Thanks to Monarch Housing Associates!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by elizabethlombino

Monarch Housing Associates posted a blog on their website providing information about SocialChangeApps.org.  Here’s an excerpt from the article:

First iPhone Ending Homelessness App

by Richard W. Brown

Can a iPhone Social Change App help us to End Homelessness

What do you care about? Ending homelessness? Saving the environment? Promoting peace? Stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS? if you are like us you are concerned about all of the above.

Fortunately, our friends Rich and Elizabeth Lombino have foundedSocial Change Apps to help you have a positive impact. According to the Lombino’s, “Social Change Apps™ is for anyone who wants to effect social change through social media. We developed Social Change Apps to provide a mobile and social media model to change the world, one click at a time.”

As we are all aware, for far too long, many nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the U.S. have been unsuccessfully managing the tragedy of homelessness. This is unsustainable. Working to end homelessness is much more humane and cost effective than the current homeless systems. We can and must solve the problem of homelessness. We have the tools to make this a reality, including affordable housing, supportive services (including mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, other medical treatment and case management), supportive housing (affordable housing with supportive services), prevention services and empowerment. We should focus on these key areas to end homelessness.

To read more, visit their website at monarchhousing.org.

Filed under: Consulting, Homelessness, Hope Notes, Social Media, Social Work | Leave a Comment »

News: Social Change Apps

Posted on August 9, 2010 by elizabethlombino

Here’s the press release on our new venture: Social Change Apps.  Check it out!!!

For Immediate Release: Monday, August 9, 2010

Contact: Rich Lombino, Co-Founder, Social Change Apps, rich@socialchangeapps.org

FIRST iPHONE APP TO END HOMELESSNESS

Social Change Apps™

Social Change through Social Media™

New York, NY – What do you care about? Ending homelessness? Saving the environment? Promoting peace? Stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS? Whatever concerns you, Social Change Apps will help you have a positive impact. Social Change Apps™ are for anyone who wants to effect social change through social media. We developed Social Change Apps to provide a mobile and social media model to change the world, one click at a time.

For far too long, many nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the U.S. have been unsuccessfully managing the tragedy of homelessness. This is unsustainable. Working to end homelessness is much more humane and cost effective than the current homeless systems. We can and must solve the problem of homelessness. We have the tools to make this a reality, including affordable housing, supportive services (including mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, other medical treatment and case management), supportive housing (affordable housing with supportive services), prevention services and empowerment. We should focus on these key areas to end homelessness.

Our first App provides action steps and information on ending homelessness. The App is now live in the App Store and ready for download. In addition to our feed, the other feeds to this App includes our tweets (@socialchangeapp), feeds from prominent homeless advocates, Co-Founder Rich Lombino’s blog and tweets, and Co-Founder Elizabeth Lombino’s blog and tweets.

For more information, contact Rich Lombino at rich@socialchangeapps.org or visit us on the web at socialchangeapps.org.

Filed under: Consulting, Homelessness, Hope Notes, Social Media, Social Work | Leave a Comment »

Searching for Hope When Surrounded by Sorrow

Posted on July 19, 2010 by elizabethlombino

This past week was one of those crazy busy weeks where everything seemed to happen at once.  There was endless bad news both professionally and personally. Meeting with clients who were challenging and seemed to be in need of every service available.  Hearing gut-wrenching and heart-breaking stories from dozens of clients. Dealing with stressed out co-workers.  Even facing the death of a seemingly healthy and vibrant client.

It was a difficult week and it made me want to crawl in bed and not come out for another week. Being a social worker tests every facet of my being.  I have to tap into every resource I have emotionally and physically.  It can be exhausting and sometimes I question the world around me.

Finding hope can be very hard and frustrating.  Some of the lives of our clients are so heartbreaking.  Some of the lives of our friends are so heartbreaking.  It can be so overwhelming to deal with struggles at work and also face major challenges at home.  It can seem as if there is nothing but tragedy around.  And some days that’s the truth.

Every social worker has been where I am now.  In fact, I’ve been at this place more than once in my career.  It happens.  We can’t spend countless hours working with people and only hear stories of joy and celebration.  That’s not why we come to this profession.  We come to help those with some of the most horrific stories ever told.

This is what keeps me going.  Listening to the stories.  Even if I can’t help in the moment or when I can’t take away the pain, I know that I am listening to a person who may have never shared any detail of their story with anyone else.  They can be heard.  That alone can be incredibly powerful and life-affirming, for all of us involved.

Then there is coping with the death of a beloved person.  There is a lot of incredibly emotional work to do with the people who are left to feel the pain and wonder about the details.  We social workers can assist in this process.  Be there to talk and cry and laugh as we remember our dear friend.  It’s often that much more difficult when the social worker is also in grief.  This is exactly what’s going on now.  I know I will be crying right along with all the clients.  And I know that will be okay.  We can mourn and grieve and come together in our sorrow to heal.  And we can also laugh and remember the wonderful person who has left us way too soon.

I love my work.  There is nothing else I am this passionate about (except my husband and daughter).  Most social workers are in it for the passion and connection to people.  It’s this connection that keeps us all going.  In the face of joy and sorrow, we can be there for people in ways not many others can.  This is why I’m in this.  I will always have bad days.  At the same time, I know that the good days will hopefully outnumber the bad ones.  This is what keeps me getting up and going every day.

Filed under: Compassion Fatigue, Consulting, Hope Notes, Self-Care, Social Work, Strengths Perspective, Stress Reduction | Leave a Comment »

New Yorkers Care about Homelessness

Posted on May 28, 2010 by elizabethlombino

New Yorkers Say They’ll Pay Higher Taxes to End Homelessness – Our latest post on Change.org

New Yorkers care about homelessness. Want proof? They say they’re even willing to pay higher taxes for better homeless care.

That was among the findings in a new report (pdf) from the Institute for Children & Poverty. The public opinion poll of 1,000 random New York City residents was conducted via telephone in January 2010.  The findings reveal that most New Yorkers agree with the mission of this blog; ending homelessness should be a priority.

Homelessness is on the minds of many New Yorkers — and with good cause. Over 80 percent of the respondents thought about homelessness at least once within the past month and one in three thought about it almost every day. Nearly 65 percent have been aware of an increase in homelessness within the last six months. (According to the “daily census” on the Department of Homeless Services website, 35,761 individuals were homeless in New York City yesterday.)

What’s more, over 20 percent of respondents believe they are at risk of becoming homeless. Notably, the respondents with the highest perceived risk and exposure to homelessness are those who are low-income or unemployed minorities with children.

To read more, click here.

Filed under: Consulting, Homelessness, Hope Notes, Social Work | Leave a Comment »

Hope Post on Change.org

Posted on May 23, 2010 by elizabethlombino

Hope for the Homeless: The Key to Success.  Here is an excerpt from our latest blog post on Change.org:

We have written quite a bit about the struggles of homeless people. Today we wanted to take some time to write about a success story. The successes help provide much needed hope in this fight to end homelessness.

Elizabeth has been working with a woman we’ll call Gina who was released from prison over a year ago. Upon her release, she was transferred to a halfway house. She has a history of drug addiction, mental health issues and other medical concerns, so she was enrolled in a program that helps her address these issues. Gina did not have a home to return to upon her release. She has some supportive family, but they have families of their own to care for. She was in need of supportive services to assist her in finding a place to live.

Gina is 57 years old and has been in and out of prison for most of her adult life. She has been addicted to substances for longer than that. She has never had a home of her own.

To read more, click here.

Filed under: Consulting, Homelessness, Hope Notes, Social Media, Social Work, Strengths Perspective | Leave a Comment »

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