The fight to save a home for homeless women veterans is underway in VA. Please read and share!

Final Salute Inc.'s Critical Need

Jaspen Boothe founded an innovative non-profit called Final Salute Inc. If you never heard of Final Salute, now is a perfect time to learn something about it. I hope that you will join me in sharing a current story with others in your network, especially if you appreciate the military service of women veterans, too. Due to an unfortunate situation that is detailed below, $200,000 is needed by January 15, to save a Virginia home for homeless women veterans and their children. I learned that $23,000 has been donated as of yesterday morning. Please read Final Salute Inc.'s press release below, then consider visiting www.finalsaluteinc.org to make a donation on behalf of outstanding women who need and deserve our help. Saving their home with the help of angels this holiday season is a wish for many who value the organization's selfless work.



--Velocity DMV (DC, MD & VA news)

Veteran and cancer survivor, Jaspen (Jas) Boothe, is pictured addressing attendees during an October fundraiser called Ms. Veteran America. (See November's  ezine coverage by clicking here.) A few months later, she is now fighting to save a transitional home for women veterans and their children. In a previous interview with Grove Street Ezine, Jaspen Boothe informed me that Final Salute Inc. is the only place in the D.C. Metro Area that uniquely houses women veterans and their children.

See Voice of America's video clip of women who have been helped by Final Salute Inc. via http://m.voanews.com/a/1511124.html.



What happened?

IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Alexandria,VA



Returning women veterans are one of the largest populations today, the numbers staggering at 55,000 women and their children are homeless presently. As the confrontations overseas wind down more women return the numbers will skyrocket. Final Salute Inc is a program started three years ago by Jaspen Boothe--whom vowed to leave no comrade behind--is the President and Founder of the young organization. Over 150 women have been aassisted to date either through their own programs or through various outreach programs that are FSI partners.


Indeed this may be a cruel reality for the women of Final Salute Inc (www.finalsaluteinc.org) which is a two year transitional program for homeless female veterans and their children. The home located in Alexandria, Virginia will be up for Trustee sale on December 17th 11:45 at the Circuit Courthouse of the City of Virginia located at 520 King Street in Virginia. While devastating as this is, how they came to find out was even more bizarre as it came by happenstance. No notice of default was given as required by Virginia law. It seems that the landlord Robert Pierre Johnson Housing Development Corporation a Virginia non-profit has defaulted on this loan failed to make payments as way back as April 2013. However the non–profit was sending checks to RPJ which were cashed while RPJ was to make the remaining balance of the mortgage so where did those monies go? Now is it possible the VHDA will be on those courthouse steps bidding? Will the house be saved and continue to house these female veterans?



Jaspen or “Jas” as she is commonly known was quoted recently. “There is no even guarantee that if they do not procure the home at the sale if the new owners will allow them to continue to reside at the property.” This is not something that she takes lightly and only has one Christmas Wish that an angel comes forth to buy the house with the hopes that again the women and children she has so lovingly fought to help have this home and can once again call it home.



Update: On a cold, blustery December morning President and Founder Jaspen Boothe went armed with $25,000 dollars to bid on the house she thought was theirs. She won the bid, but it was bittersweet. FSI would need $200,000 to keep the home and those monies are due by 1/15.



For more information or interview request for Jaspen Boothe or Brian Drummond please contact below:



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Watch the video of Jaspen Boothe's heartfelt effort to save the home.
http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24243061/champion-for-homeless-veterans-wins-bid-to-buy-house#axzz2nm3PgJcx

An official message is also available via www.finalsaluteinc.org.

The DMV Beltway Express News Blast. A recap of stuff that matters.

Is the drinking water in DC clean enough for pregnant women to drink, or can lead in it lead to a higher incidence of miscarriage? This Washington Post article addresses the issue.http://m.washingtonpost.com/politics/increase-in-miscarriages-coincided-with-high-levels-of-lead-in-dc-water-study-finds/2013/12/09/22b4fe72-60f9-11e3-8beb-3f9a9942850f_story.html Whether you are pregnant or not, does questionable water quality scare you enough to buy drinking water, if you are not lugging jugs already?

Tommy Wells, a D.C. Council member, is running for D.C. Mayor. Is spending a week living on minimum wage enough to give him a taste of what it is like to live on little in an expensive city? You decide. http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2013/12/10/tommy-wells-plans-to-spend-a-week-living-on-minimum-wage/?wprss=rss_local&clsrd
A video clip of his first day's adventure is available via http://www.tommywells.org/newsroom. The challenge is scheduled to end on December 17th. If you are a Twitter fan, use #LivingTheWage and follow @TommyWells2014 to stay informed about this challenge. Thus far, Wells made a stop to the nonprofit organization, Bread for the City. While there, he was advised about housing costs, and the importance of raising the minimum wage. He biked there while tabulating his costs, too. Some observers following his journey may feel that living lean temporarily is a publicity stunt. Others are being converted to Team Tommy Wells. Like it or not, the mayoral candidate is managing to engage social media users who may normally consider an election of this nature to be a typical contest of empty promises. Mayor Vincent C. Gray is running again, too. Stay tuned into the battle of wits. Thanks to Wells, this race just got interesting. Pretty clever.

The Tanger Outlets opened at The National Harbor, located in Prince George's County. http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/20223747/outlet-stores-break-ground-at-national-harbor?clienttype=printable#axzz2nRtSznbB More retail jobs were brought to the county. In this article, The Washington Post raises some pertinent questions, despite the number of residents who have bachelors degrees, and the median income in the county. http://m.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/tanger-outlets-opens-at-national-harbor-but-job-woes-remain-for-prince-georges-county/2013/11/22/2fdf96f4-5391-11e3-a7f0-b790929232e1_story.html. Many churches in Prince George's County are working hard to keep food banks open. Some people in those lines are degreed residents, and others are struggling to survive like those who are the subject of the Tommy Wells D.C. social experiment. A casino is coming, too. Foreclosure woes are looming in the background. What is County Executive Rushern Baker's plan for the less affluent, and for those who are not sitting at the land development deal negotiating table? His son--an educator and artist--has thrown his hat in the ring to land a job as a delegate.http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-10-02/local/42599696_1_county-executive-rushern-baker-gaines Time will reveal if Rushern L. Baker III's platform is as powerful as his name.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's news of Baltimore being the most giving city in America was a hot topic in her Twitter mentions. http://whatweekly.com/2013/11/27/bmoregivesmore/ $5.5 million was raised on #Giving Tuesday. Despite Baltimore's ongoing challenges, achieving this sort of feat through social media speaks to the goodness of a number of Baltimoreans.

President Obama's funeral selfie sparked debate about funeral etiquette. As you probably heard, the photographer who snapped the infamous photo explained that the image was misinterpreted. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/12/12/selfie-photo-by-president-obama-at-mandela-memorial-was-misinterpreted/ As of this morning, the AP's big story may turn out to be about the allegedly bogus sign language interpreter. Was the attendee's presence a potential security breach? Why may surprise you. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/s-africa-apologizes-fake-signer-vows-reforms

 After Flotus and Potus settled back into Washington, health care coverage remained to be a key issue that is still relevant to Americans in need of health coverage. Despite a problematic roll out, the deadline to get covered is near. The breakdown is mentioned in this article. http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/12/obamacares-deadlines-are-changing-again/ According to https://www.healthcare.gov/, enrollment by December 23 would start coverage as soon as Jan. 1. Despite the bumpy ride, hopefully the majority who believe in the premise that all Americans should be insured, can in fact be insured promptly, if help is currently needed. Let's stay focused.

And while we're on the topic of social issues, Governor Martin O' Malley  tweeted a link to follow Maryland's progress to stamp out child hunger by 2015. https://data.maryland.gov/goals/childhood-hunger Can we help more Marylanders who are out of work, or in need of better employment, to improve their income? Incorporating this pertinent need into an infographic would impress me far more than tracking programs that may not be representative of long term solutions.

I thought ignorance of the law is no excuse. However, the almightly dollar helped to tweak that rule. What's your take on 'affluenza?' Anderson Cooper had a mouthful to say about the teenager who skipped jail time, although the privaledged youth killed four people during a drunk driving accident. Arturo Garcia provided a recap that nicely integrated complexities of this unfortunate incident. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/12/anderson-cooper-hammers-psychologist-who-diagnosed-lethal-drunk-driver-with-affluenza


Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend in D.C., M.D.and V.A.!

Does someone you know deserve a makeover? This contest ends in a few days. Enter to win!

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Sweet Honey in the Rock will be coming to Annapolis, MD on Dec. 8th.

http://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2013/11/23/sweet-honey-in-the-rock-celebrating-the-holydays-at-maryland-hall/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sweet-honey-in-the-rock-celebrating-the-holydays-at-maryland-hall

Tank & RL will be performing live on Nov. 23rd! Details are in the post.

Tank & RL will be performing live on Saturday (11/23) at 8:30 PM.

The event will be hosted by Guy Lambert (WPGC 95.5 FM) & Cortney Hicks (Magic 102.3 FM)

Location:

Hylton Performing Arts Center

10960 George Mason Circle

Manassas, VA 20110

2013 Candle Light Vigil in DC for homeless youth. Nov. 21st event alert & article.

Get more details in Grove Street. http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/nov_14_trailblazers___social_change

Prince George's County NAACP Town Hall Meeting included collaborative call to action in growing foreclosure fight

Carmen Johnson, Chairwoman of Prince George's County NAACP Housing Committee, addressed attendees during a Prince George's County Town Hall Meeting.


'Education is Key' was neatly lettered on a bulletin board near the entrance of a meeting room at Jericho City of Praise on November 16. Ironically, attendees received a crash educational course on the alarming status of climbing foreclosure rates in Maryland. Discussion of saving homes by asking Governor O'Malley to sign an executive order to halt foreclosures began with a spirited prayer. On a misty Saturday morning, homeowners, elders, elected officials, activists and Maryland residents attentively listened to presented information and shared stories about foreclosure struggles, due to possible illegal bank and mortgage loan service practices.

Bob Ross, President of the Maryland NAACP, remarked that children should inherit wealth and land. That possibility is fading quickly for many families in Prince George's County, and other Marylanders, especially if swift action is not taken.

"This is a grassroots movement. We have to raise noise at the state and local level. It can't stop today, folks. We have to go back to what we know, making sure we have wealth for our children. We've got to link our arms. We have to get back to it, if you're serious about why we're here. I want the Governor to take concern and solve the housing problem," Mr. Ross added.

Pastor Lennox Abrigo, President of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of National Action Network, passionately remarked, "Rev. Sharpton is supporting this fight. He wants us to be more visible and prominent for issues related to our people. No person in office can hold public office unless elected. Our vote is the most powerful weapon."

The guest speaker urged attendees to help raise $1 million for Prince George's County's NAACP chapter before the end of 2013.

"We need a moratorium...an executive order to stop this," Pastor Abrigo continued, referring to the foreclosure crisis.

Del. Aisha Braveboy also commented about why the issue is so critical to homeowners who may not currently be in jeopardy. She explained the practice that many banks may have of decreasing and stripping equity out of property in communities by not maintaining bank owned homes there, especially in working class and low income areas. These homes usually stay on the market well over a year and sell for less than what they could have. Del. Aisha Braveboy informed the public that the practice decreases property value and reminded that we have to care about our neighbors and consider what we are passing on to our children.

                                                   Del. Aisha Braveboy


"There is wealth in our homes. This about wealth preservation and generational wealth in our community."

Carmen Johnson, Chairwoman of Prince George's County NAACP Housing Committee, spoke about Maryland's foreclosure rate, banks having secret qualifiers, needing a gatekeeper, and judicial fairness.

"The loan modification approval rate is less than 15%. Elected officials need to introduce foreclosure legislation. We want a moratorium. I don't want anymore families kicked out in the street. Christmas is coming. This is about holding on to the American dream and fighting to freeze all foreclosures. Help us save our homes," the Chairwoman said, inspiring a standing ovation.

William Thomas, of Largo, is a housing counsellor who works in Suitland, Maryland. He spoke about his experience interacting with clients, and the practical complications that may arise from becoming homeless.

"The first question is, 'How long do I have? How long can I remain in my home?' Families find it difficult to rent and have employment because of credit. There are families moving into homeless shelters. We are now addressing men and women living in tents and sleeping on mattresses. We are beginning to see veterans who are former homeowners becoming homeless."

The question soon evolved into how the middle class could survive the foreclosure crisis, in a county once noted for African-American affluence. The conversation intensified as testimonies were provided by individuals who experienced complications of saving their homes, instructions provided to them to stop payments, bankruptcy problems, enforcing laws on the books, and alleged fraud. Selling loans to lenders, problems with communication and modification with original lenders, balloon payments, and refinancing issues were also difficulties cited. Support of the local NAACP chapter was stressed, although the foreclosure issue was identified as a state problem, not just a local matter.

Chairwoman Johnson and others reminded that color and creed does not matter, when you are trying to keep your home.

"Cut out the racial thing," she also suggested.

In addition to a moratorium on foreclosures, and organizing on the local level, civil rights law firms are reportedly prepared to join the fight. Final remarks included dissemination of information and a citizen call to action. Attendees were instructed to contact the NAACP, and stay involved to help halt foreclosures, by logging onto http://www.marylandvotersagainstforeclosure.org/.





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