Those turned away by over loaded shelters. The aim is opening up unused spaces. Plus “wise spending”.
A small Maine New England non-profit is calling for “No Child, To Die In, a Snow Bank, This Winter.” It’s more then an awareness campaign. It’s a prayer that no person, no matter the age, has to prematurely have their life ended, due to sleeping in a place unintended for humans to sleep.
In the blistery days of winter, the mercury may report 40 degrees, but the wind chill brings it down to 29-18 degrees temperature. And this steady fridge conditions, reduces the body’s ability to fight infection, such as pneumonia. Leaving the un-housed out in the cold , until sickness sets in, cost taxpayers millions in hospital costs.
This is the message going out to many groups across this land. To state’s who has a law that in extreme weather of below 32, and above 90 all people are to be housed, and states which do not, to make the law more compassionate in cases of wind chill or driving rain or snow, or personal illnesses to House those who are un-housed due to a lack of money, or whatever the reason.
When 70% of all Americans workers, are deliberately paid less their needs we are all in the same sinking boats. “Anyone working as hard as they can, should not be in poverty.”
The poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country-
The Us Labor Dept says only 30% make a livable wage. That means using their own figures, there are 70% of workers making UNDER THE NEED.
Hospitality knows a rule of thumb method of calculating the livable wage, add two to three hundred onto the actual prices of rents for each week. The rent should be paid in one week pay, with more than rent income, each week. If the rents are advertised as $700 a month the minimum should be $900 a week net.
Austerity, is not the answer-Wise spending is the REAL, Long Lasting answer.
Jan LightfootLane,
207/453-2353