twilberding's Comments

Max Weller on homelessness : Homeless Hall of Shame #1

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 04:28:59 +0000

How about a Hall of Fame? One of my favorites is author George Orwell. Google "homeless success stories" and the sites are many, every state, every city. Let's cheer the survivors, those who turn their lives around thanks to many helpful hands and their own efforts and yes, to a bit of good luck. http://www.nhchc.org/SuccessStories.html http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/lists/homeless.ht...

Max Weller on homelessness : How wonderful it will be

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 14:42:47 +0000

Max, your opinion here seems inconsistent with your previous suggestion that the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless stay open 24/7 all year. I am guessing you want a "reformed" BSH to stay open all year, but lacking reform, close it during the summer. Or what? I would like the BSH stay open all year, as cold night rains can be very hard on the homeless, particularly those who are sick and weak. Hard to look for a job when you all your energy goes toward survival.

Max Weller on homelessness : All under one roof 24/7/365

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:41:57 +0000

Thanks, Max. Always useful to find "best practices" and copy them. Why not here in Boulder?

Max Weller on homelessness : It's the [Denver transients], stupid!

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:23:29 +0000

So, Max, let me play devil's advocate. Someone from Denver or anywhere outside of Boulder County, hears that Boulder County and City are generaous to the homeless, all you need for priority treatment is photo i.d. listing 4869 N. Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304 as your address (Boulder Shelter for the Homeless.) So as soon as you get this photo i.d. you would be entitled to priority at local homeless agencies, no matter that you just traveled here from Denver or Fort Collins or Maine. Seems maybe too easy to get priority. What do you think? Should there be some other requirement? What makes a local a local?

Max Weller on homelessness : It's the [Denver transients], stupid!

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:15:26 +0000

"Priority to Boulerites in need." Okay, Max, sounds good, but how does an agency determine that? Require photo i.d. that shows a Boulder County address, or a birth certificate (with photo i.d.) that shows Boulder County place of birth? Or what? I understand many homeless people have lost their photo i.d. and it is hard to replace it. Most people do not carry around their birth certificate. Also I understand quite a few homeless folks are wanted by the law and thus avoid giving their real names, prefer to use aliases or nicknames. So how do you "give priority to Boulderites in need?" If it can be done I am for it, but how do you do it?

Max Weller on homelessness : A homeless people's day center . . .

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 01:46:49 +0000

Agree, Max! I hope you run for City Council someday. The homeless don't have cars or bus money, so they have a hard time getting around. Bring the services to them in one place. In an ideal world I would also like to see at this campus "Workforce Boulder County" for job counseling. Also" Labor Ready" for daily cash work, and provide transportation to the jobs. Also an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter with regular meetings. The People's Clinic is not far from the BSH which is good. I volunteer at the Carriage House and donate to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, and I would love to see them consolidated at BSH, and open every day year round as you suggest.

Max Weller on homelessness : Reality check: Homeless camping

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:30:36 +0000

Ditto to zoocat comments, agree with Max and appreciate his interesting blog. I admire and support Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow as one possible solution to this problem. I oppose camping in our parks, open spaces, vacant lots or vehicles, even on a temporary basis. I am a volunteer at the Carriage House, but I disagree with Joy on this issue.

Daily Camera.com: : Boulder homeless protest $100 fine for 'illegal camping' - Boulder Daily Camera

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:42:32 +0000

Seems unfortunate to me that the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless at 4869 North Broadway is mostly closed and empty 5 summer months from May 1 to September 30. They would stay open if they had the funds. Why not send some of that $32,000 to the Shelter so they can stay open and give the homeless a place to sleep during the summer? If a homeless person prefers to sleep in the park when there are vacant beds at the Shelter, maybe give them a ticket then to preserve public spaces. Denver homeless shelters stay open year round. Many homeless folks suffer greatly in cold and rainy weather like today, with no shelter available. Please give these unfortunate folks, our brothers and sisters, a break. Many of them are sick and suffering. Contribute to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. If it is full, let the homeless camp in their parking lot. This is a more cost-effective solution than jail or emergency rooms or ruined parks and malls. Thanks to Joy Eckstine and the Carriage House staff and volunteers for all the good work they do for the homeless and for Boulder--and thanks to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless.