INVISIBLE ASSISTANCE
Concern for the poor, involves
more than sporadically doling out cast offs, to those with less than ourselves. It
involves listening to their words.
Hospitality House Inc. seeks to combine the voice of the disabled, the gay poor, elderly
without enough funds, and the other 79% of Maine's poor The Working Poor, to tell their
own stories. (Nationally the working poor comprises 65% of all poor. Meaning they just are
not paid enough.) We want people who are enticed by the unreported story.
Also we seek advocates who CARE about those they serve. There are to few of these. To many
in Social Services are designed, so their primary concern is about the providers own
paycheck
A few groups are giving those whom are poor a chance to speak out. In Maine, its the
struggling Hospitality House Inc., which believes the voice of the financially poor should
be added to the mix.
But these types of groups are in the minority. In Maine the paid advocates fail to see the
CAUSE of poverty, stems from the insecurity of the rich. Nor that unlawful application of
welfare laws create additional hardship. This allows the pretense of assistance to
continue.
This PRETENSE OF ASSISTANCE
is achieved by turning away those in need, who qualify for aid.
This makes real assistance, an illusion. Because caring people believe if more people
were turned away than helped, our media would inform us the government is failing to
achieve the ideal.
People are turned away either by design as in HUD assisting 25% of all who qualify, or by
applications. Such as Maine having good General Assistance laws
Yet laws are routinely misapplied so 1 /3 to 2/3 of those in need are illegally denied
help.
These advocates, whom we expect to relieve suffering, call the poor "Those
People" and either treat them like dirt, or with pity. Neither one helps them to
reach their full potential.
Hospitality House Inc. has gathered data from across this country.
Anyone from a group who is curious about learning more on Ending Poverty, and the real
facts behind lack of funds, call Jan Lightfoot AT 207-453-2986 Or write Hospitality House Inc. PO Box 62 Hinckley ME. 04944.
To have those who experience it, tell you the hushed up facts about invisible assistance.
NON-PROFITS ACTS ONLY WHEN PEOPLE CARE
This overcoming of
misinformation about us poor can happen only because, people in the community CARE.
Supraflu Chimney Relining Service, of Scarbourgh ME., donated a 1987 car, for use in the
non-profits work. Haymarket Peoples Fund granted $2, 250. And WABK
Listeners donated to the 'Love Fund' which sent us, $500.
There are these whom have donated on a ongoing basis. As Richard Williams I I I who
reduces the rent. Vet, David Corwin of Waterville gives my dog and cat a 25%
discountAllowing my funds to pay the phone.
Soules Trash of Norridgewock ME. picked up trash fee for a year.
They are a dozen more who should be mentioned, but these fine people know whom they are
and also gave from their hearts. We more more than a dozen people contributing to be able
to accomplish our goals.
THE Top REASON OF
HOMELESSNESS, IS
POVERTY
Since the dawn of person kind, its been thought there are only two methods of dealing
with poverty.
1) Give inadequate relief to a few. And let others fight like wild dogs for survival.
2) Or say those without funds are week ill mannered and give them no assistance.
2) The Myth that all who are Homeless WANTS TO BE. No mother in her right mind wants her
daughters, or sons life placed in jeopardy. Since welfare reform started to kick in,
Maines Homeless Shelters been running overflow. Their is NOT ENOUGH HELP.
At the homeless Crisis Hotline we see people from all backgrounds including the once rich,
become homeless.
Advocates Count make reports and DIVIDE the homeless. We are told 1/4 are children 1/4
mentally another 1/16 the recently unemployed.
What we are not informed of is, ALL
THE HOMELESS, ARE IN A CURRENT S
TATE OF POVERTY.
Or else they would simply rent
a room until a suitable vacancy opens up. Any reasonable person would not perfer to sleep
in their car, if they had the price of a motel room. As the 26 year old man who burned to
death in a Sears parking lot at 2 AM 4 winters ago. His cars hearer caught fire. He was
200 feet from two motels. But lacked enough cash to continue his life
The press failed to go into the reasons why anyone would chance sleeping in a car, risking
getting beat, raped, killed.
The Media makes more profit by keeping most of us in ignorance. As well as dividing the
minorities.
A Third Way to Handle Poverty
There is a third way to treat poverty. that is to uncover its roots, and yank them
out. To admit destitution is caused not by some divine design, but by human greed and
stupidity alone.
Am not calling the insecure bad people! They have just yet to learn a better way. The
people who should be educating them, are busy making a profit, by catering to the most
uninformed of the bunch.
Some pious, do not believe poverty can be ended. They believe it is some kind of Divine
curse upon personkind.
When Jesus said the poor will always be here, it is possible he refered to human
nature, of the rich.
In the Old testament Biblical times, Moses and the Israelites, wandered the wilderness
for 40 years. God gave them Food from Heaven. He called it Manna. It was like today's
trial mix.
No matter the rank, the income of the traveler, they ate their full of free food each day.
This tells a thinking person God did not decree 10%-15% of hios children go to bed hungry
as poverty does.
But as the sun set God infested the manna with maggots and mildrew. Why did he do this? So
no person would save the free food and profit by exploiting another, by SELLING the food
from God.
As God was aware of Human Nature perhaps Jesus, the son of God, was also aware of the
exploiting potential of some. For they gathered up to manna and could only discard it the
next day.
This scripture was said to have occured thousands of, years before Christ. Today some of
us exploit technology. Compters have less than $50 worth of parts in them. Buthey sold for
$2,000.
While technology brings out the money grubbers in some of us. It is bringing out the best
in others. The internet is the media where Us financially poor can tell our own stories.
If we have access to the internet.
Anyone with $50 bucks to register, or knowledge were to obtain free web sit hosting, can
make a web site to exchange information and ideas. No media before, has allowed the common
person without large pockets for advertising to speak out.
Admittedly the lone voice who does not have their web sites hosted by the big boys search
engines, we will be talking to the converted, to those who. already knows the name and
mission of the group.
The third manor of dealing with poverty is to believe poverty can be cured. It is to
listen to those on the front lines. Those living with out enough funds to provide for
lives basics. Those who know the bumps in the road first hand. and have fine, yet unheard
ideas on overcoming the bumps.
MAY 1 ST. NEW
HOLIDAY
FOR THE POOR OF FUNDS
This May 1, 1999 will see the 1 of
annual ECONOMIC / FREEDOM Day. We are in hopes of National gatherings, were the poor speak
on their own behalf. At the Capital Park gathering speakers commencing at 12:00 people
mingling from 11:00 onward, we will ask Carolyn Chute to be one of the speakers.
Will also will announce of the winners of the first National Journalism Economic/Freedom
Day Awards
PLEASE ATTEND.
AND LEND YOU VOICE TO THE
CAUSE, - IF YOU LIKE.