:: Solutions to the Homeless Problem ::

:: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 ::

Help Homeless Pay Weekly or Monthly for the Hotel

Hotel rate is very expensive to the homeless, especially, go by daily rate. For example, the Daily Rate for Stadium Inn at Nashville TN used by Kevin Barbieux mentioned in The Homeless Guy on Wednesday, August 21 costs $47 a night, however, the weekly rate is only $112 ($16 a night) and monthly will become $440 ($14 a night). So, it would make much sense if one willing to help a homeless to stay in hotel, paying weekly or monthly is making much more economic sense.

I usually would help extend the stay for homeless people at Hotel Richmond at Staten Island NYCfrom daily rate to weekly rate. For example, Eddie and Cathy couple used to panhandle at Maine Ln near Wall Street of Manhattan, and once in a while they can afford to stay 2 nights at Hotel Richmond at $35 a night, but then I found out the weekly rate was only $150 a week, so I normally would go with them and copay another $80 to extend from two days to a week. To me, it is $16 per extra day for them, and $8 per extra day for each person. Besides, on the same street of Hotel Richmond, there is soup kitchen of Project Hospitality and Staten Island Library, and walk to Staten Island Ferry that is FREE and 24 x 7 to Manhanttan; it is very convenient.

:: Mr Cheng 1:51 PM [+] ::
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Use Email and Yahoo Instant Messenger to Help Homeless


Many homeless people have access to computer, and using email and Yahoo Instant Messenger is very cost effective way to help homeless people.


Together with blog, it could be very effectively tracking all the communication with the homeless person being help and can work as a team remotely to help the homeless to move off street and keep moving up. For example, Rose at Sycamore ILhas been helped by people in New Jersey and California through a connection at Schaumburg IL.


:: Mr Cheng 1:07 AM [+] ::
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Create a Blog for each Homeless person You help


Recently, I have found the fantacy of creating one blog for each homeless I have been helping and keep track of their progress. For example, I have created one for Joe at Jersey City that I helped each day on the way home. I took him to Modell and bought him sleeping bag, duffle bag, sweat shirt, socks, glove...etc. I gave him wallet with emergency money, I showed him how to use Yahoo email and created him an account ...etc.


:: Mr Cheng 12:38 AM [+] ::
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Relocate Homeless Out Of City


In the Homeless Crisis article, it seems there is NO other way to resolve the recent homeless issues in the New York City. On the other hand, there are lots of vacant houses in rural area like Hazleton PA and many other cities that population has been decreasing. The solution is really to help homeless people, especially those at the bottom sleeping outdoors to relocate to those cities providing the relocation cost. There are many cities like Fresno CA has been very successful in relocation the homeless people to other places where they will be able to find a job and afford a housing.


:: Mr Cheng 2:48 PM [+] ::
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