NCAB MASTHEAD
Vol. 2, Issue 3 October 2009
In This Issue
Homeless Persons' Memorial Day
Executive Committee Meets
In the News
Member Contributions
Quick Links
Memorial Day Resources

Previous NCAB Newsletters
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Join Our Mailing List
NATIONAL HOMELESS PERSONS' MEMORIAL DAY
A MOMENT OF SILENCE...
As NCAB members know all too well, homelessness causes, complicates, and exacerbates serious health problems, which leads to the premature death of thousands of people in our communities every year. Many die alone, silently, and without public recognition.

PosterWhile much of the nation prepares to celebrate winter holidays, we in the homeless community pause on December 21, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, to commemorate the National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day and formally remember our homeless friends and neighbors who died in 2009.
 
The National Consumer Advisory Board joins the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the National Coalition for the Homeless to commemorate the 19th annual memorial day. Last year, over 100 communities throughout the country held candlelight vigils, religious ceremonies, moments of silence, and other public events.

In an effort to increase awareness and pursue public policies that are capable of making homelessness increasingly rare and brief, organizers are planning similar events this winter. The 2009 Homeless Persons' Memorial Day is less than two months away, and we encourage NCAB members to start planning events now.

To learn what others are doing and get ideas for events and involving your community, please refer to our 2009 Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Organizing Manual.
NCAB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS IN NASHVILLE
This October, NCAB Executive Committee members met in Nashville for a business meeting. Several important tasks were accomplished, including:
  • Updating and approving the 2009-2010 NCAB Work Plan.
  • Improving collaboration among NCAB, the Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians' Network, and the Respite Care Providers' Network on common priorities.
  • Brainstorming ideas for 2010 National Health Care for the Homeless Conference workshops. Several NCAB members agreed to review submitted workshop proposals from the consumer's perspective.
  • Practicing presentation skills to prepare for CAB technical assistance training. Sites in Portland, Oregon, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Riverside, California, have requested NCAB's technical assistance training.
  • Discussing with the National Council's Policy and Advocacy Team how NCAB can work in conjunction with the Council to promote our advocacy priorities.

A highlight of the meeting was the opportunity to participate in a research project. Over the last two years, NCAB has worked with Dr. Stefan Kertesz on a research project that looks at primary care in the homeless population. Dr. Kertesz, who is with the Veterans Administration in Birmingham, Alabama, and several colleagues met with NCAB and conducted a focus group discussion around what has been done thus far with the research project. NCAB will continue to give input as needed as the project evolves, and Dr. Kertesz will keep the Committee informed on project developments.

Another exciting development resulting from the meeting is that Catholic Charities is interested in establishing a National Consumer Advisory Board for their organization. Catholic Charities requested NCAB consultation and in response, the Committee will provide CAB manuals and training tailored to meet the organization's needs.
 
The National Council invited Committee members to tour its new  offices, and members agreed that the Nashville offices were wonderfully spacious and welcoming! Several NCAB members--who are also Council governing members--stayed on after the NCAB meetings to participate in the Council's Governing Membership Meeting.

In addition, these members attended the Fall Barbecue & Block Party, a fundraising event hosted in East Nashville to benefit the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Members attending helped by selling wrist bands to event attendees and talking about the Council's important work in ending homelessness and promoting human rights. Members enjoyed a wonderful southern BBQ and watching over 15 bands that performed on four different stages.

CONSUMER ADVOCACY IN THE NEWS
James receiving awardAnnually, during the National Health Care for the Homeless Conference, NCAB presents the Ellen Daily Consumer Advocate Award to honor a consumer for exceptional leadership and advocacy work.

The 2009 award was presented to James Crawford Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland. Since receiving this distinguished award in June, Mr. Crawford continues his dedicated education and advocacy work for health care reform.

In the July 24 edition of the Baltimore Business Journal, Mr. Crawford talks about his experiences with homelessness and his
advocacy for health care reform. He provided a valuable consumer perspective in the article on the health care debate, and specifically referenced the need for health care, housing and livable incomes as solutions for ending and preventing homelessness.
MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS
HOMELESS
A place to sleep
A bed to lay in
I have nothing
Where do I begin?
 
So very lonely
Yet I'm not alone
No one among us
Has a place to call home
 
A sea of nameless faces
We shuffle to and fro
No one seems to care
We have no place to go
 
Life has thrown a mighty blow
Our situation says it best
There is nothing more devastating
Than total homeless
 
Inspired by God
--Charlotte A. Garner

EXPECTATION
The energy flows through the ethereal universe
Ideas are connected via the ligaments of the heart
Dreams tethered to the desires streaming through time
Dreams and ideas are energy with a focus.
 
Planting a seed, creative energy bursting forth
Be it fusion or fission, the explosion is muti-dimensional
Water revitalizes, rejuvenates the earth
Words paint pictures for the brain.
 
Life emancipates the darkest area
Night, day, night, day, different places
Structure, shape, moods, modes, fluidity of life
Flying, running, sitting, standing, purposeful action.
 
The subtle impressions, the hypnotic expressions impregnate our soul
Dinosaurs, carbon fuel brighten our environment
Eggs, chicken, grain, beef, fish, full bodied with growth hormones
God, taxes, the American dream.
--Reginald O. Hamilton

THE CONSUMER ADVISORY BOARD (THE CHANGE COMMITTEE)
The Consumer Advisory Board
Mighty as a Swashbuckler's sword
A numerous and formidable amount
We strive to make our voices count
 
We now have a chance
To rise and advance
Committee both in word and deed
We have a tremendous need
 
Not thinking just of self
There are many who need help
We won't go quietly into the night
We won't give up without a fight
 
Unlike the battle of waterloo
We plan to win and change things too
We hunker down and roll up our sleeves
Justice for all in this we believe
 
Homeless has a new face
Together we rise to take our place
Need by need one by one
We won't rest UNTIL: A Change has come
--Charlotte A. Garner

LIVE YOUR PASSION
In the heart lies the road map for the future
The heart connects to unfathomable desire
Traverse the unlimited bounds of the universe source of all energy
The heart forms, shapes, sculptures the unrelenting passion of your soul
That which makes you the energy, displayed to the dimension, comes via the heart.
 
Through the heart, life is vital, invigorated, compelling to make it worth living
Through the heart, you can uncompromisingly live your passion
Living your passion summons the miracles inspired in the heart
Miracles throb through the heart; infusing our lives with the thing that is unavoidable.
 
It is burning your spirit, transcending reason, ego, sanity
The psyche is uncontrollable, the energetic bounds are unexplainable
Living your passion is unavoidable, commencing prior to conception
Your passion is congruent with the universal energy, the heart's foundation
Live you passion, unify the soul, mind, body into the miracle in your heart.
--Reginald O. Hamilton

LIVE THE LIFE YOU DREAM
Be what you say, mean what you say
Feel who you really are, be a dreamer
Live with peace and freedom, laugh and play
 
Dreams are the mirrors to your soul
Dreams reflect the me you want to be
Live with the me you want to be
Everything you dream mirrors you.
 
If you believe it, you can achieve
If you believe it, you can dream
If you believe it, you can have
If you believe it, you can live your dream.
--Reginald O. Hamilton
Adrienne Breidenstine, MSW | NCAB Coordinator &
Health Policy Organizer
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
[email protected] | 443/703-1337 | www.nhchc.org
Brenda J. Proffitt, MHA | Membership & Communications Director
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
[email protected] | 505/872-1151 | www.nhchc.org
Council logo


Health Care and Housing Are Human Rights
The NCAB Newsletter is developed with support from the Health Resources & Services Administration. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the editor and do not necessarily represent the official view of HRSA or the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.