Men can only be equal on the Day we are all Equal,

"the truth is not always Beautiful, nor beautiful Words the truth"

Lao Tzu

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Albert Pine

Saturday, October 29, 2011

My Odd Hobby! The truth of 501(c ) 3 Not some half baked Opinion!

I first would like to make clear me researching 501(c) 3 Tax differed non profit organization records, Is to Me more than a hobby! It Is something I have chosen to do as A matter Of Conscience I do It because There are many Less fortunate than Myself who Do not have the opportunity or ability to do so, And they suffer at the hands of Many of these Non-Profit organizations. So know that it is to me more than a hobby. Because I feel it is something that has needed to be done for sometime and, People who think themselves to be doing the right thing by donating time, effort and resources to these organizations refuse to do. 
And I feel people should know the truth of these Org’s before giving them their all, they should have too them available the facts too be able to make a conscious decision, as to weather there efforts will be wasted.
I was accused recently in a Ill informed Post By A Mr David Noel AKA @jediladder on twitter as Being a person who does this research Only on Organizations that I hate. when Nothing could be further from the truth, I have also Done it to non-profits that have offered me Help in regaining my life and have Many times refused this help as a matter of principle, There are those critics of mine who would, That I believe Principles would only hold a man Like me back and make it more difficult to get out of homelessness, and they are correct,
It is far more difficult, however My principles unlike some People’s are not something I was willing to sacrifice for the sake of a place to Lay my weary head. And while finding some non-profit actions deplorable and against the very people they lay claim to help, I hate no one!  
Here are some fact’s to clarify the impertinent ranting's made in the post By This man.
The accrual accounting method is something difficult to read if you don’t know how it works Is one claim that was made, and I will tell you this it is,  Something simple actually because the accrual method is a business method used for outstanding accounts payable simply put and in layman's terms. It gives businesses the ability to function without cash flow or capital. It was devised for businesses doing business on credit purchases.
actual definition: An accounting method that measures the performance and position of a company by recognizing economic events regardless of when cash transactions occur. The general idea is that economic events are recognized by matching revenues to expenses (the matching principle) at the time in which the transaction occurs rather than when payment is made (or received). This method allows the current cash inflows/outflows to be combined with future expected cash inflows/outflows to give a more accurate picture of a company's current financial condition.  
It is used by most businesses and non-profits alike and has nothing to do with me claiming non-profits Profit from the homeless in most cases I say most as there are many who are not seeking profit.And May God bless them those who give expecting nothing in return He will repay!
the truth off non-Profits: this is the I.R.S. Rules of Non-profit agencies and the where of their failure,
A section 501(c)(3) organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, such as the creator or the creator's family, shareholders of the organization, other designated individuals, or persons controlled directly or indirectly by such private interests. No part of the net earnings of a section 501(c)(3) organization may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. A private shareholder or individual is a person having a personal and private interest in the activities of the organization.  This is also where accountability needs be laid upon the doorsteps of these organizations as they at the top of these organizations profiting are doing so on this end, through no bid building contracts expense account’s for founders and board members and wages and benefit’s for those upper level management employee’s and that is not said to reflect on the volunteer’s or entry level associate of the org’s the people who actually do the work that gets done. the following is the IRS code by which we do not Hold them accountable and By them I mean the ones that do profit from Homelessness.
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.
The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.
Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues.
I have over and over Again as of late along with many others been accused of being a Cyberbully, a Hater, and a terrorist. And this by People who are yes in fear! but Not of Me or others Their fear comes from people finding out the truth so I guess Truth is the true Source of their terror But we No longer live in an Era where they kill the messenger, a Good thing for those who point out the abuse The above mentioned Numbskull went as far as to say people are in violation of the Rico amendment RICO as defined by the department of Justice is applicable only to those conspiring to continue a criminal enterprise for profit by fraud threat or deception, hmmm, sounds Like The RICO amendment applies more to the Poverty Pimps Than those That out them!
I was Made aware of this Link By someone who does that,  Out’s people, I encourage everyone to Read this as it was Thought out and explains a lot of why the people who are in fear of truth do what they do to silence others.
Thank you for the Link You know who you are. 
http://vigilantcitizen.com/latestnews/the-25-rules-of-disinformation/
In the Article written so poorly By David I would be remiss if I did not also Link to It, and Not say I do agree with the beginning of the article He should not use the internet!
http://jediladder.com/  

Social media pitfalls and 501 (c) (3)’s

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Raising Awareness For The Homeless,Is It Needed?

I will now contend as I have for sometime that no it is not needed, There is not a person in America Who is not aware of the Homeless, From any conscionable age As A longtime Homeless person Myself I have Had Children as young as 5 years Old ask their Moms can they Help the Homeless Guy, and then proceed to give me the Chicken Nuggets and fries They could not eat and It has warmed Me both Body and spirit.
It is that time of year before the Holidays when Church’s, College’s Schools and every social gathering in the country begin to ask themselves the age old question what can we do for the Homeless? It Is after all the Holiday’s coming Up and no one deserves to suffer the indignities of being Homeless during the Holidays, right!
I am here to tell you They do Not deserve to suffer these indignities at anytime of the year as it is the Holidays people feel more inclined to move outside of their comfort zone and take action, as Pointed out in a recent article where the church and it’s Children arranged a Cardboard Campout for the Homeless, This article was pointed out to me on twitter By My sister In Christ Shay Kelly @Project5050  the Link to the article Camping in a Box. after I had read the article I thought back on last year around the holidays and the many people who flooded the internet raising awareness for the Homeless there Was The Nazarene Pastor who slept outside for 30days to raise awareness Ryan Riddell, There was The son who was homeless for 60daysand60nights who is the one person who I understand His effort as he stayed on the streets in Florida where his father was Homeless, then there was I Live In my Car  Will who hasn’t replied to me for some time on twitter or facebook and I often wonder where is Will as the question is still there on His website that has been free of post since January last as well as his inactive twitter and facebook accounts. These are only too name a few if I named all of the people who over the Last 2.3 decades of my homeless Life have came to raise awareness and then Faded into the sunset, I would be here for an eternity and the Homeless do not have that kind of time.
I will only say this If you this Holiday season want to raise awareness to the Homeless problem do as I suggested to all of these Men last year, Bring one Home with you encourage those in your Church to do the same sit them down with you at your family feast, do it without the care of are they going to walk out with the fine dinnerware or the silver candle sticks make them a part of your family and the Love you share during these upcoming Holidays Make them feel Human again. If you are worried about them sleeping in the cold Give them the spare Room in your House. Because I guarantee You this everyone you Know will then truly be aware and you will have done something. So as Shay says SpreadTheLove.     

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Do We Continue ?

At what Point is the Line In the Sand Drawn? Do we continue On in failure Simply because some Good is Being Done? Do We not question anyone simply because It is Unseemly to any given Cause? Do we Not ask That people be held accountable because No one is? Do we continue to Fund Unproductive programs that Are consuming all available resources? Do we work together with people who are doing more harm than Good?
In My opinion all valid questions That we need to ask both ourselves and others, In our failure to do so we simply allow for the broken system of Help for the homeless to continue! so I have often ask these very questions of Both Homeless Help Organizations, and Homeless advocates, Of which I am Neither. I am Just a Man who experienced Homelessness for over two decades. That experience Has alienated me from My Children My Siblings From My parents Before their passing,and from all of my Family.
Until the Last year I have only had friends who themselves were Homeless, and Of the Hundreds That I personally Know there are but a few that Have been able to pull themselves out of this life into one that was better, becoming housed. Most that have left this homeless life have left this Life altogether!
I speak Often of the Injustices of those who are known far and wide as Poverty pimps, they are organizations who By there own choosing and design profit from the Homeless in America and now reach around the globe to other continents , they are overly funded and have figured out the 501c3 non profit tax status affords them great opportunity to receive Both Government Grant and private sector donations to achieve very little, they are allowed to continue to receive funding and to do as little as possible to solve the homeless problem, people are aware of the problem with these organizations, and there continued failures and atrocities Against my fellowman, But often say what else can we do they are the only ones trying to help.
Therein is the hope in which they really exist, they exist in the Hope that we have no other choice, it is in this attitude with which they serve the Homeless they know because they are the homeless only option.
We are forced as homeless people to seek them out and agree to their terms of service or perish on the streets, this is the reason for their very existence because it has come to a point where the homeless would rather perish on the street than take what it is they have to offer. and only when they become so sick or so drained of hope are they then offered one of the programs which is structured from it inception to help those who are at the greatest risk of perishing on the streets and this is why they have in the last 10 or so years structured all of there programs around this, because the crossover rate from those thriving as homeless and those dying from it has started to swing to the latter. so it is designed to help the most at risk because of the health problems they now face secures them an income from social security or the long over due veterans pensions. the thing people fail to realize is what they are doing is not a homeless housing program but rather a disability housing program because homeless or not without an income you will not be placed into housing by any of these agencies.you may be granted an extended shelter stay however the day your disability is denied and there is no hope of you finding work failing economy infirmity or disability you will find yourself seeking shelter elsewhere.
And I would like people to know that this does not bother me half as much as homeless people who by help and shelter received, Or by being in the afore mentioned subsection of the homeless population receiving housing, are latched on to by these agencies and are praised as making it and in turn sing the praises of the system, not realizing that at it’s best it has never achieved a better than 19% success rate,and by there misguided praise of this system are condemning 81% of their homeless brothers and sisters to a life devoid of any assistance. and I in know way begrudge them the Help they Got I praise God For it it means It is one more person that will not perish on the streets.
I however am also of the belief that because God is able to use evil for Good, in know way justifies us Bowing down to this evil, and anyone who would profit from the misery and misfortune of others are truly evil.
Know we do have a choice people all over the world a now standing up and calling for Justice, and accountability to the profiteers of misery. so anyone advocating for the homeless should be doing the same. and not blindly following and praising them. If everyone involved would stand back for one week and watch and listen they would find that they sing each others praises enough. Today can be your chance however  to overcome darkness with your light
Much Love and Many blessings, God give you strength to do what is right!
       

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Living on the edge of Darkness

I can not tell you how blessed I have been In the past year,but I am going to try! after living on the streets of this country for over 2 decades, within the last year many of you who have come to know me and befriend me on the newest form of internet interaction the wonder of social media know that my life in the last year has drastically changed. I have going from what others call chronically homeless what I have called for years terminally homeless.To having a place to safely dwell a small job which provides me a place to live and a space of my own.
Most people looking at my life would say I now have everything I need to start my life over and this to a great degree is very much the truth,I have by the very definition of the word supportive housing and that given By people who have acted in faith and there desire to help people. if I live to be a hundred years old I can in no way repay them for the, Love trust and compassion they have shared with Me. This may well fly in the face of some but to me it is proof that God uses social Media Also.
But my being blessed beyond measure is not what I wish to convey, it is that there is that which I never imagined would come with the blessings, or maybe I did and just pushed it into the back of my mind and it has become a part of my persona and what has kept me homeless for so long, It is the guilt which now comes with being housed,the guilt of those I left behind, and the fear for those That I know won’t make it and find the blessings I have found because it isn’t just homeless people I left behind It was family and friends and loved ones the people who for years have been the only Love in my life and the ones who have always been there for me, people who I have met in the Highways and byways Under your bridges and In your alleyways, and with who I have shared the common bond of the oppression and human indignity we faced together these Men and women who I left behind are my brothers and sisters.
I feel as if I am one of the holocaust survivors who was only fortunate in the sense that I escaped the death camp, but know that tomorrow the gassings of my loved ones will continue on in my absence I sleep less than I ever have in my life, having suffered from insomnia for years that is of no great concern,what bothers me is now the fear of sleep. and the fear of waking and fearing that I might screw this up at any time, and that this may truly be my last shot at life and if I fail at this I am destined to die on the streets. the fear I have that is greatest is that I will no longer see or talk to these friends of mine that sleep outside this night.or will they as my life goes forward become only distant memories that soon fade into my past overshadowed by a brighter future. and I ask myself is this the reason why when the fight against homelessness become the subject matter of conversation, I get angry, I have to choke back tears and I labor to breath. because The bigger question I now often ask is why me Lord? why am I spared? there are so many more deserving and in need than I so why me?
Some would say it is even now an obsession with me because I daily search for Homeless people who have died Fearing the day when It is one that I know,I also ask myself what is wrong with me that I desire at times to return to My homeless life? where people viewed me as hopeless as if it where a bad thing because I had moved beyond hope to a place of contentment, and was happy having nothing because the people I most loved were my equals. and I wonder will they now look at me as if I am different? Or will they Know that I only sit here writing this because I am afraid to cry myself to sleep wondering if they are safe and fed and not suffering,were their needs met today as mine were I Just pray that it is so with them.
I simply wish to share with everyone that it is most difficult to get out of the homeless life because we as a society believe it should be simple not realizing that in order to leave the homeless life behind, You must also leave behind Everything that is dear to you. because for most people that are fighting the problem do not understand that while the homeless are not a part of our community and our society they have one of there own but in order to have the basic Human right to housing all that must be sacrificed. because of societies failure to recognize Housing and a safe place to dwell, as a Basic human right is why the problem persist to begin with. we would rather say they only exist because they are broken. and this is the Focus of every poverty Pimp in this country see if they convince people that they need to be fixed first, than you will continue to pay them to fix us when what needs fixed is we pay people to help others when we should if funding anything fund people to help themselves.
I have always said I was A blessed Man and that is Because I am, My greatest Blessing is That God has A plan For Me and I do not know what it is. But I have faith That if I keep My eye On him He will see Me through all of this.