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Elizabeth Curtis

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Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Mon, 07/27/2009

Remembering Father Bill

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I saw in the Boston Globe this morning that Father Bill, a local champion for ending homelessness, passed away late last week. While I didn't know Father Bill personally, his work is something I have tremendous respect for. He served as the priest at St. John's in Quincy for 18 years, and while there experienced more and more people coming to him for help finding housing.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Wed, 07/08/2009

New Blog Focused on Issues Related to Homelessness

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I wanted to post a quick entry about a new blog that has just begun, coming out of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. This national advocacy organization is one that I personally have found to be among the most plugged in to current trends in homelessness and the attempts to abolish it from our communities. They launched a new blog today that I encourage you to check out.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Thu, 05/28/2009

Voices of Strength and Determination

What it's really like to be living on the edge and facing the cliff effects of making too much for benefits but too little to pay all the bills.

I wanted to attract everyone's attention to a new report that Crittenton Women's Union put out this week. The Cliff Effect Experience provides us with an understanding of the challenges low income families face as they strive to earn better incomes, yet face the risk of losing their supports like child care vouchers and food stamps.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Mon, 05/11/2009

Two United Way partners are working to help families return to their foreclosed homes.

In today's Boston Globe there is an article about two nonprofits that are working with banks and other groups to help those who have been foreclosed upon get back into their homes.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Thu, 04/23/2009

More evidence of foreclosures leading to homelessness in MA

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A recent Boston Globe article provides added detail to a topic we've posted about several times on this blog - the rise in foreclosure and how it relates to the rise in homelessness. For some time those of us in the social service field have been sharing anecdotes about the connection between the growing foreclosure rate and increases in family homelessness.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Fri, 04/03/2009

Being reminded to appreciate our partners

A lovely article honoring a homeless advocate facing a difficult time.
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The other day I saw a really nice article in the Globe by Adrian Walker, that profiles Richard Ring, a man who has worked to end homelessness in Massachusetts for 40 years. Unfortunately, the article tells us that Rich is currently facing a health crisis as he awaits a heart transplant, and it reminded me to take a moment to think about the great work that Rich and others have taken on for the good of our community.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Thu, 03/26/2009

Obama Discusses Homelessness During His Second Prime-time Press Conference

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I was very excited Tuesday night when President Obama was asked a question about homelessness during his second prime-time press conference. Earlier this month the National Center on Family Homelessness (http://www.familyhomelessness.org/), located in Newton, MA, released a report that found 1 in 50 U.S. children experience homelessness at some point. This report also ranked Massachusetts as 8th best in its response to child homelessness.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Thu, 01/08/2009

State Takes New Bold Steps to End Homelessness

Consolidation of housing programs could be the key.
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On Tuesday, January 6th the Patrick-Murray Administration announced a dramatic new move in its effort to end homelessness. Currently the emergency shelter services program sits within the Department of Transitional Assistance (our state's welfare department). The Administration is now working to shift this program to sit within the Department of Housing and Community Development, a move designed to recognize that homelessness is an issue of housing that should be aligned with the state's housing resources.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Wed, 12/10/2008

Linking Homeless People to People-less Housing?

The right idea, but we can do better.
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In the December 2nd issue of the Boston Globe there was an intriguing article that caught my attention. In Miami there is a homeless advocate who has started helping homeless individuals and families locate empty foreclosed homes in which they can squat. In case you're unfamiilar with the practice, squatting is when one illegally stays in an empty or abandoned property.  read more »

Elizabeth Curtis
Elizabeth Curtis
Fri, 11/21/2008

Live United Hero: David Weinberg

How one man uses his passion for photography to help others

I am excited to nominate David Weinberg as our first Live United Hero! I have gotten to know David over the last several years through his relationship with United Way, but after speaking with him today about being a Live United Hero I have an even greater respect for him. I am nominating David today for the remarkable photographic work he has volunteered in support of both United Way and one of our partners in ending homelessness, Heading Home, Inc. More specifically, David is a Live United Hero because his support is just a way of life.  read more »

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