Just a quick post from the field. An audio clip and a bit more information

Thanks to the David at The Courtland Hotel on Wall Street across from the police station for the use of a computer. The Courtland is one of the SRO hotels in a row on the street.

Feel free to click on the link below.  It is an audio file.

http://guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/audio/WS400017.WMA

This is part of my "sounds of the city" compilation.

Below are a few shots from last month along Wall Street across from the Police Station. 








5 Ways To Help from Los Angeles Mission on Vimeo.

From time to time I will post information and links to some of the other great organizations in Los Angeles who are helping the homeless and hungry residents of Los Angeles. 

I focus a lot on Union Rescue Misson in many of my posts but there are many great organizations in Los Angeles that deserve mention as well. All these folks work together in a common goal.

Some of you reading my blog have donated or contributed directly to me so I can bring food items and snacks to the streets in the evenings to the folks that sleep on the street.  I am not a licensed charity and there are people that look for a tax deduction for their contribution.  If you wish to contribute to a  licensed organization I will list some of them on this blog from time to time.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Los Angeles

Phone:
213-229-9963 (Service/Intake and Administration) (Voice)
213-620-9141 (FAX) (Fax)

Website: http://www.svdpla.org/

Overview:  The agency provides homeless support services for people who are primarily in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. There are no geographic restrictions.

Administrative Description:  This is a program of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a private, non-profit organization. It is funded by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, independent fund raising and the United Way. Services are provided by professional and paraprofessional staff and volunteers.

Site Hours:  Monday through Sunday, 24 hours per day.

Access:  This site is equipped with elevators and ramps; and is fully accessible to people who use wheelchairs.

SRO Housing Corporation

Phone:

213-229-9697 (Information Only)
213-229-9677 (FAX) (Fax)
213-229-9678 (Service/Intake)
213-229-9365 (Rental Office) (Service/Intake)
213-620-7146 (Information Desk) (Service/Intake)
213-633-4716 (Shelter Plus Care Program) (Service/Intake)
213-229-9680 (Service/Intake)
213-229-9640 (SRO) (Service/Intake) (Voice)
213-633-5464 (Transitional Program Information) (Service/Intake)

Website:  http://www.srohousing.org/

Overview:  The agency provides low-cost housing for homeless and low-income adults in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. Some residences are targeted to people living with HIV/AIDS, severe mental illnesses, substance addictions and other disorders; specialized programs for seniors and veterans are also available. Services are provided in the downtown Skid Row area of Los Angeles. There are no geographic restrictions.

Administrative Description:  This is a private, non-profit organization which is supported by HUD, the Los Angeles City Department of Aging, the Los Angeles City Community Redevelopment Agency, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and other public funds. Services are provided by social service professional and paraprofessional staff.

Access:  The site has elevators for people who use wheelchairs.

An email from a friend

My blog entry for today is something a little different. It is a copy and paste of a letter from a friend.

Simon Higgs is a bit of an icon in the music business. He also is a stong supporter of the homeless. Some information on Simon: He is the owner of Higgs Communications. They specialize in digital music distribution as well as providing technical expertise on web and network issues.

Simon Higgs also provides consulting and artist relations expertise to musical instrument manufacturers (guitars and amplifiers). Past clients include Gibson Guitars, Zemaitis Guitars (Greco / Kanda Shokai), Lipe Guitars, Togaman Guitars, Sonic Images Records, & NSoul Records.

Higgs Communications also publishes "The Guide To Selling Your Music In The iTunes Music Store", by Simon Higgs, which is aimed at independent artists and labels and has sold in over 30 countries. More info on Higgs Communications can be found at http://www.higgs.com/

On to the letter.  My style in answering email is to reply in the body of the letter itself in bold type or type font of a different color.

To: myles@guitaramplifierblueprinting.com
Date: Sunday, January 10, 2010, 8:16 PM

Hi Myles,

Sorry to have not touched base with you since before the holidays. I got slammed from a bunch of different things.

We've been working with some folks living in the National Guard Armory shelters. One girl we helped get in there ended up in jail (she couldn't make bail at the hearing for the situation that made her homeless in the first place) so I've been learning the ins and outs of the LA County Sheriff's dept inmate handling.

Which leads me to something else. Some of the people we've previously met downtown were only there because they came out of jail with no ID. Some of these people were working before they went to jail but without ID they couldn't apply for an apartment (requires a credit check), or access their bank accounts until their ID was replaced. They became instantly homeless and lost in the swirl.

I was wondering if you could do an informal survey to see who has CA ID and how long it takes a homeless person to replace it. I'm thinking this one issue may have some impact if the law could be changed to ensure every inmate gets their ID on release (they all have ID inside to keep track of them).

I will start asking folks if they have ID.

Also, how much is it to sponsor an evening of snacks & goodies?

I don't know how much at this point. It is very inexpensive. I have had money come in faster than it can be spent at times. There are some folks downtown that give me terrific prices on things like bananas, sometimes ten pounds for a dollar. Many folks give me some food items for nothing. I go to Smart and Final for breakfast bars such as quaker oatmeal bars which are not too pricy in bulk. The factor that is the holdback is my capacity to carry things while still having hands free at night. I have some friends at an SRO hotel that let me store things there so on most evenings I can come back a few times to replenish. On my blog I have a list of the contributors and their contributions are still holding up quite well.

Last question. Are you going to be at NAMM? Zemaitis aren't exhibiting so I'm not working for them this year (but I get to see the show - what a concept!).

I don't know about NAMM. I opted to not go a few years ago and found I did not miss it at all.  It is always the same stuff and if something is really cool that is shown at NAMM and is something of the "real deal" it will be cool for weeks or months after NAMM.   I will see it then, without being in the middle of the insanity and chaos of NAMM.  Friends I could talk to at NAMM I generally am able to talk to outside of NAMM and NAMM is not a great place to converse anyway.  Folks that exhibit who are friends need to spend time building their business and not chatting with me at the show when we can do that in a better setting and they have generally spent a lot of money to exhibit, the travel, hotel and other expenses.   It is better them to use their time at NAMM to best advantage for their business in these hard times.

-- Best Regards,

Simon Higgs

Regards,


Myles