Poverty Is Not an Accident

Poverty Is Not an Accident
Nelson Mandela

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

women leading a poor people's movement?

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I doubt the Sisters were any smaller than any other people. Speaking of women in the diminutive infantilizes and dismisses us as somehow less than, which is evidence again that women should lead any Poor People's movement. I don't know what you mean by "in your face." If it means to constantly reiterate the message that services, housing, food, medical care, rehab, training, education, etc. MUST be provided by the community, with direction from the clients receiving services, yes. If it means screaming angrily at people, no.

I saw a 12 month program. What happens to people with chronic behavioral health issues who can not "transition" into the larger community? What happens, in this time of severe recession/depression, if someone finds herself again at risk, some time in the future? Is she told, "you had your 12 months and failed. Go away?"

What happens to people with chemical dependency issues? No drugs or alcohol, fine. But is there a rehab program in place?

My issue with programs like these is they seem to think the "cure" for homelessness is for the economically exploited to become middle class. Hence, "dress for success" clothing banks, so one can looks like she isn't living in a cardboard box when she goes on a job interview, etc. But where are the computer literacy programs? One needs more than a suit to succeed. Many of us are economically exploited BECAUSE we can't be middle class, no matter if we tried for the rest of our lives. Are we to be branded as failures and ignored or shut out of programs, less we screw up the success rate statistics for the program?


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