Ex-Offenders for Hire

Here is a list of employers that hire ex-offenders with support from the Federal Bonding Program:

Marriott Hotels, AT&T, FPL, HRS, Hyatt Hotels, Peabody Hotels, Publix, Sea World, Rollins Collage, Sheraton Resorts, Southern Bell, Southland Corporation, Stoutter Resorts, Sun Trust, Tupperware, UPS, Universal Studios, University of Central Florida, Disney & Disney Village.

The Federal Bonding Program helps secure jobs placement for ex-offenders and others who have difficulty getting jobs, the United States Department of Labor has created a Federal Bonding Program (FBP). The FBP insures the employee for up to one year. The FBP guarantees trustworthiness of the employee and provides incentives for employers to hire ex-offenders. For immediate help, contact your local state employment service www.bonds4jobs.com

Angel Food Ministry Sites....Access to Affordable Food

Community Voice mail encourages all in need to Contact Angel food Minitries for affordable food.
Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. The program began in 1994 with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia (between Atlanta and Athens), and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families every month across 35 states. Angel Food Ministries crosses denominational lines and has spread the good news of the gospel of Christ through salvation tracts that are placed in each food order.

Blessings by the box
Angel Food is available in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $30 per unit. Each month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. Comparison shopping has been done across the country in various communities using a wide range of retail grocery stores and has resulted in the same food items costing from between $42 and $78.

Generally, one unit of food assists in feeding a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The food is all the same high quality one could purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe.

Also offered are specialty boxes such as steaks, chicken and pork. Many participants in this bonus program appreciate the expanded choices. Additionally, there is no limit to the number of units or bonus foods an individual can receive, and there are no applications to complete or qualifications to which participants must adhere. Angel Food Ministries also participates in the U.S. Food Stamp program, using the Off-Line Food Stamp Voucher system.

It's both a Bargain and a Blessing!
Sample Menu:
(this month's menu can be viewed here)

4 lb. IQF Leg Quarters
4 oz. Beef Back Ribs
1 lb. 80/20 Lean Ground Beef
2 lb. Breaded Chicken Tenders
1.5 lb. Bone in Pork Chops (4 x 6oz.)
1 lb. Ground Turkey
18 oz. Stuffed Manicotti (Cheese)
12 oz. Smoked Sausage
Betty Crocker Seasoned Potatoes
7 oz. Cheeseburger Dinner
16 oz. Green Beans
16 oz. Baby Carrots
2 lb. Onions
1 lb. Pinto Beans
1 lb. Rice
7 oz. Blueberry Muffin Mix
10 ct. Homestyle Waffles
Dessert Item

FLORIDA
BOCA RATON Victory Christian Center 561-391-2800
COOPER CITY The Pentecostals of Cooper City 954-680-0710
954-680-0670
HOLLYWOOD First Assembly of God 954-922-5546
954-536-3024
Harvest Time Church 954-966-8444
MIAMI Lord of Life Lutheran Church 305-387-4529
MIAMI LAKES Panorama Christian Center 305-698-0765 x202
MIRAMAR Keys to Life Church 954-987-3611
PEMBROKE PINES Evangel Temple World Wide 954-793-9873

Heritage Day Event

Date: 09/27/08
Venue: Broward County
Start Time: 09:00AM
End time: 5:00PM
Description: St. John United Methodist Church will be hosting a community festival on Saturday, September 27th 2008 from 9am-5pm at 1520 Northwest 5th Street in Ft. Lauderdale.

In this election year, the Theme for this year's Heritage Day Celebration is "Working Together for a Stronger United Community". The event will encompass a Blood Drive, Food Drive for Hurricane Victims in Haiti, and the very important VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE!!!!!

Attendees can enjoy card games, dominoes, checkers and the African game Mancala at will, and for the youths, a Bounce House & Inflated MEGA Slide!!!!!!

There will be vendors of Crafts, Art and African attire, and Food for purchase!!!!

This event is free and open to everyone looking to have a great time and fellowship with the community.

Location: 1520 nw 5th street ft. lauderdale

The Law has Passed

ANNOUNCEMENT --- the governer of the state of Florida has passed a law that if your address doesn't match your drivers license address you will not be allowed to vote:

It is imperative that you take every action to have your address updated and corrected before this November.

Here is the link to get it done online:

.hsmv.state.fl.us/VirtualOffice/faces/lobby.jsp

Voter Registrtion Info

Who Can Register to Vote
In order to register to vote in Florida, you must:

Be a citizen of the United States of America;
Be a Florida resident;
Be 18 years old (you may pre-register to vote if you are 17 years old or have received a valid Florida driver’s license, whichever occurs earlier);
Not now be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state;
Not have been convicted of a felony without your civil rights having been restored; and
Provide your current and valid Florida driver’s license number or Florida identification card number. You must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number if you do not have a Florida driver’s license number or a Florida identification card number. If you do not have any of these items, you must mark the box indicated on the Voter Registration Application as “NONE.”

How to Apply to Register to Vote
Fill in the Voter Registration Application online. If you wish, you can print the application and write your information in with a black ballpoint pen.
Print the application out.
Verify that all of the information on your application is complete. The office where you register, your decision not to register, your Social Security Number, Florida driver’s license number and your Florida identification card number will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes.
Sign your application. The application requires an original signature because you are swearing or affirming to an oath.
Place the application in an envelope with a first class stamp.
Mail the application to your county Supervisor of Elections. You may also opt to mail or hand deliver the application to any Supervisor of Elections' office in the state, a driver’s license office, a voter registration agency, an armed forces recruitment office, or the Division of Elections.
If your application is complete and you qualify as a voter, the Supervisor of Elections will mail you a voter information card as official notification that you are registered to vote. Make sure all of the information on your card is correct. If you do not receive your card within 8 weeks, or if you have any questions, call your Supervisor of Elections.
You must be registered for at least 29 days before you can vote in an election.
If the information on the application is not true, the applicant can be convicted of a felony of the third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 5 years.


Dates to Remember When Registering to Vote
Your Registration Date
For new applicants, your registration date is the date your completed application is postmarked or hand delivered to any Supervisor of Elections' office in the state, a driver’s license office, a voter registration agency, an armed forces recruitment office, or the Division of Elections.

When You Can Vote
You must be registered for at least 29 days before you can vote in an election. Since Florida is a closed primary state, only voters who are registered members of a political parties may vote for their respective party's candidates in a primary election. Voters without party affiliation are not eligible to vote for party candidates in a primary election. However, a constitutional amendment adopted in 1998 states that IF all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the general election, all qualified voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in the primary election for that office. Party changes must be made by the end of the 29th day before the Primary Election. If you are not registered to vote in the political party for which the primary election is being held, you may vote for nonpartisan candidates and issues.

2008 Voter Registration Book Closing Dates
You can apply to register to vote at any time. However, to vote in an election, you must be registered in the state by the book closing date, which is normally the 29th day before each election. The book closing dates for the 2008 election cycle are:

July 28, 2008..................Primary Election
October 6, 2008.............General Election

National Homeless & Low Income Voter Registration Week

This week, Sept 21-27th, is National Homeless & Low Income Voter Registration Week

Video from CNN re: registering homeless voters
September 21: "Reaching Homeless Voters," (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/09/20/natpkg.homeless.voters.cnn?iref=videosearch)

a piece by CNN about registering to vote, featuring the National Coalition for the Homeless.



National Coalition for the Homeless – voter info

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/getinvolved/projects/vote/legalissues.html



National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty – voter info

http://www.nlchp.org/news.cfm?id=1

CVM Animation....Says it all

click and get a full understanding of the program

www.communityvoicemail.org/homeless_animation.cfm

New CVM site.

CVM partners With Another New Site
The Inland Empire CVM program is the latest partnership between Community Voice Mail and Inland Empire United Way.

Community Voice Mail Announcement

The Coalition to End Homelessness has taken another huge step in the fight to End Homelessness with the introduction of Community Voice Mail. Launched in July 2008 to serve people in crisis and transition in the greater Ft. Lauderdale area Community Voice Mail is a free, reliable, voice mail service. The mail boxes allow the user to have a private phone number that connects to a voice mail service which allows them to receive confidential messages 24 hours a day. Community Voice Mail partners with thousands of agencies across the U.S. to serve the homeless, domestic violence victims, veterans, the unemployed, foster youth, and disaster victims. To qualify for the service applicants must only have a need to communicate and be low-income, homeless, in crisis or in transition. Eligibility is determined by each agency managing an allocated block of numbers and applicants can only get numbers from a participating agency.

The Coalition to end Homelessness is confronting the homelessness situation at every turn. In this era of instant communications, having a phone number, something most of us take for granted, can be the key to survival and self-sufficiency for people in crisis or transition. This innovative program will empower the homeless residents and improve their ability to conduct the business of their lives.

Community Voice is a National Program that has proven effectiveness for over 16 years by helping over 41,000 people annually reclaim their lives. Ms. Ginny a former Seattle homeless women said it best…”Since I got CVM everything changed. Everything became possible. I was able to find work and find a home. It gave me a new start on life.” With 44 sites nationally and growing CVM is an incredible tool for empowering the homeless throughout the country. Now we are very excited about providing this program to the residents of Ft. Lauderdale.

Being homeless entails so many disadvantages -- and for years this community has responded with shelters, meals and counseling. These efforts are essential and compassionate. The homeless men and women need one more piece of the puzzle to get them connected -- a phone number to give somebody for a call back. It hurt their self esteem and often meant missed opportunities -- now they have it

This program has the potential to extend to the entire South Florida region with support of our great community. For agency participation and or financial support please contact Gerald Peterkin Program Director for CVM.

gpeterkin@help4homeless.org
Phone: 954-792-4000

Public Concern.....

Public concern about homelessness in the United States has increased in recent years. A late 1995 Gallup poll found that 86% of Americans feel sympathy for the homeless, and 33% report that they feel more sympathy now than they did five years ago. According to the same poll, one reason for this apparent increase in sympathy is that 17% of Americans, primarily women and young adults, believe that they could become homeless.1 The fact that these groups are concerned about homelessness reflects, in part, two decades of increases in the visibility of homeless women and children in the United States. Published reports suggest that most homeless families with children are headed by single women between the ages of 26 and 30 who have never been married and have two children.2

Because shelter is a basic human need, it is not surprising that the effects of homelessness on children and families appear to be harsh and multifaceted. According to one study, homeless women are significantly more likely to have low birth weight babies than are similar poor women who are housed.3 Others report that, compared to the general population of children, homeless children have twice as many health problems, are more likely to go hungry, and have higher rates of developmental delay; and although findings have not been consistent, higher rates of depression, anxiety, and behavior problems have been reported for homeless children.4 Because, however, as discussed in this article, collecting reliable and comprehensive information about the population of homeless families with children is very difficult, accurately estimating the size, scope, and impact of homelessness among families with children in the United States has been almost impossible. 5 Estimates of the size and composition of the population of homeless families and children are important, however, to understand the etiology and consequences of homelessness, to design effective programs and policies to address the problem, and to evaluate whether interventions are working.

This Child Indicators article focuses on available data on homeless families and children. First, it reviews different definitions of homelessness and the most common methods used to estimate the size of the homeless population. It then examines data on subgroups of homeless children and youths in the United States and considers the duration of homelessness for families with children that use shelter services. Finally, it examines trends in the numbers of families who are at risk of losing their housing.

Estimates of the size of the homeless population vary, depending on the definition of homelessness used. Even when definitions are clear and consistent, the methods used to count the homeless differ widely. Estimates of the number of homeless at one point in time or for a period of time can be made. In practice, homeless families and children are a difficult group to find and track, and few estimates that focus on children specifically have been made. Using a variety of techniques, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) estimated that between 80,000 and 400,000 children were likely to be homeless or doubled up, living with friends and extended family, on any given night in 1988. Based on the GAO's "best" estimates, many more children were doubled up (186,000 in 1988) than living in shelters or other community settings provided for homeless families (68,000 in 1988). The length of homelessness for families tends to be short (less than three months), although there is evidence that a small group of families is homeless for years. Data on trends in actual homelessness are not available, but trends in the number of single-parent families in extreme poverty, conditions that tend to precede homelessness for families, suggest a large increase in the population of potentially homeless families since 1975.