Thursday, February 23, 2012 ..:: Publications ::.. Register  Login

Did You Know?

  
  • In Chicago there are 10,000 homeless children in schools.
  • 16% increase from last year
  • 90 percent were “doubled up,” staying with friends or relatives outside the immediate family.
  • Nine percent were living in shelters, records show.
  •  17 percent of homeless youth on the district’s rolls are living without a parent or guardian.
  •  Altogether 1,773 students are living unaccompanied, according to the district data, an increase of more than 600 percent over last year.


Youth Homelessness on the Rise in Chicago
  

Archives  
  

Shelia Hulen

Hi, my name is Sheila and I am a former client of Pyramid Professional Resources. I recently graduated to Phase 3 of the program. Phase 3 means that the client both has a job and is now self-sufficient, or their disability has come in.

I arrived in Lexington a year ago and knew very little about the city. I stayed at a homeless shelter for women. I heard about PPR through word of mouth and contacted them about submitting an application to the program. The application is a two-step process along with a drug test given in the second part of the application.

After I was accepted into the program I was able to learn about the resources that PPR had to offer for the people that are homeless. PPR offers many resources such as informative classes on nutrition, job skills, role playing for interviews and coping skills for the homeless. We receive job leads and discuss those jobs in class. PPR has a computer lab for the clients and another staff member helps with resumes. We also have a staff member that helps us with the job leads and gives advice on seeking employment. PPR also offers a clothing bank for men and women; we have a laundry service for each of the clients, and PPR can give referrals to other places in the community that help with food services once we have graduated from the program.

All of the staff at PPR are very helpful and caring. The staff director, Mrs. Ruth Mark, is an RN and teaches the class. She also helps the clients with doctor appointments. These people volunteer their time to help the homeless better their lives.

PPR has had a wonderful impact on my life. Another gift is that PPR provides bus passes for the clients. Being homeless can bring a person’s self-esteem down and with no income it is impossible for the homeless o search for work. The gift of bus passes that are given to the clients is a true blessing.

I have graduated from the program, but without the help from the staff at PPR, my life would have been on a downward spin. These people who are volunteers are wonderful and I am so thankful for PPR. We are always welcome at PPR with open arms and beautiful smiles. Thank you PPR for being there for the homeless.

Editor’s note: Shelia has her own apartment now and is making good plans to “get on with her life.” She is a CNA and is available for light duty sitting with patients in home or hospital. Interested people may contact PPR

Clay Dorrset  

Job Coach

I am a lifelong Lexington resident and graduate of The University of Kentucky with degrees in Economics and Sociology. Having always enjoyed volunteer work, I found myself looking for a new opportunity to contribute to the community in which I live. I needed to look no further than the basement of the church I attend every week. I joined the volunteer staff of PPR as a job counselor in the fall of 2010.

As a job counselor I am charged with helping the clients develop a plan of action towards obtaining employment. In order to develop these plans I regularly meet with the clients one on one. These meeting have allowed me to truly get to know so many excellent people that I would have never had the opportunity to meet. It is so very rewarding when a client is able to report back that an obstacle in their life has been overcome.

Outside of my role as a job counselor I have also been a part of the PPR fundraising committee. At the time of my arrival, a committee was beginning to form and ideas beginning to circulate about how increase PPR’s funding. After many meetings, emails, phone calls and revisions our event came to fruition. Success. Once again I find myself planning the next event for February; it will be amazing. See you there!
  

The Problem of $4.00 Medicines  

By Carroll Tarvin. M.R.C.

Do you remember the length of the list when Walmart first announced the arrival of $4.00 medicines? The list has grown and is now multiple pages.

These basic generic medications are vital to many people, but many cannot afford them. If you have no income, $4.00 is not affordable. Many people who are homeless, cannot afford one medication at that price much less the 3 or 4 that have been prescribed.Yet, the Health Department will no longer pay for these medications even as part of a grant.Neither will many of the other agencies that formerly assisted with grants.

Pyramid has been assisting our clients to obtain these medicines.The result has been a budget short fall that without help may require us to reduce the amount of medication that we are able to make available to our clients

Help is needed
  

Pyramid Professional Resources | 166 Market Street | Lexington, KY 40507
p.859.252.0521 f.859.252.0621 | lexpyramid@yahoo.com
Copyright 2008 by Pyramid Professional Resources