He suggested I give to the ones who look like they are truly in need, like the amputees. Roberts hopes that when people read One Step Away, they're moved by the emotion and the passion in those pages. When I acknowledge them, they are no longer invisible. “One Step Away,” a new exhibit at the Portland Art Museum, is a focused look at the compound and growing issue of housing insecurity in the city. Kawika Chann (author) from Northwest, Hawaii, Anykine place on July 28, 2013: Thanks for your comment AliciaC, it's always good to be prepared. One Step Away began as an idea Bob Fishman, CEO of Resources of Human Development, had when visiting Washington, D.C. Fishman happened on a 16-page biweekly "street" newspaper called Street Sense. I have written about homelessness often. Carrying a stack of newspapers and wearing the trademark lime neon-green vest, Brian Belcher, a vendor of One Step Away,… Follow me on Twitter. “I’m one step away from homelessness; all it would take is a bad decision at work and for me to lose my job and I’d end up back on the streets,” he said. ... so single homeless people have less incentive to apply. Advocating for changes to policies and laws around homelessness and treating homeless people with respect can also help to address this important issue. Throughout the day there are hit-and-miss chances as Belcher attempts to sell the paper, which only costs a dollar and written by those who are homeless in the city. by One Step Away, Posted: December 9, 2014 By Ethan Cohen On Sept, 22, the U.S. Department of Education released new statistics on student homelessness, reporting that nearly 1.3 million public school students in the United States experienced homelessness in the 2012-13 school year. RHD’s One Step Away, Philadelphia’s street newspaper, is hosting the 7 th Annual Knock Out Homelessness fundraiser on May 11, from 5:30-9:30pm, at Chickie’s & Pete’s South Philly Play 2, 1526 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145.. "And, look, thousands of Philadelphia citizens have been generous and warm and friendly to our vendors, and we're grateful, but the simple fact is that distributing One Step Away on the streets can be hard work," Roberts said. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. Share page. One Step Away. One Step Away wants to be a vehicle that focuses on the issues of homelessness and affordable housing while also tackling issues that some may forget impact the homeless population as well. Belcher, 35, who once was homeless, understands the struggles that his peers are going through. Many were from “disadvantaged families, single-parent homes or foster care,” she wrote, with several girls just “one step away from homelessness.” All of these people on the street are in need. "It was rough, but I did it. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. 7 Steps To Homelessness And What To Do If You Get There — 16 Comments Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank on November 1, 2012 at 4:37 am said: This is a really sad post, it’s amazing to think about how easy it is to slip into a vicious cycle that can end up to homelessness. Part of MultiCultural/HPMG News. Miniatures: The Secret Weapons of Success, A Slow, Sloppy, Tornado Spins To Maturity, Listening to Suggestions | Kathleen Thometz. One dollar donation," Belcher chanted early one morning as Philadelphians busily and knowingly pass him by. I talked to my husband about this. Go somewhere warm. But in a good way. Contact the Hamilton team 0800 437 348 24 Garden Place, Hamilton Contact the Tauranga team 0800 198 010 44 Grey Street, Tauranga Follow us on Facebook First, I have always felt uncomfortable with people who live on the street. After 18 years in newspapers as a reporter or columnist, Roberts has been with RHD since 2009 and has served as One Step Away's editor-in-chief since its inception. Living in a car is a step up from street homelessness, but it isn't much safer: Homeless people are 13 times more likely to be the victims of violence than … Interesting all the same. Last summer I was visiting my hometown in New Jersey. "The first issue was purchased for a dollar by Dainette Mintz, director of Philadelphia's Office of Supportive Housing.". I say hello. But really, both kinds of homeless are invisible. Roberts added that One Step Away is the voice of a population that generally doesn't have one; it's a chance for their folks to be heard. I became interested in helping the homeless for a couple of reasons. Shelter," Roberts said. Do some research. "To self-identify as homeless, to have people walk past you and not look you in the eye, to refuse to see you, can be a difficult task. In the literal sense, as we walk around downtown Chicago and pass by a person begging on the street. Her husband’s business had been having difficulties and they had some investments that went south. In the theoretical sense, we could suffer a job loss, an illness, a financial setback or a combination of the three. The truth is, almost anyone can be “One Step Away” from homelessness. It isn’t cut and dry. In the theoretical sense, we could suffer a job loss, an illness, a financial setback or a combination of the three. 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