A new bill to protect the homeless sets a precedent, but there's more to come.

A new bill to protect the homeless sets a precedent.
http://www.fourwinds10.com/siterun_data/government/fraud/state/news.php?q=1241830934
Maryland was the first state to extend such protection to individuals in this population, and fortunately, this effort seems to be spreading. Washington DC law makers are chiming in on the very same issue. Considering the financial climate of our country, the timing is more than appropriate.

The Homelessness Bias-Related Crime Amendment Act of 2009 appears to resemble a similar model of Maryland's groundbreaking legislation. http://blogs.gwhatchet.com/newsroom/2009/06/05/bill-could-give-hate-crime-designation-to-attacks-on-homeless/ Moreover, garnering formal attention could help to destigmatize homelessness, on a greater level. Homeless people are merely people without homes, for various reasons that span wide and far. They are not lesser citizens, nor do they fit a specific description. If you've ever talked to a plethora of homeless individuals, it's clear to understand that they come from all walks of life. Some live on the street, although some don't. When shelters reach their maximum capacity, enough often adjust to their circumstances out of necessity, until a workable plan is realized. Transitional housing often becomes a part of a workable plan, but few who have never been homeless fathom the nature of the process, which is often not immediate. A fair number of homeless people are working to resolve their status for good, although it's a struggle. Resolution implies financial stability merging with affordable housing. While hoping for some door to open, a portion of this population remains silent, due to something described as stigma. Their quandry is unknown to the masses, when telling can make things worse, not better. These individuals often leave for work each day, just as anyone else does, yet some quietly return to transitional housing, or even sleep in a vehicle. Some are students stuck between a rock and a hard place http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090604162403AANrRuf, and a growing number of families are finding themselves without a fixed address. In other cases, those who don't work often need support services to overcome additional issues, such as physical illness, mental health, or substance abuse. Regardless, falling on hard times could happen to mostly anyone. When others approach this discussion to seek understanding of this societal dilemma, and also dissect it with compassion, we are able to move beyond stereotypes, and resurface with clearer vision. More people are homeless than we often realize, although foreclosure statistics have been some sort of a wake-up call. Solution-based responses are both effectual and productive.

Community Voice Mail allows users to remove the stigma from their current status, since callers are not aware that the number is free. If a job seeker is concerned about a potential employer knowing that he or she resides in a shelter, transitional housing, or in another temporary setting, CVM addresses this important issue. Clients use individual passwords, and using the service could very well prove to make the difference between remaining encumbered, and moving forward. Reachability promotes safety, as does staying connected with someone, or even a wider network. CVM's benchmarks compliment recent sentiments of our local law makers. The homeless population would probably agree that phone lines are indeed life lines.

June events for those in need....record expungement and a local job fair.

COMMUNITY REENTRY AND EXPUNGEMENT SUMMIT 2009


Tuesday, June 23, 200910:00 am to 4:00 pm
Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Come learn about reentry support services in the DC area and whether you are eligible to have your DC arrest record sealed or conviction record expunged.

EVENT SERVICES:• Housing Information & Counseling• Education & Vocational Training• Employment Assistance• Free Civil Legal Advice• Information on Record Sealing & Expungement

HOW TO GET THERE?

By Metro Rail:Yellow/Green Line to Mt Vernon Square/Convention Center
Red Line to Gallery Place-Chinatown
By Metro Bus: P6, 90, X2, G8

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: April Frazier, Esq.Community Reentry Program Coordinator

680 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, Suite H-5
Washington, DC 20002Toll Free: 1-800-341-2582 (extension 835)
Email: reentry@pdsdc.org
TEL: 202-824-2835

Job services resource fair:
Meet with employers - Safeway, Miller & Long, GuestServices and more!► Obtain health screenings for blood sugar, blood pressure,vision and more!► Learn about employment resources, training programs,benefits and more!

Dress for success
Bring your resume

ThursdayJune 25, 20091 1 am - 1 pm
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library
A - Level
901 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

For more information, call Charlotte Emigh at 202.722.2280 x 323

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