Without home, not without hope

[lifeinacronyms]

Salesforce CEO backs Lobbying Effort to Fight Homelessness

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/salesforce-ceo-marc-benioff-backs-corporate-tax-to-fight-homelessness/

This article has a few things in here to unpack. The CEO of Salesforce is pledging at least 1.5 million to a lobbying push for Proposition C in San Francisco. Proposition C would levy a .5% tax on every dollar for companies with revenue above 50 million dollars. This money would go to fund housing and beds in shelters to help alleviate some of those experiencing homelessness in the city. Many nonprofits in the city are also backing Proposition C. 

This article also includes a video news story that reminds me of a discussion post last week about who is the neighborhood. Since all of these large tech companies have come into Silicon Valley and surrounding areas, many locals are being pushed out of their homes due to rising prices. The college professor in the video is currently experiencing homelessness because ¾ of her monthly salary was going to rent. 

Many corporations in the city oppose this tax increase, and this presents a challenge because they are the ones with the money to help. How do governments and nonprofits speak on these issues to those with the money, when those with the money are really the cause of these issues?

[daniellewsmith7-blog]

Very interesting article! While I don’t like the idea that large corporations are causing locals to be pushed out, I have an issue with the spirit of Proposition C. Why should these corporations be punished for being successful. Yes, .5% is not very much in the grand scheme of things, but this hints a little too much of socialism to me. This seems to just be the kinds of shifts that are natural to the society. 

Still, the issue of the homeless and impoverished in the city must be addressed. If there was another way to structure or phrase this type of tax or make it seem more fair, that would make more sense. Perhaps an increased sales tax? This would cause those who are spending much to be taxed much (i.e. the wealthy) and those who are spending little to be taxed little (i.e. the poor). 

[indyempowered-blog]

Trump officials have barred health experts from helping end one of the worst Ebola outbreaks in history

"There’s a fear of a Benghazi-type situation, that Americans might be targeted."

This article evaluates Trump’s decision to ban the CDC from aiding the Democratic Republic of Congo during an Ebola outbreak. The outbreak is one that would typically be addressed by the CDC, but threats to security are stopping US intervention at the outbreak’s epicenter. US involvement is called “especially vulnerable” due to politically motivated attacks in the active war zone and the tense relationship between the DRC and the US. Trump’s decision to keep federal aid out of the DRC means that international NGOs’ work on the outbreak is even more important.

This made me think of our reading from a few weeks ago about the role of NGOs when governments fail to provide a service. 

It also brought up some important points that we discussed this week about the role of international NGOs as they exist beyond one state power. The ability of international NGOs to operate outside of national boundaries is crucial to the treatment of this outbreak. Political nuances and Trump’s “America First” ideology are preventing governmental aid from the US. However, international NGOs don’t exist within one national affiliation and are able to serve the people on the ground with less of a threat of politically motivated attacks. The international NGOs are able to serve the needs of civil society and treat victims of the deadly disease because they are able to transcend political boundaries. 

[daniellewsmith7-blog]

Interesting read. I definitely can see the connection to the government failure theory. This example is certainly a time when organizations can step in to fill that need. Unfortunately, without working together across the board from governments, organizations, businesses, and individuals, this situation may take a long time to resolve. I agree with you in that the work of NGOs is of vital importance with the restriction of the CDC. Without the government's support, NGOs are in the best position to help and gain the needed resources and support. With such an outbreak, the best resolution is going to give from all sectors working together.

[daniellewsmith7-blog]

Design firm serves meals, builds shelter for homeless

When Wheeler Mission needed help to expand, it found its architect in the kitchen.

Group A - Original Content - Week 10

Having volunteers design a new center is a bold move. I can understand why Wheeler Mission would choose to go with a long time volunteer, though. Keeping with the communal mission of the organization, choosing to work with someone who is familiar with the organization and deeply invested in its mission presents a much more positive image. 

Additionally, this pair of architects is very close to the “nucleus” of the organization, so they can ensure that the redesign is needs-based rather than image-based. Instead of needing to train and orient a new team or organization to the needs and mission of the nonprofit, the choice to use this pair eliminated the entire volunteer selection process. 

I am curious if/how the husband/wife team would be compensated for this. Will it continue to be volunteer or would they be paid an amount for this work? 

[daniellewsmith7-blog]

A nonprofit in Maryland has added several new board members including a farmer. This was encouraging to see as I feel like I tend to focus on and notice the boards that are NOT representative of the people that they serve. In this case, they are adequately representing the population by having one of the farmers affected by the ecology and agriculture serve on the board. I would love to see and hear more about local stories like this. To hear about the places around our city and state that are doing this, especially in organizations that are serving the disadvantaged. Unfortunately, these boards, as we mentioned are usually comprised of the high class, wealthy, educated who are trying to implement change the best way they see fit, which may not be having representation.

[eldercareneeds]

Social Determinants of Health Can Lose Meaning in For-Profit Translation

A 2017 survey of healthcare executives finds that, like Medicare and Medicaid, private insurance is also changing payment models, thereby pushing hospitals and doctors to address social factors that influence health outcomes. Still, progress remains in slow in many areas.

This article from the Non-Profit Quarterly focuses on the social roadblocks to health. It is noted physicians focus more on the physical and less on what may be happening in a patient’s day to day life. Health insurers are willing to expand on what the insurer will cover to promote a healthy life, health insurers are willing to change how they bill to make payment easier. What health insurers do not consider the hindrances to the individual’s life which keep the individual from a healthy life. Communities and Nonprofits in the communities then step up and attempt to address the gaps the physicians and health insurance did not consider.

A main point to stick out to me was the ability for insurance companies to focus more on the obvious relation to health and not on the less obvious (Insurance companies are willing to pay for gym memberships but not to fix sidewalks to make walking more accessible and safe). I do understand it is not a private companies responsibility to manage sidewalks and safety to promote a more active and healthy lifestyle…but I wonder how a Nonprofit(s) are expected to fill all the gaps.

[daniellewsmith7-blog]

Interesting. This reminds me of a few things. It can be in the interest of a private company to step up and do something that could be considered the “government’s job” or “nonprofit’s job.” One instance--unrelated to healthcare--being Domino’s recent decision to pave potholes across the country. Where Government failure happened, profit stepped in? Weird. 

In addition, this article makes me think about how shared healthcare plans seem to be coming on the radar more often these days. I know people personally who are on these type of share plans because they don’t like the motivations of some private healthcare companies. This could be one way where a nonprofit company is stepping in to fill these gaps. Now, related to non-obvious health issues, I feel like these are often the non-profit’s “job” anyway. Things like helping people break out of poverty, health education among at-risk populations, etc. These things often are the focus of non-profit organizations, not for-profit or government. 

[daniellewsmith7-blog]

This statistic shows the estimated number of homeless people for every one hundred thousand people in the United States in 2017, by state. In 2017, there were about 1,226 homeless people in the District of Columbia for every one hundred thousand people.

These statistics are interesting to observe and analyze. Another interesting link is the change from 2016-2017, liked here: Statista US homelessness 2016-2017 change. 

More states saw a decrease in homelessness from 2016-2017, but the numbers are still staggering to me. I would be interested in researching more about why these numbers are the way they are. How are nonprofits affecting the game vs. government or business organizations?

Overall homelessness saw an increase from this year to last year, so are the numbers plateauing or have we turned a corner into an upswing? Neither, I hope. Interesting food for thought/research.