Behind the Poverty Numbers: Real Lives, Real Pain

Like the following story reports, our neighbors in need are more than just numbers in Census data. Service to others is important in our faith community - it is part of our mission to put a face to the many issues our community is dealing with so that more people can join the human cause - to help a person in need.

Please read the following story from Yahoo News, Behind the Poverty Numbers: Real Lives, Real Pain by David Crary to learn more about the poverty crisis in our nation today.

Link to full story: http://news.yahoo.com/behind-poverty-numbers-real-lives-real-pain-151738270.html

Posted by the blog administrator.

16.6 Percent of Households in Nebraska Unable to Afford Enough Food

New Survey Finds 16.6 Percent of Households in Nebraska Unable
to Afford Enough Food - Legislative Bill Poised to Address Hunger Issues

Source: Nebraska Appleseed

Lincoln, NE - In 2010, one in six respondents in Nebraska reported not having enough money to buy food that they or their family needed at some points during the prior twelve months, according to a new report released by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).

This unique report provides data on food hardship - the inability to afford enough food - for every state and Congressional District and for the nation's 100 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The data was gathered by Gallup and analyzed by FRAC.

For Nebraska, it found that in 2010:

* 16.6 percent of responders in the state experienced food hardship.
* In the Omaha-Council Bluffs MSA, 18.8 percent of people experienced food hardship.
* Congressional Districts in Nebraska all experienced food hardship: 14.1 percent of residents in the 1st District, 17.9 percent in the 2nd District, and 14.6 percent in the 3rd District.

"This new data shows us just how much people are struggling in our communities, and underlines that far too many of them have found it a challenge to afford enough food for their families," said Rebecca Gould, Executive Director of Nebraska Appleseed. "Our nation's safety net must be strong so that when families and communities struggle, we can support them in moving forward."

A bill in the Nebraska Legislature would address hunger issues in the state. LB 543, introduced by Senator Tanya Cook of Omaha would take up a federal option to provide outreach activities for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps.) An amendment, AM 540 brought by Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, would also lift restrictive asset limits to allow people with emergency savings and other resources to qualify if they are low income and meet other requirements. The bill was voted on by the legislature today, and has moved to select file.
"These changes are an important step forward in addressing food hardship in Nebraska," states Gould, "they help get food assistance to those who need it."

"The data in this report shows that food hardship - running out of money to buy the food that families need - is a substantial challenge in every corner of this country," said Jim Weill, President of FRAC. "With persistently high unemployment and underemployment across the nation, we have to strengthen programs that benefit those who are struggling." Nebraska Appleseed joined FRAC in expressing deep concern about potential cuts to low-income assistance programs proposed by Congress for the FY 2011 budget. "This data clearly shows the need in our state, and our elected officials must take action to protect the well-being of Nebraska families," said Gould.

The full report is available at www.frac.org

###

About This Report

This report is the latest in the Food Research and Action Center's (FRAC) series of analyses of survey data on food hardship collected by Gallup as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. It provides the most up-to-date examination of the struggle that very large numbers of American households are having affording enough food.

Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest law project, is a national leader in addressing social problems facing vulnerable children without loving and permanent homes, low-income families working hard to make ends meet, and new immigrants seeking a better life. Nebraska Appleseed's current year action plan and description of its six program areas, significant litigation and policy reform successes, and broad-based accomplishments can be found at neappleseed.org.

Nebraska Appleseed is a part of the Appleseed network of independent state-based public interest law centers working to identify and address social injustices. The Appleseed network seeks to build a just society through education, legal advocacy, community activism and policy expertise by addressing root causes and producing practical, systemic solutions with broad implication. For more information visit appleseednetwork.org.

Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest
941 O Street, Suite 920
Lincoln, NE 68508
www.neappleseed.org

"Gentrification Kills"

One of the many benefits of being active on twitter is that you stumble upon many interesting blogs and articles.

I recently found this one on gentrification, a common phenomenon in mid-town Omaha. In the blog post, the author, Kierra Jackson, comes to understand gentrification as "a process in which progress disrespects what pre-existed. Gentrification screams profit over personality, new without adequate regard for the old, and in my neighborhood, white vs. black." She goes on to discuss the role of compassion, as it applies to gentrification, and taking care of your neighbor, which just so happens to go hand in hand with last week's sermon topic. I really enjoyed her perspective on this important city issue and I hope you take a few moments to read her short essay.

To read her full story, "Gentrification Kills: Confronted by the Writing on the Wall," please follow this link: http://blog.sojo.net/2010/07/14/gentrification-kills-confronted-by-the-writing-on-the-wall/

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What I learned in Santa Fe, NM

In mid June, my work sent me to the United Methodist Institute of Higher Education: Educating Moral Leaders in a World of Poverty (held in Santa Fe, NM) and although we are not Methodist, I think the lessons I learned from this conference can apply to our UCC work and to progressive Christians everywhere. Our first speaker was the Rev. Larry Ward, Adjunct Professor at Claremont Graduate University and Director of the Lotus Institute. His opening speech was inspiring and hopeful. It reminded us of the importance of our work to engage youth on important issues and to create social change. Rev. Ward also reminded us to take care of ourselves while doing this vital work.
Nuggets of Wisdom:

• Events that happen inside of us flow outside of us. The inside events impact the world more than the events outside of us.
• In Buddhism, there are three poisons. The three poisons are afflictions in the heart, mind and soul that create suffering. They are: 1.) Grasping or the tendency of attraction; aka: greed. The collateral damage of this affliction is poverty. 2.) Aversion or hatred. We must practice compassion and trust if we want to have an impact on poverty. 3.) Ignorance. Our nation today is very much dissociated with the larger community and we lack ownership of our community. It is too easy for individuals to be dissociated with those in poverty and therefore not take ownership for the issue or the solution.
• All the Earth belongs to all the people- sorrow, gifts and wisdom.
• Exposing our youth to the community and its issues is extremely important. Why? Because they will be able to apply learning objectives, practice self-healing, and have the opportunity to have a profound experience and make a profound impact.
• In Chinese, the word busy translates to “heart killing.” It is important to take time to reflect and stay focused on the here and now—the wonder of the moment.
  

The second speaker was John Hill, Director for Economic and Environmental Justice, General Board of Church and Society, the United Methodist Church. His speech placed an emphasis on the response of the faith community to poverty and was especially useful for our efforts to become a mission driven church.
Nuggets of Wisdom:

• We must equip the next generation to ask questions and challenge the status quo.
• Effective ministry is relational.
• If we want to start talking about poverty then we must stop attacking the poor (i.e. homes not handcuffs).
• The poor are NOT mission projects, but children of God, our brothers and sisters who have fallen on hard times. The scriptures demand and ask us to take care of our brothers and sisters. We are called to see the world through the eyes of the marginalized.
• It is time for the Church to be in relationship with those on the margin. It is time for face-to-face relationships. Churches must co-build ways out of poverty. We cannot be “drive-by social justice activists.”
  

Clearly, these speakers struck a chord with me, but I truly feel that their “nuggets of wisdom” are helpful in a time when it is so easy to suffer from the three poisons and forget to think about the world just outside our own door or even the church door.
Posted by the Hanna W.

A Poem on Homelessness

Who am I? by Rose Limongi

Who am I?

I am me; humble and alone

I am your son, your daughter, and your ex-

I am your friend, your lover, and a skeleton

I am a woman, a mother, and a child

I am a former CEO, a POW, disabled

I am a genius, an ex-convict, and prostitute

I am a druggie, an alcoholic, mentally ill

I am an annoyance, an embarrassment, and a cheat

I am filthy, robbed of my humanity, beaten down

I am playing the system, faking it (or am I?)

I am choosing to live this way – I could work if I wanted

I am living under bridges, in libraries, dumpsters and cars

I am an angel, a threat, a danger, and a pitiful reminder of failure

I am demanding – begging for leftovers and money

I am despicable for smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol

I am not responsible enough to love others, so you say

I am the person you judge each and every day

I am me; humble and alone.




How many times will people judge me – naked and exposed?

My life and all my worldly goods contained in a sack

My shopping cart filled with your disposable consumer goods

My dining experience is your garbage, dumpster for 1 please

My healthcare is non-existent unless I’m left for dead

My conversations with people are from a distance

My mind aches from watching the haves tip the scales

My soul, no longer intact, has been scorched with hatred

I am me; humble and alone
.


You don’t want to see me, you hate me, and you despise me

You pity me, judge me, curse me, you wish I would go away

You throw money at me in disgust; shout obscenities and sneer

You nearly run me over – justifying the act in your mind

You head to toe me with disgusted eyes then make me invisible

You fear getting too close for smell or threat of crime

You lock your doors; take the safety off your gun beside you

You tell me to “get a fucking job you loser”

You ban me from earning any money on roads

You ban me from public places you enjoy

You deny me my basic civil rights because I lack a home

I am me; humble and alone.



What you don’t realize is this

What I once was and who I have become are irrelevant

What I need matters far more ultimately

Buy me a meal at a fast food restaurant; then sit with me

Talk to me; get to know my story

Keep some easily opened, non-perishable foods in your car

Give me the greatest gift of all - a smile

Remember that I am human, with wants, needs, and desires

Never forget that you too, are one or two paychecks away

From the life you now sit in judgment of

Remember that it is only with each other that we all survive

Alone and apart – we die from spiritual starvation

Souls executed for being nothing more than fallible, human

Extend the hand of love and friendship – invest in me again

Retrieve me from the vast wasteland of solitude and depression

Fertilize my mind with ideas and hope once more

Don’t abandon me when I fail, or fall back on bad habits

Be firm, yet fair – for I am you in one or two paychecks

I am me; humble and alone.

Source: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=108804

Money Matters: Faith and Tough Economic Times

The UCC has great resources on financial wellness for your personal financial health and the health of our congregation. We urge you to check out their links and resources on the national website...

http://www.ucc.org/stewardship/faith-and-tough-econmic-times/

Best wishes,
Blog Administrator

Update an Obsolete Poverty Line

Check out this interesting article, "Update an Obsolete Poverty Line," which is published by God's Politics: A Blog by Jim Wallis and Friends, a meeting place for progressive christian minds.

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/07/17/update-an-obsolete-poverty-line/