Michigan Poverty Law Program's New Self Help Law Site

The Michigan Poverty law Program has developed (and is continuing to develop) a new self-help legal web site. The site includes self-help information for Michigan civil (but not criminal) legal matters. 

Their new web site is:

http://www.michiganlegalhelp.org/

New Anti-Panhandling Law In Detroit Garners Support from ACLU

Panhandlers who ask for change from people who are waiting in line for food, at an ATM or who act overly aggressive could be fined and face jail time under a new city ordinance set to go into effect (in Detroit) next month.

A panhandling ordinance was approved July 31 following a request from the Detroit Police Department. The city has lacked an anti-begging ordinance since 1996 when a Recorder's Court judge affirmed an earlier decision that struck down a one-sentence ordinance that said anyone who begs is guilty of a misdemeanor.
The city joins at least two Metro Detroit communities that have changed their anti-panhandling laws.

The new Detroit law is more specific, repealing the invalidated version and spelling out what a person can and can't do when asking for money. And it's gathered an unusual ally — the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. The ACLU sued the state last year over a longstanding statewide law that prohibits begging — which the ACLU says is overly broad and unconstitutional. A judge's ruling is pending.

"All over the country, courts have recognized that begging in a public place is generally protected by the First Amendment because it's a form of solicitation for charity," said Dan Korobkin, ACLU of Michigan staff attorney. "Detroit ought to be commended in taking steps to improve their city code when parts of it are either outdated or have fallen behind the times in terms of protecting constitutional rights."

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120821/METRO01/208210360#ixzz24BtLHCpc

Inocente: An Award Winning Tale of a Talented Young Latina Who is Homeless/Undocumented

Inocente is the story of a 15 year old young lady, Latina, who is a talented artist.   She is homeless and undocumented.  It aired on MTV Friday evening.

The 3 minute trailer for the program follows:



The full program which runs about 40 minutes, excluding commercials which bring it closer to an hour, can be viewed on-line at:

http://www.mtv.com/videos/inocente/1691887/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=36900&channelId=1

Kalamazoo homeless encampment cleared out at site of future brewery

The type of homeless encampment that was cleared out on the future site of a brewery along the city's downtown riverfront is nothing new in Kalamazoo, officials say.

Public safety officers had approached homeless people camping in woods on the northeast edge of downtown Kalamazoo about a month ago, telling them they could not stay, Brian Uridge, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety assistant chief, said. Officers offered information on local resources to help them and about two weeks later city crews went in and dismantled the camp.

"Our goal is obviously not to go in and take enforcement action," Uridge said. "Our goal was to work with the people that were in that situation and hopefully offer them services."

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/08/homeless_encampments_not_a_new.html

If You're Ready, Come Go with Me

A classic from the Staple Singers for your weekend listening pleasure:

If you're ready  
If you're ready now 
If you're ready, yeah 
Come on, go with me
No hatred 
Will be tolerated
Peace and love  
Will grow between the races

Chicago Dream Relief: NBC Chicago Estimates 50,000 Waiting in Line

The turnout for Wednesday's Dream Relief workshop in Chicago was so strong that organizers began turning people away.

The line of undocumented students wrapped around Navy Pier and at one point across the Chicago River to apply for deferred action to allow them, at least in the short-term, not to worry about deportation. As many as 50,000 lined up for the program, according to estimates.

Following a major immigration policy change about two months ago, the Dream Relief workshop helps children who were illegally brought into the United States apply for a work permit and even a driver's license.

Five thousand people initially signed up for the workshop, and as the 9 a.m. start time came and went, the crowds kept filing toward the lake. Organizers said they would be able to provide full services for 1,500 people today and partial services to another 6,000.

http://ht.ly/cZKPT

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.

Poverty matters in school rankings: New system reveals struggles at successful schools

Poverty is a common thread among the area’s struggling schools, but Michigan’s new accountability system revealed weaknesses at buildings that passed the old system with flying colors.

Case in point: Quincy Middle School.
That rural Branch County school has never appeared on a state watch list for poor student achievement. Every year, it has hit the state’s “adequate yearly progress” benchmarks for the share of students who test proficient or better on state tests.


But for the 2011-12 school year, the first time schools were held accountable to a new system allowed by a federal waiver to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Quincy Middle School was among 12 local buildings on the state’s list of “focus schools.”

Focus schools are those with wide gaps between the test scores of their highest- and lowest-performing students, regardless of race or income.


http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20120812/NEWS01/308120017/Poverty-matters-school-rankings

Criticism Grows As Check Cashers Expand Services in Poorer Areas

Behind bulletproof glass, a smiling teller at a Rite Check store in the South Bronx waited patiently for customers to hand over their checks. For every $100 cashed, she collected a $1.91 service fee.

Bills to pay? She handled that, too, for $1 per bill.

“Anything else, honey?” she asked one of her regulars. “O.K., have a nice day.”

Many of New York City’s poorest residents do not have bank accounts, so these window transactions, repeated hundreds of times every day, are their primary contact with the financial system. Check cashers are as familiar to them as corner bodegas, and as reliable.

But an industry built on mutual convenience has come under increased scrutiny over the past decade as its stores have continued to become full financial centers, improving services like electronic bill payment, wire transfers and prepaid debit cards.

The expansion has spurred renewed criticism from advocates for poor residents and from bank officials, who say the check-cashing industry takes advantage of those who have no other options, and it has prompted more calls for consumer protections.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/nyregion/as-check-cashers-expand-services-in-poorer-areas-criticism-grows.html

NPR: How America's Losing The War On Poverty

While President Obama and Gov. Romney battle for the hearts and minds of the middle class this election season, there's a huge swath of Americans that are largely ignored. It's the poor, and their ranks are growing.

According to a recent survey by The Associated Press, the number of Americans living at or below the poverty line will reach its highest point since President Johnson made his famous declaration of war on poverty in 1964.

Close to 16 percent of Americans now live at or below the poverty line. For a family of four, that's 23,000 a year. On top of that, 100 million of us — one out of three Americans — manage to survive on a household income barely twice that amount. How is this poverty crisis happening?

http://www.npr.org/2012/08/04/158141728/how-americas-losing-the-war-on-poverty

Homeless Camps in West Michigan

It's not the nicest home at "North Camp" -- a settlement of homeless shanties that has grown in recent years. 

That honor goes to Cookie's place, just down the way. But Gary Owczarzak and Cookie still live on the same side of the tracks. 

"He's got a mailbox down there," said Gary Owczarzak, a resident of this homeless camp in the city of Walker. 

He's pointing down the railroad tracks, toward the home of a homeless man known as Cookie. 

North Camp:homeless shanties in Walker