Latest Updates RSS

• 

  sydneyhomeless 6:32 pm on November 10, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   

• sydneyhomeless 1:00 pm on July 22, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Just Enough Faiths Birthday

  

  Happy Birthday Just Enough Faith since 24th July 1993

  

  24th July Happy Birthday Just Enough Faith

  The Sydney Homeless and Marginalised Communities wish Just Enough Faith “Many Happy Returns” on the 24th July. Just Enough Faith ,born in the Chinese Year of the Rooster, the many among us who know Just Enough Faith will recognise the many Rooster traits taken on by the organisation.The Rooster characterics are in fact what set JEF apart from its lesser counterparts, always striving to do better. Teams of dedicated suppliers volunteers and helpers forever thinking, how can we make things better- for Sydneys marginalised people and communities.Sheer single minded determination is what made Just Enough Faith -the charity which time and time again raised the bar defining normal marginalised services.

   As Just Enough Faith reaches her 16th birthday, like many teens there are changes brought on by new challenges. These challenges are disguised opportunities to become an even better independent delivery focussed resource…. regardless of the intentions of others.

   The Sydney Homeless community honour Just Enough Faith, the Gambins who founded it and put so much of their own time energy skills and resources into it, and the many dedicated volunteers and supporters who made it all work. What an achievement, happy 16th!!! And may there be many more.

   A small celebration at the foodvan 24th….

  

  ————————————————————————————————————————————————-

  1993 Year of the Rooster

  Roosters are the most eccentric of the Chinese zodiac. They are full of dreams and romantic ideas. They are colorful and attractive, radiant and dashing, and they are quite proud of themselves. Roosters are organized, precise,and their sharp eyes seek out fine details in everything. They are perfectionists and leave no room for human error. To Roosters, a difficult task is a challenge. They dearly love controversies. Roosters express themselves very well both in writing and speech. They are knowledgeable in most subjects you wish to discuss. When you challenge them you must be prepared for a long fight. Their stamina is amazing and they win their point at all costs.

  Roosters can be blunt and brutal. Their direct approach to life makes them poor diplomats. They speak their minds with little regard for the feelings of others.Why should others be upset? Roosters are right, aren’t they?

  Roosters are good at handling money and their self-control with keeping budgets is phenomenal. They are not miserly, and in fact, they can be extremely generous and giving. If you have trouble, Roosters quickly straighten you out .  Roosters are careful with their time and plan things well. Roosters are sincere in their desire to help and no one can carry out important tasks like them. Just be certain your orders are explicit and don’t expect them to improvise for you on their own time.

  Roosters are ambitious and they reach for the sky. They have a deep passion for their chosen fields, and they are very creative. They usually start out young in life and enjoy success early in their careers. They are meticulous and competent enough to make things work. When they set out to accomplish something, they leave no stone unturned. They probe deeply with their inquisitive, busy minds. They never remain still. Roosters must learn that some things take time. No matter how competent they are, they can’t reprogram the whole world to fit their schedules! They achieve the most amazing things often becoming eccentric over the final details.

  Never underestimate Roosters. They are optimistic and dauntless. They never change their course of action even if the world thinks they are wrong! They are so determined to make some of their wild and idealistic plans work that their plans often do work. With their many splendid talents and eccentric ways, Roosters hit it big!

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:00 am on July 22, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alina Gambin, Cheap Food, destroy charity, Exodus Foundation, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, homeless, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, John Oliver, just enough faith, marginalised assistance

  Gambin good news…and weekly update…and proof of Teles misreporting

  The good news is that the Gambins now have no further legal issues going forward.The traffic offence type tax misdemeanour resulted in a judgement involving payment of $119 in court costs-NOT $22000 restitution as falsified by the Tele. 

   The beginning of the end is nigh for the anticipated benefactors of the  orchestrated litany of lies conspiratorially concocted by John Oliver and his underlings, brewed by the media and cooked by Exodus in collaboration with NSW Govts OLGR. Well peepz, we can now report that their resulting concoction is an inedible goulash-similar to some of the main meals recently served up. It may well pain those greedy parties who thought that they would become the prime benefactors following their engineered demise of Just Enough Faith- but its time for you all to suck it and see!!

  

  Homeless Services Leaders Jef and Alina Gambin

  Contrary to false mainstream media reports in the Tele, which we attribute to a one eyed apology for a journo who happens to be a neighbour to one of the conspirators and Tele employee, Jef and Alina DID NOT have to pay $22000 in Taxes- heres a letter from their lawyer stating as much- http://jefvolunteers.org/sol_email.html  (suck it & see)_posted on the JEF Volunteer website, which explains the full outcome of Jef and Alinas case. There are severe penalties,including disbarment, for lawyers knowingly making false statements, and in any case, why would their lawyer lie?

   You will note by comparison of the outcome of these proceedings as related by Jade Lawyers, with the mainstream media stories, that they may well be discussing two completely different cases. The mainstream media published fabrications are clearly an unrestrained personal attack on Jef Gambin and vindictive attempt to excorcise the demon that Just Enough Faith had become for pseudo-charities and an incompetent State Government- carried out as a pack of unchecked, unrestrained dogs. The presiding magistrates ruling and recognition of the inadvertent misdemeanour nature of the “offence” relating to tax, and the lawyers statement as to a lack of further proceedings, is clearly at odds with the media beatup. Clearly, News Ltd drove the media coverage and it seems ay well be called to answer for what have now been confirmed as their indiscretions. As, we hope, should other parties to this despicable conspiracy.

  John Oliver has put his name to the unlawful removal of certain documents from JEF offices. Exodus and the OLGR e their so far unpublished MOU, and undoubtedly an unwritten agenda. Exodus thought they were going to get Jef assets, which were donated to a non faith based charity, not a church- for the provision of services to SYDNEY HOMELESS, not Ashfield or even Lilyfield (although they are welcome at JEFs corner. We understand that Jef Gambin

  

  Just Enough Faith ....Perfectly Simple and Effective

  thought as much of Olivers grand plan for JEF, as luckless investors now think of his Babcock & Brown. Jef being Jef, he would have told him so. Apparently Oliver has issues with all kinds of rejection- we’re told its treatable.

    Micro businessman Alan Byrne has also proudly pinned his name to his own little treacheries- his is understood to be the sole allegation of financial misconduct upon which the OLGR is acting…based on published information. An FOI request would soon reveal precisely what complaints or perhaps requests, OLGR may be acting on. 

     In sifting through the carnage created by the malicious, there are some worrisome features. On the basis of the information which we have,we are unable to fathom where and how the OLGR have legitimacy to place JEF in administration- unless there is further information available to lawyer for parties to the issue, which we are not privy to.Clearly, two of the most respected minds in the legal profession concurred that there ARE GROUNDS-and we must respect their view. Our legals, who are not parties, cannot fathom what the information we are missing may be! As we continue to sift and attempt to find answers, we have found some references by public commentators to issues and facts not widely known. In the days of clay drainage pipes,drainers would pump smoke through newly completed pipeworks, smoke would rise from all flawed pipes and joins.We are about to conduct our own version of smoke testing, and hope to have conclusive evidence to share sooner rather than later.

  However legitimate the siezure of JEF by OLGR may be, it is equally clear that the administrator has virtually from the outset, acted in contravention of his mandate.The OLGRs maestro of administration incompetence in his inimitably duplicitous way, has put about that “the Jef Vans are only on loan to Exodus.Exodus obviously don’t think so,they immediately set about wrecking the carefully thought out food service system in JEFS main foodvan, and substituted it with the yellow monstrosity at a reportedly outrageous rental, reportedly from a friend of someone in the Exodus office(nice, legal rort).Certainly NOT the actions of a recipient of loaner vehicles. In addition, we believe that the high priest of administrative incompetence hired in a “technician” who stuffed the coolroom, providing a pretext to legitimise the transfer of all frozen/refrigerated foodstocks, of which we understand much was dumped by Exodus.

  In short,our strongest advice to volunteers, JEF people and anyone else associated with Just Enough Faith approached by the administrator is that any and all instructions/orders/ made by him should be in writing- and then check with lawyers to assess their legitimacy. If you don’t have legal advice available,we do.Verbal instructions,suggestions and orders have as much legal standing as the wind entering his mouth and blowing his tongue around,are little more than verbal diahhorea and should be treated with the scorn which they so richly deserve.

   So you thought JEF and the Gambins were gone for all money??? Wrong bet!!! This is merely a further opportunity to develop a leaner,cleaner organisation, with an even greater focus on exemplary service delivery to the Sydney Homeless and Marginalised community.

   And all you pseudo charities and govt departments who “legitimately” milk revenues in the name of marginalised communities, while feathering your organisational self interest, SydneyHomeless suggest that you watch out for the runaway freight train we are driving- hell bent on ensuring that we maximise returns to marginalised communities from EVERY DOLLAR VALUE donated…..by whatever means necessary.

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:32 am on July 19, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  The Week in Review

  Rough Sleepers Count

  Having several disbelieving agency types contact us sceptically questioning the veracity of our daily Rough Sleepers count. The reasons for the disparity between our, and official figures, is multi-faceted. We think the most common mistake is to assume that most rough sleepers actually sleep at night- we find about 30 percent of long term rough sleepers and a larger number of “street newbies” sleep by day and live nocturnally. Thats why our count spans 24 hour cycles. A second factor is knowing where to count- we go because we know. We can’t divulge the locations to agencies without the consent of rough sleepers, and in any case are reluctant to do so; with a single change of policy, council or any govt dept can clamp down- made easier if they know where to look.

  Off Streets Program

  has provided 56 kids aged 5-12 in the company of their parent/parents/guardian/older sibling in “a weeks accommodation” “somewhere in the city” thanks to the understanding support of our anonymous donor base, who largely use their company credit cards to secure rooms for young people. We also do not thank all sections of NSW Government who have made DOCS and their related NGOS/departments THE NUMBER ONE THREAT to child safety and family security, more especially for ethnic and indigenous communities who are invariably systemically persecuted and culturally raped by the monocultural anglo-centric DOCs regime and its recently amended empowering legislation. We keep no records of this program nor the names of families or individuals. We have systems which ensure that accommodation resources are untraceable, an underground railroad used even by anglo families who fear persecution. Yes, we do suggest DOCS to some as an alternative-do you think we like dragging our friends out of bed to pay for accom? Only 2 families have rung DOCS and one stated that DOCs offered to “take their baby off their hands”-declined. So one family happily accommodated(out of 38) by DOCS(NSW Childrens Services) is hardly scintillating success by any measure- we categorise it as a shameful failure.

   We would love for there to be a government department which could give children and marginalised families protection.Instead,we are confronted by the reality that the very department seen as the protector is THE MAJOR THREAT.

   So we have no alternative than to continue to leverage the best possible outcomes in terms of Child and Family protection, that we can-and will continue to do so.

  New Programs

  Today we join with Homeless and Community Direct to announce the following programs which are directed by that grouping-

  Phones for Marginalised-may save a life.

  Did you know that even without a sim, a locked phone can still be used to call 000 in emergency? Our aim is to collect old working phones(with chargers) for distribution to homeless and community members. If you can provide a sim, thats even better and the phones don’t have to be flash-just functional. We will provide emergency announcements to community members via twitter or SMS on such issues as known dangers .A camera phone can also be used to obtain valuable evidence in the case of attacks witnessed by our community. The url for Sydney Phone Donations will be posted shortly (as soon as we are notified).

  We encourage Non Sydney Marginalised communities to copy this program into your community-before the poverty industry decide to raise a few mil from doing it. SHUT THE POVERTY INDUSTRY OUT OF THIS.

  Marginalised Empowerment Initiative;

  We are over seeing marginalised people exploited as a cheap form of labour by charities NGOs and private enterprise- and decided to do something about it. We offer One Day Courses (including 48 hours of internet use, for $50) which show participants in simple pracitcal ways, how to build and drive a steady and growing internet based income. Our partners have trialled this program successfully for the past month and are now ready to deliver. URL soon.

  Homeless Homestays

  These have proved popular among tourists and our homeless community with some guides now doing 3 guests per week. URL update soon

  Other News

  Foodvans

  Foodvan operations have seen more people flocking to the Vinnies Foodvans as the Exodus provided Jefs Corner service continues to vaccillate in the range of institutional to mediocre. Sydney Homeless will not accept this standard of service as a norm. This foodvan site remains the only place available to homeless women and children to eat an evening meal. It was for 16 years the superior provider of free evening meal services until the NSW Govt callously stole the resources from non faith based Just Enough Faith and gave them to Christian Exodus, to the continuing chagrin of donors, volunteers and homeless alike. Its very simple.If users can’t rely on getting a decent meal there EVERY NIGHT, they stop coming at all-thats what always set Jefs Corner Foodvans apart from the poverty industry who bludge funds in our name with full govt consent, yet use the funds for their construction, research salary and other purposes WHICH DO NOT BENEFIT US.

  It has been our intention to establish parallel delivery systems in conjunction with Exodus, however, there has been considerable resistance from potential supporters following publication of a comment attributed to Parramatta Mission questioning why Exodus have received $200k in funding to feed homeless, and they none. The resistance is based on the reasonable perception of “why should we subsidise what Exodus are funded to do?”

  We have always understood that the NSW government intention, and a driving reason why a single complainant to the OLGR was able to wreak such havoc on Just Enough Faith, is that government do not promote or endorse high standards of service to the homeless and marginalised- If you feed rats more will come. And it seems that their cavalier servant Bill Crews is only too happy to oblige-if the price is right!!!

   Meanwhile, Vinnies foodvans reports from our observers of larger than normal patronages at all stops excepting Green Park. We wonder why they go there when even the Youth Off the Streets Van has seriously low numbers and we think attend purely to keep that DOCs funding stream in place-no kids are known to use it. As expressed elsewhere, our thanks to Vinnies school groups and mini Vinnies little people who it seems provide the food and fare of the night. We do wonder why the well resourced Vinnies NSW, a subsidiary of The Catholic Church is imposing on school kids and parents to provide resources as well as donate time- what exactly do they do with the millions they are exempted from reporting? Hey, don’t get us wrong, we do support the foodvans- and they’re the ONLY Vinnies service which we do support.

  Matthew Talbot

  Our consternation remains that this (the most well funded resource organisation for homeless MEN) can so callously exclude women and children from eating at its meal centre. Don’t they get hungry, according to MT?

   

• sydneyhomeless 11:01 am on July 17, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Homeless offered Cash,Alcohol to Brawl in

   Pubs 

  We have had reports filtering thru over the last day from several homeless community members being offered money and Bar Tab incentives to start fights in specific pubs. In all claims, amounts ranging from $800 to $1500, plus a bar tab at another hotel of the homeless/marginalised persons choice has been offered. In some cases further offers are being made of legal expenses coverage, in others getaway cars are on offer.

   Sydney Homeless visited the locations of the intended hotels. In all cases, the hotel had nearby competition. Checks of ownership and management of  both target hotels and their opposition revealed no common link, in fact no discernable links at all. We were unable to make other than a visual check of security arrangements.

   Our further research led us to recent changes to liqour licensing laws-changes which penalise pubs based on the number of fights there.

   Our research revealed no past instances of these style of offers being made, giving strong reasons to suspect a connection.

   It seems possible that parties associated with a hotel wishing to drive its turnover up, simply need to fund a few fights in oppositional hotels to eventually drive that hotel out of business! An astute accountant or investor would also not fail to notice that the value of an hotel will fall dramatically in line with the hotel being placed on the “hotlist”, making them a bargain buy. And imagine having the power to stop the fights once you have bought the pub from the hapless previous proprietor, especially when you created them!!!

   A degree in business economics is completely unnecessary to understand some basic concepts these incompetent NSW Lawmakers missed.

   We counsel homeless and marginalised people NOT to become involved in these illegal schemes in any way. 

   We suggest that individual hotels take necessary steps to protect themselves.

   

• sydneyhomeless 11:19 am on July 13, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alina Gambin, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus Foundation, homeless charity, homeless issues, just enough faith, sydney homeless

  News on Jef Gambin

  Our information regarding the status of Mr Jef Gambins legal matters and those of Alina Gambin are somewhat different to those borderline defamatory comments published by the Murdoch Media Sunday. Our source, who claims to have attended the actual hearing, swears on a stack of Books of Mormon that Mrs Gambin had her matters withdrawn and Jef had a misdemeanour sized fine of < $150…and no conviction recorded.

    A further witness who spoke to us shed some light on probable cause for the local Murdoch Media Rag to mount such a prolonged and vicious personal attack on Jef Gambin. Turns out that the journalist responsible for these articles is known to the sole complainant to the OLGR.This source,who was able to provide full and correct details of the complainant, his business dealings, his history and reputation and a claim that he was mentally unstable.  And whom one of his neighbours is- a News Ltd journalist!! We have checked out and verified some details given by our source and drawn the conclusion there is sufficient truth in the informants account (and no detail tested incorrect) for us to reasonably conclude that these allegations have merit.

   The Telegraph have persistently pressed the unsubstantiated allegations that Jef gambled JEF Foundation Funds. In this rendition of their tale they quote an amount of $250,000. Gee!!! They sat there and counted? How DID they arrive at this figure? Jeffs office tell them, perhaps? Or now struggling flooring contractor Alan Byrne with his own financial and other problems? Did John Oliver do the rithmitik before he removed bank statements without permission or authorisation? Or did the tele just make it up? Their published figure has varied wildly. And their ongoing personal attack on Jef has really upset a lot of people in the Gambling Addiction Recovery Field who are unanimous in their view that an attack on a gambler is an attack on a person who is gravely ill. An unconsiencably low act. We add that we are sure Jef Gambin DID NOT gamble JEF funds(the majority of which he and Alina Gambin contributed anyway, and that the sole reason for him drwaing money at that ATM is that it is the closest to JEFs Rozelle facilities with decent parking arrangements.We went out there and looked. It is the closest ATM to Jefs Rozelle facility.  

   On 12th September 2008, SMH reported (http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/judy-davis-awarded-150000-damages/2008/09/12/1220857797110.html?sssdmh=dm16.334392 ) Actress Judy Davis’s $150,000 defamation win against News Ltd for implying that she had behaved unreasonably and selfishly in relation to a development near her residence.

   Then ABC reported http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200309/s943818.htm  about an eye surgeon whom they also falsely claimed was negligent.

  Then,in 1996 Multiple the infamous “Class We Failed” case against The Daily Telegraph saw 28 students from the
  1996 Mt Druitt HSC class successfully sue the newspaper for defamation.

   In fact a veritable highway of defamation actions have been successfully prosecuted against this publication stretching back to 1908. The Tele is NOT known for its commitment to journalistic integrity.It is known for publishing sensationalist attention grabbing half truths and the same devil may care attitude to people shown by its owner Murdoch in his dealings with UK staff of his first Fleet Street rag.

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:42 am on July 12, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Young People at Jefs Corner Foodvans

  The majority of young people known to us as having no permanent residence do not use the foodvans. Not because they are not hungry,far from it. They don’t use them because it is known to them that DOCs agencies and DOCs themselves frequent the vans, in an attempt to capture kids who refuse to live by DOCS rules- and the reasons are many. Young people of non anglo/euro descent universally call them “dumb whitefucks” and ridicule their DOCs houses. But the majority of young people 13-17 rejecting the DOCs system in Sydneys CBD today are actually of anglo/euro descent. Combined DOCs/Police repression has largely forced aboriginal youth from the city area, into institutions, while “society enjoys occupation of a land stolen from them”.Some have DOCs histories,some do not. Their reasons for rejecting DOCs support is the conditions-the strings attached. They don’t need to be in bed when some clown they don’t even know much less respect thinks they should. Like us, they are pissed with the games idiot social workers play trying to manipulate them into some boring scheme which drives more funds to the service provider and takes more time away from the lucky recipient, who of course is not paid.

   Most DoCs agencies do not attend regularly at the foodvans, and those who do are in the main respectful of young people. 

   However one buffoon, an employee of The Salvation Armys Oasis program, is worth mentioning as an exception. Recently when the Oasis van pulled up with internet and coffee, this clown took it into his head to start questioning two young guys who were attempting to eat their meals. He actually threatened to call police if they did not give their names to him!!! First off, Salvation Armys Oasis Program or its staff do not have a god given right to harass young people.If they are seen doing so the Sydney Homeless community will act to protect those young ones by whatever means expedient. The few young people who do come to eat at the vans are as entitled to eat in peace as anyone else. If they say they don’t wish to speak with you,leave them be. As it so happened,buffoon actually conned these young guys into giving their address on the pretext of delivering food there tomorrow,which I’m sure he will-along with a tranche of DOCs inspired invasive policies which  Oasis are very well rewarded for. And a mandatory report to their spymasters Department of Childrens Services.Now we are by no means saying that Oasis don’t provide a program that does not help those who wish to access it,doubtless it does. But we will not sit by and see kids conned by a zealot acting way beyond his authority. In fact, Salvos have attended at the Jefs Corner Foodvan site in the main because they cannot attract a crowd themselves. If they wish to offer a Youth spying service to DOCs, then they could always set this up where young people would flock to them and their DOCs masters.

    Aboriginal Youth and Communities are especially are acutely aware of the dire detrimental consequences (including death) to themselves their communities and families, of interaction with police DOCs or surrogate agencies- all it seems except DOCs minister Linda Burney.  

    We are advised that the buffoon to whom we refer is the same one who told the papers last year that he would take Just Enough Faith off JEFs hands.Dumb. Anyway,if hes not seen at the Jef Foodvan again he won’t be missed.

  In general regarding Youth at the Foodvans.

  1/ We want all people  young or old to be able to eat at the foodvans without threat-To many children and communities DOCS and its agencies are THE WORSE POSSIBLE THREAT.In many ways they represent the spearhead of Anglo assimilation in the guise of “Australian.”

  2/ All volunteers and service providers are put on notice that The Jef Foodvan Site is not somewhere that you go to report young people to DOCs.If you intend to do so please leave.

  3/Young people are warned that while Sydney Homeless monitor for DOCs reporters AND will tell you if we think a notification has been made, we cannot be 100% certain that reports are not made.

  4/Young People attending at the foodvans are to be treated with the same courtesy and respect as everybody else, and not subjected to harassment.

  5/DOCS do not support the foodvans at Jefs corner in any way.Their State Government are currently trying to destroy the foodvans to get rid of homeless people from the city area and drive developers property values up. We suggest that DOCs establish a honeytrap of their own which young people will flock to knowing that DOCs will help them there- and leave the places where kids know they can get food out of harms way to cater to the real community needs as your department continue to wallow in your trough of self indulgence.

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:08 am on July 12, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Scale of Homelessness varies widely

  copied and reprinted unedited from original at http://www.aihw.gov.au/mediacentre/2009/mr20090709.cfm on the presumption that they would endorse and approve of our promotion of their statistics -Sydney Homeless editorial

  Rates of homelessness vary widely across Australia, not only between states and territories but within them, according to national research commissioned by all jurisdictions and published today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

  The eight new state and territory Counting the Homeless reports provide a state and territory breakdown and analysis of national data published by the ABS last September in the Counting the Homeless 2006 national report. They include discussion of characteristics of people experiencing homelessness and provide extensive analyses of their circumstances, drawn from experience of people working with the homeless.

  Report co-author, Associate Professor Chris Chamberlain from RMIT University, said the differences in homelessness between the states and territories fell into four main groups:

  • Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria: 42 homeless people per 10,000 population (1364, 27,374 and 20,511 people respectively).
  • South Australia and Tasmania: 53 people per 10,000 (7,962 and 2,507 people respectively).
  • Queensland and Western Australia: 68 and 69 per 10,000 (26 782 and 13 391 people respectively).
  • Northern Territory: 248 homeless people per 10,000 (4785 people).

  ‘Expressing homelessness as a rate per 10,000 means that differences between one area and another can be highlighted,’ Professor Chamberlain said.

  Report co-author, Associate Professor David MacKenzie of Swinburne University, said the reports showed higher rates of homelessness in inner city areas.

  ‘This is not because inner city areas are necessarily socially disadvantaged areas, but because people there are more likely to be transient, having often come from other areas, and there are more homeless services closer to the inner city,’ Professor MacKenzie said.

  In Sydney, where there were almost 16,000 homeless people in 2006, the rate of homelessness in Inner Sydney was 133 per 10,000, while in the inner city ring of suburbs it was 53 per 10,000, and in the outer suburbs it was 22 per 10,000.

  Almost 15,000 people were homeless in Melbourne. The rate of homelessness in the city centre was 129 per 10,000, dropping to 38 per 10,000 in the inner city ring and 28 per 10,000 in the outer suburbs. There were 246 people per 10,000 who were homeless in inner Brisbane, whereas the overall rate for Brisbane was 56 per 10,000, with 5,395 homeless people across all areas of the city.

  In Perth there were 6,720 homeless people. In central Perth, the rate of homelessness was 109 per 10,000 compared with 47 per 10,000 overall. And in Adelaide where there were 5,213 homeless people, the rate of homelessness in the inner city was 457 per 10,000 compared with 47 per 10,000 for Adelaide overall

  Outside cities, homelessness rates in northern Australia are very high. In the Kimberley region, for example, there were 1,870 homeless people but a rate of 638 people per 10,000. These rates partly reflect issues of Indigenous transience and inadequate housing, although non-Indigenous Australians also experience higher rates of homelessness in remote areas.

  Thursday 9 July 2009

  Further information: Associate Professor Chris Chamberlain, mob. 0434 109 182, Associate Professor David MacKenzie, mob. 0412 104 873

  For media copies of the report: Publications Officer, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1032.

  Availability: Check the AIHW Publications area for the availability of Counting the Homeless 2006.

   

• sydneyhomeless 10:28 am on July 11, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, Cheap Food, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus Foundation, feeding homeless, greens, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, John Oliver, just enough faith, marginalised, marginalised assistance, NSW Labor Party, poverty australia, sydney homeless

  NSW Labor Strategy Exclusive

  Few would accuse the NSW Labor Party of having a strategy,but we do.

  In this exclusive report SydneyHomeless reveal for the first time the brilliant strategies of the ever forward thinking NSW Labor Party.The steely resolve of Sussex St.(who may have secretly recruited John Howard as strategic advisor) is nigh unbreakable. At the coalface,valiant NSW Labor Cabinet and members unite leaving no stone unturned in their quest to sieze the opposition benches at the next NSW State elections.

  Because the NSW Liberal Party have no discernable policies leadership or clear support base, Labor will prove a formidable foe in the battle for opposition. Looking further afield it seems that the Gordon Moyes christian right, independents and Greens are blissfully unaware of this strategy. Indeed our attention was only drawn to the brilliance of this unusual strategy courtesy of the different approach applied by NSW Labor on the second last day of the past sitting of parliament, when the only minister in the upper house left, enabling the speaker to close for business a day early. It may well be that the combined Labor/Coalition eforts to gain/retain the opposition benches may well force the Greens and independents to take the government benches while Labor and Liberals sort out their squabble.

   We initially treated the information that Howard had been recruited as suspect, but our attention was drawn to two important factors.Tripodi and Della Bosca-they stop at nothing,no stoop too low,to get their own way. And why wouldn’t Howard sell out the Liberal Party? He spent three terms in office selling Australia out to America.

   The NSW Labor strategic direction is said to be driven by complex polling personally commissioned by OLGR and Sports Minister Kevin Greene,touted as the post election opposition leader-in-waiting.Greene has moved early and decisively in the race to alienate public opinion. His introduction through the Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing of the Fun Police effectively turned our once vibrant and thriving nightclubs and pubs into crosses between morgues and mausoleums, with even weeding and function venues forced to toe the sterile line or risk loss of licences and fines.

   Police operating under this Greene inspired legislation recently evicted a man from Wests Campbelltown for high fiving( cited as evidence that he was drunk). He was black as well so theres another reason,police just couldn’t say so. And the two barstaff were fined.Greene has ensured that funding for an election campaign will not flow from clubs hotels Clubs NSW or the Australian Hotels Association.

  And the OLGRs malicious and illegal attack on micro charity Just Enough Faith ensures that not one person with a social conscience, or respect for legal process will vote State Labor. Kevin Greene must have consulted Nazi propaganda minister Goebbels records prior to his media release, and the following disinformation campaign perpetrated by his hireling, administrator Chris Jones. Greene must also have acquired the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler manual for following legal process as a guide for Chris Jones administration process.

   Following in the wake of wannabe leader-of -the opposition-Greene is wannabe deputy-leader-of-the-opposition Linda Burney, whose DOCs department thinks that the community it is charged with protecting is the community of its workforce. This department, redefined as the Family Police in the aftermath of the Woods report, is now a purely persecutory division whose agenda is to force families to adopt anglo christian values, while paying tokenist lipservice to multiculturalism. Cultural pluralism doesn’t exist never mind multiculturalism. Linda Burney might have noticed this in her previous incarnation as DG Aboriginal Affairs.Linda Burney is really onto a winner here in ensuring no self respecting ethnic family member, or discerning member of the general public will vote State Labor.

   The word is that in addition to wanting to sell off several police stations and other public buildings, the Rees Government have quietly hatched a secret plan to sell off the part of Callan Park not already occupied by the University for a private development of a gated enclave for the Mega Rich. It is understood that with the new charities legislation awaiting enactment, the DG of the department alone can order a charitable trust wound up,which they plan to do with Callan Park. This would be a powerful extra reason to rid the park of the embattled Just Enough Faith. It is said that this sale, along with that of power assets police stations and there is mention of Sydney Water as well as The Sydney Foreshore Authority, are regarded by Premier Rees as must-dos. There will be widespread voter dissatisfaction and disillusionment and great satisfaction within the Labor Caucus.

   And Nathan Rees has added his in his own inimitable style to the sterling efforts of his team to dislodge themselves from government-by creating a right pickle out of bottled water. Who would have thought that our inexperienced overworked premier had the time or resources to spare to carefully research this amazing policy.The scientific justification for the policy is breathtaking!!! Who would have known that the bottled water industry is actually such a high contributor to the carbon footprint-apparently, as the premiers careful research has obviously shown, more carbon positive than carbonated softdrinks,for example-or alcohol. We would have thought that the transportation of the multiple ingredients involved in the manufacture of softdrinks and alcohol would leave a much higher carbon footprint but we can’t argue with the premiers carefully researched science.

    And on the question of footprints, and science, we understand that it is scientifically questionable to follow just one set of footprints,when there are many others in the vicinity. Police forensics could perhaps advise the premiers department on this if they weren’t sure whom to ask. For example, the health footprint leads the casual observer to the view that softdrinks and alcohol are bigger contributors to issues in that area than bottled water. Then there is the moral equity footprint. The community of Bundanoon actually voted to ban bottled water in their town because a company wants to take their water,truck it to Sydney,then sell it back to them in bottled form-Of course State Government owned Sydney Water takes our Sydney water, puts it in leaky grime filled pipes and sells it back to us. Team Rees is advised to consider other footprints in the area of any issue-merely following the most likely may have the undesired effect of catapulting NSW Labor way past the opposition benches and off the abyss into oblivion.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:54 am on July 11, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Off Streets Program

  In a little over a week, using funds and motel room space provided by incredulous onside donors, Sydney Homeless have housed 82 people being families with children (younger than 12). Some parents have a roadmap out of their situation. Most do not. One couple were found by our youth wing in an outlying Sydney City council area, attempting to camp in a known camping spot with a very young child. They were locked out of their commercially leased business/accommodation for non payment of rent, with their bank refusing to clear a cheque deposited earlier,or make funds available. They only needed a room for 2 days, and promptly sponsored other people into the same room for a week when their funds cleared. We can’t leave little ones sleeping out if we can help it and we certainly are NOT going to advise anyone with children to go to DOCs. There are parents assisted by us this past week who are in abject fear of this department, who one distraught woman described as state funded terrorists. They took her newborn baby about four months ago. This couple are not drug addicts nor do they do drugs. Their crime??? They simply told DoCs workers to “fuck off” which they have a perfect right to do and we think every parent should. I wouldn’t let these incompetent lowlife or their surrogate agencies near my children either.

   Many of these family units have at least one adult worker who is owed money by at least one employer. These people largely come from the  construction services or hospitality industries. A particular ethnicity in the hospitality business seems particularly well known for the practice.

   Our Offstreets Program is a simple, no strings attached community based program which finds families with children under 12 who are sleeping rough.We provide them with hotel/motel accommodation for a week as a leg up in their efforts to recover from their marginalisation situation. We do not keep any records aside from counting the people because of the potential harm to the children and their families were records to fall into the hands of DOCs,the agency charged with Community care matters but demonstrably dangerously incompetent to provide these.

   We were approached Saturday night by a group of taxi drivers who noticed what we try to do. On their busiest night of the week, they selflessly offered to transport some very out of it teens home-in groups.

   We leverage community contacts to pay for “one weeks accommodation” in a cheap hotel or motel near the city. We accept offers to fund or provide such accommodation from hotel/motel operators and all sectors of the community.

    Much as we do despise DOCs, we do tell people of the services they and their surrogates provide.Contrary to some misconceptions, we are not totally unsupportive of some surrogate initiatives, in fact,do not know of any issues with YOTS except mandatory reporting. We inform all of Mandatory reporting role of all surrogates and how those reports are likely to be subverted by DOCs and DPP(we can’t believe Chowdery,who seems a pretty decent bloke condones this).

  enquiries/offers to sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:37 am on July 11, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  SydneyHomeless 0n Jefs Corner Foodvan

  Our position in relation to the Jefs Corner Foodvan has always and continues to be;

  a) The service must be provided by an independent Just Enough Faith or other entity, not an excel sheet of any other organisation who use us as income generator units for their business.While we have no issue with religious organisations participating in the operation of the foodvans we oppose control by any external organisation.

  b) The service must deliver a minimum of 100% of total resources raised to the constituent community in a form acceptable to the community. 

   For example,we do not endorse hired foodvans, paid staff at the Jefs Corner Site or a myriad of other so called legitimate expenditures which charities have used for years to rip us off.

   

• sydneyhomeless 11:14 pm on July 10, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Vinnies Night Snackvans

  This and its ancilliary programmes, is the only programme of The Trustees of the Society of St Vincents de Pauls(NSW) which Sydney Homeless  support and endorse.

   The Vinnies City Foodvans actually operate out of an inner west suburb, but provide well supported services at

  8-40 to 9-30 pm Martin Place, outside Westpac, cnr Martin & Elizabeth

  9-30-10 pm          St Marys Cathedral , city end of Cathedral Street

  10-15-11pm         Green Park, Darlinghurst Rd opposite Vinnies hospital

  11-11-45pm         Central Station, near Eddy Av and Pitt St.

  Vinnies snack vans provide hot drinks sandwiches and snacks and are staffed by dedicated teams of volunteers from as far afield as Albury and the Central Coast. Many schools and students therefrom make a huge contribution to the comfort of our homeless community and we are very grateful.We would also like to acknowledge the kids of “mini vinnies” who play an important role in preparing the snacks and edibles for distribution by their older counterparts-thanks so much kids,your efforts are known and appreciated on the streets.   

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:07 pm on July 10, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: CHILDRENS SERVICES, DoCs, DOCS FAILURES, feeding homeless, Free Food, homeless, homeless charity, Homeless Children, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, Linda Burney, NSW DOCS, NSW DOCS Incompetence, politics

  NSWDocs on #Homelessness

  This is a link to a DOCS publication which paints a glossy image of “how things could be.”

  In response to the blinkered Wood Inquiry with its unfortunately narrow terms of reference the NSW State Government have with their typical incompetence revamped their delivery of the incongrously named Childrens Services to further protect their miserable department while exacerbating the opportunity for harm to families and children to occur. DOCs have now become a focussed inquisitorial and persecutory institution by definition, with their surrogates now having the dual and unenviable roles of providing care downstream of DOCs family persecution machine while having their DOCs personal data collection mechanisms finetuned. In a stunning slap in the face for aboriginals and ethnic communities, NSW Police, known as the most Anglocentric and latently racist government department, have been given an extended role with children, and greater opportunities to persecute families who do not conform to the Anglocentric agenda they call Australian. And beleagured teachers and educators are also scrambling to resource schools with the skills to provide the additional responsibilities foisted upon them, while at least privately many denounce the stupidity of effectively undermining marginalised ethnic and indigenous community confidence in education systems. 

  We have ongoing evidence of adolescents hiding in abject fear of being discovered by DOCS, and with excellent reasons. DOCS are consistently responsible for so much harm to children and irrepairable damage to families that the only option for a NSW government with conscience is to shut it down.We don’t know how Linda Burney can sleep at night,knowing the real disasters her department continues to perpetrate particularly against aboriginal communities.

   As Sydney Homeless struggle to provide the small amount of assistance we can to the few families we can, we are confronted nightly with the reality of NSW government and DOCs social engineering policies. We are confronted with the end results of their systematic interference often collusively with others in families and communities where they have no capability to assist.

   DOCS Minister Linda Burney is a career bureaucrat. Her approach to successfully dealing with the issues growing from the fertile gardens of failed government policies is to implement further policies ripe for failure.

   SydneyHomeless cannot guarantee the safety of minors attending at the foodvans or their families wellbeing, due to the potential for incursions by DOCs and its agents and the inevitable disastrous downstream consequences thereof. We advise any homeless families to send adults or over 15s to the foodvan, and ask around among the homeless community as to resources.Do not ask at the foodvans directly.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:25 pm on July 10, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  SydneyHomeless are dedicated to an independently run, non faith based,non subservient foodvan operation, which serves wholesome nutritious and sustaining hot meals, in the range previously provided by JEF  every night. Sydney Homeless are also dedicated to maximising the delivery of donations to their target constituency via streamlined minimalist delivery structures.Sydney Homeless are committed to and will act by whatever means necessary to ensure this outcome.

  the current situation

  Since the Exodus/OLGR takeover we have accepted the lower standards of range for two reasons.The arrangement was said to be temporary.The foodvan they apparently hire is incapable of serving the range JEFs simple system delivered every night.

   We consider that the OLGR move againt Just Enough Faith was politically directed. The underlying strategy is to remove homeless and low income people from the Sydney City area to increase the ambience for the wealthy reduce “marginalisation visibility” and ultimately increase property values.In addition, The Jefs Corner Foodvan has been an acute embarassment to the church associated and government funded services which clearly have not provided adequate services for the last 16 years. The number of people eating at Jefs Corner foodvans is testament to this,including paying residents of Matthew Talbot whose residents cards are seen dangling from their necks as they queue for a meal to supplement the meagre offerings at that institution.And theres the added possible incentive of destabilising JEFs leases in Callan Park for future redevelopment.

   The administrator of JEF is now completing his report.This report will be given over to OLGR who are empowered to enact its recommendations. We believe that this process is a furphy, put in place to give transparency and legitimacy to an orchestrated transfer of JEFs operations and resources to church run Exodus, in spite of JEF resources being collected for a “non faith based charity.” We believe that corporate and weathy private individuals including John Oliver have committed to funding Exodus for these operations.

  -This is a win for John Oliver in his payback campaign against JEF for rejecting his bastardisation modelling for JEF-

  -a win for DOCs who can more effectively channel marginalised people through their paid spy network, a win for NGOs who no longer have the embarassment of having a superior service provided by an independent foodvan

  - a win generally for social services government departments no longer suffering the indignity of being overshadowed in the insubstantial services they provide by that pesky charity minnow,Just Enough Faith.

  -a win for the OLGR and its accountants who will have nice pretty books clearly showing the massive “costs” such as the rental of the yellow monstrosity which deliver no discernable benefits to us.

  -a win for the Uniting Church/Exodus who will have another excel sheet to milk.I’m sure in total compliance with government accounting standards.

  THE LOSERS WILL BE THE HOMELESS AND MARGINALISED COMMUNITY WHO WILL SUFFER THE INDIGNITY OF HAVING SERVICES KEPT AT THE CURRENT LEVEL, OR DIMINISHED-GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS CLIPPED ON, AND A REPLICATION OF EXODUS ASHFIELD SERVICES-AND WE WON’T STAND FOR THAT.

  GOING FORWARD;

                                                     We are waiting for the administrators report on JEF in expectation of a recommendation that it be handed over to Exodus. Our legal team is already looking at strategies to oppose the OLGR delivering this result. While we welcome Exodus having a role in the ongoing foodvan operations, we will not endorse a structure which sees marginalised people being used as a medium for the Uniting Church to increase its revenues, while soliciting donors to actually implement the programmes.

   We urge all the disparate factions previously associated with JEF, and their supporters to unite on the things we agree on, not divide on the things we don’t, at this crucial time.

   And if it all gets handed over to Exodus, we will simply start a fresh service to replace them, at the Jefs Corner Foodvan location.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:45 pm on July 8, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  In a victory for slave labour employers, the Fair Pay Commission has rejected an application for a pay increase for low paid workers. In line with the previous federal governments McClure inspired low pay agenda, the Fair Pay Commissioner gave his reasons as “protecting low paid jobs.” In reality, what he protects is employers choice to drive huge profits by the simple device of taking higher margins at the expense of long suffering workers. There is NO constraint on bank fees, retail price hikes, government tax increases,public transport costs or rents. But that large employer bloc who insist on treating workers as profit units by paying or indexing to the minimum wage must be overjoyed.We doubt that they expected such an outcome. Blind Freddy can see that minimum wage workers will suffer a further loss of economic access due directly to this freeze on the minimum wage. But the commissioner can’t! Or maybe, along with his dinner set, he just doesn’t give a damn. We understand that there have been previous close relationships between arch enemy of workers Chris Corrigan and the commissioner. There certainly have been cordial relations between Corrigan and McClure. With memories of Corrigans Patricks waterfront play in collusion with the Liberals Howardly attack on Stevedoring workers in mind, of course his dinner pal would be of the same ilk. Our prediction is that more low paid workers will be forced to sell drugs, and embark on a range of other criminal activities, and that as their living costs continue to escalalate unregulated, many will be joining us in the queues at the foodvan.

  Already in our nightly Rough Sleepers Count, we are seeing building and logistics contractors sleeping in their vehicles, sometimes with their children and families. 5 of the families which we have accommodated have been in this category, ALL owed substantial amounts long overdue, having been unable to pay their mortgages as one lot of callous accountants maximise the interest their Equity division make from retaining payments as long as possible, while another set of accountants associated with the banks get their greedy mits on the family home. And Mr Rudd can suggest that banks not do things til his dying day, but until the day he begins legislating, bank directors actually have no authority to apply other than profit motives and business principles to their business-they actually have a duty of care to do so.

   For some time workers in the foodvan queues have been commonplace. In this case the fair pay commissioner had the opportunity to solve a problem-he chose to solve it for greedy businesspeople who are prepared to exploit their workforce.

   Footnote to slave labour rate paying employers: You win contracts by undercutting opposition on the basis that you can get away with paying slave labour rates.You are not a business-you’re an exploiter!!! And yet you’re the sort of mongrel the fair work comissioner is trying to protect.

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:52 am on July 7, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  @KevinRuddPM  new public housing construction in Syd. yesterday.1st of 6500 we’re doing in NSW to lift jobs and help homelessness.KRudd.

    We couldn’t help wondering where in Sydney? Sydney, of course is legally the area controlled by Sydney City Council… on the periphery of the metropolis is neither Sydney nor livable. Anyone who thinks people are prepared to live restfully in suburbs isolated from services speaks only for those who want to live there. Sydney Homeless won’t be leaving The Sydney City Council collection of postcodes,thanks. A little more thought would generate a more positive result that didn’t reinvent the same systemic problems of British colonial housing estates.

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:22 am on July 7, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   Recent changes to the role of Linda Burneys DOCs(the C stands for,separately, Community or Childrens) in reponse to the Wood commission report have implemented widespread changes which we believe were designed to further insulate DOCs from criticism and prosecution, by passing many of their previous roles to a police force not trained equipped or suitable to handle their new role, already overburdened educators, and NGOs whose primary consideration is bottom line, in spite of the fine efforts of some ground staff. 

  All families children and the public need to be aware that ALL educators, child care centres, doctors, hospitals, police emergency housing providers and social workers, youth services organisations such as YOTS and Oasis are mandatory reporters

  AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THEY COLLECT THIS INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF DOCS, often at the lowest point in your life-so far…. until DOCS decide to ruin whats left of your life with their malicious prosecutions often at the behest of police.

   Armed with these mandatory reports DOCs can and do issue proceedings in the Childrens Court, which we consider Australias Guantanamo Bay. Allegations are sufficient to manufacture a case and DOCs delight in this style of presentation. Often cash strapped families are forced to use legal aid lawyers with only very basic access to resources, pitted against the combined resources of DOCs the DPP and Police, in a court where innuendo replaces evidence from your accusers.  

    We know of several cases where DOCs have taken children on the basis of these malicious reports, often concocted by police or revenge seeking social workers. Oh,and you are not entitled to know the source of these malicious reports either, adding to the difficulty of bringing malice to the courts attention.

  We hasten to add that while we have the utmost confidence in the chief magistrate of the Childrens Court,it is a long bow to draw to have the same confidence in the entire bench.

  See todays updated Rough Sleepers Count for more details….

   Our aim is to STOP child exploitation by NSW State government in their monocultural assault on ethnic family values and drive to insinuate themselves, unwanted, into every household.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:25 am on July 7, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of charity, homeless issues, homeless services, marginalised assistance, poverty australia, sydney marginalised

  SMH at http://www.smh.com.au/national/disadvantaged-workers-dispel-myth-about-lack-of-ambition-20090706-dais.html detail an interesting study. Commissioned by the Brotherhood of St Laurance, onetime home of  Workchoices architect Patrick McClure, the study concludes that many of Australias marginalised are aspirational, and implies that further casework is the pathway to achieving this. Yet another example of a large influential business posing as a charity, seeking to create further opportunities for itself and other like parties to maintain their relationship with their income generator units(that would be us). They use as a reason the fact that a large percentage of marginalised do not remain in employment for three months or more. There are good simple reasons for this. The slave labor environment foisted on marginalised people by these government Job Network service providers  is economically mentally and sometimes physically exploitative. The minimum wage is totally out of sync with the spiralling costs associated with maintaining a basic lifestyle.Often workers have to spend a large percentage of their meagre income on costs directly associated with their employment, such as recurring fuel and car running costs where some employers require workers to have a vehicle. The few tax deductible expenses left for workers are not directly available to the worker ,who the tax system treats as a interest free lending service to the government. Often, these untenable conditions are exacerbated by draconian workpractices which are borderline in OHS compliance due to the stress placed on workers by draconian management practices. And excessive profits for the employer. In short the failed and discarded Workchoices model addressed the needs of industry for well trained dirt cheap labour. The Job Network Industry and its surrogates were not heard once advocating for better pay or conditions for workers, in words louder than a whimper, but were known to have been party to the creation of awards in connivance with employers which minimised worker rewards. It might come as a huge surprise to the slave labour operating Bentley drivers of this world, but people do not go to work on the basis of creating huge profits for you while running further into debt personally. And when people grow exhausted with this government supported , NGO managed tyranny they will simply take what they perceive as rightfully theirs. 

    We categorically reject the Job Network Model as worthy of survival while its role remains with only the words changed.We categorically reject the status quo which is that people organisations and a culture which have for so long been a root cause, and even beneficiary, of the perceived problem, should or could be part of the solution. Its like discussing the solutions to Aids with the disease.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:39 am on July 2, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  We report and confirm with great relish,the none too soon demise of Workchoices.Architect Mission Australias participation in the exploitative scheme they were responsible for foisting on those of us using government support services remais in an expanded form unfortunately.Their one time Mission Australia Head Honcho Patrick McClure, head advisor for the Howardly attack on marginalised people, orchestrated a purely self interest driven attack on marginalised people which is a key government policy today. The furphy of Workchoices.The furphy is the Howard/McClure concept of “mutual obligation.” In their fantasy,which deprived marginalised people of time and fairness in employment opportunity, in order to receive govt payments,recipients must subject themselves to being battered,blackmailed and bullied into accepting subsistence rate employment from the plethora of slave labour opportunists McClure and his Liberal party cohorts recruited-in most cases offering pure exploitation or cancellation of benefits which mostly leave the workers worse off.Mutual Obligation is to us a simple concept work and pay tax-don’t work and get government support.

   Patrick McClure was for four years the Head of The Trustees of the Society of St Vincents de Paul (NSW) followed by ten years with Mission Australia (Head).He previously had a short stint with Anglicare, did some youth work in WA and was for a decade a Franciscan Monk.

   McClure certainly put all of this experience including,he tells, working with the Vinnies foodvans (they served stale sandwiches and luke warm tea at the time), to great personal use, accepting extraordinarily high payments for helping the rich and the church charities to systemically rip societys marginalised off. The legacy of this experience is doubtless the stale policies and luke warm services meted out with an invariable air of superiority by a gung ho Mission (Australia)Employment. Did they help anyone? The resounding answer is that the biggest beneficiary of this travesty is Mission Australia,its architect.

   In 2000 when this was happening, dissident head of Mission Australias Victoria Branch had this to say;

  Ray Cleary: I think it’s sad that in terms of the welfare reform process that it’s headed up by a large corporate welfare agency which in many ways some of us would say has lost touch with poverty and poor people.

  yes, he was referring to Mission Australia.We wonder where Mr Cleary is now???

  And from president of ACOSS Michael Raper;

  The President of ACOSS, Michael Raper.

  Michael Raper: Well ACOSS is still in the centre in giving voice to the needs of people who are in poverty or otherwise disadvantaged rather than necessarily in the centre for the sector. We’ve never claimed that we are the only voice in the sector. We are a very unique voice. We bring it all together in a sense; we cover across all of the government portfolios: employment, education, training, economics, tax, community services, health, education, social security, housing.
  None of the other organisations actually have that breadth. So that is what’s unique about ACOSS. We’re unique in the sector, and we’re unique in giving that focus to the needs of people who live in poverty.
  Most of the other big church charity groups have a unique role, and an important role, but they are service providers. And their interests don’t always coincide with the interests of the people that we are all trying to serve, and they admit that from time to time.
  So there’s the tension sometimes between our role as the sector peak and the voice for people in disadvantage, and of course it’s always the latter that guides us, is what’s unique about us, and is actually what gives us our strength, because all of those agencies, our member organisations, respect that about ACOSS, expect that from ACOSS and I think will continue to support that.

   Well guys, how does your story stand up these days? How many millions of dollars have you generated for your respective organisations?And how many families have you driven beyond the brink with your intentional slave labour practices?

   I notice in the last ten years that the tongue of ACOSS which purported to represent Marginalised people has been somewhat silenced, perhaps because current chair and ex NT Chief Minister Claire Martin simply has more political nouse.

  We include a telling ABC blast from the past http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/stories/s219119.htm

   We say to DEETYA “good work, will you please now throw the dirty bathwater out with the baby?”

     Minimum wage for adults??? Well,we were going to go there and guess what we found? Slave Labour Program architect Patrick McClure,now invested with the letters AO after his name, is now a bloody Fair Pay Commissioner!!!! Some confidence you would have in his presence on a fair pay commission, and I personally am in little doubt who this ex-franciscan monk and Head of Slave Labour Development in Mission Australia would be fair to and it certainly ain’t the bloody marginalised.  i wondered which pile of excerment this worm would crawl out of next and I no longer have to wonder.

   Knowing hes there gives a whole new meaning to Fair Pay Commission. This is the mongrel who turned the setting of awards prior to hiring workers into an art form, cheered on by the Howardly Liberals whose constituency reaped rich rewards from their decade plus of exploitative practices. And I’m not going to learn a completely new language to understand this comissions intentionally obfuscated website-suffice to say, it wasn’t written for our benefit peepz… it was written for the benefit of slave labour hiring exploiters.

   I’d like everyone to reminisce over the last decade.Think of it as the Decade of the Low Paid Worker, and the overpaid Boss. Now guess which side the McClure Fair Pay commission is on-McClure is probably a self appointed workers representative.

   Consider this

  Current minimum wage for adults;

  $543.78 per week(4 hours), about $13-50 per hour.Give or take a few cents.Gross.Minus tax.Remember,wage earners are also encumbered with being an interest free moneylending service to the government. Take $156 0ut for tax. Yes you might get it back at the end of the tax year,but will your landlord wait till then for his rent?

  543-78

  156

  387-78 per week

   40          average cost of travel to work.

  347-78 per week.

  260        per week.Average private rent for cockroach infested investor owned bedsit in Sydney.

    87-78 per week….thats what a working person earning the McClure inspired and agreed minimum wage can expect to have in his pocket, before buying such non essentals as food,clothes, work related expenses etc. And the likes of McClure don’t give a flying fuck because so far his pet project Mission Australia has ripped (sorry reaped) millions in the name of satisfying corporate greed and Liberal/National Farmers Federation creed. 

    The sad thing though, is that upon further reading, and the dearth of actual information substituted with Howard Style spin doctoring, is a decided disappointment on the http://www.deewr.gov.au/ site. We are sure that the same poverty industry players are lining up further tiers of exploitative practices to further enrich and enfranchise themselves and their organisations to our detriment just like McClure/Liberal/Mission Australia did.And this time they have the added advantage of Patrick McClure sitting in the Fair Pay Commission.patrick and his fellow commissioners thought it was okay to except farm workers in drought affected areas from pay rises due to drought without the consideration that they too must be experiencing the spiralling costs faced by the rural sector. Patrick McClure who with Howard changed the concept of mutual obligation from meaning pay tax when you work, get government assistance when you don’t to adding in an extra layer of exploitation, now determines whether your pay rise is fair.

   We call on all Homeless and Marginalised people to boycott Mission Australia or any surrogate agency it may have, and ask to link with an alternative service provider.

   I’m sure Mission Australia and several government departments can co-stroke each others egos with a tidal wave of statistics to convince an accountant.Here on the street,they mean diddly squat. And we call on all Government Claimants NOT to complete surveys polls or answer any questions put by Mission Australia.

   The very thought of rewarding those who benefitted so much from exploitation of marginalised people getting further benefits is as repugnant as giving the Nazi Party of Germany the worldwide rights to manufacture gas ovens.

   We look forward to assisting with ANY legal actions on behalf of Badgered beneficiaries who wish to legally challenge this badge engineered package.

  …And may Mission Australia and Patrick McClure rot in Pieces.

   

• sydneyhomeless 11:17 pm on July 1, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alina Gambin, Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised

  Support for JEF’s in our opinion imminent return to their rightful control of the organisation we know and trust remains rock solid among homeless, and key supporters are noticeably enlivened by the latest developments. Anticipating a return of control, we are already looking at fundraising strategies to keep the operations liquid. The current situation is that Just Enough Faith,once returned to the control of its members, may still not have the right to solicit donations in NSW. However, there is nothing stopping us,or any other party,soliciting on their behalf, and they are still registered as tax exempt with the tax office. We ask that all potential donors NOT DONATE IMMEDIATELY, but register their intention to do so with us at

  sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org. While we will simply pass this information to JEF, we want to ensure that it is we, not they who are soliciting the donations on to their organisation.

   We want absolute transparency in this process and to be clear that we are acting entirely of our own initiative, and that Just Enough Faith are at this stage blissfully unaware of this solicitation. For Legal reasons.

   The unrequited need from the marginalised community has never been as evident of a winter as it is this year. And the NSW government continues to drive its submarine with the softtop down, affecting not to see as has been the case for the past 16 years. 

   We the Sydney Homeless Community will not stand idle to watch our most essential service destroyed by a government hell bent on driving developers property values up by driving us out of town. Nor will we stand and watch our key service provider destroyed, because they and many genuine supporters saw and fulfilled a genuine, ongoing community need.

   And we remain rock solid behind Jeff and Alina Gambin, separately from the JEF organisation. They are like the family many of us never had,and we,the street, do not turn our backs on family.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:54 pm on July 1, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Contrary to the rumour mills grist we are informed by the secretary of St Johns who run Rough Edges that they will not be closing or altering its operations

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:44 pm on July 1, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  We are quietly confident of a good outcome for Just Enough Faith and the Sydney Homeless Community, and a slap in the face for government belligerence by the end of the week. We cannot reveal how this may transpire, but are now more confident than we have ever been in the last 2 months.

  Suffice to say, in order to lose now, four separate actions on four different levels initiated by interested parties must fail- against the prospects prooffered by advisors. While we do not anticipate that Just Enough Faith will be operational by the weeks end, we think that the OLGR Director General and the administrator will certainly not be partying. Or their cohorts, the evil trinity who so skillfully spun their web of malicious misrepresentations -to a mass media machine which manufactures mayhem for the men and women who through their vision and tenacity dream themselves into the real world.

  We do not believe that a win for Just Enough Faith represents a loss for Exodus-far from it.But it does mean a win for us and another loss for LaborNSW and its despotic brand of governance.

  Look for updates to this storyline ,as they come to hand.

   

• sydneyhomeless 10:42 am on July 1, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

    The Rees NSW Labor Party are hell bent on driving the convertible submarine “NSW Government” at full speed, at fourty fathoms with the softtop down. As successful litigation by numerous aggrieved parties against various departments clearly illustrates,the NSW Labor Party cares little for due process prosecuting whimsically on the basis of what they can get away with, not content to await the passage of their Nazi like self empowering legislation. 

   

  The recent case of nightclub promoter and alleged ex Nomads member John Ibrahim before Justice Finnane http://tinyurl.com/lk689m is just the latest in a NSW Labor orchestrated whole of government approach to democratic totalitarianism. In this case, in which police attempted to use new powers which allow them and their nark accomplices to use illegal means to encourage a person or persons to commit a crime, Justice Finnane found the case so offended legal principles that he ruled all evidence in the case inadmissible.

   

   In the so called “anti bikie legislation” which actually applies equally to all sectors of society, police and government can sieze or freeze assets before a charge has been laid or conviction secured, effectively leaving the defence potentially underfunded to compete with the unlimited resources of multiple government departments, who are able to spend unlimited taxpayer dollars in prosecuting often trumped up cases, such as that manufactured against Mr Ibriham.In a Labor concocted twist, arrested persons are no longer presumed innocent, with a presumption against bail being granted ensuring that belligerent police are able to maximise inconvenience to anyone who challenges their often anglo centric authority whether there is any evidence or not. And the Legal Aid office now offers a mere pretence of Legal Representation, and will only fund cursory defence needs, sufficient to put on a show of equal access to courts for the benefit of media based observers,but insufficient to counter the inexhaustible resources available to pigs and the DPP.

   

   Police media releases last night mention the rearrest and charging of the leader of the Comancheros with murder-and their first attempt to have a gang declared a proscribed organisation. Some high school students reviewing this last night look forward to using this legislation themselves when they are politicians, against NSW Police and various other government funded thug elements.

   

   The NSW Labor assented Chldrens and Young Persons Protection Act 1998 is perhaps the most evil draconian and damaging legislation in NSW. The Empowering legislation for NSW DOCs is reviewed in the Childrens Court which, just like Guantanamo Bay, does not allow media or public access, is restricted to family, DOCs The DPP, Lawyers and so called experts like Childrens court clinicians who, as contractors , can assure themselves of no further work by writing a report contrary to the desired outcomes DOCs wish. If this legislation were applied to this nonsensical department in the same way as it is applied to families and community members, it would be likely that in a jurisdiction where the evidence act applied, they would in fact be prohibited from working with children.Our belief is in fact that EVERY DOCS WORKER AND MINISTER and EVERY AGENCY CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE should immediately be prohibited from working with children, so endemic and widespread within DOCs culture is the opportunity to nurture inappropriate outcomes, and the regularity with which it is applied.  

   There is compelling evidence that police regularly fabricate allegations for the purpose of using the Guantanamo Bay Childrens Courts as a system of blackmailing or terrorising families who do not wish to comply with their anglo assimilationist agenda. It is no accident that of all public services, the police and judiciary staff and systems are by far the most monoculturally anglo.The widely canvassed case of Ebony, left to starve to death, or the aboriginal boy found in the suitcase in the lake are the whitecaps on an ocean of DOCS inspired horror movies inflicted on children and families statewide by a department which can best be described as an organ of state terrorism. Under the recent changes in response to the Woods report, all that will change is that DOCs will become the family police,in an attempt to force parents to deculture their children in the image of a government which takes its legitimacy from the genocide of an absolute minimum of 300,000 Eora and other aboriginal peoples upon their arrival. Fred Nile and his christian bretheren will be as pleased as were their christian forebears who within one year of arrival on the First Fleet, with the assistance of two germ warfare veterans of British Army biological warfare in US, handed out the smallpox contaminated blankets. This is the same department whose Minister Linda Burney earlier this month confirmed her governments intention NOT to assist over 5000 people a night who will be homeless in Australia,or at least the proportion who are in Sydney.

   Justice Woods may have delivered an appropriate report if his mandate included reviewing the anti family anti children legislation.Never has a department existed more with its self preservation as its priority than NSW DOCs.We will never know,because the terms of reference were so narrow as to only look after the interests of the department.

   

   The Department of Housing and its surrogates have conspired to reserve for themselves advantages under residential tenancy law which deny tenants security of tenure “at a location of choice”. These amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987, along with the powers given to police & DOCs as departmental agents, represent an invasive and unfair orchestration of government powers to take further rights from marginalised people. Marginalised people who oppose police racism and confront widespread inappropriate acts by police and DOCs can be and are persecuted and blackmailed further by Housing in this whole of government strategy.The most invasive aspects of the current amendments relate to forcible relocation.Where the department wishes to resume a property, they may offer the tenant alternative accommodation-anywhere!Or revoke their leases. We understand that the department recently trannsferred tenants living on Cowper Wharf Road in Woolloomooloo to the Redfern Housing Estates only to release the Cowper Wharf Road Properties on the private rental market.And our information is that further mass transfers are in the pipeline for resdents of the Rocks, Millers Point, Woolloomooloo as well as some public housing tenants in Glebe.These are,we are told, being effected to enable the redevelopment of those areas by private developers.

   

   The State Governments indecent haste in ramming into force its draconian legislations has its latest manifestation in a blatant attack on small charities which choose to provide the services which the State will not, to the people the State won’t provide with appropriate assistance, many of whom clearly need it. Charities like Just Enough Faith. People like Homeless and Marginalised. In the case of Just Enough Faith,NSW government agency Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing dispensed with Legal process, opting to simply walk in and sieze the privately donated assets without so much as a notice or court orders.The Associations Incorporation Act 2009 is broadsword in the belly of jurisprudence and natural justice. Doubtless Minister Kevin Greene in his previous incarnation as the less than successful Minister of DOCS was enchanted with the Childrens court mechanism in which the evidence act doesn’t apply and the media and public are shut out. The parliamentary committee reviewing this legislation in its final upper house session still voiced unrequited disquiet at the fact that the DG of the responsible department could “as he sees fit” take action against any charity. This legislation will, we feel do much to keep his departmental minions and a veritable SeaWorld of lawyers very well fed on the carnage this legislation will foist not only on charities, but their directors and trustees. 

   These and many other Hitlerian changes to the way NSW government does business will have the most significant impact on the homeless and other marginalised communities. An increasingly inept, out of touch and out of control Rees government which we understand will soon instruct all departments to sign correspondence “suicidally yours” must be stopped- by public action. 

   

   

        
   

• sydneyhomeless 5:46 pm on June 28, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: DoCs, Docs incompetent, feeding homeless, Free Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, Linda Burney, marginalised assistance, measure a charity, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised

   We have, we believe, given ample opportunity to the poverty industry and its State government sponsors to come to the party, to hear our proposals for resolving long-term homelessness. Their deafening silence punctuated only by DOCs Minister Linda Burneys espousement of tired government/poverty industry driven policy lacking in direct target  group consultation.

   We knew that they were discussing these very important (to us) matters on the 19th and 30th June, and MLA Sylvia Hale (Greens) actually invited her to meet with us on the issues which concern us. She offered a meeting with her department on her agenda terms. Well, we regarded it as a bit like finding a cure for aids. When the medical profession developed drugs to combat aids, they didn’t consult the disease- and we do not need to go to antartica to know its cold there. Her agenda and her departmental minions are the singular most common cause of homelessness and marginalisation in NSW. A common story of the men on the Streets today is coming home from work to find wife has a

  

  IDENTIFY ACT WIN

   brand spanking new court order banning him from the house he paid for and sometimes, even a brand new bf, who tell him hes not allowed in the house he paid for- all arranged by DOCs on the often manufactured allegations of a bored housewife whose real reasons are her new bf or sometimes the idea that a single parents pension is a good idea. Between 5 and 10 percent of men on the streets at any one time are in this category. Ms Burney has had her chance, and as alluded to previously we can now confirm that we will be taking strong action, in defense of our Jefs Corner Foodvan service, and in defence of Just Enough Faith as the rightful and illegally siezed service provider.That action will commence this week, and progressively escalate from there. 

    A series of actions will be revealed this week aimed at stabilising and maintaining our foodvan service at the levels which the founder of the Jefs Corner Foodvan Service established.

   This service has not only fed up to 600 people per night, but also, by providing wholesome, nutritious selections, driven the Poverty Industry Meal Services to  upgrade their shameful minimalist services, only providing half decent meals when media were present.An average of 190 people eating every night at the foodvan would indicate that it provides an esential service. Where else would homeless women and children, and even Youth off the Streets Don Bosco Hostel charges eat?

   We invite all local and the entire homeless and marginalised community in NSW to come and eat at the Jefs Corner Foodvan Site 8-30 p.m. every night corner of Yurong Parkway and St Marys St. Thats Straight below the St Marys Cathedral (bottom of the hill). And stay a while, right here in Sydney 2000, home of the homeless.

   

• sydneyhomeless 1:56 pm on June 25, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  In what may well be the first of a series of embarassing court proceedings for the NSW Labor Government brought by various NSW Homeless Communities, a small dignified group of well known Bondi Homeless people yesterday voiced their desire to be housed in their area of choice or remain homeless.The Waverley Council have asked them to leave the area where they are currently living, and they have brought proceedings in relation to that issue.

  They have been firm in identifying the issues and endemic problem State and Federal Government will face in implementing their ” marginalised as NGO sector income generators” policies, which provide SAAP “assisted” housing. Many long term homeless will simply refuse to consider accepting the advice of often inept university graduates that marginalised people should run around in circles driving comfortable incomes for a variety of professionals who don’t know where to look for appropriate solutions, simply because the State Government and its NGO benefactors have not considered providing them. While some people will doubtless be leveraged to accept these accommodations, the majority of Sydneys Homeless community will not so much boycott, as simply ignore these SAAP based housing options as inappropriate. We don’t need your advice-just stable low cost appropriate(as viewed by our community,not Linda Burney) stable housing. The other main issue which their is universal agreement on is appropriate location- Many in the 2000 postcode will flatly refuse to consider any housing which involves relocation, with some rejecting even Waterloo or Ashfield due to distance. Sydney Homeless live in postcode 2000, not Marrickville,Dulwich Hill or even Glebe.

  It is worth noting that a mere 25 years ago, Bondi Beach was an affordable working class suburb, jokingly referred to as little New Zealand due to large numbers of kiwi workers residing in the area. Such has been the combined effect of a lack of government regulation of the financial sector, and real estate industry, that most workers would be hard pressed to afford even toilet fees, much less rental accommodation.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:40 am on June 25, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Because Homeless people don’t have an address, and it appears that the various tiers of government can only find the homeless people who will espouse views supportive of poverty industry business funding requirements, we are making it easy for government and opposition elected officials to find us…right here in Postcode 2000. Thats right, Sydney Homeless are making the 2000 postcode the default postcode for homeless people.

    We are over the government supported NIMBY strategy (we don’t want them too close to MacQuarrie St) of dislocating Sydneys Homeless community from our selected area of residence, to Dulwich Hill, Baulkham Hills, Cecil Hills or Hillston.. we like it here, and fully intend to stay! And since government seems to find that so objectionable, we are inviting our friends!!! We invite ALL NSW Homeless people to come and live right here in the Sydney CBD. Make Homelessness History? Nice words, but homelessness has been part of Sydney 2000 since the first boatloads of convicts arrived here. The convicts and their masters were homeless, so they set about staking their claims in “this empty land”, removing the aboriginal population min.300,000 who interfered with their concept of “empty” ,by such ingenious means as germ warfare, using smallpox infected blankets as a supporting weapon for the musket.Postcode 2000 saw “the waterfront” areas of the Rocks, Millers Point and what is now Darling Harbour supporting populations of homeless people who were an essential and ruthlessly exploited.Circular Quay used to be a favoured hangout of homeless and marginalised people with doss house The Seamens Mission occupying whats  Our neibouring 2011

   

• sydneyhomeless 11:54 am on June 24, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Rough Sleepers Count in known locations in Sydney City Council area only
  Total; 438 Down 150
  age 5-17 132 down 12.

  Total 538.

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:42 am on June 23, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Homeless and Marginalised people have long been used to bearing the brunt of heavy handed treatment by enforcement officers and arbitrarily applied laws in questionable circumstances. But two Wests leagues club barmaids have just been fined $550 each for serving a customer displaying no traits of being affected by alcohol. We are used to and oppose people being charged with being drunk where the sole proof is “in the opinion of a police officer.” Tales abound of tired workers calling in for a beer on the way home being convicted on their first sip and speech afflicted persons being convicted because their slurred speech was considered a reasonable indicator that the person was drunk. Police have readily available and inexpensive to apply alcohol teasting equipment.

   But in this new twist, bar staff can now face charges and be convicted on the same dangerous presumption of a police officer. That is, according to the perverse logic by which these bar staff were convicted, they are guilty of serving alcohol to someone who in the opinion of a police officer, is drunk. In the case just published, the police officer is said to have made the decision on the basis that the person removed had “high fived” someone. Interestingly, it takes two people to high five, so why was only person removed. And if this is indeed an indication of drunkenness and an acceptable legal definition, then look forward to the banning of multiple athletes and perhaps the entire Olympic team losing their medals as most do this; we thought in celebration of their success, but no, they were actually legally drunk!!!

   And again, the NSW Government should hang its head in shame, so wilfully shambolic is the law that no one can take it seriously. 

   We wish the two barmaids every success in their appeal and remind them that if they lose their jobs over it, well, theres always the foodvan…

  see source article in the Tele

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:16 am on June 23, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  In breaking news http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25673439-5003501,00.html

  The Rudd federal government announces proposed alterations to federal law making wealthy litigants abusing the court system by prolonging cases so as to exhaust their oppositions resources a thing of the past… and we applaud the move!!!

   We call on State legislators State Judiciary, civil liberties and the legal profession to present a unified voice in calling for mirror legislation in ALL NSW State jurisdictions. For too long, the farcicial State Legal system has been weighed down with legislation and legal processes which create a procedural imbalance in the process of law. The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions are well known as perpetrators of this practice, especially in Childrens Court proceedings involving DoCS, with police and Department of Community services joining forces with their partner department in conspiracies to economically persecute, rather than or as well as judicially prosecute in a bid to leverage compliance with the wishes of often incompetent and sometimes mischevious and malicious DoCS case workers, case managers and police informants-with evidence closely shielded from public and media scrutiny by laws ostensibly in place to protect children, but in reality protecting the NSW Department of Community/Childrens Services.

   Several similar examples of DPP are known to have been perpetrated in other State jurisdictions . In some cases, assets belonging to a contesting parties which may well have been deployed to fund a defence are siezed by police, as in some of the recent alleged bikie cases. Were it not for the well known fierce independence of the Director, Nicholas Chowdery, we would be forced to conclude that the entire office were unduly influenced to procure success within the court system not on the basis of jurisprudence, but by any means necessary.

   We have confidence that the proposed changes announced will go some way to re-enabling more equal access to just FEDERAL legal process.

   We really don’t have faith in many (if any) State Government branches, and less faith in the current governments capability to acknowledge issues far less drive effective change. In fact, why not just federalise and do away completely with the enormous costs of maintaining increasingly irrelevant State and Territory governments?

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:02 am on June 23, 2009 | 1 | # |
  

  Daily Foodvan Report Updated http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/daily-foodvan-report/

   STOP PRESS!!!  Homeless Man in wheelchair burned to Death

  Due to the Minister for DoCS recent statements regarding the State governments intentions going forward NOT to support homeless people, except in the exploitative context of providing services AFTER we have received SUPPORTED accommodation, polling is currently underway among our community, with the intention of formulating a community policy of non-cooperation with all levels and agencies of State Government. We are no longer prepared to be used as the excuse for your departments to expend millions of taxpayer dollars on internal departmental largesse and supporting your nominated service providers to provide minimalist services in our name.

  We encourage all homeless people in NSW to move

  to the Sydney 2000/2011 postcode. We are over the

  out of sight out of mind attitude of arrogant NSW

  Labor Govt ministers, and call on all NSW homeless

  to come where you will be seen.

  They want to move us out of 2000/2011 postcodes as

  it is the view of their developer friends that

  we keep property values down. Keeping property

  values down is a good thing, isn’t it?

  Lower Rents, lower property values for our kids.

  Message to Houseo tenants in Woollo… look out for

  the department to offer you a new tenancy out

  west, then terminate your tenancy when you refuse

  on location grounds.  

  And just what the hell are houseo doing renting properties on Cowper Wharf Rd on the private market when there is a chronic housing shortage?

  Recently;

  Updated “Parallel Universe” story http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/nsw-docslinda-burney-in-parallel-universe/

  Brothel Owner sides with DoCS http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/brothel-owner-drug-dealers-support-docs-minister/

  Urgent Call for Community Support; http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/donations-and-support-urgently-required-by-homeless/

  Elect Sydneys Homeless Ambassador; http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/elect-sydneys-homeless-ambassador/

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:32 am on June 23, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Donors,volunteers,van owners

   resource providers urgently reqd to

  Continue Jefs Corner Foodvan

   Service….

  sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org

  While the State Government continues to listen to the poverty industry in a scenario parallelling discussions with the Don on dismantling organised crime, Sydneys Homeless Community, The JEF Directors, The Gambins personally and supporters are united and committed to ensuring the continuation of the Jefs Corner Foodvan Service. And while multiple tiers of government and a veritable feeding frenzy of self interest promoting service providers continue discussions on how they are going to carve up the pie, and precisely how many crumbs to feed the homeless and marginalised, JEFs corner volunteer organisations groups and individuals will continue their largely unfunded and strategically effective delivery of “just in time intervention solutions” to ongoing marginalisation and as-it-happens crisis situations. 

   We are united in our recognition that not only is the JEFs got it right in service delivery, and remains the sole group dedicated to providing substantial, quality food and ancilliary services to homeless and at risk of homeless people in Sydney CBD. AND THAT THIS ESSENTIAL SERVICE MUST CONTINUE.

  As Exodus contract draws to a close, and we understand, the government’s short term funding of the Exodus service is unmasked as a cynical attempt to deflate negative mainstream media coverage, Sydney Homeless offer our qualified thanks to Exodus,  noting that they provide the service by government agreement- and may in fact have been manipulated to do so for party political purposes. Sydney Homeless also invite Exodus to remain in partnership (but not leadership) of the Services which evolve at Jef’s Corner going forward. We also invite YOTs, whose DoCS funded Don Bosco Hostel in Marrickville is noted for the regularity with which it drops off its most welcome charges at the JEF Foodvan site, to perhaps make a small contribution to the services- out of their DOCS budget, perhaps. And any other organisations who may wish to provide hot coffee, or complimentary services on a non faith, voluntary basis. We are working on a roster initially to complement, but if necessary to replace, Exodus. No State Government Organisations, thanks- your minister has derecognised us as constituents, and we will now derecognise legitimacy of the State Government. 

   

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:21 am on June 22, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  JUST THINK ABOUT IT!!! GOVT CANT DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH IT…………….SQUAT THE LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  PERHAPS IN COLLABORATION WITH UNI ART STUDENTS…2000 HOMELESS PEOPLE AS A LIVING WORK OF ART.

   

• sydneyhomeless 1:07 am on June 22, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: JEF Rozelle

   In a notification just to hand, it seems that administrator Chris Jones has issued an eviction notice to the JEF guys who live at the JEF Rozelle premises. A quick check of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 shows that this may well be another illegal act on his part.

  ANYONE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THIS, CONTACT US URGENTLY. 

  sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org

  We are led to believe that the administrator Chris Jones is now moving to hand over control of Just Enough Faiths Facilities in Rozelle to interests associated with traitor to the homeless and architect of the demise of Just Enough Faith John Oliver. There is information to hand that Oliver has made an in principle agreement to “buy” his way in to the charity business and may be attempting to run this gambit as an excel sheet extension of Exodus Foundation. We would counsel Bill Crews and the directors of Exodus (or any other charity) to consider any such arrangement very carefully. We put all charities, the OLGR, the administrator on notice that any organisation in which Oliver is involved is an unacceptable option to us.

    We will oppose any such organisation fronting for Oliver taking control of facilities developed at Rozelle to provide services to Sydney Homeless by all means available, with extreme prejudice.

   Input from people who have over the years been financially and materially supportive of Just Enough Faith is scathing of the way in which the results of their donations, given specifically because JEF was a non faith based, non government affiliated and independent organisation, WHICH PROVIDED SERVICES TO SYDNEY HOMELESS PEOPLE, may now end up in the hands of the very organisations whom they so carefully avoided supporting.

   And we note the resources were donated to service Sydneys Homeless community. Look forward to our streuous objections, should they be applied for any other purpose. To prevent any ambiguity, we believe that the legal definition of Sydney is the area currently controlled by Sydney City council.  

   Tonight, we have reviewed 35 emails from people saying that they are just so sick of this and other (named) hijacks of well meaning donor support, that they just won’t give to anyone. We have emailed them back a list of organisations which we don’t consider to be charities, so much as businesses. The list will be posted shortly. But we agree with them. Far too many accept donations in the name of marginalised groups and squander the funds cleaning up their moral transgressions with perfectly legal smart accounting practices designed to enrich the charity with the scraps to the nominal beneficiaries.

  In other news, the OLGR become The Fun Police, stuffing Weddings up

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:24 am on June 21, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alina Gambin, Australian marginalised, business of charity, critically underserviced, Edward Eagar Lodge, Exodus Foundation, FACS/DEETYA contractors, feeding homeless, foster kinship communities, homeless and marginalised people, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless issues, homeless meals, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, marginalised assistance, meals service, mentally incompetent, Mission Australia, Mission Beat, morally flawed, mutual responsibility, NSW Labor, Perth City Mission, poverty australia, services for homeless, slave labour Workchoices program, Swanton Lodge, The Noreen Towers Centre, Wesley Mission, whole of government approach

  also today

  Updated “Parallel Universe” story http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/nsw-docslinda-burney-in-parallel-universe/

  Brothel Owner sides with DoCS http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/brothel-owner-drug-dealers-support-docs-minister/

  Urgent Call for Community Support; http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/donations-and-support-urgently-required-by-homeless/

  Elect Sydneys Homeless Ambassador; http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/elect-sydneys-homeless-ambassador/

  An anarchic group of homeless people and supporters are looking at setting up a semipermanent camp in a crossover of modelling between Brazils Favelas and Canberras Aboriginal Tent embassy. Among the sites under consideration is said to be the Sydney Domain area directly across the street from the parliamentary dining facility, affording DoCS minister Linda Burnie, Housing Minister and Gaming and Lotteries Minister Kevin Greene a reverse goldfish bowl opportunity to observe the impact of their policies at street level, while they feast at the largesse of taxpayers.

   As the whole of government approach continues to increase the surpluses (in combined government funding corporate sponsorships and donations) among service providers, as demand increases at street level across Greater Sydney, the accessible services for homeless and marginalised people diminishes.

   And as the State and Federal governments, and their NGO/NFP/Business partners apply ever more coercive strategies to force marginalised people to drive earnings for increasingly bottom line focussed charities the dillema for Homeless and Marginalised people is reminiscent of the Victorian Bushfires Fiasco; “Run and Hide” or “Stay and Fight.” Now we are NOT about to compare the Victorian Fire Authorities with the NSW Government. It would be  totally unfair on the Victorian Fire Authorities.

   When the going gets tough,the tough get going.

   Wesley Mission, who have according to their own account been a service provider since the 1820s, have recently closed their much used and now lamented meals service at the Edward Eagar Lodge in Surry Hills.This important service provided an important link in the food and social fabric of the inner city’s burgeoning street community sector which is afflicted by mental health issues. Wesley Mission have seemingly chosen to reject the coalface of need in line with government strategy, with their strategy shifting to SAAP modelling in which Marginalised people accessing their services become long term income generators, trapped in isolation from their foster kinship communities in the isolation of such facilities as The Noreen Towers Centre in Liverpool. With an inbuilt DoCS and Mental Health spying program which clients are not told exists and can be used against them in any future proceedings various arms of government, or Wesley Mission itself may choose to institute. A dangerous radical extension of these policies; Person with assets is diagnosed as “mentally incompetent”, so Wesley get to determine where their assets go. Or any other SAAP.

   We are astounded to find that Mission Beat, that innovative corporately funded income generator unit of Charity/NFP/Business Mission Australia,which recently announced a mobile bike patrol service, no longer run their van services, which for many years took drunks and drug affected people off the streets to the relative safety of drunk tanks and detox units, no longer operates full time- and the hours which they have cut out include weekend nights, which everyone except Mission Australia knows is the most critically underserviced time frame, and arguably when the risks are highest-when the going gets tough,the tough get going.Long gone is the unlamented Swanton Lodge, a Sydney City Mission run pigsty which nevertheless did provide emergency beds. Of course, Mission Australias ex CEO, and the ex head honcho of Perth City Mission, was credited as the architect of Howard/Costellos marginalised services reform, ramming the slave labour Workchoices program down the throats of the community, and coercing the population to work for pittances which actually saw workers families worse off than ever. And of course, as a contractor to the Australian government Mission Australia did exceedingly well-financially. The whole notion of mutual responsibility as espoused by this series of invasive programs is morally flawed. Mutual responsibility pre-existed the Howard definition and is the fundimental basis of the Social Security system. When you work or generate income, you pay tax, so that when you don’t, the government picks up some of your costs. Thats mutual obligation. Howard and his cronies simply created an extra and onerous set of obligations which created massive new revenue streams for Mission Australia, and other FACS/DEETYA contractors, and a pool of among the most ineptly trained jobless in the world.

   We found out about Missionbeat not operating 24 hours only when we rang on behalf of a drug/alcohol affected guy who ended up being attended to by ambulance officers-and they arrived almost before we called,well done, AMBOs. We fully support NSW AMBOs and if they have a tenfold increase in funding we will applaud the orchestrators of that decision- we just don’t see anyone in NSW Labor who has the balls to do it. Ambos don’t get paid enough and their service is underfunded.FIX IT!!!.

   And joining (or encouraging) the throng at the exit gates is the Marie Antoinette of NSW Labor, Linda Burney, who thinks that 50,000 people who are homeless every night over the next ten years don’t need any government assistance…. and Ms Burnies response to MP Sylvia Hales question ; http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/lc/qalc.nsf/18101dc36b638302ca257146007ee41a/87903a78de63f12cca2575b5002ec64b!OpenDocument in which she states; “The City of Sydney and the Department of Community Services have been working together on a range of strategies with day programs and food services to increase coordination and integration of programs to ensure homeless people are assisted out of the homelessness cycle rather that sustained in sub-standard conditions.” We are not sure that Sydney City are in agreement with this.

  In NSW Parliament this week, in fact, there has been a committee sitting to discuss Homelessness and Low Cost accommodation. Once again, the parliamentary committee will spend weeks considerng the views and objectives of the very poverty industry operatives who have benefitted from a plethora of social programs concocted and connived by an array of Federal and State governments since federation. Well, our research shows that in fact homelessness is a lifestyle which predates federation. We know that the current generation of submitters to the State and Federal Government policy committees will drive more earnings for their NGOs. Thats what happens when you try to solve a problem by listening to those whose financial wellbeing is dependent upon the problem continuing to exist? A nice, cosy arrangement where the relevant ministers increase their power, and the relevant NGOs increase their earnings. Where are the benefits to marginalised communities and people? You will have to ask the perpetrators of this travesty, because marginalised people don’t see them-just the scraps from the well fed at the welfare table.

   (We base the above calculation on the prime minister,Mr Rudds figures, which indicate 105,000 homeless every night nationwide, and a goal of reducing this by 50% by 2020. We think he has grossly underestimated the figure, and many from various branches of social services privately agree. But we will use it. And use conservative accounting principles in all our calculations,as we do.)

   If Ms Burnie is Marie Antoinette, then Minister Kevin Greene of the OLGR surely deserves to the title of Guy Fawkes for his role and stonewalling in the demise of Just Enough Faith. And we would not have a view if he were in fact treated like Guy Fawkes; at least Sydney homeless may be able to keep warm for a while at the bonfire!!!

   By the same definitions, we see John Oliver,Tim Buckley or Alan Byrne architects of the demise of Just Enough Faith, as  Pinnochio Goofy and Mickey Mouse… the three advisors whom the mainstream media based and OLGR based their trial and execution of Just Enough Faith and Jef Gambin on.

   And,we confidently predict that the Lazarus in this story will be Jef and Alina Gambin, who will again take their rightful place at the head of the homeless and community table, analysing for and servicing the immediate needs of Sydneys Homeless and Marginalised community, because Governments and their feeding frenzy of baitfish NGO contractors won’t.

   

• sydneyhomeless 6:01 am on June 20, 2009 | 2 | # |
  

  How different the world must seem as viewed from inside the bulletproof glass of the NSW Labor Fishtank.

  As if homeless or Marginalised People needed any further proof that DoCS and its Minister live and function in a parallel universe, Ms Burnies stunning lack of care with her parliamentary answers is matched only by the callous disregard she her government and her department have, and continue to show for homeless and marginalised people.

   Our current advisement to NSW voters is DO NOT VOTE LABOR at STATE ELECTIONS. NSW Labor have neither the policies nor the desire to put in place a strategy to end homelessness and marginalisation: which does not involve the homeless person becoming an income generator for a government department or its poverty industry contractors. We Sydney Homeless & Community further commit to providing whatever assistance is necessary to the candidate most likely to unseat Ms Burnie and Minister Kevin Greene in the next State Elections.

  While the horror stories of DoCS mismanagement of children continue to appall the sane, DoCS merely burrow their heads ever deeper into the sand, and struggle in their tragicomical attempts to cover an ass in dire need of Jenny Craig with an infants pair of underwear.

     On children, this tired Labor govt, a disshevelled and disorganised shadow of its once proud self, missed a golden opportunity to reform DoCS, by not allowing Justice Woods to consider the Childrens and Young Persons Care and Protection Act 1998 . This legislation and DoCS choices in their administration of that legislation have been the singular most common denominator in family breakdowns and the breakdown in relationships between parents and children. These idiots have on the one hand case managers telling children as young as ten that they don’t have to listen to their parents, yet on the other pressing charges against parents when the children refuse to go to school.

   In dealing with ethnic and indigenous communities, the farce only thickens. The department routinely undermines “other ethnic” cultural values seeking to replace the tried and tested cultural and family based values which resonate with ethnic people with the university generated sterile and convoluted doublespeak that is the basis of Australian Family Law.Yes, its time to throw the baby out with the bathwater, the legislation and the department are just too stuffed to EVER work.

    But the as almost universally demonstrated across all portfolios,NSW Labor government seem to have mastered the art of rescuing defeat from the jaws of victory. In the aftermath of the Wood report, they decided to “contract” much of their previous roles to Police and Educators, both of whom, on at least the private admission of many frontline members are not trained to carry out their new roles.We look forward to the first taser assisted arrest of a nine year old. Educators are less than thankful for the role which has the real likelihood of significantly diminishing the considerable trust educators enjoy across most sectors of the community. Look forward to schools becoming less effective learning places with parents warning children not to trust teachers. Meanwhile, Childrens Services have in effect become the Family Police, whose job is to force Families to abandon their values and adopt the Anglo centric model which deprives family and ethnic community of authority, devolving that instead to a draconian and deceptive DoCS department and its Anglo assimilationist agenda.

  With her background in education coupled with her obvious interest in and previous role as DG of aboriginal affairs, one would have hoped Ms Burnie would be across the import of educators maintaining the trust of all communities, not solely the anglo assimilationists.Obviously and disappointingly,not.

   We must confess, we were absolutely shocked when Linda Burnie accepted the portfolio. Look forward to her following NT MP Ms Scrymgour onto the cross benches if she has any empathy with her own people, or rising to lead the Labor Opposition in the next term of parliament if she does not.

   Our concerns regarding Ms Burnie are that in her response to our questions put via Ms Hale,Greens, she simply does not know, nor in thirty five days have the capability to have her department inform her correctly, that she might provide relevant and true information, which totally addresses our concerns. We might add that in our view she demonstrates a decided disinterest in not only homeless people in general, and among our most vulnerable,our young homeless women and children. In fact,looking over her parliamentary anwers to previous questions, if she were a truck driver,the RTA would likely remove her licence on the ground of public safety. Perhaps Mr Rees or his successor may wish to remove her ministerial responsibilities on the same grounds. Certainly NOT ministerial material in a normal government, but we are talking about a party and government in its death throes, thrashing about, helplessly stranded on the sandbar of its own incompetence as the neap tide of public opinion ebbs at its lowest approval level ever.

   Ms Burnie categorically rejects that her department has a role in supporting marginalised people (rough sleepers) while they are marginalised, and states that the only pathway from marginalisation which her department supports is via SAAPs. That treats homeless people as profit units as SAAPs are richly rewarded for their transitioning work. What all SAAPs and the minister don’t want you to know is that each SAAP acts as a spying and information collection service for DoCS, with casefiles routinely turning up in Childrens and Family court matters years sometimes later, as DoCS reports. These courts,where the Evidence Act applies, are Australia’s very own Guantanamo Bay, with the evidence act not applying and DoCS simply making up allegations which hapless victimised caring parents are forced to respond to.

   Our advice to our community is that if you see a DoCS worker in any kind of trouble,leave them there.

   We have just been notified of an interview with DoCS minister Linda Burnie some years ago. The following is an excerpt;

  “Linda identified a $240 million housing project undertaken some years ago as an example of culturally inappropriate policy that was bound to fail. The project built two-bedroom houses, with no porch or facilities for outdoor living, and used regular materials. The design did not take into account that there would be overcrowding, each house often holding two or three large families. It did not take into account that Aboriginal families do much of their living outdoors. Stainless steel cabinets and fittings would have been more appropriate than ceramics to withstand intense wear and tear. The design of the houses should have started by consulting the community and not an architect in the Sydney CBD.”

   We say that the minister is 1000 percent correct in relation to aboriginal communities and will be well advised to heed the same advice in relation to to homeles & marginalised, families and children who are the ostensible focus of her current ministerial portfolio. Stop listening to the self interest of the poverty industry.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:26 am on June 20, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  A person is homeless if a person family or group consider themselves to be. Homelessness is neither age nor gender specific and is confined to no particular creed race or sexuality.

   Homelessness is “Not having access to appropriate, affordable and appropriately located housing, as determined by the individual.”

  At Risk of Homelessness applies to all persons who do not have control over their accommodation. This includes all renters, including all social housing tenants in NSW, all SAAP tenants and all boarders and lodgers.If you don’t own it or have a short term lease,you are at risk of homelessness.

   We consider that all social housing tenants are at risk of homelessness due to changes to The NSW Residential Tanancies Act 1987 specifically Division 2. and sections 68,68a,69,69a. The Residential Tenancies Act 1987 can be viewed in full with all updated information included at http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fullhtml/inforce/act+26+1987+pt.5-div.3-sec.67+0+N?#fn

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:48 am on June 20, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: beating homelessness, homeless art, homeless business, homeless success, homeless usa

  this is a sick idea and I can show you how 2 make money from it . http://art4thehomeless.webs.com/

   

• sydneyhomeless 11:08 pm on June 17, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: business of caring, business of charity, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus Foundation, feeding homeless, homeless, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, marginalised assistance, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised

  John Oliver is the multimillionaire retired bigwig from Babcock & Brown (in liquidation).

   John Oliver reportedly told the papers  ” that by the end of 2006, he and his fellow volunteers had been reduced to buying pigs’ cheeks for 50 cents a kilogram to keep the food program going.”"Once the money ran out the food deteriorated quickly. All we had was fatty rubbish, the food was absolutely dreadful and we struggled in the kitchen to make suitable quality.” (Read News Item). A multimillionaire notices that a charity doesn’t have sufficient meat, so spends 50c a kilo on fatty pigs cheeks??? Is this an indication-a measure of the man? We think it is. A man who dedicates seven years to feeding the homeless, a man worth millions, would really do this? Only if he is the same sort of man prepared to accept millions of dollars for denuding, robbing, workers of their lifes work and entitlements, by the simple device of sending an email saying “you’re fired”.

   We wonder how many people in the queues of homeless and marginalised people lining up for charitable assistance around the country are victims of this ruthless culture-this gung ho attitude-to the human cost of achieving corporate greed.We must point out that what John Oliver/Babcock and Brown did was probably perfectly legal;we have no reason to believe otherwise.What we question however is the morality.The morality of callously sacrificing the financial well being of staff in the name of corporate greed-and personal gain.

  And we asked ourselves, if these are the corporate morals of the man, are there skeletons in his corporate or personal closet??? And bingo, what did we find??? We won’t say directly at this juncture because to do so may embarass at least one otherwise innocent party…and we won’t do that.But we reserve our right to at a time of our choosing, just as Team John Oliver did in their masterfully executed character assasination and trial by media of Jef Gambin and Just Enough Faith. Looking at this mans ruthless track record, we asked ourselves, why does a man who cares so little for the staff who built businesses and treats them as one would toilet paper, spend seven years feeding the homeless?

   Un requited guilt? Perhaps a personality disorder? We don’t think so.We are discussing an incredibly smart man- a man who jumped into the anonimity of retirement at almost the precise moment that the good ship B&B started to flounder.We don’t know if he breached his duty of care to other shareholders or if he disposed of or dealt in B&B shares using knowledge gleaned as an insider (insider trading,ASIC call it)-he probably didn’t.And if he did, he certainly would have known how to conceal the fact.For example, if he had shares held in a Delaware Company(and there is no evidence that we are aware of that he did),there is no requirement in that state to name directors of an LLC- hell-if everyone on the street knows that,surely John Oliver would.We don’t mean to insinuate that he did-he probably didn’t; but he certainly could have used this or any of the many other complex corporate strategies to do so if he wished to.

   So what posessed Oliver to on the one hand create financial mayhem in the homes of  innumerable sacked workers, and on the other hand spend seven years feeding the homeless??? Did he think he had found another cash cow which he considered ready for butchering??? 

   Did he have anything to do with, or any prior knowledge of the unfortunate events which were about to unfold at Babcock and Brown, shortly after he retired? 

   And is it more than a coincidence that he resigned just before bringing Just Enough Faith to its knees? 

   It seems Mr John Oliver has a habit of jumping just before the ship goes down- maybe because he’s pulling the plug?

  One  question Mr Oliver,sir.In relation to the exerpt below-

  “If [the foundation] doesn’t continue, we just hope another organisation can step in and use the facilities.”

  Hope? Or did you always intend to oust Jef Gambin and turn Just Enough Faith into your personal fiefdom, soliciting donations in the name of Sydney Homeless and Marginalised, while using JEFF as an investment vehicle-like the Sydney Anglican Synod did on their way to losing 100 million dollars?

   Are you or any of your Team of conspirators working with insiders within OLGR to further your personal vendettas against Jef Gambin ,Just Enough Faith and Sydney Homeless people?

   

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:20 pm on June 17, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Jef and Alina send their love,

  A surprise last night ( Tuesday) as patrons flocked to  greetings to Jef and Alina, the founders and patrons of Jefs Corner Foodvan services. Both send their fondest regards to the many patrons volunteers and supporters who have been concerned for their wellbeing at this difficult time. Looking at peace with and in control of themselves Jef and Alina spent the evening catching up with old friends. We received a request to pass on their greetings and gratitude for the support which continues to build momentum as the time nears to resolve the question of foodvan operations permanently.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:50 pm on June 17, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  The Ministerial response to Ms Hales valid and relevant questions, may well have been provided by France’s Empress Marie-Antoinette, of “let them eat cake fame.” The response demonstates the departments determination to persevere with supporting tired self beneficial structures within the department and its contractors, and not assisting homeless or marginalissed people.

  The disappointing response from the Minister to the question put by Ms Hale on 13th May ( http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/lc/qalc.nsf/18101dc36b638302ca257146007ee41a/87903a78de63f12cca2575b5002ec64b!OpenDocument )  has Sydneys Homeless community struggling to fathom which (if any) of Ms Hales questions the Minister provided answers for- or if the Ministers intent was merely to use this question as an opportunity to further promote the departments cosy and costly relationship with its poverty industry service providers. 

   In the ministers response at paragraph 3 ;

  “The Department currently funds a range of support services, including day programs across inner Sydney, which provide meals. These services include Matthew Talbot Hostel and The Station. People previously accessing Just Enough Faith will be able to access these and other support services for meals in the area.  ”

                                                                                                the minister demonstrates both a stunning lack of comprehension of the services which her departmental contractors  provide, as well as a callous disregard for homeless people.

  Does the minister know that women and Children cannot eat at The Matthew Talbot Hostel?

   Does the minister  who can use the Station Ltd’s services? (see below in red).Or that the Station does not provide an evening meal. 

  “The Station Ltd drop in centre is for men and women 21 and over who are experiencing homelessness and/or unemployment.

  We are a service that targets individuals with disabilities, mental health issues and/or drug and alcohol issues, culturally and linguistically diverse peoples, aboriginal and Torres Straight islander peoples and those who are chronically homeless and sleeping rough.”

            The Station Ltd | 82 Erskine Street, Sydney |   (02) 9299 2252            http://thestationltd.org/who.htm1) & (2) The NSW Government is committed to preventing and reducing homelessness and commits significant resources towards programs to assist those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

  Is the Minister prepared to acknowledge that under her departments 

  cavalier arrangements, there is in fact NOWHERE in Sydney City for Women under  21, children or families to access hot meals?

  The Ministers Answer in plain text. Our response in bold

   

   The Department of Community Services (DoCS) funds the provision of accommodation and support services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP). In 2008-09, this joint Commonwealth-State program provided funding of $123.6 million for around 400 projects to provide a range of accommodation and supports to assist people to resolve their homelessness. These services help people, including families in crisis, single adults, young people and women and children affected by domestic violence.

  The Department currently funds a range of support services, including day programs across inner Sydney, which provide meals. These services include Matthew Talbot Hostel and The Station. People previously accessing Just Enough Faith will be able to access these and other support services for meals in the area.

   The Commonwealth Government’s White Paper, The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness sets out strategies which aim to halve overall homelessness in Australia by 2020 and offer accommodation to all rough sleepers who need it by 2020.

   Currently, the NSW Government is involved in a range of national and state initiatives that seek to develop a more effective response to homelessness including: the National Affordable Housing Agreement; the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness; and the NSW Homelessness Action Plan.

   The Department of Community Services, and other agencies with responsibilities in this area, are currently contributing to the development of the NSW Homelessness Action Plan which will form the basis for the Implementation Plan for the National Partnership on Homelessness.

   The NSW Government will establish new governance arrangements to oversee the NSW Homelessness Action Plan in 2009⁄10,  in consultation with key non-government peak homelessness organisations.

  The “peak homelessness organisations” with which the department states it will consult are the same organisations who for decades have benefitted from ever increased government spending and support, while continuing to provide inappropriate services (whether by way of inappropriate location, inappropriate culture or inadequate services.) NCOSS Member The Trustees of the Society of St Vincents de Paul(NSW) operated Matthew Talbot Hostel referred to by the minister in this answer is an excellent example. Between 1999 and 2006 Matthew Talbot Hostels funding increased annually by tens of percents, while the number of bed nights per annum halved.

   (3) A range of agencies in the inner city offer food services to homeless people and people at risk of homelessness. These services are offered through a variety of settings: van services that outreach to people on the street and centre based programs.

  Which of these foodvan services offers timely reliable and consistent quality hot nutritious meals each night of the week?

   The City of Sydney and the Department of Community Services have been working together on a range of strategies with day programs and food services to increase coordination and integration of programs to ensure homeless people are assisted out of the homelessness cycle rather that sustained in sub-standard conditions.

  In the Federal Government white paper on

   

  The Department’s main aim through SAAP is to connect people to services that offer assistance to transition them to more sustainable options. In meeting with homeless people the Department would seek to understand what type of services people are seeking to assist them to gain more in the long term.

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:39 pm on June 16, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Anarchic action by an anonymous activist community has provided ad hoc accommodation in a suburban community hall for 160 young homeless asian people, our sister site reports. They charge $10 a day and include an evening meal… these people have some affordable security, just what the doctor ordered…well done. Matteress on the floor style, showers and loos a bit how yer goin, but Rome wasn’t built in a day (I wasn’t on that job).

   A noticable decline in numbers where they previously hung out is testament to the success of this compassionate and caring community response.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:53 pm on June 16, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  TH4TZ R1GHT P33PZ.0UR TH1RD IM4G3 UPD4T3. H0LL4 B4K 1F U L1K 1T 0R H4T3 1T….L8R H8RS

  Due to many comments that peepz were in danger of doing themselves a hocus focus,being the OHS conscious types we are and not currently having Jef to sort out an eye clinic (although Major Harmer does a sterling job), and being the naturally cautious conservative types conscious of the predisposition of predatorial people to prefer lawsuits and litigation, to ‘call us’ and common ’sense’- we thought it better for all to heed the call. We called on the late night services of Dr Readeasy and from her collection of CSS sheets selected the current which was considered in the quick poll of the at this time of morning single stalwart editorial staffer stumbling through this tricky assignment by a majority although not unanimous vote my multiple personalities after many angry words between each other agreed on this LOOK. OK?

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:51 pm on June 16, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Babcock and Brown, character assasination, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, feeding homeless, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, John Oliver, just enough faith

  John 1 verse 1

    
  

  There has been much made in the mainstream media by John Oliver of Jef Gambins alleged exaggerations. This is the same man quoted in the Brisbane Times article referenced above.

  In the Brisbane Times article, dated 26 April 2008 John Oliver says that he spent seven years with Just Enough Faith feeding the homeless.

  Yet in 2006, at http://online.babcockbrown.com/default.aspx?iid=6461&startpage=page0000012&xml=babcock.xml , he is on record as having ALREADY spent 10 years with Just Enough Faith. 

  

   

  After seven years of feeding the homeless every Friday night and raising more than $120,000 for the charity, in January last year John Oliver, a retired investment banker with Babcock & Brown, decided to walk away.

  After seven years of volunteering and fund-raising for the foundation, Oliver says that like many other volunteers, he feels more frustrated than angry that it has come to this.

  “We’ve met some wonderful people and have helped a lot of people out. But if the funds had been used effectively, we could have achieved so much more,” he says.

  -excerpted from Brisbane Times.

  Mr Oliver, in your previous life as an investment banker you understood numbers. Dollars quoted in multiples of telephone numbers. So how is it that you had been volunteering with JEF for over 10 years in 2006, but only 7 years in 2008??? I checked and unless you are using some numerical system known only to merchant bankers, both statements cannot be right. And, Mr Oliver, the character assasination of Jef Gambin hinges upon your integrity. If this is a mere oversight on your part,we think it incredible that you should “forget” 3 years of your valuable voluntary service. Were you just careless? If so, what else were you careless about? Specifically, in relation to Jef Gambin and Just Enough Faith?

   Oh and by the way,thanks for the turkey.

                                                                                               …….coming soon, John 1 verse 2 , or the life and times of John Oliver.

   

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:29 am on June 16, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  have our tweets direct to your mobile…no need to check for updates  http://www.twitter.com/sydneyhomeless When we publish/update, we tweet!!!

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:20 am on June 16, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Dear Rev Crews,

                                   Information received today indicates that we may have misinterpreted an on reflection, unfortunately worded news article, which stated that “the foodvan operations will cost “the Foundation” $55,000. Our informant tells us (and he is a very reliable guy) that the article meant your Exodus Foundation paying- We read it as JEF Foundation. If this is true and Exodus did not receive payment from the JEF administrator out of JEF funds (or from alternative sources), then my index finger is pointed skywards, and I apologise. If in fact you did receive funding then of course I stand by my previous statements.

   If I am wrong, please understand that without any clarification from yourself or the governments number cruncher, I totally believed the-on reflection-ambiguous article.It was rather naughty of me to put blind faith in the media, because I’m old enough to know not to believe everything(or is it anything?) I read in the papers. And then I realised- that is precisely what happened to our trusting benefactor Jef Gambin. Hundreds of naysayers, maybe thousands, convicted him in a trial by innuendo orchestrated in the court of media opinion. His reputation and many years of good, unpaid loyalty to our marginalised community destroyed by three people he trusted, at least one of whom initially came to Jef for help- and a grateful media. Character assasination driven by mass circulation media has permanently convicted Jef- even if completely exonerated and his innocence proclaimed for an unlikely week in front and rear cover spreads, and blasted across prime TV news- You just can’t wash those shit stains away. The same is almost Just Enough Faith- but not quite. Now I haven’t written Jef Gambin off (by now you probably think I idolise the guy), far from it.

    But salvaging Just Enough Faith is the easier option. Not a walk in the park, but do-able. And Rev Crews, this has to do with you. Money. And ROI to donors. We measure it in the percentages which hit their target- the homeless and marginalised community. And we think the Just Enough Faith style of streamilining is still attractive to potential donors (actually,some new ones have already put their hands up). Of course the administrator doesn’t know this because he has , for some unfathomable reason, refused to entertain any discussions with parties interested in resurrecting JEF- we spent 14 hours last night with our legal advisors who among other things advise that this is a fundamental duty of care- and creditors will really care about that. We hold the firm view that the JEF system is the structure which will optimise the percentage of funds directly reaching our community-lower overheads-No paid evening staff for instance.Not criticising your structure.Works for you and keeps hundreds happy out in Ashfield. No problem. But JEF is still our preferred choice.  

     If you are genuinely out of pocket through the services you have already provided let me know ( sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org) and we will lobby the government who I believe unnecessarily caused this fiasco, to compensate Exodus. I can’t believe that they signed an MOU with you and couldn’t fund it!!! Damned cheek.

   Lastly, Rev Crews, thank you for the services which your organisation has delivered in the last 2 months, at Jef’s Corner. As your contract draws to a close, we should commend Exodus for responding to our issues. Our compliments to your chef. And if Australias famous tall poppy syndrome should ever get you too, we will probably be as supportive of you as we have been of Jef.Because we have been told you are a good bloke- and we believe it,

  see you at the Foodvan

  kindest regards

  Sydney homeless

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:00 am on June 16, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  One of our homeless community members, Dave(he insisted we use his name) has asked one of our people to report on the fantastic service provided to him by the NSW Police departments local officers a few nights ago. Dave tells that someone roughed him up a bit the other night somewhere near the cathedral, and when he contacted police they responded right away. Daves a little miffed that they didn’t arrest the guy concerned but understands that police can only do what they can. Daves a really good guy, even picks up the rubbish every night at the foodvans and sometimes helps Karen with handing out the cutlery- and again, without labouring the subject- THANK YOU, LOCAL POLICE SERVICE FOR HELPING DAVE OUT.

   

• sydneyhomeless 6:52 am on June 16, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  The answer to the question put by MLA Sylvia Hale in our behalf 13th May, re: Foodvan operations, will be answered in the general session of State Parliament tomorrow, we understand. Question is “what does the government intend to do to ensure continuity of the foodvan service at the same quality and quantities as previously provided by Just Enough Faith.

   A good opportunity for some of us outdoor dwellers to get into that nice warm parliament building while we listen to the question.

  Link again, its question 3216 for the time deprived….

  http://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/lc/lcpaper.nsf/0/4979272AC55CE23CCA2575B5003D7BDD/$file/Q0900513.100.pdf

   

• sydneyhomeless 6:02 pm on June 15, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Following a marathon session with legal and other advisors, the Sydney Homeless community are considering legal action in a bid to stabilise the foodvan services. Our just concluded meeting (2-30a.m.) has identified the following points.

  a) We have the legal grounds as stakeholders, to take legal action to resolve the State Labor Government created foodvan crisis.

  b) We are able to take action either in conjunction with or independently of any other party.

  c) We have available sufficient resources available to effect whatever legal action (and if necessary structure) is required to ensure the continuation of JEF style,JEF quality,JEF quantity food and associated services. We will use these resources to challenge any attempt to subvert or diminish these services.

  d) We will oppose any resolution of the issue which involves one organisation being paid to deliver services, while using voluntary labour and donated resources to effect delivery.

  e) We await the ministerial response to a question parliament addressing these issues,due 17th 06 and published 19-06, and will consider this response prior to resolving the issue of court action.

  f) We are not holding our breath for announcements from OLGR or their appointed administrator, who are the likely respondents to be named in any court action.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:03 pm on June 14, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: sydney homeless alerts, sydney homeless tweets, sydney homeless twitter, sydney twitter, twitter

  We are now on Twitter, follow our tweets at http://www.twitter.com/sydneyhomeless

  

  Click to follow Sydney Homeless on Twitter

   

  

  Jef Corner Foodvan discussion on Facebook

   

   

  Twitter Updates

  follow me on Twitter

  

  click to check Sydney Homeless out on Bebo

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:20 pm on June 14, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alan Byrne, Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, concerned foodvan patrons, dispassionate destruction, downsize homeless food services, Exodus government contract, feeding homeless, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless services, JEF supporters, Jeff Gambin, John Oliver, just enough faith, marginalised assistance, NSW govt illegal actions, NSW Labor, NSW State Government, NSW State Labor Government. Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing, official JEF position, Official Just Enough Faith Position, OLGR, politics, questions in parliament, sydney homeless, Sylvia Hale MLA, Tim Buckley

  We hold The NSW Labor government responsible for jeopardising the Jefs Corner Foodvan operation. We call on them to fix the mess they have made, ensuring that operations continue at the same service levels offered by Just Enough Faith, and preferably, under the management of Just Enough Faith.

  We will oppose by all means necessary any management involvement by John Oliver,Tim Buckley or Alan Byrne, or their nominees . We will also strongly oppose any attempts to downsize food and ancilliary services or add government services.

  As the intrigue builds in relation to the future of the JEF foodvan operations, we think that some issues will be clarified by the end of the week ending June 20th.

  Several concerned foodvan patrons wonder if they will get a hot meal at night this time next month.

  We, and a lot of JEF supporters, judging from our mail, look forward to the announcement of the next JEF meeting by the Board of Directors, and their awaited clarification of the official JEF position.

   On Wednesday 17th June, we look forward to the parliamentary response to the questions Ms Sylvia Hale,MLA, Greens, so kindly and quickly put to the relevant minister, regarding the governments position on continuity of service, quality and quantities of food distributed by the foodvan service. The questions are at the url below with the response posted online by the 19th, we understand.

  http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/lc/qalc.nsf/18101dc36b638302ca257146007ee41a/87903a78de63f12cca2575b5002ec64b!OpenDocument

   Our understanding is that as yet Exodus have no indication that their government contract, due to expire in the next fortnight ,will be extended. We do not think that Exodus will countenance the total cessation of a necessary service, but we are not privy to their inner sanctums thinking-Nor are we asking to be. Unlike Just Enough Faith, Exodus seem to give much consideration to costs going forward, and are known to have a higher cost base than JEFF, even when the hire of the yellow monstrosity is removed from the equation.

   It is our understanding that the administrator appointed by the OGLR used JEFF money to fund the contract, and that the administrator has set about stripping JEF of all funds and resources. Word trickling back is also that he has, according to some indirectly, contacted previous donors to JEFF, advising those that it is illegal to donate to JEFF, which we understand is not true. We have no way of clarifying this as the ministers office, the OLGR and the administrator continue to demonstrate their attitude to state government transparency, with a deafening wall of silence.

   In the meantime, the minister with responsibility for the Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing, (Kevin Greene) which we believe has illegally siezed control and management of JEF assets, continues to demonstrate an utter contempt for natural justice in his continued refusal to inform the Board of Just Enough Faith of the grounds for the organisation being under administration. Mr Greene and his OLGR continue to make an absolute mockery of the NSW Labor Governments commitment to transparency with his (or his administrators) ongoing refusal to state publicly on what grounds they have siezed JEF. Mr Greene also continues to treat Sydneys Homeless Community with utter contempt, by his continuing to ignore the questions which we have put to his office.

    The Sydney Homeless Community hold The NSW Labor Government, Mr Greene and their Office of Liqour,Gaming and Racing responsible for any adverse effects on the standard of services delivered at the JEFs corner foodvan site. They alone chose to sieze JEF’s assets and arbitrarily appoint their own contractor, Exodus. Their administrator chose to re channel all of JEF’s regular donations to Exodus- some of whom will be lost to JEF forever. Their appointed administrator took it upon himself to pay Exodus out of JEF funds to carry on services which JEF were very capable of continuing. In fact, if there was any barrier to a JEF run service continuing, this NSW Labor Govt appointed administrator put the barriers there- and they should fix it.

  In spite of the accounting based proponents perspectives that JEFF (or Jef Gambin) stuffed up, we can say that they missed out on delivering their much in demand and gratefully received service NOT ONCE. They ran out of food NOT ONCE. We think that the JEF system worked so well because of the lack of a feeding frenzy of accountants and accounting practices. JEFF, and Jef Gambin personally, were often able to respond on the spot to ad hoc emergency situations immediately, precisely because they,we think,made it up as they went along.Indeed, compliance with these cumbersome mechanisms is what renders many of the services delivered via government contracted providers slow, expensive and comparatvely ineffective. At 9-30 at night, people who need help and have probably traipsed from one tickbox government service provider to the next, don’t need to know that there isn’t quite a funding structure available to meet their needs, and this is the sort of emergency Jef Gambin regularly responded to- Hotel rooms for the night for families, airfares to new jobs and personal emergencies, while ineffective government accountant driven systems dithered. We are saddened at the predicament which Jef is in today- all because he did so effectively what successive governments consistently demonstrate an incapability or lack of desire to achieve.

  Already we have seen the wasteful government bureaucracy dictated systems creeping in in the form of a, we understand very expensive hired foodvan platform which far exceeds Sydney Citys Health requirements for voluntary food services. We would NOT recommend using this platform in summer, unless the operator expects volunteers to be serving until 2 a.m.

    Put simply, State Government’s siezure of JEFF assets and management of those assets has rendered the Jefs Corner Foodvan service vulnerable to closure. The service is now a mess- made by the State Government and its administrators who are acting in the interests of,we believe, four malicious people, mainly number crunchers, who thought that they, not Jeff Gambin, should be running JEFF. Those three people are;

   John Oliver,Tim Buckley and Alan Byrne.

   We believe that these three became so obsessive and self righteous following their failure to turn Just Enough Faith into another boring ineffective accountant driven poverty industry operator, that they cared not that Sydneys Homeless Community would be left without adequate resources. These are the people who we believe leaked information, some possibly illegally obtained and distributed,to media. At least one of these people is believed to be the sole complainant upon whose complaint OLGR are acting. The most likely of these is said to be Mr John Oliver, an ex Babcock and Brown(in liquidation) financial genius said to have contributed $120,000 to JEF over 7 years. Their statements given to media are below.

  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  Leading stockbroker Tim Buckley,who was appointed public officer, said: “I was shocked at what we found. There were no records, no receipts for anything and we had no access to bank accounts. Everyone knew the charity had received all this Packer money but no one could see where it had gone.”-excerpt from news.com http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23567647-5001021,00.html 

  We note that bank statements purporting to be the accounts of Just Enough Faith do not have a masthead, and do not actually show whose account they are.See link provided by News Ltd. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/files/statements.pdf

  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  Jeff insisted there was absolutely no money and I kept wondering how could a charity operate on such a shoestring,” says Alan Byrne, former member of Friends of Just Enough Faith, a committee whose members have blown the whistle.

  After seven years of feeding the homeless every Friday night and raising more than $120,000 for the charity, in January last year John Oliver, a retired investment banker with Babcock & Brown, decided to walk away.

  “I was just concerned about the lack of governance and financial transparency out there. And there were rumours of Jeff having some sort of a gambling problem. People said that they’d seen him gambling, but it was just their word against Jeff’s.”

  Oliver says that by the end of 2006, he and his fellow volunteers had been reduced to buying pigs’ cheeks for 50 cents a kilogram to keep the food program going. “Once the money ran out the food deteriorated quickly. All we had was fatty rubbish, the food was absolutely dreadful and we struggled in the kitchen to make suitable quality.”

  excerpt from

  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/where-did-all-the-money-go/2008/04/25/1208743290873.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

   

   

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:16 pm on June 13, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Public Hearing 19/06/2009 – Homelessness and low-cost rental accommodation

  Date	Friday 19 June 2009, 09:00 to 17:00
  Venue	Meeting Room 814-815 New South Wales Parliament, Macquarie Street, Sydney
  Contact	Glenda Baker, Senior Council Officer Phone (02) 9230 3543 socialissues@parliament.nsw.gov.au
  Transcript	There is no transcript available
  Context	Homelessness and low-cost rental accommodation Inquiry, Social Issues See the Inquiry for reports and submissions related to this hearing.

  Copied with apologies from the NSW Parliamentary website.We encourage all homeless people to go along and have a look at what decisions are made on your behalf without the slightest consultation with you. Submissions are already closed or we would have a meeting and put in our ten cents.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:01 pm on June 12, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  As mentioned previously, we have initiated procedures which will result in the placement of a plaque honouring the selfless work of Jeff and Alina Gambin, Just Enough Faith and those sterling volunteers who all worked so selflessly to keep Sydneys premium Marginalised Nightly Hot Meal service alive. This is now in train, and we ask all homeless, marginalised, volunteers and supporters to help in giving these good people the recognition they thoroughly deserve yet never sought. Please go to the url below, download the petition, print it out and collect signatures in support of it. Its the least we can do. Please email back scanned copies of completed petitions and retain the originals for later collection. Even Exodus people may well wish to sign this one!!!

  http://tinyurl.com/jefscornerpetition

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:55 pm on June 12, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  In view of the unavoidable postponement of the Just Enough Faith Board’s previously announced meeting, we wish to make our position clear.

  1) We aim to have the foodvan service retained , at current or better(measured by patrons) service levels, at all costs. A privately funded organisation managed exceedingly well for 17 years-until siezed by state government. We will not accept a lesser service in its place.

  2) We hold the State Labor Government responsible for the current unclear status of the foodvan service.

  2a) We believe their actions in relation to Just Enough Faith to be unjustified, illegal and possibly inspired by ulterior motives, including future usage options for Callan Park.

  2b) We call for the State Government to make financial provision to ensure that the service levels described above are maintained or exceeded, AND that should the operations be returned to Just Enough Faith’s control, that an unconditional ex gratia payment be made to that organisation in an amount agreeable to the board to compensate for de structuring and interference in supply and volunteer resourcing, as well as the detrimental effect of adverse publicity generated by the State Labor Governments actions.

  2c) We call for the State Labor Government to immediately cease and desist its actions against Just Enough Faith or to make public their reasons for their actions. You have had 2 months to make them up.

  2d) In the event of a return of the services to JEF control, we urge JEF to offer continued employment to the Exodus Chef,if he is surplus to their ongoing needs.

  3) In the event that Exodus retain the service we call upon the State Government and its agencies to ensure the maintenance of the service levels, and that appropriate funding is in place, without supplementary conditions.

  4)The State Government destroyed what worked so well-we hold them responsible for its maintenance- and will act by whatever means necessary to ensure a satisfactory outcome.

  5) We reaffirm our Strongest support for JEF Board of Directors,Just Enough Faith Foundation, and separately, Jef and Alina Gambin personally.

  6) We will oppose an administrator appointed JEF board, or any administrator appointed alternative contractor, by all means available.

  7) We urge all homeless people, supporters sympathisers and JEF supporters to contact us in preparation for possible actions and campaigns,which will be directed against the State Labor Govt.

  We will make our volunteers available to support a Just Enough Faith Foundation run service, in whatever capacity required.

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:42 pm on June 12, 2009 | 1 | # |
  Tags: Callan Park, Callan Park development, drug and alcohol program, Edward Eagar Lodge, foodvan service, Foundation House, future development, government funded providers, Jeff Foodvan, Jeffs Corner foodvan service, just enough faith, Labor MP's, Matthew Talbot, NSW State Government, NSW State Labor Government, obstruct future development plans, ongoing embarassment, standards of services, sydney foodvan service, Unions NSW, where land values are cheaper

  In spite of repeated requests for a simple clarification of the situation, by multiple parties,including ourselves, we know of not one reason why The NSW State Government has taken over Just Enough Faith-because they won’t say.

  So we have looked at possible plausible motives;

  a) Just Enough Faiths occupation of premises in Callan Park may obstruct future development plans for that much contested and neglected piece of real estate. Their removal would leave only Foundation House,the Unions NSW supported drug and alcohol program obstructing any hidden agenda State Labor may have as to future development. We ask Unions NSW to support Just Enough Faith Foundation by lobbying its Labor MP’s, and by whatever other means they consider appropriate and expedient.

  b) Just Enough Faith were an ongoing embarassment to NSW State Labor Government. By successfully delivering the standards of services which they did,JEFF forced all other, mostly government funded providers in the area, to raise their sometimes abysmal standards, at significant cost to State Government. I’m sure government accountants don’t thank Just Enough Faith for this. The Jeffs Corner foodvan service still leads the way. Following the recent closure of Uniting Church/Wesley Mission’s Edward Eagar Lodge dining facilities to all but residents, the termination of Vinnies Village dinner service some time ago, and the steadfast refusal of Matthew Talbot to recognise that women and children as well as men experience hunger, the Jeff Foodvan is now the only place that homeless, marginalised and financially challenged women and children can reliably access a hot substabtial dinner 7 days a week.

  c) It is said that ex City Mayor, Ex Callan Park minister, ex minister for developers and said to be premiership aspirant carries a veritable golf bag of axes to grind with Just Enough Faith and Jef Gambin. Just a few things we have heard and read…and as a potential campaign grows, those whispers may well grow names. Look, its just something we have heard, and with Exodus contract up in a fortnight we really do have to consider anything and everything. Far fetched??? With Catherine Hill fresh in our minds and the skullduggery surrounding the creation of the Redfern Waterloo Authority,both under Sartor,who really knows?

  d) There has been talk for a long time of a State Labor Government preference to relocate all marginalised people to areas “where land values are cheaper”. Mr Rees made a statement when he took over as premier that Sydney would have no homeless by when???Areas like Airds? Or perhaps Ivanhoe? Sorry peeps, we like it here too, and demand socially affordable housing levels in the Sydney City area be increased. We suggest a levy of 5% across all construction projects in the area, and target 5% allocation of all existing residential apartment blocks within 10 years as a good starting point- and how about a socially integrated caravan park-say on the Sydney City Council land opposite Wentworth Park, or even- Callan Park?We ask that State Government adopt the City of Sydney blueprint on dealing with homelessness.

  e) The NSW State Labor Govt just doesn’t care about homeless and marginalised people- just how much they can raise for their departments in our name. No comment-yet.

  f) Homeless people lower the property values in areas. This jeopoardises the State Labor Govts potential to raise funds from Developers. a)See answer d).b)For those of you who cannot see me,I have my right index finger raised above my three other right hand fingers,downturned,in a general skyward direction, my hand raised high above my head,and a care factor of “zero”.

  Why do we have to raise these points of conjecture? Because The State Labor Govt, Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing, Minister Kevin Greene and the administrator of JEF, have all ignored multi party requests for their actual reasons. We will leave the process of elimination up to you. For us, if we can’t eliminate the possibility, we are keeping it on the table.

   

  Below is the text of the OLGR media announcement of their appointment of an administrator to Just Enough Faith. The blue inserts are our comments.

  ADMINISTRATOR APPOINTED TO JUST ENOUGH FAITH
  The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) has appointed an administrator to the Just Enough Faith Foundation Inc (JEFF) following an investigation into alleged breaches of charitable fundraising laws.
  A senior consultant from the Internal Audit Bureau was appointed administrator on April 3 to manage and operate JEFF to ensure compliance with the law.
  The administrator will determine the ongoing viability of JEFF.
  The Exodus Foundation at Ashfield has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the administrator to continue to provide the Domain evening meal service to the homeless, previously provided by JEFF. Exodus commenced the Domain operation on April 27, ensuring no loss of services to the homeless.
  The appointment of an administrator follows an investigation by senior charity inspectors that detected a series of alleged breaches of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991.
  The matter is under investigation by the NSW Police Fraud Squad to determine if any offences have been committed under the Crimes Act.
  To avoid duplication, police have been asked to include breaches of the Charitable Fundraising Act as part of their investigation.

  our notes-

  a) Statement indicates that investigation has concluded; “following an investigation.” No charges known to have been laid.

  b) Senior consultant from Internal Audit Bureau is said to be Chris Jones, the number cruncher responsible for giving confidential contact details on JEFF databases to their contractor in breach of privacy laws. Also known to have provided JEFF funds to finance government contractor Exodus operations in the last 2 months. Known to have signed a MOU with Exodus prior to giving over JEFF assets. Known to have handed over to religion based Exodus resources donated in good faith on the basis that they would be deployed by a non faith based organisation. Appointment is possibly an illegal act by government.Said to have predetermined that JEFF services were better placed in the hands of Exodus. Said to be religious fanatic and allied with Oliver, so probably not impartial.

  c) Exodus signed the MOU prior to the takeover, and were at the very least discourteous in failing to notify JEF of impending action,abeit probably prevented by a non disclosure clause in the MOU. There were substantial losses of services in terms of food quality, and quantity with Exodus running out of food on numerous occasions. Non food ancilliary services were also non existent. Exodus have since tried to make these up,and made huge efforts in the food department. Never-the-less, the overall quality of service remains shaded by the superior quality of JEFF services.

  d) There has been no known breach of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 by the current Board of Directors of Just Enough Faith, nor do our legal advisors consider fundraising activities 2003-2007 to have breached this lopsided law, which places onerous conditions only on non religion based charities. In any case, we regard the appointment of administrators as draconian and premature, because there have as yet been no charges brought, much less a trial- so surely there must be a presumption of the innocence of all parties- not the Oliver/Government fed,media driven trial and conviction which both Jef Gambin and Just Enough Faith have received.

  e) We believe that this government appointed administration is illegal and therefore its actions are also.

  f) We call on police to also investigate the possibly illegal accessing of Just Enough Faiths financial records by parties who then made these available to media, and charges which may flow from those.

   

• sydneyhomeless 1:35 pm on June 12, 2009 | 2 | # |
  

  Please note, due to unforseen circumstances the board of JEFF have reluctantly decided to postpone the meeting scheduled 10:30 Sat 13th June,until further notice.

   

• sydneyhomeless 2:34 pm on June 11, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Current mainstream media reports of NSW Labor Government illegal practices in relation to property delevopment applications are just the latest in a series of development related fiascos which have come to light across the State, in areas as disparate as Wollongong, Strathfield as well as the current Catherine Hill allegations.And who can forget the chicanery of trying to sieze control of Sydney City Council, merging South Sydney with Sydney,losing the Mayoralty to Clover Moore then creaiting a separate planning authority under the control of Sartor. We say that the government siezure of Just Enough Faith is just another example of blatant Labor misuse of power. A government that is unafraid to act illegally when it suits their purpose is way past its use by date.

   Current media reports of the Sydney Anglican Synod’s losses of $100 million from their various investment gambles begs the question of all charities- show us where the money goes. If its Sydney synod has that amount to lose on bad investments, how much do they have invested in total, where did the money come from, and do the donors know that  it is being applied for investment purposes? And while we are asking these questions of the Anglican Synod, perhaps we need to question how much the other church based charities have in commercial investments. We note that Uniting Churches Wayside chapel have closed down their Edward Eagar dining facility to all but residents, without an alternative service being made available. We wonder how much Uniting Churches many charitable subsidiaries have contributed to their investment schemes(if any). And The Trustees of The Society of St Vincent de Pauls (NSW)- or Catholic Social Services. Under current government regulations they don’t have to even say how much they collect, or what they do with it. We reiterate our call for a level playing field- either remove the OLGR regulation of independent charities completely, or make it apply to religious charities also.

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:16 pm on June 9, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: casual work wanted, concreting, general labourers available, packing containers, stocktaking, stripouts, unloading containers

  A reminder that we have several able bodied workers available for paid daily work assignments throughout the Sydney area. Please contact our jobs co-ordinator on 0416 650 330 for all your labour requirements. ONLY PEOPLE SEEKING WORKERS PLEASE!WE HAVE PLENTY RIGHT NOW

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:25 pm on June 9, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: alcohol abuse, alcohol/drug abuse, Australian marginalised, business of charity, credit ratings, economically, economically and socially, entire Dole payments, Foster House, Free Spins, homeless dinner, homeless help, issues presenting, Lack of employment, marginalisation issue, marginalised assistance, poker machine, pokies, prey opportunistically, successful businesses ruined, Swanton Lodge, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, trashes credit ratings, try my luck

  

  Twenty five years ago, the most common marginalisation issue in Sydney and NSW was alcohol abuse, followed by drug abuse. Lack of employment was often cited as an issue, but for many the opportunities didn’t exist because of issues caused by their alcohol/drug abuse. Family relationships deteriorated at approximately the same rate as physical condition and the persons mental capacity to overcome their alcohol or drug issues. The Talbot, Foster House and Swanton Lodge dining facilities were synonomous with inebriated or drug affected clients. Foodvans were in their infancy with about the same issues presenting. Today, at the foodvans, most of our community are on some form of income support, and most are both sober and straight. Pokies, which only existed in underground halls frequented by politicians police and the judiciary and run by some of the more colourful characters of that era, were not a blip on the spectrum of social disadvantage. Today, we only know of one pub (cnr Cathedral & Crown Sts) that doesn’t have them-and they fought the State Government to keep them out. 48 percent of people asked since February cited pokies or “other legal gambling” as the underlying reason for their current marginalised situation. The people look healthier, none of the physical effects of hard partying to be seen. Many tell stories of borrowing way beyond their ability to repay-feeding an insatiable mechanical hunger where 4% of every dollar inserted goes straight to an equally addicted government. The borrowers inability to repay often trashes their official and unofficial credit ratings, and friendships quickly reach their useby date as the demands become more pressing and the halftruths turn to lies. Families are forced to distance themselves,sometimes in anger, often as a necessary means of surviving an evil already consuming their erstwhile loved one, and in danger of consuming them, economically and socially. Intellect or mathematical genius are no deterrents.Some of the seemingly most intelligent people on the streets, are here as a direct result of this addiction. Some tell of successful businesses ruined in the quest for the quick buck. Maybe I’ll be lucky next week is the mantra as the fatally flawed logic that is the illness of gambling takes control of seemingly sound grey cell cavities. Stories of entire Dole payments and paychecks disappearing in a few short hours abound. This is a glimpse into the person on the bottom bar of the eqilateral triangle which is Gambling Addiction. This person is affected by an illness undetectable by doctors and untreatable by all other practitioners-some who profess to be capable merely prey opportunistically on a human weakness, an age old successful church recruitment strategy- get ‘em while they’re least able to defend themselves,keep them paying as long as you can. 48 percent of marginalised people asked voluntarily identified this as their key marginalisation issue. Gamblers are afforded a raft of protective measures by NSW Parliament. This complex web of legislation is administered and policed by the Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing. The legislation provides complex safeguards for all parties.

  

  a quick buck for government a quick loss for punter

   The first of the upper two bars in this equilateral triangle are the clubs and hotels. Without the combined incomes from pokies,keno and TAB most would go close to broke-such are the earnings. Give them the ultimatum to keep just one and they will keep the pokies. Many publicans would gladly shut all bars,even serve free drinks in the pokies room. These people are businessmen and women whose raison de etre is to grow their, or the owners return on investment. And they employ some subtle and not so subtle techniques. Dark rooms devoid of clocks. Players focus is on the machine they are playing. Locked in. Right hand presses the button while left hand empties the wallet. Free Spins?? Give him a drink.If he wins a reasonable amount, its a 50-50 bet that he will stay at least until the drinks finished-another 12 to 20 minutes. Or more.On max bet in a pub thats up to $40 per minute/$800 for 20 mins. Theres a chance the pub will get it back. If not,next mug. The house always gets its cut. Its a government regulated percentage. In most establishments multiple jobs depend on the pokies. Of course, publicans,many of whom are accountants, and licensees, have huge (by our standards) investments in the hotel and gambling infrastructure and licenses. Usually, using borrowed funds to keep up to speed with the ever evolving optimum performance (thats ROI) of their business. They and their businesses also have a dependency on gambling.No punter,no revenue.No revenue means serious consequences for the business. So its a critical business decision to do everything legally permissible to keep bums on seats and fingers on buttons, pens filling out TAB forms and Keno tickets.Thats business. Quite a safe business.Who ever heard of pokies machines losing money? The business feeds off the punter.Hotels lobby group is The Australian Hotels Association, who make representations to government on in the interests of their members.

  

  fast cash

   The poor politicians within government must dearly wish that gambling(or Gaming) had never been invented,right? The creator of multiple social ills called Gaming is a one way train ride to social ostracism and economic ruin for so many, that the astute politician will legislate control it for the wider good of society,right? Well,yes. A few years ago State Government placed a ban on all externally visible Gaming related signage, and all promotions of Gaming venues. But in recent times this seems to have been forgotten. Signage is clearly visible on many establishments with some having their Gaming machines clearly visible through club and bar windows. NSW Leagues Club,for example. Not picking on them. Just a fact. Machines in clear view from the offices of some of the best and brightest legal minds in the State. A marginalised community member recently told of a leaflet handout promoting “Gaming and Beer” with leafleteers strategically positioned to give people walking by time to consider the opportunity of a quick buck, before they reached the establishment doors- must be legal now-they wouldn’t do it up the Cross now,would they? Surely our State Government in NSW wouldn’t water down the legislation banning such promotions? Surely there is a specialised unit within OLGR which deals with compliance by the industry the office is charged with regulating? The office with oversight of Gaming Machines(Pokies) and Racing in NSW  is The Office of Liqour, Gaming and Racing. The minister is The Hon. Kevin Greene.The  GAMING MACHINE TAX ACT 2001 specifies tax rates from 10% to a hefty 30.9% on pokies. State Government is the third bar in the equilateral triangle, with a major dependency on Pokie generated revenue being a major disincentive to regulate or prohibit Gaming Machines.Hang about…. this office which is charged with the looking after the best interests of punters, who have no income guarantees, makes one hell of a lot of money out of this!!!! Can they fairly be seen to protect the interests of punters while incentivised to generate more revenue for their department,as all good departments are?

   Why has this departments minister not strengthened and/or enforced the legislation removing signage from hotel exteriors, pokies from outside view and banning promotions of Gaming? Revenue Targets?

   Why has this departments minister not sought mandatory ten minute shutdowns of pokie machines, Statewide gambler cards with revenue limits, or other effective means of curbing compulsive gambling? 

   Is the dual role of generating state revenues from Gaming incompatible with OLGR’s role of enforcing Responsible Gambling compliance?

   Is the OLGR’s having oversight of independent charities who might lobby more effectively for Stronger Gambling Harm Minimisation measures(or an outright ban) incompatible with OLGR’s obligation to collect State Revenue?

   Should the community trust so many disparate interests to a single department and minister?

  Oh, and having spent so long writing this I would go and put my last tenner in a poker machine-try my luck-but I already have.

  Good Luck!!!

   

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:49 pm on June 9, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: acceptable collateral damage, Australian marginalised, Babcock and Brown, business of caring, business of charity, confidential Bank documents, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, edge of oblivion, feeding homeless, Free Dental Service, Free Food, Good Food, good work of JEFF, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, John Oliver, just enough faith, legal and ethical, marginalised assistance, marginalised community, merchant banker Oliver, moral, politics, poverty australia, swallow Qantas, sydney homeless, Sydney Homeless Community, sydney marginalised

  This excerpt( below yellow) is the only known mention in the saga of Just Enough Faith, of John Oliver. But we are going to give credit where credits due, and throw shit where it sticks,like we usually do! We believe that John Oliver is the man who, with a total and callous disregard for the homeless and marginalised,orchestrated a perfectly executed media and political attack on Jef Gambin and Just Enough Faith-The day before Just Enough Faiths long awaited and eagerly anticipated Free Dental Service was due to become operational.

  Accidental?

   No,we believe that ex merchant banker Oliver was way too smart for that!!! We believe that the timing of his carefully co-ordinated media release was a masterful display of maximising damage to Jef Gambin personally, Just Enough Faith organisationally with Homeless and marginalised people in Sydney posted in the “acceptable collateral damage category”. They were the targets squarely in his sights. And his impact has been felt. By Jef Gambin. By Just Enough Faith.And by the homeless and marginalised community of Sydney, who are deprived of a much needed free, no questions asked, dental service- as well as the possible loss forever of the amenity and ambience of the old JEFF foodvan system-Not that Exodus are not trying.

   We know that Mr Oliver is a very intelligent numbers man, (hell, his company,Babcock and Brown(in liquidation) tried to swallow Qantas-okay, they got what turned out to be a terminal lump in their corporate throats). And the carefully orchestrated media driven attack on the above mentioned parties bears all the hallmarks of such careful execution-it was a Babcock and Brown trademark.

   We challenge Mr Oliver to come out of hiding and say whether or not he is the media source of the original allegations which have jeopardised the good work of JEFF. And would he,per chance,be the single complainant upon whose allegations the current OLGR siezure is reputed to hang?And we’d like him to give his reasons. If not to us, then to the board of (JEFF) the NFP he has teetering on the edge of oblivion. 

   We would also like to ask Mr Oliver whether he is behind the Exodus takeover, and how much funding he’s arranged for them, if any? And ,Mr Oliver we would also like to know whether you are, or know the person who made available confidential Bank documents, taken,we understand, from the JEFF offices without authorisation of staff or directors- and subsequently made available to journalists? And we’d like to know whether you consider this action moral, legal and ethical? We would also like the police departments Strikeforce to investigate possible offences under the crimes act committed by the person who illegally made these documents available to the media.Its certainly within the scope of their inquiry. We would also like to know whether these possible offences were considered by OGLR in their instructions to police, as outlined in Hansard NSW 29/10/08.

   Anyone who thought they could cause damage to the Sydney Homeless community, and its most reliable support network, and remain beyond reproach had best think again.

  “After seven years of feeding the homeless every Friday night and raising more than $120,000 for the charity, in January last year John Oliver, a retired investment banker with Babcock & Brown, decided to walk away.

  “I was just concerned about the lack of governance and financial transparency out there. And there were rumours of Jeff having some sort of a gambling problem. People said that they’d seen him gambling, but it was just their word against Jeff’s.”

  Oliver says that by the end of 2006, he and his fellow volunteers had been reduced to buying pigs’ cheeks for 50 cents a kilogram to keep the food program going. “Once the money ran out the food deteriorated quickly. All we had was fatty rubbish, the food was absolutely dreadful and we struggled in the kitchen to make suitable quality.”

  excerpt taken from 

  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/where-did-all-the-money-go/2008/04/25/1208743290873.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

   

• sydneyhomeless 6:42 am on June 9, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:53 am on June 9, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: business of caring, destroy charity, Exodus Foundation, feeding homeless, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless services, illegal government acts, illegal government intervention, just enough faith, marginalised assistance, NSW govt illegal actions, OLGR, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised

  We have looked and can find no peacetime precedent of any Australian government having siezed control of any organisation without ANY explanation.

   This is what the NSW State Labor Government’s  Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing has done in the case of Independent charity Just Enough Faith. The Board of Just Enough Faith’s statement on 3rd June 2009 that there has been no explanation whatsoever given by either the government department concerned, the minister responsible for that department or the administrator, exposes the first instance we can find of such arbitrary and draconian use of executive power by any Australian government. There is no question of the application of anti terrorism or any emergency legislation, in fact, there is just no legislation at all !!!! Rodney Bryant, The Skaf Brothers, Alan Bond and even major drug importers are all afforded the natural justice of actually being told what they were charged with.

   Even in the Childrens Court system, where Mr Greene’s previous department, DoCs, are completely free to fuel often malicious prosecutions with heresay and innuendo, the defence is still presented with a set of allegations. These often baseless allegations are tested in a Court of Law where the Evidence Act does not apply, and hapless defendants, many of whom are marginalised people using much restricted govt funded Legal Aid, oppose the unlimited research and investigative resources of Police,DoCs, the Department of Public Prosecutions, the very biased Childrens Court Clinicians. And these departments have the temerity to cry poor! But the Hon Mr Greenes OLGR goes further. In an increasingly common display of state government arrogance and disdain for process, OLGR’s appointed administrator simply walks in, shuts legitimate office holders out on penalty of arrest, gives away assets, with no explanation whatsoever.

   Our people and legal researchers have looked-we think thoroughly. The only place we couldn’t look was into NSW State Labor Government  Minister Kevin Greenes mind. The answer is probably not there either.

   The actions of the hon. Kevin Greenes Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing appear to be on foot with planning minister Keneallys Catherine Bay fiasco, possibly another arrogant display of the illegal actions of the current NSW Labor administration. And we have to ask, to what lengths are they prepared to go to facilitate their illegal actions? On Catherine Bay, we understand that there is legal advice suggesting that retrospective legislation is needed to “fix it”. What next, the Just Enough Faith Dissolution Act, also retrospectively? 

  1. We believe the takeover to be without legal basis, and encourage the Board of Just Enough Faith to take immediate high court action to secure the return of control, and damages.

  2.We urge appropriately qualified counsel, interested in supporting a pro-bono application  to contact us, with a view to supporting JEF Foundation Board, or initiating our own action to have JEF Foundation Board Control restored.

  3.We seek the written support of Trades Unions, NFP sector organisations and all registered entities to whom this type of interference may be applied by this or a future government.

  4.We call for immediate public clarification of the OLGR’s reasons for placing JEFF under administration, and the role of the administrator appointed by the department.

  5.We call for restoration of resources and services stripped from JEFF to the rightful control of the JEFF board of directors. We call on the OLGR to effect an immediate and unconditional ex-gratia payment to Just Enough Faith to cover re establishment of JEFF services and operations for 3 months.

  6.Sydney Homeless viewpoint call for the OLGR to immediately restore Just Enough Faith’s permissions to solicit donations in N.S.W. in line with the organisations Fereral Tax exempt status, and  for this permit to be issued retrospectively.

   

• sydneyhomeless 10:16 pm on June 8, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  

  Homeless Homestay

   

  Our Homeless for a Day service is proving popular with travellers who are at once shocked and exhilarated by the challenges to be found in Sydney Jungle.

  In a unique twist on the old coals to Newcastle adage a group of Sydney Homeless People have started offering their own inimitable brand of homestay- The chance to immerse oneself in a “Homeless for a Day” experience. 

  The promoters aim to ensure that the only difference for each client, is that the client has their other life to return to, homeless people don’t. Guides are all experienced long term street residents, you might say the most proficient survivors in this urban jungle. Clients get to experience all the dizzying highs and harrowing lows, the long cold nights in a warts and all experience “as it really is.” 

    The project is seen both as providing temporary personal empowerment for the guide, a real life Sydney Homeless person, as well as advancing the general communitys awareness of and responsiveness to homeless issues. The service will provide opportunities also for students of social sciences, government employees and especially spokespeople for the many poverty industry operators to gain some first hand experience of one area of marginalisation which they claim to represent.

   Early interest though,has been from the tourism sector with travellers from Ireland, Sweden and Holland the first clients. 3 on the first day is not at all a bad effort. More bookings in the pipeline, we hear.

   24 hour escorted ”Homeless for a Day” Experience Packages may be booked via us, at our email, or via their advertised contacts below;  

  http://sydney.gumtree.com.au/c-Community-travel-travel-partners-Homeless-for-a-Day-in-Sydney-W0QQAdIdZ134045600

  Link to this page:

  http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/homeless-for-a-day-homeless-homestay/

   

• sydneyhomeless 10:02 pm on June 8, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   Some amusing reports are filtering in of the administrator of JEFF holding discussions with various parties outside of Just Enough Faith to form some kind of new organisation to either replace JEFF or repopulate it’s board with government friendly faces. We look forward to some strong action from the JEFF board in the timeframe around their previously announced meeting.

   Anythings possible when a government department can walk in and sieze control of an independent organisation without giving reasons to its board, which is the only reason we are publishing this seemingly bizarre scenario.

   We remain convinced on the facts before us that the State Government takeover of Just Enough Faith is illegal, and the administrator is acting illegally.

  Link to this page:

  http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/what-is-the-administrator-up-to/

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:53 pm on June 8, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  We are pleased to report continuing overwhelming personal support for the Gambins amongst the homeless, with universal support from older community members. While support for a return of foodvan operations to Just Enough Faith remains strong, we have noticed a trend of confusion among other parties as to whom Just Enough Faith actually are. We continue to wish the Gambins the very best.

   In what will undoubtedly be a boost for morale in Camp Exodus, about twenty percent of patrons spoken to are expressing a preference for their main meals as compared to JEFF’s. A month ago this support was non-existent. A definite indication that Exodus have gone some way to improving food services. They don’t even have the book in the library on the other stuff that made JEFF operations so unique- but hey,they have a corporate culture.

  link to this post;

  http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/undiminished-support-for-gambins/

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:33 pm on June 8, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alina Gambin, Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, corporate pariah, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus, Exodus 2009, Exodus Foundation, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, Free Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, JEF, JEF-Exodus.JEFF-Exodus, JEFF, JEFF 2009, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised

   

   

   

  There appears to be some speculation regarding who we are and our motives, which are as follows;

  1) We are a loosely aligned part of the homeless community who attempt to communicate our views regarding the various issues which are regarded as problems within our homeless and marginalised community.We also try to help other marginalised people secure better access to resources, jobs and opportunities. We are unpaid and do not seek payment for this.

  2) We also include among us some grateful ex patrons of the JEFF Foodvan service, with some having received other assistance from JEFF. As such we are fully supportive of all efforts to restore an independent JEFF run foodvan, and will continue to be so until there is compelling evidence that there was substantial wrongdoing by current the Board of Just Enough Faith. We are not adverse to new parties joining, but not dominating that organisation.We do not seek any role within any reconstituted JEFF, however many are prepared to assist on an individual, voluntary basis.

  3) We are personally supportive of both Jeff and Alina Gambin in whatever the future may hold for them, and wish them all success in dealing effectively with the current issues before them. There remains overwhelming support from the street for them, and universal condemnation of the injustices being perpetrated ironically, in the name of justice.We support them without qualification, in part because they supported our community without reservation for so long. We believe that what has happened to them is a tragic indictment of the effect small minded number crunchers can have on people-who willingly give so much, expect so little. If this is the return on investment effective selfless visionaries can expect, it will act as a disincentive for others to follow in their footsteps. This will draw a huge sigh of relief from social service sections of state government and the poverty industry,with only the effective pockets of those cognizant of the overwhelming wrongs perpetrated against these good people.

  We have received some feedback this past week reflecting differing views, as one would expect. Today we will deal with the objective criticisms, which we appreciate,in particular those coming from JEF-Exodus volunteers and some observers. We know the concerns expressed to be of the utmost sincerity, and respect these views.

  1/ We believe the takeover of Just Enough Faith has no legal basis, and is illegal, because the responsible government officers or their administrator have NOT told the Board why JEFF has been placed under administration. We believe that this is a core requirement of any appointed administration of any entity.

  2/ The main concern we have heard is that the foodvan service should continue uninterrupted. We agree. But we will not accept or tolerate a reversion to a “foodvan for the cameras” as Exodus first turned up with. Apples for apples. We continue to support a return of the services to Just Enough Faith Board control (providing they still have capability). We do not support a reconstituted board which gives control to any outside organisation. Our reasons are that Just Enough Faith successfully identified and developed the foodvan service filling a blatantly obvious unrequited need of Sydneys marginalised people. Just Enough Faith has faithfully delivered and expanded those services and would continue to do so today,were it not for the governments perhaps illegal intervention and, we think, Exodus Foundations support of that intervention. 

   3/The second concern communicated to us is that we have it all wrong regarding Exodus, and their role in the takeover of Just Enough Faith.To our knowledge this came as a complete surprise to Just Enough Faith. Exodus, who did not warn JEFF of the impending takeover, are therefore seen by us as government conspirators and contractors, and party to an illegal act of government.  We may have. We just don’t know-because the government department who engineered this, its director general, its minister and the administrator refuse all requests for information. Exodus also have not responded to requests for clarification, either by us or privately by our community. So we rely on a media release from the OLGR which says that Exodus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the department to take over providing services.This MOUs terms have never been made public but means that Exodus are contracted government service providers. Exodus are also known to receive DoCs funding for other of their programs, meaning that they have a government dictated obligation to provide information services about some community members to DoCs. In our vernacular,thats spying. And collecting information for a department with an unfortunate reputation for destroying families and providing adolescents with pathways to drug addiction and prostitution based on the informed opinion of 23 year old university graduates was never part of the JEFF deal. We simply don’t know what deals Exodus have, or are in the process of doing without our knowledge to further the interests of government departments at our expense. 

   We also don’t know what funds Exodus plans to raise in the name of this service, and what proportion of those funds will directly benefit our community. We don’t, for example, view budgets for paid staff or high rentals for foodvans as benefitting us.

   We see Exodus Foundation as part of the Uniting Church, whose Wesley Mission subsidiary recently closed their dining facilities at Edward Eagar Lodge to non-residents. We prefer that Foodvan services remain free of religious or government control whatsoever. No surprises.No chicanery. We support JEFF on that basis.

   We note that The City of Sydneys working paper on foodvans specifies support for VOLUNTARY foodvans.Because the Exodus foodvan model is managed by paid staff, it may not retain the support of the city.

   (more soon….)

   

• sydneyhomeless 6:34 am on June 8, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  At http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/05/2590538.htm we found another classic poverty industry promotion. The journalist quotes only slave labour program operator Mission Australia and Acoss, whose interests lie in resourcing the poverty industry. Mission Australia’s ex CEO was responsible for the slave labour blueprint that became the infamous Howard & Costello “Workchoices” slave labour program. Mission Australia has made millions in government funding from this and other programs delivering maximum skills advantage to businesses for minimal return to the worker. This program is the reason many full time workers can’t afford housing in Sydney. With spiralling rents and services costs, these idiots are still enticing people into slave labour work situations which only increase the workers costs while passing the returns for their work upstream to the likes of Babcock & Brown, oh but they’re bankrupt.

   

• sydneyhomeless 7:10 am on June 4, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   

   

   

  In response to our email of May 13 2009, MLA Sylvia Hale(Greens) asked the following questions in parliament on the same day. This demonstrates the relative concerns demonstrated by the various elected representatives, our marginalised community and supporters may wish to bear this in mind at election time.In fairness,we did not contact the liberal or other opposition parties, but we and several known entities and private citizens have made related inquiries to the relevant State Labor Ministers and/or their departments, with nary a single response. 

   We look forward to the answer on 17th June as scheduled.

  And our apologies to Ms Hale and the Greens for our ignorance of parliamentary protocol. It appears to equal the State Labor Governments ignorance of Homelessness and marginalisation issues, save for what they’re told by people we’ve never seen(Bill Crews excepted).

  3126 COMMUNITY SERVICES—FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO HOMELESS—Ms Hale to ask the Minister for

  Primary Industries, Minister for Energy, Minister for Mineral Resources, Minister for State Development

  representing the Minister for Community Services—

  In relation to food distribution to homeless persons in inner Sydney by the Exodus Foundation:

  (1) What is the government doing to ensure the continuity of the essential food van services that Just

  Enough Faith provided to homeless persons?

  (2) What is the Government doing to ensure that the quality and quantity of the food is maintained, until

  a permanent replacement for Just Enough Faith’s services is selected?

  (3)

  (a) Will the Minister or her representatives undertake to meet with the homeless people in inner

  Sydney who were formerly assisted by Just Enough Faith, and now by the Exodus Foundation,

  to discuss and address their dissatisfaction with the current level of food services?

  (b) If not, why not?

   

  http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/lc/lcpaper.nsf/0/4979272AC55CE23CCA2575B5003D7BDD/$File/Q0900513.100.pdf

   

   

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:10 am on June 4, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: homeless community, homeless entrepreneurs, homeless for a day, homeless guide, homeless income generator, homeless not hopeless, homeless self help, homeless tourism, homeless ventures, homeless workforce, homelessness awareness, sydney homeless guides, sydney homestay

   In a unique twist on the old coals to Newcastle adage a group of Sydney Homeless People have started offering their own inimitable brand of homestay- The chance to immerse oneself in a “Homeless for a Day” experience. 

  The promoters aim to ensure that the only difference for each client, is that the client has their other life to return to, homeless people don’t. Guides are all experienced long term street residents, you might say the most proficient survivors in this urban jungle. Clients get to experience all the dizzying highs and harrowing lows, the long cold nights in a warts and all experience “as it really is.” 

    The project is seen both as providing temporary personal empowerment for the guide, a real life Sydney Homeless person, as well as advancing the general communitys awareness of and responsiveness to homeless issues. The service will provide opportunities also for students of social sciences, government employees and especially spokespeople for the many poverty industry operators to gain some first hand experience of one area of marginalisation which they claim to represent.

   Early interest though,has been from the tourism sector with travellers from Ireland, Sweden and Holland the first clients. 3 on the first day is not at all a bad effort. More bookings in the pipeline, we hear.

   24 hour escorted ”Homeless for a Day” Experience Packages may be booked via us, at our email, or via their advertised contacts below;  

  http://sydney.gumtree.com.au/c-Community-travel-travel-partners-Homeless-For-A-Day-W0QQAdIdZ132439609 

   

  All revenues raised from “Homeless for a Day” Experiences are paid directly to the actual homeless guide, no fees are charged by any organisation, in line with the policies of  Homeless and Community Direct, their support group.  

  Homeless and Community Direct also channel jobs (mainly casual at this stage) and other homeless self help initiatives which will be announced as they are facilitated,we’re told. Their objective is to eliminate the middlemen an objective we fully support.

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:52 am on June 3, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of charity, Cheap Food, destroy charity, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, Good Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, JEF Loyalists, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, marginalised assistance, measure a charity, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, systemic failings of Exodus, volunteers or clients

  Editors note: The Meeting mentioned in this notice has been postponed until further notice by the board for unforeseen reasons.We & they apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.- editor

  Statement by the board of Just Enough Faith Foundation Inc.

  3rd June 2009.

  Just Enough Faith Foundation Inc. board alive and

  well.

  We are the members of the board of JEFF, and have been working frantically in the background to try to get a resolution on the matter of the administrator appointment to the board of Just Enough Faith Inc.

   The request by The Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing (OLGR) involved the finances for the years 2004 to 2007. These financial records were not submitted by Mr Jeff Gambin.The current board members were not present before September 2007.How does the appointment of an administrator in 2009 have any relevance to 2004 finances?How has the current board breached The Charitable Fundraising Act? The board doesn’t know because it has never been told.

   During the investigation by the OLGR, the board has NEVER been approached by an officer of Liqour Gaming and Racing.This is a clear breach of natural justice.

  The appointment of the administrator to Just Enough Faith Foundation Inc. was made on 3rd April 2009-this was the first and only time that any face to face contact was made between the Board and The Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing.

  We appreciate that there is a fair amount of angst in the community about the current state of affairs, and we offer the following facts for your information.

  1. The appointment of the administrator may not be legal.

  2.The administrator is acting outside the brief of the act, as the act serves only as a regulatory and compliance base- that is it can instruct us to stop certain activities, not ‘take over” the foundation.To date,despite several requests,no brief as to the administrators terms of reference have been made available.

  3.There is a new Public Officer who has been threatened with arrest if she appears at the premises of Just Enough Faith Foundation Inc. Indirect threats have been made against the board of the same nature.

  4.Minister Greene has refused to meet us.Hon Verity Frith’s office have not returned our calls,and the Director General of the OLGR has also refused to meet us.

  5.Jef Gambin is no longer officially associated with Just Enough Faith Inc.His legal issues,ongoing police investigation and bankruptcy has meant he cannot be associated with the foundation-once his legal process is complete and he is “of good character” he will be welcomed back to Just Enough Faith Foundation Inc.

   

  Whilst it is questionable whether the administrator had the right to enter  into an agreement with The Exodus Foundation, we appreciate the work  they have carried forward in ensuring that our clients the homeless continue to be fed. 

   Although we have a great deal of respect for the Exodus Foundation, our concerns rest with the actions of the OLGR and the administrator.

  Finally the supreme authority of the JEF Foundation rests with its members, not with the Office of Liqour Gaming and Racing, or the Department of Fair Trading.

  According to the constitution an open general meeting has been called at the premises of JEFF for Saturday 13 June at 10-30.

   

   

  Kamalle Daboussy

  for and on behalf of the board.

   

  (editorial: This is a retyped exact copy of the original statement issued.)

  click here to view the original statement

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:00 am on June 2, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Nothing to do with us, we had a look and they’re okay.It’s a Real Estate but they don’t give the third degree

  $100 p.w.

  ALEXANDRIA

  Fully Furnished Rooms and Unfurnished Rooms from $100 per week.

  • Shared large kitchen
  • Shared bathrooms
  • Close to transport.

  Email to: budgetrooms@hotmail.com or info@dilan.com.au
  Phone: (02) 9550 0054

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:35 am on June 2, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   Our independent onsite polling clearly indicates a strong preference and continued faith in Jef Gambin’s Just Enough Faith as the preferred provider of the nightly foodvan service. Our poll, posted below, shows a massive 80 per cent plus support JEF. The alternatives offered were Exodus, and a new homeless operated service.

   There has been some discussion of a homeless operated foodvan service starting if JEF are unsuccessful in reclaiming their resources and control of the foodvan site from the hostile State Labor Government appointed administrators. Some parties to those discussions are quietly identifying and accumulating resources to bring about a replacement. We are able to put parties who may be interested in becoming parties to this proposal in touch with the co-ordinators, and urge all with available food logistics and particularly kitchen resources to contact us at sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org .

   An enterprising alliance of homeless people are piloting what may just be the next MUST DO for the socially conscious local and travellers alike. Their “HOMELESS FOR A DAY” project enables anyone over 18 to experience a day in the life of a Sydney Homeless person.

  http://sydney.gumtree.com.au/c-Community-travel-travel-partners-Homeless-For-A-Day-W0QQAdIdZ132439609

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:37 am on June 1, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  We have an earlier article in which we made reference to Ms Rhiannon as a “spokesperson for Exodus Foundation”. Although  Ms Rhiannons office has not approached us in any way, nor have other associated patries, our further research has shown that in fact there is no evidence of her support of or otherwise in relation to Exodus. We further  acknowledge her intercession in parliament directly in empathy with a group of people occupying a group of disused buildings owned,but disused and not maintained,By Shell, when they were faced with unceremonious eviction supported by police, and in general her long standing and in depth understanding of marginalisation issues. We apologise for and withdraw any perceived sleight there may have been, based on incorrect information which we had no reason to dispute at the time. We accept that Ms Rhiannons views on Exodus remain unknown.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:27 am on June 1, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: ability of NSW Labor to govern, Cheap Food, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus Foundation, feeding homeless, Gaming & Racing Minister, Gaming and Racing revenue stream, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, Kevin Greene's, marginalised assistance, Minister Greene, NSW Labor Government, politics, poverty australia, State Labor feeds its addiction to gambling taxes, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, systemic failings of Exodus

   Following Gaming & Racing Minister Kevin Greene’s departments dubious siezure of the Just Enough Faith foodvan operations late April, the ministers department have willingly allowed current government contractor and replacement service provider Exodus Foundation and its founder, Bill Crews to cop all the flak. Disgruntled service users, dismayed or disillusioned volunteers or irate donors fired an unrelenting barrage of angry protests at Exodus , this commentator group being one of the critics. The Office of Gaming and Racing, who actually bear full responsibility for this debacle, have yet again brought into question the very ability of NSW Labor to govern. An astute government may have considered more thoughtfully the impact upon and implications for Sydney Homeless and marginalised that their decision to sieze control of Just Enough Faith would have. An astute, in tune government would have measured the services provided, by the simple device of actually sending someone qualified to quantify the services being provided-then moved to ensure that their alternate provider was suitably organised equipped and funded to “replace apples with apples.” With hindsight, we are certain that this would have been the preferred course of action for Rev Bill Crews, but we are also certain that he completely misjudged the adverse impact his arrangements with Mr Greenes department would have. It would be unfair to expect that a department such as Racing and Gaming would have much knowledge of socially marginalised issues, or the resources to assess them. But Minister Greene was previously Minister for DoCs, a position he held until late 2008. Was he asleep at the wheel? Did he not know what resources that department had? Or, did he just not care? We have written to the esteemed Minister in relation to the qality of services provided under his contractor. We have yet to receive a response, and doubt that a timely response will ever arrive. After all, his portfolio is that all important Gaming and Racing revenue stream-the same one that sucks the lifeblood out of countless households and even businesses state wide, as State Labor feeds its addiction to gambling taxes. To our knowledge, Minister Greene has never visited the Foodvan service which his department have now given an uncertain future. Neither have any of his department. All the decisions, apparently were implemented on the calculator and excel spreadsheet of public service accountant ( and now administrator) Chris Jones. To our knowledge he’s seconded from another government department, whose forte is accounts management. While the minister is perhaps entitled to believe that he has the figures right, via Chris Jones expertise, who did he get to evaluate the social impact? As mentioned previously a simple step backwards into his old department would have helped. And the donated resources held in trust for Sydneys Homeless community by Just Enough Faith- much of which the donors especially selected Just Enough Faith(to donate to) because of its non-faith base AND its delivery style. Are they not entitled to feel ripped off by those resources being handed over to Christian Exodus? Many volunteers who spent thousands of hours building Just Enough Faith into the success story it still can be, will be gutted to learn that their unselfish efforts have been subverted to benefit the very religion which they chose not to contribute to- Not as a result of any act or omission by Just Enough Faith, but by a callous act of NSW Labor Government.

   

• sydneyhomeless 2:39 am on June 1, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  http://thenewsreviewed.blogspot.com/  is an interesting take on the so called Bikie laws. Remember,they could apply to your sewing group, political party or trade union, or even homeless people in Sydney. We have been verily impressed with the feedback from people who have used http://onemanmanytalents.wordpress.com for a variety of roles from furniture removals to concreting.

   

• sydneyhomeless 2:22 am on June 1, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, chronic housing instability, Fair Trading Minister, homeless charity, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless services, ministers rent reforms, no rent payable, poverty australia, properties fall in value, relief for renters, rent alternatives, rent reforms, Rent trap, rental housing market, securing new tenancies, soaring rents, State Labor Government, suitably priced accommodation, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, Virginia Judge's

  

  Fair Trading Minister Ms Virginia Judge

  N.S.W.Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge’s announcement of relief for renters affected by bank foreclosure does not go far enough. The ministers announcement will give tenants 30 days notice, rent refunds for advance rent and no rent payable in the notice period, together with removal expenses. While this measure will undoubtedly ease the pain for a few, and doubtless keep those with perfect rent references and the money to pay the ever soaring rents demanded, even as properties fall in value, the core issues for marginalised people as well as perhaps the majority of renters remains unaddressed. These laws further exacerbate the chronic instability that is already todays norm in the rental housing market. Many agents routinely evict tenants after six months, simply because they can increase rents on that property. Excellent tenants report being offered similar properties in similar locations at a premium to their current rent by the same agent, only to find their old rental property beng released for rental a week later at $80 to $100 more. Removal and relocation costs, regularly in the order of $4000 per move, have become an unwelcome twice yearly expense for many renters.There is the additional uncertainty and expense associated with securing new tenancies, in monetary, time and emotional terms. 

   The fair trading ministers rent reforms are obviously very positive for Banks, who can now say that there is a government program which they are compelled to follow. The real estate industry would we think approve also as it creates the opportunity to create further churn in property sales and rentals. This would be of little solace to the renter who has been in residence for two weeks when the bank forecloses.Our view is that once again,the State Labor Government has got it wrong, if it were that governments intention to act in favour of tenants. The response typifies the sad debacle State Labor has become; so bad that they cannot even get running a foodvan service for homeless people right.

   The commonsense, equitable solution for tenants is for all parties to a property’s ownership, including the mortgage holder, to be held to be party to the rental agreement. The mortgage holder, after all, would in the normal course of vending the loan product, give contractual consent for the property to be rented.Flowing from that contractual consent would be the mortgage holder’s obligation (as mortgagee-in-posession) to honour any subsequent contract (the tenancy agreement) entered into by the defaulting owner. This solution prioritises security of tenure for both the tenant and the mortgagee-in-posession.The property can still be sold with the sale subject to the tenancy agreement.There has always been leeway for tenants and owners to negotiate equitable terms for early termination.

   Especially at the lower end of the rental market, where there is a dearth of properties in suitable locations, it may take months for a low income family to secure suitable alternative accommodation.This is the sector that most homeless marginalised or at risk of homeless people and families would be affected. The challenge for State Government is to ensure that suitably priced accommodation is  available for renters in locations where it is required, as compared to compelling people to confinement in particular areas on the basis of income.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:04 am on May 31, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, Kings Cross, Kings Cross Police, marginalised assistance, misuse police powers, NSW Police, nsw police attack, police abuse, police assault, police corruption, police ethnic relations, Police homeless, Police powers, police violence, politics, poverty australia

  All street savvy homeless and marginalised people know that they run the daily risk of being apprehended and fitted with a set of charges they are completely innocent of. Mostly, these are assault police charges relating to when police have actually assaulted them.

   In a perverse twist on paint by numbers, NSW police routinely deliver justice by colour, by postcode.

   A recent news item http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25563814-1242,00.html outlines a shocking case of a polynesian man recently apprehended for drink driving in the Mount Druitt area. There are many outrageous acts perpetrated by multiple officers. Apart from the completely over the top assault, too common by out of control racist police, there are the actions of the Polair camera operator,who panned away from the action in an obvious attempt to cover for his ground bound associates. There are the three officers who “just happened” to obscure the cars video feed. There is of course the routine violence against a handcuffed man. Scipione, that scion of squeaky clean policing quickly points out that further inquiries were initiated by police.Of course they were. Thats how confident they were that they will receive the usual preferential treatment at any inquiry. The prosecutor asked that the Polair video not be made public, saying “its not in the public interest.” What??? Its not in our interests to see rare video footage of normal every day policing? We sympathise with the lone voice of the female police officer who did not see the victim assaulting police; she has committed suicide as far as policing is concerned.No LAC will want her in his command and she has sentenced herself to ridicule by her peers, exclusion from the police party circuit, desk duties and non-existent promotional opportunities. Scipiones squeaky clean police force??? Ha Ha ha

   Our community has an acute awareness of this style of policing, more so the aboriginal members of our community. Police attitude is “the whiter you are the righter you are”. We have watched over the years as police routinely victimise not only by race,but by postcode.

   A well known example among us is of a young girl from one of the listed postcodes who went to a party with her best friend at a waterfront home of an acquaintance.Aged 14.Anyway, girl we know and bestie leave the party drunk, with a bottle of spirits each. Police arrive, and correctly confiscate alcohol, put girls in police car. At station, police make decision to return Vaucluse resident to her parents, while sending listed postcode girl to DoCs.

   Luckily, very left leaning parents of Vaucluse girl hired lawyers to check on the whereabouts safety etc of postcode list girl,(whose parents had not yet been informed that she was in custody) and spent the night getting her out. In discussions with them, they could not understand why the girls were treated differently and neither can we!!!

  Here is a list of HOT POSTCODES where police instructions are to apply the full force of the law,to all who reside in the area.

  2011 Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Potts Point

  2016 Redfern,Waterloo

  2204 Marrickville

  2037 Glebe

  2559 Claymore

  2560 Rosemeadow,Airds

  2190 Greenacre

  2168 Cartwright

  2166 Canley Vale

  2167 Glenfield

  2770 Mt Druitt

  2768 Glenwood

  If your address is in these postcodes, you will more than likely face a more extensive range of charges, in a dispute you are more likely to be seen as the transgressor.Why? Its called smart policing.Its about getting convictions- quickly and cheaply.You are seen as most likely to use legal aid,often the only legal recourse you have.What they don’t widely publicise is that there are several possible avenues of defence which legal aid lawyers do not consider, such as forensic and expert witnesses. Legal Aid doesn’t cover that. Also, Vaucluse residents are more likely to not only have the funds to mount an actual defence, but their level of education is likely to be higher- this is what governments collect statistics for.

   It is not so much that there is more crime in your area if you happen to live in one of the above postcodes. Actually there is probably more crime on a daily in the eastern suburbs.Just less ethnics, more money, harder to win convictions.

   

   

  As has always been suspected, NSW police are as racist and violent as they have always been. After countless ineffective inquiries in which police investigate police, only the tokenistic words have changed. It’s like the mafia investigating the mafia or the banks investigating the banks. Police Integrity? Its a contradiction in terms.

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:29 am on May 31, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  

  The Real Foodvan in Better Times

  We have been hearing from volunteers and some of our community too, that Exodus saved the foodvan, and if they weren’t there,the foodvan would have stopped.

  BULLSHIT

  Exodus enabled the State government to shut Just Enough Faith down!! Exodus even co-operated in the pre planning that ensured the demise of Just Enough Faith.Thats the only way they could have had the food on hand to cook.And they weren’t shy!! In looting JEF supplies on their first day in business, while trying to serve us up skimpy dinners of one tough sausage and fifty grains of rice.

   

   Do you think that our already immensely popular State Government would want to make itself even more popular by shutting down the most successful inner city foodvan service ever operated? Much as they hated JEFF ( I think Jef Gambin has lots of Liberal friends), they could scarcely take the political risk. Exodus gave them an easy out, a tame, church based operator steeped in the cosy government-charity relationship that has been robbing marginalised groups for years, a willing accomplice.

   If Exodus refused,the administrator would have been forced to keep JEFF open, as he should have done. But Bill Crews smelled the dollars, and as always, dived right in.

   Exodus is getting paid for selling JEFF out, and thought they could sell us out too, so why anyone would want to volunteer for them is quite beyond me!!!!

   

• sydneyhomeless 6:36 am on May 29, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   

• sydneyhomeless 6:35 am on May 29, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:14 pm on May 28, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, corporate pariah, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, Free Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, marginalised assistance, measure a charity, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised

  Mr Kevin Greene,

   As our community has been demanding a response, we asked them to be patient.We sent you our letter on Monday 18th May.We asked them to wait until Friday 22nd.Today is Saturday.We have but one response from your office,seeking a name and address for snail mail.We responded. So we are forced to publish our original letter and notify of your offices subsequent disinterest in our community and our concerns.

   We believe that the letter addressed reasonable concerns which a transparent government department would have no major task in responding to,to allay the reasonable concerns of our community members.

    Our concerns have broadened as it has since become obvious to our community that there are apparent inconsistencies in the actions of your appointed administrator, when compared with business liquidations, AND since Exodus have assumed such a dominant role in what has traditionally been a reliable and responsive non-faith-based resource  for many of our community. These concerns are outlined as follows;

  a) That Just Enough Faith and its directors appear to have been denied many elements of procedural fairness, such as the opportunity to contest proceedings, which we understand have not been initiated. This denial of process opportunity appears to be in contravention of some federal as well as state legislation, and, we are advised, appears in conflict with at least one leading case ruling.

  b)From our simplistic viewpoint, it appears that no  consideration has been given to the fact that, since funds and assets raised by Just Enough Faith were actually raised in the name of Sydney’s homeless community, they were held merely in trust for the specific purpose for which they were raised. On that basis, we proclaim our position as stakeholders and beneficiaries. It is our contention that flowing from that stakeholder position so claimed is an inherent right to be party to administration proceedings, and to be represented in that process.

  c) We call on The Minister For Gaming and Lotteries to make public the reasons for placing Just Enough Faith in external administration, thereby jeopoardising our nightly hot meal service.

  d)We call on the Minister to make available on an urgent basis to an acceptable organisation the funds equal to what your administrator has wasted

  Dear Mr Greene,
                 we address the following issues relating to the Just
                 Enough Foodvan service, which is currently under the
                 administration of your department, for ourselves, a group
                 of marginalised people who are at least partially
                 dependent on the services of the said Foodvan, and also
                 that we may pass your advisements on to the wider
                 homeless and marginalised community which uses that
                 service.

  1) We understand that a MOU was signed between your departments
  representative and Exodus Foundation as per your media
     release of 28-04-09, to provide continuity of service for an
     undefined interim period.What (if any) arrangements
     are in train to provide continuity in should Just Enough Faith be
     unable to continue to provide services?

  2a) Is it your departments intent that the full complement of services
  provided by Just Enough Faith would be provided
     in the interim by Exodus Foundation?

  2b) Are you aware that the food service that is being provided has left
  several people unfed due to insufficient
     food supplied?Is the food service arranged supposed to be a like
     service to that provided by JEF?

  3. Has any consideration been given to the provision of the basic
  ancilliary services which Just Enough Faith provided
     on a regular basis, in particular the supply of bedding and clothes,
     especially in the current season.Several
     evictees and persons returning from work assignments out of Sydney
     have missed this especially welcome and
     necessary aspect of JEF services.

  4. We note,and are extremely grateful, that a large number of Just
  Enough Faith volunteers whom many of us have come
    to know over the years,have selected to continue to provide most of
    the frontline services,in spite of having a much
    reduced service capability.

  5.We note for your advisement for many marginalised women in particular,
  as well as low income workers with high rents, JEF services represent
  THE ONLY EVENING option of a hot meal.We note also the downsizing of
  Vinnies sandwich & drinks van operations in the area and the imminent
  closure,we understand,of Edward Eagar Lodge,may further add to the
  community using this essential service.

  Sir, we ask that the JEF volunteer team receive the at least some of
  recognition that they have never sought yet so richly deserve for their
  in some cases years of selfless dedication to this cause,

   We thank you in advance for your consideration of these matters,
   

  –
    Sydney Homeless
    sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org

   

   

   

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Dear Mr Greene,

  The fact that your office has chosen not to respond to our questions of Monday 18th May 2009 raises further questions as to the proper procedural course of action undertaken by your department and its servants.Is it not the case that your liquidator was appointed merely to assess the future of JEFF 

  We note that as homeless people in Sydney, in whose name the funds and resources of Just Enough Faith were raised,we believe that we are stakeholders in any process regarding the disposal of such assets and resources.We assert this right on the basis that donations made to Just Enough Faith were made in good faith by the respective donors, and merely held in trust by Just Enough Faith primarily for use in association with the supply and distribution of essential services to our community.

  We ask that a delegation of homeless nominated representatives and/or their advisors be party to current and ongoing proceedings in respect of the disposal or dealing in Just Enough Faith and its assets,which were raised to benefit us.

   
   

• sydneyhomeless 7:24 pm on May 28, 2009 | 2 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, corporate pariah, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, DoCs, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, Free Food, Gaming and Racing, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, Kevin Greene, marginalised assistance, measure a charity, Member for Oatley.Bill Crews, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, systemic failings of Exodus, Uniting Church

  These are the people and organisations who are

  destroying Just Enough Faith.

   

   

   

   

   

  

  show me the money Crews

   

  Bill Crews is the English born

  leader of the Exodus Foundation,

  a minister of the Uniting

  Church ,a disciple of Ted Noffs of

  Wayside Chapel a fame and cosy

  buddy of sometime politician and

  church minister Gordon Moyes. He has a

  reputation for working with such efficient

   departments as DoCs of which minister for

   Gaming and Racing Kevin Greene is ex minister.

  His work with DoCs related programs such as

  Child Abuse Prevention Program is indicative of

  his values. DoCs are known in our community as

   a primary cause of family breakdowns, and the

  majority of prostitutes, male and female known

   to us disclose a history of DoCs assistance…

  Thanks,DoCs. Bill Crews Exodus Foundations

  involvement in the Foodvan operations stems

  from their behind the scenes collaborative

  memorandum of understanding with Minister

  Kevin Greenes Gaming and Racing Ministry

  representatives, by which they went behind Just

  Enough Faiths back and aided and abetted the

  government in displacing JEFF. They have

  picked up a large crew of volunteers whom they

  are feeding the line “If we didn’t do it, the

  foodvan wouldn’t be operating today,

   

  BULLSHIT!!!!!

   

  Do you really think that the already on the nose

  Rees Labor Government wants to have shutting

  an essential homeless service down added to the

   reasons why only Bill Crews will be voting for

  them at the next state election??? Shutting the

  foodvan service down would have suited Labor .

  not at all.They are in it for the money which has

   already been promised to them. We can’t

  understand the huge apparent discrepancies

  between his stated budget targets and what is

  chanelled back to the marginalised

  communities…hundreds of thousands a year the

   difference…you guessed which way.

    And Bill, we just want the same blowtorch

  applied under YOUR arse as you and your co-

  conspirators applied to JEFF!!! No More No

  Less. Maybe you really are an honest man,but we

  are NOT taking your or the governments word

  for it. Show us your books, and justify your

  expenditures to auditors of our choice, then we

  will know.

   

  

  He’s the Minister for Gaming and

  Racing, and the member for

  Oatley out Hurstville way. We

  sent a letter to Minister Greenes

  office but the only reply we got

   asked for a name and address.

  And given that we supplied one

  and received no further response, we have to

  assume that the minister cares not one scintilla

  about matters which affect Homeless people. His

   lack of caring for homeless and marginalised

  people is borne out by the sustained and

  unfounded attack his department have mounted

  against independent charity Just Enough Faith.

  His department appointed administrator has

  been responsible for the siezure of Just Enough

   Faith assets, assets which were donated to Just

  Enough Faith because of that organisations  non

   faith base. His administrator has since taking

  over absolutely obstructed or rebuffed

  any attempts to restructure or recapitalise Just

  Enough Faith, [referring to hand everything

  over to known government collaborator Exodus.

   Well Mr Greene, we will be campaigning against

  you and your party at the next election, thats for

  sure. Mr Greens also cut his ministerial teeth in

  that highly favoured “pass the baby” portfolio,

  DoCs.It is said to be known among pollies on

  both sides of the house as “the death seat.” If

  memory serves correctly, Mr Greene was

  instrumental in setting the ineffective terms of

  reference for the latest inquiry into DoCs.

  Changes? We don’t think so. How many kids died

  on your watch,Mr.Greene? And how many

  Gamblers have lost their family homes on your

  watch in Gambling and Racing? Minister,we sent

   you a letter.This one below;

  Dear Mr Greene,
                 we address the following issues relating to the Just
                 Enough Foodvan service, which is currently under the
                 administration of your department, for ourselves, a group
                 of marginalised people who are at least partially
                 dependent on the services of the said Foodvan, and also
                 that we may pass your advisements on to the wider
                 homeless and marginalised community which uses that
                 service.

  1) We understand that a MOU was signed between your departments
  representative and Exodus Foundation as per your media
     release of 28-04-09, to provide continuity of service for an
     undefined interim period.What (if any) arrangements
     are in train to provide continuity in should Just Enough Faith be
     unable to continue to provide services?

  2a) Is it your departments intent that the full complement of services
  provided by Just Enough Faith would be provided
     in the interim by Exodus Foundation?

  2b) Are you aware that the food service that is being provided has left
  several people unfed due to insufficient
     food supplied?Is the food service arranged supposed to be a like
     service to that provided by JEF?

  3. Has any consideration been given to the provision of the basic
  ancilliary services which Just Enough Faith provided
     on a regular basis, in particular the supply of bedding and clothes,
     especially in the current season.Several
     evictees and persons returning from work assignments out of Sydney
     have missed this especially welcome and
     necessary aspect of JEF services.

  4. We note,and are extremely grateful, that a large number of Just
  Enough Faith volunteers whom many of us have come
    to know over the years,have selected to continue to provide most of
    the frontline services,in spite of having a much
    reduced service capability.

  5.We note for your advisement for many marginalised women in particular,
  as well as low income workers with high rents, JEF services represent
  THE ONLY EVENING option of a hot meal.We note also the downsizing of
  Vinnies sandwich & drinks van operations in the area and the imminent
  closure,we understand,of Edward Eagar Lodge,may further add to the
  community using this essential service.

  Sir, we ask that the JEF volunteer team receive the at least some of
  recognition that they have never sought yet so richly deserve for their
  in some cases years of selfless dedication to this cause,

   We thank you in advance for your consideration of these matters,
   

  --
    Sydney Homeless
    sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org

   

   

  We sent it on the 18th of

   May, and still haven't

  received a reply. We take

  that as a definite

  indication of your concern

  with marginalised peoples

  issues. Perhaps your

  department were all busy

  with TABCORPs expansion

  plans for the casino or

  perhaps checking out

  comparative gambling

  facilities in Las Vegas? We

  don't know, but the several

  street people who once had

  homes and families, lost

  through your governments

  addictions to gambling

  revenues aren't too happy,

  let me tell you. And guess

  what? They have decided to

  tell us their stories. But

  we won't print them here.We

  will wait until election

  time.

  Hey Kids, did you have Mr

   Greene for a teacher???

  Its your turn to mark Mr

  Greene

   

  sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org

   

   

   

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:35 pm on May 28, 2009 | 2 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, corporate pariah, destroy charity, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, Free Food, Good Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, marginalised assistance, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, systemic failings of Exodus

  Meet Chris Jones

  administrator

  extraordinaire

  Chris Jones is the guy actually making the decisions about the future of Just Enough Faith. We had hoped to have his address for all to contact him personally but its a carefully guarded secret. Mr Jones is apparently a contractor to the government, so the government must approve every move he makes. Meanwhile he and his bosses hide like the invisible man as they set about destroying Just Enough Faith and building their government approved version using Exodus Foundation as a delivery vehicle.

    We understand that Chris Jones orders have been to “see if Just Enough Faith is viable”. No reasons are given  his appointment what-so-ever. However, in his first act of bastardry upon siezing control, he shut the kitchens down, gave the food vans to Exodus Foundation, and paid them to continue JEFs nightly foodvan service. He delivered the funds  which  had been donated by donors who did not want to support a church based charity or government, to Uniting Church subsidiary and government contractor Exodus Foundation. He has refused point blank to even speak with some very credible parties who have been interested in continuing the good work of Just Enough Faith.We know that the administrator has held discussions with several other charities with absolutely no expertise in delivering homeless services.The persons whom he spoke to were puzzled as to why he would contact them.These are the but window dressing to paint a picture in line with approved practice….He has handed over confidential databases of Just Enough Faith volunteers to Exodus, and allowed Exodus free reign to propogandise those volunteers. Some simply left. Others, with divided loyalties to the homeless being fed, kept volunteering reluctantly.Some, after a month of being spoonfed Exodus/Government propoganda are now even buying the line.Mr Jones has gone even further…hes authorised the JEF foodvan to be converted in preparation for delivering the miniscule menus he and his Exodus/Government cronies expect will eventually give them reason to say “no one uses the foodvan anymore,we will close it.” Homeless people will be so much more comfortable in Bill Crews church in Ashfield.(Please don’t tell them Ivanhoe exists,they’ll probably move the foodvan there.The administrators belligerent one eyed attempts to destroy Just Enough Faith even extend to hiring an outside contractor to destroy JEFs major food storage asset.A large walk in fridge unit  doesn’t work thanks to his superb management. He actually used JEF money to hire someone to destroy it!!!! As the saga goes on we understand that he and Exodus are still sitting down penny pinching,trying to quantify how little they can get away with giving out at the foodvan while being seen to deliver a good service.

   

  More on Chris Jones as it comes to hand
   

• sydneyhomeless 1:38 pm on May 28, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, feeding homeless, Free Food, Good Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless services, just enough faith, marginalised assistance

  Ever been walking down a street a little bit drunk, and been accosted by someone asking for your ID? Realising that person was a policeman, you handed him your wallet,right? And when you got it back,your money had gone? Yep, this is one of the most common stories told by street people. The names places and even decades change.Even the countries. I first heard this story from Fast Car Paddy(deceased) an incorrigible old metho drunk who used to camp in a particular international cricket ground. Fast Car told that it happened to him so often,he took to keeping a little bit of money in his wallet,and most in his sock.

   Stories of police confiscating ipods, laptops (one off a 12 year old girl) mobile phones abound.

   Well, I got the latest installation of that story tonight from two young kids who frequent a particular hangout in the city. They had their entire weeks pay taken from them by a police officer last week in Hurstville. The cop simply said “thats just too much money for you to be carrying around (name withheld). You must have stolen it. Explanation that it was two peoples pays waved away. Pay receipts burnt with the comment “I didn’t see any receipts.” LEBOES with a coupla grand must be drug dealers.Streeties get stuff taken by coppers on the make all the time.And coppers think nothing of waking streeties up at 2 a.m. and taking their bedding. THATS GOVERNMENT.

   How many of you streeties have kids who have been taken and molested in DoCs care. Molested in DoCs care yourself? We know THATS GOVERNMENT.

  As we all know coppers are part of the government. So is Minister Greenes Racing & Gaming Office. And what coppers do to us on a recurrent basis, Gaming & Racing has done to Jef Gambins Just Enough Faith- with help from Bill Crews Exodus Foundation.THATS GOVERNMENT.

   In the old days when the streets were controlled by the people who paid off the coppers, and the judges, streeties were safe. Today, its every copper for himself as they look to top up that $1800 a week paypacket.

  Today too, we have much more collusion between government departments, efforts to sieze assets from organisations who don’t “toe the line”.

   

• sydneyhomeless 12:59 pm on May 28, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  JUST ENOUGH FAITH & TOOLS FOR TSUNAMI

  Within the first five months of the Tsunami, Just Enough Faith, with the assistance of Tools for Tsunami, provided the Foundation of Goodness with an overwhelming amount of supplies and generosity. Our relationship with Just Enough Faith was established through the Muralidaran Vass and Gunasekera Foundation (MVGF).

  Just Enough Faith sent a number of containers to us, comprising of essential items, building materials, sports goods, toys, clothing and much more. These items were so critically required at the time and were so gratefully appreciated by all of the tsunami-affected villagers in and around Seenigama.

  It is with deep gratitude that we acknowledge the tremendous support from Just Enough Faith and Tools for Tsunami, particularly at a time when it was required the most for the benefit of those who were so tragically affected by the tsunami. The various items that we received via numerous containers enabled us to provide relief in unimaginable ways and we were very fortunate to be the facilitators of such a noble act of kindness.

  ……………… if Just Enough Faith was strangled by bureaucracy, they would NOT have been able to respond in the way they did.

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:16 am on May 27, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  If Jef Gambin ever did anything wrong then he has already tried convicted and sentenced himself to the 17 years community service which he just served.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:47 am on May 27, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  http://tinyurl.com/JudgeFromTheProjects  New Your Supreme Court Judge brought up in the projects credits good education and a dedicated mum with her success. Make your kids matter. On the street, make every kid matter.(Watch the movie)

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:16 am on May 27, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

   

  The nightly foodvan service so lovingly nurtured for the past 17 years by Just Enough Faith and its merry band of volunteers faces a dubious future following the recent hostile administrative siezure by a hostile State Government. The siezure, based on months of innuendo started by malicious persons with excellent media connections, was not on account of the organisation being in debt-No creditors are known to be beating the door down. The State Labor Government’s nose had been squarely out of joint after years of watching the miniscule organisations outstanding successes in delivering services to homeless people.Hot restaurant class meals every night. Raincoats when it rained. Warm clothes,socks and undies. Blankets. Even a christmas party complete with a convoy of buses to “a secret venue”, like the overseas passenger terminal at Barangaroo or in recent times at Callan Park. Not only did JEF politely refuse government funding( because it is tagged to government programme delivery) but he forced the government, and its charity business partners, to lift their game and supply the actual services which they told a grateful public and generous donors they were providing. To their credit, some charities did lift their game-some didn’t. Anti-Jef forces,who wanted Jef Gambin to retire so they could take over appeared on the horizon, a godsend for the labor government, who collaborated with a glacial speed investigation of Just Enough Faith and her finances culminating in the siezure of the organisation. An administrator appointed from another government ministry took over on April 26th and immediately set about asset stripping. Just Enough Faiths essential Foodvans were given to government contractor Exodus along with $55000 in funds (from Just Enough Faith) to continue Just Enough Faith services. The main foodvan has apparently been remodelled, having been deemed unsuitable by a chef with no experience in running a mobile food service.A substitute van, said to cost $2500 per week, has been hired.Initial food supplies were inadequate and quality poor. Food frequently ran out and intending diners went hungry.Protests erupted in various forms across the homeless and volunteer diaspora. We campaigned strongly against the service on several levels.To their credit, government contractor Exodus has raised its standard of food to be on par with JEF services on most nights. Some even say they prefer Exodus meals.But something vital is missing. The camaradiere between dedicated JEF volunteers has been replaced by an indescribable emptiness that is reminiscent of the government programs many of us studiously avoid. As described by one old chap ” The Night Foodvan is our dinner table-we are all family there. Some guests called Exodus Foundation have walked in and sat at the head of the table, ordering us and our regular volunteers around. They have not been here before, and are acting like a bad mannered house guest.”-Well said .

  It has been reported to us that for their own reasons Exodus Foundation has lost interest in providing the service in the long term,for their own reasons. Compounded by the fact that the administrator has made substantial determined efforts to destroy JEF supply lines, exhaust all resources and render essential food storage unusable at the JEF kitchens in Rozelle, we must be ready for the possibility that the current service will be terminated- a political risk the State government seem willing to take in the leadup to an election they are destined to lose. When Shell kicked squatters out of its disused buildings, it was done with police assistance and no government intervention on behalf of squatters(only MLA Greens Lee Rhiannon took exception) – they care little about homeless and marginalised!!!

  THE REALITY IS THAT WITHOUT URGENT ACTION, THE SERVICE MAY BE LOST. WE ASK ALL INTERESTED PARTIES TO SUBMIT THEIR PROPOSALS TO

   

   HandCWorkingGroup@letterboxes.org

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:32 pm on May 22, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, charity audit, charity donations, charity funding, charity funding audit, charity social audit, destroy charity, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, Free Food, funding scrutiny, Good Food, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, insightful, insolvency, JEF Loyalists, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, marginalised assistance, NPO audits, politics, poverty australia, social benefits, sydney homeless

  

  sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org skype:sydneyhomeless

  We were looking around the blogocracy today , and look what we found!!!! A blog starting out about our good mate Bill Crews. Makes an interesting read,it does. We are so enthusiastic about the personal empowerment afforded by this new form of political action that we are waiting to join the blogocrats.

   Anyway, welcome to part one of our campaign to make the bastards honest. Since April 2008, we have learned a great deal about the power excercised by the triumvirate of government, church and media. Mates assisting mates! Politicians. Media Barons. And Churches.

   We followed with interest a series of carefully placed “news items”  on our mate, Jef Gambin. Perfect timing, if you want to destroy a brand new FREE dental service which Just Enough Faith were about to launch. Another FREE dental service, with its own facilities, provided by that pain in the butt upstart Gambin again. What would it do to the reputation of other FREE dental services,targeting the same constituency? We suspect that we have identified the motivation behind Exodus Foundation decision to join the government and media in destroying Just Enough Faith, or even take it over.

   As the rabid press rolled out their orchestrated litany of deceptions a devastated Jef Gambin struggled against sudden and catastrophic impact on his Just Enough Faith clientele, moving at once to ensure that the foodvans were secure. As time dragged on and the tentacles of government moved at their glacial pace our mate Jef kept his Just Enough Faith just above water as it struggled to provide the service JEF were renowned for….

  ….and then in April, with no charges laid whatsoever,Just Enough Faith was siezed by a belligerent administrator, appointed by a hostile government, itself in its death throes. Thats when the State Labor Government, with typical disdain for all but their own interests, fired their Crews missile at us!!! An attack not only on our Mate Jef Gambin, but an attack on the standards he had set in quality and service at the foodvan, an attack on the homeless of Sydney City.

   Well, Minister Greene, Mr Administrator and Exodus, we are sending your Crews missile back!!!!

  ————————————————————————————————————————————————

  Welcome to billcrews.wordpress.com the site dedicated to assisting the Rev. Bill Crews and Exodus Foundation in continuing to provide the services they say they provide, and bringing transparency to their fundraising activities, expenditure, and social programs.

  See also http://sydneyhomeless.wordpress.com/severe-storms-forecast-for-diddling-charities/

   In a news release dated Mr, sorry Rev. Crews, you say that Exodus are issuing 800 food parcels per month. OK.We will say $50 per food parcel. $40,000. In the same news release, you say Exodus Foundation serve 630 meals per day. I beleive you. You don’t say whether this includes the 200 per day Exodus is paid to deliver at the old Just Enough Faith site you got for free, by conspiring with state government. I’ll assume you don’t include this,because I believe you’re an honest man. I know that it doesn’t cost $10 per head, Reverend, but we will use that figure to calculate your costs. Thats $6300, 31 days a month, say $200,000 a month. Showers,lets say,cost $1000 a month to run.Okay,$2000. We will be generous because you are a man known for your generosity. Thats $242,000 a month.And,you will notice, we are always rounding the figures upwards,because you are known as a generous man. And then Bill,lets add the $750,000 a year you say you spend on education… divided by six, thats $125,000 for two months. We know you probably get some of that from DoCs and some from Education, but lets say you don’t. And say another 100k for 2 months at the dental clinic no one on the streets heard of (but we know you have it,you told us,and we trust you). Like you,Bill,we are being generous. Thats $725000,but we will call it $750k. Thats only 5 donations of $5000 difference.

   Now,Bill,and we know you won’t mind us calling you Bill by now, as we are already good friends and trust each other so much, just last week you had a page posted saying that you needed one point five million dollars by June 30th just to have a dollar in the bank… we know you didn’t mean you yourself, but Exodus Foundation. Now,Bill, most of us were abysmal failures at maths,arithmetic it was in our day,right? And I’m no execption. So,just so that I don’t get myself in trouble, I have with me a friend from PWC (Price Waterhouse Coopers). No,not the brewery, they’re some accounting, and I don’t know how good they are. But I know old matey here was pretty good at the old rithmetic back at Barcaldine Public School,topped the class he did! And Bill, me and old matey here well, we just can’t figure it out. According to old matey here, even by our generous calculations based on figures you supplied, that leaves a gap of about, wow,one million dollars!!! Now,Bill,we know we are wrong,but we can’t quite work out where. We know that you would not spend only one third on actually providing services. But thats what it looks like to us and to all the other simpletons out there not blessed with the same fiscal prudence and acumen that Lotteries and Gaming obviously recognise you for. But we are short in our calculations, a cool $750,000.Where is that going? So,Bill, I’m sure you won’t mind showing us where we went wrong.

   By the way Bill, how are things going with the administrator of Just Enough Faith? Got all the goodies you need? I didn’t notice any mention of the freebies you got on your website. You forgot right? I know you are a busy man.All those FREE resources,handed to you on a plate? Bill, I congratulate you. You are indeed fortunate to have the hard work of not only Jef and Alina Gambin, but also the hundreds of volunteers who worked so hard to build a fair and independent non religious organisation which for seventeen years provided excellent services to homeless people. Aren’t you the lucky one to have it handed to your church based organisation to control? I heard that you threw out a whole lot of the food you got from Just Enough Faith today; wasn’t up to your high standards? Well, at least you managed to put some of the fish products to good use in Loaves & Fishes.Yes,we have seen some of the meat at the foodvan, like the sausages and even some of the gravy beef, and we are looking forward to seeing the rest of it too.

   

  Oh and how remiss  of me, I forgot to introduce myself,

  I am Sydney Homeless.

  kind regards

  Sydney Homeless.

  ————————————————————————————————————————————————we thought that the trial and conviction by media of our mate Jef Gambin was such a successful campaign,  without a single court case , and when we see a good thing we back it!!! So we are going to subject all the charities who profess to raise money for marginalised groups benefit to the same trial process afforded to our mate Jef,and Just Enough Faith… we will see whether they stand up to the same rigorous scrutiny as JEF was put under. Exempted? Not by Us!!!

  http://www.billcrews.wordpress.com is the first in a series of mini sites we are developing to report on the financing of the charities and not for profit organisations which collect funds and donations in the name of homeless and marginalised people. We picked Exodus and Bill Crews to start with, because we know hes so honest and therefore checking his business(sorry,charity) out should be quick, and we can move on to the real rogues!!!And of course when we find that everything is as above board as you say,mate, we will endorse your organisation(sorry,business) too.

  ————————————————————————————————————————————————

   

• sydneyhomeless 1:13 pm on May 21, 2009 | 9 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, charity rorts, Cheap Food, corporate pariah, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, funding accountability, Good Food, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless services, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, marginalised assistance, measure a charity, politics, poverty australia, public funding accountability, socially accountable, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, systemic failings of Exodus, volunteers or clients

  Letter regarding this page;

    

  Whom ever posted this report needs to take a good look at themselves, just shows your lack of intelligence! Any organisation where volunteers give up their time & church groups who offer services to all needy people should be welcomed not criticised. We should be striving for the same thing, making life a bit better for those in need! Wake up before you destroy everything!

   Our reply

  hi,

  and thanks again for your viewpoint. Our recommendations to volunteers have a moral basis. We consider that many volunteers are simply exploited by organisations which in some cases receive millions of dollars annually to provide services, yet have volunteers perform much of the labour component of that funded operation. Where the operation is publicly funded, and in some other cases, it is a cynical conspiracy by the funding provider and the charity or other NFP involved to provide the service at minimal cost. The downstream effect is that the work done at 0 cost by volunteers represents another potential paid position which is lost, and expotentially another job on the scrapheap. In many cases the “good works” performed by committed volunteers in one sector of an organisation are pointed to in other sections of the organisation as stimulus for often unaccounted donations. Church pulpit collection systems spring to mind.

   

  Our volunteer recommendations page does not look at the merits or demerits of volunteering per se, nor does it consider organisations whose activities fall outside the “homeless/potentially homeless” sphere, which we cater to. Our endorsement or otherwise of an organisation is purely on the basis of whether we consider the organisation to be “a homeless services organisation who fundraise” or “a fundraising organisation who provide homeless services”.

   

  If by chance we happen to destroy, as you put it, or expose, any nepotism, cosy deals between charities and their government or corporate sponsors, or instances of special relationships between parties which cause funds or resources raised in the name of marginalised people to be siphoned off then we make no apologies whatsoever. In fact, for the charities/NGOs who operate in that way in the name of homeless people: Storm warning. Hurricane Homeless Viewpoint is heading right your way and its a category nine!!!!

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:28 am on May 21, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Globalisation.

  Answer: Princess Diana’s death.

  Question: How come?

  Answer: An English princess

  with an Egyptian boyfriend

  crashes in a French tunnel,

  driving a German car

  with a Dutch engine,

  driven by a Belgian who was drunk

  on Scottish whisky, (fake scotch is spelt whiskey)

  followed closely by Italian Paparazzi,

  on Japanese motorcycles;

  treated by an American doctor,

  using Brazilian medicines.

  This is sent to you by an Australian,

  using Bill Gates’s American technology ,

  and you’re probably reading this on your computer,

  that uses Taiwanese chips,

  and a Korean monitor,

  assembled by Bangladeshi workers

  in a Singapore plant,

  transported by Indian lorry-drivers,

  hijacked by Indonesians,

  unloaded by Maori wharfies,

  and trucked to you by Vietnamese illegals…..

  unpacked by Fijians with expired visas

  That, my friends, is Globalisation!!

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:28 am on May 19, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of charity, Cheap Food, dispassionate destruction, feeding homeless, Free Food, Good Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, marginalised assistance, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, systemic failings of Exodus

  While many homeless people state that their aim is to be housed, a small number have rejected conventional housing as component of their lifestyle option. Today, we spoke with a family who have lived in many locations in three states and for the last nine months around Sydney. Two adults, two kids and a stationwagon, is the setup they call home. The well kept if ageing vehicle is easily mistaken for a sports mum and dad. Dad works in warehousing but is casual.Never been out of a job. But because he’s a casual worker,he can’t get a bank loan to buy a home. They lived as many do for most of their lives, paying off someone elses mortgage in a traditional rental situation. Their last four tenancies each lasted the term of a six month lease. References from the agents,and offers of new rental tenancies, at different properties at increased rentals. The cost of relocating every six months, so that greed driven landlords and their real estate agent collaborators could increase the rent, eventually forced the family to live in their car-they’re saving for a camper truck which they plan to have in a couple of weeks. This family have none of the standard “marginalisation” issues. Full time workers. Decent income-by the standards of many streeties downright affluent. Bright and clean, cheeky kids, obviously well cared for and at ease with both parents and strangers(us). Non gamblers, non christians, non drinkers, non smokers,no drugs. None of the five big addictions.They made the decision on the basis that they will never be able to afford a home in a metropolitan Australian area. Some already live in vans and mobile homes.Others are waterborne. There are a few who don’t think past the next drink,but we don’t include them in the count because they cannot be said to have made a decision-it just happens that way. (to be continued) if you can make a contribution to this article and are not promoting a government funded service, please send your contribution to sydneyhomeless@letterboxes.org

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:44 am on May 19, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, dispassionate destruction, feeding homeless, Free Food, Good Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless meals, homeless services, JEF Loyalists, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, marginalised assistance, measure a charity, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, systemic failings of Exodus

  From our discussions with several street kids at locations which they are known to frequent, some disturbing facts are emerging. Many especially younger and ethnic street kids never use the services which older streeties access. This includes the JEF/Exodus foodvan site, and all the food services. The overwhelming view among these kids is, in effect, that harassment and interference from DoCs agencies is the main barrier. Many tell of “doing rolls” when they are hungry. Several tell of friends and acquaintances who “sleep with” “captains” to have somewhere acceptable and safe to stay, and food.

   The alcopops tax? They heard about that one ages ago. We didn’t need to ask. Their three camping locations known to us were devoid of Alcopop bottles. The empty bottles clearly indicate that “Jimmy” and Gurney are the drinks of choice. Maccas packets attest to the fact that they( or someone) buys food. And these kids know how to slot seamlessly into the general populace. Dress code is all about integrating without standing out. Ethnic mix is a rainbow which is one promising barometer.

  One, a pacific island/aboriginal youth of 17, put it this way ” I don’t live with my parents because they want to make me go to church and do their shit. At school, according to the teachers I’m a bully. If other kids are standing over our little cousins,teachers don’t seem to notice. But if I stand up for my little cousins,I’m a bully. I think I’m still down as being in DoCs, so I’m on the low, and can’t sign up for Youth Allowance cos of DoCs. I just want to be able to be with my friends and not have DoCs or anyone in my life. Look at (name withheld), shes supposed to be in DoCs so they reckon, but shes back next day every time they take her. We do what we do to survive. ” This is just one story. At this moment there are several others who as I write are doing the best they can for themselves, unsupported. There are a number also who do use services, are usually out of it, and get frequent free rides home to the DoCs facility they live at from DoCs service providers. They seem to be totally separate to the “hardcore” street kids who live permanently on the streets. Its hard to define a simple much less a complex answer.

  I’m not even sure I know the right question. But I can say with certainty that definitive solutions will not be found in either in current government legislation, or the university/TAFE driven youth social services agenda.  Its not a new phenomenom. Read Oliver Twist? Millions of dollars have been spent(I hesitate to say squandered), Australian Family & Children legislation is now as complex as is necessary to keep a few planeloads of lawyers particularly well fed. But driving our youth further underground-pushing them further into harms way, has never been part of the solution.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:57 am on May 18, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alina Gambin, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, corporate pariah, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, Free Food, gambin court, gambin court appearance, homeless assistance, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless politics, homeless services, jef gambin, jef gambin court, JEF Loyalists, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, Kings Cross, marginalised assistance, measure a charity, Minister Gaming, Minister Lotteries, MLA Greene, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised

  Ever wondered why so many people over the years have preferred to stand in a long line on often cold rainy nights, waiting for a delicious hot meal?

   In the past few days, I had three conversations,indenendent of each other. I asked the first man, a chronic alcoholic,  how  the food was at Matthew Talbot(Vinnies). He said “oh no, I don’t go there, theres no forgiveness in that place. He made comments about the group actions of staff, and how he had been barred years ago and how they are christians and how they are supposed to forgive, but he kept returning to the same theme “theres no forgiveness there.”

  Yesterday, in the course of a group discussion, another guy volunteered in relation to Foster House(Salvation Army). I got taken there by police. The Foster house I had stayed in about ten years before was gone. But they would not let me stay until I paid the $35 I owed from 10 years ago.

  About ten minutes ago, we had a couple of people start a conversation regarding Exodus/Just Enough Faith. One of the guys asked how anyone could get barred from a church. He had been barred from Exodus Foundation for life, supposedly for pulling a chair from beneath another guy. He says he offered to bring his passport in to confirm that in fact he was overseas at the time, but was told words to the effect of “just don’t bother coming back in this lifetime”.

   The vast majority of us first went to the van to eat, and found something else.Something not found in the multimillion dollar facilities some organisations have. Something institutions seem devoid of. We who found fallacy everywhere else faced something genuine.Something that was part of ourselves, for we found ourselves. We found that intangible that the combined will of an army will fail to build, where only the combined love and toil of a genuine few can succeed.

   To the many who have jumped on the bandwagon to crucify the founder of JEF, I ask, when you see a man fall off a chair, do you kick him senseless?

   From the utterances I have read in the news, it is unthinkable that persons who obtain and misuse confidential and sensitive documents(which they are granted access to in trust) as leverage,perhaps,for their own agenda: are they not thieves???

   Mr Crews,you may mean well,you may not. Your organisation have already replaced the JEF magical formula with sterility. Please don’t do to JEF what an accountant did to Harrys pies.

   And Mr Administrator, Mr Minister, and your respective staff. You seek to quantify in dollar terms alone, what every government department at state and federal level, ACOSS and the poverty industry have failed to do in Sydney. Its not built of money, good people. Thats why it is the most successful marginalised support service in inner Sydney; viewed from street level,you understand. Please, place Just Enough Faith in the care and responsibility of its volunteer force, (if not Mr & Mrs Gambin), to be nurtured and loved, not in the rough hands of those who only seek to gain. 

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:57 pm on May 17, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: alcohol abuse, alcohol health, alcohol solutions, alcohol tax, alcopop tax, booze tax, cigarette tax, drinks tax, drug alcohol tax, smokers tax, teen alcohol, teen alcohol problems, teen drinkers tax, teen drinking, tobacco tax

  Much in the news of late, it is well worth mentioning the following. Our observations following the initial hike in alcopops tax, is that kids now get drunk faster, because they find it cheaper to buy whole bottles of raw spirits. Virtually none are seen drinking alcopops. Those that can’t afford spirits are forced to drink cheap cask wines. We obviously don’t have the same research resources or insights as our esteemed politicians, but if the intention was to make more kids pass out in public places, to the extent that their friends have to carry them, the increased tax worked a treat.

   The tax on cigarettes will increase the use of chopchop, and possibly marihuana as well. The 60c per packet extra will cause almost no-one to stop smoking, but several of our number will probably be forced to employ more creative fundraising to get their daily fix. If government is really serious, just outlaw tobacco; oh but then theres that bipartisan addiction to the tax revenues,isn’t there? Oh and of course all the crime you would create!!!!

   Theres also another story here. The law applies equally,depending on who applies the law; Two teenagers aged about 15 at the time attended a teen party at a waterfront Point Piper address. They left, each with a 700ml bottle of alcohol,or the remains thereof. Police, seeing the girls with their very obvious alcohol, stopped the girls and took them into custody, probably for their own good. The girls were asked for their addresses. One gave her Vaucluse address while the other gave her Woolloomooloo House-O address. One was taken home to her parents. The other was handed to DOCs. Guess which one? And no,she had never previously been spoken to by police or DOCs. The story does have a happy sequel, however. The girl who was from the well to do address told her parents that her friend was still in custody (she didn’t know about DOCs being called. Her parents immediately called a friend, a very well known barrister, who was able to retrieve the by now quite distressed girl from DOCs, and have her returned to her very grateful parents. Oh, both girls lied, saying they were staying at a friends. Happens all the time.

   But these taxes don’t only affect our youth.True,many of us get pissed at the drunken antics of the kids but we were kids once too. What did you do? But these taxes affect us too. The kids, forced by economics to consume often straight unmixed alcohol, mostly get very drunk,very fast.

   

• sydneyhomeless 4:56 pm on May 17, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, destroy charity, feeding homeless, Free Food, Good Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, humour, marginalised assistance, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, systemic failings of Exodus, volunteers or clients

   As a full shareholders meeting sat around the boardroom table, four upturned milkcrates courtesy of Kirin Breweries local milk producing subsidiary, and soon to be sister company of Tooheys, there was an air of hope, nay anticipation, that the executive might deliver what few boards worldwide had managed to accomplish in these recessionary times, a healthy dividend and strong capital growth. Could the street accomplish what even the millionaires factory had failed to deliver? An opening speech by the chairman laid bare the facts.Some acquisitions had been made on the basis that the board (after careful consideration of duly presented expert opinion) was of the opinion that these assets were highly liquid, with the total value of the individual parts being worth considerably more than the whole. There had also been some purchases, shareholders were told, of some more speculative assets, which while having considerable immediate upside, would impact negatively on bottom line if immediate upside was not achieved in line with expectations. General business over, the CEO arose and drew shareholders attention to the liquid assets procured… One case of Victoria Bitter and a cask of dry white. There was short discussion as to the merits of retaining the VB in the hope that its value would rise after the bottle o closed. A motion was put to the floor in favour of this course of action, and a shareholder representing minority interests protested that this course of action would delay the immediate positive benefits to members, carried the associated risk of possibly contravening liqour licensing regulations with the attendant penalties, and did not guarantee a significant increase in value for shareholders.Minority shareholder put this counter proposal to the floor and the motion was quickly carried on a show of hands. As the beers were being apportioned between shareholders, the treasurer arose. The Powerball ticket had 2 numbers and the powerball,for a return of $17 on a cost of $7-35, and number 9 in race 7 ran 3rd, with only the first two placegetters paying dividends. An immediate motion was tabled that the entire board be sacked, but the chairman, noting that all shareholders had commenced to partake of said liquid assets, closed the meeting under clause 3 of the constitution which states that shareholders must abstain from alcohol for 48 hours prior to voting on matters concerning board positions. The motion was seconded by the treasurer and the next shareholders meeting was scheduled for next week at the Ivy Bar.

   

• sydneyhomeless 6:05 am on May 15, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  In our struggle to maintain relevance with the entirety of the homeless diaspora, today we turn our attention and skills to focus on the Governments stimulus package. Street level indicators almost universally confirm everyones hopes and Kevin Rudds fervent desire to see his stimulus package working. We can confirm that it is. The cigarette butt indicator has been used by many astute marginalised people to forecast economic doom and gloom with uncanny accuracy. Our sources report much more plentiful, and longer, cigarette butts discarded this month as compared with last. This is a sure indication that people are less concerned about the amount of smokable cigarette they discard proportionate to the amount they purchase, meaning they are more assured about their revenue sources. There are worrying signs though for employees in the financial sector generally, with reports of especially long cigarette butts being collected in the vicinity of Westpac, Commonwealth subsidiary BankWest and Macquarie Bank offices. Of course this is a sure sign that employees in those companies, and the financial sector generally, have ongoing concerns about the continuity of their employment. Reports from the marginalised cardboard-for-homes people report an unsurge in boxes for large screen TVs and Computers being collected, and have asked us to remind unwitting donors to please place them where they will not get wet in inclement weather. Investors in Lion Nathan may note with trepidation a significant decline in the number of Tooheys bottles being collected by homeless bottle recyclers. The shoeshiners alarmed us reporting up to 90 percent falls in revenue, but we feel that this abherration should be ignored, with further lament by our source that his erstwhile reliable clients with patent leather shoes were now walking past wearing Nikes!!! Have they joined Notorious? So cheer up, Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan, we think the stimulus package is working, and if the reserve bank wishes to consult us they can find us right outside their front door in Martin Place,every day of the week!!!   

   

• sydneyhomeless 9:27 am on May 13, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Kings Cross, Kings Cross Police, NSW Police, nsw police attack, police assault, Police homeless, Police powers, Sydney Police

  We have received an alarming number of reports from homeless as well as social housing tenants of an
  upsurge in police siezures of personal property. In several notifications items of value have been taken by police
  “suspected of being stolen” including cash, mobile phones and cameras. One reporter notes a brand new computer taken over 2 years ago after receipts were produced and never returned,A disturbing trend is that many of these confiscations are happening without any paperwork.

  Increased Police Powers;
  There are also increased reports of police move on powers being used on the grounds “suspect of being drunk.” Police have monitoring equipment to confirm whether a person is actually drunk or drug affected, but this legislation removes any requirement for them to use it.
  The opinion of a police officer is not good enough and hasmuch potential to be applied maliciously, or racially. Homeless people are at constant risk of move on laws being applied even when gathering or sitting peacefully in any public place, simply because someone may find them scary or intimidating. Perhaps we need to start reporting people wearing police uniforms as scary or intimidating? Many homeless are genuinely scared of police. For some of non european and especially indigenous descent,there is the very real risk of death at the hands of what are seen as gung ho pro european, anglo police.

   Premier Rees government, as with Iemma before him, have provied a blank chequebook, and draconian police powers to Commissioner Scipione. Scipione is the commissioner who announced that t-shirts and placards of protesters at the world youth day events would have to be screened and pre approved by police. Thankfully, he was slapped down by a somewhat bemused judge. But what did Scipione have in mind as an extension of his logic? A pre approval process for media releases, or, perhaps, making it illegal for all groups without police officers as members to protest? Well, along with his demands for Tasers, Rees has also rushed through parliament a two rafts of draconian legislation, one of which even the State Attorney General Opposed. Popularly promoted as anti gang legislation, these laws in fact apply to any organisation which the commissioner of police sees fit to apply it to. Potentially the ACTU, Muslim and non-christian organisations, even businesses, beware. Civil Liberties organisations, and even Greenpeace can be a “proscribed organisation”.People recruiting for it subject to 5 years jail. The legislation does not deal with,and we await with interest, the “proscribing” of a “gang” which has seen no reason to register itself as an entity, so does not officially exist.. All this power resides in the hands of NSW Commissioner of Police,at this time, Scipione. The real rub, though, is in the Rees decreed court process. According to the legislation, the Attorney General may nominate a particular case to be heard before a particular judge, and for judges delivering verdicts displeasing to government to be banned from hearing such cases.So much for the independence of the judiciary. Could this legislation could be applied to homeless people, with the commissioner simply deeming the existence of a gang? Assurances from legislators or police are not worth the airspace they are heard in. With NSW Police facing longstanding and ongoing criticism from within aboriginal & other groups as the most racist on earth, this must be stopped

   According to mainstream media reports a 33 year old female Kings Cross Police officer was assaulted and robbed while walking to work in Kings Cross. Comment on the Street ranges from  ”they don’t care about us,we don’t care about them” to “there is justice.” Without doubt, many of our margnalised community have experienced violence at the hands of police. There have been numerous deaths. A Woolloomooloo youth of South American ethnicity was shot while unarmed by police about nine years ago. We have no records of convictions of police for that shooting.

  Police,especially in Kings Cross, are not known for their empathy with street or marginalised people. In fact,Kings Cross police in co-operation with then Mayor Lucy Turnbull( wife of liberal Malcolm) used to regularly take bedding off street people at about ten oclock every night, probably in the hope that they would go away.

  Send us your views

   

• sydneyhomeless 3:56 pm on May 12, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alina Gambin, Australian marginalised, business of caring, business of charity, Cheap Food, corporate pariah, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, Exodus minimalist, feeding homeless, Free Food, Good Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, insolvency, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, marginalised assistance, poverty australia, standard of food service, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised, systemic failings of Exodus, volunteers or clients

  There are numerous organisations who profess to speak in the name of homeless and marginalised people. Gullible or culpable politicians and corporate directors seem willing to swallow the fallacy that they speak on our behalf,but who elected them,or pemitted them to speak on their behalf? Not me…and its a straight all up bet not you either. Charities fall into two categories for state legal purposes. Religious organisations are exempt from state government controls. Non religious organisations are not.Why? Is there some ideal or whatever which ensures that religious organisations act with absolute integrity and honesty. Did they tell the aboriginal communities of Sydney harbour two hundred years ago that the blankets they were giving them were contaminated with smallpox? Probably not. Morals? Just last week another long term member of a prominent social services providing religious organisation was jailed for 12 years for paedophilia. Financial propriety? We don’t know, they are exempt from scrutiny!!! And as far as providing government services is concerned, one of the consistent failings of contractor and government alike is the predisposition of both to implement care and maintenance progrms,as compared with providing solution based programs with clearly defined success milestones, ending with a sunset clause and resolution where the problem has ceased to exist. But what government minister or charity business administrator actually wants to be the reason that their department no longer has a reason to exist?

   Lets start with a level playing field for religious and non religion based charities alike. Lets either have all or none exempted from the current unfair model where some have Office of Gaming and Liqour compliance responsibilities and some do not.

   The next step would be to apply the same principles as infrastructure projects to social marginalisation issues. The current Sydney Metro project has a defined program to resolve a particular transport issue by providing specific infrastructure, which should end the initial transport problem. In the same way, Sydney has a chrnonic lack of affordable housing. Sydney also actually has close to sufficient residential “human places” to cater to its population. So the state could,for example, simply pass a bylaw requiring all operators of income generating residential property to provide x-percent of their accommodation units(or the revenue equivalent) for social housing. This pool could then be passed to the Housing dept for example,for redistribution, and federal government could provide a tax offset to the owner. No more ghetto housing projects,and a quantum increase immediately in social housing units.

  see also mission australia with the only statement they have made since becoming the architects of the Howardly “work for the dole” and related slave labour schemes: http://officialmissionaustralia.blogspot.com/2008/04/regulation-needed-for-charity-sector.html

   

• sydneyhomeless 8:21 pm on May 11, 2009 | 3 | # |
  Tags: business of caring, business of charity, Exodus minimalist, insightful, JEF Loyalists, Just Enough Faith Loyalists, measure a charity, staff, standard of food service, systemic failings of Exodus, volunteers or clients

  Unedited comment from Exodus Supporter(name withheld by us out of courtesy Well hey guys to the JEF loyalists, who asked Exodus to carry the torch whilst the famous business entrepreneur Jef Gambin is under administration, the administrators!!!!!If anyone else out there can do better then be my guest. Can any of you JEF loyalists cook in your kitchen and provide hot, fresh meals, guess not. Well, if the volunteers didn’t pack the plates full of food there would be enough to feed 300 pax a night. What do you mean give people who receive FREE food a choice, what do you think this is Macca’s, there getting free tucker, if they want a choice then go and pay for it. If they are genuine homeless or marginalised then they would eat baked beans. Try and get dirt on the honest Rev Bill Crews, he doesn’t drive a Merc, he doesn’t live in a flashy house, he doesn’t eat out, he doesn’t own Armani suits, he truely cares, try and get to know him and he’ll give you his last dollar.    Our reply   Thank you for your insightful input!!! Exactly the level of intellect Exodus appears to attract. The administrators who currently have control of JEF have as much insight into how to treat marginalised people as you do. A team member has already written to thank the minister concerned, and Exodus spokesperson in parliament Lee Rhiannon.As it happens, someone has already shown that the job can be done immeasurably better than the efforts of Exodus. His name is Jef Gambin, and he showed the way for 17 years. Our team is actually about to upload an article complimenting yourselves on the menu improvements over the last 3 days, with the approval rating today at over 45% among those patrons polled. A goodly reason for this increase in approval is that the plates are fuller than they have been under the direct supervision of your operations manager. We have heard the loaves and fishes parable too, but the JEF volunteers are also used to being supported by a committed kitchen crew,chef and management whose common interest is to deliver wholesome nutritious food to the marginalised,as compared with Exodus Foundation, who seem more intent on being seen to provide services by their unknowing sponsors. Exodus minimalist approach to services is said to be legendary among those who have used their services,with one or two exceptions. We have seen it with our own eyes. We appreciate your candour in your comments comparing the standard of your food service unfavourably to maccas..we agree. Sorry, but Jef got us used to the notion that the foodvan would provide food of superior quality to parliament. I am not quoting Jef Gambin, or JEF people, but a grateful NSW parliamentarian who was moved to make the comparison. Under JEF, the foovans provided a selection of dishes and any dimunition of the quality of service is a direct affront to the homeless and marginalised people Bill Crews is so fond of speaking on behalf of,and soliciting donations on behalf of. If you are using Exodus as a gauge by which to measure a charity, then your incredulity is understandable…you have perhaps not seen the infectious generosity of spirit shown on a daily basis by Jef Gambin, which seems to have permeated throughout his entire organisation. Your comment re: baked beans is surely not an attempt at one-upmanship, did you think you could outdo Marie Antoinette??? Nevertheless,the comment is symptomatic of one of the systemic failings of Exodus and I refer to the policy of “staff,volunteers or clients and never the twain shall meet”. This is a major reason why your simplistic comprehension of marginalisation issues is so narrow, and diminishing of the people Exodus profess to care about. You will not have seen genuine caring, as compared to the business of “caring” for which Mr Crews is renowned. Incidentally, this resource is not in any way connected with Just Enough Faith, and the team responsible are all homeless people. There is no input by anyone directly connected with Just Enough Faith. It would be most welcome, but I’m sure they are busy working on strategies to further assist marginalised people. Oh, and even though we don’t actually have kitchens at home to cook on, we are making efforts to establish our own food service, which the many dentally challenged among us can rely on for a hot nightly meal(which they can actually eat).

   

• sydneyhomeless 5:59 am on May 11, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Alina Gambin, Australian marginalised, Cheap Food, corporate pariah, destroy charity, dispassionate destruction, feeding homeless, Free Food, Good Food, homeless, homeless bedding, homeless charity, homeless dinner, homeless help, homeless issues, homeless meals, homeless services, Jeff Gambin, just enough faith, marginalised assistance, politics, poverty australia, sydney homeless, sydney marginalised

  Perennial Corporate Fundraiser and purveyor of minimalist services to the marginalised Exodus Foundation have certainly upset a lot of people in their short tenure operating Just Enough Faiths Foodvans. Many ex JEF Volunteers have complained bitterly of bland and insufficient food to serve and insufficient choice to offer. Some ex-JEF volunteers feel deceived at being told that the operation is being maintained “same as usual” only to find on arrival that Just Enough Faith under Exodus control is a draconian, cold and bland team environment. Volunteers, some of whom have faithfully provided the caring and friendly service to Sydney Homeless and Marginalised for years, say they are most unhappy to have this “jilly-come-lately” impose sterile ineffective systems on them. Her condescending approach is an insult to those who have faithfully provided the service for years.

   Many patrons are also decidedly unhappy with her attitude to serving food. “Either vegitarian or non-vegitarian”she says. Non vegitarian often is 2 chicken legs and 75 grains of rice with no vegies. There were many expressions of relief Sunday night when, under the supervision of JEFs experienced volunteers, patrons were able to select what they wanted,abeit from the scant but tasty range available.

   Patrons are consistently underwhelmed by the pretty van ( Reputedly costing a whopping $2500 per week to rent), and total absence of the bevy of extra services which JEF regularly offered.No raincoats on some rainy days, no blankets on offer from time to time when it is cold. No clothes. These services being replaced by the vultures from quasi autonomous NGOs and other churches (who have been notable for the past 17 years,by their absence) as if swarming a carcass.

   Heres a message to Bill Crews,Exodus Foundation and the government cretins responsible for hijacking and diminishing the services so painstakingly crafted by Jef Gambin and his team. The Just Enough Faith Brand as a fundraising opportunity for Exodus or any other government puppet organisation will be a dismal failure. Marginalised people are already abandoning the once mainstay service in droves, thanks to your bland delivery systems. For the time being,you are a contractor, paid , we understand,$55,000 to offer the service for a month. You have been given JEF’s vans YET YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND $2500 per week hiring your yellow bus. Does it belong to one of your friends? Very profitable for them.I’m sure. As you are being paid by JEFs administrators, why are you promoting your Exodus Brand? As you are actually funded by JEF money,shouldn’t your role be to promote JEF, not Exodus? Your site manager,Karen,when asked by one of our people what was happening, told the enquirer that ”Jeff is sick,and we have to look after this for him.” Unfortunately that person actually believed this outrageous lie, and spent a few hours later being pacified by a group of fellow patrons. So while your lies and spindoctoring may have the desired effect of raising the desired millions in donations you so whimsically choose, they can have a cruel and devastating effect on marginalised people and we ask you to save them for your corporate friends and the media, who doubtless find them so wonderfully entertaining.

   Take notice,also, that we will monitor your activities daily, until the service is returned to the control of Jef Gambin. The only thing you can do to gain our support,is leave.

   

• Home

  • Crews Missile Attack on Just Enough Faith
    • Daily Foodvan Report
    • To Follow Us On Twitter
    • Gambins good news….& Weekly Update
    • Anti Gambin Activists Named & Shamed
  • A level playing field….
    • Churches can cheat and lie to raise funds, other charities can’t.
  • How good is JEFs Food????
  • The Homeless Protocol and Sydney Citys official Foodvan Policy
  • Who we are -Contact us-
    • Get Your Issue before the people!!!
    • Found a new service thats great????
    • Homeless not Hopeless- The Jobs Page
    • Volunteering..!!!!
    • Homeless for a Day-Homeless Homestay!!!
  • Homeless Civil Rights 18-5-09
  • Severe Storms forecast for Diddling Charities.
  • Mr Administrator-its time to come clean!
  • How Charity Rorts Might Work
  • Songs of the Homeless
  • Homeless Homestay
  • JEFF Board Statement 3 June 2009
    • JEF Takeover: Legal or Not??
    • JEF volunteer website launches
    • JEF stories
  • NSW ignores marginalised.
    • NSW Labor Govt told “You Stuffed it-You Fix it”
  • Homeless Stories from elsewhere;
  • NSW Parliamentary Response
  • Our Letter Responding to Minister re Foodvan
  • Media and Homeless
  • NSW DoCS,Linda Burney in Parallel Universe
  • Brothels Dealers support DoCS Minister
  • Elect Sydneys Homeless Ambassador
  • Links
  • Daily Rough Sleepers Count
  • Sydney Free Meal Services.Servicios de Comida Gratis.miễn phí và dịch vụ thức ăn nóng
  • Дневно извештај Фоодван
  • Homeless World Cup 2009
  • alerts!Appeal!
  • Pledge Support for Just Enough Faith

• Blogroll

  • AA Home
  • El informe diario foodvan en español The daily foodvan report in spanish
  • Elect Sydneys Homeless Ambassador
  • Foodvan in Serbian
  • Foodvn in Portuguese
  • Homeless and Community Direct Homeless and Marginalised Community Initiatives and Projects
  • NSW Housing Policy Issues discusses and dissects NSW government housing policy

• foodvan en espaniol

  • Elect Sydneys Homeless Ambassador

• Foodvan Espana

  • El informe diario foodvan en español The daily foodvan report in spanish

• homeless issues

  • Elect Sydneys Homeless Ambassador
  • NSW Housing Policy Issues discusses and dissects NSW government housing policy

• NSW housing policy

  • NSW Housing Policy Issues discusses and dissects NSW government housing policy

• Sydney Charities

  • ClothesLine Incorporated

• sydney homeless

  • Elect Sydneys Homeless Ambassador
  • NSW Housing Policy Issues discusses and dissects NSW government housing policy

• Sydney Homeless

  • Rudd won't listen on healthcare, govt already committed to deals with big business,churches http://bit.ly/1UU8LZHomeless not Hopeless5 hours ago
  • @sgneist TY 4 RTing & how stupid indeed!!Homeless not Hopeless5 hours ago
  • Rudds real agenda is becoming clearer.A bigger role as contract for exploitative church based NGOsHomeless not Hopeless5 hours ago
  • Rudd vows to hand health care to big business, killing off family clinics http://bit.ly/1UU8LZHomeless not Hopeless5 hours ago
  • @pyrmontvillage we start on Rudd tonight:)Homeless not Hopeless1 day ago
  • Rudd moves to protect big business again phttp://bit.ly/4hf8lFHomeless not Hopeless1 day ago
  • IF These are the sorts of people Australia has in Parliament, our kids have ZERO protection http://bit.ly/3nBKXhHomeless not Hopeless2 days ago
  • RT @ullasd "Portrait of a Polluted Land: Huge Smog Bank Covers China" - http://digg.com/d219L6Z?t2Homeless not Hopeless4 days ago
  • Private school banished for having public school values http://bit.ly/3tBLYxHomeless not Hopeless6 days ago
  • RT @anarchists: RT @Oil_Leaks: Do you REALLY know the impact of the #oil industry? History, item 1: http://bit.ly/2AtOLiHomeless not Hopeless6 days ago

• Blog at WordPress.com
  Prologue theme by Automattic