Marginalized People Are More Likely To Test positive Than Others!

If you look at HIV from a global or nationally persoective, you will still notice that marginalized and poor people in our society are striked disporportinately. Other structural inequailties like racism and gender unequality realtes to poverty that raises the vulnerability and risk for HIV infection. The structural inequalities that are in place still today is living wage employment, healthcare access, access to education, affordable housing which are the basic rights and essential for everyday life, but still exclude millinos of the less fortunate globally and nationally. According to the World Health Organization, there were 33 million people that were living with HIV and less than 1 out of every 5 has access to HIV pre vention services. This is serious and mind blowing, 33million is Chicago population times 10, 11. HIV connects and relates to hunger, homelessness, socially isolated neighborhoods, neighborhoods near the landfills, poverty and extreme poverty because people that experience or live through these conditions and issues subject them to being a high risk of HIV infection due to their vulnerbilities. For instance, the life expectancy for Blacks is quite low compared to any other ethnic group especially Whites. According to New York Times by Lawerence K. Altman, there is 600,000 African Americans living with HIV and 30,000 are being infected each year. HIV/Aids is everywhere but more of a problem and out of control in the poorest countries and cities. For example, Africa have the laregst mass of people that has HIV/AIDS and we know the majority of what ethnicity group reside there. The 10 states with the most people that live and experience extreme poverty has the highest rate of people that are infected with HIV/AIDS. Ethnic groups like Black and Latino have a higher rate than any other ethnic group, also Blacks and Latino's are the ones that experience and live in poverty more than any other ethnic group, it correlates with the risk of being infected by HIV/AIDS.

I agree and stand behind Dr. Williamson position stating that people living with HIV/AIDS are human beings just like us no better or worse and that they too need affordable housing, adequate, and also need and want livingable wage emplyment as well. The economic, social and helth policy is concerns for all, which includes the less fortunate and people living with HIV/AIDS. In my opinion I think everyone should receive a class with a lecture and video or audio on the impact on HIV/AIDS

Bibliography: New York Times July 30, 2008,

Dr. Williamson

World Health Organization

Speech of the Homeless Coilation

First off I would like to thank the guest speakers Bailey, stephanie and Jose.

Sephanie who is a leader organizer of the Chicago Coalition of Homeless. Her ex-husband was abusive and she develop a alcohol problem. Moved to New York and had to live there atleast 6months to receive aid. Moved around a lot, very hard life; even though stephanie was working she was unable to pay rent. She spent most of her time in shelters. She later started women empowered movements-Project sweet home Chicago.

Jose who is homeless and was one of the speakers. He bascially stated how he did day loborer and live on the streets for years, then later asked for assistance. He also stated that there isnt enough housing for the homeless people. He then stated how CPS school usually turn away homeless children and talks about the laws/policy that insures legal rights of the homeless.

This was information stated by Stephanie, Bailey and Jose, who were the speakers from the Chicago Coalition of Homeless. The cutting of the homeless education which was orginally 20 million funded. The homeless prevention that once served 14,000 households until it was cut by 78%. Chicago far behind other major cities in homeless help, San Franciso funds a 100million for the homeless. There is 10% that live in extreme poverty conditions and 30 % of chicago kids live in poverty.

Hunger and Homelessness In Boston

With the economy not doing so well, the pricing of the food and fuel has sky rocketed up. Also, the unemployment rate has increased along with the increasing need for food assistance for Boston residents because of the volatile housing market. Fresh Food There has been a 30 percent increase of emergency food assistance since 2007. Senior citizens and first time individuals are seeking aid for the first time and there is more working families seeking aid as well according to the food assistance programs report in Boston. Eating healthy and at least three times a day is vital for quality of life, but how can you do so when you are a victim of poverty. To help residents in Boston, Mayor Menino has a Fresh Food fund which launched the Bounty Bucks program. This Bounty Bucks program distributes "bounty bucks" that are coupons that can be used dollar for dollar at the City's farmers market to purchase organic fresh fruit and vegetables. Furthermore, the Mayor's Fresh Food fund provides a EBT access at farmer's markets. EBT is basically food stamps, its the same as a link card which some of the residents of Chicago has. (U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008 Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness)

There has been a increase of four percent in people in Boston experiencing homelessness since 2007, but the housing efforts has decreased in street homeless. Similar to the city I lived in Chicago, In Boston many families have lost their housing through foreclosure that has also contributed to the number of homeless families and to the number of people experiencing homelessness. To fight this issue, the City of Boston has created and launch a ten year plan to end homelessness, Leading the Way Home. This plan purpose is to meet people in Boston housing needs in all communities no matter which income bracket you are in. This plan purpose is to cut homeless families by 2012, reduce the high foreclosure rates and to have a productive workforce housing production. Along with this plan, the City of Boston cited that the need for more permanent support housing for person with disabilities, more subsidized housing and the increase in the number of high paying employment opportunities. The City of Boston officials has a network called "The Boston Homelessness Prevention Clearinghouse", which is a network that creates a "no wrong door" entry for people seeking assistance in maintaining housing. The Boston Homelessness Prevention Clearinghouse includes the service of access to financial management training and classes, connection to service needed to stabilize tenancy, and flexible one time rental assistance funds. (U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008 Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness)

One solution of fighting the poverty issue is the proposal of the Leading Way. The goals of the Leading Way is to:

• alleviate the pressure put on the housing market by the bubble








• the attendant sharp rise in sales and rental prices by meeting the pent-up demand for new housing stock

The strategies of the Leading Way has adopted comparable objectives

• primarily the production of new market rate and affordable housing








• preservation of existing affordable housing

Since the implementation of Leading Way 1 and 2 there is:

• more than 18,000 new units of housing








• 5,000 affordable units








• This output represents 5 billion in investment of public and private source of funding nearly 9,500 units of affordable housing were preserved

There are agencies in Boston that has and still is making a collective effort to prevent the rising increase of hunger and homelessness. The agencies that are part of the city of Boston departments that has form a collaboration for non-profit and profit organization are:

• Department of Neighborhood Development (DND)








• Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA)








• Boston Housing Authority (BHA)








• Inspectional Service Department (ISD)

The rise of foreclosure and the credit crisis negatively effecting lending are factors that lead to the direction of the Leading the Way by the Mayor of Boston. With these factors along with the opinions of key stakeholders from Boston's non-profit and profit development community that has created a new lending the way housing strategy that goal is to complete construction of 2,000 units, increase the rate of assistance to home buyer of 50% and create 1,5000 new home buyers, 1,000 new affordable rental units and build 3,000 new market rate units. The Leading the way 1 and 2 was successful but not enough to meet the housing needs for the homeless people in Boston. The purpose and proposal of Leading the Way 3 is to meet the housing needs in four vital area's in Boston, which are:

1. Housing Boston Workforce-affordable housing for all tiers of workers, low-income, livable income and high paid income.








2. Addressing The Foreclosure Crisis-prevention, intervention, reclamation and stabilization.








3. Reversing the Rise In Homelessness-placement, prevention, production; reduce of Boston family homelessness by 50%, and reduce long-term homelessness for individual Bostonians by 50%.








4. Preserving and Stabilizing Boston's Rental Housing Market-Capital fund financing, energy performance contracting, redevelopment through project-base vouchers, redevelopment through public and private partnership and state and federal assisted housing.

I think and believe that the only way to fight and eliminate hunger and homelessness in Boston and all other cities in the U.S. is if there is universal health care, access to education and a restructure of our current economic system (corporation and bank institutions). If everyone receive a fair shake from birth then things like poverty, unfairness and human rights will not be a issues because everyone will have a fair distribution of equality and will have to work and earn their success, no racism, discrimination, sexism and segregation; just a just and equal world.

Bibliography: http://www.cityofboston.gov/

U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008 Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness

Seccombe main focus is the issues In chapter 1 is about social inequality. In chapter 1 she interviews people of different ethnicity that is on welfare and goes in depth of the issues on hand. In my opinion I believe that Seccombe learn and value life alot more hearing from the people that were living, experiencing and struggling while on welfare. I think she also understand that the assumptions of people on welfare is a myth and realizes that the picture that society display about people in welfare is also untrue.



First off I want to state that being a woman is far much harder than being a man because of society view of women, and that view is that women is second tier to men; women get paid .77 cent to every men 1.00 as of today's society we live in. She does points out how women are underpaid and receive less pay than men, even when women and men have the same job. Seccombe also point out how women are likely to be poor, experience lower wage jobs and likely to depend on others.



There wasn't a particular interview that stood out more than others because all talked about the struggles of getting the essentials required for life. The women she interview talked about how it is difficult to raise a family alone and with very low income. This one women Shelia caught my eye because she has so many barriers in place. What I thought was interesting is how she stated that she don't want a part time job because it would probably risk her losing government assistance and she will not be able to receive aid for a while after she re apply. All the jobs she have held didn't required that much skill or education, maids and cleaning aids are considered to be low skill jobs.

I disagree with the media view of the people are welfare because not everyone that receive aid are lazy and getting over on the government. I don't think this at all because the face of welfare is a black or Latino mother or family with numerous of kids, but society doesn't paint the picture of how blacks and Latinos are more likely to experience poverty and will usually be socially isolated in a socially environment surrounded by drug dealing, crime, violence and populated landfills.

I agree with Seccombe position of don't judge period and don't judge if you don't know that person or family story. If you want to know a reason why then do research or ask someone that know of welfare. Some people are dealt a terrible hand in life and need welfare and the underground economy. The model of mainstream is set by corporations and bank institutions, but how can you duplicate that model if you don't have the resources and opportunities to bid for the dream model of success. May I add that there is more Whites on welfare than there is Blacks or any other ethnic group.

Poverty (Personal Definition and Legal Definition)

What poverty means to me- Poverty is lack of resources, lack of opportunities, likely to be incarcerated, financially unstable, disadvantage, disenfranchise, underclass, underprivileged, under serve, public-housing, socially isolated, limited access to education and health care, hopelessness.

The legal definition of poverty should be- economic segregation; subjected to stereotyping, segregation, discrimination and racism; hopelessness; none or limited options available.

Poverty Level In Illinois: Extreme Poverty and Poverty

http://www.heartlandalliance.org/maip

http://www.communitydevelopment.uiuc.edu/resources/factsheets/poverty.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPfG3H0Ghb8

After reading these two reports that reflects the poverty in Illinois, I still cant comprehend why the poor pay at higher rate of taxes compared to one or a family that have the highest salary. Does that make any sense? What happened to the safety net that was preach and preach to the society that poverty issues should be resolved because of the proposal of the safety net. Excuse my language, what a bunch of BS! No matter how we look at it when looking at the stats of people in poverty; the children, the senior citizens, the disability, the undocumented people and women there is still a constant pattern. The blacks lead the polls with the Hispanics right behind who are the victims are being likely to experience living in poverty or extreme poverty. According to these reports, the Illinois people have less money to pay for their needs; the average weekly wages fell in 7 of the 11 job sector in Illinois from 2001 to 2007. (Amy Rynell and Amy Terpstra-Illinois Poverty Summit, page 4). I noticed that in this report that the prices of vital goods and services increased dramatically during 2001 to 2007. There is nearly 250,000 living in extreme poverty and over 400,000 are working along with 92,072 enrolled in school. (Laboratory for Community and Economic Development). What happened to the America slogan or model of education equals promise careers or dreams? It is reality that the mentality of work hard and education equals success is scarce to the point of being irrelevant. It is reality that blacks and Hispanics are structurally set up to living in unsafe and extreme conditions compared to any other ethnic groups. Why is this so? My response is that racism has never left this society, I am not saying that everyone is racist, i am saying that the ones who are calling the shots for the jobs market, banks and other resources needed to succeed in this society continue the ongoing discrimination tactic. Chicago has nearly 3million people and 1.5 million is living in poverty in Illinois, that is scary because Chicago is Illinois largest city and half Chicago population is the total number of poor in Illinois.

As poverty limits and restricts opportunity, What are the chances and opportunities for the ones who are at a disadvantage already at birth? With this being said, there is no healthy food to eat, senior citizens skip doses of required vital medication and adults have lack of shelter to housed themselves and family. I found that Illinois is one of the states that tax single and two parent families who are poor. Now where is this money going because it is not going to the communities that need it the most, the schools have limited or no resources resulting in students to perform poorly. What blow my mind is that the poorest families pay a 2.7 times tax rate than the families that have the highest yearly income in Illinois. ( Amy Rynell and Amy Terpstra-Illinois Poverty Summit, p.7) Now explain this to me, How is the government for the people and concern about the poor when the poor is paying a higher tax rate than the richest family. Seem like the structural of Illinois is set up for people to experience poor and increase the number of people to experience poverty; in addition to that especially the Blacks and Latinos. I noticed the poverty level in Illinois is 14,800 for family of four and 10,000 for family of three, now come on how can anyone or a family survive off that. That is like three hundred and some chance from each individual for a entire year-that is horrific, no one can live off that. The only solution to this critical issue of poverty is that we need a proposed collective effort and efforts from all people in the U.S to eliminate these unsafe and extreme conditions that deprive people of our nation their human rights, which is promised to them in our U.S Constitution; but that's another issue on hand. This issue is so painful and dishearten to contemplate that the future of Illinois is heading to ongoing hardship.

Race Matters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_shrHAwnZo&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl54ABY8VgY&feature=player_embedded (Song By Tupac Shakur that addresses poverty and other social issues and political issues) The song address pregnant teens that have none or lack of resources from the government, society and even their own family to help them.

Race Still Matters For Poor Blacks
By: Clarence Page and the Tribune Columnist
March 29, 2009
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/mar/29/news/chi-oped0329pagemar29

This article states the reasons and issues why poverty is increasing and that race is a main factor of it. The poor is poorer and blacks are statistically are head of the class according t this article: "Blacks are twice likely to be unemployed, three times more likely to live in poverty and more than six times to be imprisoned compared to whites". (Page,Chicago Tribune) The article also goes in to detail and states "that poverty stem from external barriers like discrimination, racism, disappearance of low-skills jobs, the behavior and attitude of the individual and cultural conditioning". (Page, Chicago Tribune) I agree but I overall believe that poverty exist today and period because of the structural system of the society. I am simply saying look at Chicago for instance, its so segregated its sad and sickening to my stomach. We as people are so social isolated that the ones less fortunate, blacks and Latinos to be specific grow up in a environment of drug dealing, poor performance schools, welfare dependency, polluted communities because of the near-by landfills. The system in place now is set up for the less fortunate ones to fail and my proof is the barriers place before hand which i mentioned a few sentences ago, the social environment. I can go on and on. I don't think poverty issues will be solved anytime soon because the media and the bank institution runs everything, their effective tactic is fear and once us people wake up and stop the corruption of the elite we will have equal distribution and human rights for all. I am working towards a just society but i cant do it by myself. I wonder how question myself how can few people control a mass society, we as the people out number the ones in control if I'm not mistaken a million can overtake a 1000; wake up society!

Race and Poverty

http://http//vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?v=slx4ci04

This video is about how many children go hungry daily in the world.

http://www.theroot.com/views/lawyers-statement-arrest-henry-louis-gates-jr (Newspaper article by the Root Staff)

Arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr.

By: The Root Staff

July 20, 2009

As a senior at NEIU I have learned and come to comprehend that race is one of many structural factors that affect a person's life experiences. Along with race is gender, geography, economic security and class that minimizes the chances in life. I have learned that race is powerful and i have focused less on racial symbolism and more on understanding how race affects a person's life experience and life chances. The chances in life that become scarce or lack of is the access to education, health care, physical and economic security. The person life;s experience relates to experience with the criminal justice system or whether him or her grew up wealthy or in a public housing project. The example I am using as a reason for my belief of race having a affect on personal life experiences and life chances is Mr. Gates, who is a Harvard University professor that was wrongly arrested for opening up a jammed front door; may i add Mr. Gates was opening up his front door. I concluded this arrest incident of Mr. Gates as a signal of racism in law enforcement and some may say the police was doing their job. In general, Mr. Gates race affects his life chances and life experiences. Now Mr. Gates had the money and resources to contact a lawyer that was one of the best criminal lawyers in the country, which is a opportunity that is not available to most African Americans.