25 Years of Advocacy as Poverty on the Rise: Bread and Roses Asks Olympia to "Work-a-Day"

author : Melissa Roberts topic : Bread and Roses | homelessness | poverty

by Melissa Roberts

For twenty-five years, Bread & Roses, a small group of volunteers grounded in the Catholic Worker movement, has provided services to poor and homeless individuals and families in Olympia. Beginning with a shelter for women and children, the group has also provided such services as a soup kitchen, men's shelter, and the Bread & Roses Advocacy Center. This Labor Day season, Thurston County residents can join the second quarter-century of community service by contributing via "Work-a-Day for Bread & Roses" held September 12th. This day, Olympia residents work their regular jobs, but make a financial contribution of a day's wages -- or any amount they can afford -- to Bread & Roses.

Number of U.S. Poor Rises Again in Period of Unshared Prosperity

On August 30th, The U.S. Census Bureau released its annual report about poverty, income, and health insurance coverage. Analysts were startled to see poverty rise by 1.1 million people from 2003 to 2004, despite some indicators of economic growth during that period. The number of people without health insurance also rose, from 45 million in 2003 to 45.8 million in 2004. Poverty and lack of health insurance have been growing worse since 2000.

The report is particularly timely because Congress is scheduled to take up proposals to cut basic programs that could take billions of dollars from Medicaid and Food Stamps. Congressional committees have been directed to cut $13 billion over 5 years in programs that include Medicaid and agricultural programs. But Congress can reject reductions that deny benefits to needy people or that make poor people pay more for necessary services. These statistics show that poverty remains a growing blight on our national conscience.

Local Homeless Rates Demonstrate Positive Impact of Bread & Roses

In Thurston County there was a decrease of 43 people experiencing homelessness between 2004 and 2005. In that period, Bread & Roses helped find permanent housing for 32 individuals. As a part of its continuing efforts to improve services and more effectively eliminate the isolation of poverty, Bread & Roses has increased the breadth and depth of the programs offered.

Staffing Energy

Enthusiasm in the organization is growing, according to Bread & Roses' Administrator, Selena Kilmoyer. "In this twenty-fifth anniversary year, Bread & Roses is infused with new dynamic energy," states Kilmoyer. "Its housing program for chronically homeless single adult males and females is cocooned within a strong advocacy program, a new literacy program, a monthly street newspaper, and a street library -- programs which reach into the heart of the greater community."

Nanci LaMusga, founding Bread & Roses staff volunteer and current United Community AIDS Network staff member, notes that the benefits of Bread & Roses have not traveled in only one direction. "Bread & Roses has introduced young people -- volunteers in their early 20s -- to social service and social justice work. This introductory experience is profound and often leads to a lifelong commitment to this work." The list of those who have actively contributed to the development of Bread & Roses is long -- ranging from one volunteer currently finishing medical school residency with intent to start a clinic for indigent persons, to an Elma, WA couple who moved to Central America to continue advocacy work with the poor.

Advocacy Center

At the Bread & Roses Advocacy Center (BRAC), one-on-one advocates serve as friends and guides in assisting individuals navigate the social service system, gain housing, and develop an income. BRAC also helps to meet basic needs that the mainstream population often takes for granted -- including laundry vouchers, bus passes, hygiene items, mail and telephone service. BRAC has served an average of 65 people a day for the past two years -- roughly half of whom report having a mental illness. Since its opening in fall 2003, BRAC has assisted 63 people in entering permanent housing.

Shelters

The Devoe Shelter has offered emergency shelter for 35 to 70 single men and women every night since its opening in November, 2001. The Bread & Roses Men's Shelter is often the last safety net for many individuals, housing 35 chronically homeless men. In 1990, members of the community donated and moved the Women's Guesthouse Shelter from near St. John's church to its present location on 8th Avenue. The Women's Guest House has provided at least 12 women and families per night with transitional shelter since its opening in 1990.

Literacy Program

The Voice of Olympia is a street newspaper published monthly by Bread & Roses. The publication provides Olympia area homeless and low-income residents both a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions and a venue for self-expression. Bread & Roses operates a vendor program associated with The Voice which is an alternative to panhandling. Voice vendors earn 70 cents on every paper sold.

The Bread & Roses Learning Center and Street Library offers access to information based on a popular education model. It also provides referral services and help individuals attain educational goals such as obtaining a GED or a college degree.

Past Service: Soup Kitchen

In 1982, the community kitchen operated out of the Bread & Roses staff house on 8th Avenue. In the mid-80's it moved to a location on Water Street, and then to Cherry Street in 1989. Hundreds of area residents from churches, colleges, highschool and community groups volunteered their time to operate the Soup Kitchen. In its last two years of serving meals, volunteers served two meals a day, 6 days a week -- serving between 150 and 200 people per meal.

The Kitchen closed in 2003 after a long battle with gentrification downtown. "One particularly painful element of this struggle," reflected longtime Bread & Roses staff member, Nanci LaMusga, "was the public perception that the homeless population was the epicenter of drug trafficking in downtown Olympia. Rather, it was drug dealers who preyed on this vulnerable segment of the populace."

Emphasis on Self-Sufficiency

"Bread & Roses' emphasis is one of self-sufficiency", remarks Kilmoyer. "Our role has evolved from providing meals and shelter to providing guests the individual assistance necessary to become self-empowered." The atmosphere at Bread & Roses is vibrant, passionate, and nurturing -- enabling guests to rediscover themselves as valuable human beings, capable of participating in and contributing to the larger society. With the vision of a world free from the isolation of poverty, and the mission to serve the poor, homeless, and marginalized of Thurston county, the eleven staff volunteers embody the spirit of the Catholic Worker movement, which is grounded in a firm belief in the dignity of every human being.

Work-a-Day

While the organization has been a magnet for vibrant young activists in Olympia, the non-profit has struggled with financial hardship throughout its history. With a mission to serve poor, homeless and marginalized people of Thurston County, it is not surprising that the organization often has few resources.

This Labor Day season, Thurston county residents are encouraged to support Bread & Roses during "Work-a-Day for Bread & Roses" by making a tax-deductible donation of a day's wages (or an amount they can afford). "Work-a-Day for Bread & Roses" is Monday, September 12th. To register, call (360) 786-6729; email: workaday4broly@yahoo.com; or visit: http://www.BreadandRosesOly.org

Once registered, you will be mailed a donation envelope and Work-a-Day participation sticker. Thanks for your support!