Rental Help Available for Iowans

I received this from State Representative Vicki Lensing:

As part of the federal economic recovery program, Iowa has received $11 million to help qualified Iowa renters pay their rental and utility bills. To qualify, you must be at risk of homelessness and your income must be at or below 50% of the local area median income, although in some areas of the state, the criterion is stricter.
The program, called Iowa Rental Help, can help current renters, and families and homeowners who are moving into rental properties. The homeless are also eligible for help. The goal is to help recipients gain stability and adequate housing.
Iowa Rental Help can provide qualified Iowa renters with rent and utility payments for up to 18 months (including up to six months in arrears), moving expenses, security deposits, rental deposits,and more.
When individuals contact Iowa Rental Help, they will be connected with a case manager to determine whether they qualify. If so, the case manager will help develop a plan that will best benefit them. The case manager will also meet with them every six months to reassess the situation. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development administers the program nationally; the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) administers the program in Iowa. For more information on the program, Iowans can call 877.386.9104, visit www.IowaRentalHelp.com, or text RENT to 30644.
A large number of calls have been coming into the program and Iowans should expect some delays in speaking to a case manager.

Booklovers Against Homelessness

This past Saturday hundreds of Johnson County residents stopped in at the Hope United Methodist Church to buy books that support the operation of Shelter House. More than $4,800 were raised to benefit the shelter which provides social services to families and individuals who are homeless in Johnson County.

This winter more than twice the number of homeless have stayed at Shelter House or at an overflow shelter that has been run by volunteers from area churches. As the economy continues to sag, more and more people are finding themselves on the streets, renters and homeowners alike.

Currently, the Shelter House is in the midst of a capital campaign to build a 70 person shelter to replace their current facility that holds 29 people. If you are interested in making a donation toward the new shelter, please call 338-5416 or make an on-line donation at http://www.shelterhouseiowa.org/.

Need more reasons, check out 5 things you should know about homelessness. Also check out the US Conference of Mayors 2008 report "Hunger and Homelessness Survey"

Let's Do Lunch

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City at 10 S. Gilbert St. is having a fund raising lunch of delicious home-made salads, breads, and desserts for Shelter House tomorrow May 8th from 11:30 to 1 pm. The suggested donation is $8 and all proceeds will go to the operation of the shelter.

All are welcome!

City and Shelter House Win in Iowa Supreme Court

The Iowa Supreme Court reversed and remanded an earlier district court decision concerning the Iowa City Board of Adjustment decision to approve the Shelter House to build a larger, new emergency shelter that will better serve the needs of Johnson County homeless on Southgate Dr.

In making its case, the appellates claimed that values of adjoining properties would decline and that the city and Shelter House had not proven that they would not be. However, in its decision the Iowa Supreme Court said:

"Because we think there was substantial evidence to support the board’s finding that property values would not be adversely affected, we reverse the judgment of the district court and remand this case for entry of a judgment affirming the board’s decision."

"We conclude the board made adequate findings, and its decision was supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, the district court erred in reversing the board’s grant of Shelter House’s application for a special exception. We therefore reverse the district court’s judgment and remand this case back to the district court for entry of an order affirming the decision of the board of adjustment."

Here is the story from the Press-Citizen

John Edwards' Plan to End Poverty in 30 Years

From Street Sense

Street Sense asked major presidential candidates from both parties six questions to learn how they would combat poverty if elected president. Democrat John Edwards, the only candidate to respond by our deadline, explains.

What have you done to help people who are homeless or on the brink of becoming homeless in your community?

I have organized thousands of Americans in all 50 states to join One Corps, an organization connected to my campaign that gets people involved in helping make a difference and actually doing something and taking action. Earlier this year, for instance, One Corps sponsored a National Poverty Action Week to encourage members to volunteer at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other organizations that provide services to homeless people and to people whose housing situation is insecure. In my own community in North Carolina, I served on the board of directors of Urban Ministries, an interfaith organization that supports a wide range of services and outreach – including food, shelter and counseling – to people in need.

What is the single most important thing you will do to end homelessness if you are elected president?

While the causes of homelessness are complex, many of them are tied to poverty. The fact that nearly 37 million Americans wake up every day in poverty – 5 million more than when George W. Bush took office – is a national disgrace. I believe that what we do about this issue says everything about our character as a nation. That’s why I have challenged America to set an ambitious goal that could fundamentally change our country: eliminate poverty within 30 years and reduce it by one-third within a decade. To do this, we will need to make significant investments to reward work, expand opportunity and strengthen families. Because the issue of homelessness is too often related to mental illness, I will also create a universal health care system that treats mental illnesses every bit as seriously as physical illnesses.

More of the article here.

Crowd Turns Out to Hear About Homeless Mentally Ill

The panel discussion on persons with mental illness who are homeless was very successful. In attendence were a number of city and county officials including County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek and city councilor Amy Correia. A number of homeless veterans attended and voiced their concerns about services available to them and the policies that are in place.

For your information, below are links to news stories about the event.
The Gazette
The Daily Iowan

As an FYI, this is a story about the sleep out planned for Saturday:
The Press-Citizen

Chicken or the Egg: Homelessness and Mental Illness

The NY Times reports that "a continuing survey of more than 1,000 residents of New Orleans and surrounding areas, found that 17 percent of people in the city reported signs of serious mental illness in the month after the disaster, compared with 10 percent in surrounding areas. The estimated prevalence of such problems in the general population is 1 to 3 percent in any month."

How is is this relevant to those who are homeless? Conventional wisdom says that people become homeless because, among other factors, they are mentally ill. What this study shows is that traumatic events, such as losing one's home, can also lead to serious mental illness.

It is something to think about. Come to "Mental Health & Persons Who Are Homeless," a panel dicussion co-sponsored by the Johnson County Coordinating Board, FAIR! and the Iowa City Human Rights Commission

Iowa City Public Library
Meeting Room A
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
7:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

Join us for a discussion on mental health and persons who are homeless. Panelists include University of Iowa Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology, William Liu; Co-Clinical Director of the Mental Health Clinical Research Center at UIHC, Frank Fleming; Shelter House Director, Crissy Canganelli; Clinical Services Manager, 6th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, Malinda Lamb, PhD, LISW, CCJP, and President of The National Alliance on Mental Illness—Johnson County, Peg Loveless. Moderated by Garry Klein of the FAIR!

The program will be recorded by City Channel 4. Audience questions will be taken at the end of the discussion. The event is free and open to the public.

Better Advocacy for the Homeless

The story about Sonny Iovino that I posted from the Gazette this morning produced a good question from reader John Neff who asked what would do about our homeless situation. John, since you asked (and I welcome your solutions too!):

I would have trained community advocates who would be called on by either the person in need or by service providers to act on behalf of the person when they were not capable of acting in their own best interest. Similar advocates work in the court system on behalf of children in domestic violence situations such as CASA. The city of Houston has a "Homeless Court" which specializes in addressing the needs of homeless persons who have minor offenses.

The movement to community mental health services has left a gaping hole for those who have no community supports. It seems apparent that a way to help persons with mental illness is to have community trained advocates to help them to find a safe place and to access services that they need when they are unable to care for themselves.

Iowa does not have well organized advocacy for the homeless, as compared to other states, as this directory from the National Coalition for the Homeless shows.

Additionally, we need to have shelter space that is available to those with mental illness and drug/alcohol dependencies. Without basic human services and access to treatment, there is no chance for a homeless person to become productive. This does not mean making a bigger jail. This means affording access to services for those that need them without rolls and rolls of red tape.

We need to close the hole in the safety net, that allows people like Sonny and others to perish.

Judgment or Cracks in the System?: Why Sonny Iovino Died

Who advocates for those who can't do it for themselves? As the story below shows, the buck gets passed in following the letter of the law. I count at least four opportunities to intervene for a man who clearly didn't have the capacity to advocate for himself (due to a treatable mental illness, I'll add).

This courtesy of the Gazette and journalist Jen Hemmingsten.

Two days before Sonny Iovino died of exposure, he was released by a Veterans Affairs Medical Center doctor and turned away from the Johnson County Jail after police repeatedly found him behaving erratically and shedding his clothes.

On the advice of a social worker, police didn't try to take Iovino, 55, to a shelter, according to University of Iowa police incident reports The Gazette obtained.

Medical Center spokesman Kirt Sickels told the newspaper Monday hospital officials did all they could.

"If somebody doesn't want to be treated, you can't treat them," Sickels said. He could not disclose details about Iovino's medical history or immediately get information about Iovino's military service.

The nearly naked body of Iovino, a homeless Vietnam-era veteran who had frequented Iowa City for years, was found under the Benton Street bridge around 3:45 p.m. on Nov. 7. An autopsy confirmed he died of hypothermia.

Advocates say there's little the community can do to help if mentally ill people refuse treatment.

"If they don't want to go and if they aren't committed there's nothing anyone can do," said Gene Spaziani, former chairman of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Johnson County. "They're on their own. That's the way it goes."

Reports The Gazette obtained show that, on Nov. 5, UI police found Iovino at 8:42 a.m. lying on the ground near the corner of Burlington and Madison streets. He wore no shoes, seemed confused and talked constantly as he dug in the mulch, the reports show.

"He was lying near the exhaust vent to keep warm," officer Eric Werling reported. "We asked Iovino to leave and he would not respond to our questions, but kept talking and crawling around on the ground."

Police persuaded Iovino to put on his shoes, cited him for trespassing and told him to move. At 11:29 a.m., they were called back to the UI's Lindquist Center and found an agitated Iovino wearing only pants. Again they got Iovino to dress and leave, reports show.

When police were called again less than two hours later, they took Iovino to a psychiatrist at the VA center.

Iovino asked the psychiatrist for medication, but the doctor said he first needed an evaluation. When the doctor asked to take his vital signs, Iovino made what reports called an inappropriate comment. "I take that as a no," UI Police Officer Alton Poole reported the doctor as saying. The doctor released Iovino back to police.

A blood-alcohol test showed Iovino hadn't been drinking, but a medical center social worker said Iowa City's Shelter House wouldn't take him in his condition, reports showed.

The officers arrested Iovino and took him to jail, but deputies there wouldn't take him either. Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek told The Gazette the jail won't admit anyone with an immediate medical need. He said the doctor's note indicated Iovino needed hospitalization for mental illness.

Police cited Iovino for criminal trespass and released him with notice to show up for court on Nov. 20. He signed the charge and left the jail, walking south along Court Street — toward the Benton Street bridge, the reports said.

Stunning Conclusion: Solution for Homelessness? Affordable Housing, Employment, Health Care

According to a new Gallup poll released by Fannie Mae (FNM/NYSE) today, more than nine in ten Americans (92%) believe more effort is needed across the nation to address the issue of homelessness, and nearly a third (28%) of Americans indicate they were at one point concerned that they may not have a place to live.

The survey also reveals that 48% of Americans indicate lack of affordable housing is a major cause contributing to homelessness, and 45% believe home foreclosures are a major factor. Also, nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans believe job loss/unemployment is a major factor contributing to homelessness, while more than half (51%) think that the inability to pay medical expenses is a major contributor.

"It is clear from this poll that Americans are very concerned about homelessness and do not feel enough is being done to address this critical issue." said Stacey D. Stewart, Senior Vice President of the Office of Community and Charitable Giving at Fannie Mae. "There needs to be greater attention directed towards preventing and ending homelessness. Fannie Mae is committed to providing real solutions through permanent supportive housing and has invested more than $4 million in grant funding this year."

Other key findings include:

* A strong majority (58%) of Americans think the number of homeless people is increasing compared to ten years ago and only 6% of Americans believe the nation is doing a very good job in dealing this issue.
* 71% agree that many homeless people could get back on their feet and become self sufficient with proper housing.
* 44% of Americans indicate they have taken in a friend or relative who was facing homelessness had shelter not been provided.

"In our nation's capital, we know all too well the challenges that face our homeless neighbors and have been working hard to provide solutions," said District of Columbia Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. "We applaud Fannie Mae for raising awareness about the issue of homelessness and their commitment to helping solve the problem."

Through Gallup, Fannie Mae also polled people in the eight cities that partnered with the Fannie Mae Foundation to raise awareness and funds through the Foundation's 20th Annual Help the Homeless Walkathon on November 17. This year, the Fannie Mae Foundation's Help the Homeless Program has expanded to include Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Each of these cities has engaged organizations and civic leaders to help address the unique issues surrounding homelessness in their local communities.

Some key city specific findings include:

* 71% of Seattle respondents believe homelessness in the nation is increasing compared to ten years ago, the most in any of the seven cities.
* 50% of the respondents in the cities believe the inability to find affordable housing is a major factor people might be homeless.
* Over 75% of all the respondents in the cities agree that communities should construct more affordable housing to serve all its citizens.
* 70% of the respondents in Denver and 68% in Boston believe their community is doing at least a good job in addressing homeless issue.

"Homelessness is one of the major challenges facing our nation and we need to do all we can to support the solution of permanent housing," said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "I was pleased to see that Bostonians are personally committed to this cause as 84% of those polled in the city said they would be willing to make a donation to an organization working with homeless people. It is with community involvement, increased federal support, and committed organizations like Fannie Mae that we can make a difference in addressing the issue of homelessness."

The general population survey of 1002 adults was conducted from September 4 through October 17, 2007 with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. The city specific survey of 3216 adults (approximately 400 in each metropolitan statistical area for each of 8 cities) was conducted from September 4 through October 17, 2007 with a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.

For more information including the full poll reports, please visit www.fanniemae.com.

A Tale of Two Cities: Homelessness in Johnson County

I am a board member of the county general homeless shelter in Iowa City and sadly, a 55-year old homeless man, Sonny Iovino, passed away yesterday apparently of hypothermia while sleeping under a bridge. Sonny was also alcohol dependent--he likely would be stereotyped as a "wino."

As always, the story goes far deeper, but in a town of "liberal values," this type of tragedy fuels the discussion about how the homeless are treated (or if they should be tolerated).

Our local homeless shelter is a "dry" shelter. This means that anyone who is drunk or high can not sleep in it. This is done for many reasons, but primarily because it is a small shelter with 29 beds that are filled almost every night with families, women, and men (some of whom are veterans). A proposed new shelter which will house up to 75 persons is not planned to have resources for persons with chronic drug or alcohol addictions.

This is not to say that services are not availble to homeless persons in the community at the shelter. If a homeless person is willing to follow the house rules, they can pick up their mail, make phonecalls, take a shower, do their wash, and come in during the day to warm up, they are welcome in the house. But after 5 pm, they are asked to leave. Sonny, in fact, did visit the shelter and make use of the services he could.

As many may know, there is an overflow shelter program that is staffed by volunteers at local churches. Similar to the shelter, there is no provision for those with alcohol/drug dependencies. This is reasonable given that those staffing the temporary shelter are not trained chemical dependency professionals.

Some may know that Cedar Rapids, as of last year opened a "wet" shelter as a result of a similar incident when a person with an alcohol dependency passed away there. However, in Iowa City/Johnson County, there is no movement in that direction.

In other communities, homeless persons who live on the streets are increasingly becoming endangered by senseless acts of violence, that, thankfully, has not the case here. If anything, the street-living homeless are resourceful and utilize programs such as Wesley House's Free Lunch and Free Medical, and spend colder weather in the public library or other downtown buildings that offer warmth in colder weather. Still, when the rest of us are calling it a night, a fairly large group of people are seeking shelter under bridges, in tent cities, and in the stairwells of parking garages.

Is it possible that we could do better or, said differently, have an obligation to do better? That is in the hands of the community. Even in liberal communities, we do place our values onto other people. On the one hand we expect persons in need to get a helping hand, but we quickly lose sympathy if they have dependency issues.

I feel it is safe to say that the needs of homeless people are different. A shelter like our current one is not appropriate for persons with alcohol or drug dependencies. There is a need to provide services for persons with alcohol and drug problems. But it needs to be in a context of other services, such as mental health/psychiatric care.

At present, the frontline helper for the chronically homeless person ends up being the police. Typically when a person is drunk or having a psychotic episode, it falls on the ICPD or county sheriff to deal with the "public nuisance" aspects of their behavior. Sonny, according to the Iowa City police blotter was arrested twice, once for 5th degree theft (shoplifting) and a week ago for disorderly conduct.

Even with jail diversion programs, it is likely that a number of nightly visitors to the county jail are homeless. This creates another resource that is overtaxed.

Would housing all the homeless be more cost-effective than jailing these people (or more morbidly, disposing of their bodies should they die outdoors)?

this is a community discussion that needs to be had.

Iowa City Spring Cleaning Leaves Homeless, More Homeless

From the Daily Iowan

Wearing heavy work gloves and bright green vests, six members of the Iowa City streets division, a part of the city's Public Works Department, worked for roughly an hour Wednesday morning, cleaning the space below the Gilbert Street bridge - the former living space of an unknown number of homeless people.

In numerous shifts, the workers dragged load after load to trucks parked above the bridge. A living record of sorts was hauled out of the space, containing several mattresses, blankets, a couch, a lawn chair, a fire extinguisher, and trash bags full of plastic cups, magazines, paper scraps, and broken bottles.The belongings filled 12 large garbage bags, which, along with the furniture, packed the backs of two white trucks. The former residents were nowhere to be seen.

John Sobaski, assistant superintendent of the streets division, said the city had received a complaint on April 12 about homeless people living under the bridge. After receiving the complaint, a two-day warning was posted for those living there to take what they wanted and move on. Bridge clearings similar to this one take place roughly four times a year, or once every season.

Nearby, Iowa City police officer Denise Brotherton sat in her parked squad car, watching the progress. "I'm just here for their safety in case someone shows up," she said. "Otherwise, they handle it."

Gark note: who is really in danger? People who are without homes or city workers with police protection?

What a Little Faith in Johnson County Can Do

Since last January, a small group of committed individuals from different faith groups has been working to address homelessness in Johnson County. Below is a summary of their successes put together by organizer Bob Untiedt. Some question the heart and soul of faith-based initiatives, myself included at times. However, it is important to note that many of the participants are members of "liberal" churches, synagogues, and mosques.

Events/outcomes of homeless organizing in Johnson County since 2006
-----------------------------------------------------------

Jan. 2006: 125 people meet with Mayors of Iowa City & North Liberty, and Vice- Mayor of Coralville, in a reflective meeting on values around housing.

Spring 2006: education, research efforts, and mobilizing occur.  We agree to ask for a 20% Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, annual support starting in 2007 of $70,000 for Shelter House, a one-time grant of $50,000 for Shelter House to help match a federal grant, and a transit study for seniors.

April 30, 2006: 650 people, media, and government leaders from Coralville, Iowa City, and Johnson County gather. Few commitments are made, but this gets noticed.

Summer/Fall 2006: irregular gatherings occur of various church people. Over the summer, especially, a handful of people speak at the Coralville City Council meeting.  We consider and reject another large public meeting in the fall.

December, 2006: led by the Shelter House, 35 or so people from this group and other Shelter House volunteers attend an Iowa City City Council meeting, to request increased funding in the 2007 budget.

Spring 2007: big news! Iowa City funds Shelter House and its programs a total of $41,147 (up from just over $16,000 the last two years)!!! Johnson County increases funding from $8721 to $51,721!!! Coralville (as yet this is a rumor) may be doubling its historic support, from $2000 to $4000.  WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

Also: this may be coincidence, or maybe not. Fr. Ken Kuntz acted to request Sen. Robert Dvorsky of Coralville look into why the State Supreme Court was holding up consideration of the Shelter House case.  Sen. Dvorsky was amenable to that request, and as he's on the state Senate Judiciary Committee, may have gotten a better-than-average response.  Call it coincidence, but two days after that  request by Fr. Ken: the Supreme Court set a date for the next hearing. Again, our actions have made a difference.

In early April, 2007, we met with Amy Corriea of the Iowa City City Council, on her request.  She noted that we were very effective and that we should "keep going".  We need to engage the decision of Iowa City to disinvest in affordable housing on the southeast side.  We are moving forward with requesting support from Cornell College for mapping the density of affordable housing by census tract, and also begin a process of discernment around creating a new nonprofit faith-based community organization in Johnson and Linn Counties.  Our next meeting will be called after the Supreme Court acts, or in early fall, whichever comes first.

The care and action of ordinary people does make a difference. Ask city and county government leaders.  Ask Shelter House employees.  Most importantly, ask the persons whom Shelter House serves.  Along with the continued commitment of persons of faith here in the Emergency Shelter - and the other ways in which we have acted to care for "the least of these" - we should be
grateful for the good of which we have been a part.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead

Homeless in America

The Iowa City Human Rights Commission is sponsoring an event at the Iowa City Public Library at 7 pm to 9 pm tonight (Wednesday 3/21) featuring the documentary film "Homeless in America" in meeting Room A. A panel discussion will follow.

From “ A Comprehensive Homeless Strategy for Iowa” (2006)

The 2005 Iowa Homeless Study found the following:
• 21,000 Iowans were homeless and these persons were largely concentrated in Iowa’s urban
areas
• Iowa’s homeless population is changing – a majority of homeless households in Iowa are
families with children
• Women are more likely to be homeless than men
• 40 percent of homeless Iowans had mental health or substance abuse problems or another
disability
• African-Americans are significantly over-represented in Iowa’s homeless population.
(Although African-Americans represent only 2 percent of Iowa’s population they constituted
almost 25 percent of Iowa’s homeless population.)
• Families with children make up the majority (61 percent) of all homeless households in Iowa
• Seven percent of Iowa’s homeless meet HUD’s definition of chronic homeless
• Almost 20 percent of homeless men in Iowa are veterans
• There are 2,536 shelter beds in the state and
• The inability to find affordable housing is the top reason persons gave for their homeless
status.

Other contributing factors include eviction/foreclosure, domestic violence, job loss, utility disconnection, family breakup/divorce, loss of benefits, institutionalization of family member (jail, hospital) and de-institutionalization (jail, hospital, foster care).

No Shortage of Misery

The holiday season serves to remind us of the importance our friends and family, our well-being and relative comfort in the world. However, it also serves to remind us to serve those whose circumstances are much more dire, whether around the corner from us or half way around the world. I want to take a moment to reflect on some tragic situations here and abroad and encourage all of us to reflect on these words by 1950's British Parliment member, Henry Usborne: "the price of peace is justice," not dollars or power as most Americans seem to think."

1) Homelessness . Over a five-year period, about 2–3 percent of the U.S. population (5–8 million people) will experience at least one night of homelessness. Single men constitute about sixty percent of the homeless population, families constitute about one third of all homeless and are the fastest-growing group of homeless. Although about seventy percent of the homeless live in central cities, rural homelessness is a hidden problem. The rural homeless are more likely to be families that are homeless for shorter periods of time, often as a result of domestic violence (Singleton et al.*). One of the hardest groups to reach, however, is the one fourth of homeless who have been homeless for at least five years (Burt*).

2) War. Our war on terror in Iraq has resulted in (According to the DOD) 2950 of our soldiers killed and 22, 401 wounded. At least 50,998 Iraqi citizens have been killed. Across the globe, an additional 353 US soldiers have died and 1072 more injured. In Darfur, Sudan, more than 200,000 people have died. In Palestine and Israel, 4,398 Palestinians and 1,084 Israelis have been killed since September 29, 2000.

3) Hunger. 852 million people across the world are hungry, up from 842 million a year ago. Every day, more than 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes--one child every five seconds. 13.5 million households in the United States (11.9% of all households) were food insecure in 2004, of which 4.4 million (3.9% of all U.S. households) had experienced hunger at some point in that year. The food insecure households contained an estimated 38 million people, of whom almost 14 million were children. The existence of large numbers of people without secure access to adequate nutritious food represents a serious national concern.

4) Global warming. 2005 was hottest year on record(tied with 1998), according to NASA. 100 billion dollars of damage were caused by hurricanes hitting the U.S. coast in 2005 alone, according to the National Climatic Data Center. 400,000 Square miles of Arctic sea ice that have melted in the last 30 years (roughly the size of Texas), threatening polar bear habitats and further accelerating global warming worldwide, according to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. 15 to 37% of plant and animal species could be wiped out by 2050 due to global warming. The United States is the #1 global warming polluter compared to other large nations.

5) AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. 30 million people in Africa have HIV - this is 70% of global infections. In sub-Saharan Africa, there are currently 4.1 million people with AIDS who are in immediate need of life-saving anti-retroviral drugs. 15 million children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS (similar to the total children population in Germany or United Kingdom). Every day in Africa, 6,500 people die and another 9,500 contract the HIV virus - 1,400 of whom are newborn babies infected during childbirth or by their mothers' milk. Malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds. Someone in the world is newly infected with tuberculosis bacilli every second.

6) Access to clean water supplies. Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%. 1.4 million die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

I know that these problems can not be solved at once, but do require us to be constant gardeners. We must encourage our elected leaders to be strategic in what they do, but we also need to raise hell for those who are already living there.