeless Persons (HB 11/SB 506), Juvenile Justice-Offenders 9 years and younger (HB 7181/SB 1072) and Transitional Services for Youth (HB 627/SB 1356). We also learned about how to build relationships with our representatives, as building human relationships is a core value for social workers. While I was not able to make an appointment with my representatives to voice my support for Adoption Equality (HB 3/ SB 102), other attendees were able to speak up about this concern with their representatives. I attended a meeting with classmates who were advocating for Medicaid money for Disabled persons. I was also able to sit in the Criminal & Civil Policy Council as they passed or denied bills on the agenda. Some of my classmates were able to attend meeting and advocate for Foster Kids Transitioning out of the system, as well as changing the statute language to better protect "vulnerable" adults, just like they protect children.

Unfortunately, about 9 AM I spoke with my mom and received a serious blow of a message regarding a family member. It kinda had my mind wandering around for the next few hours and I wasn't really concentrating on why I was there. That being said, it was still an invigorating experience and I will go next year and prepare myself more. Aside from the lengthy bus ride, the trip and experience were memorable and proud moments for all of us.

Ugh. Ignorance is not bliss.

I was browsing the channels during my "lunch break" at home, and stopped on this Oxygen show called Pretty Wicked. Have no clue what it is about but saw all these pretty women in a homeless shelter, so I thought I'd check it out. Next thing I know, one of the women is saying something like "I don't feel bad for these people. They are the ones that started doing drugs or drinking or whatever got them to this place." Honestly, I wanted to throw the remote control at the TV. I turned off the TV  at that moment and immediately came to write about how it made me feel.

And it PISSED ME OFF! That exact attitude is why this world is so effed up! If they'd get their head outta their asses, and educate themselves on something other than how to use their new Blackberry, they'd know that children make up about 40% of homeless people, and about 23% are families with children! And let's not forget the women who have suffered domestic violence, or our veterans who get literally get shit on by the country they served to protect. 

I volunteered at America's largest homeless shelter, CCNV, last March (which is literally blocks away from the White House.) I spoke to these people and heard their stories. None of them chose that path. Nobody wakes up one day and thinks it's a good day to be homeless. No one wants to be homeless! We can't continue to look at people like they deserve their situation. Instead, we need to realize that LIFE IS HARD and not all people have the resources, family and friends at their disposal to bail them out when they've been laid off, are declined public assistance, can't find affordable housing, or suffer a mental illness - just to name a few of the reasons for homelessness. 

And on the topic of addiction. It is a disease and those people deserve the chance to be treated just like anyone. You wouldn't look at a person with Diabetes and think that they were worthless because they had a Diabetes, would you? 

Get your head out of your arse lady, pick up a book and get the facts straight. For more info on homelessness, check out the National Coalition for the Homeless

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And now, to get completely off topic, I'd like to share with you something that I can't stop listening too!! 

Bringing America Home

SPREAD THE WORD!

This national, broad-based initiative is dedicated to the goal of ending homelessness. The Campaign is founded on the principles and action of public education, grassroots organizing and support for progressive policies and legislation. It is founded on the principles that people need affordable housing, livable incomes, health care, education, and protection of their civil rights.

The Bringing America Home Act (H.R. 4347) was introduced in the 109th Congress by Rep. Julia Carson (D-IN). This comprehensive bill is designed to end homelessness in the United States and includes housing, health, economic and civil rights components. The proposed legislation represents the most comprehensive initiative to date to address modern homelessness and is based on research, data, and the experience of front line providers and advocates. Click here to download the Section-by-Section analysis of the legislation in .pdf format.

Housing Security Provisions Include:

• Establishing a National goal of ending homelessness by fulfilling the human need of shelter;
• A National Housing Trust Fund;
• 1,500,000 Section 8 vouchers for low-income families over ten years;
• Increased authorization levels of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Veterans' Administration (VA) Housing Programs;
• Authorization of permanent housing as an eligible use of surplus federal property under Title V of HUD McKinney-Vento;
• Authorization of a Mutual Housing demonstration program to provide housing cooperatives;
• A requirement that use of any federal dollars used for demolition would require a replacement resulting in no net loss of units;
• Establishment in the Treasury of an Emergency Rent Relief Fund directing the Secretary of HUD to provide grants for emergency rent relief payments to landlords on behalf of tenants facing eviction;
• Reauthorization of HUD McKinney-Vento programs for a five-year period;
• Permanent authorization of the financing of renewals for permanent housing projects initiated through HUD McKinney-Vento from the Housing Certificate Fund; and
• Requirements that HUD Continuums of Care coordinate and collaborate with local school district homeless liaisons and consider the school stability of children when shelter placements are made.

Economic Security Provisions Include:

• A Sense of Congress supporting a Universal Living Wage and livable incomes;
• Temporary Worker Fairness and Protection, which will enact federal legislation giving temporary workers the same protections as those afforded permanent workers;
• Establishment of a 'Homebuild' Program for people experiencing homelessness to assist those who have experienced significant barriers to employment through training and apprenticeship programs;
• Requirement that the Social Security Administration to collect data, engage in outreach and expedite application processing of people experiencing homelessness;
• Repeal of the statute that allows homeless people to receive SSI for only 6 out of every 9 months they reside in public emergency shelter;
• Increased asset limit for SSI to $3,000 for an individual and $4,500 for a couple, and provides presumptive eligibility for people experiencing homelessness; and
• Greater access to Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services for people experiencing homelessness.

Health Care Provisions include:

• A Sense of Congress resolving to enact legislation to guarantee that every person in the United States has access to comprehensive, quality, and affordable health care;
• Strengthening of mainstream addiction and mental health services programs including the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant programs. The bill prioritizes services for people experiencing homelessness, averts patient discharge into homelessness, improves planning and reporting requirements, and establishes a Federal plan on addiction, mental illness, and homelessness;
• Reauthorization and strengthening of the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) and Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI) programs. These targeted programs currently provide essential mental health, addiction, and other services to people experiencing homelessness, but are not able to meet the growing need. The Health Title expands the services provided by these programs and the agencies involved in providing these services. It would also increase the authorization levels of these programs to $100,000,000 for PATH and $100,000,000 for GBHI; and
• Strengthening of services provided by the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (RWCA) to people experiencing homelessness by prioritizing services for people experiencing homelessness, expanding the scope of services provided, and preventing patient discharge into homelessness. It also establishes a Federal plan on HIV/AIDS and homelessness to ensure that homeless persons have access to RWCA programs and receive care appropriate to their unique needs and life circumstances once in these programs.

Civil Rights Provisions Include:

• A requirement under the selection criteria of HUD McKinney-Vento that communities receiving homeless assistance dollars would certify they are not criminalizing homelessness through laws and ordinances;
• A Sense of Congress that cities receiving CDBG and HOME funds shall not pass ordinances or fund projects that have a disparate impact on homeless people or that punish homeless persons for carrying out life-sustaining practices in public spaces when no alternative public spaces are available; or relating to curfews or runaways and that result in homeless youths being adjudicated delinquent.
• A requirement that cities receiving CDBG, and HOME funds shall not pass zoning ordinances / make zoning decisions that have the effect of preventing the siting of facilities designed to serve people in homeless situations or low-income people.
• A requirement that USPS shall provide no-fee PO boxes, subject to availability, to homeless persons within the zip code area of the location to which they regularly return.
  

SUPPORT THE BRINGING AMERICA HOME ACT: Sign a petition supporting the Bringing America Home Act, or have your organization endorse the Bringing America Home Campaign. Organizer's Toolkit