Redemption featured in "The Street Spirit!"

This month, Redemption has been featured on the front page of Berkeley's homeless newspaper, "The Street Spirit."  The article details some of the struggles and triumphs Jason and Miss Kay have faced, and how the film hopes to bring their stories to life. As Redemption associate producer Zachary Stickney writes in the article, "their stories become an invaluable asset to society — something akin to living maps which illustrate the holes in our safety nets and the true beauty, dignity, and value of those who fell through them. They show us why we need to recognize and rectify these faults — and what we are set to lose if we do not."

The full article can be found here, or if you are in the Berkeley area a copy can be purchased from one of the Street Spirit's vendors throughout the city.

Blog: What It's Like to Tell People You're Homeless

In a recent blog published by the Huffington Post, Carey Fuller, a homeless mother, talks about what it's like to tell someone you're homeless.  One incredible insight she has is how we often talk of homelessness as though it's a trait a person has rather than an experience one endures, and how this is something which adds to the stigma and the apathy associated with it.  Think of the stereotypes attached to homelessness - drug addiction, prostitution, alcohol abuse, criminality and so on.  How is a person affected by homelessness supposed to break through all that?  How do you approach a potential employer without a permanent address? Earlier today, we brought Landon to speak with a group of students in a Berkeley elementary school.  While many of the questions were quite good, there was one which stuck out.  One student asked: "Why is it that people don't want to look a homeless person in the eye?"

That is the real stigma many homeless individuals must face - a society which is blind and deaf to their every utterance and need.

Shelter for Miss Kay

On December 3rd, Miss Kay was officially admitted to the St. Mary's Senior Center - a community shelter which offers 5 months of shelter through the Winter while working toward independent housing.  While this clearly isn't a permanent solution, anyone who has been in the Bay Area recently can attest to its importance.  During the 3 or 4 days prior the entire area has experienced torrential rains and biting cold.  St. Mary's won't solve all of Miss Kay's problems overnight, but it literally solves her first major problem overnight every night she is able to stay there.  And within a few days she will also be assigned a case worker to help her attain benefits and create a road map to an independent and long term solution. But most importantly, her spirits seem to have changed, and so have ours.  It's always wise to not be overly optimistic from the start of something new, but the environment of St. Mary's seems to be a much needed change.  It is genuine and lively - a place where there are no idle minds.

We will have more information soon as it becomes available, but until then please keep Hayok in your hearts and minds!  And as always, if you have a message for her please tell us at redemptiondocumentary@gmail.com and we will see to it that she hears you.

IN THE NEWS: Fresno Officials Unveil Apartments for Chronically Homeless

Read the full article by George Hostetter of The Fresno Bee here.

On November 19th, Fresno community officials gathered to open a new 70-unit housing structure for the city's homeless.  The units, known as the Renaissance at Santa Clara, are based on the premise of housing first: the idea that the long-standing issues affecting homeless people, including physical and mental health issues, lack of income or work, drug abuse and addiction and so on, can only be overcome if adequate housing is taken care of initially.  From that base, additional support may be provided to tackle the other issues.

Though the 70 apartments are just a dent in Fresno's overall problem - the city has some 5,000 homeless on its streets any given night - it nonetheless is a step in the right direction, and offers a means for tenants to find and secure long-term solutions.

Read the full article here.

Photo by Eric Paul Zamora of the Fresno Bee - more photos included in the full article.

Are there similar stories in your neighborhood?  Let us hear about it!  Send an e-mail to redemptiondocumentary@gmail.com or send us a tweet @redemptiondoc

 

 

Final Interview with Miss Kay

Last week marked what will likely be our final interview with Miss Kay.  We have followed her life through many different struggles, triumphs, and tragedies, including her recent discovery of the death of her mother. But while the film is coming to an end, our friendship certainly isn't.  Miss Kay has shared her story with us as well as her kindness and her cuteness, and these are gifts we hope to share with the world.

Click here to view photos of our final interview with Miss Kay - and if you have anything to say to her, tell us at redemptiondocumentary@gmail.com

Who are You Really Talking to? 55 Year-Old Homeless Man in Boston Has 3 Degrees

May 6th 2013 - Update on Maurice! More to come: http://dannymcglashing.com/update-on-maurice-the-55-year-old-homeless-man-with-2-masters-degrees/ This video was featured in Time, Huffington Post, The Blaze ..pretty much everywhere. 55 year old Maurice Johnston lives in Boston, by way of Cleveland. He has a Masters Degree in Plasma Physics from Dartmouth College, and a masters in Electrical Engineering and acoustics from Purdue University.

This video is a little over a year old - but describes the life of a 55-year old homeless man in Boston with 3 degrees, including one in Plasma Physics from Dartmouth.  While his story clearly isn't the norm, it still raises the question: who are the homeless among us, how did they get there, and what is their real story?

We challenge you this month to learn one story - one life of one homeless person in your neighborhood.  Donations, handouts, and volunteering are all great, but a true connection and friendship is immeasurably more valuable.

Note: These blog posts by no means imply a partnership between Redemption or the mentioned organizations, individuals, etc.  They are merely a means of sharing information.  If you have something you would like to share with the “Your Daily Redemption” blog, please send it to us at redemptiondocumentary@gmail.com

 

Final Redemption Pre-Screening!

The final Redemption Sample Cut screening of November is TODAY! Join us tonight (November 20th) from 6:30 - 7:30 at the Golden Gate Library in Oakland, California.  The screening will feature a 20-minute sample cut of the film, and afterward we will take questions and answers, and even learn how we might collaborate with you in the future.

No reservations needed - just come on in!

See you there!

100,000 Homes

Greetings, Redeemers! The new Your Daily Redemption blog will feature interesting articles, organizations, photos, news, or anything else that catches our eyes.  This information isn't meant to be in-depth: instead, this blog will feature short interesting things to read and share with friends!

Today, we share the 100,000 Homes project.  This organization's stated goal is as clear as it's name suggests - to get 100,000 homeless people into permanent shelter.  The organization includes a 5-step process to make this happen:

1. Build the local campaign team & increase political will 2. Clarify the demand 3. Line up the housing and support resources 4. Move people into housing 5. Help people stay housed

The website includes planning strategies to make this happen, communities which are engaging in the program, and stories about individuals who made it into housing and what it took to keep them there.

This is a group we're only still learning about, but we find the model impressive.  If there's anyone out there who has worked with 100,000 Homes or seen them in action, please share your stories with us!

Note: These blog posts by no means imply a partnership between Redemption or the mentioned organizations, individuals, etc.  They are merely a means of sharing information.  If you have something you would like to share with the "Your Daily Redemption" blog, please send it to us at redemptiondocumentary@gmail.com

Homeless Resources Map

One of the difficulties in combating poverty and homelessness comes in not knowing what to do with the information that’s been given to you.  The statistics are alarming – some 640,000 Americans experiencing homelessness every night, over 6 million Americans spending more than half of their income on rent – but what do you do with this information once you have it? Fortunately, there’s a road map for action – literally.  The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness maintains a “State Homeless Resource Map.” This map comes complete with the most recent statistics, the needs of the homeless on a state-by-state level, contacts in dealing with homelessness, and more.  This is just one of the incredible array of resources available on their site.

So check it out, and explore what’s possible!  This is one of the many useful tools that exist online to help bring redemption to our communities.

Photo Source: U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness