Crossing the Line : Taking Steps to End Homelessness

by Nilan, Diane D.

• ISBN13: 9781591138365
• ISBN10: 1591138361
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Lightning Source Inc

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION	XV
ABOUT THE AUTHOR	XVII
PART 1 WHAT'S A PERSON LIKE ME DOING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS?	1	(20)
1. LANDING ON MY FEET	3	(5)
2. FINDING THE RIGHT PATH	8	(3)
3. WHO KNOWS WHERE EACH STEP LEADS?	11	(3)
4. THE TINY SPARROW FLITS INTO MY LIFE	14	(4)
5. LESSONS, LESSONS AND MORE LESSONS...	18	(3)
PART 2 PRIME TIME DRAMA: PEEK BEHIND SHELTER WALLS	21	(32)
6. LIGHTS (WE HOPE), CAMERA (WITH SURPRISING RESULTS) AND PLENTY OF ACTION!	23	(18)
7. GOING OVER THE LINE-AN OVERTURE	41	(12)
PART 3 CAPITAL STRIDES: LOTS OF SMALL STEPS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE	53	(18)
8. SIMON SAYS	55	(4)
9. 'CHARLIE" OPENS SCHOOL DOORS FOR HOMELESS KIDS	59	(4)
10. ILLINOIS' SEEDS YIELD BOUNTIFUL HARVEST	63	(8)
PART 4 FAMILY VALUES FACE BLEAK REALITIES	71	(38)
11. A CRUSHING SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS-AND HEARTBREAK	73	(6)
12. PARENT TRAP	79	(5)
13. BASKETBALL AND BOOTSTRAPS	84	(8)
14. AMAZING SURVIVAL STORY	92	(5)
15. NEVER GIVE UP!	97	(5)
16. TERRIBLE TEEN YEARS	102	(7)
PART 5 THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER THEY FALL	109	(58)
17. BIG BILL	111	(2)
18. DENNIS THE MENACE	113	(5)
19. AN ANGRY 'BUDDHA'	118	(5)
20. WORKER BEES	123	(5)
21. KNOCKING ON DEATH'S DOOR	128	(7)
22. FEAR OF 'FRANKENSTEIN'	135	(6)
23. DITTO	141	(9)
24. CRAZY LOVABLES	150	(8)
25. GEEZERS	158	(9)
PART 6 ANY TIME NOW...SOONER RATHER THAN LATER WOULD BE NICE!	167	(32)
26. THE CHALLENGE: KEEP HOPE ALIVE-AGAINST PRECIPITOUS ODDS	169	(17)
27. BEYOND SHELTER DOORS—YIKES!	186	(6)
28. THIS MESS: How WE GOT IN IT, HOW TO GET OUT	192	(7)
EPILOGUE IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER!	199	(20)
29. EVERY DAY'S AN ADVENTURE!	201	(10)
30. EASIER DONE THAN SAID	211	(3)
31. POSTSCRIPT FILLED WITH GRATITUDE	214	(5)
APPENDICES	219	(14)
APPENDIX 1 FEDERAL DEFINITION OF HOMELESS	219	(1)
APPENDIX 2 IL EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN ACT, A.K.A. "CHARLIE'S BILL"	220	(4)
APPENDIX 3 10 CONFUSIONS ABOUT EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS	224	(2)
APPENDIX 4 A CRASH COURSE IN PRISONS	226	(1)
APPENDIX 5 SUGGESTIONS FOR INVOLVEMENT	227	(3)
APPENDIX 6 DAY LABOR INFO	230	(1)
APPENDIX 7 WEB SITES TO VISIT FOR INFORMATION	231	(1)
APPENDIX 8 HESED HOUSE AND TENT CITY DIAGRAMS	232	(1)
ENDNOTES	233