A Disservice to Addicts

Drugs, are everywhere, some are legal, some  arn't.  The Untied States annually spends 20 billion dollars on its War on Drugs. War on Drug funding goes to law enforcement, recovery programs, medical assistants, education and more. Unknown fact is that through the drug war law enforcement actually gains over $20 trillion in seized property. That's enough to eradicate poverty in America or fight a new war somewhere. I would not recommend the latter as making orphans around the world isn't our best chance as safety over time. But what about homeless people who are addicts, how do they receive help?

In Tucson like many other cities we offer plenty of for profit and non profit recovery centers, 12 step programs , etc. In fact that is the biggest industry in South Tucson. Most are faith based, others are mental health agencies and community hospitals. We offer 4 shelters and that's where the disservice lies.

At the homeless shelters, you are asked to take a Breathalyzer to get in. If you test .08 or higher you are not allowed in. People appearing to be high or smelling of drugs are automatically turned away. This means that any addict indulging in their addiction, cannot receive help. This leads them to try to find a safe place outside. Many go to Safe Park, A protest for the criminalization of homelessness. The city has spent over $5 million dollars trying to get these persons out of the downtown area,only to fail. This causes more suffering, more sleep deprivation, more likely to use. 

Maslows hierarchy of needs, shows us that for a person to be happy, health and successful in life or treatment, the people must have a safe environment, have access to food, community , health, and safety. Without that they cannot go on to long term goals or success. On the streets they run into outreach workers, fellow addicts, activists and more. There they are treated as a person first and not judged on their addiction. The addicts are more willing to open us, share their experiences and you here a desire to quit at some point. 

Back at the shelter, those people are not present. There yo u can find ads on the wall about where to get information or assistance with recovery but the people needing to read that were turned away. Near by at the Sourthern Arizona Aids Foundation they are taking a different approach. They speak to addicts as fellow living beings. They take interest in the clients current situation, they talk to them about their addiction. They educate them on safety, how the different drugs effect them and the changes they will see over time. They offer fliers on places that can be more assistance on things they don't offer. Mshape is a drop in center they offer for adults and ION Lunge for minors. Here they have counselors on hand, soft couches, movies shown, a computer study lab, a food pantry and more. Shower are offered with no strings attached. People here, are getting off of drugs, staying away from more harmful drugs and practices. People are leaving the insanity of the streets and finding a place to live indoors, mending family relationships.

As you can see there is a different vibe, there is a change. A social program working the way it should. Not saying they don't have their own issues, but they deal with them quick. Funding is a issue here like anywhere in the state of Arizona right now , where tax revenues are not coming in and education and social assistance is slash over and over.  Volunteers and staff step up to the plate and fundraising and getting grassroots donation drives going. A current one is a sock drive, any one wishing to donate socks can drop them off at the SAAF office on Euclid and Broadway.

Some changes I would recommend to the shelter like Primavira , Salvation Army and the Gospel Rescue Mission are:

Change the no tolerance policy to a honor code asking addicts to not use, sell or trade on their property and let people know they may enter if they act responsible. Accept the person, educate the behavior.

End the lock down policy. There is no reason for a person to check in at 2 in the afternoon, and not be able to leave to get a soda or hang out with family. Treat people as adults and watch them rise to the standard. Let people know what your standard is, its easier to be mindful of a standard than to memorize rules. Have the cut off time for leaving being 1030 pm and allow people to leave after checking in.
Aid people in level 1 businesses so they can earn their own income while looking for a steady job.

Non Profit changes:
1. specialization- each one specializes in something, but not everyone in one thing.
2. provide all groups wishing to help with a list of tasks ranked from high cost to low cost , letting each group pick for them selves.
3. Income must be equal to those you are supporting or working in solidarity with.
4.Boards cannot earn more than 5 times what the lowest employee is paid.
5 spend funding on permanent solutions not band aids.
6. fill empty positions with clients when left unfilled for 2 months or more.

Thank you to everyone for reading my blog, please leave me your feedback, Please share with friends, family and co-workers. feel free to subscribe. #peoplematter

Poverty to Entrepreneurialship. Invest Local. empower people

Impoverished Entrepreneurial Stand

April 10, 2015 at 12:09pm

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Mission Statement:
To establish a platform for impoverished persons to pursuit self sustainable income through level 1 trade using unused sidewalk parcels and local sponsorship.

Seller:

Level 1 trade is designated as limited on site services, crafts and music.

Each participant will get a 3 foot by 3 foot square to conduct business at a rate of $3-5 per hour. The participant may pay more if the square is not already rented. No limit is given , but participant can only sign up for 1 hour at a time. All participants prove they are below the poverty line via government documents and that the products are not gained through illegal means.

Sponsorship:

Local businesses may purchase sponsorship for this program. The company will gain marketing advertisements that this program is made possible thanks to them. Local means the owner and business is Tucson owned and operated. Tucson is referred to as greater pima county.

Packages:

Contributor: $100 per month- Publicly Recognized verbally. noted on all documents as a financier of success, marketing of business in area.


Visionary: $300 per month - Named on site in small print, always named in discussion of program, name placed on all advertisements of program. named as friend of successful business marketing allowed in area.


Game Changer: $500 a month- Big Name on all displays, first named in all conversations and speeches, marketing allowed everywhere the program is mentioned or displayed, named as primary sponsor, tax rebate.

Ask about Life Giver Recognition when added to your will or donating larger amounts.

Tucson Homeless Bill of Rights

Tucson Homeless Bill of Rights by Anthony Potter

April 10, 2015 at 11:14am

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At a time of city wide economic hardship and a lack of city funding for those hardest hit by the economy and political choices out of their control. Where an environment of criminality is placed on such people as the cheapest avenue to deal with the matter; where money and property is considered speech and is able to out number and silence a mass group of people making them harder to be seen or represented and such culture is growing in the city and across the nation. The City of Tucson recognizes that the rights of its citizens are not limited to property or income ownership, but to everyone in its boundaries indoors or out. Therefore the city recognizes that a disenfranchised community exists and whose rights as citizens is not always protected as others. Tucson claims the need to designate this group of people  be  protected as other easily targeted groups based on race, religion, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, creed, national origin, gender or sexual orientation. In the name of diversity , equality and the pursuit of happiness those seeking to be protected by the constitution and certain unalienable rights granted by their creator are recognized as Homeless, Houseless, or nomad cannot be denied the following based on lack of income or property ownership.

No person shall be mistreated, harassed , manipulated, coerced,forced upon, threatened , made to conform religiously,  segregated or discriminated against for a lack of income, a lack of property ownership.

No person shall be denied the right to provide themselves with shelter from natures elements.

No person shall be denied the right to rest on public land or have designated camping areas.

No person shall be denied a place to relieve themselves when a restroom is available nor be harassed , mistreated or criminalized when none is available.

No person shall be denied the right to travel or be denied access to public places or services.

No person shall be denied the right to provide themselves with proper hygiene as long as the area can be secured and undamaged by the activity.

No person shall be denied the right to storage on public land or  to acquire property as long as it is kept neat and organized to health standards.

No person shall be denied the ability to conduct business or transactions the business requires.

No person shall be denied the right to be educated and treated for self medicating rather charged criminally.

No person shall be denied employment on past nuisance charges or displacement trauma.

No person shall be denied the right to gain food, share food, or give food to other disenfranchised persons.

Any and all violations shall be considered aggravating circumstances under criminal law and be dealt with in civil court. No person shall be denied access to the courts or proper representation. No funds are mandated for providing any of these rights unless otherwise mandated under law.

1 Day Block Party ( a view from ground zero)

This Weekend the Tucson Pima Arts Council, the Human Project and the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation, Downtown Parnership and with some other local groups for 1 day Block Party. A fundraiser meant to help local charities and provide a community facing lots of hardships with a good time.  The volunteers and organizers got up early to get started, they came energized to have a great time to meet new people, and raise money. Stone Ave was blocked off between Pennington and Congress, Porta-poties were placed in the Library plaza, DJ's lit up the area with a variety of hip hop and Techno. On hand was the mayor, a barber battle, and more. The theme was calling for unity a community without hate, bias or class warfare. All things that separate people. It seemed just what the city needed, but the city was not ready.

 The location is known to part of the downtown business district, a place filled from 9am to 5pm weekdays with the hustle and bustle of lawyers, bankers, business professionals, and people checking in with the courts. Yet after 5 pm and weekends it becomes a ghost town. The entertainment district is a block up the way. Businesses in the area were closed for the Easter Weekend. The only thing usually found in that part of downtown, is the homeless population that migrates from the library to the Park where they protest being criminalized. You will find young skaters rolling around and performing tricks with friends, a few tourists following the historical turquoise trail. A party to liven up the area is perfect for a part of downtown that is still economically dormant. But to do so, you need the neighborhood support.

As the party got started , people in the area lead by the music came to check it out. The ticket holders asked for $10. The homeless asked what it was about and how they could help. Without $10 they could not and walked away disgruntled and letting others know who came and let them know its not right to discriminate. Others with money felt $10 for a party without beer or performers was asking to much, even for charity. Others needed to get access to the area because inside was the the only atm their bank offered in downtown. Others needing to get in the buildings to get to work. The security and cops on hand spent much of their day not dealing with supporters over indulging in the party but people not in the party trying to get in for other needs, or running down people jumping the fence to sneek in for free.

As the day went on, the party had trouble getting more than thirty people in at any given time, the average was about 5 to 10 people. As a way of dealing with potential supporters they dropped the price of entry to $5 or a donation. More people flowed in, others still felt that was too much, others being the poor and homeless still felt segregated. friends of the organizers, volunteers and security were let in free, this not done in hidden view but in public where those being asked to contribute see the good ol' boy system in plain sight. The media form local networks came by to help promote the fundraiser to the community to bolster attendance. Local artists came by showing their support, one being Shawn Harris, a local rapper. Organizers said they choose not to get a alcohol permit, because its about promoting a healthy lifestyle.
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The party kept going into the night, as it did you could find the security a little bit more tipsy, Staff enjoy themselves but felt frustrated at the lack of community support. Those who did pay to go in and those allowed in because they knew someone, had a blast and with a wrist band came and went, hoping between the establishments of the Tucson night seen and coming back when funds are gone, The homeless in the area were upset because a block away where they sleep on the sidewalk for noise keeping them from sleeping. The night seen downtown was low, most likely because of the Holiday weekend and it being the beginning of the month when people stay in because their bills emptied their bank accounts. The college crowd was not interested for the lack of adult beverages. Baby-boomers passing by, paid to get in just because its for a cause.

At the end the workers did a great job, they were not so sure they had made enough to really walk away with added funds. The homeless didn't sleep that night, and party goers got a little bit more of a scene in a place not offering it, local businesses like Rae's Place and Bernardo's Taco Shop lost an opportunity. Many vendors voiced it should have been better promoted.

The question becomes , how do we follow this up? How do we better promote such events? How do we get the poor involved who benefit from such charities events or keeps them from being left out? How do we get businesses to better participate by being open for such a fundraisers? The community wants beer and performers, the poor want to belong, the businesses want to make money, the charities need resources to act responsible in their calling. Unity means allowing everyone to come together, the poor are not going to allow for segregation or discrimination in the name of charity, the community cannot stand divided. Communication and cooperation is to vital success.

Need more jobs? Creating a business is the answer