Sharing this interesting discussion/info more widely as folks might be looking into year-end donations. Maybe start with the second email first. (apologies if you've seen this on the other list--felt relevant to discuss it in this space)
happy holidays <3
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Allen Ratliff allenratliff@gmail.com Date: Mon, Dec 23, 2019 at 1:37 PM Subject: ⭐ Re: Seeking Reactions/Feedback: StarBarf Miracle Fund
I wrote Phil an essay on homelessness and seasonal giving that I sent to him separately, but I can share a TLDR here:
I believe that giving to local, front-line organizations is the best way to provide care and support for people who need it, especially people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty.
As a person with extensive experience in homelessness, basic needs insecurity, and social services (I've experienced homelessness as an adolescent and adult, I worked with people experiencing homelessness for a decade as a clinical social worker, and I am a social welfare/public health researcher studying violence and youth homelessness), I have been on multiple sides of service delivery and I believe the best way for individual/small-group donors to address homelessness is to give cash/unrestricted donations to local non-profits doing the work. I recommend Daily Bread, Berkeley Food Network https://berkeleyfoodnetwork.org/, the Berkeley Food and Housing Project and the Berkeley Food Pantry. If you don't want to give just cash, ask them what they need. Do they need socks, underwear, blankets, sleeping bags, jackets, tampons, etc.? Do they have or know of a fund to donate toward paying for healthcare costs or medications? Are there specific projects that are in-progress that need donations? You can make a big impact on long-term services by targeting your donation to maximize service delivery.
Another best way to address homelessness is donate your time! Volunteer regularly! I'd love to see a Starbarf weekly dinner event that involves buying/making and serving food at a shelter or soup kitchen or with an organization that brings food to encampments. Or team up with encampment collectives and ask them what they need and how they need it!
Love to all the love!
Allen
On Mon, Dec 23, 2019 at 11:20 AM Phil Narodick phil.narodick@gmail.com wrote:
TLDR: Homeless person has spray painted "I NEED A MIRACLE" on their tent. What if we raised money to just straight up gave this person a miracle this Christmas? Is that a problematic idea?
[image: miracle (4).jpg]
Every day my bike commute brings me past a homeless encampment here. https://goo.gl/maps/AcKisk9Kh4c5PMBUA It has steadily been filling up because it is on caltrans land, which means that the city of Berkeley can't clear the camp as easily.
I don't know much about the camp itself, other than they seem to be engaged in their struggle, they started the WHERE DO WE GO? https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/10/11/1891652/-An-Intersecting-Tale-Berkeley-s-WhereDoWeGo-Movement-Stays-Fast-Homeless-Sweeps-Crew-Go-Elsewhere in Berkeley, which has been gaining a lot of notoriety.
As the weather has gotten cold (it was 39 degrees on my ride this morning, someone spray painted "I NEED A MIRACLE" on their tent. I don't know this person, I don't know how to evaluate whether someone is a "good recipient" for this miracle or how to evaluate that.
What I know is that the homelessness crisis occupies a lot of my brain-space and feels totally intractable. It feels like it would be cool to have a direct connection to someone we are helping get back on their feet with a sizeable nestegg, as opposed to donating to a larger org.
I'm open to critical feedback here - I can't tell if I'm being a white savior here (they don't need to know who donated?) or whether my money is better donated to people out on the front lines doing the work every day.
We are part of a community that has a lot of extra money and probably isn't donating as much as we should (🙋) because opportunities havent been in front of our faces. What do we feel about creating a Starbarf++ Miracle Fund, trying to raise a substantial about of money in the next few days, and straight up going to the camp and giving this person a Christmas miracle?
Let me know your thoughts. Phil
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Phil Narodick 3211 King St Berkeley, CA 94703 cell: 206.295.1550
In the long term, economic sustainability depends on ecological sustainability.
