Green Mountain Meandering Missives

Updated (view update, below): Photo: An old homelessness awareness vigil poster (of mine): Housing removes "less" from homeless In 2013, after four (4) years of being permanently housed since my last go around that had lasted twelve (12) lengthy and grueling years of living unhoused (aka homeless ), I penned a commentary piece within which I posed the question within the title of it asking what works best to end homelessness (via vtdigger ), here , and stated: [...] I have been extremely supportive of “housing first” models and most especially Pathways Vermont, which serves this small rural state well. The fact is, it works. [...]  Nothing has changed my mind concerning these matters. It is still what I believe.  Permanent, affordable, safe and decent housing works where most other methods fall short or fail. In fact, the housing first model is still considered the best approach to ending homelessness (via Urban Institute, Housing Matters ; February 14, 2024), here : [...]  

Photo: Vermont State House during Wintertime (taken by Morgan W. Brown; Sunday, February 10, 2013). Recently, a Chittenden County Superior court judge handed down a decision siding with the state against the plaintiffs in a case brought by Vermont Legal Aid on behalf of those who are living unhoused (aka homeless ) and had been evicted from motels during the middle of March. Although I disagree with the decision by the judge, I agree with the statement made toward the end of it (as quoted deep within a vtdigger article concerning the matter, excerpted, here ): Parties on all sides of this case, ... “could work together to design a big-picture approach to the problem rather than continuing to cobble together short-term solutions while in crisis mode.” In fact, while thinking upon these and related matters myself, prior to the judge’s decision being handed down, this is generally-speaking the conclusion I had reached as well. Up to now, finding a better way to meaningfully and seriou

Video: What Vermont's Historic Floods Tell Us About Climate Change (via PBS Terra; length: 13 minutes): Related video: After the Flood; Rebuilding businesses in Montpelier (via Vermont Public; length: 9 minutes, 15 seconds):

Screenshot: New York Post news article headline (click onto image to view enlargement). Someone had recently sent me a link to an online news article, published within an out of state tabloid newspaper, with a blaring headline about how a “[h]omeless shooting suspect …” had been taken into custody after being accused of killing three of their family members in a neighboring state. These murders are, as with all murders, senseless and terrible as well as tragic to be sure. No argument there. None whatsoever. Yet, the headline for this particular news story got me thinking once again on a subject I have quietly thought about from time to time previously, including after having seen headlines and news stories numerous times over the years about someone living unhoused, aka living homeless, who had been accused of one criminal act or another, whether major or minor in nature, including some published in local as well as statewide newspapers and also featured on TV News here in Vermont How

Update: Please view a related note of mine at the bottom of this post. Although not necessarily contemplating death or consciously attempting to be morbid, ... :  If and when my body eventually dies at some point and my spirit should depart this Earth for the heavens or wherever else one's spirit goes upon their physical death, instructions of mine included within my Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA/HC) states that there not be an obituary authorized or published.  However, should there still be an obituary authored and published, notwithstanding my stated instructions concerning the same, I would prefer it read something along the lines of being more of an epitaph, for the most part, than be the usual obituary (after listing my name as well as date of birth and death, etc.), as follows: He was born, he died.  In between, he lived life on his own terms, as best he could.  Therefore, while he would have liked to have done much more, particularly on behalf of others wh

Last edited and updated, including with the latest available related information, news and reports, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 5:00 AM (EDT):  Note : Per the temporary regional homeless shelters daily update (sent out on Friday, 3/22/2024): "All shelter are now closed". Regarding the plan by Governor Phil Scott's administration to host four huge regional, supposedly short-term, congregate homeless shelters across the state,  a question has arisen within my mind about it (rhetorically posed; and, please excuse my bluntness as well as outrage, however), ... Is anyone -- other than myself -- asking how much $$$ this, for the lack of a better or more appropriate term, * pure baloney * er, absurd plan will cost and where all the funds will come from ❓❗ If not, I sure wish someone would ask and try to get an honest answer from whomever can best provide it, sooner rather than later. Related news coverage concerning the temporary regional stand up homeless shelters:  here

Thoughts on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy and Visually Oriented Traumatic Memory Treatment Concepts : This morning, while experiencing some traumatic visual memory recall from way back during my youth (both via images and, for the lack of a better term, short video snippets: the latter are along the lines of brief YouTube videos, experienced by myself long before either the Internet or YouTube ever existed), some thoughts about EMDR therapy concepts and related therapy treatment models concerning this came to mind. However, it should be understood that this is not intended as criticism of either EMDR therapy or of the therapist who had previously provided it to me. In fact, I found the EMDR counseling sessions to be quite beneficial as well as rather helpful. Photos (first and second ones posted; circa: January 1958): Old family photos of myself during more pleasant times. What came to mind this morning is about how since these type of rather traumatic

In case you were not already aware of it and it is of interest, fyi: Washington County Mental Health Services ( WCMHS ) Executive Director, aka Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mary Moulton will soon be retiring. The Times Argus posted a Community News column in its online edition last night that mentioned about how she will officially retire at the end of June of this year (last item in column; under: WCMHS CEO), here . Text: WCMHS CEO MONTPELIER — The board of directors of Washington County Mental Health Services announced Elizabeth Sightler as its new chief executive officer, beginning July 1. She will assume the role held for the past 10 years by Mary Moulton, who is retiring on June 30 following a 33-year career at the agency. Sightler will join the team on May 1, allowing for a transition period. Sightler has been the Champlain Community Services in Colchester executive director for over 12 years and has 30 years of experience in the developmental services field and knowledge of t