I've been working with homeless people, and managing COTS since 1992 (started as a volunteer in 1990). During that time I've learned a lot about the crises that force people into homelessness, and how to help them.

Now that we are in the midst of hard times--perhaps the most challenging economy we've encountered for those of us who didn't experience the great Depression--a lot more people are experiencing crisis. People in our own community--people who never thought they'd be at risk--are losing jobs, losing homes, and needing emergency food.

With this blog I want to:

--Offer help and support, including resources to meet basic needs, that I've learned about while helping people in crisis and from recent research;

--Provide a place for you to share "the view from your recession" and let others know what it is like for you during these hard times (I've borrowed this concept and title from blogger Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic)

--Celebrate helping hands and share the stories of how we're looking out for each other, helping each other, make our way through.