The Voices Project

Affordable housing has reached crisis stage in Massachusetts

Affordable housing opportunites have become a crisis in Massachusetts. News media reports document the exodus of families and college students from Massachusetts to other more affordable states as a result. I personally see the devastating impact of this crisis on a daily basis when I come to work at the Crittenton Women's Union.

Currently, I am coordinator of one of the housing programs that houses homeless families in scattered sites across the city. We provide families with shelter every night and with services to help them on their path to self-sufficiency. Our shelters are always full to capacity. When one family moves out, another moves in the very next day and sometimes the same day.

I have also worked up close and personal with families on a one-to-one basis for five out of the eight years I have worked in the organization in the capacity of senior case manager. I learned first hand how devastating it is for families to be homeless. Oftentimes these families are depressed and suffer from feelings of low self-esteem. They live in challenging conditions for up to two years while they wait for permanent subsidized housing. These challenges include trying to continue their education under these circumstances, obtaining affordable daycare or child care vouchers that include transporation for their children, coping with sleeping in one room with their children, and managing to comply with shelter rules and regulations as well as Department of Transitional Assistance (or other funder) rules and regulations. These families find it hard to raise their children in "public" not to mention feeling as though they have little control over their lives and are being told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it by service delivery personnel whom they encounter while navigating through the shelter system.

Every citizen of the Commonwealth is deserving of affordable housing but I believe it is, and should be, a priority for the homeless. Not only should there be subsidy programs in greater abundance, but also first time home buyer programs targeted for them as well.

I implore all who are reading this blog to unify to find creative ways to advocate with the legislature for these families to ensure they receive the assistance and support they need which are: grants (not loans) for post-secondary education, child care assistance for work as well as for education and training, more training programs for jobs that pay well, transportation, and add on lots of encouragement to them to be assertive and do not quit until they have achieved their stabilization goals.

What are your priorities? Click here to take the survey.

Sound Proof: Stories of Transformation

A few months ago, Project Hope launched Sound Proof: Stories of Transformation, a new series of audio podcasts of families struggling to transform their lives and move up and out of poverty.

In the "Not quite five" podcast, we meet "Luz" and her two young children. Luz moved from New York to Boston in 2002 when she "made the decision to leave a marriage that had turned violent." She thought they would be able to temporarily stay with her sister, but "Luz would be back and forth for the next (not quite) five years as she struggled to find affordable housing for her family of three."

In her podcast, Luz talks about her struggles living in transition for nearly five years:

"Not having a house is difficult. No matter how you see it, no matter how you put it, it's difficult not having a house because…I have two kids, and moving into someone's house, and sleeping in someone else's, you know, furniture and having your kids go through all those changes is difficult."

In "A Better Day, A Better Place," you'll meet 58-year-old Marilou DeMontigny who runs a community food bank, travels to Providence, RI to volunteer at a dental clinic serving homeless families, and is a One Family Scholar, studying to become a dental hygienist. The once-homeless, burgeoning leader shares a story of hope, courage, and perseverance:

"That's what life's about. Life's about all these different things changing and things happening and taking everything that's thrown at you and making it the best you can."

The latest podcast in the series, "Being a New Thing," Nadine Lovemore explains she "dreamed of being a writer," but as a youth in Jamaica "she was rarely encouraged to explore her interest in writing. …[S]he began to believe that she would never write—because, she was told, she couldn’t." A challenging move to the United States and motherhood left Nadine stuck, "trapped in low wage jobs and sub-standard housing conditions" until she began studying at Project Hope's Adult Learner Program in 2002. She talks about her nearly five-year journey in the podcast:

"Ever since I was little, I wanted to write. …I wasn't smart. I was one of the kids that was just never smart at all. So, my mom was like, 'You can't write. You can barely read,' so that shut me down. My mother, she had eight of us. Raised up very, very poor in Jamaica…very, very poor. That was hardest thing for me growing up and not having any shoes on my feet, and missing school like that. At one point, I had to take care of my sisters and brothers, so I missed a lot of school."

You can listen to Nadine's powerful story—as well as Luz's and Marilou's—on the Project Hope website, and look for more in the Sound Proof: Stories of Transformation series.

Sound Proof is produced by Libby Conn, in collaboration with the men, women, and children of Project Hope. Libby’s work is supported by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, The Philanthropic Initiative, and the Jessica Jennifer Cohen Foundation.

RECLAIM THE DAY! A Call to Action by Anita Hill

Fifteen years ago, in a book defending Clarence Thomas’s selection for the Supreme Court, author David Brock described me as “nutty” and “slutty.” After making millions in book sales, Brock recanted and confessed that he was “blinded” by his own financial and political ambitions. Last month Don Imus described the members of the Rutgers Basketball team as “nappy-headed hos.” A week of protests resulted in Imus losing his lucrative television and radio contracts with MSNBC and CBS respectively. Yet, Imus is reported to be suing CBS for the $40 million remaining on his contract claiming the network encouraged him to be “confrontational and irreverent.”

Because the debasement of women continues to sell and derogatory terms for women have become part of popular discourse, I’m convinced that we need more than Brock recanting or Imus being fired. We need a movement to counter the verbal assaults on women that flow freely in modern media outlets and that have now crept into our workplaces and are increasing in our schools. In addition to our efforts to “Take Back the Night,” we need to “Reclaim the Day!”

I’m not talking about censoring artists or comics.  What I want is positive entertainment and educational programming that replaces or, at the very least, balances the negative.   

It is true that many women struggle financially and continue to suffer abuse and discrimination. Yet, today, women as a group are more economically self-sufficient and better educated than ever.  We can use our brains and our spending power to develop and support programming that portrays women (and men) realistically. 

Please share with me your ideas about how this can happen. (E-mail: Anita@womensmediacenter.com) If you do, I promise to use all of the resources available to me to see that you are heard by those who can make them a reality.

--Anita F. Hill

Original article posted here, and reprinted with permission of the author.

Take Action for Education & Training Opportunities for Women!

Periodically, we may ask you to take action on behalf of women who are struggling to achieve economic independence. Your voice can make a real difference in providing life-changing opportunities for low-income women. We know that you share our commitment to ensuring that all women have opportunities and access to the education and training they need to obtain family-sustaining jobs.

Your immediate action is needed to increase Education and Training opportunities for women. Right now, your Massachusetts elected representatives are developing next year’s state budget. Their decisions can significantly help or hinder those who are seeking Education and Training so that they can earn self-sufficient wages and contribute to the overall health of our state's economy.

Click here for the full alert and find out what you can do to help!

I GOT HOUSING!!!

Finally I got housing, I got the call on Friday and they said that they wanted me to sign the lease on Monday and I did and I am finally out of the shelter.  Even though it feels great I feel sad for having to leave my friends there (one friend more than others, you know who you are your name begins with a J.)  It's weird because I went in there thinking I am not here for friends, I don't to make friends, just be civil and show respect and thats all that I wanted in return.  I didn't realize how hard it would be to leave.  But I did and life goes on I just hope that the friendships that I did make will last a lifetime.  Even though I got housing I still plan to blog on this site so you haven't heard the last of me.  PEACE OUT!

End Abuse at Homeless Shelters

It's time to re-train some of the old staffers at Homeless Shelter

Most people that have stay at shelters already know of some inappropiate behavior that occurs at shelter by some of the staff. It is usually the minority, but it set the tone for the rest of the shelter. It amaze me how in this era, the new millenium, there are abuses at some Homeless Shelter in the Boston area. Without provocation, there exist abuses at homeless people at the only place they can rely on for a bed. No less to say there are many wonderful places that the Homeless can relly on. Places like the Women's Lunch set the tone as a good place for Homeless Woman to drop by. Where do Homeless people go after being misstreated and verbally abuse in the shelter? Where can they run away to? I would like to repeat that it is only a small percentage of staffing that engage in this abusing and innappropiate behavior. One might not have a home, but still have his/her dignity.   --Rose

A message from Councilor Sam Yoon

It never ceases to impress me when I meet a working, single-mom who, in the midst of struggling to make ends meet, is still actively involved in the community…attending crime watch meetings, volunteering at local events or holding campaign signs. With so much on their plate, it is amazing to see these women persevere through adversity, challenge difficult odds and survive among turmoil.

Recently, my wife and I invited a classmate of our son, Nathan, to our home for a Saturday play-date. The mother of Nathan’s classmate, whom I'll call "Mary", is a single-parent, raising three young sons whose fathers are incarcerated. As our children have gotten friendly (Nathan has become like a big brother to her son), I have been able to see Mary deal with various struggles. What is most impressive is her ever-present sense of confidence and unwavering cheerful spirit. Despite her difficulties, Mary smiles with such ease. My appreciation for women who endure under strenuous circumstances has been further reinforced after knowing her.

While my wife and I babysat for the afternoon, Mary was busy finalizing her move to a new residence. The moving process for her was quite challenging, especially with no transportation and living on moderate income. My role as a city legislator has made me even more mindful of the policies created that impact the people who live in the city, especially individuals like Mary.

As I have learned more about state and city housing programs, I am distressed to find that the system is quite convoluted and not very user friendly. I have come to realize that people, like Mary (and others posted on this blog), who have legitimate needs for resources related to finance or housing, become lost and frustrated in a maze of bureaucracy. Although the state and city programs are valuable and do important work, the people who need the programs most are often discouraged or lose motivation as the process to assistance proves to be lengthy and/or scattered.

As an elected official and Chairman of the City Council Housing Committee, I hope to develop ways to detangle the web of housing resources, making it easier for individuals to navigate the system. I want to ensure that those with the most urgent needs are attended to as timely and effectively as possible.

--Sam Yoon, Boston City Councilor At-Large

Trying to better myself, my life, and the world

My name is Melissa and I am 27 years old.  Well, I have been in a shelter for 11 months and I am definitly trying to better myself, and my situation.  I am enrolled in a training program and I have an interview tomorrow at a non-profit agency (non-profit has become very important to me since I moved here because I want to be an advocate for homeless women and families.)  I also do 20 hours of housing search a week.  I really want to make a difference in this world.  I spoke with the director of public policy here at the shelter and she was very helpful.  I emailed her my resume, and she forwarded it to some people in the advocating/public policy business and asked them if they would have an informational interview with me.  I am very greatful to her.  So far I have heard back from 1 of them and we are in the process of finding a day and time that would work for the both of us.  I am also a member of Homes for Families, and the Residence Advisory Council at the shelter.   

My Good News

Today I decided to go to Boston Housing. I have been on the waiting list for about 6 years now and have gotten nowhere, and especially now that I am homeless I wanted to get some answers as to "Why" I am still homeless. I explained my situation to the woman sitting behind the desk and she gave me all kinds of applications and paper work to fill out. After filling them out she asked me if I was disabled and if I could prove it with either my monthly SSI income verification letter or letter from my doctor. So I gave her my verification letter and she gave me a receipt that said 0-6 month wait for everything, providing that I bring a homeless certificate filled out by my case manager and I tomorrow.

It has been very hard for me to use my disability for anything. I have always figured that I am 27 years old so there is absolutely no way I could be disabled. Nope not me, too young. Well I did it and now I finally have acceptance.