homelessness

The budget is coming -- let the advocacy games begin

Submitted by Judy Meredith on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 12:00am

 

Our friends at  Spare Change News are the ones  who got the State House News story out first about the tinyest possiblity that the Governer's budget may -- just may -- include some revenue measures.  We particulary appreciate the image of the our good, decent hardworking Secretary of Admininstration and Finance "warding off " advocates who want to begin to repair and restore the public programs that keep our communities strong.    
 
I wouldn't get between him and a demonstration of homeless advocates.  
 
Gonzalez said the governor’s budget, due for release on Jan. 25, would include “what we believe to be appropriate, responsible onetime resources” and “modest” revenue increases, although he declined to offer specifics. He said he has warded off demands from interest groups seeking funding increases.
 
“What I tell all of them is, their expectations are out of line with our budget reality and our new fiscal reality,” he said.
 
Gonzalez’s remarks indicate that discretionary programs – from environmental protection initiatives to human services and local aid for cities and towns – which have absorbed an onslaught of budget cuts in recent years, will face stiff competition to fend off budget reductions and reverse years of cuts.

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"We are shifting the policy goal to ending homelessness," said Rushing, D-Boston.

Submitted by Judy Meredith on Tue, 04/15/2008 - 9:22am

Todays story in the Boston Herald illustrates one way the administration and the legislature can work together to repair and reform the existing public structures that address homelessness. Kudos to the Mass Housing and Shelter Alliance who has been working hard for years to develop and pilot the model and educate policy makers about its effectiveness.

Money quotes from Rep Rushing

Supporters defend the extra spending in a tight fiscal year, saying for a relatively small amount of money the state can transform the way it provides help to the homeless.

"We are shifting the policy goal to ending homelessness," said Rushing, D-Boston.

The state already spends $120-$160 million on shelter programs. Getting people out of shelters and into homes will cost about the same amount of money, according to Rushing, who said the $10 million is needed to help make the shift.

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Real Civic engagement is like this.................

Submitted by Judy Meredith on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 8:18am

Firefighter’s son helps homeless by working with public officials and demonstrating that government is the way we work together to get something done we cannot do alone.... like tackle chronic homelessness.  

WORCESTER— His father’s advice was deeply felt and repeated time and again. Never hesitate to help others help themselves, he would say to Patrick: For reasons impossible to explain, you’ll benefit at least as much as the recipient of your time, effort or generosity.Patrick T. Spencer recalls countless times he witnessed his dad follow through with the credo, be it coaching Little Leaguers, assisting a neighbor or co-worker, or just helping a stranger in need of a hand. Sometime in April, the like-father-like-son adage will be evidenced yet again when Patrick and others stand in front of the three-story stucco dwelling at 62 Elm St. and formally dedicate the Lt. Tommy Spencer House, the first residence to open as part of the Home Again initiative fighting chronic homelessness in the city. The name of the facility honors the memory of Lt. Thomas E. Spencer, Patrick’s father and one of the six Worcester firefighters who perished in the Dec. 3, 1999, inferno at an abandoned warehouse on Franklin Street.

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