Walmart and Sam’s Club “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” Campaign Supports Feeding America Network to Help Provide Food to Communities in Need

Washington, D.C. - April 16, 2020 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- One in nine people face hunger in America, including more than 11 million children. Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, estimates that an additional 17.1 million people could face hunger in the next six months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and stay-at-home orders have impacted everyone, especially people already at risk of hunger.

With Feeding America estimating $1.4 billion in additional resources needed over the next six months to provide enough food for our neighbors facing hunger, food banks need community support now more than ever. The “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign provides everyone with an opportunity to help.

In its seventh year, the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change” campaign will run online and in-store through May 11, 2020. There are two ways to participate – donating on Feeding America’s website or purchasing a participating item in-store or online.

Donate at www.FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart.

For every participating product purchased at U.S. Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs or on Walmart.com and SamsClub.com during the campaign, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America member food bank, up to applicable limits. See specially marked packages for full details.

“Every day, the Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks is on the ground helping children, families, and seniors who face hunger. During this pandemic, food banks will continue to distribute food to our neighbors in need,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Walmart and Sam’s Club have been unwavering partners in the fight to end hunger. We are deeply thankful for their ongoing support during this unprecedented time.”

Walmart kickstarted the campaign with a $3 million donation to Feeding America and member food banks. Each Walmart and Sam’s Club will partner with at least one local Feeding America food bank, and the 22 participating suppliers include: Bush Brothers & Company, Campbell Soup Company, Clif Bar & Company, Conagra Brands, Crazy Richard’s, Ferrara Candy Company, General Mills, Great Value, J.M. Smucker, Kellogg’s, Kraft Heinz, Materne North America, Monster Energy, Mott’s, Nestle Waters, Ocean’s Halo, PepsiCo, Post Consumer Brands, Soylent, The Coca-Cola Company, The Clorox Company and Unilever. The Walmart Foundation recently gave an additional $5 million to Feeding America to help support communities and individuals facing hunger during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“‘Fight Hunger. Spark Change.’ has been a way for Walmart and Sam’s Club to partner with our suppliers and customers to help bring food to the people who need it most,” said Julie Gehrki, vice president of philanthropy for Walmart.org. “It’s been an important effort every year, but this one is especially critical given the current demand on food banks. With millions of Americans worrying about how they will feed their families right now, ‘Fight Hunger. Spark Change.’ is a powerful way for all of us to help.”

To learn more about the campaign visit www.Walmart.com/FightHunger and www.SamsClub.com/FightHunger.

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Adopts New Guiding Principles and Practices for Unsheltered Homelessness

Los Angeles, CA - March 22, 2020 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- On February 28, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) adopted new policy that calls for decriminalizing life-sustaining survival actions of the more than 40,000 Los Angelenos who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

The policy, entitled Guiding Principles and Practices for Local Responses to Unsheltered Homelessness, outlines principles that affirm the civil rights of those experiencing homelessness. This guidance cites the Encampment Principles and Practices outlined in the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty’s 2017 Tent City, USA: The Growth of America’s Homeless Encampments and How Communities are Responding report, and calls for fair policies that prioritize provision of housing and services and discourage the use of the criminal justice system in addressing homelessness. The document shows the commitment of the County to serve those experiencing unsheltered homelessness with respect, dignity, and empathy.

“This new guidance is an important step forward in reversing destructive, ineffective and unconstitutional laws and policies that criminalize homeless people simply for existing,” said Maria Foscarinis, executive director of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. “Our goal now is for the county and cities within it to continue to move forward by ensuring the human right to housing for all its homeless residents, and we stand ready to help them do that.”

According to the guiding document: “Municipal ordinances should not criminalize homelessness. Ordinances that limit necessary, life-sustaining activities such as sitting, sleeping, or eating in public spaces unfairly target people living on the streets. In the absence of adequate alternative or private places to undertake those activities, people have a right to perform these activities in public.”

The guidance originates from “recent court decisions and research into promising practices both locally and nationally.” These court rulings include last September’s Martin v. Boise decision in the 9th Circuit, and last week’s settlement in Mitchell v. Los Angeles. The guidance will also support LAHSA in obtaining additional federal funding to end homelessness, thanks to grant incentives in recent Housing & Urban Development funding applications.

“We are thrilled LAHSA has put on paper the best practices that we researched from across the country and globe on addressing unsheltered homelessness through housing, not handcuffs, and look forward to seeing them implemented,” said Eric Tars, legal director at the Law Center. “We are happy to support to the efforts of our local partners, including LA Community Action Network, Legal Aid Foundation of LA, Neighborhood Legal Services of LA, and the Law Offices of Carol Sobel, whose pressure in the streets, council chambers, and courts all contributed to the adoption of this precedent-setting document by LAHSA.”

TIny Homes Program Provides Transitional Housing

Hayward, CA - February 14, 2020 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- First Presbyterian Church of Hayward partnered with HomeAid Northern California, CoBuild and Alameda County to open the Tiny Homes project today, providing transitional housing for those experiencing homelessness in Hayward and Alameda County.

“I can’t express how much the Tiny Homes program will help me and others get into permanent housing,” shared new tenant, [insert first and last name] of Hayward. “It’s comforting and encouraging to know there are people in our community willing to help out in such a life-changing way. And everyone’s been so kind and helpful throughout this entire process.”

The first tenants begin moving in today will occupy all six of the Tiny Homes available on the First Presbyterian Church of Hayward property.

“Tiny Homes is truly a labor of love showcasing how the private sector, local government and non-profit can partner together to meet the immediate needs of our local community in a big way,” shared Chizu Buckalew, community development director, First Presbyterian Church of Hayward. “Tiny Homes will provide a warm, safe and stable place for the homeless to begin their journey toward more permanent housing and we are here to do everything we can to help.”

HomeAid is proud to support First Presbyterian Church of Hayward with 6 Builder Captains who stepped up to build the 6 Tiny Homes over a 6 week period. “I am so impressed and inspired by the support of the building industry to house those in need,” said HomeAid Executive Director Cheryl O’Connor.

First Presbyterian Church of Hayward spearheaded the joint effort as part of its ongoing support, care and outreach for the displaced and homeless community in Alameda County. The church provides a winter shelter from December 1 until April 30th (funded by Alameda County), a Park Out program allowing homeless to park overnight in the parking lot, meals (breakfasts on Sunday mornings and dinners on select evenings) and a Resource Center during the week.

For more information about the Tiny Homes program and how to donate, please Click HERE

About First Presbyterian Church of Hayward

Located in the East Bay, we are a multi-ethnic, multi-socioeconomic, multi-generational, Christian community of faith where anyone can come as he, she or they are. We welcome every tribe, nation, language, and people; whether you live in the hills, valleys or in your car; work in Silicon Valley or are on welfare, vote Republican or Democrat, are gay or straight, have a morally upright lifestyle or a loose one, sinner or saint. Come as you are! God loves you and we are so glad that you are checking out our missional family.

About HomeAid Northern California

HomeAid Northern California has completed 45 projects worth more than $21 million that provide critical shelter capacity for more than 8,000 people experiencing homelessness. HomeAid brings together the residential homebuilding industry’s resources and expertise with those of homelessness service providers. Combined, the residential industry has donated more than $11 million in material and labor and worked with 20 homeless service providers throughout the Bay Area. For more information about HomeAid Northern California, visit www.homeaidnc.org.

Rep. Mike Levin Leads Hearing on Veteran Homelessness with Testimony from San Diego-Area Organizations

Washington, D.C. - January 15, 2020 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) led a hearing of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity to address veteran homelessness, including testimony from Mr. Greg Anglea, CEO of Interfaith Community Services in Escondido, CA, and Ms. Tamera Kohler, CEO of the San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless. The hearing examined access to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program in urban, suburban, rural, and tribal communities, and worked to determine where bottlenecks exist in delivering resources in communities of all sizes.

“Today’s hearing has touched on two of the issues that are most important to me and to my district, and I would imagine to many of my colleagues as well. One is improving services for veterans; the other is reducing homelessness… I am encouraged by a lot of what I’ve heard today from you, our experts in the field, as well as from HUD and the VA. I thank all of our witnesses again, particularly, those coming from North County San Diego in our District for providing their expertise and for the outstanding work you continue to do,” said Rep. Levin.

“We’ve highlighted that while HUD-VASH is working – and we have demonstrated results that it’s working – it can be improved to work even better.. I’m very hopeful about this legislation that we passed earlier this week to expand eligibility to OTH discharges. I’m very hopeful that given the broad bipartisan support that that legislation had this week that we can have them take it up in the Senate… No one who sacrifices so much to serve our country should ever have to worry about having a place to live,” Rep. Levin added.

“Nowhere is the struggle more real than here in California as those experiencing homelessness tonight are more likely to be unsheltered than sheltered or housed,” said Ms. Kohler. “We need to return dignity to our citizens and communities, and remove the demoralizing effects homelessness has on communities that struggle to meet the needs of its most vulnerable citizens and veterans.”

“The introduction of HUD-VASH in 2008, along with additional housing-focused interventions like Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), is directly responsible for the dramatic, nearly 50% reduction in Veterans experiencing homelessness over the last decade, from 76,329 Veterans in 2010 to 37,085 in 2019, per the annual Point In Time Count,” said Mr. Anglea. “That’s the good news. The bad news is that more than 37,000 men and women who sacrificed to protect our country are still struggling in homelessness. They answered the call to service, yet their country is now failing to help them in their time of crisis. This is unacceptable. As a nation, we must do better.”

Last week, Rep. Levin hosted Vince Hall, CEO of Feeding San Diego, and Denise Hollywood, Chief Community and Programs Officer of Blue Star Families in Encinitas for an Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing on food insecurity among veterans.

Rep. Susie Lee Helps Advance Bipartisan Bill to Support Nevada Homeless Youth

Washington, D.C. - January 15, 2020 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- House Committee on Education and Labor member U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) joined her committee colleagues in passing through committee the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2019 (H.R. 5191)—a bipartisan proposal to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act of 1974 and empower states to strengthen and expand services for young people living through homelessness.

“I can’t think of a more tragic situation than a child without a bed to sleep in,” said Rep. Lee. “Whether the cause is neglect, trauma, disability, or discrimination, especially LGBTQ+ youth, we must provide comprehensive services to help them rebuild their lives. We cannot afford to waste their futures.

“I started my career in Nevada running the state’s first comprehensive homeless crisis intervention center,” Rep. Lee continued. “I saw first-hand how important comprehensive services are to help get families and youth into permanent housing. The bill will help communities like Clark County, which has seen a 40 percent increase in unaccompanied homeless minors from 2018 to 2019. We must act now.”

BACKGROUND: In addition to reauthorizing funding for federal youth homelessness programs, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2019:

Puts a greater focus on trauma-informed services;

Prioritizes reaching vulnerable homeless youth living in the streets, including those who have experienced human trafficking; and,

Ensures that federal programs for homeless youth do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

To read the fact sheet on the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2019, click here.

Meet Abby the Spoon Lady!

Celebrating My Birthday With Jesus

Hello, World!

Today, I went to Three Crosses Church in New Boston, where my Uncle Aubrey McRae leads the congregation in worship! It was kind've like a mini-family reunion. I got to see some cousins I haven't seen in a long time, as well as Aunts and Uncles, and my mom and Step-dad were there, too!

My Uncle Aubrey and I have always had a long-standing tradition because our birthday is on the same day of the year, October 30. We race to see who can call each other first to say "Happy Birthday!"

One year, my ex-husband woke me at 5 A.M. saying I had an important phone call. My Uncle Aubrey was on the phone and said, "HAHAHAHAHA! I BEAT YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" LOL

But, when he asked about birthdays today, he said mine didn't count until next week. LOL So, I'll have to wait til next week since it isn't until Wednesday, to have him sing Happy Birthday to me at church. LOL

After church, I decided to "step out in faith" and spend some of my money on celebrating my new job and my birthday, with Jesus. I would have taken the guys, but I couldn't afford both of them, and it wouldn't have been fair to only take one of them. So, I went to Randy Sam's Homeless Shelter and picked up Miss Wanda.

I actually went to school with her. So, I was blessed to be able to give her my testimony and enjoy The One Buffet with her.

I was a pig...and I talked a lot. LOL...I told her all of my testimony while we ate. I think Jesus would have wanted me to. I told her, "God gave me a story to tell, so I HAVE to!"

She has been at the shelter for about a month. The Shelter manager said she was one of her hardest workers, and if anyone deserved a blessing like that, SHE did! And I enjoyed every minute of it!

In the Bible, Jesus says that when you "do unto the least of these, my children, ye also do unto me!" So, I was honored to take "Jesus" to dinner with me today!

Have a blessed day!

(This is Wanda King. And this is what Jesus looks like today. I am out on a date with Jesus to celebrate my new job and my birthday!)