A Conversation with Barack Obama

Talking Taxes on Tax Day

President Obama States that his Most Important Job is
Helping the American Worker Find a Job With a Living Wage

Richard R. Troxell nominated in Texas for Citizen of the Year

Ending Homelessness from a Socio-economic Perspective

Local Boy Makes Good and Does Good

Northampton MA City Council to vote on "living wage" resolution

HUD Fiscal Year 2010 Final Fair Market Rents are in!

A Stealthy Stimulus:
How boosting the minimum wage is helping to support the economy

ULW National Day of Action Press Release

Tent City Revisited

August 1, 2009

Opening Up A Dialog -- Asking For Support

Dear Mrs. Golden,

First of all I want to thank you for your consideration and your support of so many worthy causes. I am writing specifically in support of the Universal Living Wage campaign.

I simply cannot say enough about how central this issue is to almost every effort toward radical social change (radical meaning from the root). I first want to give you a little background about myself for context; then I want to outline the reasons why I find this campaign one of the most important at this time.

I grew-up in Venezuela, earned an MBA in the US and have always managed my own entrepreneurial ventures. I also have quite a lot of experience organizing community efforts, including political parties, immigrant rights and healthcare (CHIP).

In particular I was the main organizer of the Green Party in Texas in 1999/2000 and subsequently ran for Lieutenant Governor, while also managing an nonprofit for pregnant young mothers in the immigrant community. During my race and organizing efforts there I traveled to the most conservative places in Texas. I always received repeated invitations to appear on conservative radio shows as well as gaining the informal endorsement of the editorial board of the Waco Herald-Tribune. In the words of that newspaper, during the interview I simply stated the position of the Editorial Board.

The reason for this "success" is my focus on economic issues. I was cognizant of facts and numbers, and I had common sense, clear explanations for the solutions and initiatives I proposed.

It is during that time that I met Richard Troxell and got acquainted with the Universal Living Wage campaign. I simply cannot count the number of times since then, that the concept has surfaced as an elegant and equitable solution to key problems facing our society. What's more, it has the potential to actually stimulate and rejuvenate the economy. Just recently, I have again had the opportunity to bring up the issue, as per my email below. But Richard can speak much better about the campaign itself.

I want to focus on how infinitely grateful I am to the Universal Living Wage campaign and Richard Troxell for their constancy of effort and smart way to go about creating the momentum for this monumental change.

With very limited resources the ULW have nevertheless succeeded in maintaining a presence, always providing the logistics and materials for two of their key events, on Tax Day and on Labor Day. Some of us in Houston have displayed their banner over key highways - get people thinking. They have always provided the materials and suggested instructions in a timely and effective way - as well as provided an opportunity for diverse groups to meet and work together. What a great way to build coalitions and nurture social change!

As we contemplate the possibility of truly meaningful healthcare reform -something unthinkable a few years ago- I hope and envision the same to happen with the Universal Living Wage. We must move beyond the immoral "minimum wage" and the hurdle of "competing against cheaper labor" overseas. The Universal Living Wage campaign offers a vehicle to effect such change.

I therefore request you to consider the most generous donation to this campaign, knowing that you are supporting the ground work for profoundly meaningful social change.

Thank you for your consideration and all the work you do on behalf of the less fortunate.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Hi Richard,

I am so glad about your initiative - it makes so much sense.

I would like to receive a couple bumper stickers at my new address in Oregon (below). Mine is completely peeled off and I would like a couple on hand to give away (not many, just 2-3) I am sending a donation via paypal.

I have also mentioned the initiative/concept on a couple of calls placed at our community radio here in Portland - people do not know about the campaign, yet, invariably they are very interested. I think you would be very well received at a radio show on KBOO. I raised the concept recently at the morning talk Locus Focus, (specific show link here: http://kboo.fm/node/15163) hosted by Barbara Bernstein. The guest, Kim Klein, was very interested in the concept.

Noticed you did not have a contact in Oregon. I can't commit seriously as I am a single parent of a 3 year old in medical school. But just in case, please know you have an ally and I can help with pointed efforts.

Thanks for your work!
Nathalie Paravicini

Richard Troxell's response to an article in The Nation.

Tent City Revisited

Local Jobs Initiative Model Project

Living Wage Jobs Stimulus Proposal for People Experiencing Homelessness

On May 21, 2009, House the Homeless, Inc., the Texas Homeless Network and the Ending Community Homelessness Organization will host the Let's Get to Work Forum and Initiative. The forum, comprised of elected officials, employment and human service experts from Texas and across the U.S., will discuss how other communities have developed pathways to employment and housing for persons experiencing homelessness.

Here's all the information you need in Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® format:

• Agenda
• Event Promoters & Supporters
• Let's Get to Work Vision
• Registration form

Homeless Advocate Mines the Latest Issue of
"Out of Reach" For Primary Bullet Points

-- by Shannon Moriarty

"An individual working full-time at minimum wage cannot afford the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in any state in the U.S., according to a new study. Now more than ever, low-wage workers are facing significant barriers to making ends meet, and the lack of affordable housing just complicates matters. This explains why most low-income families are one paycheck, one sickness, or one personal tragedy away from missing a rent or mortgage payment and becoming homeless.

The report, entitled "Out of Reach", was released last week by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)."

Read more of this article at "Barriers to Affordable Housing".

Photos from NEWS in Petaluma, CA

More Endorsements

We now have over 1,600 organizational endorsers of the Universal Living Wage Campaign in all 50 states, as well as Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Canada and Scotland! We've got at least five groups in every state! Visit our Endorsements page to see those groups who have stood up and made themselves heard for a universal living wage.

Our new Regional Endorsers:

• American Federation of Teachers Local 5049 (New London, CT)
• Indiana Armstrong Clarion CLC AFL-CIO (Lucerne, PA)
• GCC IBT District Council 3 (Cincinnati, OH)
• Laborer's International Laborers' Local 1015 (Canton, OH)
• Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (Burlington, VT) renewal

We are launching a new competitive initiative among ourselves. The business, nonprofit, union or faith based organization that puts together the "best" National Day of Action will hold the crown of Universal Living Warrior Supreme! For six months the picture that captures that enthusiasm will be featured on the web site until the next National Day of Action when the new champion earns bragging rights. Oklahoma Labor Union 916 is our 1st winner. Congratulations!

Bonus! In these hard times, we need something uplifting among ourselves so from this point forward, we will be awarding a digital camera to the winner of the "best" action or the "most improved" action following each National Day of Action! The first camera is a Cannon Power Shot SD 750 Digital Elph with 7.1 mega pixels, 3.0" LCD, and 3x optical zoom. Sweet! This is really cool camera valued at over $400.00!

We hope to inspire you and help you have fun in these tough times that scream for the Universal Living wage. Everyone calls for affordable housing. Everyone calls for affordable health care. Everyone calls for affordable transportation. The operative word is "affordable". Money makes the world go round. The one, broad-based answer to problems that face workers across America is living wages.

Let's get out there. Let's go to our post offices, get on our bridges, march in our parades and photograph our historical movement that ensures that anyone working 40 hours in a week will be able to afford basic food, clothing, shelter including utilities and access to health care.

February 2008

Dear Philip Mangano, Executive Director, US Interagency Council on Homelessness:

The Ten Year Plans coming out of American cities and being promoted by the federal government in an effort to end “chronic” homelessness cannot do so without addressing serious economic concerns of people experiencing homelessness.

Obviously, there are many aspects to homelessness. However, on one level we can divide homelessness into two distinct economic categories: those who work and those who are unable to work. Sustainable responses to these economic categories can be characterized as establishing “Livable Incomes.”

Presently, there are over one million minimum wage workers experiencing homelessness on an annual basis. Although working a full time minimum wage job, a person cannot afford basic rental housing throughout urban America. This is true even with the pending minimum wage of $7.25 per hour by July of 2009. Historically, Congress has embraced the practice of only increasing the minimum wage to a level that takes the American worker less than the economic distance necessary to climb out of poverty. The current minimum wage structure does not elevate the minimum wage worker to a level where they can afford basic housing and the other core necessities of life. Decidedly, the current Congressional approach only ensures their position in the ranks of America’s homeless population. At the same time, while these individuals meet the definition of “chronic” homelessness with four or more instances of homelessness over a three year period, none of America’s 10 year plans provide a solution to this problem.

House the Homeless, Inc. in Austin, Texas conducted a survey in December 2007 of 625 people experiencing homelessness. Astonishingly, 38% indicated that they were currently working, yet still homeless. Upon releasing the survey results (margin of error of 3.98%) we were notified that in Atlanta, Georgia, 45% of their homeless population were working at some point during the week. From Fredericksburg, VA, we learned that 54% were working “at significant jobs.” In Austin, we also posed the question: “Would you work a 40 hour week job if you were sure it would pay you enough for basic food, clothing and shelter [a living wage]?” The resounding affirmative response was that 90.7 % said they would work 40 hours for a living wage. Apparently, the work ethic is there but the wage is not.

Then there is the situation affecting people who cannot work, but who in 2008 will receive a government stipend in the form of Supplemental Security Income, SSI, in the amount of $637.00 throughout the nation. This is about half of the federal minimum wage and again wholly inadequate to sustain independent living without being further heavily subsidized with some kind of government supported “affordable” housing. Securing housing in Washington, DC, Boston, MA or Santa Cruz, CA etc. in the general housing market with an annual salary of less than $14,000 or even half that per year is not possible.

In order to stimulate the economy, specifically the housing industry, and to end “chronic homelessness” for a significant portion of the nation’s homeless community, we must:

1) establish the principle/formula that by using existing government guidelines including the HUD Section 8 formula and the HUD Standard that no one should pay more than 30% of their income on housing, we can ensure that anyone found by the federal government to be disabled will receive a monthly stipend, (SSI), that enables them to afford basic food, clothing, and shelter (including utilities) wherever that person lives throughout the United States.

2) establish the principle/formula that by using existing government guidelines including the HUD Section 8 formula and the HUD Standard that no one should pay more than 30% of their income on housing, we can permanently fix the federal minimum wage and ensure that anyone working 40 hours in a week will be able to afford basic food, clothing, shelter (including utilities) wherever that work is done throughout the United States. See www.UniversalLivingWage.org to read support statistics, the mathematical formula and the hardest asked and answered questions found in our Facts and Myths Section.

By indexing to the local cost of housing, we ensure affordable housing throughout the US. This simple approach mirrors US Military pay practices (Base Housing Allowance).

We strongly encourage the Interagency Council on Homelessness to adopt our resolution and send the United States Congress and the US Department of HUD the clear message that our focus on homelessness: 1) must be for all those experiencing homelessness, not just “chronic” individuals, and 2) we must fix the Supplemental Security Insurance program and the Federal Minimum Wage ensuring that all participants (workers and those unable to work) can afford basic, food, clothing, and shelter (including utilities) throughout the United States.

Sincerely,

Richard R. Troxell
President and Co-Founder, House the Homeless, Inc.
Universal Living Wage National Chairman,
National Coalition for the Homeless
Executive Committee Coordinator, Livable Incomes

Enclosures: please find 1642 endorsing organizations consisting of businesses, non-profits, faith- based organizations, and unions collectively representing over 1,000,000 registered voters.

cc: President George W. Bush, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, ICOH-Nat, Reg, TX

January 7, 2008

House the Homeless Smashes Homeless Myth

yes: 199
no: 327
non-responses: 0
37.8% are working.

Hours of work ranged from 2-3 hours per day to 40+ per week

yes; 472
no: 48
6 non-responses
89.7% want to work.

Of those responding, 90.8% want to work.

Ranked in order of highest importance:

health issues 62
can’t find work 60
disabled 56
no identification 50
economics/ low wages 21
“me” 18
transportation 17
criminal history/legal 16
need tools/clothes 10
lack experience/education 7
retired/age 6
weather 5
day care 4
new to area 4
personal problems 4
time 2
undocumented 2
ethical concerns 1

Note: Several people cited more than one barrier.

yes: 468
no: 48
non-responses: 10
89% would work a 40 hour week for living wages.

Of those responding, 90.7% would work 40 hours for a living wage.

yes: 360
no: 164
non-responses: 2
31.2% need photo identification.

Of those responding, 31.3% need photo ID.

Ranked in order of highest importance.

1. need ID documents to get photo ID 39
2. costs 38
3. application pending 8
3. no reason “me” 8
3. criminal record 8
4. don’t want to miss work 2
5. hopelessness 1
5. time 1
5. health issue (brain injured) 1

yes: 121
no: 401
non-responses: 4
23% are Veterans.

Of those responding, 23.2% are Veterans.

Economist David Alexander On What Happens
When People Earn Above a Minimum Wage

"Ten Myths About Homelessness" video
now available at CAN Homeless Task Force website

Minimum Wage Increase Is Good for Business

"People who tell you that raising the minimum wage will hurt small business are flat out full of it," said Lew Prince, co-owner of Vintage Vinyl, a music retail business in St. Louis. "Small business owners know that keeping workers is easier and cheaper than finding and training new ones."

http://www.alternet.org/story/47375/

1. unscheduled absenteeism dropped to almost zero overnight
2. there was almost complete stoppage of internal theft
3. there was significant reduction of employee turnover
4. there was significant reduction in retraining costs
5. his employees then became his own customers, creating a positive economic feedback mechanism for his own business.

Homelessness a Threat for Iraq Vets

Herold Noel had nowhere to call home after returning from military service in Iraq. He slept in his Jeep, taking care to find a parking space where he wouldn't get a ticket.

"Then the nightmares would start," says the 26-year-old former Army private first class, who drove a fuel truck in Iraq. "I saw a baby decapitated when it was run over by a truck. I relived that every night."

Across America on any given evening, hundreds of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan like Noel are homeless, according to government estimates. The reasons for their plight are many. For some, residual stress from daily insurgent attacks and roadside bombs makes it tough to adjust to civilian life; some can't navigate government assistance programs; others simply can't afford a house or apartment.

They are living on the edge in towns and cities big and small, from Washington state to California and Florida. Some of the hardest hit are in New York City, where housing costs "can be very tough," says Peter Dougherty, head of the federal government's Homeless Veterans Program. Studio apartments routinely exceed $1,000 a month no small sum for veterans trying to land on their feet.

As a member of the National Guard, Nadine Beckford patrolled New York train stations after the Sept. 11 attacks, then served a treacherous year in the Gulf region.

But when she returned home from Iraq, she found her storage locker had been emptied of all of her belongings and her bank account had been depleted. She believes her boyfriend took everything and "just vanished."

Six months after her return to America, she lives in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, sharing a room with eight other women and attending a job training program. Her parents live in Jamaica and are barely making ends meet, she says. "I'm just an ordinary person who served. I'm not embarrassed about my homelessness, because the circumstances that created it were not my fault," says Beckford, 30, who was a military-supply specialist at a U.S. base in Iraq a sitting duck for around-the-clock attacks "where hell was your home."

It was a "hell" familiar to Noel during his eight months in Iraq. But it didn't stop when he returned home to New York last year and couldn't find a job to support his wife and three children. Without enough money to rent an apartment, he turned to the housing programs for vets, "but they were overbooked," Noel says.

While he was in Iraq, his family had lived in military housing in Georgia. In New York, they ended up in a Bronx shelter "with people who were just out of prison, and with roaches," Noel says. "I'm a young black man from the ghetto, but this was culture shock. This is not what I fought for, what I almost died for. This is not what I was supposed to come home to."

There are about 200,000 homeless vets in the United States, according to government figures. About 10 percent are from either the 1991 Gulf War or the current one, about 40 percent are Vietnam veterans, and most of the others served when the country was not officially at war.

"In recent years, we've tried to reach out sooner to new veterans who are having problems with post-traumatic stress, depression or substance abuse, after seeing combat," says Dougherty. "These are the veterans who most often end up homeless." About 350 nonprofit service organizations are working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans.

But the veterans still land on a hard bottom line: Almost half of America's 2.7 million disabled veterans receive $337 or less a month in benefits, according to the government. Fewer than one-tenth are rated 100 percent disabled, meaning they get $2,393 a month, tax free.

"And only those who receive that 100 percent benefit rating can survive in New York," says J.B. White, a 36-year-old former Marine who served with a National Guard unit in Iraq. His colon was removed after he was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis, which civilian medical experts believe started in Iraq under the stress of war.

"I'd be homeless if it weren't for the support of my family," says White, who is trying to win benefits from the VA. He also helps others, like Beckford, as head of a Manhattan-based social service agency that finds non-government housing for vets.

Noel now attends a program to get work in studio sound production. He was the protagonist of the documentary film "When I Came Home," which was named best New York-made documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. Just after the news reports about his plight, he learned the government was granting him the 100 percent disability compensation he sought after being turned down.

Noel doesn't blame the Army, which "helped make my dreams come true," he says, recalling the military base life in Georgia and in Korea that his family enjoyed before his deployment to Iraq. "I had a house, a car they gave me everything they promised me," he says. "Now it's up to the government and the people we're defending to take care of their soldiers."

(From AP Wire)

Immigration, Minimum Wage, and Homelessness

Rent shuts many out:
Low-income families are losing ground, study says

Did You Miss SELLING WOMEN SHORT: THE LANDMARK BATTLE FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS AT WAL-MART?

Illegal Immigrants will take those minimum wage jobs...

A New Endorsement Category is Born!

Do People receiving tips need to be paid a living wage?

10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

US Military Indexes Wages to the Local Cost of Housing!

The headline says it all--the US government uses the Base Allowance for Housing (BAH) "to provide uniformed service members accurate and equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets, and is payable when government quarters are not provided." How do they determine the BAH? It's based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status.

Beginning January 1, 1998, the Defense Finance and Accounting System introduced BAH to replace the Variable Housing Allowance (VHA) and Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ) programs because "the old VHA/BAQ housing allowance system was unable to keep up with housing costs, and members were being forced to pay larger out-of-pocket costs than originally intended. With BAH, increases are indexed to housing cost growth instead of the pay raise, thus protecting members from any further erosion of housing benefits over time."

The BAH is calculated by "computing ... local price data of rentals, average utilities and insurance". Sound familiar?

The Secretary of Defense determines "the cost of adequate housing in a Military Housing Area (AHA)". The above information came from the Department of Defense Website and the Defense Finance and Accounting System Website. Below are their links respectively:

http://www.dod.mil/comptroller/fmr/07a/07A26.pdf

http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/bahintro.html

Henry Ford thought of it first...A Living Wage makes sense.

What our Representatives in Congress are saying......

"If there is going to be a minimum wage – and there are strong free-market arguments against it – than having a variable minimum wage tied to the local cost of housing could be fairer than the current system. In some future year, Labor Day might include the celebration of a new kind of minimum wage."
—Lamar Smith (R-TX, 21st District)

Number of People Living in Poverty in U.S. Increases Again

Universal Living Wage Widens its Base of Support!

February brought support from national arenas when ROCK THE VOTE-comprised of students organizing to get out the vote across the nation, moved to support the campaign. In other national support, the Rainbow/Push Coalition also lent its considerable influence when it too endorsed the Universal Living Wage Campaign.

Locally, veterans got on board in Texas when the Travis County Service Veteran's Organization enthusiastically endorsed the campaign to fix the Federal Minimum Wage.

Today, 700+ organizations have new pledged support to the ULW campaign which is based on the moral premise that anyone working a 40 hour week should be able to afford basic rental housing wherever that work is done throughout the United states.

The Universal Living Wage initiative is considered the Economic Cornerstone of the National Coalition for the Homeless: Campaign to end homelessness—BRING AMERICA HOME.

To view the Universal Living Wage formula, endorse the campaign on line and learn details of our April 15th National Night Out at our Nation's Post Offices, go to the What's New button at www.UniversalLivingWage.org

On the Political Front

The following statement was presented the last week in February in a Washington, DC press conference about the new Welfare reform initiative. It relates to the Bringing America Home campaign being rolled out by the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) to end homelessness nationwide. The campaign will come out in March 2003.

"With the passage of HR 4 (the welfare reform bill) in the House of Representatives, the United States Congress has reiterated its desire for 70% of all welfare recipients to be in work related activities by 2008. This repackaging of welfare programs as employment programs precludes the inclusion of any educational or other supportive enhancements that are documented as vital in people's efforts to move out of poverty.

"While we applaud efforts by the Department of Labor to address the underlying employment needs of people living in poverty, we have concerns that the latest welfare legislation is merely moving people into low-wage employment.

"NCH believes that any programs that aim to alleviate poverty in this country through employment initiatives must be based on the moral premise that everyone who works a forty hour week must be able to afford housing and other basic necessities.

"The cornerstone of the National Coalition's economic justice initiative, the Bringing America Home campaign, is a Universal Living Wage. Additionally, the National Coalition believes in the core principle that all persons are entitled to a basic living income.

"We call for the passage of the Bringing America Home Act and the Universal Living Wage, providing true welfare reform that is equitable for all, provides economic advancement, and ensures that all people in this country have a decent, safe, and affordable place to call home."

Universal Living Wage Victory!

"Travis County the home of the Texas State Capitol has endorsed the Universal Living Wage! By a margin of four to one, the Travis County Commissioners, led by County Judge Sam Biscoe, cast a historic vote on Tuesday, July 9th 2002 when it became the first county in the United States to endorse the campaign for income equity."

The goal of the campaign is to fix the federal minimum wage and ensure that anyone working a forty hour week will be paid a minimum wage that will allow them to afford basic rental housing. Visit www.UniversalLivingWage.org. See the What’s New button for more."

Karen Sonleitner, the sole dissenting vote, said that she felt that while she applauded the efforts of the initiative, she felt it would be disingenuous of her to ask the federal government to call for the paying of a living wage when the County of Travis had not done so. Richard Troxell, the Universal Living Wage National Chairman, thanked Ms. Sonleitner for her concerns and perspective and explained that this was not the first time that this concern had been expressed. Mr. Troxell explained that many businesses, non-profits and other government entities were in similar situations. However, through the concept of Enlightened Markets it is possible for all organizations to endorse the concept. Under the concept of Enlightened Markets those entities that believe that every full time worker deserves a roof over their head can endorse the concept and pledge to align their budgets with the Universal Living Wage formula over the next few years."

Mr. Troxell went on to point out that we didn’t start out with 3.2 million people experiencing homelessness overnight ( half of whom are working) and now it will take time to correct the situation. Government entities will need to find stronger economic times while businesses will need time to adjust their budgets and non-profits will need to convince their grantors to increase the employees’ wage components of their grants. In doing so even these, the most generous of the working poor, can be paid a living wage."

The task at hand is to send the message to the federal government that “out here in the field” we need relief. The federal government is clinging to an out dated method for establishing the federal minimum wage. This piece of the system is broken but here is a reasonable, measured, logical way to fix it using existing government guidelines. . . index it to the local cost of housing across the United States."

Universal Living Wage Home Run!

At its annual convention, the Communication Workers of America International, CWA, representing over 650,000 registered voters, unanimously endorsed the Universal Living Wage!

Union delegates from all over the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico amassed in Las Vegas June 17th- June 19th. After strong endorsing speeches from across the United States, CWA voted unanimously to pass the supporting resolution.

CWA Local 6132 President Ray Flores, out of Austin, Texas introduced the resolution. Texas was joined by delegations from Ohio and Michigan who also urged the passage of the Universal Living wage that will permanently fix the Federal Minimum wage and ensure that anyone working a 40 hour week will be able to afford basic rental housing across America.

The Communication Workers of America International has not only endorsed the resolution but vowed to work diligently for bill passage.

Visit our interactive website www.UniversalLivingWage.org and add your voice/ endorsement and that of your organization to this fast growing movement to fix the federal minimum wage.

In Unity There is Strength—

Richard R. Troxell
National Chairman

Victory! Our First Municipality!

On May 9th, 2002, the City of Austin endorsed the Universal Living Wage Campaign and became the first municipality to tell Congress to fix the Federal Minimum Wage! The City of Austin also told them to use the Universal Living Wage formula—Index the wage to the local cost of housing and ensure that none spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Finally, the Council pledged to work to align their wages with the Universal Living Wage formula over the next few years. Toby Futrell, the Austin City Manager, estimated that the city is currently underpaying the least of its employees "roughly" eight (8) million dollars. This figure includes temporary workers and those that contract with the City. Ms. Futrell acknowledged that the lion's share of costs will be for 1500 temporary workers.

The basic message being sent to Congress is clear—failure to fix the Federal Minimum Wage has a very real and negative financial impact on municipalities. As minimum wage workers fall into homelessness, the cities of America have become saddled with the costs to build Homeless Resource Centers, Emergency Shelters, provide tens of thousands of counselors providing tens of thousands of hours of counseling, pay endlessly for food stamps, provide millions in Continuum of Care dollars, build and maintain Community Courts, pass special laws regarding "Quality of Life" Issues and divert precious Police hours enforcing these contrived laws against unemployed minimum workers.

Join the National Movement to fix the Federal Minimum Wage...Log on and sign on...www.UniversalLivingWage.org . Invite your organization to endorse the campaign. Carry the the cause to your city council. Their desire to receive financial relief will surprise you. Contact us for specific strategies. Thank you.

In Unity There is Strength,

Richard R. Troxell
National Chairman

Homelessness, Long-term Change, and the Universal Living Wage Campaign

Richard Troxell, the National Chairman of House the Homeless's (HTH) Universal Living Wage Campaign, has written a letter summarizing the reason HTH created the Universal Living Wage website. The site is a continuation of our mission to end homelessness in our lifetime. "Our goal is to root out the core causes of homelessness, isolate them, and take a pragmatic approach to ensure long-term systemic change. " The three areas upon which we focus to accomplish this task are Affordable Housing, Livable Incomes, and Health Care. The ULW formula attempts to address the first two areas.

However, not everyone sees the Living Wage campaigns in this light. Richard concisely explains what we are suggesting and the discussion we hope to inspire, as well as offering a link to another point of view--those opposed to a minimum wage which will allow a roof over the head of every working American.

Take a look at this latest message from our leader.

The Universal Living Wage campaign kicked off in Austin, TX on April 16th, 2001— Tax Day. The connection was clear. If minimum wage workers are earning a Universal Living Wage then the tax subsidy paid to business that comes in the form of food stamps and welfare could (except in absolute emergency situations) be dispensed with.