Counting and iPods

Are you homeless and use one of the many colored apple ipods?

More and more in the last two years I've been seeing public uses of technology by more people experiencing homelessness than 'homies' or business people when walking the streets of Jacksonville.

My take: either they're more savvy than 'homies' and local business people...OR...there's more of them that aren't being admitted to after the last 'Homeless Count'.

The thing about the count that gets me is nobody admits just how 'off' it really is. While local 'counters' and volunteers did appear to attempt to find and engage more in the past, they still aren't bellying up to the realities.

In my opinion Jacksonville has at this moment approxiametely 18,732 people experiencing homelessness. Give or take 5, depending if you use the McKinney-Vento Act standards or HUD definition rules.

Don't ask how I know the numbers, that's classified...just as much as what's really going on that they don't want you to know.

...you figure out who 'they' are.

Accomodations: Who gets it first, kids?

It's another gimme, you run a shelter you need lighting fixtures!

About four years ago I knew this one guy that worked in a shelter, handling more things than he needed due to outdated equipment provided. While wonderful office accommodations were built for the senior staff, the fact is some of the residents were living in what was no better than a garage.

A big garage. One you could drive a semi in, park it, and have room for maybe four more.

Me, I'm against that. I'm all for having people 'satellite' off laptops accommodating the needs of those they serve, rather than their needs accommodated eight hours out of the day.

Going green differently

Years ago I used to enjoy talking about my dumpster diving antics, pretty much a 'green' thing when you can find spare computer parts. As time went by I was able to afford laptop memory to enhance products purchased for my advocacy.

I was talking to a guy this week in Cleveland who's doing the 'green' thing in his community. They're literally reusing old things in building a greenhouse project, but it's not your typical thing. Full business, plan, and they sell the produce to the local neighbors at reduced cost.

Very nice.

What stuff's made of

Ok, so readers outside of being homeless have use and need for an instant life insurance quote, but the fact is those experiencing homelessness 'might' not have like interests.

Same goes for luggage. They're demands are more realistic. Homies really don't check the product as much as homeless. I've yet to see luggage on wheels that can take two weeks of streat-beat I've personally put some through.