How`s My Vending?

HOMELESS
W
hat
does
a
Homeless man
do when he
walks down the
street and no one lifts a finger to
help him? Or what happens
when the people who live in an
area and who don’t want a shelter in their neighborhood go out
of their way to help a homeless
man? Or what happens when a
I
n August 2003 the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service requested
NCMEC's assistance in identifying victims in images of child
pornography. Exploited Child
Unit (ECU) analysts recognized
the victims from images they
had seen in the past, but were
able to find a significant amount
of investigative clues in these
particular photographs. When a
county sheriff's vehicle in the
photograph was determined to
be from Pinellas County, Florida, ECU analysts immediately
contacted the sheriff's office and
an investigation began. Another
photograph of the same victims
sent to NCMEC's CyberTipline
showed the children on a Yamaha Wave Runner, on which
the state registration number
was clearly visible. ECU analysts immediately ran the registration number through public
homeless man goes to a shelter mental health consumer and
and other homeless people don’t obviously very homeless.
lift a finger to help their fellow With dirty clothes on my
homeless man? Or what hap- body, dirt rubbed on my
pens when a homeless man goes arms and tree leaves in my
Afro
wig,
I
to
a
s h e l t e r I was shocked that my walked with a
cane and was
and
a
very own population hardly able to
homeI did the
l e s s
did not treat me like I move.
famous Tim Confamily
g o e s
wanted to be treated. way walk from
the old Carol Burw a y
nett show. I had
above
the call of duty to make that chicken in my pockets with
homeless person feel right at salad from a few days before. I
home? Well it all happened, let wanted to be homeless. I first
me tell you my story. First of all walked into my very own shelthis story is partially redone, we ter to see how the homeless cliran it a few years ago and ents we already had, would treat
thought it was so important that me. I was shocked that my very
we would add to it and make own population did not treat me
like I wanted to be treated. They
some new points.
A few years back, I, could have been scared of the
Sean Cononie, dressed up as a way I looked and smelled. But I
I
How’s My
Vending?
925-6466
X101
(Continued on page 6)
Thoughts from a recovering alcoholic
(Continued on page 11)
Call (954)
was still pretty upset that only a
few helped me. My clients who
we have helped should have:
"Paid it forward." I am sure you
have seen the movie. My clients should have lifted the spirits of me, the Homeless person
instead of just passing me by. I
thought we gave them better
values in their recovery. “Pay it
Forward” is a movie letting us
PLEASE. My 9 year old girl,
Penny Brown, is missing. She has been
missing
for
now
two
weeks.
It is still not too late. Please help us. If
anyone, anywhere knows anything, please
contact me at:zicozicozico@hotmail.com
I am including a picture of her. All prayers
are appreciated!!
am a recovering alcoholic and I relapsed. I would drink
six to eight beers a
night to help me sleep
easier and it just so
happened that there
was a football game on
and I went to bed a little later, at eleven.
Then when I went to
work the next morning
I was randomly selected off the computer
to take a drug and alcohol test. I passed the
drug part but did not
pass the alcohol test
and was automatically
terminated. I tried to
get unemployment but I
could not because I was
fired.
Therefore I
could not pay rent.
Now I am homeless. If
I get transportation I
can get my job back. I
am 140 days sober and
I want to
stay sober and
get
my
life back
together.
Charlie Robinson
"We cannot
change anything
until we accept
it. Condemnation
does not liberate,
it oppresses."
-C. G. Jung
Voice
Page 2
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Page 3
Volume 5, Issue 9
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F RE E T A G R E N EW A L
SER V IC E FEE W ITH
W R I T TE N P O L I C Y
L OC A TE D A C R OS S
F R O M W IN N -D I XIE O N
T AF T S T R E E T
W E H AV E M AN Y
TYPES OF
IN SU R A N CE FO R
A L L Y O U R N EED S
9 5 4 -9 6 3 -7 3 3 3
Voice
Page 4
NATIONAL NEWS
W
e here at Adventures in but I won't get all huffy about it if
Poetry want to proudly the Times is denied their First
go on record as being Amendment right to show naked
firmly opposed to eating babies. people copulating on their front
We are also against torturing ani- page. While personally I believe it
mals, raping in general, pillaging, should be up to the Times to demaiming, arson, stealing, and cide whether that would be a good
breaking other people's things for choice, I'm willing to let the oppothe fun of it.
sition
have
We bring this up
that one.
“As you surely know by
now because this
B u t
now, as it's been in all the
week a bunch of
this instance
folks suggested papers, Tami Silicio put the of censorship
that I write today Times on the fast track to its is inexcusable.
in support of the next Pulitzer by giving them Yet, the govSeattle
Times'
ernment
is
decision last week the opportunity to defy the making
an
to run Tami Sili- Pentagon's ban on printing excuse,
and
cio's photo of
we are forced
photos of flag-draped
flag-draped cofto answer it.
coffins of U.S. soldiers.”
fins of deceased
The excuse is
U.S. soldiers on
that the photo
their way home from Iraq. Yes I, could offend some people among
Dr. Wes Browning, will personally the families of the dead.
stick my neck out right here on this
Answer number one: Very
page, and take a stand in favor of few relatives of dead U.S. servicefree speech and opposed to totali- men have stepped forward to claim
tarianism.
offense in this particular case,
Let me sum up my posi- probably in part due to the fact that
tion up right now, so that those of YOU CAN'T TELL WHO THE
you who need no convincing can DEAD IN THE PICTURE ARE,
go back to eating your egg salad FOR PETE'S SAKE. Hello, you
sandwich or making out or what- can't even tell if the coffins are
ever you were doing before this occupied. Sheesh.
column interrupted you: TotalitariAnswer number two: The
anism, bad. Government propa- freedom at the press is at stake
ganda, bad. Government censor- here. The first amendment doesn't
ship and lies, bad. Free Speech, say its OK for the government to
good.
practice censorship if someone
As you surely know by might be offended by something.
now, as it's been in all the papers,
By the way, it probably
Tami Silicio put the Times on the would offend George W. Bush's
fast track to its next Pulitzer by sensitivity were he to read this colgiving them the opportunity to umn (which can't happen 'cause he
defy the Pentagon's ban on printing don't read, he only looks at picphotos of flag-draped coffins of tures) if I were to say that he deU.S. soldiers. I'll tell you how serves to be impeached for dealing
clueless I was. I was so clueless it with the Saudi oil producers to
never occurred to me that the Pen- influence the next election. Should
tagon had a ban on printing such I therefore be prevented from sayphotos. Oh, I figured there was a ing it? No, because the importance
rule against printing photos in of being able to say such things
which the identities of the fallen outweighs any offense it may give
soldiers were indicated, sure. But George W. Bush.
surely not photos where you couldI care much more about
n't tell who was in the coffins.
the feelings of the families of
But, no. Our government fallen servicemen than I do about
has a rule against it, and commer- those of Bush, but the principle
cial military contractors like May- remains the same. Their feelings,
tag Aircraft are understandably whether appropriate or not, don't
afraid to defy the Pentagon that trump the national interest. And in
hires them, so they let Silicio and this case the national interest does
her husband go, and they would not lie with the Pentagon. It lies
have fired her little dog too, if she with freedom of the press and the
had one and it was in range.
freedom of speech.
Now, some kinds of cenDr. Wes Browning
sorship I expect. I'm not saying I'm
in favor of any kind of censorship,
• Talk to your Human Resource Manager
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This is What The Homeless Voice
Has to say about this…
We at the Homeless Voice
will address this article about the
freedom of the press, we won't
address the writers view on President George Bush, and EVEN
THOUGH I am not a fan of Mr.
Bush I will not make fun of him in
this way. We here at the Homeless Voice believe that the dead
should have respect at all cost.
However we also believe that the
citizens the service men protect
should be able to view their coffins
in a respectable way as it was done
with the flags covering their coffins. When I saw the picture in the
paper and on the news, I stopped
what I was doing and prayed for
their salvation. I asked God to
give them a speedy trip to Heaven,
as do I when I see a picture of a
fallen soldier. It made me think
about how these men and women
risked their lives for the freedom
we all share. It made me personally respect each and every one of
the fallen soldiers. I have no idea
why they would make such a rule
like this anyway or to enforce it.
The Americans have the right to
see their soldiers and honor them
as well.
Respect is respect, the
news shows burning people on
fire, other newspapers show homeless people looking their worst and
major papers are very eager to tell
how the homeless person smelt at
the time of the interview or how
many teeth the homeless person
did not have. American papers
show dead civilians of countries
who have their mad man ethnic
cleanings and show their dead bodies mutilated.
I as an American respect
those coffins and what they stand
for. We must never forget that war
is bad, war is horrible and we all
must remember that death comes
to us when wars happen. It makes
some of us sensitive to the fact that
diplomacy works and we should
exhaust all possibilities in the
realm of diplomacy before declaring war. Yes, Saddam was bad, as
you may remember from my article about the Iraq war I predicted
that there would be a new breed of
terrorism. I stated as we killed one
terrorist another one would be born
and that new terrorist would hate
us with a passion. When you fight
these types of terrorist nations we
must stop the hatred and not with
war, because it would turn out just
like I predicted. This war should
have been planned better and we
should have done more in diplomacy before taking such action.
The same people we freed are now
When I first saw the
pictures, I thought, "Oh my
God, what a beautiful picture". I saw respect and
glory. I thought to myself,
that this is probably more
respect than they would
ever get if they came home
alive. I prayed for their
souls and I prayed for
peace to fill the hearts of
their families. There is
nothing more I can say,
but God bless them and
their families and friends. I
don't deserve their sacrifice
but I am thankful for it.
-Lois Cross
killing our service men. Yes, not
all, but some are, even the ones
who said, we thank you America
for getting rid of Saddam, are now
saying and protesting telling us we
are murderers, and wanting us to
leave ASAP. Why would these
people who we freed want us gone
so quickly?... Because they do not
believe in what we believe in and
in their hearts, they feel us Americans are the evil ones, and we must
stop the hatred before they will
ever welcome us.
As when our vets come
home some will be homeless as we
still see our homeless Vietnam
vets. We told you about the VA
and its hospitals last month. In
years to come we probably will tell
you how many new vets are homeless over this Iraq War. They will
come to us because they will not
be able to sleep, they won’t be able
to hold a job, and they will be addicted to drugs and alcohol and be
homeless. They will have what we
call Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
and the government won’t find
them a place to call home.
-Sean Cononie
Lois Cross
scononie@homelessvoice.org
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Page 5
Volume 5, Issue 9
NATIONAL NEWS
A low-income African-American woman loses her kids to the well-financed system of Child Protective Services
K
kids
elly, one of my best my
I
friends, was 17 when while
she had her first of her went to the
four children. As I had just store. I was
there
started university in the same city out
that she lived in, and neither of us mainly by
had friends or family close by, so m y s e l f . "
She made the best choice she
we spent a lot of time together.
Kelly lives in Quebec, could at the time.
CPS authorities didn’t
Canada. About two weeks after
her first baby was born, a nurse agree with her choice. They apknocked on their door to see if prehended her kids and, even
everything was okay. It is stan- though the incident occurred in
dard in Quebec for nurses in each 1995 and she has completed
community to visit new babies countless programs, she still
and help parents with any con- doesn’t have all of her children
cerns that they have. My friend home. Authorities are even trying
was also informed that, if needed, to have one of them adopted.
she could drop the baby off at a "That’s a big business. That’s
provincial day care for $5 a day. money they all making," Mary
All of this was on top of baby said, "Just to go and talk to my
bonuses that gave her a little ex- son I think this [CPS psycholotra money when
each of the kids
Eight years and
was born. There is
no question that
thousands of dollars later,
these
services
Mary and her children have
have been immensely helpful in reams of bad experiences behind
alleviating
the
normal, everyday them and many battles ahead.
strains that Kelly
gist] get $89 an hour."
has had.
Mary’s experiences with
Mary X*, an AfricanAmerican mother in Oakland, CPS have been dehumanizing.
hasn’t had Kelly’s experiences. "They talk down to you in front
She lives in a state where govern- of your kids," she mentioned,
ment assistance for childcare and "They make you feel low." Once,
emotional support are expensive in court, she asked that CPS offiand difficult to obtain. Without cials speak to her alone, so that
friends and family, and without a her kids didn’t have to hear her
government-sponsored help net- being chastised. When the CPS
work, she has been completely official mentioned this to the
court, Mary was reprimanded. "If
alone in raising her five children.
The aloneness is basi- you say anything to CPS," Mary
cally what led to her involvement said, "they’ll say ‘Oh you’re hoswith Child Protective Services tile,’ ‘Oh, you’re angry,’ ‘Oh,
(CPS). One day, when her oldest you’re mad,’ ‘Oh you’re not supchild was five and her youngest a posed to talk back.’" Mary’s kids
year old, she left them at home have also had many difficulties
and went to the store to pick up while in foster care, including
the family’s groceries. She knew having been misdiagnosed with
that the trip would be far faster ADHD, beaten, and given antideand much less stressful on the pressants.
For my friend Kelly and
children if she quickly hopped on
the bus herself. As Mary puts it, others in Quebec, the services
"I don’t have nobody to help me. they get are an indication that
I don’t have any friends to keep someone out there cares about
Where Quality, Service & Pricing Count!
their family. That,
ultimately, even if
they need help, the
priority is to keep
the family together.
This is one thing
that Mary wishes
she’d felt in her dealings with
CPS: "Instead of them coming
and taking your kids, they should
send you to family counseling
with your kids for six months."
According to the Casey
Family Programs, a Seattle-based
organization that help parents
strengthen families at risk and
prevent foster care, notes that the
foster care population in the U.S.
has nearly doubled over the past
two decades. To address this
growing trend, Casey acknowledges that the root causes of family crises must be addressed: "We
know that poverty is the primary
cause of family instability. And
we believe that family support is
a powerful and cost-effective
way to keep families together."
Mary needed affordable
childcare, help from friends or
family, and the support of her
community. She didn’t get any of
these. Eight years and thousands
of dollars later, Mary and her
children have reams of bad experiences behind them and many
battles ahead. CPS and the government could make different
choices; they could, like the Quebec government, give emotional
and financial support to families,
which made all the difference for
my friend Kelly.
Alexandra Flynn/Mentor; Dee
Gray COURTWATCH-PNN
Comments of the Homeless Voice:
Here at the Homeless
Voice, we believe this woman
Mary should have used better
judgment than leaving her baby
to get on a bus to go to the store.
However, people in desperate
situations make desperate
choices. It is true that with poverty comes a whole list of problems. I ask this question to the
mothers who are reading this pa-
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•
Childr en
-Sean Cononie
Sara Cunningham
scononie@homelessvoice.org
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per, especially mothers who are
now in their sixties. "How many
of you left your infant in a
crib sleeping for an hour while
you had coffee with your next
door neighbor?"
Maybe you
checked on the baby every so
often... I can also insure you that
if Mary were not poor the children would not have been taken
away. I am not saying that protective services made a bad
choice when Mary left her children. But what else could they
have done? How long does it
really take to get a mom or dad to
have the ability to care for the
child at 100 percent?
Some experts agree that
not only should there be child
birth classes, parents should also
be required to take small parenting skills classes as well as first
aid and cpr. Especially in lowincome areas where the parents
might have some issues. Working with the parents before birth
is given is the key to preventing
the children being removed by
the orders of Protective Services.
When the systems see problems
like Mary, we need to respond to
correct it. If we do nothing we
have failed and we will continue
to fail unless we react.
There should be laws in
place that when a baby is born.
The hospital social workers
should make sure the parents
have their act together. Then
after discharge there should be
several other visits by social
workers to give the families the
tools needed to make it. Not only
the tools but for the social worker
and the family to investigate possible problems and react in a fast
manner preventing such a disaster as a removal of a child. Little
ones are the most precious things
in the world. We as social service leaders must protect the children but also protect the parents
to have a fulfilled life by not having their children removed.
•
Em ployees
Voice
Page 6
HOMELESS VOICE
me what my name was I stated,
“Mr. Mars.” I also said I was
from Mars. So my cover was
deep and not one person knew
who I was. My residents should
This is Sean Cononie a few minhave known I was a mental health
utes prior to turning into Mr.
consumer and should have treated
Mars
me better.
(Continued from page 1)
Later that day I walked
all know that when someone does down the famous Lincoln Street
a favor for you when you are in Hollywood,
down and out, you should do two where our main
shelter was loother favors for two strangers.
Then Delavan and cated. I walked
the
Wanda and their two little girls through
who were also homeless made same streets of
sure everything I needed was the neighborwhere
given to me. They brought me hood
food. As they gave me the food, I those commumemtook the chicken out of my n i t y
pocket and grumbled and stut- bers did the
tered the words, “I am fine, I complaining about our residents
have Chicken.” They knew I was destroying their community.
in need of better food and ex- Now keep in mind some of their
plained to me to save the chicken complaints were valid and a lot of
for later and eat the meatloaf, the complaints were made bemashed potatoes and green beans. cause the people of that commuFrom the pictures you see in this n i t y d i d n o t l i k e t h e
paper and from the way I acted, I word homeless. I asked several
was quite the character. To this people where there was a homeday I am still very disap- less shelter around here. Most
pointed in my own population for people had no idea where we
not helping me. After I played the were located. Yet some people
homeless person I called a meet- who knew where we were located
ing with the entire shelter and I plainly lied. One person who I
explained what I did and how definitely knew for a long time
they responded. I called this ex- who went to the same church as
periment the “Matthew Experi- me and another 10,000 people in
Broward County plainly lied
ment” taken from the Bible.
Most importantly, while I when I asked the question
was at the shelter I did not speak “Where is the homeless shelter?”
much; but when someone asked Bumper stickers on her car stated
the name of our
church, and with all
Sean Cononie now making the first part of
the Christian actions
the Birth of Mr. Mars.
of this woman she
still denied me the
address. She did not
know it was me, but
she knew I was
homeless because I,
Mr. Mars told her I
was homeless and I
was looking for a
homeless shelter on
Lincoln Street. This
woman was a person
Sean Cononie darkening his unshaven face.
who was really
against us so she definitely knew all about
us. I have known this
HOLLYWOOD
person for almost 25
ALL
years and I was very
DISCOUNT
INSURANCE
concerned. This was
PHARMACY
ACCEPTED
the biggest disappointment I have had
OTHER SERVICES
INCLUDE :
in a long time. To
• OVER T HE COUNTER
think this person who
MEDICAT ION
• PRESCRIPTION
is a Christian denied
COUNSELING
• VITAM INS
she knew where this
• PERSONAL HYGIENE
PRODUCTS
Mr. Mars could get
• FIRST AIDE SUPPL IES
MON – FRI 8:30 AM TO 6:00 PM
shelter. It upset me
SAT 8:30 AM TO 1:00 PM
deeply. Then I realCLOSED SUNDAYS
FREE LOCAL
ized none of us are
LOCATED BEHIND HOLLYWOOD
DELIVERY
perfect and we all
MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL
954-989-6300
have our own sin.
1150 N. 35TH, SUITE 105
Even me…. but this
was too close to home. Here is
this woman who lives on the
same street as the shelter, who I
There was another memhave known for a very long time,
who is close to God and she ber of that community who was
would deny a crippled, sick, in charge of the civic association
homeless individual a place to who went at it with me in meetstay? She plainly hated our old ings almost every time we met.
shelter because she feels that we For years we argued and today
are not zoned correctly and are we are in a good spirit of cooptoo close to eration. We talk and I actually
her
house. have gone to her for guidance on
She may have our new location. She is a comsome
valid munity member who loves her
points about community and wants to help the
us being in a homeless and people who need
c o m m u n i t y help. But with all the arguments
but this really I never got to hear her heart. We
irked me. I actually worked on a real special
was going to case together last year on this
write a letter homeless person living under a
to the pastor of our church and bridge. For years I thought the
have him read it to our large worst of her until I underchurch congregation. I was going stood why she did not want us on
to do this without naming the Lincoln Street and realized she
church or the person because it was a real good person. When
would be a good lesson for all us Mr. Mars asked her where the
so called Christians who still shelter was, she plainly said it is
judge and commit sin. Here is the down the street. I was very
pleased when I saw and heard her
question of the day.
own words.
She
How do
wanted us gone from
you worship a
Lincoln Street but
Homeless Man on
did not lie and diSunday and igrected Mr. Mars to
nore
ano ther
the shelter. She got
homeless man on
an “A” in my book
Monday? Maybe
and that is when I
she was just anunderstood she just
gry that this man
did not want a shelwas walking close
ter in the inner resito her house. I
dential community.
can understand
I tested another perher concerns beson on Lincoln
cause she had
children and hav- This is the new Mr. Mars who Street after being
ing
strangers now is homeless, Have you seen directed to the shelter. There was
walking
down him in your community?
this man in his car
your street would
be upsetting. Strangers are one and I stopped him. I think he
thing, but a homeless mental worked at an airport because he
health consumer sometimes had some type of uniform on. I
makes us all scared. When in asked him where the shelter was;
fact they are usually a non- he said he had no idea. Then he
violent person. Like I said we all drove off. But then he stopped
have sin. I can feed the world and and waited until my crippled
take as many homeless off the body got to his car. As I got close
street as possible but I will never to him, he was clearing off his
be Christ. Here this community passenger seat. He said, “hop in I
member who is Christian goes to will drive you up and down the
church and worships Jesus on streets until we find it.” He also
Sunday, but then turned her back said he was on Angel Dust many
on another homeless man on years ago and that God saved
Monday. Jesus was homeless him. He called me Brother. Whoand she worships him but denies ever you are I ask God to bless
Mr. Mars a place to stay. Again you.
we all have sin and I am not judgAt the end of the Mating this person because of the thew Experiment I called another
way she feels about us. She did group meeting at the shelter and
have some valid points. My pur- then I called the family that was
pose for writing this story is to staying at my shelter, this was the
educate us all that we must take family who fed Mr. Mars. In
care of Jesus when we see him front of the residents I handed
walking down the street crippled this family a check for a couple
and obviously homeless and men- of hundred dollars and said this is
tally ill. She is a good woman for your deposit on your new
but she denied me, Mr. Mars, a place. I told the other residents
(Continued on page 7)
shelter, which made me mad.
Playing the part of Mr.
Mars for a few days,
allowed me to be able to
actually feel homeless
for a day.
Page 7
Volume 5, Issue 9
THOUGHTS
An open letter to a well-known stranger
I
’ve seen you often in the hair. As you moved closer, I
four years I have lived in changed my mind. Your patchy
this neighborhood. Day in red and oozing scalp looked as if
and day out, you’ve walked you had pulled your hair out by
through each season again and the handful.
In the beginning when
again. In the winters I have seen
you wrapped in an old fatigue- I’d see you, I’d look away, espegreen Army blanket, dirty and cially if I was passing on the
sidewalk in
motheaten. In the
your immesu mmers
y ou
In all your amblings, diate vicinwear very little,
I felt
no shirt, the same
I’ve never seen you look ity.
repulsion,
torn
ill-fitting
pants that hang
directly at anything... fear, confusion — feelmidway or lower
Until
today
ings I would
down your hips —
quickly push
sometimes
you
down in an
have underwear
on, sometimes you don’t. You attempt to not feel anything about
walk in a purposefully aimless you at all. My only thoughts were
kind of way. I figure you have no of all the ways you needed to
place to go. But truthfully, I don’t change.
A couple of years ago,
know that, it is just one of my
many assumptions about you. around Easter, I was sitting by
You don’t seem old; you’re not the window in my favorite coffee
young. You just seem in some shop, writing. I was writing
Eastery kinds of musings around
space that appears lost.
Most often when I’ve Jesus coming into Jerusalem, beseen you, your head is down, ing cheered and Hosanna’ed as
never looking right or left. In- the fickle crowd parted to let him
stead you stare at the ground, and pass. I gazed out the window,
you are talking... to yourself? To imagining it all, and at that very
voices in your head? You can be moment you walked by. You
quite animated. Your hair used to were wearing that same old holey
be a long, a frizzy, matted, dirty, blanket I’d seen you wear many
and (I imagine) putrid mass of times before, and the people on
muck. One time when I saw you, the sidewalk were parting to
it looked as if you had cut your make way for you. However,
(Continued from page 6)
that this family was rewarded
because they did what they were
supposed to do. They saw a
homeless man who was crippled,
a man who was really mentally
ill and a homeless person who
was hungry. They took care of
me, Mr. Mars, and because they
took care of Mr. Mars they took
care of me, Sean Anthony
Cononie, the man playing Mr.
Mars. Now that they took care of
Mr. Mars and Me, they took care
of Jesus, when they fed me they
fed Jesus.
I am not saying that the
ones who lied or did not bother
to help me are bad people.
Every person has their gift.
Some people have the gift of
charity, some people have the
gift of praying for the sick, some
people the gift of hard labor and
some people have the gift of
speaking in tongues. There are
some people, who do not believe
in any God at all, and have a real
special place in their heart for
people in need. Sometimes the
non-believers of any God do
more for the Homeless than service providers, Christians, or
members of any other faith. This
is something we believers must
do more of… Helping the people
in need is what life is about.
Lend a helping hand to Mr. Mars
when you see him walking in the
streets.
Sean Cononie
Homeless Voice,
Florida Region
scononie@homelessvoice.org
there was no cheering in this
scene. There were only people
trying hard to not see you as
they moved out of your way,
pretending you weren’t there.
I know because I had been
one of them.
At that moment,
something in my heart
snapped. It was as if a dark
heavy stone called “us and
them” was rolled away. All
along I had wondered how
you could be fixed, what your
problem was, why you were the
way you were. These questions
served to ease my own discomfort and free me from any responsibility.
From that time forth,
whenever I saw you, I no longer
looked away. Instead, I would
intentionally look right at you. I
wanted to see you, I wanted to
learn what you had to teach me.
Instead of feeling repulsion, seeing you now made me smile. Not
that you ever noticed, since you
were always looking down.
Somewhere along the way, I began to pray for you: wordless,
formless, but prayers nonetheless
that surrounded you in love and
light. Prayers drawing us together
in a common space.
In all your amblings, I’ve
never seen you look directly at
anything. Until today. Quite un-
expectedly, we passed each other
— me in my boxy blue van, you
with your bowed head walking in
the street. When I pulled up even
with you, you looked up, right at
me, and I could have sworn you
smiled and nodded. I smiled and
nodded, too. There seemed no
malice or vacant space in your
eyes. There was no fear or pity in
mine. My four-year journey led
me to this place, where there
were just two very different people, able to acknowledge one another, paying respects in a
neighborly kind of way.
Bettie Nyschens lives in
Portland with her husband, two
sons, and two dogs. After writing
this essay, she began volunteering with the homeless advocacy
organization JOIN.
by Bettie Nyschens
Real Change News
H
omeless people have a
hard time sleeping outdoors. They lose their jobs
and then their home and there’s
nowhere to go when the money is gone. Tired and sick
but what can you do. Friends can’t help — they’re hurting too. Homeless people have a hard
time sleeping outdoors.
Too many shot and killed on the street — some
dear souls while they’re asleep. Sleeping under bridges,
doorways and sheds, cardboard boxes for a bed. Plastic
bags to carry their all and no place to go when nature
calls. Homeless people have a hard
time sleeping outdoors.
Turned away when the shelters are filled, but
given a blanket and minus a meal. Told good luck,
you’re on your own, under the Viaduct hungry and cold
with one eye open and one eye closed. Homeless people
have a hard time sleeping outdoors.
Most homeless people really try, work every day
for smaller pay. But let me set the record straight ’cause
there’s been too many lies and too much hate. Called
Bums for just being poor, they fought the wars when
you and me were scared to go. They
served their country for honor and peace,
some lost their lives for you and me....
Homeless people have a hard
time sleeping outdoors.
To: Our Supporters
Stop by our shelter anytime and
check out what we do.
From:
—Estelle Wallace
Voice
Page 8
HOMELESS PREVENTION
Tips on how to save money on auto insurance
A
uto-insurance rates may
be excessive these days,
but that doesn't mean
consumers must simply accept
high costs. Policyholders may
find that taking a few simple
steps can save a bundle.
What's a consumer to do?
Shop around
Even if you shopped for the
best insurance rates a few years
ago, you might be wise to shop
again, especially if your insurer is
raising rates substantially and
you're a good driver. Why? Insurance companies usually set
rates based on their own loss experience from the previous year
or two. If one company has unusually high losses, its rates may
go from cheap to expensive in
short order. "You've got to shop
it," said Rick Holbrook, chief of
the California Department of Insurance's San Francisco ratefiling bureau. "You could save
$400 or $500 from one company
to another."
There are many ways to
shop for auto insurance rates,
including simply calling an insurance agent to see what else is
available. Many state insurance
departments also offer rate comparisons on their Web sites.
However, you need to realize that these rate comparisons
often use sample customers
A
lecturer was giving a
lecture to his student
on stress management. He
raised a glass of water and
asked the audience, "How
heavy do you think this glass
of water is?"
The students' answers ranged from 20g to
500gm. "It does not matter
on the absolute weight. It
depends on how long you!
hold it. If I hold it for a
minute, it is OK. If I hold it
for an hour, I will have an
ache in my right arm. If I
hold it for a day, you will
have to call an ambulance. It
is the exact same weight, but
the longer I hold it, the
heavier it becomes."
"If we carry our
burdens all the time, sooner
or later, we will not be able
to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier."
"What you have to
whose situations may vary significantly from your own. The
fewer questions asked of you, the
more generic the quote. Generic
rate comparisons should serve
only as a guideline, showing how
wide rate disparities can be and
giving consumers an idea of what
companies they should call for
further information.
If the Web page asks a lot of
questions -- ranging from driving
record to ZIP code -- the quotes
are probably more accurate, but
they're still subject to change until the insurer checks all the applicant's information.
Bundle
If you insure your home and
cars with different companies,
investigate what deals you'd receive if you moved your business
to just one insurer, suggested
James Armitage, vice president
of Arroyo Insurance Services in
Pasadena, Calif.
"You can get some pretty
nice discounts for having your
home and auto insured with the
same company," Armitage said.
"It's known as a multipolicy discount and can save anywhere
from 10 percent to 20 percent on
either your auto insurance, your
home insurance or both."
Watch the deductible
The deductible on an insurance policy is the amount that the
do is to
put the
g l a s s
down,
rest for a
w h i l e
before
holding it
up again."
We have to put
down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry
on. So before you return
home from work tonight,
put the burden of work
down. Don't carry it back
home. You can pick it up
tomorrow. Whatever burdens you are having now on
your shoulders, let it down
for a moment if you can.
Pick it up again later when
you have rested...
Rest and relax. Life
is short, enjoy it!!
-author unknown
consumer must
pay before coverage kicks in.
Many consumers
keep their deductibles low, either because they
hate paying for minor repairs or
because they haven't reviewed
their coverage in years, Armitage
said.
However, if you rarely make
a claim, a low deductible may
cost a fortune in premiums.
"If you go from a $200 to a
$500 deductible, you could save
between 15 percent and 30 percent on the cost of collision and
comprehensive coverage," said
Robert Hartwig, vice president
and chief economist at the Insurance Information Institute in New
York. "If you go to a $1,000 deductible, you can save 40 percent."
However, before changing a
deductible, ask about the precise
cost savings, Armitage said. The
savings are not standard for every
company, every consumer and
every type of policy. It makes
little sense to put more of your
money at risk if the savings are
slight.
"If I double my deductible to
$500 from $250 and I only save
$25 a year, it doesn't make much
sense," Armitage said. "But if I
save $75 to $100 on premiums,
even if I have a claim, I'm going
to get my money back in about
three years."
Reconsider the vehicle
Everybody knows that it
costs more to insure a luxury car
than a compact, but there are also
wide variations within car categories. One $20,000 convertible
may cost substantially more to
insure than another.
Consider discounts
If you have had an alarm or
safety system installed on your
car since you secured insurance,
you should tell your agent, Armitage said. Insurers often offer
valuable discounts for certain
safety features, and even to drivers who take certain drivereducation courses.
In addition, parents of
youthful drivers need to keep an
eye on their kids' grades. Goodstudent discounts -- available to
those maintaining at least a "B"
average -- make a dramatic difference.
Pay promptly
Credit scores are increasingly becoming a key component
in how insurance companies set
rates. You get a high credit score
for paying bills on time, maintaining long-term credit relationships and a variety of other factors. For a detailed view of how
credit scores are tabulated, visit
www.myfico.com.
Get
hitched
Insurers
consider
married
couples comparatively better
risks because they are less likely
to frequent singles bars and drive
home inebriated acquaintances in
the middle of the night.
Insurance rates are often
half as expensive for married
couples as for singles. But, naturally, marriage has some costs of
its own.
Kathy Kristof writes for the
Los Angeles Times, a Tribune
Co. newspaper.
Comments of the Homeless Voice:
Here at the Homeless Voice
we talk about prevention as a
means of solving the Homeless
problem in America. With prevention comes a lot of topics.
Saving money on your needed
expenses is one way to save
money for emergencies to prevent homelessness in the future.
It is most important to look at
every dollar you spend and reevaluate it, if that expense is
needed, or can that needed expense be lowered? Car Insurance
as well as other types of needed
expenses can be shopped for the
cheapest price, or review your
current policy to see if you can
lower your premiums. The article above is from the Los Angeles Times and the writer Kathy
Kristof offers many ways to save
on your premiums. We at the
Homeless Voice also suggest that
if you are one of these people
who need higher coverage you
may consider getting an umbrella
policy so your premiums stay
lower. An umbrella policy is a
policy that covers you for more
liability coverage in excess of
your normal homeowners policy
or auto policy. If you need a million dollar liability policy and
you purchase it directly through
your auto insurance provider the
cost may be higher than if you
kept your auto liability coverage
lower and then purchased an umbrella policy. Usually the umbrella policy is only a few hundred dollars and it also covers
you against other claims that
have nothing to do with automobiles.
Don't forget to tell your
agent you have dual airbags, side
airbags, anti lock breaks as well
as if your car is parked in a garage or has an alarm system installed.
-Staff Reporter
comments@homelessvoice.org
Page 9
Volume 5, Issue 9
NATIONAL NEWS
I
n an election-year snub of the
Bush administration, the Republican-controlled Senate
voted Tuesday to require that
new Labor Department regulations guarantee the right to overtime pay for all workers who currently qualify.
The vote was 52-47, with
five Republicans - including two
facing difficult re-election campaigns - siding with Democrats
and organized labor.
``This is a clear message
to the administration that this
final rule should not be published
and they should go back to the
drawing board,'' said Sen. Tom
Harkin, D-Iowa, who led Democratic opposition to the regulations.
Labor Secretary Elaine
Chao countered that the Senate's
action ``puts at risk the new,
stronger overtime protections for
police, firefighters, blue-collar
workers and millions of other
Americans guaranteed by the
Department's final rules. As the
issue moves to the House, we
will continue to expose the misinformation campaign against the
rules and strengthen overtime
rights for workers,'' she said in a
written statement.
The regulations are to
take effect in August. Barring a
reversal in the administration's
position, critics have several formidable obstacles to overcome in
order to successfully block them.
The Senate's action took
the form of an amendment to corporate tax legislation that has
been stalled for months and has
yet to clear either house of Congress. Moreover, the administration threatened a veto last year
when the Senate voted to stop
implementation of an earlier set
of overtime rules.
Republicans are
``opposed to raising the minimum wage. They're opposed to
extending unemployment benefits. This is their third crack at
overtime and reducing overtime
pay,'' charged Sen. Edward M.
Kennedy, D-Mass.
GOP senators countered
that Democrats were seeking political advantage by playing to
r a t s
were
Sens.
Arlen
Specter of
Penn-
key political supporters and do- that only 107,000 workers earnnors, organized labor and trial ing more than $100,000 annually
would be adversely affected by
lawyers.
``The only clear winners the proposed rules.
Chao revised the regulafrom the effort to block the overtions substantime regulatially over a
tions will be
The new regulations
draft issued a
the trial lawwould
mark
the
first
year ago - a reyers,
who
sponse to comwould prefer
thorough overhaul of
plaints by Reto live in a
c o n t i n u e d government overtime rules publican lawstate of conin more than 50 years. makers who
said they feared
fusion'' surpolice, firefightrounding
ers and others
eligibility,
could lose overtime eligibility.
said Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.
Democrats and organized
The new regulations
would mark the first thorough labor said that even with the revioverhaul of government overtime sions, millions of workers in dozrules in more than 50 years. Ad- ens of occupations, including
ministration officials say they police sergeants and computer
would guarantee overtime rights industry workers, could lose
for all white collar workers earn- overtime coverage.
Republicans sought to
ing up to $23,660 and protect or
expand current eligibility for head off the Democratic challenge with a proposal to guaranthose earning up to $100,000.
Chao and other officials tee continuing overtime eligibilalso say the rules are meant to ity to police, nurses, teachers and
clarify confusion that has arisen workers in a total of 55 job cateas the result of changes in the gories.
It passed 99-0, but Dework force over the years, and
eliminate the need for workers mocrats, having pocketed the
and employers to go to court to concession, deemed it insuffidetermine eligibility. She told a cient. They said it omitted protecHouse committee recently that tion for another 834 job classifisuch lawsuits are on the rise, and cations, including sheriff's deputhat often, ``workers receive only ties, and pressed for a vote on a
a few thousand dollars each, blanket guarantee of continuing
while the lawyers may walk eligibility.
Among the five Republiaway with millions of dollars.''
The department estimates cans siding voting with Democ-
sylvania and Lisa Murkowski of
Alaska, both of whom are in the
midst of difficult election campaigns. In remarks on the Senate
floor, Specter said that contrary
to the Labor Department's assertions, ``there is no indication that
this new regulation is going to
clarify anything at all. ``
Specter, a Republican
moderate, recently dispatched a
conservative primary challenger
and is turning his attention to his
Democratic rival for the fall campaign. Murkowski also faces a
conservative primary challenger
and, if she prevails there, a former two-term Democratic governor in the general election.
Republican Sens. Ben
Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, Olympia Snowe of Maine
and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode
Island also voted for the measure.
Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia was
the only Democrat opposed.
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee,
did not vote. An aide said he supported Harkin's proposal.
By DAVID ESPO
The Associated Press
WORDS TO LIVE BY
Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
and some days you're the statue.
It may be that your sole purpose in life
is simply to serve as a warning to others.
Always keep your words soft and sweet,
just in case you have to eat them.
Never buy a car you can't push.
Always read stuff that will make you look
good if you die in the middle of it
Never put both feet in your mouth at the
same time, because then you don't
have a leg to stand on.
Drive carefully. It's not only cars that
can be recalled by their maker.
Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.
Eat a live toad in the morning and nothing
worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.
The early worm gets eaten by the bird,
so sleep late.
If you can't be kind, at least have the
decency to be vague.
When everything's coming your way,
you're in the wrong lane.
If you lend someone $20, and never see
that person again, it was probably worth it.
Birthdays are good for you; the more
you have, the longer you live.
NEVER HAVE REGRETS
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true. There are at least
two people in this world that you would die for. At least 15 people in this world love you
in some way. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be
just like you. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like
you. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep. You mean the
world to someone. You are special and unique. Someone that you don't even know exists and loves you. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes
from it. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
You may be only one person in the world,
but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun
to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over;
smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty, some
are dull, some have weird names, and
all are different colors but they all
have to learn to live in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can
enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Happiness comes through doors you
didn't even know you left op en.
Have an awesome day, and know that
someone has thought about you today....
Voice
Page 10
UPDATE
HELP PAY OFF OUR MORTGAGE
We need just
39,500 people to send in a check for $20.00,
Or
15,800 people to send in a check for $50.00,
Or
7,900 people to send in a check for $100.00,
Or
790 people to send in a check for $1,000, Or
Just one wonderful person or business to send
a check for the entire $790,000.00
Remember the donation is tax deductible!!
Please send your checks to:
O
ur campaign still exists. If we
can’t get the mortgage paid off,
we would love an interest rate of about
6 percent on the outstanding balance.
This would save us about $2000.00 a
month. Our mortgage payment go
down from $8400.00 a month to approximately $6400.00. We would need
the remaining balance financed over 30
years. So, if anybody can find us a
mortgage, please let us know.
The COSAC Building Fund
P.O. Box 292-577
Davie, Florida 33329
We do thank you
S
tudents Helping Achieve Philanthropic Excellence teaches philanthropy to high school students through actual experience,
with the hope that the program will have a long-term impact on
the students involved, as well as on the communities in which they
reside.
SHAPE currently works with seven high schools in Dade and
Broward County, including: Michael M. Krop, J.P. Taravella, South
Plantation, South Dade, Hallandale, Barbara Goleman, and Charles W.
Flanagan. The SHAPE students have worked hard over the course of
this school year not only to learn about philanthropy, but also to practice it.
Recently, on Saturday, April, 17th, 2004, SHAPE held it’s annual
awards banquet at the Signature grand, where the students saw the culmination of all of their hard work and effort. They were able to hand
over $50,000 in grant awards to the non-profit organizations they selected.
As a part of the program, students determine the most pressing
needs in their community, write a mission statement, attend regular
meetings, raise $500 (which stays within their school), complete a
community service project, attend training programs, contact local
non-profit organizations that support their mission statement, conduct
two site visits, and decide on their own how to spend the money their
school has to give away.
Some of the many non-profit organizations that benefited this
year include - The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, The Children’s
Psychiatric Center, Covenant House, COSAC Foundation, Kids In
Distress, The March of Dimes and First Choice Women’s Center, Inc.
The program is wrapping up it’s second year, and is now looking
for individuals or Foundations interested in funding the program. For
more information about SHAPE, or to become a funding partner,
please contact Nancy Platt, SHAPE Director at 305-370-7111.
SPRINKLERS
IRRIGATION*DESIGN*INSTALLATION*REPAIRS
·New·Renovati ons
·Maintenance & Contracts
·Custom & California S ystems
·Low Water Us age S pecialists
·No Rust / No Chemicals
·Pumps & Wells
·Dri p Systems
JEF SPRINKLERS
·Rain Sensors
1601 W. McNAB Rd.
·Li qui d Fertilization
POMPANO BEACH
·Val ves & Ti mers
Lets have a PEN N Y DRIVE
Get together w ith your friends at
w ork and church and school
All Work Fully Gu arantee d
$20. off with mention of Homeless Voice
It can be lots of fun and don’t forget
Those pennies add up to dollars
Things We Need Donated
Soda
Sneakers
Laundry Detergent
Pillows
Linens for Bunk Beds
Blankets
Towels
Cars
Computers
Motor Homes
Over the Counter Pain
Medication
Copy Paper
Pens
Notebooks
House Telephones
Sugar
Butter
Salt
Coffee creamer
Liquid Bandage
Medical Gloves
Rubber Cloves
Vitamins
Face Mask
Bleach
Lunch Meats
Milk
VHS movies
Hand Soap
Coffee
BBQ Sauce
Frequent Flier Miles
Toilet Paper
Lysol Spray
Clorox Wipes
Industrial Mops
Brooms
Pillow Cases
Recreation Items
Page 11
Volume 5, Issue 9
THOUGHTS
A homeless man becomes an unlikely guardian angel, providing comfort and protection.
A
tion. I said good-bye as I boarded offered to buy him food at a
my bus, and he also said good- nearby restaurant, and he looked
even more irritated. He said no
bye.
The following night after firmly, shook his head, and then
work and school, the odd man gave me the cold shoulder. What
arrived again and sat at the oppo- did I do wrong? Did I offend this
man by ofsite end of my
bench. I said I had read some books on fering charI dehello, and he said
angels, but I'd never put ity?
duced that he
hello. Again, we
two and two together.
just wanted
sat there with the
to be treated
silence as our
conversation and the occasional like an ordinary person.
Sadly, my silent friend
glances and light smiles. Again,
my bus came, and I said good- never appeared again, and I felt
bye as I boarded my bus, and he so bad. Soon, though, I got so
busy with work and school that I
nodded.
That evening, I thought forgot about him. One evening I
even more about him and what I got out of school extremely late
might be able to do for him. I at night and sat at the bus stop,
began to think of him throughout feeling vulnerable. Instead of the
the day intermittently. He took people I'd normally ride the bus
me away from my own personal with, the bus stop area was
concerns, and I think that was a crowded with people who
seemed up-to-no-good. I could
good thing.
He was there at my bus not see any police officers, and
bench every evening thereafter. I there weren't many buses or cars
began to study him, and it oc- driving by.
Soon, a man whom I had
curred to me that he was quite a
beautiful person. He had the seen lurking in an alleyway apsmoothest skin, like brown satin, proached my bench and tried to
and his fingers were long and engage me in conversation. He
tapered, with very clean finger- gave me a very creepy feeling
nails. He wore a ski hat that and asked way-too-personal
looked ragged, but his face was questions such as, "What bus are
smooth and unlined. He had a you taking, where are you from,
beautiful, long Roman nose that where do you live?" I answered
was slender and aquiline. His his questions vaguely, and when
eyes were deep and dark, and the he asked me if I lived alone, I
whites were also very white and turned and flatly told him to
clear. He was wearing ragged leave me alone and that I no
clothes, but not one single part of longer wished to talk with him.
him looked worn or dirty. He was He left, but I noticed him behind
me watching me from a doorway
absolutely flawless.
As the days went by, I with his hand in one of his pockfelt that this man without a name ets. It was frightening, and I
was somewhat of a friend to me, could not find a single cop on the
and I wanted to do something for street to ask for assistance. I
him. So, one night I offered him pulled a pen from my purse,
some money. He looked stone- holding it like a weapon, and
cold it me, and seemed irritated. I started praying to Mother Mary
and my angels to intercede.
Shortly after I pulled out
my pen and began praying, out of
nowhere, my silent friend appeared and sat on the bench opgraphing the victims and disposite me! He said hello, and
tributing the images.
with considerable relief, I said
hello in return. I was so happy to
For more information, please
see this friend who had disapcall 1-800-THE-LOST or go
peared for a while that I comonline to
pletely forgot about any sense of
*www.missingkids.com for
danger. My bus came, I said good
child safety information, an
international database of miss-bye, he nodded, and we both
ing children, and other
watched each other from the bus
NCMEC resources
window as it departed.
*www.netsmartz.org for aniFrom that moment on, he
mated, 3D Internet safety
was always there at my bench,
games and lessons
and I never offered him anything
*www.cybertipline.com for
else but hello and good-bye and
reporting child pornography
some light smiles that seemed to
and sexual exploitation, includsay everything that really matters
ing unsolicited obscene matein this world.
rial sent to a minor
I started working in a
new area of town, and transferred
to a school campus in the same
few years ago, I decided
to leave the profession
of waitressing and become a legal secretary, so I
started going to evening business
school.
Since my school and
work were both downtown and
the parking rates were too high
for my income, I took the bus to
and from work.
One evening as I sat at
the bus stop, I noticed a tall, thin
black man. He had a cardboard
box and a restless way about
himself. He seemed to try to
make himself comfortable on the
bench, but fidgeted a lot and
would open and close this box
over his head. Everyone who was
there got off the bench and stood
at the curb to avoid being near
this man. And it seemed that as
people snickered to each other
and would look back at him, his
behavior became more exaggerated. He put the box over his
head and started singing some
strange song at the top of his
lungs. Then he would peek out
from his box and look around,
fuss a little more, and go back
into his box and sing some more.
He reminded me so much of a
little boy looking to see who
might be watching him. The man
worked his way over to my
bench, where I waited for the bus
to go home.
When he stopped fidgeting and playing with the box over
his head, noticing that I was neither snickering nor moving, he
sat still. Then he looked at me,
and I looked at him, smiled, and
said, "Hello." He said, "Hello"
back. And for the remainder of
my wait for the bus, we sat silently, occasionally looking at
one another and lightly smiling.
The silence was our conversa-
(Continued from page 1)
record databases, identified the
owner, and forwarded the lead
to investigating officers.
In March 2004 a
school resource officer at a
local school recognized the
victims and notified investigators. The victims were interviewed and disclosed the name
of their abuser. NCMEC provided authorities with comprehensive information regarding
the wide circulation, distribution and trade of these sexually
abusive images, and, with this
data, authorities were able to
obtain a federal search warrant
for the suspect's house and
computer. On March 4, 2004,
the man confessed to photo-
vicinity.
T h a t
meant no
longer
taking the
bus, and it
also meant that I could drive my
car to work and school.
My last night downtown,
my friend arrived, and we said
our usual hello's, accompanied by
the silence. This time he looked
at me and he said, "You look like
you have a world on your mind.
Would you like to talk?" I was
taken aback by this change in
flow, and I thought, Okay, I'll
talk with him.
As I spoke with this man,
his face filled with a sense of
peace and contentment, and it
was as though my words were
lulling him to sleep, like a small
child listening to his mother tell
him a bedtime story. My bus
came, and I said good-bye, and I
knew that this was the last time
we would sit together. We silently watched each other
through the bus window as it
moved on.
Soon after, I told a good
friend about this man; we both
thought I could bring him an old
but very warm blanket--a way of
giving him something. Well, I
packed that blanket and went up
and down that street looking for
him. I knew where he could usually be found, but I couldn't find
him anywhere. I tried all different
hours and days, and no, he could
never be found so that I could
give him the blanket.
I wrote about this man a
couple of years later in an English class because of how deeply
he touched me. We were engaged
in a group writing assignment
where we each presented our different points of view on homeless
people. It was in this class that a
couple of women from my group
approached me and said, "Don't
you think that man was your angel? We think so; our skin has
goose bumps from hearing that
story."
I had read some books on
angels, but I'd never put two and
two together. But now, thinking
back to how beautiful his features
were, his long Roman nose, his
satiny look beneath the rags, the
way he appeared when I felt in
danger, and the way he sat with
me--yes, I believe he was an angel, sent to give me comfort and
protection in a time of loneliness.
By Cheryl Cash
Excerpted from 'Angel Visions,'
by Doreen Virtue, published by
Hay House.
We may
need you
to pull over
and make a
donation
Cities are
Changing
and want us
off the street
Donate Online or
Send check or
money order to:
P.O. Box 292577
Davie, Fl 33329
HOMELESS
HOMELESS
VOICE
VOICE
So please do not get mad at our
vendors if you are holding up money
and they do not come to your car.
• I know this will be a big pain
• We can only do medians for now
• We are going to court
A low-income
African-American
woman loses her
kids to the
well-financed
system of Child
Protective Services
Tips on how to
save money on
auto insurance