Doe Fund. Real or Hype?

by Joe B.

As for Sup. Newcom and his 28 or less points "to help homeless folk" with the "Ready, Willing, And Able" Program adopted from Apple City.

Deciding to webcheck [light virtual research or investigation] the Doe Fund Side [www.doe.org]
readers should also see it also.

The Doe Fund Founder and President is Mr. George McDonald had his Ready, Willing, And Able more than 15 years ago as the homeless crisis loomed large.

He said his Catholic upbringing and education made hime not ignore the problem.

The nuns had taught him "that other people's miseries are your miseries," and that those with gifts and advantages have an obligation to help others who do not. So far it reads well.

Some of this was gleaned directly off Doe's Webside. George decided to run for Congress on a platform of ending homelessness.

A testament to growing public concern about homelessness and his keen political sense, he achieved 40 percent of the popular vote in the democratic primary and the endorsement of three major New York

City newspapers, all with a campaign fund of only $7,000. [off site.] I'm skipping lots of this wholesome tale.

Soon Mr. McDonald is underground in New York's Grand Central Station talking, listening to homeless people and comes up with his plan:

To Prove formally Homeless people even with minimum wage could live a "viable" existance his aim: disprove minimum wage work is not a dead end. [I've been here before]

It may not be a dead end but it sure helps to have other options instead of steady state-non upwardly mobile working skills. He fight SRO [single room occupancy/only] into luxury housing.

One such placed is turned over to non-profit for permanent housing. That's the problem being lock-in to such a system.

We continue.

In 1985 a homeless woman known only as "Mama" dies on Christmas making McDonald work harder on what would become the Doe Foundation, named after "Mama" and all the anonymous men and women who've died on the streets New York.

,Other people trying to help saw simular situations happen and are helpless to stop people from homicide, suicide, or other kinds of death.

Founded on January 2, 1990 the first 45 trainees began in the Doe Training Program.

The program mirrored what society would ultimately expect of those who graduated. Trainees relinquished welfare benefits in favor of$5.50 per hour in wages, paid $65 per week toward their room
and board, and put $30 per week in savings accounts. In return, they slept in comfortable beds insemi-private rooms, and ate healthy, hearty meals prepared by trainees who expressed interest in food
preparation as a possible career.
12-step meetings, life skills classes, and certified teachers to help those who needed them earn high school equivalency diplomas or, in some cases, to learn to read and write.

What George McDonald had known all along proved powerfully true: "Work works." By 1994, 90 formerly homeless and drug-addicted men had entered the legitimate workforce. They were staying clean, doing their jobs
diligently and well, paying rent, saving money, repairing relationships and forging new ones and looking to the future. [From off the Webside]

Most of the above give a positive spin to people struggling to survive and given a chance a few will however.
1. $5.50 per hour in wages.
2. $65 per week toward their room and board.

3. $30 per week in savings accounts.

Number 3 is the beginning of good things. And who can deny nutricious food and training for those in clined but George McDonald's "Work Work's" is a cruel irony because work without access to higher skills, education, while sweeping streets, doing low wage maintenance jobs all over the city create wage slaves. Yes its a start but don't let this so called successful program stay at the same level, suppose to improve, grow, and with people with every kind of skill available [most homeless are not drug addicted, alcoholics, or mentally ill that's what most of the population continue failing to see.

It looks like if Mr. George McDonald's not making money off the backs of the poor many of the city's or other corporations are getting near free labor yet again in guise of "help the homeless help themselves" And going to the Church of St. Agnes is a nice touch since anyone who does not is deemed as someone "who may not work out.

What I want to know is after a decade can other graduates that made it through this R.W.A.A. programs thoughts on this and anyone formelly on the streets can say about this this New York Program since its moving to San Francisco and other cities.

I'll probably hear glowing reports. [yeah, right]

So reader's in the
New York or from other cities tell me the low down and if you don't tell please spread what you know to everyone about R.W.A.A. Bye.

As a House-Care Watcher Professional or[H.C.W.P.]

I'm a non drug user, smoker, drinker, pill popper - drug test me anytime. Light vacuum, no windows or laundry.

Pets have their routine - make a list of walking times, foods, and
moods.
Prices: $25 a day apartments/flats

$50 a week for 2 to 4 bedroom cottage.

$2000, or $3,000 a month depending on home not area.


$50,000 to $100,000 monthly for homes with 7to10 rooms


INFORM FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, POLICE; IN FACT
INVITE THEM PERSONALLY TO SEE ME, ASK QUESTIONS
THEN NO MISUNDERSTANDING, MISHAPS OR ACCIDENTS
OF IDENTITY CAN HAPPEN.