Short Stories in a Long Journey: What It Takes to End and Prevent Homelessness

by Richard R. Troxell

Overview

Richard R. Troxell's book Short Stories in a Long Journey blends his personal story with the life of an activist for ending and preventing homelessness. This book highlights the structural defects in our system and laws and proposes common-sense economic solutions to the problems of homelessness and substance abuse, such as the Universal Living Wage to address income inequality, a modest liquor surcharge to finance substance treatment, and a bronze statue to memorialize the struggle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632100955
Publisher:	Plain View Press, LLC
Publication date:	01/31/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	276
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

For over 40 years, Richard has been a leader in the charge to defeat homelessness, bringing to the table specific and viable economic solutions. After serving honorably as a U.S. Marine 1969-1972, Vietnam 1970-1971, Richard saw the beginnings of homelessness as a mortgage foreclosure preventionist in Philadelphia in the 1980s. In Austin, TX, he was the creator and Director of Legal Aid for the Homeless where he had daily interaction with disabled homeless citizens for 35 years. He founded House the Homeless, Inc. (HtH) in 1989 to help homeless and formerly homeless citizens protect their civil rights and find solutions that will end and prevent their homelessness. He still serves as the National Education Director, NED for HtH. A social engineer, he graduated with honors with a B.A. in sociology from St. Edward's University. Richard has authored two books and many articles, booklets and white papers and created scores of plans, programs, and organizations to address dozens of social problems. He wrote the Homeless Protected Class Resolution, and devised legislation to prevent Hate Crimes against the homelessness. After many years in Austin, TX, Richard returned to his roots in North Carolina where he continues his tireless advocacy.

Table of Contents

1 The Condition of Homelessness

Societal Changes

Major Structural Issues: Housing

Healthcare

Treatment of the Mentally Ill

Education/ Job Training

Civil Rights

Prison Reform

Moral Outcry

2 A Glimpse at a Truly Long Journey

3 Executive Summary by Richard R. Troxell

4 Livable Incomes: Homelessness Solved!

Preventing Economic Homelessness

Current Practices to Address Homelessness

Combating Homelessness is NOT Preventing Homelessness

The Federal Poverty Guideline

The Federal Minimum Wage

Housing

5 Livable Incomes Foundation: The Universal Living Wage

U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and theULW Effect

Job Loss

Outsourcing

Inflation

Let the "Free Economy" Be Free

Effect of the ULW on Housing

The Effect on Business

6 Livable Incomes Solution 1: The Universal Living Formula

1) Work a 40-Hour Week

2) Spend No More Than 30% of Income on Housing

3) Index the Minimum Wage to the Local Cost of Housing

Fair Market Rent Standard

The Universal Living Wage Formula

Local Wage vs State Wage, Fair Market Rents

National Formula vs Local Initiatives

ULW Relationship Between Worker and Employers

Living Wages Are Good for Business

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Stability Leads to Better Financing for Business and Families

Tax Savings

Self-Sufficiency Models and Dynamic Nature of the ULW

Comparing Three Living Wage Standards

Standard 1: National Priorities Project

Standard 2: Economic Policy Institute

Standard 3: House the Homeless, Inc. (Universal Living Wage Standard)

Endorsers of Universal Living Wage Campaign

7 Livable Incomes Solution 2: National Approach-

Fixing the Federal Supplemental Security Income, SSI

8 Livable Incomes Solution 3: State Approach-

Fixing the SSI Stipend

9 Solution 4: Federal and State Governments-

Sharing Fiscal Responsibility

10 Solution 5-Discharge No One Into Homelessness

Prisons as an Institutional Example

Shortcomings of Board of Pardons and Parole

Recommendations from A Thin Line

Societal Re-Entry Involving Co-Production

Solving Homelessness Summary

11 Michael Stoops: A National Treasure

12 The No Sit/ No Lie Ordinance

City Staff/Stakeholders Meeting

The Neighbors Speak

We're Going to the Big Show

Epilogue-Police Procedures

The No Sit/ No Lie-Disability Card

Benches

13 The Home Coming

Who Will Stand with Us?

House the Homeless 1993

The Statue Is Cast!

14 Community First! Village

15 Veterans in Action

Traumatic Brain Injury

Hypothesis-TBI Is Linked to Homelessness

Dr Mark Gordon's Medical Protocol

16 Solving Alcohol Addiction Treatment Costs

Alcohol-A Product Liability Case

The Proposal

Cost Estimation to Alcohol Sellers

House Bill #611

17 How You Can Help to End Homelessness

1. Practice Your Humanity Skills.

2. Pay a Fair Living Wage.

3. Call for the Federal Minimum Wage to be Indexed to Local Cost of Housing.

4. Get Out Basic Information to Our Homeless Folks.

5. Give Out Hygiene/Treat Bags.

6 Give Out Face Masks.

7. Volunteer Your Time and Skills.

8. Create Little Libraries.

9. Create Speakers Bureaus.

10. Make a Proposal.

11. Community First! Village as a National Best Practice.

Appendix