<div><font face="Courier New">"We don't have people living in cardboard boxes </font></div>
<div><font face="Courier New">under overpasses,..."</font></div>
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<div>Recently there was someone "camping" under a bridge in Moscow by the creek where Hwy 95 and 8 meet, but not in a cardboard box. Also, there was someone recently camping on private property near Styner Ave., in a somewhat hidden location.</div>
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<div>There are people who for whatever reason(s) camp outside in Moscow in whatever spot they can find. This is far more common than some assume.</div>
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<div>I knew someone years ago who camped for a couple of weeks by the U of I observatory in the patch of trees down the hill just to the north, and another individual years ago who was sleeping under an old building near the U of I campus near the railway tracks.<br>
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<div>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett<br> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 6/4/10, <b class="gmail_sendername"><a href="mailto:bevbafus@verizon.net">bevbafus@verizon.net</a></b> <<a href="mailto:bevbafus@verizon.net">bevbafus@verizon.net</a>> wrote:</span>
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<div>The following is an article I wrote for Sojourners' Alliance's quarterly newsletter. For those of you who don't know - Sojourners' is the local transitional homeless shelter. In addition to the shelter, we have an emergency rental assistance program, and a Food Bank and Thrift Store in Troy, Idaho. </div>
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<div>We are facing a critical end-of-fiscal year funding emergency. (Too much year at the end of the grant money!) </div>
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<div>If 500 people in the area each donated $20 - that would alleviate our crises, and give us a small cushion to face the next emergency. Please donate today! Your donations can be sent to: </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sojourners' Alliance</div>
<div>627 N. Van Buren</div>
<div>Moscow, ID 83843</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Thanks in advance!</div>
<div>Bev Bafus</div>
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<div>****************************<br> </div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">It amazes me when I look at our donor list, and realize how many businesses and well-off individuals do not donate to Sojourners’.<span> </span>When I’ve solicited for donations, the excuses run the gamut…<span> </span>“We just really can’t help right now.”<span> </span>(And you can, when?) <span> </span>“Why would we help those people?”<span> </span>(As opposed to which people?<span> </span>We’re all people.)<span> </span>“We already gave.”<span> </span>(Thank you very much, but you could give again.)<span> </span>“We have a homeless shelter in Moscow?”<span> </span>(Yes, we do.<span> </span>And the need is growing.)</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The idea that there isn’t a homeless population in Moscow is a fantasy.<span> </span>We don’t have people living in cardboard boxes under overpasses, but we do have folks camping out at local campgrounds.<span> </span>We have people who couch surf between friends.<span> </span>We have families bunking with relatives, trying desperately to save up enough for first month’s rent and a damage deposit.<span> </span>And we have people who have lost everything, due to various demons in their lives.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I was oblivious to this problem as I raised my children.<span> </span>We were chasing the American Dream.<span> </span>The house, the three cars, the boat, the large lot.<span> </span>Dreams of an acreage, and more toys.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Then my husband had a stroke.<span> </span>Thank goodness he had signed up years before for a disability policy – it meant we wouldn’t lose the house.<span> </span>But when you have payments up the ying-yang, depending on a double income – and that income gets slashed in half – suffice to say we had to face reality in a hurry.<span> </span></font></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Now I am grateful every day that we have a roof over our head.<span> </span>We have adequate food on the table.<span> </span>This is more than many families in our area.<span> </span>Job losses have hit certain sectors hard, and it may get worse.<span> </span></font></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">There are families just weeks away from being evicted from their apartments – luckily our rental assistance program can help with that to some extent.<span> </span>There are families that have to spend every extra penny for medical bills, and groceries are the last thing they can buy.<span> </span>Luckily, our food bank can help with that.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">And there are those who have lost everything.<span> </span>They need a hand up, not a hand out.<span> </span>Luckily, our shelter is here, to help them transition back into a productive life.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">If Sojourners’ wasn’t here – what would these folks do?<span> </span></font></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">If you have a roof over your head, and enough food on the table – please donate today.<span> </span>Every dollar will help keep our organization stable, and keep a safety net in place for our area.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Bev Bafus, Moscow</font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Board Treasurer</font></p>
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