HOTLINE IN MAINE, NEEDS HELP TO FIX BROKEN SAFETY NET.

Once a broken system is fixed in Maine,-other states will follow suit. Wise people and funds are needed Today. Or so feels the 27 year old couple, whose mother is in a high risk pregnancy.*

They called me after the General Assistance office closed for the week-end. Despite a law saying emergency numbers should be posted were it can be read from the outside of building, even when Mike called the Bangor Police as I suggested, the phone was a waste of time. It resulted in the Police Dept., claiming to this couple we cannot get a hold of anyone. They were told the two shelters in Bangor were full.

I was told that the Salvation Army might help. Even the Salvation Army did not care enough about the health or life of this unborn child to get into there car on a Saturday after noon. This couple who knew not knowing where to lay its head until Monday, if then.

What good is a Homeless Crisis Hotline, if it cannot assist those in need? If the Hotline only becomes another clog in making more useless calls to places who can not or will not help, we are doing a disservice to the public. When GA, Salvation Army Churches do not work as advertised peoples hope die's.

“ When our safety net system fails, woithout public support I am free to give worthless numbers, or tell people how to beg. Either could be just as ineffective,” Exclaims long time staffer of the Homeless Crisis Hotline, Jan LightfootLane.

Some how Hospitality House Inc. needs to explain to the Public by HUDs own figures only 25% of those who qualifies for renting aid receives it. The same seems true for GA, not even half of those who qualify are helped. Someone needs to tell America how broken is Our system of aid.



Someone needs to call out that America can do better we can create jobs that covers all the rent and basics. In Maine that is $17.16 an hour, for 40 hours each week. Only nurses, male factory worker’s and CEO’s, Store managers, get paid that amount.

Hospitality House Inc would love to be the leaders in calling for a decent wage. That is 80% of wages goes to basics as rent, food, clothing, transportation, health, heat, etc. 10% of the income goes to savings

Jan LightfootLane says what is needed to improve our society is not a 10 year plan of what can be done to cure 50% of poverty but what can be done today to wipe out 100% of all poverty. Yes the Homeless crisis hotline is given under $1,000 a year to help those in dire need that couple would have qualified. Except by April all the holidays donations are spent.

Jan says: “I feel so useless at my job that if the non-profit I staff does not see $2,000 by June 30th I will quit.” She also explains in tones of disbelief that she tried to sue to get the towns to provide better GA, and the court tells her ‘she lacks standing to sue just because the state is violating the laws. Plus our GOVERNMENT of Liberty, has the right to waste peoples time at whim. Her feeling useless at her private job is not a civil right issue.’

In 1976 the US Supreme Court ruled people had constitutional rights, to aid others with knowledge. They ruled any law preventing such communication was unconstitutional in the Transportation Worker Union vs Michigan Bar, it was ruled the railroad worker could tell other workers which were the best and most affordable lawyer to obtain benefits. But the Bangor United States District court does not like that stinking case.

That did not aid Mike and his wife and their unborn child’s life. “Mike called me back so disappointed in his voice, Sunday afternoon. That I would not be surprised to hear they made a suicide pact.” Said Jan. “When People lose hope, losing their life is a next step. When our actions tells others; You are Not important. “ You are in fact saying “Life is not important”.

For years I have seen my efficiency in helping other’s to a happy ending decrease. “Without volunteers and cash I cannot inform others how to fix a broken system.” “If donation’s, are not forth coming, I will end the homeless Hotline, on June 30th. And I will tell people it’s because humans do not give a dam for others. If I get 200 donations of any size I will continue my work.”



To donate send to: Hospitality Inc. PO Box 62, Hinckley ME. 04944. Mark on the check if you want it to go to direct services, education of how broken the system is. Checks without notations will go to undedicated funds.

*MIKE IS NOT THE NAME OF THE GUY, THE COUPLE IS NOT MARRIED. The rest is unfortunately true.


Jan LightfootLane