I’m with you about the church interfering in political matters. Why don’t they make an issue about the increasing numbers of homeless people I see on the Island.
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Counting Guam’s homeless

Posted: Jan 25, 2010 8:07 PM
Updated: Jan 26, 2010 1:06 AM
Video Gallery

Coalition works to assess island homeless
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by Heather Hauswirth

Guam – Guam is not immune to the global financial crisis. With unemployment on the rise, it should not come as a surprise that the number of homeless people on island is also escalating. This year the Guam Homeless Coalition is sponsoring the homeless count. Enumerators are starting their field work on January 29.

Nearly 1,000 men and women don’t have a place to sleep or food to eat. The last comprehensive homeless count was conducted by the Salvation Army and the Guam Housing Urban Renewal Authority two years ago. This year the Guam Homeless Coalition is taking the lead and executing the count.

First Lady Joanne Camacho, “I’m hoping it will go down, but given the current economic situation, it will probably be a little higher. I want to remain positive. It is important to do the count to have a handle on exactly how many homeless we have on Guam and then from there reach out.”

Camacho says for the last several years she has been involved in the homeless count. Field volunteers or enumerators are tasked with collecting the data needed to prove how dire the situation is getting – as it’s the only way to secure enough funding for programs designed to reduce or end homelessness.

Amor Say is a planner at GHURA spearheading the count. “We have 30 to 35 teams that go around the area. We have identified different sites where the homeless congregate,” said Say. Say says volunteers must first undergo extensive training, adding, “We actually have conducted six sessions of training and are still having one come Tuesday the 26th. We train the enumerators, our volunteers how to approach the homeless and have a survey instrument where there is a set of questions they have to ask the homeless and the questions are the data that we compile when we apply for grants.”

However, if residents are interested in helping out – there is still an opportunity to get involved. “We need people with qualities of leadership and compassion with the homeless. Social workers at that and even those people who speak different languages because we have some who are from different islands and wouldn’t be able to express what they want or answer the questions that we ask,” said Say.

On January 29 the Coalition and volunteers will go across the island from 5 to 9am and again from 4 to 8pm.
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Humanitarianism is a role that the Catholic church should be in on Guam. Helping the homeless would be a good place for them to start.

Parker

My daughter called me about that little boy. She said that it was stuff like that that give her hope that the world can live as one.

On the subject of “liberals,” I am often amazed at the people who use that term. Some of my dearest white friends use it. How insulated from the indignities that others suffer daily because of their race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation does one have to be to consider it “liberal” to suggest that others should enjoy the same creature comforts that she/he does?

My friends are not bigots, but they are white and subconsciously accept the “right” to the benefit position they enjoy in their society.

I confess I have not had the courage to speak up. Perhaps it is because I know on that same subconscious level, it would only offend them and what purpose would it serve.

I understand my daughter’s accepting the things that give her hope better now.

Thanks for the article.

Ruth

If I may combine two of your observations in my comment I would like to say as modestly as possible I am a beautiful white girl. I say that because I turn heads in public and because I get hit on all the time. Plus I have no problem getting jobs as office sects or waitresses at major restaurants.

The one I work at presently hired me a six months ago. The tips are huge. I often make 6 to $800 dollars on holidays. I was hired because of my looks because frankly I am a very fair waitress.

My point, the black guy who had been here for over a year was let go when there was a slow down. The bosses who made the decision came to me and said he was sorry but “they” understand that “they” will be the first to be let go in a crisis. Then he, the one who leads us in prayer each evening before the customers are let in 4:45 PM propositioned me for a date.

I said “what would your wife say?” He said “what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” Then I asked him what would that god that he throws at us every evening say. He smiled and walked away.

Fuchsia

You had the water cooler buzzing on Monday about that “speeding up” thing. We polled each other and most of us admitted to doing it. Hilarious.

My observation at work is those who make it a point for others to notice that they come in early do less work.