Portland liberal here disappointed and annoyed by the sloppy work in this article. I clicked through to several of the linked stories about hypothermia deaths in other states to find that eight homeless people had NOT been killed by hypothermia in Oregon—at least two were killed by trees falling on their HOMES (ergo, not homeless), one was found dead in his home (cause of death undetermined, also not homeless), and another man died of hypothermia after being pinned by his sliding car. Next time please read the full article and not just the headline!
There is so much wasted space because of our unhealthy relationship with "business" and "economic growth" while there are towns in Arizona that are "pre-grading" big swaths of desert to invite builders to come in (even if they don't end up coming in). Between economic fantasies, unlimited campaign contributions for endless election cycles and turning EVERYTHING into entertainment (including those endless political horse races) we're destroying any chance the human race has for survival. We do not deserve to survive as a species if this is the best we can do.
Good for him. If ever the courts should recognize freedom of religious expression, it should protect this kind person from “Ohio,” which simply cannot permit homeless people to stay warm inside a church. Get the fudge outta here with that. Ok, maybe amend your state laws to prevent people from residing in business districts for extended periods, maybe 30+ days or something, but if a church wants to remain open 24/7 and let people sleep in the pews, maybe consider donating blankets, fresh bread and soup. Much more productive and your heart might just grow 3 sizes bigger in the process.
"Religious freedom" only applies to small businesspeople who want the state to back up their refusal to do busisness with teh gayz cause Sky Daddy sez "icky poo"
Just last night at my job in a Public Library I spent over an hour on the phone trying to find shelter for a homeless woman who was sleeping in the library. She was exhausted, and falling asleep in the middle of phone calls while searching for somewhere to stay, so I had to take over for her. After trying the Salvation Army, several homeless/domestic abuse shelters, and even an Islamic shelter (they take non-Muslims), I couldn't find anywhere with a spare bed. The local police finally came to our rescue. They located a church-run warming centre the next town over, and agreed to drive her there. The thought that she would have had to leave the library at closing time, with nowhere to go, was horrifying. She could have so easily fallen asleep on a bench and frozen to death. We have a fairy decent social safety net here in Canada, and yet still far too many people fall through the cracks. People like Mr. Avell should be applauded and encouraged rather than harassed by the authorities.
Kudos to you for your caring and hard work! There's a reason a librarian is one of my dearest lifelong friends -- you folks walk the walk, you really live your values and show us all what a genuine humanitarian looks like. Slava librarians!
my god you library witches save humanity. (it's been a couple years since i stopped working with my local libraries doing health care outreach. miss it so much and you all are goddesses).
I work as an RN on an impatient unit - interestingly, through the cold snap, we had an uptick in homeless (or undomiciled as we say) patients admitted to the floor. Honestly - I think it's the benevolence of physicians that allow them to be admitted. They can't stay forever - sometimes social work finds them a place - often not. One on my unit right now is old enough and sick enough we got him a charity bed in a nursing home. Another young guy admitted tonight right before I left - I was told the bed was for an alcohol withdrawal - but digging a little deeper - guy was found 'unresponsive' at the Library. In a previous life when I was younger I did some homeless ministry though a mainline denomination - and learned several nuances of homelessness. Several - don't want anything to do with shelters - some because of rules like not using drugs or alcohol - or you can ONLY be there at night and they kick you out in the morning - or you often get your stuff stolen. There is a huge swath of invisible homeless - people who couch surf - some taking advantage of kind souls (It's happened to me MORE THAN FUCKING ONCE) Below is a couple year old article from The Chicago Reader from a couple years ago - but they're promoting it again now - because of the cold snap and need for warming shelters - even in blue-state-haven-cities all is not well. Personally - we need to quit blaming homeless people - and focus on obscene income disparity (ELON/BEZOS) that has gotten us here.
Ta, Robyn. The Shul of New York, which I've attended for years and years, used to meet at the annex of Middle Church (the gorgeous structure on 2nd Avenue and 7th Street that was destroyed by fire). Middle Church operated a homeless shelter on the grounds. Their motto is Love. Period.
"Avell told Action News 13, “This is how I worship my God,” so hopefully all of the “religious freedom” types can take time out from their busy gay bashing schedules to help this guy exercise his. Hmm?"
I think I can get behind this guy and his beliefs regardless of whether or not I believe in his god.
Wow, that's kind of extreme, no? You're suggesting <i>people</i> have a right to exist? I thought the "right to exist" was just for corporations and the government of Israel!
It has been exhausting to learn that so many organizations I have supported advocate for increased minimum wage, investment in housing, and the mass murder of Jews.
Can you just not express your bigotry in completely unrelated posts? Is that too much for you or are you too consumed by hatred?
There are still five American hostages. There is literally a baby that is a hostage. War is horrific. It was started by Hamas atrocities. Sinwar is right now making his own wealth and safety central to any discussion of ceasefire. He would see every Palestinian dead for his $$ and skin.
But yeah, join the calls for killing the "cleansing" of Israel and murder of millions, as if that made you a good person. (Spoiler, it does not.)
Of course Israel's right to exist only lasts until Armageddon starts.
If the nukes ever do start flying, the temporary survivors in these Evangelical churches will immediately find alternate and previously ignored verses in the bible to explain why they aren't floating up naked into the Arms of Jesus in the Sky, and they will be verses that they have always believed.
"'The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me...’ 'whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’" Yeshua ben Yosef
Not this. For one, this guy’s actually helping people. That’s time that’d be better spent blaming BLM for windmill cancer or rainbow flags or some children still having healthcare.
I really, really dislike organized religion. Every now and then, however, I am pleasantly surprised . I would say this fine gentleman should take this all the way to a jury trial and fucking dare them to throw him in jail for it. I'd love to be on that jury.
Portland liberal here disappointed and annoyed by the sloppy work in this article. I clicked through to several of the linked stories about hypothermia deaths in other states to find that eight homeless people had NOT been killed by hypothermia in Oregon—at least two were killed by trees falling on their HOMES (ergo, not homeless), one was found dead in his home (cause of death undetermined, also not homeless), and another man died of hypothermia after being pinned by his sliding car. Next time please read the full article and not just the headline!
Doing "sweeps" results in arrests, creates crime, and these are used to justify additional funds for police and less funding for homeless people.
grrr.
There is so much wasted space because of our unhealthy relationship with "business" and "economic growth" while there are towns in Arizona that are "pre-grading" big swaths of desert to invite builders to come in (even if they don't end up coming in). Between economic fantasies, unlimited campaign contributions for endless election cycles and turning EVERYTHING into entertainment (including those endless political horse races) we're destroying any chance the human race has for survival. We do not deserve to survive as a species if this is the best we can do.
Good for him. If ever the courts should recognize freedom of religious expression, it should protect this kind person from “Ohio,” which simply cannot permit homeless people to stay warm inside a church. Get the fudge outta here with that. Ok, maybe amend your state laws to prevent people from residing in business districts for extended periods, maybe 30+ days or something, but if a church wants to remain open 24/7 and let people sleep in the pews, maybe consider donating blankets, fresh bread and soup. Much more productive and your heart might just grow 3 sizes bigger in the process.
"Religious freedom" only applies to small businesspeople who want the state to back up their refusal to do busisness with teh gayz cause Sky Daddy sez "icky poo"
While these same small businesspeople ignore all the other things Sky Daddy sez "icky poo" about.
Just last night at my job in a Public Library I spent over an hour on the phone trying to find shelter for a homeless woman who was sleeping in the library. She was exhausted, and falling asleep in the middle of phone calls while searching for somewhere to stay, so I had to take over for her. After trying the Salvation Army, several homeless/domestic abuse shelters, and even an Islamic shelter (they take non-Muslims), I couldn't find anywhere with a spare bed. The local police finally came to our rescue. They located a church-run warming centre the next town over, and agreed to drive her there. The thought that she would have had to leave the library at closing time, with nowhere to go, was horrifying. She could have so easily fallen asleep on a bench and frozen to death. We have a fairy decent social safety net here in Canada, and yet still far too many people fall through the cracks. People like Mr. Avell should be applauded and encouraged rather than harassed by the authorities.
Yes and I applaud you as well. Thank you.
Kudos to you for your caring and hard work! There's a reason a librarian is one of my dearest lifelong friends -- you folks walk the walk, you really live your values and show us all what a genuine humanitarian looks like. Slava librarians!
my god you library witches save humanity. (it's been a couple years since i stopped working with my local libraries doing health care outreach. miss it so much and you all are goddesses).
thank you.
Good for you. :)
I work as an RN on an impatient unit - interestingly, through the cold snap, we had an uptick in homeless (or undomiciled as we say) patients admitted to the floor. Honestly - I think it's the benevolence of physicians that allow them to be admitted. They can't stay forever - sometimes social work finds them a place - often not. One on my unit right now is old enough and sick enough we got him a charity bed in a nursing home. Another young guy admitted tonight right before I left - I was told the bed was for an alcohol withdrawal - but digging a little deeper - guy was found 'unresponsive' at the Library. In a previous life when I was younger I did some homeless ministry though a mainline denomination - and learned several nuances of homelessness. Several - don't want anything to do with shelters - some because of rules like not using drugs or alcohol - or you can ONLY be there at night and they kick you out in the morning - or you often get your stuff stolen. There is a huge swath of invisible homeless - people who couch surf - some taking advantage of kind souls (It's happened to me MORE THAN FUCKING ONCE) Below is a couple year old article from The Chicago Reader from a couple years ago - but they're promoting it again now - because of the cold snap and need for warming shelters - even in blue-state-haven-cities all is not well. Personally - we need to quit blaming homeless people - and focus on obscene income disparity (ELON/BEZOS) that has gotten us here.
https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/lukewarm-welcome/
Ta, Robyn. The Shul of New York, which I've attended for years and years, used to meet at the annex of Middle Church (the gorgeous structure on 2nd Avenue and 7th Street that was destroyed by fire). Middle Church operated a homeless shelter on the grounds. Their motto is Love. Period.
So who’s the asshole who squealed that the pastor was giving shelter to these people?
and the asshole who decided to prosecute him. you'd think nice rural americans would have better things to do.
"Avell told Action News 13, “This is how I worship my God,” so hopefully all of the “religious freedom” types can take time out from their busy gay bashing schedules to help this guy exercise his. Hmm?"
I think I can get behind this guy and his beliefs regardless of whether or not I believe in his god.
Wow. This guy answered the question "What would Jesus do?" CORRECTLY through his actions and he's being punished for it. Sounds about right.
In a country where people are complaining to their pastors that this Jesus guy is "too woke," of course he's being punished.
The right-wingers' amended question would be, "Who would Jesus freeze?"
>right to exist
Wow, that's kind of extreme, no? You're suggesting <i>people</i> have a right to exist? I thought the "right to exist" was just for corporations and the government of Israel!
It has been exhausting to learn that so many organizations I have supported advocate for increased minimum wage, investment in housing, and the mass murder of Jews.
Can you just not express your bigotry in completely unrelated posts? Is that too much for you or are you too consumed by hatred?
There are still five American hostages. There is literally a baby that is a hostage. War is horrific. It was started by Hamas atrocities. Sinwar is right now making his own wealth and safety central to any discussion of ceasefire. He would see every Palestinian dead for his $$ and skin.
But yeah, join the calls for killing the "cleansing" of Israel and murder of millions, as if that made you a good person. (Spoiler, it does not.)
But not on every fucking thread, ok?
FFS. Could you just not?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/18/evidence-points-to-systematic-use-of-rape-by-hamas-in-7-october-attacks
Of course Israel's right to exist only lasts until Armageddon starts.
If the nukes ever do start flying, the temporary survivors in these Evangelical churches will immediately find alternate and previously ignored verses in the bible to explain why they aren't floating up naked into the Arms of Jesus in the Sky, and they will be verses that they have always believed.
this is the one time i heard 'god called me to do it' and didn't cringe in automatic disgust - so of course he must be punished
"'The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me...’ 'whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’" Yeshua ben Yosef
Matthew 25:40-45 (New International Version)
He can be so jewishy.
What Would Republican Jesus Do?
Not this. For one, this guy’s actually helping people. That’s time that’d be better spent blaming BLM for windmill cancer or rainbow flags or some children still having healthcare.
I'm going to borrow from Beau for a moment,
If you see people sleeping in an open storefront overnight during sub zero temperatures, NO YOU DIDN'T!
I really, really dislike organized religion. Every now and then, however, I am pleasantly surprised . I would say this fine gentleman should take this all the way to a jury trial and fucking dare them to throw him in jail for it. I'd love to be on that jury.