The Bloody Gall Of Them!!!!!!

[staropeace]

I know the laws can give you grief when working with the homeless. It is harder now running a homeless shelter in Alberta than it was when I ran one. Now they are not allowed to accept donations from restaruants. I broke a few rules when I worked, I will tell you. I broke the rules of the fire marshal many a night when it was -30C in the winter. We could only allow so many folks into the building....after a certain number we had to refuse entrance. So I simply hid the rest of them into the back of the Salvation Army thirft store drop off bags went with clothing in them....they made cushy mattresses and people did not freeze to death. The laws are always against the poor. I salute these good gentlement in Florida.

Police charge 90-year-old man, 2 pastors with feeding homeless | News - Home

 

[skimom2]

I have a friend here whose church group is trying to open a shelter for homeless teens (they aren't allowed in the 'regular' shelters), but the requirements are ridiculous: they have to provide counselors, a medical person (preferably an MD, but the state will reluctantly accept a PA), teachers... For the love of God, they just want to give these kids a place to SLEEP, out of the cold and safer than the street! So far, they've only been able to create a sort of free store for teens, with warm clothing, food, blankets, shoes, etc.. Heaven forbid they let them sleep safely.

 

[staropeace]

I have a friend here whose church group is trying to open a shelter for homeless teens (they aren't allowed in the 'regular' shelters), but the requirements are ridiculous: they have to provide counselors, a medical person (preferably an MD, but the state will reluctantly accept a PA), teachers... For the love of God, they just want to give these kids a place to SLEEP, out of the cold and safer than the street! So far, they've only been able to create a sort of free store for teens, with warm clothing, food, blankets, shoes, etc.. Heaven forbid they let them sleep safely.

It is crazy! We do have youth drop-in centres here where they can come in. They do not have to give their names in some. I like the type of work that is outreach. I like street level work. I was at my happiest with that. I do not usually break the laws of our land but I would do so in a minute if it meant bending the rules to help the poor. The governments seem to want them invisible. Nothing pisses me off more because the most interesting people I have ever met were on the streets.....I felt safe with them.

 

[hossenpepper]

I have a friend here whose church group is trying to open a shelter for homeless teens (they aren't allowed in the 'regular' shelters), but the requirements are ridiculous: they have to provide counselors, a medical person (preferably an MD, but the state will reluctantly accept a PA), teachers... For the love of God, they just want to give these kids a place to SLEEP, out of the cold and safer than the street! So far, they've only been able to create a sort of free store for teens, with warm clothing, food, blankets, shoes, etc.. Heaven forbid they let them sleep safely.

I am curious SM2, is this being set up at the church itself or in a separate building? If so, is the building owned or rented by the church? I am just curious if it is church property if the same regulations apply.

 

[Haunted]

The lesson here is do not let government anywhere near your helping someone in need.

 

[Haunted]

I have a friend here whose church group is trying to open a shelter for homeless teens (they aren't allowed in the 'regular' shelters), but the requirements are ridiculous: they have to provide counselors, a medical person (preferably an MD, but the state will reluctantly accept a PA), teachers... For the love of God, they just want to give these kids a place to SLEEP, out of the cold and safer than the street! So far, they've only been able to create a sort of free store for teens, with warm clothing, food, blankets, shoes, etc.. Heaven forbid they let them sleep safely.

They want to create a captive audience so they can implement what they think people need.

 

[staropeace]

I am curious SM2, is this being set up at the church itself or in a separate building? If so, is the building owned or rented by the church? I am just curious if it is church property if the same regulations apply.

We had it at the Salvation Army building but the thing is that if you receive any monies from the government agencies and groups like United Way, they can have some say in it on how it is run. Most shelters depend on outside sources for help along with the churches they represent. I kept logs for Social Services...even wrote in how many ounces of soup I made and gave out so they would not be bitching at me. The Health board is another thing altogether.....I could always pass the inspection because I went to cooking school and knew exactly what they looked at. But some of the fricken rules would drive yah nuts. Day old bread donated is better than no damn bread at all, for pity's sake.

 

[fljoe0]

Good for him. The City of Fort Lauderdale has had a gigantic stick up their * for a long time.

 

[hossenpepper]

We had it at the Salvation Army building but the thing is that if you receive any monies from the government agencies and groups like United Way, they can have some say in it on how it is run. Most shelters depend on outside sources for help along with the churches they represent. I kept logs for Social Services...even wrote in how many ounces of soup I made and gave out so they would not be bitching at me. The Health board is another thing altogether.....I could always pass the inspection because I went to cooking school and knew exactly what they looked at. But some of the fricken rules would drive yah nuts. Day old bread donated is better than no damn bread at all, for pity's sake.

I am guessing the rules might be the same here, but in the scenario Skimom2 was putting out it sounded like all private funding. I am sure there are some rules on letting people bunk at a place (fire codes, building codes, etc.), but our government is pretty hands off on churches so it'd surprise me to hear they were hassling a private endeavor. But yeah, if you take money from the government, it comes with expectations and rules. As well it should when public money is involved. Sometimes, it is the unfortunate truth that not enough people do something to help and the government winds up being the only thing that will step in.

My mom actually helped start the Berkeley (California) Free Food Project with a few friends back in 1969 and it's still going today. They had some of the difficulties about which you speak, but overall the local government helped them quite a bit. But California is definitely a much more liberal place than most and they tend to encourage collectivist activities.

I think in SM2's scenario, the fact that minors are involved brings in a whole new set of rules and the place is seen as a de facto sort of orphanage perhaps.

 

[hossenpepper]

Good for him. The City of Fort Lauderdale has had a gigantic stick up their * for a long time.

Broward and FtL are about as corrupt as it gets, so for them to waste money on police enforcing this is ridiculous.

 

[Bryan James]

There are higher laws.

 

[skimom2]

I am curious SM2, is this being set up at the church itself or in a separate building? If so, is the building owned or rented by the church? I am just curious if it is church property if the same regulations apply.

It's in the church building--it used to be an elementary school, so there are lots of rooms available that could be 'dorms'. As far as what I've been told, state regs are pretty stringent, no exceptions for it being church property. I can see having background checks, separate boys/girls dorms, and plenty of supervision, but counselors, doctors, and teachers? Nope.

 

[skimom2]

I am guessing the rules might be the same here, but in the scenario Skimom2 was putting out it sounded like all private funding. I am sure there are some rules on letting people bunk at a place (fire codes, building codes, etc.), but our government is pretty hands off on churches so it'd surprise me to hear they were hassling a private endeavor. But yeah, if you take money from the government, it comes with expectations and rules. As well it should when public money is involved. Sometimes, it is the unfortunate truth that not enough people do something to help and the government winds up being the only thing that will step in.

My mom actually helped start the Berkeley (California) Free Food Project with a few friends back in 1969 and it's still going today. They had some of the difficulties about which you speak, but overall the local government helped them quite a bit. But California is definitely a much more liberal place than most and they tend to encourage collectivist activities.

I think in SM2's scenario, the fact that minors are involved brings in a whole new set of rules and the place is seen as a de facto sort of orphanage perhaps.

That's exactly it: minors bring in a whole other set of rules. It's frustrating, though, because most just need a place to sleep that isn't a park, under a bridge, etc. Even if the regular shelters would take them in, but they won't. So what is a teen to do?

 

[staropeace]

That's exactly it: minors bring in a whole other set of rules. It's frustrating, though, because most just need a place to sleep that isn't a park, under a bridge, etc. Even if the regular shelters would take them in, but they won't. So what is a teen to do?

They are getting no help because the system is defeating them. You see this is every area of government services that deal with social issues. We complain that Social Workers aren't doing all they can to help children while we overburden them with cases and burnouts because governments prefer sinking money into sporting facilities or helping out major banks etc from going broke. They would rather donate monies to other countries than help the people here on the street...makes them more politically correct. We have so many kids in the inner cities who go to school with empty stomaches. We are taking things away from the charities and other do-gooders instead of giving them more leeway. We need kitchen table psychology and kindness ....not red tape that will choke us all. Sorry, this is my passion and I get carried away lol.

 

[skimom2]

They are getting no help because the system is defeating them. You see this is every area of government services that deal with social issues. We complain that Social Workers aren't doing all they can to help children while we overburden them with cases and burnouts because governments prefer sinking money into sporting facilities or helping out major banks etc from going broke. They would rather donate monies to other countries than help the people here on the street...makes them more politically correct. We have so many kids in the inner cities who go to school with empty stomaches. We are taking things away from the charities and other do-gooders instead of giving them more leeway. We need kitchen table psychology and kindness ....not red tape that will choke us all. Sorry, this is my passion and I get carried away lol.

Preach it, sister. You're exactly right.

 

[staropeace]

Preach it, sister. You're exactly right.

Skimom watch this Edmonton Homeless man play piano. I had one client whose paintings hung in the government buildings...he was homeless.

Video of Edmonton piano man goes viral - Edmonton - CBC News

 

[GNTLGNT]

...why can't we just be allowed to take care of our own????...for God's sake-damn governments want to "reach out" to all the foreign lands, but screw the people living under our own bridges...guess the political equity isn't domestically great enough for them....

 

[Haunted]

They are getting no help because the system is defeating them. You see this is every area of government services that deal with social issues. We complain that Social Workers aren't doing all they can to help children while we overburden them with cases and burnouts because governments prefer sinking money into sporting facilities or helping out major banks etc from going broke. They would rather donate monies to other countries than help the people here on the street...makes them more politically correct. We have so many kids in the inner cities who go to school with empty stomaches. We are taking things away from the charities and other do-gooders instead of giving them more leeway. We need kitchen table psychology and kindness ....not red tape that will choke us all. Sorry, this is my passion and I get carried away lol.

I am glad that you do. Someone has to care.

 

[skimom2]

Skimom watch this Edmonton Homeless man play piano. I had one client whose paintings hung in the government buildings...he was homeless.

Video of Edmonton piano man goes viral - Edmonton - CBC News

Gorgeous. We have those pianos around town, too, and just last Thursday DD#1 and I spent a lovely half hour listening to a street guy play outside our favorite pizza place.

What galls me is the refusal to see that everyone has value. EVERYONE. There are people who want to be on the street, and those that have set themselves up for this life through their choices, but when gov'ts use that as an excuse to stand aside and refuse to help anyone where they can (and to the extent the person wants help), that makes me see red.

 

[~Ally~]

This story is disgusting...wow! I can't believe a so called civilised society believes it's acceptable to behave this way.