justiNYC Mashup

• Home Free Organization Blog- Nonprofit Organization for the Homeless
  Home Free Organization is a non-profit initiative to eradicate homelessness in urban environments through the provision of free wireless internet, social networking and resource allotment. We take donated bread trucks which have come off route and add donated computers and hardware to create mobile wireless access hubs for homeless individuals to utilize for finding family, jobs, resources and ways off the street. The goal is simple: Provide a resource for the homeless which will allow them to find ways off the street. Of course there are many who prefer the streets to a 9-5 and home life, but for those who are stuck and cannot find there way, Home Free will provide the tools to try.

• AntiPop Consortium Bio

• Exclusive Preview of Home Free Organization Search Engine for Homeless
  The gears are turning and we've been working hard to get our trucks on the streets and in action. Today, I bring to you a sneak peek of the Official Home Free Organization Search Engine which every visitor will be greeted by once they board the truck. As previously described, this project is for people who are stuck living on the streets and need just a small boost in order to get their lives moving in the right direction. When a visitor steps up into the truck, they plug their USB thumbdrive into the computer they are working on, which will then bring up all of the saved research data from previous visits.

Home Free Organization is my latest endeavor and although I haven't posted to this blog in some time, you can see that I've been working hard elsewhere in the blogosphere on Home Free Org Blog and helping the Loftninja with Ninjalist a little bit here and there. With that said, I thought that it is about time to share some information about the new initiative with my readers on this blog, as you guys are a bit more familiar with my background in anthropology and real estate and might like to know where all of this came from.  A new nonprofit initiative such as Home Free is a difficult thing to not only orchestrate, but to create as well.  That is why it took me this long (since the original idea back in 2006) to put into action.  Nevertheless, ending homelessness on some real level is one of the most important issues plagueing the country and the world today, thus my motivation for not only doing my part but hopefully something far greater.

Home Free Organization is a non-profit initiative to eradicate homelessness in urban environments through the provision of free wireless internet, social networking and resource allotment. We take donated bread trucks which have come off route and add donated computers and hardware to create mobile wireless access hubs for homeless individuals to utilize for finding family, jobs, resources and ways off the street. The goal is simple: Provide a resource for the homeless which will allow them to find ways off the street. Of course there are many who prefer the streets to a 9-5 and home life, but for those who are stuck and cannot find there way, Home Free will provide the tools to try.
We give every visitor an email address to be used for networking and contact. We provide a focused set of search engines geared toward geneology, people searching, available jobs and other resources available to homeless individuals. Finding the Home Free Truck will be easy, as we will be providing the streets with an 800 number that can be called from any public phone to give the exact location of the truck. It could be at Union Square in Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn. (via our Facebook Page)

First of all, Home Free is unlike any  other nonprofit dedicated to the cause of helping the homeless.  Let me preface this explanation with the fact that using the word 'homeless' when referring to those who live in the streets makes me cringe. That is why I officially changed it to "home-free" in the dictionary a few weeks ago.  Just yesterday, the Loftninja had another word, "home-o-phobic" published.

One of the biggest reasons why I feel most ideas and projects who address this issue miss the mark is due to the fact that rarely can you find one that meets those who it seeks to help on their own terms or even somewhere in the middle.  First, you must not intimidate those who you are trying to help or you will never see them up at the plate.  Second, you must be sensitive to their real needs and concerns (such as privacy and security). And third, you must be willing to go a step further than what your organization specializes in so to offer actual assistance and support.  What do I mean by this?  Well lets see...

Home Free Organization uses 100% donated materials that are largely preowned and previously used.  For example, we only utilize used bread trucks as our support vehicle as opposed to big shiny new trucks that might otherwise intimidate a person living on the streets. No one in that position would be keen on the idea of seeking help from a resource that appears to be created and supported by a government entity- and surely would not like the idea of having officials of any sort sifting through thier personal information and search data.  As for the computers that we use, they are and will be donated, formatted and reappropriated as well in order to preserve the privacy of both the donar and the user.  Home Free visitors will be given their own personal USB thumbdrive which can be used each time they visit one of the Home Free Trucks and once they leave, all of their data will be erased from their visit, insuring that the next visitor will not have access to the personal information of the person before them.

 

Home Free Organization is an entirely extensible nonprofit initiative.  A friend told me the other day that HFO "is like Firefox and every other nonprofit in the world is like its add-ons."  We are in the process of recruiting professionals from many different fields such as psychology, drug and alcohol treatment and social sciences such as sociology and of course anthropology.  In addition, many volunteers that have stepped up have backgrounds in hair styling, fashion and culinary.  When an individual comes to us in need of help finding a job, we not only teach them how and where to search, we find them clothes to wear to an interview, cut their hair for them, take headshots and help them actually get that job.  We provide them with a mailing address and an email address and in many cases, connect them with one of the services that are offered for providing phones and voicemail.

Home Free Organization Donation Flyer (please print and pass along):

Home Free Organization Donation Flyer

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Education art promotion

Home Free Truck Schematic (Aerial View):

Home Free Truck™ (Aerial View)

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Illustrations & Maps truck aerial view

Other links where Home Free Organization can be found:

http://tinyurl.com/homefreeorg
http://homefree.ning.com
http://twitter.com/homefreeorg
http://homefreeorg.blogspot.com
http://myspace.com/homefreeorg

You can find Home Free Organization on your favorite social networks such as Facebook, Myspace, Behance Network and yes, Twitter.  Please be sure to visit us there and drop your thoughts for the world to see.

Email Us here: h...@g...l.com

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• Donate 54 cents to Home Free Organization and Support the Cause
  We are putting together the new and improved website for our organization and now you can make donations through paypal if you would like to support the cause. If you donate through this method, all that we are suggesting is a 54 cent donation. Jow did we arrive at this number? Well given the amount of followers that we have on Twitter and the number of fans and members of our group on Facebook, we figure that if half of you guys donate just 54 cents each, we will be able to pay for the hosting and development of our new website and social network. Home Free Organization truly appreciates your support!

• Home Free Organization is Now Open for Material Donations
  We are now accepting many types of material donations n behalf of the homefree in your area, such as your used (working) computers, bread truck like cargo vans, clothing for interviews, USB thumb drives , unwanted gift certificates, etc. If you have such an item and would like to donate to Home Free Organization , please send an email to homefreeorganization-AT-gmail and one of us will be sure to be in touch with you shortly. Feel free to download and pass this flyer around, post on your bulletin board, etc. Coming Soon...We will soon be taking applications for advertising space for your company or association to be displayed on the sides of our trucks.

• USB Data Backup Will Make Searching For Solutions Easier
  Privacy for the Home Free One of our biggest concerns for the homeless homefree is their privacy. Here at Home Free Organization, we are committed to making sure that the privacy of each visitor that we help is maintained. This is why we have devised a plan and a method to ensure that everyone has this privacy option. We have decided that a USB thumb drive would be the best method for three reasons: A) so that others who visit the truck after someone has left will not be able to copy, misuse or misappropriate another visitor's private information B) so that an individual will have an easier time picking up where they left off in a previous visit to the truck. C) the homefree will be able to keep a personal account of all progress made with them at all times and be fully in charge of their search and solutions

• "Home-Free" Becomes Official Substitute for "Homeless" Urban Dictionary
  Yesterday, our buddy Loftninja submitted a new definition for homeless to the Urban Dictionary , as we mentioned . Today, we have been notified by UD that "Home-Free" has been accepted and published! In fact, "Home-Free" is more sensitive and acceptable way to refer to anyone who has previously may have been labeled a vagrant, hobo, tramp, transient or bum. To call someone Homeless is to hurt those who are already hurting. Why don't we all try to use this new term in daily life and perhaps change the way that those homefree are perceived from the outside- not only that, but how those without homes perceive themselves and their immediate situation.

• Why You Should Never Tell a Homeless Person to "Get A Job!" | Home Free Organization
  The fact of the matter is, most of society at large would like to themselves to be 'different' than those who are seen sleeping and living on the streets and when one says this to another who is in need, they are basically kidding themselves. Getting a job is not as easy as one may think, especially in these times and especially for those who have the disadvantage of having to make huge decisions while hungry, exhausted and without shelter. There are basic needs that must be met before getting a job is even remotely possible. The article outlines them in depth, but briefly here are the things that are needed to obtain employment which the majority of those living on the streets do not have: 1) A Phone 2) An Address 3) Clothes 4) Transportation 5)Personal Hygiene 6)Meals 7)Personal Limitations 8) Background Issues

Last night, under the fullest moon of the year 2009, I ventured into the woods of Charleston, SC in search of White Boy Crazy and a place called Fantasy Place- what turned out to be the best 1000 square foot cardboard castle i'd ever been in.   I managed to find both and here are my thoughts on the matter:  You gotta hand it to White Boy Crazy, an underground-ish rap group comprised of a few of my homies (who will go nameless in this post) echoing the sounds of pre-rap Beastie Boys, mixed with persona switching styles only matched by the likes of Kool Keith and uh.. and Kierkegaard?  In any case....label this what you will. If you like hardcore rap mixed with glorified stupidity and chop-your-ass up killer (original) lyrics, with beats pumping from the fingers of a Giant Gorilla and a demonic bird man topped off with lyrics from a Micheal Myers-like rapper spewing words that could only come from hell...you will love White Boy Crazy.  These guy are definitely among my favorites to see these days...I would love to say that its just "good clean fun" but its not.  Its dirty fun.  Who knew it was possible to have a blast such as this in Charleston, SC?  Rap terrorists, oysters, cardboard castles, beer and love...what more could you ask for?  I just wish i could have a Fantasy Place built in NYC...any ideas?

White Boy Crazy creates a uniquely original fusion of punk, rap, halloween and well...um..let's just say it was interesting.  Watch the videos and tell me what you think.  I was reminded of how the other day i saw a button that said "Punk isn't dead..it just sucks now."  I thought of this last night as i watched White Boy Crazy rip up the stage and tear through the crowd, all within the confines of a 40+ foot cardboard castle, affectionately called "Fantasy Place."  If you could find the place you were lucky...and must have been pretty resourceful to do so. Charleston folk sure know how to throw a party...

 In any case, without further ado, I give you some of the videos i shot from the show.

"Crime?"-White Boy Crazy

"Beat Down"- White Boy Crazy

You can find more on my Youtube Channel...

Related Posts:
Anti-Pop COnsortium Reunion Show at Knitting Factory

Last night, under the fullest moon of the year 2009, I ventured into the woods of Charleston, SC in search of White Boy Crazy and a place called Fantasy Place- what turned out to be the best 1000 square foot cardboard castle i'd ever been in.   I managed to find both and here are my thoughts on the matter:  You gotta hand it to White Boy Crazy, an underground-ish rap group comprised of a few of my homies (who will go nameless in this post) echoing the sounds of pre-rap Beastie Boys, mixed with persona switching styles only matched by the likes of Kool Keith and uh.. and Kierkegaard?  In any case....label this what you will. If you like hardcore rap mixed with glorified stupidity and chop-your-ass up killer (original) lyrics, with beats pumping from the fingers of a Giant Gorilla and a demonic bird man topped off with lyrics from a Micheal Myers-like rapper spewing words that could only come from hell...you will love White Boy Crazy.  These guy are definitely among my favorites to see these days...I would love to say that its just "good clean fun" but its not.  Its dirty fun.  Who knew it was possible to have a blast such as this in Charleston, SC?  Rap terrorists, oysters, cardboard castles, beer and love...what more could you ask for?  I just wish i could have a Fantasy Place built in NYC...any ideas?

White Boy Crazy creates a uniquely original fusion of punk, rap, halloween and well...um..let's just say it was interesting.  Watch the videos and tell me what you think.  I was reminded of how the other day i saw a button that said "Punk isn't dead..it just sucks now."  I thought of this last night as i watched White Boy Crazy rip up the stage and tear through the crowd, all within the confines of a 40+ foot cardboard castle, affectionately called "Fantasy Place."  If you could find the place you were lucky...and must have been pretty resourceful to do so. Charleston folk sure know how to throw a party...

 In any case, without further ado, I give you some of the videos i shot from the show.

"Crime?"-White Boy Crazy

"Beat Down"- White Boy Crazy

You can find more on my Youtube Channel...

Related Posts:
Anti-Pop COnsortium Reunion Show at Knitting Factory

• MySpace.com Blogs - life - ɐɾuıuʇɟoן MySpace Blog
  (tags: poem loftninja)

• MySpace.com Blogs - life - ɐɾuıuʇɟoן MySpace Blog
  (tags: poem loftninja)

While going through archives, I stumbled across quite a few really interesting shots that I've taken around Brooklyn in reverse negative.   They make for some pretty haunted looking photos. A few of these are just flat out creepy looking.  Here are a few examples:

"closed"

Police Precinct near BQE in Williamsburg

Haunted Loft Building

Off Morgan Avenue...i actually took this photo in 2004

Haunted Guernsey Street

Haunted Guernsey Street #2

Haunted Guernsey Street #3

Haunted Guernsey Street #4

a quickr pickr post

Bushwick Inside-Out

The oldest wooden buildings in Brooklyn

Morgan Oil

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigstimuli/291097966/" title="This "house" is attached to the Cement Factory by jUSTINYC, on Flickr"><img width="375" height="500" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/291097966_300bd983df.jpg" alt="This "house" is attached to the Cement Factory" />
The house that is connected to the cement factory at the Morgan Ave station on L train.  Whoever lives in there must be scary.

This one was once for sale during the housing bubble.  I'm sure it is being turned into condos at this very moment....