Today, on Good Friday, I attended the Los Angeles Mission's annual Easter Meal that feeds 3,000 homeless people, provides Easter baskets with toys for homeless children, and washes the homeless' feet and gives them new shoes. Every year, I assist in this practice of washing of the feet for the homeless, because it's such a simple act and it provides our most vulnerable with a sense of dignity, warmth and belonging after countless cold, lonely nights on the streets.
No matter your creed or your color, I urge you to volunteer in any capacity at a homeless shelter, since the well-being of our community can only be measured by how the least among us is faring. To find out where you can volunteer go to: http://www.volunteerlosangeles.com/
Cross-posted at mayor.lacity.org
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Is each person who is "underwater" with their mortgage totally and completely responsible for their situation? Are the predatory lenders and bankers completely without responsibility? 

When the social worker I went to see today about getting some help to appeal being turned down for disability asked me where I slept last night I didn't feel particularly good about telling her that for the past month I've been sleeping in my storage unit. 


Almost all of my monthly $197 social security check goes towards preserving all the books, journals, musical equipment, and household things that I've accumulated during 63 years of life. I initially applied for disability about 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer. I was turned down then and have been turned down a couple of more times since. 

The social worker says the next thing to attempt is to get SSI for those who haven't earned enough. 

As a life long musician who hasn't been lucky enough to have grabbed the brass ring, I have been paid mostly "under the table". This is how singer-songwriter musicians in New Orleans (and all the other places I've performed) survive...tips, busking, singing for your supper, the occasional paying gig, etc.. 




Perhaps if more of us share our stories of being homeless those who have been more fortunate will become more concerned, compassionate, and generous. We are, after all, in this thing called life together.

It's also been very discouraging that the current leaders of the church I've been a member of for almost 18 years have been so lacking in compassion. They take the position that we make our own reality and experience circumstances like poverty and homelessness because of our personal choices. And while this provides others with a justification for doing nothing substantial to help it doesn't make much sense either.