justiNYC

Introducing Home Free Organization- My New Nonprofit Project for the Homeless

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.

What is Home Free Organization?

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

Share on Facebook

NYC Panoramic Photos of Yesteryear Brooklyn "Space"

Brooklyn is a wild place to photograph and over time I have shot quite a few panos (previously mentioned here) and stitched landscapes.  In an album that I call "Space" you can see many places that no longer exist, lofts that have been destroyed to make way for condos and entire buildings that have been sacrificed to gentrification.

I've seen a lot of interiors and too many exteriors to count and lucky for you, prints are available.  Take a look at the album and if you see something that you would like to have as a high res print, follow the instructions at the bottom of the first page. If you would like more information about the location of any image in particular, drop a comment below. Let's remember Brooklyn of yesterday together...

Subscribe via RSS here---> 

Save The Date: Create Change NYC Will Rock The Vote

Obamarama will be the next "not to miss" event in NYC!  On October 17th, there will be a party and silent auction  at the The Bell House in Brooklyn and it will feature such acts as Dragons of Zynth, TAKKA TAKKA, Cassettes Won't Listen (DJ) and my buddies, the newly reunited Anti-Pop Consortium (their myspace page).
The event is being held to benefit the efforts of Barack Obama and his upcoming election.  This is what Create Change NYC had to say about the nature of the auction:

A silent auction of fine art, photographs, fashion, design goods and services will be held throughout the evening. Bid on items from Albert Watson, Art Streiber, George Pitts, Lewis Cho, Patrick Ervell, Inhabit, Mike Perry, Rachel Mason, Mariah Robertson, Other Music and many others.

NOTE: A donation of $25 or more to the Obama campaign is required to attend this event. Donations will be accepted at the door, or can be made in advance through our group's fund-raising page.(more information on site ). Personally, i think its worth $25 just to see Anti-Pop....but that's just me.
The Bell House is located in Gowanus, Brooklyn at 149 7th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Take F, R, M to 4th Ave/9th Street stop.

Other Links to check out:
The Scout: Create Change NYC
Create Change NYC (official website)

Bedford Avenue Gets a Hula Hoop Girl

I knew it wouldn't be long before Bedford Avenue would have its very own hula hooper. Ok, actually i didn't. Nevertheless, with all the boom and bust that is Williamsburg these days, why shouldn't our neighborhood have one of everything?  Usually, the only entertainment to be had on Bedford is the Circus of Fools, but now we are moving into the big time!  Without further ado, I give you the Bedford Hula Hoop Girl (found via Curbed).
Bedford Ave. Hula Hoop Girl from rsguskind on Vimeo. Someone should tell her that giving her show on Hooper Street might be worth a try. Just for fun, here's a short video showcasing our friend the Bedford Dancer (of the Bedford Circus of Fools).

Judith Supine Bridge Stunt and Other Works you Might Remember

We've shared quite a few moments of artistic aw with Judith Supine, here on justiNYC blog, but this one might take the cake.  According to Gothamist, Judith recently placed a 50 foot tall piece over the south side of the Manhattan Bridge-undoubtedly one of the greatest graffiti stunts involving a NYC bridge in history. This massive piece will most definitely not survive very long, but the feat itself is amazing, to say the least.  So, in honor of Supine and for sake of giving HUGE props, I figured it appropriate to dig out a few other works that I've gathered along the way. Bond Street, Manhattan (near the acclaimed 40 Bond)
Off of Berry Street in Williamsburg

Off of North 10th Street in Williamsburg/Greenpoint I've been printing a lot lately and I must say that some of these pieces are among my favorite to see large.  Its almost like reliving the moment that I first stumbled upon each of them.  Thanks Judith for your hard work!  If you'd like to have a print or two to remember yourself by, look me up.  I've got the last one hanging in my living room, big as life.

A Video Peek at the "Dirty Dozen"- NYC's Worst Landlords

NYC real estate YouTube.com: amnewyork - NYC's worst landlordsamNewYork presents a video look at NYC's most f**ked up landlords- otherwise known as the "Dirty Dozen." Technorati Tags: video, NYC, landlords,

powered by performancing firefox

A Podcastable Street Art Mashup

Here's a nice little mashup/ podcast of some of my recent-ish street art shots from around NYC, using a cool new site called Splash Cast Media. Check it out, lemme know what you think.  Ill have more soon when i figure out how to rock the video feature the way i want it.  Oh yeah....i got some sizzlin stuff in the works...don't you worry your pretty head.


Technorati Tags: street art, justiNYC, photography, NYC, slideshow, podcast

powered by performancing firefox

G'Night Remnants

Are left all over the Burg...This one I especially like.  Peace to my very good friend.  G'Night.

powered by performancing firefox

Big Ass Crane Still Gone, Finger Building Goes Black

 

Why does it always have to be a black thing?  At least its better than a crane thing, i suppose.  The in-famous Finger Building on North 7th continues to stay in flux, as the exterior gets covered in black-ness.  Now that's HOT!

Finger Building Getting Hip Black Exterior [Curbed]


Technorati Tags: Finger Building, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, black, crane

powered by performancing firefox

Panoramic Spaces in NYC

Above you will see a Picasa slide show of some of the spaces and places that I've photographed panoramically in the past couple of years.  As a real estate agent, you can imagine the stuff that i get to see.  Well, now you can let your imagination rest.  If you are interested in more, write me.  I have hundreds.  I just thought i might try out this little Picasa hack i figured out.

powered by performancing firefox