Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Tiny Homes for the Homeless: An Occupy Madison Project (WI)
Revolution News! ^ | November 13, 2014 | Occupy Madison

Posted on 11/17/2014 4:08:23 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

Madison Wisconsin: In a city with a homeless population that has risen by 7 percent over the last four years to about 3,370, Occupy Madison organizers decided to tell their local leaders to “put up or shut up” and developed a non profit organization Occupy Madison Inc. In June 2013 OM Build was born and Tiny Homes was decided on as a solution.

To achieve their goals of a Tiny Village complete with 9 tiny homes, permanent comprehensive day resource center, safer places to sleep at night, as well as access to restrooms, showers, laundry, community gardening space, and other basic needs for people experiencing homelessness, OM Build realized that they would need to work from within the system. The hard and relentless work paid off. Scheduled for November 15th 2014 is a Ribbon Cutting Event for The first Tiny Village for the Homeless in Madison.

Local organizers also state “Our approach to working within the system came only after we realized that without dotting every “i”, and crossing every “t”, the city and the county would never let us operate– they used every opportunity to enforce ordinances, regulations, and seemingly arbitrary whims against us. This paralleled precisely the persecution of everyday, unaffiliated, homeless individuals. When you are homeless, “the system” is rife with obstacles designed to prevent creative innovation or adaptation– we at Occupy Madison experienced the same headaches.” organizers also stated “In many ways, we have had much more success since we changed our approach. This was due not only to how we communicated with city and county offices (we never shirked from being open or transparent), but how we are perceived by Madison’s genteel liberal population. It’s stunning how a flowerbed on a windowsill can be so much better for PR than the window itself, or the house it’s attached to.”

At least six other cities nationwide are adopting Tiny Homes… others are installing Homeless Spikes. One OM Build organizer in Madison stated that Homeless pikes are “disgusting” and a “weak attempt to make even society’s most uninviting spaces– doorways, parks, etc– uninhabitable as well” He also states “People don’t choose to sleep in the gutter. Physically preventing people from getting whatever rest they can will not help them in any way, and nor do they help society. It’s tempting to say that for every spike a municipality erects, they should provide a warm, safe, clean, bed. But the truth is that we should be providing those beds anyway.”

Local organizers and volunteers state that “next is occupancy and fundraising. We’ve done a lot of work and spent a lot of money getting our site ready for people to move in. Now is a critical time for us financially– if we can’t raise enough funds to pay for making the site as wonderful as it is, there’s a real risk our whole project could go under.” Donations can be sent to paypay account http://bit.ly/1uSYGew Fundraiser in the past have been matched on a dollar per dollar basis and none of current progress would be possible without a 100% volunteer effort.

Local grass root groups that deserve a special shout out include: Friends of the State Street Family, The Bubbles program, (which provides free laundry services to the homeless), Occupy Madison, OM Build, Homeless Ministry at Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison Street Pulse (a cooperative homeless newspaper based In Madison WI).


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: wisconsin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-109 next last
To: SkyDancer

The War on Poverty was extremely successful.
It created a black population totally dependent on the Democrat Party in perpetuity.


21 posted on 11/17/2014 4:21:53 PM PST by nascarnation (Impeach, Convict, Deport)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

exactly. Do-good liberals just want to spend money to make themselves feel better. These will have all utitlities ripped out of them, be burned down, and trashed within a few years.
easy-come, easy-go.


22 posted on 11/17/2014 4:22:18 PM PST by vpintheak (Keep calm and Rain Steel!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: JudyinCanada

Very observant. In some cases I think folks would be self supporting if they weren’t buying fifty pounds of dog food a week, and supporting a pack a day cigarette habit. Not to mention the cell phone and the gas hog vehicle. I realize that poor folks usually cannot afford an economy vehicle and you can’t pack all the animals in one anyway.


23 posted on 11/17/2014 4:22:27 PM PST by wita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: JudyinCanada

Just cut in a little flap to get to the eggs and you’re good to go.


24 posted on 11/17/2014 4:22:33 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
Madison Wisconsin: In a city with a homeless population that has risen by 7 percent over the last four years to about 3,370,

The problem is why is the homeless rate rising in Madison. If that is not solved, and if tiny homes works, the number of homeless will rise even more.

25 posted on 11/17/2014 4:22:48 PM PST by mjp ((pro-{God, reality, reason, egoism, individualism, natural rights, limited government, capitalism}))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

Yep, and you’re a racist if you bring that out.


26 posted on 11/17/2014 4:23:13 PM PST by SkyDancer (I Was Told Nobody Is Perfect But Yet, Here I Am)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

“Spent trillions and we still see ads to help the homeless, feed hungry families...?”

Madistan Food Grubbers are all over the news these days - 3,000 MORE families need help than last year...blah, blah, blah.

When I see dead bodies in the streets with my own lyin’ eyes - THEN I’ll start to worry...


27 posted on 11/17/2014 4:23:53 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

28 posted on 11/17/2014 4:26:10 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Gee, that’s swell.
Now ask yourself why homelessness is up 7%.


29 posted on 11/17/2014 4:26:13 PM PST by mylife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mjp

“The problem is why is the homeless rate rising in Madison. If that is not solved, and if tiny homes works, the number of homeless will rise even more.”

Madistan THRIVES on the, ‘If you build it, they will come,’ mentality.


30 posted on 11/17/2014 4:28:13 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: RedHeeler

The normal assortment of dogs and cats.


31 posted on 11/17/2014 4:28:32 PM PST by JudyinCanada
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: mylife

See my Post 30.


32 posted on 11/17/2014 4:29:05 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Great graphic!

By destroying the black family structure, Democrats locked in a dependent class of voters.


33 posted on 11/17/2014 4:29:19 PM PST by nascarnation (Impeach, Convict, Deport)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Texas Eagle
How do I get one?

Be worthless, shameless, no-account, and potentially dangerous.

34 posted on 11/17/2014 4:30:45 PM PST by Fightin Whitey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

What, is the sand area, their litter box?


35 posted on 11/17/2014 4:32:46 PM PST by fedupjohn (America...Designed by Geniuses...Now inhabited by Idiots..Palin 2016...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fightin Whitey

Check, check, check and check.


36 posted on 11/17/2014 4:32:55 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

this might be the productive thing most of them have ever done


37 posted on 11/17/2014 4:33:38 PM PST by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

....and they called it 0bamaville.


38 posted on 11/17/2014 4:33:45 PM PST by Steven Tyler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

actually I see one contractor and he ain’t no OWS fool I bet


39 posted on 11/17/2014 4:34:04 PM PST by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JudyinCanada

Never seen a normal assortment. Thanks.


40 posted on 11/17/2014 4:34:11 PM PST by RedHeeler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-109 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson