HOMELESSNESS IS REAL
HOMELESSNESS FEAR
The Heartbreaking Reality of Allentown’s Homeless Encampment Eviction
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Residents of a local homeless encampment were shocked this week after Allentown officials announced plans to evict them from their temporary homes along Jordan Creek. Many had trusted assurances from city leaders, including Mayor Matt Tuerk, that they could stay in the area. However, on Thursday, no-trespassing signs were put up, leaving up to 150 people living in tents facing an eviction deadline of August 25.
This decision is made amidst a lawsuit from landlord and developer Nat Hyman, who claims that the encampment is negatively impacting his nearby apartment buildings. However, residents of the encampment have voiced their outrage, rejecting the rationale behind the eviction, which they believe dismisses their plight.
Mike, a resident who helps organize the camp and connect others with resources, expressed disbelief at the reasoning behind the eviction. “You need to call Noah and get his measurements,” he quipped, referring to the improbability of flooding in their area. He criticized the use of recent tragic flooding deaths in Texas to rationalize their displacement, calling it “disgusting.”
Mayor Tuerk, responding to safety concerns, stated that the Allentown Fire Department has deemed the encampment a potential risk to life. While he acknowledged residents' feelings of betrayal, he emphasized his dedication to public health and safety. “If their assessment is that there’s a risk of serious injury or death, I’m taking that seriously,” he said. Yet, he ihas done nothing.
For many residents, the encampment means more than just a place to sleep; it is a community. Jessica Cruz, a 41-year-old woman fighting Stage 4 cancer, expressed the deep sense of loss they all feel. “Where do I go?” she asked, showing her fear of being separated from her neighbors, whom she considers family. “I’m losing everything,” she lamented.
Despite their circumstances, Mike insists that they are “homeless, not hopeless.” However, the approaching eviction threatens to extinguish the remaining flicker of hope for many. The emotional and psychological burden of this displacement is enormous, as residents face not only losing their homes but also the disintegration of the community they have built.
As Allentown moves forward with this eviction, it is important for the public to recognize the hardship and suffering these residents are experiencing. They are not just statistics; they are individuals with stories, challenges, and a desire for dignity. We must listen to their voices and advocate for solutions grounded in compassion and support.
Welcome to Improving Lives!
BLOOM Help. Heal. Hope.
Improving Lives is proud to champion the critical work of Bloom, an organization providing sanctuary and comprehensive support to survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Bloom's multifaceted approach facilitates healing, empowerment, and pathways to sustainable employment, enabling these courageous women to rebuild their lives.
Bloom's commitment extends from immediate emergency response services to a transformative two-year residential program. Recognizing the unique needs of pregnant and parenting survivors, Bloom offers specialized services and independent living accommodations, fostering stability and nurturing environments.
Beyond direct engagement with survivors, Bloom proactively engages in community education and implements prevention programs, demonstrating a holistic commitment to addressing and eradicating sexual exploitation. This includes extending vital support services to male, children, and youth survivors, acknowledging the diverse faces of trauma and exploitation. Improving Lives recognizes Bloom as a vital resource, offering not just a haven, but a springboard for survivors to reclaim their futures with dignity and strength
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Beyond direct engagement with survivors, Bloom proactively engages in community education and implements prevention programs, demonstrating a holistic commitment to addressing and eradicating sexual exploitation. This includes extending vital support services to male, children, and youth survivors, acknowledging the diverse faces of trauma and exploitation. Improving Lives recognizes Bloom as a vital resource, offering not just a haven but a springboard for survivors to reclaim their futures with dignity and strength.
Bloom's Organization
In early 2021, two non-profit organizations (Truth For Women and Bloom Bangor), both dedicated to empowering survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Lehigh Valley, came together as one (Bloom) to become a stronger force in the fight against sex trafficking in our community.
Together as one, Bloom offers sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. As a faith-based non-profit, Bloom empowers women to heal and create a new future through its emergency response, its two-year residential program, pregnant and parenting survivor services and its independent living housing.
Bloom follows the model of the remarkably successful Thistle Farms program in Nashville, Tenn. and is part of the Thistle Farms National Network of sister communities, joining almost 60 other sister agencies across the U.S. Bloom is also a member of the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance, which is a network of providers serving survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Truth For Women’s History:
Truth for Women was originally founded in 1999 to cultivate a spiritually healthy community by building a vibrant network of women from every social, economic, and denominational background who would share strengths, resources, and information that would help women understand and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. Volunteer and community leader, Sally Hall, galvanized these dedicated women and resources from many churches in the Lehigh Valley to launch what was originally The Women’s Center.
Incorporated in 2004, Truth for Women offered three distinct services: networking, a women’s center, and a resale boutique. The strong network continued to grow to include support from a large number of collaborative organizations, as well as individuals, who come together to share strengths, resources, and information to fulfill our mission of providing sanctuary and emergency stabilization to survivors of sex trafficking.
This network helped Truth For Women to support The Women’s Center of the Lehigh Valley that opened to provide a resource and safe haven where women would be treated with honor and respect and would offer them help, hope, and healing. This facility, The Heather House (formerly known as the Truth Home), continues to offer a safe haven for women and provides care for sexually exploited women. The upscale resale boutique, My Sister’s Closet, first opened its doors in 2008 to help fund the ministries of Truth for Women and continues to be a source for funding for Bloom and employment opportunities for our survivors.
Bloom Bangor’s History:
Launched in 2016, Bloom was modeled after the successful Thistle Farms Nashville program that was founded in 1997. The programs were designed not just to help a subculture of women, but to help change the culture itself. The organizations stand in solidarity with women who are recovering from sexual abuse, violence and life on the streets, and who have paid dearly for a culture that buys and sells women like commodities.
Bloom Bangor, which is now named the Jasmine House, is a two-year residential housing program with a community-based motto of “love heals” and named after the first woman graduate. Bloom Bangor helps residents to live honest, sober and self-sufficient lives and provides them with educational and vocational opportunities. Bloom fosters self-understanding through personal and spiritual growth counseling; life-skills building and maintenance education; access to medical and dental care; opportunities to work toward economic self-sufficiency through Bloom Creative Studio and other business partners.
Bloom Bangor’s programs advocate living gracefully in community with one another. New residents are given a key and are offered the necessary resources to maintain recovery, heal from childhood wounds, become physically healthy and find employment. Residents, graduates, staff and volunteers share daily tasks, offer hospitality, build upon each other’s strengths, and provide compassionate, disciplined support.
Bloom's Mission
Providing sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Bloom's Vision
A lifelong sisterhood of hope, healing and freedom.
HEY, this is important
Republicans in Washington have officially passed their bill
Hello, It's Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Republicans in Washington have officially passed their bill to cut food assistance and health care for millions of Americans – including over 300,000 Pennsylvanians losing Medicaid alone – eliminate energy jobs, and raise our electricity bills – all while adding $3.4 trillion to our national deficit.
It's unconscionable
And all of this just to pay for tax cuts for people who don't need it, while making working families foot the bill.
But this is a battle we can't turn our backs on, Barbara. American workers, families, and students are counting on us to make progress and fight back against the extremism coming from Washington – 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻.
We can only defend our fundamental rights and freedoms with the help of grassroots Democrats like you. Will you add your name now to stand with Democratic governors who are standing up for you and fighting for our freedoms across the country?
𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲: https://t.demgov.co/FwX2UKpz
Thank you,
Josh Shapiro via DGA