Why CASA? My decision to become a CASA was not a decision I made lightly. As a housing policy blogger, I know of the impact affordable housing has in the life of a young person. Study after study speak to this fact. Children who are raised within the context of stable homeownership have much higher…
Author: philyork
Grant Proposal Writing – 7 Ways to Break the Writer’s Block
The scene is all to familiar (and may bring back bad memories for some readers): a deadline for an english paper is due…the deadline seems to be sitting on the horizon but quickly approaches while actual progress of the paper’s draft remains at a frozen stand-still. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. That deadline is coming whether…
Federal HOME Program Makes A Big Difference in Waco. Time to Make Sure It Does Not Get Cut
Summer is my favorite season and the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. As a Navy brat, I shared many 4ths with other military families under an illuminated Washington, D.C. night sky; the glow of each explosion brilliantly reflected off of the marble monuments and served as bright dramatic reminders of the…
Statistics Never Define a Community
Earlier this month, I participated in a speaker’s panel at Baylor University. The following is a response I had concerning the implications of local poverty statistics. What an honor to participate in a small way in a significant week for our community. A few facts I shared while on 1/3 of a Nation (a play…
Panhandling: Sometimes the Best Gift is Not Giving…
Originally posted on Act Locally Waco – November 9, 2014 Believe it or not, only 35 business days remain until Christmas Day. This headline would intimidate most, but not this seasoned last minute shopper. I consider it a countdown to when I will surely shine the brightest. For many of us holiday traditions offer community,…
Pay Day Lending: Joining hands to Insist on Good Business Practice
Football season is here. As an Aggie transplant to Waco, I have a new struggle: competing loyalties as I slowly learn to cheer for my new home team, Baylor University. On August 28th, the Family Health Center auditorium was buzzing with the energy of a packed football stadium on the Brazos. But, unlike a crowd…
The Tragedy of an Unaccepted Compliment
For many of us the scene is all too common: we completed our presentation. A well-rehearsed speech in 5 minutes seems to be a disgrace towards the weeks of diligent preparation, late nights and personal sacrifices that collectively summarize themselves in the neat and concise work. Your professor, boss, team or board applaud to confirm…
Unwrapping a Basic Understanding of Veteran Homelessness
“It is simply unacceptable for individuals, children, families and our nation’s Veterans to be faced with homelessness in this country” – President Obama, June 18, 2009. Who is your favorite superhero? It seems like the silver screen is flush with superhero smash hits every summer. Batman, with his man cave and great car, is my…
Unwrapping a Basic Understanding of Child Homelessness
Originally Posted on Act Locally Waco Community Blog, January 26, 2014. The previous months welcomed the annual holiday season. Some of us spent time unwrapping gifts with high anticipation for what would be revealed underneath the glitter and flashy paper. In one of our previous posts we talked about the rise of homelessness among a…
Why Should We Care About Housing and Homelessness?
Originally posted on November 3, 2013 at Act Locally Waco Blog. Policy briefings, lobbyist meetings, and picket lines…this is the typical landscape we see and hear in the headlines of Washington. They all seem to be actions from a distant planet with unknown implications on our day-to-day lives. This blog series is designed to make…
