Once homeless woman pitches tent on State House lawn
2:49 PM Wed, Nov 25, 2009 | Permalink
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Catherine Rhodes pitched her tent on the State House lawn Wednesday to protest what she says is a lack of shelter and help for the homeless this winter. The shelters are full, more people are sleeping outside, and some won't find beds when it freezes, said Rhodes, a volunteer with People to End Homelessness. "The governor needs to understand this is a crisis." Rhodes and others hung a half dozen signs on trees and lamp posts facing Providence Place mall, not far from her small tent. "Homeless for the Holidays?" asked one. "When the weather outside is frightful ... homes for the homeless would be delightful!" said another. According to a recent study by the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, the state's shelters were overfull in late October, while nearly 80 people slept outside. The number of people without shelter will grow as the economy worsens, the group said. Jim Ryczek, the coalition's executive director, has asked to meet with Governor Carcieri to discuss the problem. "We need the governor to get involved," said Rhodes, who spent a year with her son in a Washington County homeless shelter in the 1980s. "We need leadership, and we need lawmakers. The state's solution so far has been to evict people and make it illegal for the homeless to stay in tents where they are safe and warm." Rhodes says she plans to stay on the State House lawn until "something is done to alleviate this critical need." 
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Until something is done
Like provide transportation for people to other parts of the state where there is economic opportunity?
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If taxes weren't so high in this damned State, the homeless would be allowed to live in their own homes.
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........"who spent a year with her son in a Washington County homeless shelter in the 1980s."
Where is her son now? Why can't she go stay with him? This sounds more like a lifestyle choice for Ms. Rhodes and not a crisis situation she makes it out to be. God helps those who help themselves...
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Oh baby it's cold outside- and it's going to get colder! It sure makes me thankful for the clean place of warmth I have this holiday and this winter.
There has got to be something better to do than just have empathy for these protests to help out these folks- This woman is doing what she can- What is the Governor doing besides feed his face this holiday? Where is the leadership?
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Hey JMC,
Better yet, what are you doing to help the situation besides feeding your face? The state is maxed out with social programs, taxes are through the roof, and the people with jobs are working twice as hard just to keep up. This attitude to always blame the governor is tiring and lazy. Blame the General Assembly for doing NOTHING to create jobs. Put the heat on those clowns to do something.
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Better Choices: As the story reads, Ms. Rhodes is formally homeless; which means she has worked her way out of homelessness, and not homeless today. And as the story reads; there is estimates of at least 80-people in the Providence area who cannot obtain a bed in one of the shelters- If you doubt that, 'help yourself' by calling the RI Coalition and talking to someone doing this research. If you still think you know what you're saying, ask yourself; when this New England winter gets really cold and one or more of the 'least of your brothers' dies, if homelessness is just a lifestyle choice.
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Most of us missed this stunt as we were...at work for the apparent purpose of subsidizing Ms. Rhodes' exercise in padding her resume as a professional victim.
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I think that people need opportunity and hope for a better future. Ms. Rhodes seems to have gotten out of being homeless. Perhaps she has some insight on how to best help people who are homeless get access to opportunities.
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